This year Edinburgh University is holding their general council meeting at Georgetown University in Washington DC on June 14th starting at 9:30 am. For more information see the general-council website at http://www.general-council.ed.ac.uk/washingtondc2008.htm. You can book tickets at http://www.general-council.ed.ac.uk/OrderingTickets.htm.

Please let me know if you are planning on attending any of the events and if you would be interested in attending an Alumni group meeting on the 14th.

Here is a run down of the events.

Friday 13 June 2008

Morning, Optional tours of Capitol Hill and other Washington landmarks. Tour of the White House (20 only)

1.30-5.45pm Half-Day Conference: The Business Response to Climate Change
The Rotunda
The British Embassy
3100 Massachusetts Avenue

6-7.30pm Reception
The Residence
The British Embassy

An Honorary Degree will be conferred on Neil Alden Armstrong, American astronaut, test pilot, university professor and naval aviator, and the first person to set foot on the moon on 20 July 1969.

Laureation by Piers John Sellers, British-American scientist, and NASA astronaut.


Saturday 14 June 2008

9.30am Coffee
South Lobby, Georgetown University Conference Center

10am-noon
General Council Statutory Half-Yearly Meeting
Grand Ballroom, Georgetown University Conference Center

Noon-12.15pm
A Group Photograph will be taken in front of Copley Hall, Georgetown University Campus.

12.15-12.45pm Wine Reception hosted by Dr John J DeGioia, President of Georgetown University
Copley Hall

12.45-2.45pm General Council Lunch
Guest Speaker: The Rt Hon. Lord Gill MA LLB PhD FRSE FRSAMD, Lord Justice Clerk

3-5pm Optional tours of Georgetown University Campus guided by Georgetown University students

Free time

7pm Champagne Reception and Gala Dinner
Jefferson Building, Library of Congress
With an exhibition from the collections of the Library of Congress, which is being specially arranged for University of Edinburgh guests.
Guest Speaker: The Rt Hon. Sir Malcolm Rifkind QC MP, Foreign Secretary 1995-97


Sunday 15 June 2008

Morning
Events in the National Cathedral

Free time

2pm Optional tours of Washington DC
Guided tour of the Holocaust Museum led by Professor Donald Bloxham, School of History, Classics and Archaeology, University of Edinburgh

I managed to make along to the Scottish Development International event at the Carnegie Institution for Science to celebrate Scotland Week. Scotland Week used to be called Tartan Week.

I met a number of people and collected a number of business cards whom I will have to follow up with. I also talked to representatives from other universities about the possibility of doing a joint event in the future. I heard some positive notes so hopefully that will lead to something.

If you are a whisky drinker I have to say my favorite out of 4 they had to sample was the 15 year old Laphroaig.

At the end of the night they gave out a bag with some scotland related items and I managed to acquire 5 Scotland pins (see photo). If you would like one, please send an email to info at eduni-dc.org with your name and postal address what year you were at Edinburgh Uni and I will pull 5 randomly from at hat on the 19th and let you know who has won.

This came in via email from Edinburgh University. Sorry about the short notice I forgot to post it till now. I am planning on attending, if you are going drop me an email to look out for you. I also haven't forgotten about putting together a meeting to help run the Alum group in the Washington DC area, if you haven't already expressed an interest in helping with the group drop me an email at info @ eduni-dc.org.

Ian

--

Scottish Development International invites you to join them for a
Business Reception to meet a Delegation of Scottish Educational
Institutions to Celebrate Scotland Week 2008.

An evening of Scottish traditions and the opportunity to meet Scotland's
experts in International Development in the Education & Training Sector.
"Education - The foundation for Employment and Sustained Economic
Growth"

There will be a Whisky tasting conducted by The Dalmore & Laphroaig.
*censored*tails & hors d'oeuvres will be served and traditional Scottish music
will be played.

