February 2015 Newsletter

NEWS FROM THE CZECH CENTER MUSEUM HOUSTON FEBRUARY 2015

From the Heart of Europe to the Heart of Houston Texas in the Museum District 4920 San Jacinto Street, Houston, Texas 77004 - 713.528.2060 czech@czechcenter.org www.czechcenter.org Open Monday - Saturday 10:00am to 4:00pm

Save the Date Members and Friends Dinner with the Škampa Quartet March 28, 2015

Database Updates

If you are currently a member of the Czech Center Museum Houston and have changed your mailing address or email address in the past two years, please contact events@czechcenter.org with your new information and the subject line “Member Update.”

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CCMH

The Czech Center Museum Houston’s Mural of the Charles Bridge

“When we build let us think that we build forever. Let not it be such for present delight or for present use alone. Let it be such work as our descendants will thank us for. And let us think, as we lay stone upon stone, that a time is to come when these stones will be held sacred because our hands have touched them, and that men will say as they look upon the labor and wrought substance of them, ‘See this our father did for us’.”

-John Ruskin

Mission

The purpose of the Czech Center Museum Houston is to unify the Czech/Slovak-American community around issues of importance and provide a central focus for all things Czech related, serving as a clearing house for information useful for members, visitors, individuals, organizations, and the media.

Recent Donors

Cecilia Forrest, Roger Meshura, Glenn and Yvonne Sternes, John and Frances Istvan, Robert and Henrietta Freeman, Bernice Sellers, Marilyn Sikora, Humanities Texas, Kolache Factory, Saint Arnold Brewing Company, SPJST Lodge 88 Houston, Bill and Grace England, Daniel and Suzanne Kubin, Bill and Effie Rosene, The Czech Heritage Society - Harris County Chapter, Brian and Joan Vanicek, Emil and Connie Stavinoha, Cézar Campo Bartosek.

If you would like more information on becoming a new member of the Czech Center Museum Houston, please visit our website at http://bit.do/czechmember or email museum@czechcenter.org.

This organization is supported in part by a grant from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance and by the contributions of our Friends, Members and Volunteers.

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Past Events Opening Reception for Texas Czechs: Rooted in Tradition Thanks to all who joined us for the Opening Reception of our newest exhibition in collaboration with PolkaWorks!

Beer and kolaches were provided courtesy of Saint Arnold Brewing Company and Kolache Factory.

We had a wonderful crowd and are so grateful to all our supporters.

Visitors look at the Kroj on display

Volunteers Ginny, Juana and Marie

Accordionist Victor Pizzolla

Members & Visitors

SPJST Lodge 88, Houston in Wenceslas Chapel at CCMH

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Great group at the Opening Reception!

Quotes “There is a spirit, and a need, and a person at the beginning of every great human advance.

Every one of these must be right for that particular moment of history or nothing happens.”

CCMH Volunteer News

Lucie Harmachova

-Coretta Scott King We think this is a great quote and feel that it exactly states what happened with CCMH. Many of you were there with us at the right time to build this Houston Landmark clebrating Heritage and many of you are still there. Good job! Proudly we stand!

Lenka Horakova

Camille Marvin

-Effie M. Rosene, Chair/CEO and Bill Rosene, V.P. Admin.

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Volunteers have always played a vital role at the Czech Center Museum Houston.

We are happy to introduce our three newest volunteers, Lucie, Lenka and Camille, all of whom you may have already met at a CCMH event over the past few months. They have been a big part of our events and day-to-day business at the museum, and we are so thankful to have them as part of our dedicated team. Welcome!

Conversational Czech Lessons have commenced at CCMH, but it’s still not too late to sign up! Long-time volunteer and teacher Marie leads the lessons with Lenka. It’s an extremely useful course for those planning to travel abroad or wanting to communicate with the large population of Texas Czechs.

See more information on lessons in the ad below:

Rosene Scholarship Fund Thank you to PolkaWorks Thank you for the class act Texas Czech Traditions Exhibit you installed at the Czech Center Museum Houston running January 25 through April 25.

As our Czech Republic visitors Jarek & Annie Slichta and Marta Pekarekova said, “It is wonderful to have such defining documentary of our early Czech immigrants’ customs which still stand in today’s communities. (They came back a second time to see it completely again, we did too.) Thank you again.

We hope many more will take advantage of the continuing exhibition through April 25.

We have had many visitors who came and experienced it.

What a way to learn and relive history.

