"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

Reminder Article on Ambassador Mark Hambley's Instant Issues Talk
 
An article by G. Michael Dobbs, Managing Editor of The Reminder covered Ambassador Mark Hambley's February 5 Instant Issues brown bag talk which dealt with ongoing issues in the Middle East and South Asia, touching on Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Israel, Palestine, Syria and Lebanon.  The text of the article is available on line here 
 
World Affairs Council Members, Friends Speak About Death of Benazir Bhutto
 
Members and friends of the World Affairs Council of Westenr Massachusetts were interviewed in December 2007 for an article in The Springfield Republican about local reaction to the assassination of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto.  World Affairs Council board member Gary Lefort, Chair of the International Business program at American International College, and Ambassador Mark G. Hambley are both quoted in the piece.
 
WorldQuest Team Meets With Mayor Charles Ryan
 
After their return from participating in the national Academic WorldQuest 2007 hosted by the World Affairs Councils of America in Washington in March, two members of the Sci-Tech team were able to meet with Mayor Charles Ryan in his office in April.  Joshua Dutton and Eric Dubois, along with their parents, Sci-Tech teacher/coach Tony Biela, Council president Ken R. Furst and Executive Director Cyd Melcher, spent time discussing their trip to Washington and their plans for the future with the Mayor.  Mayor Ryan has met with each returning team since the World Affairs Council began sending Springfield public high school students to compete in Academic WorldQuest in 2004.
 
 

National Recognition at World Affairs Council of America Conference

In February 2007, the World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts received the 2006 Carol Marquis Award for School Program Excellence from the World Affairs Councils of America at the WACA national conference in Washington, DC.  Nearly a dozen Council members were on hand to celebrate this achievement.  Also at the meeting Council President Ken R. Furst was elected to the board of the World Affairs Councils of America.

Second Annual WorldQuest Competition

On February 11, 2007 the World Affairs Council fielded our second Academic WorldQuest competition,  Teams from Putnam Vocational-Technical High School, Springfield Central High School and defending champions the High School of Commerce International Baccalaureate Programme returned and faced newcomers Springfield Expeditionary Learning School and Springfield High School of Science and Technology.  After 100 questions on various aspects of world affairs, history and geography, Sci-Tech emerged as the winner with Commerce/IB coming in second and Expeditionary third.  The Sci-Tech team went on to compete against other teams from around the country at a national competition presented by the World Affairs Councils of America in March.



Good Food, Good Conversation Enjoyed at the Holiday Party

At the annual holiday reception held at the home of Ambassador Mark and Mrs. Patricia Hambley, World Affairs Council members enjoyed excellent food and even better conversation. Many thanks to the Hambleys for their hospitality.

 
 

September 22, 2008
Instant Issues brown bag lunch series

P. Ann Pieroway
Program Director, Massachusetts Export Center--West
The Weak Dollar's Silver Lining:  The Impact of Exports on the Region's Economy
Noon--Sovereign Bank Community Room
1350 Main Street, Downtown Springfield
$8.00 per person/$15 with a lunch

October 7, 2008
Instant Issues brown bag lunch series
Pastor David Rinas
World Hunger Committee Co-Chair, The New England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
and
Mr. Andrew Morehouse
Executive Director, The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts
World Hunger in the Midst of Plenty and the End of Cheap Food
Noon--Sovereign Bank Community Room
1350 Main Street, Downtown Springfield
$8.00 per person/$15 with a lunch

October 1, 2008
Annual Meeting

The Honorable Richard E. Neal
US House of Representatives, 2nd Massachusetts Congressional District
The Next Celtic Tiger? Understanding Northern Ireland and Its Future

6:00 p.m.--Cash Bar Reception
6:30 p.m.--Dinner & Business Meeting
Springfield Sheraton at Monarch Place

Cost and other details to follow soon.

November 6, 2008
Instant Issues Brown Bag Series
Dr. Stephen R. Platt
Assistant Professor of Chinese History, University of Massachusetts--Amherst
China Behind the Headlines
Noon--Sovereign Bank Community Room
1350 Main Street, Downtown Springfield
$8.00 per person/$15 with a lunch

This program is part of the Springfield Public Forum's 2008 The City Thinks program.

December 3, 2008

Mr. John Zogby
President, Zogby International
The Way We'll Be

Reception & Dinner
Springfield Sheraton at Monarch Place

Cost, start time and other details to follow soon.

January 24, 2009
Academic WorldQuest 2009 Local Competition
Western New England College



February 18-20, 2009
World Affairs Councils of America National Conference
Mayflower Hotel, Washington, DC

More details to follow soon.