The Nebraska Happening
What happened in Nebraska during the August SVU Conference was unique and truly phenomenal which cannot be expressed by a better term than "Happening."
Those of us who came there from other states or foreign countries felt like Alice in Wonderland or, as the Czechs say, "u Jirikovo videni."
The outpouring of kindness, goodwill and friendship was ever present wherever you looked, accompanied by a broad smile and helping hand. You could feel that it was all genuine.
I came there a day earlier "to check on things," landing in Omaha. I was picked up at the airport and driven to Lincoln, the capital of Nebraska, where our conference was held. By coincidence, it happened to be my birthday. My Nebraska friends threw me a surprise and joyous birthday party and from that point onward things began rolling.
We were all housed in fabulous, brand-new hotel-like suites in Kauffman Center, on the University of Nebraska campus, consisting of living room, kitchen and two nice rooms, for the price of regular student dormitories. Each room was equipped with all the amenities, including thermostats which allowed one to control temperature in each room. Whenever you needed something, you simply called the front desk and they would promptly take care of your needs. What a difference from the dormitories we had during our previous conferences and congresses. The prepaid food was served in the Selleck Hall which was situated next to Kauffman Hall where we were staying. The food was excellent and abundant and served in the form of a buffet.
Most of the Conference attendees began arriving on Wednesday afternoon August 1. After registration, which was initially conveniently placed in the Kauffman Center, the participants were treated to a reception in the close-by Wick Alumni Center. Apart from the scrumptious food and good company, we were entertained by music and song. Music performers included Svetlana Yashirin, piano, Budomir Zvolanek, clarinet, and Joel Blahnik and Anita Smisek of Czech Music Alliance. The program included a number of presentations from various Nebraska groups that took part in the Conference organization, including Ron Stiles, President of the Czech Komensky Club; Helen Pejsar, Nebraska Czechs of Lincoln; Glen Riensche, Czech Language Foundation; Merlin Lawson, Dean of International Affairs at UNL; Dr. Oliva, Dean of the College of Fine and Performing Arts at UNL; John Fiala, President Elect, Nebraska Czechs Inc., and Mayor Don Weseley. Carmelee Tuma, Assistant to the Governor of Nebraska, brought his personal greetings and presented to the SVU President a special proclamation making him an "Admiral of the Nebraska Navy." It was all in good fun.
The Conference opened the following day in the spacious Nebraska Union Auditorium, with all seats occupied at eight o'clock sharp. After the four national anthems (US, Canadian, Czech and Slovak) which were performed by Joel Blahnik, Anita Smisek, Maureen Beck, and the Capital City Czech Choraliers, came words of welcome from the University Dean of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Richard J. Hoffmann, followed by my official opening, in my capacity as SVU President.
Next on the program was Dr. Mila Saskova-Pierce, Chair of the Conference Organizing Committee, and Dr. Russell Ganim, Chair of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. They were followed by Kate Witek, Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Nebraska, who brought greetings and a special message from Governor Mike Johanns. On the occasion the Governor proclaimed the days of our Conference, August 1 through 3, 2001, as "Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences Days."
Then came Don Weseley, the newly elected Mayor of Lincoln, who welcomed the participants on behalf of the State Capital Lincoln, mentioning his
Czech ancestors who settled in Nebraska in the late 1800s. (His name was originally spelled Vesely.) This was followed by a message from US Senator Chuck Hagel.
The official part of the program was concluded with the greetings of Petr Gandalovic, Consul General of the Czech Republic, who addressed the audience on behalf of the Czech Republic. The program ended by a musical performance of the Capital City Czech Choraliers.
After a short coffee and "kolache" break, the SVU Conference started in earnest. Three or more sessions usually ran concurrently, following the printed program. All lecture rooms were equipped with the latest equipment. Most sessions were well attended and went smoothly. Each session was usually concluded with a question and answer period and frequently with an animated discussion. Space does not allow description of individual sessions which ran concurrently for two full days, August 2 and 3. It should be noted that a number of panels were attended by younger audience, as well as by younger presenters, which was one of the main objectives of the conference.
A special plenary session was devoted to the Presidential Symposium, "The Role of Ethnic Organizations in Preserving Our Cultural Heritage", which I had the pleasure to chair, with the participation of chief executive officers of ethnic organizations in the US. The session included representatives of the American Sokol Organization, Bohemia Benevolent and Literary Organization of New York, Bohemian Citizen's Benevolent Society of Astoria, Czech and Slovak Heritage Association of Maryland, Czech and Slovak Music Society, Czech and Slovak Society of Oregon, Czech Heritage Society of Texas, Czech Language Foundation of Nebraska, Czechoslovak American National Council of America, Komensky Club, National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library, Nebraska Czechs Inc., Nebraska Czechs of Lincoln, Nebraska Czechs of Wilber, Oklahoma Czechs, and Slavonic Benevolent Order of the State of Texas. The Czech Republic was represented by Jaromir Slapota of the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute and Senator Milan Spacek, Chair of the Permanent Committee of the Senate for Czechs Abroad. Deputy Jiri Karas, Chair of a comparable committee in the Czech House of Representatives, was unable to attend.
During the lunch on Thursday, the participants were entertained by former Miss Czech-Slovak USA Queens. They included Miss Nebraska Czech Queen Nicole Kimbrough who played the violin, Miss Kansas Czech-Slovak Queen Mary Elizabeth Kasper (the 2000 Miss Czech-Slovak USA 1st runnerup), who performed a polka ballet dance, Miss Nebraska Czechs of Wilber Chapter Queen Becky Kastanek, who played a trumpet solo and the 2000 Miss Czech-Slovak USA Queen Karina Molacek, who sang the Czech National Anthem in Czech and English.
During the Friday luncheon the participants were addressed by Chancellor of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Dr. Harvey Perlman. On Friday afternoon, the SVU Annual meeting was held with the customary State of the SVU Report by the SVU President. The latter, as well as the resolution approved by the General Assembly, are printed separately.
In the evening of August 3, there was the SVU banquet, featuring Rechcigl and Petr Gandalovic as speakers, followed by presentations of SVU Presidential citations to selected organizations that have made contributions to the preservation of Czech and Slovak cultural heritage in the US. These organizations were identical with those which took part in the SVU Presidential Symposium, associated with the National Heritage Commission.
Additional citations were awarded to Matice Vyssiho Vzdelani, Slovak American International Cultural Foundation, and Masaryk Club and individuals: Jiri Eichler, Mila Saskova-Pierce, Tom Zumpfe, and Cathleen Oslzly. The latter, who likes to be called "Kacenka," was the chief driving force behind the Conference, received for her extraordinary effort a crystal vase from the SVU and an airfare voucher to the SVU Congress in Plzen next year donated to SVU by Tatra Travel. Czech and Slovak Ambassadors Alexandr Vondra and Martin Butora, under whose auspices the Conference was organized, sent their personal messages which were read.
Other activities concurrent to the SVU Conference included an Accordion Jam session on Thursday afternoon, the Czech Language Foundation Awards Banquet followed by a polka dance Thursday evening in the Cornhusker Hotel Grand Ballroom, the Wilber Children's Beseda Dancers entertaining the same evening at the Cornhusker, and the film "Divided We Fall" showing at the Sheldon Film Theater.
On Saturday, August 4, many of the Conference participants boarded a bus to Wilber, Nebraska to take part in the famous Wilber Czech Festival. This was a happening in its own right, resembling in many ways a traditional Czech "pout," except on a much larger scale, accompanied by a traditional American parade and beauty pageant, culminating in the selection of the Czech and Slovak Queen. SVU Secretary General Frank Safertal, and I, in my capacity as SVU President, had the pleasure of being driven in the parade with our names and office insignia exhibited on the cars.
