BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//World Affairs Council of Greater Houston - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:World Affairs Council of Greater Houston X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://wachouston.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for World Affairs Council of Greater Houston REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Chicago BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20250309T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20251102T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20260308T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20261101T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20270314T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20271107T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20280312T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20281105T070000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260416T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260416T193000 DTSTAMP:20260416T073530 CREATED:20260319T191345Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260402T160734Z UID:10000180-1776364200-1776367800@wachouston.org SUMMARY:Putin’s New World: Iran\, Venezuela & Trump on Offense DESCRIPTION:Jean Becker\, Former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush \n \n Ever wonder what really happens before the President walks into a room? (And more importantly\, what happens when things don’t go according to plan?) Join us for a behind-the-scenes Wine & Wisdom evening that pulls back the curtain on one of the most critical and least understood roles in American politics: presidential advance. This intimate conversation invites you into the stories you don’t usually hear: What does it take to plan a presidential visit down to the second? How do advance teams prepare for every possible scenario\, and what happens when the unexpected inevitably occurs? And which moments never make it into the official record? Jean Becker\, former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush and a veteran of presidential advance\, brings decades of experience at the highest levels of public service. Becker will share candid\, often humorous\, and occasionally hair-raising stories from life on the road\, offering a rare glimpse into the precision\, pressure\, and unpredictability behind presidential events. What we’ll explore over wine Advance 101: What presidential advance actually is—and why it mattersMoments Behind the Curtain: The stories that never make the headlinesWhen Plans Go Sideways: Managing the unexpected at the highest levelLife on the Road: The pace\, pressure\, and people behind presidential travelLessons from the Front Lines: What advance work reveals about leadership and decision-making \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 Wine & Wisdom Sponsor \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Photo credit : REUTERS/Rick Wilking URL:https://wachouston.org/event/1079-putins-new-world/ LOCATION:Amegy Bank Tower\, 1717 W Loop S\, Houston\, TX 77027\, Amegy Bank Tower\, 1717 W Loop S\, Houston\, TX\, 77027\, United States CATEGORIES:General Audience ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://wachouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/putin.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260416T194500 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260416T203000 DTSTAMP:20260416T073530 CREATED:20260407T155958Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260407T160353Z UID:10000186-1776368700-1776371400@wachouston.org SUMMARY:Council Cabinet Reception with Angela Stent DESCRIPTION:Jean Becker\, Former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush \n \n Ever wonder what really happens before the President walks into a room? (And more importantly\, what happens when things don’t go according to plan?) Join us for a behind-the-scenes Wine & Wisdom evening that pulls back the curtain on one of the most critical and least understood roles in American politics: presidential advance. This intimate conversation invites you into the stories you don’t usually hear: What does it take to plan a presidential visit down to the second? How do advance teams prepare for every possible scenario\, and what happens when the unexpected inevitably occurs? And which moments never make it into the official record? Jean Becker\, former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush and a veteran of presidential advance\, brings decades of experience at the highest levels of public service. Becker will share candid\, often humorous\, and occasionally hair-raising stories from life on the road\, offering a rare glimpse into the precision\, pressure\, and unpredictability behind presidential events. What we’ll explore over wine Advance 101: What presidential advance actually is—and why it mattersMoments Behind the Curtain: The stories that never make the headlinesWhen Plans Go Sideways: Managing the unexpected at the highest levelLife on the Road: The pace\, pressure\, and people behind presidential travelLessons from the Front Lines: What advance work reveals about leadership and decision-making \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 Wine & Wisdom Sponsor \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Photo credit : REUTERS/Rick Wilking URL:https://wachouston.org/event/council-cabinet-reception-with-angela-stent/ LOCATION:Amegy Bank Tower\, 1717 W Loop S\, Houston\, TX 77027\, Amegy Bank Tower\, 1717 W Loop S\, Houston\, TX\, 77027\, United States CATEGORIES:Council Cabinet ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://wachouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/cab-reception-scaled.