Council Updates from our President & CEO
Jayne Herring
(Good news, we promise!)
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Dear Members, Partners, Donors, & Friends,
We all blinked, and suddenly the Paris Olympics summer is over. Children are back in school (3rd and 11th grades for me), calendars are filling up far too quickly, and in another blink, it will be the holidays. For your council's leadership and staff, that "summer blink" has included significant progress and momentum, especially as we gear up for the global attention the upcoming World Cup and LA Olympics will bring to our region.
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EVENTS:
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The list of programs we are currently planning is below my signature, with live registration links where applicable. More will be added as details are confirmed, and our dedicated programs committee is already working on plans for spring 2025 events. If you have ideas for future programming, we are always eager to hear what interests you. Reminder: all members in good standing (active) are invited and welcome to join committees.
KUDOS:
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I enthusiastically assumed this role in July a few months after my predecessor Dr. Richard Downie took the helm of the Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall this past spring. We are grateful for his leadership and also thank him for his generous donation as part of the Founders Club, a growing group of members dedicated to taking our nonprofit to new heights post-pandemic by donating $10,000 + annually - you are the backbone of our new phase of growth!
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Please join me in also thanking long-time members and supporters Mark Chapin Johnson & past Chairman Art Kidman for their ongoing support, recently fulfilling their 2024 Founders Club pledges in dedication to our mission and faith in our work. In addition, significant donations beyond membership have been made by Allan Dollison, Annie Chu, Denise Mainero, Manuel Marquez, Helen Haig, and Judge Jim Gray (we loved the "Go Get 'Em!" check reference line!).
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We received a generous donation from the Edgar E & Elizabeth S. Pankey Foundation. In addition to their many contributions to Orange County, the Pankeys were founding members of our council and active volunteer leaders for many years. We look forward to honoring their memory.
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Please welcome our new and upgraded members: Nahal Kazemi, Christine Scheckler, Robert Case, Bonnie Wilson, Essraa Nawar, Kristina Julin, Helene Reola, Peter Bryant, Kate Meairs, Judith Whitmore, and David Adishian! We hope to see you at events and learn what we can do together for the betterment of our local and global communities.
UPDATES:
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Staff Changes: Krista Seitz and Anna Tran transitioned out of our team this summer for wonderful reasons: Krista has joined Dr. Downie's team at the LA Council, and Anna has begun her studies at the University of California, Berkeley. They were both critical parts of our growth over the last 2 years, and we cannot wait to see where their lives take them. Of course, this meant my first responsibility as your new President and CEO was to hire 2 staff members, and I am so proud to have Helene Reola and Kyle Stafford joining our team. Please read their biographies below my signature to see why.
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Internally we have been auditing, updating, and streamlining operations to reflect our sophisticated professional goals as an organization, and we appreciate your patience while we manage these processes. Our website will be the next project as we focus on donor stewardship and the many years of dedication from our passionate volunteers. I will continue to meet and connect with existing members, potential members and partners, and Orange County leadership to discover how we can best serve our community. It has been an overwhelmingly positive experience to realize our original mission and ongoing work truly resonate with our neighbors and colleagues.
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The "kids" are all right: Our Young Professionals and Intercollegiate Network (YPIN) continue to inspire us with their dedication to careers and passions beyond those of their peers. Our Academic World Quest winning team from El Dorado High School won second place nationally this past spring in DC! (Special thanks to Nora Valenzuela for leading the AWQ program in Orange County.) Our most recent interns just started studies at UCLA, and we have had over 50 qualified applicants eager to fill their spots.
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It has been an eventful year for our Executive Board, most notably our Chairman Rick Putnam, with our sold-out gala last December and multiple staff changes and searches since. With their steadfast commitment, guidance, and support, they are the cornerstone of our organization. Thanks to the work of our Nominating Committee, under the leadership of Jeff Hobert, elections are underway for the next trustee class to be confirmed at our Annual General Meeting dinner event (September 12th at Chapman University; open to members and non-members).
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LOOKING BACK TO GO FORWARD:
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DID YOU KNOW the origins of the World Affairs Councils of America go back to 1918? Our founders knew, as we now know, that international engagement is vital to our nation's success, and promoting civil discourse and engaging the public on foreign affairs fosters a more informed electorate. At a time when social clubs are on the decline and polarization is increasing, World Affairs Council events bridge divides and create constructive third places.
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Our council here in Orange County was incorporated in 1978, with our original charter signed by OC luminaries including UCI’s Founding Chancellor Daniel G. Algrich, Ambassador George Argyros, Henry T. Segerstrom, Irvin C. “Ernie” Chapman, Robert Guggenheim, and John Wayne, to name only a few! Our ties to our academic institutions go back over 46 years.
- In building partnerships and collaborations across sectors to increase our impact, by bringing critical conversations to local events, and by showing the world what and who Orange County is, we look forward to advancing the vision of our founders. Our growth potential has never been greater, with changing demographics, increased diversity, vibrant new industry, and the world’s largest sports diplomacy events attracting the eyes of the world over the next 4 years.
I hope you can read our enthusiasm in these paragraphs. We look forward to working together in this exciting developmental phase for our council. You are always welcome to join the conversation; we sincerely hope you will.
With gratitude,
Jayne
Jayne Herring
President & CEO
World Affairs Council of Orange County
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WELCOME TO OUR NEW STAFF!
HELENE R. VERACRUZ, our Operations Manager, brings over 15 years of expertise in operations management, legal administration, and nonprofit leadership. She holds a Harvard Business Degree (where she was the Executive Vice President of Student Government of all 12 graduate schools overlooking 15,000 students), and an Executive Master’s in Healthcare Administration from the University of Southern California (USC). Following her advanced studies, she took her expertise to The Hague, where she worked on disarmament initiatives under the United Nations and the International Criminal Court (ICC). From co-founding international B Corporations to streamlining operations as a Chief Legal Administration Officer, she’s driven by a passion for making a meaningful impact. Helene is thrilled to contribute to the growth of the World Affairs Council of Orange County under dynamic and inspiring leadership.
KYLE STAFFORD, our Programs Manager, is eager to enhance our council's program offerings and frequency and is looking forward to expanding the reach of Academic World Quest and the Young Professionals and Intercollegiate Network (YPIN). A graduate of the University of California Riverside (UCR) with a bachelor's degree in International Relations and U.S. History, Kyle is passionate about involving youth in international affairs. He brings valuable experience as a former financial analyst. He currently serves as the community advisor for UCR’s Model United Nations program.
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