Judging as a whole, the SVU conference in Nebraska and everything connected with it was a great success, thanks to local leaders and organizers like Cathleen Oslzly, Mila Saskova-Pierce and her husband Layne, Tom Zumpfe, John Fiala, and Ron and Jitka Stiles, as well as a number of organizations which enthusiastically worked with them as a team. The Nebraska Czechs of Lincoln were the greeters in "kroje"(authentic national costumes), beginning Wednesday in the Kauffman Center and continuing until the final presentation on Friday. They also monitored all presentation rooms in the Nebraska Student Union. They are to be commended for all of their fantastic efforts, including the Wall of Remembrance at the Great Plains Art Collection. The Nebraska organizers found a number of local sponsors which helped to defray costs so our registration fees were kept very low and most of the social and cultural events could be provided gratis. SVU will be forever grateful to them.
Those of you who attended the Nebraska Conference will most assuredly agree that it was a true "happening."
Mila Rechcigl
SVU President
PICTURES FROM THE CONFERENCE
Download program of the conference
On the occasion of the National Conference of Czechoslovakian Society of Arts and Sciences, the Lincoln Czechs, an organization of people of Czech and Slovak origin and or interest, decided to have an exhibit of family artifacts which represented the heritage of their ancestors.
As you look through these pictures you will not find them in any particular order, but rather in the order they were placed in the exhibit itself. Some of the items came from Europe, some from America, but they all represent the connection between the present and the past. Each one is precious in itself, put them all together and you have the Wall of Remembrance.
Wall of Rememberence Clothing & embroidered items
Tools Books Miscellaneous
ECHOES FROM SVU CONFERENCE IN NEBRASKA
Ron Stiles, Czech Komensky Club President:
If feel that this conference was a success on a great many levels. It was extremely well planned, having a great variety and selection of panels, made use of excellent facilities, and had a fantastic amount of supporting entertainment and spectacle. We were able to achieve our objective of focusing on youth admirably by allowing young adults to lead and present on panels, by incorporating the Wilber children's' exhibition of traditional dance during the Czech Language foundation dinner, as well as exhibiting the singing talents of the Czech and Slovak National Anthems by young Maureen Beck for the Conference Opening. We were very fortunate to have such a rich showcase of heritage in the 40th Annual Wilber Czech Days festival as a crescendo. In the end though, we achieved the main goal of any conference, which is to meet new people, establish new ties, and forge new friendships. As President of the Czech Komensky Club, I was proud to have been a part of such a collaborative effort and feel excited by the potential of new projects forthcoming form the new Nebraska SVU Chapter. Nebraska has risen to a new level of cultural recognition on a national level. The future indeed looks bright!
~~~
Daniel Hrana, Texas:
The conference was very well organized. The topics were well covered and all were of very high caliber. It was interesting to note what a fine job the presenters did with a very difficult topic to address-the youth of our culture and nation. Keep up the good work and thank you and all of the people who worked with you to make our visit to Nebraska a very enjoyable happening!
~~~
Lawrence F. Jindra, M.D., New York:
I was made to feel more at home than I do at home.
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Margaret Hermanek Peaslee, Pennsylvania:
Thought it was a great meeting. Housing excellent; food excellent; papers and program excellent; facilities excellent; projection equipment excellent. I was kept very well informed through your extensive use of E-mail. Can't think of any other specific areas to comment upon. Everything was great. I found the people at the meeting and in the region to be very helpful, also. Thanks for being great hosts. You can use my name.
~~~
Jan Klinka, British Columbia:
Mila Kacenko, it's hard to believe that only a month ago I/We, participants of the SVU gathering had such a fabulous time in Lincoln (heat & humidity index notwithstanding), namely in and around the University of Nebraska. I still experience a sense of excitement and discovery pertaining to getting acquainted with so many topics of interest and people with incredibly varied destinies. There, of course, always will be regrets from impossibility of encompassing everything worthwhile or meeting those you thought you should.
It may be difficult for future SVU meetings to match the Kauffman, Selleck, Union Bldg.etc.,and dedication of people "behind the scene"; fortunately we know who they were...Once more, thank them and you for major contribution to the conference success, and for being such a good sport ! In addition, I was able to manage a trip to Wilber, Omaha, Cedar Rapids and Spillville, even Protivin.
