OUR SUPPORTERS

Want to be among them? See PROJECT'S NEEDS below.  For the sceptical and the cynical: WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?

Most of Paul and Olesya's clients help this project whether they want it or not. Here, however, we'll list people who chose to contribute without any immediate payback for themselves.

To make your financial input look and feel real and substantial we'll used it for the acquisition of durable items of strategic significance, not for everyday things. You are encouraged to designate how you wish the funds you donate to be used.  

Contributions of things, rather than funds, is fine as long as shipping makes sense. I want to especially remark on the value of sending used laptop computers here. Presently I am trying to computerize all of our friends and associates, and thus can find homes to practically unlimited number of machines no matter how outdated.

All supporters, of course, acquire a lifetime right to be our guests in Staritsa or Moscow or whereever else we may grow our tentacles in the future.

Name, nationality, station in life	What your contribution has accomplished
Paul Voytinsky	At the risk of sounding immodest I'll list myself first among the project's sponsors. Having invested all of my savings from the good old days in Canada into the house, and continuing to sink into this project most of the humble emoluments of my present consulting operation in Moscow, I feel justified asking for help, especially in view of the fact that the project is, to a very good extent, a public one.
Thomas Peters US	Proper thick rubber covered bits for our gentle-mouthed animals. And playing the role of the horse is Katia, Kyrill's g/f, who did an admirable job making the household organized and cozy in the fall and winter of 2002/2003. Incidentally, if you are thinking of what to bring here, horse tack obtained at sale prices makes great gifts to horse owners. Prices here are on part with America, quality several orders of magnitute lower, and there are no sales. Also used tack is light and there are no customs charges.  T
Donna Haselow US	Several halters and bridles and brushes and other miscellaneous tack, oil lights and a stitching awl. Truly a great contribution of things that are not obtainable here. Now frequent power outages are not a problem.
Dori Perserotti, USA	With Dori's help we purchase of a professional level DC arc welder powered by 220 volts.
Al Villa USA, California Private detective	Gasoline lantern that made living without electricity for from January to June 2002 a bit more comfortable.
Robert Thomas Canada, BC Computers genius	No more of this: Thanks to Robert we now have a proper bathtub.
Patti Harris and Family, USA	A major contribution to setting up the Staritsa Business Center. I confess supporting the Staritsa Business Center turned out a waste. Well, happens once in a while.
Brian Lucena and the Department of Mathematics of the University of ??????, USA	Brian actually brought this 386 laptop with him. Now it serves as a typewriter, its advantage being, compared to newer models, low power consumption, so we can feed it from the car battery via an inverter for a practically unlimited number of hours.
Ed Mattson, Indianapolis, USA, president of The Wings of Hope Physician	Two boxes of supplies for the Staritsa Hospital. We contribute to the Staritsa hospital ourselves as much as our resources allow, and by attracting help from the outside.
John Moor, San Antonio, Texas	A printer for the school. See Staritsa Elementary and High School on www.unclepasha.com/staritsa_eng.htm   Here is John's letter that accompanied the cheque
"Veter" and the fellow whose name I can't find, sorry	Two washing machines, one of which is in use, and another one was given to the Staritsa Orphanage.
Danny Carrier, Alberta, Canada	I think he is or was planning to do something big to help the Orphanage.
Reach for the Stars Foundation Biointensive for Russia http://biointensiveforrussia.igc.org	These are two major contributors to the truck purchasing fund. Two comfortable seats, plus 6 more uncombortable ones, and plenty of more room for people and things. Click here for more truck pictures.
Manly Vernon Baker, Rhode Island, USA Navy officer, retired	A contribution to the truck repair fund. A box of books on alternative construction and growing vegetables in northern climate.
Jerome Peltier, France Programmer	He was planning to come to Staritsa for 6-12 months to teach French and English. Even though he changed his plans, he forced us to investigate the possibilities of working holidays in Staritsa. Inquiries welcomed.
Patrick and Sabine Roelofarendsveen, Holland (near Amsterdam) Flower breeders	A battery for our automomous electrical supply.
Roza Vasilyena Fedoseyeva ("Babushka Roza"), The City of Podolsk, Russia Former Communist Party official	Three boxes of clothing for our underpaid workers, plus a hat that I appropriated and made a part of my official scarecrow outfit (see About Us). Also she, being a former big Party official, writes letters in our support to those in power.
The Filin Family, Moscow Industrial alpinists, geologists	Lots of used mountain gear (ropes, fasteners) and kitchenware. Improvement of our electrical supply system. Installation of antennas. Attracting paying guests to do horseback riding.
Killi, Moscow	Contribution in work: making livable space on top of the "shower house".
Michael and Marion Voytinsky Teachers	Mailing as set of shoeing tools and a good saddle from Canada.
www.narod.ru	Our thanks and gratitudes to www.narod.ru for providing a free domain name and unlimited space for this site.

