The World Affairs Councils of America is calling on all our Councils' leaders and Board members to take action now against a new IRS proposal that would require some nonprofits to  report of donors' Social Security numbers and the amount donated by them. T his "voluntary" reporting regime would negatively impact nonprofit organizations. To better understand the consequences check out this article ('Never' is the better answer).

By having nonprofit organizations collect social security numbers, the IRS will be opening organizations - and their board members as fiduciaries - to significant liability and place a tremendous burden on nonprofit organizations to invest heavily in cybersecurity measures to protect this valuable data from hackers. It will also create confusion, alarm, and distrust among potential donors who may - as a result - choose not to support our important missions.  

The IRS is asking the public for feedback on this proposed new law, due by December 16. The World Affairs Council of Western Michigan has already taken the initiative; follow their lead and speak out (see sample letter).    

The BoardSource community along with its partner The National Council of Nonprofits has developed and posted free materials on its website for you, including an analysis, various talking points, and sample comments. 

Now accepting applications for 2016: due December 18  

More information 

Spotlight on Turkey, sponsoredby the Turkish Cultural Foundation in collaboration with the World Affairs Councils of America runs a full calendar year and focuses on giving an overview of Turkey's rich culture. It consists of a spring Teacher Workshop, a Teacher Study Tour in the summer, and public cultural programs in the fall. More Information. 

Upcoming Events: 

December 16: The World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh 

Maria Wulff, President of the  World Affairs Council of Oregon,  has announced her resignation, effective March 31, 2016.  Maria has made significant contributions not only to her local Council community in Portland and the State of Oregon but also to the national Council network over her more than 20 years of leadership. For WACA,  Maria's farewell letter is bittersweet, indeed. Luckily, we won't have to start missing her for a few months yet! 

If you are interested in becoming the next President of the World Affairs Council of Oregon, then check out the position details and requirements here. Position open until filled. Application review begins December 18, 2015.  As Maria says, "There's an opportunity for someone else to have the best job in Oregon and/or the world." 

The Board of Directors of the Vermont Council on World Affairs has announced the appointment of  Patricia Preston  as Executive Director, effective January 1, 2016. She will succeed Dr. Gail Stevenson, who will retire after more than six successful years at the helm of the organization.

Patricia Preston currently serves as Assistant Director of the VCWA. A native of Randolph VT, Patricia is a graduate of UVM in education and holds a master's degree in international education from NYU. She studied also in England and has traveled extensively around the world, including as a teacher and curriculum developer in Tanzania.  She worked for both the United Nations on women's issues and the U.S. State Department's Office of Global Food Security. Patricia is also President and Founder of Las Mariposas, a nonprofit that provides nutrition and hygiene education to children in rural Guatemala. "I'm pleased to help continue to develop an organization I'm already so proud to be a part of," she said. "Gail has been an invaluable part of this organization and will be sorely missed; yet, I look to the future of the VCWA with excitement."  

Dr. Gail Stevenson will continue her consulting work on climate change in the cryosphere (the earth's ice and cold regions) with the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative in Hinesburg and will continue her work with the Howard Center, where she will become board chair next year. "Global affairs has been my passion my entire life," she said, "and the VCWA has been a leader in bringing the world to Vermont, and Vermont to the world."