Happy New Year! As much as I admire the many contributions of the Mayans, I'm glad they were wrong about some things, and we're still around to see 2013.  January is a good month to start fresh and consider ways to improve ourselves and our business.  Whether it's reading a book, planning a trip, or attending a training seminar, look at what you can do for yourself and your team to get this year off to a great start.

For those of us in the United States, it's also time for our government to start again with the inauguration of the president.  Anyone interested in politics, history, culture, protocol or event planning should tune in to watch what is an impressive coordinated effort by many agencies and government departments.

As we begin another year, I wish you, your staff and families a year filled with peace, health, happiness and success.

Sonia Garza-Monarchi    

Garza Protocol Associates, LLC 

2012 in Review    

So many exciting things happened in the global arena in 2012 that it was hard to keep up with them all.  Cross-cultural issues, protocol, etiquette and civility were in the news on a daily basis across all sectors, from government to sports to music.  I thought I'd share some of the highlights of lessons I learned and stories that caught my attention.

Jennifer Lopez and Lady Gaga were just a few of the entertainers who encountered some problems when preparing for their international shows.  J Lo modified her moves and toned down outfits for her show in Indonesia, and garnered praise for respecting their culture.  Lady Gaga faced riots in the Philippines and had to cancel her show in Jakarta. 

Every four years the world watches as the best athletes compete in the summer Olympics.  In addition to the sporting competitions, this event entails much pomp and circumstance, so we have many opportunities to learn about protocol.  Some of the good, the bad,and the ugly this year included: the participation of the royals, starting with the "Queen" parachuting into the stadium as part of the opening ceremony; intentional losses by some badminton teams; players sent home for racist tweets; flag blunders; and then we saw incredible grace in swimming, volleyball and gymnastics. Women from Saudi Arabia, Brunei, and Qatar competing  for the first time,  players teaching each other their languages, exchanging flags, and cheering each other on.  It was a beautiful sight. For some of the highlights, click here, and for some of the controversies, go here.  Both have valuable lessons.

After the glorious royal wedding in 2011 with all it traditions, and grandeur, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge continued to make the news in 2012.  We ended the year with the happy announcement of the Duchess' pregnancy.  Demonstrating that protocol and traditions do evolve, the new baby will be the heir to the throne no matter its sex. (Read more here.)

Then there was the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, and no amount of planning can prevent inclement weather.  So after much build-up, the highlight of the day, the much anticipated flyover by the Royal Air Force, had to be postponed.  The Queen handled it with grace and yes, she does "Keep calm and carry on."

While much interest was focused on London, notable events occupied protocol officers elsewhere in the world, too. President Obama participated in NATO meetings, the G8 and G20 Summits, and he received several heads of state and government, including Prime Minister Cameron of the United Kingdom, President Peres of Israel, and President Roussef of Brazil.  He traveled around the world, including a visit to the oldest pagoda in the world, in Burma, which no U.S. president had been able to visit. Through all this, he read his briefing documents, his advisers prepared him on the issues to be addressed, and  his protocol team researched appropriate gifts and cultural sensitivities.  He did his homework, respected the cultures of others and adapted when needed--valuable lessons for all of us.

                       (White House Photographer: Pete Souza)

 The Protocol Lady