Website for expats

Today I would like to share with you are useful website for expats relocating to the U.S. It will not only be helpful to people relocating to Chicago, it actually has information about 7 major cities in addition to the Windy City: New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Miami, Hartford, Boston and San Francisco.

Here is Chicago page: http://www.expatarrivals.com/the-usa/chicago/moving-to-chicago (from which you can navigate to other destinations).

The site provides you with a wide variety of information: cost of living, education, safety, healthcare, working, taxes, etc. It also has a forum for expacts to interact and share experiences while helping each other.

Immigration Demystified

Not necessarily a networking event but a great seminar for newcomers to the U.S.:

IMMIGRATION DEMYSTIFIED. Seminar sponsored by BENNU Legal Services. Presentation, by Andrew Sagartz, Executive Director, BENNU Legal Services, will focus on the basics of immigration.
When: July 17, 2010, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Where: BENNU Legal Services, 28835 North Herky Drive, Suite 104,
Lake Bluff, IL.
Fee: $10; advanced registration appreciated. For information & registration, please
e-mail: info@bennulegal.org, or call 847/478-8200.

A little shamesless self-promotion

This may have nothing to do with networking at the moment but I wanted to let my blog readers know about my knew books project since I will be planning a couple of events related to their launch in the future where you will be welcome to come and network.

I am planning to publish 3 Christmas-themed books:

1. "Unforgettable Christmas" - a unique reference guide to great activities and events for 25 days of Christmas - your Christmas Yellow Pages and a planner in one book.

2. "The Night Before Christmas" translated in Russian - this classic Clark Clement Moore book is a great gift for all your Russian speaking friends - Скоро выйдет в печати:"В Ночь Перед Рождеством" Кларка Клемента Мура на РУССКОМ ЯЗЫКЕ!

3.Collection of Russian Folktales about Winter in English - 20 wonderful tales featuring exciting adventures, magical creatures, unusual landscapes - taking you on an unforgettable journey from winter's beginning to the end.

Here is the official website of this new project: http://www.unforgettable-christmas.com

I will post up-dates for the events there.

Great networking event for all women

"International Opportunities - Women Hold Up Half the Sky"

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

8:00 am – 9:30 am

Mid-America Club

200 E Randolph St, 80th Floor

Chicago

An expert panel discussion moderated by

Noeleen McGrath, McGrath Communications

Featuring:

Catherine Lee: President, CDL & Associates

Pek Lee Choo: Managing Director, Discernen

Cynthia Biggs: Foreign Commercial Service Officer, U.S. Dept of Commerce

"What if everyday could be called International Women's Day? Women have celebrated moderate successes in the 21st century. Still, there are miles to go before we sleep. These experts will discuss obstacles in such areas as education, safety & finances. They will provide insights into methods to overcome roadblocks to economic empowerment locally & globally."

$25.00 until 4/12/100 $35.00 beginning 4/13/10

$20.00 Women of the World Members

Advanced Registration required: www.womenwotw.org/events.php

Social media links:
Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/dgutman2
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=59770322303

Twitter: www.twitter.com/womenwotw

Read about women you know & topics of interest at our blog

http://wotwwomen.blogspot.com/

Women of the World is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization based on purpose and passion to bring awareness that safe healthy educated women are the cornerstone to abundant economic development.

Career event at Federal Reserve Bank

Here is a FREE event you must not miss if you are looking for a job in the following fields:

• Analysts
• Banking
• Finance
• Marketing
• Technology - Project Managers
• Internships (University)

Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement and Federal Reserve Bank are organizing a recruitment event at the Bank's facility in Chicago:

WHEN: March 18, 2010

Dale Carnegie Training Session

5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Federal Reserve Bank Latino Recruitment Series

6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

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Federal Reserve Bank, 230 South LaSalle, Chicago, IL 60604

For security reasons, we strongly recommend registering and arriving 15 minutes early to ensure a smooth entrance. All candidates planning to attend MUST

bring a state photo ID. No exceptions.

To register go to: http://hace-usa.org/events.htm

Please, don't be discouraged that this event is organized by a Hispanic Alliance. If they only wanted Latinos at this event the post on their website would have been in Spanish! I have been to several HACE events and they have a diverse mixture of attendees there. And it is FREE- what do you stand to loose???

