OPEN WORLD LEADERSHIP CENTER
Annual Report
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OPEN WORLD 2008 ANNUAL REPORT
OPEN WORLD LEADERSHIP CENTER BOARD OF TRUSTEES As of December 31, 2008
Chairman The Honorable James H. Billington Librarian of Congress Ex Officio The President of the Senate The Speaker of the House of Representatives Appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate Dear Mr. President and Madam Speaker: The Honorable Carl Levin (Mich.) On behalf of the Open World Leadership Center Board of Trustees, it is my privilege to submit United States Senate to you the Center’s 2008 annual report on the Open World exchange program. Through Open World, Congress has linked over 14,000 emerging leaders from countries of Eurasia to com - The Honorable Roger F. Wicker (Miss.) munities throughout the United States. Some 6,000 American volunteer families in all 50 United States Senate states have hosted these leaders from an expanding number of different countries. Addition - ally, hundreds of Members of Congress have hosted or met groups of Open World partici - Appointed by the Speaker of the House pants, providing a useful avenue for Members to carry out their oversight responsibilities on a range of topics, from human-trafficking issues to nonproliferation of nuclear weapons. The Honorable Robert E. (Bud) This 2008 annual report summarizes Open World’s accomplishments in a country-by-country Cramer, Jr. (Ala.) review that highlights our professional programming in the United States. Our participants United States House of Representatives make use of the ideas, experiences, and professional contacts they gain through Open World. For example, inside our report you will learn more about how two public health care Ex Officio Congressional Members providers from Moldova shared their American experience with their colleagues in trainings across Moldova on tuberculosis issues in Moldova and the United States. In the section on The Honorable Mary L. Landrieu (La.) Azerbaijan, you will read about how an NGO leader adapted a campaign volunteer form for a Chairwoman 2008 U.S. congressional candidate to recruit citizen monitors for Azerbaijan’s 2008 presiden - Subcommittee on Legislative Branch tial election. Committee on Appropriations United States Senate The success of Open World does not lie in the accomplishments of the participants alone, as dedicated Americans continue the work of Open World well beyond initial contact with the The Honorable Debbie Wasserman program. Often, American hosts make reciprocal visits to see alumni of Open World in their Schultz (Fla.) home countries. Additionally, the generosity of our many supporters provides a means for Chair Open World to thrive. We are especially grateful to Mr. George Russell and Open World Subcommittee on Legislative Branch Trustee Ambassador George L. Argyros for donations from their family foundations, which Committee on Appropriations helped support the enhancement of our alumni program. United States House of Representatives In 2008, as we approached our 10th year, Open World continued to actively adapt its pro - gramming. Open World engaged dozens of delegates in a historic U.S. election as it unfolded Appointed by the Librarian of Congress through the year, with an additional 100-plus delegates observing or participating in activi - for 2005–2008 ties on Election Day. In response to a congressional request, Open World began to focus on child protection and adoption issues, linking Russian social services professionals with their The Honorable James F. Collins U.S. counterparts in Virginia, Maryland, and Michigan. Our alumni also applied aspects of their American experience to their own efforts to improve their societies, such as by increas - The Honorable Amo Houghton ing volunteerism, strengthening disability rights, and encouraging greater transparency in government. Appointed by the Librarian of Congress for 2008–2011 As Open World expands its reach into Eurasia, the program will offer the new generation of leaders in this strategically significant region exposure to the American traditions of individ - The Honorable George L. Argyros ual rights and accountability of elected officials. Sincerely, Mr. Walter Scott, Jr.
Honorary Chairman The Honorable Ted Stevens (Alaska) United States Senate James H. Billington Chairman of the Board of Trustees Message from the Executive Director
Prairie Village, Kansas, and Dolnya, Ukraine, and Atlanta, Georgia, and Tbilisi, Georgia—have led to a blossoming of projects that would not otherwise have occurred. A senior officer in the U.S. Embassy in our newest partner country, Turkmenistan, wrote that “the program has a huge impact for visitors because they have been so isolated, and had few opportunities to see how things are done elsewhere,” attesting to the power of Open World to break down barriers. That we do this at low cost shows that our funds are well spent.
Open World would be just another of the scores of ex - change programs run by the government were it not We at the Open World Leadership Center expanded our for our hosts who welcome Open World delegates into program in 2008 to Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, two their homes, our dedicated staff, the high-quality del - nations poised to play an important role in Central egate nominations coming from U.S. government Asia not just because of their enormous gas and oil re - agencies, NGOs, and others, and the cooperation of serves, but because of the contribution they can make our embassies abroad and participating-country or - to maintaining stability in the region. In 2008, dele - ganizations. Our active, committed hosts and dele - gates from the nine Open World countries visited a gates, after being brought together through Open total of 212 congressional districts in 44 states, where World exchanges, have joined to produce numerous Americans welcomed them into their homes and their partnerships in such vital endeavors as nuclear non - communities. Open World’s practical results, which proliferation, maternal and child health care, human- often benefit both the countries of our guests and the trafficking prevention, and rural development. U.S. towns and cities where they stayed, showed a sig - nificant increase in the number of partnerships cre - Let me thank our tireless staff, grantees, contractors, ated and projects undertaken by the delegates when and hosts, our generous donors and partners, and, es - they returned to their home countries. pecially, our participants. Together, they have created a vibrant, effective exchange of people, ideas, and prac - This year’s annual report features country-by-country tices benefiting thousands of communities throughout examples of the impact that Open World has had on Open World’s network of nations. delegates and those they visited in the United States. As the report demonstrates, Open World builds bridges Sincerely, between professionals in many fields, from the first lady of Maryland, state District Judge Catherine O’Malley, who visited Leningrad Region alumni to con - tinue her work with them on fighting domestic vio - lence, to the jazz delegates who jammed with Chick John O’Keefe Corea in Louisville, Kentucky. Exchanges that reinforce Executive Director sister-city relationships—such as those between
2 2008 – Open World Expands
Open World, founded in 1999 by the U.S. Congress to build In 2008, Open World added Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan mutual understanding between Russia and the United to its seven existing program countries, all located in the States by bringing young Russian leaders here to learn strategically important heartland of Eurasia. We also ex - about American democracy and civil society, has always panded on other fronts, adding to our network of alumni worked to expand its reach. Initially we did so by selecting and American hosts and contacts, fostering more partner - participants from across Russia and hosting them in com - ships and projects between participants and Americans, munities throughout the United States. Today, we continue and connecting more Members of Congress, congressional to draw delegates from all corners of our participating staff, and other U.S. leaders to the future Eurasian deci - countries and to host them in cities and towns across sion-makers we brought to the United States. Our 2008 America. And Open World’s virtual networking tools and annual report illustrates, country by country, the concrete overseas alumni activity encourage professional interac - accomplishments and results produced by our expanding tions begun during the U.S. visit to bear fruit afterward. network of alumni, hosts, and partners.
3 Open World’s original focus country has been sending emerging leaders to the United States since July 1999. RUSSIA Russia’s more than 12,000 participants have come from all of the country’s 83 regions, with heavy representation from regional and local governments, the judiciary and the legal profession, and the health, education, and social services sectors. Congress in 2003 established a separate Open World program for Russian cultural leaders.
Maryland First Lady Works with Alumni in Sister Region involving several Open World alumni. rehabilitation center and the police (The three Marylanders are all active department, observed a domestic vio - in the Maryland/Leningrad Oblast lence trial, and met with the city’s On Feb. 9, state judge and Maryland [Region] Rule of Law Partnership chief prosecutor (also an alumna) and first lady Catherine O’Malley, U.S. Committee, an affiliate of one of her colleagues. The Americans and District Judge and Open World host Open World’s longtime grantees, the Russians compared investigative and Richard Bennett of Baltimore, and Russian American Rule of Law Con - courtroom procedures and planned Open World cohost Pamela Harris, sortium.) In the town of Tosno, the future partnership activities on do - court administrator for the Circuit Maryland delegation had talks with mestic violence prevention, which Court for Montgomery County, Md., alumni judges and others taking part Open World hopes to support left for their Russian sister state of in a pilot project on domestic vio - through exchanges. Leningrad Region on a reciprocal visit lence prevention, visited a victims
“The Open World program is very important to the State of Maryland. The financial support through its grants and the expertise of its staff allow the Maryland Sister States Program to continue to actively pursue its projects and exchanges, most notably in municipal governance and education, with its partner state in Russia, the Leningrad Region.” — John P. McDonough Piano great Chick Corea accompanies saxo - Maryland Secretary of State phonist Stanislav Dolzhkov at a University of Louisville jazz clinic in February.
