• Near East & North Africa: 14 leaders in Curriculum Development and Civic Education

FEBRUARY 2008

• Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany & Macedonia: 4 leaders in Election Year Politics for Journalists
• Ukraine: 5 leaders in Domestic Debt Management
• Iraq: 10 leaders in Promoting Rule of Law and Social Reform

MARCH 2008

• South Asia: 8 leaders in Promoting Interfaith Dialogue

As we herald the beginning of a New Year, we all share the hope that this will be the year of peace and good will between nations.  However, the seasonal celebrations seem at odds with the grim sound bites and graphic images of destruction that dominate the news.  The headlines recounting conflicts, natural disasters, and global warming pierce our complacency.  With an almost desperate wistfulness, we wonder, is there any way that we, as individuals, can contribute to a more stable and peaceful world?

In fact, there are many things we can do to be a force for good.  One of the causes that you can choose to support-perhaps as your gift to your community, our country, and our fragile planet-is citizen diplomacy.

Citizen diplomacy is the concept that individual citizens have the right-even the responsibility-the help shape U.S. foreign relations.  Opportunities for American citizens to practice citizen diplomacy come in all shapes and sizes, whether it be studying or traveling abroad, welcoming a visitor from another country, or organizing meetings for international colleagues and customers.  You can host a foreign leader participating in the U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program, send your child on a youth exchange program, or volunteer for Sister Cities or Friendship Force International.  Millions of Americans play an important role in shaping U.S. relations with other countries every time they interact with someone across cultures or borders. 

As we watch, and become absorbed by, the media frenzy surrounding our upcoming Presidential election, we are reminded that citizen diplomacy is a nonpartisan endeavor.  UCCD remains a nonpartisan, private sector partner of the Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program.  We are guided neither by political parties or specific foreign policy agendas.  Rather, as citizen diplomats we are guided by the U.S. Constitution - America's most important export. 

The Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy (UCCD) was started in 1961 and incorporated as a 501-c-3 in 1967.  Over the past forty years, Utah citizen diplomats have welcomed thousands of international leaders from over one-hundred countries, to our exceptional state. Our delegates have been welcomed by scores of Utah citizen diplomats, participated in thousands of professional meetings, and visited hundreds of our members' homes for dinner and "home hospitality." Our Utah citizen diplomats have the extraordinary ability to put Uncle Sam's best foot forward.

Please make citizen diplomacy one of your priorities for 2008.  Consider joining the growing ranks of citizen diplomats by becoming a member of UCCD, volunteering to host visitors for dinner, and attending our Ambassador John Price and Marcia Price World Affairs Lecture Series.  Together, we can help change the world "one hand-shake at a time."

Laura Dupuy, Executive Director

Invited to the United States under the auspices of the Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program, Mr. XIE Youping, and his two colleagues, Mr. SUN Jun, Vice Director of the Shanghai Municipal People's Procuratorate and Mr. MAO Hongtao, Defense Lawyer at Shandong Deheng Law Firm in Quingdao, prepared to examine the importance of rule of law in the U.S.

Working within the parameters of our Program Agency, the Graduate School USDA, International Institute, our guests had the opportunity to study the judicial system at a state and local level. Among other professional appointments, our Delegates met with lawyers at Kirton & McConkie Law Firm and at Stoel Rives, LLP, as well as prosecutors at the Utah Prosecution Council. They also visited the Intermountain West Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory.

Their final appointment took place at the Utah Attorney General's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC). The Utah ICAC Task Force is a multi jurisdictional task force that investigates and prosecutes individuals who use the Internet to exploit children. The task force is funded by a grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and administered through the Utah Attorney General's Office.

Our three Delegates and their interpreter, Ms. Mary Nimtz, were introduced to Captain Rhett McQuiston and his colleague, David White. Our professional resources quickly captured our guests' interests. They described the Task Force, its mission and goals, demonstrated how they catch sexual predators online, showed clips of previous arrests, as well as educational videos, and patiently answered our visitors numerous questions.

The visit was enriching for both parties, as Captain McQuiston writes:

"The ICAC officers and I hosted the Chinese Delegation. The meeting went great and was very enriching for all parties. I feel the Chinese Delegation learned a lot about the potential problems that can occur if the Internet is misused.

We in turn learned a lot about the judicial process in China and their general way of life. We were also informed that computers are not found in the average person's home and learned that many of their citizens who utilize the Internet frequent "Internet Cafes." 

Our organization would be honored if in the future we were asked again to meet with other delegations. It was a great experience for all of us." Captain Rhett McQuiston

As the meeting concluded, the excitement in the room was palpable. The Chinese Delegates shook hands with the officers, distributed business cards, took pictures, and promised to stay in touch.

In their final evaluation, our Visitors expressed how valuable their different professional appointments had been and how impressed they were with the City of Salt Lake. As one of them put it:

"Salt Lake City is a very nice city. People are very friendly and helpful."

The Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy is, once again, expecting to receive nearly 300 international Delegates this year. Through person-to-person interactions with you, the people of Utah, we are able to promote cross-cultural understanding while forming lifetime relationships with international leaders. Thank you for your help and continued support in providing our incoming Delegates with the same heartfelt welcome and quality professional appointments as last year.

Happy New Year,

Jennifer Hefti,
Director of Communications and Community Outreach