Dear friends,

I can't tell you how much it has meant to hear from so many of you as I've settled into Washington, DC, and the WACA national office over the last week. Your warm wishes and words of support have made me feel so welcome. I'm pleased to share that it's been a wonderful start with the help of WACA's talented global education coordinator, Kaela Rider, and a committed and thoughtful board of directors.

No matter how you're connected to WACA, if we haven't had a chance to connect, I invite you to be in touch. I can be reached at mhughes@worldaffairscouncils.org. In the weeks ahead, I'll especially look forward to the chance to connect with staff and board members from Councils around the country during WACA Office Hours – see below for more information, and please join as you're able.

During this transition, I've been working closely with WACA's outgoing president and CEO, Bill Clifford, who has been generous with his time and insight. During my work with the WACA affiliate in Kansas City, I admired Bill's heartfelt dedication to our shared mission and many efforts on behalf of the national network. We have much to look forward to in the months ahead thanks in no small part to Bill's nearly ten years of service at the national office – not to mention his previous tenure at WorldBoston. I know you join me and the national board and staff in sharing our thanks with Bill and wishing him the very best in all that comes next.

Thank you, too, for the role you play in strengthening the global perspective of communities around the U.S. Whether you work regularly with a Council, have participated in a Council's programming as a speaker or attendee, or support our work in other ways, your presence has made a difference. The conversations Councils lead and inspire hold space for people to come together, get to know one another, and understand our world, each other, and themselves more fully. I can think of few more noble or needed missions now as we move out of a time of such separation.

Look for much more from the national office in the weeks ahead. For now, please know much I'm looking forward to working with you and supporting this critical work that you make possible.

Kind regards,
Matthew Hughes, President & CEO
His Excellency Jacques Pitteloud
Ambassador of Switzerland to the U.S.
His Excellency Marek Magierowski
Ambassador of Poland to the U.S.
Anna Novosad
Frm. Minister Education & Science - Ukraine
Goli Ameri
Former Assistant Secretary of State
Staff and board members from World Affairs Councils around the country are warmly invited to connect with the national office team during WACA Office Hours. Bring your questions about how things work for individual Councils and in the Council network at large, your feedback on WACA services and opportunities, and your ideas for furthering our shared mission. We'll be publishing the rotating schedule of Zoom times in advance to help with planning and invite you to let us know if a different time would better serve your needs in future months. Whether you have a quick question or just want to say hello, we look forward to seeing you on Zoom soon!
Let's show our appreciation to Matthew with a heartwarming welcome! One great way to welcome Matthew to the national office is by sending postcards from your Council to our office. These postcards will fill the walls and help us decorate the office.

You can decorate it with pictures of your Council, add an inspiring quote, or simply write a personal message.

We look forward to receiving your postcards at 1010 Vermont Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC 20009.
Last November, the International Center of the Capital Region hosted the Future of Korea event in collaboration with WACA and KEI (Korea Economic Institute) to strengthens interest in U.S.-Korea relations with community members, scholars, and students.

The delegation included Mr. David Anthony Rodriguez, Office of Korean Affairs, Mr. Mark Tokola, Vice President of Korean Economic Institute, and Mr. Chang Woo Lee, Public Affairs Officer of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea. The ICCR organized meetings with local business leaders, high school students, the SUNY Nanotech facility, as well as a public panel discussion including Korean food from local restaurants.

Check out ICCR's local news coverage of the event and their 2 minute summary Youtube video.
Join Global Minnesota on January 25 at 6 PM CT to hear Diplomat in Residence and former career Foreign Service Officer, Tom Hanson, discuss the latest foreign policy developments, trends, and challenges facing the U.S. during this critical time. Learn more about U.S. diplomacy and engage in a meaningful conversation with Tom Hanson.

Don’t miss this chance to deepen your understanding of global affairs! Register now for Global Minnesota's 2023 U.S. Foreign Policy Update with Tom Hanson!
New! International Relations Council (Kansas City) seeks an Executive Director. Applications will be received until January 25.
New! Global Santa Fe seeks a President/CEO. Applications will be received until January 31.
New! Alaska World Affairs Council seeks a President/CEO. Applications will be reviewed as received.
New! Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall seeks a Programs Director. Applications will be reviewed as received.
World Affairs Council of Kentucky & Southern Indiana seeks a seeks a Membership & Development Coordinator. Applications will be reviewed as received.
World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh seeks to hire a Strategic Programming Manager and a Youth Programming Coordinator. Applications will be reviewed as received.
World Affairs Council of New Orleans seeks a WACNO Fellow and Board Members! Applications will be reviewed as received.
Monday 1/23

World Affairs Council of Naples hosts Michael E. O'Hanlon, Brookings Institution Senior Fellow-Foreign Policy, for, "Germany, Europe, NATO, History and the Path Ahead in Ukraine" (In Person)

