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2014 National Conference
Future of Korea
Academic WorldQuest
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America and the World 2015
Register Now! 
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 2014 National Conference Agenda will examine: 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

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Jessica Tuchman Mathews
President, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
 



United Nations Secretary-General's First Envoy on Youth

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Future of Korea 2014-2015
KEI We are pleased to announce continued collaboration with the Korea Economic Institute of America on the Future of Korea program series. The speaker program focuses on the economic and political situation on the Korean Peninsula as well as U.S.-Korea relations. 

All councils may submit applications; up to eight councils will be selected to participate. Applications are due Wednesday, September 24.

About the Program
The centerpiece of the program is a panel discussion consisting of one representative each from the U.S. Department of State, the Korean Embassy, KEI, or other relevant institutions. The panel participants typically offer a general overview presentation (approximately 60-90 minutes in length), followed by a Q&A period. The speakers address political, security, economic and financial issues pertaining to the Korean Peninsula and U.S.-Korea relations. 

Besides the mandatory Future of Korea panel program, there are usually ancillary activities surrounding the main event. Local councils can choose from the following options. All four are strongly encouraged, depending on the needs and capacity of the local council. Ancillary events include:
  • Business meeting, such as with the local chamber of commerce
  • Student meeting, such as a university/high school forum
  • Community leader meeting, such as a meeting with local political/business leaders
  • Media meeting, such as an interview with local media outlets or editorial board
The Future of Korea program will be conducted through June 2015. Interested councils are asked to include several preferred dates or date ranges in their proposals. Exact dates will be determined in collaboration with the Korea Economic Institute.
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
Leadership Mission to China
The World Affairs Councils of America is proud to announce the Leadership Delegation to the People's Republic of China. The Leadership Mission will take place October 11-19, 2014. The delegation includes:

Mr. Bill Clifford - Head of Delegation
President & CEO, World Affairs Councils of America

Mr. David Evans
Director and Treasurer, WorldDenver
Managing Director, Rose Creek Ridge, LLC

Ms. Kimberly Ann McLaughlin
Assistant Treasurer, Maine WAC    
Executive Director, Sustainable Economic Solutions

Ms. Clare Higgins Morton
Assistant Director & Council Administrator
WAC of Atlanta

Mr. Charles Oliver
Director and Treasurer, Montana WAC

Mr. Lee Pasquarella
Board Member, WAC of Seattle
Board Member, World Affairs Councils of America
President, Cascade Consulting Group

Mr. Richard Rediker
Board Member, WAC of Western Massachusetts
CEO, Rediker Software, INC

Mr. Patrick W. Ryan
President, Tennessee WAC              
Board Member, World Affairs Councils of America

Mr. Craig Snyder
President & CEO, WAC of Philadelphia

Mr. Serge Tomassian
Board Member and Past Chairman, WAC of Orange County
Board Member, World Affairs Councils of America
Attorney at Law, Tomassian, Throckmorton & Inouye LLP

Google - Freedom and Power in the Digital Age 

The World Affairs Councils of America and Google continue the Freedom and Power in the Digital Age program. Eight councils were selected to host the program, which features notable Google experts as speakers and is supported by a grant from Google. The program also includes an Educators Seminar with a separate team of Google experts who will address how teachers and students can best leverage the tools of the new digital age to further their educational missions. More Information

  

This week's programs include:

 

September 22 -- The World Affairs Council of New Hampshire hosts Ross LaJeunesse, Global Head of Free Expression & International Relations, Google 

 

September 25 -- The World Affairs Council of Seattle hosts Ben Blink, Senior Public Policy Analyst, Google


Understanding Muslim Societies
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The World Affairs Councils of America, with the generous support of Carnegie Corporation of New York, continues its very successful Engage America Series Understanding Muslim Societies. The program focuses on countries in the Middle East, as well as Afghanistan/Pakistan, and those relevant rising economic powers that are competing globally with the United States, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.

  

This week's programs include:

September 25 -- World Affairs Council of Greater Hampton Roads and World Affairs Council of Kentucky and Southern Indiana

September 26 -- Columbus World Affairs Council

 

Combating Human Trafficking 

Carlson & 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.

  

This week's programs include:

 

September 24 -- World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley

 

September  
Cover to Cover
The World Affairs Councils of America's September author series featured Dr. Mathew J. Burrows, Director of the Atlantic Council's Strategic Foresight Initiative in the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security, and author of The Future, Declassified: Megatrends That Will Undo the World Unless We Take Action. The call was held Wednesday, September 17, and was moderated by WACA President and CEO Bill Clifford. A recording of the call is available here.

