In 2008 our International Night was wonderful! It was held on the evening of March 29 at the Embassy of Hungary This year we had students representing: Congo, France, Italy, Japan, and Korea attending: American, George Washington, Georgetown, Howard, and Maryland Many Rotarians contributed to the event, but special thanks to Nabil Bedewi, who managed the event, to Neil Cohen, the MC, and to Alan Cookson, who managed attendance. Very special thanks go to the Ambassador of Hungary, Ferenc Somogyi, who was the perfect host. The affair was catered by international Chef (and Rotarian) Bernard Henry.  http://www.chef-bernard.com/ It was also reported on the Hungarian Embassy web site. Below are our 2008  Scholars with the Rich Carson, our District Governor, and Hungarian Ambassador, Ferenc Somogyi. These are pictures in our April 3, 2008 newsletter.  To see the rest of this newsletter click here.  Click picture above to get some of the pictures from the event The 27th Annual International Night was held on April 14, 2007 at the Embassy of Japan The evening was a tremendous success thanks to the Embassy of Japan and our team of volunteers.  As in past years, of course, it was a special success because of the wonderful presentations by our Ambassadorial Scholars from five countries. We especially want to thank Minister Kimihiro Ishikane, Head of Chancery, The Embassy of Japan, for his support, his wonderful staff, his dramatic and beautiful facilities, and his very meaningful presentation.  Mr. Masaaki Saito, also of the Embassy, helped us each step of the way to make this the success it was.  Yukio Tada, of the DC Rotary Club, was key in helping us plan this event.  We would like to also thank the other volunteers that contributed so much time and effort in making this a success. In the picture below Jerry Gross (to right of lectern), president of our club, is congratulating the scholars.  To his left are Steve Naron, chair and MC for the event, and former District Governor Bob Nelson.  Information on the Scholars and other speakers is below the picture.  To see the evening's program click here.  We were honored to have this event on this special day of Japanese celebration.  The Cherry Blossom Parade was in the morning.  The Sakura Matsuri--Japanese Street Festival was on that day also.  To make it perfect, five of the honored Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship Students are from Japan.    Below is more information and pictures about this and previous International Nights. About International Night The evening honors the Maryland/DC Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship winners. They are part of the largest private scholarship program in the world! Locally and competitively selected non-Rotarian students and professionals from one country attend graduate school in another in order to further international understanding. These are our future world leaders. In addition, Rotary supports many other scholarship, educational, and exchange programs that further international understanding.The Maryland/DC area is a magnet for Rotary Ambassadorial Scholars from around the world because of our important universities and institutions. The highlight of the evening has always been hearing from all these future leaders of the world talk about their countries, their experiences, and their hopes.For information on the scholarship programs and eligibility, please see www.rotary.org/foundation/educational/. If you are local to the Maryland/DC area and are interested in one of these programs, please find a local Rotary club that could sponsor you at www.rotary7620.org. If you are not local to this area but are interested, you should find a local Rotary club. Rotary is in more than 130 countries Scholars at the 2006 International Night telling us about their world. David Hyungsok Chae - Korea, Georgetown University, International Relations, counselor Robert Warne Cordula Albertine Meckenstock, Germany, Law, Georgetown Law, counselor Bill Copp So Rie Lee - Korea, George Washington University, International Development, counselor Steve Naron Dong Lee - Korea, Georgetown University, Public Administration, counselor Hara Jennifer Mariko Watanabe – Japan, Georgetown, International Relations (alumni Scholar 2005) Dr. Mani-Vinod Kurian - India, Catholic University, Biomedical Sciences, counselor Earl Strimple Bree John - Wales, UK, Georgetown Law, International Law, counselor Peter Kyle Vanessa Ulmer - USA, Oxford, UK (outgoing Scholar 2006) Miwa Omori - Japan, George Washington University, Psychology, counselor James Collins Elena Vuolo - Italy, Georgetown University, International Relations, counselor William Cammack Celine Ruault - France, Georgetown Law, International Commercial Law, counselor Yukio Tada Thanks go to WeWillMedia for putting together the video about the Rotary Ambassadorial Program that has been distributed to the District clubs. The 25th Annual International Night happened in April, 2005 at the Johns Hopkins SAIS campusRotary Scholars at our 2005 International Night at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). Six countries were represented. Rotary District 7620 was represented by District Governor Ray Streib (on the left.) In the middle is Steve Naron, president 2004-5 of the Potomac-Bethesda Rotary Club, which has run International Night for 25 years.We thank Kathy Bellows, director of the Georgetown University International Program for providing the facilities for International Night 2006. Georgetown was the local school this year that attracted the most Rotary Scholars. This speaks to Georgetown's strong international reputation. Last year Hopkins had the most Ambassadorial scholarships and so we have some healthy competition going on! The 26th Annual International Night happened on April 22, 2006The event went perfectly! 100% of the incoming scholarship students, four alumni scholars and one of our outgoing scholars were there. On April 22 from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM at Georgetown University's Copley Hall students representing: France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, and the United Kingdom studying: economics, international development, international relations, law, linguistics, medicine, psychology, and public administration attending: American, Catholic, Georgetown, and George Washington Universities Discussed What they like and what they learned What the program meant to them Their impression of the area and their plans And, about their world! We also had an outgoing Ambassadorial Scholar and alumni of the program attending and presenting.This is not a fundraiser. International Night is subsidized by the Potomac-Bethesda Rotary Club to keep the price down and to honor the Scholars. The 2003 International Day at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative’s Office presentation of Rotary District officers. We often hold International Nights in embassies. Most of the years of International Night listed below were chaired by Nadim Salti. 2003 - Taiwan “Twin Oaks” Estate 2002 - Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain 2001 - Embassy of Finland 2000 - Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia 1999 - Embassy of the Republic of Singapore 1998 - Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany 1997 - Embassy of Finland 1996 - Embassy of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 1995 - Embassy of the Czech Republic Other years included embassies of: Albania, Austria, Denmark, France, Italy, Poland, Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland. Some of the non-scholar presenters during the 2006 International Night, starting at the upper left and going clockwise: Bob Kalinoski, Scholars Subcommitte Chair on the process for getting Ambassadorial Scholarships Conrad Fleck, Incoming Scholars Subcommittee Chair on connecting Scholars and Counselors Dick Gordon of the Potomac-Bethesda Rotary Club on the first International Night in 1981 Kanako Allen, an Alumni Scholar guest at the 1981 International Night Steve Naron, International Night Chair and MC Not pictured are our welcoming speakers – Lori Citti, Associate Director, Office of International Programs, Georgetown University and Pat Kasuda, Rotary District 7620 Governor 2006-7 A bit of the mixing at the 2006 International Night. Peter McWhite, President of Potomac-Bethesda Rotary Club, congratulating the Scholars at the 2006 International Night