What's New @ the Aspen Institute January/February 2010

Live @ the Institute

Featured Event   White House climate czar Carol Browner sat down with Economist correspondent Vijay Vaitheeswaran at the Institute's Innovation Economy Conference, co=sponsored with Intel. Click here to watch more video from the conference.

Other Events   The Institute's Initiative on Financial Security featured Edward Yingling, president & CEO of the American Bankers Association, and Damon Silvers, director of policy and special counsel for the AFL-CIO, in a discussion on financial reform for America.

The New Yorker magazine architecture critic Paul Goldberger spoke at an Alma and Joseph Gildenhorn Book Series Event moderated by Dana Gioia, Harman-Eisner Program in the Arts Director.

The Institute's Commission on No Child Left Behind held a national public hearing on improving teacher and principal effectiveness in Denver, CO.

In November, the Institute's Business and Society Program, in partnership with the New York Public Library and Bloomberg Television, presented a public program on "Capitalism and the Future."

Haleh Esfandiari, director of the Middle East Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, speaks at a Gildenhorn Book Series lunch program on her book, My Prison, My Home: One Woman's Story of Captivity in Iran (Ecco).

Justice and Society Program Director Alice H. Henkin was honored at a luncheon in New York celebrating 30 years of the Institute's Justice & Society Program.

Michael Meyer, communications director for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, joins Romesh Ratnesar, deputy managing editor of TIME Magazine, at the Gildenhorn Book Series to discuss their books about the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Watch more clips at video.aspeninstitute.org.

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January/February 2010

Dear Friends,

The past year has been a notable one at the Aspen Institute and 2010 promises to be just as eventful. This bi-monthly newsletter provides you with the most up-to-date information about 'What's New at the Institute'. Thanks very much for your interest and participation. We hope that you continue to stay involved.

Happy holidays,
Jim Spiegelman
VP/Communications and Public Affairs

Years have passed since 9/11 without another terror attack. But, while America is safer, we are not yet safe. Terrorism remains a major short-term and long-term threat to the nation. The Aspen Security Forum will bring together top-level government officials, industry leaders, and leading thinkers on the state of: aviation security, maritime security, border security, mass transit security, intelligence, critical infrastructure protection (including cyber-security), emergency preparedness, counterterrorism strategy, and much more. Confirmed speakers to date include Admiral Mike Mullen; Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-MS); former LAPD Chief of Police Bill Bratton; and former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. For more information and to register visit www.aspensecurityforum.org or call 970-544-7960. June 28-30, 2010.

The Festival, co-presented with The Atlantic, will enlist world leaders, experts and innovators to discuss ideas and proven successes from the world of technology, foreign policy, culture, economics, the environment, and the arts. We will take a hard look at Latin America, and give considerable thought to global challenges in sustainability, health, and education. We’ll even have time for PLAY! For more information and to register visit www.aifestival.org or call 970-544-7960. July 5-11, 2010.

The 2010 Forum, presented by the Institute’s Energy and Environment Program and National Geographic, will present discussions on topics including climate change, renewable energy policy, innovation and technology, efficiency, conservation, and more with the goals of raising awareness, stimulating new thinking, building understanding and consensus, and inspiring commitment to action. It combines experts, insiders, and the public in a manner seen nowhere else, complemented by the award-winning and stunning visual imagery and storytelling of National Geographic. For more information and to register visit www.aspenenvironment.org or call 970-544-7960. July 25-28, 2010.

Annual Fund: Since its creation 60 years ago, the Aspen Institute has served as a place of inspiration and ideas. To help us continue to offer our wide range of programs, we ask that you consider making a fully tax-deductible gift to our Annual Fund. This Fund provides critical unrestricted support to the Institute and is an important source of scholarship funds, enabling a diversity of individuals to participate in our programs. In these difficult economic times, we look to those who enjoy our programs throughout the year and ask for your help in sustaining our mission to provide a meeting place for enlightened leadership and promote an appreciation for timeless ideas and values. You can make a secure gift online.

Paepcke Building Renovation: The $10.4 million dollar renovation on the Institute's campus in Aspen is continuing on schedule. The bulk of the work is focused on bringing the mechanics of the building into the 21st century, since many of the systems in the near 50-year-old building are outdated and inefficient. Nearly half of the budget is dedicated to energy efficiencies. It is estimated that after the improvements are made the building will consume 55 percent less energy. The fundraising effort is about $1 million shy of its goal. Please consider supporting the renovation in any of the following ways: Seats in the auditorium can be named with a one-time donation of $5,000, $10,000, or $25,000; or donations in any amount are appreciated and will be acknowledged in the renovated building. For more information on how to donate, call 970-544-7925 or go online.

Upcoming Events:

Alma and Joseph Gildenhorn Book Series: Join us for the next installments of the Institute’s DC-based lunchtime book talks. To RSVP, contact Rachel Sommers.

• January 28: David M. Walker, president and CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, to discuss his new book, Comeback America: Turning the Country Around and Restoring Fiscal Responsibility (Random House).
• February 25: Kati Marton to discuss her new book titled Enemies of the People (Simon & Schuster).
• March 9: Stephen Goldsmith, the Daniel Paul Professor of Government and Innovation at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, and former Mayor of Indianapolis, to discuss his new book, The Power of Social Innovation: How Civic Entrepreneurs Ignite Community Networks for Good (Jossey-Bass).

