August 21, 2004: Headlines: COS - Oman: Arab Issues: Women's Issues: Diplomacy: Saudi Arabia: Cleveland Plain Dealer: Oman RPCV Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley is the first woman to serve as U.S. consul general in Saudi Arabia

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Oman: Special Report: Diplomat and Oman RPCV Oman RPCV Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley: August 21, 2004: Headlines: COS - Oman: Arab Issues: Women's Issues: Diplomacy: Saudi Arabia: Cleveland Plain Dealer: Oman RPCV Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley is the first woman to serve as U.S. consul general in Saudi Arabia
RPCV safe after Terrorist Attack RPCV safe after Terrorist Attack
RPCV Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, the U.S. consul general in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia survived Monday's attack on the consulate without injury. Five consular employees and four others were killed. Abercrombie-Winstanley, the first woman to hold the position, has been an outspoken advocate of rights for Arab women and has met with Saudi reformers despite efforts by Saudi leaders to block the discussions.


By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-239-147.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.239.147) on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 5:04 pm: Edit Post

Oman RPCV Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley is the first woman to serve as U.S. consul general in Saudi Arabia

Oman RPCV Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley  is the first woman to serve as U.S. consul general in Saudi Arabia

Oman RPCV Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley is the first woman to serve as U.S. consul general in Saudi Arabia

Cleveland Hts. native is top diplomat
She is the first woman to serve as U.S. consul general in Saudi Arabia
Saturday, August 21, 2004
Aymar Jean
Plain Dealer Reporter

In western Saudi Arabia, where there are few women in the workplace and men lead the corporations and drive the cars, an influential African-American woman coordinates U.S. diplomacy among the powerful men.

This is the challenge for Cleveland Heights native Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, who spoke to the City Club on Friday. She is the U.S. consul general in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - the first woman to hold the position.

Abercrombie-Winstanley, who grew up on Forest Street near Lee Road, recalls spending much of her youth on Coventry Road, frequenting Passport to Peru and other shops that sparked her interest in the world.

"My ties to Cleveland, and to Cleveland Heights specifically, are very strong," she said in an interview, noting that she still holds an Ohio driver's license.

Always interested in what is new and unfamiliar - the "other," as she describes it - Abercrombie-Winstanley took Hebrew at Cleveland Heights High School. But she also played the flute and trombone, worked during the summer at Cain Park and as an usher for a summer theater group.

But after attending George Washington University, studying for a year at Tel Aviv University and working in the Persian Gulf for the Peace Corps, Abercrombie-Winstanley knew where her focus would be.

In Jeddah, the primary focus is to further the government's diplomatic interests. But the Arabic-speaking Abercrombie-Winstanley has "cast her net wide" in the region, reaching out not only to the country's educated cadre but also to its non-English-speaking citizens, she said.

Being a woman has been an asset. Because the country is so divided and men are often prohibited from entering women-only facilities, she has access to a portion of the population unavailable to her male predecessors.

She has also been an advocate for women, setting up internship programs and working with female colleges - women constitute the majority of college-educated Saudis - to coordinate discussions on women's issues. The Saudi people, she said, have made some strides in the past few years.

"They're on the brink, and they just need to get over the edge," she said. "The women are outstanding, but they need access."

U.S. Ambassador Wat Cluverius, who is president and CEO of the Cleveland Council on World Affairs, said dealing with a woman consul general benefits the Saudis.

"Being a woman was tough . . . and I think she's doing very, very well," Cluverius said.

Abercrombie-Winstanley's husband and two children were advised in April to evacuate because of increased violence in Saudi Arabia and Iraq. The war, she said, has fostered Saudi "ill will" and has made her job "much more challenging." She now must spend her last year in the country without her family.

"In many ways, I have a long, unhappy year ahead of me," she said. "It's loving the job, loving the region, that keeps people going."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

ajean@plaind.com, 216-999-4675


© 2004 The Plain Dealer. Used with permission.





When this story was prepared, here was the front page of PCOL magazine:

This Month's Issue: August 2004 This Month's Issue: August 2004
Teresa Heinz Kerry celebrates the Peace Corps Volunteer as one of the best faces America has ever projected in a speech to the Democratic Convention. The National Review disagreed and said that Heinz's celebration of the PCV was "truly offensive." What's your opinion and who can come up with the funniest caption for our Current Events Funny?

Exclusive: Director Vasquez speaks out in an op-ed published exclusively on the web by Peace Corps Online saying the Dayton Daily News' portrayal of Peace Corps "doesn't jibe with facts."

In other news, the NPCA makes the case for improving governance and explains the challenges facing the organization, RPCV Bob Shaconis says Peace Corps has been a "sacred cow", RPCV Shaun McNally picks up support for his Aug 10 primary and has a plan to win in Connecticut, and the movie "Open Water" based on the negligent deaths of two RPCVs in Australia opens August 6. Op-ed's by RPCVs: Cops of the World is not a good goal and Peace Corps must emphasize community development.


Read the stories and leave your comments.






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Story Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Oman; Arab Issues; Women's Issues; Diplomacy; Saudi Arabia

PCOL13594
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By Marc (69.208.198.129) on Tuesday, December 07, 2004 - 4:12 pm: Edit Post

How could 60,418,140 people be so stupid?
http://www.geocities.com/marc_lawrence@sbcglobal.net/fu.gif


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