160 members of the Connect U.S. and Peace and Security Initiative community gathered this December for a full day of panels, workshops, speakers, and networking in Washington D.C. More details, plus audio of the panels, below!

The meeting kicked off with a special briefing on the progress of the issue campaigns that Peace and Security Initiative community members identified as areas for collaborative action in 2009-2010. Leonor Tomero of the Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation spoke about the "New START"; Daryl Kimball of the Arms Control Association and David Culp of the Friends Committee on National Legislation discussed CTBT Ratification; Jennifer Smyser of the Stanley Foundation introduced the April 2010 NGO Nuclear Security Summit; and Stephen Young of the Union of Concerned Scientists focused on the Nuclear Posture Review.

Listen to the Peace and Security Initiative breakfast discussion here:

The next segment of the day included three workshops -- all filled to capacity -- on public speaking and messaging. Deputy Secretary of State Bill Lynn, introduced by Connect U.S. Fund President Nancy Soderberg, delivered the keynote address during lunch, outlining how the Department of Defense addresses each of the four main issue areas of concern to members of the Connect U.S. Fund community. Click here to read the full text of the Deputy Secretary's speech.

Following Lynn's speech and a question and answer period, Ploughshares Fund Executive Director Naila Bolus led a panel discussion about the progress of the Obama Administration's foreign policy nearly a year into his first term. Professor Stephen Wayne of Georgetown University offered a historical perspective of this administration compared with past administrations. Joy Drucker, Managing Director at Glover Park Group, discussed the public relations strategies that have been successful (and those that have flopped) with the Obama administration. They were joined by Steve Kull of the Program on International Policy Attitudes, who discussed the public's view of Obama's foreign policy, and the implications for the administration's future work.

Listen to the panelists' introductory remarks here:

The question and answer segment can be heard here:

A panel on building relationships with funders concluded the day. Connect U.S. Fund Executive Director Heather B. Hamilton moderated the discussion with Christine Wing, Professor, New York University (formerly of the Ford Foundation) and Steven Gerber, Executive Director, Rabbis for Human Rights (formerly of the MacArthur Foundation).

Listen to fundraising panelists' introductory remarks here:

The remainder of the discussion is available here:

Here are more pictures from the day: