In 1951 a group of 21 local citizens, determined to broaden understanding of international issues, formed the World Affairs Council of the Monterey Bay Area. At that time, they chose to be an affiliate council of the World Affairs Council of Northern California, and chose WWII Naval Tactician Admiral (ret.) Raymond Spruance as the first President. After celebrating 40 years of this relationship, steps were initiated which resulted in establishing the Council as a totally independent Public Benefit Corporation in 1992. We are now approaching our sixth decade of providing intellectually challenging expositions of significant international issues to our membership and the citizens of the Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties. We work closely with representatives of the Monterey Institute of International Studies, Naval Postgraduate School, Defense Language Institute, Monterey Peninsula College, Hartnell College and California State University Monterey Bay, frequently utilizing reciprocal talents and resources to provide truly superior exposure to the critical International issues of our times. The Council is a member of the World Affairs Councils of America (WACA), the national association of World Affairs Councils, and participates in the national activities arranged by it. Our Council is also a "Cooperating Council" in the Travel Program of the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia. |
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The World Affairs Council of the Monterey Bay Area is a non-profit, non-partisan, totally volunteer organization. Our mission is to promote public education through the study and discussion of international issues by expert speakers of diverse opinions. The Council is not an advocacy group, it does not endorse any specific foreign or domestic policy. Rather, through timely lectures, discussions and conferences it endeavors to present to its members and the public-at-large diverse, balanced views on global events and related domestic issues. Differing political and philosophical viewpoints are encouraged from presenters and attendees during discussion periods with the specific objective of raising the standard of public debate and encouraging dialogue to increase understanding. |
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President |
Doug Wilhelm |
Board |
Eddie Bennett
Norm Channell
Betty Crowder
Abby Foss
George Howling
Marta Karpiel
Fred Lawson
Mary Jo McDonough
Gregg McKee
Maria Morgan
Marti Myszak
Stan Patterson
Gail Sheridan
Judy Sloan
Jerry Sullivan
Naomi Terman
Gabby Walters |
Liaison |
Steve Bradford
Shirley Coly
Eric J.Dahl
Elizabeth Gianola
Tom Logan
Mark Verbonich
LTC Jeffrey Vestal |
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