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Commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the Russian fortress Fort Elizabeth on the island of Kauai

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This year, Russia and the United States commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Russian settlements and founding of the Russian fortresses Fort Alexander, Fort Barclay de Tolly and the only one remaining, Fort Elizabeth (Hawaiian: Paʻulaʻula o Hipo), on the island of Kauai. These events are a bright page of the history of positive relations between Russia and the United States.

Congress of Russian Americans, Russian Center New York, and Novosibirsk State University Of Architecture, Design And Arts invite you to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Russian fortress Fort Elizabeth on the island of Kauai

Venue: Courtyard by Marriott Kaua’i at Coconut Beach, 650 Aleka Loop, Kapaa, HI, USA
Date: November 11-13, 2017

In this commemoration, we plan to hold a celebratory ceremony, a forum, round table, exhibition, a proposed restoration project of the settlement and presentation of several books, as well as a traditional Hawaiian reception and cultural show. Our goal is directed toward strengthening humanitarian ties and mutual understanding between the two nations. We view this as an excellent opportunity to remember the contributions which Russians made in the development of the American continent and in the growth of the spiritual life of the indigenous people of the US.

Steady growth of interest of the citizens of our countries in the pages of history, joint efforts in the field of preservation and promotion of historical and cultural heritage will help to revive communications between our people and to overcome the current decline in relationships between the countries. An opportunity to touch this joint history gives an extraordinary force of influence and raises awareness of participation of the two nations with each other. Additionally, it can give an enormous boost to Hawaii’s travel industry (specifically Kauai) and economy. We hope to attract the attention of possible investors, including the Russian government into restoring Fort Elizabeth to its full historical potential, generating global interest for academics, historians and tourists.

We are proud to report that this project has already gained support of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Moscow government, various US government officials, the Russian Orthodox Church, numerous organizations and universities, as well as historians and academics interested in preserving the Russian historical and cultural heritage. This project will receive informational support from the American and Russian media, and we are confident that we will generate a greater interest in this project once we start introducing and promoting it to the general public.

We trust you will find an opportunity to sponsor, support and/or participate in this project, and have outlined various levels of proposed sponsorship opportunities. These proposals are outlined below:

PLATINUM SPONSOR – Sponsor of all events                                                                              $10000 or more

    1. Participation in all events.
    2. Logo and the name of the sponsor in forum materials.
    3. Sponsor’s name in all announcements and press releases.
    4. Placement of sponsor’s banners and materials during the events.
    5. Information, logo and website link of the sponsor on the project website and the sites of partner organizations, as well as social networks.
    6. Four invitations to the events.
    7. Ability for the sponsor to speak at all events.
    8. Invitation to VIP reception and exclusive tour.

GOLD SPONSOR – Sponsor of the Forum                                                                      from $5,000 up to $10,000

      1. Participation in forum, roundtable and reception.
      2. Logo and the name of the sponsor in forum materials.
      3. Name of the sponsor in press releases of the forum.
      4. Placement of sponsor’s banners and materials during the forum.
      5. Information, logo and website link of the sponsor company on the project website and the sites of partner organizations, as well as social networks.
      6. Two invitations to the events.
      7. Ability for the sponsor to speak at the forum.

SILVER SPONSOR – Sponsor of the round table                                                             from $2500 up to $5,000

        1. Participation in the forum and the roundtable.
        2. Placement of sponsor’s materials during the round table.
        3. Sponsor’s name in press releases of the round table.
        4. Information, logo and website link of the sponsor company on the project website and the sites of partner organizations, as well as social networks.
        5. Ability for the sponsor to speak at the round table.

BRONZE SPONSOR                                                                                                                    from $1,000 up to $2,500

          1. Participation in the forum and the roundtable.
          2. Placement of sponsor’s materials during the round table.
          3. Information, logo and website link of the sponsor company on the project website and the sites of partner organizations, as well as social networks.

GENERAL SPONSOR                                                                                                                   from $500 up to $1,000

Information and logo on the project site.

 

Friends of Fort Elizabeth – Be a part of the commemoration: all donations to Fort Elizabeth Fund are welcome and tax-deductible. Name of donors over $100 will be listed on a separate page of donors of Friends of Fort Elizabeth. Please send your donations (memo: Fort Elizabeth Fund,), payable to Congress of Russian Americans and send to CRA, 2460 Sutter St., San Francisco, CA 94115. Please include your email, tel., name and address with your check.  You may also send your donations here:


Sponsorship Opportunities



Looking forward to your participation and support in this very special commemoration.

