Fall 2009	World Affairs Council of the Desert
Newsletter . . .
DIRECTORS & OFFICERS: CHAIRMAN Dr. Ward A. Fredericks PRESIDENT Dr. Richard Jennings VICE PRESIDENT Mr. Kenneth Klein VICE PRESIDENT Ms. Debra Beck CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Mr. Mark Harner SECRETARY Ms. Becky Kurtz DIRECTORS: Mr. Robert Allen Mrs. Lois Bupp Ms. Jean C. Carrus Ms. Darlene Casella Mr. George Gallagher Mr. Dinsmore Glenn, Jr. Ms. Carla Breer Howard Dr. Fred E. Jandt Cmdr (Ret.) Robert McCarthy Mr. Dennis Modrich Mr. Jerry Patton Mr. Robert Pyle Mrs. Penny Rivin Mr. Peter Solomon Mr. Rick Stein LTG. (Ret) Herb Temple Ms. Doris Wilson HONORARY MEMBER: The Honorable Mary Bono Mack IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT: Mr. Dinsmore Glenn, Jr. DIRECTORS EMERITUS: Mr. Morris Beschloss Dr. Donald B. Prell The Honorable Thomas Railsback The Honorable Shirley Pettis Roberson DIPLOMAT MEMBERS: Mr. Ron Baumann Ms. Debra Beck Mr. & Mrs. Frank Casella Dr. Barbara Comess Cdr. (Ret.) Robert McCarthy Dr. Richard Jennings Dr. Janice Lyle Ms. Francine Miller Ms. Marguerite Nunn Ms. Claudette Pais Mr. & Mrs. Bart Rivin Mr. Peter Solomon Mr. & Mrs. Rick Stein LTG. (Ret) Herb Temple			Greetings from our Chairman and President Chairman Ward Fredericks and I would like to welcome you to our new season of exciting dinner/speaker events. Our speakers are probably the best ever, addressing subjects ranging from how to meet the challenge of Iran to examining national preparations for future warfare in space. Our first and last meetings will feature panels of two speakers, and we shall see a greater use of visual aids. The receptions will fill the marbled halls of the Renaissance Esmeralda, and the three course dinners will come with wine and a more varied menu. Come join us and become part of “the most interesting audience in the desert.” This is our first emailed newsletter and is, granted, a bit ponderous. The future newsletters will be more fun. Sincerely,
		Welcome to Our New Board Members! Let’s welcome four distinguished persons to the Board: · Peter D. Solomon, President of Regency Homes · Doris Wilson, Ed.D., retired Superintendent of the Desert Sands Unified School District · Carla Breer Howard, Editor, Desert Magazine of The Desert Sun, and daughter of the late WAC supporter, C. Fred Breer · Jerry Patton, President, College of the Desert We look forward to their continuing support of our organization. We also want to thank former Directors Shellie Karabell and Charles Porter for their outstanding service. Here are some of the planned events of the season, listed in chronological order:

WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL EVENTS 2009-2010 (Please visit worldaffairsdesert.org for all event details)
All Dinner Events Held at Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa Indian Wells
German Consul General Morris Beschloss Wolfgang Drautz	October 25, 2009 “Germany and NATO” Panel German Consul General Wolfgang Drautz and Columnist and Commentator Morris Beschloss Moderator: Dr. Richard M. Jennings
Kicking off our 34^th season, German Consul General Wolfgang Drautz will be joined by Berlin-born columnist, commentator and Director Emeritus of World Affairs Council of the Desert, Morris Beschloss. The Council’s President, Dick Jennings, former Assistant for NATO Affairs to the US Secretary of Defense, will moderate. They will discuss the newly elected German Government in relation to its background and its probable future policies, to include the extent to which it will support NATO. Consul General Drautz has had extensive foreign assignments, including Paris and London and seven years with the German Embassy in Moscow.
Reception – No Host Cocktail Hour – 5:00 p.m. Dinner – 6:00 p.m. Presentation – 7:00 p.m. ¨¨¨¨

November 18, 2009 Board Reception for Council Life, Diplomat and Patron Members -- 5 p.m., home of Jean Carrus,

Rancho Mirage

In appreciation for their vital support to the World Affairs Council, Life,

Diplomat and Patron members will be hosted by the WAC Board at the

lovely Rancho Mirage home of Jean Carrus. Food and drinks will be

served. Our special guests will be Kirk Talbot, President of World

Affairs Councils of America and Janice Lyle, Ph.D, Center Director,

Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands.

