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45-532: 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

90-471: A Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. The school was founded in 1885 when art enthusiasts formed the "Sketch Club" with the purpose of "talking over art matters in general and to judge pictures." Meetings were originally in private homes and then moved to the Deardorf Building at 11th and Main in downtown Kansas City. The club had its first exhibition in 1887 and 12 benefactors stepped forward to form

135-504: 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 . 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

180-485: 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. 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

225-611: 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. 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

270-406: A passion for international studies. 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

315-502: 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. In the eight weeks leading up to November 3, 2020,

360-642: A series of lectures on foreign policy aimed towards women called "Off the Record" was launched under the support of the FPA, which later became a non-profit organization of its own in 1938, and now has more than 400 members as of 2023. In the 1940s, headed by Vera Micheles Dean , the FPA was broadcasting New York City meetings and weekly talks on the program "The World Today" over the National Broadcasting Company 's (NBC) radio network. Later, as

405-461: 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. 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. The Eliot S. Berkley Lecture was founded in 1996 and brought an expert in foreign policy and global affairs to

450-532: 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. In 1984,

495-508: 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. 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

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540-435: 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. The ICPP

585-534: Is listed on the National Register of Historic Places along with another building on the campus—Mineral Hall. The campus has since expanded to 15 acres (6.07 ha). In 1935, painter Thomas Hart Benton left New York City to teach at the school. Among the artists Benton influenced as a teacher at KCAI were Frederic James , Margot Peet , Jackson Lee Nesbitt , Roger Medearis , Glenn Gant , and Delmer J. Yoakum . Though Benton brought attention to

630-462: The Great Decisions series on public television . Great Decisions is produced by Executive Producer MacDara King. Great Decision full episodes are also available on Netflix, Hulu, and iTunes. Narrated by David Strathairn , the series features eight half-hour documentaries providing background information, analyses, and debate on issues of concern to US foreign policymakers. The show

675-805: The Fourteen Points , which included the idea of a world organization, later to be called the League of Nations . Although the League of Nations ultimately failed, it did help pave the way for the success of the United Nations. The FPA also sought to increase support for United States membership in the world body that was then being discussed and laid out in the Versailles Treaty and the Paris Peace Conference, 1919 , with

720-780: The Great Decisions programming materials and resources to explore ways to integrate Great Decisions in the classroom curricula. Since the launch of the luncheon series in the 1920s, the Foreign Policy Association has invited experts to discuss global affairs issues with the public. Aside from the recurrent annual events such as the Annual FPA Dinner, the "World Leadership Forum," and the "International Business Forum," it also organizes events such as "Town Hall" meetings, lectures, luncheon discussions, and open forums with world leaders and experts in

765-533: The Kansas City Art Association and School of Design. In 1927, Howard Vanderslice purchased the August R. Meyer residence, a Germanic castle entitled Marburg and its 8-acre (3.24 ha) estate at 44th and Warwick Boulevard adjacent to the planned Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art . A Wight and Wight addition was added to the building. The residence was later renamed "Vanderslice Hall" and

810-481: The League of Free Nations Association ) is a non-profit organization, founded in 1918, dedicated to inspiring the American public to learn more about the world. According to the Foreign Policy Association (FPA), the organization aims to spread global awareness and understanding of US foreign policy and global issues by informing, inspiring, and engaging with the public in community and educational forums. As of 2023,

855-641: The "Big Four" representatives dominating the many representatives of the nations formerly at war: President Woodrow Wilson of the US, Prime Minister David Lloyd George of the United Kingdom , Premier Georges Clemenceau of France , and Prime Minister Vittorio Emanuele Orlando of Italy following the Armistice ending combat in World War I . It also included future influential Americans from both sides of

900-421: The "Foreign Policy Blogs" network, the Foreign Policy Association brings to the public, discussion on global affairs to the internet. The "Foreign Policy Blogs" network is a production of the Foreign Policy Association but is staffed by professional contributors from journalism, academia, business, non-profits and think tanks. The Great Decisions program, launched in 1954, is the flagship educational program at

945-668: The Art Institute, he was dismissed in 1941 after making disparaging references to, as he claimed, the excessive influence of homosexuals in the art world. In 1992, the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art opened on the west side of the campus. On the occasion of its 130th anniversary in 2015, the Kansas City Art Institute received an anonymous donation of $ 25 million, one of the largest gifts ever to an American art school. The money will be used to bolster

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990-685: 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). 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

