December 3, 2018

December Newsletter

WACA Chairman on Bush 41; President's Letter; Conference Speakers of Note; ASG Speaker Availability; WACSA's New Interim Executive Director; Travel with Councils; plus News!

WACA Chairman Roman Popadiuk Remembers George H.W. Bush

President George H.W. Bush distinguished himself with his strength of character, decency, and dedication to public service. He stands as an inspiration to all Americans. 

His leadership helped liberate Kuwait, bring an end to the Cold War, led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the unification of Germany, and a Europe whole and free. At home, he reached a historic budget deal, passed the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act, and brought heightened awareness for the role of volunteerism with the Points of Light program.

His legacy of strong leadership at home and abroad is well recognized and greatly appreciated. Moreover, he leaves a lasting impression on our political life. His political career was marked by decency, civility and respect for adversaries, and for hearing the views of all. It is a legacy that we all respect and admire.

-- Roman Popadiuk

Chairman, WACA Board of Directors

President's Letter

Dear Council Leaders, Friends, and Supporters:

I begin December by visiting three Councils this week - an unusual tour for me, and one that involves exciting activities and affords the opportunity to interact with local Council Boards, staff, and members, make observations, and receive feedback on national programs such as last month's WACA Conference.

Today, I'm with the Naples Council on World Affairs, which is hosting the third in a series of WACA programs supported by the United States Institute of Peace. Ambassador William Taylor, USIP's Executive Vice President will speak on Peacebuilding for National Security. He will also visit a local high school which participates in Academic WorldQuest. USIP is a sponsor of WACA's Academic WorldQuest and will host our National Competition next April.

From Naples, I travel to New Mexico where I will attend the opening of Santa Fe Council on International Relations' Journalism under Fire Conference. On Thursday, I will give a talk on Japan, America, and the New Nationalism at the World Affairs Council of Monterey Bay Area.

I want to thank these Councils for their dedication and gracious hospitality, and I want to congratulate all Member Councils on their excellent programming and educational activities in 2018.

Happy Holidays,

Bill Clifford,WACA President and CEO

Albright Stonebridge Group VPs Available for Speaking Engagements

In partnership with Albright Stonebridge Group, we're pleased to present the following speakers. Please contact WACA President Bill Clifford if you are interested in scheduling engagements with them.

Sumona Guha

Vice President, Europe Practice, Albright Stonebridge Group

Guha served as White House special adviser on Europe and at the State Department as special assistant for Europe. She also served at the U.S. embassies in Paris and Moscow. 

Molly Montgomery

Vice President, Europe Practice, Albright Stonebridge Group

Montgomery joined ASG a few months ago from the White House, where she was special adviser on Europe. She also was Deputy Director of Eastern European Affairs at the State Department and a Career Foreign Service Officer.

John Hughes

Vice President, Europe Practice, Albright Stonebridge Group

Hughes served as Deputy Director of sanction policy and in the Office of Korean Affairs and Bureau of Consular Affairs at the State Department

World Affairs Council of San Antonio has selected Tim Farrell as its Interim Executive Director. He succeeds Leslie Palmer, who had led WACSA since 2016. His career runs deep through high-ranking military service; advisory roles in San Antonio’s Veterans Affairs Commission, Summer of Service (SOS), and as one of the “Veterans for Smart Power” within the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition; and Chief Operating Officer roles within Operation Homefront and The DoSeum.

Travel to Qatar and Oman with WAC Greater Houston

The World Affairs Council of Greater Houston is offering a trip to Qatar and Oman February 15-24, 2019. Experience magnificent Doha, the Museum of Islamic Art, enchanting Muscat, and a desert excursion in Wahiba Sands. The trip will be coordinated in collaboration with Diana Untermeyer, Cultural Adviser of the Qatar-America Institute. Apply here.

