September 2, 2015
Letter from the President
2015 WACA National Conference
Apply to Host: CHINA Town Hall
September Cover to Cover
Best Practices Teleconference
AWQ 2015/16
EU in the US
Rational Middle Energy Series
Global Retirement Challenge
Migration Crisis
WACs in the News
Travel the World
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Letter from the President
Dear Council Colleagues, Friends, and Supporters:

I am encouraged that we have seen nearly 50 folks register for the WACA National Conference already - before announcing the first keynote.

And now we have two of four keynote speakers lined up: Few can dissect and analyze the world or formulate U.S. strategy like Robert Zoellick, who served at lofty levels of government - as Deputy Secretary of State and U.S. Trade Representative.

Zoellick, a former World Bank Group president, is now chairman of Goldman Sachs' international advisors and will keynote this year's Ambassadors Luncheon. Jeffrey Garten, Dean Emeritus of Yale School of Management, will keynote GREAT DECISIONS: Future of Emerging Markets. This dynamic duo will offer an unparalleled look at U.S. leadership of a global economy marked by China's rise (and slump), Greek shocks to the Eurozone, and widening - and destabilizing - economic inequality nearly everywhere.

An innovation at this year's Conference will be off-site visits to DC think tanks: Brookings, CSIS, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Peterson Institute for International Economics all look forward to hosting cohorts of attendees. Sign-up information will be presented soon.

Meanwhile, do sign up for WACA's Leading America: Foreign Policy Challenges and the 2016 Election Conference. Friday, September 11, is when the early-bird registration rate expires. Be sure to share the information with your Council memberships and take advantage yourselves of the discounted rates to our premier national event.

Meanwhile, as we continue to put together a terrific roster of fresh, insightful Conference speakers, we admire your excellent program offerings that engage Council communities across the country.

Yours,
 

Bill Clifford
President and CEO
2015 WACA National Conference 
Leading America: Foreign Policy
Challenges and the 2016 Election
 
November 11-13, 2015
Washington, DC 

Conference Registration- Early Bird Pricing Ends Soon!
This year, Early Bird prices are available until September 11
  • Non-member Early Bird: $495 
  • Council member Early Bird: $465
  • Council Board member Early Bird: $435
  • and more...


New Speakers Confirmed to Date

Ambassadors  Luncheon Keynote:
Chairman, Goldman Sachs' International Advisors, Former  President of the World Bank Group and U.S. Trade Representative
 

1918 Society Reception:
Former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico and member of the U.S. House of Representatives
Former WACA Chair

Dean Emeritus, Yale School of Management. Dean Garten will give the  GREAT DECISIONS Keynote on Future of Emerging Markets

Senior Associate, Middle East Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Vice President and Director of the Foreign Policy Program, Brookings Institution

Staying at The Fairfax
We have secured a special group rate at The Fairfax at Embassy Row.
  • Superior King: $249/night (Single/Double occupancy)
  • Superior Two Doubles: $269/night (Single/Double Occupancy)

The Fairfax at Embassy Row is conveniently located in the Dupont Circle area. A Washington, DC landmark, The Fairfax's intriguing history spans more than 80 years.

Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors:

                fpa logo 1918
Apply to Host: 9th Annual CHINA Town Hall

The National Committee on U.S.-China Relations    will hold its ninth annual  CHINA Town Hall a national day of China-related programming,  on Monday  evening, October 5.  Several World Affairs Councils have hosted CHINA Town Hall events over the years that have raised their audiences' understanding of U.S.-China bilateral relations as well as the effect of China's rise on their own communities.
 
There are two components to the program.  The first is a national webcast.  This October, a panel discussion focusing on the recent growth of Chinese foreign direct investment in the United States will feature:  Former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, Mayor Sheldon Day (Thomasville, Alabama), and Mr. Daniel Rosen, founding partner of Rhodium Group. They will discuss the impact of Chinese FDI, including job creation, revitalization of economically depressed areas, infrastructure improvement, and the deepening of ties between the U.S. and China.
 
In the second component, local partners including World Affairs Councils and the National Committee will work to identify a visiting speaker who would address a topic of interest to their audiences; the National Committee would be responsible for recruiting that person and covering his/her costs.
 
All proposals must be submitted by Friday, September 4.  To fill out a venue proposal form, please  click here .
Cover to Cover this Fall
September's Cover to Cover program will feature Ambassador Robert Jordan (bio) on his new book Desert Diplomat: Inside Saudi Arabia Following 9/11 . The call will be held Wednesday, September 9, at 2:00 PM ET . WACA President Bill Clifford will moderate the call.



