The Georgia Association for Volunteer Administration (GAVA) today announced that President Michele Wiesner, CVA, and Vice President Tim Suda, CVA, met on September 18 with a delegation of non-profit and non-governmental leaders from China to conduct a cross-cultural dialogue on volunteer engagement and community leadership.

The meeting, held in Midtown Atlanta, was coordinated by the Georgia Council for International Visitors (GCIV) as part of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). The IVLP is the U.S. government's premier professional exchange program, bringing foreign leaders to the United States to cultivate lasting relationships with American counterparts.

Serving as citizen diplomats alongside real-time Mandarin interpreters, Michele and Tim led discussions centered on volunteer recruitment, retention strategies, professional administration standards, and how cultural dynamics influence volunteer engagement in both nations.

"Meeting with international leaders allows us to examine the universal impact of volunteerism while sharing practical strategies that strengthen communities across borders," said Tim Suda, CVA, Vice President of GAVA. "It was a privilege to represent Georgia’s volunteer management profession on a global stage."

The session formed part of a broader regional exchange for the Chinese delegates, who also met with other Georgia-based non-profit organizations and academic institutions to exchange best practices in non-profit administration.

More information on the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program and the role of the Georgia Council for International Visitors can be found here: https://www.gciv.org/