Victor Childers, IU Kelley School of Business - Indianapolis

My first contact with Partners of the Americas was through Dr. Bob Yoho who was with the Indiana State Board of Health.  As one of the internationalists on the growing campus, I continued to keep in touch through Dean McDonald of the School of Dentistry. A succession of dentists came from Rio Grande do Sul for graduate studies in the School of Dentistry.  I especially remember Dr. Gilberto Hanke who was a leader in the Partners organization in Rio Grande do Sul.  In a sort of liaison capacity, the Indiana Partners kept me informed of on-going activities involving our sister state.  Efforts were made to increase relationships among universities in both states, and I recall helping to write a proposal for a cooperative venture.

 In 1997, I arranged to attend an academic conference in Rio de Janeiro and checked with officers of Indiana Partners about extending my visit to Rio Grande do Sul.  Since I was not seeking a travel grant, there was no problem, but I was told I should become a member.  As I recall, that was the first time for me to become an official, dues paying member of Partners of the Americas.  I did visit Porto Alegre, where my activities were managed by Carmen Englert.  The hospitality was wonderful, and they kept me busy with appointments to meet leaders of the local Partners organization.  They scheduled a talk for a university audience at UNISINOS.  Thinking I would be doing them a favor, I told them that I could give the talk in Spanish, and they advertised accordingly.  I prepared my remarks in Portuguese and upon being introduced, started talking.  About two minutes into the talk, the moderator interrupted, asking if I would mind speaking in English.  They were having trouble understanding my Portiguese and most of the audience could speak English.  It was an enjoyable event.