SPRING 2011 

•  OPEN WORLD DELEGATION PRODUCES RESULTS

In December 2010, our Archangel Committee hosted a five person "Educational/Accountable Governance" delegation from Archangel. This visit continued a series of delegations that we have received that have been funded by the Open World Program based at the U.S. Library of Congress. Delegation members included Alexander Sokolov (Vice Chair of the Archangel City Council), Nikolay-Borovikov (Manager of Archangel's Isakogorka Municipal District), Andrey Gibadullin (Director of Archangel Physical Culture and Sports Department, and Nikolay Yevmenov (the Archangel Oblast Deputy Minister for Tourism). The facilitator was our friend Victoria Podolskaya from Archangel.
 

The professional program here was extensive as the delegates met with a broad range of government, business and education leaders. Highlights included recognition at the Inaugurations of the Portland City Council and Portland School Board; a day at Portland High School with a special focus on the Global Studies Program there; a roundtable with the Portland City Clerk, City Manager and City Attorney; familiarization with Portland social services and housing agencies; and meetings with area tourism, charitable and business leaders. Socially, the delegation enjoyed their homestay experiences, several group dinners in area homes, lots of Christmas shopping, and visits to Portland Head Light, the Liberty Ship Memorial and the Arctic Convoy Memorial.
 

Special mention should be made of the continuing cooperation as a result of this visit to the relationship between Portland High School and Archangel School Number 6. Led by Portland High School Global Studies Director Sarah Shmitt (who visited School 6 in June 2010) and School 6 Principal Vladimir Utldn (who visited Portland High School in December 2009), groups of students in both schools have used internet video to cooperate on environmental projects, including the placement of student-made bird feeders in Archangel parks this Spring.

•  RULE OF LAW VISIT TO ARCHANGEL

New Hampshire lawyer Steve Notinger was the guest of Professor Tatiana Zykina at Archangel State Technical University (ASTU) February 7 to it, 2011. Steve taught Labor Law to about 3o students for 3 days and also had roundtable discussions on Bankruptcy Law with several professors there. In addition, Steve met with leaders of the Justice of the Peace Courts to plan for future RAROLC Rule of Law activities. Steve reports that the merger of ASTU and Pomor State University into the larger Northern Arctic Federal University will be complete within the next few months. Finally, Steve reports that despite daytime high temperatures of -25°C (and overnight lows of -45°C), the people of Archangel were enjoying skiing on the Northern Dvina River and visiting the Father Frost Village at the Mayle Kareli Museum.

•  ARCHANGEL LIBRARY CELEBRATES 80 YEARS

On March 3, 2011, the Dobrolyubov Regional Academic Library in Archangel celebrated the Both Anniversary of the founding of its International Information Resources Department. This Library has always been very involved and supportive of the Sister City Relationship and our Committee sent an official letter of greetings in honor of the Anniversary.
 

•  MARATHON RUNNER SPEAKS ABOUT MAINE

As previously reported, four Archangel marathon runners joined several thousand runners in the October 2010 Maine Marathon in Portland. They were led by Archangel City Councilor Dimitri Akishev, who, after returning to Archangel, sat for a lengthy interview with the newspaper "Arkhangelsk" about his visit to Maine. The October 19, 2010 edition published a full page story including photographs of the four runners and of our Liberty Ship and USS Portland (CA 33) Memorials. Excerpts from the article:
 

•  It turns out in the United States they regularly hold 400 marathons, and the Portland one falls within the ten largest. If a thousand runners take part in the Moscow international marathon, it's wonderful. Yet here is a relatively small city — about 200,000 residents including the suburbs — and there were more than 3,500 people wanting to run. But they cut off the registration there, that's the rule. It was interesting that in the local paper there is a list published of all the runners and their results, that's the custom.

• The Sister City relationship is a good one. American's sincerely wish to know more about the representatives of a great country (yes, they consider Russia a great power!), and their life is of interest to us. Relationships between countries can be various, depending on a host of factors. Relationships between people are always more reliable, stable. And the more contacts like these there are, the stronger the ties between countries become. It is like cement, binding the mix.
   
• One of the attractions in Portland is a memorial to sailors who perished in the Arctic convoys, around 3,000 people perished. There were many ships built in this city, which participated in the transportation of cargoes during the Great Patriotic War. The memorial is lovingly cared for. It occurred to me: why isn't there a memorial to the participants in the Arctic convoys over here?
   
• Greater Portland is a beautiful area. Theoretically it's possible to bring orderliness here as well. During the next session of the City Council we will try to adopt changes to the beautification ordinances. One of the emphases — every square meter of City land should be vested in someone. Right now we have lots of border areas that no one answers for. There is much talk about how the courtyards are full of cars. But where are people supposed to put theme We need to build parking areas And only after that the next step can be to strictly punish those who trash them, who drive their cars onto lawns.

•  UPCOMING EVENTS

June 18 to 26, 2011  Portsmouth will host an Open World Delegation from Severodvinsk
 

August 20 to 26, 2011  MDOT may host 3 engineers from the Archangel Department of Transportation (FMI: Cliff Curtis 624-3568)
 

September 6 to 23, 2011  We may send a Sister City Delegation to Archangel and Solovki (FMI: Dennis Marrotte 854-3763)
 

December 9 to 17, 2011  We may host a Open World Delegation from Archangel

•  If you find a wild bird or animal that may need help, call the Maine Center for Wildlife at 207-361-1400

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