Summary of Activities to Date
By March of 2004, the South Dakota Council on World Affairs had achieved preliminary status as an affiliate of the World Affairs Councils of America. This is a summary of activities and accomplishments of the South Dakota Council on World Affairs through March 2006. Minutes of the meeting held March 19, 2004 describe events leading up to the March 2004 organizational meeting at which a draft By-laws was presented and members present agreed to serve on the Board of Directors. This group consisted of Peggy Miller, Tim Hogan, Gail Tidemann, Madeleine Andrawis, Charles Woodard, Delmer Lonowksi, Steve Marquardt, Maria Ramos, Harriet Swedlund, Gail Robertson, Bob Burns, Don Lake, and Allen Branum.
Affiliation with WACA was facilitated when Ambassador Ed Peck visited Brookings on February 2, 2004 and Jerry Leach, President of the World Affairs Councils of America; Washington, DC was on site for a program held at the Tompkins Alumni Center, April 4, 2004.
During the academic year, 2004-05, Allen Branum, Acting Director of Diversity Enhancement, and Nels Granholm, Coordinator of the Global Studies major, handled responsibility for SDCWA activities. Two public events were held, one in the fall and a second on January, 20, 2005. Program for the fall meeting was a panel presentation about international opportunities for students. Speakers were Dr. Nels Granholm who described the new Global Studies major; Dr. Karl Schmidt who presented his views on the University role in international activities; and Brad Hegel, Augustana College, who was serving on the Lincoln Commission charged with the development of a federally funded scholarship program intended to dramatically increase participation in study abroad among American students in higher education. At the January meeting, the speaker was Dr. Intae Hwang, exchange professor from the Department of English, Chungnam Normal University, Daejeon, ROK. Sixteen members participated in a business meeting.
Through the World Affairs Councils of America speakers’ bureau, SDCWA hosted Les Janka, Chairman and Executive Director of the Council for American-Saudi Dialogue who spoke on “U.S.-Saudi Arabia Middle East Relations on July 12, 2006. Approximately 15 members attended a dinner with Mr. Janka prior to his presentation. Forty people were in the audience for the lecture at the South Dakota Art Museum. Mr. Janka also spoke to the Brookings Rotary Club at noon that day and was interviewed for South Dakota Public Radio.
Harriet Swedlund agreed to serve as Executive Director for the SDCWA with duties beginning in late June 2005. Changes in Board membership occurred at this time with the addition of Nels Granholm and Karl Schmidt and the resignation of Maria Ramos.
The Board of Directors met November 2, 2005; December 7, 2005; January 27, 2006; February 24, 2006; March 24, 2006 during the academic year 2005-06. A set of revised By-laws stating operational procedures under the umbrella of the SDSU Foundation has been developed and is being reviewed by an attorney. A job description for the Executive Director was accepted. Plans have been started for a drive to renew existing memberships and recruit new members.
Programs organized by SDCWA and/or in cooperation with other units are:
October 4, 2005
Dr. Sherwood Berg, President Emeritus, SDSU,
Living and Working in a Global Society
November 3, 2005
Dr. Mia Bloome
Dying to Kill: The Allure of Suicide Terror
(Cosponsored with Harding Distinguished Lecture Series)
January 9, 2006
Lunch for members with Senator James Abourezk
U.S. Foreign Policies and Relations with Arab Countries
January 18-21, 2006
Al Branum and Harriet Swedlund attended the
World Affairs Councils of America, Annual Conference, Washington, DC
February 16, 2006
Nigel West – author and expert on espionage and counterespionage
Lunch with the author for SDCWA members and selected students
Lecture, Spy Stories: Past and Present cosponsored with Harding Distinguished Lecture Series
February 17, 2006Nigel West on SDSU campus with SDCWA members and classes, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
April 3, 2006
Annual meeting and dinner with guests from Washington, DC
Future of Korea – panel discussion and individual presentations by representatives from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, the Korea Economic Institute, and the United States Department of State. (In addition to SDCWA, sponsors of the Future of Korea program include the Korea Economic Institute, World Affairs Councils of America, Office for Diversity Enhancement at SDSU)
April 7, 2006
Festival of Cultures – SDCWA will have a table with membership information
Health, Physical Education & Recreation Center, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
April 28, 2006
Board of Directors Meeting – Yeager Hall, 3:00, NE Conference Room, second floor
Charter Membership – 25 individual members, 18 family memberships (2 or more members)
Funds on hand prior to membership renewal - $300.00
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