Dr. Kamal Ali Beyoghlow

November 22, 2009 “Turkey and Its Neighbors: Implications for United States Security” Dr. Kamal Ali Beyoghlow, Professor, Author, and Advisor to the Secretary of Defense Moderator: Professor Penny Jenison Rivin

Dr. Beyoghlow’s extensive knowledge of Turkey’s status in the world has been augmented by recent visits there. Currently an advisor to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Dr. Beyoghlow is researching the evolution of Al Qaeda and its impact on the state system in the Arab and Muslim world. Beyoghlow has served as the U.S. National War College’s Resident Scholar on the Middle East and North Africa, as well as Islamic studies and grand strategy. While at the College, he was Academic Chair and Professor of Terrorism and Counter Terrorism. He is also currently a professor at both George Washington University and American University. Beyoghlow earned his MA from Tufts University and a Ph.D. from U.C. Berkeley.

.

December 3, 2009 “The Academic WorldQuest

Sponsored by Peter Solomon”

Indian Wells Theater, California State University

San Bernardino, Palm Desert Campus, 37-500 Cook St.,

Palm Desert

Time: 5:30 p.m. To 8:00 p.m.

We are extremely pleased to announce that our new board member, Peter Solomon, has generously contributed $10,000, including prizes for the students in the three winning teams, for this event. The ultimate goal -- to be achieved with additional WAC community contributions totaling $4,500 -- is to send the winning team to Washington, D.C. for the National WorldQuest. This national competition is slated to be held on April 24, 2010 in the National Press Club Building by the World Affairs Councils of America.

The local competition is made up of four-person teams drawn from all participating high schools in the Coachella Valley. Each team will compete by answering 50 questions on world affairs. This is the fourth year that our council has been involved with this program; last year’s winner, La Quinta High School, placed 12^th nationally and the 2008 champions from Palm Springs High School placed 8^th. You’ll find more details about the competition on our Web site, worldaffairsdesert.org

The outstanding success of our council’s participation must be credited to the devoted service of former WAC Board member Chuck Porter and his wife Priscilla, to whom we express our profound thanks.

Going forward, our second new board member, Doris Wilson, the recently retired Superintendent of the Desert Sands Unified School District, will carry on the Porters’ leadership.

December 5, 2009 Distinguished Speaker Series

“Greening Our Buildings”

Eric Corey Freed, Director of Organic Architect,

a San Francisco-based architectural and

consulting firm.

Oliphant Auditorium

California State University San Bernardino,

Palm Desert Campus

Time: 2:00 p.m.

	December 13, 2009 “Meeting the Challenges of Iran” Mr. Christopher Preble, Director of Foreign Policy Studies, CATO Institute, Washington, D. C.
Christopher Preble
The question of how to deal with Iran and its nuclear plans is now probably the hottest topic in world affairs. How can we block Iran’s drive toward nuclear weapons and help protect Israel without creating war in the Middle East? Is there a possibility that we can connect with the pro-democratic youth in the country? In his role at the Cato Institute, one of the nation’s leading think tanks, Christopher Preble has specialized in both Iran and Iraq. He has also spoken about these countries to a number of WAC audiences around the nation. In addition to several books, Preble has written more than 100 articles, which have appeared in such influential publications as The Wall Street Journal, the Foreign Service Journal and the Harvard International Review.

Ambassador Jeffrey Davidow

January 10, 2010 “Latin America: Key Issues for the U. S.” Ambassador Jeffrey Davidow, former Ambassador to Mexico and Venezuela

The politics of oil, anti-Americanism, and the inflow of contraband drugs and illegal migration continue to plague our relationships with our neighbors to the south. Ambassador Davidow is currently President of the Institute of the Americas, located at UCSD in La Jolla. During his 34 years in the Foreign Service, he was posted as Ambassador to Mexico and Venezuela, and also served as Assistant Secretary of State for Latin America, retiring as one of the nation’s highest ranking professional diplomats, with the personal rank of Career Ambassador.

Dr. Nicholas Lardy

February 21, 2010 “China: Leading the Global Econony” Dr. Nicholas Lardy, Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Washington, D. C.

China may be taking over as the world economic leader. What will this mean to the future of the US? Prior to serving as Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington, D.C., Dr. Lardy was the Director of the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington. He has also taught at Yale University and held a senior position at the Brookings Institution. His numerous books on China have explored that nation’s rapidly growing role in the world’s economy. Lardy received his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Michigan.

