December 11, 2006

For more information contact: Southwest at (901) 333-4024 or 4116

“OPEN WORLD” RUSSIAN DELEGATION AGAIN MAKES SOUTHWEST HEADQUARTERS FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Release written by: Pat O'Brien

Once again, Southwest Tennessee Community College will host the “Open World” Russian leadership participants for the Memphis segment of their United States tour, according to Debbie Hunt, Southwest instructor and coordinator of international student programs. Their focus this year is “Accountable Governance.”

Open World was authorized in 1999 by the U.S. Congress as a leadership program to bring young, emerging leaders from Russia to the United States to forge better understanding between the two nations. Following the Accountable Governance theme, delegates this year will concentrate formal sessions on activities of government offices, non-government offices and private sector entities responsible for budgetary planning and economic initiatives.

Four delegates will visit Memphis, accompanied by an Open World facilitator who will act as a translator in addition to coordinating travel. They will stay with host families who undertake to provide meals, transportation to scheduled events, and “as many cultural activities as we can fit in,” according to Hunt.

All except the facilitator are making their first visit to the United States and have little or only basic English language skills. All have considerable and varying experience in government and most are involved in volunteer work with at least one organization. While most did not specify a particular religious affiliation, all expressed an interest in attending religious services with their hosts.

The group will arrive in Memphis Saturday afternoon, December 9 and disperse to their hosts’ homes; the weekend will be devoted to cultural and social activities. Lunches and dinners during the week will be at various restaurants and with host families. Cultural and social activities will include a visit to the National Civil Rights Museum, holiday concert at West Memphis, Arkansas Civic Center, and other local museum visits, concerts and local sightseeing as decided by the group. The group will drive to Nashville Sunday afternoon and enjoy sightseeing in addition to the Rockettes from Radio City Music Hall at Gaylord Opryland.


The Sessions:
First day will be in Nashville.

Monday, December 11, 2006

9 a.m. – Tennessee Municipal League – Budgeting for a State: The Challenges and Opportunities.

1:30 p.m. – Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development – Statewide Initiatives in Economic Development and Meeting the Challenges Associated with Development. John Word.

Tuesday, December 12, 2006 9 a.m.

Southwest Tennessee Community College Continuing Education and Community Partnerships (CECP) division – Meeting the Workforce Needs of the Community in a Growth Economy: A Community College’s Role in the Role in the Training Development. Dr. Ralph Chumbley, executive director, Community Relations and Community Partnerships.

1:30 p.m. – Bank of Bartlett – The Checks and Balances of the Banking Industry. Harold Byrd, vice president, Bank of Bartlett.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

9 a.m. – Memphis Regional Chamber of Commerce – A Guide to a Hub City – A Logistics Center. Clifford Stockton, senior advisor of Economic Development; Susan Hadley, director, Economic Development; Mike Demster, vice president, Bio-Science and Technology Business Development.

12:30 p.m. – Courtroom of Judge Diane Vescovo – Meeting with the Honorable Diane Vescovo, Federal Judge, and Attendance at a Federal Juried Trial Conducted by Judge Vescovo.

Thursday, December 14, 2006

10:30 a.m. – Tennessee Department of Economic Development, Memphis Office – The Function of the Local Office within a State Agency: Autocracy vs. Dependency, the Pulse of the Local Community. John Folks, Maggie Conway, Shelby County government officials.

1:30 p.m. Southwest Tennessee Community College – Managing the Budget and Validating the Funds of a Metropolitan Institution. Jim Willis, vice president, Workforce Development and Continuing Education; Ron Parr, interim vice president, Financial and Administrative Services.

Friday, December 15, 2006

8:30 a.m. Germantown City Hall, Germantown, Tennessee – The Role of a Metropolitan Mayor in Local Government Accountability. Mayor Sharon Goldsworthy.

1:30 p.m. West Tennessee Historical Society and Memphis Heritage – The Role of the Historical Society in the Preservation of Local History: How Non-Profit Organization Support Ongoing Projects. John Harkins, president, West Tennessee Historical Society; June West, executive director, Memphis Heritage.

Other Activities:

Lunch and dinner at various restaurants and with host families, cultural activities including visit to the National Civil Rights Museum, holiday concert at West Memphis, Arkansas Civic Center, and other local museum visits, concerts, and local sightseeing as decided by the group.

The Delegates:

Viacheslav Burov, 39, is currently head of Kizlyar District Municipal Unit, is married and has a two year old son and daughters age 12 and 13. He enjoys symphonic music and designing and constructing power boats, and volunteers in organizing cultural events for veterans and disabled persons.

Victor Grebinchak, 44, is Deputy City Head on Social Issues for the Raduzhniy City Administration. He is married and has one grown son, speaks Polish and Ukrainian (though only basic English), and enjoys soccer and hockey.

Magirbek Magomedov, 48, is Assistant Head of the Administration of Leninsky District in Makhachkala City. He is married and has two daughters ages 17 and 19, does volunteer work for the Dagestan State University Academic Council of the Department of Economics, and his hobbies are fishing and hunting.

Svetlana Nerushay, 41, is Deputy Head of the Administration of Vyborg City, Leningrad Region. She is married and has two daughters ages 13 and one and a half. She volunteers 30 hours a month with the League of Women Voters, and her hobbies are travel, literature, sports and theater.

Irina Novikova, 30, is Facilitator Coordinator, Open World Program, American Councils for International Education. Fluent in English, she enjoys reading in both English and Russian, both active and spectator sports, and movies.