GlobalPittsburgh Hosting Visiting Energy, Environment and Cultural Delegations From Around the World in Coming Weeks

GlobalPittsburgh has arranged for short-term, Spanish-speaking homestay hosts for a group of 21 students from Bolivia, Peru and Paraguay on the weekend of January 20-22, 2012.

These students, ranging in age from 19-25, are participating in a U.S. State Department sponsored program entitled Study of the United States Institute at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Host families for the project will have their guests share in their regular weekend activities to help them to better understand American culture.

Last July, 11 host families welcomed students from Columbia, Ecuador and Venezuela into their homes for a weekend homestay for the same program. Those 18 English-speaking students, also participants in the Study of the United States Institute at George Mason University, were ecstatic about having the opportunity to stay with hosts and learn firsthand about life in the U.S.

Future programs currently in the planning stages at GlobalPittsburgh include:

February – A delegation of government officials, business representatives and educators from Andorra, Croatia, Greece, Ireland, Montenegro, Romania, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom will come to Pittsburgh to study Public-Private Partnerships. (This program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program.)

February – A delegation of government officials, business representatives and educators from Bolivia, Bulgaria, Hungary, India, Iraq, Israel, Nepal, Pakistan, Poland, Slovak Republic, South Africa, Tunisia and Vietnam will travel to both Morgantown, W.Va., and Pittsburgh to learn about energy and climate policy challenges, alternative energy research and development , and to discuss strategies to develop and secure diverse energy supplies (This program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program.)

February – Two energy experts from Indonesia will travel to the Pittsburgh region to learn more about water issues, urban forestry and environmental conservation, and fuel cell technology. (This program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program.)

March – A group of environmental leaders and policymakers from Kazakhstan will come to study energy and environmental issues in the region. (This program is sponsored by the Open World Leadership Center at the Library of Congress.)
For more information about becoming a GlobalPittsburgh host, please CLICK HERE.
READ FULL ARTICLE

GlobalPittsburgh Co-Hosting Feb. 22 Immigration Law Workshop For International Students, Employers and Administrators

GlobalPittsburgh will co-host an immigration law workshop for international students, employers and university administrators on Wednesday, February 22 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the University Club, Ballroom B, in Oakland.

Also hosting the event are Vibrant Pittsburgh, Cohen & Grigsby and the Immigration Law Clinic of University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

The workshop will focus on Immigration and Employment Strategies for Hiring and Retaining Foreign Students and Graduates. Topics will include pre- and post-graduation employment options for foreign students, temporary work visas, green cards and immigration-related tax issues.

A presentation by the law firm of Cohen & Grigsby will be followed by an employer panel and a networking reception.

AGENDA
Welcome – Vibrant Pittsburgh 3:00 - 3:05 p.m.
Cohen & Grigsby Immigration Workshop 3:05 - 4:15 p.m.
• Pre- and Post-Graduation Employment Options for Foreign Students
• Temporary Work Visas
• Green Cards
• Immigration-Related Tax Issues
Employer Panel 4:15 - 5:00 p.m.
Networking Reception 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. 

Registration is requested. Please CLICK HERE to register.
READ FULL ARTICLE

Pittsburgh Hosting Intel International Science & Engineering Fair in May; Volunteers and Judges Needed

Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2012
David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania May 13-18, 2012

The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF), a program of Society for Science & the Public, the world's largest international pre-college science competition, is coming to Pittsburgh.

The premier global science competition for students in grades 9–12 provides an annual forum for more than 1,500 high school students from 65 countries, regions, and territories to display their independent research.

Volunteers Needed - Why Volunteer at Intel ISEF?
- Gain personal satisfaction and inspiration from these motivated young scientists and engineers.
- Support STEM education in Pittsburgh.
- Earn community service or outreach credit from your business, school, or institution.
- Take a break and give back to a good cause.

