[inaudible conversations] and today we talk about all the risks that you can during brisk the business abroad in very special topic we have several clients who have International Relationships overseas that need to make sure they put the best up for word. This session will be facilitated by dr. Gregory and i will take a moment to introduce misfortune the president and ceo of Visionary Consulting partners. As the founding principle of veteran owned and small disadvantaged businesses right here at the Mason Enterprise Center working with numerous organizations including the American PublicHealth Association to manage System Society where visionaries cochair of the round table she is a volunteer member that is underserved education outreach policy before the work groups in society for Public Health education. Besides holding a b. S. From respiratory therapy and also would help promotion management. [applause] thanks for taking your precious time to come out that i think is important i hope you walk away today with the information you consider important helpful to you to reduce your risk and liability not just abroad even though that is what we talk about it what could be relevant also to the united states. But before we get into the presentation i will tell you about Visionary Consulting partners. We have a very broad domain but we provide a very diverse set of services. Pdf so you can see what we do a lot take a lot of time other than we always apply industry best practices as well as using evidence based models from one redo anything with the very strict Program Management with whatever type of work that we do. As a better indication of the type of work of Health Information technology, this just a few of the areas with the federal domain and civilian population. That is in state as well as almost to the exact date when we got the First International contract. This is why i thought this was a good topic berger i wish we knew in september of last year what we know now. And wish we had them as a consultant with us back then. And to help with the international work. The client is usaid we won a contract in we are in collaboration with the individuals that call the influence. And as we broaden and start the work a number of areas we didnt know what we didnt know to be quite honest. And then to jump with both feet. That is what we did. There was a lot of discovery along the way. So we take this opportunity to share some information with you for those that are doing contract work now are doing International Contract work in the future but leading to our speaker and, professor at Montgomery College and the coordinator of International Education director for over a decade and a half. He has led students and faculty in communities abroad to africa, asia Central America south america and europe with his passion to be a Global Citizen in africa throughout Southeast Asia to serve as a study abroad specialist. Dedicated to cultivating life for opportunities for all of a bike to take the time one to welcome him to the stage. [applause] think you so much for having me in giving me this opportunity. It is my pleasure in days certainly want to thank you for this opportunity. And cspan is here as well for the wonderful crew to sat up. But in terms of the presentation has igo into the presentation i want to reiterate the terms of mitigating risk to oversee concern and as we take the journey together a definitely want you to consider what questions you may have. There is certainly a good deal in my book youll find additional information. I encourage you to consider also engaging in more discussion at the end of the session. So with that presentation, we are looking at a number of different issues that we have here or case studies from recent lawsuits that service from the case studies to manage the risk while examining medical issues to look at the top five best practices as well. So the first case is king vs. University 2002 and with this particular case the Federal District court talkedabout faculty members in a hostile and firemen in south africa from eastern michigan univ. With the violations that occurred a Sexual Harassment of female students. In this easily could ocher with the business major aura of group that faces legislation of the title seven violations. And we will talk about that as a 04 word but the women that were on this program and the professors were leading it was dr. Klein brothers went with the group in things went awry very first week. One student by the name of macaulay enters without knocking or without invitation while a female student was sleeping and inter room. In addition phonenumber of male students they would refer to the female students of gender specific names when they asked to be called by name the males were even more disrespectful. And it were sent. So the program only deteriorated from there and they did nothing to correct the situation. With the male students in particular were soliciting the women for sex. Women students that were offered to south africans. Stopping in front of the liquor store for a liquor run. Salute it took them to amend the situation from dr. Ocofor. So the plaintiff claimed that it affected their ability from the Educational Program but courts agreed and they felt that the institution should be balanced by extraterritorial application to support that the program was always under the control of the university in every respect. Every moment of inaction to stop the sexualharassment to be shown negligent by the university. This also could be done hawse style environment of business employees as well and universities oftentimes run themselves as a business so i would ask them to take similar approaches. Best practices to minimize such a thing, think about extraterritorial, a title seven, and the use of your authority and also the eeoc compliance along with best practices of the housing authority. So you want to apply although the lawsuit involves didnt participants it was instructed for Business Managers and employees who needed overseas adventures are seminars are conferences and activities. Over the conduct and regulations that is the extraterritoriality in a nutshell that that is the u. S. Regulations of a federally funded program that must also extend overseas. More and more the courts are firming that must exist and recent cases occurred. St. Louis university all the judges expected to send the participants overseas. But in fact, with a bird vs. Lewis and Clark College the judge maintains its feet at extraterritoriality is not practice in the overseas programs would be the proverbial floating sanctuaries not unlike the vessel on the high sea. Continuing to make sure that the best practice is to remain overseas so title dash what i brought forth however it did go little further more so for the Educational Programs how we deal with the title vii that is a federal law that prohibits employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of sex race Caller National origin or religion. But title dash more of an educational that the law prohibits discrimination for this Educational Programs and activities. But in any case whenever title seven policies you have in place, that prohibits employers from discriminating against employees to be replicated overseas. Another best practice of the Opportunity Employment Commission eeoc says it is unlawful to harass a person because of their sex. Harassment can include sexual or advances favors verbal or physical harassment on the sexual nature. In very important here need to use it so addition to filing title vii regulations how you use your authority employees first will look at that an i. R. A. With coworkers when the environment is compromise. And second in terms of using your authority with that structure of the work program for out of office other employees become infuriated with the agenda items and demand for full compensation with personal funds spent to keep things on track this is what Business Manager should do and then be willing to yield your authority with the meetings or workshops or activities in the unhealthy environment for big yourself up around that authority should spell out what you can do of those expectations. But in my book then to have a program and then students would attend that. And then to take the same policy overseas. And they paid to go back home on their own dime. So then they signed it. The same goes for the Business World blows events should be well managed for anybody who goes overseas. So i will lead to go to another case against duke university. Lets consider that hear the events that happened. Och with the program and consequently filed a suit against do. With the celebratory trip on the southcentral Pacific Coast beach was not on the Program Schedule and not even publicized with no prior notice. They were told it was the safest speech of the waters and if they got caught in the rip current to swim parallel. Once he was caught and pulled out over 300 yards away treading water over 30 minutes and then drown. This occurred one day prior to his departure in also notes to major the dangerous rip currents that it is not advisable and there are no lifeguards on the beach. But then when taken to the beach where their son was seen with the up coast guard and red cross search and they agreed to give them supplies of water and flashlights which never arrived. And then they tried to locate him so the next day the local fishermen found his body. He was transported in the open pickup truck and 90degree weather over for now halfhours with no eyesore thames to preserve his body. So clearly some concerns and best practices so best to have the Strong Partnership theyre all necessary so in terms of the partnership when it comes to Higher Education of those are neocons and experiences in the business round those that are made known to fill but each student should meet with the counselor periodically least once a month. Also in the business from to organize the of planned interactions should have eight working relationship with your group. But its in addition to all of fat of the four institutes and facilities and accommodations other best practice is knowing the of awareness and then to reduce the risk and liability to remain aware with the alerts and warnings you must know that for the regions perhaps the beach was not even a lawful place to swim. Standards of accessible conduct which u. S. Practices overseas. For example, in my book and in this case those going overseas with the short term to make program and was encouraged to be with the natives as much as possible. And to seem innocent enough. But then was raped while in the apartment. And one team to discover that excepting in invitation 40 is basically giving consent in that culture. She did not know that. So while in the hospital in Paris Program leaders informed them never to except the invitation to london apartment for t to drink tea. But with religion and government was part of that culture. Remember with this particular practice to accomplish this best practice before you go to that location you need to have Risk Assessment as part of the Emergency Response plan they need to have the emergency evacuation measure or medevac for any serious issues that arise or National Disaster of an epidemic worse serious injury and then to obtain insurance briefly from the university of florida. In that