August 20, 2018
WACA Weekly
This Week: Cover to Cover on Cuba; Qatar Deadline; Member Benefits: Conference Scholarships for Students and Stratfor Subscription Discount; Wanted: Council CEOs; plus, Program News
Wednesday, August 22, at 2:00-2:30 PM ET

Cover to Cover with Vicki Huddleston on Cuba

Peeling back the "Sugar Curtain" to examine several decades of stormy relations between the U.S. and Cuba,  Vicki Huddleston , the top diplomat in Havana under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, provides an essential memoir. Huddleston also peers into the future, when for the first time in more than six decades no one named Castro will be Cuba's leader.

Register now for the conference call  Wed., Aug. 22, at 2-2:30 PM ET .


Coming up in September...

Cover to Cover will feature a conversation with  C.J. Chivers, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent for the  New York Times, on his new book,  The Fighters: Americans in Combat in Afghanistan and Iraq.
You are able to contribute to the World Affairs Councils of America at  no additional cost to you! If you shop at Amazon through this  link or the Amazon Smile logo to the left, a portion of your purchase will be donated to WACA.  Bookmark our  page  today!
WACA 2018 Leadership Mission to Qatar: October 12-19
The application deadline is Friday, August 24, 2018 . If you have any questions, please send an email to Liz Brailsford at the WACA National Office at lbrailsford@worldaffairscouncils.org.
The World Affairs Councils of America is delighted to announce that the  Embassy of the State of Qatar in Washington, DC  will sponsor a WACA Leadership Mission to Qatar, this October.

Note : Flights will depart from United States airports on Friday, October 12 , and arrive in Doha on Saturday, October 13. Return flights will depart Qatar on Friday, October 19.

This WACA Leadership Mission will be comprised of a Qatar Embassy representative, WACA President and CEO Bill Clifford, and a minimum of 10 delegates from the Council network . Participants will have the opportunity to engage in dialogue with top government officials, business leaders, journalists, and other experts to gain a better understanding of the political, national security, economic, social, and cultural landscape of the host country. See complete details.
WACA 2018 National Conference: Braving the New World Order

November 7-9
The Mayflower Hotel
Washington, DC
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 2018 National Conference -  Braving the New World Order - November 7-9 at The Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC.
The WACA Board, in partnership with The Gambrinus Company and Mr. Carlos Alvarez, is offering these scholarships in order to fulfill our educational mission and to prepare future leaders for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. The Conference -- coming right after the midterm elections -- promises to be a special occasion for our network of Council leaders, members, friends, and students to engage with many leading policy makers and analysts about critical foreign and trade policy issues and America's role in the world.

Stratfor Worldview :

Special subscription discount for WACA Members!
Dear Council Leaders and Supporters:

It's a pleasure to share an exciting opportunity with you. As part of WACA's evolving partnership with Stratfor, the Austin, Texas-based company renowned for its geopolitical intelligence platform, we are pleased to offer a significantly discounted annual subscription to Stratfor Worldview for members of WACA and local Councils.

Your premium digital subscription includes:

  • Unlimited access to all Analyses, Articles, Guidances, and Snapshots
  • Custom Email Notifications
  • My Collections - your library of Stratfor Insights
  • Members-only Discussion Forums
  • Members-only Newsletters
  • Quarterly, Annual, and Decade Forecasts
  • Access to Mobile App for iOS and Android
  • Text-to-Voice feature to listen to Stratfor WorldView content when on the move

With Stratfor's special WACA discount, you will save 72% off the price of a one-year subscription. Enjoy the wealth of analytical and predictive insights for only $99 - the equivalent of just $1.90 per week!

To redeem this offer, visit Stratfor's World Affairs Councils of America Partnership Page.

