Aspen Institute Great Decisions Series Honored By Foreign Policy Association

June 14, 2012

Contact: Beth Slater
Manager, Aspen Community Programs
The Aspen Institute
Beth.Slater@aspeninstitute.org
970-544-7914

Aspen, CO, June 14, 2012 –– On June 5, the Aspen Institute Great Decisions Series was recognized by the Foreign Policy Association (FPA) with the Frank R. Cella Memorial Award 2012. The purpose of this distinguished award is to acknowledge five individual Great Decisions discussion groups and share their contributions with the rest of the Great Decisions network, which now numbers over 1,000 groups nationwide.

This year, the Aspen Institute’s Great Decisions Series brought together more than 60 community members, ranging from ages 25 to 85, over the course of eight weeks to discuss timely foreign policy issues including the Middle East, US relations with Mexico, cyber security, the geopolitics of energy, and the global economy. The FPA’s annual Great Decisions briefing book provided background information, current data, and policy options on each week’s thought-provoking foreign policy challenges and was used as the focal text for each discussion moderated by friends of the Institute James Arnott, Peter Fuchs, Parker Maddux, and Neil Siegel. “This program has become one of our most popular community programs because it gives local residents the chance to discuss world issues in a convivial environment. We owe a lot to our moderators and our participants for their loyalty to the program, and the time and thought they put in to preparing for the dialogue,” noted Cristal Logan, director of the Institute’s community programs.

The Frank R. Cella Memorial Award 2012 is named for the late Frank R. Cella, who worked at the Foreign Policy Association for 13 years to promote the Great Decisions Discussion Program and to gather existing group leaders. Mr. Cella led several discussion groups each year at Institutes for Learning in Retirement, community centers, libraries, and other locations. He shared his first-hand experiences with the FPA staff, Great Decisions facilitators, and organizers across the country, improving their experience with Great Decisions and helping to fulfill the mission of the Great Decisions Discussion program. 

For more information about the FPA and Frank R. Cella Memorial Award 2012, please visit: http://www.fpa.org/great_decisions/index.cfm?act=pagecontent_page&page_content_id=27&show_sidebar=1

To participate in or help sponsor the Great Decisions Series and/or other community programs, please contact Beth Slater, Program Manager, Aspen Community Programs, at: (970) 544-7914. For a listing of Aspen Institute events in Aspen, please visit www.aspeninstitute.org/aspenevents.

The Aspen Institute mission is twofold: to foster values-based leadership, encouraging individuals to reflect on the ideals and ideas that define a good society, and to provide a neutral and balanced venue for discussing and acting on critical issues. The Aspen Institute does this primarily in four ways: seminars, young-leader fellowships around the globe, policy programs, and public conferences and events. The Institute is based in Washington, DC; Aspen, Colorado; and on the Wye River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. It also has offices in New York City and an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.

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