November 28, 2018

Weekly World News Update

Crimea-Russia Tensions Escalate; G20 Summit Drama Approaches; Mass Climate Report Buried in Black Friday; Problems in Paris; Possible Brexit Deal; Migrant-U.S. Border Clashes; Taiwan Votes

Quote of the Week

"We will fight for our freedom, we will fight for our democracy, we will fight for our soil. The Russians will pay a huge price if they attack us."  

-- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, warning Russia in an interview with NBC News on Tuesday.

Escalating Conflict in Crimea

"Russia-Ukraine Fight Over Narrow Sea Passage Risks Wider War” Neil MacFarquhar --The New York Times, November 26, 2018 

“Ukrainian-Russian Conflict Over Crimea and Azov Sea Has Long History” Veronika Melkozerova -- Kyiv Post, November 26, 2018

“Russia-Ukraine Conflict Heats Up the Sea of Azov: Echoes of Russia’s War with Georgia?” Ashish Kumar Sen -- The Atlantic Council, November 25, 2018

"Press Conference Following the Meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission" NATO, November 26, 2018

"Putin Tests Trump on Ukraine" Editorial Board -- Wall Street Journal, November 26, 2018

"Ukraine-Russia Sea Clash: Trump May Cancel G20 Putin Talks” -- BBC News, November 28, 2018

G20 Summit

“This Year's G20 May Be the Most Crucial Since 2009” Andrew Hammond -- Business Times, November 27, 2018

"Commentary: Here’s What Trump Needs to Do at the G20" David Andelman -- Reuters, November 28, 2018

"Key Global Views About Issues and Leaders in the Spotlight at the G20 Summit" Richard Wike and Moira Fagan -- Pew Research Center, November 28, 2018

“The G20 Summit Is a Reminder of How Little the U.S. Is Doing for American Workers” Alexia Fernandez Campbell -- Vox, November 26, 2018

"Latin America in Flux as G20 Leaders Descend on the Region" Luis Andres Henao -- Associated Press, November 26, 2018

"PM Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping to Meet on Sidelines of G20 Summit in Argentina" Indian Express, November 27, 2018

Climate Change Report

"A Grave Climate Warning, Buried on Black Friday" Robinson Meyer -- The Atlantic, November 23, 2018

"Fourth National Climate Assessment" U.S. Global Change Research Program, November 2018

"The Energy 202: Trump Officials Mount Full-Court Press Against Their Own Climate Report" Dino Grandoni, Washington Post, November 28, 2018

"A Bright Side to Those Dire Climate Change Reports?" Molly Callahan -- Northeastern University, November 28, 2018

“Here’s What the Climate Change Report Says Will Happen to the Economy If Temperatures Get Hotter” Steve Goldstein -- MarketWatch, November 27, 2018

“Yellow Vests” Pose Trouble for Macron

“Les Misérables vs. Macron” Robert Zaretsky -- Foreign Policy, November 26, 2018

“Emmanuel Macron Rejects Parallels Between French ‘Yellow Vest’ Protests and Brexit” David Chazan -- The Telegraph, November 25, 2018

“Why the ‘Yellow Vests’ Are a Red Flag for France’s Macron – and the EU” Judah Grunstein -- World Politics Review, November 26, 2018

“Macron to Address Nation in Wake of Violent Protests” -- France 24, November 26, 2018

Potential Brexit Deal?

“The EU Has Approved Theresa May’s Brexit Deal. Now What?” Frances Coppola -- Forbes, November 25, 2018

“EU to UK: Lose-Lose Brexit Deal Is Best You Will Get” David Herszenhorn and Charlie Cooper -- Politico, November 25, 2018

“The Brexit ‘Future Relationship:’ Not a Deal, But a Half-Blind Date” Michael Emerson -- CEPS, November 26, 2018

Migrants Reach Border

“U.S. Closes Major Crossing as Caravan Migrants Mass at Border in Mexico” Sarah Kinosian and Joshua Partlow -- Washington Post, November 26, 2018

