NORTHCOAST CONFERENCE XXXI

Greetings, and welcome to the 31^st annual Northcoast Conference! I am thrilled to serve as your Secretary-General for what will hopefully be the most successful conference we’ve had so far!

Now more than ever, our society is at a crossroads. As we continue to combat forces that threaten our stability and prosperity – war, drugs and disease among them – we are also forming new alliances and revisiting old ones in an attempt to shape a global identity without losing the foundations of geographic, religious, and cultural identities that have persisted through time.

By participating in this conference, you are taking an active role in defining your worldview and those of the delegates with whom you share a committee room. Whether you wield a veto power on the Security Council or are the newest and smallest member of the North Atlantic Council, your experience will become a part of the ongoing search for solutions and a life lesson that you can carry with you into the future.

Good luck with your preparation, and we all look forward to seeing you in March!

Regards,

Shannon V. Hopkins

Secretary-General