~~~
Mary Stretton, Colorado:
I enjoyed the Conference very much, and I received a lot of valuable information. The accommodations in Kauffman Hall were excellent, and the food in the cafeteria was plentiful and good.
With so many sessions running concurrently, it was sometimes hard to choose which to attend. I only wish the conference had lasted a few days longer; there simply wasn't enough time to hear and see it all. And many of the panelists were limited by time to give only a short version of their papers; I hope to see some of these in the forthcoming issues of Kosmas.
It takes a tremendous amount of time and work to organize such an event--congratulations and thanks to all who made it possible.
~~~
Nelson Havel, Oregon:
Well this is the first time I have ever gone to anything like this. It was all very interesting and there was just too many things to take part in. I did enjoy the History of Immigration and Genealogy since I'm in the process of tracing my family roots. The Czech Architectural experince was great as it gave me an Idea of what kind of house that my great-grandfather lived in. I enjoyed the literature part, it was all very good and I hope to be able to go to Plizen this next year. You can use my name if you want.
~~~
Vlasta Becvarova Barber and Tom C. Barber, Oregon:
Congratulations to the organizer Cathy Oslzly; chairperson Miluse Saskova-Pierce; SVU President Mila Rechcigl and all others who worked together to organize the successful conference. It was very well run, with something for everyone. We acknowledge and appreciate the time, effort and organizing talent that went into bringing all facets of this event together. We recognize that organizing such an event is like trying to capture tiny balls of mercury and bring them together. We met some fine people whom we hope to keep as friends. We enjoyed comfortable quarters and great variety of good food for an exceptionally low cost. The Czech dinner available at Selleck Hall on Thursday was tasty. Thanks to Tom Zumpfe and others who furnished makove and merunkove kolace for coffee breaks. There was a wealth of speakers and subjects. The highlight of the Wednesday reception was the classical music performed by Svetlana Yashirin and Budimir Zvolanek. The magic hands of John Fiala were fun to watch at the Friday night banquet. The drawings for prizes at the Friday night banquet certainly kept everyone's attention.
~~~
Ladislaus J. (Laci) Bolchazy, President, Slovak-American International Cultural Foundation:
Let me again try to thank you for a well organized conference. I came home with five pounds of that choice irresistable food that I consumed with pleasure; attaching an affair like the Czech festival to the conference was an icing on an already great experience; there was a good mixture of topics and a variety of "gravitas;" I loved the entertainment produced by colleagues; I enjoyed the personal public recognitions both during the conference and the visit at Wilbur. Next year I'm again going to invest time, effort, and money to enjoy the fun, work toward SVU's goals, and get inspired & charged up as a fellow Czecho-Slovak. I will present for consideration to SVU the following: (1) the feasibility of growing a data base of photographs of Czechoslovak personalities by collecting them, digitizing them, making them available to the media, and giving them a longer life; (2) the feasibility of creating a "publishing" committee to promote Slavic books, co-publish with Czechoslovak publishers, encourage more books in English about Czechoslovak culture & history and sponsor, personally & collectively , new books in English. Slavic books in English can be our best cultural embassadors. A sponsored book can be a more lasting monument to our
individual existence than marble and stone. And most likely less expensive!
*** Dovidenia. ***
Greetings from Petr Gandalovic, Consul General of the Czech Republic
The Meaning of America for Czechs and Slovaks and the Czech and Slovak Meaning in America
Petr Gandalovic
To the Participants and Guests of the Nebraska SVU Conference / August 1-3, 2001, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Standing here amongst you, in the heartland of America, I realize that you in this audience represent at least two groups of Czech-Americans. If you would allow me a bit of simplification, many of you whom are local Nebraskans may be descendants of 19th century Czech immigrants; others amongst you, some of whom are members of the SVU, may be first-generation political exiles. Two very different groups, influenced by two very different sets of historical forces.
