President of Parliament Hon. Gracita Arrindell over the weekend returned from the Dole Institute of Politics which is part of the University of Kansas (KU) after delivering a speech in the Class of Dr. Barbara Ballard ‘Women in Leadership.’
Director of the Institute Dr. William ‘Bill’ Lacy received from the President several tokens of appreciation, "Sint Maarten, Yesterday and Today by author Speetjens; "Looking back to move forward," by publishers House of Nehesi; and a personalized Guavaberry drink.
The President’s presentation focused on Sint Maarten’s constitutional status from 1994 till present, Sint Maarten’s new Governmental structure, in which the role of Parliament featured prominently.
Sint Maarten as a tourism destination, the Harbor, Airport, diversity of the country was also discussed with the students, faculty members and other interested guests.
Also as part of the program was an attendance dinner of KU and Lawrence community members in honor of program guest, Mark Zwonitzer.
Zwonitzer speaking under the Dole Institute of Journalism and Politics Lecture, addressed the audience on the best sellers book, ‘What it takes’ the work of Richard Ben Cramer and Mark Zwonitzer.
On Thursday after President Arrindell had lunch with Kansas University students and Faculty members, Arrindell spoke at the class and interacted with the students of Dr. Barbara Ballard, Dole Institute Associate Director, who teaches ‘Women in Leadership, the legislative process, Blake 207.
The history behind the Dole Institute of Politics goes back to shortly after his 1996 presidential bid, Bob Dole received a proposal to entrust his congressional papers, accrued over 35-years of public service to the University of Kansas, where he had studied before World War II service interrupted his studies.
Together Bob Dole and KU crafted the Dole Institute, which would not only house and catalog the papers for research use, but offer public opportunities for all individuals to discover how they might best serve their community, their state, and their nation.
Established as the Robert J. Dole Institute for Public Service
The mission of the Dole Institute of Politics is to promote political and civic participation as well as civil disclosure in a bi-partisan, balanced manner.
By providing a forum for discussion of political and economic issues, fostering for public service leadership and encouraging participation in the political process, where they emphasize that politics is an honourable profession and that only through political and civic participation can citizens redirect the course of a nation.
PHOTO CUTLINE: L to R, President of Parliament Hon. Gracita Arrindell, Director of the Institute Dr. William ‘Bill’ Lacy, and Fellower Lecturer Sarian Bouma.