Annual Giving Office at the West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG)

Dear Dr. David Brown, Greetings from West Point and Happy New Year! The purpose of this letter is to inform you of the various ways that the Annual Giving Office at the West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG) will reach out to graduates and friends of the Academy for annual support in 2014. As you know, the Academy and WPAOG have critical annual fund needs that must be met in order to achieve their budget requirements * Superintendent’s Annual Fund - This annual appeal’s mailing will begin in February. Signed by the 11th Dean of the Academic Board of USMA, BG (R) Daniel J. Kaufman ’68, the appeal will ask graduates, parents, and friends of the Academy for unrestricted support. Unrestricted gifts are arguably the most important gifts the Academy receives because they provide the Superintendent with maximum flexibility to direct funds where they are most needed. In addition to receiving the appeal, some of your classmates will receive a follow-up phone call from our calling program vendor, Advantage Consulting. As you may know, WPAOG is prohibited by law from utilizing cadets to solicit private donations—a best practice at most institutions of higher education. As such, we employ and train an experienced third party to make phone calls on the Academy’s behalf. * A Club - This year the solicitation will be mailed on a staggered schedule, beginning in February. Graduates will be given an opportunity to make unrestricted gifts to Army Athletics, which qualify for A Club priority points and benefits. In addition, team-specific appeals, known as “Friends of” letters, may be sent via e-mail throughout the year. These funds do not qualify for benefits and directly support the athletic teams. * Long Gray Line Fund - This solicitation letter will be mailed out to all graduates and friends in August. Our alumni organization requires private support to operate in lieu of dues and magazine subscription fees. The Long Gray Line Fund helps fund the operations of WPAOG on an annual basis. Please share this information with your classmates. As we receive many questions regarding the various annual appeals, we strive to provide additional information to graduates about their purpose and impact. If you have any questions regarding the Annual Giving program, please contact Lisa Benitez ’88, Senior Director of Annual Giving, at lisa.benitez@wpaog.org. As always, Thank You for all that you do for your Class, West Point, and WPAOG! Sincerely, Elena I. Meskill ’99 Director, Class Giving

Dr. Mearsheimer's Debate in China

From John Mearsheimer - Folks, In early November (2013), I was in Beijing, where I debated Yan Xuetong, China's leading international relations theorist, on the question of whether China can rise peacefully. The debate has just appeared in a YouTube version. At the risk of overloading your inbox with too much John, I thought I would you send the link for the debate in case someone is interested. Best. John http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBrA2TDcNto

America Unhinged

John J. Mearsheimer is Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago (and the R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor since 1996). He is also a classmate USMA 1970. Shared with permission: "Happy New Year to everyone. I just had a lengthy piece published in the National Interest that I thought might interest you. It is entitled "America Unhinged," and is a hard hitting critique of US foreign policy. I have attached a copy below. Best. John”