Thank you again, Effie and Bill Rosene

Along with sixteen other marvelous CCMH Members, Effie and Bill Rosene loaned $25,000 to CCMH to retire the building’s mortgage. We have “forgiven” $10,000 of that amount as have six of the original donors. It is our intention to have our forgiven amount form the basis of a selfdirected Rosene Scholarship Fund. During the last fifteen years CCMH has awarded three $1000 scholarships annually to university scholars which were funded by a donation from benefactor Thelma Burnet Maresh.

The Rosene scholarship will stipulate that the scholar, enrolled in a four-year degree program such as at the University of Texas or Texas A&M, will pursue two semesters of Czech language instruction at a university or college. Following the successful completion of the year’s program, the scholar will be given a stipend as an award to attend a summer language course in the Czech Republic.

Member Dr. Glenn Sternes has donated $5,000 toward the award of educational scholarships and we hope to include his donation in our fund.

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We have seen an overwhelming lack of interest from scholars in learning the meaning that their heritage has in their lives. We are concerned that the spoken Czech language is not relevant here, especially to the younger generation to a great degree here in Texas, beyond the Czech food words and music.

These two facts have led to a diminished interest in joining Czech organizations. With this scholarship, it is presumed that the scholar, completing the two steps above, would be further interested in displaying their talents by inclusion in a Czech organization.

Our original thought on the amount of scholarship would be $2000 for two semesters of study with a following $1000 stipend to partially underwrite a trip and study in the Czech Republic, where there are numerous Czech language courses offered. May we have your advice, thoughts, interest and support in this matter? If so, please email us at bllrosene@ yahoo.com Thank you, Effie and Bill Rosene

Events at CCMH Coming Soon February 21

March 13

March 14

March 19

Happening Now Conversation with Theresa Parker and Mark Hiebert and Performance by Childrens Polka Group 4 - 7pm, 1st Floor Free presentation and talk by the author and photographer behind Jimmy Brosch Remembers Twenty Legendary Texas Czech Polka Bands. Followed by a performance by the Lanier Middle School Polka Band. This is the first in a series of free events held in conjunction with the exhibit Texas Czechs: Rooted in Tradition.

Free Movie Night 7:30pm, 3rd Floor Join us every 2nd Friday for free movies, popcorn and cash bar!

Czech Food Panel Time TBA, 1st Floor Free event! Conversation with Czech expats and Texas Czechs about the foods they grew up with. Enjoy free Czech sweets baked by our members!

Yale Slavic Chorus 7 - 9pm, 1st Floor Performance by the Yale Slavic Chorus, Yale’s oldest all-women’s vocal ensemble.

Celebrate Slavic music and traditional costumes!

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Texas Czechs: Rooted in Tradition Ongoing, now through April 25, 3rd Floor Czech immigrants brought with them dance, food, music, language and other cultural traditions, and the Texas Czech community maintains and passes on its sense of identity by continuing to practice those traditions and by creating some particular to Texas Czechs.

This exhibit uses photos, text and short films to speak about a rich culture that has united Texas communities for generations.

This program is made possible in part by a grant from Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanitites.

Lodge 88 Houston

Watch our Facebook page and www.czechcenter.org for updates on events!

Save the Date March 28

April 25

Other Czech Events Happening Soon Sts. Cyril & Methodius Slavic Heritage Festival in Houston Last Sunday in September 2015 20th Annual Czech Spring fest Sunday, April 19, 2015 11am - 7pm 1435 Beall St., Houston, TX (SPJST Lodge #88) Adults: $8, Children under 11: Free WE CELEBRATE OUR KINDRED SPIRITS THE NEW CESKY ALLIANCE, A GATHERING OF PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR INTERESTS. •SPJST and all its Texas Lodges •Czech Heritage Society and all its Texas Counties Societies •Charles Waligura, Jean Rayhill and Barbara Mikulik

Members and Friends Dinner with the Škampa Quartet 5:30 - 8:30pm, 2nd Floor Details inside this newsletter. Invitations coming soon!

Zone 2 Museum Experience 10am - 4pm, All floors Explore Zone 2 of the Museum District through special events at CCMH and all our neighboring museums. CCMH will have live polka music by Bob and Mike from Texas Legacy Czech Band and give polka dancing lessons in our beautiful Prague Hall. Free with museum admission.

