Website and Email
Q: If I’m already a member, how do I log in to my online account?
A: You need to become a registered user on our website so that we can connect your event registrations to your record in our database, and so that you can see your personal membership, registration, and donation information.
You provide your preferred username and password to login to your online account. Click here to register your preferred username and password to start your online account.
Q: What if I forget my username and/or password?
A: We can email your username to you or rest your password if necessary. Contact the Webmaster at webmaster@dfwworld.org.
Q: What steps should I take if I am not receiving Council emails/Council emails end up in my spam box?
A: Depending on your email provider, you will need to add the Council as either a “safe sender” or contact in your address book. Step-by-step instructions for Outlook, Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo, AOL Mail, BellSouth and AT&T Web Email users are available here. For more information, please contact our team at 214-965-8421 or membership@dfwworld.org.
Webinars & Virtual Programming
Zoom Video Communications is a remote conferencing service that provides video conferencing, online meetings, chat, and mobile collaboration.
Go to zoom.us.
Before joining a Zoom meeting on a computer or mobile device, you can download the Zoom app from the Download Center. Otherwise, you will be prompted to download and install Zoom when you click a join link.
You can also join a test meeting to familiarize yourself with Zoom. Enter your meeting information.
If you need more information, please visit https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us
COVID-19 Response and Procedures
As COVID–19 continues to evolve and produce variants that have impact in our community, the World Affairs Council is monitoring and reacting to the latest information. We remain flexible, and our precautions may be fluid. We implement health and safety measures as needed to reduce the spread of disease.
The risk of exposure to COVID–19 remains inherent in any public setting. It is important to acknowledge that COVID–19 is highly contagious and can lead to severe illness or death. Thus, by attending World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth events, guests voluntarily assume the risks related to exposure to COVID–19.
As much as we are able, we will encourage distancing during events..
Most importantly, if you feel sick or have concern that you’ve been exposed to COVID–19, please stay home and prevent risk of further spread
Should an in-person speaker event face cancellation, we will shift to a virtual presentation as we are able, and registration fees will be refunded. This will not apply to fundraising events.
We hope you will take time to be aware of current CDC guidelines and regional regulations and conditions related to COVID–19 as you consider attending any events. You can find up-to-date information at the following links:
Q: Do I need to be vaccinated to attend WACDFW events in person?
A: No.
Q: Will I need to wear a mask when I attend an in-person event?
A: No.
Q: If an in-person event is cancelled, will my registration be refunded?
A: Should an in-person speaker event face cancellation, we will shift to a virtual presentation as we are able, and refunds will be administered to registrants. This will not apply to fundraising events.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act includes a permanent change to tax deductions for charitable donations:
- Taxpayers claiming the standard deduction (non-itemized taxes) may now deduct up to $300 per taxpayer ($600 per couple) for qualifying charitable donations “above the line,” lowering total taxable income by the amount deducted.
- For taxpayers who itemize their taxes, the usual limit on deducting charitable cash donations is 60% of one’s adjusted gross income. The CARES Act waives this limit for 2020 (though limits on donations of non-cash assets, like stock, still apply).
- Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from 401(K)s and IRAs have been suspended for 2020. Retirees will not be forced to take distributions from their retirement accounts in calendar year 2020. Individuals can still make tax-free charitable contributions from their IRA (up to $100,000) to qualified charities.
The World Affairs Council does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. The above material has been provided for informational purposes only. Please consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction.
Membership
Q: How can I join, renew or gift a membership?
A: By visiting our Membership pages or calling our membership team at 214-965-8414.
To renew, login to your online account and click "Renew Membership" to see your current membership, then follow the renewal link.
To gift a membership, click here.
Q: When does my membership become effective? When does my membership expire?
A: Your membership becomes effective on the day we receive your membership dues. Your membership expires one year after your effective date.
Q: Is my membership tax-deductible?
A: World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your gift is tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law.
Q: I was a member at the Friend level but I can’t find this level when I go to renew my membership. Can I renew at the Friend level?
A: We discontinued the Friend level, but we invite you to renew at the Regular level ($100) or upgrade to the Contributors’ Circle Donor level ($250). If you’d like to talk about the respective benefits, call our membership team at 214-965-8421.
Q: What is a Corporate Membership?
