February 10, 2020
WACA Weekly
Submit Today: 2020 Qatar Essay/Video Contest; Cover to Cover on Nationalism; Councils' Star Speakers; KNOW NOW With Colombian Presidential Advisor Felipe Munoz; Council of the Month; Register Now: 2020 AWQ National Competition; + more Council Highlights!
2020 Qatar Essay/Video Contest Submit Materials Today!
WACA is calling on all Councils to promote the 2020 Qatar Essay/Video Contest early and often to colleges and universities in your area! The submission deadline for students is just two and a half weeks away. This is a great opportunity to have your Council represented by winning students in Doha, Qatar, in March!

Open to college and university undergraduate students across the country, the challenge is to submit an 800-word Memorandum OR a 5-minute Video to “ Advise the Secretary of State: Measures to Strengthen the U.S.-Qatar Strategic Partnership.” A panel of educators and experts in student exchange programs will judge the entries. The top 10 contestants will win an all-expenses-paid Doha Study Tour this March 13-20! Contest winners will also be eligible for scholarships to attend the WACA 2020 National Conference in Washington, DC on November 18-20, 2020.

Please submit your Application Form and original essays/videos to WACA Communications and Marketing Associate Rachel Pastor at rpastor@worldaffairscouncils.org. The deadline for submissions is Friday, February 21. Click here for submission details and requirements.
NEXT WEEK on  Cover to Cover :   Yuli Tamir on Why Nationalism
WACA is delighted to present our next  Cover to Cover conference call with a special guest from Tel Aviv on  Wednesday, February 19, at 2:00-2:30 PM ET . Professor Yael (Yuli) Tamir, President of Shenkar College and an adjunct professor at the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University, will discuss her book,  Why Nationalism.

Around the world today, nationalism is back—and it’s often deeply troubling. Populist politicians exploit nationalism for authoritarian, chauvinistic, racist, and xenophobic purposes, reinforcing the view that it is fundamentally reactionary and antidemocratic. Professor Tamir makes a passionate argument for a very different kind of nationalism—one that revives its participatory, creative, and egalitarian virtues, answers many of the problems caused by neoliberalism and hyperglobalism, and is essential to democracy.
Star Speakers at Councils
Scroll down to the Council Highlights section for more speaker and topic ideas!
Ambassador (ret.) Chase Untermeyer
Founding Chairman, Qatar-America Institute
Gabrielle Fitzgerald, Fdr. and CEO, Panorama Dr. Ann Marie Kimball, Strategic Advisor
Rockefeller Foundation
Evans Revere
Senior Advisor, Albright Stonebridge Group
Pam Dixon
Founder and Executive Director
World Policy Forum
February KNOW NOW:   Colombian Presidential Advisor Felipe Muñoz
Register now for WACA's KNOW NOW conference call Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 2:00-2:30 pm ET, featuring Felipe Muñoz, Advisor to the President of Colombia for the Colombia-Venezuela Border.

As a consequence of the economic and political collapse in Venezuela, more than 1.6 million Venezuelan migrants and refugees have crossed the border and fled to Colombia seeking safety and opportunities for their future. The government of Colombia is going to extraordinary lengths to provide humanitarian relief to this unprecedented influx of migrants and making tremendous efforts to integrate the migrants into society.

WACA COO Liz Brailsford will moderate the KNOW NOW call with Felipe Muñoz to provide our Network with information about the magnitude of the crisis, the efforts undertaken by the Government of Colombia, and the role that the U.S. and the international community play in matching the scale of the crisis.
Council of the Month: WAC Charleston
The World Affairs Council of Charleston on January 9, held its annual dinner for over one hundred members, friends, and guests. This special event, focused as always, on academics and education, featured Speaker Dr. Andrew Hsu, the new President of the College of Charleston. Dr. Hsu spoke on his vision for preparing today's students for the global challenges of tomorrow. He also shared his personal story -- living in exile, and learning English one word at a time by reading a calculus book (the only English book available) and listening to the Voice of America's English class.
Councils: Be Sure to Register Your AWQ National Competition Teams
Registration for the Carlos and Malú Alvarez 2020 Academic WorldQuest National Competition is now open! The AWQ championship weekend program will be held in Washington, DC on April 24-25.

Local champion teams of Academic WorldQuest competitions hosted by World Affairs Councils around the country must complete the Registration Form in order to participate in the AWQ National Competition. Registration Forms are due no later than Friday, March 27. Register your AWQ team!

