Subject: Board Update: Biggest Summit Ever, Brexit Impact, More Trumpdates
From: "Liz.Schrayer" <[email-masked]>
To: "Liz.Schrayer" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2016 17:58:20 +0000

[http://www.usglc.org/downloads/2015/09/usglc-logo.jpg]

Dear Board of Directors,

While you received the GLOBAL GAB on Friday (and I hope you like the new format), I wanted to share a few additional off-the-record items.

We are all watching as policymakers, especially the foreign policy community, reel from the Brexit vote and try to determine its global economic and security impact. I am watching the political fallout very closely and fear that it will add more fuel to the isolationist fire. You have seen Trump's statements, but you may not have seen the dozens of statements that I have been reading from Tea Party leaders. For those politicians (and voters) that were already prone to "build a wall" and look inward - the fortress just got bigger and our work just got harder.

In other news, mixed report. I know this is more than usual, but a lot to share.

1. Trump Drumbeat, Clinton Outreach, and Lots of Congressional Candidates. Before the All-Star break (conventions in political life), we are continuing to engage candidates.

  *   As the Trump team grows, we have continued to reach out. I talked with the Executive Director of the Transition team who is moving to DC in July and we are scheduled to be one of his first meetings. We have met with two more of Mr. Trump's foreign policy advisors and so far, no substantive pushback. More soon.
  *   On the Democratic side, a number of us had an opportunity to visit with senior policy advisor Jake Sullivan and understand that Secretary Clinton will continue to project her commitment to global development, particularly around her international work with women and girls as a center piece of her accomplishments and her future agenda.
  *   USGLC has submitted testimony to both party platforms and will be co-hosting events at both conventions. Watch for a separate email with details.
  *   We have met with over 75 congressional candidates and so far, are pleased. Lots of interest and lots of supportive comments. We will highlight some of the potential up-and-coming champions at the September meeting.

2. State Leaders Summit: A Smashing Success. Hats off to my colleagues for organizing what I believe was our best-ever Summit - content, speakers, participants and Hill meetings - high quality all around.

  *   500 state and DC leaders, 33 states represented
  *   More than 175 veterans, including retired generals and our newest NSAC member: General Petraeus as the keynote
  *   60 business CEOs and Chamber of Commerce leaders
  *   Dozens of officials including current and former governors, members of Congress, ambassadors, mayors, and state senators and secretaries
  *   Nearly 200 Hill meetings with half the Senate and more than a third of the House
  *   A Twitter reach to 4.9 million unique users
  *   And picked-up by the Washington Post<https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2016/06/13/gen-david-petraeus-steps-out-of-the-shadows-with-public-appearance-at-d-c-summit/> and a 5-minute spot on the BBC<http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03xj8pw> (listen from 26:40)

Watch the 2-minute recap video here<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDUt-7o8YJw> - honestly, it's pretty inspiring. And check out the Flickr photo gallery<https://www.flickr.com/photos/usglc/sets/72157670217407956/> of our high-impact two days.
[http://www.usglc.org/downloads/2016/06/summit-video-image.jpeg]<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDUt-7o8YJw>

Personally, I had three favorite moments:

  *   I joined the Nebraska delegation's meeting with Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE). She walked in, hugged nearly every participant, obviously knowing the hometown constituents we had recruited and kept saying "foreign aid is really important" (a far cry from my first meeting with her two years ago.) Grasstops organizing works!
  *   Lindsey Graham's closing revival-style speech that even for him, was out of control (in a good way)!
  *   Moderating "A League of Their Own" - 5 powerful women, all heads of 150 Agencies - Gayle Smith, USAID; Dana Hyde, MCC; Elizabeth Littlefield, OPIC; Carrie Radelet, Peace Corps; and Lee Zak, USTDA.

Special thanks to ASU and Deloitte for sponsoring the Summit and to Board members who participated as speakers: Tara Hogan Charles, Mike Gerson, Leslie Griffin, Karl Hofmann, Andrea Koppel, Bill Lane, Ann Lewis, Kristin Lord, Greta Lundeberg, Martin Lowery, Carolyn Miles, John Murphy, Eric Reading, Caroline Roan, Nancy Ziuzin Schlegel, Sarah Thorn, Johanna Nesseth Tuttle, Sherrie Westin, and Bob Zachritz.

3. GOP Leader #4: Still Have Work To Do. I often report the "great meetings" we have. On Wednesday, some of you joined us for a lunch with Deputy Whip Patrick McHenry (R-NC) - not so great! He clearly was channeling the voice of the tea party Republicans that he works with day in and day out. His theme was that Democrats must accept the need for more accountable and results driven aid and Republicans need to acknowledge that foreign aid is more than just charity. Not well-informed, in my view.

  *   Here's the good news: His power is only going to increase and he is willing to meet and engage with us. He was very open to continuing the conversation and we are organizing an in-district.
  *   The challenge is that he, like Paul Ryan (assuming you read my analysis of his National Security Strategy), still doesn't accept that any meaningful reforms have taken place at USAID.
  *   We still have work to do - but that's the fun part, right?

4. Facebook Asked USGLC for "Validation". Yes, you read that correctly. How many years would I have wished to have Facebook "validate" USGLC! But on Thursday, USGLC co-sponsored a program with Facebook, at their request, on how to address global health through social media, looking at ways to enhance impact and scale.

  *   It was not only flattering - but it was an incredible program that could truly make a difference. Most of our global health INGOs members joined us as Facebook shared best practices of how they are using their platform to address global health crises around the world.
  *   My favorite was test driving Oculus, their new virtual reality experience where I put on goggles and a headset and was transported to the shores of Greece, welcoming refugees arriving by boat. Powerful and intense. Lots of applications for us.

5. Odds & Ends

  *   Read the Budget Update<http://www.usglc.org/2016/06/24/international-affairs-budget-update-62416/> for the latest on the State-Foreign Ops bills, Zika funding, and impressive bipartisan related legislation. Rep. Royce has just pushed out another bill - this one on Global Digital Access.
  *   We are updating our Economic Brief for a new launch in September. Business leaders on the Board will hear from us shortly to review a draft as we would like to have it ready to go before the first Presidential debate.
  *   Conference calls for our Strategic Visioning sessions will be taking place over the course of the next few weeks, so watch your email for dates and times.
  *   USGLC's Public Policy Committee will be meeting to outline the FY18 Budget Strategy in time to present for the September Board meeting.
  *   Don't forget to save the date of September 28 to join us in Columbus, Ohio with Secretary Bob Gates for our Impact 2016 event. More details for this and other fall events coming soon.

Talk soon.

Liz
Liz Schrayer, USGL