MAJOR NEW NEWS!!! Your Savannah Council on World Affairs, in conjunction with the Savannah Friends of Music, will be hosting a cultural extravaganza that you do NOT want to miss! The Russian Prelude Cocktail Buffet will be held on Thursday evening, February 11, 2010 at The Ballroom on Broughton, 30 West Broughton St. The room is a 5,000 square foot ballroom with seven fireplaces that has recently been restored to its earlier splendor. On display will be an extensive collection of Socialist Realism art, collected by Michael Brown. Peter Shannon, conductor of the Savannah Philharmonic, will conduct a preview of the February 20th "Firebird" concert, along with excerpts from other favorite Russian works. And finally, there will be a lavish buffet (and Open Bar) for attendees. For more details, click here.
DO YOU HAVE A SPEAKER SUGGESTION? Our Program Committee scours usual and unusual sources to identify interesting speakers and topics to invite to Savannah, and they have been very successful. Occasionally they get a wonderful lead from a member who has heard someone, or knows someone, who would bring an interesting discussion to us. If you would like to share your ideas for a future program or speaker we want to hear from you. Simply click here and send us a note. Thanks.
PRE-PROGRAM DINNER ANYONE? Judy Finman coordinates an informal group that meets for dinner prior to each SCWA lecture, and they would gladly welcome any others who would care to join them. They dine at The Firefly Cafe, a pleasant and moderately priced restaurant at 321 Habersham St. You can enjoy lively conversation, a tasty dinner, and then come for cookies and coffee at our place! Contact Judy at jfinman@earthlink.net to secure a seat.
Coastal Georgia Center, 305 Fahm St. (behind the Visitor's Center) Directions and Map
Access:
Open to the public and free for members and students and active military and their dependents. $5.00 charge for non-members.
Sponsor:
Patricia Bishop, Cora Bett Thomas Realty & Associates
Abstract:
Dr. John D. Stempel
The dynamics of the world situation, particularly in the region extending from Iraq and Iran east through Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and China, are rapidly changing. The effects of the worldwide recession are still being felt, with China and India emerging as the major economic movers. Iraq appears to be a receding problem with Afghanistan emerging as a new focus. The tensions between India, Pakistan and Afghanistan and our involvement in this triangle could put us in the middle of a complex situation that could lead to a nuclear clash between India and Pakistan. Iran is likely to be at least a noisy nuisance for the next few years, but will it be more than that? Given that the U.S. will still play a significant, though perhaps diminished role in world leadership, what positions should we support, or oppose, with respect to these countries? How do we maintain consistency in our policies with so many conflicting factors?
Dr. John D. Stempel will attempt to integrate the many forces pulling at this region and lay out for us the various scenarios that might evolve, as well as his recommendations for U.S. policy. Dr. Stempel is a Senior Professor at the University of Kentucky’s Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce. He was director of the school from 1993-2003. He served as Associate Director from 1988-1993 after a 23 year career in the U.S. Foreign Service. He consults on cross-cultural negotiation and homeland security issues. He focused on political and economic affairs during overseas assignments in Guinea, Burundi and Zambia in Africa as well as in Iran and India. He served for three years as the U.S. Consul General in Madras, India where he quadrupled U.S. commercial collaboration with South India. His Middle East service in Tehran provided much of the material for his book, Inside the Iranian Revolution. His most recent book, Common Sense and Foreign Policy, was published in late 2008. Dr. Stempel’s Washington assignments for both the State and Defense Departments included a two-year tour as Director of the State Department’s Crisis Center. He has taught at both George Washington and AmericanUniversities, and for two years was “Diplomat in Residence” at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. Dr. Stempel is a member of the New York Council on Foreign Relations and the U.S. Department of Commerce District Export Council for Kentucky. Dr. Stempel received his AB from Princeton and an MA and PhD from the University of California at Berkeley.
Program Sponsor
The Sponsor for this program is Patricia Bishop of Cora Bett Thomas Realty and Associates. Ms. Bishop has been selling real estate since 1984 and has lived in Savannah’s Historic District since 1973. She knows her territory, and has been a Top Producing Agent since the Realty started. The Cora Bett Thomas Realty mission is to excel as a world-class real estate company by combining professional expertise, uncompromising integrity and unparalleled market insight to the benefit of buyers and sellers, one transaction at a time. We thank Ms. Bishop for her enthusiastic support!
The Savannah Council on World Affairs, Inc. is a non-partisan, non-profit, all volunteer organization. Its purpose is to make available information, analysis, and strategic thinking about important international issues. The Savannah Council neither participates in political campaigns nor attempts to influence legislation. Founded in 1984, the Savannah Council is one of 85 councils affiliated with the World Affairs Councils of America, established in 1918.
