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By this time we had moved out of the theater for my weekly lectures, and we were looking for a permanent more location. We were trying to find the right location that was suitable for everyone. Moving from the Udmurtia Theater we had rented different facilities, but none were to our liking. With all the moving around we did I told our Center family "Now I know what Moses felt like traveling in the wildness for 40 years". October 1997 we found the right location. It was a building that had just refurbished inside and out. We talked to owners of the building about renting a space which they agreed to do. We even made a contract for 5 years stipulating that we could renegotiate after that time. The facility had a large room for lectures, and a smaller room for children's activities and our book store. The place was perfect. Before moved in we bought chairs from a school that had to be reupholster, and many of us did this work. We also refinished all the floors.One of the women even made curtains for us. Another woman sewed a Science of Mind symbol on a colorful background. We bought cabinets for our bookstore as well as dishes and cups, and teapot for our Center. |
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Then, in December of that year we were notified by the owners that we had to vacate because they were losing money, but we said we had a contract. Their reply was, "And what." Again we had to look for a more permanent location. as you can imagine, we were all saddened by our departure. However, we did find another facility; one that we used for many years. As I continued to teach more classes and courses, the burden of correcting homework was just too much for me. It was time to develop leaders to handle this responsibility. The leaders would be facilitating the small groups, and correct all the homework. At that time United Church of Religious Science had a curriculum for training Center leaders. Each week we would meet in one of the new leaders flat. In the meantime I used these new student leaders to facilitate the small groups to help me. I supervised the training for about 2 months because I wanted to make sure they could handle the new responsibility. |
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After completing the small group leader course, I had to look at a more effective way to conduct the classes. I told the group leaders I would do the first half of the class or until break. Then they would take over to finish conducting the class and correct home work. That format was very successful, and I continued using it until I moved to Maikop in southern Russia. My dream was always to have Russians teach Russians, and this was the perfect opportunity for that. |
The publishing work was always my top priority. We had 3 courses, Foundation, Treatment and Meditation, Self mastery course. The translation and proofing work was not accomplished overnight it took considerable time and money. I would sit next to the translator comparing the English text to the Russian because I wanted quality material on everything we printed. When I look back that time II was very thankful for my career in graphics because I knew how to present our materials. Initially we printed 500 copies of all the books and we were slowly depleting our supply. It was time to decide which course I would use as the fourth course. United Church of Religious Science had the course Root of Science of Mind, but I knew this was not appropriate for Russia. I wrote my own course, Bible Metaphysical interpretation it was a course 10 weeks which many people appreciated because they knew little or nothing about the Bible. It was time to create the practitioner curriculum. At each course I talked about the practitioner, and the responsibility they had as well as the joy of being a spiritual Counseling. There were five students from my very first Foundation course in Izhevsk that wanted to be a practitioner. They were very excited to begin practitioner work because they had to wait 5 1\2 years to fulfill all requirements, as well as getting the course translated and printed. In addition to all the translation work, of new courses and new books, we exhausted our Science of Mind book supply; in 2001 we reedited it once again. The Science of Mind book underwent a total of 5 revisions, and this is the same book we use today. Our printer required we have copyrights to print all of our books. Before internet to Home Office I had to communicate by fax, telephone or regular mail. Rev. Dr. Bob Gale the CEO of Religious Science, was a supporter of the Russian Outreach as it was called in those days. He gave me permission to print all the books that I had requested. Included was the entire teaching curriculum. I received permission to print This Thing Called You, This Thing Called Life, Living the Science of Mind, Creative Mind and Success, and Spiritual Healing by Dr. Catherine Ponder. Since then we have translated, Living the Science of Mind, Edinburgh Lectures, Lazyman's Guide to Enlightment, and Financial Freedom. We also translated an Ernest Holmes reader, The Meaning of Life. We also translated Toward's Creative Process. We had to translated portions of Emerson's Essays because this was required reading for our practitioner students. The translation of the practitioner curriculum was not cost affected because compared to the number of students enrolled in the course. Regardless of the initial cost, I had my eye on the future practitioners. The cost to translate the practitioner course was about $2000. This brought us to a point were we invested in a Risopraph. We needed it to print smaller books such as Can We Talk to God, and all the material used at the Center. There were brochures, new comers' packages, and everything we needed to print in house. |
