April 27, 2020
WACA Weekly
'CxC: Amplified' Website Launch - Putting the World Back Together Ideas Summit; KNOW NOW on South Korea Relations + KEI NK Livestream; Council Leaders Thursday Zoom on Membership Retention; Submit WACA Board Noms. Today!; Star Speakers on Webinar; Donate to WACA; plus more Highlights!
CxC: Amplified Website Launch!

Putting the World Back Together
An ideas summit presented by World Affairs Councils nationwide
May 4-8, 2020
The CxC: Amplified Summit website is live! Check out the website to view the constantly evolving agenda, Council event registration, background information, and more. We are just one week away!

'Putting the World Back Together' marks the first time Councils across the country will gather virtually for a special, inclusive Ideas Summit, under a new brand: CxC: Amplified. Our collective programming - virtual events, conversations, debates, and engagement opportunities - on one platform aims to meet this historic moment with unity, leadership, and dialogue.
CxC: Amplified is a full week of ideas designed to amplify voices on foreign and national policy, Council by Council, and coast to coast. Open to the public, this Ideas Summit brings together leaders, experts, and citizens across the nation to tackle the central question: How will the world be put back together as we chart our way through the new circumstances caused by this coronavirus pandemic?

Virtual programming will be dedicated to discussing the personal and professional, economic and foreign policy, and local and global impacts of COVID-19. The CxC: Amplified Summit will include webinars, discussion groups, happy hours, and more virtual programming hosted by Councils across the U.S.

Each day will be anchored by a featured webinar event, and the lineup will range from a variety of different topics, formats, and formality. We invite you and your members to take advantage of this cross-Council event-sharing opportunity.

All events submitted are welcome and will be included in the summit. To add an event, send event details, speaker bios and headshots, and event links to  Amanda Jolly at  ajolly@ctwac.org and  Rachel Pastor at  rpastor@worldaffairscouncils.org.  We encourage you to be creative!

We ask that Councils please use this communications kit when promoting Summit events.


Featured Speakers
Monday, May 4, 8:00 PM ET
Ambassador (ret.) Bill Taylor
EVP, U.S. Institute of Peace Details Forthcoming!

Tuesday, May 5, 12:00 PM ET
General (ret.) David Petraeus
Chairman, KKR Global Institute
Global Leadership in Crisis
Wednesday, May 6, 2:00 PM ET
Dr. Nina Ansary
UN Women Global Champion
Thursday, May 7, 12:00 PM ET
Ambassador (ret.) Deborah Jones
Former U.S. Ambassador to Libya
Libya in Chaos: Origins, Players, and Outcomes

Friday, May 8, 12:00 PM ET
General (ret.) John Allen
President, Brookings Institution
Putting the World Back Together
TOMORROW on KNOW NOW: Amb. Kathleen Stephens on South Korea
Register now for WACA's KNOW NOW conference call Tuesday, April 28, at 2:00-2:30 PM ET, featuring Ambassador (ret.) Kathleen Stephens, President and CEO of the Korea Economic Institute.

Ambassador Stephens will join WACA President and CEO Bill Clifford to discuss the South Korea's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and U.S.-South Korea relations.

*Please note that this program was originally a Zoom webinar, but will now be held as a regular conference call with the standard dial-in details provided in the registration confirmation email.
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KEI Livestream: COVID-19 in North Korea
The Korea Economic Institute, WACA partner and sponsor, will host a Zoom webinar on Thursday, April 30, at 2:00 PM ET to discuss " COVID-19 in North Korea: Surmountable or Existential Crisis?"

North Korea was one of the first countries to close its borders with the outbreak of COVID-19 in China. While Pyongyang took this step to protect against the spread of COVID-19 domestically, it has harmed the North Korean economy. However, despite the economic costs and healthcare concerns, North Korea has continued to conduct missile tests. It also faces questions of stability due to the uncertainty of Kim Jong-un’s health.

Please join KEI for a livestream discussion of the current uncertainty in North Korea and Pyongyang’s ability to handle the challenges ahead. This event will be livestreamed with an interactive Q&A session.

