Following 30 years of work in foreign service, Jane McMullen and her husband, Ambassador Ron McMullen, moved back to Iowa City in 2012. After being at American embassies overseas, the McMullens wanted to keep their international “fix” by looking for organizations related to international relations. They found that “fix” after attending a Global Ties Iowa (then CIVIC) event, with Jane joining the Board of Directors in 2013.
Jane considers herself to have been a citizen diplomat her whole life. While overseas, she was the face of America and took that role seriously; Jane sees Global Ties Iowa as a continuation of that role. As Iowa City is her hometown, it gives her a chance to represent the local color of the area and see how Iowa City has changed over the years.
In the over 10 years the McMullens have been involved with Global Ties Iowa, one of the most impactful and memorable experiences was Groundhog Day 2015. A volunteer call was sent out for a home hospitality for a group of 12 international leaders from Southeast Asia, coinciding with the McMullens annual Groundhog Day party. They decided to invite the group to the party, which had over 50 people in attendance, including University of Iowa students and faculty, townspeople, neighbors, friends, and the delegation. Almost a year later, Jane was in Washington D.C. for the Global Ties Annual Meeting and talked with a Meridian programmer who had heard about the party from the delegation, showing the profound impact the McMullens had on that delegation.
In response to why supporting citizen diplomacy is so important, Jane said, “The world we live in has a lot of fear, distrust, and misconceptions.” People-to-people exchange allows for dialogue and discussion that are transformational and leads to understanding. Jane also pointed out the importance of our name change—CIVIC to Global Ties Iowa—because it emphasizes the connection that our office organizes.
For advice to new volunteers, Jane says to “jump right in!” All that is required is curiosity and openness, both of which open doors to a rewarding and horizon-broadening experience. International visitors are always grateful to meet with volunteers and learn about their lives and eastern Iowan cultures and traditions. It also gives volunteers pride in our community and a sense of civic engagement and purpose.
Jane also enumerated many ways of giving that exist at Global Ties Iowa: time, generosity, service, and financial. Volunteering is a gift of time, and delegations are often impressed by the extent of volunteering in the United States. Iowa Table Dinners are the gifts of generosity, time, and money, while serving on committees and the Board of Directors are gifts of time and energy. Financial giving is always important because nonprofits need community support and sponsorships; though we are a volunteer driven organization, there are real costs associated with office space rental, staffing, and more. It is important to note that donations to Global Ties Iowa are qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) from an IRA and can reduce taxable income for individuals over 70.5 years old.
Jane gives to Global Ties Iowa because she believes in the mission of connecting the world and the heartland. For more information about giving, we encourage you to explore our website for volunteer opportunities, financial donations, and more. To learn more about the "Why I Give" campaign, read Melissa Bates' blog post here.
Photos from the Groundhog Day party
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