In this issue:

President Vaclav Klaus Received at the White House.......1

Former President Havel Spends Two Months in the US..................1

Message from theAmbassador................................2

Robert Zoellick Visits Prague.........2

Jiri Paroubek to Become the NewPrime Minister..............................2

Commission for Human RightsKeeps the Pressure on Cuba.........3

Vaclav Havel Speaks Out onDemocracy Issues, Rallies forCuban Dissidents.........................3

News Brief...................................3

Newly Appointed Officers:American Friends of the CzechRepublic......................................4

Getting to Market...ChicagoChapter of North AmericanChamber of Commerce...............5

CSA, Airbus Agree on Contract forNew Planes Purchase...................5

Czechs Help Southeast Asia..........5

SVU Establishes a Special StudiesFund...........................................6

Medek’s 80th Birthday.................6

2005 MFA Grants.......................7

Business Buzz...............................8

SVU Extravaganza in Florida.........8

Anniversary Celebrations..............9

Special Exhibition in PA...............9

Partnership Foundation andPrague-Vienna Greenways..........10

Upcoming Cultural Events..........11

Dear Friends of Czech Cuisine....11

Sokol Summer Camp.................11

Sokol Detroit Czech and SlovakFestival.....................................11

Prague-Vienna Greenways: Lubomir and Tiree Chmelar........12

of the Czech Republic

President Klaus Received at the White House

CZECH the NewsNewsletter of the Embassy of the Czech Republic

Spring 2005

11

News

Czech the News/Spring 2005

On March 8, George W.Bush received CzechPresident Vaclav Klaus

in the Oval Office of the WhiteHouse. It has been the first bilateral meeting with Bushsince Klaus assumed the presi-dential post in March 2003.

The meeting was announcedless than twenty four hoursahead, during Klaus’s visit tothe US, where he was presentinghis book “Road to Democracy”on the development in the CzechRepublic since the collapse ofthe communist regime in 1989.Diplomats and politicians in theCzech Republic appraised thequick arrangements of the topmeeting, since such a processusually takes up to severalmonths.

The presidents discussedmajor political issues focusing

mainly on the Middle East,Lebanon, the situation in Europeand in the Czech Republic.

George Bush was keen tohear that the Czech Republicwas not planning to change itspolicy and withdraw its troopsand would continue to train Iraqipolice officers. Vaclav Klaus

marked the meeting as veryfriendly: “I think that relationsbetween the Czech Republicand the United States are very,very positive, and this meetingwas just a confirmation of that,”said President Klaus.

While in the US, PresidentKlaus also presented his newbook, entitled “On the Road toDemocracy: The Czech Re-public from Communism toFree Society.” This book con-centrates on the impact of theCzech Republic´s free-marketreforms and examines lessonslearned during the transition todemocracy. The book, pub-lished by NCPA (NationalCenter for Policy Analysis) wasofficially released by VaclavKlaus and NCPA President JohnGoodman in Dallas, TX onMarch 7, 2005.

among others.Vaclav Havel is

also supposed tovisit the Inter-national Campaignfor Tibet inWashington, D.C.and the Festival ofInternational Literature in NewYork in the middle of April. InWashington, he will also attenda performance by the legendaryCzech underground band, ThePlastic People of the Universe,who were a symbol of resistanceto Czechoslovakia’s Communistregime during the 1970s and1980s.

Bard College in New Yorkwill take the opportunity of theformer president’s visit to theUS and award Havel an hon-

orary degree in May.Asked about how he enjoys

being in the US so far, VaclavHavel said, “It seems to me thatlife over here is not as hurriedand nervous as at home. And italso seems to me that peoplehere actually like to talk aboutpolitics. Back home, people justcomplain about it. I enjoy beinghere and living here, but I feel asif I do not have enough time; Iwould need to spend more timehere.”

President Klaus meets President Bush at the White House

Former President Vaclav Havel in the Library of Congress

Former President Havel Spends Two Months in the US

Vaclav Havel arrived in the United States atthe end of March and is

going to stay for about twomonths on a stipend granted bythe Library of Congress inWashington, D.C. He is accom-panied by his wife Dagmar, whois planning to use the time in theUS to improve her English.

The former president in-tends to spend most of the timein Washington, D.C. and to meetwith several of his friendsincluding current U.S. PresidentGeorge W. Bush, former U.S.Secretary of State and Czechnative Madeleine Albright, for-mer U.S. President Bill Clintonand his wife, Senator HillaryClinton, and Milos Forman,famous Czech movie director,

Message from the Ambassador

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AmbassadorAmbassador

Czech the News/Spring 2005

Dear Friends,The onset of the springseason has brought

important events to theWashington, D.C. area. First ofall, on March 8, PresidentVaclav Klaus arrived in theUSA and was received byPresident George W. Bush.Their friendly meeting confirmsthe excellent level of Czech-American relations. Details ofthe Presidential visit are avail-able for your reading enjoymenton the front page.

Another President, this timea former Head of State, arrivedat the beginning of April on a

Library of Congress stipend tostudy, meditate, and spend aquiet time in Georgetown.Vaclav Havel, the first Presidentof the free and democraticCzech Republic, is planning tostay in Washington until lateMay. You can find more infor-mation on his visit within ournewsletter, as well.

Back at home, in Prague, aprolonged and turbulent politi-cal crisis prompted a resignationof the Cabinet, finally resultingin the replacement of PrimeMinister Gross by Jiri Paroubek.There were also minor changesin other ministerial positions.

Foreign Minister Svoboda,however, remains in his post.

Last, but not least, I have toshare with you one diplomaticissue which recently made meproud of our achievements inthe field of human rights. TheCommission on Human Rightsin Geneva has recently voted infavor of a resolution condemn-ing the abuse of fundamentalfreedoms by the Castro regimein Cuba. I hope that such victo-ry on an esteemed internationalforum will constitute anotherstep to arrival of democracy onthe “Island of Freedom,” whosecitizens deserve their rights as

much as anyone else on thisEarth.Sincerely yours,

U.S. Deputy Secretary ofState Robert Zoellick,on his visit to 14

European capitals in late Marchand early April, made a stop inPrague for a meeting withPresident Vaclav Klaus, PrimeMinister Stanislav Gross andForeign Minister Cyril Svoboda

The Foreign Minister assuredZoellick that the Czech foreignpolicy regarding Iraq would notchange. Minister Svoboda said:“I am deeply convinced that it isnecessary to keep not only with

the presence of our militarypolice, but also with our pres-ence in the NATO TrainingMission in Baghdad; it is neces-sary to continue our participa-tion in other missions as a solidpart of NATO and therefore alsoin partnership with the UnitedStates.”

According to MinisterSvoboda, the only pending issuein U.S.-Czech relations con-cerns the changes in the VisaWaiver Program. Zoellickexplained that because of

Robert Zoellick Visits PragueDeputy Secretary of State Discusses Iraq, Visa Waiver Program

September 11, 2001, there werea number of restrictions and lim-itations on visas that have beenfrustrating to many peoplearound the world, including theCzech Republic. As Zoellick haspointed out, Secretary Rice hadalready started to take action onsome of these issues. The UnitedStates and the Czech Republichave set up a consular workinggroup to help the CzechRepublic meet the statutoryrequirements that have beenimplemented.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of StateRobert Zoellick meets with

President Vaclav Klaus on his visitto the Czech Republic

Jiri Paroubek to Become the New Czech Prime Minister

After considering variousoptions, early elections includ-ed, the crisis finally seems to beover and a solution has beenfound. The three major parties,CSSD, KDU-CSL and US-DEUagreed to re-form the coalitionand produce a new cabinet. Thisshould assure an effective gov-ernment until the end of the elec-tion period in the summer of2006. The agreement, ratified by

the leadership of each party,opened the way for Gross to stepdown and make way for the new government led by JiriParoubek, who until now servedas Minister for RegionalDevelopment.

