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 - October-November 2008

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NOVEMBER 26, 2008	On On November 26, 48 middle school students from the Academia Interamericana de Panamá visited the OAS for a tour and briefing. The students were given a tour of the historic OAS building by Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations. In addition, the students were personally welcomed by Ambassador Aristides Royo, Permanent Representative of Panama to the OAS who complemented their visit with a lively discussion on the role of the OAS and the importance of Panama as a Permanent Member to the Organization of American States.
NOVEMBER 19, 2008	On November 19, 56 members of the Academia Nacional de Estudios Políticos y Estratégicos de Chile (ANEPE) visited the OAS. The group was welcomed to the OAS by Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza.  They were then briefed by Irene Klinger, Director, Department of International Affairs, on the work of the Organization and its priorities in the Western Hemisphere. The briefing wrapped up with a presentation by Francisco Bernales, Minister Counselor, Permanent Mission of Chile to the OAS, on issues of direct importance to Chile and the Hemisphere.
NOVEMBER 17, 2008	On November 17, 60 participants from Rotary International visited the OAS for a tour, briefing and evening reception.  The participants were led on a tour of the historic OAS building by Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations.  Jane Thery, Head, OAS-USA Relations, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, delivered a presentation to the group titled, “The OAS and the Challenges of the Americas.” A wine and cheese reception followed, sponsored by Rotary International and the Permanent Mission of Chile to the OAS. Richard Carson, Rotary Representative to the OAS, delivered opening remarks and expressed the interest of Rotary International to collaborate more closely with the Organization and its ongoing projects throughout the Hemisphere. Rotary Members are business and professional leaders who actively volunteer their time and talents to serve communities throughout the world.
NOVEMBER 17, 2008	On November 17, 21 Puerto Rican undergraduates with the Washington Center for Internships visited the OAS for a tour and briefing.  The group received a tour of the historic OAS main building from Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs. Jane Thery, Head, OAS-USA Relations Section, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, presented the students with an overview of the OAS.  The briefing concluded with a presentation on the Model of the OAS by Nelly Robinson, MOAS Coordinator, Department of International Affairs.
NOVEMBER 14, 2008	On November 14, 19 US diplomats from the Foreign Service Institute visited the OAS.  The group received a tour of the historic OAS building by Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs. The tour was followed by an overview of the OAS presented by Jane Thery, Head, OAS-USA Relations Section, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations.
NOVEMBER 10, 2008	On November 10, 45 professionals from Mexico with the Washington Center for Internships visited the OAS. The group was led on a tour of the historic OAS building by Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations. Rosa Maria Barreiro Calzada, Director, Department of Human Resources addressed the group and gave a power point presentation on intra-office communications and negotiation skills.
NOVEMBER 7, 2008	On November 7, 40 Mexican students from the Instituto Tecnológico de Los Estudios Superiores de Monterrey were briefed on the OAS by Jorge Sanin, Head, Relations with Civil Societies & Permanent Observers, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations.  The group was given an overview of the Model Organization of American States by Nicolas Sforzini, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations. The students then met with Héctor Agustín ORTEGA NIETO, Representative of the Permanent Mission of Mexico to the OAS.  The briefing was followed by a tour of the historic OAS building led by Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs.
NOVEMBER 7, 2008	On November 7, 40 students from Bucknell University Global Residential College were led on a tour of the historic OAS building by Specialist Aline Hommes, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations. The group was then given an overview of the OAS by Sherry Stephenson, Head, Institutional Relations, Department of International Affairs.
NOVEMBER 6, 2008	On November 6, 35 undergraduate students from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania were led on a tour of the historic OAS building by Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations.  The group was then briefed on the role of the OAS in the Hemisphere by Jane Thery, Head, OAS-USA Relations Section, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations.
NOVEMBER 5, 2008	On November 5, 22 members of the Fundación Universitaria del Río de la Plata, (FURP) visited OAS Headquarters. They received a tour of the Historic OAS Main Building from Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations.
