America and Global Megatrends

 

November 16-18, 2016

The National Board of Directors of the World Affairs Councils of America is pleased to announce that WACA will offer 25 scholarships for undergraduate students from the Council network to attend our 2016 National Conference - America and Global Megatrends - November 16-18 at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC. For full details on application process, eligibility, and requirements see announcement .

New this year!  REGISTRATION REWARDS: For every five paid registrations from an individual Council community, WACA will provide free admission to a sixth individual designated by the Council CEO. 

Check out our Conference Registration page! From the bar at the top you can find all conference information, and you can also book your hotel room at WACA's special group rates at the The Capital Hilton. 

Keynote Speakers

	Opening Dinner Keynote Senator George J. Mitchell  Former Special Envoy to the Middle East Author of the forthcoming A Path to Peace
	Ambassadors Luncheon Keynote David Abney Chairman and CEO, UPS
	Leadership Day Keynote Ambassador Barbara Stephenson President, American Foreign Service Assn.

Think Tank Off-site Visits 

	New! Atlantic Council Global Risks 2035 Mathew J. Burrows Director, Strategic Foresight Initiative
	New! Brookings Institution  Thomas Wright Director, Project on International Order and Strategy
	The Washington Institute for Near East Policy   Syria: How to Bring Lasting Peace    Andrew J. Tabler Martin J. Gross Fellow
	Center for Strategic and International Studies TBD

Diplomatic Receptions  (more to come)  

Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center H.E. Hunaina Al Mughairy  Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman

1918 Society 

Pentagon Tour and Briefing Open to  35 members of the 1918 Society. Brian P. McKeon Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Friday, Nov. 18, at 2:00 - 5:00 PM

See confirmed speakers and hosts to date

The above program is not finalized; more speakers and details will be added on a weekly basis.

Register Now!

The WACA 2016 National Conference is sponsored by:

        

                

This program is generously supported by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.

Upcoming event:

September 19-20 : Tennessee World Affairs Council

This year's National Competition will feature a welcome reception at the United States Institute of Peace, on Friday, April 28. Topics, Study Guide, and other information to be announced shortly!

The Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy announces its 2016-2017 Ambassador John Price and Marcia Price Lecture Series . The series features leading authorities in international relations and is designed to cover key foreign policy issues and foster a globally savvy community through dialogue. 

The Price Lecture Series will kickoff September 20 with a talk on "Climate Change and Low Lying Island Nations: Relocation, Foreign Aid, and International Opportunity."  Ms. Brook Meakins, Attorney at Law, will discuss   the unique challenges that face low lying islanders, including big picture politics such as international negotiations and litigation, relocation and outside  opportunity and the difficulty of accepting foreign aid while maintaining an advocacy role.

See full lecture lineup and details  here.

Monday, September 19 

Foreign Policy Association hosts H.E. Enrique Peña Nieto, President of Mexico, to address U.S.-Mexico relations at its annual World Leadership Forum Dinner Details

Tennessee World Affairs Council to hold a Town Hall Meeting on "The Iran Nuclear Deal: Prospects for Cooperation, Competition, and Confrontation," featuring Ambassador Thomas R. Pickering and David Plazas, opinion engagement editor of The Tennessean Details

World Affairs Council of Jacksonville holds a Conversation in the Round with Dr. John C. Mirsalis, VP of Translational Development at SRI International Details

World Worcester hosts Richard Nephew, professor of religion at Georgetown University's International Affairs and Islamic Studies program Details

World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh hosts screening of documentary "Around the World in Pittsburgh" followed by a Q&A session with the students featured in the film Details

Tuesday, September 20

World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth hosts Ambassador Michael Froman, U.S. Trade Representative, for "A Conversation on International Trade" Details

World Affairs Council of Philadelphia hosts Sue Klebold, mother of one of the gunmen responsible for the Columbine High School shootings Details

Colorado Foothills World Affairs Council hosts Dr. Gregory Young, professor of political science and international affairs at the University of Colorado, Boulder, on "Turkey: Still a Democratic NATO Ally or Did the Attempted Coup Change Everything?" Details

World Affairs Council of Charlotte hosts a Global Spotlight Speaker Panel featuring Mark Moore, CEO of MANA Nutrition, Dr. Tamara Johnson, research associate and adjunct professor at UNC Charlotte, and Oliver Merino, Latino New South coordinator at the Levine Museum Details

Alabama World Affairs Council hosts Joseph Wilson, former U.S. Ambassador to Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe, for a discussion on "Africa and the U.S.: Past and Present" Details

Southeast Connecticut World Affairs Council hosts Dr. Charles G. Cogan, associate at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, on "Saudi Arabia in the Throes of Dramatic Change" Details

Greater Cincinnati World Affairs Council hosts Dr. Karen Petrone, professor and chair of the history department at the University of Kentucky, for a discussion on "National Security and Russia" Details

