As 2017 comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on how far the Pacific Council has come in a brief 12 months’ time. Despite America’s dysfunctional political landscape, the Pacific Council is thriving and continuing to provide members with respectful and non-partisan insight into our world. 

We have you to thank for supporting this community with your presence and participation.

This year we watched the role of Washington in global affairs change, at times inexplicably and beyond recognition, sending shockwaves throughout both the United States and the international community. We bore witness to escalating tensions between Washington and Pyongyang, the decline of international agreements and organizations, the rise of populism and resulting uncertainty in the European Union, the emergence of a newly assertive and aggressive Russia, the ascendance of China to unchallenged global prominence, and the possible unraveling of the Gulf Cooperation Council. In Latin America, we now look ahead to a series of major elections, the outcomes of which will signal the state of democracy in the region. And while numerous global trade and environmental pacts came under attack this year, we anticipate a continued trend toward sub-national leadership on these issues by cities and states, mayors and governors.

With your support, we can continue to have a significant impact on international issues in 2018 and beyond.

Meanwhile, the Pacific Council maintained its commitment to dispassion and excellence this year while reaffirming our core institutional values. We reached across traditional gender, race, and age boundaries, not to mention those of geography, industry, and political affiliation. In 2017, we welcomed 300 new members, nearly half of them women. We reached out to younger members and maintained our prohibition on exclusively male panels at Council events. We also made strides in creating ties with new communities through collaborations with the Seoul-based Korea Foundation and other partners, as well as our emerging corporate partnership program.

In September, we gathered 500 members and guests at our 2017 gala with President George W. Bush. The evening was characterized by ample quantities of goodwill, thoughtful reflection, and traces of badly needed humor in a political environment noteworthy for anything but. Throughout the year, we hosted an array of leaders who provided unique insights into our changing world:

• Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti discussed the future of Los Angeles as an international hub and as the host of the 2028 Olympic Games at our inaugural State of the Global City address;
• Ambassadors Sihyung Lee and Key-cheol Lee spoke at the SeouLA Forum about Los Angeles-South Korean ties in trade, innovation, and culture;
• Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice addressed members, emphasizing our responsibility as Americans to promote democracy—politically and culturally—in order for it to thrive globally;
• Former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou spoke about being the first Taiwanese president to meet a Chinese president publicly, and the future of U.S.-Taiwan relations under President Trump; and
• Leaders from California and around the world convened at our inaugural Water Conference to discuss the impact of water scarcity on trade and national security.

We are proud of the hands-on work that we have been able to do this year with you. With considerable effort from our GTMO Task Force, a number of their recommendations on the future of Guantánamo Bay became part of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2018. Pacific Council delegations traveled to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, as well as to Brussels and The Hague. Members led a visit to Mexico City as part of our Mexico Initiative. Here at home, delegations visited water facilities in San Diego and Carlsbad as part of our Global Water Scarcity Project.

As we look ahead, the Pacific Council is poised for greater impact and growth. In 2018, we will continue to pursue large-scale initiatives to address global water scarcity, improve the U.S.-Mexico relationship, and make further progress on legal and other challenges of the Guantánamo Bay Military Commissions. We will pursue our Global Los Angeles initiative with the second annual State of the Global City address by Mayor Eric Garcetti and a Japan-LA Forum event in the spring, as well as a member delegation visit to Japan.

As we close out the 2017 calendar year, I hope that you will consider making a donation to the Pacific Council to support all of this important work. With your support, we can continue to have a significant impact on international issues in 2018 and beyond. You can make your contribution at www.pacificcouncil.org/donate. 

My deepest gratitude for all that you do in helping to strengthen our community. I look forward to seeing you in the new year.

With my very best wishes to you and your family for a healthy and happy holiday season.

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Dr. Jerrold D. Green is the president and CEO of the Pacific Council on International Policy.