OCTOBER 29, 2008	On October 29, 12 graduate students from the Washington Academic Internship Program, John Glen School of Public Affairs at Ohio State University received a tour of the historic OAS building from Andres Serafini, Department of International Affairs. The group was given an overview of the OAS by Jorge Sanin, Head, Relations with Civil Societies & Permanent Observers, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations.  The briefing concluded with an overview of the Model Organization of American States led by Nelly Robinson, MOAS Coordinator, Department of International Affairs.
OCTOBER 24, 2008	On October 24th, 45 high school juniors and seniors from Greensville County High School, Va. visited the Organization of American States. The students received a tour of the Historic OAS Building with Andres Serafini, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations. Nelly Robinson, Coordinator MOAS, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations addressed the students and explained how The Model OAS General Assembly Program (MOAS) is a simulation of the proceedings of the General Assembly of the OAS, where through role-playing; students are given a chance to represent the OAS Member countries.
OCTOBER 20, 2008	On October 20, 30 young cadets from the Latin American Cadet Initiative were led on a tour of the OAS historic building by Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs.  Jane Thery, Head, OAS-USA Relations, Department of International Affairs, presented an overview of the OAS to the group.
OCTOBER 22, 2008	On October 22, 15 professionals from the IMF, World Bank, IFC, United Nations and IDB received a tour of the OAS Main Building from Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations. The group viewed the underground tunnel painted by Uruguayan artist, Carlos Páez Villaró and concluded their visit at the Art Museum with a tour given by Adriana Ospina, Docent, Art Museum of the Americas.
OCTOBER 15, 2008	On October 15, 15 Brazilian undergraduate students with Interaction Times visited the OAS and were led on a tour of the historic building by Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs.  The tour was followed by a briefing of the OAS by Jane Thery, Head, OAS-USA Relations, Department of International Affairs. The briefing concluded with remarks from Ambassador Osmar Chohfi, Permanent Representative of Brazil to the OAS.
OCTOBER 14, 2008	On October 14, 22 medical interns from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) participated in a tour and briefing of the OAS. The interns were led on a tour of the historic OAS building by Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs. After the tour, Irene Klinger, Director, Department of International Affairs, presented an overview of the OAS to the group during a briefing in the Miranda Room. The interns were then given an opportunity to view the Oscar Niemeyer exhibition on display in the OAS Museum of the Americas.
OCTOBER 14, 2008	On October 14, 2008, 26 Mexican undergraduate students from the Universidad de Monterrey were given a tour of the historic OAS building by Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs.  Following the tour, the students were given an overview of the OAS by Jane Thery, Head, OAS-USA Relations, Department of International Affairs.  The discussion included comments by Nelly Robinson, Coordinator of MODEL OAS, about the MOAS program. The visit concluded with a tour of the OAS Museum of the Americas.
OCTOBER 10, 2008	On October 10, 17 U.S. undergraduate student participants in the Model United Nations Conference at Georgetown University visited the OAS for a tour and briefing. The tour was led by Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs. The students were briefed on the OAS by Jane Thery, Head, OAS-USA Relations, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations. The briefing concluded with a presentation on the Model OAS by Nelly Robinson, Coordinator of MOAS, Department of International Affairs.
OCTOBER 6, 2008	On October 6, 8 undergraduate law students from the Washington College of Law participated in a tour and briefing of the OAS.  Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, took the group on a tour of the historic OAS building.  The students were given an overview of the OAS by Irene Klinger, Director, Department of International Affairs.  The briefing included a discussion on human rights issues led by Elizabeth Abi-Mershed, Assistant Executive Secretary, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
OCTOBER 3, 2008	On October 3, 22 Board Members of the Daughters of the American Revolution visited OAS headquarters. The group received a tour of the historic OAS building by Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs.  An overview of the OAS was presented to the visitors by Jane Thery, Head, OAS-USA Relations, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations. Afterwards, the group met with Adriana Ospina, Docent, OAS Art Museum of the Americas and received a tour of the Oscar Niemeyer exposition.