Cultural Delegates Jam Visit Changes How Russian Clinic Treats HIV- with Chick Corea Positive Pregnant Women
Dr. Yelena Voropayeva, who works at protocol. After presenting an overview During a Feb. 16–March 3 Open the city HIV/AIDS clinic in Orsk, re - of HIV in Russia to some American World visit to Louisville, Ky., four ported that as a result of her April counterparts, she learned from them young Russian jazz stars shared a 2008 Open World trip to Minneapolis, that the rate of mother-to-child stage with piano great Chick Corea. she initiated the early start of anti - transmission has dropped to about The American jazz master was in retroviral (ARV) therapy for HIV- 2 percent in developed countries, town to give a jazz clinic for the Uni - positive pregnant women treated at partly because of the use of multiple versity of Louisville School of Music, her clinic, and also shifted from drug therapy. Dr. Voropayeva then, the delegates’ host organization. monotherapy (using one ARV drug) to during a site visit to the University of About 100 musicians attended the highly active retroviral therapy, or Minnesota’s Delaware Street HIV clinic. The Russian delegates per - HAARVT (using multiple ARV drugs), clinic, saw the results of using HAARVT formed as a quartet for Corea, who for these mothers-to-be. Orsk, which and learned the specifics on how and thrilled everyone by accompanying is near Kazakhstan, has one of Russia’s when to deliver the medications from the group on drums before taking highest rates of HIV infection, partly clinic staff. Dr. Voropayeva also bene - over on keyboard. Said bass player owing to the high level of injectable fited from discussing PMTCT with her Sergey Korchagin, “It was an incredi - drug use. The clinic previously relied host coordinator and home host, nurse ble experience—to act together with on an older standard of monotherapy Linda Brandt, who has worked on HIV someone of this level of musician- for the prevention of mother-to-child case management in Voropayeva’s ship … someone I had only heard on transmission (PMTCT). Two Open World home region of Orenburg. National records before. It felt absolutely activities were key to Dr. Voropayeva’s grantee: World Services of La Crosse, Inc. wonderful to play together.” decision to change her clinic’s PMTCT 4 Alumni Make Strong Showing in Russian Parliamentary Election The Dec. 2, 2008 contests for the State 10 percent of the chamber’s 450 mem - will be returning to the body after Duma, the lower house of Russia’s par - bers. Of these 46 alumni, 25 were having lost their seats in the 2003 liament, saw 46 Open World alumni elected to a consecutive term, 13 will races. win seats—accounting for just over be first-time federal legislators, and 8
Russian Delegations Observe U.S. Elections
One of the most eventful Election Days ous runs for office and observed get- in U.S. history provided an exciting les - out-the-vote phone banking. Friendship son in democracy for Russian account - Force of Northern Illinois able governance delegates who visited cities across the United States in early Russian officials and legislative November to study the U.S. electoral aides spoke on issues with getting out process. Many of the Russians accom - the vote in their country to a Wichita panied their hosts to the polls to watch State University class. League of Women Russian delegates and League of Women Voters Voters of Wichita Metro cohost Alice Levy (second from right) stand be - them engage in the fundamental ritual fore a Broward County (Fla.) bus that bears an of democracy. The delegates—mainly Election Day reminder. Government officials interviewed government officials and journalists— the manager of the Asheville, N.C. also went behind the scenes, observing Delegates stopped by the Mont - television station about its election operations at local campaign and party gomery County (Ohio) Board of Elec - coverage, asking whether there is in - headquarters, media outlets, and board tions to watch the coverage on the terference from the station owner or of election offices. For example: multiple TVs in the county auditorium public officials. Friendship Force of West - and to discuss the ballot-counting Two city duma deputies, a deputy’s ern North Carolina process with the board’s director. aide, and a journalist watched prepara - Friendship Force of Dayton A facilitator was interviewed on tions for opening the polls in Broward live television about Montgomery, Ala. County, Fla. League of Women Voters of In Reston, Va., Russian delegates Mayor Bobby Bright’s ultimately suc - Broward County who had attended Sen. Obama’s final cessful bid for Alabama’s hotly con - campaign rally in Manassas, Va., the Russian journalists viewed the tested 2nd Congressional District seat. previous night watched election cover - latest polling numbers and projected Friendship Force of Montgomery age with several of their home hosts results at the Gallup Organization’s until 1:00 a.m. American Association of Russian local officials dropped by a operational headquarters. Kiwanis Club University Women, Reston-Herndon Area gathering of Republicans in Sedalia, of Omaha, Inc. Branch Mo., celebrating wins by their local At Oak Park, Ill. Democratic Party candidates. League of Women Voters of National grantees: Academy for Educa - headquarters, delegates spoke with Sedalia-Pettis County tional Development, Friendship Force veterans of Sen. Barack Obama’s previ - International, League of Women Voters, National Peace Foundation Alumnus Introduces Peer-to-Peer Counseling After Wisconsin Visit As a direct result of his March 2008 exchange, which was hosted by North - Community, which offers support Open World exchange to Wausau, Wis., central Technical College. He was groups to victims of domestic and sex - Aleksey Shatrov, the general director of deeply impressed by how peer educa - ual abuse. Shatrov has already inte - a Tatarstan NGO called the Center of tion helps overcome age, psychologi - grated peer educational modules into Humanitarian Research and Social cal, social, and other barriers to the preventive curriculum of his center Technologies, introduced the peer edu - counseling youth. One of the activities and prepared a group of more than 30 cational approach into his center’s that most inspired Shatrov’s interest in peer trainers. He estimates that about work to prevent youth drug abuse. peer-to-peer counseling was meeting 1,000 young people will participate Shatrov was interested in learning new with residents at Oxford House, a self- annually in peer educational preven - approaches to health promotion and run addiction recovery house. Another tive activities. National grantee: World substance abuse prevention during his useful session was held at the Women’s Services of La Crosse, Inc. 5 Ukraine, Europe’s second-largest country, has participated in Open World since December 2003. Ukraine’s UKRAINE 800-plus alumni have come from all of the country’s 27 regions and include journalists, judges, local leg - islators, election experts, and NGO leaders. Programming in 2008 focused on accountable governance, to aid in Ukraine’s decentralization process; NGO development, to help build the advocacy and voluntary sectors; rule of law, to bolster judicial independence; and education, to support equal access at all levels.
Sen. Ben Nelson Meets in Omaha with Ukrainian Leaders
Ukrainian regional and local meeting of the Omaha City government officials hosted in Council and attended a meet - Omaha in October 2008 met ing of the Midwest Interna - with Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson tional Trade Association, where (pictured, third from left). Dur - they had the opportunity to ing their visit, conducted by network with American busi - the AIM Institute, the dele - ness leaders. National grantee: gates also observed a pre- U.S.-Ukraine Foundation
New Sister Cities Strengthen Ties Through 2008 Visit
In October 2008, Prairie Village, Kans., hosted a delegation of local legislators from its new Ukrainian sister city of Dolyna. The Ukrainians attended a session of the Prairie Village City Council; met with Mayor Ron Shaffer; and, led by the city ad - ministrator, toured and had an overview of municipal services at Prairie Village City Hall. As two of the delegates also serve as school administrators, the program included talks with Shawnee Mission School District officials and visits to six district schools. To better acquaint Prairie Village leaders and residents with their new sister city, the delegates made presen - tations on Dolyna and their own work at the City Council ses - sion and at a Prairie Village Sister City Committee meeting. The International Visitors Council of Greater Kansas City organized the visit. National grantee: U.S.-Ukraine Foundation Delegates present on Ukrainian culture to students at Belinder Elementary School in Prairie Village, Kans.
