The recent headlines have painted a stereotype that we want to change, so we’re “anti-spy” but certainly in favor of having a good time with Russian music, dancing and a femme fatale themed beauty contest.

Admission is $10 at the door, and includes free valet and a free drink for the first 200 people. It’s a Sunday night, so we’re starting at 8pm. Room specials are also available for those who are driving from out of town.

This is an upscale event, so please dress to impress and plan on having a fantastic time!

Note: The Beauty Pageant is sponsored by Russian Magazine-Florida Lifestyle. The winner will receive a professional photo shoot and be featured in an upcoming issue. Contestants can register up to 30 minutes before showtime or pre-register at the Florida Russian Lifestyle Magazine website.

To RSVP for this event, please visit our scheduling portal at meetup.com/privet

The project began in April of this year, as part of a larger media project that will eventually include online dating,  radio and TV programming. “Interest in the Florida Lifestyle is an easy topic to quantify when you see 60 million tourists visit our state each year.”, said Jef Gray, director of the Orlando Russian Culture Society. ” There are three tourists for each local resident of Florida, so we clearly can capitalize on the worldwide appeal of Florida by presenting information and content in Russian, especially when the focus is on how Russian speakers live and work here.”

The media project is a new venture offered by American Experience LLC, the company that manages the Russian Culture Society. “It’s definitely a new direction for us, shifting from mostly service oriented products like interpreters and tours, to a range of media channels”, said Gray. “But we’re reaching a point where information about Russian activities and opportunities needs to be amplified so the community can grow and attract more Russians to the area.”

The Russian community in Orlando has seen a dramatic increase in organization and activity in 2010. The media project began just as the Russian-American Community Center of Florida was formed. Meanwhile, students from Former Soviet Union countries began to arrive on work and travel programs. The combination of events has been a catalyst of energy that has shifted the focus from social events to more defined purposes like language classes and a library.

Similar events occurred in the mid 1990′s in the Miami area, and in New York’s Brighton beach area before that. It will be interesting to see how the events of this year will affect future populations of Russian speakers in Florida.  ”Orlando is beginning to see Russian speaking  social groups connect with a common purpose and interest, a Russian newspaper, more restaurants opening, a community center and now an internet based  magazine to share those events with the world.” added Gray.

Florida Russian Magazine can be viewed at www.FloridaRussian.com.

Wednesday, July 28th @6:00pm
Northland Performing Arts Center
530 Dog Track Rd.
Longwood, FL 32750

Enjoy desserts and coffee while touring Central Florida’s newest and largest performance hall, Northland Performing Arts Center followed by a special encore performance with pianist Sergei Kossenko.

Sergei was recently interviewed by Florida Russian Magazine, you can read the entire interview online at  FloridaRussian.com

THE RUSSIANS ARE HERE!
A Concert Piano Performance of Russian Music

PROGRAM:
Prokofiev – Four Pieces, Op. 4

Reminiscences

Elan

Despair “Navazhdeniye”

Rachmaninoff – Four Preludes, from Op. 23

Balakirev – Islamey, Fantasie Oriental

Tchaikovsky – Waltz of The Flowers from The Nutcracker
(transcription by S. Kossenko)

Sergei Kossenko is much more than an internationally renowned pianist. He is a world-class artist with an Honors degree from the famed Moscow Conservatory of Music. He also received a master’s degree in music technology from Dartmouth. In addition to his many international performances–including Russia, Serbia and Poland–Sergei is a versatile and productive composer who has written movie themes, orchestral and chamber music and well as music for radio, television and multimedia. He has also performed piano recitals with the Rachmaninov Society USA and the Orlando Opera.

Evening Events Schedule

6:00pm
Refreshments and tour hall

6:30pm
Q&A with Festival of Orchestras Executive Director
Susan Carey and Northlands Executive Director
of Operations Marc McMurrin

7:00pm
Performance by Sergei Kossenko
*The Box Office Manager will be available for ticket purchases, and to switch out seats throughout the night.

CALL NOW TO RSVP TO THIS FREE EVENT!
407.539.0245 or email admin@festivaloforchestras.org with name and # in party
www.festivaloforchestras.org

You can come for the sushi, the movie or both. Should be a lot of fun and a nice evening with friends.