This year's competition will be held on Saturday, April 25 , at the United States Institute of Peace.

For topics, study guide, and other information about this year's competition, please click here.

Hotel Reservations:
WACA has secured a group hotel block at The Westin DC City Center (1400 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20005) at a special rate of $169 / night plus tax. The block will expire April 2. Reserve today!
Participate in the Great Decisions Teacher Training Institute
The Foreign Policy Association's 2020 Great Decisions Teachers Training Institute for high school educators will be held June 29 - July 3 in New York City. Topics will include Climate Change, the Red Sea Region, Human Trafficking, and others. For more information and a full list of topics, please click here.

To apply for the Great Decisions Teachers Institute, all applicants are required to complete the application questionnaire. The application can be accessed by either clicking on this link or visiting the Institute's website. Educators are invited to apply by March 13, and all applicants will be notified by April 17.
 
If you have any questions in regards to the application or the Great Decisions Teachers Institute, please email teachers@fpa.org, or call the Foreign Policy Association at 212-481-8100 x249.
WACA Board Member Hughes Earns Top Association Industry Credential
Congratulations to Matthew Hughes, Executive Director of the International Relations Council (Kansas City) and WACA National Board Member, who spent last fall preparing for a certification exam for membership organization leaders. On February 7, The American Society of Association Executives ( ASAE) recognized Hughes as a Certified Association Executive - the highest professional credential in the association industry.

" It's gratifying to have found such meaningful work with membership organizations and the communities they represent, and I can't imagine a better place to be than in the World Affairs Councils network," Hughes said. "Sincere thanks for your continued support as we expand our capacity and deepen our impact."
Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) Hosted by WAC New Hampshire
2020 Presidential Candidate Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), spoke Thursday, February 6, at the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire. As part of the Council's Presidential Foreign Policy Forums series, she outlined her foreign policy priorities if elected president, which include re-joining the Paris climate agreement and rebuilding relations with NATO partners. Watch C-SPAN's coverage of the WAC NH event with Senator Klobuchar here.
WAC Jacksonville Co-Hosted Madeleine Albright
The World Affairs Council of Jacksonville, in conjunction with the University of North Florida, hosted Dr. Madeleine Albright, 64th U.S. Secretary of State, on February 5. More than a thousand attendees engaged with Secretary Albright in a series of events, including a conversation on a range of global topics, her forthcoming memoir, how her spirited pin collection got her into, and kept her out of, trouble, and a humorous reflection on the "art of the diplomatic kiss."

A special dinner in the festive Arena “Dodge Ball Room” gave Council sponsors the opportunity for a post-event dialogue with Secretary Albright.
Council Highlights
Monday 2/10

Los Angeles World Affairs Council and Town Hall hosts a panel of experts for “A Bipartisan Discussion on National Security.” Details

World Affairs Council of Western Michigan hosts Raza Ahmad Rumi, Director of the Park Center for Independent Media, for “Kashmir: Flashpoint Between India and Pakistan.” Details

Tuesday 2/11

Alabama World Affairs Council hosts Ambassador (ret.) Chase Untermeyer, Founding Chairman of the Qatar-American Institute, for “The Middle East Security Situation.” Details 

World Affairs Council of Greater Houston hosts The Honorable Michael Dumas, Honorary Consul to Iceland, for “Nordic Night: Icelandic Beer and Bites.” Details

World Affairs (Northern California) hosts Kristin Lord, President and CEO of IREX, for Combating Disinformation: Learn to Discern.” Details

World Affairs Council of Charlotte hosts Jay Bryson, Managing Director and Acting Chief Economist at Wells Fargo, for “WACC Business Breakfast” Details

World Affairs Council of Greater Houston hosts Ann-Louise Hittle, Vice President of Oils Research at Wood Mackenzie, for “Iran, U.S. Foreign Policy, and the Impacts for Global Oil Markets.” Details

Indiana Council on World Affairs hosts Pierre Atlas, Director of The Richard G. Lugar Franciscan Center for Global Studies, for “Great Decisions: Red Sea Security.”  Details

Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy hosts Patricia Kim, Senior Policy Analyst at the United States Institute of Peace, for “Managing U.S.-China Strategic Competition in the 21st Century.” Details

Sarasota World Affairs Council hosts Evans Revere, Senior Advisor at the Albright Stonebridge Group, for “Not With a Bang: Moving Toward the Endgame With a Nuclear North Korea” Details