Perhaps I should ask: What does America mean to those of you here today? What did it mean to your ancestors when they emigrated? For the immigrant settlers, America meant economic opportunity, which so contrasted with the difficult economic situation then present in Europe. For the postwar exiles, the political motive seems unquestionable. I think this dichotomy is wrong.
The beacon of liberty, which shone across the Atlantic Ocean to the Old World, was an irresistible calling for all individuals for whom freedom meant more than relative security in their lives and homes. For these brave voyagers, taking the risk of starting life anew was outweighed by the opportunities in the New World. This weighing of risks and benefits has been this way until the present; it probably has been the catalytic natural selection factor between those who left and those who stayed home. It is true, at times, poverty or the imminent threat of political persecution were critical factors influencing this choice as well, but these factors were responsible for driving people out, to emigrate. - What drove these immigrants to the USA were the uniquely American ideals of freedom and equal opportunities for all.
The creation of an independent Czechoslovakia in 1918 is the single most important moment in our history. It is also the event where the meaning of America for Czechs and Slovaks was the greatest, the most unquestionable, and historically the most well documented. Of course, we do not want to underestimate the profound importance of President T. G. Masaryk, his courageous strategy with the Legions, his effective political lobbying, and his skillful negotiating.
Did the meaning of America last longer than the creation of the state? We know that President Masaryk was a strong proponent of adopting many more features of the American democratic system, while the leaders of the local resistance and emerging political parties wanted to cast the Czechoslovak democracy in a more European mold. Instead of the presidential system, the parliamentary system (with its strong political parties) was introduced, a party list was followed instead of a single seat majority, and the state was more involved in the economy rather than less involved. The result was not bad at all: Czechoslovakia was the last surviving democracy in Central Europe before World War II.
The meaning of America to the Czechs and Slovaks during WWII was, of course, that America's presence and participation was crucial not only to win the war, but also to liberated part of our country as well. Unfortunately the significance of this meaning was suppressed, partly by the totalitarian Soviet power that arose shortly thereafter and was ignored, partly by our own people living and struggling in post WWII Czechoslovakia. In the socialistic decades that then followed, the meaning of America to the Czechs and Slovaks was mainly one of providing refuge for the many exiles that were created after the Soviet Invasion and Communist coup d´etat.
In more general terms, it was America that did not repeat the isolationist mistakes of the post-World War I era, it was America that rose to lead the Western World during the Cold War, and it was America that kept the unyielding and unremitting pressure on the Soviet Union on all fronts: economically, militarily, and in the area of human rights. America simply did not leave Europe after the Second World War.
One of the most important turning points in this struggle was America's role at the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe in 1975. We now know that, due to great pressure from the U.S.A., the conference's final document included the human rights clause; this was the catalytic spark which set in motion the many human rights movements in our region, especially Pres. Havel's Charter 77.
I am not trying to underestimate the profound importance of President Reagan's policy of a strong hand against the Evil Empire, but it must be stressed that pushing the human rights agenda helped to undermine gradually the grip of the Communist totalitarian regime from our country and to ease the plight of the dissidents who would eventually become the natural leaders of the 1989 Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia.
During the building of a new democratic Czechoslovakia after 1989, America represented one of the opposite poles in our search for an ideal democratic, economic, and social system. We were caught again in the dilemma between the Austro-Hungarian tradition of a welfare, corporate, and bureaucratically driven state and the Anglo-Saxon ideals of free enterprise and competitive markets. Unfortunately, I must say, for the most part we have remained stuck in our Austro-Hungarian roots, sometimes even peppered a bit with some Soviet socialist-era traditions.
The accession of the Czech Republic into NATO in 1999, after the creation of an independent state, is undoubtedly the most historic moment in the young Czech Republic's history. The meaning of America for this epochal event cannot be overestimated. It was America's leadership in the Western World (strengthened not only by its recent successes in the Gulf War and also in Bosnia, where Europe failed to solve the problem in its own backyard) that brought about the propitious and all too fortunate enlargement of NATO. For our country, on the other hand, it immediately represented the more pressing questions of loyalty, responsibility, and preparedness.