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260429T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260429T133000 DTSTAMP:20260416T073530 CREATED:20260326T192625Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260401T155413Z UID:10000181-1777464000-1777469400@wachouston.org SUMMARY:Luncheon - Global Oil in Chaos with OTC’s Wafik Beydoun DESCRIPTION:Jean Becker\, Former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush \n \n Ever wonder what really happens before the President walks into a room? (And more importantly\, what happens when things don’t go according to plan?) Join us for a behind-the-scenes Wine & Wisdom evening that pulls back the curtain on one of the most critical and least understood roles in American politics: presidential advance. This intimate conversation invites you into the stories you don’t usually hear: What does it take to plan a presidential visit down to the second? How do advance teams prepare for every possible scenario\, and what happens when the unexpected inevitably occurs? And which moments never make it into the official record? Jean Becker\, former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush and a veteran of presidential advance\, brings decades of experience at the highest levels of public service. Becker will share candid\, often humorous\, and occasionally hair-raising stories from life on the road\, offering a rare glimpse into the precision\, pressure\, and unpredictability behind presidential events. What we’ll explore over wine Advance 101: What presidential advance actually is—and why it mattersMoments Behind the Curtain: The stories that never make the headlinesWhen Plans Go Sideways: Managing the unexpected at the highest levelLife on the Road: The pace\, pressure\, and people behind presidential travelLessons from the Front Lines: What advance work reveals about leadership and decision-making \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 Wine & Wisdom Sponsor \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Photo credit : REUTERS/Rick Wilking URL:https://wachouston.org/event/1080-global-oil-in-chaos-with-otc/ LOCATION:Amegy Bank Tower\, 1717 W Loop S\, Houston\, TX 77027\, Amegy Bank Tower\, 1717 W Loop S\, Houston\, TX\, 77027\, United States CATEGORIES:General Audience ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://wachouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/oil-market.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260429T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260429T193000 DTSTAMP:20260416T073530 CREATED:20260121T160615Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260407T165307Z UID:10000163-1777487400-1777491000@wachouston.org SUMMARY:Wine & Wisdom: Greenland - Reflections from the World’s Edge DESCRIPTION:Jean Becker\, Former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush \n \n Ever wonder what really happens before the President walks into a room? (And more importantly\, what happens when things don’t go according to plan?) Join us for a behind-the-scenes Wine & Wisdom evening that pulls back the curtain on one of the most critical and least understood roles in American politics: presidential advance. This intimate conversation invites you into the stories you don’t usually hear: What does it take to plan a presidential visit down to the second? How do advance teams prepare for every possible scenario\, and what happens when the unexpected inevitably occurs? And which moments never make it into the official record? Jean Becker\, former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush and a veteran of presidential advance\, brings decades of experience at the highest levels of public service. Becker will share candid\, often humorous\, and occasionally hair-raising stories from life on the road\, offering a rare glimpse into the precision\, pressure\, and unpredictability behind presidential events. What we’ll explore over wine Advance 101: What presidential advance actually is—and why it mattersMoments Behind the Curtain: The stories that never make the headlinesWhen Plans Go Sideways: Managing the unexpected at the highest levelLife on the Road: The pace\, pressure\, and people behind presidential travelLessons from the Front Lines: What advance work reveals about leadership and decision-making \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 Wine & Wisdom Sponsor \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Photo credit : REUTERS/Rick Wilking URL:https://wachouston.org/event/1069-wine-wisdom-greenland/ LOCATION:WACH Offices 1235 North Loop W. Suite 1025 Houston\,TX 77008\, WACH Offices 1235 North Loop W. Suite 1025\, Houston\, TX\, 77008\, United States CATEGORIES:Member only ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://wachouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/greenland-scaled.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260430T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260430T200000 DTSTAMP:20260416T073531 CREATED:20260303T174939Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260415T151647Z UID:10000177-1777573800-1777579200@wachouston.org SUMMARY:Hot Take: AI... Hype or Horror? DESCRIPTION:Jean Becker\, Former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush \n \n Ever wonder what really happens before the President walks into a room? (And more importantly\, what happens when things don’t go according to plan?) Join us for a behind-the-scenes Wine & Wisdom evening that pulls back the curtain on one of the most critical and least understood roles in American politics: presidential advance. This intimate conversation invites you into the stories you don’t usually hear: What does it take to plan a presidential visit down to the second? How do advance teams prepare for every possible scenario\, and what happens when the unexpected inevitably occurs? And which moments never make it into the official record? Jean Becker\, former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush and a veteran of presidential advance\, brings decades of experience at the highest levels of public service. Becker will share candid\, often humorous\, and occasionally hair-raising stories from life on the road\, offering a rare glimpse into the precision\, pressure\, and unpredictability behind presidential events. What we’ll explore over wine Advance 101: What presidential advance actually is—and why it mattersMoments Behind the Curtain: The stories that never make the headlinesWhen Plans Go Sideways: Managing the unexpected at the highest levelLife on the Road: The pace\, pressure\, and people behind presidential travelLessons from the Front Lines: What advance work reveals about leadership and decision-making \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 Wine & Wisdom Sponsor \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Photo credit : REUTERS/Rick Wilking URL:https://wachouston.org/event/3018-power-vs-principle/ LOCATION:Rice University : O’Connor Building\, Rice University - O'Connor Building for Engineering and Science Campanile Rd\, Houston\, TX\, 77005\, United States CATEGORIES:Global Young Professionals ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://wachouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/debate.