“Why Tear Gas, Lobbed at Migrants on the Southern Border, Is Banned in Warfare” Alex Horton -- Penn Live, November 26, 2018

“President Trump Calls Caravan Migrants ‘Stone Cold Criminals.’ Here’s What We Know” Bart Jansen and Alan Gomez -- USA Today, November 26, 2018

“If Recent Patterns Hold, There May Indeed Be Terrorists Inside the Border Caravan” Todd Bensman -- The Federalist, November 26, 2018

Setbacks in Taiwan

“Rout for DPP in Taiwan Elections Not a Win for Reunification” Frank Chen -- Asia Times, November 26, 2018

"The Big Winner in Taiwan's Weekend Elections? China" Kelly Olsen -- CNBC, November 26, 2018

“The Latest: Taiwanese Reject Gay Marriage, New Olympic Name” -- KSLA News, November 24, 2018

November 26, 2018

WACA Weekly

New Council Execs in Cleveland, Minneapolis; USIP-WACA Peacebuilding Program at Naples CWA; CSIS Trade Guys Record Live for WACA; National Conference Survey and Photo Gallery; Travel with Councils (Philadelphia, Houston, and Dallas); plus Council Highlights

Global Minnesota and Cleveland CWA Hire New Leaders

Global Minnesota has selected former Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie as its new President. He will succeed Carol Byrne, recipient of the WACA Chairman's 2018 Individual Award, in January. Ritchie’s leadership experience spans government, nonprofit, education, and advocacy organizations. In addition to creating a public-private partnership to host a World’s Fair on health and wellness in Minnesota, he served as an endowed chair in agricultural food systems for the University of Minnesota.

The Cleveland Council on World Affairs today announced that Carina Van Vliet has been named CEO and will start in her new role on January 2, 2019. A CCWA member since 2015, Carina most recently was a regional manager for business development and communications at Jones Day. After moving to Cleveland in 2014, she served as a senior adviser to the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize Forum. Carina served as a political affairs officer at the United Nations from 2006 to 2014, covering Latin American and Middle East issues, disarmament affairs, and women, peace, and security issues. She also co-authored an economic history textbook and taught economics in China. 

Naples Council on World Affairs Hosts USIP

Naples Council on World Affairs presents Peacebuilding for National Security, featuring Ambassador William Taylor, Executive Vice President of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), on Monday, December 3. This event is the third Council program in the WACA-USIP Engage America series.

CSIS' Trade Guys Live Podcast from WACA 2018 Conference Session

CSIS for the fourth year in a row hosted an exclusive offsite briefing for a cohort of Council leaders and members at the WACA 2018 National Conference - but this time with a twist. The Trade Guys (Bill Reinsch and Scott Miller) recorded their weekly podcast in front of our live audience. On the agenda was the midterm elections and how the new Democratic majority in the House might affect the dynamics of trade policy. They also discussed tariffs, the USMCA, and more. Jack Caporal guest hosted. Listen to the podcast here.

Save the Date: WACA 2019 National Conference

Mark your calendars now! The World Affairs Councils of America will return to The Mayflower Hotel for next year's National Conference: November 6-8, 2019.

Reminder: 2018 Conference Survey - We Welcome Your Feedback!

All attendees of the WACA 2018 Conference should have received an email earlier today requesting that you take part in a survey. For those who missed it (attendees only), please click this survey link to participate - it should take you no longer than 10-15 minutes. Your responses, comments, and recommendations will help us plan the 2019 National Conference.

The survey will be close automatically at 11:55 pm ET on Friday, November 30, 2018.

Braving the New World Order

November 7–9, 2018

The Mayflower Hotel – Washington, DC

Check Out Our Photo Gallery

Click on the following links to see photos from this year's Conference - and feel free to download them!