When: Saturday, July 24, 2010 6:00 PM

Where:
Suki Hanna
4060 Town Center Blvd
Orlando, FL 32837
407-852-9688

About the movie:  As a CIA officer, Evelyn Salt swore an oath to duty, honor and country. Her loyalty will be tested when a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy. Salt goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture. Salt’s efforts to prove her innocence only serve to cast doubt on her motives, as the hunt to uncover the truth behind her identity continues and the question remains: “Who is Salt?”‘

Salt Move Trailer:

For more details and to RSVP, see the full listing:
http://www.meetup.com…

Drink Specials: 50% off all drinks (except bottled beer) between 8pm and 9pm

19 июня 2010 в даунтауне Орландо в клубе “Club 57 West” пройдет грандиозный концерт и танцевальный вечер, который проводит Russian-American Community Center of Florida (RACCF) при поддержке многочисленных спонсоров.

Club 57 West
Downtown Orlando
57 West Pine Street
Orlando, FL 32801 <<map>>

Мы будем рады видеть Вас на этом общественном мероприятии, весь сбор от которого пойдет на развитие Русско-Американской Общины. Детальная информация об этом помещена на сайте RACCF: www. RussianAmericanCenter.org.

Вот некоторые дополнительные детали:

Постарайтесь прибыть пораньше! Мы начинаем в 8 вечера с концерта популяной музыкальной группы AudioGentlemen, затем выступят: группа “Urband Legend“, певица Диана Биснэт, танцевальное шоу Алины Покидовой, группа “The Majestys”, и в 11:30 начнет своё представление популярный DJ Wired, который известен  своими музыкальными программами на Wired Radio (WPRK 91.5 FM)  всю ночь.  Мероприятие продлится до 2 часов ночи. В программе – русская и американская музыка.

Кроме полного ликерного бара Вам будут предложены для покупки по умеренным ценам десерты и закуски.

Оденьтесь нарядно, так, чтобы произвести впечатление. Профессиональный фотограф будет работать на нашем вечере. Ваши фотографии  будут доступны для бесплатного скачивания на нашем вэбсайте.

ПРИЗЫ ! На этом благотворительном мероприятии будут розыгрываться замечательные, потрясающие ПРИЗЫ от наших спонсоров на сумму более $2000, такие призы как: подарочные сертификаты, различные услуги и товары и многое другое. Будет проведено три лотереи, (в 9, в 10 и  в 11:30 вечера). Стоимость лотерейного билета всего $ 1. Весь сбор от этого мероприятия и от Лотереи будет передан в общественный фонд Русско-Американского Центра Флориды.

ПАРКОВКА. Прямо напротив клуба “Club 57 West”  на улице Pine Street находится паркинг гараж.

Если вы приобрели билеты он-лайн, пожалуйста, не забудьте распечатать и принести вашу PayPal квитанцию об уплате за билет. Это позволит нам ускорить процесс обилечивания и захода в клуб.

Ну что? Впечатляет?! Приходите, и Вы не пожалеете о приятно проведенном времени! Вы можете приобрести билеты у входа в клуб всего за $ 10 или купить их on-line на нашем сайте всего за $ 7.

Это будет очень большое и интересное мероприятие!
Увидимся!

Что ели

Ели кушанья, которые каждый день в меню магазина-кулинарии. Владельцы его Софа и Борис Ройтманы еще накануне сомневались: может, приготовить что-нибудь специальное? Посоветовавшись, решили: не надо, выбор и так большой. John с утра отказался от завтрака в предвкушении еще раз отведать курицу, фаршированную сыром, обвалянную в сухарях и слегка обжаренную. Заказал сам две порции и от души рекомендовал другим. Его совету последовали. Большим спросом пользовались и куриные ножки, фаршированные грибами. А кроме того – голубцы, плов, чебуреки, пирожки с мясом, салат оливье, селедка под шубой, блинчики, сырники. Chase и Katherine впервые в жизни отведали борщ и, не кривя душой, вынуждены были признать, что это вкусно.

О чем говорили

Общий разговор завязался, когда по телевизору начал выступать Путин.

- Вы знаете, кто это? – спросили у амеркианцев.

Трое сразу заулыбались и закивал головами, а  Mike по-русски сказал за всех: – Да, мы знаем его, он был у вас президентом.

- Он очень хороший человек, много сделал, его есть за что любить, – научил американцев Борис.

- А мне больше Хрущев нравится, – высказал свое мнение John.

