September 1, 2024

A Message from the President

Dear Members, Friends, and Supporters,

As is traditional, the weather remarks come first…and I hope that you were able to find respite from our long, fairly brutal summer - one that doesn’t seem to want to vacate the Valley quite yet.

If these times we are living in were a part of the unparalleled Sesame Street program, the letter of the upcoming Autumn season would have to be “P.” Public policy, Measure P, ARPA, and the unavoidable, politics. Naturally, as a non-profit, the Fresno City & County Historical Society takes no position on current candidates, nor would we ever comment on the purported beliefs stated by any active office-seeker. However, we would, or should I say, are, encouraging everyone to become as informed as possible on all the issues before casting a ballot.

Here in California, we seem to like to try to mandate public policy through initiatives. A group of people gather enough signatures to qualify for inclusion on the ticket and the voter material comes out with, sometimes, lengthy calls to action for and against whatever the measure hopes to do or prevent. My understanding is there will be a number of fiscally impactful entries on our ballots that could affect not only us but leave what could be an irreversible legacy for several generations to come. This does not mean the intended legislation is either unnecessary or beneficial. It does mean, in my opinion, that we must take the time to weed through perceived partisan ties to get to the real impact of what we are saying “yes” or “no” to. In the past, perhaps, I have seen the name of a company or individual that concerned me on the “yeah” or “nay” side and made, what have might been, a hasty conclusion.

Let’s not do that this November! Let’s read the fine print and do some research, if necessary. I get tripped up when voting for something when it actually means I am voting against it. Tricky wording aimed at people (like me) who are used to “yes” meaning “yes!”

Onto our next entry in the “P” column – Measure P. While I am not at liberty yet to disclose the disposition of our applications, I wanted to offer a small primer on the process. Currently, as the initial disbursements are, at last, being prepared, negotiations are underway for guideline amendments for qualification to apply for the second year of this 30-year process that only directly impacts those who live and work in the city of Fresno. Once upon a time, a small tax increase was passed to help subsidize our parks and, for probably the first time ever, some very dedicated people were able to carve 12% of the revenue to be distributed through a competitive grant process to help sustain and enhance arts and cultural organizations and their activities within the Fresno city limits. This has taken some time to implement as you can imagine – a whole commission was formed to work with the tireless Fresno Arts Council who, naturally, knew how to reach the most potential applicants and manage the awarding process. Lots of people have invested countless hours, days, months, and even years to support our mainstay arts and cultural entities while providing necessary guard rails and guidelines for Emerging Organizations to water the seeds they have been desperately planting for decades. When applied along the mandated rules of the actual Measure P ordinance, our community could truly see a blossoming of those painstakingly nurtured seeds alongside our traditional entities (such as your FCCHS, the Philharmonic, the Fresno Art Museum, Arte Americas and so many more) who have served this city for close to or, in our case, over, a century.

As news of Measure P is released, please pay attention. There are many of our members who could serve as excellent readers of grant submissions or could play a valuable role in ensuring the intent and spirit of Measure P is abided by. The public needs to keep their eyes on this one (please).

The next “P” was ARPA – funds we have been allocated by the County to spruce up Kearney Mansion and, finally, get our Carriage House back functioning as a classroom for our school field trips. Good things take time, but I need to make a shout out to those in the County who are doing everything possible to help us manage and maintain our beloved Mansion which, as many of you know, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places I truly value the collaboration we have had with our partners in the CAO’s Office, the Department of Public Works and Planning, and our County Supervisors.

All this reminds me that sometimes history really does repeat itself. As I share with you about our joining forces with the County of Fresno to restore Kearney Mansion in our newsletter today, so did my predecessor, Edwin M. Eaton who was the Executive Director in 1959. Mr. Eaton chronicled in the Society’s journal, Fresno Past and Present, that year, about the pending restoration of our very own Kearney Mansion. In his update to the membership, Mr. Eaton happily shared that the Fresno County Board of Supervisors had allotted the sum of $2,000 for a structural survey of the then 55-year-old residence, and for drawing up plans for its complete restoration. If only that dollar figure would work now!

The final “P,” politics – I would like to ask each of you to take the time to look beyond the rhetoric and endorsements and just plain noise and support the candidates, from local to national, that can really do the job selflessly and well. Seems to me (promise, this is a general statement) we need to have elected officials who can see the world, our nation’s role and responsibilities, and represent the great state of California and Fresno County with integrity and a vision of a more prosperous, peaceful future for everyone.