For questions about how you can sponsor or participate, please feel free to contact Natalie Sabelnik, president of Congress of Russian Americans, at ngsab@aol.com or call: 1-415-999-7152.

CRA has new Washington DC representative

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Xenia Woyevodsky has been involved in Russian-American humanitarian and cultural activities for over 30 years.   As  Executive Director/CEO of the Tolstoy Foundation, Inc., founded in l939 in New York City by Alexandra Tolstoy, youngest daughter of Leo Tolstoy, she expanded the Foundation’s activities in the 1990’s into the Russian Federation through the establishment of viable working partnerships to raise cultural and historical awareness.  Russian-American joint projects included semester abroad programs for the empowerment of disadvantaged children and a ground-breaking exhibit in Moscow on the life and work of Alexandra Tolstoy in 2000.  She also collaborated closely with CRA on many mutually-beneficial  projects. including improving working relationships with members of Congress.

Later, as Director of the “Consortium of Russian-American Orthodox Parishes and Organizations,” she established a pilot summer program at the L.N. Museum/Estate at Yasnaya Polyana with a grant from the Russian Ministry of Education.

Xenia Woyevodsky continues to serve as President of International Firebird Arts Foundation showcasing Russian culture in America.  (www.firebirdarts.org).  She is a Member of the Governing Board of the Friends of the Russian Cultural Centre in Washington, D.C.  and Secretary of the Parish Council of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Washington and has been involved in many of the Parish’s fundraising events such as the Annual Tatiana Ball and the Tatiana Debutante Cotillion.

She is passionately committed to bilingualism at an early age in childhood development.  At the present time,  Xenia  Woyevodsky is  also spearheading the establishment of the Tolstoy Educational  Initiative, a nonprofit organization whose primary purpose is to create and maintain the first Russian language immersion charter school in Washington, D.C. — the Tolstoy Academy.  And to support Tolstoy Preschool activities and pre-college summer programs at the Tolstoy Estate in Yasnaya Polyana as well.

Xenia was born in Munich, Germany  of  “White Russian” parents born in Belgrade.   She is a widow with a step-son, Nicholas and grandchildren Michael and James and lives in Bethesda, Maryland.

Congress of Russian Americans expresses deep regret in the closure of the Russian Consulate in San Francisco

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Congress of Russian Americans expresses deep regret in the recent closure of the Russian Consulate in San Francisco. The consulate in San Francisco is the oldest and most established of Russia’s consulates in the United States. Both Russians, as well as Americans wishing visas to travel will be affected in the 7 states that the SF Consulate services.
CRA, founded in 1973, as a national non-profit, non-governmental, non-Communist organization, during the Cold War, established friendly working relations with the Russian Consulate after the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991.
The Consulate has been extremely helpful with CRA’s mission of preserving and promoting Russian historical and cultural heritage, as well as facilitating our medical teams to Russia for surgeries and humanitarian help, as well as visa support to our countless members.  And, we thank Consul General Sergey Petrov, Deputy Consul Andrei Varlamov and their entire staff for their invaluable help to our organization, our members and our Russian-American community.
CRA expresses concern that this closure will greatly affect the current descent of bilateral relations, and hopes for improved dialogue and understanding between our two countries and increased cooperation for better US-Russia relations.

