and with that, it's a pleasure to introduce bill galston and the members of his panel. >> haven't yet gotten bifocals, but i think i should. it is a pleasure and an honor to be back here at an annual meeting of this organization that has done so much to promote knowledge and action in the area of civic engagement. there is nothing like this organization and i hope it continues to go from strength to strength in the years ahead. i will try not to waste it. my first job is to introduce the members of this panel, they all have distinguished resumes, and so i will not give any one of them the introduction he or she deserves. starting at the far end, robert door. who is fellow and policy studies at the american enterprise institute, and for purposes of today's discussion. and an extraordinary vantage point in which to view much of what is going on in our society. next is eric liu, the founder and ceo of citizen university. as the co-author of a couple of really influential books in the areas of citizenship and civic engagement. gardens of democracy and the true patriot. next, erica william

the panel is led by someone the nexus of civic engagement and national issues, bill galston. program, former policy adviser to president clinton and presidential candidates. bill is an expert on domestic policy, political campaigns and elections. is good research focuses on designing a new social contract and the implications of political polarization. additionally, many of bill's best thoughts can be found weekly in his "wall street journal" column. there he poses important questions to my fellow journal readers, and to use this balance and my thinking about these critical issues, and i know others do as well. my only lament is this balance is in precious short supply. ncoc its long-standing relationship with the bill india served as found support and advice to her civic health initiatives, and without it is certainly a pleasure to introduce bill galston and the members of his panel. [applause] >> haven't yet got to the bifocals. but i think i should. it is a pleasure and an honor to be back here at an annual meeting of this organization which has done so much to promote bot