WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
OF THE MONTEREY BAY AREA
 Established in 1951


Discussion Groups

Global challenges have increasingly become domestic challenges. How do we make sense of it all? The World Affairs Council of Monterey Bay conducts two Discussion Groups dedicated to exploring current and fundamental international questions facing us. In an informal setting and facilitated by a moderator, attendees air their views and hear those of others. Topics for upcoming Discussion Groups are listed in The Passport and in the box below.

WACMB Discussion Group

This Discussion Group meets regularly over Zoom organized directly by WACMB.

Meetings from January through March are based on the Foreign Policy Association Great Decisions Series (see the box at the bottom of this page). After that, the Discussion Group meets monthly to discuss other topics, typically on the first Monday of each month from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Exact dates and topics are provided in The Passport newsletter.

The program is free to the public. If you are interested in participating in the WACMB discussion group, please email us at DiscussionGroup@wacmb.org.


WACMB Discussion Group through CSUMB-OLLI

This Discussion Group meets via Zoom and operates in cooperation with The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) of California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB).

In the spring semester, the group follows the Foreign Policy Association Great Decisions Series curriculum (see the box below). In the fall semester, the group meets once a month to discuss timely topics selected by the group. Participants are encouraged to pursue independent study on selected subjects and to share their knowledge and views, but just listening is fine too. For more information, review the current OLLI-CSUMB course catalog.

There is no fee, but participants must enroll in classes via the OLLI-CSUMB on-line registration system or by calling the OLLI-CSUMB office at 831.582.5500

Foreign Policy Association Great Decisions Series The annual Great Decisions series, produced by the Foreign Policy Association of America, is the country’s largest discussion program. The program, which runs for eight weeks at the beginning of each year, provides background information and policy options for some of the most critical issues facing us each year. WACMB presents this free program at both of our usual discussion group locations: Monterey Peninsula College (MPC) and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the Ryan Ranch location of California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB). Purchase of the Great Decisions Briefing Booklet is strongly recommended for all discussion participants. Booklets may be offered at the WACMB monthly luncheons or may be acquired at each discussion group site or may be ordered online through the Great Decisions web page.
Background material for some discussion group topics may be found on the Speakers, Topics, and Videos page.

Most Recent Discussion Posts

  • Discussion Group Program, Fall 2025

    08/11/2025 9:47 AM | Boyd Haight

    The WACMB World Affairs Discussion Group will not meet in August - enjoy the rest of the summer!

    Please save the dates for our monthly discussion group meetings held jointly of OLLI this fall 2025:

    Dates:  Wednesdays, September 3rd, October 1st, November 5th & December 3rd

    If you are interested and have never attended our World Affairs Discussion Group, just send a request to discussiongroup@wacmb.org to receive log-in information and related study materials.

    All are welcome!

  • Discussion Group May 7, 2025: Do We Need Foreign Aid?

    08/07/2025 11:02 AM | JB Leep (Administrator)

    The World Affairs Discussion Group will meet on Wednesday, May 7th at 4:00 pm. The topic will be Do We Need Foreign Aid? based on the WACMB dinner lecture of April 24th by Mark Ward, retired foreign service officer with USAID, and some additional reading. The meeting will be held on Zoom, and all WACMB members are invited to participate. If you are interested and have never attended our World Affairs Discussion Group, just send a request to discussiongroup@wacmb.org to receive log-in information and related study materials. Come join the conversation!

  • Discussion Group June 11, 2025: The Impact of Tariffs on Foreign Policy

    08/07/2025 10:29 AM | JB Leep (Administrator)

    The WACMB World Affairs Discussion Group will meet on Wednesday, June 11th at 4:00 pm. The discussion topic will be The Impact of Tariffs on Foreign Policy based on selected readings.

    The meeting will be held on Zoom, and all WACMB members are invited to participate.
    If you are interested and have never attended our World Affairs Discussion Group, just send a request to discussiongroup@wacmb.org to receive log-in information and related study materials.

    Come join the conversation!


  • Discussion Group July 9th, 2025: Turkey’s Role in a Fractured Region

    08/07/2025 10:28 AM | JB Leep (Administrator)

    The World Affairs Discussion Group will meet on Wednesday, July 9th at 4:00 pm. The topic will be Turkey’s Role in a Fractured Region based on the WACMB luncheon lecture of June 27th by Colonel Christopher Welch, who will join our discussion, and some additional reading. The meeting will be held on Zoom, and all WACMB members are invited to participate.

    If you are interested and have never attended our World Affairs Discussion Group, just send a request to discussiongroup@wacmb.org to receive log-in information and related study materials.

    Come join the conversation!


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The World Affairs Council of the Monterey Bay Area, Inc. (WACMB) is a
501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with an IRS EIN of 77-0301206.
 

Contact:

Phone: (831) 643 -1855

Email: info@wacmb.org

 

Address:

WACMB

P.O. Box 83

Monterey, CA 93942

 

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