The new Prime Ministergraduated from the PragueSchool of Economics. Heworked as an economist in man-agerial positions and provided

financial consultancy focused onsmall and medium-sized busi-nesses. Paroubek was elected tothe office of Deputy Mayor ofPrague for Finance for the timeperiod of 1998-2004, where hecontributed to the change of thecity’s financial policy and to theincrease of finances for largeinvestments in Prague.

New Prime Minister of the Czech Republic

Jiri Paroubek

A turbulent political crisis over the Czech Prime Minister Stanislav Gross’s personal financial affairs sparked many doubts about the future of the Czech government.

Current Events

News BriefHavel sharply Havel sharply

criticizes EU forcriticizes EU forapproach to Castroapproach to Castro

Former president VaclavHavel stood up against thedecision of the EU not toinvite Cuban dissidents toreceptions held at diplo-matic offices of EU mem-bers in Havana for the sakeof renewal of the dialoguewith Fidel Castro’s regimein Cuba.

In an article printed by theFrench daily Le Figaro,Havel calls this a newdiplomatic apartheid andasks the question of wherethis will stop. Havel saysthat the EU could not find abetter way of tarnishing theideal of freedom andrespect of human rights. Ithas done so in the interestof protecting profits ofEuropean businesses inCuba. The EU is now danc-ing “to Castro’s fiddle,”Havel adds.

Cuban couple toCuban couple toget their kids fromget their kids from

the Islandthe Island

The two children of theCuban couple, who havebeen granted Czech asy-lum, joined their parents asthe Cuban authorities final-ly consented to the chil-dren’s departure fromCuba. Liuver Saborit andMaya Arguelles arrived inthe Czech Republic about ayear and a half ago andthey were granted politicalasylum last December.Their children, however,remained back in Cuba.The parents say the Cubanauthorities have detainedthe children on the islandand prevented their depar-ture for 18 months, duringwhich the family was separated.

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Current Events

Czech the News/Spring 2005

Vaclav Havel Speaks Out onDemocracy Issues, Rallies Supportfor Cuban Dissidents

EU and Cuba: Freedomvs. appeasement

I vividly remember theslightly ludicrous, slightlyrisqué and somewhat distressingpredicament in which Westerndiplomats in Prague foundthemselves during the Cold War.They regularly needed toresolve the delicate issue ofwhether or not to invite to theirembassy celebrations variousCharter 77 signatories, human-rights activists, critics of thecommunist regime, displacedpoliticians, or even banned writ-ers, scholars and journalists —people with whom the diplomatswere generally friends.

Sometimes we dissidentswere not invited, but received anapology, and sometimes wewere invited, but did not acceptthe invitation so as not to com-plicate the lives of our coura-geous diplomat friends. Or wewere invited to come at an earli-er hour in the hope that wewould leave before the officialrepresentatives arrived, whichsometimes worked and some-times didn’t. When it didn’t,either the official representa-tives left in protest at our pres-ence, or we left hurriedly, or weall pretended not to notice eachother, or — albeit on rare occa-sions — we started to conversewith each other, which frequent-ly were the only moments ofdialogue between the regime

and the opposition (not countingour courthouse encounters).

‘Dissidents or trade’

This all happened when theIron Curtain divided Europe —and the world — into opposingcamps. Western diplomats hadtheir countries’ economic inter-ests to consider, but, unlike theSoviet side, they took seriouslythe idea of “dissidents or trade.’’I cannot recall any occasion atthat time when the West or anyof its organizations (NATO, theEuropean Community, etc.)issued some public appeal, rec-ommendation or edict statingthat some specific group ofindependently minded people —however defined — were not tobe invited to diplomatic parties,celebrations or receptions.

But today this is happening.

One of the strongest andmost powerful

democratic institutions in the world

— the European Union —has no qualms in

making a public promiseto the Cuban dictatorship

that it will re-institutediplomatic Apartheid.

The EU’s embassies inHavana will now craft theirguest lists in accordance withthe Cuban government’s wishes.

The short

The short-sightedness ofsocialist PrimeMinister José Zapatero of Spainhas prevailed

Try to imagine what will hap-pen: At each European embassy,someone will be appointed toscreen the list, name by name,and assess whether and to whatextent the persons in questionbehave freely or speak out freelyin public, to what extent theycriticize the regime, or evenwhether they are former politicalprisoners. Lists will be short-ened and deletions made, andthis will frequently entail elimi-nating even good personalfriends of the diplomats incharge of the screening, peoplewhom they have given variousforms of intellectual, political ormaterial assistance. It will beeven worse if the EU countriestry to mask their screening activ-ities by inviting only diplomatsto embassy celebrations in Cuba.

I can hardly think of a bet-ter way for the EU to dishonorthe noble ideals of freedom,equality and human rights thatthe Union espouses — indeed,principles that it reiterates in itsconstitutional agreement. Toprotect European corporations’profits from their Havana hotels,the Union will cease invitingopen-minded people to EUembassies, and we will deduce

(Continued on page 4)

The following article by Vaclav Havel, former President of the Czech Republic,was published in the MiamiHerald on January 28, 2005

Commission for Human Rights Keeps the Pressure on Cuba

The Commission for Human Rights in Geneva, the top human rights UN body, approved, as in thepast several years, the resolution condemning Cuba for violating human rights. The text of the resolution calls for keeping the pressure on Cuba and for the renewal of the mandate of a special

investigator into alleged abuses . Out of the total number of 53 members of the Commission, 21 countries voted in favor, 17 voted

against it, and 15 countries abstained.All of the EU countries, members of the Commission, voted in favor of the resolution. The

representatives of Cuba have indicated that they will not cooperate in any form on a resolution passedagainst their country.

News BriefPresentation ofPresentation of

“Medal of Honor”“Medal of Honor”

On February 10, 2005,Ambassador Martin Palousbestowed the “Medal ofHonor” upon MartinMendelsohn, MichaelHausfeld and StuartEizenstat. The award waspresented to them onbehalf of the CzechCouncil of Victims ofNazism for their outstand-ing contribution to thecompensation of victims ofNazi era slave and forcedlabor.

Mendelsohn and Hausfeldare both attorneys-at-law,they were instrumental inassisting Czech victims inreceiving their compensa-tion. Eizenstat was the U.S.Chief Negotiator on theissue of compensation forforced and slave laborersduring the Nazi era.

TV Herald TV Herald broadcasting tobroadcasting toCzech-AmericanCzech-American

community community

Czech-American HeraldTV has been broadcastingin the Chicago area everySunday afternoon sinceMay 2004, but can also beviewed on the Internet(www.catvherald.com).Also, you do not have tospeak Czech to get theirinformation - almost ninetypercent of the documentsabout the Czech-Americancommunity and activitiesare in English. The nameHerald TV comes from the Hlasatel newspaper,founded in 1891, known in English as the Czech-oslovak Daily Herald.

