Conference FAQs
Document Actions
Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQS)
As we have more information, we will update this FAQ list, so be sure to stop back and have a look. Have a question that you can't find the answer to on this page, email us!
REGISTRATION
How do I register for the conference?
If I want to pay by check, how do I register?
How much are the conference fees?
Who is considered a Staff Member?
Will I receive confirmation of my registration?
What forms of payment do you accept?
What is PayPal and Verisign and is my credit card information secure if I use them?
What does my conference fee include?
What is the Chairman’s Dinner?
What is the Chairman's Circle and Golden Circle?
LOGISTICS
When can I pick my ambassadorial luncheon?
What is the Embassy Reception?
Who else is coming from my council?
What is the cancellation/ refund policy?
Can my friend/relative come to just part of the conference for free?
Is there a limit on the number of people who can register?
Can I request a special meal?
Can non-members come to the conference?
What is the dress code for the conference?
Who has been invited to speak at the conference?
When will the speakers be confirmed?
Will there be an event on Capitol Hill?
What are the Film Seminars and how do I sign up?
What is the conference hotel?
How can I make a room reservation and what is the rate?
How far is the airport from the conference hotel?
What time is check in and check out?
What services are within walking distance?
Q: How do I register for the conference?
A: You can register on-line at our website at www.worldaffairscouncils.org or ask your local council for a brochure with a registration form. There are two ways to register. The easiest way is on-line. Fill out and submit the on-line form then use a credit card to pay the fees using Verisign or PayPal. You can also fill out the paper brochure form and mail it in with your check. To be registered we must have the following items: completed conference registration form and a check OR copy of your PayPal or Verisign payment receipt.
Q: If I want to pay by check, how do I download the registration form?
A: Click here to download a PDF of the brochure. Print out the brochure, fill out the form in it and mail the completed form and your check to WACA, ATTN: Conference Registration, 1800 K St. NW Suite 1014, Washington, DC 20006. For questions on filling out the brochure call 202-833-4557.
Q: How much are the conference fees?
A: Rates are as follows:
Conference Fee Structure
Dates Member/ Spouse of Non-Member Staff Staff Spouse by October 15 $435 $410 $495 $395 $370 by November 15 $475 $450 $525 $395 $370
Board Member
member/board
/non-member
*Staff Member means a paid council staff member. Board members must pay at the Individual WAC Member rate.
Q: Who is considered a Staff Member?
A: A staff member is someone who is a paid staff member. WACA instituted a staff rate at the request of the councils since in most cases the council pays for its staff to come to the conference.
Q: Will I receive confirmation of my registration?
A: You are are not considered registered until we have received your registration form and payment. You will receive three confirmation emails. The first will be from WACA and will confirm your on-line registration, the second will be from Verisign or PayPal confirming you sent the fees and the third email confirmation will be sent from WACA within 2 weeks of receipt of ALL items (completed conference registration form and a check OR copy of your PayPal payment receipt).
Q: What forms of payment do you accept?
A: We can accept checks or credit cards through the mail. If you wish to pay using Visa or Mastercard, use Verisign. If wish to pay using American Express or Discover use PayPal.
Q: What is PayPal and Versign and is my credit card information secure if I use them?
A: PayPal and Verisign are eBay Companies. They enable any individual or business to send and receive payments on-line. They are some of the most secure ways to make purchases on the Internet. You do NOT have to set up a PayPal account to pay for your conference fees using PayPal.
Q: What does my conference fee include?
A: Your conference fee covers: Opening Reception, Ambassadorial Luncheons, Embassy Reception, Friday Keynote Luncheon, Plenary Sessions, Rising Powers Banquet and entertainment on Friday night, Operations Workshops, Discussion Groups, Coffee Breaks, bus transportation, and National Membership Meeting. YOU are responsible for: breakfasts, other meals not part of the conference, raffle tickets, chairman's dinner, fundraising workshop, hotel expenses, taxi or metro expenses, and transportation to and from airports.
Q: What is the Chairman’s Dinner?
A: The Chairman's Dinner, hosted by Amb. James R. Jones, Chairman of the World Affairs Councils of America, is a special banquet recognizing a well-known individual for their life time achievements. The Chairman’s Dinner is open to all conference registrants at an extra cost. The honoree is Amb. John Negroponte, Director of National Intelligence. If you choose to join the Chairman's Circle, you will receive one complimentary selected seat at the dinner.
Dinner pricing is as follows:
Chairman's Dinner Fee Structure
|
Basic |
Patron |
Chairman's Circle |
Golden Circle |
|
Conference Registrant Pricing: Benefits: |
$300 Benefits |
$1,000 |
$5,000 |
Q: What is the Chairman's Circle and Golden Circle?