Great event for all women

Dear Ladies,

Please, don't miss the following event: this is not just the opportunity to network but showcase your business too!

Chicago Celebrates International Women's Day

The International Visitors Center of Chicago, the International Trade Club of Chicago and the Union League Club of Chicago cordially invite you to attend the Ninth Annual Chicago Celebrates International Women's Day International Fair and Luncheon.

Monday, March 8, 2010
10:30am- International Fair
Noon- Luncheon featuring Master of Ceremonies: Ms. Dina Bair, Medical Anchor/Reporter, WGN TV

The Union League Club of Chicago
65 W. Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL

"The International Epidemic of Antibiotic Resistance: Women are the Key to Protection and Prevention"

Featuring keynote speaker: Ms. Maryn McKenna

Maryn McKenna is an independent journalist and author who specializes in public health, medicine and health policy. She writes features for national magazines and news stories for an infectious-disease website. In addition to her new book, Superbug: The Fatal Menace of MRSA, about the rise of drug-resistant staph around the world, she is working on projects on polio eradication and on emergency room overcrowding.

From 1995-2006, she was a national desk writer at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where she was the only U.S. journalist assigned to full-time coverage of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and embedded with a CDC investigative team during the 2001 anthrax-letter attacks. She has reported from the Indian Ocean tsunami and from Hurricane Katrina, as well as from Southeast Asia, India, Africa and the Arctic. She has covered pandemic influenza since 1997, when she wrote the first story in the American media on the potential threat posed by avian flu H5N1.

Thank you to our Event Partners-
American Association of University Women-Illinois, Consulate General of Canada in Chicago, Fulbright Association-Chicago Chapter, Heartland International, The Musicians Club of Women, National Association of Women Business Owners-Chicago Area, Organization of Women in International Trade-Chicago, Professional Women's Club of Chicago, The Union League Club of Chicago Authors Group, The US National Committee for UNIFEM (United Nations Development Fund for Women) Chicago Chapter

Cost-
$60- Luncheon Cost
$75- Display table at the International Fair (non-profit organizations); includes one lunch ticket
$100- Display table at the International Fair (for-profit organizations); includes one lunch ticket
$650- Display table at the fair and 10-top luncheon table

Sponsorship opportunities available.

For more information and to register by Monday, March 1st, please visit www.chicagowomensday.org, or contact Lexy Sobel, International Visitors Center of Chicago, 312-254-1800 x102 or Lsobel@ivcc.org.

Great international event next week

Dear Readers,

I am sorry I've been silent for some time because I've been traveling a lot and working hard too but my New Year's resolution is to keep this blog up-date as often as possible.

So here is information about an excellent event for all internationals (I realize it might be a little bit expensive but it is sponsored but various international organizations which promises a really good turnout):

The 2010 Annual Economic Forum Luncheon (presented by Swiss-American Business Council)
Together with The German American Chambers of Commerce, the Representative of German Industry and Trade, Washington D.C. and other organisations, we invite you to attend the 2010 Annual Economic Forum Luncheon Thursday, January 28, 2010 in Rosemont, IL

The Annual Economic Forum is an interactive Roundtable Discussion debating the critical economic outlook for the year 2010. The panel of industry experts and transatlantic trade representatives will focus on macro and micro-economic topics relevant to the German American business community in the US.

Confirmed Speakers:

Michael Backfisch - Handelsblatt - Bureau Chief Dubai (Moderator)
Prof. Dr. Hans Heinrich Driftmann - Peter Koelln KGaA - Pres. &
CEO (Keynote Speaker)
Dr. Joachim Scheide - Kiel Institute for World Economy - Head
Forecasting Center and Research Economist
Matthias Schoenberg - Continental Tire North America - CEO
Klaus-Peter Statz - Deutsche Telekom, Inc. - President & CEO
Diane Swonk - Mesirow Financial - Sr Managing Dir. & Chief
Economist

Date: Thursday, January 28, 2010
Time: 11:15 am - 2:30 pm
Location: Rosemont Hotel (former Sofitel)- Rosemont, IL
Cost: $85 for SABC members; $100 non-members
Registration and more information at: www.gaccom.org; (312) 644 2662

For SABC members, please contact the German American Chamber of Commerce in Chicago to RSVP and mention your SABC membership for the discounted rate.

