WACA Newsletter – April 2013

The Tennessee World Affairs Council, an independent non profit organization chartered in Tennessee is a member of the network of 100+ organizations that are part of the World Affairs Councils of America. The WACA National Office is in Washington, DC and organizes events and programs like Academic WorldQuest National Championship competitions on behalf of the network of Councils. Today we provide for your consideration the monthly newsletter from the National Office of WACA. You can subscribe to it through the link at the end to keep up with developments in the network.

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WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCILS OF AMERICA – APRIL 2013 NEWSLETTER
In this Issue
A Note from the President
News from the National Office
What’s Happening in the Network
Available Authors
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Join Our List
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2013 Academic WorldQuest Sponsors
Exxon MobilMerrill Lynch — Mr. Michael Phillip

 

Prize Sponsor

 

Gallup Education

 

Communications Sponsor

 

Weber Shandwick

 
Our Sponsors
AkmaaqAviation Leasing

 

Barclays Capital

 

Booz Allen Hamilton

 

1918 Society Members

 

Carnegie Corporation of New York

 

Cisco

 

Chevron

 

The Claremont Group

 

Duke Energy

 

El Paso Corporation

 

ExxonMobil

 

The Gambrinus Company

 

German Marshall Fund of the U.S.

 

Goldman Sachs

 

Heydar Aliyev Foundation

 

Hutchins Family Foundation

 

IRELI

 

Johnson + Sterling

 

Merrill Lynch — 

Mr. Michael Phillip

 

NATO

 

Northrop Grumman

 

Raytheon

 

Steelcase, Inc.

 

Tomassian, Throckmorton & Inouye LLP

 

Thomson Reuters

 

Turkish Cultural Foundation

 
A Note from the President
Dear Friends and Colleagues,We at the National Office enter spring with many plans underway for the year. In April alone we have two events: A special event for 1918 Society members at the United Nations April 21 – 23, and the annual Academic WorldQuest National Competition on April 26 & 27 at Georgetown University.The United Nations event is open to all members of the 1918 Society and those who wish to join. It is a wonderful time of year to visit the Big Apple and a rare opportunity to see the inner-workings of the United Nations. Please contact Ian J. Byrne in our office for information on hotel recommendations and other details. The annual Academic WorldQuest National Competition is coming together nicely and we are again expecting more than 40 teams from across the United States. Friday night will include a special program with young professionals working in DC, who will share about their lives, work, and career. In addition, we have benefited from the partnership of global public relations firm Weber Shandwick in supporting this year’s event, including the design of an AWQ logo, which can be seen below. All in all, it will be a fun and exciting weekend filled with the thrill of competition, new friendships, and all the history and culture DC has to offer. If you have not yet registered your team, please do so today!

On the heels of these two events will be our annual Spring Leadership Meeting for council leaders, which will be held May 5 & 6 in Chicago. We are putting together the agenda now and will be in touch with council leaders shortly for input. Please see additional information on hotel accommodations and other details further down in this newsletter.

Last, we are already hard at work on the 2013 National Conference, to be held November 13 – 15 in Washington, DC. Please mark your calendars and save the date! Our staff is pleased to have the assistance and support of a conference planning committee that has already brought a number of excellent ideas and suggestions. Committee members are: Ambassador Paula Dobriansky, WACA Board Chair; Mimi Gregory, Naples; Jim Falk, Dallas/Fort Worth; Anna Berry, New Hampshire; Trina Medarev, Jacksonville; and LJ Stambuk, Charlotte. Watch for more details in the coming weeks and months and make your plans now to attend!

I trust that you will enjoy the spring and that all of your programs will be successful. As always, please let us know how we can assist you. I hope to see many of you in April or May! 

Best regards,

S. Todd Culpepper
President & CEO
World Affairs Councils of America
News from the National Office
With the Academic WorldQuest National Competition right around the corner, we are thrilled to unveil the new Academic WorldQuest logo! We are also excited to announce Gallup Education as our official prize sponsor for the 2013 National Competition! Each member of the winning team will receive a one-year subscription to Gallup WorldView, an $8,500 value. Thank you Gallup Educationfor your support!We are looking forward to hosting all of you April 26-27 here in Washington, DC. Details are still being finalized for the weekend, but will released shortly. Stay tuned and study up in the meantime! See who will be attending this year’s National Competition on our website.The official hashtag for this year’s National Competition is #AWQ2013. Keep us posted via twitter and Instagram of your team’s progress and preparation in the run-up to the National Competition.

If your team has not submitted its registration form, please do so as soon as possible. Download and complete the following forms and email to awq@worldaffairscouncils.org.

Team Information Form (one per team)

Release of Liability/Consent to Recording Form (one per participant, including chaperone) 

Weber Shandwick, a premier global public relations agency, is the official Communications Sponsor for the Academic WorldQuest National Competition. With their help, we have designed a new Academic WorldQuest logo (see above) and are finding ways to take this year’s National Competition to the next level. We thank Weber Shandwick for their time and dedication to our mission.

Hotel Information

The hotel block at Georgetown University is now full. We have arranged an overflow block at the nearby Savoy Suites Hotel for the nights of April 26, 2013 and April 27, 2013 for $189 per night.

To book, click here or call 202-337-9700 and reference “Academic WorldQuest.”

2012-2013 Categories

  • US Economic Competitiveness
  • US Education:Competing Globally
  • US Energy Policy
  • Middle East
  • Afghanistan/Pakistan
  • China
  • UN Millennium Goals: Environmental Sustainability
  • Geography
  • Current Events
  • Cuban Missile Crisis: 50th Anniversary

A Teacher’s Guide is available to help Councils reach out to schools and explain how to get involved in Academic WorldQuest. Teacher’s Guide

1918 Society Trip to the UN

The World Affairs Councils of America and the U.S. Mission to the United Nations will host a two-day trip to the United Nations in New York City April 21-23. We will be staying at the Millennium ONE UN New York hotel, just across the street from the UN Headquarters. 1918 Society members, please contact Ian J. Byrne at ibyrne@worldaffairscouncils.org for more information and to reserve your spot and receive booking instructions for the hotel.

Meetings and briefings will include officials from:

  • UNICEF
  • United Nations Development Programme
  • UN Department of Political Affairs
  • NGO Working Group on the Security Council
  • Consulate of Argentina
  • Consulate of the Republic of Korea
  • Ambassadors from the U.S. Mission to the UN

Hotel Information

Rooms are available at our preferred hotel, the Millennium ONE UN New York, located just across the street from UN Headquarters. Rooms are available in the East Tower and the more luxurious West Tower. Please call Liana Morales at 212-702-5005 to book a room. 

Millennium ONE UN New York hotel information: 

East Tower (click for details)

West Tower (click for details)

Other recommended hotels include:

Hilton Manhattan East, 0.1 miles away from UN Headquarters

 

The Westin New York Grand Central, 0.3 miles away from UN Headquarters

 

Grand Hyatt New York, 0.4 miles away from UN Headquarters

 

Not in the 1918 Society? Please check out 1918 Society page and feel free to contact Ian J. Byrne at 202-833-4557 or ibyrne@worldaffairscouncils.org for membership details and with any other questions you have. You still have time to join in order to participate in the trip to the UN!

 

Not My Life Programs Underway

 

April marks the beginning of our newest national program series focusing on human trafficking and modern-day slavery. The program features screenings of the documentary film Not My Life by Robert Bilheimer and Worldwide Documentaries at over 35 World Affairs Councils. The program is made possible by a generous grant from Carlson & The Carlson Family Foundation. Click here to see the participating councils. This month’s events include:

 

April 16 — World Affairs Council of Connecticut

 

April 23 — Savannah Council of World Affairs

 

Spotlight on Turkey

 

Sponsored by the World Affairs Councils of America in collaboration with the Turkish Cultural Foundation, Spotlight on Turkey runs a full calendar year and educates communities about Turkey’s rich culture primarily through teacher workshops in the spring, a teacher study tour of Turkey in the summer and public cultural programs in the fall. The program emphasizes classroom learning and public education about Turkey and its contributions to the global community. See more program information and the full list of all events for April on our our website.

 

Future of Korea

 

The World Affairs Councils of America is sponsoring the its 12th Engage America Speaker Series on the Future of Korea in collaboration with the Korea Economic Institute. The program is focused on broadening and deepening the understanding of Korea and the U.S.-Korea relationship among opinion leaders and academics. More Information
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 60-90 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.

Qatar: Sand, Sea and Sky with Diana Untermeyer

 

The World Affairs Councils of America, in collaboration with the Embassy of Qatar, is sponsoring an Engage America Speaker Series with Diana Untermeyer, author of Qatar: Sand, Sea, and Sky. Mrs. Untermeyer lived in Doha, the bustling capital of Qatar, from 2004-2007 while her husband Chase served as U.S. ambassador. Qatar: Sand, Sea, and Sky gives an overview of Qatar’s rich culture and history and documents its journey into modernity. Though small in size, Qatar’s strategic location and natural gas wealth make it a rising economic and political power. Breathtakingly illustrated by award-winning photographer Henry Dallal, Mrs. Untermeyer’s personal narrative provides a unique perspective of this moderate Muslim country and the way it attempts to become modern and engaged with the world without losing its heritage. This month’s events include:

 

April 25 — World Affairs Council of Sonoma County

 

April 29 — World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley

 

World Affairs Councils in the News

World Affairs Council – Washington, DC

“UAE ambassador to US wins distinguished award by World Affairs Council” — The National

World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth

“Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton to have dueling speeches in Dallas, day before George W. Bush Presidential Center’s dedication” — Dallas Morning News

“Kissinger warns of dangers, urges diplomacy in Dallas speech” — Dallas Morning News 

Peoria Area World Affairs Council

“In the Spotlight: U.S. needs to keep focus on its place in the world” — Journal Star

World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts

“Local world affairs official reacts to Chavez’s death” — CBS Springfield Channel  

World Affairs Council of Central Florida

“Breaking bread builds international business” — Orlando Business Journal 

World Affairs Council of Greater Reading

“Professor discusses North Korean threats at World Affairs Council event in Wyomissing” — Reading Eagle

Academic WorldQuest Coverage

Send us your Academic WorldQuest clips!

Alaska World Affairs Council 

“Fairbanks students test skills at state WorldQuest competition” — Daily News-Miner

Foreign Policy Association 

“Garden City Wins Academic WorldQuest Regionals” — The Garden City News

World Affairs Council of Montana 

“Frenchtown students’ world affairs contest strategy: reading – a lot” — Missoulian
What’s Happening in the Network 
There are over 150 World Affairs Council events across the country scheduled in April! Visit News from the National Network on our homepage for updates from around the network that include programs you can attend, participate in virtually, get ideas about speakers, or model format. Also be sure to check out travel programs offered by World Affairs Councils on our homepage. We encourage you to follow-up with the sponsoring council for more information. If we missed something or if you have a program that you would like highlighted on our website or in the WACA Weekly, please contact Ian J. Byrne at ibyrne@worldaffairscouncils.org.
Available Authors
The World Affairs Councils of America works with publishers and has prepared a list of authors on the WACA Leadership Network who are available to receive invitations from World Affairs Councils around the country Among the latest additions to Available Authors is:Christian Caryl’s  Strange Rebels (New release: May 7, 2013) After World War II, a secular, progressive consensus defined the international order. That changed in 1979, when a series of counterrevolutions swept the globe, blazing a path for a new era. China launched reform that would make it the economic powerhouse it is today. Pope John Paul II traveled to Poland, challenging communism in Eastern Europe by reigniting its people’s suppressed Catholic faith. An Islamic revolution transformed Iran into a theocracy almost overnight, while the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan gave rise to that country’s mujahedin resistance, the precursor to al-Qaeda. Margaret Thatcher became prime minister, returning Britain to a purer form of free-market capitalism–and inspiring Ronald Reagan to do the same. Weaving these stories into a brisk and gripping narrative, award-winning journalist Christian Caryl’s Strange Rebels offers a groundbreaking explanation of the year that set the course for the twenty-first century. 

Christian Caryl is deputy editor at Foreign Policy, a contributing editor at Newsweek, and a regular contributor to the New York Review of Books. A senior fellow of the Center for International Studies at MIT and winner of an Overseas Press Club Award, Caryl lives in Bethesda, Maryland.

To get in touch with Mr. Caryl, please contact publicist Caitlin Graf of Basic Books at 212-340-8162 or at caitlin.graf@perseusbooks.com.
Be Part of the WACA Newsletter!
If you would like to highlight an upcoming program, email Ian J. Byrne at ibyrne@worldaffairscouncils.org with the relevant information (a description of 200 words or less). Of course, if there is anything else we can do to help promote your programs within the network, please let us know.
The World Affairs Councils of America1200 18th St., NW, Suite 902, Washington, DC 20036Phone (202) 833-4557  Fax(202) 833-4555Email waca@worldaffairscouncils.org Website www.worldaffairscouncils.org

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