CommuniquéThursday, May 12

Doing Business with France Join the Minnesota International Center’s train à grande vitesse (TGV) to explore doing business with France, in France and with the French! With more than 1 billion dollars in commercial transactions between France and the U.S. and, with a GDP of nearly $2.9 tril-lion, France is truly an important economic and trade powerhouse. Don’t miss the political and business insights of leaders from both sides of the Atlantic. All aboard for everything you need to know about the ins and outs of doing business with France! Welcome: Governor Mark DaytonKeynote: His Excellency François Delattre, French Ambassador to the U.S.

The Experts:

The Stops along the Route: Take this Journey because France:

When: Thursday, May 12; 7:30 A – 1:15 PWhere: Radisson Plaza, 35 South Seventh Street, Downtown Minneapolis Cost: $150 for MIC and FACC members; $185 for nonmembers. Advance registration requested.

LATE SPRING EDITION 2011  |  Inspiring our Community to Understand Global Issues and Cultures in an Ever Changing Wor ldwww.micglobe.org  |   612.625.4421

DOING BUSINESS WITH FRANCE BUSINESS SYMPOSIUM

MAY 12, 2011RADISSON PLAZA

DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS

SPONSORED BY

BUSINESS INVESTMENT

BETWEEN MINNESOTA AND FRANCE

DOING BUSINESS WITH FRANCE BUSINESS SYMPOSIUM

MAY 12, 2011RADISSON PLAZA

DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS

SPONSORED BY

BUSINESS INVESTMENT

BETWEEN MINNESOTA AND FRANCE

• Elsa Berry, President – French American Chamber of Commerce New York

• Jean François Boittin, Minister Counsel-or for Economic and Commercial Affairs – French Embassy in Washington, D.C.

• Pierre Antoine Gailly, UCIFFE/Paris Chamber of Commerce

• Hubert Joly, President and CEO – Carl-son Companies

• Ken Powell, CEO – General Mills• Mark Ritchie, Minnesota Secretary of

State• Kathleen Smith Ruhland, Partner, Co-

Chair International, Faegre & Benson LLP

Saturday, June 18

Une Soirée Manifique! MIC’s Gala Benefit this year is your chance to spend an evening in France without crossing the Atlantic! Enjoy fabulous French food and wine; bid on spectacular items such as weekend stays at Hilton Hotels in Versailles, Strasbourg and Lyon, courtesy of Hilton International; din-ner for 6 at the British Consular residence in Chicago; and the use of Ecolab’s suite for a Twins game, in our Tour the World live and silent auctions; meet and greet friends and other MIC members – all while supporting your favorite nonprofit … the Minnesota International Center. The gala will take place on the lovely grounds of a French-styled chateau built in the 1930s. The menu, designed by travel and culinary professional Sara Monick, will include es-cargots, chaud-froid de poulet, beef tenderloin béarnaise and, of course, pâtés and fromages. French native and MIC board member Natalie Joly is chairing the event, with Ambassador François Rivasseau, deputy chief of mission and chargé d’affaires for the French Embassy in Washington, D.C., attending as Guest of Honor. Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 18, and watch for invitations in the mail.

When: Saturday, June 18; 4:30 – 8:00 P Cost: Tickets start at $200 per person (Patron and Underwriter opportunities are available at $500, $1000, $2500, $5000)

WILL YOU MEET THE CHALLENGE?The Minnesota International Center has received a $10,000 Challenge Grant from a generous MIC member.

Each dollar of new and increased giving from MIC’s community will be matched with $1 from the Challenge Grant Fund. This is an excellent way to multiply your giving dollars and sustain MIC’s programs, bringing the world to your doorstep.

ARE YOU CURRENTLY A MEMBER? BUY A NEW GIFT MEMBERSHIP FOR A FRIEND. OR INCREASE YOUR GIFT TO US AND HAVE IT DOUBLED. NOT A DONOR TO MIC YET? CONTRIBUTE NOW!

EVERY NEW CONTRIBUTION OF ANY AMOUNT, WILL HELP US MEET OUR CHALLENGE.

We have until the end of our fiscal year, June 30, 2011, to meet the Challenge. Help us now and double your contribution!

