News and updates

“Education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army.”

  — Edward Everett (1794-1865)

Everett was the featured speaker at the dedication ceremony of the Gettysburg National Cemetery in 1863, where he spoke for two hours immediately before President Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous two-minute Gettysburg Address. Our Distinguished Speakers don't run quite that long, but both public speakers and education are key components of World Affairs Council Hilton Head as we try to accomplish our mission to “educate, engage and inspire our community regarding world affairs.”

While some activities take a summer break, the Board is preparing for the fall speaker series and other events.  Our annual report will be sent to you in the next few days, listing our successes and challenges for the upcoming year. Although our membership is down from what it was pre-COVID, we finished the year on solid financial footing, and passed a budget to continue our current level of programming along with a few new wrinkles, such as:

Hot Topics Session:

On Wednesday, August 20, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., Ben Kinnas will present “Tariffs as Tools: Policy, Politics and Protectionism: Who Pays and Who Profits?  We had 40 members register the day we sent out the registration link, and are rapidly approaching room capacity.  If you want to attend, but haven’t signed up, I suggest you do so right away. Click below to register. 

Tariffs as Tools: Policy, Politics, and Protectionism

Book Club:

The New Politics of Poland by Jaroslaw Kulsz is on tap for Thursday, August 14, 4:30 – 6:00 at Island Rec.  The author takes a look at how Poland made a turn hard right after years of democratic development, offering some lessons for other countries experiencing the rise of populist right-wing movements. 

Click on this link to register

Book Club - The new politics of Poland: A case of post-traumatic sovereignty by Jaroslaw Kuisz

It is hard for me to believe that August is here, with schools starting in Beaufort County next week. Summer may be passing quickly, but hopefully cooler weather is on the way.

Congratulations to Tracie Martucci, who was approved by the Board in July as Executive Director (she had been serving as interim). Tracie and Trey Ramsey are in the office, and can assist you with online registration for events, and membership renewal.  Contact Tracie or Trey at the WACHH office: (843) 384-6758.

Thank you for your support of the World Affairs Council of Hilton Head. I hope you are having a great summer and hope to see you at one of our events soon.

Fall Forum:

Fall Forum is similar to the regular Book Club, but we take a more intense work and divide the discussion into three sessions between October 21 and December 4.  This year’s book is On Xi Jinping by Kevin Rudd. 

The former Australian Prime Minister provides an authoritative account of the ideological worldview driving Chinese behavior both domestically and on the world stage--that of President Xi Jinping, who now holds near-total control over the Chinese Communist Party and is now, in effect, president-for-life.

We’ve previously read Kevin Rudd’s The Avoidable War in Book Club. Rudd has some incredible insight into the Chinese mentality having served as an Australian diplomat in China. 

To keep the group small in size, there will be two sessions on Hilton Head and one in Bluffton. Two sessions meet in the morning and one in the evening. Click below to sign up for one of the sessions of Fall Forum. 

https://wachh.org/Fall-Forum-Registration/

It is hard for me to believe that August is here, with schools starting in Beaufort County next week. Summer may be passing quickly, but hopefully cooler weather is on the way.

I also want to let you add your congratulations to Tracie Martucci, who was approved by the Board in July as WACHH Executive Director (she had been serving as interim). Tracie and Trey Ramsey are in the office this summer, and can assist you with online registration for events, and membership renewal.  Contact Tracie or Trey at the WACHH office: (843) 384-6758.

Thank you for your support of the World Affairs Council of Hilton Head. I hope you are having a great summer and hope to see you at one of our events soon.

 

Rich Moniuszko

President, Board of Directors

World Affairs Council of Hilton Head

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” — The Declaration of Independence, 1776

 As we celebrate the 249^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, I’m reminded of Benjamin Franklin’s response when asked whether the new nation was a republic or a monarchy, he famously said we’re “a republic, if we can keep it.”  The phrase emphasizes that the success of the American experiment in self-governance depends not only on creating a republic but also on the ongoing commitment and effort of its citizens to uphold the principles embedded in our Constitution and other institutions. The World Affairs Council is here to keep us learning about and engaged in the processes of democracy.

It is hard for me to believe that July is here, and summer is passing quickly. World Affairs Council Hilton Head has summer activities for you to remain engaged:

• Book Club –Meets next Thursday, July 10, at 4:30 p.m. in the conference room at Island Rec.  The book is Autocracy, Inc. by Anne Applebaum.  Today’s autocrats are different from the Cold War.  There is no single ideology (e.g. Communism vs. Capitalism). Today’s dictators are working together to upend the rule of law and dismantle democratic values. It is a great book to discuss at this time of year, and there’s still time to get the book and read it before next Thursday (only 200 pages). I will be facilitating the discussion and hope to see you there.
• We are going to build on our May “Hot Topics” evening session on Uwith another evening session in August: “Tariffs as Tools: Policy, Politics, and Protectionism:  Who pays and who profits?” 