Ukrainian Education Leaders Study School Practices in Pennsylvania
Three local education officials and ask wide-ranging questions on edu - two school administrators, all from cation practices. The program also Kyiv, received an in-depth introduc - featured tours and talks at a variety tion to the American educational of schools, and opportunities for the system during a late September ex - delegates to discuss the Ukrainian change organized by the Rotary Club educational system with Pennsylvania of Greenville (Pa.), with assistance educators. The delegates were im - from the Rotary Club of Hermitage pressed by the technical instruction (Pa.) and Rotary District 7280. An ex - available to high school students at tended session with state Sen. Bob the Mercer County Career Center, and Robbins and state Rep. Michelle were especially inspired by the ac - Ukrainian education officials and administrators hosted in western Pennsylvania in September Brooks (pictured at left) covered the commodations they saw for special discuss the state’s role in school funding, cur - state role in education, while a needs students at all the institutions riculum development, and standards-setting roundtable with area school superin - they visited. National grantee: Rotary with (from left) state Rep. Michelle Brooks and tendents allowed the Ukrainians to International state Sen. Bob Robbins. 6 Social Work Expert Hosts Leaders from Chernobyl-Affected Areas
In June 2008, Norma Berkowitz, pro - the five Ukrainian delegates. Three fessor emerita of the School of Social U.S. radiation experts affiliated with Work at the University of Wisconsin– the University of Wisconsin also par - Madison and founding president of ticipated in the free-flowing discus - the nonprofit Friends of Chernobyl sion. The session gave the delegates Centers, U.S. (FOCCUS), hosted an ex - the opportunity to get authoritative change on public health for five local answers to their questions about radi - and NGO officials from Ukrainian ation in children, children’s thyroid is - cities affected by the 1986 Chernobyl sues, cancer, and the impact of soil disaster. Berkowitz is a coeditor of radiation levels on vegetables. When Chernobyl: The Event and Its After - the delegates were asked in turn by math and the author of Humanistic the American discussants about the Open World participants answer questions about Approaches to Health Care: Focus on day-to-day effect of the Chernobyl life in Ukraine, especially in Chernobyl-affected Social Work . Her Madison-based non - disaster on their lives, one of the del - areas, during a June 27 public forum cosponsored profit assists UNESCO-established egates, a psychologist at a community by the Center for Russia, East Europe, and Central Asia at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. community centers that have pro - center for Chernobyl-affected popu - vided services to thousands of Cher - lations, said “I have to live with this “Public Health and Long Range Plan - nobyl victims over the past 12 years. reality—when I eat foods from my ning” and “Working With Children in As part of the June exchange she garden I am calculating radiation lev - a Hospital Setting.” National grantee: hosted, Berkowitz organized a round - els instead of calories.” Other sessions National Peace Foundation table on “Radiation and Health” for held for the delegates included
Ukrainian Alumna Organizes Kyiv Protest Against Sex Tourism
Open World alumna and NGO activist Northampton Community College. Anna Hutsol took the lead in organiz - Trip highlights included meeting with ing a July 30 protest in central Kyiv representatives of the League of against Ukraine’s growing sex tourism Women Voters and of the Women’s industry. Members and supporters of Leadership Initiative of the area Hutsol’s women’s organization, United Way. Hutsol says, “This is the FEMEN, staged a “street theater” main lesson I have learned in the U.S., event and held up placards saying while watching the work of American “Ukraine is Not a Bordello” in differ - NGOs—never to wait till the problem ent languages. The goal of the pro - resolves itself or the government testers, mainly female university starts solving it; sometimes our gov - students, was to encourage the ernment does not even know about Ukrainian government to take legisla - existing problems. You should yourself tive action against sex tourism. The initiate the change and work in the rally was covered by Reuters.com, the direction that in the end will result in English-language Kyiv Post , and many a big change in your country.” Na - other media outlets. Hutsol had vis - tional grantee: Academy for Educational ited Bethlehem, Pa., in 2007 on a Development women as leaders exchange hosted by Open World alumna Anna Hutsol. 7 Open World launched its program with this small, economically struggling Eastern European nation in MOLDOVA March 2007. Open World’s 2008 Moldovan exchanges emphasized agribusiness, to support efforts to modernize this sector of the economy; accountable governance, to help government bodies at all lev - els increase transparency, curb corruption, and foster a culture of public service; and public health, to aid initiatives to reduce infectious disease and improve access to primary care. Press Officers Study Media Relations in Raleigh, N.C.
spokesperson for the mayor of Chisinau, After discussing press freedom and Moldova’s capital. All the media relations from a federal legisla - delegates were struck by tor’s perspective with Rep. David Price the effective and close (N.C.) during their Washington, D.C. cooperation between orientation, an Open World delega - Cary’s public information tion of Moldovan press officers spent officer and the town April 4–12 in the Raleigh area study - manager, the transparency ing the same subjects with their state in the relationship with and local counterparts, media repre - the media and civil soci - Press officers and other Moldovan delegates meet sentatives, and think-tank experts. A ety, and the variety of with North Carolina Rep. David Price (center) on meeting with the Town of Cary’s pub - techniques used to get in - Capitol Hill on April 3. lic information officer was a trip formation to Cary residents, according hosted the visit. National grantee: highlight, and was especially useful to a delegation participant. The Inter - Academy for Educational Development for a delegate who serves as national Affairs Council in Raleigh
“The Open World Leadership Center provides opportunities for personal and professional interactions that go far beyond the usual exchange programs. Through my personal participation in its programs in my district, I learned first - hand of the Center’s exceptional ability to create productive dialogues that lead to continuing relationships.” —Rep. David Price (N.C.)
Public Health Care Providers Share American Experience with Colleagues
Within just a few months of their re - Dr. Valentina Vilc began holding train - with the hospital’s TB clinic staff. The turn from a July 2007 Open World ings across Moldova on tuberculosis delegates also met with Dr. Thomas R. public-health exchange to New York (TB) issues in Moldova and the United Frieden, commissioner of the New City, Open World alumni and pulmo - States. The trainings included discus - York City Department of Health and nologists Dr. Liuba Nepoliuc and sion of medical-services administra - Mental Hygiene and himself an expert tion and TB prevention methods. on TB control, and spent a full day in Dr. Vilc estimates that some 300 fam - briefings with the department’s TB ily doctors, 400 medical assistants, specialists, covering civil liberty issues, and 60–70 pulmonologists attended directly observed therapy programs, these traveling seminars, which were epidemic management, surveillance, covered by local media. During their treatment protocols, and public- 2007 New York City visit, which was health department administrative conducted by the National Peace procedures. After Dr. Vilc and Foundation and Scian – The Institute Dr. Nepoliuc’s return home, cohost for Scientific Policy Analysis, the two Lee Feldman, Scian’s chair and chief doctors and their fellow delegates scientific officer, provided additional took an extensive tour of Bellevue information on U.S. TB incidence and Moldovan health leaders visit New York City’s Hospital’s Chest Center and TB isola - treatment that was used in the Bellevue Hospital in 2007 to learn how its staff tion facility, plus engaged in a de - Moldovan training seminars. diagnose and treat tuberculosis. tailed question-and-answer session 8 Alumna Helps Organize Roundtable on Promoting Moldova
Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs world-class wines, and a rich cultural International Affairs Council. National and European Integration spokesper - heritage. Roman was part of the dele - grantee: Academy for Educational Devel - son Dorina Roman, an Open World gation of Moldovan press officers opment 2008 alumna, helped organize a hosted in Raleigh, N.C., in April by the roundtable on “Promoting Moldova Globally” that was held at the U.S. Embassy in Chisinau on Oct. 27, 2008. The event attracted 30-plus atten - dees, including Moldovan professors, teachers, and students. Its featured speaker was a former government of - ficial from Estonia, who described the steps that country took to gain acces - sion to the European Union. Roman and other roundtable participants then discussed strategies for develop - ing and promoting Moldova’s assets, which they identified as including Moldovan foreign ministry spokesperson and Open World alumna Dorina Roman bilingualism, qualified professionals, (in red) attends an October 2008 roundtable in Chisinau that she helped organize.
Judge Opens Doors to a More Transparent and Modern Court
Renovations at the district court in included a modern IT system that tate free public access to court Rezina were unveiled at a Dec. 4, publishes court decisions online and archives. National grantee: Academy 2008 ribbon-cutting ceremony led by new photocopiers provided to facili - for Educational Development the court’s chair, alumna Olga Gangal, and U.S. Ambassador Asif J. Chaudhry (pictured). Ambassador Chaudhry said, “The new court we open today is a symbol of growing Moldovan pride in the rule of law. The changes made demonstrate that it doesn’t matter who you are, justice is the same for everyone.” The renovation work was done with the support of the Moldova Governance Threshold Country Pro - gram, which is managed by USAID. Judge Gangal commented that her Open World exchange, hosted by the Sister City Program of Gainesville (Fla.), Inc., helped her understand the judicial system in the United States and reinforced her organizational ef - U.S. Ambassador Asif J. Chaudhry (left) and alumna Olga Gangal cut the ribbon forts. Upgrades to the Rezina court to open the renovated Rezina District Court. 9 The small, mountainous nation of Georgia lies between Russia and Turkey and at the crossroads of GEORGIA Europe and Asia. Open World launched its Georgia program in February 2007, hosting a group of legal leaders and local officials. Exchanges in 2008 supported Georgia’s initiatives to reform public administration and education, and to prepare for the introduction of jury trials.
