International Relations Council

IRC logo

The International Relations Council (IRC) is a non-partisan organization which provides world affairs educational programming in Kansas City, Missouri. The IRC develops and maintains various programs to foster understanding of international affairs among the citizens of the greater Kansas City area. Programs emphasize the role of the informed and responsible citizen in the formulation, development and conduct of United States foreign policy. Since its founding, IRC has hosted many world leaders, including cabinet level officials, ambassadors,^[1] and leaders from business, media, politics, government,^[2] and education. Guests give lectures and presentations on international politics, economics, and social issues.^[3]

History

Founded in 1954 by Dr. Eliot S. Berkley,^[4] a graduate in international relations from Princeton University and advocate of citizen involvement in the foreign policy process, IRC grew from a small "kitchen table" gathering to large number of Kansas City area members. Berkley passed away in 2012.^[5]

IRC's first speaker was Eleanor Roosevelt in January of 1955. In 1975, Henry Kissinger spoke about the Middle East to a crowd of 1,100 that included representatives of the international press corps. For many years afterward, the State Department referred to Kissinger's "Kansas City Speech."^[6]

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.^[7] 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 for free.

IRC's Mission

The mission of the International Relations Council is to inspire, integrate, educate and represent a community of Kansas Citians engaged in international affairs and the critical global issues of our time.

Programs

Eliot S. Berkley Lectures

The Eliot S. Berkley Lecture was initiated in 1996. It is funded by the Eliot S. Berkley Endowment which was established in 1994 by the International Relations Council membership and the community to honor Dr. Berkley's 40 years of service as IRC's Founding Executive Director. The Eliot S. Berkley Endowment brings to the area persons highly knowledgeable about foreign policy and international affairs. The lecture is held in cooperation with the University of Kansas.

List of Past Eliot S. Berkley Lectures

• 2012 Charles Kupchan Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and professor at Georgetown University
• 2011 Gerald Seib Washington Bureau Chief of the Wall Street Journal
• 2010 George Friedman Founder and CEO of STRATFOR
• 2009 Dr. Allison Stanger Russell Leng Professor of International Politics and Economics and Director of the Rohatyn Center for International Affairs at Middlebury College
• 2007 Walter Russell Mead Henry A. Kissinger Senior Fellow for U.S. foreign policy, Council on Foreign Relations
• 2006 Dr. George Rupp President and CEO, International Rescue Committee
• 2005 The Honorable Thomas R. Pickering Former U.S. Ambassador to Jordan, Nigeria, El Salvador, Israel, United Nations, India, Russia
• 2004 The Honorable Lawrence J. Korb Senior Fellow, American Progress and Senior Advisor, Center for Defense Information
• 2003 James Fallows National Correspondent, Atlantic Monthly
• 2002 The Honorable Marc Grossman Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
• 2001 The Honorable Princeton N. Lyman Former U.S. ambassador to South Africa and Nigeria and former Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs
• 2000 The Honorable Frank G. Wisner Vice Chairman, American International Group
• 1999 Hodding Carter III Journalist, Assistant Secretary of State for Carter Administration
• 1998 Admiral William J. Crowe, Jr. Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, former U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom
• 1997 "Mid-Point in the Legacy" Conference and Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Marshall Plan
• 1996 The Honorable Jack F. Matlock, Jr. Former U.S. ambassador to Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union

Speakers Bureau

The International Relations Council's Speakers Bureau provides volunteers, both IRC members and Kansas City area citizens, to community groups across the greater Kansas City area. Speakers have knowledge of the historical and contemporary aspects of specific countries, foreign policy, geography, and culture. The IRC Speaker’s Bureau places speakers at civic groups, governmental organizations, church groups and assisted living communities. ^[8]

Great Decisions

Great Decisions is a program produced by the Foreign Policy Association and offered in Kansas City through the IRC. Groups participating in Great Decisions receive and study a briefing book. The topics change annually. After becoming familiar with and developing an opinion on each topic, Great Decisions groups hold a discussion, moderated by a Discussion Group Leader. All participants' opinions have equal weight within the group, regardless of age, occupation, or education.^[9]

School programs

The IRC devotes a large portion of its resources to programs for school-aged young people. IRC programs aim to break stereotypes/myths about various world cultures and inspire a passion for international studies. Speakers teach the importance of learning to compromise with people from various world cultures who may look and act differently and have a world vision unlike the American experience.