And for members of WACA's 1918 Society, you will receive the subscription automatically, for free, as a benefit of your participation! (Hint: join the 1918 Society today!)
Councils Seek Executives

Global Minnesota seeks an outstanding and experienced international affairs and nonprofit sector leader to serve as its President. This role will develop the organization’s engagement throughout Minnesota using the 5-year Strategic Plan as a roadmap with the goal of deeper awareness and understanding of global economic, political, social, and cultural ideas and issues. Apply here.
cleveland

CCWA is seeking a Chief Executive Officer. The ideal candidate will bring proven strategic and hands-on leadership experience to fulfill CCWA’s mission to inspire engagement in international affairs and world cultures through education, citizen diplomacy, and public dialogue.  Apply here.
WAC Albuquerque Hosts  Oman - Past and Present
The World Affairs Council of Albuquerque featured Dr. Linda Funsch last Wednesday for its Engage America: Oman  program, co-sponsored by WACA and its grant funder  Sultan Qaboos Culture Center .  The audience rated Dr. Funsch's comprehensive presentation, “ Oman - Past and Present ," as excellent and were pleased to learn about the history and the contemporary affairs in this strategically-located country. A key takeaway was that Oman is a far more progressive society than many of its neighbors while still maintaining a solid relationship with its history and traditional culture.

WACABQ's program is the latest in the WACA Engage America: Oman 2018 Series. Next,  South Dakota WAC and WAC Dallas/Fort Worth will host experts recommended by the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center.
Council of the Month: WAC Dallas/Forth Worth to Honor Ron Kirk
The World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth will honor former U.S. ambassador and former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk for his public service, civic, and business leadership with the H. Neil Mallon Award at its 35th annual dinner on October 12 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel .

One of the most respected and admired individuals in the Dallas/Fort Worth community, Ron Kirk is a 30-year public servant and legal veteran. He serves as senior counsel in the Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s Dallas and Washington, DC offices, and provides leadership for a number of corporate boards and charitable organizations.

Honorary event chairs are former President Barack Obama , Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings , and Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price .

Click here to learn more about participating or call 214-695-8400. 
Council Highlights
Monday 8/20

Columbia World Affairs Council hosts David Callahan , Senior Vice President at U.S.-Saudi Arabian Business Council, for “Doing Business with Saudi Arabia.” Details

Tuesday 8/21

Columbus Council on World Affairs hosts James A. Walsh , Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of International Narcotics & Law Enforcement Affairs, for “The Global Dimensions of Ohio’s Opioid Crisis.” Details

World Affairs Council of Atlanta hosts a panel of experts for “Why NAFTA Matters.” Details

Wednesday 8/22

World Affairs (Northern California) hosts Clara Long , a senior researcher with the U.S. Program at Human Rights Watch, and Beth Van Schaack , fellow with the Center for the Advanced Study in the behavioral sciences at Stanford University, for “Are Human Rights in Crisis? A Case Study from the U.S.-Mexico Border.” Details

World Affairs Council of South Texas hosts Banning Garrett , author and entrepreneur, for “The Big Picture & Us: Global Trends, Geopolitics, Technology, and Urban Ecology.” Details

Thursday 8/23

Santa Fe Council on International Relations hosts Ambassadors Vicki Huddleston , Mark Asquino , and Pat Hawkins for “The State of the State Department: An Ambassador Round Table.” Details

Friday 8/24

World Affairs (Northern California) hosts Ted Stachura , director of coffee at Equator, for “Connect with Coffee | The Search for the Perfect Cup.” Details
Travel the World with WAC Philadelphia
Travel with  Council Leaders - hear them lecture on Travel the World tours from the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia!
2018 travel schedule includes trips to: 

  • Megan Torrey, CEO, World Affairs Council of Connecticut, Himalayan Kingdoms, Sept. 11-25
  • Dixie Anderson, Executive Director Emerita, World Affairs Council of Western Michigan, Romance of the Douro River: Sept. 15-26
  • Joyce Davis, President, World Affairs Council of Harrisburg, Town & Country Life in Languedoc: Oct. 6-14
  • Don Samford, Board President, Peoria Area World Affairs Council, Cuba: Nov. 4-12
  • Megan Torrey, CEO, World Affairs Council of Connecticut, South East Asia: Jan. 29 - Feb. 11, 2019
  • Mimi Gregory, Vice President of Programs, Naples Council on World Affairs, Grand Seine: June 30 - July 18, 2019
  • Dr. Carla Thorson, Senior Vice President of Programs, World Affairs, Northern California, Arctic Expedition: June 21 - July 1, 2019
  • Derrick Olsen, President, WorldOregon, Trade Routes of Coastal Iberia: Oct. 13-21, 2019

Contact  www.wacphila.org/travel  or call  1-800-942-5004 , ext.  209  or  217 .


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