Opening Ceremonies for 2nd Meeting of the WFO to feature General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.) and presentation of WFO affiliated organizations

General Colin L. Powell, U.S.A. (Ret.), known for his support of the youth of the United States, will be the keynote speaker of the Opening Ceremonies for the 100th American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) Annual Session, the 5th International Orthodontic Congress (IOC) and the 2nd Meeting of the World Federation of Orthodontists (WFO) in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. The Opening Ceremonies will take place Saturday morning, April 29, 2000, in the Arie Crown Theater in the McCormick Place Lakeside Center. The 100th AAO Annual Session, the 5th IOC and the 2nd Meeting of the WFO will begin Friday, April 28, 2000, and will conclude Wednesday, May 3, 2000.

General Powell, a professional soldier for 35 years and former 12th chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, has received numerous U.S. military awards and decorations, including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with three Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Distinguished Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Soldier's Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Purple Heart. The governments of Argentina, Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Greece, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Tunisia, the United Kingdom and Venezuela have decorated him as well.

Today, General Powell serves as the chairman of America's Promise - The Alliance For Youth, a national crusade to improve the lives of America's youth. America's Promise aims to ensure all children in the United States have access to the fundamental resources needed to build and strengthen them so they become responsible, productive adults.

"I am absolutely delighted that a person of General Powell's stature will address AAO and WFO members," said Dr. Christopher Carpenter, general chair of the 2000 Annual Session Planning Committee. "I look forward to hearing more about his political plans and involvement with America's Promise."

In addition to the keynote address by General Powell, official representatives of the WFO affiliated organizations will participate in a formal presentation of the affiliated organizations. Recognition and presentation of several awards, including the Albert H. Ketcham Memorial Award, the James E. Brophy AAO Distinguished Service Award, the Earl E. and Wilma S. Shepard Award of Distinction, and the Helen and B.F. Dewel Award, will also be part of the Opening Ceremonies program.

For more information regarding this event, please refer to the Doctors' Preview Program, which was mailed to WFO fellows in late November.