Eliot S. Berkley Award

Each year the IRC awards the Eliot S. Berkley Award to a high school junior or senior in the Kansas City metropolitan region who has shown superior interest and competence in the field of international relations. 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 prize at an IRC fall event. ^[10]

Global Connections

Global Connections is similar to IRC's Speakers Bureau Program. Global Connections provides volunteers, both IRC members and Kansas City area citizens, who share their international experience and expertise with a wide variety of schools throughout the Kansas City metro area. Global Connections speakers are available on a wide variety of topics and connect classrooms to the world in a meaningful way.

Academic WorldQuest

Academic WorldQuest is a competition in which teams of high school students are challenged on their knowledge of world affairs, geography, history, and current events. 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. The local first place team is given the opportunity to represent Kansas City in the national WorldQuest competition, receiving an expenses paid trip to Washington D.C. ^[11]

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 in order to share their life and culture with school children. International college students share facts about language, dress, and etiquette of their home countries 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.

Awards Banquet and Honors

In 1984, IRC began its annual Awards Banquet. Each year it 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. IRC also presents awards for Contributions to International Commerce and/or Community Service and for Academic Leadership.

Past awardees

Distinguished Service Award for International Statesmanship

• 2012 David Petraeus Director of the Central Intelligence Agency ^[12]
• 2011 Christopher Hill Former US Ambassador to Iraq and Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
• 2010 Reza Aslan] Author, No god but God, and political commentator ^[13]
• 2009 C. Fred Bergsten Director, Peterson Institute for International Economics
• 2008 Strobe Talbott President, Brookings Institution
• 2007 Senator Chuck Hagel U.S. Senator, Nebraska
• 2006 Madeleine Albright Former Secretary of State^[14]
• 2005 Senator John Danforth Former U.S. Senator, Missouri; former Ambassador to the United Nations^[15]
• 2004 Senator Sam Brownback U.S. Senator, Kansas
• 2003 Robert M. Gates President, Texas A&M University; former Director of Central Intelligence Agency
• 2002 Dan Glickman Head, Institute of Politics, John F. Kennedy School of Government; former Secretary of Agriculture; former Congressman
• 2001 Alan N. Mulally President and CEO, Boeing Commercial Airplanes
• 2000 Kenton W. Keith Senior Vice President and Director, Programming Division, Meridian International Center
• 1999 Stephen G. Butler Chairman and CEO, KPMG Peat Marwick, LLP
• 1998 Marshall Loeb Managing Editor, Fortune and Money
• 1997 James B. Steele Senior Writer-at-large, Time, Inc.
• 1996 Byron Calame Deputy Managing Editor, The Wall Street Journal
• 1995 Delano E. Lewis President and CEO, National Public Radio
• 1994 Roger Morris Author, syndicated columnist, White House and National Security staff for Presidents Nixon and Johnson
• 1993 Robert J. Eaton Chairman and CEO, Chrysler Corporation
• 1992 Robert F. Ellsworth Chairman, Council for the International Institute for Strategic Studies; former Deputy Secretary of Defense
• 1991 John McManus Editor-in-chief, Time-Warner, Inc.
• 1990 Bill Kurtis Executive Producer, The New Explorers; former co-anchor, CBS news
• 1989 Charles H. Price II Former Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, United Kingdom, and Northern Ireland
• 1988 William Atkins McWhirter Senior Correspondent, Time Magazine
• 1987 Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum U.S. Senator, Kansas
• 1987 Senator Thomas F. Eagleton Former U.S. Senator, Missouri
• 1986 Jim Lehrer Host, Lehrer Newshour
• 1985 U. Alexis Johnson Former Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs
• 1984 William G. Hyland Editor, Foreign Affairs; former Deputy Assistant to the President for International Security Affairs

