The word Consul holds a special meaning to a lot of people. To some it’s a title that’s so prestigious that the holder of it should be approached with due respect for the position he holds. For others, it’s some obscure word that they really don’t know how to spell or pronounce. For yet another…
Read MoreTampa Bay (Florida) is increasing industry leaders’ awareness of the benefits of locating to the area. The Ambassadors Program centers on an individual approach from high level executives and CEOs all the way to college students. These ambassadors are then the faces of the region they’re promoting. When I received the invite to attend the Leaders…
Read MoreWhen a new honorary consul was appointed in New Orleans, one blogger was quick to denigrate the position by calling it “stupid.” He/she then said it’s an excuse for Old Liners (whatever that may refer to) to get special license plates and their picture in the local society pages. When I read things like that I’m thrilled…
Read MoreThe Consul Convertible has me hooked. It was made by Ford in the United Kingdom from 1951-62, and 1972-75 and is today a collector’s item. How many consuls do you suppose actually went out of their way to buy one, just so they could be driving a “consular car” in their consular position? The closest…
Read MoreWhen Israel celebrated its 67th year of independence, the Miami Herald wrote about the consulate (general) greeting guests. But it’s the consul (general) – in the person of Chaim Shacham – shaking hands with one of them. Pop quiz: what is correct in the above, the consulate or the consul? For those of you who are familiar with my book the answer…
Read MoreIs there such a thing as an honorary consular corps? If the answer is yes, there must also be a career consular corps. And how about distinguishing in other ways, like by geographic areas? There would then be an argument for a European consular corps, an Asian consular corps, etc. There’s no end to the delineations. Since I write about…
Read MoreWhen is an honorary consul also an ambassador? The simple answer is when he serves as a goodwill ambassador, and that would be always. Career and honorary consuls represent a foreign nation in an official consular role but, unofficially, all can and should be goodwill ambassadors for the countries they represent. Do you see how I emphasized countries?…
Read MoreRecently, there were unconfirmed rumors that Hollywood actor Steven Seagal was suggested as honorary consul of Russia by President Putin. It’s long been known that Mr. Seagal supports Kremlin policies so some people took seriously the rumors (although as I said, they have been denied) that he’d be Russia’s honorary consul in California and Arizona.…
Read MoreNotice the question mark in the header. Of course, a consul speaks and breathes like the rest of us…, or so you thought. But this is a legitimate question about at least one consul: the main character in the Consul opera. Earlier in this blog, I wrote about this wonderful Menotti opera but it has…
Read MoreI have written about this before, but the incorrect preposition keeps cropping up. An honorary consul somewhere in the United States is not a representative to a foreign nation, but of or for. When Mr. Cornelissen became Belgium’s new honorary consul in the Boston area, several references were made to him as the consul to Belgium. This would imply that he’s a…
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