Now, with the application to become a full member of the European Union mailed a long time ago, and that membership approaching, in hopefully two to three years, our dilemma of our pro-Atlantism or pro-Europeanism is very imminent. Will we side with America, to which we owe so much, on some difficult foreign or economic policy issues, or will we become more loyal to Europe, to which we will soon need even more? Sometimes it becomes a matter of a mere foreign political statement; other times it represents real economic value; and sometimes it represents both. When the Government, and eventually the Parliament, banned the export of air technology to an Iranian nuclear power plant, the company that had contracted the job presented a concrete bill to the Government for the unrealized contract. After the Czech Republic had presented to the United Nations, the U.S.-sponsored declaration condemning the human rights situation in Cuba, Mr. Castro put two Czechs in jail in no time. Today, we discuss whose side we are on, in the difficult issue of the Strategic Missile Defense.
In closing the first part of my speech (don't worry, the second part will be shorter because it is an unfortunate truth that America means more to the Czechs than the Czechs mean to America), I want to mention the newest wave of immigration to America. There are thousands, and perhaps tens of thousands, of Czechs living in this country, some of them legally and some of them as undocumented visitors. They work, travel, learn, and gather experience. I am sure they all came to follow the same calling as you did: the ideals of freedom, opportunity, and individual responsibility. Even if most of them choose not to return home, it is not a loss in the end. Just as you have not been a loss, but instead are an asset, to our nation.
Czechs in America - do the Czechs mean a lot or a little in America?
The importance of a nation or an ethnic group in America depends on three factors: 1) How many members are in the ethnic group in question (in some respects it is more important to know how well they are organized and how are they located in terms of political geography)? 2) What have individual members of this group achieved in America or in the world? 3) How is the home state or nation doing economically (how much business do they do with the USA and in the international arena do they play any significant role in some strategically important areas vis-a-vis American interests)?
If we look at the Czechs from the perspective of these three factors, on the first point we see that numbers are our prime weakness, and there is little we can do about this. Speaking like this in Nebraska may sound inappropriate because of the large concentration of Czechs that reside here. But in America as a whole, it is most certainly the truth. Other parts of this point are: the structuring of the social body, its ability to organize itself, and its ability to undertake a concrete and visible action. It is important to note that Czech-Americans lobbied for the accession of the Czech Republic into NATO; there were voices heard that the Czechs pressed harder than the Poles for accession into NATO. This example may serve as proof that things can be done if there is a strong motivating cause.
With regard to the second point, well-known and highly achieving individuals are probably our biggest assets. Be it here or in the world, then or now, in different areas, Americans will always be able to name a couple of Czechs whom they admire. These individuals might include Hašek, Forman, Secretary Albright, Dvooák, or President Havel.
On the third point our country does not excel either. Neither country ranks at the top of the other's list of most important economic partners. Of course, the Czech Republic's position on the American list is somewhere down in the fine print. The reverse is also true: America is not too high on the Czech Republic's list of economic partners because of its gradual economic intertwining with the Economic Union. And yet, there are countries of similar size that are members of the EU, and their products are notoriously well known here. Examples would include Finland and Nokia and Sweden and Volvo. But it is improving, especially as a result of the booming American investment in the Czech economy.
Politically, the popularity of the Czechs was probably at its highest just after the Velvet Revolution; Václav Havel was a human rights hero and the economic transformation was beginning to speed up. Then came a cool-down, when some of the not-so-nice stories, of our Wild West economy and poorly handled human rights, racism, and intolerance cases, surfaced. The Clinton-era remained generally very favorable towards the Czechs. There was the emotional bond between Presidents Clinton and Havel, the admiration of the liberal human rights establishment towards the former dissidents (which even enabled the cult underground band "the Plastic People of the Universe" to play in the White House), and, of course, there was Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
Under the current Bush Administration, the relations between the USA and the Czech Republic inevitably will be more professional. On the other hand, the mutual respect between former President Bush and President Vaclav Havel continues to thrive.
