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The Official Publication of the Michigan Chiropractic Society (   U.S.A.)
Posted on September 1, 1999

By   The Society

The Michigan Chiropractic Society (MCS) was a host organization for twenty-four Russian leaders visiting Michigan’s Capitol area during the last two weeks of August. Member doctors and MCS staff shared their insight and expertise on the mission and functions of the MCS as a non-profit organization. Our foreign guests learned how the various sectors of our American system interrelate to one another to achieve their goals. They saw non-profits working with governmental leaders, governmental leaders working with business, and how political parties work to educate and involve the sectors. MCS will highlight their visit with photos in both the September and October issues of The Society.

The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) administered the "Russian Leadership Program" (RLP) for the Library of Congress (LOC) and worked through our Governmental Affairs Director, K.P. Pelleran, a former program officer and trainer for NDI in Russia, as their Michigan program coordinator.

The RLP is a pilot program to enable emerging political leaders of Russia at all levels of government to gain significant, firsthand exposure to the American free market economic system and the operation of American democratic institutions through visits to governments and communities at comparable levels in the United States. The Russian participants and escort interpreters spent approximately 10 days in the U.S., all or part of which included home stays with American host families. The home stays gave the Russian participants a view of the American cultural experience through participation in community activities with American families.

The goal of the RLP is to provide an opportunity for Russian elected officials, political candidates, and emerging political and civic leaders from all jurisdictional levels to observe the American political system and effective, responsive government at the federal, state, county, and municipal levels. The principles of accountability, governance, and the role of the citizenry in government are among the concepts emphasized by the programs.

The MCS, its member doctors, and staff were delighted to participate in this important international democracy-building program! It provided a unique opportunity for the MCS to work with key state and local elected officials, business people, and the media, allowing us to be the "voice of chiropractic in Michigan". Shestleva & Dosvedonya!

[Permission granted by Michigan Chiropractic Society (MCS).]

[Reprinted with Permission]