General Vice Consul to…?

General Vice Consul to the Consulate of (named country) is a self-designated title I recently ran across although this could be one of the many in usage by some foreign countries posting or appointing consuls somewhere in the United States. It may be confusing to some, but as long as the U.S. State Department in…

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Cultural faux pas in business and diplomacy

Cultural faux pas (social blunders involving people of different cultural backgrounds) happen with consuls and diplomats, just like in any cross-cultural situations. Most of the time they are inadvertent, such as when we don’t know that a particular form of address or gesture is offensive to the foreign consuls among us. This then raises the…

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Walter Mondale as honorary consul general

There are honorary consuls and honorary consuls general, and the former Vice President served as honorary consul general of Norway in Minnesota from 2008-2010. Since I’ve long argued that correct terminology is the basis for any dialogue, I was quite gratified when the Star Tribune (of the Twin Cities) properly identified Mr. Mondale in a story where the…

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Former honorary consul general testifies in a lawsuit

Usually when a consular official retires, his past position might not be interesting to the community where he served but in the case of Walter Mondale it is, and here is why: This former U.S. presidential candidate, commonly known as an advocate for gender equality, was Norway’s honorary consul general (one rank above an honorary consul) in Minnesota…

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Consular alliances with economic and cultural communities

Consuls are often overlooked as natural allies with the economic and cultural communities in which they function. They are the natural bridges between the countries they represent and the states and cities that seek to expand globally. Even when a consulate has specially designated trade officials, it’s expected that corporate representatives seeking business contacts abroad…

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Consuls and universities

Consuls and universities are natural partners in the search for global success for everyone involved. Long-established study-abroad programs have already made local consuls a natural resource for these purposes but expanded collaboration with the foreign consuls among us can reach well beyond student mobility alone. Among these benefits: – faculty exchanges; – faculty and students…

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Consulate on Wings

I have heard of “mobile consulates” before but I think one on wings portrays really well how some countries handle the problem with servicing their citizens. A “consulate on wings” is a wonderfully descriptive term for when a consulate takes it services to desolate or otherwise hard-to-get-to areas! But what does it really mean? The most…

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Consular Corps of Miami

The Consular Corps of Miami has a much longer history than most people believed. Long-time members of the corps used to say it dated “back to the 60s” but my research quickly took me back to the 50s. A little more digging and I was uncovering roots as far back as the 30s. At the end…

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Impress your local consul.

When you want to contact your local consul (or his office, the consulate), nothing impresses him more than when you show an understanding of his position. You begin by using the correct title, not in a condescending manner but as part of your own courteous and professional behavior. For instance, you’d be addressing someone as “Consul Jones” as opposed…

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Jamaica loves its honorary consuls

Jamaican honorary consuls are much appreciated by some of their government officials, who recognize that these consuls will “serve its economic and political interests globally.” As a particular example from the publication I read, Dr. Richard Bernal, Jamaica’s Ambassador to the U.S. is mentioned for his two-day seminars where honorary consuls are briefed on Jamaican economic…

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