**You will need to create a Dropbox account in order to access and engage with the below photos, except for the "General Conference Photos" link. It's fast - and free - to create an account!**

WACA 2018 General Conference Photos

WACA 2018 Conference FPA OAS Reception

WACA 2018 Conference State Secretary Michaelis and Transatlantic Panel

WACA 2018 Conference Dambisa Moyo

WACA 2018 Conference Peter Singer

WACA 2018 Conference 1918 Society Dinner

WACA 2018 Conference Leadership Day

We'd love to see your own Conference photos, too! Please submit your photos in the shared Dropbox folder below. (By uploading your photos to this folder, you give permission to the World Affairs Councils of America to post online and use your photos in our communications.)

WACA 2018 Conference WACs Photo Contributions

November 19, 2018

WACA Weekly - Happy Thanksgiving!

Tennessee WAC Podcast on WACA Qatar Mission; WACA Conference Survey and Photo Gallery; UAE Educator Tour in March; WAC Charlotte Hiring; Council Highlights; WAC Philly's Travel the World

Podcast on Qatar: WACA Leadership Mission Delegate Shepherd

Tennessee World Affairs Council Board Chairman Jim Shepherd discusses his impressions of Qatar's government and business relations to the United States, its economic and educational achievements, Al Jazeera, Doha's stunning cityscapes and plans, and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Listen to the podcast here.

Save the Date: WACA 2019 National Conference

Mark your calendars now! The World Affairs Councils of America will return to The Mayflower Hotel for next year's National Conference: November 6-8, 2019.

2018 Conference Survey - We Welcome Your Feedback!

All attendees of the WACA 2018 Conference should have received an email earlier today requesting that you take part in a survey. For those who missed it (attendees only), please click this survey link to participate - it should take you no longer than 10-15 minutes. Your responses, comments, and recommendations will help us plan the 2019 National Conference.

The survey will be close automatically at 11:55 pm ET on Friday, November 30, 2018.

Braving the New World Order

November 7–9, 2018

The Mayflower Hotel – Washington, DC

Check Out Our Photo Gallery

Click on the following links to see photos from this year's Conference - and feel free to download them!

**You will need to create a Dropbox account in order to access and engage with the below photos, except for the "General Conference Photos" link. It's fast - and free - to create an account!**

WACA 2018 General Conference Photos

WACA 2018 Conference FPA OAS Reception

WACA 2018 Conference State Secretary Michaelis and Transatlantic Panel

WACA 2018 Conference Dambisa Moyo

WACA 2018 Conference Peter Singer

WACA 2018 Conference 1918 Society Dinner

WACA 2018 Conference Leadership Day

We'd love to see your own Conference photos, too! Please submit your photos in the shared Dropbox folder below. (By uploading your photos to this folder, you give permission to the World Affairs Councils of America to post online and use your photos in our communications.)

WACA 2018 Conference WACs Photo Contributions

2018 Conference videos are being edited and will be made available to the Council network after the Thanksgiving holiday.

Thanks to everyone who made this year's WACA National Conference

a wonderful success, especially our sponsors!

UAE Educator Study Tour with WAC Dallas/Fort Worth

The World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and the Embassy of the UAE in Washington, DC will collaborate for a third educator study tour on March 8-17, 2019 to develop an educational program to bring context to the American classroom. The study tour will include opportunities for participants to interact with top UAE government officials, visit internationally renowned museums, participate in cultural activities, visit schools and universities, and more!

Application Deadline: WACDFW will close the application process upon the submission of 30 Texas and 30 non-Texas applications or on Friday, December 14, 2018 at 5:30 PM CT. Apply here.

WAC Charlotte is Hiring!

World Affairs Council of Charlotte -- Assist. Director of Programs & Dev.

WAC Charlotte seeks an energetic, creative, dynamic, and organized individual with the aptitude to manage record-keeping, daily operations of the office, and event planning in a fast-paced, high pressure, and deadline oriented nonprofit office environment. Apply here.