Events at Harris County Czech Heritage Society main location (4117 Willowbend Blvd., Houston, TX): Czech Language Classes Mondays, 7pm Czech Movie Nights Last Wednesdays of the Month, 7pm Victor Peter Memorial Scholarship Deadline​- Sat., February 28th •TCGS Texas Czech Genealogical Society, Charlene and Leroy Hurta •TOCA Texans of Czech Ancestry •TCC Texas Czech Cultural Center – La Grange, Texas, President Retta Chandler •CEFT Czech Education Foundation of Texas, President Clint Machann •Houston International Consular Corps who serves us around the world 7

CHS State Spring Meeting & Miss Czech-Slovak Pageant in Bryan Sat., April 25th CHSHCC Founder’s Day Sun., May 3rd, 2pm More information at www.houstonslavicheritage festival.com and www.czechheritage.org

•Sts. Cyril & Methodius Slavic Heritage Festival - Rev. Paul Chovanec, Judy & Marvin Marek, & Steve Vrana •10 Years 10 Million in our Museum District Home •100 Years of the Port of Houston, a channel to the world from Houston, Texas And all other organizations past and future who support Czech heritage.

Thank You Thank you all for your various kindnesses extended to our dear Czech friends Jarek and Annie Slichta and Marta Pekarekova, visitors from the Wine Country of Hlohovec, in South Moravia.

We so enjoyed their interest and enthusiasm at everything.

They loved Texas! They loved America! And were absolutely thrilled at what we helped build as the Czech Center Museum Houston. At the evening reception on January 17, Jarek spoke to a full house here as many of you heard: “Honorable ladies and gentlemen, we stand before you proud, humble and unbelieving at such a beautiful evidence you have built here as the Czech Center Museum in Houston, Texas. I would not have believed it had I not seen it with my own eyes.

We remember the seeds we planted and started growing in our dining room and the wine cellar conversations in Hlohovec. So we are happy to be here to experience this.”

These folks are who showed us and taught us the history of the brave little Czech nation who inspired us to understand

the spirit, the beauty and elegance of Czech heritage.

They are our mentors, our fans, our supporters, our dear friends. We enjoyed taking them on a Fredericksburg Vineyards tour where they were welcomed with interest and treated as professional peers – vintners. They quickly adapted to the tour in what is noted as one of Ten Best Wine Trails in the World adopting the Texas Wineries’ slogan of “Conserve, Drink Wine Responsibly.” Typical Moravians, Jarek claimed good beer is drunk for thirst, good wine for elegance and enjoyment.

These three were the best of the best Ambassadors for their beloved native Czech Republic.

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Jarek and Annie Slichta and Marta Pekarekova

Thank you again to Linda and Ray, Brenda, Tiffany and other friends, Cathy, Larry and Christopher and Mathew Anderson who boarded them through their visit, Lindsay Pierce, Eric, Christie and EJ Johnson, Grace England, the Terrels, the Viteks, the Pustejovskys and our CCMH members, friends, volunteers.

Thank you, Effie and Bill Rosene

A Czech-Slovak Tradition Great Javořina (White Carpathians), Czech Republic The White Carpathians are amongst the most valuable meadow biotopes in Europe and are registered a UNESCO biosphere reservation.

On the last day of 2014, thousands of people found their way to the top of the highest mountain of the White Carpathians, “Great Javořina”, which held its 22nd annual New Year’s Eve meetings of the Moravians, Slovaks and Czechs. People from both sides of the border came to the top of the Great Javořina to sing the Czechoslovak national anthem and to ignite a bonfire of brotherhood.

This modern New Year meeting at Great Javořina

Bonfire at the top of Great Javořina

Great Javořina lies in the White Carpathians Moravian-Slovak border near the village of Strání. At 970 m, it is the highest mountain in this range.

originally started as an expression of disagreement with the division of the common state in 1993. Great Javořina has also become a symbol of Czech-Slovak reciprocity. The last Sunday in July, a Festival of Slovak and Czech brotherhood takes place on Great Javořina beginning in 1845. Since 1990, is the place of the regular cultural festivities.

Among the oldest visitors to the New Year’s Eve meeting at Great Javořina were Raymond J. Snokhous, former Honorary Consul General of the State of Texas, and Clarice Snokhous.

Raymond Snokhous said: “I am very happy that I was able to complete this journey here to the top for New Year’s Eve. When I was here, I saw with my own eyes that the Czech - Slovak tradition is not dead, and people 9

CCMH Members Ray and Clarice Snokhous at the top of the mountain

try to preserve it. I’m excited mainly from the fact that I see a lot of young people who take this tradition and carry on. God bless the Czech-Slovak.”

And how do Mr. and Mrs. Snokhous perceive the division of Czechoslovakia?

“We are Czechoslovaks, we do not distinguish it.”

