International Relations Council Explained

The International Relations Council (IRC) is a non-profit (501(c)(3)) non-partisan educational organization in Kansas City, Missouri, and a member of the World Affairs Councils of America. As an educational nonprofit, the IRC works in partnership with a range of businesses, universities, community organizations, K-12 schools, and other interested individuals to grow a global perspective and find international connections within the Greater Kansas City metropolitan area.[1] The IRC works to foster interest in an understanding of international affairs among the citizens of Kansas City through the development of various programs and events. As a membership organization, the IRC welcomes individuals and families, businesses, universities, and other organizations to join as IRC members in order to help sustain global-affairs education in the Kansas City community and receive various benefits.

History

The International Relations Council was founded in late December 1954 by Eliot Berkley, who served as executive director of the IRC for nearly forty years and, later, as chairman of the IRC Academy and lifetime board member of the IRC. After graduating from Harvard University in 1947, Eliot earned an M.A. (1949) and Ph.D. (1952) from Princeton University. Returning to his hometown, Eliot taught history and government at the University of Kansas City, now UMKC. He then taught social science at the Kansas City Art Institute, where he later served as vice president for development from 1960 to 1961 and dean of the college from 1961 to 1965. As an advocate of citizen involvement in the foreign policy process, Dr. Berkley served as executive director of the International Relations Council for nearly forty years and, later, as chairman of the IRC Academy and lifetime board member of the IRC. For many years, his wife Marcia worked side by side with Eliot, hosting dinners and meetings in their home. Eliot died in 2012 but is still remembered fondly by business, community, and academic leaders for his inspirational passion for global issues.

The IRC welcomed Eleanor Roosevelt as its first speaker in January 1955. Since then, a wide range of legislators, professors, journalists, diplomats, and other global-affairs experts have visited Kansas City to share their perspective and expertise. These notable guests include Henry Kissinger (1975), Jim Lehrer (1986), Robert J. Eaton (1993), Madeleine Albright (2006), Condoleezza Rice (2010), and Janet Napolitano (2014).

Since its beginning, the IRC has grown from a small "kitchen table" gathering to an educational organization with a large number of Kansas City area members. With Matthew Hughes serving as the current executive director, the IRC warmly welcomes involvement in IRC events and programs from citizens of the Greater Kansas City area.

Leadership

CEO/Executive Director (July 2016 – Present)

Matthew Hughes

Program Manager

Evan Verploegh

Education Outreach Coordinator VISTA

Natalie Friend

2022 Board Officers[2]

Dr. Karenbeth G. Zacharias - President

Andrea Allison-Putman - First Vice President

Dr. Michael Makara - Second Vice President

Aaron J. Mann - Secretary

David B. Au - Treasurer

Board Members

Christina Arnone, Michelle Arthington, Dr. Charles A. S. Bankart, Anna Bazan-Munguia, Narbeli Galindo, Philip Gaskin, Nicole Gresham Perry, Kelvin Igumbor, Frank J. Klimas, Nancy C. Messer, Shahid S. Qadri, Dr. Usha Saha, Dave Saunders, Herb Sih, Jorge Soberón Hernández, Stephen Steigman, Paul Weida

2022 Advisory Directors

Kirk Doan, Holly Nielsen, Cyprienne Simchowitz, Mike Wood

Finances

The IRC is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. It is funded almost entirely by memberships, both individual and corporate, donations, program fees and some small grants.[3] Memberships can be purchased on an annual basis. IRC members receive free admission to most IRC events. IRC member universities & corporations can also attend select events.

Programs

Eliot S. Berkley Lectures

The Eliot S. Berkley Lecture was founded in 1996 and brought an expert in foreign policy and global affairs to the Kansas City area. The lecture was established through the Berkley Endowment to honor the IRC’s founder and his decades of service and to provide a platform for engaging community members in understanding critical global issues. Past Berkley lecturers include former U.S. Ambassador Robert Ford (2014), Gerald Seib (2011), The Honorable Thomas R. Pickering (2005), and Admiral William J. Crowe, Jr. (1998).[4]

List of past Eliot S. Berkley Lectures

IRC Networking Hours

IRC Networking Hours give IRC members and friends the chance to get to know each other and to learn about international opportunities in the IRC organizational partners' many different professional fields.[5] The first IRC Networking Hour of 2017 took place on March 22, where attendees took a visit to Burns & McDonnell, an engineering, architecture, and consulting firm with both domestic and international projects. On August 2, attendees learned about the nationwide work of Commerce Bank and had plenty of time to network. At the final IRC Networking Hour of 2017 on October 9, attendees had a chance to meet employees of Bio-Microbics, a manufacturer of wastewater treatment systems with over 60,000 installations in over 70 countries. The IRC sees great value in allowing members of the Kansas City community the chance to network with internationally interested organizations, as it creates opportunities for further global connections within Kansas City.

