Coming in 2013
May 22, 2013 — Evening Panel Discussion
Topic: Dateline Afghanistan: Update & Discussion
Panel: Lt Colonel John Dumond, U.S. Army; Michael Gayle, U.S. Department of State
Time: 5:30 Reception; 6:00 Program; 7:30 Adjourn
Location: Antlers Hotel, 4 S. Cascade Avenue
Parking: Hotel garage parking will be validated at the event
U.S. combat operations in Afghanistan and NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) will terminate at the end of 2014, but the U.S. and its allies have affirmed continued support for training, development, democracy, and reconstruction. Each of our panelists brings a first-hand account of where we are in Afghanistan and the challenges facing us.
Sponsored by Wells Fargo Private Bank, Jim & Diane Cameron Education Contributors
June 4, 2013 — Annual Teacher's Workshop
The Colorado Springs World Affairs Council is offering an all-day workshop for teachers wishing to learn more about how the world's nations have been dealing with resources they share.
Topic: Sea, Sky, & Space
Time: 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
Location: The Julia Penrose House, 1661 Mesa Avenue
Continental breakfast (at 8:00 A.M.), lunch, and printed materials will be included.
Speakers from NORAD, the Air Force Academy, Space Command, and the aviation industry will be speaking.
Click here for the flyer with complete details.
June 11, 2013 — Second Annual World Affairs Council Public Policy Dinner
Topic: Childhood in Crisis
Speaker: Carolyn Miles, President & CEO, Save the Children Federation
Location: Cheyenne Mountain Resort, 3225 Broadmoor Valley Road
Time: 5:30 P.M. Reception — 6:30 P.M. Dinner & Program
In the world of man-made and natural disasters—both at home and abroad—children are often the most vulnerable. Every important global issue—war, poverty, development, disease, climate change, human trafficking, and displacement—touches children at least as much as any other demographic. No one is better equipped to highlight the particular challenges facing today’s generation of children than a woman who has spent her career dealing with issues of children’s welfare and the past 15 years expanding Save the Children’s operations.
Sponsored by:
June 16-20, 2013 — Alaska World Affairs Council Fishing Trip
The Alaska World Affairs Council is offering this fishing trip in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the opening of the airways between Russia and Alaska after the Cold War. We would like to invite the members of your council to join us in hearing from two experts on Alaska and Russia: our lieutenant governor Mead Treadwell, and Victor Fischer, an Alaskan author and statesman who grew up under Stalin.
The Alaska World Affairs Council we will donate $200 to our council for each of our members that registers for and attends the trip.
Rampart High School Wins Local Academic WorldQuest Competition
Our local Academic WorldQuest competition was held on Saturday, February 2, 2013 at Air Academy High School. The high schools participating in this 10 round multiple choice event were Air Academy, Rampart, the Colorado Springs School, Lewis Palmer, and James Irwin Charter. The Vista Ridge team had to withdraw at the last moment because of illness among its members. In an extremely tight contest, Rampart won by a 62-60 score over defending champion Air Academy. The topics in this year’s competition included U.S. Economic Competitiveness, the Middle East, China, Afghanistan/Pakistan, and Current Events. Each high school team is comprised of 4 players who collaborate to answer each of the 10 questions during the 10 rounds of topics. The Rampart team includes Adrian Bogart, Luis Bernabe Betancourt, Harrison Meyer, and Gautham Viswaroopan and is coached by Casey Walter from the Rampart faculty. The team will travel to Washington, DC for the national competition at Georgetown University on April 27, 2013 thanks to a very generous grant from the Jim and Diane Cameron Education Contributors. Pam Lively from Air Academy High School is our local coordinator for Academic WorldQuest and once again oversaw the entire competition extremely well.
News from Other World Affairs Councils
Traveling? Interested in checking out other Colorado World Affairs Councils? There are many great programs happening a few hours away! Click the links below for more information.
President's Message
From your President, Dr. Schuyler Foerster
Dear Friends:
There’s lots of good news ... but first some bad news.
I’m sorry to report that CSWAC Past President (2006-07) Joe Thomas passed away on February 12th after a long illness. A retired Air Force colonel, Joe served this organization well, among other civic activities, before returning to his home in eastern Pennsylvania in 2007. I have written his wife, Betsy, to convey our collective condolences.
On a happier note, I know you will want to join me in congratulating our own Sylvia Sedrak, who was selected by the Colorado Springs Business Journal as a “2013 Rising Star.” She will be recognized at a special reception on March 21st. Although a relative newcomer to Colorado Springs, she has been a real leader both in her full-time job as a Program Manager at Leadership Pikes Peak and in her part-time work with the World Affairs Council.
We’re proud of you, Sylvia!
The “State of the Council” is excellent, and we hope you’re getting a lot out of our rather full and varied set of programs this year.
You’ll not want to miss Dragomir Cioroslan on March 12th talk about the incredible diplomatic work our own USOC is doing.
We’re especially thrilled to launch our new Young Professionals series on March 20th – you only have to be “young at heart” to attend!
And stay tuned for some exciting programs we’re nailing down for our April luncheon and our Annual Dinner in May.
Let us know how we’re doing – and what you’d like to see for next year! Thanks for your continuing support!
Sincerely,
Schuyler Foerster
CSWAC Board President
info@csworldaffairs.org
In Memoriam
Joseph L. Thomas — COS WAC Past President
It is with sadness to report that Joseph L. Thomas of Lahaska, Pennsylvania passed away Tuesday morning, February 12, 2013, at Clare Bridge in Dublin, Pennsylvania. He was 76.
Please click here to view his obituary.
Middle and High School Education Programs
The Colorado Springs World Affairs Council continues to support a variety of programs for local middle and high school students designed to foster a long-term interest in international relations. Financial support from Jim and Diane Cameron Education Contributors has provided the Council with the means to make major contributions to many programs.
A limited number of middle, high school and college students are most welcome as part of a school group to monthly speaker events. As part of a school group, students and adult sponsors may attend at no charge.
World Affairs Council Colleagues (WACC)
The Adult Discussion Group is back! It is now called "World Affairs Council Colleagues (WACC)." Their purpose is to participate in discussions of international relations issues. They will be held the first Wednesday of each month.
Click here for complete details.
Of Interest
February 2013 — Iceland MUN Tournament
In February 2013, the Colorado Springs School’s Model United Nations (MUN) club traveled to Iceland for the annual Iceland MUN Tournament which was held at Reykjavik University. They were the first American team ever invited to the conference. The topic of discussion was the 2012-2013 crisis in Mali and the subsequent French intervention.
Owen McLaughlin, CSS Class of 2014 and a member of the team, wrote an excellent article on the experience.
Please click here to read Owen's article.
March 2013 — African Leaders Visit Colorado Springs
Leaders from eleven different African countries (Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Ghana, Senegal, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda) were hosted by the Colorado Springs Committee for International Visitors in March. The visitors were in the United States at the invitation of the U.S. Department of State and were participating in the Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program. This prestigious program brings today’s and tomorrow’s foreign leaders to the United States for firsthand exposure to their professional counterparts and U.S. society.