Spring Leadership Meeting Hotel Block Open!

WACA and the World Affairs Council of San Antonio have arranged a special group rate at the Hotel Valencia for the May 17-18 Council Leadership and May 19 Board Meetings.  

To take advantage of our hotel block at $169 / night (plus tax), please book your room by April 25. Reservations can be made by following this link: WACA or by calling 855-596-3387 and referring to the World Affairs Councils of America group.

Note: Council leaders who send their 2018 dues by Wednesday, February 28 will receive a complimentary registration for the Spring Leadership Meetings.

Future of Korea Applications Due Feb. 28

We are pleased to announce continued collaboration with the  Korea Economic Institute of America  on the  Future of Korea  program series. The speaker program focuses on the economic and political situation on the Korean Peninsula as well as U.S.-Korea relations.

All Councils may submit applications; six to eight Councils will be selected to participate. 

About the Program

The centerpiece of the program is a panel discussion consisting of one representative each from the U.S. Department of State, the Korean Embassy, KEI, or other relevant institutions. The panel participants typically offer a general overview presentation (approximately 45-60 minutes in length), followed by a Q&A period. The speakers address political, security, economic and financial issues pertaining to the Korean Peninsula and U.S.-Korea relations. See more details.

To Apply

Councils interested in hosting need to send a completed Application form to Drew Lorelli at dlorelli@worldaffairscouncils.org by February 28, 2018.

March Cover to Cover: Israeli National Security

National security has been at the forefront of the Israeli experience for seven decades, with threats ranging from terrorism, to vast rocket and missile arsenals, and even existential nuclear dangers. Yet, despite its overwhelming preoccupation with foreign and defense affairs, Israel does not have a formal national defense strategy.

In Israeli National Security, Chuck Freilich presents an authoritative analysis of the military, diplomatic, demographic, and societal challenges Israel faces today, to propose a comprehensive and long-term Israeli national security strategy.

Register for the call.

Read Freilich's recent article on the two-state solution and join the March Cover to Cover conference call to discuss his forthcoming book, Israeli National Security: A New Strategy for an Era of Change, on Thursday, March 1, at 2:00-2:30 PM ET.

Register for AWQ National Competition!

Registration for the Carlos and Malú Alvarez 2018 Academic WorldQuest National Competition is now open! The AWQ championship weekend program will be held in Washington, DC on April 27-28. Please stay tuned for updates on the competition venue.

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 March 23!

Register your AWQ team!

This year's program will once again feature a welcome reception at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) on Friday, April 27, at 4:00-6:00 PM.

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

Hotel Reservations:

To take advantage of our special hotel rate of $169 / night plus tax, book your room now at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel (2660 Woodley Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008). These discounted rates will expire April 5.

Thank you to our generous sponsors:

U.S.-Japan Alliance Working in Oregon

WorldOregon will present a public panel that explores the depth and breadth of the U.S.-Japan relationship and the benefits to both countries at the national and regional levels. 

The March 1 event will feature Ambassador (Ret.) James P. Zumwalt, CEO of Sasakawa USA, and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia Affairs; Stephanie Segal, Senior Fellow and Deputy Director, Simon Chair in Political Economy, CSIS; Dr. Satu Limaye, Director of East-West Center in Washington; and Paul Taylor, Vice President & General Counsel of Ajinomoto North America Division, based in Portland.

Co-presented with generous support from Sasakawa USA and East-West Center, and in partnership with the Japan-America Society of Oregon, this panel is one of a series of events on which Sasakawa USA has partnered with local organizations as part of "The Alliance Working in America" (TAWA) program. WACA President and CEO Bill Clifford will participate in this program, including as a speaker at a March 2 dinner sponsored by the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program Alumni Association of Portland.

Listen to WACA Podcasts!

 Last week, Derrick Olsen, President of WorldOregon, hosted Ambassador (Ret.) Mary Carlin Yates on our February KNOW NOW conference call to discuss a new U.S. strategy for Sudan. Listen to the podcast.

Councils and WACA Are Hiring! 

Cleveland Council on World Affairs is hiring a new Manager of Student Education Programs.

World Affairs Council of Hampshire is conducting a search for its new executive director. See the job announcement.

WACA is seeking two Program and Outreach Interns for Summer 2018! See details and application requirements.

Call for Applications: 

SQCC Intensive Summer Language Program

The word Sabla in Omani Arabic dialect refers to places in communities where people gather to receive hospitality. Sabla also serves as a meeting place to discuss important public issues. 

The Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center's Sabla Program is an intensive summer language program designed to benefit current university-level students and recent graduates. The program emphasized the instruction of Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). The program runs for five weeks, offering highly intensive coursework in Arabic.

Scholarships are available. Apply by May 6, 2018. See more details.

WAC St. Louis Celebrates Chinese New Year 

On Friday, March 2, the World Affairs Council of St. Louis will hold its 27th annual Chinese New Year Celebration fundraiser. This year's event is dedicated to Bob Fischer, who recently stepped down after 16 years of service as WAC St. Louis's Executive Director. He has been named Executive Director Emeritus and has been succeeded by Bob Foster.

Travel the World from 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: 

• Dr. Carla Thorson, Senior Vice President, Programs, World Affairs Council Northern California, Southern Africa: Feb. 10-Mar. 5
• Bill Clifford, President and CEO, World Affairs Councils of America, Inside Japan: Mar. 31 - Apr. 12
• Craig Snyder, President and CEO, World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, Poland & Moscow Seminar: July 14-22
• Jim Falk, President and CEO, World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, Cruise the Rhine, July 11-29
• Megan Torrey, Executive Director, World Affairs Council of Hartford, Himalayan Kingdoms, Sept. 11-25
• Dixie Anderson, Executive Director Emerita, World Affairs Council of Western Michigan, Romance of the Douro River: Sept. 15-26
• Mimi Gregory, Vice President of Programs, Naples Council on World Affairs, Inside Botswana: Oct. 4-16
• Joyce Davis, President, World Affairs Council of Harrisburg, Town & Country Life in Languedoc: Oct. 6-14
• Derrick Olsen, President, WorldOregon, Inside New York: Oct 21-26
• Don Samford, Board President, Peoria Area World Affairs Council, Cuba: Nov. 4-12

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