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Current EventsCurrent Events

Czech the News/Spring 2005

(Continued from page 3)who they are from the expres-sion on the face of the dictatorand his associates. It is hard toimagine a more shameful deal.

Cuba’s dissidents will, ofcourse, happily do withoutWestern cocktail parties andpolite conversa-tion at receptions.This persecutionwill admittedlyaggravate theirdifficult struggle,but they will natu-rally survive it.The question iswhether the EUwill survive it.

Today, the EU is dancing toFidel Castro’s tune. That meansthat tomorrow it could bid forcontracts to build missile baseson the coast of the People’sRepublic of China. The follow-ing day it could allow its deci-sions on Chechnya to be dictat-ed by Russian PresidentVladimir Putin’s advisors. Then,for some unknown reason, it

could make its assistance toAfrica conditional on fraternalties with the worst African dicta-tors.

Where will it end? Therelease of Milosevic? Denying avisa to Russian human-rightsactivist Sergey Kovalyov? An

apology to Saddam Hussein?The opening of peace talks withal Qaeda?

Coexistence with dictators

It is suicidal for the EU todraw on Europe’s worst politicaltraditions, the common denomi-nator of which is the idea thatevil must be appeased and that

the best way to achieve peace isthrough indifference to the free-dom of others.

Just the opposite is true: Suchpolicies expose an indifferenceto one’s own freedom and pavethe way for war. After all,Europe is uniting to defend its

freedom and values,not to sacrifice themto the ideal of har-monious coexistencewith dictators andthus risk gradualinfiltration of its soulby the anti-demo-cratic mind-set.

I firmly believethat the new members of the EUwill not forget their experienceof totalitarianism and nonviolentopposition to evil, and that thatexperience will be reflected inhow they behave in EU bodies.Indeed, this could be the bestcontribution that they can maketo the common spiritual, moraland political foundations of aunited Europe.

Afew months ago,American Friends of theCzech Republic elected

new officers for the year 2005.Michael Rokos is the newPresident, taking over from PhilKasik, who is now a member ofthe Board of Directors. Michael Rokos also serves asVice-President of SVU, and he isthe former President of Czechand Slovak Heritage Associationof Maryland. Peter Rafaeli pre-sides as Vice-President andTreasurer. He as well serves asthe Honorary Consul of theCzech Republic in Philadelphia,PA. Robert Doubek, who servedin the past as AFoCR President,is now the secretary of the Boardof Directors.

Other members of the Boardinclude Richard Schubert (for-mer President of American RedCross), Daniel Baldwin(President and CEO of theGreater Cedar Rapids Com-munity Foundation), Ron Bartek(partner at Mehl, Griffin andBartek), Peter Bisek (Editor of

Americke Listy), Thomas Cech(Nobel Laureate in Chemistry),Eugene Cernan (astronaut),Vladimir Kabes (President ofV.M. Kabes InternationalConsultants), Fred Malek(Chairman of Thayer CapitalPartners), Gail Naughton(President of the Czech andSlovak National Museum inCedar Rapids), John Shattuck(CEO of JFK Library andFoundation, former USAmbasador to the Czech

Republic), Judy Baar Topinka(Treasurer, State of Illinois),Jenonne Walker (former USAmbasador to the CzechRepublic), Tim Whipple (formerPresident of American Chamberof Commerce in Prague) andLewis “Jack” White (Presidentof Wilsonian Club).

Michael Rokos and PeterRafaeli are planning to attendthe 60th anniversary celebrationof liberation of western Bohemiaby U.S. forces in 1945.

Newly Appointed Officers:American Friends of the Czech Republic

Vaclav Havel Speaks Out continued...

I firmly believe that the new membersof the EU will not forget their experi-

ence of totalitarianism and nonviolentopposition to evil, and that that

experience will be reflected in howthey behave in EU bodies.

Michael Rokos, President of American Friends of the Czech Republic

Business

News BriefKarel KovandaKarel Kovanda

appointed to highappointed to highpost in thepost in theEuropeanEuropean

CommissionCommission

Czech Ambassador toNATO Karel Kovanda was appointed EuropeanCommission deputy direc-tor general for externalrelations. Kovanda won inthe selection process inwhich more than one hun-dred high-ranking diplo-mats from 10 EU newmember countries contest-ed each other. Kovandasaid he was looking for-ward to the very responsi-ble and interesting posi-tion.

URNA units to URNA units to continue to guardcontinue to guardCzech Embassy inCzech Embassy in

BaghdadBaghdad

Due to the unstable securitysituation in Iraq, the CzechPolice´s Rapid DeploymentUnit (URNA) will go on toguard the Czech Embassy inBaghdad, the governmentdecided. In connection withthe Czech Republic’s partic-ipation in the reconstructionof Iraq and the presence ofCzech nationals, the min-istry has proposed to pro-long the stay of policemen inIraq for the duration of 2005.Special police units inBaghdad are protecting theEmbassy personnel and thepremises of the Embassy.

Czech Republic andCzech Republic andHaiti to re-estabHaiti to re-estab--

lish diplomaticlish diplomaticrelationsrelations

The two countries firstestablished diplomaticrelations in the 1940s butthey were broken off afterthe communist take-over.The Czech Republicplans to open an honoraryconsulate in Haiti in thenear future.

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Business

Czech the News/Spring 2005

May 5, 2005, at the SenecaHotel in Chicago.

The debut of the ChicagoChapter of CNACC was sched-uled to coincide with the EUanniversary to ensure as manydignitaries as possible couldattend. The Chicago Chapter isexpected to play a vital role inthe task of “getting to market” inboth the Czech Republic and theU.S.

The featured speakers at theevent will be Martin Palous,

Czech Ambassador to the U.S.,and Judy Baar Topinka, IllinoisState Treasurer. Both speakersare expected to address the highlevel of interest in manufactur-ing, trade and commerce in boththe Czech Republic and the U.S.The formation of the ChicagoChapter and defining its missionwill be featured throughout theevening. For more informationcontact CzechTrade Chicago atchicago@czechtrade.cz.

The formation of theChicago Chapter of theCzech North American

Chamber of Commerce(CNACC) will be celebrated intandem with the CzechRepublic’s first-year anniver-sary of becoming a member ofthe EU.

A cocktail reception, hostedby George T. Drost, Honoraryconsul of the Czech Republic,CzechTrade, CzechInvest andSister Cities, will take place on

CSA, Airbus Agree on Contract forNew Planes Purchase

Czech Airlines (CSA)agreed with the Airbuscompany on the wording

of the contract on the supply of12 planes that CSA will buyfrom Airbus in the years 2006 -2008. Airbus was selected as thesupplier of new planes for CSAlast year when its bid won in atender for new generationplanes for medium-distanceflights. CSA gave preference toAirbuses before rival Boeing737s. The first planes will besupplied in 2006, and CSA is to

pay CZK 12.5 bn forthem. The first new-generation AirbusA320 already startedflying under CSA flag.It will be used forflights to London,Amsterdam, Moscow,Baku, Barcelona, Yerevan andYekaterinburg.

Czech Airlines (CSA)transported a record 4.34 millionpassengers last year, up from 3.6million in 2003 and 3 million theyear before. The number of CSA

passengers has grown by a fifthand so has the number offlights. Also, revenues fromcharter flights and revenuesfrom freight and mail transporthave gone up.

