| |
|
BIAHC and the Bainbridge Public Library are co-sponsoring a series of eight free, drop-in Great Decisions Discussions
every other Saturday morning (approximately) from 9:00 a.m. until 10:30
a.m., beginning February 9, 2008, in library’s large meeting room at
1270 Madison Ave. N.
Great Decisions is a nation-wide program of the
Foreign Policy Association to broaden public involvement
with the most important foreign policy issues facing the United
States.
Participants receive a briefing book written by experts on each
of that year's eight selected topics, study readings that are relevant
to the topic prior to the lecture, and then participate in post-lecture
discussion groups. A half-hour
DVD on each topic is also available.
For information about BIAHC's Great
Decisions at the Library series, see below.
THE 2008 DISCUSSION TOPICS ARE:
How to I participate in Great Decisions?
There are two ways to participate:
1. Form a discussion group
with internationally-minded colleagues, friends, and family
members and meet to discuss the eight issues in the annual Great
Decisions briefing book. Set your own schedule, and discuss the
topics in any order.Groups meet in private homes, or
through other organizations such as churches, senior centers, schools,
etc.
2. For those not quite ready to form a Great Decisions group on
their own or join an existing group, Great
Decisions at the Library provides
an easy, commitment-free introduction to the series. The free, drop-in
discussions take place approximately every other Saturday from 9:00
- 10:30 a.m.
at the Bainbridge Public Library, 1270 Madison Ave. N.
The program dates are:
February 9, February 23, March 8, March 22, April 5, April 19, May 3, and May 17.
While enjoying coffee and pastries, participants first view a
30-minute Foreign Policy Association DVD of a conversation between
two experts on the topic to be discussed. To assist with advance
preparation, please review the relevant chapter of the Great Decisions
briefing book, which is available at the Bainbridge Public Library.
Copies can also be purchased from BIAHC for $15. Links to other
useful background articles are posted on this website.
At the end of each session, participants select the topic for
the next session. Anyone with a particular interest or expertise
in a topic is welcome to take on the role of moderator.
Please contact BIAHC at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
to be added to the Great Decisions email list for updates on the
topic schedule and to receive topic background information.
 Back To Top >>
|
|
2. How can I find a Great Decisions
Group on Bainbridge?
If you are forming a group and would like additional members, or
if you are looking for a group to join, please contact BIAHC
and we will do our best make the connections. Let us know when your
group meets, or, if you're in search of a group, what type of schedule/location
would work best for you.
For information about BIAHC's Great
Decisions at the Library series, see
below 2007 Discusion topics list in the previous column.
BIAHC can also provide materials on how to serve as a discussion
leader or moderator.
3. What, if anything, happens to
our discussion group results?
The main goals of Great Decisions is to broaden U.S. citizen's
awareness about events that are taking places in other parts of
the world and to understand how these events affect U.S. Foreign
Policy. Thus, it is more important for participants to have an opportunity
to have an informed discussion with other members of their community
on the issues involved than it is for them to arrive at a common
conclusion.
However, discussion group participants are encouraged to individually
fill out the National Opinion Ballets, found in
briefing books, at the end of their discussions. The ballots are
sent to the Foreign Policy Association by the discussion group leaders,
where they are tabulated and analyzed by a polling expert - who
writes the National Opinion Ballot Report.
The National Opinion Ballot Report is a free publication
that is sent to all discussion group participants. It can also be
found online at the Foreign
Policy Association website. The Report allows participants to
see how their opinions compare with the opinions of other participants
across the country. The FPA also presents the National Opinion Ballot
Report to the White House, members of Congress, the departments
of State and Defense, and the national media. In this way, the Report
is a valuable way of communicating the opinions of informed citizens
to the people who shape U.S. foreign policy.
4. How do I get the Great Decisions
Briefing Book and other materials.
You can order the Great Decisions Briefing Books online through
the Foreign Policy Association at Great
Decisions Briefing Book. The cost is $15 plus shipping. BIAHC
also has a limited number of books for sale at its office for $15.
A DVD or VHS of the Great Decisions television series are also
available for $40.00 through the Foreign Policy Association at Great
Decisions TV Series. Hosted by Ralph Begleiter, the series devotes
one half-hour episode to each of the 8 topics, exploring them in
detail with experts in the field.
For more information, contact BIAHC at 206.842.7901 or
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
Back To Top >>
|
