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| IRC Quarterly Update |
December 2009 |
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Allison Stanger Speaks at 2009 Eliot S. Berkley Lecture
  As Allison Stanger's new book One Nation Under Contract: The Outsourcing of American Power and the Future of Foreign Policy was receiving critical praise from people like New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman, the International Relations Council welcomed her to Kansas City for the 2009 Eliot S. Berkley Lecture on Dec. 4.
Stanger is the Russell Leng Professor of International Politics and Economics and Director of the Rohatyn Center for International Affairs at Middlebury College. In her book, Stanger provides a definitive and disturbing look at one of the most important trends in politics: the privatization of American foreign policy and its consequences.
In her remarks, Stanger recommended "smartsourcing" rather than outsourcing: recruiting, training, and retaining a large body of 21st century network managers. She also cited USASpending.gov, a website which allows citizens to view where their money really goes and suggested that the audience check it out. Stanger's remarks proved to be timely and thought-provoking and IRC thanks everyone who attended the Berkley Lecture.
View pictures of the 2009 Eliot S. Berkley Lecture »
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IRC December Fundraiser a Success
December 6th was a cold and rainy night, but that didn’t stop IRC members from attending a private reception and fundraiser at  IRC board member Benny Lee’s home. Benny and his wife Edith opened their home to more than 100 guests and provided food and drink for all. Attendees also had the opportunity to glimpse one of the world’s top musical talents, right here in Kansas City.
The night’s entertainment came from very special guest Behzod Abduraimov. Abduraimov is studying the piano at Park University’s International Center for Music and is already a world-class musician. In April 2009 he won the London International Piano Competition, and in 2010 he will give his London Philharmonic and Wigmore Hall debuts. Abduraimov, at times accompanied by Park faculty member Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich, regaled guests with pieces by Saint-Saëns, Tchaikovsky, and Bizet. Park University President Michael Droge and Associate Professor of Music and Piano Stanislav Ioudenitch were also on hand to represent the International Center for Music. Along with Lee, IRC President Gary Armstrong and Executive Director Linda Trout spoke on behalf of the International Relations Council.
Following the concert, guests ate a light dinner provided by the Lees and socialized. At the end of the night, guests received a rather unusual door prize: an electric back massager, provided by Lee’s company Top Innovations Inc.
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 Shawn Gunn of Blue Springs HS Wins 2009 Eliot S. Berkley Award
Congratulations to our 2009 Eliot S. Berkley Award winner Shawn Gunn of Blue Springs High School and first runner-up Chelsey Clark of Platte County R-3 High School. The Eliot S. Berkley Award goes to an area high school junior or senior that has shown superior interest and competence in the field of international relations. All students submitted an application, essay, and teacher reference. IRC Director Linda Trout announced both the winner’s and runner up’s names at the Dec. 4th Berkley Lecture.
Read more about the Berkley Award winner & runner-up »
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Matthew Ross Wins Todd E. Davis Scholarship
When Matthew Ross, student at Johnson County Community College, was notified that he had won IRC’s Todd E. Davis Scholarship, he was at a Model United Nations tournament in Chicago. At these tournaments, participants see who can best collaborate and represent their countries through hard work and rigorous research on the issues. This ability to research and analyze issues helped him to win the Davis scholarship with his essay “Success: The Realities of Implementing Democracy in Other Cultures.”
The Todd E. Davis Scholarship was funded from the death benefits of Todd E. Davis. Davis was killed in Iraq on an Army combat mission in January 2008. He was the nephew of Dorothy and Ralph Ochsner. Dorothy, a long time IRC member and friend, passed away in June 2009. The Davis Scholarship, open to current students at one of IRC’s Educational Organizational members, was established to recognize a student who shows promise of excellence in the study of global affairs.
Read more about Davis Scholarship winner Matthew Ross »
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Educator Profile: Lenora Miles
 IRC's schools programs could not succeed without the help of Kansas City area educators, and this month we profile one such educator: Lenora Miles of Platte County R-3 High School. Miles submitted a box-full of students’ essays on international affairs to the IRC for consideration for the 2009 Eliot S. Berkley Award. Students discussed global issues such as the spread of disease, climate change, the economic crisis, and social networking as a new forum for citizen diplomacy. Miles and one of her students, Berkley Award first runner-up Chelsey Clark, attended the Berkley Lecture on Dec. 4th.