Award for Academic Leadership

• 2009 Stowers Institute William Neaves, accepting
• 2008 KU Confucius Institute Sheri Willis, accepting
• 2007 Richard Derman, M.D., M.P.H. Associate Dean for Women's Health at UMKC
• 2006 Beverly Byers-Pevitts President, Park University
• 2003 Paul and Colleen Nance Founders, Nance Museum and Library of Middle Eastern Art
• 2002 Gary Armstrong, Ph.D. Chair, Department of Political Science, William Jewell College
• 2001 Hal Jehle Secondary Resource Specialist, Shawnee Mission School District
• 2000 Maria Carlson, Ph.D. Director, Center for Russian and East European Studies, The University of Kansas
• 1999 KCPT Public Television 19 William T. Reed, accepting
• 1998 John E. Cleek, Ph.D. Director, Center for International Business, Bloch School of Business and Public Administration, UMKC
• 1997 Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Marc F. Wilson, accepting
• 1996 Terry Rodenberg, Ed.D. Director, International Program, Central Missouri State University
• 1995 Janet R. Baird, Ph.D. Program Administrator, Southeast Magnet High School for International Studies
• 1994 George Woodyard, Ph.D. Dean of International Studies, The University of Kansas
• 1993 Carolyn J. Kadel Director of International Education, Johnson County Community College
• 1992 Paul A. Garcia, Ph.D. Instructional Specialist for Language and International Studies, Kansas City Missouri School District
• 1991 Henry A. Mitchell Professor and Associate Vice Chancellor, Academic and International Affairs, UMKC
• 1990 Miyo Wagner Visiting Instructor of Japanese Language, Rockhurst College
• 1989 E. Grey Dimond, M.D. Provost Emeritus, Health Sciences, UMKC
• 1987 Ed Chasteen Professor of Sociology and Anthropology, William Jewell College
• 1986 David Wolfe Director, Social Studies, Shawnee Mission School District
• 1985 Harry L. Klut Social studies teacher, Paseo High School, Kansas City School District
• 1984 Joyce Cox Social studies teacher, Center High School, Center School District

Award for Contributions to International Commerce and/or Community Service

• 2012 Sporting Kansas City Greg Cotton, Chief of Staff, accepting
• 2011 Consul Jacob Prado Consul General of Mexico at Kansas City
• 2010 Seaboard Corporation Robert Steer, Senior Vice President and CFO, accepting
• 2009 Danny O'Neill President and Owner, the Roasterie
• 2008 Len Rodman President, Chairman, and CEO, Black & Veatch
• 2004 Consul General Takao Shibata Consulate General of Japan at Kansas City
• 2004 Benny Lee Chairman and CEO, Top Innovations, Inc.
• 2003 Dr. Min H. Kao President and CEO, Garmin International; Co-founder and co-chairman, Garmin Corporation
• 2002 Michael R. Haverty Chairman, President and CEO, Kansas City Southern Industries
• 2001 Lillian Gonzalez Pardo, M.D. Medical Director, TEVA Neuroscience; Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology, KU Medical Center; President, Filipino Cultural Center Foundation
• 2000 Dr. Richard W. Harriman Founder and Director, Harriman Arts Program, William Jewell College
• 1999 Jeffrey W. Colyer Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Center
• 1998 John P. McMeel Chairman, Andrews McMeel Universal
• 1997 Stanley H. Durwood Chairman and CEO, AMC Theatres.
• 1996 Anne and Norman Burkart President and Director, Language Link
• 1995 William D. Chapman President, Butler International
• 1994 Lawrence D. Starr President and CEO, Koch Supplies.
• 1993 Gary B. Morsch, M.D. Founder and Chairman, Heart to Heart International
• 1992 Morton I. Sosland Chairman, Sosland Publishing
• 1991 Robert A. Cushman President, ARMCO Worldwide Grinding Systems; Vice President, ARMCO Inc.
• 1990 James L. Rainey President and CEO, Farmland Industries
• 1989 William T. Esrey President and CEO, United Telecom and Sprint
• 1988 John T. Pierson, Jr. President, PRECO Industries
• 1987 Heinz K. Wehner Group Vice President and General Manager, Agricultural Chemical Division, Mobay Corp.
• 1986 Allen M. Acheson President, Black & Veatch International
• 1985 Stanley A. Hamilton President, Hallmark International; Honorary British Consul
• 1985 James E. Burke Late Honorary Consul of Japan
• 1984 Rod Turnbull Director of Public Affairs, Kansas City Board of Trade

Affiliations

The International Relations Council is a member of World Affairs Councils of America (WACA), an association of independent organizations that work to engage and educate Americans on international affairs and foreign policy. Ninety member councils can be found in 39 states, plus the District of Columbia. Through WACA, IRC's voice on international issues is combined with other international citizens. Decision makers visit Councils across the United States to communicate about their areas of expertise.

References

External links

• Official website
• UMKC Library Western Historical Manuscript Collection's IRC records on file