St. George Pathfinders' of San Francsco Annual Summer Fantasy Ball
On Friday, September 2, 2011, the Western American Region of the St. George Pathfinders headquartered in San Francisco reintroduced their yearly tradition of a formal gala ball with the First Annual Summer Fantasy Ball. Held at the Westin Hotel in Millbrae, just south of San Francisco, a venue that lent itself to easy access for attendees who flew in from Southern California, New York and other parts of the United States was well attended by many individuals from different Russian-American communities coast to coast. The Congress of Russian Americans presented the CRA Youth Recognition Award to two young ladies, Russian scouts of the St. George Pathfinders. Representing CRA and Natalie G. Sabelnik, CRA President, was Michael S. Danich, CRA Director, who presented Larissa V. Murray of the Kiev Division of SGP in San Francisco and Katerina A. Levitsky of the Nizhni Novgorod Division of SGP in Los Angeles with a recognition proclamation, introductory membership and a small stipend from CRA. Both girls are leaders within their respective troops and were chosen for recognition by CRA by their organization’s leadership. Their leadership and mentorship skills speak well of these future community leaders whose commitment to St. George Pathfinders, a Russian scouting organization, the Russian-American communities they actively participate in, and their resolve to continue that participation going forward with their educational pursuits. Larissa is currently attending UC Davis and Katerina is a high school senior preparing to attend college after graduation. The girls both wrote short essays outlining their beliefs and desires to continue a connection to their Russian roots and their communities. In recognizing young people from our Russian-American communities and their interest in continuing that involvement, CRA hopes to support those interests through introducing them to membership in CRA and its goal of furthering the voice of Russian-Americans.