Last year's presidential election and the impact Ralph Nader had on the contest were topics of a lively discussion—conducted in Russian—in the Library's Madison Building on Nov. 28.
Russian Open World Program participants listen to Mila Medina, United Way, discussing volunteerism. - Christina Tyler Wenks
The 62 young Russian political and civic leaders taking part in the conversation were visiting the United States under the Open World Program, an exchange administered by the new Center for Russian Leadership Development at the Library. Congress authorized the independent center in December 2000 (P.L. 106-554) to provide a permanent home for the Open World Program following the Library's successful two-year pilot of the exchange, formerly known as the Russian Leadership Program. Open World brings emerging Russian leaders to communities across the United States for intensive, short-term visits that immerse them in the daily workings of America's democratic institutions.
The Library is now the first official stop in the United States for Open World participants, virtually all of whom have never traveled to the United States before. The Library hosts the delegations' orientation sessions, which are designed to provide an overview of the U.S. government and the nonprofit sector and to acquaint Russian visitors with American family life in preparation for home stays in their host communities.
The delegation that the Library welcomed on Nov. 28 represented a broad range of professions and Russian regions—journalists, heads of think tanks, educators, local legislators, federal and regional officials, heads of nongovernmental organizations and foundations, business people and community and party activists from 33 of Russia's 89 regions.
"The new legislation for the Open World Program is a significant milestone for a pilot program that is only three years old," said Geraldine Otremba, chief executive officer of the Open World Program. "I felt it was important to emphasize the link to the Library. Holding the orientations here serves that purpose and introduces our Russian guests directly to our staff, collections and services."
The Nov. 28 orientation session began with welcoming remarks from Ms. Otremba, who explained the program's purpose, funding and history. A number of participants presented gifts of books, which the Open World Program will make available to the Library. Among the Russian books and pamphlets received were histories of the city of Omsk and of Orenburg State University, a volume on the Urdmurt Republic and an autobiography by gun designer Mikhail Kalashnikov.
During the opening session, several delegates thanked Dr. Billington for proposing the Open World Program, which they said has had a positive impact on past participants' views and understanding of the United States.
The American Councils for International Education, Open World's logistics contractor, arranged the program for the orientation, with assistance from the Library's Giulia Adelfio, a Leadership Development Program fellow working with the Open World Program.
Speakers covered the structure of the U.S. government, focusing on the separation of powers, the system of checks and balances and federalism. The Russian participants asked questions about such issues as the weight given presidential decrees in the United States and the process for appointing and removing Supreme Court justices. Mila Medina of United Way International discussed charitable giving, nonprofit organizations and volunteerism in the United States and reviewed United Way's activities in Russia. The Open World participants engaged in a discussion about the future of Russia's nonprofit sector and asked a number of questions about the tax treatment of donations in the United States. (Russia's tax code does not allow deductions for individual or corporate charitable donations.)
Following lunch in the Montpelier Room and briefings on their community-based programs, the participants went on tours of the Jefferson Building given in Russian by Vera DeBuchananne, program manager for the Open World Program, and Elena Zahirpour of the U.S. Acquisitions Section.
After a two-day stay in Washington, the participants traveled to host communities in eight states, where they spent a week examining the roles of the federal, state and local governments in local communities.
Another Russian delegation took part in a similar orientation program at the Library on Dec. 5. They were joined by former U.S. Ambassador to Russia James Collins.
The visits by the two civic delegations wrapped up the 2001 program year for the Open World exchange. In addition to making the transition from a pilot project to a permanent center in 2001, Open World launched a new Web site (www.open-world2002.gov) and an alumni newsletter, hosted a high-level parliamentary delegation, began planning for the expanded 2002 program (which will invite 2,600 Russian leaders to participate) and initiated a groundbreaking rule-of-law pilot program for prominent Russian judges. Open World's focus on rule of law has been especially timely, since the Russian Parliament recently approved, after considerable discussion, a major overhaul of the country's judicial system proposed by the Putin administration.
The year also saw the creation of a board of trustees to oversee the Open World Program, as required by the legislation establishing the new center (P.L. 106-554). Eight of the center's nine trustees have been named. Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), chief sponsor of the center legislation, will serve as honorary chairman of the board of trustees. Librarian of Congress James H. Billington sits on the board ex-officio and serves as interim chair. The congressional leadership has appointed Sens. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and Reps. Amo Houghton (R-N.Y.) and Robert E. "Bud" Cramer Jr. (D-Ala.) to the board. Private sector members are former Ambassador Collins, financier George Soros and former Rep. James W. Symington, executive director of the 1999 Russian Leadership Program.