Fort Ross 2017 annual historical cultural festival

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Thousands of people attended the annual historical cultural festival at Fort Ross, on the northwestern California Coast, on July 29, 2017.
Fort-Ross
Fort Ross settlement was founded in the XIX century by Ivan Kuskov from Tot’ma, Vologodskoy region of Russia. From 1808 to 1812, the settlement was not just part of the Russian American Fur Company, but home to the Russians, but to Kashia native Indians, the Alaska natives (Aleuts) and California ranch era people. Fort Ross is currently a California State Park and a national historical monument.
This history is brought to life each year on the last Saturday of July, where costumed volunteers put on vignettes, as they also show the many trades and crafts of the time. Horse and buggy rides, international foods, as well as song & dance of different cultures, including Russian, as well as Kashia, Russian bell ringing, presentations, exhibits fill the fun-for-the-entire family day.
In her interview to TASS, Olga Miller, director of the Renova Fort Ross Foundation, which is the main sponsor of the festival was quoted as saying that “one of the main goals of the event is to showcase the diverse historical heritage of the fort”. “This event”, she said, “presents a unique opportunity for cultural and international exchange”. Miller feels that this event “brings together people and breaks down deep-rooted stereotypes”.
Among the different groups that performed at the festival were the “Slavyanka Chorus” with their rich program of Russian sacred and folk music, the San Francisco Balalaika Ensemble, Russia House Kedry, Kitka, Children’s Dance & Song Ensemble “Zabavushk” and Su Nu Nu Shinal, the Kashia Pomo and Coast Miwok Native Americans from California performing their traditional songs and dances.
When then-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced a list of potential park closures, and Fort Ross was on the list, Congress of Russian Americans took part in an extensive campaign, involving gathering of names on petitions, not just state-wide and nation-wide, but throughout Latin America, Europe, Australia, where many Russians reside, and who believed that this was indeed a closure of a Russian historical monument and presented letters and petitions to Schwarzenegger against closing the park. It was at this time, also, that Renova Fort Ross Foundation also stepped in, and has been providing support and financial aid to numerous Fort Ross projects ever since.
CRA correspondent

LETTER TO TRUMP Re SANCTIONS

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Download (PDF, 201KB)

 

ПИСЬМО ПРЕЗИДЕНТУ ТРАМПУ ОТ КОНГРЕССА РУССКИХ АМЕРИКАНЦЕВ

 

Дональду Трампу
Президенту Соединенных Штатов Америки
Белый дом
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.
Вашингтон, округ Колумбия

22 июля 2017 года

Уважаемый президент Трамп!

Обращаемся к Вам от лица Конгресса русских американцев (КРА), общеамериканской организации, созданной в 1973 году, в которой состоят несколько тысяч членов, в основном это американские граждане русского происхождения. КРА является признанным голосом русских американцев. Мы внесли свой вклад в обогащение Америки, а среди членов КРА Вы найдете как лауреата Нобелевской премии, так и многочисленных русско-американских инноваторов, художников и выдающихся деятелей гуманитарных наук, искусств и наук. КРА всячески поддерживает американские идеалы демократии, гражданских прав, человеческого достоинства и верховенства закона.

Мы вынуждены обратиться к Вам, чтобы выразить огромное сожаление в связи с усилиями, которые предпринимают некоторые члены Конгресса США и добиваются того, чтобы санкции, введенные администрацией Обамы в отношении Российской Федерации, сделать постоянными.

Нет сомнений в том, что курс, который предыдущая администрация проводила в российско-американских отношениях, дестабилизировала ситуацию на мировой арене.

Решение Обамы ввести санкции в отношении России подрывает усилия по поддержанию мира и ведет к бесполезным экономическим потерям.

Этот крестовый поход Обамы, который хотел окружить и сдержать Россию, оказался неэффективным, это также стало серьезным препятствием на пути конструктивного диалога между США и Россией.

Более того, раздраженная риторика политиков, распространяемая путем одностороннего пропагандистский шквала, порождает ненависть ко всему русскому. И основную тяжесть всех последствий этих бездумных слов и действий будут вынуждены нести пять миллионов русских американцев, живущих в США.

Такие действия не могут служить американским интересам, поскольку они затянут США в губительный водоворот русофобии.

Если санкции, введенные предыдущей администрацией в отношении России, будут приняты и закреплены законодательством США, конечные результаты будут долгосрочными. Так произошло в случае с поправкой Джексона-Вэника, которая была введена из-за политики в отношении эмиграции из Советского Союза. Эта поправка, которая ограничивала торговлю со странами восточно-европейского блока, была принята в 1974 году, и ее действие продолжалось в течение почти четырех десятилетий, хотя факторы, которые привели к ее принятию, прекратили свое существование намного раньше.

Уважаемый Президент! КРА считает, что нет никаких существенных причин, по которым две великие мировые державы, Америка и Россия, не могут найти пути к мирному и взаимовыгодному сотрудничеству. Поэтому Конгресс русских американцев настоятельно просит Вас отказаться подписать законопроект, устанавливающий постоянные санкции против России.

