The US – RFE Active Partnership Program held a Round Table to discuss issues relating to fundraising in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk on February 27. During the course of the RT, the financial status of the typical Russian NGO was analyzed, potential sources of funding were identified, and impediments such as the lack of tax deductions under Russian law for charitable giving were discussed. Approximately 35 participants attended the RT including Pamela Spratlen, Consul General from the US Consulate General, representatives from the Sakhalin Oblast and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk city administrations, directors of Sakhalin-based NGOs, representatives from Exxon Neftegas Limited and Sakhalin Energy, Natalya Proskurina, Russian Director and other Partnership staff, Coordinator Halstead, and Assistant Coordinator Vasina.

Coordinator Halstead on February 11 separately spoke to two evening classes of working adults studying English on a per pay basis at the American–Russian Center in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. The classes consisted of eight language learners and instructor in the lower level class and six language learners and instructor in the advanced level class. The language learners made up of civil servants, accountants, engineers, secretaries and the unemployed, uniformly cited work-related reasons as being their major motivation for studying English.