President's Letter; Announcing WACA Conference Keynote: Secretary Baker; Major Council Programs; Announcing Future of Korea Grant Recipients; April
Cover to Cover
; Council Leadership Meeting Agenda Released; Councils Hiring and in the News + More!
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Dear Council Colleagues, Friends, and Supporters:
It is one of the privileges of my job to work with outstanding, selfless leaders throughout WACA’s nationwide network. As many of you know, two years ago, the WACA Board made official our recognition of exemplars who uphold our mission with the presentation of an annual Chairman’s Individual Leadership Award and Council of the Year Award at the WACA National Conference.
Several months prior to that, I had instituted in this newsletter a
Council of the Month recognition. Though less formal, we believe it has been an effective way to acknowledge important contributions. Last summer we reinforced and extended this initiative by highlighting – in our weekly newsletters, over the course of a month – the Council’s especially worthy activities, programs, and accomplishments. Often, these have prompted best-practice exchange, imitation, speaker recruitment, or simply conversation in the network.
Today, we select the
World Affairs Council of Central Florida as Council of the Month, and we will bring you WACCFL highlights throughout April. But a primary reason for the timing of this honor is to pay tribute to the life and legacy of one of our own who gave so much and for so long.
With profound sadness, I share news that
John Bersia, WACCFL Board Chair, passed away March 21 of metastatic cancer. John's involvement with the Council spanned nearly 20 years. “Without his leadership and passion for diplomacy and global engagement, this organization would surely not be what it is today,” said WACCFL Executive Director
Sarah Ridley-Gal. “His guidance, intellect, kindness, and sense of humor will be sorely missed. We will forever be grateful to John for his service to our region, our country, and our world.”
Since 2001, John had been with the University of Central Florida since 2001 as a Professor, Director of the Global Perspectives Office. He was executive producer and host of a weekly WUCF TV show, and recently helped establish the Center for the Study of Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery. Prior to that he was a founding member of the Orlando Area Committee on Foreign Relations, taught at Rollins College, and worked for 15-plus years at the Orlando Sentinel, where he won a Pulitzer prize in 2000.
Last Sunday, the Orlando PBS member station WUCF TV was to broadcast a
retrospective of John's work as host of the Global Perspectives show. Read more about his life
here,
here, and
here.
“He was a mentor to many students and young professionals over the years. There are multiple generations of John's proteges in Central Florida and around the world, who will carry the torch and continue the work that he cared so deeply about,” said Ridley-Gal, herself a mentee whom John recruited to WACCFL.
U.S. Congresswoman
Stephanie Murphy honored John's work on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives last week. On behalf of WACA, I encourage you to be inspired by the life of our friend and colleague.
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Bill Clifford, WACA President and CEO
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Secretary James A. Baker, III to Keynote the WACA 2019 Conference
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The World Affairs Councils of America is pleased to announce that
Secretary James A. Baker, III will deliver the Opening Luncheon Keynote at the
WACA National Conference Ambassadors Luncheon on
Wednesday, November 6. WACA will present its inaugural International Service Award to Secretary Baker, recognizing his outstanding leadership and contributions to advancing cooperation among countries and the international community.
Secretary Baker has served in senior government positions under three U.S. Presidents as the nation's 61st Secretary of State under President George H. W. Bush; the 67th Secretary of the Treasury and White House Chief of Staff under President Ronald Reagan; and also as White House Chief of Staff and Senior Counselor to President Bush. Long active in American presidential politics, Mr. Baker led presidential campaigns for Presidents Ford, Reagan, and Bush over the course of five consecutive presidential elections.
Mr. Baker is presently a senior partner in the law firm of Baker Botts. He is Honorary Chairman of the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University and serves on the board of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
The WACA 2019 National Conference:
Eight Forces Reshaping the Global Economy will be held at the Mayflower Hotel,
November 6-8, 2019, in Washington DC. We will share early bird pricing in the coming days.
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This Week in the WACA Network
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Dalia Mogahed
Director of Research, ISPU
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General Donald C. Bolduc, Former Commander, Special Ops Command Africa
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Tim Sloan
Former CEO and President, Wells Fargo
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Gail Anagick Schubert
CEO and Pres., Bering Straits Native Corp.
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Announcing
Engage America
: Future of Korea 2019 Winners!
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Congratulations to the following Councils for being awarded with WACA's
Engage America
: Future of Korea 2019 grant funding! Now in its 19th year, Future of Korea is a co-sponsored speakers series between WACA and the
Korea Economic Institute that brings representatives from the
U.S. State Department,
Korean Embassy, and
KEI together
to discuss and deepen public understanding of Korea and the U.S.-Korea relationship.
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WunderBar Together: Ricklef Beutin Visits WorldBoston
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AWQ: QAI Reception Friday Evening & Hotel Block Ending
THIS WEEK
!
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WACA has secured a group hotel block at the
Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel at a special rate of $169 / night plus tax (2660 Woodley Road NW, Washington, DC 20008). Discounted rates will expire
this FRIDAY, April 4.
Reserve today.
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The
Carlos and Malú Alvarez 2019 Academic WorldQuest National Competition will be held in Washington, DC on
April 26-27.
