ACCE - American Chamber of commerce executives

Blogs

Aug

Can't Cut This Class

Mick Fleming on Monday, August 29, 2011 at 12:00:00 am

From left, José Paulo D. Cairoli, President of CACB (Confederation of Commercial and Business Associations of Brazil); Sergio Papini, V.P., CACB, Kwanele Gumbi, V.P., Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry; ACCE President Mick Fleming; Julio Alfaro, President, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of East Timor.

Dealing with the formalities of international business has been a challenge for a guy born without diplomatic genes. My Buffalo, N.Y., roots make it tough to tolerate
for-the-record speeches, endlessly translated through earphones. Such programs are inevitable, however, in my role as vice chair of the World Chambers Federation (WCF).

My recent trip to Brazil included the dreaded for-the-record speeches in Portuguese, but there were some touching moments,such as the little ceremony shown in this picture. Following my participation in Salvador, Brazil on a panel of experts from around the world, one of my fellow presenters was overwhelmed with gratitude to have been included. Mr. Julio Alfaro of the new country of East Timor showered each of us with gifts and “hooded” us with lovely ceremonial shawls. The big old American bear on the stage felt a bit awkward, but Julio’s appreciation was so genuine and his words were so poignant, how could I not be moved?

When Julio said “It is nice to be here; it is nice to be anywhere,” he was not joking. You see, this soft-spoken, charismatic guy is running a chamber that is recovering from a decade-long revolution. Former teen (and pre-teen) conscripts in guerilla armies are now learning trades and business skills from his organization. Generations of government corruption are being overcome through his advocacy work. And we think chamber management is tough in the US!

I sometimes tell ACCE Board members that the WCF experience is MY professional development. Thanks to all of you for letting me take this “class.”

rating of 0 from 0 votes