Larisa Koval, ICEA president and founder, just had a meeting with John M. O'Keefe, executive director of Open World Leadership Center at the Library of Congress.

They have discussed the quality of programming, themes of expertise, assessments of the delegates, facilitators, hosting families and organizations, budgets and ideas for future improvements.

Some of the concerns included: nomination, selection, budget, processes, communication with Open World staff and follow-up connection with the delegates.

Representatives from other collaborating organizations such as International Visitors Center of Chicago and Friendship Force of Northern  Illinois also attended the meeting and shared their experiences.

On the photo: Larisa Koval (President of ICEA),  John M. O'Keefe (Executive Director of Open World), Brian  Harrington (Friendship Force of Northern  Illinois), Peggy Parfenoff (Executive Director of International Visitors Center of Chicago), Nataliya Pokashchevska (Interpreter with ICEA), Marian Reich (Assistant Director of International Visitors Center of Chicago) July 28, 2009, Chicago, IL, USA.