Cultural Events

ABLA 2004 Conference

VIII Conference of the
Association of Binational Centers of Latin America
November 1 - 4, 2004

The Instituto Guatemalteco-Americano and the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala co-hosted the VIII annual binational center conference November 1-4, 2004. Participants from twenty countries attended the conference.

Topics addressed included: The Summit of the Americas and Education in the Hemisphere, Cultural Programming: Opportunities for Embassy Cooperation, Core Services, New Ways for Libraries to Use Technology, Department of State’s English Language Program, Using the Internet and Other Digital Tools in English Teaching, Information Technology and Education: New Trends, Innovative Uses of IT, BNC Manager’s Relations with Boards of Directors, BNC Educational Standards of Quality, Managerial Success Stories, ABLA Meeting, Teacher Accreditation and Linking with U.S. Universities, Student Advising: How the New Accreditation Process Can Help BNCs, The Future of Education in the Hemisphere, Educational Success Stories and The View from Washington.

Speakers included: Information Resource Officers Janet Wright and Steve Perry, Office Director of English Language (DOS) John Connerley, Regional English Language Officer Michael Rudder, English Language Fellow Dale Erhlich, Office of English Language Programs (ECA) Rick Rosenberg, IT Consultant Barbara Brant, CompassPoint Consultant Alfredo Vergara-Lobo, Fernando Fleurquin of the university of Michigan, Ron Schwartz and Joann Crandall of the University of Maryland (Baltimore), Regional Educational Advising Coordinators Nichole Johnson and Rosemarie Arens, Jean Frisbie of the Educational Information and Reources Branch, (ECS).

Keynote speakers included: Ambassador John Hamilton of the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala, Dr. Henry Ingle of the University of Texas, El Paso and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Academic Programs Thomas Farrell.

Panel presentations were made by: Ana Sylvia Ramirez, Valia Garzon, Gail Brown, Andrea Solis Blanco, Kyle Malone, Vivian Morghen, Avelino Prieto, Caroline Ilse Chemaly, Maritza Rodas, Ady Marrero and Edward McGrath.