"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
President & CEO of National Public Radio
Speakers and Topics
An abundance of speakers from near and far, a plethora of topics, a never-ending wellspring of ideas have been shared with our members right here in Western Massachusetts. Some of our noted events have included:
His Excellency Sir Q. Ketumile Masire
Former President of Botswana
“Developing Sustainable Leadership in Africa”
Ambassador L. Bruce Laingen
Presdient Emeritus, American Academy of Diplomacy
"What Would it Take to Achieve Rapprochement with Iran?"
Ambassador Phyllis Oakley
Former Assistant Secretary of State
“Does Rising Anti-Americanism Matter?”
Ambassador Harry G. Barnes
Former US Ambassador to India, Romania & Chile
“Resolving Deeply Embedded Conflicts”
Ambassador Mark G. Hambley
Former US Ambassador to Lebanon & Qatar
“Mullahs, Martyrs & Oil: Is the US Getting on Track in Iraq?”
Ms. Juliette Kayyem, Esq.
Undersecretary for Homeland Security, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
"Homeland Security: Sustaining Interest Five Years Later"
Dr. Adeyinka Banwo
Department of History, University of Ilorin (Nigeria)
"Oil, Politics & Environment in Nigeria"
Instant Issues Brown Bag Series
Mr. Av Harris
Capital Reporter, WNPR--Connecticut Public Radio
"The Emerging GLOCAL News Beat: Covering International Issues in Our Own Backyard"
Instant Issues Brown Bag Series
Dr. Javier Corrales
Associate Professor of Political Science, Amherst College
"Is Latin America Turning Anti-US: A Review of Recent Elections"
Instant Issues Brown Bag Series
Mr. Robert Zucker
Director of Sales--Asia, Spalding
"Counterfeiting in China: A Micro Look at a Macro Problem"
Instant Issues Brown Bag Series
Ms. Tala Dowlatshahi
US Representative of Reporters without Borders
“Freedom of the Press: The Global Clampdown on Access to Information”
Mr. Hugo Restall
Editor of Far Eastern Economic Review
“Why India is Poised to Overtake China”
Instant Issues Brown Bag Series
The Honorable François Gauthier
Consul General of France
Mr. Robert D. Ward
Massachusetts Office of International Trade and Investment
Mr. Philip Rice
Organization for International Investment
PANEL “Insourcing: Foreign Companies, American Jobs”
Dr. Dennis Yasutomo
Professor of Government & East Asian Studies at Smith College
“Iraq—Japanese Style”
Instant Issues Brown Bag Series
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Upcoming events
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
Open to Council Members Only. (Click here to join the World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts now.)
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.