This event is sponsored by:
Baker & Mckenzie, Fifth Third Bank, Fragomen, Kostal, Lufthansa, Mesirow Financial, XL Insurance, Audi USA, HDI Gerling and is supported by: The Austrian Trade Commission, Swedish American Chamber of Commerce, Midwest Danish American Chamber of Commerce, Goethe Institute.

The Swiss business community is the sixth largest foreign investor in the United States and employs over half million Americans, many of them in the Midwest region, and in the Chicago area in particular. Become a member today and start enjoying a wide range of benefits, including participation in one of the best international networking forums in Chicago. For membership information, send an e-mail to: events@sabcnow.com

Foreign Diploma Evaluation

Recently I have received a number of requests to advise on foreign diploma evaluation services so I decided to post this information for everyone to read.

If you have a foreign diploma some employers and most of educational institutions will require for you to send them a foreign diploma evaluation report, i.e. a comparison of your diploma to an American equivalent so to speak.

Many agencies in the U.S. are licensed to do these evaluations and as I heard some of them charge astronomical fees. However, it is not necessary that you PAY these huge fees, I and all my friends did our diplomas evaluations through Educational Credentials Evaluations organization www.ece.org

I will cost you just 85 USD to get the general evaluation which will be good for most purposes (unless you are a health professional, in this case the fees are a bit higher). There are also some specific reports that they put together and fees are very transparent and reasonable.
Hope this information helps you!

Tony Blair at an event organized by Chicago Council on Global Affairs

Here is a truely UNIQUE event that I strongly encourage all internationals (and non-internationals too) to attend :

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2009
CHICAGO AND THE WORLD FORUM: Faith and Globalization
SPEAKER: The Right Honorable Tony Blair, Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, will discuss “Faith and Globalization” as an addition to the spring 2009 Chicago and the World Forum series “Fault Lines of Faith? Religion and Politics in World Affairs.”

This program is open to Chicago Council members only, but you can join the Council now and attend for free. The Council ortganizes a lot of exciting events during the year so it will be worht while.

Mr. Blair served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from 1997 to 2007. Since then he has launched the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, which works with Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, and Buddhists, to promote respect and understanding between the major world religions and make the case for faith as a force for good in the modern world. Mr. Blair believes that faith will have great influence on how the challenges of globalization will be met.

WHERE: Fairmont Hotel, 200 North Columbus Drive, Chicago
WHEN: 4:30 p.m. Registration and cash bar reception
6:00 p.m. Presentation and discussion
7:15 p.m. Cash bar reception

Members $30, Nonmembers $60 (includes a one-year membership)

IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS
• Registration closes at NOON on FRIDAY, APRIL 17TH. '
• Due to strict security procedures, please arrive early.
• You MUST bring a valid photo ID (official state ID/driver’s license/passport).
• Registrations are nontransferable and NO WALK-INS WILL BE ALLOWED.

TO REGISTER: http://www.thechicagocouncil.org/promotion_details.php?promotion_id=49

International Women Day Luncheon

Here is an event that I enjoy every year because it is truely international and it gathers a lot of wonderful women:

8th Annual International Women's Day Luncheon
Friday, March 6, 2009
10:30 a.m. International Fair
12:00 p.m. Luncheon

Union League Club
65 West Jackson Blvd Chicago, IL

For more information and registration see
http://www.chicagowomensday.org

It's an excellent opportunity to network in a very friendly environment.

Alliance Francaise

Alliance Francaise http://www.af-chicago.org/app/homepage.asp is Chicago’s French cultural and learning center dedicated to the study of French language,cultural exchange, and friendship between Americans and French speaking people. But actually everyone is welcome: if you like France, events with French flavour or just would like to meet a nice international crowd you will definitely enjoy AF events.

AF organizes classes, cultural events, presentations, etc. which are good both for social and business networking (you can meet various types of professionals at the events) You can find the calndar of events on AF's website.

