About The World Affairs Council Of The Dessert...

The World Affairs Council of the Desert, a non-partisan and non-profit organization, provides a unique opportunity for the discussion of national and international topics. Founded by Mr. Simon Miller in the early seventies as the “Desert Forum”, it served as a branch of the Los Angeles Council providing program activities and lectures for Los Angeles members during their winter months in the desert communities. By 1975, the organization had changed its name to The World Affairs Council of the Desert, began to increase its membership, and established itself as a separate non-profit corporation. Our primary mission is education outreach, promoting and providing interesting and affordable programs in a social setting, and covering a wide-range of international and global topics.

The Council does not take positions on issues, but encourages discussion on varied points of view. Featured speakers are experts in their fields of endeavor, usually well published, and cover current events. Speakers might be Ambassadors, government officials, corporate leaders, foreign dignitaries, national media persons, higher education professors, and are well known regionally, nationally and/or internationally.

Our major program is the monthly speaker/dinner event held on a Sunday evening from October through May. We feature a reception beginning at 5:00 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:00 p.m., then our guest speaker’s presentation. The evening concludes at about 8:30 p.m. These events are held at The Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa in Rancho Mirage. Members receive our tri-fold brochure in the spring detailing our list of speakers for the upcoming season, and a monthly reservation letter and reservation card before each event.

Reservations for dinner are required and can be made by either going online to register (see link), a telephone call to our office, or by returning the reservation card received in the monthly dinner letter. Reservations must be made by 4:00 p.m. on Thursday preceding the scheduled dinner. Checks and/or credit card payments (Visa/MasterCard) are accepted. The public is also invited to these events. Attendance at speaker dinner events varies from 150 to 250 persons

Membership dues and educational donations are the primary means to provide our speaker/dinner programs, and co-sponsor other educational events. The Educational Contributions Fund supports Council student outreach by facilitating speaker/dinner invitations to local high school and college students and their advisors. Through the Educational Fund we are also a major supporter of the Distinguished Speaker series (see link); the WorldQuest competition held in December each year that brings together teams of students from local high schools competing for a chance to win and compete in the National WorldQuest Competition, held in Washington, D.C. each spring. In 2006-07 we were fortunate to have this program funded by the Irene W. & Guy L. Anderson Children’s Foundation (view picture gallery); and the popular “Great Decisions” course conducted by the College of the Desert Community Education Department, as well as other Council educational outreach operations. (click here for membership and donation information).

The World Affairs Council of the Desert’s annual membership is on a fiscal year basis (September 1 - August 31) and our active roster includes approximately 500 members. Members also enjoy our semi-annual newsletter covering Council information, the latest information on dinner/speaker events, notice of special events and more.

For more detailed information, look further throughout our website, contact our office at (760) 322-7711, or feel free to contact members of the Board of Directors.

Board of Directors

Dr. Ward Fredericks (Chairman)
Dinsmore Glenn, Jr. (President)
Kenneth Klein (Vice President)
Mark Harner (Treasurer)
Becky Kurtz(Secretary)
Morris R. Beschlos
Debra Beck
Lois Bupp
Darlene Casella
Jean C. Carrus
Vincent Gioia
Dr. Fred E. Jandt
Penny Jenison
Col. Richard Jennings (Ret.)
Dennis Modrich
Charles Porter
Robert Pyle
Rick Stein

Life Members

Ms. Yvonne E. Anderson                              
Mrs. Walter Annenberg                                 
Ms. Barbara Bolanos                                      
Mrs. Lois Bupp                                              
Mr. & Mrs. Harry Burton                               
Mrs. Jean C. Carrus                                        
Dr. & Mrs. James C. Castle                           
Mr. Brian Eagleheart                                      
Major General & Mrs. J. E. Frank                  
Dr. & Mrs. Ward Fredericks                          
The Honorable & Mrs. Howard Haugerud    
Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Vitkin                         
Mr. & Mrs. James Houston
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Jenkins                                
Ambassador & Mrs. Robert Phinny                                       
Mr. & Mrs. Zachary Pitts
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Pond
Col. (Ret.) & Mrs. M. Donald C. Poorman
Mr. & Mrs. Donald B. Prell
Mrs. Harry O. Reinsch
Mr. Stanley (Buddy) Sklar
Mr. & Mrs. Frederic E. Supple
Mr. Jack Talmadge
Mrs. E. Armstrong Toor
Mrs. Margy Turlo
Mr. & Mrs. Wells Wohlwend, Esq.