Dear CCI volunteers and followers,

It’s been too long since I’ve communicated with you. I hope you will forgive the lengthy absence. Our contact information has changed, so please take note:

Center for Citizen Initiatives
820 N. Delaware, Suite 405
San Mateo, CA 94401
Sharon@ccisf.org (please delete all previous e-addresses)
Tele and Fax: 650.458.8115
Blog: www.russiaotherpointsofview.com

It has seemed critically important to me to document CCI’s three-decade trajectory between the two superpowers––and to set straight a lot of history during this period. Relying on old CCI newsletters, Russia Reports, and thousands of emails, in 2009 I dove into summarizing our years of work in the U.S.S.R. and Russia and across America. The book’s title is:

The story covers CCI as a living laboratory which successfully hurled first-ever ideas into action in the 1980s, the 1990s, and the 2000s. It is definitely inspirational, empowering, and has lots of practical models that others can use as they step out on their own non-traditional ideas. Touching vignettes of human encounters, the power of the information being transferred between Americans and Russians, and the economic and political backdrops demonstrate what was happening over these 28 years. The book ends in 2010 as Cold War mentality began to give way to what we hope will eventually be a working relationship between the two former “enemies.”

An Epilogue, Concluding Reflections, gives the historic differences in Russian and American mentalities––and the psychological differences that still need to be dealt with transparently in order to prevent future conflicts between the two peoples and their governments.

In the fall and spring of 2012, I will do book tours, coming to states around the country to visit Rotary, Kiwanis, and Optimist clubs who participated with us in this very important work. Many of you and your clubs are in the book. I still keep close tabs on Russia’s continuing evolution and hope to share with you my thoughts about the US-Russia relationship if I come to your area.

Meanwhile it feels great to be in touch with you and to plan to continue updates in the future.

I’ll send notices when The Power of Impossible Ideas is near release.

FYI, CCI still exists, but of course in a modified form. The 2008 financial crisis took our funding in its wake. By 2009, I had to let the last of our staff members go, which put a real hole in the heart of our work. The past two years have been challenging. After being part of such a magnificent and demanding mission for three decades, this lack of bustling activity and creativity has thrown me into a transition period. However, I am running our two last programs––the orphanage program and our CCI blog.

The Angels for Angels Program puts computer laboratories in Russian orphanages and provides university students as teachers after normal school days. This wonderful program gives the children work skills to take with them when they leave the orphanages at age 17. Our sole Angels funder, Nika Thayer, died in 2008––she kindly left us a sizeable fund to continue the program.

CCI’s blog, www.russiaotherpointsofview.com, is very much alive. I edit all contributions and oversee the blog’s integrity and tone. We know that New York Times’ Russia reporters read it, because they call to get additional pieces of information. Unfortunately they have changed their rather bleak outlooks on Russia very little, despite the fact that Russia continues to make progress.

Sincerely,