The document summarizes the activities of a delegation of Ukrainians hosted by the League of Women Voters of Atlanta-Fulton County. Over the course of a week, the delegation toured various local government agencies, businesses, and cultural sites to learn about accountable governance and city planning. They met with elected officials, visited courts and polling places, and learned about utilities regulation. The delegation also enjoyed social activities like shopping and visiting museums. The goal was to promote citizen engagement and global awareness between Ukraine and Atlanta.

1. May 27, 2009 Volume 1, Number 1
In This Issue
 LWVAF
 Open World/LWVUS
 Open World Hosting
Program
 “Accountable
Governance”
Sites to Visit
www.lwvaf.org
www.openworld.gov
Contact Us
Mailing Address
The League of Women
Voters of Atlanta-Fulton
County
PO Box 420705
Atlanta, GA 30342
Phone Number
404-988-0694
Accountable Governance
Progressing towards citizen engagement, cross-cultural community stewardship, and
global awareness The League of Women Voters Atlanta-Fulton County (LWVAF)
discovered the New Russia via the assistance of Montrelle Caldwell, VP of
Programs, serving as a Delegate in the Civic Hosting Program sponsored by Open
World, Friendship Force, and the League of Women Voters-US. LWVAF was
honored to have participated in a world-class groundbreaking event promoting
global diplomacy via utilizing a humanitarian venue such as civic engagement.
“Accountable Governance”
Our Ukrainian Delegates arrived
safely on Friday, October 17, 2008,
and were brisk away to be
entertained at the High Museum’s
Jazz Night event. The crowd filled
with our great citizens of Atlanta,
GA extended a warm welcome, and
our Delegates were very pleased
with the embrace of smiling faces!
Keeping in compliance with our
“Accountable Governance” and
“City Planning” themes for this
particular Global Diplomacy
Initiative,
we kept the pace of a fun-filled, well-organized,
but rigid schedule for our Ukrainian Delegates.
We were received by The City of Atlanta, The
City Council of The City of Atlanta which held a
Proclamation for our Ukrainian Delegates,The
City of Sandy Springs, The Georgia Public
Service Commission, CIFAL-Atlanta, Fulton
County- Business Courts, Fulton County Board
of Elections, MARTA,MWH, Hartsfield-
Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta
Zoo, the Botanical Gardens, Lenox Mall,
Georgia State University, CNN, Mary Mac Tea
Room, Cheesecake Factory,6 Feet Under,
Phoenix and Dragon Bookstore, Wal-Mart,
Target, Brunswick Bowling Lanes,GA World
Congress Center, Underground, and the GA
State Capital Building.
Thanks to all of the wonderful Agencies,
Businesses, Organizations, Citizens, and the
Metro Atlanta Community which participated in
this phenomenal event!

2. The goal of this Global Diplomacy Initiative was to broaden citizen’s perspectives on active
measures they can participate in regarding “accountable governance”, and engage citizens
in initiatives such as sponsorship and exchange programs in order to enhance foreign
relations. Remember, local issues are global issues.
Come join us!
