Updates to Membership and Support

The vitality of the Tennessee World Affairs Council depends on: the enthusiasm of the volunteers who carry out the programs and functions of the Council and the people who support the work being undertaken by their membership sign-ups and donations. To make membership applications and donations easy to accomplish we have updated the web site…

Distinguished Speaker Program: The Changing Middle East – Nov 13

Join us for a special presentation of the Council’s Distinguished Visiting Speaker Program on November 13th. — The “Arab Spring” and the challenge it presents to American foreign policy and interests across North Africa and the Near East has raised new and complicated questions jumping out of the headlines. There could be no timelier topic for us to discuss than the tension between America and the Arab and Islamic worlds. We seek to understand these developments and how they impact U.S. interests in these important regions. Join us for an insightful presentation by renowned Professor Richard Bulliett as he explores “Political Authority in a Changing Middle East.” He comes to the Tennessee World Affairs Council through a grant by the Carnegie Corporation in association with the World Affairs Councils of America.

Event: March Symposium Focuses on Future of American Foreign Policy

United States Sen. Lamar Alexander; retired Gen. Wesley Clark; Jon Huntsman, the former Utah governor who has served as ambassador to Singapore and China and was a recent contender for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination; Vicente Fox, former president of Mexico, and Bill Richardson, a former governor of New Mexico who has served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and as secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy, will deliver public lectures at Vanderbilt University March 19-21 as part of the university’s annual Impact Symposium.

Event: Feb 28 Seminar to Explore the Role of Congress in Making Foreign Policy

The Constitution provides power to both the President and the Congress in making United States foreign policy but it is not always clear who has the decisive voice and how the process works. The role Congress plays will be examined in a seminar featuring Dr. George Ingram, Chairman Emeritus of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition and long time House Foreign Affairs Committee senior staffer. The seminar will be hosted at Belmont University on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 10 a.m.

HS Essay Contest – Winners to Tour Azerbaijan This Summer – Mar 1 Deadline

We are pleased to announce a National High School Essay Contest on the Republic of Azerbaijan in partnership with the World Affairs Councils of America (WACA) National Office and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation for the 2011-2012 year. Ten Student Winners will be invited by WACA to participate in a two week-Study Tour of Azerbaijan. The program is open to all high school students in Tennessee. | Read the Post for Details

The “Foreign Policy” Debate – Dr. Lori Murray

The Tennessee World Affairs Council is pleased to share an essay by Dr. Lori Murray, President and CEO of the World Affairs Councils of America, which addresses a critical lack of attention among American citizens and politicians to international affairs. She correctly points out that there is no separation between domestic and foreign affairs in “our indisputably interconnected world.”

Event: Middle East Expert Thomas Lippman at Belmont Public Forum

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT: Middle East expert Thomas Lippman will speak at Belmont University on Monday, November 7 at 6:30 in a symposium open to the public. Lippman is an author, scholar and commentator on Middle East affairs and will explore the challenges for American foreign policy in the region focusing on Saudi Arabia in 2011 “From the Arab Spring to the Iran Showdown.”

World Affairs Councils of America National Conference on CSPAN

The National Conference of the World Affairs Councils of America was held in Washington, DC, on Thursday and Friday (Nov 4-5, 2010). The scope and depth of the agenda (“U.S. Foreign Policy: Into the Next Decade”) and the quality of the speakers was remarkable. We’re pleased to note that the Friday sessions were recorded by CSPAN and are available on their web site (Links below). Additional materials from the conference including some transcripts and a complete set of audio recordings of the keynote addresses and plenary sessions will be available shortly.

National Conference Scholarships for Students, Young Professionals – Time Sensitive

FABULOUS OPPORTUNITY – ACT NOW! — The Tennessee World Affairs Council is pleased to announce a program to send students and young professionals to the 2010 World Affairs Councils of America (WACA) Annual Conference in Washington, DC, November 4-5, 2010. The National Board of WACA is offering 25 scholarships to cover registration fees ($525) and a $1000 award to cover transportation and lodging.