Please RSVP to receive the webinar link on the day of the event.
Membership Retention Council Leaders Call -  April 30, at 1:00 PM ET
The goal of Thursday's webinar is to discuss membership retention best practices. What are Councils doing to keep members engaged and encourage renewals and new signups? How can access to virtual programs be leveraged to provide a benefit to members while also reaching potential members in the public? These are just some of the questions that will be addressed during this ideas-sharing session.

If you have questions or other items you would like addressed during the session, please email Tracie Frese at  tracie@upstateinternational.org and  Marian Shima at  mshima@townhall-la.org.

The webinar will be led by:
Tracie Frese, Executive Director
Marian Shima, Vice President of Events
Council CEOs received the registration link in a separate announcement. Access details are forthcoming.
WACA National Board Nominations Due TODAY
The World Affairs Councils of America is seeking nominations of excellent candidates for the WACA National Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee of the WACA Board would appreciate your recommendations of individuals who fully support the World Affairs Councils of America's effort to strengthen and provide value to member Councils, and who will work to fulfill our common mission of educating, engaging, and inspiring the public on global issues. The Committee is primarily interested in candidates from the corporate sector who are willing to become Supporting Members of the WACA Board. Such candidates perhaps have recently rotated off local Council boards. We also welcome nominations of Council leaders. WACA Board Members serve three-year terms. WACA is looking for approximately three to six (3-6) new Board Members, and the next cohort would begin serving at the start of our fiscal year, on  July 1, 2020.

Make a Recommendation

If you would like to recommend an individual whom you believe has a clear commitment to our mission, a demonstrated understanding of the national network, and proven leadership experience, download the documents below and submit the   Nomination Form along with all required materials via email to  Liz Brailsford at  lbrailsford@worldaffairscouncils.org.


 
Nominations for directors are due   today, April 27. The Nominating Committee will review the submissions and recommend individuals for selection to the Executive Committee. Full WACA membership will vote on the slate by  May 31, 2020.
Star Speakers on Council Webinars
Parag Khanna
Founder and Managing Partner
FutureMap
Beth Payne
Founder, Payne Resilience Training & Consultancy
Ed Martinez
President
UPS Foundation
Derek Raghavan
President
Levine Cancer Institute
Sarah Repucci
Vice President
Freedom House
H.E. Jonatan Vseviov
Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia to the U.S.
*View the Councils Go Virtual section below for all upcoming Council programs this week!
The World Affairs Councils of America is an independent, nonpartisan organization dedicated to engaging the public and leading global voices to better understand the world, America’s international role, and the policy choices that impact our daily lives and our future.

Your generous contributions will strengthen our capacity to support the World Affairs Council Network through educational and civic initiatives - any amount helps.

Your donation goes to:

  • Academic WorldQuest Endowment
  • Our flagship youth education program. We are 23% away from achieving our $1M goal!
  • New Horizons Councils Fund
  • Any monies donated to this fund are set aside only for World Affairs Councils' use
  • New Horizons General Operations
  • Help support WACA carry out its educational mission with initiatives such as the National Conference, Cover to Cover and KNOW NOW monthly conference calls, the Engage America Speaker Series, and general office operations

You can give in one of several ways:

  • Pay with your credit card via the donation buttons at the bottom of this page
  • Mail a check to the WACA National Office (1010 Vermont Avenue NW, Suite 516, Washington, DC 20005)
  • Make a gift of appreciated stock
  • Request a distribution from your Donor Advised Fund
  • Check with your employer to see if they will match your gift!

With the passing of the CARES Act, most individual taxpayers will become eligible for significant tax benefits for charitable contributions made this year. Two of these benefits will be:

  • A $300 Above-the-Line Charitable deduction, meaning that individuals who do not itemize their deductions will be eligible to claim up to $300 of charitable deductions in 2020, on top of the standard deduction
  • Modified Limitations on Cash Charitable Contributions - for 2020, the 60% AGI limitation on cash contributions to 501(c)(3) organizations, such as WACA, is suspended

Click on the categories below to make a donation and view more information about the benefits of your contribution. We thank you for your support!
Monday 4/27  

Montana World Affairs Council hosts Chris Carter, former Governance Unit Program Manager for the United Nations Development Program in Afghanistan, for “ Leadership in Global Crisis.”