A: Corporate Memberships are available at three different levels, each of which enables all of a company’s employees to be eligible for the membership discount to our public events (whether or not they are members). The Corporate Membership includes regular and Contributors’ Circle memberships, free program passes, and participation in the International Visitors Leadership Program. Depending on the level of the corporate membership, other benefits may include private and invitation-only events, protocol services and the visibility of speaker event sponsorship. To learn more, please click here to visit our Corporate Membership page, or call Alana Buenrostro at (214) 965-8417.
Q: How are my membership dues used at the Council?
A: Your dues are used for general operating expenses such as programs, administration, and marketing.
Q: Is my spouse included on my membership?
A: For Regular members, your spouse, partner or one family member sharing your address is included on your membership. Memberships in the Contributors' Circle expand the number of family members who can share your membership. Educator & Student memberships allow only 1 person per membership.
Q: Can I add someone to my membership?
A: Yes, you may add a family member sharing your address. Contact our team at 214-965-8421 or membership@dfwworld.org.
Q: What is the Contributors' Circle level membership?
A: The Contributors’ Circle includes five levels of membership ($250, $500, $1,000, $2,500 and $5,000). Contributors’ Circle members have made a philanthropic contribution to the Council beyond the Regular level membership dues, and during the year they receive special invitations to private dinners and briefings with speakers (“Contributors’ Circle Dinners"), invitations to receptions with ambassadors and other dignitaries, priority seating at many of our speaker events and two additional magazine subscriptions (D CEO and World Affairs journal).
Q: What is the Global Forum?
A: The Global Forum offers special opportunities to our members and supporters at the philanthropic level of $1,000 and above. Members of the Global Forum receive access to invitation-only events, briefings and receptions with key figures, as well as unique travel offers.
Speaker Events
Q: Do I have to have a username and password to register for an event?
A: As of August 2017, you no longer need to have a username to register for an event. However, if you create one, you can connect your event activities to your membership record in our database and keep track of your past and future registrations as well as donations to the Council. We never share or sell information about our database constituents. When you register for events under your username, you will find that some of the information required will be pre-populated for you, which will save you time in future reservation transactions.
You can make up your own username and password, but please do fill out the “password hint” box, so that you can refer to it if you forget your password. If you have lost your password, click here and we will mail it to you.
You can find out the status of your membership by visiting "Renew Membership" whenever you are signed in as a user.
Q: How do I register for an event?
A: Click the “Register for an Event” button on the event or calendar page. If you do not currently have a sign in, click the log-in link and then choose "new user registration."
Q: How do I register my boss or another person for an event?
A: If the person attending the event shares their user name and password with you, you can complete the registration as an attendee. Or you can obtain your own username and password and make the reservation in your name but indicate that you are not attending, just arranging. We will connect the attendees with their database record if they have one.
Q: Do I need to be a member to attend an event?
A: For the vast majority of our events, you do not have to be a member to attend. The price of your ticket will be higher than what members are paying to attend the event. We do have a number of events each year that are open only to members, such as our free movie premieres and member socials.
Q: Will my parking be validated at an event?
A: Sometimes, but not always. We work out parking validation with our event venues whenever possible. We will always let you know if you will be expected to pay for parking at the event.
Q: What is the dress code at your events?
A: Most of our members are coming to our events from their office or from school. Officially, our dress code is “business casual” except for the H. Neil Mallon Award Dinner, which is “cocktail attire.”
Q: What is your refund policy?
A: If you cancel your reservation more than three business days before the event, we will refund 100% of what you paid. The Council is unable to issue refunds less than 3 business days before an event.
Q: What is the Mallon Award Dinner?
A: H. Neil Mallon founded the World Affairs Council in Dallas in 1951. Our annual fundraising dinner is named for him, as is the H. Neil Mallon Award, which is presented to individuals who have excelled in promoting the international focus of North Texas. The dinner draws more than 750 attendees and is held in the autumn, usually in September or October, at a major hotel. Most attendees are the guests of table sponsors, but a limited number of individual tickets are also available. Since this fundraising dinner represents a significant portion of our operating budget, tickets are priced accordingly. The keynote speaker at the Mallon Dinner is always a high-profile individual (past speakers include Dr. Larry Sabato, Thomas Friedman, Scott Pelley, and David Brooks.)
