When QLF approached the United States Ambassador to Hungary, The Honorable George H. Walker, about the idea of the Congress, he immediately responded in his enthusiastic style, “Great idea, and, of course, you must host it here in Hungary!” We agreed as Hungary and Central Europe have been central to QLF’s international programs for over 20 years.
QLF Alumni at the Congress represented 30 countries and four continents. Green indicates countries of origin of Congress participants. Map by Stephen Engle
QLF was comfortable hosting the Congress outside of North America, thereby showing geographic humility and, more importantly, generating a smaller carbon footprint than we would by having all participants travel to North America. As global citizens, we felt the first Congress should be outside of the United States and Canada.