• Fiscal, social and labor reforms• Currency issues• Trade legislation in France and the E.U.• Sustainable development, renewable ener-

gies and infrastructure• France’s leadership of the G20• Strategies to attract French invest-

ment to Minnesota and vice versa

• Is the world’s 5th largest economy and top tourist destination;

• Has substantial agricultural resources, a large industrial base and a highly-skilled workforce;

• Is the U.S.’s 8th largest trading partner;• Ranks 17th out of Minnesota’s 205 ranked

trading partners - a relationship worth $328 million to our businesses in 2010.

media sponsor:

“No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow” ~ ProverbIt has been a long win-ter in Minnesota this year, and, as I write this, I am eagerly anticipating spring. I am also excited

about a wonderful line-up of programs at MIC. We are following up on our focus on Malay-sia in 2010 with a visit from former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Badawi in late May. He will be speaking about “Islam and the West”, which should make for a fascinating evening. We will be hosting another mouth-watering Culture through Cuisine event for MIC members and guests at Atlas Grill, a renowned Persian restaurant in the heart of downtown Minneapo-lis. Remember, this is a relaxing and delicious way to introduce friends and family to MIC. Our focus country for 2011 is, of course,

France and we have an outstanding French business symposium on May 12. A number of notable speakers have been lined up for this event, including His Excellency François De-lattre, French ambassador to the U.S., with a welcome address by Governor Mark Dayton. Our Celebration of France gala will be hosted on the gorgeous grounds of a French-styled chateau with a wonderful French buf-fet (food again!) and fabulous travel pack-ages and other items of interest in our live and silent Tour the World auctions. It’s going to be a tasty couple of months and I look forward to seeing you at one or all of our events.

Carol Engebretson Byrne President, Minnesota International Center

Letter from the President MIC Contributors & Corporate MembersPremier ($50,000+)Delta Air Lines, Inc.Medtronic, Inc./Medtronic Foundation

Millennium ($30,000+)3M/3M FoundationGeneral Mills, Inc./General Mills Foundation

Senior Global ($20,000+)Best Buy Co., Inc./Best Buy Children’s Foundation

CargillCarlson and The Curtis L. Carlson Family Foundation

Global ($15,000+) Sit Investment Associates, Inc.Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

Executive ($10,000+) The Mosaic Company

Leadership Patron ($5,000+) Colwell Industries, Inc.Donaldson Co., Inc.Dorsey & Whitney LLP/Dorsey & Whitney Foundation

Ecolab Inc./Ecolab FoundationFaegre & Benson LLPGeorge Family FoundationHorton Holding, Inc. The Lakeland CompaniesPropel Event Transportation ManagementTarget CorporationThe Toro CompanyUnited Health GroupU.S. Bank/Elavon

Contributing Patron ($2,500+) David Winton Bell FoundationFredrikson & Byron, P.A.KPMG LLPRobins, Kaplan, Miller & CiresiWanner Engineering

Associate Patron ($1,000+)ACIST Medical Systems Athwin FoundationBellcomb Technologies, Inc.Bepex International LLCC.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.Gray Plant MootyImationMedicaMinneapolis Area Association of REALTORSPolaris IndustriesSt. Jude Medical

Associate ($500+)Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER)

Global Language InstituteHamre, Schumann, Mueller & Larson, P.C.iCre8, Inc.TripleInk

Sponsoring Hotels The Marquette HotelRadisson Plaza Hotel

Late Spring Edition 2011 | Communiqué

Monday, May 16

Culture through Cuisine: PersiaFor MIC Members and Guests ONLY Join us for a dinner of Persian food created especially for MIC members and their guests. There will be invited guests to discuss the history of Persia and the evolution of its cuisine. The prix-fixe menu will include: Appetizers and salad; Fire-roasted meats and fish; Ghormeh sabzi (including meat and vegetarian options); Saffron basmati rice and dill basmati rice; Roasted vegetable accompaniments; Persian ice cream prepared on-site; Tea and coffee.

When: Monday, May 16; 6:30 P – 8:30 PWhere: The Atlas Grill and Clubroom, 200 South 6th Street, downtown MinneapolisCost: $40 per person (includes gratuity and tax). Cash bar available (tax will apply) Advance registration REQUIRED

IN TRIBUTE Dr. Forrest MooreThe MIC community was saddened by the passing on February 28, 2011 of Dr. Forrest Moore. Forrest was a strong advocate for global education and international understanding and was the first Director of the Office of International Education at the Uni-versity of Minnesota and one of the founders of the Association of Inter-national Educators (NAFSA). While serving at the University, he was a co-founder of the Minnesota Inter-national Center which continues to promote international understand-ing across the state of Minnesota. Our sincere condolences go to For-rest’s family; he will be greatly missed.