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260505T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260505T193000 DTSTAMP:20260416T073531 CREATED:20260331T175144Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260406T185817Z UID:10000183-1778005800-1778009400@wachouston.org SUMMARY:Iranian Ambassador Seyed Mousavian: U.S.\, Iran & the Future DESCRIPTION:Jean Becker\, Former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush \n \n Ever wonder what really happens before the President walks into a room? (And more importantly\, what happens when things don’t go according to plan?) Join us for a behind-the-scenes Wine & Wisdom evening that pulls back the curtain on one of the most critical and least understood roles in American politics: presidential advance. This intimate conversation invites you into the stories you don’t usually hear: What does it take to plan a presidential visit down to the second? How do advance teams prepare for every possible scenario\, and what happens when the unexpected inevitably occurs? And which moments never make it into the official record? Jean Becker\, former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush and a veteran of presidential advance\, brings decades of experience at the highest levels of public service. Becker will share candid\, often humorous\, and occasionally hair-raising stories from life on the road\, offering a rare glimpse into the precision\, pressure\, and unpredictability behind presidential events. What we’ll explore over wine Advance 101: What presidential advance actually is—and why it mattersMoments Behind the Curtain: The stories that never make the headlinesWhen Plans Go Sideways: Managing the unexpected at the highest levelLife on the Road: The pace\, pressure\, and people behind presidential travelLessons from the Front Lines: What advance work reveals about leadership and decision-making \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 Wine & Wisdom Sponsor \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Photo credit : REUTERS/Rick Wilking URL:https://wachouston.org/event/iranian-ambassador/ LOCATION:Royal Sonesta Hotel\, Royal Sonesta Hotel | 2222 W. Loop S.\, Houston\, TX\, 77027\, United States CATEGORIES:Member only ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://wachouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/iran-usa-scaled.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260514T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260514T210000 DTSTAMP:20260416T073531 CREATED:20251202T202217Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260408T165435Z UID:10000146-1778783400-1778792400@wachouston.org SUMMARY:International Gala: World on Display DESCRIPTION:Jean Becker\, Former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush \n \n Ever wonder what really happens before the President walks into a room? (And more importantly\, what happens when things don’t go according to plan?) Join us for a behind-the-scenes Wine & Wisdom evening that pulls back the curtain on one of the most critical and least understood roles in American politics: presidential advance. This intimate conversation invites you into the stories you don’t usually hear: What does it take to plan a presidential visit down to the second? How do advance teams prepare for every possible scenario\, and what happens when the unexpected inevitably occurs? And which moments never make it into the official record? Jean Becker\, former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush and a veteran of presidential advance\, brings decades of experience at the highest levels of public service. Becker will share candid\, often humorous\, and occasionally hair-raising stories from life on the road\, offering a rare glimpse into the precision\, pressure\, and unpredictability behind presidential events. What we’ll explore over wine Advance 101: What presidential advance actually is—and why it mattersMoments Behind the Curtain: The stories that never make the headlinesWhen Plans Go Sideways: Managing the unexpected at the highest levelLife on the Road: The pace\, pressure\, and people behind presidential travelLessons from the Front Lines: What advance work reveals about leadership and decision-making \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 Wine & Wisdom Sponsor \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Photo credit : REUTERS/Rick Wilking URL:https://wachouston.org/event/1038-international-gala-world-on-display/ LOCATION:The Post Oak Hotel\, The Post Oak Hotel - 1600 W Loop S\, Houston\, TX\, 77027\, United States CATEGORIES:General Audience ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://wachouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/gala-scaled.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260520T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260520T193000 DTSTAMP:20260416T073531 CREATED:20260409T203133Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260414T164816Z UID:10000188-1779301800-1779305400@wachouston.org SUMMARY:Wine & Wisdom - Confessions Behind Presidential Visits DESCRIPTION:Jean Becker\, Former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush \n \n Ever wonder what really happens before the President walks into a room? (And more importantly\, what happens when things don’t go according to plan?) Join us for a behind-the-scenes Wine & Wisdom evening that pulls back the curtain on one of the most critical and least understood roles in American politics: presidential advance. This intimate conversation invites you into the stories you don’t usually hear: What does it take to plan a presidential visit down to the second? How do advance teams prepare for every possible scenario\, and what happens when the unexpected inevitably occurs? And which moments never make it into the official record? Jean