"The World Affairs Council is not just a great educational resource, it allows us to make high level contacts that are very useful for operating in the global economy."

John H. Davis
Trustee
The Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation

Early College High School Wins Academic WorldQuest 2008!


Left to Right:  Early College Vice Principal Susan Gallagher, TJ Paskins (alternate), Genasis Paskins (lucky charm), Senator Gale Candaras (moderator), Anthony Shea (alternate), Paulleen Cabrera, Mariya Grinshstyn, Myles Postell-Reynolds, & Teacher/Coach Boubacar Diaite.  Photo by Darlotte Justice at Western New England College

In their first year participating, a team from the Springfield Academy For Excellence Early College High School at Holyoke Community College won the World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts Third Annual Academic WorldQuest competition on Saturday, January 26, 2008 at Western New England College.  Six Springfield Public High Schools competed.  Springfield Renaissance School came back from dead last at the half to take second place, and Springfield High School of Science & Technology, defending champions from 2007, took third place.  The winning team will go on to represent the Council and our region at the national Academic WorldQuest competition hosted by the World Affairs Councils of America in April.  For more information go to our Academic WorldQuest page.
 

 
 
Your Link to the World
Right Here at Home
 

Sue Root and Eleanor Klepacki
at World Affairs Councils of
America Chairman's Dinner
honoring Rep. Lee Hamilton
Photo credit:  Brett Hilton


Karen Wilson Furst speaks with
WACA President Barbara Propes
at the World Bank

 

We are entrepreneurs and homemakers, production workers and community leaders, parents and educators — we are the people of the Pioneer Valley, we are grassroots America, and we want to know about our world.

As members of the World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts, we take a break from our work, our play, our lives, and come together with enthusiastic spirit in search of global understanding and communication.

It’s not as lofty as it sounds.

At our Brown Bag lunches, we meet ambassadors, strategists, politicians, and ordinary people – each of whom shares his or her hands-on perspectives about current issues around the world, and turns our ordinary lunches into world class affairs.

But we don’t just do lunch.


Council President Ken Furst introduces
competiting teams at Academic WorldQuest
2008

Because we believe that Education is the key to creating a prosperous, healthy, peaceful global society – and that education starts with kids – we are proud to conduct a number of programs through our local schools.

We also serve as an engaging networking opportunity for businesses and individuals and as a resource center for our members.


School Partnership Committee Chair
Daphne Hall at Academic WorldQuest 2005

Fabulous speakers, informative seminars, and valuable education for all: We invite you to learn about our programs, attend our brown bag lunches, and join our growing group of interested, interesting individuals.


Council President Ken Furst (second from
the left) on a WACA Leadership Mission
to Taiwan in May 2004.

It’s our world. Let’s learn about it together.


May 6, 2008
Instant Issues Brown Bag Lunchtime Discussion
Mr. Edward Guay

Principal, Wintonbury Risk Management
Back to the Future:  What Have We Learned Since 1979?

Noon--Community Room, 1350 Main Street--3rd Floor, downtown Springfield
$6 per person without a lunch/$12 per person with sandwich, drink & chips provided

The Instant Issues Series is sponsored by AAA Pioneer Valley, Bank of America, A. G. Edwards & Sons, and Robinson Donovan PC

May 13, 2008
Dr. Ilan Stavans

Lewis-Sebring Professor of Latin American Studies & Latino Culture, Amherst College
Immigration and Its Discontents
7:00 p.m.--Kittredge Center at Holyoke Community College, Holyoke
Free and Open to the Public

Presented in collaboration with Early College High School and the Kittredge Center.

Sponsored by Speak Easy Accent Modification, Inc.

June 17, 2008
Instant Issues Brown Bag Lunchtime Discussion Series
The Honorable Richard E. Neal
US House of Representatives, 2nd Massachusetts Congressional District
The Next Celtic Tiger?  Understanding Northern Ireland and Its Future

11:45 a.m.--TD Banknorth Conference Center, 1441 Main Street, Downtown Springfield
$6 per person without a lunch/$12 per person with sandwich, drink & chips provided

Presented in collaboration with the Regional Technology Corporation

The Instant Issues Series is sponsored by AAA Pioneer Valley, Bank of America, A. G. Edwards & Sons, and Robinson Donovan PC