World Affairs Councils of America: Difference between revisions
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WorldQuest was created in 1995 by Jennifer Watson Roberts of the World Affairs Council of [[Charlotte]]. The national competition began in 2003. |
WorldQuest was created in 1995 by Jennifer Watson Roberts of the World Affairs Council of [[Charlotte]]. The national competition began in 2003. |
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As of the 2007 competition, the first place winners receive $1,000 each (4 students, 1 teacher/coach), second place winners receive $500 each, third place winners receive $250 each, and fourth and fifth place winners receive $100 each. Prizes are donated by various organizations. If you are interested in donating to the World Affairs Councils of America, please contact us via the <ref> [http://www.worldaffairscouncils.org/ World Affairs Councils of America's website] </ref>. |
As of the 2007 competition, the first place winners receive $1,000 each (4 students, 1 teacher/coach), second place winners receive $500 each, third place winners receive $250 each, and fourth and fifth place winners receive $100 each. Prizes are donated by various organizations. If you are interested in donating to the World Affairs Councils of America, please contact us via the World Affairs Councils of America website<ref> [http://www.worldaffairscouncils.org/ World Affairs Councils of America's website] </ref>. |
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In order to compete at the national competition, held each spring in Washington, D.C., teams must first win at their regional council level (usually held in January or February). |
In order to compete at the national competition, held each spring in Washington, D.C., teams must first win at their regional council level (usually held in January or February). |
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Revision as of 18:42, 31 August 2010
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The World Affairs Councils of America (sometimes referred to as the WACA) is a non-profit, nonpartisan international affairs organization in the United States. Its 53,000 members and participants belong to 94 councils in 40 states, and the District of Columbia. Each council sets its own policies and practices for its members, within a framework based on the principle of open membership. Founded in 1918, it has grown to become the United States' largest non-profit international affairs organization. In 2008, Marc Grossman, vice chairman of The Cohen Group and formerly under the U.S. secretary of state for political affairs, became the chairman of the WACA board of directors. Kirk Talbott is the President and CEO as of 2009.
Programs
The World Affairs Councils of America is a national association of world affairs councils that supports a group of 94 Councils who present programs annually. The 94 Councils that are part of this network sponsor international exchanges, school programs, teachers’ workshops, foreign policy discussions, national opinion polls, travel programs, young professionals’ programs, conferences, and corporate programs.
The national association organizes an annual conference, leadership missions to other nations, a speaker referral system, international speaker exchanges, people-to-people diplomacy missions, educational workshops, book tours, subscription discounts, operations workshops, and videoconferences. It has also run national program series such as World Bank Town Meetings, Mexican Migration, Two Koreas, Future of Russia, Western Hemisphere, Human Rights Worldwide, the EU, Rising Anti-Americanism, American Security, UN Reform, and The People Speak.
Council programs reach more than 20 million people every year.
Flagship programs
The system has five flagship programs: World in Transition, Great Decisions, the NPR radio program "It’s Your World," Academic WorldQuest, and Travel the World.
Individual councils
Councils are funded through membership dues, corporate sponsorships, grants, in-kind donations, fundraising events, and fee-for-service activities. Over 2,000 corporations, foundations, and individuals help support council work.
| State | Name | Office |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama WAC | Montgomery |
| Alaska | Alaska WAC | Anchorage |
| Juneau WAC | Juneau | |
| Arizona | WAC of Arizona | Scottsdale |
| California | WAC of Orange County | Irvine |
| Los Angeles WAC | Los Angeles | |
| WAC of Monterey Bay Area | ||
| WACA of California Central Coast | Oxnard | |
| WAC of the Desert | Palm Springs | |
| WAC of Inland S. California | Riverside | |
| WAC of Sacramento | Sacramento | |
| WAC of San Diego | San Diego | |
| WAC of N. California | San Francisco | |
| WAC of Sonoma County | Santa Rosa | |
| Colorado | Colorado Springs WAC | Colorado Springs |
| Denver WAC | Denver | |
| Colorado Foothills WAC | Colorado Front Range | |
| Connecticut | WAC of Connecticut | Hartford |
| World Affairs Forum | Stamford | |
