THE AMERICAN CONSULATE GENERAL 
                                                                                                                  

For Immediate Release                                                                                 February 12, 2007

 

U.S. Consulate Inaugurates
Bermuda Voluntary Visitor Alumni Association

The American Consulate has established for the first time in Bermuda a Voluntary Visitor (VolVis) Alumni Association, composed of a mix of Bermuda Government officials and nongovernmental professionals who have taken part in the State Department’s VolVis exchange program. 

The Consulate launched its VolVis Program in 2005 and has already sent two Bermudian teams to the United States to meet with and learn from experts in their fields and to observe successful programs in action, as well as to share Bermuda’s success stories with their U.S. counterparts. The Consulate works with members of the community to identify a theme for the visit, while Main State in Washington, D.C. assembles an itinerary based on the team’s goals and objectives. 

Bermuda’s inaugural VolVis team focused on youth development.  Led by Dr. Derrick Binns, formerly permanent secretary of the Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs, the five-strong team traveled to Washington, DC, New York, Boston, Atlanta, Jacksonville and Chicago over an intensive ten-day period.  Mrs. Kennette Robinson, Acting Director of the Department of Child and Family Services, led the second team whose focus was on healthy families and healthy children.  They also traveled to Washington, New York and Florida.

At Friday’s convening of the Alumni Association, U.S. Consul General Gregory W. Slayton expressed his hope that the VolVis Program will be continued on an annual basis. He said, “The VolVis Exchange Program is an important public diplomacy tool reflecting the cooperative nature of the relationship between the United States and Bermuda.” 

The first task of the Bermuda VolVis Alumni Association – which plans to meet on a quarterly basis – was to brainstorm ideas for the 2007 VolVis trip planned for later this year. The alumni voiced strong support for a visit focusing on vocational training and coordinated delivery of services.

There are over 23,000 State Alumni around the world, providing members an opportunity to network and to participate in discussion panels and on-line web chats with guest experts.