Join a “Great Decisions” group

 

ORGANIZATION

A Coordinating Committee (CC) manages CFAF’s Great Decisions program.  Responsibilities of the CC include promoting GD participation, selecting discussion group managers and facilitators, determining the number of discussion groups and the day/time of meetings, providing a liaison to the CFAF Board, collecting fees, and ordering materials.  CC members include: Chairman, Jack Slapcinsky, js12@danielislandmedia.net (278-0864); Joanne Milkereit, joannemilkereit@bellsouth.net (722-1185); Katy Huger, katyhuger@bellsouth.net (762-0937), Pat Vitkovic, pvitkovic@aol.com, and Bill Prewitt, bill@charlestonfinancial.net (722-3331).

 

BACKGROUND

The Foreign Policy Association (FPA) is the NY City affiliate of the World Affairs Council.  It developed the Great Decisions (GD) program in 1954.  It is the largest and oldest grassroots organization of its kind.  Currently 400,000 Americans are members of Great Decisions discussion groups.

 

The GD program is centered on the Great Decisions briefing book.  Published annually by FPA, the briefing book covers eight timely global and thematic topics related to U.S. foreign policy.  Each topic is written by experts, providing a concise yet comprehensive overview of the current national debate, historical background and policy options concerning each topic.

 

If you’d like to participate, be sure to complete and return the Great Decisions Participants Registration by December 10.  In January the CC will distribute the briefing books to those registered as well as notification of registrant’s group assignment and name of their group leader.

 

 

 

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Great Decisions Participant’s Registration Form

 

Indicate your preferred discussion group meeting time:

 

1 Tuesday mornings            9:3011:00 AM

 

1 Wednesday afternoons     1:303:00 PM

 

1 Tuesday evenings             5:307:00 PM

 

1 Wednesday evenings        5:307:00 PM

 

Comments:     ________________________________________________________

 

Return this Registration form and a Check for $20 made payable to KATHERINE M. HUGER by 10 December.  Mail to: Jack Slapcinsky, 806 Beckon St., Charleston, SC 29492.  We will organize groups based on your time preferences.  Call Jack (278-0864) if you have questions about participation. [Also return the bottom of Page 2, please]
Would you like to participate in informed discussions

about world affairs with fellow CFAF members?

 

Plan on Joining a “Great Decisions” group

 

WHAT: Groups of 8 - 16 interested CFAF members will meet twice a month to discuss a current foreign policy issue.  The Great Decisions program book provides the text for the eight topics, one each session.  Discussions are focused with people freely exchanging and considering a variety of views.  The goal is not to master a lot of facts but to deepen understanding of and judgment about international issues to be discussed.

TOPICS for 2008:  Iraq end-game, European Union at 50, Talking to our enemies, Russia, U.S. defense & security policy, Latin America: shift to the left? , U.S.- China trade policy, and Private philanthropy.

WHEN: Discussion groups will meet February through May.  CFAF members interested in participating may select from the available groups on the Registration Form.

WHERE: Groups will meet in CFAF members’ homes, offices or any convenient location.

COST: The fee to participate will be $20 per individual/couple. This cost includes a copy of the Great Decisions program book.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE: Complete the Registration Form (below, both sides)

 

Involvement of those interested may be as:

     Participant makes a commitment to read the program material (about 12 pages of text) before attending each of the eight discussions.

     Group Manager finds home hosts for the discussion meetings, contacts group members about dates and location of meetings.

     Discussion group facilitator leads one (or more) of the bimonthly discussions.

 

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Participant’s registration form

                                               

 

Manager:      Would you be willing to be Manager for one group?   1 Yes 1 No

 

 

 

Facilitator: Would you be willing to facilitate one or more of the eight discussions?                                                                                                                              1 Yes 1 No

 

 

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