Sacramento Chapter
Chartered in 1948 as an Affiliate of the World Affairs Council of Northern California, the World Affairs Council of Sacramento became a Chapter of the World Affairs Council of Northern California in early 2008. The Sacramento Chapter now joins the Council's existing Chapters in the East Bay, Marin, and on the Peninsula.
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Vision & Values
The vision of the Sacramento Chapter is to become the most highly respected and trusted impartial forum for discourse and education of international issues in the Sacramento region.
The Chapter values engaging, entertaining and intellectually stimulating discussion from authoritative and influential figures in foreign affairs. It values a cordial, open and nonpartisan atmosphere where productive dialog can occur between those with differing opinions. It also values sincere steering committee members, program coordinators, and volunteers who work collectively to foster a culture of sustainability, vibrancy and integrity.
UPCOMING Programs
The Sacramento Chapter holds programs approximately once a month in the spring and in the fall. Events are open to members and non-members and most events take place at the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law (map). To see the Sacramento Chapter's upcoming event(s), please visit our Calendar page and search by Chapter, or see below for the next upcoming program.
September 16 Thursday
U.S. Foreign Assistance Policy, Programs and Delivery Mechanisms: The Need for Reform
Keith Simmons, Mission Director USAID
From the rebuilding of Europe under the Marshall Plan to the current efforts of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in Iraq and Afghanistan, a major part of US foreign policy has always been foreign aid. In the past decade hard power has taken the spotlight, but soft power and foreign assistance have always played an integral role in US strategies abroad. Since 9/11, US foreign assistance has seen the proliferation of programs and the fragmentation of foreign aid delivery through a variety of departments and agencies. Is this budgetary behemoth in need of reform? With over 20 years experience at USAID, Keith Simmons will discuss the past and present efforts of US Foreign Assistance. During his time at USAID, Keith Simmons served as Mission Director in Serbia and Montenegro (2004-2007), Armenia (2001-2004) and Angola (1999-2001), as well as serving as Acting Director throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
To register, click here.
Recent programs
AG Kawamura, Grame Barty, and Wendy Martin - The Australian Drought: Water Policy and Implications for California
Alma Candelaria and Val Docini - 13th Annual Consular Corps Luncheon
Nilufar Ahmad, Glenda Humiston, Clarence Williams - Bridging Global and Local Innovations: Microenterprise, Social Entrepreneurship, and Beyond
Robert Quinn - The Power of Ideas: From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe
Symposium - Judicial Ethics and Accountability: At Home and Abroad
Karen Tse - Transformation and Justice: From Fear to Hope
Jim Woolsey - Spies, Energy, and the New World of the 21st Century
Stewart Beck and Carlos Gonzalez Gutierrez - Perspectives on North American Relations
Amerish Bera - Healthcare Internationally
Mu Sochua - Cambodian Democracy and Human Rights Under Siege
Stephen McCaffrey - Water Resources
Ambassador John Ordway, Keith Simmons and Bruce Janigian - US Foreign Policy in Armenia and the Caucasus
John Diamond - The CIA and the Culture of Failure
Ambassador Francis Ricciardone - Friend or Foe? The Role of Egypt in the Region
Philip Stephens - The World After Bush: New Global Realities for the US and Europe
Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker - National Security: Advice to the Next President
Robert Jones and Margret Kim - China: Climate Change Superpower
Brian Fagan - Global Warming Lesson From the Past to Predict the Future
Justice Richard Goldstone - Africa: Economy, Politics, and Justice
Gillian Sorensen - UN & The Rule of Law
Imam Mohammed Abdul-Azeez - The Root Causes of Radical Islamic Fundamentalism
Nathan Gonzalez - Engaging Iran
Imam Zaid Shakir - The Dimensions of Islamic Culture
Wazhma Mojaddidi and Johnny Griffin III - The US Government's Post-9/11 Anti-Terrorism Efforts in American Communities
Ambassador Ed Peck - An American Diplomat's Experience with Muslims in the Middle East
Her Excellency Bayan Sami-Abdul Rahman - Kurdistan: The Other Iraq
Sylvia Rosales-Fike and Bill Ong Hing - Welcome to America: The Immigrant Experience
Eduardo Ferrero - Trade in Latin America: The Pending US-Peru Free Trade Agreement
Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen - US-Denmark Trade Relations
Jonathan Lewis - Microcredit: Daring to Think Small
Major General Gerald Minetti - Democratic Beginnings? Perspective on Progress in the Middle East
Wesley Smith - Where Does the World Stand on Stem Cell Research?
Steve Young - Moral Capitalism: Reconciling Private Interests with the Public Good
Daniel Sperling - The Kyoto Protocol: Economic & Environmental Effects
Stephen Herrick - The Dollar is Falling! Is the Sky to Follow?
If you have any specific event-related questions or speaker suggestions, please contact:
Program Coordinator
Tel: 916.739.7271
Fax: 916.739.7384
sacworldaffairs [at] gmail [dot] com
For more general information, please contact:
Program Officer
415.293.4644
chapters [at] wacsf [dot] org