- О, он был классный! – вспомнив про выступление Хрущева с ботинком в руке на трибуне ООН, заулыбалась Katherine.

- Он был очень умный, потому сумел остаться в живых, когда работал в окружении Сталина, – обнародовал свое предположение John.

Потом американцы пообсуждали политику России и ее правителей, обнаружив при этом довольно неплохую осведомленность, и плавно перешли к русскому языку.

Чему научились

Как оно обычно бывает на подобных встречах, русские порешали множество вопросов, которые не обсудишь по телефону, а американцы сполна использовали возможность поговорить по-русски. Mike, который в далеком, как он говорит, прошлом неплохо знал наш язык, сейчас просто стесняется разговаривать на нем, потому что почти все забыл. Тем не менее, он по-деловому начал своеобразный урок для Ketherine:

- Что это? – спросил, показывая на бутылку  с водой?

Кати ответа не знала, но обратив его внимание на мой карандаш, гордо сказала:

- Я знаю: это карандаш.

- Что это? – продолжал серьезный Майк, поднимая со стола солонку. И сам же научил Кати и Тома: – Это сол.

Мечтающий о карьере преподавателя русского языка и тоже знающий немало слов и фраз на русском Том при этом скромно улыбался.

- Все было очень вкусно! – почти без американского акцента сказал, вставая из-за стола, Джон.

Что купили и унесли с собой

В конце обеда хозяин заведения попотчевал гостей кусочками вафельного тотра. Русские женщины о вкусовых качествах его и так знали, и американцам тортик понравился. Почти все закупили по одному-два, чтобы полакомиться дома. А кроме того накупили московского шоколада, конфет “Птичье молоко”, минеральной воды, сухарей и пельменей – того, чего нет в американских супермакетах.

Кого благодарить стоит

В первую очередь, непременно – хозяев заведения и главных его работников – Софу и Бориса (у них в эту субботу был обычный рабочий день, так что они успевали и нас накормить, и покупателей обслужить, и поговорить с приглашенными наладить электропроводку монтерами). А также их помощницу на кухне Лену Осипову – за по-домашнему вкусно приготовленные блюда. А кроме того, “предводителя” американо-российского общества в Орландо Джефа Грея – ну, его и без слов понятно за что. И, наконец, нас всех – за то, что даже вот такие небольшие по числу участников встречи тем не менее сближают две страны и помогают лучше понять друг друга.

St. Michael’s Performing Arts Series welcomes back this highly talented choral group from St. Petersburg, Russia. From the highest clear notes of their soprano to the really, really low notes that it seems only a Russian bass can sing – their performances are exquisite. The first half of their program consists of a selection of beautiful and powerful sacred Russian choral pieces, they then change into traditional Russian folk dress, and present the lighter side of Russian music – the lively folk music tradition!

• Concert in the church, reception follows in the parish hall
• Free admission / suggested donation at the door
• Program listed below
• Child care available – please call to reserve

WEBSITE: http://www.lyra-onlin….

St. Michael’s Episcopal Church
2499 N. Westmoreland Dr.
Orlando, FL 32804
Contact: 407-843-8448 for more information

————————————–——————-
PROGRAM
[English titles - program sung in Russian; minor changes may be made]
1st part
Sacred chants of Russian Orthodox church
1. We praise you, o Lord – D. Bortniansky (1752-1825)
2. To Thy pure image – A. Lvov (1798-1870)
3. My soul magnifies The Lord – N. Frunza
4. We will never conceal our sins from you, oh Mother of God – P. Tchesnokov (1877–1944)
5. Our Father (the Lord’s prayer) – P. Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)
6. Bless the Lord, oh my soul – P. Tchesnokov (1877–1944)
7. Cherubic hymn – D. Bortniansky (1752-1825)
8. Bless the Name of The Lord – D. Khristov (1875—1941)
9. Bless the Name of The Lord – Andreeva
2nd part
Russian folk songs

1. Vanka-Tanka
2. Over the broaden fields
3. The garden gate
4. An old man (comic song)
5. Steppe all around
6. Golden ring

###

Promotion announcement courtesy of Florida Russian & American Experience LLC

Jessica and Keegan Tosser explain the story, “

We have lived in Ukraine for over a year. It has been a wonderful experience. While living here, we have fallen in love with the children at the orphanage in Krivoy Rog.