GENERAL VOLUNTEERS 
More than 500 volunteers across a spectrum of activities are needed. Volunteer opportunities are available during the week in a range of shifts. We encourage you to explore all of the volunteer opportunities and experience Intel ISEF in your community. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

JUDGES
Judges are needed in 17 scientific disciplines across the sciences. Judging will take place at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center starting on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 15 through Wednesday, May 16, 2012. Judges must have a Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent (D.O., Ed.D., D.D.S., D.V.M., etc.) OR a minimum of six years related professional experience beyond receiving their B.A., B.S., or Master’s degree. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

INTERPRETERS 
Student teams from 65 countries, regions, and territories participate in Intel ISEF. Approximately 200 interpreters are needed to work with students in conversational or scientifically-informed interpretation. Greatest demand is for Spanish, Russian, and Mandarin, but there is need anticipated for over a dozen languages. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Contact us to learn more about volunteer opportunities at the Intel ISEF 2012 in Pittsburgh. READ FULL ARTICLE

GlobalPittsburgh First Thursdays - Feb. 2 at Coriander India Grill & Bar - Great Networking Opportunities - FREE!

The GlobalPittsburgh First Thursdays event for February will be held at Coriander India Grill & Bar on Thursday, February 2 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Join us for an evening of friends, music and good spirits with an international flair. This will be a great event for new students, internationals and globally-minded people from all over.

Coriander India Grill & Bar is located at 2201 Murray Avenue in Squirrel Hill.

GlobalPittsburgh First Thursdays is a regular monthly night of networking and socializing with different themes, different activities and different locations - but always with an international flavor - on the first Thursday of every month.

There will be free appetizers, bar specials, prize drawings and more. Admission is FREE and open to everyone (there will be GlobalPittsburgh membership information if you want to sign up at the door). 

For more information, contact Tim Allen at 412-392-4513 or by email at tallen@globalpittsburgh.org. READ FULL ARTICLE

Upcoming Activities Announced for GlobalPittsburgh Members - Now's the Time to Join the GlobalPittsburgh Network!

Here's a list of activities and events planned this Winter and Spring for members of the GlobalPittsburgh Network. (If you're not a member yet, or you know somebody who would like to become a member, CLICK HERE or go to www.globalpittsburgh.org).

Saturday 21 January 2012
The Maridon Museum – We’ll visit the only museum in the Western Pennsylvania region with a specific focus on Chinese and Japanese art and culture. To learn more about the Maridon Museum, CLICK HERE.


Saturday 28 January 2012 
Chinese Spring Festival – We’ll attend a celebration of the lunar new year. Date and location will be determined in January.


Thursday 2 February 2012
First Thursdays - Group dinner/networking event at local restaurant. February location: Coriander India Grill & Bar at 2201 Murray Avenue in Squirrel Hill. 5:30 to 8 p.m. Admission is free.


Saturday 4 February 2012
Snow Tubing - This is like sled riding but on an inner tube. We’ll be able to travel down the chute individually or as a small group. This is a lot a fun!


Saturday 18 February 2012
Volunteer at Global Links - Global Links is a local non-profit to helps hospitals in developing countries by sending them hundreds of tons of useful medical surplus. We’ll volunteer to help them continue to aid those in need. To learn more about Global Links, CLICK HERE.


Thursday 1 March 2012
First Thursdays - Group dinner/networking event at local restaurant. Istanbul Grille at 4130 Butler Street in Lawrenceville. 5:30 - 8 p.m. FREE! CLICK HERE for more information.


Saturday 10 March 2012
Volunteer at a Senior Citizen’s Center - We’ll volunteer at a regional Senior Citizens Center, where members will have an opportunity to share information about their countries and cultures with seniors living in the Pittsburgh region.

Saturday 17 March 2012
St. Patrick’s Day Parade - Experience the largest parade in Pittsburgh’s calendar and it usually had over 20,000 people in the parade. We’ll listen to live marching bands, see live Irish dancing, parade horses, Irish Floats, and lots of GREEN! We’ll then go to a warm restaurant for a group lunch.


Saturday 24 March 2012
Volunteer at a Senior Citizen’s Center - We’ll volunteer at a regional Senior Citizens Center, where members will have an opportunity to share information about their countries and cultures with seniors living in the Pittsburgh region.