This article originally appeared online in Slovak at http://slovacky.denik.cz/ and was translated into English by CCMH.

UNESCO Sites in the Czech Republic UNESCO,

the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, has created a list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, places of special cultural or physical significance. The list of sites is maintained by the international World Heritage Programme, composed of 21 UNESCO member states. The Czech Republic currently has twelve UNESCO sites. In this month’s newsletter, we show two.

The Historic Centre of Telč, added to the list in 1992, was originally built of wood. After a fire in the late 14th century, the town was rebuilt in stone, surrounded by walls and further strengthened by a network of artificial ponds. The town’s Gothic castle was reconstructed in High Gothic style in the late 15th century.

Holy Trinity Column. Photo by Michal Maňas

Telč. Photo by Hans Weingartz

The Holy Trinity Column in Olomouc, added to the list in 2000, is 35 m tall and was begun in the 1720s by sculptor Filip Sattler, then finished in 1752 by Ondrej Zahner. The Column was ceremonially 10

consecrated on September 9, 1754, and has been called “one of the most exceptional examples of the apogee of central European Baroque artistic expression.”

What Makes Czech Czech?

We continue with our list of 100 things that are typical for the Czech nation. Please forward you ideas for our list to events@czechcenter.org with the subject line “Newsletter.”

Maškarní Ples Mardi Gras Czech-Style – “Masopust” or MAŠKARNÍ PLES! Carnival is celebrated in many parts of the world. It combines a number of old fertility rites and customs. Roots of the carnival traditions can be found in ancient Greece and Rome around the middle of the second century. The people in the Czech Republic celebrate a carnival season of merrymaking and masquerading called masopust. The word masopust (like its English counterpart “carnival”) means “good-bye to meat”. This is a time of plenty, in which butchering and pork feasts are traditionally held along with pre-Lenten carnivals. These celebrations have traditionally been both

the most colorful and the wildest folklore events held under a variety of names. A universal feature of masopust is the wearing of masks. The main masopust celebration begins on Sunday, before the Ash Wednesday, with a rich dinner. It is then followed by dancing, entertainment and

fun all night long. The tradition of carnival in the Czech Republic continues even today in many cities, and carnival is an integral part of the Czech culture.

Our museum will start a celebration of this tradition next year in February 2016. Prepare your best formalwear because you will have a chance to wear it at CCMH!

Adriana Sklenaříková

Sklenaříková, photo by Georges Biard

And….Czechs are also known for their beautiful women. One of them is Adriana Sklenaříková.

Her mother is from Slovakia and father from the Czech 11

Republic. Adriana is a fashion model and actress. She is a former Guinness record holder for the longest legs among female models (at almost 50 inches).

Music Transforms Lives The Czech Center Museum Houston Members and Friends Dinner Saturday, March 28, 2015 Honoring from Prague the renowned Škampa Quartet; Dr. Tom Sovik, UNT, Professor of Music; Czech Education Foundation of Texas (CEFT); and Texas’ new Honorary Czech Consul, Brian Vanicek.

Dear Members and Friends: The CCMH in the Museum District, Houston Texas has had many wonderful events through the years. Our fund raising attempts of late have not been as fruitful as early on.

This event with the honorees

above is on target to change that with thanks to generous supporters like you. Our honorees, along with CCMH, believe in the power of music to transform people’s lives, therein the all-Czech music program for the Texas community to be heard at this event.

Please join us on March 28th at the Czech Center in Prague Hall Ballroom. The evening includes fine music, wine, dinner, more music and camaraderie.

Please join us in transforming lives through music. We hope you will consider one of the following levels of underwriting support: Prestige: $1,000; Silver $5,000; Sponsor: $2,500; Patron: $1,500.

Table buyers who respond before March 5th will be listed in the invitation as

Save the Date The 19th Annual Members and Friends Dinner March 28th, 2015 at the Czech Center Museum Houston with the Škampa Quartet www.skampaquartet.cz 12

underwriters. Alternatively, a contribution of $600 entitles you as a member of the Host Committee with reservations to the event. Open seating may also be purchased for $75 per Adult and $25 per Child 10 years and younger.

We look forward to welcoming you to this Škampa Quartet Concert with Dr. Tom Sovik’s commentary. Please give us your advice for the success of this benefit for the CCMH. Sincerely yours with deepest gratitude on behalf of the Board of Directors: Effie M. Rosene, CEO; W.G. Bill Rosene, VP; James Ermis, Vice Chair; Dr. Tom Sovik, PhD University of North Texas; CEFT Chair Dr. Clint Machann, PhD