November 18, 2019
WACA Weekly
Your Opinion Counts: WACA 2019 Conference Survey; Council of the Year: WAC Dallas/Fort Worth's Star Speakers; WAC Greater Houston Hosts High-Level Diplomats; Meet WorldDenver's New Chief; and more Council Highlights!
The 8 Forces Reshaping the Global Economy
November 6-8 , 2019
The Mayflower Hotel – Washington, DC
2019 Conference Survey - We Welcome Your Feedback!
Thank you to all those who attended the 2019 National Conference earlier this month. We would love to hear your feedback, comments, and suggestions. Please fill out the below survey link - it should take you no longer than 10-15 minutes. We value your experiences, and your responses, comments, and recommendations will help us plan the 2020 National Conference.

The survey will close automatically  at 11:55 pm ET on  Friday, December 6.
Leadership Day Resources Available
Thank you to our Leadership Day planning committee, Karen Burghart, Matthew Hughes, and Derrick Olsen, for all their hard work; and congratulations on an outstanding Leadership Day! All Leadership Day presentations and materials are available in the Member Resources section of the WACA website. To view these features, you must be logged in to the Members-Only tab of the WACA website.

If you do not have an account, please contact Rachel Pastor at rpastor@worldaffairscouncils.org .

If your Council presented hard copy materials during the Leadership Day lunch Resource Fair, please email digital copies to Rachel Pastor.
The Hon. James A. Baker, III, 61st U.S. Sec. of State, and Peter Baker, Chief White House Correspondent at NY Times, discuss the global order.
WACA Conference 2019 Student Scholars at the Chinese Embassy reception
Phil Karsting, Sue Schram, Melissa Ho, and Kimberly Flowers examine climate change and food insecurity.

A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who made this year's WACA National Conference a wonderful success. Special thanks indeed to our generous sponsors! From former U.S. Secretaries of State and Defense to a professional Mad Scientist to expert thought leaders in the business, environment, and media industries, the 2019 Conference was a blockbuster event! For more highlights please view our dedicated newsletter , and stay tuned for video recordings of the sessions.
Network Leaders on the Role of the U.S. Foreign Service
Ambassador (ret.) Charles Shapiro, President of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta, delivered inspiring remarks to kick off Leadership Day (Nov. 8) the WACA 2019 National Conference on the role of World Affairs Councils. A former U.S. diplomat, Shapiro defended his foreign service colleagues, some of whom have testified during the impeachment hearings in the House of Representatives. “I have never been prouder of my foreign service colleagues and our civil servants,” Shapiro said. “While they are denounced by ‘Trumpists’ as ‘deep state,’ they are, in fact, loyal experts whose job it is to give the best advice they can to the president.” 

Joyce Davis, President and CEO of the World Affairs Council of Harrisburg, wrote a thought-provoking op-ed about the impeachment proceedings and why the public should care. "Shapiro spoke passionately to his fellow Council leaders, engaged grassroots leaders in the country who are not easily fooled. They stay informed about national and global issues, vote every election and influence hundreds, if not thousands, of voters. When the ambassador was done, they gave him a standing ovation."
Council of the Year: WAC Dallas/Fort Worth
The World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth was honored at the WACA National Conference with the 2019 Council of the Year Award! An example of the Council's exceptional convening power is its speaker lineup this week:

  • Monday, Nov. 18: Ambassador (ret.) Samantha Power, Professor of Practice at Harvard University, on her book, The Education of an Idealist: A Memoir

  • Wednesday, Nov. 20: Pulitzer Prize finalist S.C. Gwynne on his book, Hymns of the Republic: The Story of the Final Year of the American Civil War

  • Friday, Nov. 22: Ambassador (ret.) Nikki Haley, former Ambassador of the U.S. to the UN, on her book, With All Due Respect: Defending America With Grit and Grace
Also in the WACA Network This Week
Thomas Countryman
Board Chair, Arms Control Association
Masimba Hwati
Award-Winning Artist
Amini Kajunju, Executive Director
Int'l University of Grand-Bassam Foundation
Matilda Arhin, President
Ghana International Chamber of Commerce
H.E. Stavros Lambrinidis
Ambassador of EU to the U.S.
WAC Greater Houston Hosts High-Level Diplomats
The World Affairs Council of Greater Houston hosts (from left to right) H.E. László Szabó, Ambassador of Hungary to the U.S., H.E. Hynek Kmoníček, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the U.S., H.E. Ivan Korčok, Ambassador of Slovakia to the U.S., Pawel Kotowski, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Poland in Washington, DC, Mon., Nov. 18 for “ Berlin Wall: 30 Years After the Fall.”
China Town Hall Council Events
China's rapid development and Sino-American relations have a direct impact on the lives of nearly everyone in the United States. CHINA Town Hall is a national conversation that provides Americans across the country—and beyond—an opportunity to talk about the U.S.-China relationship and the issues that are affecting their local communities. Councils participating this week include:



Meet WorldDenver's New Executive Director
WorldDenver is pleased to announce that it has appointed John M. Krieger as its new Executive Director, effective October 28th. Krieger brings to the role strong communications and marketing capabilities, policy advocacy skills, as well as deep experience in engaging and growing non-profit membership. He will be succeeding founding Board Member, Laurie Hirschfield Zeller, who has served as Interim Executive Director since May of 2019.

