Dear NCWA Member,

With the hope that this letter finds you safe and healthy, I’m writing to tell you about the plans the Naples Council on World Affairs has made regarding our 2020/2021 programs.  As you can well imagine, the challenge of COVID-19 has necessitated that we be creative in developing alternatives to our usual face-to-face lectures, which we had planned to hold at St. John the Evangelist Church.  At this point the church is not available before 2021 and it is most likely that our entire lecture series will have to be delivered virtually.  In so doing, the NCWA Program Committee and Board of Directors have been working over the past weeks to create programs that not only ensure members’ health and safety but also provide the highest quality possible, given current conditions.  The details of these programs are as follows.

Lectures will be transmitted to members virtually at previously scheduled times; they will also be available afterward.   This year’s program will increase the number of lectures from ten to twelve, with no increase in cost to members. A week or so before each lecture, the Program Committee will provide members introductory materials on the lecture’s topic as well as invite questions for the speaker.  Selected members of the President’s Club will be invited after each lecture to address questions live to the speakers, and all members will have an opportunity to join in virtual post-lecture discussion groups.  The board has made investments in higher quality technology to ensure that our presentations will be of the highest audio and video quality possible.  

The Program Committee is hard at work scheduling a high-quality lineup of speakers, which Chair Mimi Gregory will share with you in the accompanying email message. The Great Decisions team has already communicated their plans to you, and the NCWA Book Club plans similar virtual interaction.  Initial planning regarding student programs by the School Outreach and Model UN Committee has begun, but of course many imponderables still remain in these areas.

Like all educational and membership organizations, the Council has been challenged by these unprecedented times.  We’re confident, however, that the diligence and creativity of our volunteers and the good will and engagement of our members will make this upcoming season both enjoyable and intellectually worthwhile.  We look forward to sharing it with you.

Warmest regards,

Jim Schmotter 

President, Naples Council on World Affairs