November 14, 2018

Weekly World News Update

Armistice Day 100th Anniversary; How Midterms Affect Foreign Policy; Nuclear in North Korea Ends?; Libya Searches for Settlement; Madagascar Votes; Issues in South America

Quote of the Week

“Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism: nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism.... When we say ‘our interests come first, those of others don’t matter,’ we erase the very thing that a nation holds most precious, that which gives it life and makes it great: its moral values."

-- French President Emmanuel Macron, in a speech given at the Arc de Triomphe on Sunday to mark the 100th anniversary of WWI's Armistice Day.

The World Remembers the Great War

“Thumbs Up from Putin as Trump Rains on Armistice Parade” Julian Borger -- The Guardian, November 11, 2018

"The World Has Come Full Circle—And Taken a Turn for The Worse" Nicholas Dungan -- Atlantic Council, November 11, 2018

"World War I Relived Day by Day" Patrick Chovanec -- NY Review of Books, November 8, 2018

"Today’s Armies Are Still Fighting World War I" Michael Stavridis -- Bloomberg, November 10, 2018

"Are 100 Years Enough?" Priya Satia -- New Republic, November 9, 2018

Midterms and Foreign Policy

“How Will the Midterm Elections Affect U.S. Foreign Policy?” Joshua Kurlantzick -- Council on Foreign Relations, November 7, 2018

“American Voters Just Sent a Surprising Message About the Trade War” Andrew Mayeda -- Bloomberg, November 7, 2018

"The Way Forward from the Midterms" Ben Shapiro -- National Review, November 14, 2018

“Midterms May Herald New Trump Foreign Policy Focus” Andrew Hammond -- The Korea Times, November 8, 2018

“Victorious House Democrats Pledge to Probe Trump’s Foreign Policy” Michael Hirsh -- Foreign Policy, November 6, 2018

“Congress Can Unite on Global Affairs” Kathleen Hicks and Louis Lauter -- The Hill, November 13, 2018

North Korea Nuclear Threat Over?

“North Korea Is Operating at Least 13 Secret Missile Sites, Satellite Images Show” Matthew Lee -- Time, November 12, 2018

“Newly Revealed North Korean Missile Bases Cast Doubt on Value of Trump’s Summit with Kim Jong-un” Adam Taylor -- Washington Post, November 12, 2018

“South Korea Says ‘Nothing New” in Report Identifying North Korean Bases” Stella Kim and Alexander Smith -- NBC News, November 13, 2018

Libya’s Peace Process Continues

“A Safe and Stable Libya” Stephen Hickey -- Gov.uk, November 8, 2018 

“Leaders Meet in Italy to Find Settlement in Libya” Paolo Santalucia; Frances D'Emilio; Rami Musa -- Fox19, November 12, 2018

“Cruel European Migration Policies Leave Refugees Trapped in Libya With No Way Out” Heba Morayef -- Amnesty International, November 12, 2018

Madagascar Elections

“Vote Counting Begins in High-Stakes Madagascar Election” -- Aljazeera, November 8, 2018

“Elections to Test Madagascar’s Fragile Democracy” Laetitia Bezain and Kate Bartlett -- Independent Online, November 1, 2018

South American Happenings

“Peru’s Ex-Police Chief Arrested in Alleged Baby Trafficking Ring” -- NPR, November 7, 2018

“From Gunbattles to Tourism: Colombia’s Ex-Rebels Turn Rafting Guides” Luis Jaime Acosta -- Reuters, November 12, 2018

“Venezuelan Migrants Live in Shadows on Caribbean’s Sunshine Islands” Bram Ebus -- The Guardian, November 13, 2018

“Analysis: Brazil Risks Middle East Trade With Israel Embassy Move” Ana Mano and Jake Spring -- Reuters, November 8, 2018

November 13, 2018

WACA 2018 National Conference Highlights

Braving the New World Order

November 7–9, 2018

The Mayflower Hotel – Washington, DC

Thanks to everyone who made this year's WACA National Conference

a wonderful success!