С уважением,

Наталия Георгиевна Сабельник
Президент Конгресса русских американцев от имени Национального совета директоров КРА

STATEMENT

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CRA expresses great regret over the efforts of some in the U.S. Congress to make permanent the sanctions that the Obama administration imposed on the Russian Federation. This decision to impose sanctions on Russia undermined world peace and resulted in needless economic losses to both nations and became a major hindrance to constructive dialogue. It does not serve America’s interest at all to spiral downward into the abyss of russophobia, as the end results will be long-lasting. CRA believes that there are no fundamental reasons why two great world powers, America and Russia, cannot find away to a peaceful and mutually-advantageous cooperation.

ЗАЯВЛЕНИЕ

Конгресс русских американцев (КРА) выражает огромное сожаление в связи с усилиями, которые предпринимают некоторые члены Конгресса США и добиваются того, чтобы санкции, введенные администрацией Обамы в отношении Российской Федерации, сделать постоянными.

Такое решение о введении санкций в отношении России подорвет усилия по поддержанию мира, приведет к бесполезным экономическим потерям для обеих стран и станет серьезным препятствием на пути конструктивного диалога. Такое решение никак не может служить американским интересам, поскольку оно затянет США в водоворот русофобии с долгосрочными губительными результатами.

КРА считает, что нет никаких фундаментальных причин, по которым две великие мировые державы, Америка и Россия, не могут найти пути к мирному и взаимовыгодному сотрудничеству.

Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots of the US held a national conference

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On June 11, Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots of the US held a national conference of various Russian compatriot organizations in Washington DC.

The goal was to have organizations tell about their work, as well as listen to the mission of the coordinating council, as well as a report of the work that has been done since the current council was elected in August 2014.

CRA President and Chair of the Coordinating Council, Natalie Sabelnik introduced the Russian Federation Ambassador Sergey I. Kislyak, who gave the opening address.  Other speakers included Oleg Zhiganov, Rossotrudnichestvo representative in the US, and all four of the Russian Consulate Generals (New York, Houston, San Francisco and Seattle).

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Two of CRA directors, Elena Branson and Alexey Tarassov also attended the conference, and spoke of their work.  On June 12, CRA directors, N. Sabelnik, E.Branson and A.Tarasov, as well as Los Angeles CRA members, Ivan Podvalov and Ludmila Petlitskaya attended the “Russia Day” reception at the Russian Embassy.

Sponsorship Opportunities for Fort Elizabeth on the island of Kauai

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Sponsorship Opportunities

 

PLATINUM SPONSOR – Sponsor of all events                                                                              $10000 or more

    1. Participation in all events.
    2. Logo and the name of the sponsor in forum materials.
    3. Sponsor’s name in all announcements and press releases.
    4. Placement of sponsor’s banners and materials during the events.
    5. Information, logo and website link of the sponsor on the project website and the sites of partner organizations, as well as social networks.
    6. Four invitations to the events.
    7. Ability for the sponsor to speak at all events.
    8. Invitation to VIP reception and exclusive tour.

GOLD SPONSOR – Sponsor of the Forum                                                                      from $5,000 up to $10,000

      1. Participation in forum, roundtable and reception.
      2. Logo and the name of the sponsor in forum materials.
      3. Name of the sponsor in press releases of the forum.
      4. Placement of sponsor’s banners and materials during the forum.
      5. Information, logo and website link of the sponsor company on the project website and the sites of partner organizations, as well as social networks.
      6. Two invitations to the events.
      7. Ability for the sponsor to speak at the forum.

SILVER SPONSOR – Sponsor of the round table                                                             from $2500 up to $5,000

        1. Participation in the forum and the roundtable.
        2. Placement of sponsor’s materials during the round table.
        3. Sponsor’s name in press releases of the round table.
        4. Information, logo and website link of the sponsor company on the project website and the sites of partner organizations, as well as social networks.
        5. Ability for the sponsor to speak at the round table.

BRONZE SPONSOR                                                                                                                    from $1,000 up to $2,500

          1. Participation in the forum and the roundtable.
          2. Placement of sponsor’s materials during the round table.
          3. Information, logo and website link of the sponsor company on the project website and the sites of partner organizations, as well as social networks.

GENERAL SPONSOR                                                                                                                   from $500 up to $1,000

Information and logo on the project site.