Becker\, former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush and a veteran of presidential advance\, brings decades of experience at the highest levels of public service. Becker will share candid\, often humorous\, and occasionally hair-raising stories from life on the road\, offering a rare glimpse into the precision\, pressure\, and unpredictability behind presidential events. What we’ll explore over wine Advance 101: What presidential advance actually is—and why it mattersMoments Behind the Curtain: The stories that never make the headlinesWhen Plans Go Sideways: Managing the unexpected at the highest levelLife on the Road: The pace\, pressure\, and people behind presidential travelLessons from the Front Lines: What advance work reveals about leadership and decision-making \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 Wine & Wisdom Sponsor \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Photo credit : REUTERS/Rick Wilking URL:https://wachouston.org/event/1082-wine-wisdom-confessions-behind-presidential-visits/ LOCATION:WACH Offices 1235 North Loop W. Suite 1025 Houston\,TX 77008\, WACH Offices 1235 North Loop W. Suite 1025\, Houston\, TX\, 77008\, United States CATEGORIES:Speakers ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://wachouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ww-presidential-visits-scaled.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260603T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260603T193000 DTSTAMP:20260416T073531 CREATED:20260219T171659Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260219T172927Z UID:10000175-1780511400-1780515000@wachouston.org SUMMARY:Council Cabinet Reception with CIA Analyst Michael Ard DESCRIPTION:Jean Becker\, Former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush \n \n Ever wonder what really happens before the President walks into a room? (And more importantly\, what happens when things don’t go according to plan?) Join us for a behind-the-scenes Wine & Wisdom evening that pulls back the curtain on one of the most critical and least understood roles in American politics: presidential advance. This intimate conversation invites you into the stories you don’t usually hear: What does it take to plan a presidential visit down to the second? How do advance teams prepare for every possible scenario\, and what happens when the unexpected inevitably occurs? And which moments never make it into the official record? Jean Becker\, former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush and a veteran of presidential advance\, brings decades of experience at the highest levels of public service. Becker will share candid\, often humorous\, and occasionally hair-raising stories from life on the road\, offering a rare glimpse into the precision\, pressure\, and unpredictability behind presidential events. What we’ll explore over wine Advance 101: What presidential advance actually is—and why it mattersMoments Behind the Curtain: The stories that never make the headlinesWhen Plans Go Sideways: Managing the unexpected at the highest levelLife on the Road: The pace\, pressure\, and people behind presidential travelLessons from the Front Lines: What advance work reveals about leadership and decision-making \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 Wine & Wisdom Sponsor \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Photo credit : REUTERS/Rick Wilking URL:https://wachouston.org/event/council-cabinet-reception-with-cia-analyst-michael-ard/ LOCATION:TX CATEGORIES:Council Cabinet ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://wachouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/cab-reception-scaled.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260610T093000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260611T163000 DTSTAMP:20260416T073531 CREATED:20260402T200238Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260402T205110Z UID:10000185-1781083800-1781195400@wachouston.org SUMMARY:Global Citizenship – World Affairs Council Merit Badge University DESCRIPTION:Jean Becker\, Former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush \n \n Ever wonder what really happens before the President walks into a room? (And more importantly\, what happens when things don’t go according to plan?) Join us for a behind-the-scenes Wine & Wisdom evening that pulls back the curtain on one of the most critical and least understood roles in American politics: presidential advance. This intimate conversation invites you into the stories you don’t usually hear: What does it take to plan a presidential visit down to the second? How do advance teams prepare for every possible scenario\, and what happens when the unexpected inevitably occurs? And which moments never make it into the official record? Jean Becker\, former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush and a veteran of presidential advance\, brings decades of experience at the highest levels of public service. Becker will share candid\, often humorous\, and occasionally hair-raising stories from life on the road\, offering a rare glimpse into the precision\, pressure\, and unpredictability behind presidential events. What we’ll explore over wine Advance 101: What presidential advance actually is—and why it mattersMoments Behind the Curtain: The stories that never make the headlinesWhen Plans Go Sideways: Managing the unexpected at the highest levelLife on the Road: The pace\, pressure\, and people behind presidential travelLessons from the Front Lines: What advance work reveals about leadership and decision-making \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 Wine & Wisdom Sponsor \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Photo credit : REUTERS/Rick Wilking URL:https://wachouston.org/event/global-citizenship/ LOCATION:WACH Offices 1235 North Loop W. Suite 1025 Houston\,TX 77008\, WACH Offices 1235 North Loop W. Suite 1025\, Houston\, TX\, 77008\, United States CATEGORIES:Scouts of America ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://wachouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/merit-badge.