A special thanks to all our panelists, our moderator and attendees at the Global Classroom event on the political situation in Turkey last night. The panel went over a variety of salient topics such as the recent coup attempt, Kurdish issues, the Turkish agreement with the EU to take in 3 million refugees, and how Turkey factors into the civil war in Syria.
We hope you'll join us at University of Washington Tacoma/ School of IAS at UW Tacoma for our next event in February 2017 on global health. Thanks!
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The World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is inviting educators from around the United States to apply for an expenses-paid study trip to the United Arab Emirates on March 11-19, 2017. The program is supported by the UAE Embassy in Washington, D.C.
As many as a dozen 6th-12th grade educators from across the U.S. may be selected for the trip. Applications will be accepted until Thursday, December 15. You can learn more on the WAC Dallas/Fort Worth website.
Contact us for more information or assistance for Tacoma-based applicants!
World Affairs Council Tacoma would like to congratulate Alex Hsu, undergraduate at the University of Puget Sound, who has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship to the World Affairs Council of America's 2016 Conference, America and Global Megatrends.
Alex is a dual major in computer science and business, and was nominated for the honor by World Affairs Council Tacoma after he demonstrated a keen interest in international business affairs and exemplary leadership qualities. We wish him the best on his trip to Washington, D.C. for the conference.
Two up-coming events with the Trade Development Alliance:
The Future of Work
There is a significant debate on how new technologies are impacting the workforce. Stefan Heumann with the tech policy think tank stiftung neue verantwortung will give an overview of the challenges Germany is facing as digital technologies transform the economy, and what policy initiatives the German government has adopted to address those challenges.
Friday, October 28, 2016, 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM 1301 5th Ave, Suite 1500, Downtown Seattle $20 for non-TDA/ACG members
Register Here
Women in Leadership: A Global Perspective
Join the Trade Development Alliance and the US-Japan Council for a dialogue with a panel of guest speakers about their successes and challenges, and participate in a discussion on the opportunities for women within the context of Japan's Womenomics Agenda and Japan's Prime Minister Abe's vision of a world that encourages women to not only enter the workforce, but excel in their fields.
Monday, November 7, 2016, 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM 1301 Fifth Ave, Suite 1500, Downtown Seattle $20 per person (includes lunch)
Thank you to all the applicants. We have filled the open position.
The World Affairs Council Tacoma (WACT) is looking for an Executive Assistant who is independent and self-motivated. This part-time position pays $20/hour and is generally 16 hours/month, typically working from home. Ideally this individual is interested in international affairs, able to attend board meetings every other month and monthly executive committee meetings, both at 8AM in downtown Tacoma. We are looking for a self-starter, comfortable working with minimal supervision. If you are interested in applying, please send a cover letter and resume to wactacoma@hotmail.com. The position will be open until filled. If you have questions, please email to the same address.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Executive Assistant
World Affairs Council Board of Directors
Basic Qualifications:
Critical Skills
Desired Qualifications
Education:
An associate’s degree or 2-4 years of administrative support experience.
The World Affairs Council Tacoma is pleased to announce that board member Theresa Pan Hosley has received the Greater Tacoma Peace Prize.
From the GTPP Website:
Recognizing the importance of reconciliation in peacemaking, the Board of Directors of the Greater Tacoma Peace Prize (GTPP) is proud to announce the selection of Ms. Theresa Pan Hosley as the 2016 GTPP Laureate. Ms. Hosley was nominated by the World Affairs Council (WAC) of Tacoma “for her initiative, persistence, and long-term leadership of Tacoma's Chinese Reconciliation Project Foundation.” The nominators related that “Her main strengths as a leader are her patience, soft yet firm touch, and her ability to listen. She is a manifestation of a peacemaker, promoting enduring reconciliation and harmony.” The 2016 Laureate Recognition Banquet will be held on Thursday, September 22, when Ms. Hosley will receive a unique glass artwork (created especially for the GTPP by Tacoma’s Hilltop Artists), a certificate of commendation, a laureate medallion, and a trip for two to Oslo, Norway, to participate in “The Nobel Days,” events surrounding the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize. Her name will be the 12th to be added to the GTPP perpetual plaque.
Recognizing the importance of reconciliation in peacemaking, the Board of Directors of the Greater Tacoma Peace Prize (GTPP) is proud to announce the selection of Ms. Theresa Pan Hosley as the 2016 GTPP Laureate. Ms. Hosley was nominated by the World Affairs Council (WAC) of Tacoma “for her initiative, persistence, and long-term leadership of Tacoma's Chinese Reconciliation Project Foundation.”
The nominators related that “Her main strengths as a leader are her patience, soft yet firm touch, and her ability to listen. She is a manifestation of a peacemaker, promoting enduring reconciliation and harmony.”