Lt. General Michael Hamel	March 14, 2010 “International Competition in Space” Lt. General Michael Hamel, former Commander of the U.S. Space and Missile Systems Center
As a young officer, Hamel helped develop the early version of the Ground Positioning System that you use today. As Commander of the U.S. Space and Missile Systems Center, Lt. General Hamel directed a “back to basics” approach to his management of research and development, as well as acquisition and sustainment of space, missile, command and control activities, along with operational satellite systems. Hamel has served in senior positions at U.S. Air Force Headquarters and Air Force Space Command. From 1996-1998, he was the military advisor to Vice President Al Gore. Among his many decorations and awards, Hamel has been given the Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. Upon retirement last year from the Air Force, Hamel became Senior Vice President of Strategy and Development of Orbital Sciences Corp.
March 20, 2010 Distinguished Speaker Series “Tracking Groundwater Reserves” William M. Alley, Chief, Office of Groundwater, U. S. Geological Survey Oliphant Auditorium California State University San Bernardino, Palm Desert Campus Time: 2:00 p.m.

Ambassador Robert Kimmit

April 18, 2010 “The U. S. and the World: Beyond the Financial Crisis” Ambassador Robert Kimmitt, Recently retired U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury and former U.S. Ambassador to Germany

How soon will the world recover from the economic crisis, and what lies ahead? Ambassador Kimmitt brings a depth of knowledge in both global finance and in our international strategic aims derived from his extensive service at the highest levels of the U.S. government. In addition to his stint as ambassador to Germany, Kimmitt served under Kissinger as Executive Secretary and General Counsel to the National Security Council. He has also served as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs. Further, he was a member of the National Defense Panel and also the CIA’s National Security Advisory Panel. His most recent government service was as Deputy Secretary of the Treasury during President George Bush’s second term.

Ambassador Teresita Schaffer	Ambassador Howard Schaffer	May 2, 2010 “India and Pakistan: Is Resolution Possible?” A Panel Ambassador Terisita Schaffer, Director, South Asia Program Center for Strategic and International Studies; and her husband, Ambassador Howard Schaffer, Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, Georgetown University
Teresita Schaffer came to CSIS 11 years ago, after a 30-year career in the US Foreign Service. For most of her career, she focused on international economic issues and South Asia, becoming one of the State Department’s principal experts. From 1989-1992, she served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, at that time the senior South Asia position in the department. From 1992-1995, she was the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka; and from 1995-1997, she served as Director of the Foreign Service Institute. Howard Schaffer was Ambassador to Bangladesh from 1984 to 1987. Prior to that, he served in Delhi from 1961 to 1967 and Islamabad from 1974 to 1977. He also served (with his wife) in Sri Lanka. While at the State Department, he was twice Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Near East and South Asia. Now at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University, he teaches courses on diplomacy and on US relations with India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.  Ambassador Schaffer has just published a book, “The Limits of Influence: America’s Role in Kashmir."

Our New Speaker/Dinner Location

Renaissance Esmeralda

44-400 Indian Wells Lane, Indian Wells; (760) 773-4444; renaissanceesmeralda.com.

We are looking forward to seeing you at all of our speaker/dinner events this season. Our speaker presentation will begin at the conclusion of dinner, followed by a short question and answer period.

Tickets: for the reception (no-host bar), dinner with wine service, and speaker program -- $50.00 for members; $60.00 for non-members.

Membership

We welcome new members. Bring your interested friends to our events to introduce them to our stimulating programs and membership.

Individual Membership $75 ■ Couples Membership $125 ■ Patron Membership $175

Diplomat Membership $500 ■ Dinner Sponsorship $1,000

Benefits include: opportunities to purchase either Advanced Speaker/Dinner tickets (until Nov. 1) or individual Speaker/Dinner tickets at reduced prices. ■ Invitations to special events. ■ Support of the WorldQuest competition. ■ Subscription discounts for: The Economist, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, World Affairs Journal, World Policy Journal and many more. ■ Purchase discounts on publications from: Council on Foreign Relations, Center for Strategic and International Studies, The Brookings Institution.

Contact us: World Affairs Council of the Desert, P.O. Box 467, Palm Springs, CA 92263; (760) 322-7711; worldaffairs@verizon.net; Web site: WorldAffairsDesert.org.

Our Mission

To provide education on vital issues of global importance to diverse audiences

in the Coachella Valley

Newsletter Editor, Carla Breer Howard Editor, Desert Magazine, The Desert Sun, Palm Springs carla.howard@thedesertsun.com