WACA National Conference; Star Speakers; Council of the Month; WACA Best Practices Update; Embassy Row Live! Canada; WACA Seeks Fall Interns; Councils are Hiring; Council Highlights; & more!
President's Letter
Dear Council Colleagues and Supporters,

Transitions in organizations are often bittersweet because we come to know and rely on our co-workers and leaders so well that it’s hard to imagine not being part of the same team. And for me, in the case of the Council network, it feels like family.
At WACA we bade adieu Friday to Laura Duncan, Senior Communications and Programs Officer, who is heading to Bologna, Italy to pursue a master’s degree at Johns Hopkins SAIS Europe. Laura has gone above and beyond the call of duty this past year, promoting last year’s virtual WACA National Conference and ensuring that the even more complex virtual Academic WorldQuest program was a huge success in April.
Laura was always ready to help with new initiatives and support Councils across the country, as I know Kathleen “KC” Euler, WACA’s new Communications and Marketing Manager, will be. KC comes to our DC headquarters from the Clemente Museum in Pittsburgh, where she served as Assistant Director. She brings a wealth of international experience and passion for our mission. Please welcome KC and share farewell messages to Laura on our social media.
Meanwhile, in the network, the Santa Fe Council on International Relations announced today the coming departure of Executive Director Sandy Campbell. Among many accomplishments in transforming SFCIR, Sandy and his team can count being awarded one of three 2020 WACA Council of the Year awards. SFCIR was selected for the vision and success of its annual Journalism Under Fire conference.
As we congratulate Sandy as he prepares to lead a nonprofit dedicated to media literacy in schools across New Mexico, we can welcome back an old friend: Jim Falk. Jim, a former member of the SFCIR Board and former CEO of WAC Dallas/Fort Worth (our 2019 Council of the Year), will serve as interim Executive Director while SFCIR conducts its search.

Transitions bring opportunity, so please check the Council job listings below.
And we encourage supporters and colleagues - past and present - to join us in DC in November to celebrate WACA’s 35th Anniversary at the National Conference.

Thank you and stay well,
‌
Bill Clifford, President and CEO
WACA 2021 National Conference:
Bridging Divides at Home and Abroad
November 16-19
STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS!
Through the generous support of The Gambrinus Company and Mr. and Mrs. Carlos and Malú Alvarez, WACA will offer a limited number of scholarships for undergraduate students from the Council network to attend our 2021 National Conference.

Additional information about the application process will be shared with the network this week. Thank you to our generous sponsor!
HOTEL INFORMATION!
Remember to register for WACA's 2021 National Conference this November 16-19 in Washington, DC, where we will celebrate our 35th Anniversary as a national association!

We are pleased to share that the hotel block is open at the special rate of $284 / night plus tax (this rate applies to reservations as early as Nov. 14 and as late as Nov. 23). Given that the annual WACA Conference sells out early, we encourage you to book your room now!
Star Speakers Around the Network
Yaya Fanusie
Adjunct Senior Fellow, CNAS
Fmr. Amb. John Limbert
Fmr. Amb. Marc Grossman
Tara Kangarlou
Founder, Art of Hope
Council Leaders: Remember to upload your favorite speakers to the WACA Speaker Database, a password protected feature accessible in Member Resources.
COUNCIL OF THE MONTH: IRC Kansas City
WACA is pleased to announce the International Relations Council (Kansas City) as its August 2022 Council of the Month! Each month, WACA features one of its 90 Councils, highlighting their accomplishments and top quality programming.
 
IRC (Kansas City) has announced a new virtual program series, Nuancing National Security, for August and September. In this six-part virtual series, IRC (Kansas City) will offer historical context and global perspective for core dimensions of national security and explore the risks, priorities, and tactics on the radar of U.S. security policy. Check out IRC's website for more.
WorldQuest Weekly Quiz
This week's WACA WorldQuest Weekly is out! Test your global affairs awareness and dive into news stories that represent a broad spectrum of developments of interest and importance. Most of the questions are drawn from both WACA's Weekly World News Update, and a curated news Twitter feed @TNWAC #WACquiz.

In partnership with WACA, WorldQuest Weekly is produced by the Tennessee World Affairs Council, which offers customized subscriptions to the quiz for Council members. Contact [email protected] or visit tnwac.org/quiz for details.

Last Week's Winner (10/10 Points):
Howard (San Diego, CA) and Margaret (Wichita, KS) - Congratulations!
Save the Dates: Best Practices in September and October
The next WACA Best Practices will take place on Thursday, September 30, 3:00 PM ET on the topic of Boards, Governance, and Volunteers. More details to be announced.

Originally scheduled for Thursday, July 8, WACA has rescheduled its Session on Organizational Mergers for Thursday, October 14, at 3:00 PM ET. We will take a look at how Councils might join forces with related organizations or institutions in order to advance their mission.
WATCH: Canada's Ambassador on Embassy Row Live! 
Last week, WAC Atlanta and WACA hosted a conversation with Ambassador Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s first woman Ambassador to the United States. 

She discussed the next steps in U.S.-Canada relations, the state of the pandemic, trade and investment between U.S. and Canada, our shared goal of addressing climate change, and more.

Click here to watch the discussion and check out our playlist for all of our previous Embassy Row Live! programs.
Member Councils Are Hiring!
World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is hiring a Membership & Development Manager. Learn more.
Cleveland Council on World Affairs is hiring for four positions: Manager of Programming; Program Associate, Student Programs; Program Associate, International Exchanges; & Office Coordinator. Learn more.
Columbus Council on World Affairs is hiring for a Program Manager and Administrative & Office Assistant. Learn more.
Vermont Council on World Affairs is hiring for an Education Programs VISTA. Learn more.
Last Week to Apply! WACA Fall 2021 Interns
Applicants to WACA's Fall 2021 Internship must submit a resume and cover letter by Friday, August 6, 2021 to [email protected]. 

Due to the number of applications we typically receive, we are unable to acknowledge each applicant personally. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted; no phone calls, please. 
All programs below are accessible online unless otherwise indicated.
  
Tuesday 8/03 

International Relations Council (Kansas City) hosts Yaya Fanusie, Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), for “The Growing Influence of Cryptocurrency.” 

World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh hosts Mike O’Brien, Associate Technical Director for FHI 360’s Crisis Response Department, and Moges Solomon, an Ethiopian lawyer, for "Ethiopian Civil War: What You Need to Know About the Humanitarian Crisis in Tigray." 

Wednesday 8/04 

World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh hosts Ambassador (ret.) John Limbert, former Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Near East Affairs, and Ambassador (ret.) Marc Grossman, Vice Chairman of the Cohen Group, for “How Does A Story Come To Life? Writing Believers: Love and Death in Tehran.” 

Global Minnesota hosts Tara Kangarlou, award-winning journalist, author, and humanitarian, to discuss her book, The Heartbeat of Iran. 

Thursday 8/05 

World Affairs Council of San Antonio hosts Scott Hussey, author, and John Casey, photographer, as they discuss their book "Meridian: A Raw Thoughts Book." 

International Relations Council (Kansas City) hosts Scott Harris, a Senior Policy Advisor in the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), for “Pandemic-Era Diplomacy.” 

World Affairs Council of Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky hosts a panel of speakers for "The Connected Region: A Federal Transportation Conversation." 

Friday 8/06 

International Relations Council (Kansas City) hosts Professor Katy McAlary, Washington State University, for “Teaching English Abroad: South Asia & The Middle East.” 
 
Sunday 8/08 

World Affairs Council of Orange County hosts “British American Business Council 2021 Annual Garden Party.” (In Person)