| Delaware | WAC of Wilmington | Wilmington |
| District of Columbia | WAC of Washington, DC | Washington, D.C. |
| Florida | WAC of Jacksonville | Jacksonville |
| Naples Council on World Affairs | Naples | |
| World Affairs Council of the Florida Palm Beaches | Palm Beach | |
| Georgia | Southern Center for International Studies | Atlanta |
| Savannah Council on World Affairs | Savannah | |
| Hawaii | Pacific and Asian Affairs Council | Honolulu |
| Illinois | Chicago Council on Global Affairs | Chicago |
| WAC West Central Illinois | Jacksonville | |
| Peoria Area WAC | Peoria | |
| WAC of Central Illinois | Springfield | |
| World Affairs Council of the Quad Cities | Davenport-Bettendorf (Iowa) | |
| Indiana | Indiana Council on World Affairs | Indianapolis |
| Iowa | World Affairs Council of the Quad Cities | Davenport-Bettendorf |
| Kentucky | World Affairs Council of Kentucky and Southern Indiana | |
| Louisiana | World Affairs Council of New Orleans | New Orleans |
| Maine | World Affairs Council of Maine | Portland |
| Massachusetts | WorldBoston, WAC of W. Massachusetts | Springfield |
| Michigan | Detroit Council on World Affairs | Detroit |
| WAC of W. Michigan | Grand Rapids | |
| Great Lakes World Affairs Council | ||
| International Affairs Forum | Traverse City | |
| Minnesota | Minnesota International Center | Minneapolis |
| Missouri | International Relations Council [1] | Kansas City |
| World Affairs Council of St. Louis | St. Louis | |
| Montana | World Affairs Council of Montana | |
| Nevada | Las Vegas World Affairs Council | Las Vegas |
| New Hampshire | N.H. Council on World Affairs | Concord |
| New Mexico | Santa Fe Council on International Relations | Santa Fe |
| New York | Buffalo-Niagara WorldConnect | Buffalo |
| Foreign Policy Association | ||
| World Affairs Council of Long Island | Long Island | |
| World Affairs Council of Mid-Hudson Valley | Poughkeepsie | |
| North Carolina | WAC of W. North Carolina | Asheville |
| World Affairs Council of Charlotte | Charlotte | |
| Triad World Affairs Council | Greensboro | |
| World Affairs Council of E. North Carolina | Greenville | |
| Raleigh International Affairs Council | Raleigh | |
| Ohio | Akron Council on World Affairs | Akron |
| Global Center of Greater Cincinnati | Cincinnati | |
| Cleveland Council on World Affairs | Cleveland | |
| Columbus Council on World Affairs | Columbus | |
| Dayton Council on World Affairs | Dayton | |
| Oregon | World Affairs Council of Oregon | |
| Pennsylvania | World Affairs Council of Philadelphia | Philadelphia |
| World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh | |
| WAC of Reading and Berks County | Reading | |
| WAC of Greater Valley Forge | Valley Forge | |
| Rhode Island | World Affairs Council of Rhode Island | |
| South Carolina | Charleston Foreign Affairs Forum | Charleston |
| Columbia World Affairs Council | Columbia | |
| World Affairs Council of Hilton Head | Hilton Head | |
| South Dakota | South Dakota World Affairs Council | Brookings |
| Tennessee | Tennessee World Affairs Council | |
| Texas | World Affairs Council of South Texas | Corpus Christi |
| World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth | Dallas | |
| Houston World Affairs Council | Houston | |
| World Affairs Council of San Antonio | San Antonio | |
| Utah | Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy | |
| Vermont | Vt. Council on World Affairs | Colchester |
| Windham World Affairs Council of Vermont | Windham County | |
| Virginia | WAC of Greater Hampton Roads | Hampton Roads |
| WAC of Greater Richmond | Richmond | |
| Washington | Olympia World Affairs Council | Olympia |
| WAC of Puget Sound | Seattle | |
| World Affairs Council of Spokane | Spokane | |
| World Affairs Council of Tacoma | Tacoma | |
| Wisconsin | Institute of World Affairs | Milwaukee |
Academic WorldQuest
Academic WorldQuest is an annual team-based international affairs, geography, history and culture competition sponsored by the World Affairs Councils of America.[1] WorldQuest, held every year since 2003, has two different levels open to competitors - high school and adult.
WorldQuest was created in 1995 by Jennifer Watson Roberts of the World Affairs Council of Charlotte. The national competition began in 2003.
As of the 2007 competition, the first place winners receive $1,000 each (4 students, 1 teacher/coach), second place winners receive $500 each, third place winners receive $250 each, and fourth and fifth place winners receive $100 each. Prizes are donated by various organizations. If you are interested in donating to the World Affairs Councils of America, please contact us via the World Affairs Councils of America website[2].
In order to compete at the national competition, held each spring in Washington, D.C., teams must first win at their regional council level (usually held in January or February).
Notable Speeches
Ambassador Farid Abboud speech before the Los Angeles World Affairs Council on June 28, 1999[3]