The Foreign Policy Association, founder of the World Affairs Councils of America, is the WACA 2018 Council of the Year. Make that of the Century - we celebrated FPA's 100th Anniversary and its longest-serving president, Noel Lateef, at the Organization of American States.

Carol E. Byrne, President of Global Minnesota, receives the WACA Chairman's 2018 Individual Award at the Conference's Opening Dinner. Carol will step down at the end of the year, folllwoing an exceptional 21-year career at the helm of one of our network's strongest member Councils.

Opening Dinner keynote speakers Jim Lindsay and Ivo Daalder, moderated by Michèle Flournoy, analyze the costs of America's abdication of global leadership.

International economist Dambisa Moyo gave a riveting closing keynote on the six 'grand challenges' facing the world, and possible solutions.

WAC Dallas/Fort Worth CEO Jim Falk engages former White House Secretary Sean Spicer at WACA's Ambassadors Luncheon, two days after the U.S. midterm elections.

WACA Conference Scholar Micaela Healy challenges author Peter Singer about the future of social media.

Hanin Najjar of WorldOregon sums up the experiences of the 2018 Student Scholars.

South Korea's Amb. Cho Yoon-je accepts WAC-DC's Distinguished Diplomatic Service Award at WACA's 1918 Society Dinner.

Dellashon diCresce of Detroit and Amanda Jolly of Hartford

IRC Scholar Engoma Fataki

World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts: Two Tables!

Andreas Michaelis, State Secretary of the German Federal Foreign Office, in conversation Dr. Evelyn Farkas of the Atlantic Council, Robert Kagan of Brookings, and Dr. Steven Sokol of the American Council on Germany. The panel discussion marks the launch of WACA's Deutschlandjahr USA Project: What Today's Germany Means for the United States.

Our photo gallery and a Conference survey will be sent out to attendees tomorrow. We'll also send a link to a Dropbox folder where you can add your own Conference photos!

WACA Thanks Its Conference Sponsors

October 31, 2018

Weekly World News Update

Intolerance Rages; Merkel Won't Run; NATO Military Drills; Brazil Swings to the Right; Constitutional Changes in Sri Lanka

Quote of the Week

“These murderers are effectively terrorists, and these terrorists are Americans. They are our neighbors. They are not some easily vilified foreign entity or individual. The killers are within us. They are of us. We can no longer avoid forcefully organizing ourselves to address this.”

-- Hady Amr, Visiting Fellow of Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution, in an op-ed on Tuesday.

Rising Intolerance

“The Tree of Life Shooting and the Return of Anti-Semitism to American Life” Alexandra Schwartz -- New Yorker, October 27, 2018

“When to Call a Terrorist a Terrorist” Daniel Byman -- Brookings Institution, October 29, 2018

“We Were Made for Civil War” Michael Vlahos -- American Conservative, October 29, 2018

“Political Differences Are Not a Crime in America” Chris Davis -- National Interest, October 28, 2018

“What Is Happening to Our Country?” Max Boot -- Washington Post, October 27, 2018

Angela Merkel Stepping Down

“What Angela Merkel’s Decision Not to Run Again as Party Leader Means” Andrea Thomas -- The Wall Street Journal, October 29, 2018

“As Angela Merkel’s Star Dims, Europe Is Facing Perhaps Its Biggest Challenge Since 1930s” Simon Tisdall -- The Guardian, October 28, 2018

“The Long Painful End of Angela Merkel” Josef Joffe -- Politico, October 29, 2018

“Brexit Bombshell: What Merkel’s Decision to Quit Means for UK’s EU Negotiation” Joe Barnes -- Express, October, 29, 2018

Let the NATO Games Begin

“NATO Begins ‘Biggest Military Drills Since End of Cold War’” Alasdair Sandford -- Euro News, October 25, 2018

