In 1949, a group of community leaders in Grand Rapids founded the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan. They believed an organization dedicated to international topics and American foreign policy issues was necessary in order to combat the isolationism in this area following World War II. Since then, the World Affairs Council has been dedicated to educating people in western Michigan about other countries, cultures and regions of the world, as well as providing a forum for discussion of critical foreign policy issues facing this country.

"Mr. Ed Orr and Judge Douglas Hillman, our two co-founders, with Dixie Anderson, our Executive Director.
Both gentlemen have now passed on. This photo was taken the month before the Council
celebrated its 50th Anniversary (50th celebration in October 1999)."  

Our Co-Founder and Dear Friend Mr. Edgar Orr passed Wednesday June 10th, 2009.  He was thrilled at the growth of the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan into a powerhouse Council with a national reputation.  Please feel free to share your thoughts with us by This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to email us.

                      
Mr. Orr at a World Affairs Council event, circa 2003 (left)
Mr and Mrs Orr with the Honorable James Baker, U.S. Secretary of State (former)
at our 58th Anniversary Dinner in October 2007. (right)
            
 
60th Anniversary Dinner with Tom Friedman
Find out more in Upcoming Events - Click Here
 
World Quest 2009 - Winners Announced!

TOP TEAMS:

1st Place:  Warner, Norcross and Judd
2nd Place:  Louis Padnos and Company
3rd Place:  Aquinas College

 Congratulations to everyone who participated in this year's event!

Read more about it in Past Events, and find out who the raffle winners were by - Clicking Here