Getting to Market…Chicago Chapter of Czech North American Chamber of Commerce

Czechs Help Southeast Asia

The Indian Ocean earth-quake that caused the devastating tsunami last

December was the second-largest quake in recorded history with almost 300 million victims.

Overnight, southeast Asia hasbecome the center of interna-tional solidarity and has beenreceiving help from many coun-tries and organizations from allover the world. Czechs collect-ed millions of crowns to helpthe region. The first, immediateresponse, was especially gener-ous – during the first week afterthe disaster Czech people hadraised over 100 million crowns(more than four million US

dollars). More than 1.6 milliontotal DMS messages (DonorsMessage Service) on specialtelephone lines launched by theADRA and the People in NeedFoundation have been sent.Czechs have also been con-tributing to fundraising cam-paigns organized by the CzechCatholic Charity, Red Cross andCzech UNICEF branch and others.

The government approved toaid tsunami-devastated south-east Asia and has officially invit-ed Czech companies to beginsubmitting proposals to partici-pate in the reconstruction. TheCabinet allocated 200 millionCzech crowns (almost nine mil-

lion dollars) to fund the recon-struction projects. Individualregions and towns have provid-ed further help as well.

Czechs were also operatinga hospital in Galle (Sri Lanka),which is part of the field hospi-tal sent to the island by theorganization Hand for Help. Czech solidarity in Indonesia,India and Sri Lanka focusedmainly on relief projects at thebeginning. In the longer term,funds are supposed to be usedto help fishermen and farmersto rebuild their villages, toresume their previous jobs andto help pre-school children andorphans.

Czech Airlines (CSA)

News BriefCzech Republic toCzech Republic to

send more send more instructors to Iraq instructors to Iraq

The Czech Republic willsend more instructors tothe emerging mission ofNATO in Iraq. The newinstructors are to be addedto the 100-member contin-gent of the Czech militarypolice which is operatingin the Shaiba base in south-ern Iraq. Along with them,there is a small team ofCzech surgeons that worksin a British field hospital.Under the original plan,Czech soldiers were to bewithdrawn from Iraq by theend of February, but Iraqand Britain, in whose zonethe Czechs are operating,have asked to prolong themission. The Czech Re-public has complied withthe request.

Ukrainians shouldUkrainians shouldbe patient while be patient while

implementingimplementingreforms reforms

“Our way to the future isthe way of a united Europe.We, along with the peopleof Europe, belong to onecivilization. We share similar values,” ViktorYushchenko, the newUkrainian president toldhis supporters who gath-ered on IndependenceSquare in Kiev to cheerhim after his inauguration.Vaclav Havel said after ameeting with Yushchenko,that Ukrainians should bepatient while implementingchanges that their newPresident has promisedthem. The ideals are impor-tant, but it is also necessaryto realize that everythingcannot be achieved soquickly and easily as wewould like, Havel said.

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CultureCulture

Czech the News/Spring 2005

SVU Establishes a Special Studies Fund

prepare a tentativeDirectory of Czechand Slovak relatedarchival materials inAmerica. Thanks tothe efforts of SVU,which conducted acomprehensive surveyin this regard, andwhich I had the pleas-ure to direct, and infact, to carry out, sucha Directory now exists. As was previouslyannounced, it was pub-lished a few months ago,under the title CzechoslovakAmerican Archivalia, throughthe courtesy of the Center forCzechoslovak Exile Studies ofthe Philosophical Faculty atPalacky University in Olomouc,as a two-volume set, which wasavailable for everyone to see atthe new book exhibit at therecent SVU Conference inFlorida. It is a listing of US-based archival materials andlibrary holdings relating to emi-gres and exiles from the territoryof former Czechoslovakia andrelevant holdings bearing ontheir ancestral land. The firstvolume encompasses US gov-ernment repositories, university-based collections, collectionsmaintained by public museumsand libraries, collections of eth-nic and other cultural organiza-tions. The second volume coverspersonal papers and collections,including notable personalities,as well as lesser known individ-uals, emigrants and exiles, whohave distinguished themselvesin public life, and professions. Itis an indispensable resource forscholars and students.

One of the major unre-solved issues that was broughtup by the above WorkingArchival Conference was thepaucity of funds to prepareinventories of the existingarchival collections and to

enable scholars and students toconduct research in the archives.Having this in mind, SVU,which has recently deposited itsarchives at the University ofMinnesota’s ImmigrationHistory / Research Center(IHRC), has used the occasionof the SVU Florida Conference,to announce the establishment ofa special Czech and SlovakArchival Study Fund at IHRC.

In my capacity as SVUPresident, I had the pleasure ofpresenting a check, in theamount of $10,000, to Directorof the Center, Prof. RudolphVecoli, at the banquet, attendedby some 300 persons, includingthe representatives from theCzech and Slovak Embassiesand other dignitaries, from theCzech and Slovak Republics, aswell as a number of AmericanCzech/Slovak community lead-ers.

Hopefully, SVU’s examplewill be infectious to inspireother Czech and Slovak ethnicorganizations to join in thisimportant and noble endeavor.When the Fund will reach thelevel of $25,000, the Universityof Minnesota will start matching these donations with their ownmoney. Just before I stepped on the platform to announce theSVU donation, I was gratified to

(Continued on page 7)

The Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences (SVU) has, for some time, been concernedabout the deplorable state of Czech and Slovak related archival materials in America.Although some of these materials have been deposited in existing archives, the majority ofdocuments are still in private hands. Their owners are frequently unaware of their historicvalue and, as a consequence, many of these precious materials are destroyed or lost. It isfor this reason that SVU had convened in November 2003 in Washington, DC, in coopera-tion with the Embassies of the Czech and the Slovak Republics, respectively, a “WorkingConference on Czech and Slovak American Archival Materials and their Preservation.”

SVU President Rechcigl during apresentation of SVU Donation to Prof. Vecoli

of IHRC for the New Fund

The Conference was a hugesuccess. It was attended byarchivists from the major

archival institutions on bothsides of the Atlantic, historians,as well as ethnic communityleaders representing Czech andSlovak communities in the USand Canada. This was not just a“show-and-tell” type of meet-ing, but a genuine working con-ference in which issues werepresented, discussed and solu-tions sought.

As a result of theConference, the partici-

pants unanimouslyagreed to launch a

concerted effort leadingto the preservation of

Czech and Slovak documents and other memorabilia for thefuture, irrespective of

where they are.

This goal, of course, is fea-sible and attainable only withthe participation and coopera-tion of the entire Czech andSlovak community in the USand Canada. The mechanism forcooperation is already in placein the recently created NationalHeritage Commission, com-prised of the major Czech ethnicorganizations in America.

Several specific recom-mendations of the Conferencehave already been implemented,including the establishment of anew umbrella organization,“Czech & Slovak AmericanArchival Consortium” (CSAAC),encompassing the major institu-tions that maintain such archivalmaterials. The Consortium’sofficial website “Czech &Slovak American Archivalia,”hosted by SVU, can be accessedat:www.svu2000.org/archivalia/index.htm.

