9 January 2024
Dear Friends of the Forum, Members, and Future Members,
The National Security Forum Board of Directors and staff wish you a healthy, calm, informed, and civil 2024! Despite our holiday hiatus, NSF is gearing up for an exciting new year. We are most grateful for your patience as we migrated our website and email services starting in mid- December. Unfortunately, there were a few hiccups and delays. Through lots of perseverance, calls to internet providers, and at least one “Plan B,” our website and communications manager, finally managed to get us back on-line last weekend with comms restored. Thank you, Christina!
In 2024 we will be providing you with many new opportunities to expand your national security credentials by participating in our hybrid forum events on a wide range of topics, acquiring “beyond the headline” insight on major issues facing the US and the world from our speakers and invited commentaries, joining NSF site tours to military and other facilities in Nevada, and helping our friends, neighbors, and local youth learn skills to enhance civil discourse in our communities.
Mark your calendars and stay tuned in to our website for updates on our program line-up for 2024. We are considering at a new venue for our hybrid breakfast forum events. I need to dry run the sound system there next week to confirm it will work with Zoom speakers and participants. We appreciated being at Reno-Elks last year and hope to continue our relationship with them in the future. We will send separate emails for each program with venue details. You can also stay informed by checking in or subscribing to notifications on our website: NSF website.
- Feb 21st – “National Security Challenges for 2024”, panel discussion by Keith Hansen and other NSF contributing experts
- Mar 20th – “Renewable Energy Resources: Nevada holds the key,” panel discussion by Caleb Cage and colleagues from the Nevada Battery Coalition
- April (TBD) – NSF member tour to NNSS and Creech AFB
- May 21st or 22nd – Youth Security Forum in partnership with the Washoe County School District and Braver Angels theme: “Civil discourse: Building bridges in times of division,” at TMCC
- Other tour locations being considered: Naval Airbase Fallon, FBI training facilities, Emergency Management Operations Centers
- Other forum topics will be added soon!
A big thank you to our members who have generously kept NSF going through the years. We are especially grateful to the NSF Friends of the Forum and our Corporate Sponsor (Mission Support and Test Services) without whom NSF would not be able to bring you excellent programs and explore new ways to keep you informed. Thank you!!!
We also could not function without a cadre of dedicated volunteers led by Kimberly Pickens, NSF Event Coordinator, and many of you or graciously volunteered and donated generously to support our 2023 Youth Security Forum. Thank you!!!!
Last, but certainly not least we thank everyone who participates in our programs and provides us with input and suggestions. You are why we are here! We would love to hear from more of you, more often. To start, please consider the following actions:
- Photos – We are updating the photo gallery on our website and would welcome posting photos that you think capture national security issues. Please send us your photos, with captions and photo credits.
- Program topic and speaker suggestions. Please include contact information for speakers when possible. Email me: [email protected]
- Participate in our program events either in-person or on Zoom.
- Join NSF as a member at: Join NSF
- Give the gift of NSF membership to someone you think would benefit from being part of our national security family at: Give Gift of NSF Membership
- Recruit your friends and family to join NSF as members, Friends of the Forum, or Corporate Sponsor: NSF website
You are welcome to send emails directly to either of us anytime – Maureen at: [email protected] or Kevin at: [email protected]
Thank you again for all your support and continued engagement in civil discourse and informed discussion on timely and important national security topics. I look forward to seeing you again in-person and on Zoom.
Best wishes for a happy, healthy, and secure 2024!
Maureen McCarthy, PhD Kevin Schaller, PhD
NSF Director of Programs & Commentary NSF Board President