About THIS Description and Mission Sponsors and Advisory Boards Officers and Staff Testimonials from Diplomats

For Diplomats Programs and Services Contact Form Helpful Links

Members Member Volunteers New Membership Information Program Committee Service Committee

Support Corporate and Individual Giving Current Corporate Sponsors

News Special Events News Releases and Articles Photos Newsletter

{ For Diplomats }

THIS Programs

THIS for Diplomats organizes many stimulating and informative programs not available to the general public for all individuals who are on diplomatic status in the United States and their dependants. Currently, a Calendar of Events is sent by email to diplomatic families and 400 volunteer members five times a year.  If you have not already registered with us please do so by submitting a contact form. Providing your email address will ensure that you receive each issue of the Calendar of Events.  Click on the Contact Form button to the right.  Program Committees and sample events are listed below:

• Government Affairs hosts seminars on civics and special tours of government institutions such as the Pentagon, the Supreme Court, the US Capitol and The White House.
• Travel orgainzes day and overnight trips to cities and areas within the mid-Atlantic region.  Some recent trips include Pennsylvania's Brandywine River Valley, Pittsburgh and Fallingwater, and Virginia's Luray Caverns. 
• American History and Community Affairs provides outings to historical sites in the Washington, DC area.
• Architecture, Garden and Home Design schedules visits to design centers, gardens and homes of distinction in the Washington area. It arranges lectures by architects, designers and horticulturists.
• Art visits private collections and area museums, such as the Hirshhorn Museum, Renwick Gallery and Phillips Collection.
• Sports in America: Like language and fashion, sports are an essential element of cultural identity. "Sports in America" offers the opportunity to experience sports through a new perspective - the American one. All-American sports include baseball, American football, and lacrosse.
• Performing Arts provides opportunities to enjoy theatre, dance and musical performances throughout the Washington area.
• Cooking demonstrates preparation of American meals and serves them in private homes. Chefs from area restaurants offer tips and techniques on preparing their specialty dishes.
• Initiatives and Programs for Professionals presents expert lectures and panel discussions on current topics of interest to the international community.

THIS Services

Service groups meet on a regular basis in the homes of volunteers and diplomats and are available free of charge.

• International Coffee and Cultural Exchange (ICCE) - groups that meet at different homes to practice English and informally discuss various aspects of their cultures.
• Washington, DC
• Maryland
  • Bethesda / Chevy Chase
  • Gaithersburg/Rockville
  • Potomac
• Virginia
• Northern Virginia
• THIS / AAUW Arlington
• THIS / AAUW McLean
• Foreign Language Conversation and Cultural Exchange - groups that meet at different homes to use and practice other languages and informally discuss various aspects of their cultures.
• Arabic - conducted in English
• French - conducted in French
• German - conducted in German
• Italian - conducted in Italian
• Japanese - conducted in English
• Russian - conducted in English
• Spanish - conducted in Spanish
• Turkish - conducted in English
• Home Hospitality - enjoy social events in private homes, such as a family dinner, weekend brunch, afternoon picnic, or outdoor barbeque.
• Calling - volunteers welcome newly arrived diplomats and their spouses to introduce them to THIS and provide them with information about life in Washington.
• Book Discussion - members meet each month to discuss literature, reading books by American and international authors.
• Tennis - volunteers support an informal daytime tennis group.
• Bridge - enjoy playing this popular and challenging card game in an informal atmosphere. A fundamental understanding of bridge is required to participate.
• Mahjong - mahjong (American version) is a tile game of both skill and luck that originated in China many centuries ago and was brought to the West in the 1920's.  Beginners (learners) and experienced players meet twice a month on the 2nd and 4th Mondays from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.