International Relations Council


The International Relations Council is a non-profit 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. The IRC works to foster interest in and understanding of international affairs among the citizens of Kansas City through the development of various programs and events, such as its , , , , and many others. 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.

Mission

The mission of the International Relations Council is to bring a global perspective to the Greater Kansas City community through strategic partnerships with businesses, universities, community organizations, and K-12 schools. The IRC brings world leaders and dignitaries to the metro region to share their international experiences, hosts forums for high-school students to interact with and learn from foreign-policy experts, and creates opportunities for area business leaders to strengthen relationships abroad. The IRC emphasizes that promoting global awareness and understanding ultimately strengthens and supports communities.

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. and Ph.D. 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, Jim Lehrer, Robert J. Eaton, Madeleine Albright, Condoleezza Rice, and Janet Napolitano.
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
Matthew Hughes
Program Coordinator
Evan Verploegh
Membership Assistant
Jonathan Hartnett
2020 Board Officers
Jeffrey Bell - President
Holly Nielsen - Vice President
Carrie Sherer - Second Vice President
Kimberly Connelly - Secretary
Nancy C. Messer - Treasurer & Chair of Finance Committee
Board Members
Andrea Allison-Putman, Christina Arnone, David B. Au, Narbeli Galindo, Daniel R. Mahanty, Dr. Michael Makara, Aaron J. Mann, Jon McGraw, Kelli Meilink, Shahid S. Qadri, Dr. Usha Saha, Dave Saunders, Gino Serra, Stephen Steigman, Samantha Vidal, Dr. Sidne Ward, Dr. Brian Wright, Dr. Karenbeth Zacharias
2020 Advisory Directors
Kirk Doan, Cyprienne Simchowitz, Mike Wood

Finances

The IRC is a not-for-profit 501 organization. It is funded almost entirely by memberships, both individual and corporate, donations, program fees and some small grants. 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.

Programs

Eliot S. Berkley Lectures

The Eliot S. Berkley Lecture was founded in 1996 and brings 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, Gerald Seib, The Honorable Thomas R. Pickering, and Admiral William J. Crowe, Jr..

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. 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.
Some of the IRC's recent programs include:
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.
WorldQuest
Each year, more than 200 business professionals, academic faculty, community members, and students participate in a fun and interactive global trivia competition. It is a 6 round competition, each round consisting of 10 questions. In the past, categories have included: current events, history, geography, identifications, potpourri 1 and potpourri 2. Teams of eight compete to show their knowledge of global affairs, geography, world languages, and more. The winning team takes home the traveling trophy, while second- and third-place teams win valuable prizes.

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.
Global Experience Series
Global Experience programs give participants of all ages, interests, and backgrounds the chance to explore how international Kansas City is while answering two key questions – What's your global story? Do you get the chance to share it? Often free or low-cost, Global Experience events range from visits to internationally themed restaurants and other outings to film screenings and discussions on timely global issues. By sharing their diverse knowledge and insights, hosts and participants provide a deeper look into Kansas City's vibrant international community.

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.
Your Global Future
Away from the borders and coasts, Kansas City-area students are often surprised to find just how many international academic and professional opportunities await them after high school. Your Global Future is a unique college and career fair that will take place at Union Station's Grand Plaza on October 16, 2018. The college and career fair will bring together dozens of international businesses, organizations, and colleges and universities to show students just how global their future can be.
Booths set up in Union Station’s Grand Plaza will include representatives from:
School groups will arrive as early as 9 a.m. and may leave as late as 3 p.m. Presentations from global professionals will be offered throughout the day, and students will be encouraged to practice their interview skills by interacting with booth representatives as they browse the opportunities offered.
The program will be underwritten by support from the participating organizations and Kansas City-area donors to ensure that attendance is completely cost-free for teachers and students. Sponsor packages to increase visibility and impact are available, and schools will be eligible to receive up to $200 to offset the cost of bus transportation.

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. 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.

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. 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.

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.

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 a variety of contributions – to foreign policy and global affairs, to international commerce, or to 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.

Past awardees

Distinguished Service Award for International Statesmanship

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