The 2016 Laureate Recognition Banquet will be held on Thursday, September 22, when Ms. Hosley will receive a unique glass artwork (created especially for the GTPP by Tacoma’s Hilltop Artists), a certificate of commendation, a laureate medallion, and a trip for two to Oslo, Norway, to participate in “The Nobel Days,” events surrounding the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize. Her name will be the 12th to be added to the GTPP perpetual plaque.
Congratulations Theresa!
Presented to the Board of Directors January, 21, 2016
The past year was one of growth and expansion for the World Affairs Council Tacoma (WACT), as it continued its popular Travel Talk series, hosted a sell-out crowd for its summer wine tasting, held a successful Consular Association Reception on the heels of President Xi’s historic visit to Tacoma and launched two new programs—Global Classroom, a collaboration with the University of Washington Tacoma around topical global issues, and a series of international networking socials.
Nine Travel Talk programs were held over the course of the year in the Great Hall of Annie Wright Schools. (Please see website for listing of past programs: https://worldaffairscounciltacoma.wildapricot.org/Travel-Talk). Topics covered the world, from "Running in China" to "Serving as an Older Peace Corps Volunteer." Annie Wright continues to be a valued partner in the promotion and hosting of these programs, and its engagement is deeply appreciated. Mariam Anderson has done an excellent job in bringing forward a wide range of interesting Travel Talk programs, and serving as a gracious host for the events.
The Council was fortunate to sponsor one of its periodic Global Voices programs, featuring PLU Professor Emeritus James Peterson speaking on the Israel-Palestine conflict—“The Struggle for Peace in a Region at War.” It proved to be a compelling presentation, followed by a spirited Q&A session that lasted well into the night.
The summer found us gathered for the Council’s annual wine tasting fundraiser—Uncork A World of Wine—featuring Mackenzie Parks, the gifted Wine Director for El Gaucho Seattle. The sold-out event featured a waiting list, four premium wines, a perfect August evening in the garden, and catering by Pacific Grill.
Fall brought us once more to the annual Consular Association Reception, featuring Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland as emcee, and Brian Bonlender, Director of the Department of Commerce, as the keynote speaker. Their engagement was particularly timely, since both were deeply involved in the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Tacoma, which concluded the day prior to the reception. Each was able to take us behind the scenes of that visit, and speak briefly to what it might portend for the region.
Roughly two dozen consuls braved horrendous I-5 traffic to join us in the Great Hall at Annie Wright, and their good will and endurance was deeply appreciated.
President Xi’s visit led to the inaugural event of the Council’s new program series with the University of Washington Tacoma, Global Classroom, as we launched our initial program in December—“China’s President in Tacoma—Why It Matters” featuring Mayor Marilyn Strickland and Port Commissioner Connie Bacon, in a moderated conversation with UWT Professor Will McGuire. The sold-out event brought together over 100 participants from throughout the community, eager to explore the economic, cultural and political ramifications of that event on the region.
The Council also hosted two social networking events, open to anyone with an interest in international affairs, at Cork!, a favorite Tacoma wine bar. Each event brought together a diverse group of individuals, united by their interest in global affairs and travel. The events were beautifully orchestrated by Meg Billings and the membership committee, which she chairs.
Through the efforts of Melissa Vincett, chair of the Council’s PR & Marketing Committee, the Council was able to raise its profile through a variety of social media outlets, reaching a number of attendees new to Council programs. Melissa’s work in crafting the Council’s presence in both social media and more traditional outlets has been extremely valuable and deeply appreciated.
Finally, the Fundraising Committee in 2015, chaired initially by Michelle Merritt and more recently by Linda Danforth, captured significant new sponsorship opportunities, most notably with The News Tribune, secured a number of in-kind donations for Council events, and has laid the groundwork for an even more successful 2016.
Board Updates
Officers at the end of 2015:
Marcia Garrett, Chair Turan Kayaoglu, Vice Chair Andreas Udbye, Treasurer Debbie Bingham, Secretary
Marcia Garrett, Chair
Turan Kayaoglu, Vice Chair
Andreas Udbye, Treasurer
Debbie Bingham, Secretary
Departing Board Members, 2015:
Diane Maske, Andrea Peterson, Antonio Sanchez
Board Members Renewing Terms,
Debbie Bingham, Brian Ebersole, Marcia Garrett, Dawn Lucien
Newly-elected board members to begin serving in 2016:
Frank Boykin, Shannon Briggs, James Mateucci; Student Liaison Vivian Zhou, Annie Wright Schools
Frank Boykin, Shannon Briggs, James Mateucci;
Student Liaison Vivian Zhou, Annie Wright Schools
Committee Chairs, 2015:
Fundraising, Linda Danforth; Membership, Meg Billings; Marketing & Communications, Melissa Vincett; Programs, Mariam Anderson
Fundraising, Linda Danforth;
Membership, Meg Billings;
Marketing & Communications, Melissa Vincett;
Programs, Mariam Anderson
Turan Kayaoglu, Vice President of the World Affairs Council Tacoma, and Assistant Professor at the University of Washington Tacoma recently moderated a panel discussion on the subject of Islamic extremism. The panel was organized by the Pacifica Institute, a Muslim non-profit organization.