World Affairs Council of Hilton Head hosts Kathy Levit, board member of Tiny Hands International, on "Working to Fight Human Trafficking in Nepal, India, and Bangladesh" Details

World Affairs Council of Greater Houston hosts Hillel Schuster, Principal at KPMG Israel and delegate of Israel Public Diplomacy Forum, on "New Energy Dynamics for Israel and Its Neighbors" Details

San Diego World Affairs Council hosts Serge Dedina, Mayor of Imperial Beach, California, on "Coastal and Marine Conservation and Urban Revitalization on the U.S.-Mexican Border and Beyond" Details

WorldBoston hosts Elaine Kamarck, author and director at the Brooking Institution's Center for Effective Public Management, on her book Why Presidents Fall and How They Can Succeed Again Details

Santa Fe Council on International Relations hosts a Great Decisions presentation on Korea with facilitator Rob Reider, former CIR Board Member Details

Wednesday, September 21

World Affairs Council of Greater Houston hosts Eytan Gilboa, chair and academic director, Israel Public Diplomacy Forum, on "Geopolitical Transformations in the Middle East: Causes, Developments, and Consequences" Details 

World Affairs Council of South Texas hosts Dr. Faruk Taban, president of the Turkic American Alliance, on "Turmoil in Turkey and Its Impact" Details

Alaska World Affairs Council hosts a panel discussion with speakers Eugenia Urania Da Costa Carreia of NGO Belun, Margaret Mustamvi, program manager at Savanna Trust, and moderator Hilary A. Morgan, CEO of YWCA Alaska, on "Community Connections and Solutions: From Zimbabwe & East Timor to Alaska" Details

World Affairs Council of California Central Coast hosts Dr. Margaret Orchowski, congressional immigration journalist and author, on "Terrorism and the Migration/ Refugee Crisis: How It Changed the Immigration Reform Debate" Details

World Affairs Forum (Stamford) hosts Dr. John Entelis, professor and associate director of the Middle East Studies Program at Fordham University, for a discussion on "Middle East Alliances" Details

Colorado Springs World Affairs Council hosts Steve Clemons, editor at The Atlantic, on "The 2016 Election: Implications for U.S. Foreign Policy" Details

World Affairs Council of Greater Reading hosts Sid Forrest, head of the Global HR team for EnerSys, on "International Trade Opportunities and Challenges: The EnerSys Approach" Details

World Affairs Council of San Antonio hosts a WorldQuest trivia competition and dinner event Details

Thursday, September 22

South Dakota World Affairs Council hosts Dr. Marc Lynch, professor of political science and international affairs at George Washington University, on "The New Arab Wars: Anarchy and Uprisings in the Middle East" Details

World Affairs Council of Northern California hosts Fred H. Lawson, professor and head of the government department at Mills College, on "The Syrian Uprising Five Years On: The Ba'thi Regime Strikes Back" Details; and "Russia Vs. NATO: Is There an Endgame?" with speaker Edward W. Walker, executive director of the Program in Eurasian and East European Studies at UC Berkeley Details

San Diego World Affairs Council hosts Dr. Kiki Munshi, commentator and former diplomat, on "From the Edge of Europe: Romanian Worldview and Foreign Policy" Details

World Affairs Council of San Antonio hosts Professor Eytan Gilboa, Middle East scholar and commentator, for a discussion on "U.S. in the Middle East: Interests and Dilemmas" Details

World Affairs Council of Sonoma County hosts Dr. Daniel R. Soto, assistant professor at Sonoma State University, to discuss accessibility and over-consumption of electricity, and to look at energy efficient technologies Details

International Relations Council (Kansas City) holds its Eliot S. Berkley Annual Dinner, featuring political analyst James Carville Details

Cleveland Council on World Affairs hosts a screening of documentary "Our Man in Tehran" followed by a discussion with Consul General of Canada in Detroit Douglas George Details

World Affairs Council of Rhode Island hosts Donna M. Hughes, professor and chair of the Women's Studies Program at the University of Rhode Island, to discuss human trafficking Details

Colorado Springs World Affairs Council hosts a symposium for high school students about the implications that this year's elections will hold for U.S. foreign policy Details

Friday, September 23

Columbia World Affairs Council hosts Huei-Yuan Tai, general director of the Taipei Economic Cultural Office in Atlanta, to provide a "Taiwan and Taicung Update" Details

World Affairs Council of Monterey Bay hosts Colonel (ret.) Danial Pick to speak at its monthly luncheon, on "America's Foreign Language Deficit: A National Security Crisis?" Details

Windham World Affairs Council begins its "Understanding Cuba through Film" series by screening the film "Conducta" followed by a discussion with film co-star Idalmis Garcia Details

Cleveland Council on World Affairs hosts a Happy Hour at Platform Brewery to raise money for Academic WorldQuest Details