Krieger joins WorldDenver following multiple leadership roles at national and Colorado-based non-profit organizations. Most recently, he was Director of Communications and Advocacy, as well as Director of Campaigns at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Colorado, where he led the organization’s five-fold growth in membership and helped make the ACLU of Colorado one of the fastest growing and most effective affiliates in the country.

Board Chair Kim Savit commented, “We are very excited to have such an effective and trusted, non-profit professional like John stepping up to lead our organization. His sustained civic focus, strategic mindset and deep passion for international human rights and experience with growing membership make him a great fit for us as we open the next chapter of WorldDenver’s story." Read the full press release.
Council Highlights
Monday 11/18

World Affairs Council of Atlanta hosts Ambassador (ret.) Thomas Pickering, Vice Chairman of Hills & Company, for “Beyond Oil in the Middle East.” Details

World Affairs Council Upstate hosts Heike Fuller, German Consul General in Atlanta, for “Germany and the U.S.: Close Allies Who Tend to Differ.” Details

Southeast Connecticut World Affairs Council hosts Joseph Cirincione, President of the Ploughshares Fund, for “Nuclear Negotiations.” Details

Naples Council on World Affairs hosts Duncan Wood, Director of the Wilson Center's Mexico Institute, for “Mexico’s Fourth Transformation and the Outlook for Bilateral Relations.” Details

World Affairs (Northern California) hosts journalist Jason DeParle, New York Times, to discuss his book, A Good Provider Is One Who Leaves. Details

Tuesday 11/19

Santa Fe Council on International Relations hosts Ambassador (ret.) Vicki Huddleston, Consultant for the Cuba Business at the Transnational Security Group, for “Terrorism.” Details

World Affairs Council of Tacoma hosts Thomas Countryman, Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Arms Control Association, for “1,400 Ways to Die: How (Not) to Live With Nuclear Weapons.” Details

Alabama World Affairs Council hosts Rebecca Grant, President of IRIS Independent Research, for “Trade Wars: Tariffs, Sanctions, 5G Tech, and the New Tools of American Diplomacy.” Details

Los Angeles World Affairs Council and Town Hall hosts Aaron Walton, CEO at Walton Isaacson, for “The Value of Authenticity in Global Business.” Details

World Affairs Council of Jacksonville hosts Kent Thielen, Vice President and CEO of Mayo Clinic, for “Ideation, Incubation, and Acceleration: Life Sciences Incubator at Mayo Clinic in Florida.” Details

Foreign Policy Association hosts Beth Bovino, Chief U.S. Economist for S&P Global Ratings Services, for the “Peter G. Peterson Distinguished Lecture on National Security and Fiscal Policy.” Details

Richmond World Affairs Council hosts Edward Joseph, Senior Fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations, for “What Can We Learn from Donald Trump’s Foreign Policy?” Details

Colorado Foothills World Affairs Council hosts professor Wendy Perlman, Northwestern University, to discuss her book, We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled. Details

Wednesday 11/20

World Affairs Council of New Hampshire hosts former U.S. Representative Joe Walsh (R-IL), 2020 Republican Presidential Candidate , for “Presidential Foreign Policy Forum.” Details

World Affairs Council of Seattle hosts Thomas Countryman, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arms Control Association, and Celes Eckerman, Managing Partner of Galvanize Partners, for “America’s Credibility at Stake: How the World Views U.S. Foreign Policy.” Details

World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh hosts Ambassador (ret.) Robin Sanders, Founder of FEEEDS Advocacy Initiative, to discuss her book, The Rise of Africa’s Small and Medium Size Enterprises. Details

WorldBoston hosts Ambassador (ret.) Wendy Sherman, Professor of Practice at Harvard University, for “Nuclear Negotiations: Back to the Future?” Details

World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh hosts Dr. Barry Kerzin, Founder and President of the Altruism in Medicine Institute, for “Mindfulness and Meditation Seminar for Students.” Details

World Affairs Council of Philadelphia hosts Paul Clement, Partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, and Joshua Geltzer, Executive Director of the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, for “Power Struggle: The Legislative Branch, the Executive Branch, and the ‘Imperial Presidency’.” Details

World Affairs Council of Orange County hosts Larry Diamond, Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute, to discuss his book, Ill Winds: Saving Democracy from Russian Rage, Chinese Ambition, and American Complacency. Details

World Affairs Council Upstate hosts award-winning artist Masimba Hwati for “Contemporary Art in Africa.” Details

World Affairs Council of Tacoma hosts professor Peter Grosvenor, Pacific Lutheran University, for “Brexit: An Introduction and Update.” Details

