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2013 National Conference Sponsors
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2013 National Conference -- Join the Discussion!
Speaker Highlight: Former First Lady Laura Bush
It is our honor and privilege to announce that former First Lady of the United States, Laura Bush, will be our Honorable Keynote Speaker at our 2013 National Conference. Laura Bush is an advocate for empowering women and girls to transform their countries through access to education, health care, and economic opportunity. Read More
Laura Bush
Former First Lady of the United States
Honorable Keynote Speaker
Watch the Video
Top Six Reasons to Come to the
2013 National Conference (1min 22s)
Still need a reason to come to the 2013 National
Conference? We've got six of them.
Deadline to Book Hotel Room: October 23
The 2013 National Conference will be held at The Liaison Capitol Hill Hotel. We have secured a special group rate at The Liaison Capitol Hill of $225/night. To book rooms at this rate, click below or call 1-866-233-4642 and reference "National Conference - World Affairs." The deadline to book a room at the special rate is Wednesday, October 23.
Reserve Hotel Room at The Liaison
Register Now
Held annually for over two decades, the World Affairs Councils of America's National Conference engages our regional leaders and members drawn from the business, civic, and education communities with leading policy-makers and experts. The National Conference launches the National Network's year-long discussion of the Six Top Issues for 2014 selected by our network leadership across the country and helps plan our programming for the coming year.
The Six Top Issues selected by the National Network's leadership as the most important national security issues for the coming year are:
- Cybersecurity
- U.S. Energy Independence
- Global Economic Realignment
- Middle East
- Global Environment Issues
- U.S. Education
Register for 2013 National Conference
Tentative Agenda
Wednesday, November 13
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM: Fall Leadership Meeting for Council CEOs and Staff/Annual Membership Meeting
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM: Opening Dinner
Thursday, November 14
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM: Main Plenaries
5:30 PM - 8:00 PM: Embassy Receptions
- Embassy of Canada
- Embassy of Portugal
- Embassy of the United Arab Emirates
Friday, November 15
7:30 AM - 8:45 AM: 1918 Society Breakfast
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM: Main Plenaries
Conference concludes at 3:00 PM
Thank you to our generous sponsors:
Chevron, NATO, Google, The Gambrinus Company,
Raytheon, ExxonMobil, BP, Duke Energy,
Thomson Reuters, Goldman Sachs, and Coca-Cola
National Conference Scholarship Recipients
 The National Board of Directors of the World Affairs Councils of America is proud to offer 25 scholarships for outstanding college students from our national network to attend the 2013 National Conference. We received a high number of qualified nominees from across the National Network. Congratulations to the following recipients:
Jasmine Woodland, Alaska World Affairs Council
Holly Rapp, Cleveland Council on World Affairs
Olivia Miltner, Columbus Council on World Affairs
Camille Ridgeway, Institute of World Affairs
Nestor Avila-Miranda, International Affairs Council of North Carolina
Zachary Halaschak, Naples Council on World Affairs
Madeline Sposato, Peoria Area World Affairs Council
Ethan Brown, South Dakota World Affairs Council
Ben Evans, Tennesee World Affairs Council
Maya Boyle, Vermont Council on World Affairs
Jason Smith, World Affairs Council of Atlanta
Katherine Dougherty, World Affairs Council of Colorado Springs
Robert Liebendorfer, World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth
Juliette Holthaus, World Affairs Council of Jacksonville
Benjamin Gies, World Affairs Council of Kentucky & S. Indiana
Melania Jankowski, World Affairs Council of Maine
Buddy Hocutt, World Affairs Council of New Hampshire
Mwende Katwiwa, World Affairs Council of New Orleans
Kim Shearer, World Affairs Council of Northwest Ohio
Wilaene Gonzalez, World Affairs Council of Oregon
Nina Wroniak, World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh
Julio Cabral-Corrada, World Affairs Council of Puerto Rico
William Resch IV, World Affairs Council of Rochester
Joshua Kelly, World Affairs Council of Santa Fe
Kevin Gomez, World Affairs Council of St. Louis
Join the 1918 Society
 The 1918 Society is comprised of individuals who wish to directly support the World Affairs Councils of America in its mission of educating Americans on global issues. 1918 Society members enjoy special privileges at the 2013 National Conference including an invitation to the exclusive 1918 Society breakfast, access to the hospitality green suite with the opportunity to meet conference speakers, reserved seating at all plenaries and luncheons, and special recognition throughout the National Conference. If you would like to learn more, please see the full list of 1918 Society benefits or contact Ian J. Byrne at [email protected]. This year's 1918 Society Breakfast will feature Peter Baker, White House Correspondent for The New York Times, and author of the upcoming book, Days of Fire: Bush and Cheney in the White House. Mr. Baker will speak on The President, the White House, and the Making of U.S. National Security. WACA National Board Chair Paula J. Dobriansky will moderate the discussion.
