Register For 2019 Great Decisions Discussion Group

Register Online to receive program updates!

The Vineyard Haven Public Library Great Decisions Discussion Group will meet for 8 sessions on Thursday evenings at 7pm, beginning April 4th, 2019.

A Great Decisions Discussion Group is composed of interested individuals who want an opportunity to learn and participate in the foreign policy decision-making process. The Foreign Policy Association (FPA) has published the Great Decisions briefing book, a well researched annual publication covering eight timely global topics to be read by group participants in order to prepare for each discussion. At each meeting we will show a 30 minute documentary film on that week's topic, to be followed by a moderated discussion.

Please register online or at the library. This year, a limited number of briefing books are available for purchase at the library for $25, payable to the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Library. Copies of the briefing book are also be available for in-library use.

Topics and meeting dates:

Thursday, April 4th
Refugees and Global Migration 
Today, no countries have open borders. Every state in today’s global system has its own laws and policies about who is permitted to cross its borders, and how they will do so. Who determines whether someone is a refugee or a migrant? How have different countries, including the United States, reacted to migration? How effective are the international laws, policies and organizations that have evolved to assist and protect refugees and migrants?

Thursday, April 11th
The Middle East: Regional Disorder
As the presidency of Donald J. Trump passes the halfway point, the Middle East remains a region in turmoil. The Trump administration has aligned itself with strongmen in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, which along with Israel have a common goal of frustrating Iranian expansion. What will be the fallout from policy reversals such as withdrawing from the Iranian nuclear accord and moving the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem? Does the United States see a path forward in troubled states such as Syria, Yemen, Libya and Iraq? Is the United States headed toward war with Iran?

Thursday, April 18th
Nuclear Negotiations: Back to the Future? 
Nuclear weapons have not gone away, and the Trump administration has brought a new urgency, if not a new approach, to dealing with them.  The President has met with Vladimir Putin as the New Start Treaty with Russia comes up for renewal in 2021, the first presidential summit ever with Kim Jong-un occurred to discuss denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula, and President Trump has decertified the Obama nuclear deal with Iran.  To what degree should past nuclear talks guide future U.S. nuclear arms control negotiations?  Can the art of the deal apply to stabilizing our nuclear future?

Thursday, April 25th
The Rise of Populism in Europe
Mass migration, and the problems associated with it, have directly abetted the rise of populist parties in Europe. Opposition to immigration was the prime driver of support for Brexit, it brought a far-right party to the German Bundestag for the first time since the 1950s, and propelled Marine Le Pen to win a third of the vote in the French presidential election. In addition to calling for stronger borders, however, these parties are invariably illiberal, anti-American, anti-NATO and pro-Kremlin, making their rise a matter of serious concern for the national security interests of the United States.

Thursday, May 2nd 
Decoding U.S.- China TradeThough arguably the most advanced economy in the world, the United States still uses centuries-old numbers to measure trade.  These antique numbers mangle understanding of the U.S.-China trade relationship, shrinking America’s true economic size and competitiveness, while swelling China’s.  Bad numbers give rise to bad policies that ultimately kill U.S. jobs and cede market share to China.  What other tools can the United States employ to counter China’s unfair trade practices?  There are several available, yet they remain mostly unused.

Thursday, May 9th
Cyber Conflict and Geopolitics Cyber conflict is a new and continually developing threat, which can include foreign interference in elections, industrial sabotage and attacks on infrastructure. Russia has been accused of interfering in the 2016 presidential elections in the United States and China is highly committed to using cyberspace as a tool of national policy. Dealing with cyber conflict will require new ways of looking at 21st century warfare. Is the United States prepared to respond to such threats?

Thursday, May 16th
The United State and Mexico: Partnership Tested The United States and Mexico have a long, intertwined history, with both countries prominently featured in each other’s politics and agendas. The war on drugs, immigration and trade issues have taxed the relationship over the years. What impact will new leadership in both countries have on this crucial partnership?

Thursday, May 23rd
State of the State Department and Diplomacy During the Trump administration, the usual ways of conducting diplomacy have been upended. Many positions in the State Department have never been filled, and meetings with foreign leaders such as Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin have been undertaken with little advance planning. What effect are these changes having now, and how will they affect ongoing relationships between the United States and its allies and adversaries?

Weather Related Schedule Changes

Tuesday, February 12th:
Due to forecast for winter weather, tonight's talk by Herb Foster at Vineyard Haven Public Library has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 12th at 7pm NEW DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED.

State and Federal Tax Forms Now Available at the Library

A limited number of Massachusetts state resident and Federal tax form booklets are now available at the library.

Following the most expansive tax law changes in 30 years, the IRS created a shorter, simpler Form 1040 for the 2019 tax season. The new Form 1040 will replace the current Form 1040 as well as the Form 1040A and the Form 1040EZ.

The new Form 1040 uses a "building block" approach, in which the tax return is reduced to a simple form. That form can be supplemented with additional schedules if needed. Taxpayers with straightforward tax situations would only need to file this new 1040 with no additional schedules.

Vineyard Haven Library will have a limited number of forms available as Package 1040, that will include one copy of the new Form 1040 along with one copy of the schedules. Instructions for Form 1040 are also available in a separate booklet.

Package 1040 Contents:
•        Form 1040 — U.S. Individual Income Tax Return
•        Schedule 1 — Additional Income & Adjustments to Income
•        Schedule 2 — Tax (Additional Taxes)
•        Schedule 3 — Non-Refundable Credits
•        Schedule 4 — Other Taxes
•        Schedule 5 — Other Payments and Refundable Credits
•        Schedule 6 — Foreign Address and Third-Party Designee

To obtain tax forms not available at the library:

Order forms be delivered by mail:
https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/forms-and-publications-by-us-mail
or Call 1-800-829-3676

Download from the IRS website:
https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions