Karen Keefer, Volunteer; Activist; Traveler

Saving frequent flier miles since 1984, Keefer used them all on business class fare to go around the world – adding 12 more countries to the 60 she had already visited. Her personalized route took her to Indochina, Indonesia, Australia, five southern African countries and Poland. She will share her photos and engrossing stories with the Club – pointing out highlights, surprises, frightening episodes, learning experiences and happy times.

MLF: International Relations
Location: SF Club Office
Time: 5:30 p.m. networking reception, 6 p.m. program
Cost: $20 non-members, $8 members, $7 students (with valid ID)
Program Organizer: Norma Walden
Also know: In association with the NorCal Peace Corps Association

Explore the World from The Commonwealth Club 

All interested Club members are welcome to attend bimonthly one-hour planning meetings of the International Relations Member-Led Forum. We focus on Europe, Latin America, Africa and worldwide topics. Join us to discuss current international issues and plan programs for the rest of 2013.

MLF: International Relations
Location: SF Club Office
Time: 5:30 p.m. planning meeting
Cost: FREE
Program Organizer: Norma Walden 

Lieutenant Commander Rorke Denver, U.S. Navy SEAL

Lieutenant Commander Denver has run every phase of training for the U.S. Navy SEALs and led special-forces missions in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and other international hot spots. He starred in the 2012 hit film Act of Valor, which is based on true SEAL adventures. Don't miss this chance to go inside the personal story and the fascinating, demanding SEAL training program of a veteran of the front lines. Denver will share lessons learned from both the theater of war and his time directing SEAL instruction.

MLF: International Relations
Location: SF Club Office
Time: 5:30 p.m. networking reception, 6 p.m. program, 7 p.m. book signing
Cost: $20 non-members, $8 members, $7 students (with valid ID)
Program Organizer: Norma Walden
Also know: Photo by Rob Greer

Pavel Khodorkovsky, President, Institute of Modern Russia 

Khodorkovsky will discuss the current human rights and political situation in Russia and the importance of supporting civil society there as it develops. Though he cannot return to Russia for fear of endangering his father, famed political prisoner, businessman and author Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Pavel maintains close relationships with many Russian opposition leaders and will relay his thoughts on the current political and socio-economic situation. He will also elaborate on what Americans can do to help support Russia on its journey to modernization and democracy.

MLF: International Relations
Location: SF Club Office
Time: 5:30 p.m. networking reception, 6 p.m. program
Cost: $20 non-members, $8 members, $7 students (with valid ID)
Program Organizer: Norma Walden

Scott Loarie, Co-director, iNaturalist.org, California Academy of Sciences
Ken-ichi Ueda, Co-founder and Co-director, iNaturalist.org, California Academy of Sciences
Tanya Birch, Program Manager, Google Earth Outreach
Mary Ellen Hannibal, Journalist - Moderator

How are bold new technologies helping in the fight to retain global biodiversity? Google's Birch will talk about the life-and-death consequences of empowering indigenous peoples in Brazil and Africa to monitor their biodiversity. Loarie and Ueda will share the goals of iNaturalist, an online social network for naturalists, and discuss ways social media and mobile technology can bring the power of crowds to the problems of biodiversity.

MLF: International Relations/Science & Technology
Location: SF Club Office
Time: 5:30 p.m. networking reception, 6 p.m. program
Cost: $20 non-members, $8 members, $7 students (with valid ID)
Program Organizer: Norma Walden
Also know: In association with iNaturalist.org

Explore the World from The Commonwealth Club 

All interested Club members are welcome to attend bimonthly one-hour planning meetings of the International Relations Member-Led Forum. We focus on Europe, Latin America, Africa and worldwide topics. Join us to discuss current international issues and plan programs for the rest of 2013.

MLF: International Relations
Location: SF Club Office
Time: 5:30 p.m. planning meeting
Cost: FREE
Program Organizer: Norma Walden 

Julie R. Dargis, Independent Writer and Publisher

Pit Stop in the Paris of Africa author Dargis will take you on a trip around the world through selected excerpts of stories and verse from her book. In addition, she will share reflections on her humanitarian aid work with African and Eastern European populations affected by war and natural disasters, and include how she dealt with adversity in her day-to-day life in some of the most difficult and dangerous countries in the world. She will close with a brief discussion on how she came to write about and publish her experiences, including ideas on how others can recount stories of their own.

MLF: International Relations 
Location: SF Club Office
Time: 5:30 p.m. networking reception, 6 p.m. program, 7 p.m. book signing
Cost: $20 non-members, MEMBERS FREE, $7 students (with valid ID)
Program Organizer: Karen Keefer
Also know: In association with the NorCal Peace Corps Association