 

Mathew Burrows is the director of the Atlantic Council's Strategic Foresight Initiative. He has served as the National Intelligence Council's counselor and director of analysis and production for the last decade. He served as the intelligence advisor to Richard Holbrooke when he was the US Ambassador to the UN. After 9/11, he became deputy national security advisor to US Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill. Full Bio 

 

Minnesota International Center Award

The Minnesota International Center has received an award recognizing its Great Decisions program. President Carol Engebretson Byrne will be inducted into the Foreign Policy Association's Council of Ambassadors at its World Leadership Forum Dinner on September 25. MIC is the only World Affairs Council to host an annual Great Decisions conference, has a monthly partnership with The Star Tribune newspaper, and a monthly "Global Conversations" series with the Minneapolis Central Library based on Great Decisions topics. Congratulations to Carol and to MIC for their great work!

Weekly Highlights

Monday, September 22

The World Affairs Council of New Hampshire hosts Ross LaJeunesse, Global Head of Free Expression and International Relations at Google, for "Freedom and Power in the Digital Age." A seminar for educators entitled "Tools for the Digital Age" will be held on Tuesday, September 23. This program is sponsored by the World Affairs Councils of America and made possible by a generous grant from Google, Inc. Details


The World Affairs Council of Greater Richmond hosts Ambassador Husain Haqqani, former Pakistani Ambassador to the U.S., for "U.S.-Pakistan Relations: A Critical Analysis." Details
 

The World Affairs Council of Orange County hosts "ISIS: Is It Time for a Shift in U.S. Policy in Iraq and Syria?" Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Oregon hosts journalist Ramita Navai for "City of Lies: Love, Sex, Death, and the Search for Truth in Tehran." Details
 

The World Affairs Forum (Stamford, CT) hosts Prof. Seth Anziska, Columbia University, for "Israel and the U.S." Details

 

Tuesday, September 23

The Foreign Policy Association hosts the World Leadership Forum 2014. Details

 

The San Diego World Affairs Council hosts "Migration and Violence in Central America: A Conversation Between the Trans-Border Institute and Human Rights Watch." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Northern California hosts a panel discussion on "Reimagining India." Details
 

The Alabama World Affairs Council hosts Reza Marashi, Research Director at the National Iranian American Council. Details


The Santa Fe Council on International Relations hosts Ambassador Marc Grossman, Vice Chairman, Cohen Group; former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs; and former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, for "Does the Transatlantic Relationship Still Matter?" Details

 

The Cleveland Council on World Affairs hosts Dr. James J. Zogby, Founder and President of the Arab American Institute, for "The Threat of ISIS." Details

 

The Columbus Council on World Affairs hosts Ambassador Robert Pearson, former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, for "Diplomatic Deficit: How D.C. Politics Are Damaging U.S. Economic and Security Interests Globally." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Las Vegas hosts Dr. Paul Jabber, former scholar-in-residence at CIA's Counterterrorism Center, and WACLV board member, for "The Middle East in Transition: Current Religious, Ethnic, and Social Challenges to the Regional Order." Details

The World Affairs Council of Maine hosts Iraqi journalist Ali Al Mshakheel for "Iraq Now: An Iraqi Journalist's View." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Jacksonville hosts Stephen L. Atkins, Principal, Managing Director, SouthEast Development Group, LLC, for "A World of Opportunities: The Laura Street Trio and Development in the Urban Core." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of the Quad Cities hosts Prof. Mariano Magalh�es, Augustana College, for "Brazil and the Effects of the World Cup on the Economy, Infrastructure, and Politics." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Seattle hosts "An Evening with Rick Steves - The Holy Land." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Houston hosts a Young Professionals Program on "Degrading the Threat: Global Counter-terrorism Strategies." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Philadelphia hosts Raza Bokhari, WAC Philadelphia Vice Chairman, for "Pakistan's Fractured Reality: An Insider's View." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Austin hosts author and journalist Lawrence Wright for "Thirteen Days in September." Details

 

WorldBoston hosts "U.S.-Malaysia Business Opportunities." Details
 

The World Affairs Council - Washington, DC hosts a Young Professionals Happy Hour. Details

 

Wednesday, September 24
The World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley hosts a screening of Not My Life. This program is sponsored by the World Affairs Councils of America and is made possible by a generous grant from Carlson and the Carlson Family Foundation. Details

The Tennessee World Affairs Council hosts a Global Focus Webcast on "America and the World." Details and Sign Up  

The Juneau World Affairs Council hosts Dr. Ziadeh, founder and director of the Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies in Syria, and co-founder and executive director of the Syrian Center for Political and Strategic Studies in Washington, DC, for "Syria: From Struggle For Freedom To Human Crisis." Details

The San Diego World Affairs Council hosts Clara Long, Researcher, U.S. Program, Human Rights Watch, for "Migration and Violence in Central America." Details

The World Affairs Council of Northern California's East Bay chapter hosts James Mayock, Founder, E&M Mayock and Associates PC, for "A Look Inside the U.S. Immigration System - Is It Working?" Details 

The World Affairs Council of Northern California hosts Mathew J. Burrows, Director, Strategic Foresight Initiative, Atlantic Council, for "Alternative Futures: The World in 2030." Details

The World Affairs Councils of America's September Cover to Cover author series featured Mathew J. Burrows on his book The Future, Declassified: Megatrends That Will Undo the World Unless We Take Action.

