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Russian Women Give Town High Marks
The Chippewa Herald (Chippewa Falls, WI)
Posted on July 27, 2002
By Rod Stetzer
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| A ten woman delegation from Russia on Thursday toured the Romeis Millstream Apartments in Chippewa Falls as a part of a day long tour of the city. Some of the women in the delegation listen as an interpretator explains what will happen next. | When Elena Kondrashova returns to Penza, Russia, she intends to write about her experiences touring the United States, and especially Wisconsin.
Here's a sneak peek of what she will write: Chippewa Falls is a tidy town with friendly residents. And it is a safe community.
"I have a feeling life is very safe and comfortable here," Kondrashova said through an interpreter after touring the Romeis Millstream Apartments, 607 High St., Chippewa Falls on Thursday afternoon. "It's nice to be here in this environment."
Kondrashova is part of a 10 woman delegation from Russia who toured Chippewa Falls on Thursday as a part of trip arranged by the National Peace Foundation and the Library of Congress' "Open World Program." Also helping with the trip are American Association of University Women members from Chippewa Falls and nearby Memononie and Eau Claire.
The women taking the trip are mostly from western Russia, said Sarah Harder of Eau Claire, president of the National Peace Foundation. They are staying in Wisconsin from July 24 to August 1.
The backgrounds of the women are varied. For example, Tatyana Kopylova, 28, is a psychology professor at an educational training center. Yelena Vytoptova, 33, is a factory director. Tamara Zolotova, 35, is a lawyer and a director of a women's foundation. And Mariya Kostyuchenko, 48, is a leader of a city council.
"We have spent two days in Washington, D.C. (where) we had an orientation," Kondrashova, 32, said. While there, the group got to see some of the attractions in Washington.
Kondrashova is president of Logos, a social charitable fund in Penza. Not surprisingly, she wants to study how non profit groups operate in the United States.
Before Kondrashova left Russia, she was told Wisconsin is a safe and calm place. She said she found that to be the case, and added people here are very hospitable.
The delegation ate lunch at Lindsay's on Grand in Chippewa Falls, toured City Hall, then went through downtown stores and capped their day off by stopping at Leinenkugel's Brewery.
©The Chippewa Herald 2002. Used with the permission of the copyright holder.
[Reprinted with Permission]
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