World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley hosts professor Robert Brigham, Vassar College, for “This Is a True Story.” Details

World Affairs Council Upstate hosts professor Nathan Cook, Furman University, for “America and the World Flashpoint: Trade and Tariffs.” Details

World Affairs Council of Atlanta hosts a panel of experts for “China’s Greater Bay Area: The Next Silicon Valley?” Details

Wednesday 2/12

World Affairs Council of Inland Southern California hosts Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Senior Counselor at the Albright Stonebridge Group, for “3 Critical Problems Facing the World Today. What Are the Best U.S. Foreign Policy Options?” Details

World Affairs Council of Austin hosts Claire McCarthy, Consul General of Ireland, and Paul Breen, Vice Consul of Ireland in Austin, for “Ireland Briefing.” Details

World Affairs Council of Albuquerque hosts Nader Hashemi, Director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Denver, for “The Problem of Iran: Rethinking U.S. Middle East Policy” Details

Los Angeles World Affairs Council and Town Hall hosts professor Dan Schnur, University of Southern California, and Ron Brownstein, Senior Editor at The Atlantic, for “2020 Election Series.” Details

World Affairs Council of Greater Reading hosts professor Adam John, Pennsylvania State University, for “Haiti 10 Years After the Earthquake.” Details

WorldOregon hosts author Karen Sherman to discuss her book, Brick by Brick. Details

World Affairs Council Tacoma hosts professor Etga Uger, University of Washington, for “Politics of the Syrian Conflict: A Regional Perspective.” Details

World Affairs Council of New Orleans hosts Alla Rosca, Associate Expert at the Foreign Policy Association of Moldova, and professor Sadhana Ray, Delgado Community College, for “U.S.-India Relations at the Crossroads.” Details

World Affairs (Northern California) hosts a panel of experts for “Combatants for Peace: An Interfaith Workshop.” Details

Thursday 2/13

World Affairs Council of Seattle hosts Gabrielle Fitzgerald, Founder and CEO of Panorama, and Dr. Ann Marie Kimball, Strategic Advisor for the Rockefeller Foundation, for “A Rapid Response Discussion on the Coronavirus and Global Health Emergencies.” Details

Montana World Affairs Council hosts Dexter Tiff Roberts, former China Bureau Chief at Bloomberg Newsweek, and Robert Seidenschwarz, President Emeritus of the Montana World Affairs Council, for “The Global Economic Effects of the Coronavirus and Is the Chinese Political System Capable of Controlling the Outbreak?” Details

World Affairs (Northern California) hosts Joanne Liu, former International President of Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), for “Leading Doctors Without Borders.” Details

Santa Fe Council on International Relations hosts Nader Hashemi, Director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Denver, and Emile Nakhleh, Director of the Global and National Security Policy Institute at the University of New Mexico, for “The Problem of Iran: Rethinking U.S. Middle East Policy” Details

Colorado Springs World Affairs Council hosts Abdülhamit Bilici, former Editor in Chief of Zaman, for “Why Press Freedom Matters: The Story of an Exiled Journalist.” Details

Friday 2/14

WorldOregon hosts Pam Dixon, Founder and Executive Director of the World Privacy Forum, for “Great Decisions: Artificial Intelligence and Data.” Details

Saturday 2/15

World Affairs Council of Greater Hampton Roads hosts professor Cathy Wu, Old Dominion University for, “China’s Road’s Into Latin America.” Details

Sunday 2/16

World Affairs Councils of Western Michigan hosts Julie McCarthy, International Correspondent for NPR, for “Mirror to the World: The Philippines Under Duterte.” 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!

2020 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 Heather Hodges, President and Ambassador in Residence, Cleveland Council on World Affairs, Barcelona: April 18-26, 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
  • Craig Snyder, President & CEO, World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, Ukraine Seminar: July 5-16, 2020
  • Mimi Gregory, Vice President and Program Chairman, Naples Council on World Affairs, Cruising the Adriatic and Aegean Seas: September 9-17, 2020
  • Bill Clifford, President & CEO, World Affairs Councils of America, Ancient Greece Odyssey: October 22-30, 2020
  • Don Samford, Chairman of the Education Outreach and Program Committees, Peoria Area World Affairs Council, Legendary Turkey: October 2-16, 2020
  • Derrick Olsen, President, WorldOregon, Romance of the Douro River: October 13-24, 2020

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