Briefings and Tours

OAS briefings are offered to diplomats, government officials, military officers, university faculty, policy analysts and students, as well as to the general public. The briefings are given by the Director of the Department of External Relations, Irene Klinger, and senior specialists from the various departments of the organization. Briefings are tailored to the specific interests of the visiting groups, covering political, social, legal and economic issues in the Americas as well as the work of the organization. These briefings include tours of the facilities and an historical overview of the organization. For more information on OAS briefings, please contact Irene Klinger, Director, Department of External Relations at (202) 458-6072 or iklinger@oas.org

Tour Information

List of Briefings - May-June 2008

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JUNE 25, 2008	On June 25, ten Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) fellows participated in a tour of the OAS main building. Aline Hommes, Specialist, OAS-USA Relations, Department of International Affairs, headed the tour. Jane Thery, Head, OAS-USA Relations, Department of International Affairs, presented a detailed overview of the OAS. After the briefing, Aline Hommes delighted the fellows with a tour of the Museum of the Americas were they glanced at prominent works of the most notable contemporary artists in the Hemisphere.
JUNE 19, 2008	On June 19, 104 Summer OAS Interns enjoyed a tour of the OAS headquarters headed by Aline Hommes, Specialist, OAS-USA Relations, Department of International Affairs. Irene Klinger, Director of International Affairs, gave an overview of the OAS. Beverly Wharton-Lake, Director, Columbus Memorial Library and Stella Villagran, Head Librarian, gave a brief overview of the Columbus Library and the resources that the library offers. Adriana Ospina, Docent, Art Museum of the Americas, welcomed the interns to the Museum of the Americas.
JUNE 18, 2008	On June 18, 15 University Faculty members of distinct Latin American Universities, sponsored by George Mason University enjoyed a tour of the OAS headquarters headed by Aline Hommes, Specialist, OAS-USA Relations, Department of International Affairs. Jane Thery, Head, OAS-USA Relations, Department of International Affairs presented an overview of the OAS. Jorge Baxter, Specialist, Department of Education and Culture, gave a presentation on the functions, objectives, and initiatives of his department and Adriana Cepeda, Consultant, spoke on Conflict and Resolution on behalf of the Department of Culture and Education
JUNE 17, 2008	On June 17, 15 Members of the Foggy Bottom Association enjoyed a tour of the OAS headquarters headed by Aline Hommes, Specialist, OAS-USA Relations, Department of International Affairs. Jane Thery, Head, OAS-USA Relations, Department of International Affairs presented an overview of the OAS. Adriana Ospina, Docent, Art Museum of the Americas guided the visitors on a tour of the Museum of the Americas.
JUNE 17, 2008	On June 17, 22 Latin American Professionals from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) enjoyed a tour of the OAS headquarters and the Museum of the Americas headed by Aline Hommes, Specialist, OAS-USA Relations, Department of International Affairs. Jane Thery, Head, OAS-USA Relations, Department of International Affairs presented an overview of the OAS.
JUNE 13, 2008	On June 13, 12 law students from the Universidad Tecnológica de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey participating in an Exchange program at Georgetown University Law Center enjoyed a tour of the OAS headquarters headed by Aline Hommes, Specialist, OAS-USA Relations, Department of International Affairs. Jane Thery, Head, OAS-USA Relations, Department of International Affairs presented an overview of the OAS. Hector Ortega, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the OAS, gave a description of the functions and objectives of the Mexican mission to the OAS. Nelly Robinson, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, presented on the Model Organization of American States (MOAS).
JUNE 11, 2008	On June 11, 18 city managers from Porto Alegre, Brazil attending a Seminar at George Washington University, participated in a guided tour of the OAS Headquarters headed by Aline Hommes, Specialist, OAS-USA Relations, Department of International Affairs. Irene Klinger, Director, Department of International Affairs, presented a detailed overview of the OAS.  Ambassador Addor-Neto, Executive Secretary, Secretariat for Multidimensional Security, gave a presentation of Multidimensional Security in the hemisphere. Richard Huber, Chief, Biodiversity and Sustainable Forest Management, Department of Sustainable Development, briefed the group on Sustainable Development in the region. Ambassador Osmar Chohfi, Permanent Representative of Brazil to the OAS, offered a holistic presentation on Brazilian Security and Economic issues.
MAY 20, 2008	On May 20, 10 graduate students enrolled in an International Relations course with Ambassador Donald Planty at the Maxwell School, Syracuse University, visited the OAS. The group received a tour of the historic main building with Aline Hommes, Specialist, OAS-USA Relations, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations. Ambassador Alfonso Quiñonez, Executive Secretary, Executive Secretariat for Integral Development, gave the students an overview of the Organization.
MAY 5, 2008	On May 5, 15 undergraduates from the Washington Semester Program at American University visited the historic headquarters of the OAS.  The students toured the historic building with Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations.  Jane Thery, OAS-USA Relations, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, presented an overview of the Organization
MAY 2, 2008	On May 2, 27 Foreign Service Officers from the Foreign Service Institute visited the historic OAS headquarters.  Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, gave a tour of the historic building.  Jane Thery, OAS – USA Relations, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, gave an overview of the Organization that lead to a lively and informative question-and-answer session.
MAY 1, 2008	On May 1, 30 Latin American Leaders of the American Jewish Committee visited the OAS.  Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations gave them a tour of the historic main building.  Irene Klinger, Director, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations welcomed the group and introduced them to the Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza, who gave them an overview on the organization and spoke about the challenges that the Organization faces in promoting democracy, justice, human rights and protection and security to the people of the Americas.
MAY 1, 2008	On May 1, 35 military students from the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC) visited the OAS.  They began with a tour of the historic building led by Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations.  Jane Thery, OAS-USA, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, welcomed the group and gave them an overview of the OAS.  Karen Bozicovich, Specialist, Department of Sustainable Democracy and Special Missions, Secretariat for Political Affairs, gave a briefing on behalf of the Department for Political Affairs. Debora Benchoam, Specialist, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, spoke on the importance of human rights in relation to officials in the military services. Abraham Stein, Director, Department of the Coordination of Policies and Programs, Secretariat for Multidimensional Security, discussed security issues of the hemisphere.