Story last updated at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 25, 2000

Nadezhda Golovnina, left, listens to Jim Haslam, standing, speak at the United Way luncheon held Monday for visitors from Oak Ridge's sister city of Obninsk, Russia. Seated next to Nadezhda  is Tom Row, United Way of Anderson County board chairman. The visitors are learning about nonprofit organizations while here in Oak Ridge. -- Photo by Brenda Mask

The president of Knoxville-based Pilot Oil Corp. talked Monday afternoon to visitors from the Oak Ridge sister city of Obninsk, Russia, about the importance of volunteerism.

Pilot Oil President Jim Haslam addressed the group during a luncheon at the Chamber of Commerce.

Haslam told the group that they came to the right place by coming to the Volunteer State.

He told the group that about 40 years ago, Max Friedman, a member of the Knoxville City Council, asked him to participate in the Community Chest, an earlier version of the United Way.

Haslam said he told Friedman that he was too busy to get involved because he was starting a business and trying to take care of his family and young children

He said Friedman asked him what business he was in. When Haslam told him he sold gas, Friedman asked who he sold the gas to. Haslam told Friedman he sold it to the people of Knoxville.

"He told me, 'Son, it's time to pay the rent,' " Haslam said. "He meant that if we were going to profit from the people of Knoxville, we have to give back to the community."

After the luncheon Victor Latynov, Obninsk trip coordinator, said the volunteer spirit has been lacking in Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.

He said the Soviet Union had well-organized volunteer groups that fell by the wayside with the collapse of communism.

"It came not from grass roots but from above," Latynov said.

He said since the change in government, many people started having to look after their own needs, and volunteerism decreased significantly.

"Mainly because of economic difficulties," he said. "There are many people who donate their time and their talents to social matters. Much less donate their money."

The group came to Oak Ridge specifically to learn how to develop volunteer support in Obninsk for youth and senior programs.

The group is made up of Obninsk city representatives, business leaders and nonprofit organizers. They have been in Oak Ridge since April 17 and are to leave Thursday morning.

Latynov said the group will take Haslam's comments regarding young countries back to Obninsk.

Haslam said it was especially important during the early years, that Americans had to help each other out.

"It is that type of spirit we are looking to create," Latynov said.