April 23, 2018

WACA Weekly

This Week: Preventing International Conflict on KNOW NOW; Academic WorldQuest 2018; Spring Leadership Meeting Updates; National Board Votes

Academic WorldQuest 2018 this Saturday!

The Carlos and Malú Alvarez 2018 Academic WorldQuest National Competition program will be held at The National Press Club in Washington, DC on Saturday, April 28 from 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM.

The AWQ program will once again feature a welcome reception at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) on Friday, April 27 from 4:00-6:00 PM. Participants will have the opportunity to explore the many ways that the United States Institute of Peace works to prevent conflicts from turning to bloodshed and to end it when they do. This includes the opportunity to hear from Ambassador William Taylor, USIP’s Executive Vice President, and Maria Stephan, Director of Nonviolent Action Programs at the Institute.

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

Thank you to our generous sponsors!

Spring Leadership Hotel Block Closes April 30!

This year's Spring Leadership and Board Meetings will be held in partnership with the World Affairs Council of San Antonio, May 17-19. 

The meetings will open with an installment of WAC San Antonio's Distinguished Speaker Series on Thursday, May 17 at 5:30 pm CT:

San Antonio’s First 300 Years: From Spanish Colony to Modern City

Join the World Affairs Council of San Antonio and local historian Dr. Gilberto Hinojosa for a fascinating overview of San Antonio’s last 300 years, from its foundation as a Spanish outpost to its rise in the twentieth century.

This event is held in conjunction with the World Affairs Councils of America’s Annual Spring Leadership Meeting.

On Friday, May 18, following professional development workshops on topics such as fundraising, endowments, and membership development, WACA will host a dinner with VIP speaker.

The WACA Board meets Saturday, May 19 from 9:00 am-12:00 pm.

Hotel Block

Our hotel block at Hotel Valencia, offering a rate of $169/night, will close on Monday, April 30. Book your room today!

*Registration and agendas coming soon. ($50; free for 1918 Society members)

Council Leaders: Please Vote by May 18

New WACA National Board terms will commence July 1 (a term is three years).

According to the bylaws, one authorized representative of each member organization may vote YEA or NAY on the nominees for the WACA National Board. See bios.

Please respond by email vote to Chelsea Beaulieu at cbeaulieu@worldaffairscouncils.org no later than close of business on Friday, May 18.

With the start of our new fiscal year on July 1, 2018, WACA National Board Committees will be recomposed. The Nominating Committee will announce an official call for nominations to the board in early September. Please begin now to consider the strongest Supporting (corporate and institutional) and Council candidates for the WACA National Board, with terms to start in July 2019. 

CANDIDATES ELECTION (JULY 2018-JUNE 2021 TERM):

BOARD CANDIDATES (Supporting Member Nominees):

Carlos Alvarez, CEO, The Gambrinus Company (TX)

Alex Lari, CEO, The Claremont Group (NY) 

BOARD CANDIDATES (Council Rep Nominees):

Joan Lemoine, immediate past Executive Director, WAC Hilton Head

Derrick Olsen, President, WorldOregon

Incumbent Supporting Member Nominee (second 3-year term):

Forough Hosseini, Senior Vice President, Information Systems, ICI Homes, Inc. (FL) 

Incumbent Council Rep Nominees (second 3-year term):

Craig Snyder, President and CEO, WAC Philadelphia 

Xiao Yin Zhao, Executive Director, WAC Kentucky and Southern Indiana

Listen to WACA Podcasts!

On Wednesday, April 18, WACA hosted Madiha Afzal on Cover to Cover to discuss her new book, Pakistan Under Siege: Extremism, Society and the State.

World Affairs Council of Seattle to Co-Sponsor Madeleine Albright Event

Madeleine Albright, Chair of Albright Stonebridge Group and first female Secretary of State (1997-2001), will appear at a Seattle Theater Group event, co-sponsored by World Affairs Council of Seattle, on Tuesday, April 24.

Albright also served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (1993-1997) and in 2012 was awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.

Albright will discuss her new book, a New York Times #1 bestseller, Fascism: A Warning.

San Diego World Affairs Council to Host Ambassador Ryan Crocker

San Diego World Affairs Council will host Ambassador Ryan Crocker at its annual fundraising dinner on Friday, April 27.

Crocker has served as US Ambassador six times: Afghanistan (2011-2012), Iraq (2007-2009), Pakistan (2004-2007), Syria (1998-2001), Kuwait (1994-1997), and Lebanon (1990-1993). Ambassador Crocker has received many of the nation’s highest honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Crocker currently serves as Diplomat-in-Residence at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.