Another recommendationof the Conference was to

News BriefMore foreignersMore foreigners

arrive in the arrive in the Czech Republic, Czech Republic,

seeking better payseeking better pay

The number of foreignersstaying in the CzechRepublic has been risingsince the mid-1990s. At theend of 2004, the amount offoreign nationals reachedover 200,000. According to the Czech StatisticalOffice, foreigners arrive inthe Czech Republic mainlybecause of economic rea-sons, with Vietnamesebeing almost exclusivelybusinessmen, most Slovakand Polish citizens gettingemployed, and people fromRussia and Ukraine moreoften setting up or joiningsmall companies.

Czech RepublicCzech Republicintending intending

to trim Network to trim Network of Embassies of Embassies

The proposal envisages theclosure of eight embassiesand consulates. The Czechembassy in Abidjan, thecapital of Ivory Cost tornby a civic war, is to beclosed. A Czech office inLagos, Nigeria, is to beclosed because the Czechembassy is moving to thenew capital of Abuja. InSouth America, a consulatein Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, isto be closed due to theintroduction of visa-freerelations between the twocountries, and the closureof an embassy and con-sulates in Uruguay is beingconsidered. The generalconsulate in Kosice,Slovakia, will be closed.The Czech Republic is alsoplanning to establish newoffices abroad, includingan embassy in Kabul.Another is to be opened inKishinev, Moldova, appar-ently to strengthen theCzech Republic’s missionas part of the EuropeanUnion in the region of Eastand Southeast Europe.

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(continued from page 6)get commitment from Prof. JanHird Pokorny, on behalf of theirAmerican Fund forCzechoslovak Relief (AFCSR),to give a comparable amount toIHRC next year.

We want our members to beaware of this, in the hope thatthey will send in additional

donations so that the Fund cangrow and become an importantfinancial resource to enable thestudents and scholars from CRand SR, as well as from theUnited States, to conduct seri-ous research in our Archives andat IHRC. At the same time, weappeal to our members and toethnic organizations to assure

that their archival materials aredeposited in IHRC or othercomparable archival institutionsand thus preserved for thefuture.

Contributed by Mila Rechcigl,SVU President

SVU Establishes a Special Studies Fund continued...

2005 Czech MFA Grants

In the weeks to come, we willbe proud to announce that the2005 financial help is on its

way to Czech-American institu-tions that applied for this assis-tance last spring. We are alwayshonored when we can inform theorganizations about financialassistance coming from Prague.We consider the grants, howeversymbolic the amounts may be,very important for the preserva-tion of Czech heritage in theUSA.

This past January, unfortu-nately, several organizationsfailed to present the correctaccounting, send us the receiptswith the 2004 grant final report,spend the appropriate percent-age, or return the unused portionin due time. We will try to do our

best to ensure that nothing simi-lar will happen concerning thisyear´s grants. We will, as eachyear, provide all the applicantswith all the relevant information,including the rules for spendingthe money, which are clear andsimple enough. We hope that ourcooperation with the presidents,treasurers and other officials ofthe organizations will be fruitful.

We intend to help the recip-ients, especially the first-timers,by sending them the money onlyafter receiving their documenta-tion proving that the grant hadbeen spent and accounted prop-erly. We will be more than happyto provide our continuous adviceso that the financial assistancewould meet the goals planned.Those who would be interested

in counsel and insight regardingthe final reports can also addressthe officials of Czech Society ofOregon who would be kindenough and ready to help. Theirreport was one of those fewflawless, and they provided itwithout any additional consulta-tions from our part.

Again, we are always happywhen we can send checks withfinancial help for the Czech-American organizations in allparts of the US. We are as wellpleased when we can submitreports to Prague confirmingthat the grants had been usedaccordingly. The MFA money isa grant of the Czech govern-ment, and it must be treated assuch.

On July 13, 2005, IvanMedek will be celebrat-ing his 80th birthday.

Medek is from one of the CzechRepublic's foremost families,and is himself a remarkable personality.

Born in Prague, he was theelder son of General RudolfMedek, one of the leading offi-cers of the CzechoslovakLegions that fought in the for-mer Soviet Union during WorldWar I. In his time, GeneralMedek was also an influentialwriter, poet, and dramatist.

Medek's mother Eva wasthe daughter of a prominentCzech artist, impressionistpainter Antonin Slavicek. AfterSlavicek's death, his grandmotherBohumila married anotherpainter, Herbert Masaryk, theeldest son of Czech PresidentTomas G. Masaryk.

Medek's brother Mikulaswas also a noted artist, a

surrealist painter. Medek graduated from the

Prague Conservatory and formany years made his living as amusic editor and reviewer. In1977, he signed the Charter 77manifesto, critical of the communist government. Afterrepeated interrogations and abrutal police attack, he wasforced into exile in Austria,where he became instrumentalin a variety of activities support-ing an end to Czechoslovakia'scommunist dictatorship. Hisradio reports with Voice ofAmerica became especiallyfamous. On the radio, he signedoff saying, "Ivan Medek, at aEuropean microphone for Voiceof America," which became leg-endary among his many listen-ers.

In 1990, he returned fromexile with his wife Helena, aconcert pianist. From 1993 to1998, he worked in the office of

President Havel, the last threeyears of which he served asChief of Staff. His reflections,experiences, and viewpoints areexpressed in the book, "How ISee It," a summary of the com-mentaries he wrote in years2000-2002 for Czech RadioClassic FM. Medek is an unusu-ally modest man, and a manwhose high moral principles arerooted in his Christian faith. Wewant to express our sincere grat-itude to him, and to wish himthe best possible health.

Contributed by Hana Palcova

Medek’s 80th Birthday

Ivan Medek

88 Czech the News/Spring 2005

SVU Extravaganza in

FLORIDA“Here comes the sun... always behind rainRain brings tears, the sun warms away pain Gone now the doubts that seemed to loom aheadNow bright sunshine to fill my life instead!”

On March 17-20, 2005,SVU held its annual conferencein North Miami, Florida, in conjunction with the Festival ofthe American Czech-SlovakCultural Club (ACSCC).

The Club building was purchased by the Czechs, some-times after the war, who refurbished it into the meetingplace for their AmericanCzechoslovak Social Club, witha restaurant, bar, library andsport and picnic facilities. Theyhad their dances there, withCzech music bands, servingCzech cuisine with Czech beer.As I was informed, AliceMasarykova, the daughter ofPresident Tomas GarrigueMasaryk, used to come to theClub occasionally, when she lived in her retirement in thearea, as did such personalities asMinister Jan Masaryk orCzechoslovak Ambassador tothe UN Jan Papanek.

From the point of view ofthe ACSCC Club, the SVUConference brought them a new dimension, by acquaintingtheir members, many of whomhaving descended from earlysettlers from the territory of for-mer Czechoslovakia, with theoutstanding contributions ofCzechs and Slovaks worldwide,as well as bringing them newinformation in the area of history, literature and the arts, sciences technology, busi-ness and medicine. The SVUmembers, on the other hand,benefitted by being exposed tothe ways Czech and Slovak Americans maintain the Czechand Slovak historic and familytraditions, from generation tothe next, especially the folklore,music, and the cuisine. It was a happy marriage with gen-uine cordiality and good spirit.

