Win a Chance for Tickets to "Burn the Floor" Ballroom Dance Performance by Joining GlobalPittsburgh or Signing Up New Members

GlobalPittsburgh is raffling off two pairs of tickets for "Burn the Floor," the international ballroom dance extravaganza, to new GlobalPittsburgh members or current paid members who sign up at least two new members before December 27.

The tickets will be good for performances at Heinz Hall on either December 28th at 7:30PM or December 31st at 8:00PM. Each pair of tickets(two tickets) is worth $110.

Winners will be selected at random from new members and current paid members who are able to sign up two new paid members before December 27. Members will get one extra entry for each new paid member they refer after signing up two.

An annual membership is only $40 and provides a year of opportunities to meet Internationals and Americans for group activities, holiday dinners, cultural events, more free & discounted tickets, and more. It will be a gift to help them learn more about other cultures and customs while helping connect them to Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh to the rest of the world.


If you have an American friend who you think is interested in international connections, open his/her eyes with a gift of membership. If they know everything about other countries and cultures, sign them up to help GlobalPittsburgh welcome international leaders to Pittsburgh.

Here's how the BURN THE FLOOR raffle works:

Current Paid GlobalPittsburgh Members:
- One entry for the raffle : Sign up two new paid members (The people you refer must pay for membership for you to be entered to win the tickets)

- One more entry for raffle: Each time you refer a person who then pays to join after the first two paid memberships.

Example: If you sign up four new paid members, this is worth three entries to win the pair of tickets.

Note: Referrals must pay before December 27th for them to qualify toward your raffle entries.

New Members:
- New members will receive one entry each for paid membership.

They’ll then have the opportunity to refer more members to receive more entries to win the tickets.

Information and a video on the performance can be found at:

http://www.pgharts.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=25652

Years before Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance turned ballroom dancing into must-see TV, one sizzling show was setting stages ablaze around the globe. BURN THE FLOOR, the electrifying Latin and Ballroom dance spectacular that has thrilled audiences in more than 30 countries, brings the fire and passion of their live performance to Heinz Hall for one week only! Now featuring Dancing with the Stars champion Mark Ballas.

Please consider giving a GlobalPittsburgh membership as a gift this holiday season. A GlobalPittsburgh membership is a gift that keeps on giving throughout the year and a way to create lifelong friendships.

CLICK HERE for a registration form. For more information, or to make a credit card payment, please contact Tim Allen at 412-392-4513 or by email at tallen@pciv.org.
READ FULL ARTICLE

GlobalPittsburgh Honoring Urban Youth Action for International Program Taking Inner City Youth to China, Building Global Awareness

Urban Youth Action, Inc., the Pittsburgh-based non-profit organization that has taken groups of African-American teens to China for the past two years, will be honored by GlobalPittsburgh and its parent organization, the National Council for International Visitors, for building bridges of understanding and communication between the Pittsburgh Region and other parts of the world.

Representatives from Urban Youth Action, including Executive Director Ruthie D. King, will receive the NCIV's coveted Gold Star Award for excellence in citizen diplomacy at the GlobalPittsburgh Annual Dinner on Monday, December 20, 2010 at LeMont Restaurant.

GlobalPittsburgh President Roger Cranville said Urban Youth Action’s program exemplifies the type of grass roots citizen diplomacy that helps strengthen international relations at the personal level.

“Global awareness has become an essential part of any young person’s education, and Urban Youth Action is creating opportunities for international travel that might not otherwise exist,” Cranville said. “We want to honor Urban Youth Action and Ruthie King for their admirable efforts in expanding the horizons of the next generation of the world’s leaders.”

While in China, the group of 10 teenagers participated in service learning projects and culture immersion programs, including harvesting apricots and garlic, converting used cooking oil into body soap, and attending a calligraphy arts, jade, silk and tea exhibition.

Urban Youth Action is a youth education and development program founded in 1966 to emphasize the importance of education, employment readiness, and community service. Its programs are designed to encourage minority business ownership, supply life-skills information, provide work experience and career exposure through internship placements, build mentor relationships for students with specific career goals with professionals working in those career fields, provide information regarding post-high school education, and provide academic enrichment services such as tutoring and homework help.

For more than 50 years, GlobalPittsburgh, formerly known as the Pittsburgh Council for International Visitors, has forged relationships between the Greater Pittsburgh Region and the global community through citizen diplomacy – connecting people and institutions in the region with audiences around the world through a wide range of hosting, training, networking, educational and outreach programs and services.

GlobalPittsburgh also will present an International Bridge Award to Center Rock, Inc., the Somerset County drilling company that helped rescue the trapped Chilean miners in October.

In addition to honoring Urban Youth Action and Center Rock, the GlobalPittsburgh Annual Dinner will focus on the theme “Celebrating Chile – Connecting Countries, Cultures and Citizen Diplomats.” The event will run from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at LeMont Restaurant, 1114 Grandview Avenue on Mt. Washington.

Since 1993, the International Bridge Awards have been a unique recognition of the region’s global connections by GlobalPittsburgh, which engages international delegations, groups and individuals by creating itineraries and facilitating introductions through the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program and other international programming agencies in many fields, including energy and environment, life sciences and medicine, education, business and technology, clean/green design, advanced manufacturing, arts and culture, government and finance, social services and law, and other areas.

For more information about GlobalPittsburgh, go to www.globalpittsburgh.org or contact Thomas Buell, Jr., GlobalPittsburgh VP-Communications, at 412-392-4513 or 412-720-2218, or by email at tcbuell@gmail.com.
READ FULL ARTICLE

Consol Energy President to Address "Global Energy Demand: Feeding a Growing Appetite" in Dec. 9 Lunch Program - Free Webcast Available

Global Business Dialogue and Webcast - Global Energy Demand: Feeding a Growing Appetite

J. Brett Harvey, President, Chairman and CEO, CONSOL Energy

December 9, 2010

12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Duquesne Club, 325 Sixth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Registration for this event has closed. For information about this event, please call the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh at 412-281-7970.

The developing world comprises three-fourths of the world’s population, but consumes less than one-quarter of the world’s commercial energy. As these countries continue to develop, how will their increasing demand for commercial energy impact world fuel supplies and production?

J. Brett Harvey will discuss worldwide demand for energy in developing nations, traditional energy markets, the role of renewables, the enduring importance of fossil fuels, and the impact of environmental restrictions on the U.S. economy and energy production.

Harvey is President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CONSOL Energy and Chief Executive Officer of CNX Gas.

Harvey has held a number of senior positions within the energy sector throughout his career. Prior to joining CONSOL, he was president and chief executive officer of PacifiCorp Energy Inc., a subsidiary of PacifiCorp, one of the country’s largest electric utility companies. He also served as vice president of PacifiCorp Fuels Department and president and chief executive officer of Interwest Mining Company.

Harvey is a member of the International Energy Agency and Leadership Council of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity. Locally, he is a member of the Executive Committee of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America and a director of the Greater Pittsburgh Council of the Boy Scouts. Harvey also serves on the Board of Directors for Allegheny Technologies Incorporated and the Barrick Gold Corporation.

Live Webcast Link
CLICK HERE to watch the live webcast. Online viewers will be able to submit questions during the Q & A period.

Webcast Ready?
For more information about preparing for viewing the webcast, click here.

READ FULL ARTICLE

Zipcar Waives $75 Sign-Up Fee for GlobalPittsburgh Members and Offers Discounts on Hourly Rates. Another Reason to Join Today!

Zipcar is waiving its $75 sign-up fee for GlobalPittsburgh members and offering discounted hourly rates for Zipcar's shared vehicle service. Use a Zipcar for offsite business trips or personal errands anytime you like. Zipcar operates in Pittsburgh and dozens of cities across North America.