Saturday 31 March 2012 
Maple Syrup Festival - We’ll identify maple trees, collect sap, and reduce the sap to syrup. Americans love maple syrup on pancakes and we’ll be able to eat pancakes with freshly made maple syrup! We’ll also have an opportunity to see Civil War Re-enactments, meet mountain men, see/purchase antiques and crafts and more.


Thursday 5 April 2012
First Thursdays -  Group dinner/networking event at local restaurant.  Khalil's II, 4757 Baum Blvd., Pittsburgh ( North Oakland), PA 15213. Come out and meet other globally minded people for an evening of friends, interesting conversation and good spirits with an international flair.

Saturday 14 April 2012
Fallingwater - We’ll see Frank Lloyd Wright's most widely acclaimed work built in 1935 an example of organic architecture - the harmonious union of architecture and nature. This house is built over a waterfall. The house appears to be part of the waterfall and not stand on solid ground. To learn more about Fallingwater, CLICK HERE.


Friday 27 April 2012 

Gallery Crawl - This is always a fun evening that brings members together to see downtown Pittsburgh’s cultural district, opening exhibition receptions at art galleries, and live music and dance  performances. Also members will receive discounts for tickets to the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Distinctively Dutch Festival performance JacobTV “The NEWS” which will begin after the Gallery Crawl.

Thursday 3 May 2012
First Thursdays - Group dinner/networking event at local restaurant. Location to be announced. Send your suggestion for a venue you would like to see included. 


Saturday 12 May 2012
Plant Garden in Oakland - We’ll help the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and plant a garden next to Dippy the Dinosaur in Oakland. We’ll have a fun time while beautifying Pittsburgh!

Saturday 19 May 2012
Kennywood Park - We’ll visit a great American amusement park to ride amazing roller coasters, other amusement park rides. We’ll visit for Kennywood’s Asian Heritage Month celebration. The park will celebrate Asian heritage with Asian foods, music, dance and more. Date may change. To learn more about Kennywood Park, CLICK HERE.


Saturday 2 June 2012
Meadowcroft Rockshelter - We’ll visit Meadowcroft Rockshelter which is the oldest site of human habitation in North America. We’ll learn about the prehistoric hunters and gathers who used it 16,000 years ago. We’ll see a 16th Century Indian village and learn about the Eastern Woodland Native American life 400 years ago. To learn more about the Meadowcroft Rockshelter, CLICK HERE.


Thursday 7 June 2012
First Thursdays -  Group dinner/networking event at Eclipse Lounge at 3705 Butler Street in Lawrenceville. 5:30 - 8 p.m. FREE for GlobalPittsburgh members! CLICK HERE for more information.


Saturday 9 June 2012 
Strawberry Picking - Visit a local berry farm to pick strawberries and try strawberry pie, strawberry jam, strawberries and pancakes, etc. Date to be determined. READ FULL ARTICLE

Pittsburgher Jim Wolf Ties Kilimanjaro Climb to Fundraising for Program to Help African Orphans

Pittsburgher Jim Wolf traveled the world as an executive serving international markets for Mellon Bank and later Standard Chartered Bank, but after retiring a few years ago he found he could not shake the travel bug.

Jim Wolf (3rd from left) on top of
Mt. Kilimanjaro Jan. 20

He found satisfaction in home-building programs in Africa through his Lutheran Church connections, and in raising money for schools and public works projects in Vietnam, where he had served in combat as a U.S. Marine, through the Pittsburgh-based Friends of Danang. But in a recent note to friends, he indicated that he was still looking for something more.

The challenge Wolf chose was to climb 19,300-foot Mt. Kilimanjaro in the central African nation of Tanzania. He is scheduled to reach the summit on Jan. 20, and his plan includes raising money for one of his favorite causes, AIDS orphans in Africa.

“You probably…know that I like challenges and find it hard to sit still for too long,” wrote Wolf, who recently stepped down as a board member and past Chairman of GlobalPittsburgh, formerly Pittsburgh Council for International Visitors. “And having made that decision, I also wanted to do it in such a way that it benefited others, not just me.”

Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania

Wolf is seeking donations to one of the projects in Africa in which he is most involved – 1001 Orphans, which raises funds to clothe, house, educate and feed children in Kenya who have been orphaned by AIDS.

“By working diligently with local schools and churches, we are able to do that for around $30 per child per month – a very small amount of money to give hope to a generation of kids so important to Kenya’s future,” Wolf wrote.

Wolf is also a current member of the boards of directors of the National Council for International Visitors, the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, Brother's Brother Foundation and Concordia Lutheran Ministries.

He also has consulted on international business development issues for the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance, and, through his own initiative, works in concert with the Ambassador to the United States of the People’s Republic of Vietnam and the U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam and their staffs to help to develop trade and investment ties between Vietnam in the United States.

Fundraising for the Mt. Kilimanjaro climb is being directed through Concordia Lutheran Ministries, which is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

A flyer and donation form can be found by CLICKING HERE (page will open in new window).

Tax-deductible donations can be made by check payable to "Concordia Lutheran Ministries Angel Tear Fund" with "Jim Wolf's Kili Climb" on the memo line and mailed to:
Concordia Lutheran Ministries
c/o Development Office
134 Marwood Road
Cabot, PA 16023
READ FULL ARTICLE

Roger Cranville Steps Down as GlobalPittsburgh Executive Director; Donald Bonk Named Acting Executive Director

PITTSBURGH, January 5, 2012 – Giselle Leonardo, Chair of the GlobalPittsburgh Board of Directors, today announced that Roger O. Cranville has stepped down as Executive Director of the organization.

GlobalPittsburgh has contracted with Donald M. Bonk to serve as Acting Executive Director. He served previously as Director of Strategic Business Connections at Carnegie Mellon University under a Heinz Endowments grant. He also earned a Master’s Degree in Public Management at Carnegie Mellon. He spent 7½ years as a Regional Coordinator in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s International Trade Program and has served the past eight years as a member of the U.S. Foreign and Commercial Service’s District Export Council. He is President of the University of Pennsylvania Alumni Club of Western PA/Pittsburgh, a member of the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Pittsburgh Entrepreneur Fund Advisory Committee, and a graduate of Leadership Pittsburgh’s Class XXIV.

“Roger is pursuing other professional goals, and we wish him all the best,” Ms. Leonardo said. “Roger has been particularly valuable in attracting international business leaders and other key opinion leaders to our region. He has contributed greatly to the growth of this organization, which plays a very important role in connecting people, companies, universities, and governments in this region with their counterparts around the world. It also meets the needs of students from other countries who study in the region’s colleges and universities. We are grateful for his strong and lasting commitment to building international connections and global awareness in the greater Pittsburgh region.”

GlobalPittsburgh, formerly the Pittsburgh Council for International Visitors, is a non-profit organization that engages international delegations, groups and individuals by creating itineraries and facilitating introductions through the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) 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.

In an email message this week, Mr. Cranville told recipients "I have decided that after 2.5 years it is time for me to take my next career step. GlobalPittsburgh has been a great experience and enabled me to continue with my passion to contribute to the globalization and resulting economic growth of the Pittsburgh region. In August of 2009, I moved from my position on the board of directors to fulfill the role of Executive Director for PCIV. PCIV is now doing business as GlobalPittsburgh and, as such, has a larger footprint and greater regional impact. GlobalPittsburgh is now more diverse in its programs and services and poised for growth despite these challenging economic times. I thank my GlobalPittsburgh colleagues and members of the Board of Directors for allowing me the privilege of contributing to such a worthwhile organization."

For more information, go to www.globalpittsburgh.org.

Donald M. Bonk
Acting Executive Director
GlobalPittsburgh
650 Smithfield Street, Suite 1180
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Office: (412) 392-4513
Mobile: (814) 244-7888
dbonk@globalpittsburgh.org
www.globalpittsburgh.org
READ FULL ARTICLE