Former New York Fire Chief, Dan Daly Commemorates 9/11 September 12, 2005

Former Chief of the New York Fire Department and U.S. national hero Dan Daly helped honor those who perished in 9/11 and in terrorist attacks around the globe by participating in a number of events in Hungary, including a talk at the American Corner in Veszprém.

Fire Chief Daly came to Hungary as the U.S. Embassy-sponsored speaker. On September 12, Chief Daly presented a lecture on tolerance and the human spirit in the wake of 9/11 to an overflow crowd of more than 100 persons at the American Corner in Veszprém. Through a slide show of 9/11 images, Chief Daly spoke of the horrors, challenges, and heartbreaks at Ground Zero. The lecture (and accompanying State Department exhibit "After September 11: Images from Ground Zero") was the first-ever event for the Veszprem Corner. Included in the large crowd were a number of firefighters as well as the chiefs of the city and county fire squads. The presentation included a gift exchange between Daly and the local firefighters and a question and answer session.

Chief Daly's New York delegation included Mary Bryant, Director of Achilles, a worldwide organization that encourages people with all kinds of disabilities to participate in running with the general public. Since 9/11, Achilles has expanded its service to people with disabilities to include many of the soldiers wounded in the global war on terrorism.

Teaching English as a Foreign Language in the Primary School October 3, 2005

Presentation by Dr. Mary Lou McCloskey, Past President of TESOL, Director of Teacher Education and Curriculum Development of Educo in Atlanta, Georgia (US)

Dr. McCloskey is an international consultant and author of professional texts, standards, and program materials in the field of English for Speakers of Other Languages. A former primary school teacher in multilingual, multicultural classrooms, she has worked with teachers, teacher educators, and departments and ministries of education on five continents and in 31 of the United States.

After visiting the American Corner in Veszprém, courtesy of the Regional English Language Office (RELO) Dr. McCloskey delivered a two-hour exchange with two-dozen teachers, students and university lecturers in Veszprém focusing on various topics related to the teaching of young learners – development and evaluation of a special curriculum, evaluation of teaching, etc.

National Parks of the Western United States November 16, 2005

Presentation by Mr. Robert Hickey PhD (Central Washington University) and Dr. Szabolcs Czigány (University of Pécs)

More than thirty participants could get familiar with the beautiful nature of the American West, its geographical capacity, its geological history, its flora and fauna. National Parks, like Glacier, Yellowstone, the North Cascades and Grand Canyon were duly introduced through beautiful pictures both in Hungarian and English language.

Following the presentation, the participants could learn about the possibilities of how they may be able to spend their summer with working in these National Parks.

Enterprises in the United States and the Hungarian economy November 14, 2005

Presentation by Ambassador George Herbert Walker and Mr. Michael F. Neidorff, President of Centene Ltd.

Ambassador Walker and Mr. Neidorff met over twenty university students and their lecturers in Veszprém, and they delivered a lecture on the role of American enterprises in the Hungarian economy. Mr. Walker emphasized that no matter who would gain majority on the coming elections, the relationship between the two countries remain as close as they were. Mr. Neidorff introduced the operation of the American enterprises.

If You Want to Study in the U.S. November 23, 2005

Information seminar on various topics, such as US higher education system, application requirements, scholarship opportunities, Visa information, Fulbright program in Hungary, Fulbright Educational Advising Center, effective resume and essay writing, American Corner in Veszprém etc. Presenters were Ms. Margit Zsolnai (American Fulbright Grantee), Mr. Charles J. Hamilton (US Embassy Consular Section), Ms. Àgnes Vajda (IIE), Mr. Huba Brückner (Fulbright Comission, Budapest), Mr. Tamás Baranyai (American Corner, Veszprém).

The Adventurous Journey of Lewis and Clark October 11, 2005 

Presentation by Mr. Tamás Baranyai, Director of the American Corner in Veszprém

Mr. Baranyai delivered a lecture on the first overland American expedition to the Northwest Pacific coast under the command of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Through a slide show of images, the lecturer spoke of the challenges and the benefits of the expedition. Participants of the presentation included students and lecturers from the local university.

The American Corner’s role in the local cultural life October 26, 2005

Presentation by Mr. Tamás Baranyai, Director of the American Corner in Veszprém

AC Director, Mr. Baranyai introduced the American Corner’s activity to a dozen of local decision-makers in Veszprém. The audience included members of local authorities who form an informal club called Professional Roundtable. The lecturer spoke about the goals of the AC and about the key elements of its effective functioning. Following his presentation the AC Director was ready to answer the questions of the interested.

Memories of Toledo, Ohio November 14, 2005

Presentation by Ms. Csilla Balogh, PhD student

Ms. Balogh from the Balaton Limnology Research Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences had the chance to spend half a year in the Erie-region on a professional study visit. She delivered a lecture for more than 30 people on her experience gained in the United States

Summer Jobs in the United States March 30, 2005

Presentation by Mr. Tamás Baranyai, Director of the American Corner in Veszprém and Mr. Péter Jezsoviczky, Area Representative of CCUSA

The presentation including a slide show and short video features was designed to help students to spend their summer in the United States working in summer camps as camp counselors or as support staff. The presenters introduced the possibilities and conditions by speaking about their own experience.