1035-604: The FPAs launched its Great Decisions public education program on international affairs. In the 1960s, the forerunner of the FPA's "Citizen's Guide to U.S. Foreign Policy" was published. In the 1970s, Great Decisions opinion ballots were tabulated nationally for the first time. The Foreign Policy Association celebrated its 100th anniversary at a gala held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in October 2018. In

1080-826: 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,

1125-625: 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

1170-1199: 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. CEO/Executive Director (July 2016 – Present) Matthew Hughes Program Manager Evan Verploegh Education Outreach Coordinator VISTA Natalie Friend 2022 Board Officers 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 The IRC

1215-404: 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

1260-446: 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

1305-577: 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). IRC Networking Hours give IRC members and friends

1350-624: The United States at meetings of the National Council for the Social Studies . Through Great Decisions workshop presentations and exhibitor booths, educators learn about FPA's programming and receive samples of the Great Decisions educational materials. In addition to the general outreach, the Foreign Policy Association organizes "Great Decisions Teacher Training Institutes" . Here, secondary school teachers learn about

1395-603: The United States dedicated to fostering grassroots understanding of and engagement in international affairs. Kansas City Art Institute The Kansas City Art Institute ( KCAI ) is a private art school in Kansas City, Missouri . The college was founded in 1885 and is an accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and Higher Learning Commission . The institute has approximately 75 faculty members and 700 students, and offers

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1440-561: 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

1485-408: 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

1530-408: The core of its outreach. The Foreign Policy Association organizes educational programs such as the Great Decisions discussion groups and workshops. FPA's national network of volunteer coordinators help implementing the Great Decisions program by setting up discussion groups, seminars, and public forums in which participants meet, discuss, and reach informed opinions on each topic. To facilitate

1575-572: The discussions among citizens spread, the FPA branches across America began to grow in notoriety and became the forerunners of the various independent membership councils with the World Affairs Councils of America and the foreign affairs or foreign policy councils founded in major large cities or regions of states in the 1950s and 1960s, and some as late as the 1980s. The FPA's publications, "Foreign Policy Reports" (1925–1951), "Foreign Policy Bulletin" (1920–1961) and "Headline Series" (1935–present) provide analysis of foreign policy issues. In 1954,

1620-434: The effort to help distinguish itself from other non-profit educational and civic organizations in the field of international affairs, the Foreign Policy Association works to engage the public through a variety of different media: Print, Internet and blogs, and television and DVDs. The Great Decisions briefing book features analyses on issues of concern to US policymakers today. The Foreign Policy Association also produces

1665-414: The finalists, the winner is selected and is presented an inscribed award and a $ 500 scholarship at an IRC fall event. 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

1710-477: 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 . 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

1755-458: 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

1800-632: 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 bring dignitaries, foreign-policy experts, and regional leaders together to discuss, debate, and engage

1845-419: The organization's current President & CEO is Noel V. Lateef, who is also the longest serving President of the Foreign Policy Association. The FPA was founded in 1918 as the "League of Free Nations Association." Under the chairmanship of journalist Paul Underwood Kellogg , it was formed by 41 Americans to support US President Woodrow Wilson 's efforts to achieve a just peace, with his speech and proposal of

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1890-597: The political spectrum, John Foster Dulles and Eleanor Roosevelt . Following the failure of the United States Senate to ratify the Treaty and membership in the League during various debate sessions with votes taken in 1919 and early 1920, and also later through the results of the Presidential Election of 1920 , it was later reconstituted in 1923 as the Foreign Policy Association. In 1938,

1935-538: The programming, the FPA produces the weekly e-newsletters, "Great Decisions Online" and "Great Decisions in the Classroom," written for Great Decisions participants and educators. The organization makes a map of all the various discussion groups across the US available and encourages individuals to start groups of their own. Working to increase Great Decisions participation among high school students, FPA conducts outreach to hundreds of high school teachers from around

1980-521: The school's general endowment, improve and renovate its campus adjacent to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and, in the form of a challenge grant of $ 6 million, sharply increase the number of scholarships the school is able to give out. 39°02′47″N 94°34′59″W  /  39.046253°N 94.58308°W  / 39.046253; -94.58308 Foreign Policy Association The Foreign Policy Association (formerly known as

2025-528: Was narrated by Walter Cronkite . Former guests include Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon , Desmond Tutu , Jimmy Carter , and Madeleine Albright . Launched in 2007 as part of the "Great Decision" Program, the "Foreign Policy Blogs" network is a network of global affairs commentary "blogs" comprising nearly 50 blogs on a wide variety of global issues ranging from US foreign policy to global feature films/movies. With

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