Great Decisions 2004

Jim Wooster and Pete Bleyler

Thursdays, 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
March 25 - May 13, 2004
D.O.C. House

During this eight-week course we will explore some of the great issues of the day and develop our individual positions on U.S. Foreign Policy direction and actions. Each week participants will focus their broad range and depth of life's knowledge and experience on one of eight current foreign policy topics furnished by the Foreign Policy Association (FPA).

This is a very active discussion course. Each week, all participants will read the brief background material provided by the FPA, and one or two volunteers from the group will prepare a more in depth 10 minute introduction to the issue. This is then followed by a vigorous but controlled discussion of the background and options leading to positions on U.S. policy actions. Guest specialists may also participate.

This year's topics are again most interesting: "Media and Foreign Policy," what role does the media play to inform citizens about international issues? "Philippines," will increased cooperation with Washington benefit or hurt the Philippines? "Weapons of Mass Destruction," what are the real threats posed by WMDs worldwide? "U.S. & Europe,” how will the transatlantic relationship take shape in the next year? "Diversity in Islam," how can the U.S. foster better relations with political allies that have large Muslim populations? "Latin America," how will Latin American governments overcome their challenges? "Middle East Reform," will the Iraq war force other regimes to change? "Public Diplomacy," how can the U.S. reach citizens in other countries?

Class is limited to 20 participants.

Jim Wooster received his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College, as well as an MS degree in Engineering and Business Administration (The Tuck-Thayer Program). After serving in the Atlantic for several years on a destroyer, he left the Navy to join New England Telephone. A career with NET, and later NYNEX, provided opportunities to work on the operations side of the business, as well as in public relations, labor relations, marketing and human resources. He and his wife Betsy have retired to Norwich where they are enjoying family, travel and life in the Upper Valley. He has been involved with ILEAD for several years as a student, member of the Curriculum Committee, and co-leader of the Great Decisions course for the past four years.

Pete Bleyler has spent 30 years as a management consultant dealing with the broad human resource areas of employee benefits and compensation, and more specifically, corporate retirement programs. A mathematics major at Dartmouth, he entered the actuarial field after five years in the U.S. Naval Submarine service. After a few years with the Travelers Insurance Company in Hartford, Pete entered the consulting field and has worked for three different firms in Chicago, St. Louis, Washington, DC, Boston, and New York. He completed his career as the Chief Human Resource Officer of William M. Mercer, Inc. He and his wife Ruth moved to Lyme in 1998. Pete led the Actuarial and Financial Foundations course at ILEAD, and has co-led the Great Decisions course with Jim for the past three years.