1991 – Tony traveled through Moscow to the Republic of Georgia with a Minnesota delegation composed of leaders in trade, commerce, science, agriculture, aviation, arts, and culture. Tony was invited to represent the performing arts. They came by invitation for the purpose of opening channels for trade, to exchange ideas, and to explore mutual opportunities. Sponsored and organized by Dr. John A. Cesnik, MD (Intertech), and Boris Popov (Ballistic Recovery Systems), this private delegation was one of the first to visit Georgia during Perestroika. Mikhail Gorbachev, then leader of the Soviet Union, sought to bring the Soviet Union up to economic par with capitalist countries. Thus encouraged, the Georgians were eager to learn and grow, and gave a warm reception to the Americans.