The facilitator for the August event will be WACHH Board Member Ben Kinnas, who has over 30 years of experience managing banks in Asia, including roles in Japan, Hong Kong, and mainland China. He has a background in trade, finance, and international supply chain dynamics and will share perspectives on global commerce. Ben will discuss topics such as “How Tariffs Work,” “Who Wins and Who Loses,” and “Alternatives to Tariffs in Promoting Fair Trade.” Details regarding the date and time in August will be posted on the website in the coming weeks, where registration information will also be available.

Our website (WACHH.org) will continue to offer online registration for the Book Club, Hot Topics, and other events. The WACHH membership year runs from June 1 to May 31; renew your membership if you haven't already to register for events. For assistance with renewal or event registration, contact Tracie or Trey at the WACHH office: (843) 384-6758.

Thank you for your support of the World Affairs Council of Hilton Head. I hope you are having a great summer and hope to see you at one of our events soon.

 

Rich Moniuszko

President, Board of Directors

World Affairs Council of Hilton Head

On May 2, the World Affairs Council Hilton Head concluded its 43rd year with Bill Taylor’s talk about peace in Ukraine. The program committee organized an outstanding lineup of speakers this year, and next year’s list appears equally stellar. Next year’s Distinguished Speaker series will begin with John Sullivan, best-selling author of Midnight in Moscow and former Ambassador to Russia during the Ukraine invasion.

 See the full lineup of speakers by clicking on the link below:

 2025-26 Distinguished Speaker Series

However, we're not finished yet for this year!  Bill Patterson will a have a discussion group on Wednesday evening, May 21 on the demise of USAID, and our Book Club continues at Island Rec throughout the summer.  As usual, you can register for these events through the calendar on our website. 

We appreciate your involvement and hope you renew your membership for 2025-26 if you haven’t done so already.  Membership includes the Distinguished Speaker Series, Book Club, Great Decisions, and other new and special programs. Your $175 dues also support student initiatives like Model UN and Academic WorldQuest.

We’ve tried to make it simple to renew your membership.  Log in to your account on wachh.org and click on your name at the top of the screen then follow the prompts.  If you have any issues with renewal (or other aspects of our website), simply call Tracie or Trey in the office at (843) 384-6758 and they will be glad to assist you.

It’s no secret that our membership (and that of many other organizations) is down post-COVID.  We need your help to “get the word out” about the high quality of our programs, and encourage them to join through our website.  If you join before July 1, we’ll send you two free guest passes to invite your friends.

We look forward to an exciting and stimulating year ahead.  Thank you for your continued support of World Affairs Council Hilton Head.

 

Rich Moniuszko

President, Board of Directors

World Affairs Council of Hilton Head

A couple of quick reminders as we head into the month of May:

• Friday is our Distinguished Speaker series with Bill Taylor, former Ambassador to Ukraine, presenting “Russia’s War on Ukraine-Prospects for Peace.”   Members do not have to register online unless you want to bring a guest (or two) for free. Log in to our website (wachh.org) and click on the event in our calendar and enter the information for your guest(s). We will do our best to have a name tag waiting for guests who pre-register when they arrive.

• May is membership renewal month as all annual memberships expire on June 1. We’ve fixed the computer glitch, and you can renew your membership by logging in to our website, clicking on your name at the top of the screen, then following the prompts to renew. If you have difficulty with the website (or do not like online renewal), Trey Ramsey and Joan Lemoine will be available Friday before and after Bill Taylor’s talk to assist you with renewing your membership.

 

• We are initiating a new type of discussion group on timely topics with a kickoff event on Wednesday, May 21 at 6:30 p.m. These groups will be interactive with a focus on significant current events. “The demise of   USAID and implications for America’s future role in the world” is the first topic, with Bill Patterson, a WACHH Board Member and career diplomat with USAID leading the discussion. The tentative location is the WACHH office. However, we may need to secure a larger venue if more than twenty-five members register. Register using the link below.
  

As we conclude our Speaker Series for this year I want to thank you for your support of World Affairs Council of Hilton Head.  Unfortunately, I cannot be there this Friday, but former President John Gilbert will serve as a stellar replacement emcee. Have a wonderful week!

 The Demise of USAID and Implications for America's Future Role in the World

Rich Moniuszko

President, Board of Directors

World Affairs Council of Hilton Head

In addition to our Newsletter, I'll send periodic updates to you about WACHH. This is Volume 1, Number 1. Thank you for supporting WACHH and your patience during our leadership transitions (President, Executive Director, and Office Manager). Two weeks ago, Tracie Martucci assumed the role of Interim Executive Director and Trey Ramsey began working part-time in the office. Both are adapting well to our procedures. With the three of us assuming new roles, there will be some initial challenges. We appreciate your understanding and patience during this transition period.

You may have noticed we had a change in our Distinguished Speaker Series for Friday, May 2. We were thrilled to have Bill Taylor, former Ambassador to Ukraine (along with other international post) step in to present “Russia’s War on Ukraine-Prospects for Peace.”

