CHOOSING CIVILITY | Connecting effectively, relating with kindness.™
September 2008
FOUNDER'S MESSAGE
Six years ago a view of the protocol and etiquette industry would have revealed the lack of a common arena where practitioners in the field could congregate, exchange ideas, and have a forum for their voices. The International Association of Protocol Consultants® & Officers (IAPC) was founded in September 2002 as a non-profit 501(c)6 organization to address this frequently expressed need and to provide a third-party / peer reviewed education for all professionals interested in civility, etiquette, and international protocol. I am pleased to report that with the help of those who gave of their time and talent, IAPC has accomplished what it set out to do.
A brief look back illuminates some of what IAPC has achieved, for example:
Convening a first-ever Washington DC conference that brought together the leading industry icons, acclaimed authors, global professionals from Fortune 500 companies, consulting firms, and sole proprietorships whose daily lives are geared to the protocol and etiquette industry
Earning the designation as the official protocol and continuing education advisors to the Joint Military Attaché School, US Defense Intelligence Agency
Attaining third-party membership approval by the Convention Industry Council
Establishing an educational relationship with the esteemed Emily Post Institute
Building a global executive membership roster that also includes professionals from Fortune 500 companies, the United Nations, the U.S. Department of State, and the executive offices of The White House
Like any organization that seeks to build on its accomplishments and evolve to a higher level consistent with its core philosophy and principles, IAPC will now take on a proactive role in the current national discussion concerning civility. Our intention is to re-focus, starting today, the thinking and resources of IAPC on this critically important subject area. Accordingly, our future role is to 'study civility.' We will continue to use our acronym IAPC, but with its new descriptor emphasizing 'promoters of civility.'
It is our intent to continue offering programs on Civility, Country-Specific Do's and Taboos, and Protocol; to share resources freely on our public Web site; and to conduct web polls born in part by your feedback. We have reserved our site's password protected area, customized surveys, and priority event registration for members.
Through the Web site, electronic newsletters, and biennial conferences, I will work to strengthen the relationships developed since the Association's founding. IAPC's 'Choosing Civility Conference' will be held in the fall of 2009. Details will follow in due course.
To all who have been a part of and supported our organization, and to all who may be visiting our Web site for the first time, please join me as we enter this new dimension. Registration for 'new' Membership available 1 January 2009.
Sincerely,
Alinda Lewris IAPC Founder & Executive Director
IAPC | Executive Education in Civility, Country-Specific Do's and Taboos, and Protocol | Washington DC
International Association of Protocol Consultants®, Certified Protocol Consultant®, CPC®, Certified Protocol Officer®, and CPO® are Service Marks filed and registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
