The gala dinner in honor of Ambassador Yuri Shcherbak and his wife Maria at the Capital Club in Jackson was an outstanding event. It was the first time that an Ambassador of Ukraine had visited our State and met the members of the ELF. The Shcherbaks, natives of Kiev, expressed their deepest appreciation for the warm Southern hospitality. In his address, the Ambassador spoke at length about his plans to establish close economic and cultural relations with the State of Mississippi. He expressed his view that Mississippi State University could be the coordinator between his country's and our State's scientific institutions and agricultural facilities. He gave a tour d'horizon of the five-year period of Ukraine's independence and its relations with the United States of America. He proudly spoke about the milestones of these historic events: a) the August 21, 1991 Proclamation of Independence; b) the December 1, 1991 first democratic elections; and c) the painful yet successful monetary and economic reforms. Ambassador Shcherbak was especially proud to tell our audience how the extensive State to State relations between his country and the U.S., including a $220 million economic aid program, is helping to establish a free, independent democratic Ukraine. It goes without saying that his speech was very well received. As ELF member, Robbie W. Hughes put it, "Ambassador Shcherbak's speech was the best yet presented at the Executive Lecture Forum."