Following the Velvet Revolution, when the communist world finally crumbled, SVU has become a bridge between the Czech and Slovak professionals and those in other countries, helping to integrate the intellectual life of these two nations into the mainstream of world science, arts and letters, from which they were separated by political barriers for so long.

The Society, however, also has responsibilities toward its members abroad, particularly in America, where the bulk of its membership live. It is in this spirit that we hold this special conference on "Czech and Slovak America: Quo Vadis?" in Minneapolis, MN, the cradle of Czech and Slovak life in the US. The aim of the conference is to explore the questions of historic settlements and present-day communities of immigrants of former Czechoslovakia, preservation of their cultural identity and heritage and mutual relations with the Czech and Slovak Republics.

A special panel is devoted to human rights in the Czech and Slovak Republics from the external as well as internal point of view. There is also a Business Forum comprised of top executives addressing the questions of trade and business opportunities in both republics. Furthermore, there is a journalist panel with the participation of newspapermen from both sides of the Atlantic and a panel comprised of the younger set discussing their perspectives in viewing the new millennium.

The active participants include not only academics, but also businessmen, students and chief officers of our communities and their organizations in the US and Canada, as well as official spokesmen of the Czech and Slovak Republics.

This extraordinary happening and truly pivotal event of the year should greatly strengthen the mutual bond of the Czech and Slovak communities in America and their ties with their old country. It is hoped that it will also aid in our joint efforts to preserve our cultural identity and heritage in America.

Miloslav Rechcigl, Jr.

SVU President

Saturday, April 24, 1999

8:30 a.m.

OPENING OF THE CONFERENCE
Auditorium 2-470 Phillips Wangensteen Bldg.

Words of Welcome from Robert Bruininks, Executive Vice President and Provost, University of Minnesota
Official Opening by Miloslav Rechcigl, President of SVU
Remarks by Josef Mestenhauser, Conference Coordinator

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon Section I. A. Czech and Slovak Organizations in America Past and Present:
Presidential Symposium
Miloslav Rechcigl, Presiding
Auditorium 2-470 Phillips Wangensteen Bldg.

Deborah Zeman - CSA Fraternal Life since 1854 Paul. C. Lebloch - The American Sokol Organization (ASO)
Howard Leshikar - Changing Nature of Fraternal Benefit Societies
John Richard - Eighty Two Years of the Czechoslovak National Council of America (CNCA)
Miloslav Rechcigl - Forty Years of SVU: An Inspiring Vision and Amaranthine Goals
Mojmir Povolny - Council of Free Czechoslovakia: Before and After 1989
Jan Hird Pokorny - Fifty Years of the American Fund of Czechoslovak Relief (Refugees)
Rev. Michael G. Rokos - The Bohemian National Cemetery (and the Czech and Slovak Heritage Association of Maryland ) - Keeping in Touch with Home, 1884-1999
Phillip M. Kasik American Friends of the Czech Republic, the National Advocacy and Support Organization for the Czech Republic
Nada Humlova - Czech and Slovak Association of Canada
Rev. Vojtech Vit - National Alliance of Czech Catholics
Rev. Msgr. Petr Esterka - Pastoral Work Among the Czech Catholics in USA, Canada and Australia

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon

Section I. B. The Media and Communications:
Impact on Relations with the Czech and Slovak Republics
Tomas Klvana, Presiding
Room 2530 Moos Tower

Josef Brozek - Fighting with a Pen - 1943-1944
Vera Rollerova - Polistopadove Ceskoslovensko. Ceskoslovenska republika v odrazu exiloveho tisku (Post-November Czechoslovakia. The Czechoslovak Republic as Reflected in the Exile Press
Robert J. White - American Perceptions of Central Europe
Jeremy Iggers - Defending Press Freedoms: What Czech, Slovak and American Journalism Can Learn from Each Other
Petr Bisek - A Survival of the Czech-American Periodical in the Next Millennium
Tomas Klvana - The Totalitarian in US : How the Past Reaches the Present and Prevents a Meaningful Discourse
Eva Strizovska - Devet let zkusenosti z komunikace mezi Cechy ve svete, zejmena z Ameriky (Nine Years of Experience of the Communication with Czechs Abroad, especially in the US)
Patric Dale - Havel-Political Communications in the Czech Republic Thomas Hasler - The Czech Republic Hasn't Begun to Exploit the Potential of the Web

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Section II. A. Historic Settlements and Present Day Communities
Miloslav Rechcigl, Presiding
Auditorium 2-470 Phillips Wangensteen Bldg.