Spotlight on Turkey 2014: Call for Applications
All councils may submit expressions of interest. The series will be offered for up to 14 World Affairs Councils across the country.
Applications are due Friday, October 25, 2013
Academic WorldQuest 2014: Submit Pledge Form Now
The 2014 Academic WorldQuest National Competition will take place Saturday, April 26, 2014 at the Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center in Washington, DC. Read about the 2013 Academic WorldQuest National Competition here.
Councils, please fill out the 2013-2014 Academic WorldQuest Pledge Form, which is available here and in the WACA Leadership Network.
Competition Questions Available Those who fill out and return the form will be given confidential access to questions prepared by the WACA National Office for local competitions in 2013-2014.
The 2013-2014 Study Guide has been released, as well as information and resources for councils and teachers. More Information
Not My Life Programs Underway
 Our newest national program series focusing on human trafficking and modern-day slavery is underway. The program features screenings of the documentary film Not My Life by Robert Bilheimer and Worldwide Documentaries at over 35 World Affairs Councils. The program is made possible by a generous grant from Carlson & The Carlson Family Foundation. Click here to see the participating councils. This week's events include:
October 7 -- Alaska World Affairs Council
October 8 -- Cleveland Council on World Affairs
October 8 -- Northern Nevada International Center
October 10 -- World Affairs Council of Sonoma County
October 10 -- World Affairs Council of Seattle
Spotlight on Turkey 2013
 The Spotlight on Turkey program, sponsored by the World Affairs Councils of America and the Turkish Cultural Foundation, has entered Phase III of the 2013 program. Participating councils will be holding programs throughout the fall showcasing Turkish art, culture, and cuisine. More Information
Programs scheduled for this week include:
October 9 -- World Affairs Council of Jacksonville
Great Decisions Pre-orders now open
Offer Expires: October 20
 The Great Decisions briefing book features impartial, thought-provoking analyses on eight issues of concern to U.S. policymakers today. Each article is written by carefully selected experts, offers questions and tools for discussion, as well as policy options for U.S. officials. Pre-order at the Foreign Policy Association's website.
The Great Decisions in Foreign Policy on PBS DVD features eight half-hour, in-studio interviews, each tackling a different challenge facing America today. Produced in association with Thomson Reuters, each episode of the 2014 series features a single one-on-one interview (non-documentary) with host David Rohde.
Questions? Contact program coordinator Hannah Gais at [email protected] or at 212-481-8100 Ext. 391
World Affairs Councils in the News
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Recommended Speakers Database
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What's Happening in the Network
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There are over 65 World Affairs Council events scheduled this week across the country. Visit News from the National Network on our homepage for updates from around the network that include programs you can attend, participate in virtually, get ideas about speakers or model format. Also be sure to check out travel programs offered by World Affairs Councils on our homepage. We encourage you to follow-up with the sponsoring council for more information. If we missed something or if you have a program that you would like highlighted on our website or in the WACA Weekly, please contact Ian J. Byrne at [email protected].
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| Be Part of the WACA Newsletter! |
If you would like to highlight an upcoming program, email Ian J. Byrne at [email protected] with the relevant information. Of course, if there is anything else we can do to help promote your programs within the network, please let us know.
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The World Affairs Councils of America
1200 18th St., NW, Suite 902, Washington, DC 20036
Phone (202) 833-4557 Fax (202) 833-4555
Email [email protected] Website www.worldaffairscouncils.org
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The World Affairs Councils of America offers a Recommended Speakers Database on the