Don’t forget to check out our September Ag Tour to Sequoia, our Mystery Dinners in October and Christmas at Kearney, with new surprises, opening the day after Thanksgiving. Bring your little ones out for a date with Santa and some hot cocoa and crafts on December 7^th and 8^th.

'Til then, our exquisite Chinese artifact gallery is still open at Kearney as we build a permanent home for all the pieces at The Archive on Kern.

We are so grateful for your continued, or increased, or new support.

Elizabeth Laval                                               

President                                                 

Fresno City and County Historical Society 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

FOR HOLIDAY-THEMED EVENTS

This Fall is full of activities and events for you and your friends and families to enjoy with the Fresno City & County Historical Society. See below for the host of opportunities that are planned for the months ahead.

OCTOBER 24 - 27, 2024

Oh No! There is another crime scene at Kearney Mansion. Will you gather some trusted loved ones and friends and help us find out who did it?

This evening experience includes a delectable five-course grazing menu served throughout the Kearney Mansion and filled with savory and sweet delights. You will also be treated to a special welcome cocktail. You only need to bring your wits, which you will need as you interview suspects, find clues, and work to solve a murder. Additional libations are available for purchase on-site. Ticket also includes unlimited non-alcoholic beverages. Tickets are selling fast, secure yours today.

NOVEMBER 29 - JANUARY 5, 2025

This holiday season, the Society will bring magic back to the Kearney Mansion Museum & Gallery with our annual Christmas at Kearney display. The Mansion will be filled with decorated trees, each representing a local decorator's interpretation of a favorite Holiday dessert.

From November 29th through January 5th, guests will learn the history of treasured family recipes and how they came to be holiday favorites around the world. Additionally, guests will tour the Kearney Mansion and learn the story of M. Theo Kearney and the Fruit Vale Estate.

SANTA MEET & GREET WITH CHRISTMAS MARKET

DECEMBER 7TH & 8TH

Meet Santa at the Kearney Mansion Museum and create a unique family memory in a gorgeous setting. Bring your family to take pictures with our Victorian Santa and enjoy a self-guided tour of this historic home decorated with themed Christmas trees and antique toys! Tickets include a cup of cocoa and a holiday craft for each child.

New this year, the event will also offer a Christmas Market with holiday gifts and handmade items for sale, food, and hot beverages. You are sure to find unique gifts and stocking stuffers that are perfect for someone you love.

Children who have not yet reached their 4th birthday will not need a ticket. 

STITCH & SIP - EMBROIDERY

DECEMBER 12, 2024

Bring your embroidery to Kearney Mansion for a new twist on the old sewing circle! Enjoy bottomless champagne and hot gossip, paired with lessons from our expert who will guide you through a tutorial on a holiday-themed embroidery project. Libations and treats of the season included.

HOLIDAY TEA - DECEMBER 14th

It's tea time at Kearney Mansion once again. Our annual Holiday Tea Party is returning once more. You and your guests will enjoy the elegance of Holiday Tea served in the Mansion dining and reception rooms surrounded by Christmas trees. The event includes a guided tour of the Mansion and a Gallery talk. This event will fill quickly and space is limited. 

SAVE THE DATE - FRIDAY, MARCH 28TH - ANNUAL GALA DETAILS COMING SOON!

FIELDS OF FRESNO AG TOURS

Two More Excursions to Take Place This Year

September 28th and October 12th

On Saturday, September 28, 2024, join the Fresno City & County Historical Society and Tour Director, Candice Calderon, in this full-day Ag Tour which will include two stops. The first, you will visit Welker's Custom Cut Lumber, where you will hear from owner, Kristopher Welker, about the connection between agriculture and forestry with examples of sustainable timber and lumber practices. Then we will head up to the Sequoia National Park, to take a walking tour to the iconic General Sherman Tree, led by Alexis Newlin, owner of Authentic Adventures Central CA. The walking tour is two hours, round trip, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes for the paved pathway.

Parking at the Kearney Mansion Museum, breakfast snacks, coffee, water, and lunch are included in the ticket price. It is going to be amazing; you do not want to miss it so get your tickets today!