AF also organised a Facebook group which will help you in online networking with members. (the link to it is on AF's homepage)

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Most helpful Chicago Guide
http://www.legalaliensguide.com

Young Professional Networking

French-American Chamber of Commerce will be organizing monthly networking events for your professionals:

When : October 15 - 5:30-7:30 pm
Where : Madame Tartine, 22 East Hubbard Street, Chicago

FACC Young Professionals Committee's monthly cocktail offers valuable business networking opportunities in a fun atmosphere - it's a monthly networking event designed especially with younger members in mind that will take place every 3d Wednesday of the month.

Admission is free for FACC members and $5 for non -members.

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Most helpful Chicago Guide

http://www.legalaliensguide.com

International Business Cards Exchange

Here is an excellent event for everybody - THE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CARDS AND INFORMATION EXCHANGE. Event sponsored by The World Trade Center Illinois.

WHEN: September 17, 2008 5 - 7 pm
Presentation on Chicago’s Competitiveness for Inbound Investments by Tom Bartkoski, Director of International Business Development, World Business
WHERE: 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 2200, Chicago.
PRICE: WTCI Members - $25; Non-members - $35; advance registration mandatory.
For information & registration, please see:
www.wtcillinois.org/wtcieventsdetails.aspx?id=148.

This event takes place about once every 6 months and I personally attended 3 of them. It draws a good and big crowd and it's a perfect opportnity for networking for internationals

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Most helpful Chicago Guide
http://www.legalaliensguide.com

Another interesting international event

This event will be of interest especially for women.

International Visitors Center of Chicago organizes a reception honoring the 2008 U.S. State Department Middle East Partnership Initiative Fellows(a/k/a the "MEPI Ladies")

WHEN: Tuesday, August 19 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: the hospitality suite and rooftop terrace of the MDA City Apartments 63 East Lake Street, Chicago

Join the party and mingle with outstanding business and professional women from the Middle East and North Africa,with a special performance by the SIFA Africa Children's Choir of Ugandaand refreshments by the award-winning chefGloria "The Hat" Hafer

PRICE: $25.00
RSVP by August 15 at the IVCC website: http://www.ivcc.org/

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Most helpful Chicago Guide
http://www.legalaliensguide.com

Celebrate Olympic Games!

Join young professionals, members and friends of the International Visitors Center of Chicago and the International Trade Club of Chicago to celebrate the start of the Olympic Games! This is a unique opportunity to mingle with international community in Chicago. There will be opportunity to network with a great group of professionals.

WHEN: Friday, August 8, 2008 6:30 - 10:30 p.m.
WHERE: Dave and Buster's 1030 N. Clark Street Chicago, IL 60610
Cost - $30

The festivities include a buffet dinner, cash bar, trivia games & prizes, and lots of socializing. We will enjoy our party in a private room with a huge TV screen airing the Opening Ceremony.

RSVPs required. To register, please contact Lexy Sobel at (312) 254-1800 x102 or Lsobel@ivcc.org

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Most helpful Chicago Guide
http://www.legalaliensguide.com

Networking dinner

The event below will be of interest to the international crowd, especially if you are in business. Also it is a great opportunity to get to know these important Chicago organizations that hold a lot of interesting events: International Trade Association and Swiss-American Business Council.

THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE ASSOCIATION OF GREATER CHICAGO
with the Swiss – American Business Council
Invite you to a dinner program:
THE U.S. DOLLAR’S FUTURE AGAINST THE EURO,
SWISS FRANC, JAPANESE YEN AND CHINESE YUAN

Presentations by:
Angie Kappel
Vice President, Foreign Exchange
KeyBank

Nicholas Savramis
Senior Vice President, Currency Risk Mgmt.
Charter One Bank

The U.S. dollar lost 15% of its value against major currencies over the course of last year.
Our experts will discuss the recent movements of the U.S. dollar and provide an outlook
for importers and exporters to plan for currency movements through the balance of 2008.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008
ROSEWOOD RESTAURANT
9421 West Higgins Road, Rosemont, IL
5:30 p.m. – Registration
6:00 p.m. – Program
7:00 p.m. – Dinner

ITA/GC and SABC members and their guests - $40; Non-members - $50

Please Make Your Reservations Early: Contact the ITA/GC by 4:00 p.m., Friday, July 18
Tel: 773/725-1106 rsvp@itagc.org Fax: 773/725-2294

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Most helpful Chicago Guide
http://www.legalaliensguide.com

June FREE networking opportunities

June will be a great month for FREE networking opportunities:

EURO 2008 - EUROPEAN SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP 2008 IN SWITZERLAND AND AUSTRIA will kick off on June 7. Swiss-American Business Council, Goethe Institute and Austrian Consulate General in Chicago will be organize events around several games (see the schedule below). And each event will be a great opportunity for meeting people, social interaction but also business networking because a lot of the people who are on the distribution list of, say, Swiss-American Business Council are businessmen, entrepreneurs, etc. They will draw a good international crowd to these events so it is definitely worth checking them out!

