Friday 29 August 2008

DATA Profile

SHORT HISTORY:
The inaugural Assembly meeting to establish DATA (Diplomatic Association Tel Aviv) was held on December 18th 2007. Thirty-seven diplomats from twenty-six countries took part in it and adopted a decision to officially establish a professional non-profit organization focused on the expansion and the strengthening of contacts among diplomats serving in Tel Aviv. The Inaugural Assembly also elected nine diplomats in charge of governance of DATA and three auditors, as follows:

President, Antonis Mandritis, Embassy of Cyprus
Vice-president, Robert G. Lyon, Embassy of USA
Secretary, Ina Stoyanova, Embassy of Bulgaria
Vice-secretary, Juan Manuel Ortin – Embassy of Argentina
Treasurer, Fernando Ferreira da Silva – Embassy of Portugal
Vice-Treasurer, Tsholo Tsheole – Embassy of South Africa
Member at large, Torsak Janpian – Embassy of Thailand
Member at large, Gonzalo Voto Bernales – Embassy of Peru
Member at large, Sameh El-Souefi – Embassy of Egypt
Chief Auditor, John Gregory Kugblenu – Embassy of Ghana
Auditor, W M S Bandara - Embassy of Sri Lanka
Auditor, Laura Elisa Garcia Querol – Embassy of Mexico

Subsequently, following members’ departures from Israel, an interim Board was appointed on July10th 2008:

President, Ina Stoyanova, Embassy of Bulgaria
Vice-president, Fernando Ferreira da Silva, Embassy of Portugal
Vice-secretary, Juan Manuel Ortin, Embassy of Argentina
Vice-treasurer, Tsholo Tsheole, Embassy of South Africa
Member at large, Ignacio Ruiz, Embassy of Colombia
Member at large, Gonzalo Voto Bernales – Embassy of Peru
Member at large, Louisa Varaclas, Embassy of Cyprus

AIMS:
The Association primarily seeks to advance professional goals and enhance contacts among members of the diplomatic community through organizing meetings and events with local and state institutions, political establishments and other local bodies as well as through hosting social events.

MEMBERSHIP AND FEES:
Accredited diplomats are automatically eligible to become members. Non-accredited officers such as tourism and commercial representatives will also be able to join. Furthermore, others individuals and bodies, who are not part of the diplomatic community, but who work to further and promote the goals of the organization, are eligible to become associates and honorary members of DATA. Membership is on a yearly basis and is renewed in the month of September each year.

A system of dues collection, namely a membership fee of 300 NIS, was established solely for the purpose of aiding the hosting of events for the diplomatic community. Members, arriving in the second half of the year, i.e. after the month of March, will pay 150 NIS.

PAST EVENTS:
Past events include professional trips within Israel, lectures and presentations by distinguished speakers on international, regional and domestic politics issues, organizational meetings to optimize the performance of the Association, as well as many social gatherings for members and guests.

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