Awards
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The world affairs council system gives awards for excellence in council work, individual achievement, distinction in international journalism, excellence in school programs, achievement in international culture and the arts, and lifetime achievement.
Distinguished International Journalist Award
President’s Awards for Council Excellence
Carol Marquis Award for Excellence in School Programs
Award for Outstanding Achievement in Culture and the Arts
In 2007, WACA Chairman Amb. James R. Jones presented former Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen with the World Affairs Councils of America Lifetime Achievement Award.
Previously, Secretary Colin Powell and Amb. John Negroponte recieve this award.
Distinguished International Journalist Award
The 86 councils of the world affairs council system vote on the journalist they most like to read, see, or hear in coverage of world affairs. The person selected is therefore the “favorite” journalist of the largest international affairs non-profit organization in the United States.
In 2006, the World Affairs Councils of America awarded Anne Garrels the Distinguished International Journalist Award. Here she accepts the award from WACA Chairman Ambassador James R. Jones at the Friday night Rising Powers Banquet.
The winners to date have been:
Anne Garrels, Foreign Correspondent of National Public Radio
Fareed Zakaria, Editor of Newsweek International
Christiane Amanpour, Chief International Correspondent of CNN
Tom Friedman, Foreign Affairs Columnist of The New York Times
Jim Lehrer of The Newshour with Jim Lehrer.
President’s Awards for Council Excellence
Each year the National President selects four councils that have outstanding records of achievement over the previous year. The awards put special emphasis on growth, innovation, and excellence in programming, and operations.
The four categories for the four awards are: Large Councils, Medium-sized Councils, Small Councils (with paid staff), and All-Volunteer Councils. The awards are given at the Closing Banquet at the end of each National Conference.
The President’s Awards in 2007 Awards went to:
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Large Council |
Medium-sized Council
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Small Council |
All-Volunteer Council |
The Large Council Awards have gone to:
2007 World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth
2006 World Affairs Council of Houston
2005 Chicago Council on Global Affairs
2004 Southern Center for International Studies (Atlanta)
2003 World Affairs Council of Northern California (San Francisco)
The Mid-Sized Council Awards have gone to:
2007 Institute of World Affairs (Milwaukee)
2006 World Affairs Council of Oregon
2005 World Affairs Council of Greater Dallas
2004 Minnesota International Center (Minneapolis)
2003 World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh
The Small Council Awards have gone to:
2007 World Affairs Council of America - California Central Coast (Ventura County)
2006 World Affairs Council of Jacksonville
2005 Alaska World Affairs Council (Anchorage)
2004 Santa Fe Council on International Relations
2003 World Affairs Council of Western Michigan (Grand Rapids)
The All-Volunteer Council Awards have gone to:
2007 World Affairs Council of Florida Palm Beaches
2006 Juneau World Affairs Council
2005 Montana World Affairs Council (Missoula)
2004 Savannah World Affairs Council
2003 Peoria Area World Affairs Council
Carol Marquis Award for Excellence in School Programs
This award honors Carol Marquis, the longtime director of the San Francisco’s Bay Area Education Program. Carol died suddenly in the prime of life in December 2002. The award is given for excellence in school program work over the previous year.
The 2007 Award went to the World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts.
The 2006 Award went to the Minnesota International Center.
The 2005 Award went to the Philadelphia World Affairs Council.
The 2004 Award was give to the Pittsburgh World Affairs Council.
The 2003 Award went to the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council in Hawaii.
Award for Outstanding Achievement in Culture and the Arts
The first-ever World Affairs Council Award in this category went to Isabelle Allende in January 2002 for her contributions to world literature, her achievements in bettering the world’s understanding of Latin American politics and society, and for her wonderful explication of universal themes in human existence.
Maria Zammit recieved the award in February of 2007 for her outstanding service to the
World Affairs Councils of America as Vice Chairman and member of Board of Directors.
Lisa Maruyama received the award in January 2005 for her period as National Secretary and national board member and for her outstanding leadership of the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council in Hawaii.
Jeffrey A. Merkley was presented with the award in January 2005 for being the creator of the National Academic WorldQuest competition, for excellent service as a National Executive Committee member, and for outstanding leadership of the Oregon World Affairs Council.
Dr. Schuyler (Sky) Foerster won the award in January 2004 for outstanding service as the National Vice-Chairman, for excellent service as the head of the national school program initiative, and for exceptional leadership of the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh.
Sir Eldon Griffiths got his award in January 2003 for his National Chairmanship, his many innovative program and people-to-people diplomacy initiatives and his nine years of leadership of the World Affairs Council of Orange County.
Carol Engebretson Byrne received this award in January 2003 for her service as a member of the National Executive Committee, her contributions to the national travel program, and her achievements as the leader of the Minnesota International Center.
Betty Crowder was selected in January 2003 for outstanding service as the National Treasurer, for excellence in fundraising, and for exceptional leadership of national task forces on building the board and strengthening the council system.
Jennifer Watson Roberts received the award in January 2003 for being the inventor of WorldQuest, now a Flagship Program of the council system; for being a dynamic Executive Director of the World Affairs Council of Charlotte, and for excellent service as a National Board member.
Linda Wuest won the award in January 2002 for outstanding service as a National Treasurer, for being an exceptional national fundraiser, for serving as the council system’s membership expert, and her dynamic leadership of the Houston World Affairs Council.
Barbara Chisolm won the award in January 2001 for outstanding service as the National Chairman, for helping to build the national conferences, and for her leadership of the World Affairs Forum in Stamford, CT.
John Rielly received an award in May 2001 for outstanding service as the National Chairman and Vice-Chairman, as a national board member, and as President of the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations for over 30 years.