ICC Russia -Serbia & Montenegro: Inspiration from personal meetings!
By Olga Kholmogorova – ICC National Chair for Russia
The Russian Rotarians are equally eager to make time to visit Rotary clubs during their travels within own country and abroad. We’d been corresponding with Marko Mitrašinović, the ICC NC for Serbia and Montenegro, since the spring, but the meeting was postponed until a personal meeting took place at the Rotary Convention in Taipei between Svetlana Zhukova, PDG 2223 for 2025-2026 and Veliša Stomatović, PDG 2483. At the House of Friendship the correspondence immediately began about a specific small project: arrival to St. Petersburg of Jelena Prokopović, a young talented artist and Rotarian from the RC Novi Sad Alma Mons. Jelena spent about two months working on her project, making eight oil paintings and numerous drawings, all portraits. She will donate some of the paintings to clubs in our District to benefit Rotary projects!.
Jelena spoke about her city, Novi Sad, the second largest city in Serbia, located on the banks of the Danube. The Rotary Club Novi Sad Alma Mons primarily develops projects in the areas of education, culture, ecology, and community support.
In particular, the funds from the well-known auction project “More Than Wine” are donated to support creative institutions, including the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad, where Jelena graduated. Together with other Rotary clubs in the region, the club is participating in the purchase of computer equipment and modern facilities for Novi Sad schools. The club implements urban environmental projects, including initiatives to protect and support the urban bee population.
By a remarkable coincidence, at the same time, our Rotarian, Major Donor Alexey Svetlikov, and his family were traveling through Montenegro and Serbia! I’m especially pleased to announce that Alexey Svetlikov will serve as the Chair of the ICC Russia -Serbia and Montenegro from the Russian side.
I have asked the Rotarians involved in the ICC to share their vews:
Veliša Stamatović, Immediate Past DG 2483 Serbia and Montenegro:
‘’It was very nice opportunity and great possibility to host Rotarians from St-Petersburg and to speak about restarting collaboration between clubs and Districts from Russia on one side and Serbia and Montenegro on the other side.
We were privileged to meet Alexei Svetlikov, Past President of RC St-Petersburg White nights in Belgrade and speak about potential collaboration between our clubs and Districts. Few directions were highlighted as next step for building relations. Both sides will do their best to visit each other for some special events that each side is organizing in their own clubs and cities. Good experiences should be shared between clubs in order to develop Rotary in both Districts. Few potential mutual projects were discussed too, especially in fields of Ecology, Medicine, Education and Global grants. Both sides agreed that first step should be the goal to spend more time together online and in real, to introduce more Rotarians from both Districts to each other and to organize some official visits.
As an example for great start of our friendship and great relations we would like to highlight the friendship between Past District Governors Svetlana and Veliša, as well as very good communication between national ICC coordinators from both Districts, Olga and Marko.
Our District would like to show thankfulness to members of RC “St-Petersburg. White nights” for hosting our talented Rotarian and painter from RC Novi Sad Alma Mons -Jelena Prokopovićin their club and for providing her support while staying in St-Petersburg. We hope that Jelena’s visit and charity auctions together with Rotarians from St. Petersburg would be excellent example how good people can join together and make good things happen.
We are very open for collaboration and truly looking forward for next steps in making it.’’
Jelena Prokopović, RC Novi Sad Alma Mons, Serbia:
‘’This is my first trip to Russia, to St. Petersburg. Since me being an artist, it is very pleasant to connect to this artistic city, a city of great artists! I like it very much, of course.
To live here in Pushkinskaya10, and to work here, to meet contemporary artists, that are also working and living here, it is something that made this experience much higher. When I was younger, I always wanted to come here, so my wish came true. This art residency fulfilled my artistic needs. I hope to come back.
I felt a very warm welcome in the Rotary Club St Petersburg. White Nights. During my stay I joined the club twice for their meetings. Hope, that some of Rotarians will come to Serbia for the 20th anniversary of the RC Smederevo on October 9th this year.’’
Alexei Svetlikov, RC St-Petersburg White Nights, ICC Chair Russia -Serbia & Montenegro
‘’At the end of July 2026, in the warm atmosphere of one of Belgrade’s most significant places we met with Veliša Stamatović, Past Governor of the District of Serbia and Montenegro. Veliša shared his experience implementing a large-scale project to provide equipment to schools in Montenegro thanks to two Global Grants totaling $400,000.
Veliša considers his achievement of visiting almost all clubs over the past year, assessing each club’s strengths and weaknesses, and assisting in the development of clubs in need of support to be significant in his work as Governor. He also shared his experience of balancing the duties as a Governor with running his own business. The most important thing is the desire to change the world for the better and help those in need.
Achieving these goals, in fact, energizes him and contributes to the success of his business. One of the main outcomes of the meeting was an agreement on further collaboration with our district, 2223 Russia, participation in joint projects, and visits to Rotary clubs and conferences. We very much hope for future meetings and collaboration with our Rotarian friends in Serbia and Montenegro.’’
Rotary Izmir Dokuz Eylül
District 2440, Turkey - Past District Governor
Past Rotary Public Image Coordinator
Turkish Rotary Magazine board member
Active member of the WASH and SRoF fellowships
TRF CADRE
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