Georgian Judges See U.S. Jury-Trial System Up Close in New York City highlight of an Open World ex - nie Wittner preside over jury selec - In April, four judges from Georgia change that took the delegates tion in a manslaughter case. The unexpectedly found themselves in a from courtroom to courtroom to Georgians owed their excellent ac - New York City courtroom listening observe all the steps in the U.S. cess to Manhattan courts to their to the father of actress Uma Thur - jury-trial process. More drama—and judicial host, state Chief Adminis - man testify against an obsessed fan insights—came during the two days trative Judge Ann Pfau, and to Bar - accused of stalking her. The com - that the Georgians watched Man - bara Zahler-Gringer, the state court pelling proceedings were just one hattan Supreme Court Justice Bon - system’s counsel for administration and operations, and Alan Murphy, chief clerk of the Manhattan Supreme Court’s criminal division. Talks with Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Ronald A. Zweibel, de - fense attorney Harvey Fishbein, and prosecutor Robert Hettleman gave the delegates three different expert perspectives on the jury-trial sys - tem. All four Georgians sit on the Tbilisi City Court, which is expected to handle the first jury trials held in their homeland since 1921, once implementing legislation is enacted. National grantee: Russian American The April 2008 Georgian judicial delegation visits the Brooklyn Bridge. Rule of Law Consortium
Atlanta Hosts Organize Georgia to Georgia Business Forum On Dec. 12, two Open World host & Slover, P.C. (HBSS)—in partnership when members of Hall’s law firm organizations—the Atlanta-Tbilisi with the U.S. Department of Com - home-hosted bar association lead - Sister City Committee (ATSCC) and merce, held the first Georgia to ers from Tbilisi during Open World’s the law firm of Hall, Booth, Smith Georgia Business Forum in Atlanta. inaugural exchange with the coun - Aimed at showcasing the business try of Georgia. Hall himself became potential of the Georgian Republic, deeply involved in Atlanta-Tbilisi the forum was led by Open World sister-city activities as a result of host John E. Hall, Jr., chairman of this 2007 exchange, assuming the both ATSCC and HBSS. The many chairmanship of ATSCC in early area businesspeople who attended 2008 and traveling to Tbilisi in the heard from representatives of the fall to meet with the mayor and Embassy of Georgia and the U.S. NGO leaders. Georgian Open World Department of Commerce as well as exchanges hosted in Atlanta by from business, legal, and education ATSCC and HBSS in 2008 continued leaders from the two Georgias. Says the focus on bar association devel - Hall, “The Georgia to Georgia Busi - opment and legal reform, with help ness Forum was a direct develop - from the Emory University School From right: Dr. Archil Undilashvili of Emory University, Georgian diplomat Malkhaz ment of what has turned into of Law, and also branched out into Mikeladze, Open World host John E. Hall, Jr., of long-term personal and profes - higher education. National grantees: the Atlanta-Tbilisi Sister City Committee, and sional friendships initiated and in - Academy for Educational Development, Badri Japaridze, vice chairman of the supervi - sory board of the Tbilisi-based TBC Bank, at the spired by the Open World program.” National Peace Foundation Dec. 12 Georgia to Georgia Business Forum in These relationships began in 2007, Atlanta. 10 New Georgian Parliamentarians Visit the Nation’s Capital tation by House Budget Committee Professional Staff Member Morna Miller on the federal budget process and the committee’s role in it; and a briefing and ques - tion-and-answer session with two USAID officials that emphasized constituent relations and representation, transparency, and legislative consensus-building. Con - stituent outreach was also the topic of an informative meeting at the National Democratic Institute. Other meetings concentrated on the Georgians’ com - mittee assignments and individual expertise in the areas of education, the environment, finance, human rights, rule of law, and foreign policy. These sessions involved New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (center) meets Georgian par - representatives of the U.S. Departments of State, Com - liamentarians and Open World and Vital Voices staff on Dec. 10. merce, and Education; the Environmental Protection On Dec. 10, four newly elected members of the Geor - Agency; the Commission on Security and Cooperation gian parliament met with New York Sen. Hillary in Europe; the National Endowment for Democracy; Rodham Clinton (pictured above) as part of an ac - and the International Republican Institute. countable governance exchange hosted in Washington, Melanne Verveer, Vital Voices’ cofounder and chair, D.C., by Vital Voices Global Partnership, a longtime wrapped up the Georgian parliamentarians’ visit with a Open World grantee. Earlier that day, the Georgians had briefing on how to partner with NGOs to achieve leg - an hour-long roundtable with House Foreign Affairs islative goals. Committee Professional Staff Member Amanda Sloat; Jesper Pedersen, a senior staff aide for the House For - eign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe; and Dr. Kay King, the director of the House Office of Interparliamentary Affairs. Government reform in Georgia and U.S.-Geor - gian relations were among the subjects discussed. The delegates also had the opportunity, during their Open World–organized D.C. orientation, to meet with John Sherry, an aide to Pennsylvania Rep. and Congressional Georgia Caucus Cochair Allyson Y. Schwartz. Additional legislatively focused sessions that were help - ful to the new lawmakers included a meeting with for - mer Maryland Rep. Ambassador Connie Morella, who Georgian parliamentarians and Vital Voices staff meet in Wash - discussed her experience working in Congress; a presen - ington with CNN's Jill Dougherty (front row, second from right).
Candidate Selection for Georgian Exchanges Continues Despite Conflict
The outbreak of hostilities between Cynthia Whittlesey, Department of ment Specialist Nino Buachidze. Georgia and Russia in August did Justice Resident Legal Advisor The resolute vetting committee not keep the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi Roger Keller, Public Affairs Assistant members selected candidates to from going ahead with a scheduled Sophie Bzishvili, USAID/Caucasus travel on rule of law, accountable Open World candidate vetting ses - Program Officer Director Craig Hart, governance, and education ex - sion. Participating in the selection and USAID Office of Democracy changes later in 2008. process were Public Affairs Officer and Governance Project Manage - 11 An important region along the Silk Road in ancient times, today’s Turkmenistan is known for its TURKMENISTAN cotton production as well as its 94 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves and approxi - mately 600 billion barrels of proven oil reserves. Strategically located, the country shares 1,079 miles of borders with Afghanistan and Iran. Open World welcomed its first delegation from Turkmenistan in October 2008 for a rule of law exchange.
Executive Director O’Keefe Meets with Turkmen Ambassador in Washington
one of the programming topics cov - of the Open World News , “The people ered during the meeting. Ambassador of Turkmenistan are entering a period Executive Director John O’Keefe met Orazov stressed the importance of de - of their history where real progress on on Aug. 28 with Turkmenistan’s am - veloping U.S.-Turkmenistani commu - educational, judicial, and other re - bassador to the United States, Meret nity-to-community relations, citing forms is possible, but by no means Orazov. The two discussed the inaugu - sister cities as one example of such certain. Open World hosts can explore ral Turkmenistani delegation of four ties. He also said he would welcome with their Turkmen guests potential judges arriving in West Virginia on having Open World delegates from models to adapt to the Turkmen Oct. 18 (see below), as well as Open Turkmenistan visit his embassy during culture.” World’s plans for future Turkmenistani their Washington, D.C. orientations. exchanges. Community planning was O’Keefe said in the Sept. 5, 2008 issue
West Virginia Welcomes Judicial Delegation
Four Turkmen judges hosted in Blue - agent, and a postal special agent. The judges was visiting Beckley federal field, W.Va., in October by the Center delegates also met Gov. Joe Manchin prison, where the living conditions im - for International Understanding, Inc., III (left photo below), toured the pressed them. At the beginning of had in-depth sessions in Charleston Mercer County Day Report Center in their U.S. visit, the delegates met on with federal judges; West Virginia Princeton, and held talks with Mercer Capitol Hill with an aide to Rep. Nick Supreme Court justices; and U.S. County Circuit Judge William Sadler Rahall (W.Va.). National grantee: Acad - Attorney Charles T. Miller, FBI and U.S. and the general manager/editor of the emy for Educational Development Marshals Service representatives, an Princeton Times (right photo below). Internal Revenue Service special Another highlight for the Turkmen
Open World’s inaugural delegation from Turkmenistan meets in Tammie Toler (center back), general manager and editor of the the West Virginia State Capitol with Gov. Joe Manchin III Princeton Times , talks to visiting Turkmen judges about the (gesturing). The delegates then had sessions in the capitol with Freedom of Information Act and how the newspaper informs its the state attorney general and two senior state legislative aides. readers about judicial and law enforcement matters. 12 KAZAKHSTAN The second-largest Open World country after Russia, Kazakhstan is resource-rich, ethnically diverse, and strategically located between Europe and Asia. Open World’s 2008 programming for Kazakhstan focused on accountable governance, women as leaders, public health, and rule of law.