By combining the SVUefforts with those of the Florida-based American Czech-SlovakCultural Club, we were able toput together an outstanding

academic program and culturalevents. The general theme of ourjoint program was “Czech andSlovak Heritage on Both Sidesof the Atlantic.” This was ourfifth SVU Conference devotedto the subject of Czech andSlovak Americans, which is oneof SVU priorities. The confer-ence was co-sponsored by theUS Commission for thePreservation of America’sHeritage Abroad and was heldunder the aegis of President ofthe Czech Republic VaclavKlaus and President of theSlovak Republic IvanGasparovic. The academic pro-gram was organized into severalmajor topics, including Czechand Slovak Historic Tradition,Czech and Slovak Contempo-rary Issues, Echoes from the OldCountry, Czechs and Slovaks inthe New World, and PresidentialSymposium on PreservingCzech and Slovak Heritage. Thelatter session featured theAmbassador of the SlovakRepublic to the U.S., H.E.Rastislav Kacer, the CzechAmbassador to the U.S., H.E.Martin Palous, and the Directorof the Immigration HistoryResearch Center (IHRC) of theUniversity of Minnesota, Prof.Rudolf Vecoli. I used the occasion, in my capacity asSVU President, to announceestablishment of the new Czechand Slovak Studies Fund.

Apart from the various ses-sions bearing on the generaltheme of the Conference, therewas a special symposium and adiscussion panel relating to Czech and Slovak Universitiesand their Cooperation with theInstitutions of Higher Learning,with the participation ofUniversity Rectors and otherhigh-level university officialsfrom the University of WestBohemia in Plzen, University ofSouth Bohemia in CeskeBudejovice, Technical Univer-sity in Ostrava and the Catholic

University inRuzomberok. TheUS institutions wererepresented by theUniversity of Floridaand the University ofSouthern Illinois inCarbondale, both of which haveactive cooperative agreementswith Czech and SlovakUniversities.

The attendees had anopportunity to view a specialexhibit “Czechs in America,”organized by curator DavidKraft, and the new SVU publica-tions, which were exhibited inthe Club’s library.

The cultural program fea-tured Czech country and westernsingers, Slovak folk dancersfrom Masaryktown, FL, theEuropa Band from Orlando,Czech folk singers from KeyWest, etc. Other heritage eventsincluded ethnic food and craft demonstrations, folk artbooths, ethnic food tasting, anaccordion jamboree, and last butnot least, the Miss Czech andSlovak Florida Pageant. The lat-ter was a highly enjoyablecharming event, involvingyoung ladies, mostly college students, dressed in Czech andSlovak picturesque folk cos-tumes (“kroje”) from differentparts of Bohemia, Moravia andSlovakia who had to demon-strate their poise and particularskills and respond to questionsbefore a group of judges. TheMatuska Concert on Fridaynight was a real hit. The tunes heand his wife Olga sang werefamiliar to most of the audiencewho frequently joined them insinging.

There were some 150 pre-registrants for the Conferencebut a number of additional attendees registered later at theregistration desk. Some of the cultural events drew as many as300-400 visitors.

We were glad to see so many (Continued on page 9)

CultureCulture

Business BuzzCzech vine growersCzech vine growersyield 5.6 tons peryield 5.6 tons perhectare in 2004hectare in 2004

Last year’s grapevine har-vest of 5.6 tons of grapesper hectare was close tothat in the top-quality2002 year, the Czech Vine-Growers Associationannounced. Growers sentgrapes worth CZK 1.1 billion to processors.“Comparing prices andyields, vine growers suf-fered losses of some fiveper cent, while last yearthey made a 10 per centprofit,” said Martin Pucek,secretary of the Associ-ation. According to datareleased earlier, this year’swine output will reachabout 400,000 hectoliters,a year-to-year drop of 20per cent. Domestic wineproduction covers about40 per cent of domesticconsumption.

Czechs leaving Czechs leaving industry and industry and agricultureagriculture

Almost one million peoplehave left the industrial andagriculture sectors since1989, according to theCzech Statistical Office(CSU). Liquidation of anumber of enterprises andmassive lay-offs hasresulted in a workforce cutby 550,000 in Czechindustry. Since the early1990s the number ofCzech farmers has alsobeen reduced from630,000 to 200,000. Incontrast, staff numbers intrade, accommodation,catering and other serviceshave been rising. Laborproductivity is growingfaster than wages. Expertssay the inflow of foreigninvestment and global eco-nomic recovery are themain contributors to thispositive development.

99

Business BuzzCzech Republic hasCzech Republic has

the cheapest the cheapest cars in the EUcars in the EU

The Czech Republic hasthe lowest prices of newpassenger cars in the EU aswell as in the whole ofWestern Europe. Accord-ing to eurocarprice.comstatistics, Czech car priceswere 8 per cent lower thanthe average in countriesusing the EURO. Last year,car prices in the CzechRepublic fell by 0.3 percent. In contrast, cars in thewhole of Europe became2.4 per cent more expen-sive on average.

European air carriEuropean air carri --ers interested iners interested inflights to Prague flights to Prague

Various companies are nowinterested in the Prague air-port owing to the airportoperator Ceska spravaletist CSL’s business poli-cy. The Czech Republichas the second lowest air-port fees in Europe afterSanta Maria (AzoresIslands). The Ruzyne air-port cleared a record 9.7million passengers in 2004,a year-on-year growth ofalmost 30 percent.

Skoda Auto Skoda Auto introduces offroadintroduces offroad

YetiYeti

Czech car maker SkodaAuto has introduced itssmall offroad Yeti at theGeneva motor show. Theconcept stands betweenclassical offroads andsports utility vehicles andis suitable both for citytraffic and for off-roaddriving.

CultureCulture

Czech the News/Spring 2005

(Continued from page 8)people from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Apart from thetwo Ambassadors, the roster ofattendees included DCM fromthe Slovak Embassy MiroslavWlachovsky, Senator JaroslavaMoserova from Prague, Senatorand the former Rector of the Technical University in OstravaVaclav Roubicek, Rector JosefPrusa and Past Rector ZdenekVostracky of the University ofWest Bohemia, Vice RectorVladimir Palousek and DocentMichael Bauer of the Universityof South Bohemia, Vice RectorDalibor Mikulas of the CatholicUniversity of Ruzomberok,Mayor of Ruzomberok Hon.Juraj Cech and his DeputyPavlik. Palacky University inOlomouc was represented by historian Dr. Karel Konecny andthe head of the musicologydepartment Dr. Jan Vicar. TheConference was also attendedby the Director of the CzechAcademy’s Institute forContemporary History OldrichTuma and the historian of theSlovak Academy of Sciences

Slavomir Michalek.There was also anofficial representa-tion from the Cs.obec legionarska(The Czechoslovak Association ofLegionnaires) at theConference led byCol. Ing. Jan Horal,who used the occasionto award medals to selectedindividuals. Also in attendancewas Eva Strizovska, Editor-in-Chief of Cesky Dialog, and herassistant. Czech media werealso there, including CTK, theRadio Prague and the Czech TV,who were very busy, recordingthe proceedings and interview-ing the participants.

Overall speaking, it was agrand event. I did not find a sin-gle person who did not enjoy it.Above all, everybody had agood time and there was plentyof opportunity to rub shoulderswith pretty important peoplefrom the Czech and SlovakRepublics, as well as from theUS. The joint SVU Conferenceand the ACSCC Festival clearly

demonstrated that it is possibleto arrange concurrently a highlevel academic event with cul-tural and social communityactivities, to the benefit of both.Those of you who missed thisgreat event will regret that youwere not there!

In conclusion, I would liketo express my sincere apprecia-tion to our hosts, Bob Petrik,ACSCC President and CeciliaRokusek, Professor at FloridaGulf Coast University, whohave really outdone themselvesto make the event such a mem-orable happening. They werealso very helpful to me in thepreparation of the Conferenceprogram.