In February of 2009 we made our first trip to the orphanage. When we walked into their small art room, we were amazed at the talent many of these children possess. The walls were covered with paintings they had created from donated art supplies. Each time we returned, we felt a greater need to help these children and show others their artwork. When we asked the children if we could take their work for this website, they gave us more than we asked for. These children wanted to give their art to help the orphanage.

These children have not been given the opportunities that we had as children. They only have what has been given to them by strangers. They share the clothes they wear and the food they eat. Nothing is theirs, except for what they make. We want to help these children realize their dreams and give them opportunities that they would not have otherwise. With your help, this can be made possible.”

Visit the website to see the art and bid on the items in the gallery.

I Am Love – starring Tilda Swinton, a fantastic film surrounding a tale of sexual and class politics, repression, and liberation, in which tradition and modernity collide. Set in beautiful Italia about a Russian woman trying to fit in.
http://www.floridafilmfestival.com/films_events/film_guide/i_am_love/

 
Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky – directed by Jan Kounen. Tells of a compelling story of Coco Chanel after 1913, where her success is no match for any man’s love.
www.floridafilmfestival.com/films_events/film_guide/coco_chanel_igor_stravinsky

Space Tourists – an international documentary centered around an Iranian – American business women who journeys to space through the Russian space station. The story is juxtaposed with Russian villagers who collect space scrap for money.
www.floridafilmfestival.com/films_events/film_guide/space_tourists

The Poodle Trainer – part of our documentary short program, depicts Irina and her poodles are as one—their shared love and devotion as intense as the sun.
www.floridafilmfestival.com/films_events/film_guide/the_poodle_trainer

Click here for the Film Schedule

Enzian Theater	Location
1300 South Orlando Avenue Maitland, FL 32751-6415 (407) 629-1088   (407) 629-1088

What to bring: This is a potluck so please bring a side dish large enough to share with others and whatever meat you wish to grill. Please remember to bring charcoal and grill utensils if you plan on making Shashlik.

When: Sunday, April 11, 2010. We will start at noon, and begin heating up the grills when we have enough people ready to use them.

The Society will provide water, soda, cups, plates, napkins and utensils. Alcohol is not permitted (to be seen) in the park so please plan accordingly.

Look for the Russian and American Flags when you enter the park, we usually select a pavilion near the playgrounds.

About Shashlik: Shashlik is a Russian tradition similar to what Americans call shish-ka-bob. Beef, pork, lamb or other types of meet are loaded onto skewers and mixed with spices, vegetables and then cooked over an open flame. The meat is usually marinated for several hours prior to being cooked. Each family has their own unique way of preparing shashlik making it important to explore the creativity of other’s recipes.

Location: Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake 3401 S Hiawassee Rd Orlando, FL 32819	14 Russian Culture Society Members RSVPed Yes, including…
	see all

The process began 5 years ago and required extensive research and patience as demographics were compared to what other schools were using as curriculum. The school’s provider of text books stated there were no schools in Central Florida requesting material for Russian classes-Lake Howell was the first.

Today the class is comprised of less than 20 students, who’s reason for learning the language varies from curiosity and challenge, to a desire to retain what they may have learned from Russian speaking parents. Learning Russian is more complex than the other languages like Spanish, French or German because it uses a different and bigger alphabet (Cyrillic) with sounds not found in English. However, the students appear to have taken quickly to the task, according to Toomey, “They are already speaking complete sentences, writing and reading in Russian without hesitation”, she said.

As of the 2000 Census, Russian was spoken by 7% of the US population. This made it the second fastest growing language in the US at that time. It will be interesting to see the results from the 2010 census, which will hopefully incline more schools in Central Florida to follow Lake Howell’s lead. The Russian Federation has half the population of the United States (not including the other
Russian speaking countries of the FSU) but with twice the land mass-it’s obvious the future will have opportunity and value for those capable of speaking Russian both in the United States and abroad.

We applaud Lake Howell High School for bringing a long overdue element to our school system and have invited the teacher and students to be  our honored guests at any of our Society events. We also look forward to seeing more classes like this in our area.

Interested in learning Russian? We have professional interpreters and translators that can help you learn essential Russian quickly from a native speaker. Classes are available online and in person to suit your goals. To find out more please complete the form below.