Desert Diplomat  discusses Jordan's political relationships and historic decisions in both Saudi Arabia and Washington between  2001-2003 . While providing a candid and thoughtful assessment of the sometimes distressing dysfunction in the conduct of American foreign policy, warfare, and intelligence gathering, Jordan also offers important insights into the many changes occurring in this critical region, particularly Saudi Arabia.


Save the Dates!
Tuesday, October 13, at 2:00 PM ET : Steven  R. Weisman, Vice President at the Peterson Institute for International Economics on The Great Tradeoff: Confronting Moral Conflicts in the Era of Globalization

Thursday, November 5, at 2:00 PM ET : Award-winning journalist Rena Pederson on The Burma Spring: Aung San Suu Kyi and the Struggle for the Soul of a Nation
Best Practices Teleconference: Peace Day Challenge
September 21 is the  International Day of Peace .
 
Please join Ann-Louise Colgan  Director of the  Global Peacebuilding Center at the United States Institute of Peace and
Joyce Davis President & CEO of the World Affairs Council of Harrisburg  in a conversation about how to get involved in the  #PeaceDayChallenge  by  promoting to schools and local communities.

The call will be held on 
Thursday, September 10, from 2:00-3:00 PM ET
 
 
AWQ 2015/16 Information Coming Soon!
Be on the lookout for a separate announcement during the week of September 8. This will include the Study Guide, information on the Carlos and MalĂș Alvarez 2016 Academic WorldQuest National Competition, and more.
EU in the US Program Series
EU in the U.S. is administered in partnership with the Delegation of the European Union to the United States to raise awareness, knowledge, and understanding about EU policies, the EU's role as an international actor, and the value of the EU-U.S. relationship.  More Information.



Rational Middle Energy Series
The World Affairs Councils of America is pleased to continue  its national program series in partnership with the Rational Middle Energy Series. The 22-episode documentary film series, with more than 3.5 million views and/or downloads, has sparked a movement based on productive conversation around the current energy challenge and what it will take to achieve a cleaner energy future . More Information.


Global Retirement Challenge
Several Councils will feature Paul Schott Stevens ( bio ), president of the Investment Company Institute ( ICI ), on the topic of  "The Global Challenge of Retirement Security: Can Savers and Governments Avert the Demographic Crisis?" ICI Education Foundation, a nonprofit affiliated with the Institute, partnered with WACA in April as a sponsor of the Asia topic category in the 2015 Academic WorldQuest National Competition.  


Migration Crisis
With WACA's facilitation, several Councils over the coming months will host Anne Richard, Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration (bio). A/S Richard will speak at some about the record number of refugees and migrants, and what Americans can do about the crisis.

Upcoming events:

November (TBD) -- World Affairs Council of Seattle
December 3
 -- WorldBoston
January 29-30 -- World Affairs Council of Oregon
World Affairs Councils in the News
World Affairs Council of Hilton Head
The Adventure Continues -- Hilton Head Monthly

World Affairs Council of Atlanta

World Affairs Council of Dallas/ Fort Worth 

World Affairs Council of Inland Southern California

Juneau World Affairs Council
Travel the World from WAC Philadelphia
Just Announced:  Council Leaders to Lecture on Travel the World tours from the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia!

 

Mimi Gregory, Vice President, Naples Council on World Affairs, Grand Danube: August 8-23, 2015. 

Kay Maxwell, Executive Director, World Affairs Forum Stamford,  Vietnam and Cambodia: October 12-27, 2015. 


Dr. Carla Thorson, Senior Vice President of Programs, World Affairs Council of Northern California, Cuba: December 6-14, 2015.

Ambassador Mark Johnson, Board, Montana World Affairs Council, The Mediterranean Through the Centuries: October 14-25. 2015. 

Dr. Jerry W. Leach, Former President, World Affairs Councils of America, Turquoise Coast Cruise, October 27-November 4, 2015. 

Contact www.wacphila.org/travel or call 1-800-942-5004 x209 or x217.

The World Affairs Councils of America 

1200 18th St., NW, Suite 902, Washington, DC 20036

Phone (202) 833-4557  Fax (202) 833-4555

Email waca@worldaffairscouncils.org Website www.worldaffairscouncils.org