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260615T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260626T203000 DTSTAMP:20260416T073531 CREATED:20260213T161638Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T184750Z UID:10000174-1781546400-1782505800@wachouston.org SUMMARY:Summer 2026 - Global Affairs & U.S. Foreign Policy Institute DESCRIPTION:Jean Becker\, Former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush \n \n Ever wonder what really happens before the President walks into a room? (And more importantly\, what happens when things don’t go according to plan?) Join us for a behind-the-scenes Wine & Wisdom evening that pulls back the curtain on one of the most critical and least understood roles in American politics: presidential advance. This intimate conversation invites you into the stories you don’t usually hear: What does it take to plan a presidential visit down to the second? How do advance teams prepare for every possible scenario\, and what happens when the unexpected inevitably occurs? And which moments never make it into the official record? Jean Becker\, former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush and a veteran of presidential advance\, brings decades of experience at the highest levels of public service. Becker will share candid\, often humorous\, and occasionally hair-raising stories from life on the road\, offering a rare glimpse into the precision\, pressure\, and unpredictability behind presidential events. What we’ll explore over wine Advance 101: What presidential advance actually is—and why it mattersMoments Behind the Curtain: The stories that never make the headlinesWhen Plans Go Sideways: Managing the unexpected at the highest levelLife on the Road: The pace\, pressure\, and people behind presidential travelLessons from the Front Lines: What advance work reveals about leadership and decision-making \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 Wine & Wisdom Sponsor \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Photo credit : REUTERS/Rick Wilking URL:https://wachouston.org/event/1075-summer-2026-global-affairs-u-s-foreign-policy-institute/ LOCATION:WACH Offices 1235 North Loop W. Suite 1025 Houston\,TX 77008\, WACH Offices 1235 North Loop W. Suite 1025\, Houston\, TX\, 77008\, United States CATEGORIES:General Audience ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://wachouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Institute-part-i-scaled.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260630T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260712T170000 DTSTAMP:20260416T073531 CREATED:20251008T145505Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251023T214619Z UID:10000135-1782806400-1783875600@wachouston.org SUMMARY:Mongolia: Naadam Festival Special DESCRIPTION:Jean Becker\, Former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush \n \n Ever wonder what really happens before the President walks into a room? (And more importantly\, what happens when things don’t go according to plan?) Join us for a behind-the-scenes Wine & Wisdom evening that pulls back the curtain on one of the most critical and least understood roles in American politics: presidential advance. This intimate conversation invites you into the stories you don’t usually hear: What does it take to plan a presidential visit down to the second? How do advance teams prepare for every possible scenario\, and what happens when the unexpected inevitably occurs? And which moments never make it into the official record? Jean Becker\, former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush and a veteran of presidential advance\, brings decades of experience at the highest levels of public service. Becker will share candid\, often humorous\, and occasionally hair-raising stories from life on the road\, offering a rare glimpse into the precision\, pressure\, and unpredictability behind presidential events. What we’ll explore over wine Advance 101: What presidential advance actually is—and why it mattersMoments Behind the Curtain: The stories that never make the headlinesWhen Plans Go Sideways: Managing the unexpected at the highest levelLife on the Road: The pace\, pressure\, and people behind presidential travelLessons from the Front Lines: What advance work reveals about leadership and decision-making \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 Wine & Wisdom Sponsor \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Photo credit : REUTERS/Rick Wilking URL:https://wachouston.org/event/mongolia-naadam-festival-special-2/ LOCATION:TX CATEGORIES:Travel ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://wachouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/mongolia-2026-scaled.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260713T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260731T150000 DTSTAMP:20260416T073531 CREATED:20260327T161800Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260327T165606Z UID:10000182-1783933200-1785510000@wachouston.org SUMMARY:Global Scholars Academy 2026 DESCRIPTION:Jean Becker\, Former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush \n \n Ever wonder what really happens before the President walks into a room? (And more importantly\, what happens when things don’t go according to plan?) Join us for a behind-the-scenes Wine & Wisdom evening that pulls back the curtain on one of the most critical and least understood roles in American politics: presidential advance. This intimate conversation invites you into the stories you don’t usually hear: What does it take to plan a presidential visit down to the second? How do advance teams prepare for every possible scenario\, and what happens when the unexpected inevitably occurs? And which moments never make it into the official record? Jean Becker\, former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush and a veteran of presidential advance\, brings decades of experience at the highest levels of public service. Becker will share candid\, often humorous\, and occasionally hair-raising stories from life on the road\, offering a rare glimpse into the precision\, pressure\, and unpredictability behind presidential events. What we’ll explore over wine Advance 101: What presidential advance actually is—and why it mattersMoments Behind the Curtain: The stories that never make the headlinesWhen Plans Go Sideways: Managing the unexpected at the highest levelLife on the Road: The pace\, pressure\, and people behind presidential travelLessons from the Front Lines: What advance work reveals about leadership and decision-making \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 Wine & Wisdom Sponsor \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Photo credit : REUTERS/Rick Wilking URL:https://wachouston.org/event/global-scholars-academy-2026/ LOCATION:TX CATEGORIES:Youth Programs ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://wachouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/gsa-2026.