Sharing life stories building friendships

This week I learned Mikhail Rostislavovich was stepping aside from his role as President of the Waseca Chamber of Commerce due to health concerns. 

 

Mikhail contacted me the night before he sent over a press release with his decision. My advice to him was to do what is best for him. His health battle, cancer, is all too common today. 

 

It feels like Mikhail has been here far longer than the five years he has called Waseca home. During that time he has accomplished a lot. But, for me, his friendship has meant the most. Mikhail slipped into my life unnoticed at first. A news story here or there about projects he was working on. That was not unusual. We publish stories and releases all the time – there are many recurring faces. Without much fanfare we met once or twice before we had a real conversation. It was over a year before I learned of his incredible life story, secondhand, from Editor Deb Bently. 

 

Mikhail, around that time, invited me to lunch and I had the pleasure of hearing his story firsthand. Although our lunches have been a regular occurrence, we’ve only made it through to his 20s or so in his life story. It took a few lunches for me to share my life journey, which he insisted on hearing. MIkhail, has a few years on me. (He is 71, I am 28.) 

I don’t try to rush through anything in life, if it can be helped. The same is true of conversations with friends. I want to know details, thoughts, feelings, emotions. One of my favorite interviews to go through is talking to local business owners. I look forward to asking them if they were scared of starting their business. What those first days were like, if they thought of quitting. How did they persevere? It’s hard to relate to non-business owners about the risk and feelings involved with starting a business. I love that connection. 

 

My point here is when Mikhail is going through his life story, I stop him to ask many questions about the moments and memories he shares. Often I tell him to slow down, I don’t want the “Cliff notes” version. I want to be there, in the memory. That’s how I write stories and it’s also how I have conversations with my friends. 

 

Numerous times I have thought about writing about Mikhail or sharing his story. Others have already done so and, so far, I have decided I would prefer to simply enjoy his story as a friend, not as a reporter. 

 

I intended to write about the impact Mikhail has had on my life. He has taught me, indirectly, how to be more assertive and confident when directing meetings and staff. Mikhail runs a tight ship when directing others. He doesn’t hesitate or settle; he is calculated and professional, and all the while doing so kindly, respectfully. 

 

I am certain there are other areas he has impacted my life that I will doubtless think about after this column goes to print. As for Waseca, I asked a respected member of the community, not myself or my staff, to put together a list of Mikhail’s accomplishments in Waseca. The list follows:

 

- Served as President of the Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce during a period of major community growth and transition.

 

- Served as President of Discover Waseca Tourism, helping promote local events, tourism, and community engagement.

 

- Served as President of the Waseca Arts Council, supporting arts programming and creative opportunities in the community. Completely transforming the organization and the center. 

 

- Served as President of the local Exchange Club chapter and helped lead significant membership growth and statewide recognition.

 

- Active member and leader within the Tuscan Lodge No. 77 Masons.

 

- Helped strengthen collaboration between local nonprofits, civic groups, schools, businesses, and local government.

 

- Assisted in organizing and supporting major community events, fundraisers, recognition programs, and civic celebrations throughout Waseca.

 

- Played a leadership role in welcoming and mentoring new leaders and community volunteers.

 

- Helped coordinate and support candidate forums, legislative coffees, town halls, and civic engagement opportunities for residents.

 

- Assisted with business retention and economic development conversations involving downtown redevelopment, housing, tourism, and workforce initiatives.

 

- Supported local tourism attractions, arts events, seasonal celebrations, and community branding efforts.

 

- Advocated for community partnerships that brought organizations together instead of operating in silos.

 

- Supported charitable and service-focused efforts benefiting the Waseca Area Food Shelf and other community nonprofits.

 

- Assisted with recognition events honoring veterans, first responders, volunteers, and community leaders.

 

- Served as a mentor and encourager to younger community leaders and volunteers entering civic service.

 

- Brought regional and statewide organizational connections back into the Waseca community to benefit local initiatives.

 

- Helped modernize and professionalize several local organizations through branding, communication, partnerships, and event execution.

 

- Worked to preserve and promote Waseca’s sense of hospitality, volunteerism, and civic pride.

 

- Consistently volunteered his time, leadership, and expertise across multiple organizations simultaneously for the betterment of the community.

 

- Known for creating welcoming, relationship-driven environments that encourage people to become more involved in community life.

 

- Assisted organizations during periods of transition, restructuring, or uncertainty to help maintain continuity and stability.

 

- Frequently recognized for his formal professionalism, strong public presence, and dedication to service-oriented leadership.

 

- Helped elevate the visibility of Waseca organizations and events beyond the immediate community through networking and advocacy.

 

- Integral part of getting Marketplace Commons across the finish line.

- Always a sounding board for other civic leaders.

 

- His expertise is unique and is often called upon by elected officials and City/County leadership. 

 

“Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend... when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that's present - love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature and personal pursuits that bring us pleasure - the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience Heaven on earth.”

- Sarah Ban Breathnach