World Affairs Council of Philadelphia hosts Ambassador Nicholas Burns, Roy and Barbara Goodman Family Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations at Harvard Kennedy School, for “ How to Lead in the Time of Pandemic.” 

World Affairs Council of Greater Houston hosts Farah Pandith, Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, for “ Lessons Learned from 9/11 and Our Crisis Response Today.”  

International Affairs Forum (Traverse City) hosts a panel of experts for “ COVID-19 from a Refugee Perspective: Voices from Lesvos Camps.” 

WorldOregon hosts a panel of experts for “ Countering Extremism in the Age of Quarantine.” 

Tuesday 4/28  

World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth hosts Parag Khanna, Founder and Managing Partner of FutureMap, for “ Asia and the U.S. in a Post-Pandemic World: Lessons and Strategies for the U.S.”  

Montana World Affairs Council hosts Hyung-Jong Lee, Consul General of the Republic of South Korea in Seattle, for “ COVID-19: Korea’s Responses and Future Global Challenges.”  

World Affairs Council of Western Michigan hosts Bill Pink, President of Grand Rapids Community College, for “ Working Together for Growth in West Michigan: Industry and Education.”  

Sante Fe Council on International Relations hosts Todd Greentree, Research Associate at the Changing Character of War Programme, for “ Artificial Intelligence and Data: Great Decision Series.” 

World Affairs Council of Atlanta hosts professor Mia Bloom, Georgia State University, for “ How Extremists Will Capitalize from COVID-19.” 

Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall hosts a panel of experts for “ Benchmarks for the New Normal: Health Experts on What’s Next for COVID-19.” 

Wednesday 4/29  

World Affairs Council of Atlanta hosts Ambassador Thomas Pickering, former U.S. Ambassador to Iran, Russia, India, Israel, El Salvador, Nigeria, Jordan, and the UN, for “ Flattening the Curve of U.S.-Iran Relations."

WorldDenver hosts Beth Payne, Founder of Payne Resilience Training & Consultancy, for “ A Diplomat’s Guide to Building Resilience.”  

WorldBoston hosts Rachel Kyte, Dean of The Fletcher School at Tufts University, for “ Online Great Decisions Series: Climate Change & the Global Order.” 

World Affairs Council of Greater Houston hosts Joshua Landis, Director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma, for “ Syrian Civil War, Assad's Presidency, & Impacts of U.S. Withdrawal.” 

World Affairs (Northern California) hosts Michelle Dover, Director of Programs at the Ploughshares Fund, for “ International Career Mentor Webinar.”  

World Affairs Council of Upstate hosts John Glenn, Policy Director at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, and Bob Marshall, former Interim Program Manager of the Clean Power Choice Renewable Energy Program, for “ Dirty Planet: What’s the Cost of a Clean Conscience?”  

Vermont Council on World Affairs hosts Payton Knopf, Advisor in the African Program at the United States Institute of Peace, for “ Security, Politics, and Diplomacy in the Red Sea Region .” 
**This event is ticketed - the Council will give 20 free tickets to WACA member Councils. If interested, use the promo code "WACAFREE" when registering to receive a 100% discount on your ticket(s). Please contact James Gunger at james@vermont.org with any questions. 

Sante Fe Council on International Relations hosts a panel of experts for “ In the Fog of the Pandemic.” 

Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall hosts a panel of experts for “ LA Manufacturing: Crisis Management and Leadership.” 

Thursday 4/30
  
World Affairs Council of Atlanta hosts Ed Martinez, President of the UPS Foundation, for “ The UPS Response to COVID-19.”   

World Affairs Council of Charlotte hosts Derek Raghavan, President of the Levine Cancer Institute, for “ Cancer, COVID-19, and Confusion.”   

International Relations Council (Kansas City) hosts Jason Fulvi, President and CEO of Visit KC, for “ Travel and Tourism.”  

Montana World Affairs Council hosts Yoichiro Yamada, Consul General of Japan in Seattle, for “ The ‘New Normal’-Post-Corona World Order.”   

Institute of World Affairs hosts Sarah Repucci, Vice President of Freedom House, for “ Pandemic at the Polls: Election Integrity and COVID-19."   