The final Fields of Fresno Ag Tour for the year will be held on Saturday, October 12th and is a flowers and bees tour that includes stops at the Lavender Fresh Farm and the Downtown Fresno Flower Market. This trip will be full of wonderful scents and you learn from experts about the science behind how pollinators like bees are an essential part of the life of the beautiful blooms that adorn our Valley.

Don't miss your chance to be part of this very special adventure. Book your seat today.

FCCHS WELCOMES A NEW TEAM MEMBER

Albert Gonzales: Sales and Donor Relations

We have a new member of the FCCHS family!

Meet Albert Gonzales, who has joined the Fresno City & County Historical Society as the Sales and Donor Relations professional this past July. He provides charismatic leadership and assistance in furthering our mission through the securing of donors and sponsorships. Albert is an energetic people-person who exudes in-depth knowledge of non-profit support strategies. His extensive background in strategic development, marketing, and trend analysis coupled with his knowledge will assist the Fresno City & County Historical Society in increasing levels of fundraising. 

When Albert accepted the role with the Society, he jumped in head-first and has since been working on expanding the breadth of the Society’s reach in the identification and cultivation of new organizations for partnering, new donors with an interest in Fresno County history, and supporting the mission of the Society. We look forward to reaching new fundraising heights with Albert’s help, so if you see him, say hello!

ARCHIVAL SPOTLIGHT

By Cami Cipolla, Director of Educational Services

Hello Friends of the Archives! Let us step back in time to 1889…

“And it came to pass in the reign of Grover Cleveland, over the land between the great seas, that in the great valley between the Sierra and the Coast Range, where the fig and pomegranate flourished, also the grape and the olive, that in the second month on the sixth day that seven nice women met and took council together to form a society whose objective should be ‘Seeking Wisdom.’ …So, these seekers of wisdom took the name Eurosophian Society, with which, alas, the scribes recording the happenings for the press had great difficulty. So, the women again took counsel, and they decreed that they would be known as The Wednesday Club. And there was great rejoicing.”

This quote, from The Wednesday Club's 88th anniversary history in 1977, recounts the origins of one of Fresno County’s oldest women’s clubs (1889-2008). The club emerged during a time when women began questioning societal norms and advocating for rights and equality. The Wednesday Club started as an intellectual study group, first meeting in Mrs. Jesse F. Church’s home. Though originally called the Eurosophian Society, meaning "seeking wisdom," the name was changed to The Wednesday Club after local reporters struggled to spell and pronounce it. This was not unique; women’s clubs were forming everywhere, emphasizing education, wisdom, community service, and exemplary citizenship. Members were selected based on their virtues, talents, and education, with one member in 1989 recalling, “These women were not allowed to work, but they were hungry for knowledge. The club offered them a chance to research, use their minds, and learn.”

Each member was tasked with presenting a paper once or twice a year on topics like Egyptian History, Kitchen Science, and Day with the Poets. Initially, a committee critiqued these papers, but the practice was later abandoned to promote learning and respect. The Wednesday Club became the longest-running women’s intellectual club in the area, spanning 119 years. Over decades, its focus remained on knowledge expansion, community service, and advocating for equality. Sadly, the club concluded in 2008 with a final luncheon. As member Bobbye Sisk Temple noted, “Here was a group that didn’t want my money or time, but expected me to use my brain—by inviting me, they acknowledged I had one.”

Women’s clubs like The Wednesday Club were crucial in establishing the idea that women had a moral duty to influence public policy. These clubs were "training schools" for women who sought social and political power, promoting education, and bettering society through service. From the 1870s to the 1920s, such clubs became vital for American women to develop talents and shape the world beyond their homes. Although the 20th century offered women broader educational and professional opportunities, these clubs continued to function, providing spaces for networking, learning, and community problem-solving. Though beginning as predominantly white, many clubs, like The Wednesday Club, strove for inclusivity and equity in the early part of the mid-20th century. Women’s clubs were instrumental in addressing issues like education, temperance, child labor, and women’s suffrage. They helped establish kindergartens and juvenile court systems, and later, tackled family planning and suffrage. As women gained more rights, the need for these clubs waned, but many still operate today, though membership has declined.