“Accountable
Governance”
Special Thanks to:
 Shirley Franklin, Mayor, City of
Atlanta
 Greg Pridgeon, Chief of Staff, City
of Atlanta
 Lisa Borders, President of Atlanta
City Council
 Jim Maddox, Councilman, Atlanta
City Council
 David Constant, International
Manager, AtlantaCity Council
 Eva Galambos, Mayor, City of
Sandy Springs
 John F. McDonough, City
Manager, City of Sandy Springs
 Commissioner Chuck Eaton, Chair,
Georgia Public Service
Commission
 Commissioner Robert Baker,
Georgia Public Service
Commission
 Pandora Epps, Assistant Director of
Utilities, Georgia Public Service
Commission
 Vincent C. Jacques II, Deputy
Registrar Coordinator, Fulton
County Board of Elections
 Anne Tucker Nees, Staff Attorney
for Business Court, Fulton County
Superior Court
 Francesca Cesa Bianchi, Program
Director, CIFAL-Atlanta
 Dean Bell, Vice-President,
Montgomery Watson Harza
 Raymond Hutchinson, Vice-
President, Montgomery Watson
Harza
 Heather Ridgeway, Secretary of
State/Capitol City Tours
 Marvin Toliver, Manager
Government & Community Affairs,
Metropolitan AtlantaRapid Transit
Authority
 Dr. Beverly A. Scott, General
Manager/CEO, Metropolitan
AtlantaRapid Transit Authority
 Ryland N. McCledon, Assistant
General Manager, Transit System
Development & External Affairs
 Johnny Dunning, Director of
Transit SystemPlanning,
Metropolitan AtlantaRapid Transit
Authority
 DarrylConnelly, Director of
FORUM HIGHLIGHTS
Highlights
From L-R: Mayor Yuriy Shutyak, Nova Odessa City; Mayor Oleksandr Kozak,
Bar City; John F. McDonough, City Manager of Sandy Springs; Mayor Eva
Galambos, City of Sandy Springs; Mayor Anatoliy Fedorchuk, Boryspil;
Mayor Taras Pustovit. Ostroh City; Mayor Oleksandr US, Dykanka Village;
Vladimir Bassis, Interpreter; Montrelle Caldwell, VP of Program, LW V-AF;
Olga Vorona, Facilitator
 Proclamation with Lisa Borders, President of the Atlanta
City Council, andCouncil Members. The City of Atlanta
Ceremonial Document highlights achievements, charitable
events, civic-minded individuals and/or memorable occasions.
Ceremonial Documents are given in the form of a letter or a
Phoenix Award. Ceremonial documents are prepared by the
Mayor’s Officeof Communications and include the Mayor’s
signature. Phoenix awards are issued for the following:
retirements; honorary Citizenship – Foreign Dignitaries,
prominent individuals, entertainers, or artists;appreciation –
Outstanding contributions to the City and citizens of Atlanta
(including monetary, in-kind donations, cultural contributions
or volunteer efforts); heroism; significant birthdays – 75 and
higher; and significant marriage anniversaries – 50 and higher.
 Meeting with Mayor Eva Galambos, City of Sandy
Springs. Mayor Galambos gave thedelegates a basic lesson
on the structureof American government as well as an
overview of Sandy Springs geography and history. Insights:
The delegates appreciated themayor’s presentation very much
because it increased their understanding as they proceeded
through the rest of the week’s activities.
 Meeting with CommissionerChuck Eaton (Chair),
Georgia Public Service Commission, andCommissioner
Robert Baker, Georgia PublicService Commission.
Delegates met with both Commissioner Chuck Eaton and
Commissioner Robert Baker of the Georgia Public Service
Commission to discuss reasonable rates for utilities, instituting
judicial proceedings to enforce orders, rules, and regulations.
The Delegates learned that the Georgia Public Service
Commission has exclusive power to decide what are fair and
reasonable rates for services under its jurisdiction. Delegates
also learned theCommission must balance Georgia citizens'
need for reliable services and reasonable rates with the need
for utilities to earn a reasonable return on investment. Lastly,
the Delegates discovered the Commission responsibilities
were to protect thepublic interest and to fulfill its
responsibilities. This is executed by conducting investigations,
hearings, and gather evidence, inspect properties, books and
papers of regulated companies, determine costs, make and
enforce rules, issue orders giving effect to Commission
decisions, and institutejudicial proceedings to enforce orders,
rules and regulations.
 Meeting with Anne TuckerNees, Staff Attorney, Fulton
County SuperiorCourts. Anne Nees discussed thedaily
operations of the Fulton County Court system, and allow the
delegates to ask questions. Anne Nees discussed conflict
resolution and negations between businesses of Atlanta, and
how business relations can effect multinational corporations.

3. Transit Oriented Development &
Real Estate, Metropolitan Atlanta
Rapid Transit Authority
 Dr. Johnny Matthews, Professor,
Georgia State University
 Claire McLeveighn, Director
International Affairs, Hartsfield-
Jackson AtlantaInternational
Airport
 Jeff Pearse, Director of Marketing
and Business Development,
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta
International Airport
 Warren Jones, Aviation
Development Manager, Hartsfield-
Jackson AtlantaInternational
Airport
 MontrelleCaldwell
Executive Director, G16 Global
Network Alliance/LWVAF
 Tracy Adkison
Board Member LWVAF
 Dr. Cindy Thompson
Board Member LWVAF
 Diane Larche
Board Member LWVAF
 Cindy Striplin
Board Member LWVAF
 Bill Striplin
Board Member LWVAF
 Mary Carole Cooney
Board Member LWVAF
 Henry Cooney
Board Member LWVAF
 Cecilia Houston-Torrence
Board Member LWVAF
 MaryAnneGaunt
Board Member LWVAF
 Kayron Bearden
Board Member LWVAF
 Bob Bearden
Board Member LWVAF
 Bob Gore
Board Member LWVAF
 Melanie Harrington
Board Member LWVAF
 Seletha Butler
Board Member LWVAF
 Clarissa Brome
Board Member LWVAF
 Observation of a polling place and meeting with Deputy
Registrar Coordinator Vincent C. Jacques II: While
visiting the polling place at Fulton County Board of Elections,
the delegates met with Vincent C. Jacques, II to discuss
American voting, a polling place judge and a ward judge, and
role of theSecretary of State. Thedelegates learned about
Vincent C. Jacques II responsibilities in providing for fair
elections. Delegates were allowed to see an electronic
balloting machine, and impressed by the ease of voting in
Atlanta.
 Meeting with MWH: Delegates will met with Mr. Raymond
Hutchinson in order to discuss water and sewage management
for a city, and theregulatory mandates which may arise in city
planning and development. MWH is a leading global provider
of consulting, engineering, construction and management
services in water, natural resources, and infrastructuresectors.
We have planned, designed, built and managed many of the
world’s largest and most technologically advanced projects
and programs, and have been recognized with top industry
rankings and awards. With 170 offices and more than 7,000
employees around theworld, MWH focuses on dependable,
developed countries with well funded clients who are able to
benefit from our range of services.
 Early Thanksgiving/Farewell Dinnerwith Host Family
and discussion about voting with League members and
citizens of Atlanta. Henry and Mary Carole Cooney, Board
Members, and Host Family; hosted a dinner were several
League members stopped by. Wehad a great fellowship with
the Delegates and discussed voting and the American party
system. Thediscussion that followed was so enthusiastic and
ran on so long that the interpreter finally had to call it quits!
At this dinner, the delegates met several League members
Charis Johnson (President of LWVAF), Seletha Butler (Board
Member, LWVAF), Bob and Kayron Bearden (Board
Members, LWVAF), Melanie Harrington (Board Member/Past
President of LWVAF), Cece Houston-Torrence(Board
Member, LWVAF), Tracy Adkison (Co-Host Coordinator,
Board Member, LWVAF), and MontrelleCaldwell (Host
Coordinator, Board Member, LWVAF, Executive Director,
G16: Global Network Alliance). The Delegates and League
Members both enjoyed as there was laughter, bonds of
friendship tithing, and singing of traditional Ukrainian song.
 Atlanta Zoo Visit: Thedelegates spent a Sunday afternoon
browsing theZoo Atlanta. These tickets were donated by
Diane Larche and
 Tour of the State Capitol: TheDelegates received a personal
tour by Heather Ridgeway. Heather Ridgeway gave the group
a private tour, including the Supreme Court, the Houseof
Representatives chamber, and theGovernor’s reception room.
 Shopping: Shopping was exciting, and a fun experience. We
really bonded during the shoppingand dining intervals,
because we had to utilize universal body language and broken
Ukrainian for myself (Montrelle);(having Delegates give me a
crash course in their language), and this was reciprocated by
me teaching the Delegates some American English (comical a-
bit, but value added in this process). The delegates spent an
evening at Lenox Mall. We managed to find time for trips to
Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, Marshall’s, and Ross.