Former Members Of Congress Inc

TO PROMOTE PUBLIC SERVICE AND STRENGTHEN REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY DOMESTICALLY AND ABROAD.

THE ORGANIZATION CONDUCTED STUDY GROUPS WITH GERMANY, JAPAN, EUROPE AND KOREA TO PROVIDE THE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT IN THESE COUNTRIES WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR FRANK DISCUSSIONS WITH CURRENT AND FORMER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES ON KEY ISSUES AFFECTING THEM THROUGH ONGOING, UNOFFICIAL AND INFORMAL FORA. THESE STUDY GROUPS WERE MAINLY SUPPORTED BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE GERMAN MARSHALL FUND OF THE UNITED STATES, ATLANTIK BRUECKE, THE SASAKAWA PEACE FOUNDATION, AND PRIVATE CORPORATIONS.

THE GOAL OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO PROMOTE PUBLIC SERVICE, TEACH ABOUT CONGRESS AND STRENGTHEN REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY, WHILE KEEPING ITS UNIQUE MEMBERSHIP CONNECTED AFTER LEAVING CAPITOL HILL. TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, THE ORGANIZATION CONDUCTS DOMESTIC PROGRAMS, MOST NOTABLY THE CONGRESS TO CAMPUS PROGRAM, WHICH SENT BIPARTISAN TEAMS OF FORMER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO ALMOST 30 COLLEGE CAMPUSES. THIS PROGRAM ALSO INCORPORATED A WEBCAST SERIES (THE CIVICS CONNECTION), AS WELL AS A COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO INCLUDE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND OTHER INTERESTED CITIZENS. IN ADDITION TO A SMALL ADMINISTRATIVE FEE CHARGED TO THE UNIVERSITIES VISITED, THE CONGRESS TO CAMPUS PROGRAM WAS SUPPORTED, BY THE PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM, AND THE STENNIS CENTER FOR PUBLIC SERVICES. IN ADDITION, VIA FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM LEGACY INTERNATIONAL, THE ASSOCIATION HOSTS VISITING DELEGATIONS FROM EMERGING DEMOCRACIES AND THE UNITED STATES FOR TRAINING AND EDUCATION IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.THE ORGANIZATION PLACES GREAT EMPHASIS ON INTERNATIONAL ENDEAVORS. PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE GLOBAL DEMOCRACY INITIATIVE CAPITALIZE ON THE UNIQUE EXPERIENCE AND SKILL SET OF FORMER LEGISLATORS IN DEMOCRACY-BUILDING AND PARLIAMENTARY STRENGTHENING MISSIONS. OTHER PROJECTS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE CONGRESSIONAL STUDY GROUPS, AIM TO CREATE PEER-TO-PEER DIALOGUE INVOLVING CURRENT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND THEIR COLLEAGUES IN OTHER LEGISLATURES. IN ADDITION TO AN INTERNATIONAL EXTENSION OF THE CONGRESS TO CAMPUS PROGRAM (MOST NOTABLY IN THE UK, TURKEY,CHINA AND CANADA), THE ORGANIZATION AIMS TO PROMOTE DEMOCRACY ABROAD VIA PROJECTS SUCH AS THE GLOBAL DEMOCRACY INITIATIVE (GDI). GDI IS A JOINT PROJECT CONDUCTED WITH THE FORMER LEGISLATORS ASSOCIATIONS OF CANADA AND THE EUROPEAN UNION. FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM CAME VIA A GRANT FROM THE CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY TO THE CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF FORMER PARLIAMENTARIANS. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDED SEVERAL TRAINING COURSES CONDUCTED IN OTTAWA TO PREPARE FORMER LEGISLATORS FOR ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSIONS. GDI ALSO INCLUDES THE U.S. LEGISLATORS AGAINST CORRUPTION PROJECT WHICH SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN ANTI-CORRUPTION EFFORTS IN EMERGING DEMOCRACIES.

TO PROVIDE FORUM FOR MEMBERS TO DISCUSS CURRENT ISSUES AROUND THE WORLD.