High-Ranking Kazakhstani Jurists Visit Arizona Courts
As part of Open World’s inaugural Ariz. The delegation was especially law, adoption procedures, and judi - exchange with Kazakhstan, a interested in a new state court ded - cial ethics. The Tucson-Almaty Sis - Supreme Court justice, a senior icated to handling cases involving ter Cities Committee, in Kazakhstan prosecutorial official, and two mentally ill defendants—which they since 1987, hosted the visit. National judges from this Central Asian na - saw in action with its founder, Pima grantee: Academy for Educational tion spent April 19–26 observing County Superior Court Judge Development. court proceedings and meeting Nanette Warner. Other topics the with their counterparts in Tucson, delegates explored included family
Kazakhstani Delegates Visiting Nevada Have Session on Judicial Discipline
David Sarnowski, the executive di - judge, discussing the appellate rector of the Nevada Commission process with state Supreme Court on Judicial Discipline, on May 27 Chief Justice Mark Gibbons and led an open and instructive discus - the state solicitor general, querying sion on judicial discipline with the state extradition coordinator on three judges and one prosecutor the mechanics of state-to-state from Kazakhstan. The question- and nation-to-nation extraditions, and-answer session covered the and attending a luncheon at the types of complaints that may be Governor’s Mansion (pictured). The filed against state judges, the disci - Northern Nevada International plinary process, and the range of Center hosted the exchange. disciplinary actions the commission National grantee: Academy for Delegates hosted in Nevada in May enjoy a may impose. Among the other Educational Development luncheon given in their honor by state first lady highlights of the delegation’s trip Dawn Gibbons (not shown) and attended by to Reno and Carson City were re - state Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Gibbons viewing jury trials with a federal (no relation, standing) and other Nevada jurists.
Rep. Giffords Welcomes Kazakhstani Women Leaders to Arizona
Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (pic - emphasized how much she was in - tured right, facing camera) met in her spired by the many volunteers she was Tucson district office on Oct. 30 with a encountering during her visit, saying, Kazakhstani women as leaders delega - “When I meet with these people, I real - tion hosted by the Tucson-Almaty ize that we can change things and we Sister Cities Committee. The can make our life better.” National Kazakhstanis also had sessions with a grantee: Academy for Educational Devel - number of the most successful women opment. in Tucson’s business, academic, and philanthropic worlds. One delegate 13 This mountainous, predominantly Muslim Central Asian nation began taking part in Open World in KYRGYZSTAN June 2007. Rule of law issues were a major theme for 2008 visits. Through these exchanges, Open World seeks to work with Kyrgyzstan in introducing jury trials, tackling corruption, and improving ac - cess to justice. Open World Executive Director John O’Keefe is a former U.S. ambassador to Kyrgyzstan.
Alumnus Becomes Deputy Chair of New Council of Judges
the main judicial officials involved in Judge Erkin Toktomambetov, who the implementation of the U.S. gov - served on the Chui Region Court at the ernment’s Millennium Challenge Ac - time of his 2007 Open World visit to count Threshold Program (MCATP) for Orem, Utah, was in 2008 elected the Kyrgyz Republic. The MCATP has deputy chair of Kyrgyzstan’s new judi - as a major goal increasing the inde - cial self-governing body—the Council pendence and effectiveness of the Kyr - of Judges—and named chief judge of gyzstani judicial system. Participating the Central District Court in Bishkek, in Open World enabled this influential the capital. The 15-member Council’s and proactive judge to observe U.S. mission is to strengthen the independ - jury-trial procedures, take part in a ence, ethics, and professionalism of mock legislative session, and discuss Kyrgyzstan’s judiciary. Toktomambetov court management with his Utah and his fellow Council members in just counterparts and their staff. Judge Judge Erkin Toktomambetov (far left) and his fel - two months developed a three-year Toktomambetov’s exchange was con - low delegates meet with Rep. Chris Cannon (right budget for the judicial branch, a key ducted by Utah Valley University. Na - foreground) during their Utah visit. step in promoting its independence. tional grantee: Academy for Educational Judge Toktomambetov is also one of Development
Director O’Keefe Meets with Alumni and Other Leaders in Kyrgyzstan Executive Director O’Keefe visited tion, and the chair of the Supreme the new Council of Judges. O’Keefe’s Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, in June on a trip Court to consult with and update them talks with these two alumni and others sponsored by the American University on Open World activities. O’Keefe also at the event focused on strategies for of Central Asia Endowment Fund, attended a gathering for Open World building U.S.-Kyrgyzstani partnerships whose advisory board he chairs. During alumni, during which he met with the at a time of decreasing U.S. popularity his visit, Ambassador O’Keefe called on chair of the Kyrgyzstan parliament’s in the region. the deputy speaker of Parliament, the military affairs committee and one of head of the presidential administra - Judge Toktomambetov’s colleagues on
Open World Hosts Women Legal Leaders from Kyrgyzstan
Two delegations of women legal lead - exchange on March 20 with a briefing of courts in the La Crosse, Wis. area on ers began their Open World rule of law at the U.S. Supreme Court and a meet - a program organized by the La Crosse ing with Millennium Challenge Corpo - Area League of Women Voters and the ration, Justice Department, and La Crosse branch of the American Asso - American Bar Association staff active ciation of University Women. One of in international judicial and prosecuto - the human rights activists told Open rial reform. One delegation made up of World that she especially appreciated three human rights advocates and the how her travel group included both senior assistant to the prosecutor for government and NGO officials: “It is Osh (Kyrgyzstan’s second-largest city) important for the government repre - traveled to Colorado Springs, Colo., for sentatives from my country to hear the a program hosted by Leadership Pikes views of organizations like mine. The Peak on juvenile justice and domestic program brought us together and by violence prevention. The other all- treating us like equals gave us a chance women delegation, which included to communicate with one another.” Na - three judges and a Ministry of Justice tional grantees: Academy for Educational De - Susan Saksa (second from right), of Leadership Pikes Peak, with Kyrgyzstani official involved in legal profession re - velopment, World Services of La Crosse, Inc. participants she hosted in Colorado. form, observed proceedings in a variety 14 This strategically located, oil-rich, predominantly Muslim South Caucasus nation began participating AZERBAIJAN in Open World in May 2007. Open World’s Azerbaijan programming focuses on two areas—account - able governance and the rule of law—and is aimed at promoting transparency, judicial and legisla - tive independence, and civil and media rights.
Election Monitor Multiplies Maryland Experience Back Home
Rep. Sarbanes (pictured at right). Suleymanli and his fellow delegates, Bashir Suleymanli, field director of the along with local citizens who attended, nongovernmental Election Monitoring also discussed campaign issues and Center in Baku, designed a brochure constituent relations with the con - for recruiting citizen election monitors gressman. Suleymanli’s NGO used the based on a form for enlisting cam - form he developed to involve citizens paign volunteers that he obtained in monitoring Azerbaijan’s October from Maryland Rep. John Sarbanes 2008 presidential election. The League during an April Open World visit to of Women Voters of Baltimore County Baltimore. This interchange came hosted Suleymanli and his fellow dele - Bashir Suleymanli (far right), other Azerbaijani during an election house party that gates. National grantee: League of Women participants, and Executive Director John Suleymanli’s host family held for Voters O’Keefe (second from right) confer with Maryland Rep. John Sarbanes (center).
Grantee-Organization Official Meets with Alumni in Baku
During a spring 2008 working visit to hosted by the League of Women Vot - Azerbaijan, League of Women Voters ers of Baltimore County. Arguedas re - Deputy Executive Director Zaida ported to Open World that both Arguedas (pictured, center) paid a Turabova, a political-party official, visit to the Central Election Commis - and Nuraliyev, an adviser at the Cen - sion in Baku with alumni Nurida tral Election Commission, were eager Turabova (left) and Ramin Nuraliyev to show her the Commission building (right). Like Bashir Suleymanli (pro - and to explain some of the issues and filed above), Turabova and Nuraliyev projects they were engaged in. had just taken part in a mid-April ac - countable governance exchange
Delegates with Disabilities Discover an Open World in New York
Four delegates with disabilities, includ - delegate Parviz Heydarov (pictured, ing two wheelchair users, spent early third from left) published three articles November in Syracuse, N.Y., studying describing his experience and advocat - services, programs, and laws that help ing for greater rights for Azerbaijanis Americans with disabilities participate with disabilities. He also plans to write fully in community life. The delega - a book based on his Open World visit. tion—believed to be the first of its kind Delegate Kamran Aliyev (pictured, far to travel to the United States from left) began implementing an Open So - Azerbaijan—visited inclusive schools, a ciety Institute–funded project to pro - restaurant with staff with disabilities, vide disability-awareness training for social-services and employment agen - children with disabilities and their par - Azerbaijani participants headed for Syra - cies, and the Onondaga County Board cuse, N.Y., take in the White House during ents. National grantee: World Services of of Elections. After returning home, their Washington, D.C. orientation. La Crosse, Inc. 15 Open World’s first delegates from this rugged, agricultural Central Asian country—four environmental TAJIKISTAN officials and four defense lawyers—arrived in the United States in June 2007. Since then, the program has conducted exchanges for bar association leaders, microfinance experts, water management officials, and senior law enforcement officials, among others. Open World’s 2008 programming for Tajikistan emphasized rule of law, education, public health, and civic participation and elections.
