We normally would make these announcements in our printed newsletter, but now that we’ve gone green, we’re posting them here. Many of these events are also on our RIA Events Calendar page. You may add these events to your own calendar from there.

Latino Fest, Saturday, September 27, from noon to 4PM - East Side Shelter near Broadway at East Soldiers Field. In case of inclement weather, the event will be held inside the West Silver Lake Shelter (next to the fire department). More info.

2009 Rochester World Festival Meeting, Wednesday, October 1, 7PM - World Festival meetings for participants and leaders take place on the first Wednesday evening of each month at 7pm, 3rd floor meeting room at Charter House. All RIA Board members and interested participants are invited to attend this first meeting.

Mayor’s International Reception at City Hall, Thursday, October 16, 7PM - Invite any international persons that you know. If you know of a large group coming, please let Herta know at 280-8319.

International Speakers Luncheons at the YMCA, 11:45AM to 1PM - Here’s the upcoming lineup of speakers. * October 8: Nadia Gajic focusing on her book on Bosnia. * November 12: Herta Matteson with Impressions of Papua New Guinea * December 10: Jackie Johnson talks about Kwanzaa. Starting in October, the cost will be $9 for RIA/YMCA members and $10 for non-members.

Thanksgiving Dinner at Congregational Church, November 27.

Salsa dancing lessons, put on by the Rochester Salsa Community, take place throughout the year. (www.rochestermnsalsa.com)

Just a friendly reminder that the Rochester International Association’s annual board meeting is coming up this September 2, 2008 at the IMAA office (2500 ValleyHigh Drive NW). [ Add meeting to your calendar | Map ]

The public is welcome to attend. We will be asking for nominations for officers and board members interested in serving. Voting will be carried out to elect officers to serve the board for the upcoming year.

The board is responsible for coordinating the annual Rochester World Festival as well as other community events. Read more about us .

RIA will be resuming our monthly lunch group at the Rochester Family Y on Wednesday, Sept 10, beginning at 11:45 AM with check-in and set-up in Balfour Hall at 11:30 AM. Everyone is welcome. Cost for the international lunch prepared and served by Regal Catering is $9, $8 for members of the RIA or the Rochester Family Y. The speaker for September 10 will be Doug McGill (author of the McGill Report and Here). Reservations are needed; call Betsy at 507-289-3359. Volunteer speakers for upcoming luncheons in October and November are also needed. Call Betsy or Phyllis at 288-1197.

Just a friendly reminder that membership dues for period ending July 2009 are due beginning July 2008. If you have already paid, you may ignore this note. We will be sending out notices via email in the next couple days with instructions on how to renew or get started. Make sure that you add our email address to your white list so that it does not get discarded as spam.

If you have not registered your email with us, you may still send us your donations and/or dues by printing out our newsletter with the membership form located on the last page.

Thanks for all you’ve done to help our organization. Without your help, we would not be able to bring events such as the World Festival that brings all the diverse cultures of Rochester and area all closer together as one community.