Release Date: Monday, March 19, 2001
NCIV Network, Local Volunteers Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
Volunteers from the 98 organizations in 44 states that make up the National Council for International Visitors have been nominated for the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize. This network of "citizen diplomats" who help host foreign dignitaries in the United States on official visits includes members of the Harrison Council for International Visitors (HCIV).
"This is a very exciting announcement," said Dr. Jim Stockton, who helped organize HCIV in 1988 and is the immediate past president of the state board of the Arkansas Council for International Visitors. Stockton was in Pittsburgh, Pa., March 9-11 for NCIV’s annual meeting and one of its three yearly board meetings. He is serving the second year of a three-year term on the NCIV National Board.
The surprise announcement was made during a reception at the John Heinz History Center and Museum. The ovation from more than 300 volunteers attending the event was deafening after they heard the first sentence of Senator Arlen Specter’s nomination letter: "It is most gratifying for me to nominate the National Council for International Visitors (NCIV), Volunteer Citizen Diplomats Program, for the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize."
According to Senator Specter’s nomination letter, "Heads of State, including British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Anwar Sadat, Indira Gandhi, F.W. deKlerk and 185 other senior government officials, have participated in NCIV related activities."
NCIV’s national network includes more than 300,000 volunteers from 44 states. The local councils help organize programs for participants of the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Program and other prominent visitor exchanges. The mission of NCIV is to promote democracy and worldwide peace by bringing international delegations to America and managing one-on-one contacts to improve cross-cultural understanding.
Sponsored by North Arkansas College and the North Arkansas College Foundation, the Harrison Council for International Visitors has hosted about 200 visitors from 64 different countries since 1988. Many of the foreign guests interact with Northark students and meet with classes at the college.
"It has been a great program for North Arkansas College and our community," said Stockton. "I’ve learned more about Harrison, Boone County, and the resources they have to offer by working with HCIV than through any other activity."
For information about joining the Harrison Council for International Visitors, contact Stockton at 391-3229 or Dr. Rick Hinterthuer, who is president of the HCIV Board of Directors, at 391-3366.