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Letter from the President
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Dear Council Leaders, Friends, and Supporters:
The World Affairs Councils of America is delighted to unveil a fresh logo, which heads this newsletter. Many in the network have been encouraging WACA to embrace a fresh look, and we believe that our new logo - along with a Web site redesign coming soon - will enhance our national identity and influence. For those World Affairs Councils currently using the old WACA logo as their own mark or displaying affiliation with WACA on their homepages, we will share with you the new image. We encourage any Council wishing to do so to contact the National Office. The excitement of Academic WorldQuest 2015 hasn't worn off at all: DuPont Manual High of Louisville took the crown, edging out San Antonio's Keystone School by just one correct answer, 95 to 94! Among those who were cheering on the runners-up were Carlos and Malu Alvarez of San Antonio, who came to officially announce their commitment of $500,000 to WACA's Academic WorldQuest Endowment Fund. Watch the video clip of Mr. Alvarez, who serves on the WACA Board, speak to the AWQ participants at this year's competition. And please consider making a tax-deductible donation (here) to help us reach our AWQ endowment goal of $1 million by next April - we are 60% of the way there! We are grateful to the Alvarez Family for their generous support, and to our AWQ Sponsors as well as this year's reception host, EU Ambassador David O'Sullivan, who graciously opened his official residence in DC to WorldQuesters and their teachers. With Europe Day coming up on May 9, several Councils have been exploring transatlantic relations in a variety of events and activities. WACA is pleased that five Councils so far have participated in the EU in the U.S. 2015 program, and two more will deliver events this month. Thanks to all of your inspiring dedication and fine work to engage our communities!
Bill Clifford
President and CEO
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May Cover to Cover
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May's Cover to Cover will host
Chris Woods, investigative journalist and author of
Sudden Justice: America's Secret Drone Wars. The call will be held on
Wednesday, May 13, at 2:00 PM ET. WACA President Bill Clifford will moderate.
 In
Sudden Justice, award-winning investigative journalist
Chris Woods explores the secretive history of the United States' use of armed drones and their key role not only on today's battlefields, but also in a covert targeted killing project that has led to the deaths of thousands. The ability to target its enemies from the safety of headquarters thousands of miles from the battlefield has profound implications for how America conducts its foreign policy, and for how it is seen in the world. As the first book to comprehensively assemble and analyze the facts about the U.S. drone program,
Sudden Justice is the essential guide for understanding its implications.
More Information
 Chris Woods is an investigative journalist who specializes in conflict and national security issues. A former senior BBC Panorama producer, he has authored several investigations into covert U.S. drone strikes and their true effects. He was awarded the Martha Gellhorn Journalism Prize for his work, and lives in London.
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Taiwan Leadership Mission (rescheduled)
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The World Affairs Councils of America and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) will host a WACA Leadership Mission to Taiwan June 13-21, 2015.
 The 10-person Leadership Mission was rescheduled from late April and will be comprised of a TECRO escort, WACA President Bill Clifford, and eight delegates from the Council network.
Only TWO spots remain. Those interested in participating should contact the WACA National Office this week at 202-833-4557. Applications must be submitted by May 12.
TECRO's sponsorship will cover air fare and in-country expenses for the delegation, including lodging, meals, and local transportation. Delegates are asked to pay an administrative fee of $1,800 to the World Affairs Councils of America.
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European Union Outreach 2015
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 EU in the U.S. is administered in partnership with the Delegation of the European Union to the United States to raise awareness, knowledge, and understanding throughout the United States about EU policies, the EU's role as an international actor, and the value of the EU-U.S. relationship.
More Information
Events this month include:
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The Rational Middle Energy Series
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 The World Affairs Councils of America is pleased to kick off its newest national program series in partnership with
The Rational Middle Energy Series
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With nearly 2 million views and counting, the 22-film series has sparked a movement based on productive conversation around the current energy challenge and what it will take to achieve a cleaner energy future.
The film screening-and-discussion series, moderated by producer and director Gregory Kallenberg, will be underway later this month at World Affairs Councils across the U.S.
Events this month include:
May 27 -- World Affairs Council of Houston
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Job Opening at Utah Council
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 The
Utah
Council
for Citizen Diplomacy is seeking qualified applicants for the Executive Director position in Salt Lake City. The successful candidate will demonstrate their passion and commitment to UCCD's mission through their prior work and experiences. All candidates should have proven leadership, coaching, and relationship management experience. Candidates from both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors will be considered. Preferred: Advanced degree, with at least 5 years of senior management experience. The position is available July 1, 2015.
Applications are accepted until position is filled. If interested, please read the full position description and qualifications
here
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Academic WorldQuest 2015
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The World Affairs Councils of America is proud to present the winners of the 2015 Academic WorldQuest National Competition! The following three teams scored highest among the 44 teams that participated on Saturday, April 25:
First Place
duPont Manual High School
World Affairs Council of Kentucky and Southern Indiana
Matthew Raj, Nivedita Khandkar, Shravan Ravishankar, and Madan A. Subheeswar
$2500 Scholarship for each student towards
CIEE Summer Study Abroad Program
Second Place
Keystone School World Affairs Council of San Antonio Emily Ye, Katie Mansfield, Chris Zhu, and Nabil Kapasi $1000 Scholarship for each student towards
CIEE Summer Study Abroad Program Third Place Shepton High School World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth Noah Schochet, Ankit Reddy, Inan Sinha, and Sharon Jiang Thank you to our sponsors NATO, Johnson+Sterling, ICI Education Foundation, Carlson and the Carlson Family Foundation, CIEE, and to the Delegation of the European Union to the United States and EU Ambassador David O'Sullivan, our embassy reception host.
Alvarez Family Pledges $500,000 for AWQ Endowment
Academic WorldQuest, a flagship program of the World Affairs Councils of America that engages more than 4,000 high school students annually across the U.S. to test their knowledge of global issues and foreign policy, has received a $500,000 commitment from a generous supporter. Carlos Alvarez of San Antonio, Texas, a businessman and philanthropist who serves on the WACA National Board of Directors, made the pledge as part of the nonprofit organization's campaign to endow the Academic WorldQuest national competition. He is making the gift with his wife, Malu - the gift would be the largest to date for any World Affairs Councils of America fundraising initiative. "Mr. and Mrs. Alvarez's generosity is an inspiring affirmation of the purpose of Academic WorldQuest - to offer young people a fun and interactive way to learn about critical challenges facing the U.S. and the world - and their gift will enable WACA to sustain and expand the Academic WorldQuest national competition while enhancing support for educational programs provided by 96 local nonprofit World Affairs Councils," says Bill Clifford, WACA President and CEO. "They truly understand the value of educating and engaging the public, and especially students, in international affairs and we are incredibly grateful for their commitment." Read More
AWQ 2015 Survey
Teachers and students: We ask for your feedback in order to improve the national Academic WorldQuest. Please take a few moments to fill out this brief survey and please forward to all participating students.
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World Affairs Councils in the News
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Minnesota International Center
Colorado Springs World Affairs Council
World Affairs Council of Charlotte
World Affairs Council of Dallas-Fort Worth
Montana World Affairs Council
International Affairs Forum (Traverse City, MI)
World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley
Alabama World Affairs Council
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What's Happening in the Network
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There are over
100 World Affairs Council events
scheduled this month across the country. Sign up for the
WACA Weekly Digest
to receive 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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| 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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