A: Chairman’s Circle is a high level advisory and support group for the World Affairs Councils of America. Members at the $1,000 level will have privileged access to the National Board and President. As a Chairman’s Circle member they will receive one complimentary priority seat at the Chairman’s Dinner which is a part of January national conference and use of a hospitality suite. They will be invited to participate in special Chairman’s Circle programs throughout the year. These will involve special events at the State Department, the Pentagon, the United Nations, and with the US military. These programs will also include meetings with Senators and Congressmen, Ambassadors and foreign dignitaries, senior military officials, NGO and business leaders, and figures from the media. Membership will include citation on the national web site, special recognition at council events, and special mailings.
Members at the Golden Circle Level will have privileged access to the National Board and President. As a high level Chairman’s Circle member, they will receive one complimentary priority seat at the Chairman’s Dinner which is a part of January national conference and use of a hospitality suite. Membership will include citation on the national web site, special recognition at the national conference and its publications.
Q: When can I pick my ambassadorial luncheon?
A: Sign-up for ambassadorial lunches is part of your registration form on-line and in the brochure. In the space provided on the registration form, rank your three favorite regions of the world and have lunch with an ambassador from a country in one of your favorite regions. The regions are: Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East, South and Southeast Asia, East Asia, Latin America, South Pacific, and Africa. You will find out which luncheon you will be attending upon your arrival at the conference registration desk.
Q: What is the embassy reception?
A: There will be five receptions on the evening of Thursday, January 19. To streamline the registration process, you will be placed in an embassy reception based on the preferences you chose for the embassy luncheons. You will find out which reception you will be attending at your arrival at the conference.
Q: Who else is coming from my council?
A: We will have a list of names of participants who are registered on our website and update it once a week as more registrations are confirmed with payment and a completed form. See a list of who's registered here.
Q: What is the cancellation/ refund policy?
A: If for some reason you cannot come to the conference, our generous refund policy follows. You can get a full refund minus handling fees if you contact us no later than December 1. From December 1 – January 1 you can get a 50% refund minus handling fees. After January 1, we cannot refund your conference or Chairman's Dinner fees.
Q: Can my friend/relative come to just part of the conference for free?
A: Unfortunately we do not offer partial registration for the conference. You may attend the Chairman's Dinner or the Fundraising Workshop without registering for the conference. To participate in any of the main conference events, you must pay the full registration price.
Q: Is there a limit on the number of people who can register?
A: Every year for the past 5 years the conference sold out in 3 months with a waiting list of over 100 people. Registration is first come - first serve, so don’t wait to register. We will accommodate as many participants as hotel space will allow.
Q: Can I request a special meal?
A: If you have any religious or medical dietary restrictions such as kosher, halal, vegetarian etc., we will do our best to accommodate you. Please let us know your needs when you register to allow us the maximum amount of time to handle your request.
Q: Can non-members come to the conference?
A: Non-members may register if accompanied by a member, although non-members are encouraged to join their local councils. If there are no councils nearby to join, non-members may register and will be put on a waiting list. Priority registration is given to members.
Q: What is the dress code for the conference?
A: Dress for the conference is business and business casual. There are no black tie events.
Q: Who has been invited to speak at the conference?
A: A number of high-level experts from the U.S. government, private sector, think tank, embassies and foreign government have been invited. It is always hard to predict which invited speakers will come to the conference. As speakers are confirmed, we will add their names to the agenda on our website.
Q: When will the speakers be confirmed?
A: The speaker invitation process goes on until the very last day before the conference. While we cannot say with certainty a date at which we will have all our speakers confirmed, it is fair to say most speakers will be confirmed by January. Keep checking the conference agenda to see the most current list of confirmed speakers.
Q: Will there be an event on Capitol Hill?
A: While there will be no formal events, each council is asked to contact their congressional representatives and schedule meetings with them on Wednesday, January 26.
Q: What is the Film Seminar and how do I sign up?
A: TBA
Q: What is the conference hotel?
A: The conference hotel this year is the Omni Shoreham in Washington DC in the Woodley Park neighborhood overlooking Rock Creek Park. The hotel is located at 2500 Calvert St. across the William Taft Memorial bridge from the Chinese Embassy.
Q: How can I make a room reservation and what is the rate?
A: Call the hotel at 1-888-444-6664 or use their local number 202-234-0700. Tell the operator you are attending the World Affairs Councils of America (WACA) conference and use the discount code "WACA 2006" to get the preferred rate of $149 single/double. Please reserve a room by December 28.
Q: How far is the airport from the conference hotel?
A: See the Omni Shoreham’s website for directions from Baltimore Washington International, Ronald Reagan National and Dulles International Airports. A taxi from National Airport to the Omni Shoreham Hotel should cost between $12 and $14.
Q: What time is check in and check out?
A: Check in time is 3 pm and check out time is noon.
Q: What services and restaurants are within walking distance?
A: The Woodley Park neighborhood has many wonderful restaurants, a hair salon, a drugstore, several gift shops, florist, and some small boutique shops all within two blocks.