Background
Since 1952, members of the Houston Junior Chamber of Commerce (the "Jaycees") have organized Houston's official celebration of its distinguished consular corps and the diplomatic and trade ties they provide between Houston and the rest of the world. The celebration takes the form of a series of business, cultural, educational, and diplomatic events, known collectively as the Consular Forum, which culminates in an annual formal and diplomatic honors banquet attended by members of the city's ninety-one country consular corps and by political and business leaders from across the state of Texas and around the world.
Objective |
 | The Consular Forum has three distinct objectives: first, it offers an opportunity for the entire city of Houston to celebrate its truly distinguished consular corps (the 3rd largest diplomatic corps of any American city); second, the Consular Forum is designed to help promote opportunities for international trade with the featured country; and finally, because understanding of and respect for international differences are essential prerequisites for successful international commerce, the Consular Forum's concluding banquet is a fund-raiser for the Houston Junior Chamber of Commerce Foundation*, which uses the proceeds to support international education programs, scholarships, and internships at the Houston International Protocol Alliance, the Institute of International Education, Rice University and the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, the University of Houston, the University of St. Thomas, and other institutions and organizations in the Houston area.
The Featured Country
Although the Consular Forum celebrates all of Houston's consular representatives, each year, one country is chosen for special recognition; the Consular Forum events then are themed around this featured country, offering unprecedented opportunities to showcase its economy and culture to the business and political leaders of Houston, Texas, the fourth-largest city in the United States of America. The featured country of the 2011 Consular Forum is France. During 2011, all Consular Forum events and activities will highlight France.
Events
Consular Forum Educational and Cultural Events
An important outgrowth of the Consular Forum is a series of educational and cultural events, which are produced in Houston with the assistance of the culture and tourism ministries of the honored country in the months leading up to the trade conference and the Consular Forum's concluding gala. Examples of typical events include university lectures, film festivals, art and photography exhibits, and musical and dance performances.
The Consular Forum Announcement Reception
This reception formally inaugurates the series of Consular Forum events, which will showcase the honored country. Guests include members of the Consular Corps of Houston representing ninety-one sovereign nations, officials of Houston city government, and senior executives from the major corporations based in Houston who serve as hosts for the Consular Forum's concluding gala.
The Ladies Tea
An occasion designed to introduce the ladies of the Houston Consular Corps to their respective hostess counterparts.
Consular Forum Business Luncheon
Held a few days before the Consular Forum's concluding gala, the France-Texas Business Luncheon showcases the economy of the featured country and promotes opportunities for trade between France and industries thoughout Houston and the State of Texas. The luncheon will be key-noted by a senior governmental representative of the honored country.
The Ribbons Ceremony Cocktail Recption - Thursday October 20, 2011
Hosted by the University of Houston, and held int he Historical Wortham House on South Blvd., this years' event will be a "by invitation only" cocktail reception for Patrons and Members of the Consular Corps. Ribbons will be hand delivered to Patrons days prior the this elegant reception.
The Consular Ball - Saturday, November 19, 2011
Held in the Hilton Americas Hotel, this formal diplomatic gala serves as the concluding ceremony for the ten-month Consular Forum season. The Consular Ball features all of the protocol courtesies appropriate to the rank and station of its distinguished diplomatic honorees. Government representatives from the featured country, their U.S. counterparts, and the Houston consular corps honorees and their hosts (representing many of Houston's largest corporations) participate in a ceremonial "grand march" to begin the evening of dining and themed entertainment, which also serves as a fund-raiser for international education programs, scholarships, and internships at the Houston International Protocol Alliance, the Institute of International Education, Rice University and the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, the University of Houston, the University of St. Thomas, and other institutions and organizations in the Houston area.
Please send all inquires to KLEE@2011ConsularBall.com or (713) 851-3540
Visit www.2011consularball.com for more information
Attached documents:
2011 Consular Forum Sponsorship Packet
This document is in Adobe PDF format
*The Houston Junior Chamber of Commerce Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Consular Forum donations are therefore tax-deductible to the extent allowed by United States law
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