Name

Email

Your current knowledge of Russian

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Class type you prefer

One on One

Group Setting

Online

How soon would you like to begin classes (approximately)

Comments

Validation Code

For men who are married or dating a woman from these countries, it’s important to note that failure to recognize the day’s importance can be offensive. All women in Russia generally receive some kind of greeting, flower or gift on this day, because the scope of the holiday is far reaching-Mothers, wives, girlfriends, daughters are all eligible for recognition!

A Russian florist once told me, “If a man doesn’t come home with flowers on Women’s Day, he knows not to come home at all.”

On behalf of the Orlando Russian Culture Society and our corporate sponsor, American Experience-we send a very special “Women’s Day” congratulations to our ladies: You make our world a more interesting and comforting place and are the inspiration for mankind’s greatest achievements!

Jef

***

More about the history of International Women’s Day:

International Women’s Day has been observed since in the early 1900′s, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies.
 

1908
Great unrest and critical debate was occurring amongst women. Women’s oppression and inequality was spurring women to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change. Then in 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.

1909
In accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America, the first National Woman’s Day (NWD) was observed across the United States on 28 February. Women continued to celebrate NWD on the last Sunday of February until 1913.

1910
1910 a second International Conference of Working Women was held in Copenhagen. A woman named a Clara Zetkin (Leader of the ‘Women’s Office’ for the Social Democratic Party in Germany) tabled the idea of an International Women’s Day. She proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day – a Women’s Day – to press for their demands. The conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, representing unions, socialist parties, working women’s clubs, and including the first three women elected to the Finnish parliament, greeted Zetkin’s suggestion with unanimous approval and thus International Women’s Day was the result.

1911
Following the decision agreed at Copenhagen in 1911, International Women’s Day (IWD) was honored the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on 19 March. More than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women’s rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination. However less than a week later on 25 March, the tragic ‘Triangle Fire’ in New York City took the lives of more than 140 working women, most of them Italian and Jewish immigrants. This disastrous event drew significant attention to working conditions and labour legislation in the United States that became a focus of subsequent International Women’s Day events. 1911 also saw women’s ‘Bread and Roses’ campaign.

1913-1914
On the eve of World War I campaigning for peace, Russian women observed their first International Women’s Day on the last Sunday in February 1913. In 1913 following discussions, International Women’s Day was transferred to 8 March and this day has remained the global date for International Women’s Day ever since. In 1914 further women across Europe held rallies to campaign against the war and to express women’s solidarity.

1917
On the last Sunday of February, Russian women began a strike for “bread and peace” in response to the death over 2 million Russian soldiers in war. Opposed by political leaders the women continued to strike until four days later the Czar was forced to abdicate and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote. The date the women’s strike commenced was Sunday 23 February on the Julian calendar then in use in Russia. This day on the Gregorian calendar in use elsewhere was 8 March.

1918 – 1999
Since its birth in the socialist movement, International Women’s Day has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration across developed and developing countries alike. For decades, IWD has grown from strength to strength annually. For many years the United Nations has held an annual IWD conference to coordinate international efforts for women’s rights and participation in social, political and economic processes. 1975 was designated as ‘International Women’s Year’ by the United Nations. Women’s organizations and governments around the world have also observed IWD annually on 8 March by holding large-scale events that honour women’s advancement and while diligently reminding of the continued vigilance and action required to ensure that women’s equality is gained and maintained in all aspects of life.

2000 and beyond
IWD is now an official holiday in China, Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. The tradition sees men honouring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts. In some countries IWD has the equivalent status of Mother’s Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers. The new millennium has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women’s and society’s thoughts about women’s equality and emancipation. Many from a younger generation feel that ‘all the battles have been won for women’ while many feminists from the 1970′s know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of patriarchy. With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women’s visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women’s education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men. However, great improvements have been made. We do have female astronauts and prime ministers, school girls are welcomed into university, women can work and have a family, women have real choices. And so the tone and nature of IWD has, for the past few years, moved from being a reminder about the negatives to a celebration of the positives.
Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women’s craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more. Many global corporations have also started to more actively support IWD by running their own internal events and through supporting external ones. For example, on 8 March search engine and media giant Google some years even changes its logo on its global search pages. Year on year IWD is certainly increasing in status. The United States even designates the whole month of March as ‘Women’s History Month’.