World Affairs Council Upstate hosts professor Kate Kaup, Furman University, for “Violence in Hong Kong: Is There a Way Out.” Details

World Affairs (Northern California) hosts professor Alex Saragoza, University of California Berkeley, for “U.S. and Mexican Relations: Critical Problems; Few Solutions.” Details

WorldDenver hosts professor Wendy Perlman, Northwestern University, to discuss her book, We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled. Details

World Affairs Council of Monterey Bay hosts assistant professor Covell Meyskens, Naval Postgraduate School, for “The Rise of China: Past, Present, and Future” Details

Alaska World Affairs Council hosts a panel of experts for “Potential Investments in Alaska and Norway.” Details

Thursday 11/21

World Affairs Council of Greater Houston hosts Ambassador (ret.) Nikki Haley, former Ambassador of the U.S. to the UN, for “50th Anniversary Celebration.” Details

San Diego World Affairs Council hosts Ambassador (ret.) John Beyrle, Director and Chairman of the U.S.-Russia Foundation, for “Putin and Trump 2.0: The Perils of Presidential Diplomacy.” Details

World Affairs Council of Seattle hosts Ambassador (ret.) Jeremy Kinsman, Distinguished Fellow of the Canadian International Council, for “Supporting Democratic Communities - In Memory of James R. Huntley.” Details

World Affairs Council of Maine hosts Ambassador (ret.) Robert Ford, Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute, for “The Trump Administration and U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East.” Details

International Affairs Forum (Traverse City) hosts Carrie Hessler-Radelet, President and CEO of Project Concern International, for “Engaging for Good: Can One Individual Volunteer Change the World?” Details

World Affairs Council of Atlanta hosts Amini Kajunju, Executive Director of the International University of Grand-Bassam Foundation, and Matilda Arhin, President of Ghana International Chamber of Commerce, for “Year of the Return to Africa: Business and Tourism.” Details

Indiana Council on World Affairs hosts Aykan Erdemir, Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, for “In Between Two Allies: Ramifications of U.S. Withdrawal from Syria.” Details 

Savannah Council on World Affairs hosts David Bier, Analyst at the Cato Institute's Center, for “How Legal Immigration Can Secure the Border.” Details

World Affairs (Northern California) hosts photographer Mark Harris for “Photo Exhibit and Discussion, Eyes Are the Window to the Soul.” Details

Colorado Springs World Affairs Council hosts professor Wendy Perlman, Northwestern University, to discuss her book, We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled. Details

Olympia World Affairs Council hosts professor Sara Curran, University of Washington, for “Population Impacts of Climate Change: Considerations for the Short and Long Term." Details

Baltimore Council on Foreign Affairs hosts visiting professor Robert Freedman, Johns Hopkins University, for “U.S.-Israeli Relations After the U.S. Withdrawal from Syria.” Details

Friday 11/22

World Affairs Council of Philadelphia hosts U.S. Representative Brendan Boyle (D-PA) and Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis, Ambassador of the EU to the U.S., for “Transatlantic Relations.” Details

World Affairs Council of Sonoma County hosts The Hon. William Perry, former U.S. Secretary of Defense , for “Control of Nuclear Weapons: Needed Now More Than Ever.” Details

Windham World Affairs Council hosts Braema Mathi, Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Penang Institute, for “Movement of People - Trafficking and Migrating in Southeast Asia Today.” Details
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.
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!
2019 travel schedule includes trips to: 

  • Ambassador Mark Johnson, former Vice Chair, World Affairs Councils of America, Egypt & the Eternal Nile: January 28-February 11, 2020
  • Ambassador Philip Hughes, former President, World Affairs Councils of America, South American Tapestry: February 27-March 15, 2020
  • Ambassador Heather Hodges, President and Ambassador in Residence, Cleveland Council on World Affairs, Barcelona: April 18-26, 2020
  • Megan Torrey, Chief Executive Officer, World Affairs Council of Hartford, Himalayan Kingdoms: Nepal & Bhutan: April 28-May 12, 2020
  • Lise Falskow, President & CEO, Alaska World Affairs Council, Scottish Isles and Norwegian Fjords: May 16-24, 2020
  • Dr. Pamela Zeiser, Education Liaison, World Affairs Council of Jacksonville, Berlin Uncovered: May 24-31, 2020
  • Jim Falk, President & CEO, World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, Arctic Expedition: Voyage Under the Midnight Sun: June 9-19, 2020
  • Ljubomir (LJ) Stambuk, President & CEO, World Affairs Council of Charlotte, Sailing Ancient Trade Routes: Helsinki to Copenhagen: June 27-July 9, 2020
  • Mimi Gregory, Vice President and Program Chairman, Naples Council on World Affairs, Cruising the Adriatic and Aegean Seas: September 9-17, 2020
  • Don Samford, Chairman of the Education Outreach and Program Committees, Peoria Area World Affairs Council, Legendary Turkey: October 2-16, 2020

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