“Great idea! We went last night and had a wonderful time, trying new food and get-ting to know MIC members and staff.”~ MIC member, David Lingo after last month’s Culture through Cuisine at Meritage Restaurant

Monday, May 23

Islam and the WestBuilding on our successful Celebration of Malaysia last year, MIC is offering a public program featuring His Excellency Tun Abdullah Badawi, former Malaysian prime minister, with a reception immediately following the event. His Excellency Tun Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi was the fifth Prime Minister of Malaysia from 2003 – 2009. Previously, he served as Ministers of Education, Defence, Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs and Finance, and Deputy Prime Minister. In 2003 he succeeded Mahathir Mohamad as Prime Minister, building a progressive and modern multi-racial society as well promoting wide-ranging reforms. Cosponsors: The Humphrey School of Public Affairs and the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights

When: Monday, May 23; 4:00P – 7:00 PWhere: Cowles Auditorium, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, 301 19th Ave. S., MinneapolisCost: FREE but advance registration requested

YEAR OF FRANCE EVENT

Where: St. Anthony Main Theatre When: Thursday, April 28 (7:30 P); or Sunday, May 1 (1:45 P)Cost: Discounted price for MIC members $9. Identify yourself as an MIC member at the box office.

Thursday, April 28 or Sunday, May 1

“The Hedgehog”As part of the Year of France in Minnesota, MIC is sponsoring the French film, “The Hedgehog”, at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival. “The Hedgehog” is the screen adaptation of an international best-seller “The Elegance of the Hedgehog” by Muriel Barbery. The book follows events in the life of a concierge, Renée Michel, whose deliberately concealed intelligence is uncovered by Paloma, the unstable but intellectually precocious daughter of an upper-class family living in the upscale Parisian apartment building where Renée works. The International Film Festival runs from April 14 – May 5 and features more than 170 films from 50 countries. For further information on all the films, visit www.mspfilmfest.org/2011.

Late Spring Edition 2011 | Communiqué

Recently, MIC families hosted 16 students from Ritsumei-kan Asia Pacific University in Japan who were here for a six-week Intensive English and U.S. Culture Program in February and March at the University of Minnesota.

Working with the U of M, MIC arranged these homestays to help students experience daily life in the U.S. They had a good sam-ple of Minnesota winter, including a snowstorm that closed the U of M for half a day! And, they enjoyed activities as varied as cooking, baking, shopping, skiing, attending a Timberwolves game, a Guth-rie Theatre performance, MIC’s World Cultures Day, and the opera. They experienced from afar the catastrophe in Japan (for-tunately, their families were not directly affected). One host commented that “We loved it all.” Another stated that they en-joyed “Seeing things through [their student’s] eyes, looking at her pictures, hearing about her home and what she does in Japan.” While this was a six-week homestay, MIC sometimes arranges homestays for a weekend. Hosts are required to undergo an applica-tion process. If you are interested, please contact MIC at 612.625.4421 or email Carol Steinberg at csteinbe@umn.edu.

Anna Hewitt

The NCIV National Meeting brought me to our nation’s capital for the first time in my life. I had always dreamed of visiting Washington, and when I caught the first glimpse of the Washington Monument through the cab window, I felt tears spring to my eyes. Surrounded by great reminders of the past, I cherished the opportunity

to celebrate the past and look forward to the future with the NCIV community. While conversing with the Ambassador to the Netherlands, bright new pictures of the world appeared before my eyes … pictures of diverse cultures coming together to embrace differences and work for the good of all people. And upon meeting Minnesota Congressmen Paulsen and Ellison,

I saw myself and others as more than individuals, rather, as people with the wonderful power to reach across boundaries of position and opinion to touch each other’s lives in profoundly meaningful ways. One evening, I had the opportunity to go with the other emerging leaders on a walking tour of the monuments. The night was perfect, wrapping around us all like a soft, indigo blanket as we gazed at the pristine walls of the White House - and while standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, I felt my breath catch as I imagined Dr. King speaking right there, making history. My experiences as an NCIV emerging leader go well beyond those mentioned here; I have filled the pages of a journal with countless memories, which continue to inspire me with hope for the global community we share.

was chosen as an Emerging Leader from Minnesota by the National Council for International Visitors and attended the NCIV 50th Anniversary Meeting in Washington, D.C. in February.