“NATO Is in the Middle of an Expensive and Dangerous Military Exercise. Here’s Why Those War Games Are Worth It” James Stavridis -- Time, October 29, 2018

“NATO Is Worried About the Wrong Russian Threat in Eastern Europe” Michael Cecire -- Business Insider, October 29, 2018

Brazil Veers Right

“Brazil Swings Right With Election of Jair Bolsonaro as President” Ashish Kumar Sen -- Atlantic Council, October 28, 2018

“A Victory Against Socialism in Brazil” Brian Darling -- Washington Times, October 25, 2018

“Can Brazil’s Democracy Withstand Jair Bolsonaro?” Vincent Bevins -- The Atlantic, October 29, 2018

“All Over But the Shouting: Engaging Brazil After the Elections” Eric Farnsworth -- The National Interest, October 29, 2018

Power Shift in Sri Lanka

“Sri Lanka Constitutional Crisis Turns Violent” Iqbal Athas and Steve George -- CNN, October 29, 2018

“Sudden Regime Change in Sri Lanka: Mahinda Rajapakse Is Back, Now as PM” Nirupama Subramanian and Arun Janardhanan -- Indian Express, October 27, 2018

“Constitutional Crisis Could Destabilize Sri Lanka, Pushing It Closer to China” Nyshka Chandran and Sri Jegarajah -- CNBC, October 30, 2018

October 29, 2018

WACA Weekly

Leadership Day: Germany Grant Series; New Conference Speakers; FPA at 100; Sen. Corker at TNWAC; Op-ed by Columbus' Terrien; Cover to Cover Podcasts; AWQ Registration and Study Guide; Council Jobs & News

WACA 2018 National Conference: Braving the New World Order

November 7-9

The Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC

As always, WACA kicks off the annual National Conference with Fall Leadership Day - a chance to network with Council peers, share best practices, and develop partnerships.

WACA is delighted to announce that we have been selected to participate in Deutschlandjahr USA 2018/19 for a grant-funded series for Councils titled "Engage America: What Today's Germany Means for the United States." Christoph Mücher, Head of Project, will present the opportunities at the Leadership Day luncheon. Don't miss it!

Tennessee WAC Hosts Senator Bob Corker

The Tennessee World Affairs Council, in association with the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, International Business Council, and Baker Donelson presents a luncheon on October 31 with Senator Bob Corker (R-TN), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Terrien Op-ed Spotlights Plight of Mauritanian Immigrants and Refugees in Columbus

The Columbus Dispatch published an op-ed by Patrick Terrien, President and CEO of the Columbus Council on World Affairs, calling on the city to rally around its Mauritanian community to prevent wrongful detention and deportation. Read his column here.

World Affairs Council of New Hampshire will present a panel of experts on "Global Tipping Points: The Future of Korea: K-Pop” on November 1. This program is part of WACA's Future of Korea 2018 series, co-sponsored by the Korea Economic Institute. See more Council Highlights below.

Academic WorldQuest Study Guide and Details

1.  Country in Focus: Qatar

2.  How to Deal with North Korea

3.  Global Refugee and Migration Crisis

4.  #WeAreNATO – The Alliance at 70

5.  Great Decisions

6.  Japan-U.S. Relations

7.  Space Policy

8.  World Trade Organization (WTO)

9.  Bridging Divides to Build Peace

10.   Current Events

WACA Podcasts

Cover to Cover in October featured a conversation with Sarah Igo, Associate Professor of History and Director of the Program in American Studies at Vanderbilt University, on her new book, The Known Citizen: A History of Privacy in Modern America. Listen here.

Listen to our September KNOW NOW call featuring a conversation between Valerie Plame, former career CIA covert operations officer, and Sandy Campbell, Executive Director of the Santa Fe Council on International Relations, speaking about the State of U.S. Intelligence Agencies. Listen here.