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260724 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260805 DTSTAMP:20260416T073531 CREATED:20250915T204921Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250917T160425Z UID:10000127-1784851200-1785887999@wachouston.org SUMMARY:Tanzania: Great Migration in Serengeti DESCRIPTION:Jean Becker\, Former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush \n \n Ever wonder what really happens before the President walks into a room? (And more importantly\, what happens when things don’t go according to plan?) Join us for a behind-the-scenes Wine & Wisdom evening that pulls back the curtain on one of the most critical and least understood roles in American politics: presidential advance. This intimate conversation invites you into the stories you don’t usually hear: What does it take to plan a presidential visit down to the second? How do advance teams prepare for every possible scenario\, and what happens when the unexpected inevitably occurs? And which moments never make it into the official record? Jean Becker\, former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush and a veteran of presidential advance\, brings decades of experience at the highest levels of public service. Becker will share candid\, often humorous\, and occasionally hair-raising stories from life on the road\, offering a rare glimpse into the precision\, pressure\, and unpredictability behind presidential events. What we’ll explore over wine Advance 101: What presidential advance actually is—and why it mattersMoments Behind the Curtain: The stories that never make the headlinesWhen Plans Go Sideways: Managing the unexpected at the highest levelLife on the Road: The pace\, pressure\, and people behind presidential travelLessons from the Front Lines: What advance work reveals about leadership and decision-making \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 Wine & Wisdom Sponsor \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Photo credit : REUTERS/Rick Wilking URL:https://wachouston.org/event/tanzania-great-migration-in-serengeti-2/ LOCATION:Tanzania\, Tanzania\, United Republic of CATEGORIES:Travel ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://wachouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/NEW-WEBSITE-2.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260804T093000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260805T163000 DTSTAMP:20260416T073531 CREATED:20260402T194834Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260402T204443Z UID:10000184-1785835800-1785947400@wachouston.org SUMMARY:Success\, Sustainability & Energy - World Affairs Council Merit Badge University DESCRIPTION:Jean Becker\, Former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush \n \n Ever wonder what really happens before the President walks into a room? (And more importantly\, what happens when things don’t go according to plan?) Join us for a behind-the-scenes Wine & Wisdom evening that pulls back the curtain on one of the most critical and least understood roles in American politics: presidential advance. This intimate conversation invites you into the stories you don’t usually hear: What does it take to plan a presidential visit down to the second? How do advance teams prepare for every possible scenario\, and what happens when the unexpected inevitably occurs? And which moments never make it into the official record? Jean Becker\, former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush and a veteran of presidential advance\, brings decades of experience at the highest levels of public service. Becker will share candid\, often humorous\, and occasionally hair-raising stories from life on the road\, offering a rare glimpse into the precision\, pressure\, and unpredictability behind presidential events. What we’ll explore over wine Advance 101: What presidential advance actually is—and why it mattersMoments Behind the Curtain: The stories that never make the headlinesWhen Plans Go Sideways: Managing the unexpected at the highest levelLife on the Road: The pace\, pressure\, and people behind presidential travelLessons from the Front Lines: What advance work reveals about leadership and decision-making \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 Wine & Wisdom Sponsor \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Photo credit : REUTERS/Rick Wilking URL:https://wachouston.org/event/success-merit-badge/ LOCATION:WACH Offices 1235 North Loop W. Suite 1025 Houston\,TX 77008\, WACH Offices 1235 North Loop W. Suite 1025\, Houston\, TX\, 77008\, United States CATEGORIES:Scouts of America ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://wachouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/scouts.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260814 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260826 DTSTAMP:20260416T073531 CREATED:20260306T184810Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260309T205657Z UID:10000178-1786665600-1787702399@wachouston.org SUMMARY:Scandinavian Experience: Sweden & Norway DESCRIPTION:Jean Becker\, Former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush \n \n Ever wonder what really happens before the President walks into a room? (And more importantly\, what happens when things don’t go according to plan?) Join us for a behind-the-scenes Wine & Wisdom evening that pulls back the curtain on one of the most critical and least understood roles in American politics: presidential advance. This intimate conversation invites you into the stories you don’t usually hear: What does it take to plan a presidential visit down to the second? How do advance teams prepare for every possible scenario\, and what happens when the unexpected inevitably occurs? And which moments never make