Mila RechciglSVU President

Women and girls sport their traditional costumes at festivities in Florida.

Happy Anniversary!140 years American Sokol Organization

135 years Bohemian Free ThinkingSchool Society (Cicero, IL)

85 years American Czech Women’s andMen´s Club (Northridge, CA)

70 yearsCircle of Czech Women (Dallas, TX)

Czech Cultural GardenAssociation (Avon, OH)

First Czechoslovak GardenClub of America (Berwyn, IL)

50 years Czech and Slovak Club(Tucson, AZ)

The Czech and SlovakHeritage Association’s“Philadelphia Branch”

with the support of the ConsulateGeneral of the Czech Republic –Philadelphia, the Czech Centerin New York City andInternational House in Phila-del-phia are pleased to announce theshowing of the photo exhibitabout the liberation of Plzen(Pilsen) by U.S. Army.

When: June 10 – July 8, 2005Where: International House

3701 Chestnut StreetPhiladelphia, PA

Admission charge: noneVoluntary contributions will begratefully accepted by:

CZSLHAc/o P.O.Box 777Spring House, PA 19477

Further detailed announcement willbe posted at the following web sites:www.mzv,cz/philadelphia under“Current and Upcoming Events”www.ihousephilly.orgwww.czslha.org

SVU Extravaganza inFlorida continued...

Special Photo ExhibitCommemorating the 60th Anniversary of theLiberation of Western Bohemia by US Armed Forces

The picture above is a sample pic-ture from the exhibition.

Photo courtesy of Skoda Auto

Business BuzzBudvar wins inBudvar wins in

BeneluxBenelux

The Commercial Court inBrussels ruled in favor of the Czech brewerBudejovicky Budvar in adispute with its US rivalAnheuser-Busch over theuse of trademarks in the Benelux countries(Belgium, Netherlands,Luxembourg). The courtconfirmed the right of the Czech state-ownedbrewery to use theirBudweiser Budvar, Budvar,Budweiser and Budiwoyztrademarks in all theBenelux countries. In1979, the US brewing con-cern filed a legal complaintwith the court to revokeBudwar’s trademarks onthe grounds that the Czechbrewer did not use them topromote its beer. In 1990,the legal battle was sus-pended and renewed in1998 on Anheuser’srequest. Budvar has regis-tered some 380 trademarksin more than 100 countriesof the world.

Number of foreignNumber of foreigntourists at almost tourists at almost 8 million in 2004 8 million in 2004

The number of foreigntourists who visited theCzech Republic last yearwas 19.4 percent higheryear-on-year at a record 7.9million, according to anestimate of the governmentagency CzechTourismbased on statistical data.Most visitors traditionallycome from Germany.CzechTourism estimatesthe number of Germans inthe Czech Republic atabout 2 million last year,Slovakia ranks second andarrivals from Great Britainaffected the statistical dataas well. CzechTourismassigns the growth to cheapreturn tickets offered by aircompanies.

1010

CultureCulture

Czech the News/Spring 2005

Partnership Foundation and Prague-Vienna Greenways

Brno, April 17, 2005 - thequickly approachingEarth Day celebrations of

May 22 and 23 bring with themthe official spring opening ofPrague-Vienna Greenways. Inmany places along the trailbetween Prague and Vienna,people will be planting trees,revitalizing streams, cleaningpublic spaces, and preparing forthe first spring bike ride.

The people caring for thePrague-Vienna Greenways arebrought together by acommon interest inthe health of the environment, culturalpreservation, naturalheritage, and sustain-able development inthe communitieswhere they live.

“The Opening ofGreenways is theyear’s first commu -nity activity arranged by thecivic organization Prague-Vienna Greenways,” explainsChair Olga Zampova. “As in thelast year, the theme this year isagain ‘tree planting.’ We would like the Prague-ViennaGreenway to be a real ‘greenway’.”

“One of the most exciting events of theopening will definitely

be the bike ride organized by the Townof Telc, which starts at

the Town Hall and endsat the Rostejn Castle.

The cyclists will stop at thenew rest station in Vanov whereSenator Jehlicka, along with theMr. Zahradník, the Governor ofthe South Bohemia region and

Mr. Fabes, the Mayor of Telc will unveil Greenway’snew information panel and plantfour trees. This ceremony willmark the official opening of therest station, which will provide aplace for tired cyclists or wearywanderers to gather strength forthe next part of their journey,”according to Eva Bilikova, the Program Manager atPartnership Foundation, whichprovides coordination and financial support to the

Greenwaysp r o g r a m .Upon theirarrival at theRostejn Castle,cyclists willbe treated to“The Way ofthe Sword.,”a perform-ance byfencers and

fakirs. Those wanting to helpwith the work along the trail canjoin the bike ride connected toplanting of linden trees at thevillage centers in CzechMerano.This bike ride will startin the old Husite town ofJistebnice with a parade of his-toric bicycles. Or, they can getinvolved by helping to clean thenew trail in Znojmo, or takingpart in the cyclist’s exchangeand celebration at the opening ofthe trail at the town center.

“Without the wide coopera-tion of local partners, thePrague-Vienna Greenwayscouldn’t exist,” says EvaBilikova. “The PartnershipFoundation collaborates on thedevelopment of the trail withlocal partners who establishedthe civic organization Prague-Vienna Greenways.

Today, there are more than30 community associations,cities, municipalities, and pri-vate individuals joined togetherin cooperation on the project. Itis very unique that Greenwayssucceed in bringing so many dif-ferent people together to pursuea common goal.”

Since the Prague-ViennaGreenways is an internationaltrail, the Austrian partners willnaturally also take part in theopening of the trail. They areorganizing a bike ride called“Celtic Memories onGreenways” with the participa-tion of local politicians favoringlow-impact tourism and bicycletransport.

The Prague-Vienna Green-ways is a network of nearly 700 km trails and paths forcyclists, pedestrians, horsebackriders, and water sports enthusi-asts. Along the main backboneof the long-distance pathbetween Prague and Vienna aremany shorter thematic trails,such as the Crafts and BelievesGreenway in Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, theRozmberk Heritage Greenwayin the South Boh emia, or theLichtenstein Heritage Greenwayin South Moravia.

--------------------------------------For more information, contact:Eva BilikovaPhone: (420) 542 422 764,(420) 608 337 137. eva.bilikova@ecn.czwww.prahawien.greenways.info

Bikers get ready to tackle the trail.

Map of Prague-Vienna Greenways

Prague-ViennaGreenways

Business BuzzPlzensky PrazdrojPlzensky Prazdroj

raised salesraised salesabroad in 2004abroad in 2004

The foreign sales ofPrazdroj brewery grew by13 per cent to 1.7 millionhectoliters. The number ofcountries to which Prazdrojis exported stays at fifty.Prazdroj has also launchedproduction at theHungarian brewery Dreher,its sister company in theSABMiller group. Themain export targets are stillGermany, the USA,Slovakia and Great Britain.Prazdroj produces beerunder a licence above all inPoland, Russia andSlovakia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sokol AnnouncementSokol Washington willorganize a summer camp inthe Monongahela StatePark in West Virginia in thesecond half of August.Children age 7-15 are welcome. Price: 100$.

