Since the early 1970s, foreign visitors to Delaware have received a warm, friendly and informative welcome to the First State from the Delaware Council for International Visitors (DELCIV). Hospitality was DELCIV's credo as volunteers took visitors to local places of interest, teamed them up with others in their fields, invited them to their homes and, in some cases, found families for homestay.

As times have changed, however, it has become increasingly difficult to find younger volunteers, and the needs of visitors have changed, so last month the group decided to disband. The DELCIV board met and, in keeping with the organization's purpose, donated $10,000 to UD's International Student Emergency Loan Fund, also commissioning a history of DELCIV to be written by Carol Hoffecker, Richards Professor of History.

"DELCIV has been extremely helpful to the University and to the community at large in welcoming international visitors," Susan Lee, foreign student and scholar adviser, said, "It has performed an important and useful service and will be missed. We appreciate their donation to the loan fund for our international students."

According to Kay Lord, a former president of DELCIV, the group originated at a women's conference in Philadelphia, when members of Delaware's American Association of University Women (AAUW) learned about similar groups in other areas under the umbrella of the National Council for International Visitors (NCIV). The organization began with the help of AAUW, Dean Lomis–who was formerly the international student and scholar adviser at UD and has served on the DELCIV board since its inception–and the Red Cross, which provided office space.

At that time, the international visitors, who came through the U.S. State Department and were sponsored by what Lord calls different government "alphabet agencies," were assigned to branches of NCIV in different localities, where they could learn about American life and meet with those in their own professions.

Because of its small size, which made getting around easier, and its proximity to Washington, D.C., where visitors were first received, Delaware hosted many groups from Japanese teachers to farmers to business persons from countries all over the world. The number of visitors hosted by DELCIV averaged from 100 to as many as 300 a year, Lord said.

"Although I am sorry DELCIV has disbanded, I am glad DELCIV is going out of existence with a bang and not just fading away. Helping finance the foreign student emergency fund is an ongoing way to help international students and is in keeping with DELCIV's mission," Lord said.

The emergency loan fund is part of financial aid, with Lee making recommendations. International graduate and undergraduate students may borrow up to $500 without interest, which they repay in 30 days. "These loans help students in need 'set up shop,'" Lee said. "When some international students first arrive, they have no credit history and need a temporary helping hand, and this fund provides the means for them to get established and off to a good start."

SUE MONCURE