Foreign Policy Discussion Group opens registration

The SOMA Great Decisions discussion group opens registration for the 2018 session.  Great Decisions is a grassroots foreign policy discussion program of the non-partisan Foreign Policy Association (FPA), http://www.fpa.org/great_decisions/. The SOMA GD program is free and open to all residents of Maplewood and South Orange.

Participants will discuss 8 important international issues facing America today in weekly sessions.  This year’s topics are: The waning of Pax Americana?, Russia's foreign policy, China and America: the new geopolitical equation, Media and foreign policy, Turkey: a partner in crisis, U.S. global engagement and the military, South Africa's fragile democracy, Global health: progress and challenges.

Discussion meetings will be held Tuesdays from April 3 to May 22, 1.30 – 3.30pm at the Maplewood Senior Center, 106 Burnett Avenue, Maplewood, adjacent to the Maplewood DeHart Community Center.

Registration is open until March 30. Space is limited to 10 participants. To register, please email or call Cathy Rowe, Crowe@twp.maplewood.nj.us, (973) 762-8120 x4005. 


I participated in this program for the past two years and highly recommend it.  It is one of the few intellectually stimulating programs held during the daytime, making it ideal for seniors.  Please let me know if you have any questions regarding the program and I will be happy to answer them here or through PM.


Meeting Schedule of the Foreign Policy Discussion Group


The next meeting will be on April 24, 2018, 1.30 – 3.30 pm, 

on the topic: The waning of Pax Americana? 


Place: Ground floor Conference Room of the Baird Center, 5 Mead Street, South Orange, NJ 

A free copy of the reading material is available to pick up at the office of Cathy Rowe,  Crowe@twp.maplewood.nj.us, (973) 762-8120 x4005, at Maplewood Town Hall, 574 Valley St, Maplewood, NJ.

This year’s topics are:

  • The waning of Pax Americana?  April 24, 2018
  • Russia's foreign policy, May 1, 2018
  • China and America: the new geopolitical equation, May 8, 2018
  • Media and foreign policy, May 15, 2018*
  • Turkey: a partner in crisis, May 22, 2018
  • U.S. global engagement and the military, May 29, 2018
  • South Africa's fragile democracy, June 5, 2018
  • Global health: progress and challenges, June 12, 2018

* The 5/15/18 meeting will be held at the ground floor Conference Room, South Orange Library, 65 Scotland Rd, South Orange



from Robert Roe, Maplewood Health Dept.    Can i just go to the Global Health discussion?  


joan_crystal said:
I participated in this program for the past two years and highly recommend it.  It is one of the few intellectually stimulating programs held during the daytime, making it ideal for seniors.  Please let me know if you have any questions regarding the program and I will be happy to answer them here or through PM.

Are any meetings slated for late PM or evenings?  My son, who is about as much of a foreign policy wonk as anyone I know, would probably love to attend a few.  


This would be great if it were in the evening.


I mean, we're not all retired yet. 


We need a go-getter to organize something for the rest of us. grin 


If you are interested in having this program in the evening, please send me your e-mail address in a private message.  If there is sufficient demand, an evening session could be organized. 

I definitely encourage you to do so!

mbb


Sounds wonderful (but not for me this year).  Can you give me a sense of whether the materials would be appropriate to use with a middle schooler who reads well, loves history, and is passionate about news and politics (but probably not ready for an adult discussion group)?  I’m always looking for good resources for my son.


The material is for adults reasonably well-informed on what's happening in the world.  You should be able to borrow a copy of the 2017 Great Decisions briefing book from the Maplewood Library, to see  the level of presentation.



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