OPENING MATCH of EURO 2008
Saturday, June 7, 2008
10:30 AM
(Kick-off time 11.00 AM)
SWITZERLAND : CZECH REPUBLIC
LIVE FROM THE ST. JAKOB STADIUM BASEL
Light Hors d’Oeuvres will be served
Cash Bar
Prizes will be raffled off during the intermission
ADMISSION FREE
Lobby, 323 East Wacker Drive, Chicago
RSVP by Friday, May 30, 2008. Email: http://b4.mail.yahoo.com/ym/emadvice.com/Compose?To=chi.culture@eda.admin.ch or call: 312 915 4528

Switzerland : Turkey
on Wednesday, June 11 beginning at 6 :00 PM
Austria : Germany
on Monday, June 16 beginning at 6 :00 PM
Emmit’s Irish Pub
495 North Milwaukee Ave, Chicago
http://www.emits.com/ or phone 312 563 9631
Hosted by the Austrian Trade Commission
Swiss-American Business Council (SABC)

Eleven Minutes – SOCCER short films
on Thursday, June 12
beginning at 6:00 PM
Goethe Institut Chicago
150 North Michigan Ave, Suite 200, Chicago
www.goethe.de/chicago or phone 312 263 0472
Hosted by the
Goethe Institut
Consulate General of Switzerland
Austrian Consulate General

EURO 2008 FINAL
on Sunday, June 29
beginning at 1:15 pm
Goethe Institut Chicago
150 North Michigan Ave, Suite 200, Chicago
www.goethe.de/chicago or phone 312 263 0472
Hosted by the
Austrian Consulate General in Chicago
Please note: all EURO 2008 soccer matches can be viewed live at the Goethe Institut Chicago. For information, see www.goethe.de/chicago or call 312 263 0472.

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Most helpful Chicago guide
http://www.legalaliensguide.com

Jewish Living in Chicago

Here is a useful resource for jewish people relocating to Chicago: "Jewish Living in Chicago" http://www.juf.org/guide/ It is an on-line guide put together by Jewis United Fund organization. It offers a comprehensive, up-to-date listing of Chicago-area Jewish organizations, resources, products, and services. Examples of the organizations listed include educational organizations, medical institutions, welcome centers, youth organizations, etc.

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Most helpful Chicago guide
http://www.legalaliensguide.com

Lycee Francais de Chicago

This information will be helpful to international families with kids.

The Lycée Français de Chicago is a private, non- for-profit, coeducational day school serving students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Their mission is to prepare young people to be responsible global citizens by providing a dual- language education based on the French National Curriculum and complemented by an English Language Arts and American Studies program. The multicultural, dual- language curriculum not only enhances the students’ interpersonal, communications, and academic skills it also helps them distinguish themselves in an increasingly competitive world.

In addition their Summer Camp offers immersion programs in 3 languages: English, French and German. It is an excellent international experience. There are multiple programs for kids ages 3 to 18 of all nationalities and levels of language proficiency. Some of them are designed not only to learn languages but also sports, leadership skills, etc.

For more information, please, visit: http://www.lyceechicago.org/

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Most helpful Chicago guide
http://www.legalaliensguide.com

SABC business networking event

Swiss-American Business Council in Chicago organizes monthly networking events which are the regular gathering of professionals from the Chicago business community. All are welcome. The details for the up coming one are:

Tuesday, February 12, 2008
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Swissôtel Chicago (Lobby Lounge), 323 E. Wacker Drive, Chicago

FREE Admission, Cash Bar.

No RSVP required.

You can find more information about SABC at http://www.sabcnow.com/

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Most helpful Chicago guide
http://www.legalaliensguide.com