Ivan Dubovicky - Causes and Patterns of Czech and Slovak Immigration to America
Thomas W. Hrncirik - Czech Settlements in America
Eva Slezak and Michael Rokos - The Enduring Czech Presence in Maryland, 350 Plus Years
Bryan Tomasovich - The Czech and Slovak Experience in Wisconsin: A New Generation Faces Americanization
Lawrence C. Cerny - Czechs of Cleveland
Roger H. Kolar - The State of Czech-Texas
Joe T. Vosoba - Heart of Europe Transplanted to the Heart of America - The Czech Revival in Nebraska
James Sazevich and Mary Halbert - Building for the Future in Bohemian Squatterdom
Donald Pafko - Early History and Settlement of Slovaks in Minneapolis and the Environs
Elaine. Benda - Czechs in Oklahoma
Jarmila Mikulasova Vogel - Czech and Slovak Cultural Heritage in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Kathryn Betlach Dankowski - The Grapes Were Gold

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 noon

Section II. B. Human Rights in the Czech and Slovak Republics:
Perceptions from Abroad and Reality
Josef Mestenhauser, Presiding
Room 2-530 Moos Tower

Petr Pithart - The Functioning of the Czech Legal System and the Problems of Law Enforcement
Stephen Feinstein - Jiri Sozansky: Czech Artist: The Uses of the Holocaust and Ghetto Terezin in the Czech Human Rights and Anti-Communist Movement, 1969-1992
William Duna - History of Persecution of the Gypsies: How it Originated and Continues to this Day
Ann Sutherland - History of the Roma and the Current Situation in the Czech and Slovak Republics
Gwen Willems - Human Rights Education and the Roma in the Czech Republic Ann Marie Schultz - Barriers the Roma Face Today in the Czech Republic and Possible Solutions
Karel Velan - Needed: An Objective, Problem-Solving Approach to Integration of Gypsies into the Czech Republic as Full Citizens
Jack Randler - Czech Republic: The Next Generation of Human Rights Protection

Sunday, April 25, 1999

8:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon

Section III. A. Preserving Cultural Identity and Heritage
Anton Novacky, Presiding
Auditorium 2-470 Phillips Wangensteen Bldg.

Sharon Sargent - Vstipeni jsme v narodu. We Are Implanted in This Nation. The KJZT and the Creation of Czech Texas
John Rocarek - Business of Preserving Czech and Slovak Historical Landmarks
Zdenek Hruban - Archives of Czechs and Slovaks Abroad at the University of Chicago
David Muhlena - The Czech Legacy in the State of Iowa
Jan H. Pokorny - Preserving Our Cultural Heritage - The New York Experience
Joel Wurl - Documenting Czech America History and Culture: The University of Minnesota's Immigration History Research Center Miroslav Musil - Known, Less Known and Unknown Marke
rs Related to Historical Slovak-American Personalities and their Future
John Krondl - National Bohemian Hall
Deborah Zeman- Czechoslovak Heritage Museum - Past and Present
Ruth Davis- Recording and Documenting the Czechoslovak Jewish Historic Experience
Marie P. Dolansky - Promoting Czechoslovak Music in America - Why and How
Jan Vicar - Echoes of Czech Music in America

8:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon

Section III. B. Relations with Czech and Slovak Republics
Josef Mestenhauser, Presiding
Room 2-530 Moos Tower

Martin Palous - The Current Position of the Czech Republic Toward Czech Americans
Petr Pithart - Czech and Slovak Republics: How to Overcome Provincialism
Frantisek Mezihorak - Glosses: Gratitude and Memories
John Luknic - Search for Meaning in Post-Communist World
Petr Zuna- Traditions of the Czech Technical Universities in the Context of Globalization
Otto Ulc - Disharmonious Relationships: Some Causes and Eventual Remedies
Jan Sammer - To Renew Morality of the Czech Nation through the Restitution of Private Property

Discussants:
Mojmir Povolny, President, Czech and Slovak Solidarity Council
Jaromir Slapota - President, Czechoslovak Foreign Institute, Prague

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Section IV. A. Business Forum: Trade with Czech Republic
in Cooperation with the Czech-North American Chamber of Commerce
Karel Velan, Presiding
Auditorium 2-470 Phillips Wangensteen Bld.

Lubomir Novotny - The Newly Established Czech-North American Chamber of Commerce in Atlants
Petr Gandalovic - The Latest Developments in Czech Economy
Martin Jahn - Investment Climate in the Czech Republic: CzechInvest's Survey of Foreign Manufacturing Investments in CR and New Government Incentives
Robert J. Koran - How to Attract US Strategic Investors in View of the Current Czech Economy
George Tesar - Development of Czech Trade with U.S. Firms: Problems and Issues
Petr Chadraba - The Role of Czech Government and the Czech Emigre Community to Advance the Development of the Czech Economy
Peter Rafaeli - Development of Small Business - the Backbone of a Strong Economy
Jiri Tesar - Junior Achievement
Karel Velan - The Restructuring of the Czech Industry and Opportunities to North American Investors

