Date: Friday, October 1, 2010 - 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
SEMINAR: “The Czechs: A Nation Across Borders”
by Pavel Vančura
The seminar will bring members of our Bohemian Citizens’ Benevolent Society of Astoria, face-to-face with representatives of other Czech Societies from the USA, Canada, Central and Eastern Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
The main purpose of the seminar is to discuss the meaning and goals of these ethnically based societies and Diasporas in diverse countries and cultural environments.
The seminar will start off on Friday, October 1 at 8:00 am with a general lecture about diasporas from around the world (by NYU Professor Aisha Khan), and the views of Nation through the eyes of representatives of the three major religions – Christian, Jewish and Muslim (by members of those communities in New York).
On Friday afternoon, there will be three panel sessions looking into Czech societies and their varying purpose from around the world. One panel will have speakers from the Czech Senate (Senator Tomas Grulich, PhD), Czech Academy of Sciences (Stanislav Brouček, PhD), Náprstek Museum (Milena Secká, PhD), and SVU (President Karel Raška, MD).
On Saturday, October 2, the seminar will continue with a vivid discussion about the meaning of Czech organizations abroad today, and the relationship of the Czech Diaspora and the Czech Government. The highlight of the Saturday program will be a lecture by Mr. Jan Krondl, past publisher of Československé noviny, about the perception of the SOCIETY and NATION through the Czech and American eyes. He will also give an overview how these different perceptions affected the transfer of Bohemian National Hall in Manhattan from Bohemian Benevolent and Literary Association to the Czech Government.
On Sunday, October 3, the entire morning will be devoted to the Grand Debate covering all topics of the preceding two days. The discussions will be in Czech and/or English languages. If you are interested in presenting a paper in the seminar, or simply request more detailed information, please send an email to
astorian@bohemianhall.com.
SEMINAR: “The Czechs: A Nation Across Borders”
FRIDAY PROGRAM 10/1/2010
8:00 Breakfast
8:30 The History of Ethnic America and its Community Life
Adjunct Prof. Deborah Van Cura,
La Guardia Community College
Brendan Fey – St. Pat’s for All
(In English, 40 min speaker, 10 min speaker, 10 min discussion)
9:30 Moravian Communities in America
Dall Wilson, Member of
Moravian Community in
Winston-Salem, NC
(In English, 20 min. speaker, 10 min. discussion)
10:00 Coffee Break
10:10 Nation and Religion: Muslim, Jewish and Christian Views
Dr. Suhail Muzaffar
Philip Wharton, MBA
Pastor Michal Mišina
(In English, 3x20 min speakers, 30 min discussion)
12:00 Lunch
12:30 Czechs in the World I: Views of the Academicians
Senator Tomáš Grulich, PhD
Stanislav Brouček, PhD – AV ČR
Milena Secká, PhD – NM
Karel Raška, MD – SVU
(In Czech, 4x20 min speakers, 10 min discussion)
2:00 Coffee Break
2:10 Czechs in the World II: Views from the East
Vlasta Lazu – Romanian Banat
Vlastenka Krišan – Serbian Banat
Vladimira Marinkovć – Croatia
Jana Bratinková – Slovakia
(In Czech, 4x20 min speakers, 30 min discussion)
4:00 Coffee Break
4:10 Czechs in the World III: Views from Across the Oceans
Barbara Semenov – Australia
Jaroslav Trombík – New Zealand
Markéta Resovská – Canada
Peter Kutil, Esq. – USA
(In Czech & English, 4x20 min speakers, 30 min discussion)
