President's Message

From your President, Dr. Schuyler Foerster

Before returning to Colorado Springs at the end of 2009—after a 20-year hiatus—I had the privilege of running the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh for over a dozen years. That was a much larger council, with several full time staff members, and a high school outreach that spanned eight counties, 275 school districts, and some 12-15,000 students each year.

But here is where I want to be.

The Colorado Springs World Affairs Council has its own very special energy and vibrancy. Like many of the 94 councils across the U.S., this Council is essentially a volunteer effort. Our 22-member board gives time, talent, and treasure out of a shared commitment in the unique and important mission of this organization. We have an excellent part-time Administrator, Sylvia Sedrak, who does so much good work for us.

We are a Council in transition. Building on the extraordinary leadership of our former President, Larry Barrett, we are reshaping our programs, streamlining our operations, expanding our support for secondary schools across the Pikes Peak Region, and launching new efforts to engage a younger generation of rising professionals.
But we need your help!

Recently, we sent a letter to all of you with a special request that you include the Colorado Springs World Affairs Council in your year-end charitable giving. This is a serious request—quite simply, our ability to serve not only you but the entire Pikes Peak region in this critical period depends on resources and capacity.

We know these are difficult times; please give what you can.
Over the next year, we will be focusing on the critical issues facing our Nation as they relate to world affairs. Recently, Dr. Lori Murray, President of our national association, the World Affairs Councils of America, wrote an op-ed piece that was featured on The Huffington Post. Dr. Murray’s message is simple—we once drew a line between “foreign” and “domestic” policy; that line is now blurred, as evidenced by the theme of our own Presidents’ Panel on Education for Global Competitiveness on December 8th. You can read her essay here.

Stay tuned to this page—I’ll be using it to discuss other important issues in the months ahead.
Thank you for your support.
  
Dr. Schuyler Foerster