User:Jack.miszencin/sandbox

Former ambassador and current Chairman of the Board Richard M. Fairbanks founded the non-profit in 2002 as a means of improving the United States’ public diplomacy presence in the Middle East. At its inception, Layalina was envisioned as a broadcaster in its own right, transmitting programs to homes throughout the region. Upon consulting with colleagues, however, Fairbanks decided to take a more subtle tack first suggested by former Ambassador to Morocco Marc Ginsberg. Under this strategy, Layalina would simply seek to produce programs funded by private donors, then sell the rights to broadcasters already operating in the region. In this way, Layalina could avoid the mistrust associated with an overtly pro-American, U.S. Government-run broadcaster like Voice of America or al-Hurra, yet still producing programming which could remain both popular and impactful. Convinced, Fairbanks adopted this course of action and shortly thereafter asked Ginsberg to join the organization as its President, the position in which he serves today. Layalina’s organizational structure consists of a Board of Directors, a Board of Counselors, a President, a Vice President, and a Chairman for each board. While the Board of Directors makes decisions on operational considerations, the Board of Counselors exists in an advisory role to the organization. The standing lineup of Layalina’s organizational leadership is as follows: Chairman of the Board of Directors: Richard M. Fairbanks Honorary Chairman of the Board of Counselors: George H. W. Bush President: Marc Ginsberg Vice President: Leon Shahabian Board of Councilors:
 * Mr. Tarek Abdel-Meguid
 * [The Honorable David M. Abshire|David Manker Abshire]
 * [The Honorable Richard V. Allen|Richard V. Allen]
 * [The Honorable George L. Argyros|George Argyros]
 * [The Honorable James A. Baker, III|James Baker]
 * [The Honorable Samuel R. Berger|Sandy Berger]
 * [The Honorable Wayne L. Berman|Wayne L. Berman]
 * [The Honorable Christopher S. Bond|Kit Bond]
 * Mr. Reginald K. Brack
 * [The Honorable Zbigniew Brzezinski|Zbigniew Brzezinski]
 * The Honorable John E. Chapoton
 * [The Honorable Walter L. Cutler|Walter L. Cutler]
 * Ms. Deborah L. Devedjian
 * Mr. Melvyn Estrin
 * [The Honorable Richard M. Fairbanks|Richard M. Fairbanks]
 * Mr. A.H. Farouki
 * [The Honorable Marc Charles Ginsberg|Marc Ginsberg]
 * [The Honorable Lee H. Hamilton|Lee H. Hamilton]
 * [The Honorable Carla A. Hills|Carla Anderson Hills]
 * [The Honorable Henry A. Kissinger|Henry Kissinger]
 * [The Honorable Tom Korologos|Tom C. Korologos]
 * Mrs. Maura B. Morey
 * [The Honorable Sam Nunn|Sam Nunn]
 * The Honorable Paul A. Russo
 * [The Honorable James Schlesinger|James R. Schlesinger]
 * [The Honorable Brent Scowcroft|Brent Scowcroft]
 * [The Honorable George P. Shultz|George P. Schultz]
 * Ms. Damaris Skouras
 * [Mr. Jeffrey H. Smulyan|Jeff Smulyan]
 * [Ambassador Richard Solomon|Richard H. Solomon]
 * [The Honorable Carl Spielvogel|Carl Spielvogel]
 * [The Honorable Robert S. Strauss|Robert Schwarz Strauss]
 * [The Honorable John C. Whitehead|John C. Whitehead]
 * Mr. Frederick B. Whittemore
 * [Dr. Daniel Yergin|Daniel Yergin]
 * Mr. Ezra K. Zilkha

Board of Directors:

 * [The Honorable George L. Argyros|George Argyros]
 * [The Honorable Chris S. Bond|Kit Bond]
 * The Honorable John E. Chapoton
 * [The Honorable Richard Fairbanks|Richard M. Fairbanks] (Chairman and Founder)
 * [The Honorable Marc Ginsberg|Marc Ginsberg] (President)
 * [The Honorable Tom Korologos|Tom C. Korologos]
 * Ambassador Paul Russo
 * [The Honorable John C. Whitehead|John C. Whitehead]
 * Mr. Frederick B. Whittemore