October; 2006
Issue
32
In This
Issue:
* New Consul General
* America & the World
* American West
* Webchats
* E-journal
In August, Anne Hall Consul General of the U.S. Consulate General in Krakow arrived to her new post. Prior to her arrival, she served in the State Department's Bureau of European Affairs from 2001-2005 and in Shanghai, China, from 1997-2000. We asked her to share with us some of her first reflections.
It is about two months since you assumed the responsibility of Consul General at the American Consulate General in Krakow. Have you been to Poland before? Does your new post meet your expectations? Except for a brief visit for one week in April of this year, I had never been to Poland before. I chose to come to Poland and specifically to Krakow for the opportunity to contribute to the longstanding Polish American friendship and alliance at an important time in Polish history: Poland has secure borders, is a member of NATO commands coalition forces in Iraq, and is a key EU member state. Of course I had also heard that Krakow is a very beautiful city and I have to say that the reality that I've encountered here even exceeds my high expectations. When I arrived I found an extraordinarily beautiful city with wonderful cultural opportunities, a dynamic economy and warm friendly people. I've had excellent meetings thus far in Krakow and other cities in the southern Poland, such as Wroclaw, Rzeszów, and Przemysl. What issues would you most like to deal with during your three-year appointment? The first priority in any post is to support American citizens abroad. We also work to facilitate and support American business abroad. Many of the American investors who are already here are expanding and other businesses are looking at coming into the region, so I am very optimistic about what that means for Poland, for the Polish people. We have a tremendous new American Corner in Wroclaw. It is right on the Rynek in Wroclaw. It's fully equipped and modern and ready for all sorts of activities. We intend to use the American Corner to its fullest potential, inviting guest speakers and working closely with universities and schools so that their students are able to take full advantage of the resources at the center. I am also interested in reaching out to elementary and high schools. We have a very strong team of new officers at the Consulate who look forward to visiting small towns as well as large. It is important for us to get to know students and for them to have a chance to meet someone from the United States and just talk to us. In what respect do you expect your work here to be different or similar to your past assignments? In what way may your experience prove useful in your present post? In some ways we do many of the same things wherever we are. Certainly we reach out to leaders of the community, we organize cultural events and bring in speakers from the United States and of course we support American business and American citizens living and working in our Consular district. However, there is something unique and special about working and living in Krakow. It's a delight to be in a country and in a region where we already have such a well established friendships. This is what we strive for always and in many ways we already have it here. In that respect Krakow is different than any other place I have experienced. That's not saying that there is not a lot more to be done. There are sometimes differences of opinion. For example, we can do more to try to explain our position on biotechnology issues. I think we also could do more to help Poles understand some of the good things we're doing in the area of technology that's environmentally friendly. So, in a sense the work is similar, but the environment that we have here is extraordinarily positive. I cannot imagine working with better friends than the Poles.
America & the World - Editorial Art Exhibit
The United States Consulate General in Krakow and Dolnośląska Public Library invite you to an exhibit: "America & The World, 1990-2006: Editorial Art from INX Group, USA", which opens October 11th, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. at the Dolnośląska Public Library, Rynek 58 in Wrocław. The exhibit will be on display October 11 -31, 2006.
The exhibit was the brainchild of Polish cartoonist Janusz Kapusta, a member of INX, and presents highly opinionated editorial page drawings by more than 50 illustrators on various topics: from today's war on terrorism and gas prices to global warming. Displayed chronologically, the show serves as an illustrated history lesson full of biting humor, surprising insight, startling images and extraordinary craft.
INX (a play on "inks") group was founded in the U.S. in 1980 by 12 political cartoonists trying to produce and sell uncensored political images. In 2002 the group decided to link with the United Features Syndicate. Newspapers and other publications download cartoons they wish to use. Their clients include the Boston Globe, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Seattle Times, and the Washington Post.
- Janusz Kapusta's work
Klub Niezależnych Stowarzyszeń Twórczych in Katowice in cooperation with Public Affairs Section of the US Consulate in Krakow will show the photo exhibit titled " American West " at Marchołt Gallery, ul. Wrocławska 37 in Katowice from October 25 to November 17.
The exhibition features 60 photos of the most beautiful landscapes of the western parts of the United States. Wiesław Pikul, the photographer, is a Polish and American citizen. He was born in Żabno near Tarnow, but at the end of seventies he emigrated to the U.S. where he spent most of his free time traveling and taking pictures of the natural beauty of American West. Photography is his passion and hobby. Since 1997 he has been a member of Wright Camera Club at the Wright College in Chicago. He has participated in various photographic competitions in the US winning dozens of awards. Three times he has won the award for the nature photographs from Chicago Area Camera Clubs Association. His pictures were published in many calendars in the US and Poland.
For more information please contact Galeria Marchołt Katowice. ul. Warszawska 37. phone: 032 253 07 38.
Please join us at online discussions with U.S. experts. Upcoming webchat:
Join Matt Cherry and Doug Johnston, two prominent leaders of international NGOS devoted to religious freedom, in a webchat about the role of NGOs in advocating freedom of religion and belief.
Date: October 17 (Tuesday), 2006
Time: 16:00 (Polish time)
http://usinfo.state.gov/usinfo/USINFO/Products/Webchats/cherry_17_oct_2006.html
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Electronic Journal: U.S. Foreign Policy in the 21st Century, Regional Issues
Introduced by Secretary Rice, this electronic journal features essays by each regional bureau Assistant Secretary outlining U.S. policy in that region. Each essay also explains the Assistant Secretarys personal vision for that region, and outlines how the Secretary's "transformational diplomacy" will help international partners build and sustain democratic, well-governed states.
E-journal available at: http://usinfo.state.gov/journals/itps/0906/ijpe/ijpe0906.htm
U.S. Foreign Policy
in the 21st Century,
Regional Issues
U.S. Consulate General, ul.
Stolarska 9, Krakow, tel.: 12 424-5100
PRIVACY