YOUR NAME COULD BE HERE

WORKING HOLIDAY IN THE RUSSIAN COUNTRYSIDE Inquire (without dragging me into lengthy correspondence that usually results in nothing) about the possibility of a working holiday. We are able to privide very basic accommodation, food and other subsitence, plus the opportunity to make some pocket money. The type of work we could use ranges from digging dirt and crude carpentry to development and refinement of documentation.

Here is a list of our needs, big and small, material and organizational.

	For someone grant-savvy PAPERWORK. We need help to properly document the project. That needs to be done both for our own good, so that we don't lose focus, and for applying for support.
	For someone relatively rich TRACTOR. The cost is from $1000 for a good used Vladimirets (25hp, air cooled) to $2500-3000 for a fully equipped Belarus monstrocity to $5000-6000 for a "proper" western-style tractor..
Central electrical supply seems to have stabilized, so this is not high priority now	For someone not rich but well-to-do, the way I was before I got into this rural development silliness. GENERATOR. A good household-strength generator costs $500-550. An industrial strength generator capable of supporting a welding maching is around $2500
	For someone eager to make a lasting contribution with his/her hands. PLANTING TREES. If you want to make a contribution to the project with your hands, there are fruit trees and pines to be planted. Accommodation available. Other types of work, from crude carpentry to writing and document development, is available.
	FOR THE PATRON OF ARTS AND SCIENCES Olesya has signed up for a course in Garden Design. Anybody wants to pay the 2nd installment of her fees ($250, due in about 4 months)?... This project seems to be on hold now because Olesya's personal presence in Dubrovki is required. I think she'll go back to it in September or October though.
On the way from Manly Vernon Baker, Rhode Island, USA	Books on alternative construction techniques (poles, clay, underground etc.) for northern climate.
	A tool, possibly called "aze", for flattening logs. It is a kind of an axe shaped like a hoe.
	Refrigerator (s) or freezer (s). I will gladly pickup your used working garbarge dump grade refrigerator or freezer in Moscow

HELP OUR FRIENDS

There are certain institutions in Staritsa (namely the hospital, school, orphanage, and especially the newspaper) that help us that to which we try to attract support. Any assistance you wish to render them is of the same value, in our eyes, as given to us.

See the site of the city of Staritsa for a list of their needs. At the moment the site of the city of Staritsa is somewhere in www.unclepasha.com but it will probably be moving to its own domain soon.

Written off laptops make an excellent item. They are easy to transport, are not taxed, cost nothing at the source, and are of great real value to the recipient. The school and the newspaper could use several.

Medical supplied with slightly expired storage period are greatly welcomed too. I understand that a lot of value can be packed into a small weight, and they are not subject to tax. Most airlines will not charge you for extra weight. THE ONLY UNFORTUNATE EXCEPTION IS RUSSIAN AIRLINES!!! PLEASE COMPLAIN WHENEVER YOU CAN.

Please note that sending items here makes sense only if they are free at the source. With some exceptions, buying the then sending is wasteful.

"WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?"

• You automatically get the preferred client status should you happen to be in need of our commercial services listed in www.unclepasha.com

• The amount of your donation can be applied, partly of fully, towards our services

• You are welcomed as a free guest

• You will be thanked in the most official way we are capable of, including a newspaper article, if positive PR could be put to good use.

• In the foreseeable future your contributions may become tax deductible. Setting ourselves up as a charitable entity is possible but involves a lot of work. Let me know if this is an important consideration for you.

 

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November 7,  2002