Closing of the 11th Season of the World Club of Petersburgers

The World Club of Petersburgers completed its 11th season. The Club's President and State Hermitage Director Mikhail Piotrovsky welcomed the guests gathered at the Hermitage Theatre: the consuls general of foreign countries, deputies of the Legislative Assembly, representatives of the St Petersburg municipal administration, noted scholars and performers, the heads of large companies, banks, publishing houses, museums and libraries.
In keeping with tradition, the guests were given a present: a tour round the recently opened Treasure Gallery. The assembly of the World Club of Petersburgers was not a mere festive occasion, it included the report on the Club's activities and discussion of its plans and projects. One of its major programmes was the organization of a weekly radio connection between the '' Nadezhda '' station (New York) and the Club of Petersburgers at the ''Petersburg'' radio station. Another important initiative taken by the Club was the erection of memorial plaques, the first of which was dedicated to the outstanding Russian scholar Vladimir Dal who had issued the famous Russian lexicon (''Dictionary of Living Great Russian Language''). A large number of new editions was added to the Library of the World Club of Petersburgers. The Club's international cooperation kept on developing: it took part in ''St Petersburg's Days'' in Switzerland and ''St Petersburg. Russian Tourism'' exhibition in Moscow. Its meetings were held in Los Angeles and the Contract of Cooperation was signed by the Moscow House of Nationalities and the World Club of Petersburgers. Youth projects were paid great attention to. New members joined the Club. Its badge was presented to the sculptor Mikhail Shemiakin who had been admitted to the Club in 1991. Telling the audience about the visit of the Russian and American Presidents to the State Hermitage Mikhail Piotrovsky said that Vladimir Putin as a native Petersburger would like to be a member of the Club. A short concert was given at the end of the evening.

The Hermitage Theater Auditorium

At the assembly