World Affairs Council of Palm Beach hosts Max Bergmann, Director of the Europe Program at CSIS, for 

International Relations Council (Kansas City) presents “The Americas Roundtable Meeting” (Virtual)

World Affairs Council of Greater Houston presents “Croatia: Travel Info Session” (Virtual)

Tuesday 1/24

World Affairs Council of Orange County hosts Ambassador Colleen Bell, former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, for “A Conversation with Amb. Colleen Bell” (In Person)

World Affairs Council of Connecticut hosts H.E. Jacques Pitteloud, Ambassador of Switzerland to the U.S., for “A Discussion With the Swiss Ambassador” (In Person)

World Affairs Council of Atlanta hosts Joanna Kakissis, International Correspondent for NPR, for “War Zone Reporting in Ukraine” (Virtual)

World Affairs Council of Charlotte hosts H.E. Marek Magierowski, Ambassador of Poland to the U.S., for “WACC Ambassadors Circle Series” (In Person)

World Affairs Council of Seattle hosts Tom Burt, Corporate Vice President of the Customer Security & Trust (CST) team at Microsoft, for “January Fellows Alumni Breakfast with Tom Burt” (In Person)

Upstate International presents “Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine – Clemson” (In Person)

World Boston presents “Chat & Chowder: International Affairs Book Swap” (In Person) 

Wednesday 1/25

Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall, World Affairs Council of Seattle and World Affairs Council of Vermont hosts Anne-Marie Slaughter, CEO of New America, for “A Conversation with Anne-Marie Slaughter” (Virtual) 

World Affairs (Northern California) hosts a panel of experts for “Humanitarian Crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh: Day 44 of Siege on the Armenians of Artsakh” (In Person)

Tennessee World Affairs Council hosts Anna Novosad, Former Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine and Member of Parliament, for “In Focus: Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine | View from Kyiv” (Virtual)

Global Minnesota hosts Tom Hanson, Diplomat in Residence and former career Foreign Service Officer, for “2023 U.S. Foreign Policy Update” (Virtual)

World Affairs (Northern California) hosts Michael Baker, retired Rear Admiral and general surgeon in the US Navy Medical Corps, for “Marin | Teaching Casualty Care in Ukraine” (In Person)

World Denver presents “YP New Year Networking Event” (In Person)

World Affairs Council of Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky presents “World Affairs Council Annual Meeting” (Virtual)

World Affairs Council of Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky presents “Sijo Workshop: You Know Haiku, Now Try Sijo” (Virtual)

WorldOregon presents “Diving Into the Decisions: Hunger & Food Insecurity” (Virtual)

World Affairs Council of Tacoma presents “WAC Tacoma Book Club | January 2023” (Virtual)

Windham World Affairs Council presents “Members & Friends Salon” (In Person)

Thursday 1/26

World Affairs Council of Kentucky & Southern Indiana hosts Goli Ameri, Former Assistant Secretary of State and Co-Founder & CEO of StartItUp, for “Unrest in Iran: Igniting Prospects for Change” (In Person)

World Boston hosts Rodger Cruz, Consul General of Canada in Boston, and Alberto Fierro Garza, Consul General of Mexico in Boston, for “Great Decisions | Biden’s Agenda” (Virtual)

World Affairs Council of Greater Reading hosts Philip Orlando, senior Vice President and Chief Equity Market Strategist of Federated Hermes, for “Where are the Winds of Inflation Blowing Us? with Philip Orlando” (Virtual)

World Affairs Council of Philadelphia hosts Ambassador Katherine Tai, United States Trade Representative, for “Trade and Transformation with Ambassador Katherine Tai 19th U.S. Trade Representative” (In Person)

World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth hosts Mike Pompeo, 70th Secretary of State, for “Never Give an Inch” (In Person)

Montana World Affairs Council presents “Pint Night at Cambie Sawmill” (In Person)

World Affairs Council of New Jersey presents “What Lies Ahead in 2023?” (Hybrid) 

World Affairs Council of Hilton Head presents “New Member Orientation” (In Person)

Upstate International presents “Keipi: A Georgian Dinner Experience with Upstate International” (In Person)

World Affairs Council of Seattle presents “YPIN Monthly Networking Happy Hour” (In Person)

Friday 1/27

WorldOregon hosts Ana Sofía Castellanos, Project Associate at Portland State University, for “Great Decisions 2023: Politics in Latin America” (In Person)

World Affairs Council of Greater Houston hosts Mike Pompeo, 70th Secretary of State, for “70th Secretary of State Mike Pompeo: Fighting for the America I Love” (In Person)

World Affairs Council of Seattle hosts Naim Green-Riley, faculty of the Department of Politics and the School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, for “January Fellows Breakfast with Naima Green-Riley” (In Person)