- GCIV Remembers Two Key Leaders -
January 27, 2011
We are in the midst of an exciting time for GCIV. With our 50th Anniversary just around the corner in 2012, we are celebrating our past 50 years of citizen diplomacy and paving the way for the next half century.
As we prepare to celebrate 50 years of citizen diplomacy in Georgia, we’ll publish excerpts from GCIV’s history prepared by former executive director Anne Hansen. We invite our members and friends to leave comments and share their memories with us through the pages of this blog.
We must also begin by honoring the memories of two visionary community leaders who were instrumental in GCIV’s founding: Betty Haas and Edith Elsas. Both of these extraordinary women passed away in December of last year.
Before Atlanta began calling itself the next great international city, long before international flights began arriving at Hartsfield Airport (now Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport), and years before Billy Payne dreamed of the world coming to Atlanta for the Olympics, there was an organization bringing hundreds of international visitors each year to our city from all over the world. Now known as the Georgia Council for International Visitors, the organization began in August 1962 as a volunteer effort operating out of a back bedroom.
The International Visitor Leadership Program, under the auspices of the U.S. State Department, began bringing invited guests to the United States at the end of World War II. Most of these visitors were in mid-career and were chosen as future leaders in their respective fields. More than 144 (now 250 and counting!) of these men and women eventually became presidents or prime ministers of their countries. Such leaders as Indira Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher, Anwar Sadat and Willie Brandt participated in the program early in their careers. Others became leaders in the fields of education, business, medicine or the arts. While in the US they met with government officials in Washington and then toured cities and communities around the country meeting with their counterparts, learning about various community organizations and activities and being entertained by volunteer hosts. A national organization was founded called the National Council for Community Services to International Visitors (COSERV), later changed to the National Council for International Visitors (NCIV). COSERV began contacting World Affairs Councils, Chambers of Commerce and other local volunteer organizations in many parts of the country that might be willing to receive and coordinate the visits of these international visitors within their communities.
In 1962 COSERV wanted to establish a contact in Atlanta to receive visitors interested in the Civil Rights Movement. Betty Haas was called by a relative, Catherine Bang, from Cleveland who was involved with the World Affairs Council there, which was already a COSERV agency. It was arranged that Lorinne Emery of the Dallas Committee for International Visitors, another COSERV agency, would come to Atlanta with one of her volunteers, who was the wife of the editor of the Dallas newspaper, to speak to a group of interested community volunteers. Betty Haas gathered together a group of friends, members of the World Fellowship Committee of the YWCA, the International Committee of the AAUW and other church and civic groups. Among those attending the first meetings were Edith Elsas, Connie Calhoun and Paula Bevington. Julia Martin and Edith Elsas both hosted later meetings at which plans were solidified for an organization. From this core of volunteers the Atlanta Committee for International Visitors was founded with Betty Haas as the first president. Soon after organization the Committee invited representatives from the African-American community to become involved as volunteer hosts, board members and resources.
Betty Haas went on to serve on the national board of COSERV from 1963 to 1966, with Pat Mutzberg following her on the board and becoming COSERV President in the early ‘70s. Subsequent national board members from Atlanta have been Faye McKay-Clegg and Sonjia Young. COSERV became the National Council for International Visitors and now has more than 100 member councils around the U.S.
Betty Geismer Haas died peacefully in her sleep at home on December 3, 2010. She was 97. Betty Geismer grew up in Shaker Heights, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated with honors from Wellesley College in 1935. Upon graduation she attended Western Reserve Law School and in 1936 she married Joseph Haas of Atlanta, whom she met in Boston, when he attended Harvard Law School. After moving to Atlanta, Betty shared her love of education as a teacher, tutor and nursery school founder. Additionally, she earned a broker’s license later in life. She was an athlete and The Standard Club golf champion at age 50. In Atlanta, Betty practiced her hobby of farming on 26 acres near Chastain Park. When the farm was sold in 1959, she founded the Atlanta Committee for International Visitors (ACIV), now the Georgia Council for International Visitors (GCIV), which continues to host representatives from around the world. Among ACIV’s guests were diplomats from African countries, and at Betty’s insistence, Atlanta hotels integrated to accommodate the guests and their hosts. Click here to read Betty Haas’ full obituary.
Carol Emmons, GCIV’s executive director from 1995 to 1999 recalls Betty Haas as someone always ready to offer encouragement. “I remember my first board meeting as executive director. At that time Betty was serving on GCIV’s International Advisory Board. I was a little nervous and I distinctly remember Betty’s welcoming smile and little pat of encouragement. She had a way of making everyone feel welcome.”
Edith Levy Elsas died peacefully at home on December 24, 2010, surrounded by her loving children, grandchildren, friends and caregivers. Three institutions which were special to her, and to which she gave time, effort and consideration were Wellesley College, Emory University, and the Atlanta Committee for International Visitors (ACIV). Many generations of Wellesley graduates recall her as a hostess and admissions resource. Wellesley teas at her home were legendary, and over the decades, she served as an advisor to Wellesley search committees, admissions committees, and scholarship and awards committees. At Emory University, she established the Albert E. Levy Faculty Research Award and the Herbert R. Elsas Reading Room in the Law Library in memory of her father and husband, respectively. She supported law, music, art, and medicine, while serving on the Emory University Board of Visitors. Many believe that her efforts on behalf of the ACIV helped lay the foundation for Atlanta’s successful bid for the 1996 Olympics. Click here to read Edith Elsas’ full obituary.
Ada Almering, GCIV Lifetime Member and long-time friend of Edith Elsas, tells us more, “Edith had a million dollar smile. You were always looking forward to seeing that smile, and she never disappointed. Anyone who knew her was entranced by her. Whenever you were invited to anything at Edith’s house, you knew it was going to be fun. The truth is that I have met most of my pals through my association with ACIV/GCIV. I treasure my association with this organization.” For at least twenty-five years, Edith Elsas hosted the International Women Associates’ May Coffee in her beautiful home on West Paces Ferry.
Information for this article has been reprinted from GCIV archives and history prepared by Anne Hansen, as well as obituaries appearing in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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Our Mission & Vision
GCIV builds understanding and cooperation between the people of our state and the world. Our vision is that every Georgia citizen has the opportunity to become more globally engaged.
Upcoming Events & Delegations
- Wed 2/22/2012 - 2/26/2012: Libyan Delegation
- Wed 2/22/2012 - 2/26/2012: South African Delegation
- Wed 2/22/2012 - 2/25/2012: Greek Delegation
- Fri 2/24/2012: International Dining Experience