While we have extensive records from various women’s clubs in Fresno County, The Wednesday Club was new to me until recently. During a visit with long-time FCCHS supporters Marilyn and Marlene Masten, I discovered articles about their mother, LaVerne, during her time as a Wednesday Club member. Knowing how intelligent and kind LaVerne was, I felt compelled to learn more about this club that valued learning, social justice, and equity. Although our Archives had little on the club, I found hundreds of articles and, with the Masten family’s material, created a collection to be accessioned. I hope that a century from now, someone like me will discover The Wednesday Club and be inspired to gather people, learn from each other, and work together to better society.

Cheers, friends!

The Fresno City & County Historical Society is proud to be your partner in bringing History and Social Studies to life for Central Valley students. We have expanded our Time Travelers program to six days spread throughout the school year to allow even more children the opportunity to learn from this engaging and fun field trip. The event dates are: October 9 and November 6, 2024 and January 22, February 12, April 9, and May 7, 2025.  

Debbie Unger, the Society’s new Events and Children’s Services Manager, is looking forward to working with all of our Central Valley educators who are interested in bringing the past to life. It is our desire to support Valley teachers who not only have a hand in planting the love of history in their students, but an appreciation for how the past touches the lives of our kids!  

During these incredibly special, educational events, youngsters will be able to see and experience history in an exciting, hands-on way. Thanks to the vast archive of primary source material collected and preserved by the Fresno City & County Historical Society for the last 105 years, we can support local learning with curriculum and activities that can be taught in the classroom or which are available online at valleyhistory.org.  

Thank you to Kaye Bonner Cummings and Educational Employees Credit Union for helping to make this exceptional program possible.

For more information or to register your class today, please contact Debbie Unger at dunger@valleyhistory.org or reach out by phone at (559) 441-4087. 

ROOTS OF THE VALLEY: Bank of America Launches New Credit Card in Fresno

On September 18, 1958 Bank of America launched its first credit card right here in Fresno, California! A move that made these Central Valley residents the first ever to have a bank-backed credit card in the Nation.

While the first half of the 20th century saw consumers using charge cards, like the Diners Club, to make purchases and later pay off the balance, Bank of America was the first bank to launch a large-scale card program providing consumers with a revolving line of credit.

The BankAmericard launched through what became known as the “Fresno Drop,” a mass mailing of plastic credit cards to 60,000 residents of Fresno, California. Residents received no notice about the cards, but more than three hundred merchants had agreed to accept the BankAmericard before the drop. This kind of mass mailing of credit cards would later be outlawed in the U.S.

Even while encountering fraud, consumers who decided not to pay, and other problems, as the cards went out to more Californians Bank of America began to profit within three years. BankAmericard would become Visa in the 1970s.

“Here began the trickle of what we now call ‘financial products,’ aimed largely at the middle class, which would become, by the 1980s, an avalanche. Here was the first inkling of the gradual but enormous changes in financial habits and assumptions of the middle class. … Though this transformation wouldn’t become apparent for another 20 years, and though it continues to this day, this is when the American middle class began to change the way it thought about, and dealt with, its money.”

Joseph Nocera in a 1994 Washington Post article adapted from his book, “A Piece of the Action: How the Middle Class Joined the Money Class.”

The Sanger Herald noted the following in their September 18, 1958, issue:

“Imagine – now you can have a charge account at Bank of America! With just one credit card – your BANKAMERICARD – you can shop and ‘charge it’ at more than 1000 stores in this part of the state. It’s quick, easy, convenient – and you can charge anything from dinner in your favorite restaurant to a new living room rug!”



“You need not be a Bank of America depositor or customer to join our new Charge Account Plan. Any responsible person in the Central San Joaquin Valley is invited to apply. Simply fill out an application form and, with approval of your credit, you’ll receive your BANKAMERICARD within a few days. If you would like others in your family to be able to use the same BANKAMERICARD, duplicates will be issued with the same account number, Your Bank of America Charge Account costs you absolutely nothing – there are no minimum balances, no down payments, no service charges. All you pay is the amount you’ve charged during the month on your BANKAMERICARD. After you receive your monthly statement, you have 25 days in which to pay the Bank. However, should you wish to budget your purchases over a longer length of time, the Plan’s flexible payment feature is available to you at a minimum service charge of 1 1/2% on the unpaid portion of the previous month’s balance.” 

“ONE ALL-PURPOSE CREDIT CARD FOR ALL YOUR SHOPPING!”

“Just show your BANKAMERICARD at any Merchant Member store – from restaurants to specialty shops, drugstores to lumberyards – and you’ll receive instant credit on any purchase!”

