"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


World Affairs Council board member Sue Root and Patricia
Hambley listen to Ambassador Mark Hambley's remarks at
a 2006 reception at the Hambleys' Springfield home.
 


Programs

Our forums have been led by ambassadors, counsels-general, international bankers, industry CFOs, and ordinary people who have made – or intend to make – a difference in the world; our programs have included seminars on international trade with export mentors and country-specific information for new exporters. Whether a monthly discussion on economic, social or military issues, or a special multi-cultural conference in Washington, D.C., the World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts truly offers global enlightenment to all our members.

In addition to our popular Brown Bag speaker luncheons, we also hold speaker events at local restaurants, dinners, panel discussions, and topical after-dinner meetings.
 
In 1988, one of our speakers commanded such an audience that we held the event at the downtown civic center. The guest was President Ronald Reagan. His topic was Soviet Union policy, and he spoke to us a few weeks prior to his historic fourth summit meeting with Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev in Moscow. The importance of that Springfield speech – and Gorbachev’s reaction to it – was cited in Colin Powell’s book, My American Journey (Random House, 1995).

Saturday, September 11, 2010

The World Affairs Council of Connecticut & The World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts Present:

Sunset Over the Connecticut:  An Evening of Fellowship

A reception at the home of Ambassador Mark & Mrs. Patricia Hambley
Springfield, Massachusetts
6:00 - 8:00 p.m. 
$20.00 per person

Additional details to be announced.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Instant Issues Lunchtime Discusson

Dr. Michael Klare
Director, Five Colleges Peace & World Security Studies Program
Grapplin With "Tough" Oil

One Financial Plaza Community Room (3rd Floor)
1350 Main Street (Corner of Main & Court)
Downtown Springfield, MA
Noon

Members:  $5; $15 with lunch
Nonmembers:  $10; $20 with lunch
RSVP 413-733-0110

Series Sponsors:  Robinson Donovan, Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Wilbraham & Monson Academy, A. L. Cignoli Company, Garvey Communication Associates, Inc., Speak Easy Accent Modification

Media Sponsor:  BusinessWest

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Annual Meeting & Dinner

Mr. Marco Werman
Anchor & Senior Producer, PRI's "The World"
Telling Stories Here From Out There

Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel
Springfield, Massachusetts
6:00 p.m.--Cash Bar Reception
6:30 p.m.--Dinner & Program

Marco Werman is Senior Producer
with the Public Radio
International-BBC daily news
program The World, where he
anchors the program, and filters
music and politics through the
daily "Global Hit" segment. An
Emmy-award winning journalist,
Werman is currently developing a
new series for PBS, Sound Tracks.

Additional details to be announced.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Instant Issues Lunchtime Discusson

Mr. Michael Breen
Co-Founding Director, Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project
Iraqi Refugees:  Responding to a Forgoten Crisis

One Financial Plaza Community Room (3rd Floor)
1350 Main Street (Corner of Main & Court)
Downtown Springfield, MA
Noon

Members:  $5; $15 with lunch
Nonmembers:  $10; $20 with lunch
RSVP 413-733-0110

Series Sponsors:  Robinson Donovan, Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Wilbraham & Monson Academy, A. L. Cignoli Company, Garvey Communication Associates, Inc., Speak Easy Accent Modification

Media Sponsor:  BusinessWest

November 3-5, 2010

World Affairs Councils of America 2010 National Conference

US Foreign Policy: Into the Next Decade 

Mayflower Hotel
Washington, DC

For updated information please check The World Affairs Councils of America website.

November 15, 2010
Instant Issues Lunchtime Discusson
Dr. David K. Schneider
Assistant Professor of Asian Languages & Literatures, The University of Massachusetts--Amherst
China and the Realities of Power in Asia

One Financial Plaza Community Room (3rd Floor)
1350 Main Street (Corner of Main & Court)
Downtown Springfield, MA
Noon

Members:  $5; $15 with lunch
Nonmembers:  $10; $20 with lunch
RSVP 413-733-0110

Series Sponsors:  Robinson Donovan, Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Wilbraham & Monson Academy, A. L. Cignoli Company, Garvey Communication Associates, Inc., Speak Easy Accent Modification

Media Sponsor:  BusinessWest

 

Saturday, January 22, 2011

The 6th Annual Academic WorldQuest Competition

Rivers Memorial Hall
Western New England College
Springfied, Massachusetts

More details to follow soon.