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In This Issue
Board Notes
Meet Your Board of Directors Here!

A Note From Board President Carrie Arnold

In light of recent events (the United States pulling out of the Paris Treaty, the Manchester bombing, and Angela Merkel and the European Union questioning America's support of its allies), it is imperative that we educate ourselves and others on the importance of understanding international relations and our place in this sphere.

The Colorado Springs World Affairs Council is an excellent source of global information. If you are currently a member, you have probably attended one of our luncheons or evening receptions and agree that our speakers are well-known, non-partisan, critical thinkers who provide scholarship and insight into the world's most vital issues. If you are not a member, join! I believe there is something for everyone! If you find attending a luncheon challenging (with my work schedule, it's hard for me to make every luncheon), we also have evening receptions. Additionally, our Not Yet Retired (young professionals) group will be meeting over the summer for "summer school" where you can grab a beer and candidly discuss what's happening around the world. We also have our WAC Colleagues who host an informal, monthly lunch discussing topics from the latest issues of Foreign Affairs and The Economist. Lastly, our mission is to create and sustain study, discussion, and public participation in international relations-in essence, non-partisan, grassroots education on world affairs. We work with educators to help empower and educate the next generation of global citizens. We support our secondary educators in the Pikes Peak region and welcome any interested high schools to attend our upcoming High School Symposium on 21 September at Colorado College. The topic is North Korea, a timely topic and one I believe many students and educators will find appealing!
 
I hope you will consider joining one of the few organizations in Colorado Springs dedicated to global affairs. I hope to see you at an upcoming event and if you do wish to join, click here.
Carrie Arnold
Community Partners
Renewed Support
The Colorado Springs World Affairs Council is privileged to enjoy support from the Tiemens Foundation and Wells Fargo Private Bank. We are pleased to announce that this support has been renewed for the 2017-2018 program year. 

Thank you to these supporters!

The Tiemens Foundation unequivocally believes that Arts, Culture and Education have a powerful way of getting people to think differently, to unleash passions, to celebrate diversity....indeed to Stretch Minds.

Wells Fargo Private Bank, through the Wells Fargo Foundation, is one of the nation's leading providers of wealth management services. Wells Fargo Private Bank has extensive experience and a wide range of resources to help clients achieve their financial goals.

April 15, 2016
Executive Director's Message

Dear Friends of Colorado Springs World Affairs Council,

Welcome to our summer edition of the Colorado Springs World Affairs Council newsletter! Summer is a time for membership renewal for many of you.  As you may know, our resource base is membership revenue, and we have not changed the dues rates for several years. We strive to keep them as low as possible, so that more people can join. However, by increasing your tax-deductible membership to the next premium level, you will not only support the council but will be included in premium events that are not open to the public.  We also recognize you on our webpage. Increase your level to silver, gold, platinum or diamond today here.

We at the Council are working hard this summer, getting ready for our slate of fall activities.  But even though our speaker's series is on summer hiatus, did know you can still enjoy events at the Colorado Springs World Affairs Council during these summer months?  The World Affairs Council Colleagues, our members discussion group, and the #NYR, our young professional group, both have great events coming up.  Look within this newsletter for more information.  In addition, we are always seeking volunteers in several areas, so please reach out! 

Look for these superb programs coming up this fall: 

August 31: Omer Taspınar, Turkey.  Omer Taspınar is a nonresident senior fellow in the Brookings Center on 21st Century Security and Intelligence and an expert on Turkey, the European Union, Muslims in Europe, political Islam, the Middle East, and Kurdish nationalism. He is a professor at the National War College and an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies.

September 21: Kongdon Hassig  (Katy Oh), The Art of Dictatorship in North Korea.  Katy Oh is a Senior Asia Specialist at the Institute for Defense Analyses. She has written and spoken on a wide variety of topics in East Asian studies. Born in South Korea, Katy is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and its Korea Task Force, the Korea Working Group of the United States Institute of Peace, and she is the co-founder and former co-director of the Korea Club of Washington.

October 3: Trita Parsi, Losing an Enemy - Obama, Iran and the Triumph of Diplomacy.  Trita Parsi is an award-winning author and the 2010 recipient of the Grawemeyer Award for Ideas Improving World Order. He is the founder and president of the National Iranian American Council and an expert on US-Iranian relations, Iranian foreign politics, and the geopolitics of the Middle East.

And much more! Looking forward to seeing you soon, 
Karen  Burghart
Executive Director
Committee for International Visitors
Community Partnership Grant Awarded

We are pleased to be the recipients of a grant through Global Ties U.S. in the amount of $11,500. We have received these funds through the Community Partnership Grant Program, which is administered and fully funded by the Office of International Visitors, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), U.S. Department of State, through Global Ties U.S.
The Community Partnership Grant is designed to help support and grow the International Visitor Leadership Program in our community.

This is an exciting opportunity for the Colorado Springs World Affairs Council, and a great chance to strengthen our community partnerships!

Upcoming International Visitors  
On July 30 - August 1, the Committee for International Visitors will host ten visitors from Azerbaijan for a program entitled "Sports Management and Sports as a Tool for Social Change in the U.S.".

We are also looking forward to 10 visitors from Mexico from October 18 -October 21 for a program entitled "Sports Management and Female/Youth Engagement".

More programs pending!  Watch for more news. 

What is the Committee For International Visitors?  
The Committee for International Visitors (CIV) is one of more than 90 community-based organizations in the country that provides assistance to international visitors brought to the United States under the U.S. Department of State's prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP).  CIV committee members have the opportunity to interact with visiting leaders by assisting with program management, including home hospitality which usually consists of hosting a small group in your home for dinner.

