WACHH strives to keep members abreast of developments in national interests and international affairs through extensive educational programming and participation in Council-sponsored events. We use a variety of avenues to accomplish this. Each has a slightly different approach but all focus on World Affairs.
Our principal program is the Friday Speaker Series, which usually takes place on the first and third Fridays of each month – October through May. Speakers come from around the globe who are known for their international experience in government, business, military affairs and academia. Please check the program calendar for exact dates and topics. Friday Speaker meetings are held at the First Presbyterian Church. Attendance at the Friday Speaker Series is a primary benefit of joining WACHH. Guests are invited to attend as well(fee).
upcoming events:
Africa: Familiar Challenges and Rewarding Opportunities- Robert Mallett
March 01 @ 10:00 am thru March 01 @ 11:30 am
Africa is undergoing significant change to address its many challenges. While change on the continent is uneven, we can increase its pace and breadth with policies that reward and create opportunities.
Africa is the second largest and second-most-populous continent with a host of diverse ethnicities, cultures, and languages. Poverty, Poor Health and lack of access to an education are just some of the issues that Mr. Mallet, Chairman, and CEO of Africare will address.
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The Spy Who Came Home- Patrick Skinner
March 12 @ 05:15 pm thru March 12 @ 07:30 pm
Patrick Skinner, Savannah Police officer, Former Director of the Soufan Group
and CIA Operations Office
Our speaker will share his career journey from the Coast Guard Search and Rescue team to a CIA Operative to private sector intelligence analysis, to his current role as a beat cop with the Savannah Police Department. He will discuss the militarization of Police; the focus of everything being treated as a ‘war’ and what real community police work entails both from a tactical and strategic approach.The Ukraine Russian Crisis -Ambassador Roman Popadiuk
March 15 @ 10:00 am thru March 15 @ 11:30 am
Roman Popadiuk, the former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, is a principal in Bingham Consulting. A retired member of the career Senior Foreign Service, Roman brings more than 30 years of experience in the areas of national security, political risk analysis, communications strategy, and energy policy, including serving on the National Security Councils of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush. With his vast experience and contacts that span the globe, Roman brings a unique insight into international political and business matters.
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Threats to Democracy in Eastern Europe-Ambassador Jerzy Pomianowski
April 05 @ 10:00 am thru April 05 @ 11:30 am
In too many places, democracy is in recession or has suffered serious setbacks. Authoritarian rule has deepened. Regimes are becoming increasingly strident in their attempts to cripple civil society and muzzle free speech. Ever more sophisticated disinformation campaigns designed and spread by Putin’s info-guerillas seek to undermine democratic values and discredit those who stand up for them.
Can we do something about it? What if we let Putin and others poison millions of minds with toxic narratives and fake news?
The ultimate purpose of democracy is to create the conditions in which free citizens can pursue the most fulfilling lives possible, that they themselves choose. Good governance, freedom of expression, the rule of law and respect for the dignity, rights, hopes, and fears of individuals are what make societies truly democratic. Democracy support is critical from a strategic perspective as it aims at winning minds and hearts of people on the ground. Much of this work can only be achieved by genuine, local activists who can translate the strategic vision of the international democratic community into a local context relevant to ordinary people. How best we can support them, especially in eastern Europe, remains a challenge.
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Building the Navy the Nation Needs- Allison Stiller, Assistant Secretary to the Navy
April 09 @ 05:15 pm thru April 09 @ 07:30 pm
The National Defense Strategy for building and sustaining a lethal, resilient force includes balanced investments across readiness, capability, and capacity. To retain and expand our competitive advantage, the Navy has developed scalable acquisition profiles that promote a stable and efficient industrial base. The Navy the Nation Needs presentation will review the requirements and discuss the attendant Navy and industry investments in capital improvements, capital expansion, and a properly sized world-class workforce.
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India’s Rise on the World Stage- Alyssa Ayers
May 03 @ 10:00 am thru May 03 @ 11:30 am
A rising India wants a seat at the table of global powers and is ready to set its own terms on everything from defense to climate to trade. Ayres considers how a fiercely independent India seeks its place as a leading power, and how the United States should respond.
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David Eisenhower II, J.D. -World War II's promise for Liberal Democracy: A Retrospective and Prospective
May 17 @ 10:00 am thru May 17 @ 11:30 am
David Eisenhower teaches Communication and the Presidency, which examines the impact of the "Bully Pulpit" on recent and contemporary national politics. As the Director of the Institute for Public Service at the Annenberg School, he oversees COMPS (Communication in Public Service) undergraduate students' coursework and internships. The Institute also sponsors events and symposia and brings teaching fellows to the Annenberg School.
Additionally, every four years Eisenhower teaches the "Conventions" class, whereby a group of undergraduate students attend the Democratic and Republican national political conventions, getting a first-hand and close-up look at the selection of presidential candidates.
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