Q: Can I attend Mallon if I’m not a member?
A: Yes.
Q: I have special dietary needs: can I request a special meal?
A: Yes. At most of our events, you can request a vegetarian meal from your server.
Q: Will I receive a confirmation or ticket for the event?
A: If you register online, you will receive an online confirmation of your reservation. If you register by phone, you will not receive a confirmation of your reservation. Events are generally not ticketed. Your name tag at the event will serve as an admission ticket.
Q: I had my picture taken with a speaker at an event. How do I request this photo?
A: Our event photos are often posted to our Flickr page for download. Visit http://www.flickr.com/dfwworld to find your photo or contact our team at 214-965-8413 to request your photo.
Q: How do I redeem a complimentary program pass?
A: For more information, please contact our team at 214-965-8414 or membership@dfwworld.org. When you reach the registration desk, please present your program pass. (Please note that occasionally an event may not be eligible for program pass use, and program passes cannot be used for programs where the ticket price is more than $35.00.)
The Council
Q: Is your organization partisan?
A: We are nonpartisan. While the presenters or subjects of individual programs may represent a single point of view, over the course of the year, we balance the presentation of "liberal" and "conservative" programs. We also offer our members the opportunity to participate in the exchange of ideas through Q&A at our programs. Every two years we survey our members and ask them how we're doing on our nonpartisanship, and in the last survey, 62% of our members felt we were neutral, 20% felt we were moderately conservative, 15% felt we were moderately liberal, 2% felt we were very conservative, and 1% felt we were very liberal.
Q: Is the Council just a speaker’s bureau?
A: No. A “speaker’s bureau” provides speakers to groups seeking them. The Council is a nonpartisan, nonprofit membership organization that, as part of its mission, presents speakers to its members and the general public. We do occasionally work with speaker’s bureaus to engage the services of some of our presenters.
Q: How can I become involved with the Council?
A: That’s easy. Become a member by filling out the membership information application and paying your first year’s dues. You’ll begin receiving emails and calendar brochures from us that tell you exactly when and where you can connect with us and with fellow members at our public events, member socials, movie premieres and webinars.
We’re also excited to be able to offer you citizen diplomacy opportunities with our International Visitor Program. Call Elaine Tricoli at (214) 965-8403 to find out more.
If you are a teacher, you can participate in our robust Global Young Leaders Program. Call Jennifer Bowden at (214) 965-8415 to find out more.
Visit our Membership page or call our team at (214) 965-8421 to become a member. Any staff member of the World Affairs Council will be happy to handle your membership at any of our events or via telephone at (214) 965-8400.
Q: How can my company become involved with the Council?
A: A company can become involved with the Council in several ways in order to gain a competitive edge in the global marketplace for the company and for its employees. In effect, the World Affairs Council can become a valuable, unique employee benefit.
Your company can become a Corporate Member to enable all of your employees to be eligible for our membership discount to our public events (whether or not they are members). Three different membership levels also include regular and Contributors' Circle memberships, free program passes and company participation in the International Visitors Leadership Program.
There are other benefits available according to corporate membership level, such as private and invitation-only events, protocol services and the corporate visibility offered by event sponsorship. Please click here to visit our Corporate Membership page or call Alana Buenrostro at (214) 965-8417.
Your company can sponsor individual speaker events. To learn more about event sponsorship or call Alana Buenrostro at (214) 965-8417.
Your company can become a sponsor of the H. Neil Mallon Award Dinner. Click here to learn about this sponsorship or call Alana Buenrostro at (214) 965-8417.
Q: How is your organization funded?
A: We are funded by membership dues, corporate and individual sponsorships of our annual H. Neil Mallon Award Dinner, corporate and individual sponsorship of speaker programs, individual contributions from members to our Annual Fund and member participation in the philanthropic Contributors’ Circle, and finally, grants from the City of Dallas (for the Office of Protocol), the U.S. Department of State (for the International Visitors Leadership Program), and other international visitor agencies.
Q: What is Meridian?
A: Meridian is the nickname for our young professionals group for members in their 20s and 30s. The long name is Meridian: Young Professionals.
Q. How do I connect in onsite meetings?
A: For Windows laptops, use these links to download Crestron AirMedia executables: Windows Guest App / Mac Guest App or Windows Installer / Mac Installer or IOS device / Android device.