COMMERCIAL DIPLOMACY FORUM

Mission Statement:

To provide a forum for Commercial Diplomats to enhance their knowledge of a cross-sector of current and emerging international trade policy issues and create a network that brings Commercial Diplomats to the forefront of international trade policy.

Services/Benefits of Forum:

•  Networking meetings with trade officials and key industry players 

• CD Career Alert

• Commercial Diplomat Quarterly newsletter

•  Webpage -- to include the newsletter, resume posting, links to trade internet sites, etc.

Membership:

• Current Monterey Institute Commercial Diplomacy students and alumni

• Membership free until January 1, 2000, after which there will be a membership fee of $25 per year.  Current students not required to pay membership fees.

Board of Directors:

Members will elect a Board of Directors, which will meet quarterly and whose terms run one year.  The Board and its responsibilities will consist of:

• Chair:

• Being the spokesperson for the group;

• Making introductions at networking meetings; and

• Organizing the CD Career Alert -- biweekly e-mail that includes upcoming conferences and meetings, as well as job and internship listings (includes input from members)

• Vice-Chair:

• Acting as spokesperson in Chair’s absence;

• Liaison with Monterey Institute and Leah Gowran; and

• Organizing the Commercial Diplomat Quarterly newsletter - articles (written by members) to include:

• What We Are Working on -- members will contribute articles on current trade issues on which they are working;

• Where We Are Going -- members will contribute articles on their business trips;

• Who We Are -- initially we will include brief bios on everyone (in following editions, we will expand individual bios);

• Speakers;

• Networking opportunities, meetings, conferences, associations, etc.;

• Career and Internship Opportunities -- focus on current students;

• Useful Trade Internet Sites/Resources; and

• Special section on the Ministerial and New Round issues