September 2016
2016 WACA National Conference
Cover to Cover
Council of the Month
Clifford to Speak at Orange County
WACA's Newest Staff Member
EU in the U.S.
Future of Korea 2016
The Iran Project
WACA Job Vacancy
Part-time Job Vacancy
Academic WorldQuest
International Peach Day
World Affairs Councils in the News
Travel the World
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Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center



Senator Mitchell to Keynote WACA Conference  

 
America and Global Megatrends
 
November 16-18, 2016



Conference Registration
Save up to $100 by taking advantage of early-bird rates through September 9 .

New this year!  REGISTRATION REWARDS: For every five paid registrations from an individual Council community, WACA will provide free admission to a sixth individual designated by the Council CEO. 

Check out our conference registration page! From the bar at the top you can find all conference information, and you can also book your hotel room at WACA's special group rates at the The Capital Hilton (details are also provided below). 

Opening Dinner Keynote
George J. Mitchell is a highly regarded and impartial American diplomat who knows how to bring peace to troubled regions. He served as U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Peace from 2009 to 2011. The primary architect of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement for peace in Northern Ireland, an historic accord ending decades of conflict, he was awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1999. 

A Democrat, he served as U.S. Senator from Maine from 1980 to 1995, and Senate Majority Leader from 1989 to 1995.   

He was the main investigator in two "Mitchell Reports": on the Arab-Israeli conflict (2001) and on the use of performance-enhancing drugs in professional baseball (2007).  Senator Mitchell currently serves as Chairman Emeritus of the law firm DLA Piper. 

He is the author of  The Negotiator: A Memoir  (2015), and the forthcoming  A Path to Peace: A Brief History of Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations and a Way Forward in the Middle East .

Other Keynote Speakers


Ambassadors Luncheon Keynote

David Abney
Chairman and CEO
UPS


Leadership Day Keynote

Ambassador Barbara Stephenson
President, American Foreign Service Assn.


Think Tank Off-site Visits (more to come) 


The Washington Institute for Near East Policy  
Syria: Arab and Islamic Politics
  
Andrew J. Tabler
Martin J. Gross Fellow



Experts to be announced


Diplomatic Receptions  (more to come)  


H.E. Hunaina Al Mughairy 
Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman
 

1918 Society Choose ONE of the following (first come first served)

Open to  35 members of the 1918 Society.

Under Secretary of Defense for Policy

Friday, Nov. 18, at 2:00 - 5:00 PM


Open to  20 members of the 1918 Society (fully booked, but contact us for wait list).

Friday, Nov. 18, at 2:00 - 5:00 PM
The above program is not finalized; more speakers and details will be added on a weekly basis.


The WACA 2016 National Conference is sponsored by:
        
NATO logo
            fpa logo 1918                         
Cover to Cover: Obama's Foreign Policy


TOMORROW: Cover to Cover  will host author Derek Chollet on his new book The Long Game: How Obama Defied Washington and Redefined America's Role in the World. Join us  September 7 at 2:00-2:30 PM ET

Chollet is senior advisor for security and defense policy at The German Marshall Fund of the United States. (full bio)


COUNCIL LEADERS: Please share this opportunity with your members and supporters as a free benefit! Contact the WACA National Office if you are interested in hosting Cover to Cover authors.
Council of the Month: Charlotte

Charlotte The WACA National Office this month recognizes the World Affairs Council of Charlotte  for their Council Scholar Award Program.   

This signature WACC international education initiative offers a unique opportunity for selected educators to travel out of the country and bring their experiences abroad home to their school communities in North Carolina. 

The educators who have shown outstanding commitment to promoting international education in their school districts and the greater Charlotte region receive a $2500 grant, which allows them to  participate in international conferences, study abroad programs, language classes or other eligible international education opportunities. Council Scholars bring back new perspectives and insights on global education that they then use to enrich the classroom experience for their students.

Lisa Watson the 2015-2016 recipient of this scholarship, participated in the AmeriSpan's MAESTRO: Spain for Spanish Teachers program in Madrid, Spain. She also participated in enrichment activities that provided her with language training and cultural exchange opportunities. You can read about her experience here .

Councils and friends, be sure to submit your October nominee for Council of the Month to Lian Esehaki at lesehaki@worldaffairscouncils.org.
WACA's Clifford to Speak at WAC Orange County

Bill Clifford , President and CEO of the World Affairs Councils of America , will speak at the 2016 Annual General Meeting of the  World Affairs Council of Orange County , on September 29. The dinner chat will focus on the topic of "Realigning American Power and Purpose in a Fragmented World. Event details.
Welcoming WACA's Newest Staff Member

Dear Council Leaders, Members, and Friends:

I am delighted to introduce Tori Baskind, WACA's new Administrative and Program Assistant.  

Tori is a 2016 graduate of The George Washington University. She earned her B.A. degree in International Affairs with a concentration in Conflict and Conflict Resolution. Prior to joining the WACA team, Tori held internship positions with the Department of Homeland Security, as well as nonprofit advocacy organizations including Refugees International and Women's Way.

