The USRCCNE Monthly Newsletter
For those with interests bridging the US and Russia...
 Welcome!
From Josh Wilson, General Editor, USRCCNE
This month's newsletter brings information on culture events happening today for those of you in the Boston area. We also have information on the next Global Technology Symposium, due to be held in California in March. To compliment this, we carry several articles on science and research in Russia and the former USSR in addition to our now semi-regular travel section and a special focus on the American fast food boom in Moscow.
As always, this newsletter is dependent on you. If you have an announcement or a news item to be included in our newsletter, or if you would like to subscribe to this free publication, please contact us.
USRCCNE Seeks Intern
USRCCNE is seeking an intern who will be available for the this academic year to take responsibility for compiling a database of companies, organizations, and institutions in New England with connections to Russia.
Upcoming Events
Alexander Nevsky at MIT
(Feb 18 - MA) The four-day Festival jubilee includes 25 Russian-themed one acts from around the nation and showcases performances by musicians, dancers, singers, stand-up comedy, along with strolling street performers.
The New England Russian Theatre Festival
(Feb 18-21 - MA) The four-day Festival jubilee includes 25 Russian-themed one acts from around the nation and showcases performances by musicians, dancers, singers, stand-up comedy, along with strolling street performers.
Breakfast with Nizhney Novgorod Governor
(Mar 02 - DC) The USRBC invites you to a USRBC breakfast with Valery Shantsev, Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, on Tuesday, March 2 at 8:30am at the St. Regis Hotel.
 2010 Global Technology Symposium
(March 24-26 - CA) The Symposium brings over 300 selected international leaders in business, finance, policymaking, and technology together to discuss how entrepreneurs and blue-chip companies alike can seize the opportunities of globalization. The theme of this year's Symposium will be "Disruptive Technologies for the Economic Recovery."
Tour of Volga Heartland
(June 17 to 28 - Yaroslavl Region) Join Suzanne Massie and Daniel Satinsky in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Russia through the eyes of its own people. See the smaller Russian towns and cities where most Russians live and discuss life with Russian entrepreneurs, artists, and students.
SRAS Offers Russian Trip!
(July 10, 18 -or- August 7-15, 2010 - Western Russia) This nine-day cultural travel package is unlike any tourism you've ever tried. Eat a home-cooked meal with Russians in their home. Create traditional painted porcelain under a Russian master. Sit in banyas and celebrate life with Russians who will show you how to sing, make toasts, relax, and laugh. Find more travel services from SRAS
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The Sapsun, Russia's fastest train, is pictured right.
Photo from bbc.com.
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Travel News!
Moscow Promises More Rail Links to Airports
By 2015, Moscow says that it will have its airports linked to each other and the city center by rail. A new, even faster rail link is also planned to St. Petersburg.
New Restrictions Added for Air Passengers
In the wake of the terrorism attempt on a Northwest Airlines flight, federal officials imposed new restrictions on travelers that could lengthen lines at airports and limit the ability of international passengers to move about an airplane.
Terminal D Now Non-Smoking
Aeroflot has announced that its new terminal at Shermetevo will be entirely non-smoking.
Another Railroad Bomb Explodes
One person is injured. The authorities suspect terrorists involved.
USRCCNE and Member News
Auriga Strengthens Its Support for Europe
In January 2010 Auriga launched a new engineering center in Vilnius, Lithuania and partnered with a new German-based representative, GoodmanHaller headquartered in Munich, to better serve European customers, especially in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
CDRF Helps Establish Science Center
Leading Azeri scientists will work at the center to solve alternative energy, environmental and other significant issues. The scientists employed at the Center will receive purchase orders from local and foreign organizations to conduct needed research/analytical work.
Alinga Names New Head of Legal Practice
Anatoly Gakenberg specializes in cross-border mergers and transactions, debt and equity financing transactions and corporate governance issues involving Russia-based and international corporate clients operating in Russia and the CIS in the real estate, oil and gas and consumer goods sectors.
Articles & Resources
Russia - Global Research Report
Russia's research output has experienced a "steady decline" over the past decade and the country is now second lowest among the 'BRIC' in terms of formal publication output, according to a report published by Thomson Reuters.
Recipes from a Drunk Marketer
The founder of one of Russia's first advertising agencies has also made a name for himself cooking with vodka. The article above is in Russian - click here for his English-language blog.
The Post-Communist Generation
A Pew Global Attitudes survey conducted in fall 2009 finds that members of the post-communist generation, who are now between the ages of 18 and 39, offer much more positive evaluations of the political and economic changes their countries have undergone over the past two decades than do those who were adults when the Iron Curtain fell.
21st-Century Russia
A think tank close to President Medvedev has made a stir with its report that advises Russia to join NATO and the EU, reduce its military, reintroduce gubernatorial elections and four-year presidential terms and disband its Interior Ministry and Federal Security Service. The original Russian document is linked above. Read an article about the essay in English here.
Regional Investment: $65 Million for Nano-Filtration
Rusnano will support the production of nanostructured membranes and separation modules to treat water. Its project partner is Vladimir-based R&D and production company Vladipor with 35 years of experience in the membrane market. Subscribe to Marchmont News Service
Russian Corner: 1C as a Platform for Parallel Accounting
This article discuss how to use Russia's most popular accounting software to maintain accounting according to Russian Accounting Standards and International Financial Reporting Standards simultaneously. Subscribe to the Alinga Market Update
Russian Corner: 2010 Tax Update
After several years of relative stability, the Russian tax system is undergoing some significant changes - an update from Dewey and LeBoeuf. More from Dewey and LeBoeuf
Just for Fun: How Russian Children Learn Russian
Mark Lowry completed his undergraduate senior research projects (on language acquisition in children) in Russia with the assistance of SRAS during the summer of 2009. Contact SRAS for more information on how we can help scholars with visas, housing, insurance, and other on-the-ground support in Russia. Click here for new info from SRAS on funding study abroad! Subscribe to the SRAS newsletter
P.S. American Food Booms in Russia!
Last month, Burger King opened its first location in Russia and is now planning several more. Meanwhile, its competitor, McDonald's, celebrated its twenty-year anniversary in Russia with an announcement that it will open forty new Russian locations. Meanwhile, Dunkin Donuts announced that it will enter Russia with dozens of locations. This all follows Cinnabon's entry to Russia late last year and Pepsi's ongoing $4,000,000,000 investment. The McDonald's logo as it first appeared in the USSR in 1990 is pictured right. | 