Reciprocal Visit Benefits Embassy Relations with Tajik Officials
The U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe reported that a June reciprocal visit by two Utah state senators at the invitation of Tajikistani parliamentary Open World alumni gave embassy staff useful op - portunities to interact with high-level Tajikistani officials before and during the visit. The two Utah legislators, State Senate President John Valentine and Majority Leader Curtis Bramble, had met with the Tajikistani parliamentarians during a 2007 Open World exchange to Orem and Salt Lake City. Embassy offi - cials stated that preparing for the Utahans’ visit enabled them “to work together with Ministry of Foreign Affairs representa - tives in a non-contentious way.” Embassy staff further reported, “We were also able to attend meetings with Tajik officials that we often have trouble seeing.” In the embassy’s view “the visit Tajikistani parliamentarians hosted in 2007 by Utah Valley demonstrated that elected officials from the United States can University (UVU) reunite in Dushanbe in 2008 with Utah Senate President John Valentine (center), Utah Senate generate strong interest in the Tajik government and media, and Majority Leader Curtis Bramble (second from right), and visits by them can further Mission goals.” UVU Vice President and Open World host Rusty Butler (second from left).
Open World Program Manager Visits Alumni
Open World’s Lewis Madanick (Fla.), and Washtenaw County caught up with eight Tajikistani (Mich.); a water management ex - alumni during a July lunch in pert hosted by the Arkansas Coun - Dushanbe. Madanick was in the cil for International Visitors, and a Tajikistani capital to meet with Ministry of Agriculture specialist government officials, take part in hosted by the Montana Center for candidate selection, and discuss International Visitors. The alumni future programs. Among the lunch described how they had used their attendees were rule of law alumni Open World experiences and how hosted by Iowa Sister States, the much they had enjoyed staying Sister City Program of Gainesville with American host families. Open World’s Lewis Madanick (far left) meets with Tajikistani alumni over lunch in Dushanbe. Nevada Open World Presenter Follows Up with Alumni
Thomas Tait, the president of the tourism operator—had met with Tait 1993 he has been sent by the State Nevada Tourism Alliance, met on during a 2007 Open World environ - Department to numerous former May 27 in Dushanbe with Open World mental-tourism exchange to Reno, Soviet and Eastern Bloc countries as a and State Department exchange- Nev., conducted by the Northern consultant. His May follow-up session program alumni for a brainstorming Nevada International Center. The U.S. with alumni looked at barriers to session on how to increase interna - Embassy arranged Tait’s follow-up tourism, including visa restrictions, tional tourism to Tajikistan. The two visit to Tajikistan. Tait previously and ways to improve how Tajikistan is Open World alumni—a top govern - served as the Nevada Commission on marketed to tourists. ment tourism official and a private Tourism’s executive director, and since 16 Host Recognition Events
Open World held five host recognition events across the United States in 2008. During the first, which coincided with the annual grantees meeting in Washington, D.C., at the Library of Congress on May 20, Open World awarded certificates to 25 hosts for their own and their organiza - tions’ exemplary work on program exchanges. At this same event, Open World conferred the 2008 National Grantee of Merit Award on Rotary International, represented by Rotary Foundation Trustee Carolyn Jones and former Rotary Inter - national director C. Grant Wilkins. Other ceremonies were held in Kansas City, Mo.; Oshkosh, Wis.; and Berkeley, Calif. (pictured below). Honoree Carolyn Kunkel (in blue) and Melissa Kreidler (right front) and other Host Recognition Event atten - dees look on as the award ceremony gets under way at the Library of Congress. Kunkel and Kreidler are involved with Open World hosting through Keystone Human Services International, a Harrisburg, Pa. nonprofit.
Above are snapshots from the May 2008 Host Recognition Ceremony: from left, Rep. and Open World Trustee Bud Cramer (Ala.) joins Ambassador and fellow trustee James Collins in presenting an award to Dr. John Pottenger of the University of Alabama in Huntsville; Ambassador Collins presents award certificates to University of Mississippi Professor Douglas Robinson and Karen Saunders of the Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center at George Mason University (Va.); and Ambassador Collins and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (Ill.) honor Angelo Loumbas of the Rotary Club of Chicago.
In Berkeley, Calif., from left, Rep. Barbara Lee’s district director, Anne Taylor, presents City Council Member Gordon Wozniak with a host recognition award for his wife, Evie, as Enid Schreibman and the late Fran Macy of the Center for Safe Energy, an Open World grantee, look on. (June 25, 2008 )
17 PROGRAM INFORMATION
PROGRAM HISTORY OPEN WORLD LEADERSHIP CENTER Congress launched Open World exchanges for emerging STAFF Russian leaders in May 1999, in response to a speech that Librarian of Congress James H. Billington had recently Washington, D.C. given to senior Members of Congress on the future of Rus - sia. In 2000, Congress created a separate legislative branch entity with a public-private board of trustees to manage Executive Director the exchange program. The new administering agency, the The Honorable John O’Keefe Open World Leadership Center, opened its doors at the Li - brary of Congress in October 2001. Congress made the Ambassador (Ret.) other post-Soviet states, as well as Russian cultural leaders, eligible for Open World in 2003, and one year later ex - Financial Management Officer tended program eligibility to any other country designated by the Center’s board. In July 2006, the board approved Jane Sargus new exchanges for Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, and Tajikistan, and continued the original ex - Program Managers change with Russia and a program with Ukraine that had begun in 2003. The board in 2006 also approved a Strate - Vera DeBuchananne gic Plan for fiscal years 2007–2011. In 2007, Open World Lewis Madanick began to track results and meet other goals laid out in the Jeffrey Magnuson plan, including launching exchange programs for the five expansion countries approved by the board in 2006. Executive Assistant With the board’s approval, Open World in 2008 initiated Chang Suh programs for Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, bringing the number of countries participating in Open World to nine. More than 1,470 participants came to the United States on Webmaster and Designer Open World in 2008. Igor Inozemtsev
Public Affairs Officer STATISTICS Maura Shelden Open World has brought 14,363 current and future lead - ers from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moscow Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan to the United States since 1999. Country Director Alexander Khilkov Government officials—federal, regional, and local—ac - count for more than 50 percent of Open World delegates. Deputy Country Director The average age of Open World delegates is 38. Yelena Yefremova 51 percent of Open World delegates are women.
More than 1,700 communities in all 50 U.S. states have hosted Open World participants.
Statistics are as of December 31, 2008. 18 FINANCIAL INFORMATION OPEN WORLD LEADERSHIP CENTER Consolidated Balance Sheets As of September 30, 2008 and 2007 FY 2008 FY 2007 In fiscal year 2008, the Open World Leadership Center ASSETS Entity Assets: received $8,977,500 in appropriated funds, $530,000 in Intragovernmental Assets interagency transfers, and $393,867 in direct private Fund Balance with Treasury (Note 2) $ 974,019 $ 2,481,158 Investments (Note 3) 6,938,700 13,357,838 donations. In calendar year 2008, the accumulated Total Intragovernmental 7,912,719 15,838,996 value of cost-sharing with the Open World community Property and Equipment 2,039 2,718 Prepayments (Note 4) 421,700 600,049 of grantees, local host organizations, and individual Other (Note 5) 1,615 1,615 local hosts totaled $1.8 million. Total Assets $ 8,338,073 $16,443,378 LIABILITIES Intragovernmental Liabilities The Open World Leadership Center submitted a com - Accounts Payable and Accrued Funded Payroll Benefits $ 25,683 $ 34,795 plete set of financial statements for fiscal year 2008 to Advances from Others 119,967 500,000 the independent public accounting firm of Kearney & Total Intragovernmental 145,650 534,795 Accounts Payable and Company for a full audit. For the Center’s third full Accrued Funded Payroll Benefits 1,158,142 2,091,590 audit, Kearney & Company again issued an unqualified Unfunded Annual and Compensatory Leave 94,581 67,186 Total Liabilities $ 1,398,373 $ 2,693,571 (clean) audit opinion on the financial statements and NET POSITION reported no material weaknesses or reportable condi - Cumulative Results of Operations - Earmarked 6,939,700 13,749,807 tions in Open World’s internal control, and no instances Total Net Position 6,939,700 13,749,807 of noncompliance with laws and regulations affecting Total Liabilities and Net Position $ 8,338,073 $16,443,378 the financial statements. The table to the right (with The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. accompanying notes) and the one immediately below Note 2. Fund Balance with Treasury present the fiscal year 2008 financial highlights from 2008 2007 OWLC Funds Originally from Appropriations $ 325,456 $ 1,144,975 Gift Funds 648,563 1,336,183 the Center’s Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consoli - Total $ 974,019 $ 2,481,158 dated Statements of Net Costs. The Financial State - Status of Fund Balance with Treasury: 2008 2007 Unobligated Balances – Available $ 0 $ 0 ments document (with notes) and Kearney & Company’s Obligated Balances - Unavailable 974,019 2,481,158 Total $ 974,019 $ 2,481,158 Independent Auditor’s Report are available in full on Note 3. Investments, net the Open World website at www.openworld.gov. The Center’s funds that are not needed currently to finance current activities are invested in interest-bearing obligations of the United States. The Center has directed the Library to invest funds derived from contributions in Treasury securities. Due to the short-term nature of the in - vestments, the cost of investments in conjunction with accrued interest approximates their fair market values. Investments outstanding were $6,938,700 and $13,357,838 for fiscal years 2008 OPEN WORLD LEADERSHIP CENTER and 2007. Annual investment rates were 4.542% and 4.781% in fiscal years 2008 and 2007. Consolidated Statements of Net Costs 2008 2007 For the Years Ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 Face Value $ 6,870,000 $ 13,197,000 FY 2008 FY 2007 Interest Receivable 68,700 160,838 Net Costs by Program Area: Investments, Net $ 6,938,700 $ 13,357,838 Open World Leadership Center: Note 4. Prepayments Program Costs $17,233,322 $13,742,924 The Center awards grants to approximately 20 organizations with exchange-program expertise Less Earned Revenue 00 that are competitively selected for the purpose of hosting the foreign delegates. In fiscal years 2008 and 2007, $421,700 and $600,049 had been paid to but not yet used by these organiza - Net Costs of Operations $17,233,322 $13,742,924 tions to carry out their services. Note 5. Other Assets The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. Other assets primarily consist of account receivable due from payroll activity for fiscal years 2008 and 2007 of $1,615.
