WHAT WE DO

The World Affairs Forum is the only world affairs council serving Fairfield and Westchester counties.   We are part of a national network of 90 councils across the country with a shared mission of educating our members, students and the public about global affairs and America's role in the world. The World Affairs Forum was established in 1946 to promote greater understanding of foreign policy issues by providing for dialogue between its members and leaders in the field of international relations. Today it serves over 500 members and the larger community through a variety of quality programs:

• The Ambassadors’ Roundtable Series, our executive briefing series, offers six breakfasts and two dinners per season with presentations by high level policy makers, CEOs, ambassadors and think tank experts.  Includes a family membership in the World Affairs Forum Series.
  
  
• The Forum Series offers programs on important challenges in the international arena.  Six events, free for members, are held at the University of Connecticut's Stamford campus and are co-sponsored by UCONN's Business School.
   
• World Class education programs for high school and college students.  Our program offers study abroad scholarships for college students, internships with the Forum, the Future Global Leaders Award and Academic WorldQuest for local high school students.  Visit our education page for more information. 
  
  
• Great Decisions, co-sponsored by the Foreign Policy Association, are evening presentations based on the Foreign Policy Association’s assessment of major global issues facing America. The Forum offers this series to the public free of charge.  The programs are held at the Greenwich Library in the spring and the New Canaan Library in the fall.  The fall series is sponsored by HSBC Darien Branch and the spring series is co-sponsored by the Greenwich Library.
  
  
• Special events, including  WorldQuest, Global Economic Trends Lecture, corporate events, book signing with internationally renowned authors, film events, the Marie Hurley Memorial Travel Lecture, and the membership's annual meeting and dinner.  Separate fees apply to attend these events.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

George F. Paik, Chairman; Managing Director, LCP Capital LLC
W. Michael Funck, Vice Chairman; Regional President and CEO, U.S. Trust                                 Company Connecticut, (ret.)
Siw de Gysser, Treasurer; Vice President, Corporate Planning, Philip Morris Companies, Inc., (ret.)Marianne Drost, Secretary; Sr. VP, Deputy General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Verizon Communications Inc. (ret.)

Tom Agoston, External Relations Manager, IBM Communications
Nino Antonelli, Vice President, First County Bank
Patrick Brand, Vice President & President, US Mailing, Pitney Bowes, Inc., www.pitneybowes.com
Ernest A. DiMattia, Jr., President, Ferguson Library
John H. Dolan, Consultant, Second Order Strategies, Inc.
William W. Galvin, III, President, The Galvin Partnership
Harry Geller, Managing Director, Executive Coaching Division, Geller, Grace & Associates
Dr.Joanna M. Gwozdziowski, International Affairs Consultant   
Hope Hageman, Former President, League of Women Voters of Westport 
Donald Heller, Partner, Grand Elk & Orvis Shore Fox Resort Communities
Mitchell Krauss, Correspondent, CBS News (ret.)
Gary Kraut, President, Gary A. Kraut Company, Inc.
Christopher Meek, VP-Director of Hedge Fund and Asset Manager Sales for the Americas, State Street Global Advisors
Dr. Wilbur Miller, Founder and Honorary Chairman, World Affairs Forum   
Dr.Lori E. Murray, President & CEO, World Affairs Councils of America (ret.)
Scott C. Nevins. Principal, Bernstein Global Wealth Management, www.bernstein.com     
Denis Patterson, Owner, Diversified Ventures
Eric K. Petschek, Former Assistant Treasurer, World Affairs Forum
Wendy E. Prince, Attorney Mediator, Prince & Cotler, LLC, http://www.princecotler.com
Pilar S. Ramos, VP, Global Public Policy & Regulatory Strategy Counsel, MasterCard Worldwide, www.mastercard.com    
Constantine (Dean) Remoundos, Founder/CEO, Kendron Communications, LLC
Jud Saviskas, Executive Director, School of Business, UCONN/Stamford
Barbara Tarrant, VP and CFO, Tabar Inc. (ret.)
Damon N. Vocke, General Counsel, Sr. VP & Secretary, General Reinsurance Corp., www.genre.com
Victor D. Xistris, Senior Vice President & Market Trust Director, US Trust Bank of America

ADVISORY COUNCIL

Ambassador Stephen Bosworth, Dean, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy www.tufts.org 
L. Paul Bremer, III., Former US Administrator in Iraq, Former US Ambassador to The Netherlands 
Ambassador Thomas M. T. Niles, President US Council for International Business  www.uscib.org
Edward Pollak, Sr. Vice President (ret.) Olin Corporation  www.olin.com
Ambassador Frank G. Wisner II, Vice Chairman, External Affairs, AIG  www.aig.com

STAFF