“CARRY YOUR CREDIT IN YOUR POCKET”

“With a Bank of America Charge Account, you’re never caught ‘short.’ Your BANKAMERICARD is tangible evidence that your credit is good at Bank of America – and good at any Merchant Member store!” 

Some additional interesting facts include:

• Fresno was selected because if the credit card program failed, it wouldn’t have garnered the negative press as if it were Los Angeles or San Francisco.
• Fresno was also picked because Bank of America had a 45% share of the market. The 60,000 credit cards — with limits of $300 to $500 — represented the number of customers in the market.
• Starting in March until the Sept. 18, 1958 “drop” date, local Bank of America representatives recruited three hundred Fresno businesses to accept the BankAmericard. With a 6% merchant fee on each transaction, it was not the easiest sell. Large retailers (Sears, Montgomery Ward, Woolworth, etc.) had their own charge account programs. They saw the credit card as competition and bristled at the 6% fee.
• One local pharmacist saw the light, telling a Bank of America rep the card would save his business. He used Burroughs bookkeeping machines, each handling up to 1,500 accounts, to keep track of customer charge accounts. He had to send out monthly bills on accounts valued at $4.58 and $12.82, getting paid maybe three or four months later. The card could replace his accounts receivable headaches.
• Florsheim Shoes was the first chain store to accept BankAmericard. In 1958, it had an address inside the Helm Building on Fulton Street in Downtown Fresno. Out of curiosity, Fresnans would reportedly gather at the store to watch people charge goods.
• After five months, the number of merchants accepting the card in Fresno grew by eight hundred.
• After three months, fearing a smaller competitor was about to release its own credit card, Bank of America expanded outside of Fresno into Modesto and Bakersfield. Los Angeles and San Francisco were not far behind. Within 13 months of the Fresno Drop, some two million credit cards were in circulation in California, accepted by more than 20,000 merchants.
• Joe Willams, the Bank of America executive who created the program, resigned his position about a year and a half after the Fresno Drop. With no experience in installment lending, he did not think to build up a collections or fraud department ahead of time. By the time he quit, the bank had lost $8.8 million on the program. The real figure — factoring in marketing and overhead — was closer to $20 million.
• By 1961, Bank of America made a profit of $179,000 from the program. By 1968, it was $12.7 million.
• The BankAmericard officially becomes Visa in 1976.

Some information provided by The Business Journal, Gabriel Dillard, March 28, 2022

ARCHIVES ALLY UPDATE

Hello again, Friends of the Archives!

A big shoutout to our Archives Ally Program members for your continued support in this monumental project. A warm welcome and thank you to our newest Archives Ally, Carolyn Peabody!

Thanks to your support, we’ve begun re-accessioning and cataloging our collections. We've purchased essential archival care items, completed the rescanning and re-accessioning of the Porteous Collection, and are gearing up for the next one. Joshua and I are still debating which collection to tackle next—Mattie B. Myers is calling my name, while Joshua is eyeing one of the local school collections. With so many options, the decision isn’t easy! The process is time-consuming and requires proper equipment, but thanks to our Archives Ally donors, we’re making steady progress.

Now, what's happening with The Archive On Kern? Transforming a former Printery into an Archives is no small task! We're thrilled to be working with historic architect Scott Vincent, founder of The Vincent Company, on the renovations. As mentioned last month, we're developing a Climate Smart plan to make the building ecologically sustainable while preserving its historic character. This includes solar panels, low-E glass thermal windows, liquid-free fire suppression systems, and more. Funding such a plan is a challenge, especially for a non-profit, but we're actively seeking grants to help cover the costs.

The Archives Relocation Project is intense, but it has to be—we're relocating over 100 years of Fresno County memories, stories, and culture, and we want to do it right the first time. Our goal is to make this new home the Archives' forever home, and we're committed to doing it right.

Cheers friends,

Cami Cipolla

MAKING HISTORY EVERY DAY

Fresno's Leo Politi Library Will Quadruple in Size

Reprinted from gvwire.com, By Dean Kirkland, August 28th, 2024

In an exciting development for book lovers and community members, the Leo Politi Branch of the Fresno County Public Library is gearing up for a significant expansion. The beloved library, which has served the community for half a century, is set to move into a spacious new location that promises to revolutionize its services and capabilities.