it into the official record? Jean Becker\, former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush and a veteran of presidential advance\, brings decades of experience at the highest levels of public service. Becker will share candid\, often humorous\, and occasionally hair-raising stories from life on the road\, offering a rare glimpse into the precision\, pressure\, and unpredictability behind presidential events. What we’ll explore over wine Advance 101: What presidential advance actually is—and why it mattersMoments Behind the Curtain: The stories that never make the headlinesWhen Plans Go Sideways: Managing the unexpected at the highest levelLife on the Road: The pace\, pressure\, and people behind presidential travelLessons from the Front Lines: What advance work reveals about leadership and decision-making \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 Wine & Wisdom Sponsor \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Photo credit : REUTERS/Rick Wilking URL:https://wachouston.org/event/scandinaviantour/ LOCATION:TX CATEGORIES:Travel ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://wachouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/norway.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260911T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260920T170000 DTSTAMP:20260416T073531 CREATED:20260107T212430Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260108T211311Z UID:10000158-1789113600-1789923600@wachouston.org SUMMARY:Uzbekistan Tour DESCRIPTION:Jean Becker\, Former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush \n \n Ever wonder what really happens before the President walks into a room? (And more importantly\, what happens when things don’t go according to plan?) Join us for a behind-the-scenes Wine & Wisdom evening that pulls back the curtain on one of the most critical and least understood roles in American politics: presidential advance. This intimate conversation invites you into the stories you don’t usually hear: What does it take to plan a presidential visit down to the second? How do advance teams prepare for every possible scenario\, and what happens when the unexpected inevitably occurs? And which moments never make it into the official record? Jean Becker\, former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush and a veteran of presidential advance\, brings decades of experience at the highest levels of public service. Becker will share candid\, often humorous\, and occasionally hair-raising stories from life on the road\, offering a rare glimpse into the precision\, pressure\, and unpredictability behind presidential events. What we’ll explore over wine Advance 101: What presidential advance actually is—and why it mattersMoments Behind the Curtain: The stories that never make the headlinesWhen Plans Go Sideways: Managing the unexpected at the highest levelLife on the Road: The pace\, pressure\, and people behind presidential travelLessons from the Front Lines: What advance work reveals about leadership and decision-making \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 Wine & Wisdom Sponsor \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Photo credit : REUTERS/Rick Wilking URL:https://wachouston.org/event/uzbekistan-tour/ LOCATION:Uzbekistan\, Uzbekistan CATEGORIES:Travel ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://wachouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/uzb-scaled.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261006T070000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261018T160000 DTSTAMP:20260416T073531 CREATED:20250909T190438Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260126T174602Z UID:10000125-1791270000-1792339200@wachouston.org SUMMARY:Morocco: From Sahara to the Sea DESCRIPTION:Jean Becker\, Former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush \n \n Ever wonder what really happens before the President walks into a room? (And more importantly\, what happens when things don’t go according to plan?) Join us for a behind-the-scenes Wine & Wisdom evening that pulls back the curtain on one of the most critical and least understood roles in American politics: presidential advance. This intimate conversation invites you into the stories you don’t usually hear: What does it take to plan a presidential visit down to the second? How do advance teams prepare for every possible scenario\, and what happens when the unexpected inevitably occurs? And which moments never make it into the official record? Jean Becker\, former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush and a veteran of presidential advance\, brings decades of experience at the highest levels of public service. Becker will share candid\, often humorous\, and occasionally hair-raising stories from life on the road\, offering a rare glimpse into the precision\, pressure\, and unpredictability behind presidential events. What we’ll explore over wine Advance 101: What presidential advance actually is—and why it mattersMoments Behind the Curtain: The stories that never make the headlinesWhen Plans Go Sideways: Managing the unexpected at the highest levelLife on the Road: The pace\, pressure\, and people behind presidential travelLessons from the Front Lines: What advance work reveals about leadership and decision-making \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 Wine & Wisdom Sponsor \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Photo credit : REUTERS/Rick Wilking URL:https://wachouston.org/event/morocco-from-sahara-to-the-sea/ LOCATION:TX CATEGORIES:Travel ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://wachouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/NEW-WEBSITE-1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261016 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261030 DTSTAMP:20260416T073531 CREATED:20251218T221055Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260109T183850Z UID:10000148-1792108800-1793318399@wachouston.org SUMMARY:South Korea and Taiwan DESCRIPTION:Jean Becker\, Former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush \n \n Ever wonder what really happens before the President walks into a room? (And more importantly\, what happens when things don’t go according to plan?) Join us for a behind-the-scenes Wine & Wisdom evening that pulls back the curtain on one of the most critical and least understood roles in American politics: presidential advance. This intimate conversation invites you into the stories you don’t usually hear: What does it take to plan a presidential visit down to the second? How do advance teams prepare for every possible scenario\, and what happens when the unexpected inevitably occurs? And which moments never make it into the official record? Jean Becker\, former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush and a veteran of presidential advance\, brings decades of experience at the highest levels of public service. Becker will share candid\, often humorous\, and occasionally hair-raising stories from life on the road\, offering a rare glimpse into the precision\, pressure\, and unpredictability behind presidential events. What we’ll explore over wine Advance 101: What presidential advance actually is—and why it mattersMoments Behind the Curtain: The stories that never make the headlinesWhen Plans Go Sideways: Managing the unexpected at the highest levelLife on the Road: The pace\, pressure\, and people behind presidential travelLessons from the Front Lines: What advance work reveals about leadership and decision-making \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 Wine & Wisdom Sponsor \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Photo credit : REUTERS/Rick Wilking URL:https://wachouston.org/event/south-korea/ LOCATION:TX CATEGORIES:Travel ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://wachouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/NEW-WEBSITE.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261022T113000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261022T140000 DTSTAMP:20260416T073531 CREATED:20260409T160031Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260415T162859Z UID:10000187-1792668600-1792677600@wachouston.org SUMMARY:2026 Jesse H. Jones Awards Luncheon DESCRIPTION:Jean Becker\, Former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush \n \n Ever wonder what really happens before the President walks into a room? (And more importantly\, what happens when things don’t go according to plan?) Join us for a behind-the-scenes Wine & Wisdom evening that pulls back the curtain on one of the most critical and least understood roles in American politics: presidential advance. This intimate conversation invites you into the stories you don’t usually hear: What does it take to plan a presidential visit down to the second? How do advance teams prepare for every possible scenario\, and what happens when the unexpected inevitably occurs? And which moments never make it into the official record? Jean Becker\, former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush and a veteran of presidential advance\, brings decades of experience at the highest levels of public service. Becker will share candid\, often humorous\, and occasionally hair-raising stories from life on the road\, offering a rare glimpse into the precision\, pressure\, and unpredictability behind presidential events. What we’ll explore over wine Advance 101: What presidential advance actually is—and why it mattersMoments Behind the Curtain: The stories that never make the headlinesWhen Plans Go Sideways: Managing the unexpected at the highest levelLife on the Road: The pace\, pressure\, and people behind presidential travelLessons from the Front Lines: What advance work reveals about leadership and decision-making \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 Wine & Wisdom Sponsor \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Photo credit : REUTERS/Rick Wilking URL:https://wachouston.org/event/2026-jonesawards/ LOCATION:The Post Oak Hotel\, The Post Oak Hotel - 1600 W Loop S\, Houston\, TX\, 77027\, United States CATEGORIES:General Audience ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://wachouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/jones2026.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270601 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270701 DTSTAMP:20260416T073531 CREATED:20260212T174526Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260409T184200Z UID:10000173-1811808000-1814399999@wachouston.org SUMMARY:The Baltics: Estonia\, Latvia & Lithuania DESCRIPTION:Jean Becker\, Former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush \n \n Ever wonder what really happens before the President walks into a room? (And more importantly\, what happens when things don’t go according to plan?) Join us for a behind-the-scenes Wine & Wisdom evening that pulls back the curtain on one of the most critical and least understood roles in American politics: presidential advance. This intimate conversation invites you into the stories you don’t usually hear: What does it take to plan a presidential visit down to the second? How do advance teams prepare for every possible scenario\, and what happens when the unexpected inevitably occurs? And which moments never make it into the official record? Jean Becker\, former Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush and a veteran of presidential advance\, brings decades of experience at the highest levels of public service. Becker will share candid\, often humorous\, and occasionally hair-raising stories from life on the road\, offering a rare glimpse into the precision\, pressure\, and unpredictability behind presidential events. What we’ll explore over wine Advance 101: What presidential advance actually is—and why it mattersMoments Behind the Curtain: The stories that never make the headlinesWhen Plans Go Sideways: Managing the unexpected at the highest levelLife on the Road: The pace\, pressure\, and people behind presidential travelLessons from the Front Lines: What advance work reveals about leadership and decision-making \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 Wine & Wisdom Sponsor \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Photo credit : REUTERS/Rick Wilking URL:https://wachouston.org/event/the-baltics-estonia-latvia-lithuania/ LOCATION:TX CATEGORIES:Travel ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://wachouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/baltics.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR