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2014 National Conference
Global Ties U.S. Regional Summits
Academic WorldQuest
National Office News
Weekly Highlights
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America and the World 2015
Note: Due to our email service Constant Contact's technical difficulties over the past two days, we were forced to delay sending this week's WACA Weekly until the service's problems were resolved. We apologize for the inconvenience. 

The World Affairs Councils of America thanks all sponsors, speakers, embassy reception hosts, and attendees for helping to make the 2014 National Conference a great success. 

Whether or not you attended the Conference, we want to hear from you in order to best serve the network next year:


Held annually for over two decades, the Conference engages our national network's leaders and members drawn from the business, civic, and education communities with leading policy-makers and experts. The Conference was held November 5-7, at The Fairfax at Embassy Row in Washington, DC. 

The Agenda (available here) examined: China, the U.S., and Asia; Russia/Eurasia; Cybersecurity; Future of Education; Youth, Jobs, and Social Unrest; Food and Water; Global Economic Realignment; Future of Energy; Africa; and Climate Change. More Information

Global Ties U.S. Regional Summits
#ExpandYourWorld at a Global Ties U.S. Regional Summit
Last week, Global Ties U.S and the U.S. Department of State, kicked off 'Diplomacy Begins Here' regional summits - eight citizen diplomacy summits in communities across the United States. The summits will bring attention to the critical role that public and citizen diplomacy play in building a more peaceful, prosperous world at home and abroad. The summits are an opportunity for local partners to engage their audiences in the value of public diplomacy and increase the network of people who support exchange programs.

 

Attend a summit for the opportunity to:

 

  • Connect with local and regional leaders from cross-cutting fields and come together around international exchanges.
  • Expand and develop your skills through targeted training that will help all partners who play a role in international exchange maximize the impact of every program.
  • Deepen your understanding of U.S. public diplomacy, U.S. foreign policy, and the importance of international exchange programs.

The summits kicked off in Phoenix, Arizona on November 14 and the next is in Huntsville, Alabama on November 19. To find out more about summits in your area, click here.

 

Academic WorldQuest 2014-2015
The World Affairs Councils of America National Office has released the topics and study guide for the 2014-2015 Academic WorldQuest program.

2014-2015 Academic WorldQuest Topics
Russia / Eurasia; Human Trafficking; Youth, Jobs, and Social Unrest; Future of Energy; Millennium Development Goals: 2015 and Beyond; Food and Water; Asia and the New Global Economy; Great Decisions; Africa Rising; and Current Events.


National Competition
The 2015 Academic WorldQuest National Competition will take place Saturday, April 25, 2015 at the Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center in Washington, DC.


News from the National Office
Combating Human Trafficking 
Carlson and the Carlson Family Foundation renewed funding of the World Affairs Councils of America's national program on combating human trafficking. More than 30 World Affairs Councils participated in the 2013 program, which featured screenings of the documentary film Not My Life. The 2014 program features discussion forums as well as film screenings.

Events this week include:




 

2014 European Union Outreach

The World Affairs Councils of America hosts its  European Union Delegation to the U.S. With Europe Day (May 9) as a focal point, the program is designed 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. Activities will highlight the impact of local and regional economic, social, and cultural connections to Europe. More Information

  

This month's events include:

 

Weekly Highlights

WAC Dallas/Fort Worth Global I.Q. Minute

Senator Ted Cruz sat for a Global I.Q. Minute with World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth President Jim Falk and discussed several hot issues including President Obama's immigration plan, the White House's relationship with Congress, and U.S.-Israel relations. Listen Here

 

Monday, November 17

The World Affairs Council of Monterey Bay hosted "Contemporary American Policy: Contending Perspectives." Details

 

The Vermont Council on World Affairs hosted "Doing Business With Friends -- Canada and Vermont, How Cross-Border Trade Can Help Your Bottom Line." Details

 

The Naples Council on World Affairs hosted "The Perils of Journalism." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Jacksonville hosted "Media, Politics, and Washington." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Atlanta hosted "Women in Technology." Details

 

The Minnesota International Center hosted "Culture Through Cuisine: Mirror of Korea." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Las Vegas hosted its second annual International Trade Summit. Details

 

The Cleveland Council on World Affairs hosted "Not Your Father's Latin America: Opportunities, Change, Winners, Losers, Sleepers." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Philadelphia hosted "An Irreverent Look at Climate Change, Feminism, Gun Control, and Other Fun Stuff." Details


The World Affairs Council of Greater Reading hosted members Sherry Cameron, Sylvia Klett, and Sam Dewald for a talk on their experiences at the World Affairs Councils of America's 2014 National Conference, America and the World 2015. Details

 

Tuesday, November 18

The World Affairs Forum (Stamford, CT) hosted a discussion on "Food and Climate." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of the Quad Cities hosted "Multilateral Climate Change Game: the Framework, the Negotiations, and the Stalemate?" Details

 

WorldBoston hosted "The Colder War: The U.S., Russia, and How the Global Energy Trade Slipped from America's Grasp." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Seattle hosted an educators workshop on "Using Global Dialogue to Promote Peace and Understanding." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Seattle hosted its monthly Spanish conversation group. Details

 

The Santa Fe Council on International Relations hosted "Asian Dinner and Film: Departures." Details

 

Wednesday, November 19

The World Affairs Council of Connecticut hosts a roundtable luncheon on "International Development." Details

 

The Foreign Policy Association hosts "Looming Biothreats, Emerging Infectious Diseases, and Medical Countermeasures." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Charlotte hosts a private dinner with the Ambassador of Spain to the U.S. Ramon Gil-Casares. Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Oregon hosts an event on "The Wind in the Bamboo: Asia's Ancient Indigenous Peoples." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Greater Reading hosts "Drug Problems Facing Our Area." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Tacoma hosts "Travel Talk: Working From Anywhere In The World." Details 

 

Thursday, November 20

The San Diego World Affairs Council hosts "Umpire or Empire? The Costs and Consequences of World Leadership." Details

 

WorldDenver hosts "Bringing U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit to CO." Details

 

The International Affairs Forum (Traverse City, MI) hosts "Iraq: The New Homebase for Terror?" Details

 

The World Affairs Council of New Hampshire hosts "Russia and the West." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Charlotte hosts Ambassador of Spain to the U.S. Ramon Gil-Casares. Details

 

The Vermont Council on World Affairs hosts "Issues and Challenges Impacting the Gulf." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Seattle hosts "Emergency Response: Crises in Africa." Details

 

The Olympia World Affairs Council hosts "The Impact of Global Climate Change." Details

 

Friday, November 21 

The Alaska World Affairs Council hosts "Military in Alaska: Strategic Importance Then and Now." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Sonoma County hosts "Water: The Vanishing Necessity." Details

 

WorldDenver hosts "Cairo + 20: the Global Rise of NGOs, Women & Youth Movements." Details

 

WorldOregon hosts "WorldQuest for Grownups." Details

 

Saturday, November 22
The Santa Fe Council on International Relations hosts a luncheon with teachers who participated in the Summer Study Tour as part of the World Affairs Councils of America and Turkish Cultural Foundation's Spotlight on Turkey program. Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Spokane hosts travel expert Rick Steves for a talk on "The Holy Land." Details


 

Council leaders to lecture on Travel the World tours from the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia:

  

Maria Wulff, President, World Affairs Council of Oregon, Best of Tanzania: November 1-11.


Maria Zammit, World Affairs Council of Hampton Roads, Sri Lanka: February 4-18.

L.J. Stambuk, President & CEO, World Affairs Council of Charlotte, Mysteries of Myanmar: February 20-March 5.

Anna Berry, Executive Director, World Affairs Council of New Hampshire, Burgundy & Provence River Cruise: May 3-14.

Ambassador Heather Hodges, President and Ambassador in Residence, Cleveland Council on World Affairs, Bilbao and Madrid: May 15-23.

Mimi Gregory, Vice President & Program Chairman, Naples Council on World Affairs, Inside Iran: May 18-June 1
 

Contact www.wacphila.org/travel or call 800-942-5004 x209 or x217.
 

The World Affairs Councils of America 

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Phone (202) 833-4557  Fax (202) 833-4555

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