January 17, 2017
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WAC Greater Miami
Middle East Program Series
WACA-Global Ties Conference Breakfast
Academic WorldQuest 2016-2017
World Affairs Councils Highlights
Travel the World
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Author Series

Author David Priess will join WACA for a timely  conference call Thursday, January 19, at 2:00-2:30 PM ET , to discuss The President's Book of Secrets: The Untold Story of Intelligence Briefings to American Presidents from Kennedy to Obama . Published last March, the book comes out in paperback this month.


Every day, the President receives a report revealing the most sensitive intelligence and analysis of world events: the President's Daily Brief, or PDB. As has been widely reported, President-elect Trump has largely rebuffed intelligence briefers since his election win. See the Jan. 3 piece by Jennifer Rubin, a conservative writer whose "Right Turn" column appears in the Washington Post.
 
Dr. David Priess served during the Bill Clinton and George W. Bush administrations as an award-winning intelligence officer, manager, and daily intelligence briefer at the CIA as well as a desk officer at the State Department ( full bio). 
Our Newest Council Member: WAC Greater Miami 

On behalf of the World Affairs Councils of America's Board of Directors and the entire Council network, the WACA national office is thrilled to welcome the World Affairs Council of Greater Miami as our newest member organization.

Join us in congratulating Chairman and President, Judge Cole Cartledge, Executive Director Velma Anne Ruth, and WAC Greater Miami's Board of Directors on becoming an official member of WACA.

The Miami Council was established in September 2016 by Judge Cartledge, with the support of founding directorate and members. The Council was founded to operate in partnership with Miami-based organizations in diplomacy and education. It is expected they will extend resource sharing to fellow World Affairs Council chapters across the country, with a dedicated focus on the Miami area as a central international hub and bridge to Latin America.
Middle East Program Series 

With generous support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, WACA is delighted to present a fresh Engage America Speaker Series on  American Policy in the Middle East for a New Administration   . Eight Councils have been selected to participate in the program, which is designed to inform the American public about policy options in response to opportunities as well as the multiple interconnected crises in the Middle East. 

Upcoming event:
January 18:  World Affairs Council of Charlotte, the event will feature  Thomas R. Pickering, former undersecretary of state and long-time ambassador, and Jim Walsh, research associate at MIT's Security Studies Program. The Charlotte Observer published a piece co-authored by Pickering and Walsh on the current situation in Iran and the future of the nuclear deal.
WACA-Global Ties Conference Breakfast

The World Affairs Councils of America is pleased to sponsor the Global Ties U.S. National Meeting once again this year as part of a reciprocal arrangement to strengthen collaboration between our organizations.

For those Council leaders, staff, and board members who plan to attend the Global Ties "Unity in Community " Conference in Washington, DC, we cordially invite you to participate in the  World Affairs Councils of America breakfast on  Thursday, February 9 , hosted by WACA President Bill Clifford  at the Omni Shoreham Hotel. Please rsvp here
by January 31

Carol Byrne, President of Global Minnesota, and Scott Gillespie, Editor of the Editorial Pages at the Star Tribune will be among the featured speakers at the upcoming Global Ties U.S. meeting. Their topic is media partnerships; the Star Tribune's Jan. 6 column highlighted the Council's 2017 Great Decisions program.

For more on our partner Global Ties' accomplishments in building peace and prosperity through exchanges, check out this video
Academic WorldQuest 2016-2017

This year's  AWQ Study Guide , is now available, along with complete information about the Carlos and Malú Alvarez 2017 Academic WorldQuest  National Competition.  

The  Carlos and Malu Alvarez 2017 Academic WorldQuest National Competition  will be held on  Saturday, April 29,  at the  National Press Club  in  Washington, DC .

This year's National Competition will feature a welcome reception at the  United States Institute of Peace , on  Friday, April 28, at 4:30-6:00 PM.  For Topics, Study Guide, and other information click  here

Hotel Reservations:  
To utilize our special hotel rates, book your room now at the Washington Marriott at Metro Center (775 12th St. NW, Washington, DC 20005)For reservations click here . Book now! These discounted rates expire March 30

Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors: 
   
World Affairs Councils Highlights

Tuesday, January 17
     
Alabama World Affairs Council hosts a Great Decisions 2017 Seminar Series, on "The Future of Europe" Details

World Affairs Council of Central Florida hosts Kevin Bales, Professor of Contemporary Slavery at the University of Nottingham, UK, On "Human Trafficking in the United States" Details

World Affairs Council of Jacksonville hosts General Raymond Odierno (ret.), on "America's Role in the World Today: A Look at Globalization, the Diffusion of Technology, and Global Demographic Shifts" Details

World Affairs Council of Western Michigan hosts Jelena Grčić Polić, former Croatia/EU diplomat on "Russian Expansion: Security Issues in the Region" Details

Wednesday, January 18

World Affairs Council of Charlotte hosts Ambassador Thomas Pickering, distinguished career Ambassador; Dr. Jim Walsh, research associate at the MIT Security Studies Program; and moderator Dr. Jonathan Berkey, Professor of International Studies at Davidson College , on "Challenges and Opportunities in the Middle East for the Incoming Administration" Details

WorldDenver Hosts Robert Dannenberg, former Head of Security at Goldman Sachs, on "Cyber Security" Details  

World Affairs Council of Atlanta hosts Cedric Suzman, (ret.), executive vice president of the World Affairs Council, and Guy Tessler (TBC), president at Conexx, on "Can Israel Survive without Two States?" Details

World Affairs Council of Maine hosts Charles Norchi, Professor of Law and University Trustee Professor at the University of Maine; Richard Barron Parker, Professor Emeritus at Hiroshima Shudo University; Laura Henry, Professor of Government at Bowdoin College; and James Richter, Professor of International Politics at Bates College, on "What's Next for Foreign Policy under the Trump Administration? Details

World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth hosts two programs on January 18 and 19, with David Smick, Chairman & CEO, Johnson Smick International, on his latest book "The Great Equalizer: How Main Street Capitalism Can Create an Economy for Everyone" Details

World Affairs Council of Oregon hosts Young Professionals International Trivia Night Details

Thursday, January 19

Cleveland Council on World Affairs hosts its first annual Academic WorldQuest Competition Details

World Affairs Council of Philadelphia hosts  Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, on his latest book "A World in Disarray: American Foreign Policy and the Crisis of the Old Order" Details

World Affairs Council of Greater Reading hosts Tahara Akmal, director of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), and Association of Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. (ACPE), on "Islam in America - My Journey as an Interfaith Hospital Chaplain" Details  

S an Diego World Affairs Council hosts David G. Schrunk, aerospace engineer and medical doctor, on "Governance of the Future Moon: Challenges and Opportunities" Details

World Affairs Council of Central Florida hosts David H. Sinn, former U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia and Burkina Faso, and current adjunct professor of international affairs at The George Washington University, on "China's Involvement in Africa" Details

Peoria Area World Affairs Council hosts Caterpillar Foundation Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Zammuto, and Global Program Manager Glen Harris, on "Poverty Alleviation via Measurable Outcomes" Details

Indiana Council on World Affairs hosts Regina Smyth, Associate Professor at Indiana University, on "Russia Ascendant? Vladimir Putin on the Global Stage" Details

World Affairs Council of Seattle hosts Dr. Jessica L. Beyer, research scientist at the University of Washington, on "The Fog of Cybersecurity" Details

Olympia World Affairs Councils hosts Dr. Rachel DeMotts, University of Puget Sound, and Dr. Parakh Hoon, South Puget Sound Community College, on  "Chasing Elephants: Conservationists, Politicians, Farmers and the Problem of Ivory" Details

Friday, January 20

Alaska World Affairs Council hosts an event on "Islam and Peace: A Conversation Featuring Various Perspectives" Details
Travel the World from WAC Philadelphia

Travel with Council Leaders - hear them lecture on Travel the World tours from the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia!
 
Ambassador Heather Hodges, President & Ambassador-in-Residence, Cleveland Council on World Affairs,  Colombia Rediscovered : February 3 - 13.

Joyce M. Davis, President, World Affairs Council of Harrisburg, Journey to  Southern Africa:  February 26 - March 13.

Megan Torrey, Executive Director, World Affairs Council of Connecticut,  Cultural Cuba:  March 26 - April 3.

Jim Falk, President and CEO, World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth,  Inside Iran:  April 21 - May 4.

Mimi Gregory, Vice President and Program Chairman, Naples Council on World Affairs,  Cruise the Face of Europe :   May 15 - 30.

Dr. Carla Thorson, Senior Vice President of Programs, World Affairs Councils of Northern California,  Circumnavigation of Iceland: August 1 - 9. 

Kay Maxwell, Executive Director, World Affairs Forum, Stamford,  Silk Road Odyssey: October 1 - 20.

Derrick Olsen, President, World Affairs Council of  Oregon,  Trade Routes of Coastal Iberia :  October 9 - 17.

Ambassador Mark Johnson, Founder, World Affairs Council of Montana,  Mystique of the Orient:  October 17 - 29.

Dr. Jerry Leach, former President, World Affairs Councils of America,  Inside Morocco:  October 20 - November 2.

Contact  www.wacphila.org/travel or call 1-800-942-5004, extension 209 or 217.

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