Venue: Carnegie Institution for Science, 1530 P Street NW, Washington,
D.C. 20005
Date: April 2, 2008
Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm
Dress: Business attire

Please R.S.V.P to Megan Donnachie by March 20th, 2008
Email: Megan.Donnachie @ scotent.co.uk
Tel: (617) 621-3034 x. 118

Anyone interested in getting together to watch the six nations rugby?

Sun 3rd Feb 08 15:00 Scotland v France Murrayfield
Sat 9th Feb 08 14:00 Wales v Scotland Millennium Stadium
Sat 23rd Feb 08 17:00 Ireland v Scotland Croke Park
Sat 8th Mar 08 15:15 Scotland v England Murrayfield
Sat 15th Mar 08 14:00 Italy v Scotland Stadio Flaminio

If you are then send me an email at info at eduni-dc.org with location and i will put an email together with possible locations. From past experience the bars normally charge per person to watch them. Does anyone them on Satellite or Cable and be willing to host a gathering?

Here are a couple places that are showing them

http://www.fadoirishpub.com/washington/promotions/local/740
http://www.summers-restaurant.com/

Last night Rita and myself met with Elizabeth Cooke from Edinburgh University to discus how to get the DC Alumni group off the ground. We had a good discussion and one of the things we decided was to put a more formal structure in place for group to help coordinate with the University and to organize events in the area.

The initial structure we are thinking about is,

President
Vice President
Communications coordinator
Events coordinator
3 General committee members

The goal of the group is to organize one event a year in coordination with the university and 3 other events a year on our own. We would also like to build a list of people who would be willing to support the group, either in committing time, resources, space to hold an event, or sponsoring a round of drinks at events.

The next step is to hold a small meeting for those interested in joining the committee. If you are interested please send me an email (info '@' eduni-dc.org) and I will follow up with you.

Ian

Just a reminder that the University of Edinburgh in Washington DC is holding a Reception on Thursday, 18th October 2007 at the British Embassy. If you haven't RSVP yet you can try contacting Beth Munro (bmunro '@' miscorp.ed.ac.uk) to see if there is any space left.

Hi, the next happy hour is on Saturday 10th at 5pm

If you are planning on coming please drop me a note at happyhour (a t) eduni-dc.org or leave a comment on the website http://www.eduni-dc.org.

Thanks

Happy hour schedule.

Sat Feb 10th 5pm at Four Courts
Sat Apr 14th 5pm at Four Courts
Sat Jun 9th 5pm at Four Courts

Irelands Four Courts close to the Court House Metro in Arlington VA
http://www.irelandsfourcourts.com/

Any interest in getting a group of people together for the six nations rugby

Sat 10th Feb 15:30 GMT Scotland vs Wales
Sat 24th Feb 15:00 GMT Scotland vs Italy
Sat 10th Mar 13:30 GMT Scotland vs Ireland
Sat 17th Mar 15:30 GMT France vs Scotland

Fado in Washington DC are showing the games ($20 cover)
http://www.fadoirishpub.com/washington/eventview/sports

Summers in Court House Arlington are showing the games ($20 cover)
http://www.summers-restaurant.com/

Hi, the next happy hour is on the 10th at 5pm

If you are planning on coming please drop me a note at happyhour (a t) eduni-dc.org or leave a comment on the website http://www.eduni-dc.org

Thanks

Happy hour schedule.

Sat Feb 10th 5pm at Four Courts
Sat Apr 14th 5pm at Four Courts
Sat Jun 9th 5pm at Four Courts

Irelands Four Courts close to the Court House Metro in Arlington VA
http://www.irelandsfourcourts.com/

Just a quick reminder about the happy hour on saturday the 16th at 5pm

Happy hour schedule.

Sat Dec 16th 5pm at Four Courts
Sat Feb 10th 5pm at Four Courts
Sat Apr 14th 5pm at Four Courts
Sat Jun 9th 5pm at Four Courts

Irelands Four Courts close to the Court House Metro in Arlington VA
http://www.irelandsfourcourts.com/