May also is the month of our Membership Renewal Drive, and I hope you will renew your membership to WACHH for 2025-26. Early renewal will help us as we prepare our budget for next year, and if you renew before July 1 you’ll receive two free guest passes. This year's Distinguished Speakers were outstanding, and next year's lineup looks just as impressive:

• John Sullivan – former US Ambassador to Russia and author of the best seller “Midnight in Moscow”
• Joseph Cirincione – expert on nuclear arms control and author of seven books
• Andrew Wells-Dang – Vietnam expert from US Institute of Peace on US-Vietnam relations 50 years on the anniversary of the end of the war.
• David Satterfield (a repeat lecturer) - “The Trump Foreign Policy: A First Year Assessment”

For Ambassador Taylor’s session on May 2, you are encouraged to bring one or two guests free of guest charges. Register your guests on our website to ensure they are not charged the $25 guest fee. Please help recruit new members for 2025-26. Next Friday is a chance to introduce your friends to WACHH.

We want to experiment with having a new type of discussion group on timely topics. Rather than having a group discussion about a book or article, these discussion groups will be on significant current events where an expert will introduce the topic with participants sharing their perspectives. Our kickoff event on Wednesday, May 21 at 6:30 pm will be on the demise of US AID and implications for America’s future role in the world—a topic with no shortage of opinions. Bill Patterson, a WACHH Board Member and career diplomat with USAID will lead the discussion. The location will depend on the size of the group. Check our calendar on the website to register, as this event will be posted soon.

In other good news, we had more than one hundred students from Beaufort County participate in Model UN this year at Georgia Southern or Winthrop. May River High School alone had forty-seven students participate, winning thirteen awards and finishing 3^rd overall!

As we conclude this year’s programs, I want to thank you for supporting WACHH.    

Rich Moniuszko

President, Board of Directors

World Affairs Council of Hilton Head

1st Place - Bluffton High School - Green
Jamie Ni
Joseph Prochazkia
Katherine Riddle
Ava Elizabeth Rios
Nick Phillips

2nd Place - May River High School - Team 1 - Light Green
Braeden Mancini
Hayle Shupard
Emma Peeples
Anneliese Germany

3rd Place - Heritage Academy - Heritage Academy - Blue
Carly Anthony
David Morris
Colin Owen
Mason Petty
Luke Benson

Hilton Head Island High School - Light Blue
Gabriela Marcisi
Mallika Krishna
Gracie Pufal

Battery Creek High School - Orange
Andrew Hager 
James Breland
Zayda Puit
Sania McMillian
Imani Douglas
La'Niya Ramsey
Joanna Lin

May River High School - Team 2 - Light Green
Harper Burch
Noah Lowry
Cole Peltz

Hilton Head Preparatory - Purple
Charlie Hardwick
Rachel Del Gaizo
Zoe Lui
Tuggle Daly

Take a look at what an amazing year we had this past year! Cherish the memories and insights . . . Annual Report 2024.pdf

What a great season we had! Here is an archive of the programs from the 2023-2024 season. If you'd like to print a copy, make sure to select the print on both sides option.

John Bolton 10.6.23

Bruce Jentleson 11.3.23

Anna Wieslander 11.10.23

Brad Ringeisen 12.1.23

Phillip Saunders 1.5.24

Peter Ammon 1.19.24

Michael Singh 2.2.24

L Silverman 2.16.24

Rami Khouri 3.1.24

Gustavo F. Macias 3.15.24

Richard Heydarian 4.5.24

Ed Schoonveld 4.16.24

Paige Alexander 5.3.24

This past year we had nearly 50 local students participate from eight high schools across Beaufort County. We cover all local and national competition costs. Without funds from our generous partners like the Heritage Classic Foundation we would not be able to send a team to nationals each year. Our consistent participation in this program also helps our overall status in the WACA consortium and puts us on the map to be considered for the prestigious distinction as a WACA Council of the Year. So for that, we are so grateful to you all.

This year 2024, the winning team was from Bluffton High School. It was the first year we had an all-female winning team, and they were one of two all-female teams at the National Competition. As one of the youngest female Executive Directors currently affiliated with WACA’s ninety councils, this was a heartwarming and exciting win. I was proud to support them and chaperone the team to Nationals.

Sending a team to Nationals is a life-changing learning opportunity for these students as they prepare for life after high school. Not only did the team get to travel to our Nation’s capital and meet other high-achieving students from around the U.S., but they also had other opportunities set up by the World Affairs Council of Hilton Head. This year the students had a private Capitol tour with Nancy Mace’s staff (while she was in session voting on funding for Ukraine!), visited the Air and Space Museum, saw the Declaration of Independence at the National Archives, enjoyed authentic Korean hotpot (one of the categories at the competition was South Korea), and learned from veterans at the Korean and Vietnam war memorials. Our Executive Director had the opportunity to chaperone the team and it was quite the life-changing experience for her as well, as she builds her career in the nonprofit sector of our community. We are very proud of this program and worked with the BCSD Social Studies coordinator this year to ensure it remains a staple in the local high schools.