Turan shared his experience, opinions and a series of strategies for combating a Islamic extremism in a recent Op-Ed in the Tacoma News Tribune.
On December 2, 2015, UW Tacoma’s Institute for Global Engagement and the Division of Politics, Philosophy, and Public Affairs, in collaboration with the World Affairs Council Tacoma (WACT) inaugurated the “Global Classroom” series, featuring Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland and Port Commissioner Connie Bacon.
Left to Right: Assistant Professor William McGuire, Port Commissioner Connie Bacon, Mayor of Tacoma, Marilyn Strickland
Why did Chinese President Xi Jinping visit Tacoma? What are the economic, cultural and political implications for our region of this unprecedented attention from a rising world power?
The speakers addressed these and other questions in a conversation moderated by UW Tacoma Assistant Professor William McGuire in UW Tacoma’s Jane Russell Commons to a packed audience of around 100 students and community members. The interactive speaker series is intended to explore in-depth issues of global significance and their local implications. These quarterly, moderated conversations will feature leading practitioners and scholars, who will shed light on the complexities of global events and help us understand the influence of these events in the South Sound.
One of the most important themes to emerge from the conversation is that the world economy and geopolitics are changing quickly and Tacoma is earning its place on the international stage. This is evident from the growing trade flows between the Port of Tacoma and China, as well as the Chinese investments in Tacoma’s infrastructure, industry, and real estate.
President Xi’s visit was a rewarding experience for our city and region. Acknowledging the high geopolitical stakes in hosting President Xi, both the Mayor and Commissioner emphasized the importance of cultural awareness and building strong personal relationships.
President Xi had visited Tacoma earlier, in 1993, when he was a Communist Party official in the Chinese port city of Fuzhou. Commissioner Bacon played a pivotal role in Xi’s first visit and went on to visit Fuzhou herself. These visits laid the foundation for the sister-city agreement between Tacoma and Fuzhou.
“Relationships are everything” Bacon said. “In building lasting relationships, you need to develop cultural competency, genuine interest in other people’s values, and treat them with dignity and respect.” Cultural competency will be the best tool to navigate in a global, interconnected world. Relationships are not one-hit wonders, but are cultivated over years. We can have lasting peace by building it one relationship at a time.
In Chinese culture, important visits typically involve an exchange of gifts. Mayor Strickland mentioned that President Xi was given a jersey from the Lincoln High School football team, which entailed an extensive discussion about its color, its number and so on. The jersey with gold stripes and the number 1 was a winner. President Xi reciprocated by inviting 100 Lincoln High School students to China.
The speakers also commented on the important economic relationship between the US and China, and the importance of this relationship to Tacoma. The Commissioner and the Mayor downplayed concerns from those who argued this is not an equitable relationship, for example citing concerns about the trade deficit. They pointed out that trade and investment is mutually beneficial for both nations.
The speakers highlighted the industrial, residential, and retail projects being developed in Tacoma by Chinese investors. Among the EB5 investments, a Shanghai-based developer is planning to build a hotel with mixed residential and retail space next to the convention center. A company from Wuhan is planning another mixed residential-retail development in the brewery district.
Although there may be concerns about issues such as religious freedom, democracy, and human rights in China, the speakers argued that we need to be mindful of our own problems before preaching change to others. They also agreed that the best way to change others is to engage with them—by showing a willingness to learn from their virtues and encouraging them to learn from our own.
Mayor Strickland emphasized the importance of President Xi’s invitation to 100 Lincoln High School students to travel to China next year. This is an opportunity for these students to become students of the world—to learn, to navigate, and to change the world.
Left to Right: Assistant Professor William McGuire, Port Commissioner Connie Bacon, Mayor of Tacoma, Marilyn Strickland, Professor Turan Kayaoglu
During the question and answer period, several people in the audience raised concerns about the Chinese-funded methanol plant proposed by Northwest Innovation Works that will be located on the Tacoma Tideflats. The multibillion dollar plant will convert natural gas to methanol that will then be shipped to China, where it will be converted into olefin, which can then be used to make plastics. One concern is that this will require substantial amounts of water and power. It also poses environmental risks, if there is a methanol leak at the plant. Commissioner Bacon argued that the environmental risks were minimal, the plant would provide employment opportunities, and increasing demand for utilities will allow Tacoma utility providers to exploit economies of scale -- potentially leading to lower prices. The members of the public who spoke were not convinced, and the Mayor offered to host a forum devoted specifically to a discussion of the plant.
University of Washington Tacoma Professor and Vice President of the World Affairs Council Tacoma, Turan Kayaoglu has personally lived the story of our globalizing world. Turan's story, accomplishments and books are worth reading! The UW Tacoma has written a great bio on Turan that everyone should read.
We are lucky at the World Affairs Council and as Tacoma residents to have such an accomplished and kind member our community serving to enhance global awareness!
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