Read more about featured educator Lenora Miles »
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Support IRC in 2010 and Beyond!
There has never been a better time to support the International Relations Council! IRC sponsored 18 programs in 2009, including visits from Sergei Kislyak, Russian Ambassador to the United States, and Sameh Shoukry, Ambassador to the United States from Egypt. In addition, IRC has hosted programs on topics as timely and varied as Afghanistan, the International War on Drugs, Human Trafficking and the Asian Economic Outlook. IRC also provided networking and social programs including a wine networking event, WorldQuest trivia night, and a summer book club.
IRC's Schools Programs have also had a successful year, serving students throughout the Kansas City area. IRC hosted Academic WorldQuest in February and sent the winning team to Washington, DC. The International Classroom Partnership Program also thrived in 2009, with international students from 8 colleges visiting area elementary schools. And more than 2500 students have benefited from IRC's Global Connections speakers program.
Supporting IRC is easy and will ensure that Kansas City remains an internationally-engaged community. You can support IRC by becoming a member, with yearly membership as low as $45, or by making a one-time donation. We are continually striving to provide Kansas City with quality programming, and can't do it without your help!
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Upcoming Events
Listen, learn, and network at these exciting IRC events! Registration for these events can be made by calling 816-221-4204 or by using our online calendar.
 Transatlantic Cooperation in the Fight Against Terrorism: the French Perspective: February 15 at 7:00 p.m. at UMKC Law School, 5100 Rockhill Rd., KCMO. Jean-Louis Bruguière, international judge and High Representative of the European Union to the United States, will speak on the issue of terrorism financing. This event is co-sponsored by UMKC Law School: The Edward Smith/Bryan Cave Lecture Series in conjunction with Alliance Francaise. Please RSVP for this free event.
Cuba Today: Reflections on My Visit with Congressman Emanuel Cleaver: February 18 at 7:00 p.m. Location to be announced. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver traveled to Cuba in April 2009 as part of a six member delegation from the Congressional Black Caucus. He will share his thoughts on the state of Cuba today and the future of the U.S./Cuba relationship. $10 members/$15 non-members.
Governance & Emerging Markets in Fragile States: March 3 at 7:00 p.m. at the Kauffman Foundation, 4801 Rockhill Rd., KCMO. For several years, American foreign and defense policy has focused on a nexus of critical, interconnected issues: good governance, anti-corruption, rule of law, and strengthening civil society. Dr. John D. Sullivan, Executive Director of the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), will discuss how these issues are related, how they are being addressed (or not), what works, and what doesn't. This event is co-sponsored by WACA and CIPE in partnership with the Kauffman Foundation and the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the UMKC Bloch School. Please RSVP for this free event.
Dinner with Jason Yuan: Ambassador from Taiwan to the United States: March 19. More details to be announced. Join IRC for a special dinner event with Jason Yuan, Taiwan's representative to the U.S. Yuan, a member of Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang party, was recently chosen by Taiwan to be its representative to the United States. Yuan said upon arriving in Washington that he would restore mutual trust between the U.S. and Taiwan.
 WorldQuest 2010 Team Trivia Challenge: The Ultimate Global Brainteaser: April 13 at 6:00 p.m. at UMKC Pierson Auditorium, 5000 Holmes St., KCMO. Eat, drink and tease your brain in the company of friends and colleagues! WorldQuest is a fun-based Q&A about global events, people, places, cultures, the past, and the future! So build a team, bring a friend, or come solo - ad hoc teams of eight will be formed. Cost (includes dinner & drinks): $40 per person or $320 for a table of 8.
Giving Diplomacy a Chance: The Iranian and North Korean Nuclear Problems: April 28 at Rockhurst University. More details to be announced. As the world becomes increasingly nervous about the nuclear capabilities of Iran and North Korea, join the IRC as Christopher Preble, Director of Foreign Policy Studies at the CATO Institute, discusses diplomatic strategies for dealing with these two volatile countries.
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The International Relations Council
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