DISTRIBUTION OF SELECT OBLIGATIONS CATEGORIES, FY 2008 OPEN WORLD LEADERSHIP CENTER OBLIGATIONS FY 2008 FY 2008 Actual Category Obligations
Personnel Compensation Personnel Compensation 994,466 Personnel Benefits 229,885 Grants Personnel Benefits Travel 116,966 Travel Transportation of Things 2,346 Rent, Communications, Utilities Rent, Comm., Utilities 15,700 Equipment Printing 7,292 Supplies Other Services/Contracts 7,479,503 Contracts Supplies 11,641 Equipment 29,575 Grants 5,081,744 TOTAL - FY 2008 Obligations $13,969,117
Note: "Contracts" includes, but is not limited to, the costs of applicant and participant processing, travel planning, participant airfare, and database management and other Note: Center administrative costs equal $995,866 or 7 percent of total obligations. 19 Open World used trust fund revenue, prior year recovered funds, and cost reduction expert services. "Grants" covers payments to hosting organizations. measures to maintain programming at previous years' levels. 2008 NATIONAL HOST ORGANIZATIONS
Each year the Open World Leadership Center competitively selects organizations across the United States to carry out its community-based professional exchanges. The national host organizations (grantees) conduct the visits themselves or recruit and oversee a network of local affiliates and partners that do so. The Center gratefully acknowledges the following organizations for serving as national hosts for Open World delegations in 2008:
Academy for Educational Development Washington, D.C. Battelle Memorial Institute, Pacific Northwest Division Richland, Wash. Brubeck Institute at the University of the Pacific Stockton, Calif. CEC ArtsLink New York, N.Y. Center for Safe Energy (Earth Island Institute) Berkeley, Calif. Freedom House, Inc. Washington, D.C. Friendship Force International Atlanta, Ga. Future of Russia Foundation Huron, Ohio International Writing Program at the University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa Keystone Human Services International Harrisburg, Pa. League of Women Voters Washington, D.C. Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival, University of Idaho Moscow, Idaho Magee Womancare International Pittsburgh, Pa. National Peace Foundation Washington, D.C. Northcentral Technical College Wausau, Wis. Rotary International Evanston, Ill. Russian American Rule of Law Consortium Burlington, Vt. Supporters of Civil Society in Russia, Inc. St. Louis, Mo. Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center Arlington, Va. at George Mason University University of Louisville School of Music Louisville, Ky. U.S.-Ukraine Foundation Washington, D.C. Vital Voices Global Partnership Washington, D.C. Vladimir/Canterbury Sister City Association of Bloomington, Ill. Bloomington-Normal, Medical Partnership Committee World Services of La Crosse, Inc. La Crosse, Wis. 20 OPEN WORLD PARTNERS
The Open World Leadership Center would like to acknowledge the agencies and organizations that worked so effectively with Center staff to carry out program operations and specialized programming in 2008, and the donors that so generously supported the Center’s alumni program. General Program Support The LIBRARY OF CONGRESS provided the Open World Leadership Center with financial-management services, administra - tive support, and office and event space through an interagency agreement. U.S. EMBASSY staff in Open World countries made recommendations on 2008 nominating organizations and themes; par - ticipated in nominating and selecting candidates; hosted candidate vetting sessions; and took part in pre-departure orienta - tion sessions and alumni events. Embassy staff also served as the Center’s liaison with government and nongovernmental entities. The nonprofit AMERICAN COUNCILS FOR INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION provided major administrative and logistical sup - port to Open World. AHCC, INC ., a minority-owned international IT service provider based in Rockville, Md., provided Open World with website and database support to meet the Center’s IT needs and mission to network community leaders. Cooperative Programming Open World collaborated with the HOUSE DEMOCRACY ASSISTANCE COMMISSION (HDAC) to send three senior Georgian budget committee staff persons to Columbus, Ohio, in October following their HDAC program in Washington, D.C. In December, Open World held an orientation for high-level parliamentary aides from Ukraine and Georgia who had just completed an HDAC program. Open World then hosted the Ukrainians in Little Rock, Ark., and the Georgians in Denver, Colo. Open World partnered with the AMERICAN-RUSSIAN CULTURAL COOPERATION FOUNDATION to host Russian museum and archive directors in Oshkosh, Wis., and Kansas City, Mo., in the fall. Cultural Leaders Program Major support for Open World’s Cultural Leaders Program was provided through partnership and funding from the NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS (NEA), which works with Open World to find opportunities for dialogue and collaboration between Russian artists and arts managers and their U.S. counterparts. The NEA also advised on program design and content. CEC ARTSLINK staff in New York and St. Petersburg, Russia, administered the Cultural Leaders Program nominations process, helped coordinate pre-visit communications, and provided program evaluations. Rule of Law Program The U.S. JUDICIAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL JUDICIAL RELATIONS (IJRC) coordinates the U.S. fed - eral judiciary’s relations with foreign judiciaries and serves as an international resource on the rule of law. The IJRC helped develop Open World’s rule of law programming and organized federal court participation in the program, recruiting federal host judges and providing general program guidance. In its capacity as the U.S. federal judiciary’s administrative arm, the ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE U.S. COURTS provides staff support to the IJRC. This staff assisted federal host judges and organized the Washington orientations for rule of law delegates. Alumni Program AMERICAN COUNCILS FOR INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION managed the privately funded Alumni Program and tracked Open World results. Open World Trustee Ambassador GEORGE ARGYROS and the ARGYROS FAMILY FOUNDATION generously committed $500,000 to the Alumni Program, for expenditure over a three-year period beginning in June 2008 (the Argyros Fund). Other donations to Open World’s Alumni Program came from THE RUSSELL FAMILY FOUNDATION in Gig Harbor, Wash.; TNK-BP oil company, headquartered in Moscow; MICHAEL YANNEY , chairman of the Burlington Capital Group in Omaha; the OKLAHOMA BAR FOUNDATION ; and former U.S. ambassador to Russia and current Open World trustee JAMES F. COLLINS .
