2001

March 25, 2001. Russian Heritage sponsored a Forum discussion: “The Cold War: Myths and Realities Seen from Both Sides.” This program was coordinated with the two exhibits at the Florida International Museum on the Cuban Missile Crisis and the U-2 Incident, and featured scholars from University of South Florida and Eckerd College, and Gary Powers, Jr., the founder of the Cold War Museum and the curator of the U-2 Exhibit.

In addition to sponsoring the Russian Exhibit of Peter Demens, Russian Heritage also helped to sponsor the Exhibit “Leningrad to St. Petersburg: Historic Photographs from Russia” which is still on display at the Exhibit Gallery in the Music Center at the SPJC-Gibbs Campus, and the “World War II Event and Medal Ceremony” at the Russian Cultural Centre in Washington D.C. on January 4, 2001.

Through the distribution of our Russian Heritage Newsletter we also helped to publicize events of Russian culture in the area. This year we also had a regular feature in the Newsletter devoted to the Russian Language, and we thank Professors Irena Nemchonok and Victor Peppard from the University of South Florida for their contributions.

Finally, we came together to celebrate our interest in Russian culture and heritage at our inaugural meeting at Buddy Freddy’s Restaurant on September 12, 2000, at the Holiday Party at Bill Grant’s home on December 15, 2000, and at the Russian Heritage Picnic at Ft. DeSoto Park on April 21, 2001, complete with our annual Russian Songfest.

September 16, 2001. Fall Meeting at Garden Restaurant, in the Detroit Hotel, originally built in 1888 by Peter Demens.

October 16, 2001. Russian Films at Eckerd College: “Come Look at Me” and “East-West” with a ballet interlude of selections from “Swan Lake” danced by Andrei Ustinov and Elena Martinson between films.

October 19, 2001. Russian Films at Eckerd College: “Ivan the Terrible Changes His Profession” and “The Romanovs: the Royal Family”.

November 25, 2001. Piano Recital by Vladimir Khokhlov at St. Petersburg College.

December 14, 2001. Holiday Party at the Grants.