The "first American home" in Vladimir was conceived in 1991 as an "ice breaking" project that would open the door to concrete assistance to the Russians during their unprecedented transition from a Communist totalitarian system to, hopefully, a fully functioning democratic system.

Dr. Ronald Pope, founder and president of Serendipity: Russian Consulting & Development, Ltd. and Associate Professor of Russian Politics at Illinois State University, has studied and directly observed the Soviet Union for more than 30 years. Prior to the collapse of the U.S.S.R. in 1991, he made 8 trips there. In April 1989 he helped translate for a visiting delegation from Vladimir which had come to Bloomington-Normal, Illinois to sign a Sister City agreement. From this contact, Dr. Pope received an invitation to observe Vladimir's first competitive local elections in March 1990. During a return trip that May to observe the newly elected "city council" in action, he decided that he wanted to be actively involved in the crucial changes taking place in Russia.

As a first step toward cooperation between Americans and Russians, Dr. Pope arranged for asummer 1990 trip to Vladimir by two ISU Agricultural faculty members, Dr. Randy Winter and Dr. Rick Whitacre, along with two area farmers. During a reciprocal visit to Illinois by two Vladimir area agricultural specialists in February 1991, Dr. Whitacre mentioned the idea of a demonstration project in the form of a model American home. Dr. Pope immediately recognized that this was exactly the type of project he was looking for, and he and Dr. Whitacre approached ISU Professor of Industrial Technology, Dr. Ed Francis. Dr. Francis also liked the idea, and he and IT Department Chair, Dr. Franzi Loepp, traveled to Vladimir in June 1991 for a first hand look at the feasibility of the project. Their report was favorable, and Dr. Pope and Dr. Francis began the search for volunteer builders and donated materials. Dr. Francis designed the home and persuaded ISU IT students and members of the Bloomington-Normal Home Builders Association, led by Randy Raper, to participate, along with Rick Whitacre. Dr. Pope provided the overall coordination for the project, both stateside and in Russia.

A number of obstacles were encountered along the way, one of the largest of which was the eventual inability, due to rapid inflation, of the Vladimir City Administration to cover its agreed share of the costs on the Russian side. Instead of canceling the project, Dr. Pope approached his father, Russ Pope, for financial backing. Ultimately, Serendipity invested more than $125,000 to complete the American Home--it cost the people of Vladimir nothing. In-kind contributions were received from more than 50 North American firms, the volunteer builders, and Dr. Francis. In addition, assistance was provided by a number of Russians. This included the support of Vladimir Mayor Igor Shamov and the full cooperation of the city's deputy mayor for construction, Valeri Siderov. The ground breaking ceremony was held May 18, 1992, and the American Home was officially dedicated and opened July 4th of that year. (The rapid completion of the home surprised many Russians. They were used to construction projects taking many years to complete--if they were finished at all. When one individual was told that work would begin in May and the home would be dedicated on the American independence holiday, he wanted to know: "July 4 of what year?")

In September 1992, Serendipity began offering English classes taught by three young Americans. This program quickly grew from 80 to approximately 250 students (its physical capacity), and from three to five, then six teachers. Its main attractions include energetic native-speaking teachers using a variety of materials and innovative ESL [English as a Second Language]-based teaching techniques. More than 2,000 Vladimirites have participated in these classes to date, including business professionals, educators, medical personnel, and others who report the lessons are essential to their ability to communicate with their English-speaking colleagues. In 1996 a special class was added to help students prepare for the TOEFL exam [Test of English as a Foreign Language] required for admission to almost all American colleges and universities, and special conversation classes were added, along with a sixth part-time teacher. (In 1998 this became a full-time position.) In addition, the decision was made to continue an experimental class for young children.

The American teachers working in this program are recruited nationwide, and there are now regularly more serious applicants than openings. (In 1997 the first Canadian teacher was hired.) Since its inception, the English Program has been very ably directed by Galya Altonen--and her husband, Alexei Altonen, is now the American Home Director. In addition to overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Home, Alexei also facilitates the organization's not-for-profit projects, such as educational and art exchanges.

The English Program covers most of the cost of operating the American Home. The rest of the necessary funds are earned primarily by Serendipity's remodeling business--when the Russian economy is functioning reasonably well. This is headed by Andrei Koretsky who helped build the American Home and who has made three trips to the U.S. In 1994 he worked with Bloomington-Normal builder Doug Parker who also participated in the building project in Vladimir. In the fall of 1998 he participated in the U.S. Government funded Business for Russia program in Seattle, Washington. (Serendipity's other commercial activities include tourism and assistance with trade and investment projects.)

The American Home in Vladimir has become a center for learning about American culture, a meeting place for the local Partner [Sister] Cities Association, and the communications center for and frequently the initiator and coordinator of a wide variety of cooperative, not-for-profit projects. Some of these projects include: law enforcement exchanges and training, business education (including the Business for Russia program), educational and cultural exchanges (including art exchanges), and medical assistance. Serendipity periodically publishes a Russian language newsletter highlighting contacts between Vladimir area residents and Americans. The American Home also provides access to a growing library of American publications and videos with movies being shown three Saturday afternoons a month. (The English Speakers Club meets at the Home once a month during the academic year.) The Home's staff is a source of assistance ranging from providing information on how to apply to American universities, to answering questions concerning translation, to explaining American holidays. (In 1995 the first haunted house was created in the Home by the English Speakers Club....)

An article in the February 16, 1996 issue of the Vladimir paper, Vspol'e, entitled "A Warm Home at the Kozlov Rampart," begins: "If someone asks them in the morning, 'Where are you hurrying?' he hears, 'Home.' That is exactly how, briefly and affectionately, the employees of the firm Serendipity refer to their place of work, the American Home." The article ends with the observation that "when people of different nationalities become well acquainted with one another, they have no reason for hostility."

On July 4, 1997 the American Home celebrated its 5th Anniversary with the help of 19 member group from Central Illinois led by Bill White, Secretary for the Vladimir-Canterbury Sister City Association of Bloomington/Normal, and his wife Anne, and including other Association Board members Bill Miller, Jack Porter, Elizabeth Weir, and Kay Weir. Dr. Pope also accompanied the group. They were joined in the Independence Day celebration by more than 100 Russians, including members of the Vladimir Partner Cities Association led by its Chair, Professor Irina Lapshina. (Dr. Lapshina, who teaches in the History and English Department at the Vladimir State Pedagogical University, has made several trips to Illinois, including teaching a course in the ISU Political Science Department in the spring of 1993.)

The American Home is scheduled to be turned over to the City of Vladimir by January 1, 2003 and will hopefully continue to be used as a cultural and educational center. Before that date, Dr. Pope hopes to generate enough income from Serendipity's commercial activities--or to get a grant--to build a full scale American Center which, in turn, will enable Serendipity to continue and substantially expand its cultural, educational, and other non-profit activities.

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