| How to Address a Counselor (A Foreign Diplomat)?
How should I address foreign diplomats who are not the ambassador – rather, they are in the ambassador’s office. Their positions are “Counselor, Deputy Chief of Mission” and “Counselor, Congressional Liaison Officer.” Thanks in advance for your assistance,
-- Ellen
Dear Ellen:
Everyone at a foreign embassy .... except the ambassador .... is:
Mr./Mrs./Ms. (Full Name)
Embassy of (Official Name of Country)
Address
In a salutation they would be
Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms. (Surname):
"Counselor" is not used as an honorific in writing for a diplomat. Include their office after their name in an introduction ... but not on an envelope.
RE: Use of Mrs. or Ms.: Internationally "Ms." is not as ubiquitous as it is in the US, but a foreign diplomat serving in the US would be familiar with it.
Only an accredited ambassador who has presented his credientials to the head of state or head of the international organization is addressed as "His/Her Excellency" or in direct address "Your Excellency"
-- Robert Hickey How to Teach a Child How to Behave at a Restaurant?
I came across a children's etiquette book to add to your library or to give as a gift to a family with a little one -- Wiggens Learns His Manners at the Four Seasons Restaurant by Leslie McGuire and Alex von Bidder.
About curious and high-energy puppies at the famous NYC eatery, it includes ten lessons about being a well-behaved guest. I especially liked it because it's not yet another book on table manners ... it's on how to help a kid navigate a new and complicated environment: something not all adults are flawless at either!
I'd say it is perfect for a parent to read to a child before eating out: menu vocabulary, courses and foods, how restaurants work, who they will meet, and lots of conversation starters for parents.
I got my copy from the restaurant itself (after a memorable dinner) but it's available elsewhere too (like on Amazon.com).
-- Robert Hickey
How to Address an Invitation's Inside Envelope to The Clintons?
Dear Mr. Hickey,
I just received your book and it is a wealth of information! I am addressing a wedding invitation to the Clinton's. I understand, per your answer, that the outer envelope would be addressed as follows:
The Honorable
William Jefferson Clinton
and The Honorable
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Would the inner envelope be addressed Mr. and Mrs. Clinton?
-- Many thanks, Claudia
Dear Ms. Engle
Really happy you are finding the book useful. Since you have it ... here's where where you should look to find the answers to your questions:
Refer to the precedence on page 122 to see that a former President has higher precedence than a current Secretary of State, so you know whose name goes first.
See on page 167 for the inside-envelope form for a former president
See on page 170 for the inside-envelope form for the inside envelope for a secretary of a department.
Having looked that those .... you would write:
Mr. Clinton and The Secretary of State
-- Robert Hickey
Exchange of Gifts between High Officials?
Please, be so kind, giving me the proper solution for the situation below: Yesterday, our President was invited to have dinner today evening with an Ambassador. Today afternoon, the Ambassador sent to our President a gift: wine and a souvenir. The dinner will take place in the evening. What should our President do? I advised him to sent a Romanian gift tomorrow, after the dinner. Will be a perfect way to thank for the delightful evening. Is it correct? Should he sent a gift before dinner like the Ambassador did?
-- Protocol School Graduate -- Ruxandra in Romania
Dear Ruxandra:
Yes ... your President should SEND a reciprocal equivalent gift and not present it to the Ambassador. If there is time send it in advance of the dinner .... do that ... or send it after the dinner. That way equal gifts are exchanged -- and both "sent" -- neither presented .... all is equal.
-- Robert Hickey
How to Use "Retired" on Checks?
My husband "aged out" of his rank in the Army Reserve (Active Guard Reserve). It was a mandatory separation from service due to age, and he was a "grey area retiree" until he reached retirement age. Now he has full retirement benefits. His checks from his federal credit union still show his rank (LTC) and full name.
When he orders new checks, is it appropriate to continue to show his rank? If so, how should he indicate his retired status? He is considered an Army Reserve retiree.
-- Christine S.
Dear Mrs. S.:
I have answered many, many questions relating to forms of address for retired officers that cover this sort of issue: Your husband can use either the "official form of his name" which would be:
LTC William Sugimura, USAR, Retired
or
LTC William Sugimura, USAR, Ret.
Or the "social form of his name" .... which would be:
LTC William Sugimura
Retired officers can use their ranks in retirement at their own discretion.
-- Robert Hickey
What is the Salutation for a Governor of the Federal Reserve?
What is the salutation for a governor of the Federal Reserve Bank of the United States?
-- Wales Williams
Dear Mr. Williams:
Most formally it would be:
Dear Mr. (Surname):
-- Robert Hickey Robert,
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly! FYI, I checked the government style handbook and apparently there is no proper form of address to a governor of The Federal Reserve. What I did was:
Mr. John Doe
Governor
U.S. Federal Reserve System
XXXXX
Washington, D.C.
And the salutation:
Dear Governor Doe,
-- Wales
Dear Wales:
Governors on the Federal Reserve Bank appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate .... so he is The Honorable (full name).
Not sure which "government handbook" you are referring to which would say there was not correct form ... members of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve are The Honorable .... See this US Senate Document. Members of a Board of Governors are not Governors ... they are members of a board. Members of a Board of Regents ... a Board of Visitors .... Board of Directors .... are all handled the same way ... the are just Mr./Ms. and identified as member of the board of (whatever).
So Governor Doe is not correct. So if the letter isn't sent ... you should fix it.
-- Robert Hickey
How to Address a General who is an Adjutant General?
How do you address a letter to the Adjutant General of a state’s National Guard Force? He is appointed by the Governor of the State. Is he General Ortega or Adjutant General Ortega, or another form of address? I think he actually has the military rank of General. Thanks so much for your help, and for this website!
-- Paula Saverin
Dear Ms. Saverin:
Address by rank, identify by office
(Rank) + (Full Name) + (Abbreviation for his branch of Service) + (Position held)
.. so if he has the rank of "General" and holds the office of "Adjutant General"
General Javier Ortega, MNG (check what the correct post-nominal is)
Adjutant General
Maryland National Guard Headquarters (or whatever)
(Address)
Dear General Ortega:
... so if he is a "Major General"
Major General Javier Ortega, MNG
Adjutant General
Maryland National Guard Headquarters (or whatever)
(Address)
Dear General Ortega:
.... all of the graded ranks of "General" are addressed in a salutation with the basic rank: "General"
-- Robert Hickey |
