Inaugural event attracts overwhelming, diverse crowd
Consuls General of Uzbekistan and Japan fly in day before; Seven honorary consuls take part.
8 December, 2009–/ The first annual Cocktails with the Consuls took place at the Parisian Palace in Las Vegas, to the acclaim of an at-capacity, unusual collection of guests.
At-capacity crowd of dignitaries converges on the Parisian Palace for Cocktails with the Consuls
Over 150 international business people, political candidates, personal and corporate security specialists, former CIA, FBI, State Department and Special Forces officers mixed with diplomats, entertainers, celebrities, corporate sponsors and local Las Vegas society, in a renaissance of international business and investment opportunity.
“It was a great function. Congratulations to the Las Vegas Consular community for this great evening. Ditto on the recognition of Nico, Jonathan and Paulina. Nico’s design skills are incredible. What a wonderful venue. I will see you all again soon. Thanks for the opportunity, I enjoyed it very much.” –Gary Furlong, Honorary Consul General of Uzbekistan
Included in the honored guests were:
- Ken Walther, decorated former CIA officer
- Gary Furlong, Honorary Consul General of Uzbekistan
- Kathleen Blakely, Honorary Consul General of Japan
- Paulina Biggs Sparkuhl, Honorary Consul of Chile and Member of the Board of Directors of the World Federation of Consuls
- Jerome Snyder, Honorary Consul of Great Britain
- John Petkus, Honorary Consul of Poland
- Dr. Aldo Aguirre, Honorary Vice-consul of Guatemala
- Dr. Geoffrey Vanderpal, Honorary Consul of Slovakia*
- Senator Roberto Benvenuti (Italy)
Marco Antonio Varela and Betsy Ann Fiore perform opera at Cocktails with the Consuls.
Guests were treated to a brief talk by Consul General Gary Furlong, who’s legendary and daring work in the former Soviet Union is chronicled in the book “Who the Hell is Bob” by Steve Rudman.
Following Gary our keynote speaker was Ken Walther, a decorated veteran of nearly three decades as a CIA officer. Ken’s work in 100 countries is chronicled in several books, and the unique secret technology department he helped develop is the subject of the book “Spycraft” by Robert Wallace.
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Order of Consular Emissaries 