Save the date for International Institute Rhode Island’s Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors

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When:

Where:

International Institute Rhode Island Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors

Tuesday, October 23, 2007; 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

International Institute Rhode Island
645 Elmwood Avenue
Providence, Rhode Island

Free parking is available

International Institute Rhode Island will celebrate 86 years of helping immigrants and refugees build new and productive lives at its Annual Board Meeting on October 23, 2007 at 4:30 p.m.

The meeting will celebrate the accomplishments of the past year, honor several key volunteers and staff, and give the Institute’s many supporters the opportunity to celebrate the important work of the agency as well as hear from its leadership about challenges and goals for the coming year.

New and continuing Directors will also be elected at the meeting. It will be followed by an art exhibit created by local African refugees and a reception with light hors d’oeurvres.

The Keynote Speaker will be President of Rhode Island School of Design, Roger Mandle. President Mandle has been recognized internationally for his visionary leadership of RISD and in particular for his commitment to broadening the School of Design’s international reach and community involvement.

Vincent Buonanno, President and CEO of the Illinois-based company Tempel Steel and a RISD Trustee and philanthropist active in a number of local causes, will introduce President Mandle.

The Nelly Ayvasian Award for Volunteer Service will be presented this year to Lillian McGee, Community Relations Manager of Verizon.  Ms. McGee has served on the Board of Directors of the Institute for 15 years and will this year move to the agency’s Advisory Board.

The Corporate Leadership Award will be presented to William Hatfield, President of Bank of America Rhode Island for his role as co-chair of IIRI’s 21st Annual Spring Carnival Ball with John Hazen White, Jr.

The Community Leadership award will be presented to Dorothy Abrams, professor at Johnson and Wales University, who – along with many of her students -- has provided hands-on volunteer service to countless new refugees during the past several years.

Pam Pomfret, who served as the Director of Development for ten years before moving this summer to the Nature Conservancy, will also be formally recognized for her work at the Institute with the first-ever Emeritus Staff Award.

The Master of Ceremonies for the afternoon’s program will be physician and community activist and leader Dr. Pablo Rodriguez.

For more information, please contact Sarah Parrott at sparrott@iiri.org or 401.784.8634.