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

V. B. The Perspective of the Young in Viewing the New Millennium
Vera Kovacovic, Presiding
Room 2-530 Moos Tower

Pavel Bocek - Research Report: The Need for Cooperation between Medical Infrastructure Here and in the Czech Republic
Marisa Schleis: Czech Identity in Face of Globalization
Ivan Tkac - Perspectives of the Research and Science in Slovakia
Edward Valla: Thoughts on US Foreign Policy for the New Millennium
Vera Kovacovic - Small Nations: The Importance of Global Perspective
Anna Vysoka - Need for New Teaching Methods as Tools for Shift in Thinking
Bruce Berglund - An Outsider Looking In: A Non-Czech American and Czech History
Renata Polaskova: Role of Governmental and Non-Governmental Organizations

Discussants:
Jiri Hruska
Sharon Sargent
Martin Hrnciar
Bryan Tomasovich
Amy Burton

Special SVU Events

SVU General Assembly Meeting

Saturday, April 24, 5:00 p.m., 2nd Floor Auditorium 2-470, Phillips-Wangensteen Building, University of Minnesota Medical School, 516 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis

SVU Reception and Banquet

Saturday, April 24, 1999, 6:30 p.m., University of University of Minnesota Campus Club, Coffman Memorial Union, 300 Washington Ave. South, Minneapolis

President Havel's Visit - Associated Activities

In addition to the SVU Conference Czech and Slovak America: Quo Vadis?', the twenty-hour visit by President Havel to Minnesota has generated other "official" and "unofficial" activities. The two official activities are, first, the "Havel Civil Society Symposium" to be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 26, 1999 at Macalester College Field House. The President will receive honorary degrees from Macalester College and the University of St. Thomas, and will deliver a major speech on "Toward a Civil Society". The second official activity is the Czech Welcome Party for the President, "Our Heritage - Our Gift to the Future" jointly organized by SVU, the Czech and Slovak Sokol Minnesota, and the Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International. It will be held also on Monday, April 26, 1999 at 1:00 sharp at the University of St Thomas. Participants who registered for the SVU Conference and requested tickets to either or both of these events will find them in their conference packets.

Phone / FAX: (301) 881-7222

e-mail: rechcigl@aol.com

A book entitled Czech-Americans in Transition is scheduled for publication in early 1999 by Eakin Press , Austin, Texas. This collection of essays, edited by Clinton Machann of Texas A&M University, is based on a selection of presentations made at the 1997 Annual Meeting and Conference of the SVU, held July 12-13, 1997, at the Bell County Exposition Center in Belton, Texas, in conjunction with the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Slavonic Benevolent Order of the State of Texas (Slovanska podporujici jednota statu Texas, SPJST)

Czech-Americans in Transition contains important new research on historical and cultural topics and illustrates the continuing strength and vitality of the Czech-American community, pointing toward a hopeful future for Czech ethnicity in America and the development of stronger ties between the U.S. and the Czech Republic.

Table of Contents

Preface by President, SVU

Introduction

1. Alexandr Vondra, "The Czech Ambassador's Address on the Occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the SPJST.".

2. Zdenek Lycka, "The Czech Republic and Czechs Abroad: Past, Present, and Future."

3, Leonard D. Mikeska, "A Brief History of the SPJST."

4. Miloslav Rechcigl, Jr., "Bohemian and Moravian Pioneers in Colonial America."

5, Peter Bisek, "The Czech-American Journalist: A Bridge Between the Old Country and the New."

6. Daniel Hrna, "Genealogy: Building a Bridge to the Past."

7. Leo Baca, "Documenting Czech Immigrant Arrivals."

8. Joseph N. Rostinsky, "The Moravian Folk Song: An Important Means of Preserving Czech Culture in Texas."

9. Robert Janak, "The Czech Heritage Society of Texas and Bridges to the Czech Republic."

10. Clinton Machann, "A Short History of the Czech Educational Foundation of Texas and Description of Its Current Projects."

11. Milada Polisenska, "Subject: Conversation with Czechoslovak President (Reports on T. G. Masaryk in the American Diplomatic Correspondence in Prague)."

12. Ludmila Dutkova, "Texas Czech: An Ethnolinguistic Study."

13. David Zdenek Chroust, "Toward a Biography of Thomas Capek 1861-1950): Sources, Life Sketch, and Biographical Models."

Appendix: "Czech-Americans: A Selected Bibliography of Publications in English," compiled by Miloslav Rechcigl, Jr.

The advance mail order price of Czech-Americans in Transition for SVU Members is $16.00 per book (including shipping fees) and there is a 45% discount for orders of 50 books or more. This price is almost 20 percent less than its suggested retail price in bookstores next spring. To order, send a check along with your name and address to Eakin Press, P.O. Drawer 90159, Austin, TX 78709-0159.