GlobalPittsburgh Discounted Weekday Rates for Pittsburgh:

Discounted Hourly Rate: $8.25 (That's $1.00 off the standard hourly rate for most vehicles)
Business Day Rate (7am-7pm): $51
24-Hour Day Rate: $62
Annual Membership Fee: $25

All rates include gas, insurance, and 180 miles/day ($0.45/mile thereafter) for a $25 annual membership fee. These special rates cover all vehicles except BMWs and convertibles. Weekend rates vary depending on metro and length of reservation.

This offer is available to paid members of the GlobalPittsburgh Network, including hosts, supporters and members of the GlobalPittsburgh Connect program. If you're already a member of the GlobalPittsburgh Network, or have any questions, please contact Tim Allen of GlobalPittsburgh at 412-392-4513 or at tallen@globalpittsburgh.org.

If you're not a GlobalPittsburgh member, you can also call Tim at the number above to register by phone, and he can give you details of how to get the Zipcar membership and discounts. Individual memberships in the GlobalPittsburgh Network cost $40 per year and $50 per household. CLICK HERE to register online.

If you're already a Zipcar member, you're still eligible for the GlobalPittsburgh discount. Just contact Tim at the number above and he'll help you make the switch. Sign up takes about 5 minutes. You’ll need your driver’s license and credit card. After you’re approved, your Zipcard will arrive at your billing address in 5-7 days. 

How it Works:

Once you’ve received your Zipcard in the mail, simply make a reservation online and use your Zipcard to access the reserved vehicle. Invoices are online and updated after each reservation (click on “my stuff” then “my bill” to view your invoice). Your credit card will be charged after the end of each reservation.

Learn more about Zipcar at www.zipcar.com.
READ FULL ARTICLE

Act Aware: World AIDS Day 2010 in Pittsburgh

Today (Dec. 1) marks the observance of World AIDS Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness, educating, and honoring those who have died in the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The city of Pittsburgh will do its part to Act Aware, the theme for this year’s World AIDS Day, and the public is encouraged to participate and spread awareness. Here is a list of events going on around the city, as compiled by Global Solutions Education Fund Pittsburgh:

Wednesday, December 1st - World AIDS Day

Sembene - The Film & Arts Festival joins forces with New Voices Pittsburgh: Women of Color for Reproductive Justice, Global Solutions Education Fund Pittsburgh and the Partnership for Minority HIV/AIDS Prevention to host the Pittsburgh premiere of the South African film, ‘TAPOLOGO’ in observance of World AIDS Day, December 1st at 6:00 PM, at the Shadow Lounge. Shadow Lounge is located at 5972 Baum Boulevard, in Pittsburgh’s East Side. Doors open at 5:30. This film is free and the public is welcome to attend. Please go to www.sembenefilmfestival.org for more information, or contact Sabira Bushra by phone at 412-657-6916 or by email at info.sembenefilmfestival@gmail.com

Also going on around Pittsburgh on Wednesday, December 1st for World Aids Day

• Highmark Spire Turns Red: Fifth Avenue Place
• Red Ribbon Cookies & Coffee: 10 AM outside City-County Building
• Press Conference with Mayor Luke Ravenstahl: 10:30 AM, City-County Building
• McKeesport Collaborative HIV/AIDS Working Group: Free HIV Testing & Hot Dog Social, 11 AM to 2 PM
• Free HIV Testing: GLCC, 210 Grant Street, 11 AM to 3 PM
• Pittsburgh Aids Task Force 25th Anniversary Luncheon: Rivers Club, One Oxford Center
• Sixth Annual Red Ribbon Gala: 6 PM, Twentieth Century Club
• Candlelight Vigil: 5:30 PM; Starts at CMU, proceeds down Forbes Avenue, ends at Heinz Chapel
• 23rd Annual World AIDS Day Memorial Service: 7 PM, Heinz Chapel
• La Gourmadine Bakery, Lawrenceville, will donate a portion of proceeds from raspberry chocolate dessert sales on Dec. 1st
• J’eet, Garfield, will donate 20% of proceeds from various specials
• Remedy Restaurant, Lawrenceville, will donate a portion of their proceeds from a World AIDS Day dish
• Round Corner Cantina, Lawrenceville, will donate 50% of proceeds from Red Sangria sales on Dec. 1st
• Spin, Shadyside, will offer drink specials, donating a portion of their proceeds
• Square Café, Regent Square, will donate 50 % of all their proceeds on Dec. 1st
• Union Grill, Oakland, will donate a portion of proceeds from an eggplant parmesan special on World AIDS Day
• Sweetest Dessert Studio and Bakery, Pitcairn, will feature a new dessert -- “With Love - Aids Prevention Cupcakes" (in southern style red velvet) -- with a portion of the proceeds being donated to aids awareness and prevention during the month of December
• Vanilla Pastry, East Liberty, will donate 25% of proceeds from a World AIDS Day-themed dessert, during the week of World AIDS Day
• Willow Restaurant, North Hills, will donate portions of proceeds from drink and dessert specials during the week of World AIDS Day

Thursday, December 2nd

• PA/Mid-Atlantic AIDS Education & Training Center Act Aware Conference: 1-6 PM, University Club
• Know Your Status/Free Testing: 7 AM to 6 PM, University of Pittsburgh Early Prevention Project

Friday, December 3rd

• AIDS Quilt Reception: 6-7 PM, First United Methodist Church
• Sunday, December 5th
• World AIDS Day Wrap-Up Social: 6-9 PM, Andy Warhol Museum

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For more information on World AIDS Day events and HIV/AIDS information:

Pittsburgh Red Campaign: www.pittsburghred.org

Official World AIDS Day website: http://www.worldaidscampaign.org/

Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force: http://www.patf.org

Student Global AIDS Project University of Pittsburgh: http://www.pitt.edu/~sorc/sgap/

Stop HIV (Pennsylvania’s HIV/AIDS Prevention Planning and Services): http://www.stophiv.com/

The Body (The Complete HIV/AIDS Resource): http://www.thebody.com/

About World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day is celebrated on December 1st each year around the world. It has become one of the most recognized international health days and a key opportunity to raise awareness, commemorate those who have passed on, and celebrate victories such as increased access to treatment and prevention services.

UNAIDS took the lead on World AIDS Day campaigning from its creation in 1988 until 2004. From 2004 onwards the World AIDS Campaign's Global Steering Committee began selecting a theme for World AIDS Day in consultation with civil society, organizations and government agencies involved in the AIDS response.Themes run for one or two years and are not just specific to World AIDS Day. Campaigning slogans, such as "Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise," have been used year round to hold governments accountable for their HIV and AIDS related commitments.

READ FULL ARTICLE

GlobalPittsburgh Honoring Somerset County Drilling Company For Efforts to Help Save Trapped Chilean Miners

Center Rock, Inc., the Somerset County, Pa.-based company that provided advanced drilling technology to help rescue the 33 trapped Chilean miners in October, will be honored by GlobalPittsburgh with its International Bridge Award for building bridges of understanding and communication between the Pittsburgh Region and other parts of the world.

Officials from Center Rock, whose technology was a key part in the rescue of the miners who were trapped 2,000 feet underground for two months, will receive the award at the GlobalPittsburgh Annual Dinner on Monday, December 20, 2010 at LeMont Restaurant.

GlobalPittsburgh President Roger Cranville said Center Rock’s actions to help with the Chilean mine rescue, which captured the attention of the world, exemplify the type of grass roots citizen diplomacy that helps strengthen international relations at the personal level.

“This is the type of goodwill effort to bring the people of the world together that no government entity could accomplish,” Cranville said. “We want to honor the people of Center Rock for their amazing success in this heroic rescue, and raise them up as an example of what citizen diplomacy can achieve.”

For more than 50 years, GlobalPittsburgh, formerly known as the Pittsburgh Council for International Visitors, has forged relationships between the Greater Pittsburgh Region and the global community through citizen diplomacy – connecting people and institutions in the region with audiences around the world through a wide range of hosting, training, networking, educational and outreach programs and services.

Center Rock’s involvement in the Chilean mine rescue began in mid-August, after news that 33 men working underground at the time of a major mine collapse at the San Jose Mine in the Atacama Desert near Copiapo, Chile, were still alive after 17 days. The bad news was that it could take until Christmas to free them.

