International Club of Atlanta

The International Club of Atlanta - About Us

Mission

Founded in 1991 by Teji Sahni, the International Club of Atlanta is dedicated to promoting and extending cross-cultural ties while providing a social forum for individual members to meet and share experiences in a relaxed setting. Members include nationalities from across the globe as well as internationally-minded Atlantans.

The Club offers a social and intellectual setting reflecting the diversity of our membership. By promoting dialogue and understanding among different national or cultural backgrounds, we aim to provide an inclusive community -- an international community -- of mutual interest and support.

Our activities are many and varied. At our Discussion Groups, experts from Atlanta and the international community conduct presentations on topics touching on global or cultural issues, and our members participate in lively question-and-answer sessions which follow. "Bon Vivant" evenings are club-sponsored parties, often with a specific theme and entertainment, that are occasionally elegant "black tie" affairs. "Dining Out" and "Curry Out" events encourage members to explore many fine local and ethnic restaurants.

Other Club activities include bridge evenings, monthly hikes, cultural experiences, explorers' expeditions to places of interest in the Atlanta area, book club, and travelers group.

History

Having felt the need for the growing members of Atlanta's international community to socialize and culturally enrich each other on a regular basis, Teji Sahni approached friends with his idea to form an International Club. This was in 1991, and his circle of friends responded with a leap of faith by giving their time and resources to form a non-profit organization. As a member of the Club's Executive Board, Mayor Andrew Young gave a memorable speech when the Club launched with a formal black tie dinner at The Buckhead Club overlooking Atlanta's beautiful skyline.

In the initial years, the Club's activities included weekly games of bridge, ethnic dining, an annual weekend in the mountains, and discussion group evenings. These activities continue on a regular basis. Guest speakers at monthly discussion group evenings have included consuls general, an Emmy-winning journalist, the Chief Operating Officer of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, the President of Georgia's Federal Reserve Bank, and leaders in the fields of academics, economics, political science, medicine, science, and international relations. One year, the Governor of Georgia and the state's First Lady hosted Club members with a reception at the Governor's mansion.

In the Club's early years, theme-based fun parties were an important component of the Club's activities, with the culture of a selected country often spotlighted. Some of the more memorable parties were an Indian wedding, a Caribbean Carnival with a steel band, an Oktoberfest with a band from Bavaria, waltzing in Vienna, dancing to the rhythms of African drums, an evening of Brazilian sambas, a British evening dancing with ribbons around the Maypole, a Scandinavian smorgasbord, and mid-summer night festivities at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. These gala events were covered by the social press and reported on local TV. Attendance sometimes exceeded 500 people and included a number of ambassadors and their spouses from countries such as Turkey, Australia, and India. The Club held a gala at The Buckhead Club in April 2006 to celebrate its 15th Anniversary; in 2011 a gala at the Cherokee Town and County Club to celebrate its 20th Anniversary; and in 2016, a gala at the Georgian Terrace Hotel to celebrate its 25th anniversary.

Over the years the Club has evolved into a close-knit group where enduring friendships have been formed. It continues to enrich our social and cultural lives.

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