Now that everyone is finished traveling for the holidays we can  all welcome 2010 together. This will be a nice dinner and time for conversation at  Mimi’s Cafe across from Millennia Mall. We will meet at 6:30pm that evening.

If you are not in the mood for a full meal, you can still come by and have a drink with us and toast the New Year.

Interested in attending? If you are a member, or would like to join our group-click here>>

C Novim Godom, isho raz
Jef

Mimi’s Cafe
4175 Millenia Blvd
Orlando, FL 32839
407-370-0333

This will be more than tasty Mediterranean style food, the restaurant also features entertainment for the guests and we will have group seating so we can all chat and enjoy the evening.

Dinner will begin at 7:00 and entertainment starts around 8:30. There will be a magic show and belly dancing plus they have asked us to bring some Russian music to make us feel at home.

For those who miss the cafe’s and dining of Europe-this is the place for you. The food is hand prepared at the restaurant, so plan on enjoying authentic flavor and taste. The staff of the restaurant are friendly, welcoming and want you to take your time and enjoy everything.

Sign up now: Click Here to RSVP

When: November 28,2009 at 7:00PM

Where: Maraya at Sabrina’s Restaurant

8100 Crystal Clear Lane
Orlando, FL 32809
(Right next to the Florida Mall)

Tip: These images are reduced in size to make them load faster. If you want a full size copy, right click on the image and select "Open image in new tab". This will allow you to view the full size version and save it to your computer. Enjoy!

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Afterward, if some wish to get together for coffee or a light snack, we can plan something quickly.

Small children can also skate and we will be taking pictures so please come out and make some memories!

The cost will be under $10 per person, I will have specific costs after I get enough RSVP’s to negotiate a group rate. (We need at least 10). The last time we did this, everyone had a fantastic time and we discovered some amazing skaters in our group…and some who forgot how

Sign Up: http://www.meetup.com/privet/calendar/11572739/

Location:
RDV Sportsplex
8701 Maitland Summit Blvd
Orlando, FL 32810
4079162442

Map of Location

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The service is designed to help people find a starting point in learning Russian while promoting the language services of American Experience, sponsor of the Russian Culture Society. Future plans for advanced language podcasts will follow based on the popularity of this new venture. “This is very new for us so we want to see how it goes and then take the next step”, said Natalya Illarionova, President of American Experience and voice of “The Russian Word of the day”.

Select from the links below to subscribe to the podcast:

“The 5 year mark is a significant milestone for the Russian community and we wanted to see a lot of activity to commemorate the achievement.” said Jef Gray, director of the Society.

Months leading up to the anniversary were also active with additional service launches including IPTV services for Russian TV channels and complete interpreter and translation services in Orlando. The Society has two twitter accounts, one for events and one for the Russian Word of the Day, plus a website to broadcast activities to it’s 200 family membership.

“It will be interesting to see what lies ahead in future years. We’re definitely growing and discovering more ways to build the Russian community in Orlando.” said Gray.

To become a facebook fan of the Orlando Russian Culture Society, point your web browser to:
facebook.com/pages/Orlando-Russian-Culture-Society/140689857464

Thanks to all for coming out and making the day memorable.

Photos are below

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This will be a potluck, so each person should bring their favorite side dish to share with others and of course-whichever Shashlik you like to cook on the grill.

The Society will provide Plates, Cups, Utensils, Ice, Soda and Charcoal for the grills. Please remember to bring grill utensils if you plan on grilling.

What to bring: A side dish to share to be shared with others. There will be grill available for those who wish to cook shashlik or anything else they prefer such as steak, chicken or hamburgers. We will try to manage the grill space so everyone has equal use of them. Soft drinks, cups, plates, forks and ice will be provided. (Please remember to bring charcoal if you are going to use a grill).

What to expect: There is a small charge for entering the park (usually $4). Ask at the gate where the “Russian group” is and they will provide directions. We will have a Russian and American flag at our shelter so we will be easy to find. (Typically we try to set up near the playgrounds) You can also call me at [masked] if you have questions the day of the event. Leave a message if I don’t answer–sometimes I am on the phone with multiple people at the same time.

We will have music, food, lots of conversation and walks in the park if the weather permits. There are numerous playgrounds nearby for children and a great track for skating or bike riders. The lake is also very scenic and allows fishing from the bank or off the pier.

