Opening and Earth Optimism The 2019 United States National Committee (USNC) Annual Meeting was hosted by the Smithsonian National Zoo at its Conservation Pavilion and was attended by 90 participants representing 49 Members, all six Commissions and the IUCN Secretariat. Christopher Dunn, Chair of the USNC opened the meeting expressing deep gratitude to the Smithsonian for hosting IUCN for the second year in a row. Christopher introduced Marshall Jones from the Smithsonian who