The Colorado Springs World Affairs Council hosts Ambassador Marc Grossman, Vice Chairman, Cohen Group; former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs; and former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, for "What Next in Afghanistan and Pakistan?" Details

The World Affairs Council of Charlotte hosts Ambassador of Belgium to the U.S. Johan Verbeke for a private dinner. Details 

The Foreign Policy Association hosts the World Leadership Forum 2014 Dinner. Details

The Minnesota International Center hosts a "Global Social" with International Visitors. Details

 

Thursday, September 25

The World Affairs Council of Seattle hosts Ben Blink, Senior Policy Analyst, and founding member of Google's Free Expression and International Relations, for "Freedom and Power in the Digital Age." An educator workshop on "Digital Tools for an International Classroom" will be held earlier in the day. This program is sponsored by the World Affairs Councils of America and is made possible by a generous grant from Google, Inc. Details

The World Affairs Council of Kentucky and Southern Indiana hosts Prof. John Bowen, University of Missouri St. Louis, for "Understanding Muslim Societies." This program is sponsored by the World Affairs Councils of America and made possible by a generous grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York. Details

The World Affairs Council of Charlotte hosts Ambassador of Belgium to the U.S. Johan Verbeke as part of its Ambassadors Circle Series. Details 

The World Affairs Council of Northern California's Marin chapter hosts Cassie Doyle, Consul General of Canada, Consulate General of Canada in San Francisco, for "Canada: An Important Trading Partner." Details

WorldDenver hosts Ambassador Marc Grossman, Vice Chairman, Cohen Group; former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs; and former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, for "What Next in Afghanistan and Pakistan?" Details 

The World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh hosts author and journalist Peter Schneider for "Berlin Now: The City after the Wall." Details 

The World Affairs Council of Houston hosts Alyssa Ayres, Council on Foreign Relations, for "U.S.-India Relations and the Modi Government." Details 

The World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth hosts a screening of the film "The Day My God Died." Details 

The Colorado Springs World Affairs Council hosts its 2014 High School Symposium: "Back to the Cold War? U.S.-Russian Relations in the 21st Century." Details 

The World Affairs Council of Tacoma hosts its 25th Annual Consular Association Reception. Details 

The World Affairs Council - Washington, DC hosts Prof. Christine Fair, Georgetown University, for "Fighting to the End: The Pakistan Army's Way of War." Details 

The World Affairs Council of Sonoma Couny hosts Mark Randol, retired Senior Specialist, Domestic Intelligence and Counterterrorism, Congressional Research Service, and Director of Counterterrorism Policy at the Department of Homeland Security, for "The Paradox of Disclosure: Snowden Leaks and the Future of American Intelligence." Details

The Columbus Council on World Affairs hosts a Great Decisions discussion: "How D.C. Politics are Delaying Ambassadors & Damaging U.S. Economic & Security Interests Globally." Details 

Friday, September 26
The World Affairs Council of Houston hosts Victor Ponta, Prime Minister of Romania, for "Romania: The Key to Diverse, Secure Energy for Europe." Details

The World Affairs Council of Charlotte hosts Ambassador of Hungary to the U.S. Gy�rgy Szap�ry as part of its Ambassadors Circle Series. Details

WorldDenver hosts Ambassador Steven Pifer, Director of the Brookings Institutions' Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Initiative, for "The Ukraine-Russia Crisis: What Next?" Details

The World Affairs Council of Oregon hosts "World Pulse Live 2014." Details

The Alaska World Affairs Council hosts Dr. Ziadeh, founder and director of the Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies in Syria, and co-founder and executive director of the Syrian Center for Political and Strategic Studies in Washington, DC, for "Syria: From Struggle For Freedom To Humanitarian Crisis." Details

Saturday, September 27
The World Affairs Council of Harrisburg hosts its Annual Peace Symposium. Details

The World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh hosts its weekly KQV Global Press Conference. This week's Saturday show: "Climate Change: An Unconventional Threat to National Security." Details 

The World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth hosts its 2014 Free Junior WAC Meeting. Details 

The Vermont Council on World Affairs hosts a walking tour of the Old North End of Burlington, VT. Details 

Sunday, September 28
The World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh hosts its weekly KQV Global Press Conference. This week's Sunday show: "Breaking Down Barriers through Food: Conflict Kitchen's Palestinian Edition." Details 

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

  

Ambassador Marilyn McAfee, Chair, World Affairs Council of Jacksonville, Inside Iran: October 5 - 19.

  

Ambassador Heather Hodges, President and Ambassador in Residence, Cleveland Council on World Affairs, South American Tapestry: October 16 - November 2.

  

Ambassador Mark Johnson, Founder, World Affairs Council of Montana, Landscapes of the Mediterranean: October 23 - November 6.

  

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.

  

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

Email [email protected] Website www.worldaffairscouncils.org