21 2008 LOCAL HOST ORGANIZATIONS Open World would like to thank the following organizations and institutions for hosting our delegations in 2008:
Alabama U.S. Court of Appeals for the Georgia Kansas Birmingham International Center Ninth Circuit Atlanta-Tbilisi Sister City Committee International Visitors Council of Birmingham Sister City Association Emory University School of Law Greater Kansas City Friendship Force of Birmingham Colorado Friendship Force of Greater Atlanta League of Women Voters Friendship Force of Montgomery Arvada Sister Cities International Hall, Booth, Smith & Slover, P.C. Wichita - Metro University of Alabama in Huntsville, Boulder-Dushanbe Sister Cities League of Women Voters of Rotary Club of West Wichita Office of International Programs Colorado Springs Sister Cities Atlanta-Fulton County and Services International * World Health Organization Kentucky CROSSwalk People Helpers Collaborating Center in Kentucky Community and Technical Alaska Friendship Force of Greater Denver Reproductive Health, Emory College System Alaska/Khabarovsk Rule of Law International Institute of University School of Medicine Kentucky World Trade Center Partnership Committee Education/Rocky Mountain Sister Cities of Louisville, Inc. Rotary Club of Homer-Kachemak Regional Center Idaho University of Louisville School of Bay Leadership Pikes Peak Lionel Hampton International Jazz Music Rotary Club of Denver Festival, University of Idaho World Affairs Council of Kentucky & Arizona Rotary Club of Denver Mile High Southern Indiana* Arizona Supreme Court Rotary Club of Denver Southeast Illinois Flagstaff Sister Cities Organization Rotary Club of Estes Park Columbia College Chicago Louisiana International Training and Rotary Club of Highlands Ranch Friendship Force of Northern Illinois Contemporary Arts Center, Consulting, Inc.* Rotary Club of Longmont International Cultural Educational New Orleans People to People International, Rotary Club of Parker Association Louisiana State University, Arizona Chapter Rotary Club of University Hills International Visitors Center of Department of History and Tucson-Almaty Sister Cities Rotary Club of Westminster 7:10 Chicago* Social Sciences Committee* Telluride Film Festival Russian, East European, and New Orleans Citizen Diplomacy U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eurasian Center, University of Council* District of Arizona Connecticut Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Rotary Club of Harahan U.S. District Court for the District Connecticut/Pskov Rule of Law Springfield Commission on U.S. District Court for the Western of Arizona Partnership Committee International Visitors District of Louisiana International Visitors Committee U.S. Court of Appeals for the Arkansas of Connecticut Seventh Circuit Maine Arkansas Council for International U.S. District Court for the District U.S. District Court for the Northern Archangel Committee Visitors* of Connecticut District of Illinois Kotlas-Waterville Area Sister City University of Arkansas School of Vladimir/Canterbury Sister City Connection Law* District of Columbia Association of Bloomington- Maine/Arkhangelsk Rule of Law U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the CEC ArtsLink Normal, Medical Partnership Partnership Committee Eastern & Western Districts of Terrorism, Transnational Crime Committee Arkansas and Corruption Center at Maryland George Mason University* Indiana League of Women Voters of California Valbin's Center for International Hamilton Superior Court Baltimore County Brubeck Institute at the University Programs Indiana Judicial Center Maryland/Leningrad Oblast Rule of of the Pacific* Vital Voices Global Partnership* Indiana Supreme Court Law Partnership Committee Center for Safe Energy* Marion Superior Court Maryland Sister States Program Citizen Diplomacy Council of Florida Muncie Public Library Maryland Sister States Program, San Diego Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida National Peace Foundation Maryland-Leningrad Region International Visitors Council of International Visitor Corps of Rotary Club of Indianapolis Sister State Committee Los Angeles* Jacksonville, Inc. Maryland State Department of Long Beach/Sochi Sister City Lakeland Sister Cities Iowa Education Association International, Inc. Council Bluffs Sister City Los Angeles - Saint Petersburg League of Women Voters of Association Massachusetts Sister City Committee Broward County Council for International Visitors International Center of Worcester* Northern California World Miami Dade College to Iowa Cities Massachusetts/Tomsk Rule of Law Trade Center Moldovan Children's Audiology International Training, Education Partnership Committee Paso Robles Rotary Club Foundation & Business Services (ITEBS) & Rotary Club of Scituate Sacramento City College, Sister City Program of Associates, LLC International Studies Program Gainesville, Inc.* International Writing Program at Michigan San Diego-Vladivostok Sister Stetson University College of Law the University of Iowa Colleagues International, Inc. City Society U.S. District Court for the Middle Iowa Sister States* Detroit Metropolitan Bar Sebastopol World Friends, District of Florida Muscatine Sister Cities, Inc. Association Chyhyryn Committee U.S. District Court for the Southern Eastern Michigan University - U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Iowa School of Social Work Eastern District of California 22 Rotary Club of Downtown People to People International Oklahoma Virginia Grand Rapids New Mexico Chapter University of Oklahoma American Association of University U.S. District Court for the Eastern Rotary Club of Las Cruces International Programs Center* Women, Reston-Herndon Area District of Michigan Santa Fe Council on International Branch U.S. District Court for the Western Relations Oregon League of Women Voters of South District of Michigan U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Blooming Hill Vineyard Hampton Roads District of New Mexico Oregon/Sakhalin Rule of Law National Peace Foundation* Minnesota U.S. District Court for the District Partnership Committee Norfolk Sister City Association, Inc. Duluth/Petrozavodsk Committee, of New Mexico Umpqua Community College Rotary Club of James City County Duluth Sister Cities Zonta Club of Roseburg Area Rotary Club of Lynchburg International, Inc. New York Rotary Club of Richmond Friends of Houston Nature Center Albany/Tula Alliance Pennsylvania Terrorism, Transnational Crime and League of Women Voters of Duluth Buffalo - Tver Sister Cities, Inc. American Institute of Finance and Corruption Center at George League of Women Voters of Edina CEC ArtsLink* Technology Mason University League of Women Voters of Doctors of the World-USA Keystone Human Services U.S. District Court for the Eastern Minneapolis Greater Rochester Area Branch International* District of Virginia Minnesota AIDS Project of the American Association Magee Womancare International* Minnesota Supreme Court of University Women Pittsburgh Council for International Washington North Country Health Services International Center of Syracuse* Visitors (now GlobalPittsburgh) Foundation for Russian American World Services of La Crosse, Inc. International Film Seminars, Inc. Rotary Club of Blue Bell Economic Cooperation International Institute of Buffalo Rotary Club of Greenville Pacific Northwest National Mississippi League of Women Voters Rochester Rotary Club of Hermitage Laboratory University of Mississippi Metropolitan Area Rotary Club of West Reading- Rotary Club of Lewis River Newcomb Central School District Wyomissing U.S. District Court for the Western Missouri New York State Unified Court Ukrainian Cultural and District of Washington International Visitors Council of System, Office of Court Humanitarian Institute World Affairs Council of Seattle* Greater Kansas City Administration U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the League of Women Voters of Saratoga Springs-Chekhov Sister Eastern District of Pennsylvania West Virginia Sedalia-Pettis County City Partnership U.S. District Court for the Eastern Center for International League of Women Voters of Saratoga Springs Public Library District of Pennsylvania Understanding, Inc.* Southwest Missouri Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Supporters of Civil Society in Law Center South Carolina Wisconsin Russia, Inc.* U.S. District Court for the Eastern Hilton Head Island Rotary Club American Association of University District of New York Women, La Crosse, Wisconsin Nebraska Western New York/Novgorod Rule Tennessee Branch Applied Information Management of Law Partnership Committee Blount County Sister City Fox Cities-Kurgan Sister Cities (AIM) Institute Organization* Program, Inc. Friendship Force of Lincoln* North Carolina Oak Ridge National Laboratory Fox Valley Technical College Kiwanis Club of Omaha, Inc. American Dance Festival Southwest Tennessee Community Friendship Force of Greater Forsyth Technical Community College* Milwaukee Nevada College Friends of Chernobyl Centers, U.S. Northern Nevada International Friendship Force of Western Texas (FOCCUS) Center* North Carolina Richland College Hedberg Public Library Rotary Club of Las Vegas Fremont International Affairs Council* Rotary Club of Frisco Noon League of Women Voters of the U.S. District Court for the District National Peace Foundation Rotary Club of San Antonio North La Crosse Area of Nevada University of North Carolina at Central Madison Area Technical College Chapel Hill, Department of Slavic Northcentral Technical College* New Hampshire Languages and Literatures Utah Sigurd Olson Environmental International Cultural Educational Western North Carolina Peace International Hosting* Institute, Northland College Association Keepers Salt Lake Community College Stevens Point-Rostov Veliky Sister New Hampshire Superior Court U.S. District Court for the District City Project New Hampshire/Vologda Rule of Ohio of Utah World Services of La Crosse, Inc.* Law Partnership Committee Friendship Force of Dayton Utah Valley University, Office of International Visitors Council, International Affairs & Wyoming New Jersey Columbus* Diplomacy* Wyoming Global Leadership Rotary District 7470 League of Women Voters of Exchange Metropolitan Columbus Vermont New Mexico Supreme Court of Ohio Vermont Karelia Rule of Law *This organization hosted two or Los Alamos-Sarov Sister Cities Project, Inc. more local Open World exchanges Initiative in 2008. 23 In Chicago, two Russian delegates—a regional legislator (front) and a city administrator—explore the Freedom Museum’s interactive Vote4Me! presidential election exhibit during a fall 2008 elections ex - change hosted by the International Visitors Center of Chicago.
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Open World Leadership Center at the Library of Congress 101 Independence Avenue SE Washington, DC 20540-9980 www.openworld.gov