IRC Lecture Series

IRC Lecture Series bring dignitaries, foreign-policy experts, and regional leaders together to discuss, debate, and engage the Kansas City area community in issues of international scope and local relevance. [6]

Some of the IRC's recent programs include:

Speakers Bureau

The International Relations Council's Speakers Bureau is a collection of IRC members willing to share their expertise and experiences with the Greater Kansas City area. Speakers have knowledge of the historical and contemporary aspects of specific countries, foreign policy, geography, and culture. The members of the Bureau don’t charge a fee for their speaking time and are available to the Greater Kansas City area (but it is ultimately their decision where to travel).[7]

Discussion Groups

Great Decisions

Great Decisions is a program produced by the Foreign Policy Association and offered in Kansas City through the IRC. Across Kansas and Missouri, people participating in Great Decisions gather in homes, libraries, and community centers to discuss some of the most pressing issues facing our world. Groups receive and study Great Decisions briefing books, which are well-researched, written materials that help guide discussion throughout the year. Each discussion is led by a Discussion Group Leader. However, participants play the most important role, and their interest, enthusiasm, and commitment ultimately determine the success of the group. Each participant's point of view carries equal weight and everyone is encouraged to share opinions and ideas. The topics change annually, and these discussions strengthen people's understanding of global issues and build connections in the Kansas City community.[8]

News & Views

News & Views, a conversation-based series from the International Relations Council, brings together a small group of community members for respectful, substantive discussion around one of that week’s top international news stories. Facilitated by a member or friend of the International Relations Council, the group meets in different informal settings around town, like a happy hour on the Country Club Plaza, or on Zoom for a guided conversation about a topic and articles that participants review in advance.[9]

Global Affairs Book Club

The Global Affairs Book Club gives participants the opportunity to discuss foreign affairs, global topics, authors' perspectives, historical events, and their current local relevance in a respectful, engaging setting. Convened by seasoned Great Decisions leader Jack McLaren, the group meets every six to eight weeks to dig into a different author's work. Recent books discussed include Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World by Fareed Zakaria, We Crossed a Bridge and it Trembled by Wendy Pearlman, and Modi and the Reinvention of Indian Foreign Policy by Ian Hall.[10]

Choices Election Issues Series

In the eight weeks leading up to November 3, 2020, the International Relations Council offered a series of insightful conversations with notable experts on foreign policy issues relevant to the 2020 U.S. presidential election and what comes next. Rather than advocate a particular approach or outcome, the nonpartisan Choices series informed voters through a presentation of historical context and a detailed examination of the foreign policy platforms of the major-party candidates. Topics included Tariffs and Trade with Amb. Ron Kirk, The Transatlantic Relationship with Erik Brattberg, and Peace in the Middle East with Amb. Frank G. Wisner.[11]

Lexicon Language Intros

The International Relations Council's Lexicon Language Intro program is a weekly digital interactive program introducing participants to a new language. Each week, IRC members and friends offer some history and context on a different language, let participants sample the look and sounds of the language, and provide information on where participants can experience more of the language and the cultures it represents. Recent programs include Armenian with Armen Babajanian, Swahili with Wasim Khan, and Norwegian with Lise Falskow.[12]

School Programs

The IRC devotes a large portion of its resources to programs for teachers and students. IRC programs aim to promote global and cross-cultural awareness and to inspire a passion for international studies.

Eliot S. Berkley Award

Each year, in memory of the IRC founder and longtime executive director, Eliot S. Berkley, the International Relations Council presents this award to an exceptional high-school junior or senior who has demonstrated superior academic interest and competence in international studies.[13] Finalists are selected by a committee of IRC members. After personal interviews with the finalists, the winner is selected and is presented an inscribed award and a $500 scholarship at an IRC fall event.[14]

