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OKGIT July 2017 meeting recap

The below is a summary of the July 18, 2017 meeting of the Oklahoma Governor’s International Team. It is not intended to serve as a detailed summary of events, those will be reflected in the meeting minutes that will be distributed ahead of the September 19, 2017 meeting.

The dates are set for the 2017 Oklahoma Consular Summit. From September 6-7, the OKGIT will host consuls from the following countries at an evening reception (likely at the Skirvin or Petroleum Club) and a luncheon at the Governor’s Pavilion on September 7. Honorary consuls and those with contacts to consul generals in the following countries, please contact those officials to give them a firm date. An official invite to the following countries will be coming soon from the Oklahoma Secretary of State’s office. Any information or questions need to be directed to Jim Collard and Chris Morriss.

  • Canada
  • United Kingdom
  • Germany
  • Belgium
  • Netherlands
  • Australia
  • France
  • Spain
  • Switzerland

The group agreed to invite the state’s newest consular official from Guatemala to the event, but will hold a later reception or event welcoming him to the state.

Several OKGIT members were recognized for recent awards or nominations they received. OKGIT members Brenda Jones Barwick of Jones PR and University of Oklahoma Professor Evelyn Aswad on being named as members of the 2017 Global Class of Citizens by the World Experiences Foundation. The reception will take place September 9, 2017 at the Embassy Suites in downtown OKC. Jamie Cummings from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture noted her department’s activities, as well as the recent award ODA received as a result of the Jelly Making Trails campaign.

Oklahoma Department of Commerce’s Jesse Garcia reported that Luis Domenech (Oklahoma’s trade representative to Mexico) will be in Oklahoma on the week of October 8, 2017 and will be available to meet with businesses in OKC and Tulsa.

Chris Morriss from the Oklahoma Secretary of State’s office reported on upcoming delegation visits from countries including South Korea and Indonesia.

Scott Meacham of i2e gave a presentation to the group about his organization’s role in developing businesses and economic development potential with foreign firms in Oklahoma.

Executive Director John VanPool notified the group that he would be resigning his position effective August 1, 2017 and would transfer all OKGIT work and information – including the website, social media accounts and the PO Box – to the executive committee.

The group’s next meeting will be Tuesday, September 19, 2017 at 9 a.m. at the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics (1141 N Lincoln Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73104). OSSM has graciously offered to host a lunch for out attendees, so we must have RSVPs for all our regular members who plan to attend and any guests they may invite! Tulsa-area members will have a video conference connection at 36 Degrees North (36 E Cameron St, Tulsa, OK 74103). Our guest speaker will be Patrick Fitzgerald.