Friday, April 26
Team registration at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel
Time: 12:00 - 3:00 pm
Time: 4:00 - 6:00 pm
Transportation: DC Metro, Uber/Lyft, Taxis
Saturday, April 27
Time: 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
Transportation: Buses will pick up at approximately 8:30 am from the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel
There will be no buses from USIP back to the hotel after the competition is over.
Any teams that have not registered by this point may do so at the beginning of the competition.
*All times subject to change.
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April
Cover to Cover
: Gardiner on Air Pollution's Global Health Disaster
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Gardiner travels the world to tell the story of this modern-day plague, taking readers from the halls of power in Washington and the diesel-fogged London streets she walks with her daughter to Poland’s coal heartland and India’s gasping capital. In a gripping narrative that’s alive with powerful voices and personalities, she exposes the political decisions and economic forces that have kept so many of us breathing dirty air.
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WACA's National Speaker Database Needs You!
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We have recently debuted WACA's
Speaker Database 2.0. In this new iteration, we have expanded our list of speakers and made it
easier than ever for you, as Council staff and board members, to engage with it.
We want your speakers! Please submit your speakers through the "
Submit Your Speakers" button on our website.
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You need to have an account through our website in order to view and interact with the database and submit your speakers.
To check if you have an account, please visit your
Council Member page on the WACA website and see if you are listed as a staff or board member. If you are not, you will not be able to interact with the database yet.
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Working Agenda Now Ready! Council Leadership Meeting in Kansas City
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The World Affairs Councils of America will convene its semi-annual
Council Leadership and WACA Board Meetings in Kansas City, MO on
June 13-15. Thank you to the
International Relations Council for hosting.
This event is free for Council staff and board members!
The Working Agenda (
subject to change
) is now available! Please see it on our website
here or download a
copy.
WACA has
secured a discounted hotel block at the beautiful
Ambassador Hotel
in downtown Kansas City. Register
here to attend the Meetings.
Click
here to see the meeting flyer for more details and other special opportunities!
Check back periodically for the latest updates.
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WAC Philadelphia's
The Whole Truth with David Eisenhower
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The
American Public Television and
World Affairs Council of Philadelphia produce a public television series titled,
The Whole Truth with David Eisenhower, the fourth season of which will debut in July 2019 nationwide, in an estimated 70% of all US households. This season, The Whole Truth delves into the United States’ relationships with Iran and Germany; Japan’s position in world affairs; the impact of authoritarian leaders and regimes on the future of human rights; and, in an episode filmed at the Eastern State Penitentiary in front of a live audience, criminal justice system reform. Watch the trailer
here.
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WAC-DFW Global I.Q. Minute with Amb. Pickering and USSC's Edel
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Ambassador Thomas Pickering visited the
World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth to discuss his views on consistent diplomatic engagement and the best way to approach Iran in the wake of the dissolution of the nuclear arms agreement on Global I.Q. Minute with President and CEO Jim Falk.
Listen here.
Dr. Charles Edel, a senior fellow at the United States Studies Centre, how America fits within the larger historical narrative of the rise and fall of world powers, and draws on Greek history to do so in this episode of Global I.Q. Minute.
Listen here.
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Seeking a great project manager with a heightened attention to detail, who is skilled at and invigorated by planning and implementing multiple inbound international exchange programs with the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program.
Apply here.
Use your youth leadership skills and interest in global issues to work with Oregon's premier international affairs organization and contribute to its mission of connecting Oregonians to the world.
Apply here.
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Indiana Council on World Affairs
WorldDenver
Global Minnesota
International Institute of Buffalo
World Affairs Council of Atlanta
World Affairs Council of Connecticut
World Affairs Council of Greater Reading
Northern Nevada International Center
World Affairs Council of Maine
Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy
World Affairs Council of Greater Houston
Vermont Council on World Affairs
Naples Council on World Affairs
Montana World Affairs Council
Santa Fe Council on International Relations
World Affairs Council of Albuquerque
Windham World Affairs Council
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Travel the World with WAC Philadelphia
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Travel with Council Leaders - hear them lecture on Travel the World tours from the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia!
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2019 travel schedule includes trips to:
- Michelle Harpenau, Executive Director, World Affairs Council of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, Springtime in Provence & Burgundy: May 15-23, 2019
- Dr. Carla Thorson, Senior Vice President of Programs, World Affairs, Northern California, Arctic Expedition: June 21 - July 1, 2019
- Dr. Jerry Leach, President Emeritus, WACA, Journey Through Britain: Sept. 7-20, 2019
- Mimi Gregory, Vice President and Program Chairman, Naples Council on World Affairs, Sicily by Sail: Oct. 10-18, 2019
- Derrick Olsen, President, WorldOregon, Trade Routes of Coastal Iberia: Oct. 13-21, 2019
- Jacqueline Miller, President & CEO, World Affairs Council of Seattle, Passage Along the Danube River: Oct. 12-24, 2019
- Craig Snyder, President & CEO, World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, Exploring Saudi Arabia & Qatar: Nov. 7-17, 2019
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World Affairs Councils of America | 202-833-4557
1200 18th Street NW, Suite 902, Washington, DC 20036
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