International Visitor Leadership DelegationsMIC hosts the “Women in Leadership” delegation through State Department’s International Visitor Leadership program

The “Women in Leadership” delegation represented 20 African countries, and was part of a larger group of 100 women participating in the “100 Women Initiative: Empowering Women and Girls through International Exchanges”, which was launched by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington, D.C., on March 7. In Minnesota, the African leaders met with their professional counterparts in academia, government and the private sector, and also participated in a day-long leadership workshop at St. Catherine University. In the evenings, MIC members also hosted these women in their homes for dinner. Visiting Minnesota during the same week were 15 distinguished women leaders participating in an IVLP program entitled “Women and Justice”. These women, from 14 different countries, were legal professionals and advocates who were ending their national IVLP

trip in the Twin Cities,meeting with elected officials, legal experts and representatives from resources such as The Advocates for Human Rights and the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center. On the final night of their program, a reception was held for the visitors to meet with community members and reflect on their professional journey. Both delegations ranked Minnesota as a highlight of their itineraries. MIC is grateful to the many resources and hosts who volunteered their time to welcome these distinguished leaders to our community, and for MIC members’ support of the program throughout the year. The National Council for International Visitors (NCIV) is funded by the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State under the authority of the Fulbright-Hayes Act.

2011 Great Decisions Topics Additional Great Decisions Topic: Middle East In order to be as current as possible, MIC has initiated an additional Great Decisions topic for this year because of the rapidly evolving events in the Middle East: The Middle East: A Really New Middle East?To find a discussion group near you, visit MIC’s website at www.micglobe.org.

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Minnesota Sister Cities InternationalAnnual Conference Saturday, April 30; 7:30 A – 4:00 PTheme: Citizen DiplomacyKeynote speaker: Mary Jean Eisenhower, president, People to People International, Kansas CityWhere: Hilton Garden Inn, 1050 Gramsie Road, ShoreviewCost: $35 per person (includes lunch and continental breakfast)For more information or to register: Contact Dolores Strand at dpstrand@usfamily.net or 763.571.1709

Empowerment of Women through Education and Economics Wednesday, May 4; 7:30 PSpeakers: Kjell Magne Bondevik; Ingjerd

Schou; Nyonga Rugamayo AmundsenModerator: Carol Engebretson ByrneWhere: McGuire Theater, Walker Art Center, 1750 Hennepin Avenue, MinneapolisCost: Free and open to the public

Saudi Arabia Trade Mission Debriefing Monday, May 9Faegre & Benson is planning to host a debrief meeting following the completion of the April trade mission to Saudi Arabia.For more information: Contact Sarah Murphy at smurphy@faegre.com or 612 766 8330

Cultural Proficiency Workshops Save 10% on workshops exploring American Indian, Somali, Latino, Hmong and Ethiopian cultures, taught by representatives of each culture. To receive discount, contact Tiffany Rivera-Prescott at 651.789.2513.

DETAILS AND LINKS FOR ALL EVENTS AVAILABLE ON MIC’S WEBSITE WWW.MICGLOBE.ORG

Inspiring our Community to Understand Global Issues and Cultures in an Ever Changing Wor ld

Cosponsored & Ongoing Programs

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CommuniquéLATE SPRING EDITION 2011

@dulguun_mongolia> i enjoy see-ing amazed eyes of students. it reminds me of how diverse and beautiful our wor ld is#

@mandre_guatemala> world cultures days remind me of being a child again—innocent, curious, and open to new experiences and above all giving a sincere smile#

@diana_armenia> each wor ld cul-tures day is memorable. it creates a space where we all enjoy diverse cultures, share our values and dream about peace on our planet#

@nnabuchi_nigeria> it’s an honor for me that the students are really interested in knowing about what it’s like to live in my country#

@saskia_germany> showing inter-est in one another always gets you far. to be open and interested in the wor ld means to be willing to learn about each other and understand our unique cultures#

@chaw_burma> i just want people from the u.s. to know where burma is and know more about my culture and customs# @maria_gali_spain> i feel really

happy when students tell me that they would love to come to my country. that’s impressive#

@dusan_serbia> kids teach us too. we learn about their lifestyles and how to find common grounds for a greater understanding#

@salvador_nicaragua> i feel every wor ld cultures day not only helps me make new friends but also makes me a better human being. it’s a wonderful experience#

“culture is the widening of the mind and of the spirit.” ~ jawaharlal nehru (indian prime minister, 1889-1964)

photo: mic international speakers with 5th graders at lincoln center

elementary in south saint paul

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Wednesday, April 13

20th Anniversary20th anniversary of the signing of the Sister City relationship between Tours and Minneapolis

Ongoing

French ClassesAs an MIC member, you can register for French lessons at a special AF member rate. To register, call 612.332.0436 and identify yourself as an MIC member.

YEAR OF FRANCE OPPORTUNITIES