Czech Heritage Society of Texas

February 10, 2000

FILMING TO BEGIN FOR NEW CZECH EXHIBIT AT THE INSTITUTE OF TEXAN CULTURES

I am pleased to inform you that work on the new Czech Exhibit at the ITC will begin this month with video filming for the touch screen display. Filming will continue throughout the year at various folk events.

Some dates have already been arranged, beginning with the Sokol exhibition at Ennis in February, and continuing through the celebration of Czech Heritage Month at LaGrange in October. Filming in JUNE during the Texas Folklife Festival will feature Susie Tolman's Easter Egg display.

The video filming will be done by the ITC and edited down to ten-minute segments. The topics will include: Preparation of foods---kolace, chicken noodle soup, sauerkraut. Cultural heritage---sokol events, painted churches, Easter egg painting. Genealogy---the use of reference books and computer information. Language, Lore, and Music ©©language study, old stories and legends, songs, and musical instruments. The Good Old Days---Farm Life and History.

In addition to the Touch screen display there will be a Traditional History Wall which will focus on the immigrants, their life in Texas, and their continuing contacts with the Old Country. An enclosed glass case will display the Czech folk costumes of a man, woman, and child. A few regional artifacts will put the costumes in artistic and enthnographic context.

The main floor display will be a farm kitchen of the 1920's and 1930's. This is the part of the exhibit where kitchen items and implements loaned by members of the CHS will be used. A list of items being sought appeared in the Nov. 1999 issue of CESKY HLAS. If you have any of the items needed, and wish to lend them for display, please contact ROBERT JANAK at (409)832-9871)

Donations collected in the amount of $30,000 have made this display a reality. It has been a major undertaking, and I wish to thank everyone who contributed. It is very true that, "We couldn't have done it without you!"

Ladislav Zezula

The Chapter wishes to thank all who have contributed their time and efforts to making our organization one of which we can all be proud. This includes our many members who VOLUNTEER their time as committee chairmen, and those who assist them in making our annual dance, heritage day, and Christmas party the successful events that they are; and ones we look forward to each year. We have many dedicated members who turn out each year to help at the Folklife Festival (again we won the blue ribbon for display), as well as those who make presentations at the ITC, various schools and nursing homes. We have had many who donate raffle and door prize items, and those who bake goodies for sale and/or help out in the kitchen ---all of you are an important part of the recognition we receive, and the many compliments we hear from guests and visitors. Of special note this year were the wonderful notes and letters of appreciation received by our Chapter for the State Meeting we hosted in March. Also, the appreciation from the S.A. Public Library for our heritage display in the Spring. All of you have a role in making these things happen, and we sincerely thank you.

Ladislav Zezula

Our Lady of Grace Church, 2 PM

Located at the corner of Summit & McCollough

(between Hildebrand and Mulberry)

NOTE: To assist you in planning your schedule for the year, we have included an insert with this newsletter, listing all activities of the Chapter through December. Please save this insert for ready reference.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

CZECH HERITAGE DANCE, MAR. 5, 2000 at the Martinez Hall, Martinez, TX, 3 PM to 7 PM. Once again we are pleased to have live music for dancing provided by the Leo Majek Orchestra of Corpus Christi, Tx. We guarantee he will have everyone's toes tapping. Kolaches, cakes and beverages will be available. For the heartier appetites sausages and buns will also be for sale. Raffle tickets will be sold for prizes which will be awarded periodically during the afternoon. The public is cordially invited to attend, and all family members and guests are welcome. Adult admission is $6.00 per person. No charge for children under 12. Tables may be reserved by calling BOB BISKUP at (210 659-8158).

CZECH HERITAGE DISPLAY, SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY, APRIL-MAY, 2000. We have again made arrangements with the Library to show case our organization during the months of April and May. This display will be on the 6th floor of the Library in the area devoted to Genealogy research. We had such an outstanding display last year, that we were invited to extend it for an extra month. This year we have planned it for a two month period. We invite members who wish to display items of clothing, embroidery, egg-art, etc. to contact either JOAN MELUCH at (210 945-0765) or KAY VAJDOS at (210 657-4001).

SAN ANTONIO FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL AT ITC, JUNE 1-4 2000 PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF DATE. The Festival Committee of the ITC, in response to many requests, has decided to change the dates of this annual event from August to June. From now on the Festival will take place in June.

This festival is a major event in San Antonio, and one that brings many thousands of visitors to the area. It is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the contributions of the Czechs in Texas and the US. Because this event runs for several days, many members are needed to help out with our display. Of special note this year is the filming of our area by the ITC for our touch screen display. The chairman for this event is BEA JARZOMBEK (210 659-9132). If you can give two or three hours of your time to help out it will make things easier for everyone involved. More details, as well as sign-up sheets, will be available at the February general meeting. The weather in June should be cooler than in August, so if the heat has been holding you back in prior years, here is your opportunity to help out. Even if the June 1©4 dates are not open for you, assistance is needed in advance for set-up, and after for take-down.

NEW GENEALOGY TAPES have been received from the State office of the CHS for use by our members. These are tapes of the presentations given at the 3rd Annual Czech Genealogy Seminar at Hill College, July 31, 1999. The topics covered are: The Perils & Pitfalls of Publishing a Hard Back Book; Emigration to the USA from the Policka region 1850-1890; Czech Emigration Patterns-European View; Archival Sources for History of Emigration to USA in Bohemian & Moravian Archives; Permission to Emigrate & Other Archives Documents on Emigration Relevant to Genealogical-Historical Research; and finally a tape of the Speaker's Panel/Questions & Answers. These tapes will be available for circulation at the February 27, 2000 General meeting. NOTE: Will all those who have previously borrowed tapes, please return them at this meeting.

Looking ahead, the Genealogy Seminar for this year will be held at the Brazos Center in Bryan, Tx., on July 28-30, 2000. Make plans now to attend. These seminars become more popular every year, and this year is a 3 day event.

THE CHRISTMAS POT-LUCK PARTY was well attended by members and their guests again last year. Everyone there had a most enjoyable time. We thank all of you for your delicious contributions to our holiday menu; and also to those who donated door prizes--there was a lot of cheer to go around. Our silent auction of Czech items from Europe was most successful. CHS State President, ANNA KRPEC, was one of the guests attending our party. Also in attendance were those Czech and Slovak students studying at the Defense Language School, Lackland AFB. We know these students always appreciate our holiday parties, which bring a bit of "home" to those so far from their families.

CZECH LANGUAGE & HISTORY STUDY classes continue on Monday evenings 7 to 9 PM at Our Lady of Grace classrooms. If you are interested in learning more, please join us.

NEWS OF OUR MEMBERS: HATTIE POOLE received the Guardian Angel award for November, 1999. This award is presented for outstanding service by the St. Vincent dePaul Society and the diocesan newspaper of San Antonio.

MIROSLAV SYNEK, Ph.D., addressed the January, 2000 meeting of the San Antonio Section of the American Chemical Society.

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