Tori looks forward to working with all of you. Please join me in welcoming her at tbaskind@worldaffairscouncils.org

Thank you,
  
Bill Clifford, President and CEO
EU in the U.S. Program Series

EU in the U.S. 2016 is a grant-funded program administered by WACA in partnership with the Delegation of the European Union to the United States. Its goal is 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.

Upcoming events:
September 13: WorldDenver
Future of Korea 2016 Program Series

The World Affairs Councils of America is sponsoring an Engage America Speaker Series on the  Future of Korea in collaboration with the Korea Economic Institute. The program is focused on broadening and deepening the understanding of Korea and the U.S.-Korea relationship among opinion leaders and academics. The centerpiece of the program is a three-person panel discussion, usually consisting of one representative each from the U.S. Department of State, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, and KEI. 

Upcoming event:
September 8 : North American Borderplex WAC (El Paso)
The Iran Project Program Series

In partnership with The Iran Project, we are pleased to continue the WACA Engage America Series on The Iran Nuclear Deal: Prospects for Cooperation, Competition and Confrontation. The program's objective is to deepen the understanding of implications of the U.S. policy towards Iran, the nuclear deal, and the Middle East. It is important to stimulate debate and air differences over U.S. dealings with Iran in Councils' nonpartisan forums. The centerpiece of the program is expert presentations and audience Q&A. 

This program is generously supported by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.

Upcoming events:
Job Vacancy:
Special Projects & Logistics Officer (WACA)

The World Affairs Councils of America  is hiring a full-time Special Projects and Logistics Officer to manage operational details for numerous    events in Washington, DC and other U.S. cities in support of a three-year EU public diplomacy program    being coordinated by B&S Europe in consortium with WACA, leading think tanks and other international affairs  organizations. 

The primary role of the special projects and logistics officer will be to work with the WACA network of local World Affairs Councils and dedicated Council event management staff to organize events, including all aspects of planning, implementation, and evaluation.

See the full job description.

To apply: Send your CV and cover letter to Bill Cliffordat bclifford@worldaffairscouncils.org  with the title "Application EU POP USA - Special Projects and Logistics Officer." The application deadline is   September 19 .   Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.
Part-time Job Vacancy:
Media and Online Media Expert (B&S in DC)

B&S Europe, on behalf of the European Union, seeks a media expert to work with national and local journalists in traditional and social media to promote a series of EU-U.S. public diplomacy events, research and exchanges in collaboration with the EU Delegation Press & Public Diplomacy unit and consortium partners, including WACA.

Primary responsibilities include: 
● Media outreach and public relations activities 
● Online media and promotion 
● Social media and content management

See the full job description.

To apply: S end your CV and cover letter to Andrey Toromanov at andrey.toromanov@bseurope.com  , with title "Application EU POP USA - MOME." The application deadline is  September 20  . Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.
Academic WorldQuest 2016-2017

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. Topics, Study Guide, and other information to be announced shortly!
What's Your #PeaceDayChallenge 


United States Institute of Peace's Peace Day Challenge exists to raise the profile of the International Day of Peace and to affirm peace as a real alternative to the violence we see every day in the news.

It is all about inspiring a day of action on September 21, focused on building peace through real-life activities and sharing on social media at #PeaceDayChallenge.

In 2015, the Peace Day Challenge reached 21 million people in 129 countries on social media, engaged dozens of organizations, and inspired activities in 36 countries & 21 U.S. states.

Here is what you need to effectively participate in USIP's Peace Day Challenge this year:
  • This article by USIP President Nancy Lindborg explains why Peace Day Challenge matters. 
     
  • The website www.peacedaychallenge.org provides more information, action ideas, and other resources to support engagement in the Peace Day Challenge will be posted soon.
     
  • Personal contact information for Ann-Louise Colgan: acolgan@usip.org or 202-429-3894. We encourage you to contact her for action ideas and other suggestions to support your Council's engagement in Peace Day.
World Affairs Councils in the News

World Affairs Council of Philadelphia

The Migration Crisis and the Future for the European Union -- University of Pennsylvania

Productivity Circularity -- Seeking Alpha

World Affairs Council of Atlanta
Travel the World from WAC Philadelphia
Just Announced:  Council Leaders to 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, Across Spain and Portugal: September 6 - 22, 2016.
Kay Maxwell , Executive Director, World Affairs Forum, Stamford Journey through VietnamOctober 3 - 18, 2016.
Mimi Gregory, Vice President and Program Chairman, Naples Council on World Affairs, Cruising the Rivieras & Islands of France, Spain and Italy October 5 - 13, 2016.
Ambassador Sharon Wilkinson, former Board President, World Affairs Council of Arizona, Island Life in Cuba: October 23 - 31, 2016.
Dr. Carla Thorson, Senior Vice President of Programs, World Affairs Councils of Northern California, Tanzania: October 29 - November 8, 2016 
Craig Snyder , President and CEO, World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, Inside Oman, UAE and QatarNovember 2 - 16, 2016.
 
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