At Center Rock, a small company in Berlin, Pa., President and CEO Brandon Fisher, and Richard Soppe, Manager of DHD Sales & Product Development, knew that Center Rock’s technology could help aid in the rescue of the 33 miners. They launched a plan that ultimately led to the men’s release two months ahead of schedule.

Working through a network of its distributors and fellow drilling experts with contacts in Chile, Center Rock was able to provide the special equipment that created a shaft wide enough to accommodate the rescue capsule in what came to be known as “Plan B.”

On September 4, Fisher and Soppe arrived at the site of the rescue to join several other members of the drilling team who had traveled from other parts of the world. Rescuers would use increasingly larger versions of Center Rock’s DTH (down-the-hole) drilling technology to create a shaft large enough to permit use of the 22-inch-wide, 13-foot-tall rescue capsule, dubbed the “Phoenix,” which pulled the miners to safety starting on October 12.

In addition to honoring Center Rock with the International Bridge Award, the GlobalPittsburgh Annual Dinner will focus on the theme “Celebrating Chile – Connecting Countries, Cultures and Citizen Diplomats,” and feature fine food, a wine tasting, music and entertainment. The event will run from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at LeMont Restaurant, 1114 Grandview Avenue on Mt. Washington.

Since 1993, the International Bridge Awards have been a unique recognition of the region’s global connections by GlobalPittsburgh, which engages international delegations, groups and individuals by creating itineraries and facilitating introductions through the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program and other international programming agencies in many fields, including energy and environment, life sciences and medicine, education, business and technology, clean/green design, advanced manufacturing, arts and culture, government and finance, social services and law, and other areas.

Tickets to the GlobalPittsburgh Annual Dinner at LeMont are available by calling 412-392-4513 or sending email to Gail Shrott at gshrott@pciv.org. Tickets are $50 each for GlobalPittsburgh members, $60 for non-members, or $450 for a table of eight. Advance reservations are required and must be paid by December 13, 2010.

For more information about GlobalPittsburgh, go to www.globalpittsburgh.org or contact Thomas Buell, Jr., GlobalPittsburgh VP-Communications, at 412-392-4513 or 412-720-2218, or by email at tcbuell@gmail.com. READ FULL ARTICLE

Delta Air Lines Expanding Service Between Pittsburgh and Paris Starting in Summer 2011

Delta Air Lines announced that it will expand its nonstop service between Pittsburgh International Airport and Paris-Charles de Gaulle, a move that Allegheny County officials called a vote of confidence for the international air travel market in the Pittsburgh region.

Delta said today that it will begin operating the service daily, an increase of two flights each week, beginning June 1, 2011 for the summer travel season. Flights are available at Delta.com and other ticketing outlets.

"Increasing the weekly departures and extending the schedule for this flight affirms what has been a top priority for me: This region needs and can support nonstop air travel to Europe," said Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato. "Today's announcement opens the door to exciting opportunities that could lead to more jobs, commerce and other development."

Beginning June 1, Delta Flight 38 departs daily from Pittsburgh (PIT) at 6:35 pm and arrives at Paris (CDG) at 8:20 am the next day. Delta Flight 39 departs daily from Paris (CDG) at 11:10 am and arrives in Pittsburgh (PIT) at 2:05 pm.

The Pittsburgh to Paris flight via Delta Air Lines was launched on June 3, 2009, with the help of the Regional Air Service Partnership – a partnership of the Allegheny Conference, Allegheny County and the Allegheny County Airport Authority – which made direct, non-stop service to Europe a top priority.

Delta's Pittsburgh-Paris flight increases access to many destinations our travelers need to reach and it saves them time and money in the process," said Glenn R. Mahone, Chairman of the Allegheny County Airport Authority.

Dennis Yablonsky, CEO, Allegheny Conference on Community Development, said Delta’s announcement "reaffirms the global strength of our regional economy."

"Interest in Pittsburgh among global business decision-makers has never been higher," he said. "Non-stop transatlantic service that bypasses crowded East Coast hubs provides a real competitive advantage for hundreds of foreign-owned firms in our region as well as U.S.-based businesses that are expanding internationally."

Expanding the Pittsburgh-Paris service is “part of our ongoing commitment to the city, which includes Delta’s 31 daily nonstop flights to seven cities from Pittsburgh International Airport,” said Wayne Aaron, Delta’s vice president – Marketing Programs and Distribution Strategy.

The flight has performed significantly better in its second year of service beginning in June 2010, said Ken Zapinski, Allegheny Conference senior vice president for transportation and infrastructure. The ultimate fate of the flight will depend in large part on the level of support for the flight in the upcoming winter and spring travel seasons, he said. “We need to keep up the performance to ensure this service continues,” Zapinski said.

The Pittsburgh to Paris-Charles De Gaulle flight offers travelers connections to more than 100 destinations in Europe and beyond. The flight is currently offered four days each week, with Pittsburgh departures on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday; and Paris departures on Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday.
READ FULL ARTICLE

Make Reservations Now for GlobalPittsburgh Annual Dinner - Monday, Dec. 20 at LeMont Restaurant - Focusing on Connections With Chile & Latin America

GlobalPittsburgh's 2010 Annual Dinner, which will celebrate Pittsburgh's connections with Chile and Latin America, will be held Monday, Dec. 20 starting at 5:30 p.m. at the LeMont Restaurant on Grandview Avenue in Pittsburgh.

Reservations are now being accepted for this festive event, which will feature fine food, wine tasting, silent auction, music, dance, cash bar and presentations connecting countries, cultures and citizen diplomats.

GlobalPittsburgh will be presenting an International Bridge Award to Center Rock, Inc., the Somerset County-based company that provided drilling equipment that helped with the rescue of the 33 Chilean miners in October. Chilean Ambassador H.E. Arturo Fermandios has been invited to attend the event.

The event schedule will include:
5:30 p.m. – Networking
6:30 p.m. – Dinner
7:30 p.m. – Presentation
8:30 p.m. – Entertainment

LeMont Restaurant is located at 1114 Grandview Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15211-1399

Advanced reservations are required and must be paid by December 13, 2010.
$50 for GlobalPittsburgh Members
$60 Non-Members
$450 Table of 8

Credit Card order via phone call 412-392-4513
Mail check payable to GlobalPittsburgh/PCIV
650 Smithfield Street, Suite 1180
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Suggested attire is business or traditional ethnic.
Sign up now!

Email your reservation request by 12/13 to:
gshrott@pciv.org
For more information, call the GlobalPittsburgh office at 412-392-4513
Note: unpaid reservations will not be guaranteed.
We are looking forward to celebrating with you!

READ FULL ARTICLE

Green Energy Conference Draws International Leaders to Pittsburgh; Features Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and OPEC Governor

On November 10, 2010, Pittsburgh will welcome an international delegation of dignitaries and business leaders as the Pittsburgh Middle East Institute (PMEI) hosts its third annual conference titled "Clean Power: Pittsburgh and the Middle East."

A non-profit consortium of prominent local businesses and civic institutions, PMEI organizes its annual conference to promote Pittsburgh as a “City of the Future,” specifically through strategic engagement with emerging Middle East countries.

This year’s conference focuses on developing Pittsburgh’s leadership in green energy. To that end, the conference will feature keynote business speaker Mr. Issa Shahin Al-Ghanim of Qatar Petroleum, who also serves as Governor for Qatar at the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Mr. Al-Ghanim is the designated envoy of H.E. Al-Attiyah, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy of Qatar, on the occasion of PMEI’s conference. Additional speakers include two ambassadors from the Sultanate of Oman, a country that has witnessed a remarkable cultural and economic transformation in the last 40 years and has recently entered into a free trade agreement with the U.S.

The conference culminates with remarks from Madeleine Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State and a global leader on emerging markets.