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Let's talk about something that has been dear to my heart. The conferences. One Saturday in 1998, at the lecture I asked, "How would you like to have a conference?" The crowd enthusiastic said yes. So we found a location that was about 50 miles from Izhevsk near a small town of Votkinks. The site is situated next to a lake, it was perfect place for our 3 day conference. That first conference we had a total of 43 people including children and youths. As expected, I did most of the seminars and the evening lecture. Galina Emelianova and another woman also did their seminars. I wanted the format to be similar to the Asilomar in California. I began calling it the "little Asilomar in Russia." |
The next year, 1999, I advertised for speakers among my American colleagues for our first International conference. Rev. Bob Grobowski, Rev. Rainbow Johnson, Barber Lage, and Kate Bennett a practitioner student from New Mexico all said yes. |
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One of my first course student in Izhevsk Anton was attending the university. He said that he could gather people in his hometown of Votkinks and we can have a course there. The town of Votkinks is located about 45 miles from Izhevsk. True to his word we had our first Foundation Course in Votkinks, and we had about 45 people in attendance. I now had the responsibility of going to Votkinks each week. Galina, my interpreter and I would travel to Votkinks either by car or bus; mostly by bus. |
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 CHELNY FIRST GROUP |
 OMSK FRIENDS |
Olga and her daughter Nastia were attending the conference in the year 2000. Olga ask if we could have a study group in Omsk. Omsk is located in Siberia about a 2 day away by train. Of course I agreed because I had said any time and place. mother new practitioner, Alexander Tensin was designated to oversee this new group in Omsk. He gratefully accepted this leadership role and would be their teacher and guide. He would conduct the classes for them every other week. Gulya and I would go to Omsk every 3 weeks to help with this enthusiastic group. Getting back to the Votkinks story; we completed the first course, and it was time to teach the second, Treatment and Meditation. New people were interested in having the Foundation Course; Galina volunteered to teach the Foundation and Treatment and Meditation Course. Galina Emelianova was also assisted by new practitioners, Tamara, and Nina, and they went to Votkinks each week to conduct the courses. I was the only one qualified to teach the Self Mastery course because the new practitioner had not taught the course. When those students completed their 1st, and 2nd courses taught by Galina and her team, I again went back to Votkinks to teach the Self Mastery course. When the third course was completed I taught the Bible Course, and I opened the course to anyone that was interested. Again I returned to Votkinks to conduct the Bible course for 10 weeks. In the spring I also taught the Mind Body Connection Course in Votkinks. With all the perquisites completed for practitioner training it was time to enroll students that wanted to continue their Science of Mind training. We enrolled over 20 students. |
Practitioner training was a hugh commitment for me, because I had to be in Votkinks every Sunday regardless of the climate or season of year. Some winter days the temperature was -25C. The Russian buses are not as comfortable as in America, and often they breakdown alongside the road. Several times my interpreter and I were stranded, along with the bus load of people, until we flagged someone down to take us back to Izhevsk. We would return to Izhevsk 3:30. As you can imagine, Sundays were very long days for the both of us. I was also teaching a practitioner course in Izhevsk every week. For my American audience reading this commentary, I want to tell you a story of dedication. On Sunday morning I arose at 5:30 so I could be at the main bus station by 7:30 where I met my Interpreter Natasha. We followed this routine for the first year every Sunday. Of course if Natasha or I were ill we could not go. After 2 years of practitioner training 13 people completed the course. Nine were licensed as new practitioners. At the conference of 2001, Rev. Kathy Hearn and two other ministers paneled those students from Votkinks. New courses were announced by Home Office, and, I was very excited. In addition to courses we already had we had four more. The Mind Body Connection, the Edinburgh lectures, Practical Mysticism, and the Principles of Successful Living. The years 2000 and 2001 were very busy for the translators they had four more courses to translate. In addition to the courses we received Children Curriculum from Rev. Beverly Craig at Home Office. In addition to teaching classes, lecturing, and consulting, I managed to develop a web site in English and Russian. As to other activities outside of the Center, I formed the first AA and АСА groups. The AA group met each week, and it was successful. Two men from the group wanted to form another AA group because they received material from the Central AA office in Moscow. That group continues to this day as far as know. Another activity I started was public speaking. I used the format provided by Toastmasters which Bob Garbowski sent to me. We met in my flat for about 2 months. My neighbors begin to complain that there was just too much activity in my flat. I could have told them where to go, but we found another meeting place. |
In late 2004 after a great deal of soul searching I thought I wanted to retire. I announced my retirement effected January 1 2005. Well, that's what I thought I was going to do. The village we live in there is interest in Science of Mind. The Foundation course has been completed as well as the Treatment and Meditation course. I just can't retire. I as having fun. I am truly living my dream. Each day I continue live my dream. Do you live yours? |