kerosene lamp exploded there is no medevac emplace either for the student but thankfully the university of florida took upon themselves to medevac for treatment been just for the students take the was no cost for that. And in addition of Risk Assessment and emergency that is evident to a Committee Committee members need to be on the ready with letting those moments where communication is lost but the essential Background Information must be collected and the Excessive Oil to those at home and abroad. Said so you can quickly act if the emergency arises. I will give you another example, with my own Study Abroad Program i had a student who went to new zealand and about five years ago was a horrible earthquake in new zealand and my student was there. His campus was destroyed, fortunately he was not hurt but his campus was ruined and rubble. What was great was the partnering agencies who i worked with immediately had a backup plan. They said if student is willing we can send them to another college if they are ready to do it. So i was in america, he was overseas and he was ready to do it. He was a excited and not too shaken from his experience. In fact when he came back home from a semester in new zealand he liked to break about the fact that not just one, but two overseas Educational Programs was able to conquer and fulfill his destiny. So you need that in place to have a backup plan because disasters can occur. And that is a couple of quick points in terms of this, is is that be aware of overseas u. S. Military bases and work through the department of defense and the state department, provide emergency evacuations or there are images evacuations that they will provide through state departments, nowhere lawenforcement is located as well, lawenforcement can often assist so wherever you are nowhere lawenforcement is located. Also, you need to enroll in step. Let me tell you about that. Step is the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program provided by the u. S. State department. This is one of the best protected measures that you can take. And if its in terms of enrolling in step are such, you will get, prior to departure Important Information from the embassy about safety conditions at your destination, helping you make informed decision about travel plans, in addition while you are overseas the Program Helps the u. S. Embassy to contact you in case of an emergency. Whether it is National Disaster, civil unrest or family emergency you need to know about. Also step will assist family members and friends to get in touch with you with an emergency. So overseas they have notifications through step because it allows you to upload your smart for and give use notifications the smart phone also through social media. They have it set up through facebook and twitter. I provide for you the link here for step for your convenience as well. But very important, i would like to transition to another area of the presentation and look at medical issues that we want to consider in mitigating such risks. So a little food for thought in terms of medical issues, you should feel far more threatened by a mosquito then he should of a terrorist. Billions of people die every day from mosquito borne illnesses as noted by the world health organization. Yet, in in comparison the National Consortium of study on terrorism through 2001 and 2014 discovered a mere 105 terrorism occurred from a tax overseas. Not to minimize the risk of terrorism, but there is a major difference in terms of lives lost. The massive risk that comes of diseases is very preventable. Added risk certainly come with more exotic regions of the world , with regard of greater risk that comes with more exotic region, here here are some facts and statistics of from my book, look before before leaping which comes up before the institute of education. The same is holding true for business groups designed to expand their market go overseas as well for example therefore pure students that studied abroad in europe. It used to be the place that was typical for study abroad. Through 2008 until 2009, while the thousand nine, while the number of students to asia increased 2 , those who desire to study abroad in south america increased 13 percent. Those those who went to africa to study abroad went and increased 16 . Note that these are dominant visionary consultant partners and regions of exploration as shown on their map of affluence. Business managers and employers do need to be aware of native risks and take distinct caution with oversee ventures in these region. Naturally obtaining proper immunization should be emphasized with any overseas adventure. But with martin warm, rural climates, rule climates, additional emphasis really should be stressed. So the thread to comes from old and new. Just because we have a certain disease that has been around for a long time does not mean it is gone. Even if we think it has been eradicated, it, it comes back. It shows its ugly head and some other fashion. So starting from the old, malaria is estimated that in the u. S. In, it was eliminated, im sorry in the u. S. In 1961. Malaria was eliminated. However, 1500 2000 americans in america have come forth with malaria. So these are usually people who have traveled in return. But we have nearly 2000 cases per year with them malaria and america. Malaria infections are characterized by fever, headache, muscle ache, chills, fatigue, vomiting and can be even more severe such as seizures, respiratory failure, kidney failure, coma, and coma, and shock. Clearly it can lead to death if not treated. Malaria in areas such as africa, south america and asia are high risk. Although partial immunity is developed dur