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This program will provide information on the business and economic conditions in Central and Eastern Europe. It will educate and enlighten community and business leaders, and encourage business interactions between the United States and Europe.

For more information, please read the attached document:
http://csclubkc.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/centraleuropeflyer_v03.pdf

Sharon Valasek
Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic
Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska
105 West 113th Street
Kansas City, MO 64114 USA
svalasek@kc.rr.com
+1 816 942 2794 (office)
+1 816 213 5847 (mobile)

Dear Members of the Czech Community,
For some time the Czech Language Foundation has received inquiries and requests for Czech language instruction to be available to the Nebraska Czech community outside of a university setting. At this time as President of the Czech Language Foundation I am looking into the feasibility of sponsoring basic Czech language learning online. An online class would be cheaper, available to more people, and foster a kind of language learning community that is in step with the mission of both the Czech Language Foundation and the Nebraska Czechs. In order to begin this process, I need feedback from you through this survey questionnaire that I have attached. Please, help us in its dissemination by forwarding this survey to anyone you think might be interested. We depend on your help.

The link for the questionnaire is:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LXKJGWJ

Thanks for your time.

Layne Pierce
President
Czech Language Foundation

Veselé Vianoce a šťastný Nový rok!

Veselé Vánoce a šťastný Nový rok!


Dear friends,

In response to the sorrowful announcement of the passing of former President of the Czech Republic, Mr. Václav Havel, on December 18, 2011, a Book of Condolences is available for signing at my office, Consulate of the Czech Republic in the Midwest, 105 West 113th Street, Kansas City, MO 64114. Visitors may come to the office from Tuesday, December 20, 2011 through Thursday, December 22, 2011 between the hours of 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Anyone wishing to send a condolence that is unable to come to the consul office, can e-mail their message to me and I will include it with the Book of Condolences that I will be sending to the Czech Embassy in Washington D.C. My email address is: svalasek@kc.rr.com.

President Havel, the last president of Czechoslovakia from 1989-92 and the first president of the Czech Republic 1993-2003, died at the age of 75.

“He was the most famous Czech, recognized all over the world. Unfortunately, he was more welcome and revered abroad than at home. Though a modest and shy man, he stood his ground when meeting and dealing with the world’s most powerful people. I only hope that at least now we will realize what a man we had in our fellow citizen, and will look up to him as an example.” Karel Schwarzenberg

“I am deeply touched by the kind words and floral tributes from many Americans who are expressing their compassion with the Czech nation mourning the loss of a man of great courage and profound wisdom. President Havel was not only one of the greatest Czechs of our times but also a true European visionary who has always kept very close to his heart our friends and compatriots in the United States. Though he will be sorely missed, the legacy of his respect for human rights and fight for democracy shall prevail.” Czech Ambassador to the United States Petr Gandalovic

Information about President Václav Havel lying in state and the funeral service for Havel at Prague Castle can be found at: http://www.hrad.cz/en/for-media/press-releases/7178.shtml

Warm regards,

Sharon Valasek

Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic
Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska
105 West 113th Street
Kansas City, MO 64114 USA
svalasek@kc.rr.com
+1 816 942 2794 (office)
+1 816 213 5847 (mobile)

St. Mikulas Reflection


I would like to thank everyone who attended this event. I believe this is one of the club’s most popular events, it always has large attendance. Thank you all for your active participation and for bringing the great food. Thanks also to our three actors, the St. Mikulas, the Angel, and our Little Devil. :)
The Sugar Creek Tamburitzans band deserves praise as well, along with our singers. The Slovak and Czech Christmas songs greatly added to the festivity of the event. I cannot forget the performances of our youngest generation, those who stood up in front of St. Mikulas and his two “assistants” and received goody bags for their acts.
Finally, I would like to thank the members who made this event possible and made it run smoothly.

PS: If anyone has photos they would like to share with us or want uploaded to our gallery, please send them in.

Thank you,

Iveta
CSKC club member

St. Mikulas 2011

Come and celebrate the tradition of St. Mikulas with delicious food, music, and culture. This event is always fun for the children who will receive a traditional gift package from the club as well as a visit from St. Mikulas himself. We also ask that each parent bring a wrapped gift for each of their children with his or her name on it( suggested maximum value of $10). Non-members are always welcome as we observe this annual Czech and Slovak event.

When: Sunday, December 4

Time: 2:00 PM until 4:30 PM

Location: Sylvester Powell, Jr. Community Center, 6200 Martway, Mission, KS 66202

Phone: 913-722-8200

Cost: Free

Door Prize: Honorary Consul Ross Marine of the Slovak Republic is donating two “Slovak’s in America” videotapes to be awarded to lucky attendees.

Program:

2:00 – 2:30

Gather and musical entertainment

2:30 – 3:15

Potluck Meal – We ask that each family bring a dish as follows:

Last Name A through J – vegetable/salad

K through R – dessert/appetizer

S through Z – meat/main dish

The club will provide soft drinks, plates, and other utensils

3:15 – 4:30

Visit from St. Mikulas, children’s gifts, and other activities –

Kids, can you sing a song, read a poem, tell a story, do a trick? Then share your talents with St. Mikulas on a voluntary basis.

Please RSVP to Terry Smitka at 816-217-9487 or tsmitka@rwbaird.com by December 1, 2011. Please provide number of adults & children who will be attending so we can make proper preparations.

We hope you can join us for this fun afternoon. If icy or snowy conditions exist during the morning of December 4, please contact Terry Smitka before departing in case we need to cancel the event.

