The World Affairs Councils of America will host its 2013 National Conference,
Six Top Issues for 2014,
November 13-15, 2013 at the
Liaison Capitol Hill Hotel.
The confirmed line-up of speakers for the National Conference has been announced and can be
seen here.
Take Advantage of Special Early-Bird Rate for Members
Prices:
$455 World Affairs Council Member ($495 after September 1)
$545 Non-Member
$430 World Affairs Council CEO/Staff/Board Member
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
- K-12 Education
For more information on the WACA Annual National Conference, click here.
Please join us! Conference registration and hotel reservations are now open.
Register for 2013 National Conference
Reserve Hotel Room at The Liaison
Staying at The Liaison
We have secured a special group rate at The Liaison Capitol Hill of $225/night.
To book rooms at this rate, click here or call 1-866-233-4642 and reference "National Conference - World Affairs."
The Liaison is the closest hotel to the U.S. Capitol. The Smithsonian, the National Mall, Union Station, and dozens of the country's most visited museums and monuments are within walking distance.
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
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 2013 National Conference Sponsors
1918 Society Hot Topics Conference Call
The World Affairs Councils of America will host General Michael V. Hayden, former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency & the National Security Agency (full bio below), for an exclusive, off the record 1918 Society Hot Topics Conference Call on Understanding Data Surveillance, PRISM and NSA on Wednesday, August 7 at 3:00 PM EDT. The call will be moderated by Dr. Lori E. Murray, Distinguished Chair for National Security at the U.S. Naval Academy and President Emeritus of WACA.
1918 Society members, please RSVP to Althea Georgantas at [email protected] to receive call-in information.
As Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (2006 - 2009), General Michael V. Hayden was responsible for overseeing the collection of information concerning the plans, intentions and capabilities of America's adversaries; producing timely analysis for decision makers; and conducting covert operations to thwart terrorists and other enemies of the US.
Before becoming Director of the CIA, General Hayden served as the country's first Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence and was the highest-ranking intelligence officer in the armed forces. Earlier, he served as Commander of the Air Intelligence Agency, Director of the Joint Command and Control Warfare Center, Director of the National Security Agency and Chief of the Central Security Service.
General Hayden graduated from Duquesne University with a bachelor's degree in history in 1967 and a master's degree in modern American history in 1969. He also did postgraduate work at the Defense Intelligence School conducted by the Defense Intelligence Agency. He is currently a Principal at the Chertoff Group and a Distinguished Visiting Professor at George Mason University.
Join the 1918 Society
Please consider making a tax-deductible gift to support the World Affairs Councils of America's mission to educate and engage Americans on global issues by joining the 1918 Society. Benefits include:
- Special recognition as an individual sponsor of the World Affairs Councils of America on our website and in all materials, which are distributed to our vast national network throughout the year.
- Access to exclusive, off-the-record 1918 Society Hot Topics Conference Calls where members are given first-hand access to distinguished policymakers, journalists, and experts on today's pressing news items.
- An invitation for two to join the 1918 Society Breakfast at the World Affairs Councils of America's National Conference.
- National Conference benefits include access to the hospitality "green room" suite and the opportunity to meet guest speakers and other leaders attending the conference, and priority seating at lunches and the opening banquet dinner.
- Eligibility to apply for Leadership Missions, which overseas visits by delegation made up of civic and business leaders from around the national network to learn about a host country.
Please contact Ian J. Byrne at [email protected] or at 202-833-4557 if you have any questions or are interested in joining the 1918 Society.
National Conference Scholarships Available
The National Board of Directors of the World Affairs Councils of America is proud to announce that we will be offering 25 scholarships for college students from our national network to attend the 2013 National Conference, U.S. National Security: Six Top Issues in 2014, November 13-15, 2013 in Washington, DC at the Liaison Capitol Hill Hotel. For more information on how to apply, click here.
Councils, a flyer is available for your use to promote the National Conference to your members, which Ian J. Byrne has sent out. If you did not receive it, please send an email to [email protected].
Save the Date: Academic WorldQuest 2014
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.
CONTEXT: Mixed Set of Expectations for Iran's New President
When Hassan Rouhani takes office as Iran's newly elected president on August 3, the expectations of those who elected him and expect him to pursue a moderate course will be high. And while no one doubts that President Rouhani's tone will be much different than that of his predecessor, many remain skeptical about the prospects for real change. We spoke with a leading Iran expert and asked him to provide context on expectations for the new president. Click here to watch.
WACA-U.S. Department of State Partnership
The World Affairs Councils of America is partnering with the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to provide exciting opportunities for World Affairs Councils members and their families to promote relationships between the United States and other countries of the world. Enrich your family and community by joining our "C2C" - Culture2Culture, Country2Country and Community2Comunity initiative. Volunteer to host an international exchange student starting this fall.
Many people ask what they can do to make things better for themselves, their children, their communities, and the world. By sharing your home and heart with an international high school exchange student, you will make a difference. What begins as an exchange of kindness, customs and culture within a family extends throughout a high school and community to touch thousands of lives. The Department of State needs host families from all over the U.S. - from large cities to small towns. If you or someone you know would be interested in hosting a student, please visit http://hosting.state.gov for more information and to fill out a short form so that a local representative can contact you.
The World Affairs Councils of America has completed its most recent update of the Recommended Speakers Database on the