Date: Saturday, October 2, 2010 - 8:00 AM - 2:00 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”
SATURDAY PROGRAM 10/2/2010
8:00 Breakfast
8:30 The Meaning of Czech Organizations around the World:
Plays, Concerts and the Internet. Beer, Science and the Church.
Students, Seniors and the Others. Should we Flock Together?
And if So, Why and How?
Miroslav Krupička – ČRo7
Renata Dutton – Czech & Slovak
Association, Boston
Lucie Slavikova – Česká škola bez hranic, Paříž
Rosie Johnston – NCSML Iowa
(In Czech & English, 4x20 min speakers, 20 min discussion)
10:10 Coffee Break
10:20 Our Place in the Czech Nation: Ideas, Rights and Duties of the
Czech Diaspora towards the Czech Nation.
Stanislav Brouček – AV ČR
Barbara Semenov – Australia
Vlasta Lazu – Romanian Banat
Pavel Vančura – BCBSA
(In Czech, 4x20 min speakers, 20 min discussion)
12:00 Lunch
12:30 Analysis of the Difference Between the Czech and American
Perception of the Government, as Expressed in the Transfer of
the Bohemian National Hall in Manhattan to the Czech
Government.
Jan Krondl – former publisher of Československé noviny and
permanent supporter of civil solution of the Bohemian National Hall question
(In Czech, 30 min speaker, 10 min discussion, 30 min speaker
20 min discussion)
8:00 Gala Dinner with Music
Duo Ivaska, Stanislav Kotyza, Harmcore Jazzband
(BH&BG)