Sally Gomez, the County Librarian for Fresno County Public Library, shared her enthusiasm about the move. “We just celebrated our 50-year anniversary here,” she said, reflecting on the library’s long-standing presence in the community. However, as Gomez pointed out, “It is far outgrown its size, and we’re just ready to expand into something larger.”

From Pharmacy to Literary Haven

The new location, a former Rite Aid building at 6074 N. First St., will provide the library with a whopping 21,400 square feet of space. This is a massive upgrade from the current 5,000 square foot facility.

Gomez explained the significance of this move, saying, “This location where we’re at now, which is First and Bullard, is now more or less the center of Fresno. It used to be more south, but as Fresno continues to grow north, the central location is moving north.”

Addressing Space Constraints

The expansion isn’t just about size, though. It’s about enhancing the library’s ability to serve its community. Gomez elaborated on the challenges they’ve faced in their current location: “We just don’t have the space here. It’s very small, and it’d be hard to host something without being really intrusive and loud.”

The new space will address these issues head-on. “Having a larger space will allow us to have more defined areas for children, for teens, for adults, for computer use, and then we can also have a quiet room,” Gomez explained. She added, “We’ll have study rooms that can be reserved for small groups to study. So we’ll have a lot of those kinds of offerings that will allow people just a greater use.”

But why expand a physical library in the digital age?

Gomez had a compelling answer: “We do a lot of programs and services that mean coming into the branch. Sometimes it’s author talks. Sometimes it’s book clubs. Sometimes it’s yoga classes. So it just depends on what people are looking for. We really try to have something for everybody, and people like having connections.”

The expansion also reflects the evolving role of libraries in our communities.

“We still see it as a place, a community place for people to come, and we have so many services,” Gomez said. “Our librarians and our staff are trusted sources for information, right? So when you’re looking for something and you want to ask questions or you just need some resources, they’re the ones that have that information and that can provide it for you one-on-one in person, and that kind of is hard to find nowadays, you know?”

Overcoming Obstacles

The move to the new location wasn’t without its challenges. Gomez revealed, “At first we were told no, we can’t have a library here because our tenants who have that right to have a say have said no, we don’t want this.”

However, thanks to the efforts of community advocates, particularly the Friends of the Library group, the project got the green light. “Our friends group led a very robust charge to advocate for the library, and they went on a letter writing campaign,” Gomez recounted.

Funding the Future

Funding for this ambitious project comes from Measure B, a local sales tax initiative. Gomez explained, “We’re funded through Measure B, which is a one-eighth of a cent sales tax. And it’s provided a good portion of our budget that helps us pay for staff, pay for materials, and pay for facilities.”

Measure B is a one-eighth of a cent sales tax approved by voters in November 2006. This measure was initiated to fund various services, including public safety, transportation, and local projects within the city of Fresno and the surrounding county. The tax aimed to provide additional revenue to support and enhance essential community services.

As the Leo Politi Library prepares for this exciting new chapter, it’s clear that the expansion is more than just about books. It’s about creating a space where the community can come together, learn, and grow. As Gomez put it, “We’re a place for people to connect.”

With its increased space and enhanced capabilities, the new Leo Politi Library is set to become an even more vital hub for the community.

About Leo Politi

Leo Politi was born in Fresno in 1908 and became was an award-winning artist and author who wrote and illustrated some 20 children’s books, as well as an adult book, Bunker Hill, Los Angeles (1964). His works often celebrated cultural diversity, reflecting his Italian-American heritage and years spent abroad. Many were published in both English and Spanish.

For those interested in learning more about the library’s namesake and his significant influence on Los Angeles and Fresno, a documentary about Politi is available.

“This documentary provides some really great info on Leo Politi and his influence in L.A. and Fresno,” says Gomez. The film can be viewed HERE.

Now that’s interesting! San Joaquin Valley Town Hall - Twilight Talk

On September 18, 2024 at 7:00PM at Clovis Veterans Memorial District H.R. McMaster, Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General & Former National Security Advisor will present his lecture:

“Securing Our Future”

Lt. General H. R. McMaster, with a distinguished career in military leadership and global security, is a beacon of wisdom. Having been recognized among TIME’s “100 Most Influential People in the World,” McMaster is known for his expertise as a “warrior intellectual.” Join us as McMaster, a member of Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, shares his unique perspective on global affairs. Don’t miss his powerful call to action, urging unity in pursuit of peace and prosperity.

Tickets are available HERE.