Terry R. Smitka

The search for St. Mikulas

Dear club members,
If you are anyone you know would be interested in portraying St. Mikulas at our upcoming event, please contact Terry Smitka at tsmitka@rwbaird.com. It is preferable that the volunteer be familiar with the customs of St. Mikulas Day.
Thank you.

CzechSlovakKC.com

As of now our web address is CzechSlovakKC.com. The website will still be accessible through the original url, but czechslovakkc.com is easier to remember and will be our official address.
In other news, an updated membership form can be found at http://csclubkc.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/cs-membershipform.doc, or by clicking on the ‘Join the club’ menu button.

Dear Club Members,

Please mark your calendars for our St. Wenceslas celebration to be held on Saturday, October 8, at the Mike Onka Hall, 11520 Putnam St., Sugar Creek, MO 64054. The celebration will start at 1:30 PM and will be highlighted by a Czech and Slovak goulash dinner with side items provided by club members as listed below. Our club will also hold a goulash cooking class beginning at 10:00 AM in the Mike Onka kitchen. Please let Terry Smitka know at 816-217-9487 or tsmitka@rwbaird.com if you would like to participate. It will be a great opportunity to learn how to prepare this traditional Czechoslovakian dish and then get to taste the result.

Our program that day will include a “Know Your World” presentation about Slovakia by Major Alex Schober, who is a Slovak officer attending the military college at Fort Leavenworth. Major Schober delivered this program previously to his fellow officers and guests at Fort Leavenworth and everyone who attended thought it was very informative. In addition, there will be traditional Slavic music performed by the famous Sugar Creek Tamburitzans. This event is open to all members and guests and there is a suggested donation of $5/person to attend. Children are free and the $5 includes the goulash dinner and a beverage of your choice. We also ask that you bring a side item as listed below. The club will provide the goulash, eating utensils, and drinks.

A-M – salad/vegetable

N-Z – dessert/appetizer

The Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International is hosting its 13th biennial Genealogical and Cultural Conference in St. Louis, Missouri this October 26-29. The Conference’s major sponsors are the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and CSA Fraternal Life Association of Oak Brook, IL. This event is for all people interested in Czech and Slovak history, culture and family history research. For more information and to register, go to http://www.cgsi.org/news/2010/11/01/cgsi-conference-planned-oct-2011. Please consider attending this conference and supporting the CGSI organization. Their mission is educating people on the lives and history of those with ancestry from the Czech and Slovak lands.

If you have always wanted to learn how to bake Czech and Slovak kolache, you can sign up for a class on Saturday, November 5. It will be held at St. Cyril’s Catholic Church, 11231 Chicago St., Sugar Creek, MO 64054. The class starts at 9 AM and the cost is $15/person. Hana Buric and Jirina LaVine from our club will be the instructors. The class is limited to 15 people so please sign up soon by contacting Mike Kalny at 913-962-2145 or mikekalny@aol.com. That same afternoon, St. Cyril’s will be holding a 5 PM polka mass followed by a dance and raffle at 6:30 PM at the Mike Onka Hall. The dance is a fundraiser for St. Cyril’s parish and the Sugar Creek Tamburitzans will be performing that evening as well. Please contact Mark Pinter at markpinter@gmail.com for information and tickets.

Our traditional St. Mikulas celebration will be held on Sunday, December 4, at the Sylvester Powell Community Center, 6200 Martway, Mission, KS 66202. The time will be from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM and will include a visit by St. Mikulas. More detailed information will be available as we get closer to the date.

Terry R. Smitka

This event is for all people interested in Czech and Slovak history, culture and family history research. The Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International is hosting its 13th biennial Genealogical and Cultural Conference in St. Louis, Missouri this October 26-29. The Conference’s major sponsors are the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and CSA Fraternal Life Association of Oak Brook, IL.

There are 4 great International Speakers coming in Miroslav Koudelka, professional genealogist and tour guide from Olomouc; Jan Dus, professional genealogist and tour guide from Policka; Michal Razus, professional genealogist and tour guide from Presov, Slovak Republic and Rebekka Geitner, historian from the Ballinstadt Emigration Museum in Hamburg, Germany.

Attached is a copy of the Registration booklet, minus the front and back covers which are very large color files (so they are omitted to save space). Included in the booklet are the on-site activities at the Sheraton Westport Chalet Hotel, including Thursday, Friday and Saturday presentations. There are 3 tours planned, two of them are of the old Czech and Slovak settlement areas in St. Louis.

St. Louis is the birthplace of America’s Fraternal Benefit Societies, with the C.S.P.S. founded in 1854. St. John Nepomuk, the oldest Czech Catholic parish in America was also founded in 1854, with its frame church dedicated in 1855. Monsignor Josef Hessoun (1830-1906) of St. John’s was a leader among Czech Catholics and in 1873 began Hlas (“Voice”) Publishing Company. American SOKOL fitness and cultural organization’s first unit was started in St. Louis in 1865. Most Holy Trinity Slovak Catholic (founded in 1890s, but now extinct) and St. Lucas Evangelical Lutheran church (organized 1905) were center-pieces of the St. Louis Slovak community near the turn of the 20th century. Today many Czech activities take place at the American-Czech Educational Center at 4690 Lansdowne Avenue and Slovak activities at St. Lucas’ church at 7100 Morganford Road.

Please consider attending this conference (many of these conferences are held on either coast, therefore more expensive). Also, consider supporting the CGSI organization whose mission is educating people on the lives and history of those with ancestry from the Czech and Slovak lands.

Thank you,
Sharon Valasek

For more information and to register, go to http://www.cgsi.org/news/2010/11/01/cgsi-conference-planned-oct-2011.

Registration booklet here.

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