Evolution, Conservation, and the Galápagos: The 2010 Aspen-Lindblad Expedition: The Galápagos Islands are a must-see destination for anyone yearning to encounter animals that hold no fear of humans. We will explore these enchanted islands with Lindblad Expeditions, the first organization to bring lay tourists to this archipelago. They are also at the forefront of creating innovative and sustainable methods to protect the islands’ wildlife and educate people on its ecological significance. Galápagos Islands, January 8-17, 2010. Some spaces still available. For information, contact Donna Horney at 202-736-5835.

The First Movers Fellowship just held its second convening for the 2009 First Movers in Kalamazoo. This group of 16 innovators in business will conclude their Fellowship after a third meeting in April 2010. The nomination process has opened for the 2010 Class of First Movers; please nominate candidates online at or contact Sarah Rienhoff. (Self nominations are not accepted.) The deadline for nominating candidates is January 13, 2010.

Georgetown Law-Aspen Institute Symposium: Please hold the date for the next symposium: State Courts and US Supreme Court Rulings: Will Caperton and Citizens United Transform the Way States Pick Judges? The symposium will feature former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. The event will take place at Georgetown Law, Hart Auditorium, 600 New Jersey Avenue NW Washington DC 20001. To RSVP and for questions on the program, contact Shandha Louis or Justice and Society Co-Director Meryl Chertoff at 202-736-5849. January 26, 9am-3pm.

Great Books Series: In 1947, Robert Maynard Hutchins, president of the University of Chicago, and Professor Mortimer J. Adler established the Great Books Foundation to draw together passionate readers to discuss enduring issues and ideas. Three years later, they joined Walter Paepcke to form the Aspen Institute. Join us for this eight-week exploration of the readings from the Great Books. Reading list to be announced. Fee: $195 ($175 for donors). Register at www.aspeninstitute.org/aspenevents. Aspen, CO — Wednesdays, January 27-March 24; 7-9pm

Great Decisions Series: In this eight-week series, participants gather to discuss key foreign policy issues facing the world today including: preventing genocide; global crime; US–China security relations; the global financial crisis; Russia and its neighbors; the Persian Gulf; and peace building and conflict resolution. Fee: $195 ($175 for donors). Register at www.aspeninstitute.org/aspenevents. Aspen, CO — Tuesdays, February 2-March 23; 7-9pm

Society of Fellows Symposia are two or three-day courses moderated by leading scholars and based on readings and discussion. Symposia are open to SOF donors only. Written registration is required in order to participate, and space is limited. For more information or to RSVP please visit our website or contact Patrick Kelly.

• February 15-18: Cuba After Castro: Who Will Lead? Moderated by Alberto Coll and Ann Louise Bardach. Together, moderators and participants will go beyond the prevalent image of the country to understand the facets and future of Cuba.
• March 12-14: Medical Ethics: The Roots of the Health Care Debate. Moderated by Ezekiel Emanuel. This symposium will delve deeply into the confluence of society, ethics, and personal health.

Wildlife Conservation & Human Well Being in Africa: In October 2008, the Aspen Institute and the African Wildlife Foundation teamed up to present a one-of-a-kind seminar about African wildlife and wildlands conservation in the context of African politics and equitable development. The combination of wildlife viewing, seminars, and special guests added a unique dimension and learning experience to the wonder of the world-class African safari. We are once again pleased to be taking reservations for the 2011 seminar. For more information, please contact Donna Horney at (202) 736-5835.

For a current listing of Institute programs and events please visit our global calendar.

Hot Off the Presses:

In her timely business guide, The Loudest Duck: Moving Beyond Diversity, Laura Liswood, secretary general of the Council of Women World Leaders at the Aspen Institute, explores workplace diversity and presents new thinking for going beyond the conventional approaches. Liswood offers original and practical solutions that allow employees and companies to benefit from the differences we all bring to the office, to create truly effective workplaces for all.

In the Holy Land, Resetting U.S. Mideast Policy: In a recent TIME article, Institute President Walter Isaacson writes that "[t]he time has come for the Obama Administration to do a reset of American policy in the Middle East."

An Aspen Institute FIELD program study explores the strengths and challenges of university student-run microenterprise organizations, as well as their potential impact on the microenterprise field in general. FIELD also recently co-sponsored a conference of these student groups at Rutgers University to discuss issues of scale, sustainability and impact. Click here to access the study and conference summary.

"Public-private group has plan in the works to resolve issue": In part 3 of a five-part series on Agent Orange, Jason Grotto writes for The Chicago Tribune about the work of the U.S.-Vietnam Dialogue Group on Agent Orange/Dioxin and its upcoming recommendations for addressing the problems of Agent Orange in Vietnam.

"Job training in a jobless recovery": Maureen Conway, deputy director of the Workforce Strategies Initiative at the Aspen Institute, writes in the Denver Post that "[a]s the White House and Congress consider a job creation agenda, they should bear in mind the chief lesson of the sector-based approach: The best money is spent training for a job that's waiting to be filled."

"In Search of the Silver Lining": In her recent article for strategy+business, Judith Samuelson, executive director of the Business and Society Program at the Aspen Institute, reviewed the best business books of 2009 on the topic of management.

The latest publication from the Aspen Institute's Program on Philanthropy and Social Innovation, Time is of the Essence: Foundations and the Policies of Limited Life and Endowment Spend-Down, combines detailed analysis of two famous historic foundations (Rosenwald Fund and General Education Board) with case studies of selected contemporary foundations (Lucille P. Markey Charitable Trust, Corella and Bertram F. Bonner Foundation, and Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust) that decided to spend down their assets within a set period of time instead of existing in perpetuity.