Returning from an exciting NAFSA Conference in Denver, Colorado, I am extremely pleased to begin my OSEAS-Europe chair assignment with the announcement of our main project for the next two years: the 7^th OSEAS-Europe Regional Conference in July 2001.

The OSEAS-Europe regional conferences are an important professional development opportunity for overseas advisors in the region and are held approximately every three years, with sponsorship by the U.S Information Agency. Many of you attended the 6^th regional conference, "New Partners, Strong Ethics: Striking a Balance Towards the Year 2000", which took place last August in Budapest. This call for proposals is a great opportunity to carry on the success of previous OSEAS-Europe Conferences. The 2001 OSEAS-Europe regional Conference will be the first of the new millenium and its theme should reflect the changes and challenges which mark the climate of our professional lives.

In the past many advising centers have volunteered to host the regional conferences and on behalf of the OSEAS-Europe Board, I want to encourage all of you to investigate possible resources and support in your local area and consider submitting a proposal to host the 2001 conference.

Please note that all proposals for hosting the conference must be received not later than September 15.

Isabella Lanciotti
Italian Fulbright Commission
Via Castelfidardo 8, 00185 Rome, Italy
Re: OSEAS-Europe 7^th Regional Conference

All proposals will be reviewed by the OSEAS-Europe Board in consultation with the two Regional Educational Advising Coordinators (REACs) for Europe and the NIS and the USIA Program Officers for Europe and the NIS.

The selected proposal will be announced no later than October 31, 1999.

Thanks to Ildiko Ficzko, OSEAS-Europe homepage coordinator, the call for proposals as well as future updates of the information regarding the 7^th OSEAS-Europe Regional Conference will be posted on the OSEAS-Europe web at the Conferences page: http://www.bibl.u-szeged.hu/oseas/conf.html.

If anyone needs more information on this project, please feel free to contact me via email: ilanciotti@fulbright.usis.it or fax: 39/06/4815.680 or telephone: 39/06/4888.211.

On behalf of the OSEAS-Europe Board I am pleased to wish good luck to all advising centers who submit proposals.

With my warmest regards,

Isabella Lanciotti
OSEAS-Europe Chair for 1999-2000

The OSEAS-Europe Board is pleased to announce the call for proposals to host the 7^th OSEAS-Europe Regional Advising Conference in July 2001.

The OSEAS-Europe regional conferences, with funding from USIA, are the most important professional development opportunities for overseas advisors in the region and are held approximately every three years. The 7^th OSEAS-Euro pe Regional Conference will be held in the first or second week of July 2001.

The regional conference represents a unique chance for professional training and networking in the field of advising on US education.

The conference will be four or five days in length and will include both formal and informal learning opportunities, offering a wide selection of workshops and sessions, an exibit hall, a technology center along with receptions and othe r opportunities for meeting and networking with colleagues. Proposals for workshops and sessions will be sought separately following the selection of the host center(s).

The OSEAS-Europe Board anticipates that the next conference will have approximately 200 participants including educational advisors from across the region and representatives of U.S. universities and key organizations in education from the United States.

The Conference will be organised by a committee composed of the OSEAS-Europe Board, the two Regional Educational Advising Coordinators (REACs ) for Europe and the NIS, the USIA Program Officers for Europe and the NIS as well as two peo ple, identified in the winning proposal, who will be responsible for local arrangements. Following the selection of the winning proposal, the Conference Committee will organise sub-committees drawing in volunteers from among advisors across the region to address specific tasks including conference promotion, local arrangements, financial management, fund-raising, and arrangements for plenary speakers.

Any USIA-affiliated educational advising center in Western, Eastern, or Central Europe, Israel, or the NIS is eligible to host the 7^th OSEAS-Europe Regional Conference. Proposals will also be accepted from multiple advisi ng centers in the same city/country, however one center should be identified as the primary point of contact.

All advising centers interested in submitting a proposal should carefully consider resources and support available, including lodging and meeting space, available technology, possible sources of cost-sharing/sponsorship, etc. Centers s hould also be aware that a minimum of two people will be required to work on local arrangements.

Ideally, the conference venue should have an advising center with more than one advisor or where arrangements can be made to provide appropriate coverage or close the office during the conference.

The proposal should include the following:

• Ideas about theme and title for the conference

• Contact person, title, address, e-mail, phone and fax

• Supporting letters from the advising center director and local USIS officer including specific examples of how these organizations will cooperate with the Conference Committee (disburse USIA grant funds, etc.)

• Information on local Conference agencies that could handle the local work (such as registration, arranging transportation, optional tours/excursions, etc.).

• Site plan/description of the conference venue. The venue should accommodate 2 conference sessions of up to 100 people each simultaneously, exibit hall and technology room for approximately 200 people. The proposal should include i nformation about the available technology (i.e. number of computers, available software, internet access, etc.) and audio-visual equipment (overhead projectors, etc.)

• If lodging is not available at the conference site, identify a designated “conference hotel” and include costs for single and double occupancy rooms.

• Information on the facilities (hotels, cafes, shops etc) in the immediate vicinity of the conference venue and brief descriptions of other possible local venues for off-site receptions, conference opening or closing events, etc.

• Information on the approximate costs and other considerations of the proposed venue (e.g. USD per-diem rate, airport transfers, visas required, public transportation, etc.)

All proposals must be received by September 15, 1999.

Proposals should be sent by regular mail or courier to:

Isabella Lanciotti
Italian Fulbright Commission
Via Castelfidardo 8, 00185 Rome-Italy
Re: OSEAS-Europe 7^th Regional Conference

Proposals review process

All proposals submitted will be reviewed by the OSEAS-Europe Board in consultation with the two Regional Educational Advising Coordinators (REACs) for Europe and the NIS and the USIA Program Officers for Europe and the NIS.

During the review process, the committee may contact the proposing organization for additional information.

The decision will be announced by October 31, 1999. Preference will be given to the proposal offering the best combination of organizational, financial, material and human resources.