For pictures from previoussummer camps, visit: www.washingtonsokol.orgIf interested, please contactPavel Klein: 301/424-1658kleinp@epilepsydc.com

28th Annual Sokol DetroitCzech and Slovak Festivalwill be held on July 23 and24, 2005 at the Sokol DetroitCultural Center in DearbornHeights, MI.

For more information, please call: Chairman James Mack: 248/932-5450(w) 248/539-5117(c) or Anne Eisner: 313/ 382-0406

1111

MiscellaneousMiscellaneous

Czech the News/Spring 2005

1) Recipes of popular meals inyour communities

The recipe should specify theingredients, the cooking proce-dures, type and character of themeal (used for holidays, wed-dings, etc.) The examples should also cover soups,sweets/cakes/desserts, and othertypes of meals (sides, sauces,salads, fillings/stuffings, drinks.)The names and localities of thecontributors would be highlywelcome.

2) Other texts connected withcuisine and cooking

Customs, proverbs, sayings,anecdotes, stories and experi-ences, short descriptions of family holidays, festivals, gath-erings, reunions, examples ofsongs performed at various ceremonies.

3) Pictures and photos (sentelectronically, 300 dpi, ormailed in envelopes)

Meals and their settings duringconcrete events (holidays, cus-toms, festivities), writtenrecipes, pages from cookbooks,traditional kitchen utensils,tools used to process food prod-ucts, special furniture, typicalhouses, out-buildings, portraitsof individuals, families, and thelike. All pictures should be sup-plied with captions, “rich” andinformative enough, mainly forthe outsiders, those ignorant ofand unfamiliar with the issues.

The contributions should beprovided in the Czech language.We know that there are thou-sands of Czech Americans of allgenerations able to communi-cate – orally and in the writtenform – in Czech, their ownmother tongue, or the nativelanguage of their ancestors. Weare aware that some of themmay consider the level of theirknowledge inappropriate forofficial communication – how-

ever, please be rest assured thatjust the opposite is true – allvariations of the Czech language(as is the case of English and ofother tongues) are identicallyrelevant, communicative, magi-cal, all of them prove the vitalityand viability of our language inall corners of the world. No oneshould feel embarrassed or shyto respond. Your responses arehighly welcome, interesting,valuable and crucial for the generations to come.

The deadline for your submissions(marked as “CL – Kucharka”) isset by the editors for May 15,2005. They should be sent directlyto Prague (Vladimir Chaloupka,MZV CR, OKKV, Skokanska 3,169 09 Praha 6, Czech Republic,phone: + 420 – 2 2046 6515, fax: 22046 6509, vladimir_chaloup-ka@mzv.cz, vlachal@seznam.cz)Thank you for your kind cooperation.

Dear Friends of Czech Cuisine,We would like to ask you for help with the publication of a booklet concerning various aspects oflife and activities of Czechs Living Abroad. The editors would be happy to receive the followinginformation (see also the message in this year´s second issue of Ceske Listy newsletter, under thetitle “Beseda,” page 21):

Upcoming Cultural Events May 11 - 7:00 pmElementary School(Obecna skola)An Academy Award nominee in1992 for best foreign film, thischarming movie takes place inan all-boy school in the suburbsof Prague following the end ofWorld War II.

May 19 - 7:00 pmMostThe Embassy will host a specialscreening and discussion on thefilm Most with director and co-writers Bobby Garabedian andWilliam Zabka (“Johnny” fromthe “Karate Kid”).

May 25 - Time to be announcedPlastic People of the UniverseJoin the legendary rock band foran informal discussion, filmscreening and reception.Although the Plastic Peoplenever defined themselves as aprotest or political group, they

were a major symbol of resistance to the formerCzechoslovakia’s communistregime. They will also be per-forming at the Black Cat inWashington, DC on May 26.For info on that concert, go to:http://www.blackcatdc.com.

June 8 - 7:00 pmWild Flowers (Kytice)In the film, seven ballads ofCzech poet K.J. Erben equalseven intense stories whichcould have happened anywhereabout human love, passion,desire, obsession and selfishness.

June 15, 7:30 pmBeer in Czech FilmsSpend the evening relaxing andlooking at a selection of Czechfilms highlighting hilariousfootage of Czech beer whiledrinking a pint yourself! Theevening includes great beer,fare, and much merriment.

June 22 - 7:00 pmCapricious Summer (Rozmarne leto)The film comedy focuses onmiddle age as it approaches thefilm’s characters. Set during theturn of the century, CapriciousSummer reveals a group ofvacationers who feel they arerapidly aging.

For reservations, please call:202/274-9100 x.3413. For moreinformation regarding a particu-lar event, please call 202/275-9105. To view our complete cultural program, visit: www.mzv.cz/washington/culture.

Plastic People of the Universe perform in concert.

1212 Czech the News/Spring 2005

On Earth Day weekend,the tourist season start-ed at Prague-Vienna

Greenways, a 250-mile networkof trails connecting towns andvillages through the country-side. It includes UNESCOHeritage Sites and Biospheres inBohemia and Moravia. Twenty -five organizations and townsalong the route work together in the Prague-Vienna GWAssociation.

Fifteen years ago, Prague-Vienna GW was LubomirChmelar’s fledgling idea. As aCzech-American living in NewYork, he thought of using the concept of AmericanGreenways in his homeland tohelp preserve its heritagethrough tourism.

He and his English wife, and a close collaborator, TireeChmelar, created their secondhome in Mikulov, Czechoslovakia.With four other partners they

founded in 1992 a Czech non-profit organization, Greenways-Zelene stezky (GWZS). Thegroup decided to establishPrague-Vienna Greenways usingPrague’s and Vienna’s namerecognition and the existing hiking trails network betweenthese two cities. For the first 6years, Lubomir and TireeChmelar were running theGWZS’s operations from eithertheir kitchen in Manhattan orthe hectic one-room office in theValtice Chateau with old computers and one phone line.

The successful start andfurther development of thePrague-Vienna GW wouldn’thave been possible without the help and support by organizations such as theHickory Foundation, the KressFoundation, World MonumentsFund, the American ExpressPhilanthropic Program, theRockefeller Brothers Fund,Trust for Mutual Understanding

and the Foundation for CivilSociety.

The Czech Greenways pro-gram helps local organizationsin their efforts to create newtrails, reviving traditional artsand crafts, restoring historicmonuments, planting new trees,and encouraging local businesscommunities to provide qualityservices to visitors. GreenwaysTravel Club arranges tours andcontributes a percentage of its income to the Greenwaysprogram.

Lubomir and Tiree Chmelaralso formed Friends of CzechGreenways in New York toreach out to the internationalcommunity. Tiree Chmelar initi-ated their latest project to recre-ate an Herb Garden at the ValticeChateau. Sadly, in January 2005,her work was cut short when shedied in a tragic car accident inupstate New York. Her love forthe Czech people, her dedicationto the Czech greenways program

and her “it-can-be-done” opti-mism will be terribly missed byall in the Czech Greenways family.

Contributions to Valtice HerbGarden can be sent to:Friends of Czech Greenways/Valtice Herb Garden 410 West 20th StreetNew York, NY 10011

Contact: Zuzana Halsey Friends of Czech Greenways718-258-5468 friendsgw@aol.comwww.PragueViennaGreenways.org

Prague-Vienna Greenways: Lubomir and Tiree Chmelar

Lubomir and Tiree C. Chmelar