Friends of Fort Elizabeth – Be a part of the commemoration: all donations to Fort Elizabeth Fund are welcome and tax-deductible. Name of donors over $100 will be listed on a separate page of donors of Friends of Fort Elizabeth. Please send your donations (memo: Fort Elizabeth Fund,), payable to Congress of Russian Americans and send to CRA, 2460 Sutter St., San Francisco, CA 94115. Please include your email, tel., name and address with your check.  You may also send your donations here:

Sponsorship Opportunities

Congratulations to Russian-American youth graduates in San Francisco, California.

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Congratulations to Russian-American youth graduates in San Francisco, California.
This year Congress of Russian Americans gave its traditional support to Russian-American youth by participating in graduations at Russian-American schools. On June 4, CRA director, Victoria Sabelnik gave congratulatory letters and complimentary membership in CRA to all graduates and a Gramota and a stipend to graduates that received a Gold and/or Silver Medal.
This year, 2 students graduated from the Sts. Cyrill & Methodious Russian High School at the Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco, California.   Pavel Priemishev was a Gold Medal recipient, while Anastasia Loukianoff graduated with a Silver Medal.  CRA congratulates all graduates for their fine achievement in their completion of Russian studies in grammar, literature, history, and scriptures.
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Children’s Art Competition

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On Saturday, May 13, 2017, the Congress of Russian Americans held a children’s art competition on ‘World of Russian Folk Tales”. This competition was conceived by the Regional Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots of the Americas last year in Costa Rica, at the annual regional conference. Chair of the Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots of the US (KSORS), Natalie Sabelnik (President of CRA) agreed, along with the regional council representative from US & KSORS Vice-President, Olga Tarasova (long-time CRA member & Editor of numerous newspapers & magazines) that the United States would organize a national competition from winning artwork from various cities/states of the US. Among the various states that participated included New York, Washington DC, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas and California. CRA orchestrated the art competition in the SF Bay Area, with 6 local schools participating. In total 147 children from Russian schools and Art Schools, from San Francisco, Fremont, San Jose participated in the competition, which was first held in their own school, from which the winning artwork was submitted for the art competition in 4 different categories (ages 4-6 yrs., 7-9 yrs., 10-13 yrs., 14-16 yrs.). Sacramento schools held their own competition, as well.
All artwork was hung in the Banquet Room of the Russian Center of San Francisco, (who were one of the sponsors, by providing the space for the exhibit and competition), by category with the name of each participant, age, title of the artwork and school that they represented.  Five judges, local artists (Olga Parr, Vladimir Krassovsky, Warren Cane, Olga Sokoloff & Maria Lobanovsky) with different styles of genre and media, were invited to judge the artwork, according to various criteria, including composition, technical skills, use of color, originality, etc. It was not an easy task to find and identify the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize winners in each category, as they spent over 2 hours reviewing the artwork and meeting together to judge each piece. As they diligently and dutifully reviewed each piece of artwork, insuring to take into account those from art studios with art training and those from Russian schools would be considered in their final decision, the guests, teachers, students waited patiently for the results, partaking in the reception, prepared and arranged by CRA.
All waited patiently for the decision of the judges. When the decision was made and the judges hung the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners, Natalie Sabelnik, CRA President, announced the winners in each category and thanked each judge, and each school personally for their participation. She emphasized how important it is for children to participate in such events, and for them to understand the importance of participation outweighs the need to win. As she always taught her children, the only losers in a competition are those that did not participate. It is not important to win or lose, it is important to participate, and this, above all, teaches them many life skills, including an opportunity to learn about their Russian language and culture. She also thanked the Russian Consulate for always supporting CRA, and these types of events. Two consulate members, Deputy Consul, Andrey Varlamov and Consul, Maksim Goncharoff, attended the exhibit and announcement of the art competition. Russian Center was also thanked for providing the space for the exhibit and competition, as well as Sasha and Nick Sabelnik, who helped her set up for the exhibit and the reception, and Victoria Sabelnik for her graphic design and compilation of the program brochure, which listed the schools, the program and the bios of each of the art judges.
The winners of the competition received ribbons, a certificate for category & placement, as well as a small gift. All, nearly 150 participants received a certificate of participation. A few children that attended the exhibit were delighted that even though they didn’t win, they had their artwork on display. Some even took photographs along their exhibited artwork. And, of course, the parents thanked CRA for coordinating the art competition, so that their children could participate. One parent even said, that while her child’s artwork was not on display, the fact that he participated was an exciting time for him.

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