Sante Fe Council on International Relations hosts Dennis de Tray, Senior Nonresident Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, for “ Why Counterinsurgency Fails: The U.S. in Iraq and Afghanistan.”  

World Affairs Council of Sonoma County hosts Jim Masters, Certified Community Action Professional for the National Community Action Partnership, for “ Making Sense of the Census - and Its Direct Impact on Us.”   

Peoria Area World Affairs Council hosts professor Aurea Toxqui, Bradley University, for “ Women’s Suffrage Movements South of the U.S. Border.”  

Savannah Council on World Affairs hosts professor Olavi Arens, Georgia Southern University, for “ Russia, Europe, and the United States: The Fragmented Relationship.”   

Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall hosts professor Dan Schnur, University of Southern California, for “ Politics in the Time of Coronavirus.”  

World Affairs (Northern California) hosts a panel of experts for “ Iran, the U.S., and the COVID-19 Crisis.”  

Friday 5/1
 
World Affairs Council of Hilton Head host H.E. Jonatan Vseviov, Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia to the U.S., for “ Transatlantic Security: A View from Estonia.”  

World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth hosts Ted Widmer, Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Relations, for “ Lincoln on the Verge: Thirteen Days to Washington.”  

World Affairs Council of Seattle hosts Joshua Kurlantzick, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, for “ Pandemic Powerplay.”  
Access Council Virtual Programming via WACA's Members-Only Portal
WACA is busy preparing a number of additional resources for the Members-Only section! WACA strives to provide Councils with easy access to tools, guidelines, events, and more that add value to our Members both personally and professionally, to our Councils' overall operations, and to the Network as a whole. This is a top priority for the National Office, especially during the COVID-19 crisis. That is why we've added two resource sections dedicated to COVID-19 related information and digital programming available to the public by Councils.

The goal is to make the Members-Only section a one-stop shop for all Council needs. However, these sections are only as good as the information contained within, so we are calling on all Councils to please submit any documentation per the categories below, or any other information helpful to the Network.

The Members-Only section is a private benefit for our Council Members. Please contact Rachel Pastor at rpastor@worldaffairscouncils.org for login details and account creation.
Foreign Policy Association Offers Great Decisions Videos Online
In a democracy, it takes an informed public to inform policy. During this period of isolation, groups across the country are using teleconferencing tools from Google Hangouts to Zoom to continue their discussions online. During this time of public health crisis, the  Foreign Policy Association has decided to release the  2020  Great Decisions series to the public via YouTube. WACA encourages the entire Council Network to watch and share the videos to inspire debate, discussion, and decision.

Click here to view a special bonus video of " Americans and the World" featuring interviews with WACA President and CEO  Bill Clifford and  Global Minnesota President  Mark Ritchie.
COVID-19 Updates & Tracker

Health & Wellness

Educator Resources
  • Ohio Council for the Social Studies Resource Document -- Bill Hilt, President/CEO, WAC Northwest Ohio
  • To help alleviate some of concerns with distance learning and explaining the current health crisis, the list is a compilation of K-12 Social Studies lessons, activities, and resources. It also has guidelines for explaining COVID-19 to young people.
  • Zoom CEO announcement of free platforms for K-12 schools

WACA Updates: Messages from President and CEO Bill Clifford

  • Monday, April 27 Announcement
  • Friday, April 24 Announcement
  • Monday, April 6 Update
  • Friday, April 3 Update
  • Thursday, April 2 Announcement
  • Tuesday, March 31 Announcement
  • Monday, March 30 Reminder
  • Friday, March 27 Reminder
  • Monday, March 23 Announcement
  • Tuesday, March 17 Update
  • Monday, March 16 Update
  • Thursday, March 12 Update
  • Monday, March 9 Announcement

*To view Council Member Resources on the WACA website, you must be a Council leader, staff, or board member and have an account

Please contact Rachel Pastor at rpastor@worldaffairscouncils.org if you don't have an account.
WACA's National Speaker Database Needs You!
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.

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.

If you do not have an account or are having issues accessing the website and/or the Speaker Database, please email Rachel Pastor.