Pets are not allowed in the picnic area so please leave them at home unless you have a kennel or know how to hide them when the park rangers drive by

Alcohol is also not permitted, so you will have to plan accordingly for your beverages.

RSVP Here: http://www.meetup.com/privet/calendar/11326776/

Bill Fredrick Park at Turkey Lake
3401 S Hiawassee Rd
Orlando, FL 32819

Jef took the advice of a friend and joined meetup.com, a website for groups who have meetings and events. There he found listings for several languages including Russian but only a few people had joined the mailing list. “Back then the meetup software scheduled events and locations automatically, so I went to the first meeting and realized why the group was small—no one showed up!” said Gray. “When I asked to change the location of the next meeting, Meetup.com suggested I become the organizer for the group. I accepted and have been directing the group ever since.”

One month later, in September 2004 the next meeting was scheduled for a more enjoyable location–the Cheesecake Factory at Millennia Mall in Orlando, 7 people attended. Each meeting afterward attracted more members and interests. Some were native Russian speakers; others had adopted a Russian child or were marrying a woman from a former Soviet Union country.

The idea of meeting Russian speakers quickly grew and established a Russian Speaking Community in Central Florida with hundreds of families in its membership. The intrigue continued with the addition of OrlandoRussians.com, the Society’s official website. The site averages 100 views per day with over half the visits coming from other countries.

Search results show that foreign visitors are planning upcoming trips to Orlando or simply exploring the Russian speaking community in Central Florida.

“To those unfamiliar with Orlando there is a perception that the Russian community is a place where Russian people live, work and shop–similar to Brighton Beach in New York. But the reality is we’re a community that meets in various locations with members who live throughout Central Florida.” Said Gray.

The meetings are upbeat and extremely social in nature, each month the location and venue is different than the last. Guests are greeted as they arrive and given a name tag to help others learn their name. Occupations of the members include professionals, artists, authors, retirees and students making it easy to find something in common within minutes of arriving.

New Years Eve is the biggest celebration of the year and carries many traditions similar to how American’s celebrate Christmas. Other monthly venues include bowling parties, ice skating, restaurant dinners, museum exhibits and picnics at local parks. “Our most requested and popular event is “Shashlik” (Russian for Shish-ka-bob) in the park. Everyone brings food for a potluck style picnic and we all share the grill which gets loaded from edge to edge with kabobs!” said Gray.

Members are not required to speak Russian and some of the American members state they are still learning the language. During the meetings there are several conversations going at once, some in Russian and some in English. The most impressive is the children who can talk to their parents in Russian then turn around and speak fluently in English to others. Natalya Illarionova, the Society’s official interpreter explained, “This is one of the benefits many parents seek in trying to keep their home language alive for their children. Obviously if the children hear Russian in a group setting they are more likely to apply and understand it.” Illarionova is also co-owner of the Society’s corporate sponsor, American Experience.

Meeting and membership information can be found on the groups scheduling site http://meetup.com/privet

The restaurant is directly across from Millennia Mall  at 4101 Conroy Rd, Orlando FL 32839. Scheduling and RSVP information can be found on Meetup.com/privet. The dinner will be open to anyone interested in the Society, and will feature warm conversations, great food and atmosphere.

An RSVP is encouraged to ensure a seat will be available for you upon arrival. The group tries to have everyone around one table, so plan on making new friends while catching up with some you already know!

The event begins at 7:00pm, make plans to attend and we will look forward to seeing you there!

This is a wonderful way to get acquainted with the group if you are a new member.From the moment you arrive, the talking is non stop!  You might also find someone from the same town as you. RSVP’s are very helpful with our reservation requirements but last minute arrivals are also welcome.

The cost of the event is $10 per bowler which covers the cost of shoe rental and two games. If you do arrive late, we will have to wait until the next set to fit you in to the game, so please keep this in mind.

TO RSVP please visit our scheduling portal here

About Boardwalk Bowl

10749 E Colonial Drive
Orlando, FL 32817
407-384-0003

Interested in joining the Russian Culture Society?

Signing up is easy and membership is optional for the first 30 days. You will receive notices of all upcoming events, see who is attending and also view previous events and photos. Visit our listing on meetup.com for more information.

All television channels and radio stations will interrupt their broadcasts at 18:55 Moscow time (1455 GMT) in memory of the victims of that war. A minute of science will begin after the chime of the Kremlin tower clock.

