Friday, January 24, 2014

Friday 1/24, 2:45pm


I've spent much of the day preparing for a short presentation at a conference at Congress Hall here in Saratov. I am told there will be a huge roundtable; microphones, local press---and that I will have an interpreter(This will be the incredibly proficient Masha from our office here at the Institute).
The roundatble will be on: "The Interaction of Business and Local Authorities: Positive Experiences and Risks". My plan is to present a microcosm of the local government/business dynamic here in the Washington Area---specifically focusing on the Tyson's/Fairfax Economic Development Partnership, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, the Arts District Non-profit in my own town of Hyattsville MD, and perhaps the Silver Spring renaissance. I am busy figuring out how local government works in these places, tracking down the non-governmental interest goups and business organizations, and perhaps presenting some of the positive and negative personal narratives involved...

If anyone has any insight on any of this---with any perspective---please feel free to contact and engage!

These are all success stories if considered from certain perspectives---why? What worked?

I also met this morning, along with Natalia(Who is actually Dr. Natalia A. Bobarykina, Head of the International Relations Office here), Masha(who did most of the interpreting), my friend from the train---Dr. Viktor Leonidevich Cheplyaev, the Director of the Institute, and deputy director Dr. Vladimir Chernishev.
This meeting was a serious discussion of how NVCC and the Stolypin Volga region Institute of Mangement could broaden ties, establish partnerships, and in general enhance the educational experiences of our student bodies, faculty, and administrative staff.
Friday 1/24, 2:45pm


I've spent much of the day preparing for a short presentation at a conference at Congress Hall here in Saratov. I am told there will be a huge roundtable; microphones, local press---and that I will have an interpreter(This will be the incredibly proficient Masha from our office here at the Institute).
The roundatble will be on: "The Interaction of Business and Local Authorities: Positive Experiences and Risks". My plan is to present a microcosm of the local government/business dynamic here in the Washington Area---specifically focusing on the Tyson's/Fairfax Economic Development Partnership, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, the Arts District Non-profit in my own town of Hyattsville MD, and perhaps the Silver Spring renaissance. I am busy figurung out how local government works in these places, tracking down the non-governmental interest goups and business organizations, and perhaps presenting some of the positive and negative personal narratives involved...

If anyone has any insight on any of this---with any perspective---please feel free to contact and engage!
We disucssed the prospect of  SVRIM's student's attending ELI and /or exchanging physically with our NVCC students; short or long term faculty exchanges, research exchanges, internships, and the establishment of some kind of utilization of our combined BUS ADMIN/ECO faculties in consulting with local businesses. Viktor is an incredibly thoughtful, forward thinking, optimistic leader---lots of ideas---very serious---and listens intently. I came away from the encounter very impressed. he reminded me in a way of Dr. Blois, our former NVCC-Loudoun Humanities Dean---the person who gave me my first taste of international academic cooperation when he included me on a Va CIES exchange with Jadavpur University in Kolkata India in 2008. More to follow on this stuff. Comments and ideas are welcome! This includes students please! My mind is racing but it is Friday afternoon and i am going back to my little apartment on the Volga to listen to a little Tony Kornheiser via Washington sports radio, have a little dinner, play the guitar for a bit, work some, and relax. I miss you all and I hope you are well.