Our Rotary e-Club of Houston has hosted two Open World teams who will be reunited virtually on February 2, 2024 via zoom to continue our friendships and relationships with speakers on Energy Security. Members of our club will be joined by Rotarians in Corpus Christi who will host another delegation later this year. Anyone is our club is welcome to join us, some who have met these delegates from their previous journey to Texas.
The Open World Leadership Center is the first and only international exchange agency in the U.S. Legislative Branch. Congress established the Center in 2000 to administer the Open World program, which to date has hosted short-term professional visits across the United States for more than 24,000 current and future leaders from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus , Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.
Congressional support for Open World has enabled leaders from countries without a history of representative democracy and independent legislatures to observe these aspects of American government firsthand. Most Open World delegations begin their U.S. visit in Washington, DC, where they often meet with Members of Congress and Congressional aides to discuss the legislative process, constituent relations, and topics related to the specific theme of the delegation’s exchange. These meetings reinforce one of the key messages that Open World exchanges seek to convey, which is that elected officials and their staff can and should be accessible to the public. And Congressional offices in turn get valuable exposure to young leaders who will shape the political and social development of their home countries. Open World also brings together delegates with staff of Congressional organizations such as the Helsinki Commission, and the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, allowing both sides to discuss their concerns and priorities.
During the program on February 2nd we will hear from each team member an employment update, share memories, understand the challenges faced daily during war times, and how they are engaged in community service. We will update the teams on their host families and provide some time for previous speakers to address the teams.
Save the date and watch for a zoom link which will be posted on our website when it is provided by Open World. We will also list it on WhatsApp and send a reminder notice to you. Even if you have not met these delegates I believe it will be an interesting meeting.