Middle East / N. Africa - Jerusalem

 

 

Country Councils shall be established in foreign countries to exchange useful information about security threats, topics and experiences among the United States Embassy, United States citizens, and American owned companies and their employees.  The purpose is for promoting the safety, security, more mobility and freedom of access of the American community overseas.  Country Council activities shall include freedom of mobility, etc, within the power of the council, but may vary from country to country because of the local security environment, laws and regulations.

 

 

By sharing information among its members and other international entities with similar concerns, Country Councils shall:

*       Examine the security needs of the local American community and discuss matters of broad interest (e.g., terrorism, disaster plans, emergency evacuations, trends in crime and security best practices)

*       Establish a working partnership with the US Embassy's Regional Security Office

*       Distribute information rapidly about security concerns that may impact members

*       Report to the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) any new threats or significant security developments in country.

 

 

By sharing information among its members, Country Councils may:

*          Create a system for personal security briefings

*          Identify communication links for members to use in the event of an emergency

*          Make available information about personal and residential security

 

 

Membership is available to  all United States based or

incorporated private sector enterprises, non-governmental organizations

and educational institutions abroad, regardless of citizenship or

nationality.  United States citizens who are employed locally by foreign

owned companies are also eligible. 

 

The United States Embassy's Regional Security Officer (RSO) is a permanent

member and advisor to the Council, and shall be the primary interface

between the Council and the Embassy.  Council membership shall also be

available to any United States Embassy staff at the discretion of the RSO,

but at a minimum membership should include Commercial Attaché and Consular

section representatives.

 

Council Membership will terminate upon the member's written resignation or

automatically when a member no longer meets these qualifications.  

 

Questions concerning membership eligibility should be referred to the OSAC

Executive Director in Washington, D.C.   

 

 

The Country Council shall be self-supporting and its activities financed

locally.  However, membership is free and no otherwise qualifying member

may be excluded from any OSAC Country Council meeting, function, or event

based upon an inability or unwillingness to contribute financially.

Funds may come from a combination of user fees, membership dues and

special assessments.  Ad hoc contributions and member services-in-kind are

permitted if approved by the Council's Steering Committee (described in

section V below).  All expenses should be approved and planned for by the

Steering Committee or its designated representative.  An annual operating

budget must be established and available to all members upon request. 

 

 

A Steering Committee shall be elected from among the general membership.

The term of office on the Committee may vary, but shall not exceed two

years.  The Steering Committee members are responsible for the Council's

governance, activities, and liaison with OSAC.  Any member in good

standing may serve on the Steering Committee with the exception of Council

members representing American security services companies, who are barred

from Country Council leadership positions by OSAC policy.  The Steering

Committee shall be any size, but must remain an odd number between five and eleven. 

 

The Committee shall meet at least once a quarter and annually elect

officers according to the size and needs of the Council (e.g., chairman,

vice-chairman, treasurer and secretary).  The United States Embassy's RSO

or its designate will be a standing member of the Steering Committee and will participate in all meetings.

  

Guests may be invited to meetings to make presentations or whenever needed

for discussions by the Committee.   Half of the Committee's members

constitute a quorum and all matters brought to a vote shall be decided by

a majority of the quorum present.

 

The Steering Committee may establish additional committees as needed to

further the Council's goals.

 

 

The Steering Committee shall set the time and place of general membership

meetings with a minimum of thirty days advance notice to all members.

Special meetings may be convened whenever it is in the best interests of

the general membership and exigent circumstances make thirty days notice

impractical.  A member of the Steering Committee should preside over each

meeting and matters brought to the general membership may be decided by a

majority of the members present.