“As always, this year’s speakers and guests are outstanding and reflect Pittsburgh’s growing reputation as a ‘City of the Future,’” said PMEI Founder and President Simin Yazdgerdi Curtis. “Given Pittsburgh’s emergence as a leader in green energy, we’re particularly delighted for our guests to hear and learn from Mr. Al-Ghanim, who has been instrumental in Qatar’s energy-based economic transformation.”

Conference topics will include panel discussions related to Qatar as the world leader in natural gas development, Pittsburgh’s emergence as a center of green technologies, the role of natural gas as clean power and the promise it holds for Pittsburgh’s future, and the practicalities of successfully doing business in the Middle East, among others.

While PMEI’s 2010 conference features speakers and guests from all over the Middle East, including Oman, Egypt, and Pakistan, each year highlights unique opportunities with one particular country. This year’s conference brings together Pittsburgh’s top energy leaders and dignitaries to build a bridge between Pittsburgh and the country of Qatar, which has distinguished itself as a growing center of foreign investment and a world leader in clean energy.

“Pittsburgh is re-emerging as America’s leading center of energy-related solutions,” said Dennis Yablonsky, CEO of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development and a panel moderator during the business conference. “Like Qatar, we are blessed with vast natural gas resources. Through the upcoming Pittsburgh Middle East Institute conference, we can compare best practices in leveraging these resources to grow the economy and improve the quality of life in both our countries.”

Tofol Al Nasr, a former member of OPEC’s Economic Commission Board who currently writes for Qatar’s largest English-language newspaper, The Peninsula, agrees with Yablonsky on the importance of this year’s conference for both Pittsburgh and Qatar.

“Although geographically distant, Qatar and Pittsburgh are similar in their share of abundant natural gas reserves and unified in their dedication to meeting the world’s clean energy needs,” said Ms. Al Nasr. “Joining forces with Pittsburgh’s leading experts, Qatar’s knowledge, experience, and proficiency in forward-looking green initiatives will flourish.”

PMEI’s third annual conference is sponsored in part by the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh and a host of U.S. and Pittsburgh-based companies, including Aquatech International, Burt Hill, CONSOL Energy, Eaton, H.J. Heinz Company, K&L Gates, Mine Safety Appliances, Range Resources, UPMC, Westinghouse and others. Past conference speakers have included world-renowned authors and commentators Thomas Friedman and Fareed Zakaria.

Event Schedule

Business Conference: 7:30AM Registration; 8AM-12:00PM Conference at Fairmont Hotel (downtown Pittsburgh at 510 Market Street)

Madeleine Albright Lecture: 8:00PM Carnegie Music Hall (4400 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh)

For a complete list of speakers and event details or to attend, go to www.pittsburghmideastinstitute.org

READ FULL ARTICLE

Support GlobalPittsburgh With Your Holiday Purchases - Percentage of What You Spend will be Returned as Donation to GlobalPittsburgh – At No Cost to You!

With the holiday season approaching, we have a tremendous opportunity to raise additional funds for GlobalPittsburgh — but it requires your help. It won’t cost you a penny.

We've partnered with We-Care.com to offer the We-Care Reminder. It allows us to receive a donation whenever you shop online at hundreds of participating merchants — at no extra cost to you.

The Reminder is a browser extension for Firefox, Safari, Chrome and Internet Explorer. It takes less than a minute to install on your computer. It's a breeze to download, and it works great!

There are three things you can do to help:

It’s this easy:

1. Go to http://globalpittsburgh.We-Care.com/Start and download the We-Care Reminder. (Then forget about it. It works automatically.)
2. When you visit a participating merchant, you’ll see a message thanking you for supporting GlobalPittsburgh.
3. Just shop as you normally do, and a donation will be made — without taking a penny from your wallet. 
4. Ask your friends and family to do the same, even if it's only forwarding this email.
5. If you blog, tweet, use Facebook, or are involved in any form of social media, use it to spread the word!

Together, we can turn money already being spent on gifts into support for our work.

It only takes a few clicks, so please do it before you close this blog post. To get started, just visit http://globalpittsburgh.We-Care.com/Start.

P.S. If you’re reading this at work, please forward it to your personal email account to make sure you install the Reminder at home.

For access to more merchants; exclusive, money-saving offers; and the ability to track your donations, you can visit our Online Mall at http://globalpittsburgh.we-care.com.

READ FULL ARTICLE

Study in Pittsburgh! More than 25 Highly-Ranked Colleges and Universities in Region Offer Powerful Educational Opportunities

The Greater Pittsburgh Region features more than 25 institutions of higher learning – many among the top-ranked in the country – providing one of the most powerful educational opportunities in the world today.

Leading Colleges & Universities in Key Fields – Computer Science / Medical Technology / Life Sciences / Business / Advanced Manufacturing / Engineering / Energy / Robotics

Cooperative Agreements among many institutions in the region permit study at more than one institution to ensure a first-rate academic experience.

Numerous English as a Second Language Programs permit students to improve their speaking and writing skills while studying or before enrolling.

Special GlobalPittsburgh CONNECT Service providing year-round activities and programs to help international students feel more comfortable in their new community.

Desirable Location Connecting Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio
High Quality of Life - Pittsburgh Voted Most Livable City in the U.S.
Low Cost of Living – Among Most Affordable in U.S.
Central Location – Within a day’s drive of New York, Boston, Washington, DC, Chicago and Toronto
Safe – Low crime rate
Accessible – Direct flights to Europe avoid busier airports
Global – 50 international communities and 300 foreign-owned companies
Job Opportunities Upon Graduation – Westinghouse, Consol Energy, PNC Corp., Google, Microsoft, Intel and more!
Strong Entrepreneurial Spirit – Numerous Programs Supporting Startup Companies

World Leaders in Education – Major Research Institutions in the Region
Carnegie Mellon University / University of Pittsburgh / Pennsylvania State University / West Virginia University
Other leaders in the region’s academic community (click to go to school website):
Carlow University / Chatham University / Community College of Allegheny County / Duquesne University / English Language Institute at the University of Pittsburgh / Indiana University of Pennsylvania / Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh / LaRoche College / Point Park University / Pennsylvania State University - Beaver / Pennsylvania State University - Greater Allegheny / Pennsylvania State University - New Kensington / Robert Morris University / Washington & Jefferson College / West Liberty University

GlobalPittsburgh Education Partnership
Central point of contact for information about educational assets in the Greater Pittsburgh Region.
650 Smithfield Street, Suite 1180
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
412-392-4513
www.globalpittsburgh.org
info@pciv.org
READ FULL ARTICLE

Pub Trivia Nights at Mullaney's Harp & Fiddle to Raise Money for Youth Gaelic Football Starting October 21

Pub Trivia Nights to raise money for local youth Gaelic Football programs return to Mullaney's Harp & Fiddle on Thursday Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m. and will continue on the third Thursday of the month into the spring.

Openings are still available for teams of up to eight people. Each player is asked to contribute $5 per game. Games consist of seven categories with 10 questions each. Monthly prizes will be awarded, and a Grand Prize will be presented to the team with the highest cumulative score at the end of the season. For more information, contact Johnny Connolly at jconnolly71@comcast.net.

Gaelic Football can be described as a mixture of soccer and rugby, although it predates both of those games. It’s a little like Australian Rules (which evolved from it). Gaelic Football is played on a pitch about the same size as a rugby field with similar goalposts. The ball used in Gaelic Football is round, slightly smaller than a soccer ball. It can be carried in the hand for a distance of four steps and can be kicked or hand-passed, a striking motion with the hand or fist. For more information about the Pittsburgh Gaelic Athletic Association, go to www.pittsburghgaa.com.

Mullaney's Harp & Fiddle is located at 24th & Penn Avenue in the Strip District. For more information go to www.harpandfiddle.com. READ FULL ARTICLE

Public Invited to Community Conversation about Pittsburgh Region's Global Future; GlobalPittsburgh Hosting Session Oct. 26 with Power of 32 Visioning Project

Globally-minded residents of the Greater Pittsburgh Region are invited to share their opinions and ideas about the region’s future as a hub of international connections and cultural diversity on Tuesday October 26, 2010 in the University Club Gold Room near the University of Pittsburgh from 6-8 p.m.

GlobalPittsburgh, which attracts and engages internationals in the region, has partnered with Power of 32, a regional visioning project, to host a Community Conversation about the region’s global future. The University Club is located at 123 University Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15260.

Power of 32 is a regional initiative that provides an opportunity for all of the 4.2 million residents of the region, which encompasses 32 counties and crosses four states, to actively participate in creating a shared vision for the region's best future.

This is a free event, but pre-registration is requested by calling 412-392-4513 or emailing tcbuell@gmail.com.

In announcing the hosting of this Community Conversation, GlobalPittsburgh also committed to including the counties in the Power of 32 region in its programs and services.

“We strongly agree that the Pittsburgh region extends beyond county and state borders,” said GlobalPittsburgh President Roger O. Cranville. “In fact, we have already made several positive connections in West Virginia in our efforts to connect the region with the world, and will continue to expand our scope throughout the Power of 32 footprint.”

The Power of 32 is the largest visioning effort ever undertaken and differs from other planning efforts that have occurred in our area in that it recognizes the region has common challenges and opportunities in the global economy, but is larger than the scope of any one political entity, authority, or organization.

“We are extremely pleased that GlobalPittsburgh has become a region-wide partner, “ said Selena Schmidt, Executive Director of Power of 32. “Our initiative is modeled on other successful efforts in Torino, Italy and Essen, Germany. GlobalPittsburgh, which is connecting and developing our international community to the world, is a great partner in our efforts to show what can be done through the power of collaboration.”

The 32 counties included in the visioning effort – 15 in southwestern Pennsylvania, five in eastern Ohio, 10 in north central West Virginia, and two in western Maryland – represent the cultural, geographic and economic region with metropolitan Pittsburgh at its hub.

The Power of 32 project does not have a pre-determined set of issues, and aims to include the broadest possible public participation from both people within the region and former residents around the globe. For more information, go to www.powerof32.org.

For more than 50 years, GlobalPittsburgh, formerly known as the Pittsburgh Council for International Visitors, has forged relationships between the Greater Pittsburgh Region and the global community through citizen diplomacy – connecting people and institutions in the region with audiences around the world through a wide range of hosting, training, networking, educational and outreach programs and services.

GlobalPittsburgh engages international delegations, groups and individuals by creating itineraries and facilitating introductions through the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program and other international programming agencies in many fields, including energy and environment, life sciences and medicine, education, business and technology, clean/green design, advanced manufacturing, arts and culture, government and finance, social services and law, and other areas.

GlobalPittsburgh welcomes individuals and families to engage in citizen diplomacy as dinner and home stay hosts, tour guides, office and event volunteers, and greeters for visiting delegations and individuals, and also provides activities for internationals and globally-minded residents through the GlobalPittsburgh Connect program.
 
For more information about GlobalPittsburgh, go to www.globalpittsburgh.org or contact Thomas Buell, Jr., GlobalPittsburgh VP-Communications, at 412-392-4513 or 412-720-2218, or by email at tcbuell@gmail.com.

READ FULL ARTICLE

Learn About Hosting International Students at Free Program - October 13 at Avonworth High School

Avonworth High School Presents “Hosting Opportunities in Our Global Community” Wednesday, October 13, 2010 in the Avonworth High School Library at 7:00 P.M.

Evening presenters:
*American Field Service (AFS)
*Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE)
*GlobalPittsburgh
*Host Families of Avonworth Exchange Students
*World Heritage Student Exchange Program

Join our global community and get involved with the world!

R.S.V.P. by October 6th: 412 366-6360, ext. 1609
Light refreshments will be served.

Avonworth High School
258 Josephs Lane
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
READ FULL ARTICLE

City of Asylum/Pittsburgh Program for Exiled Writers and Artists Featured on PBS "NewsHour with Jim Lehrer"

The City of Asylum/Pittsburgh program, which provides safe haven to exiled writers and artists on the city's North Side, was featured on the PBS "NewsHour with Jim Lehrer" on Sept. 30.

CLICK TO VIEW VIDEO

Transcript

JEFFREY BROWN: And finally tonight: a safe haven for writers in danger.
You don't hear Burmese too much in Pittsburgh, and certainly not Burmese poetry. But, on a recent night, the writer Khet Mar read a poem about seeking shelter in this city, after being persecuted in her native country.

KHET MAR, poet (through translator): Life takes place amid blooming flowers. Thank you very much.
(APPLAUSE)
JEFFREY BROWN: Khet Mar was one of several writers who performed at an annual jazz and poetry celebration for an organization known as City of Asylum/Pittsburgh, which provides writers two years of free living here and a chance at a new life.
KHET MAR: I wrote some political poems with my friends, and we distributed those poems in the crowd. That made me in the jail.
(LAUGHTER)
JEFFREY BROWN: In jail.
KHET MAR: Yes.
JEFFREY BROWN: Khet Mar was a writer, teacher and social worker in Burma in the late 1980s and '90s, when university students, workers and monks first took to the streets to protest the country's repressive military regime.
KHET MAR: Generals in my country don't want people know the real situation. For example, they don't want people know we are -- Burmese people are poor and very, very bad conditions.
JEFFREY BROWN: Much of her writing told of the plight of poor villagers. In one instance, she wrote of an uncle who was forced to work in a labor camp because he couldn't pay a government tax.
KHET MAR: He couldn't pay money. So, he went there and working in the very hot weather, and he died.
JEFFREY BROWN: So, you wrote a story about this?
KHET MAR: Yes.
JEFFREY BROWN: And, of course, that becomes a political...
KHET MAR: Yes. Yes. I think I'm writing social issues, but, in Burma, social issues are political issues as well.
JEFFREY BROWN: Because of her work and writing, Khet Mar spent a year in prison and faced regular censorship.
When fellow writers were jailed during the 2007 Saffron Revolution, she sought help from human rights organizations which work with the Pittsburgh asylum program. She moved here with her family 18 months ago. In addition to rent-free housing, she's provided with a $30,000 annual stipend and health insurance.
It's not amnesty in the legal sense, but, for Khet Mar, it's given her safety and freedom she didn't have in Burma. Her artist husband, Than Htay Maung, captured that in a mural he painted on their home, life in Burma on one side, in Pittsburgh on the other.
HENRY REESE, city of Asylum/Pittsburgh: I feel we offer them to a safe place to do what they need to do unencumbered.
JEFFREY BROWN: Next door to Khet Mar is the home of businessman Henry Reese. Thirteen years ago, he heard about the European-based City of Asylum program and decided to start a Pittsburgh branch. He used townhouses he already owned on his block and raised money from foundations and local donors.
HENRY REESE: This was a way that a small community could actually stand up and protect something that we all feel is important, bring that person into our community, and maintain that dialogue within our community in both directions.
We learn from the writers and benefit from it every bit as much as, I would say, initially they benefit from us just by being protected.

READ FULL ARTICLE

Chatham University Among Six U.S. Institutions Selected to Develop Study Abroad Programs with Indonesia

Pittsburgh's Chatham University is among six U.S. institutions selected to develop study abroad programs with Indonesia through the Institute of International Education’s Center for International Partnerships in Higher Education, it was announced today.

The IIE is launching the U.S. Indonesia Partnership Program for Study Abroad Capacity to help advance Indonesian higher education institutions’ capacity to provide high-quality study abroad programs for U.S. undergraduates. USIPP, a two-year initiative sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, will bring together six U.S. institutions with six Indonesian institutions to develop new, innovative study abroad opportunities for U.S. undergraduates in Indonesia and ultimately help Indonesian universities better prepare to host American students.

In addition to Chatham, the participating U.S. institutions are Lehigh University, Miami Dade College, Texas A&M University, University of Michigan, and University of Washington. Through IIE’s Center for International Partnerships in Higher Education and in collaboration with IIE’s Jakarta-based affiliate, the Indonesian International Education Foundation, the program will build a foundation for expanding academic partnerships between other U.S. and Indonesian institutions, enabling faculty and students at home and host campuses to deepen mutual understanding and broaden the ongoing exchange of individuals and ideas between the U.S. and Indonesia.

Over the two-year period, USIPP will work to develop and pilot six new study abroad programs for students from the United States. The initiative will interview the participating students and university administrators for feedback to identify lessons learned and next steps, so that institutions can provide high quality study abroad programs and prepare to host more international students in Indonesia. A final written report will serve as a hands-on tool for international education practitioners.

USIPP main goals are to help Indonesian institutions evaluate and improve their international capacity; identify both general and country-specific best practices in preparing for and building study abroad capacity, and disseminate these resources to the wider higher education community; deepen the academic engagement of faculty and institutions in the U.S. and Indonesia; and thus increase the number of U.S. undergraduate students studying abroad for credit in Indonesia.

According to IIE’s annual Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, also supported by ECA, more than 7,000 students from Indonesia were enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities during the past several academic years, while less than 100 U.S. students studied abroad in Indonesia in academic year 2007/08 (the most recent year for which data is available).

"Strengthening the relationship between the U.S. and Indonesia through higher education is a critical goal for both countries, and it is an honor for IIE, in collaboration with IIEF, to facilitate constructive partnerships between institutions in the U.S. and Indonesia," says IIE President and CEO Allan Goodman. "The Institute has made a long term commitment, along with ECA, to deepening this relationship and looks forward to having an effective, sustained impact."

The Institute of International Education, a private not-for-profit organization founded in 1919, is a world leader in the international exchange of people and ideas. IIE designs and implements over 200 programs of study and training for students, educators, young professionals and trainees from all sectors with funding from government and private sources. These programs include the Fulbright Student and Scholar programs, the Gilman International Scholarship Program, and the Humphrey Fellowships, administered for the Department of State, as well as corporate and foundation training and scholarship programs. IIE also conducts policy research, provides advice and counseling on international educational opportunities abroad, and provides emergency support to students and scholars in danger. The Institute of International Education has a network of 18 international offices worldwide and more than 1,000 college and university members.


READ FULL ARTICLE

Pittsburgh-Based Global Links Marks 400th Shipment of International Medical Aid Using Hospital Surplus Items

Pittsburgh-based international medical relief agency Global Links marks a major milestone in its 21-year history this week with its 400th shipment of critically needed medical supplies.

The 400th shipment, scheduled for today (Sept. 16), will be directed to hospitals and a primary care clinic in the Quiche region of Guatemala, an area hit hard by tropical storm Agatha in June 2010. This is the second of three relief shipments to the area.

Materials will include surplus medical supplies collected from Pittsburgh-area hospitals, including St. Clair, Jefferson, West Penn, Forbes Regional and hospitals in the UPMC health system, all of which have been matched to specific requests from doctors and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), who partnered with GL to support these shipments.

"A tremendous amount of meticulous planning and care go into preparing every shipment we send," says Global Links Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder Kathleen Hower. "Over 1,800 volunteers of all ages and all walks of life donate more than 7,000 hours of service each year helping us collect, sort, and pack mountains of donated medical surplus."

Global Links shipments have benefited patients in more than 700 hospitals around the world in medically underserved communities where the need for even basic materials is profound, Hower said. The organization works closely with the Ministry of Health in each recipient country to ensure that our efforts support a country’s health planning strategy.

Past shipments to Guatemala have included operating room lights, tables, surgical equipment and linens, and materials to establish and equip birthing suites and a new intensive care unit in Coatepeque.

Global Links is a registered 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that collaborates with U.S. institutions to recover surplus medical materials before consignment to land-fills and makes them available to hospitals abroad through their ongoing programs.

Since its founding in 1989, Global Links has provided more than $160 million in critical medical aid to developing nations, including Bolivia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica and Nicaragua.

For more information, go to www.globallinks.org. READ FULL ARTICLE

Pittsburgh Hosting International Student Summit on Cyber Security and Civil Liberties Sept. 17 - Webcast Available

International Student Summit - Cyber Security and Civil Liberties
September 17, 2010
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. EDT
Cornell High School, 1099 Maple St., Coraopolis, PA 15108

On the occasion of Constitution Day, Cornell School District, the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, the National Flag Foundation, and Allegheny Intermediate Unit 3 will present an International Student Summit on Cyber Security and Civil Liberties for high school students around the world.

The Student Summit will connect students in the Pittsburgh region to students in countries around the world through video conference and webcast, engaging them in a dialogue exploring the tensions between cyber security and civil liberties issues.

Students worldwide may participate in the Student Summit through the interactive webcast. Students will be able to pose questions and share their ideas in real time.

Over the past few months, popular international magazines, news channels, and blogs have alerted audiences to the threat of cyberwar. The recent creation of the United States Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) and NATO’s Cooperative Cyber Defence (CCD) Centre of Excellence show just how seriously national governments and international bodies are taking this new threat.

As the world becomes increasingly dependent on the Internet, cyber attacks could affect technological infrastructure such as power grids and banking systems. However, no formal definition exists for cyberwar. How can countries distinguish between hacking and an outright act of war? As governments debate how to grapple with this new security threat, how can an international dialogue contribute to meeting this new global challenge?

History shows that times of war have called for special security measures, sometimes at the expense of civil liberties. What are militaries, governments, and corporations doing to protect the internet? And what effect will cyber security measures have on civil liberties?

These are just some of the issues to be debated during the Student Summit.

International Student Summit: Cyber Security and Civil Liberties Details:

* Participation at Cornell High School or via video conference or webcast.
* Panel discussion and Q & A session with leaders who will share their perspectives on key cyber security and civil liberties issues, including free speech and privacy.
* Interactive breakout sessions facilitated by local experts in which students will analyze and discuss a cyber security scenario.
* Debriefing session for groups to share their approaches to the scenario.

Tentative Schedule

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Panel Presentation and Q & A Session

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Breakout Session

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Debriefing Session

Register Now!
Registration for the Cornell High School and video conference sites is open to students in grades 9-12. Students of all ages may participate in the webcast. To participate at Cornell High School or via video conference or webcast, please use the links below to register.

Participation at Cornell High School
Cornell High School can accommodate up to 350 student participants from throughout the Pittsburgh region. Registrations will be accepted on a rolling basis until the program is filled. Due to space constraints, each school will initially be limited to 30 participants. Additional students will be placed on a waiting list. Click here to register.

Participation via Video Conference
A limited number of schools can register to participate via video conference. Schools in the Pittsburgh region will be paired with international sites during the breakout session. Video conference equipment is required. Click here to register.

Participation via Webcast
Students throughout Pennsylvania, in other parts of the United States, and in other countries worldwide may participate in this International Student Summit through the interactive webcast of the panel from 9:00-10:30 a.m. Students will be able to pose questions and share their ideas in real time. Click here to register.

Click here to watch the live webcast on Friday, September 17, 2010.

Questions? Please contact Amiena Mahsoob or Allyce Pinchback at the World Affairs Council at amiena@worldaffairspittsburgh.org or allyce@worldaffairspittsburgh.org, or call (412) 281-7970.

A preparation guide is available for teachers to stimulate student thinking about cyber security and civil liberties issues prior to the event.


READ FULL ARTICLE

Pittsburgh Mayor Ravenstahl Invited to Deliver Keynote Address at Prestigious Business Leaders' Council at Shanghai World Expo

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl has been invited by the Mayor of Shanghai, China to deliver the keynote address next month at the annual meeting of the International Business Leaders' Advisory Council (IBLAC). The IBLAC advises Mayor Han Zheng on issues and opportunities regarding the city's economic transformation and rise to global prominence.

Ravenstahl will visit Shanghai and Seoul, South Korea from Oct. 6-15. He will travel with Chief of Staff Yarone Zober, Allegheny Conference on Community Development CEO Dennis Yablonsky and officials from the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance, a conference affiliate.