A minute of silence has been observed in the former Soviet Union and then in Russia and broadcast by radio and television on May 9 since 1965.

The Soviet Union sustained the biggest human and material losses in World War II. According to official, and still incomplete, data, the country lost about 27 million people. Irrecoverable losses of the Red Army were 8,860,400 people.

When: April 19, 2009 at 1:00pm
This will be a great event for all, we will be meeting at Moss Park to celebrate Easter and enjoy each others company! The plan is to have a Shashlik style cookout at the beach side pavilion (Number 3).

What to Bring: A side dish large enough to share with others, your choice of Shashlik or whatever you wish to grill.

What to expect: Plan on relaxing, this is going to be a great event! You may want to bring fold up chairs in case it gets a bit crowded inside the Pavilion. If we have a lot of small children attending (please let us know in your RSVP) we can have an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids.

Plates, Cups, Soda, Utensils, Napkins and charcoal for the grills, will be provided.

Location Information
Moss Park:
12901 Moss Park Rd
Orlando, FL 32832

The largest of Orange County’s parks, Moss Park is an oasis of nature well secluded from the encroaching development of houses and strip malls in the area. Natural Florida is at its best in the park, with plenty of heron, rabbits, and other family-friendly critters in plain view. Most are more than at ease with humans, so much so that they walk right up to picnic tables to “sample” unprotected food. Large trees – appropriately covered in moss – canvas the park, providing shade at almost every turn. An extremely popular destination for family reunions and informal company cookouts, the park offers plenty of covered pavilions with large barbeque grills and picnic areas that can be rented for parties and special events. Pavilions closest to the entrance are best bets when bringing the kids, since they’re close to the largest of two playgrounds, the beach, and the most popular fishing areas. Activity wise, the sand beach and designated swimming area (no life guard on duty) of Lake Mary Jane are popular with families. A boat launch and dock make the front of the park especially busy with guests, especially in the early afternoons. A sand volleyball court and hiking trail round out park offerings.

Saturday, April 4, 2009 at Sat 3:00 PM

Program: Mussorgsky, “Dawn on the Moscow River” from Khovanshchina
Sibelius, Violin Concerto
Shostakovich, Symphony No. 9
Tchaikovsky, The Sleeping Beauty: Suite

Ticket Prices start at $30 per person and go up depending on seating.

Call 407-539-0245 for ticket information or visit www.festivaloforchestras.com

This meetup is posted for the enjoyment of those who wish to attend. There will not be a central seating for the group,

Address:
Linda Chapin Theater
Orange Count Convention Center
9400 Universal Boulevard
Orlando, FL 32819.

We will also be keeping our tradition of giving each woman a flower and a small gift upon arrival. Please ensure you RSVP and specify how many ladies will be in your group. This is very important to make sure we have flowers and gifts for all our wonderful ladies.

See you there,
Opa!

Meetup Description: It’s been about 6 months since our last bowling party, so time to try another favorite event! We will meet at Boardwalk Bowl and break up into groups of 5 and compete for highest group score. (OK, no one really pays attention to the scores, we just have fun).

Bowling Party
When: February 15, 2009 2:30 PM
Where: Boardwalk Bowling
10749 E. Colonial Dr.
Orlando, FL 32817
407-384-0003

Meetup Description: It’s been about 6 months since our last bowling party, so time to try another favorite event! We will meet at Boardwalk Bowl and break up into groups of 5 and compete for highest group score. (OK, no one really pays attention to the scores, we just have fun).

If you don’t bowl, you can still come by and talk with everyone, this event is more social than sport. For those with small kids, there is also an arcade in the facility. For big kids there is also billiards and a bar

I will get a group rate based on attendance so please RSVP to help planning efforts. Cost will be $11 for 2 hours of games, shoe rental and includes pizza and soft drink.

See you there!
RSVP at this website:
http://russian.meetup.com/89/calendar/9602987/

Afterward, if some wish to get together for coffee or a light snack, we can plan something quickly.

Small children can also skate and we will be taking pictures so please come out and make some memories! It’s 2009 and time to fill your days with exciting events and activities

The cost should be under $10 per person

I will have specific costs after I get enough RSVP’s to negotiate a group rate. (We need at least 10). The last time we did this, everyone had a fantastic time and we discovered some amazing skaters in our group!

See you on the ice!
Jef