Experience Obama’s America
This year’s participants will be present at the night of the Congressional midterm elections for all seats in the House of Representatives and one third of the seats in Senate. Halfway through his first presidential period the result of these elections will have important consequences for the mobilization that will take place in the American political terrain towards the presidential election of 2012. President Obama will receive his first official “verdict” from the American people. The President’s population has been falling sharply since the election; the main question is whether Obama will be able to regain his popularity? What will be the consequences of Obama’s intensified political effort of reforming the American health sector? And as we see a President fighting for his own survival, the Republicans a mobilizing and gathering strength and popularity towards the exiting election in 2012.
Through the seminar’s history we have witnessed a long line of historical and political dramas. We intensely followed the presidential race between Al Gore and George W. Bush. Our participants were present at the mud-sliding between George W. Bush and John F. Kerry in 2004. We followed the scandal routes to Washington, D.C.’s previous mayor, Marion Barry Jr., with crack and women and we were tear-dripping spectators to Barack Obama’s closing speech on the night before the historical election night, when his grandmother has passed away the same morning. We spent the long night hours of election night together with crowds of ecstatic American’s in the streets of Washington, D.C. to celebrate the newly elected President of hope.
During last year’s seminar we experienced a changed and more critical US – with a newly appointed Nobel Peace Prize winner as President – with a growing opposition and scepticism towards the President. The victory rush had worn off and people were and are expecting changes. The previous rush from election night and the ecstatic atmosphere had been replaced by the challenging reality: the war in Afghanistan, the fear of a nuclear armed Iran, health reform, increased unemployment rates, a restrained economy and a lost majority in Congress.
This year you can get your own personal US memory. Join Norway’s most experienced political rhetorical travel guided and experience the world’s most powerful city – Washington, D.C. Here you will get behind the scenes and experience the world’s most extensive election campaigning machines, meet the speechwriters of former American Presidents and distinguished political analysts from some of the worlds most prominent and agenda setting think tanks.
Your travel companions will make the trip across the Atlantic a value in itself. Over 200 journalists, politicians and communication peoples have so far attended these seminars.
We who love America?
The truth being that you need neither to love nor hate this country to get something out of the stay. The seminar is suited for everybody who wants to gain some more knowledge and understanding of the worlds most influential and powerful country and wants to get under its skin and behind its facades and clichés.
Both Washington, D.C. and New York City
The seminar includes both a visit to the American capital and the vibrant and sleepless city, New York. The seminar is built up around meetings with Washington, D.C.s expertise on politics, speech writing, research environment and organizations and a meeting with the UN system, Wall Street and the media metropolis, New York City.
Obama’s America
- facing the hard reality of everyday America
The preservation period is passed. There is a storm brewing both at home and abroad for the hope’s representation at earth. It is being said that being a President is like riding a mad tiger and Obama is holding on tightly. During the stay you will meet scientists from distinguished think tanks that analyze a tired, but still vital U.S. and we will learn about how the country is rebuilding its relations to the world again.
On the seminar you will meet the speech writer who formed the words that marked a whole world, you will meet persons that had their hands on the wheel while historical decisions were made and you will meet individuals who all have a story to tell – about wars, losses, sorrows and rages.
2010 is the year Obama is halfway through his presidential period. It is time for some of the world’s best strategists to start working to secure the re-election of a president that is more popular abroad than among the domestic opinion. This fall it is also time for an exciting congressional election – the results will be an important indication for what the turnout of the presidential election will be in 2012.
In addition to a meeting with the hyper efficient Washington, D.C. you will also get to experience the real American small town life and the true national character of Americans. We will be making an excursion to Berryville, Virginia - typical small town America with an unknown number of churches and congregations. A town where a man is a man and a woman is a mother and a stay at home wife, a town with a local sheriff, moral and a strong community. Through informal settings you will get the opportunity to interact with the local population.
Participants
The seminar is well suited for journalists, politicians, staffers from information and communications sectors and organizations – and for everybody who seeks professional inspiration and challenge and wish to meet new and interesting individuals.
Pre-seminar at the Norwegian School of Management, BI
The Washington seminar starts with a pre-seminar at the Norwegian School of Management, BI, on Thursday September 23rd. High profiled researchers and analysts will provide a challenging professional environment to set the participants into the right mood before departure to the US. The aim of the gathering is to strengthen the participant’s professional foundation about American politics and society to make the stay in the US even more valuable,
Practical information
- Departure from Oslo Airport, Gardermoen, to Washington, D.C. takes place at October 29th.
- The official program starts Saturday morning, October 30th.
- We leave Washington, D.C. for New York City Wednesday November 3rd.
- The official program ends Friday, November 5th with return to Norway, Oslo airport Gardermoen.
- Participation fee: 29 500 Norwegian kroner
- The fee includes a pre-seminar at the Norwegian School of Management, BI, the seminar in the US, course material and transportation in Washington, D.C.
- The participants are self responsible to cover air travel, hotel, transportation costs between Washington, D.C. and New York and meals.
- In Washington, D.C. we have a special rate at the newly restored Dupont Hotel located central in Washington, D.C. at the Dupont Circle.
- In New York City we will be staying at the 70 Park Avenue Hotel, in midtown Manhatten.
A professional environment
The participants of the seminars are skilled persons from a various field of professional backgrounds which constitute an important aspect with the seminar and is considered to be a valuable asset. Following evaluations have demonstrated that the participants are valuing the group composition in itself and are considered to contribute to a strong professional environment. You will meet experienced political journalists from some of the largest media corporations in Norway, central politicians and political advisors from several political parties and straffers from the communication and information sector with extensive experience both from private and public sector.
Alumni
As a previous participant at the seminar you will be invited to a yearly professional and social event in cooperation with the US embassy in Norway. Over 300 persons have so far attended these alumnus and we are looking forward to continue this tradition and to welcome more to join us. Since it is ten year since the first seminar was established, this is being marked by a social gathering hosted by the US Ambassador to Norway, the honourable Ambassador Barry White, April 8th in the Ambassador’s residence.
Travel Agency
For favourable travel conditions we are recommending our participants to contact Ms Grethe Døving (+47 67 83 02 00) at Berg-Hansen, Østerås Travel Agency. Ms. Døving offers a personal follow-up by each participant.
Registration
Registration for the Washington seminar 2010 will take place at our website:
It is still possible to register. Registration deadline is set to: july 2. 2010.
For further information, please contact:
The seminar’s leader:
Mr. Kjell Terje Ringdal
Phone: + 47 950 89 000
Email: ringdal@gambit.no
or
Ms. Anne May Andersen
Phone: + 47 959 49 843
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