The IBLAC has invited Mayor Ravenstahl to share Pittsburgh's story of regional transformation during World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, one of the largest world's fairs in history, according to Bill Flanagan, executive vice president for corporate relations at the Allegheny Conference. The invitation was prompted by the visibility Pittsburgh received through the G-20 summit and arranged at the suggestion of the global chairman of Ernst & Young, he said on the Pittsburgh G-20 Partnership website.

In addition to delivering the keynote and meeting privately with government and business leaders, the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance, an affiliate of the Allegheny Conference, and the PA Department of Community & Economic Development are arranging meetings for the Mayor with prospects for business investment.

After the Shanghai conference the Mayor will travel on to Seoul, South Korea as part of Pittsburgh World Tour 2010, the post-G-20 outreach organized by the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance. Mayor Ravensthal will meet with the local organizing committee that is preparing to host the G-20 Summit in November. The South Korean government has called Pittsburgh a "global best practice" in conducting an international summit.
READ FULL ARTICLE

GlobalPittsburgh Hosting Citizen & Corporate Diplomacy Summit October 7 - What Everyone Should Know to Succeed in Today's Global Economy

New Frontiers in Corporate and Citizen Diplomacy:
What every Executive and Citizen needs to know to Compete, Sustain, and Succeed in a Globalized World.
Thursday, October 7, 2010 at the DoubleTree Hotel, Downtown Pittsburgh
Featuring Cari E. Guittard, Business for Diplomatic Action

GlobalPittsburgh is pleased to welcome Cari Guittard, Executive Director of Business for Diplomatic Action (BDA) to Pittsburgh on Thursday, October 7th, for the GlobalPittsburgh Corporate and Citizen Diplomacy Summit.

Ms. Guittard will hold an interactive workshop, which will include other exemplary regional citizen and corporate diplomats in Pittsburgh on October 7, 2010. Please join GlobalPittsburgh in leading the Greater Pittsburgh Region toward excellence in Corporate and Citizen Diplomacy and promote yourself as a leader in this emerging field. This session will be beneficial to all those who wish to:

- Learn how Corporate Diplomacy is beneficial to individuals and employers
- Identify Corporate Diplomacy role models from CEOs to young executives prepared to share their experiences
- Discover how you can identify Corporate and Citizen Diplomacy opportunities for future growth
- Understand the importance of Corporate and Citizen diplomacy for executives, their staff, and for citizens
- Gain insights into the current administration in global engagement

Cost: $25 per person, includes program and reception.
Register by Friday, October 1st – seating is limited.
Please call 412-392-4513 for information or to make a credit card payment.
Mail: checks to GlobalPittsburgh, 650 Smithfield Street, Suite 1180, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Email reservation requests to GlobalPittsburghPat@Gmail.com
All reservations must be paid in advance.

Cari Guittard has represented Business for Diplomatic Action since 2003; a private sector led a-political, non-profit whose purpose is enlist the US business and citizen community in public diplomacy efforts aimed at building new bridges of respect and understanding for America with the world. She has traveled extensively to every region of the world working on State systems, developing, briefing and working with thousands of Ambassadors, Chiefs of Mission, Commanding Officers and senior US Government officials to include former Secretaries of State Albright and Powell and heads of U.S. based corporations. She speaks to hundreds of audiences each year and guest lectures at a variety of graduate schools and universities throughout the U.S. on issues ranging from public diplomacy and crisis communications to international affairs and foreign policy.

LOCATION
The DoubleTree Hotel
One Bigelow Square
Pittsburgh, PA, 15219 (downtown behind US Steel Building)
Time: Program - 2:30PM – 5:30PM; Reception - 5:30PM – 7:00PM

PROGRAM
Registration:
2:00PM-2:30PM

Session One:
Your Region Needs You!
2:30PM-3:45PM
Philadelphia Room

Beverage Break 15 minutes
3:45PM-4:00PM
Philadelphia Room

Session Two:
Being a Citizen Diplomat Overseas
4:00PM-5:30PM
Philadelphia Room

Networking Reception
5:30PM-7:00PM READ FULL ARTICLE

GlobalPittsburgh Selecting Local Student to Receive Grant to Attend National Conference in Washington, D.C. on World Affairs, Citizen Diplomacy

GlobalPittsburgh invites students or recent graduates ages 16-24 from the Greater Pittsburgh Region who are interested in world affairs to apply for a grant to attend a national conference on world affairs and citizen diplomacy in February. Deadline for application is Sept. 30, 2010.

As a part of its 50th Anniversary observance, GlobalPittsburgh’s parent organization, the National Council for International Visitors, is placing strong emphasis on developing multigenerational leadership and is launching the NCIV Citizen Diplomacy Program for Emerging Leaders.

With a grant from the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, six students will be selected to participate, including one from the Greater Pittsburgh Region. Those selected will attend the 2011 NCIV National Meeting in Washington, D.C., February 16-19, 2011. The theme of the conference is NCIV’s Next Half Century: Citizen Diplomats Shaping History.

The selected participants will receive:
• A $500 travel stipend
• Waived meeting registration fees
• Double hotel room accommodation

The goal of this program is to develop participants’ knowledge of world affairs, leadership and communication skills, and gain a better understanding of their responsibility to become citizen diplomats.

At the conference, selected participants will:
• Be paired with an NCIV member as a mentor
• Attend the NCIV 50th Anniversary Gala (February 16, 2011) as special guests
• Participate in an Emerging Leaders Concurrent Session
• Participate in a Concurrent Session on Utilizing Social Networks in Citizen Diplomacy
• Assist in hosting a foreign Washington, D.C. based diplomat at the annual NCIV Luncheon with the Ambassadors

Most importantly, at the conference, the selected participants will be collaborating to shoot and edit a video about engaging emerging leaders in citizen diplomacy. This video will serve as a training tool for citizen diplomacy organizations, posted on the NCIV website, and on YouTube and Facebook.

Students and recent graduates from all backgrounds and abilities are encouraged to apply, as NCIV will strive to recruit a diverse and representative class of emerging leaders to participate.

To apply, CLICK HERE for a printable application form or send an email to request an interactive application form to tcbuell@gmail.com. Send the completed form to Tom Buell at GlobalPittsburgh no later than September 30, 2010. Note: The application may be sent electronically to him at tcbuell@gmail.com or mailed to 650 Smithfield Street, Suite 1180, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For questions, please call 412-392-4513.
READ FULL ARTICLE

Carnegie Mellon Startup Company to Create Robotic Components and Systems Based on Technology from CMU’s National Robotics Engineering Center

Carnegie Mellon University announced the launch of a new firm, Carnegie Robotics LLC, which will develop, manufacture and service robotic components and systems in partnership with the university’s highly successful National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC).

Carnegie Robotics will create products based upon technology licensed from the NREC, an arm of Carnegie Mellon’s Robotics Institute that performs applied research and prototype development for industrial and government organizations. John Bares (pictured), director of the NREC since 1997, has taken a leave of absence from the university to lead the startup company. Anthony Stentz, who has served as associate director since 1997, will take over leadership of the NREC.

“NREC is a tremendous success story; it has experienced robust growth for more than a decade,” said Mark S. Kamlet, Carnegie Mellon executive vice president and provost. “By turning NREC’s innovations into commercial products, Carnegie Robotics will further strengthen NREC while expanding the robotics industry in western Pennsylvania.”

Bares said Carnegie Robotics will initially concentrate on producing extremely reliable components that other manufacturers can use to automate machines used in such fields as mining, agriculture, petroleum production and defense. But as the company develops its own production expertise, plans call for manufacturing and servicing entire robotic systems. Both the company and NREC might also benefit from jointly marketing their services, he added.

“NREC has become the ‘go to’ organization for performing applied research and prototype development for field robots,” Stentz said. “But now when we deliver a prototype, NREC customers increasingly want to know who can convert the prototype to a manufacturable product, as well as support and service the product over its lifetime. By addressing this production need, NREC will occupy a more competitive position and realize continued growth.”

The company has leased space within the NREC facility, a renovated foundry in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh about three miles from the Carnegie Mellon campus.

“Carnegie is a storied industrial name, particularly here in western Pennsylvania,” said Matt Mason, director of the Robotics Institute. “I know John and his team will work hard to build a company that lives up to the Carnegie name and that will help this region retain more of the talented roboticists and engineers who are trained here.”

The NREC opened in 1996 as an operating unit within the Robotics Institute. The brainchild of William “Red” Whittaker, the Fredkin University Professor of Robotics and director of the Field Robotics Center, the NREC has focused on developing commercial applications of mobile robots for such companies as John Deere, Shell Oil, Caterpillar and Consol Energy.

The NREC has developed a number of unmanned ground vehicles and autonomous systems for the Defense Department, ranging from a virtual 3D video system for enhanced teleoperation of vehicles to advanced large robotic vehicles, such as Crusher and the Autonomous Platform Demonstrator. NREC researchers are developing robots for sorting strawberry plants and, in a U.S. Department of Agriculture project, applying robotic technology to the operation of orange groves. A commercially sustainable branch of the NREC develops research-based K-12 educational content used by millions of students in formal and informal educational settings across the world. The NREC continues to push into new markets and recently began work on SensaBot, an inspection robot for offshore petroleum production facilities.

Sponsored research at the NREC increased from $16.9 million in fiscal year 2005 to $24.8 million in fiscal year 2010; during the same five-year period, industry-sponsored research increased from $853,000 to $8.7 million. The center, which now employs 120 people, is in the process of expanding its Lawrenceville facility.

“As NREC director it was clear to me that for many mobile robot applications, the technology is now matured enough to sustain a robust products business,” Bares said. “We believe NREC, Carnegie Robotics and western Pennsylvania are uniquely positioned to capitalize on this opportunity.”

The Robotics Institute is part of Carnegie Mellon’s School of Computer Science. Follow the school on Twitter @SCSatCMU.

READ FULL ARTICLE

GlobalPittsburgh Coordinates Education Partnership Aimed at Increasing International Student Enrollment and Retention in Greater Pittsburgh Region

GlobalPittsburgh has formed a consortium of colleges, universities and other organizations in the Greater Pittsburgh Region with the goal of increasing international student enrollment and retention by 10 percent in the next five years.

Study Pittsburgh! is the marketing theme of the GlobalPittsburgh Education Partnership (GPEP), which is a new initiative of GlobalPittsburgh, a non-profit organization that for 50-plus years has hosted international visitors through the U.S. Department of State and other agencies. In 2010, GlobalPittsburgh embarked on this initiative to increase international student enrollment in the Greater Pittsburgh Region by 10 percent in the next five years.

The Study Pittsburgh! campaign reaches around the world attracting international and globally-minded students to study at one of the many top-notch accredited institutions and English Language programs in the Greater Pittsburgh Region.

The campaign also has the effect of building the Pittsburgh brand to a universal audience as a desirable, highly livable city, a center for innovation and entrepreneurship, and an education and cultural hub. It also will connect with students when they are attending school in the Region.

Increasing the number of international students in the Region has many positive benefits. For universities it means higher enrollment numbers, often at full tuition, greater on-campus diversity as a positive recruiting tool, an expanding global alumni network, and greater visibility in a worldwide and increasingly competitive education market.

In economic terms, international students make a significant positive impact, contributing an estimated $2.6 million to the regional economy for every 100 international students enrolled at regional colleges and universities, according to the Institute for International Education.

Known as the GlobalPittsburgh Education Partnership (GPEP), the consortium currently includes 17 participants and is expected to continue growing, according to Roger O. Cranville, President of GlobalPittsburgh, which creates programs for international delegations through the U.S. Department of State and brings together the region’s international communities.

“We’ve had a great response to the program thus far, and we hope to include additional educational institutions and interested organizations in the very near future,” Cranville said. “We plan to use GlobalPittsburgh’s resources to raise the visibility of the region’s outstanding educational opportunities around the world, and also to help engage incoming students and their families once they arrive in the region.”

Partner institutions currently include:
• Carlow University
• Chatham University
• Community College of Allegheny County
• Duquesne University
• Indiana University of Pennsylvania
• La Roche College
• Penn State – Beaver
• Penn State – Greater Allegheny
• Penn State – New Kensington
• Point Park University
• Robert Morris University
• University of Pittsburgh English Language Institute
• University of Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School of Business
• Washington and Jefferson College
• West Virginia University
• West Liberty University

Participation in the GPEP also provides access for students to the GlobalPittsburgh CONNECT program, which helps international students, professionals and families settle into the community by offering more than 30 activities per year, including orientations, networking events, hospitality dinners with American hosts and other services.

“Through our existing international connections, including U.S. and foreign embassies and consulates around the world, we have already begun to promote the Pittsburgh region’s broad spectrum of educational programs,” Cranville said. “Our GPEP partners already have had numerous opportunities to meet with high-level international officials interested in connecting with the Pittsburgh region.”

In recent weeks, GPEP participants have met with several government delegations, including ambassadors from Vietnam and the Republic of Georgia, and from Lagos, Nigeria, the second largest city in Africa. Coordinated by GlobalPittsburgh, these meetings have led to serious discussions about admissions opportunities and educational partnerships in such areas as faculty training and transfer programs.

About 7,000 international students are currently enrolled in colleges and universities in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, according to the Institute for International Education in Washington, D.C. Eighty percent of those students are enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, creating opportunities for growth at the other 25-plus institutions in the region.

“The CONNECT program provides a wonderful addition to support on our campuses for international students by providing integration with the larger community,” said Dr. Sabine C. Klahr, Assistant Vice President for International Affairs at Chatham University.

“This partnership will provide valuable resources and connections for regional higher education institutions for recruiting international students, developing cooperation with institutions across the world, and expanding our global footprint,” she said. “This will also assist institutions to develop ties to business and organizations that will help us expand our international dimension and provide services and programs to audiences beyond students.”

Curtiss E. Porter, PhD., Chancellor of Penn State Greater Allegheny in McKeesport, said his ongoing relationship with GlobalPittsburgh enhances the university’s goal to be an international campus.

“We are committed to student success, global citizenship and engagement in the region, the commonwealth, in our nation and through our international partnerships,” Dr. Porter said. “Like all of the Penn State campuses in the Greater Pittsburgh area, we appreciate our partnership with GlobalPittsburgh. We are happy to be part of a University-Community partnership that will make life better for all."

Michael Wilhelm, Director of the Office of International Students and Scholars at WVU, said “My colleagues and I at the Office of International Students and Scholars at West Virginia University are proud to have the chance to participate in an organization like GPEP. Not only will it help spread the word about WVU to prospective students around the globe, but the Connect program will allow the 1,500 international students currently at WVU to interact with even more students from their home countries who are also studying in the region.

About GlobalPittsburgh
For more than 50 years, GlobalPittsburgh, formerly known as the Pittsburgh Council for International Visitors, has forged relationships between the Greater Pittsburgh Region and the global community through citizen diplomacy – connecting people and institutions in the region with audiences around the world through a wide range of hosting, training, networking, educational and outreach programs and services.

GlobalPittsburgh engages international delegations, groups and individuals by creating itineraries and facilitating introductions through the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program and other international programming agencies in many fields, including energy and environment, life sciences and medicine, education, business and technology, clean/green design, advanced manufacturing, arts and culture, government and finance, social services and law, and other areas.

GlobalPittsburgh welcomes individuals and families to engage in citizen diplomacy as dinner and homestay hosts, tour guides, office and event volunteers, and greeters for visiting delegations and individuals.

For more information about GlobalPittsburgh, go to www.globalpittsburgh.org or contact Thomas Buell, Jr., GlobalPittsburgh VP-Communications, at 412-392-4513 or 412-720-2218, or by email at tcbuell@gmail.com. READ FULL ARTICLE