Academic WorldQuest

Each year since 2006, the IRC has offered high-school students the chance to showcase their knowledge of world affairs, geography, history, and current events at this event. Each Greater Kansas City area high school may enter one team of four students plus a faculty sponsor, and participation is entirely cost-free. The winning team will receive an expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for the students and their sponsor to represent Kansas City in the national Academic WorldQuest competition.[15] WorldQuest is a copyrighted program of the World Affairs Councils of America and approximately 4,000 students across the country participate in competitions hosted by over 40 local World Affairs Councils in 26 states.[16]

International Classroom Partnership Program (ICPP)

The ICPP is a program which sends international students from several Kansas City area colleges and universities to visit elementary schools to share their life and culture with school children. International college students share facts about their home countries' language, dress, and etiquette with American students. The program aims to dispel stereotypes of other nations while sparking an interest in foreign languages and cultures in elementary-aged children. The International Classroom Partnership Program ended in 2010.

Global Honors Evening

In 1984, the IRC began its annual Awards Banquet, now known as the Global Honors Evening. Each year, the IRC recognizes individuals or organizations for various contributions – to foreign policy and global affairs, international commerce, or the Kansas City community. The IRC awards the Distinguished Service Award for International Statesmanship to an individual who has made outstanding contributions in international commerce, diplomacy, education or understanding and who has a connection to Missouri or Kansas. The IRC also presents awards for Contributions to International Commerce and/or Community Service and for Academic Leadership. The 2020 Global Honors Evening was placed on hold due to COVID-19.[17]

Past awardees

Distinguished Service Award for International Statesmanship

Award for Academic Leadership

Award for Contributions to International Commerce and/or Community Service

Affiliations

The International Relations Council is one of more than 90 organizations in the U.S. affiliated with the World Affairs Councils of America (WACA). WACA is the largest non-profit organization in the United States dedicated to fostering grassroots understanding of and engagement in international affairs.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: International Relations Council: Who We Are. International Relations Council. May 29, 2018.
  2. Web site: IRC Board of Directors . International Relations Council . 2018-07-02 . 2023-05-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230502061854/https://www.irckc.org/who-we-are/board-of-directors/ . live .
  3. Greater Kansas City Community Foundation International Relations Council Profile Retrieved on Sept. 14th, 2009.
  4. Web site: IRC Berkley Lecture . International Relations Council . 21 February 2020.
  5. Web site: IRC Networking Hour. International Relations Council. July 2, 2018.
  6. Web site: IRC Lecture Series. International Relations Council. February 27, 2020.
  7. Web site: IRC Speakers Bureau. International Relations Council. July 2, 2018.
  8. Web site: International Relations Council: Great Decisions. International Relations Council. July 2, 2018.
  9. Web site: News & Views. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200812130844/https://www.irckc.org/page/newsandviews. 2020-08-12. International Relations Council.
  10. Web site: Global Affairs Book Club. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210202090224/https://www.irckc.org/page/GlobalAffairsBookClub. 2021-02-02. International Relations Council.
  11. Web site: Choices: Foreign Policy Issues in the 2020 Election. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210207124656/https://www.irckc.org/page/Choices. 2021-02-07. International Relations Council.
  12. Web site: Lexicon: Bite-Size Language Intros. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230502061840/https://www.irckc.org/wp-content/uploads/lexicon.png. 2023-05-02. International Relations Council.
  13. Web site: IRC Eliot S. Berkley Award. International Relations Council. https://web.archive.org/web/20180702204710/https://www.irckc.org/page/BerkleyAward. July 2, 2018. July 2, 2018. live.
  14. Shawnee Mission School District SM South senior earns $500 award for international issues Accessed June 12, 2013.
  15. Web site: IRC Academic WorldQuest. International Relations Council. https://web.archive.org/web/20180702204840/https://www.irckc.org/page/AWQ. July 2, 2018. July 2, 2018. live.
  16. Fox 4 News Academic WorldQuest champions Accessed June 12, 2013.
  17. Web site: Global Honors Evening. International Relations Council. https://web.archive.org/web/20200221202253/https://www.irckc.org/page/GlobalHonorsEvening. February 21, 2020. February 27, 2020. live.
  18. Taipei Economic & Cultural Office in Kansas City Director General Jack J.C. Yang attends the 2012 Annual Awards Banquet held by International Relations Council in Kansas City Accessed June 13, 2013.
  19. Imprint Express Bergrud MCs International Relations Council awards banquet Accessed June 12, 2013.
  20. Wood, Mike. "KC Plays a Leading Role on the International Stage." The Kansas City Star July 12, 2008.
  21. Canon, Scott."Danforth envisions a crisis coalition"The Kansas City Star December 14, 2005.

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