May 14, 2018

WACA Weekly

This Week: Join Cover to Cover with Michael McFaul; Spring Leadership and Board Meetings; Final Call to Vote for National Board Slate; International Relations Council Hosts Ambassador of the Czech Republic; Work at WorldBoston; Council Highlights

TOMORROW: Michael McFaul on Cover to Cover

When Michael McFaul was asked to leave his perch at Stanford and join an unlikely presidential campaign in 2008, he had no idea that he would find himself at the beating heart of one of today’s most contentious and consequential international relationships. As President Obama’s adviser on Russian affairs, McFaul helped craft the U.S. policy known as “reset” that fostered unprecedented collaboration between the two countries. Then, as U.S. Ambassador to Russia (2012-2014), he had a front-row seat when this fleeting, hopeful moment crumbled with Vladimir Putin’s return to the presidency.

From Cold War to Hot Peace is a riveting inside account that combines history and memoir to tell the full story of U.S.-Russia relations from the fall of the Soviet Union to the new rise of the hostile, paranoid Russian president.

Join the May Cover to Cover conference call to discuss McFaul's new book, From Cold War to Hot Peace: An American Ambassador in Putin's Russia, on Tuesday, May 15 from 2:00-2:30 PM ET.

Stratfor's Reva Goujon to Speak at Leadership Meeting Dinner: Where U.S. Trade Policy and Grand Strategy Intersect

Reva Goujon, Vice President of Global Analysis at Stratfor, will keynote a special dinner at San Antonio's Club Giraud on Friday, May 18 from 6:00-9:00 pm, following the leadership workshop sessions.

The meetings will open with an installment of WAC San Antonio's Distinguished Speaker Series, "San Antonio’s First 300 Years: From Spanish Colony to Modern City," on Thursday, May 17 at 5:30 pm.

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

Reva Goujon

VP of Global Analysis

Stratfor

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

International Relations Council (Kansas City) to Host H.E. Kmoníček

International Relations Council hosts H.E. Hynek Kmoníček, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the U.S., and Ladislava Begeç Consul General of Slovakia in New York, Wednesday, May 14, for "100th Anniversary of the Pittsburgh Agreement."

The Pittsburgh Agreement established Czechoslovakia as an independent nation after WWI in the wake of the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

WorldBoston Is Hiring!

WorldBoston is hiring a manager of operations and global education programs!

Request for Proposals: Meridian International Center U.S. Exchange Alumni Network and Capacity Building Program

Meridian International Center is seeking proposal partners for the FY2018 U.S. Exchange Alumni Network and Capacity Building Program. This program seeks to expand engagement with American citizen alumni by offering professional development seminars and accompanying career events in different regions of the U.S., focusing on professional networks, capacity building, and job-skills training.

Selected partner organizations will be responsible for the following:

·     In collaboration with Meridian, design one- to two-day professional development seminars and career opportunities for approximately 40-200 U.S. citizen alumni of USG-funded exchange programs;

·     Identify speakers, trainers, and local business contacts to participate in the professional development seminars and follow-on activities;

·     Assist Meridian to execute a communications strategy in order to drive event recruitment and media coverage.

Deadline for applications: Friday, May 18.