What does the future hold? There is not much we can do to increase the number of Czechs in America, although we have been working hard, even on that. However, we do hold the keys, to fostering the meaning of the Czechs in America, in our own hands. These keys include: having a greater number of hard working, excelling individuals and becoming a stronger economic partner for the U.S.A. We can do it!
Czech-American relations will be greatly influenced after the Czech Republic enters the Economic Union. We do not know if the Czechs will dissolve in the Economic Union, like a sugar cube in a hot cup of coffee, becoming as completely unidentifiable to Americans as they were during the era of Soviet domination. Hopefully they will not, but, as Rudyard Kipling would say, "That is another story".
MESSAGE FROM THE EMBASSADOR OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC
Martin Butora
To the Participants and Guests of the Nebraska SVU Conference / August 1-3, 2001, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
In Washington, August 1, 2001
Dear President Rechcigl, Honorable guests, ladies and gentlemen, Dear friends,
It is my privilege and pleasure to greet you all at this distinguished forum and wish you success in your challenging endeavor.
I still have in my memory the last year’s SVU World Congress held in Washington when more than two hundred of participants came to our residence to discuss the issues of civil society and democracy in the new millennium and to enjoy excellent ties between the Czech and Slovak communities.
And we were happy to welcome the Czech Ambassador Alexandr Vondra, the SVU President Mila Rechcigl, and many of our Czech friends at the opening of new Slovak embassy building here in Washington this June. That was another occasion to remember common heritage of our forefathers who made their way to America in search of a better life, and have contributed with their labor and sacrifice to the building of this country. As we celebrated the opening of the new Slovak chancery, we also paid our tribute to all Americans whose work forged the freedom we enjoy today from President Woodrow Wilson to the American soldiers fighting in the Slovak anti-Nazi resistance in 1944 and liberating Plzen in 1945, from the Americans who helped to conquer communism to those who are now helping to transform our friendship to strategic partnership. We in Central Europe have good reasons to see how important the role of the United States is. We remember a Europe disunited, subjugated to dictators, torn by wars, traumatized by Nazism and Communism. That was not a good Europe and one of the reasons it happened was a lack of American presence. For us, the strengthening of trans-Atlantic links is not just an empty phrase: it is our vital interest.
Having arrived from Bratislava just a few hours ago, I will be anxiously awaiting the abstracts of your debate the topic of which I find very stimulating. You will talk about the Czech and Slovak legacy in America, about the ways to preserve and develop this heritage for and among the young people. I believe that the present state of affairs opens an excellent opportunity for not only SVU members but all Americans of European heritage to make sure that these links remain vital.
Please accept my warm regards to the participants of the conference.
Martin Butora
Slovak Ambassador to the United States
GOVERNOR SIGNS CZECHOSLOVAK PROCLAMATION
RELEASE
July 19, 2001
From: Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences , Lincoln Nebraska / Contact: Cathy Oslzly 472-3121 for more information
Governor Mike Johanns signed a proclamation declaring August 1-3, 2001, Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences (SVU) Days in the State of Nebraska. The proclamation aligns with the Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences conference to be held in Lincoln August 1-3, 2001, sponsored by the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.
Pictured bellow is Governor Johanns signing the proclamation with Dr. Mila Saskova-Pierce, Professor of Modern Languages and Literature at UNL and SVU program coordinators Cathy Oslzly and Tom Zumpfe. A group of Czech and Slovak supporters stands behind the governor.
Zumpfe said "On behalf of Czechs and Slovaks in Nebraska, the United States and around the World, we thank you for helping to promote awareness of our heritage and our efforts to preserve it. SVU was formed in 1958 with the purpose of providing a forum for the free development of Czechoslovak culture in exile and making the world aware of the Czech and Slovak cultural traditions, which date back more than a millennium. This purpose continues today with over 100 presenters in more than 20 panels at the conference to be held at UNL August 1-3, 2001."