Interested in this committee?  Please contact us at info@csworldaffairs.org to get involved.  
High School Education
Academic WorldQuest
  
Air Academy High School, the champions of the Colorado Springs World Affairs Council's regional Academic WorldQuest competition, traveled to Washington, DC April 28 and 29 to represent our region in the WACA national competititon.  While there, the team had the opportunity for a very informative meeting with Representative Lamborn's legislative director! 

Academic Worldquest is a flagship youth education program of the national network of World Affairs Councils of America.  It's a team competition that tests high school students' knowledge of international affairs with the hopes of better preparing them for the challenges of a more globalized world.

High School Symposium
Each year, a timely international topic becomes the focus of an all-day interactive debate. There is a keynote speaker, a debate, and a film on the topic, followed by small group discussions and conclusions. This popular annual event takes place at Colorado College in September and draws several hundred students from across the city.

This year, we are excited to announce that the 2017 Symposium will be held September 21st at Colorado College.  The topic will be  " The Enigma that is North Korea: Dictatorship, Nuclear Weapons, and the Threat to Regional Peace.   The  keynote speaker will be
Kongdan (Katy) Oh, Senior Asia Specialist at the Institute for Defense Analyses.

For more information or sponsorship opportunities, contact info@cswordaffairs.org .  
Welcome to Our Intern!
"I'd like to thank everyone involved with CSWAC. Their support and interest in my development as a working professional has been invaluable." - Jason Thornton, Summer Intern 

We are lucky to have Jason interning with us this year. Jason is a rising Senior at UCCS, and you may have seen him at the registration table at events in April and May. Jason enjoys access to all the wonderful CSWAC events for free as an intern and all the people he has met along the way. 

"The CSWAC events have taught me to never assume you know the whole story. Each speaker has given me added insight into a culture or part of the world I would never have known. I also learned that people have a great deal of passion for the world we live in and it's possible for everyone to take an active role in it." Jason has been instrumental in the growth social media engagement and has assisted the Committee for International Visitors and the #NYR Committee.
 
On his bucket list for travel abroad is Germany, a country where his mom spent a lot of time and holds in high regard. His major is Communication with an emphasis in Strategic and Organizational Communication. After college, he hopes to give back to the community in a way that enables more people to pursue a higher education.
 
Jason's formal internship ends in July but we hope he continues to attend events as a UCCS student, a benefit for our institutional partners. 
Council Events Policy
Just a reminder: Registrations for programs close three days prior to a program.  This is so that we can make sure that we best serve you for space and refreshments by providing an accurate number to our event venue.  
Similarly, if you have reserved space but failed to cancel within that same three-day period, we regret that we cannot issue refunds, as we have incurred nonrefundable event costs that we are liable for.  
If you have reserved space, intending to pay at the door and are unable to attend, we must invoice you to cover our incurred expenses.  
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Karen Burghart.
Not Yet Retired
Summer School 
The #NYR will be conducting a series of Summer School programs, which are pub talks about selected global affairs. These events will collaborate with the breadth of experience we enjoy within our own Council membership. Upcoming topics include "brewplomacy", energy, and intelligence, among others.  Stay tuned.  

#NYR Third Thursday Happy Hour     
The #NYR meets every third Thursday from 5:30 to 7:00 pm for Happy Hour and informal discussion. Watch our Facebook group page for more details.  

Are you a young professional interested in global affairs?
Then join our young professional's group and engage in networking, dialogue, and community education!  Contact us at nyr@csworldaffairs.org.
WAC Colleagues
Discussion Group  
The World Affairs Council Colleagues (WACC), co-chaired by Board members Jim Allen and Larry Barrett,  is a monthly, members-only group whose purpose is to  participate in discussion of international relations issues.  WACC meets the first Wednesday of each month, unless otherwise notified by the co-chairs, and is a dutch treat lunch event.  For more information, please contact Larry Barrett or Jim Allen at  info@csworldaffairs.org 

Upcoming Events:


 

August 2:  Our past president, Sky Foerster will share his experiences, research and observations, based on a Fulbright teaching fellowship in the Czech Republic earlier this year.  The title of his presentation is "The View from Europe:  Perspectives on America and a Changing World."

 

September 6:  Rev. Nayiri Karjian of First Congregational Church will share her story, including being born in Allepo, living in Beirut, and coming to the US to attend Lancaster Theological Seminary.  The title of her presentation is "Growing up in the Middle East as an Armenian Christian, and the Middle East Today."

Amazon Smiles
If you are a regular Amazon purchaser, please support us by using Amazon Smile. 
 
This is a way to draw charitable contributions for CSWAC at NO COST TO YOU. If you are not familiar with the program, AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support us every time you shop. When you shop via this link, Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to Colorado Springs World Affairs Council.
 
Here's how it works: On your first visit to AmazonSmile, you would  select Colorado Springs World Affairs Council to receive donations from your purchases before you begin shopping. Amazon will remember your selection, and then every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a donation. The prices, selection and shopping experience is exactly the same as Amazon.com. The only difference is that Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your AmazonSmile purchase to us. 
 
Here is more information about the program. Remember, always start at smile.amazon.com and Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price
The Colorado Springs World Affairs Council Thanks Our Supporters and Partners


Colorado Springs World Affairs Council | info@csworldaffairs.org | http://www.csworldaffairs.org
P. O. Box 608
Colorado Springs, CO 80901