Volume 3, Issue 1
January, 2011
BHAAAS
Newsletter We Welcome Our New Members • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Aida Sehic Associate membership Almer Mutapcic Active membership Almin Prsic Associate membership Amer Catovic Active membership Bruno Splavski International membership Denis Kuzelj Candidate membership Dzenana Jalovcic Associate membership Ermina Latifagic-Iljazovic Corresponding membership Esma Pasic-Filipovic Active membership Lejla Mutapcic-Vajzovic Active membership Muharem Karamujic Corresponding membership Nirvana Pistoljevic Active membership Nura Festic Associate membership Omer Zvizdic Corresponding membership Sahza Hatibovic-Kofman Active membership Snezana Zabic Associate membership Sulejman Dizdarevic Associate membership
Inside this issue: Days of BHAAAS in Tuzla
2
4th Annual Meeting
3
Members in the News
4
Alma Nova Duo
5
Hagada
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From the Editor
Dear friends, colleagues and members of the Academy, As newly established editor of the Newsletter I wel-
come you to its latest issue. I invite you to inform yourself of various activities that took place in the past period while enjoying sounds of Alma Nova music. I also invite you to share your achievements, plans and projects with us. That is the best way to connect, to find out more about each of us, without leaving the comfort of the armchairs and computer screens in front of us. Hope-
fully, these future connections will enrich our beings, create new friendships, partnerships and projects, with a common goal of spreading the knowledge as sharable wealth, among us and colleagues from our homeland, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Dr. Emir Festic festadoc@yahoo.com
From the Desk of the President
Dear BHAAAS Members, It is indeed a great honor and a privilege to be your President this year. The BHAAAS is a group of outstanding scientists, artists, and professionals who have the United States and BosniaHerzegovina in their hearts. Since our inception 3 years ago, our organization has grown from 14 to almost 150 members. Our projects are our pride, and here are a few that we are currently working on. We are continuing our collaboration with Universities in
Bosnia-Herzegovina during our "Days in BiH" events (i.e. Sarajevo and Tuzla Universities) and next year with the University of Banja Luka. In collaboration with the Forerunner Federation, we have just announced the winners of our BiH Student Scholarship Awards for the year 2010. Two of them are from Banja Luka and one is from Visoko. We plan to feature the recipients’ project presentations during our visit to BiH next year. Thanks to the hard work of Dr. Amila Buturovic, Mr. Alexander Hemon, Mr. Jakob Finci, as well as BiH Consulate General in Chicago, USA, an unforgettable event”Days of Hagada in the US" was held in the Holocaust Museum of Skokie, IL. Furthermore, we continue our
"Mentorship Program to Young Bosnian-American Students" which was held at the Fontbonne University in St. Louis, MO earlier in 2010 with the help of Mr. Patrick McCarthy and many other BHAAAS members. We are planning to have the same event again in 2011. We continue working to help maintain World Class level Intensive Care Units at the University Clinical Centers of Sarajevo and Banja Luka, thanks to the hard work of Dr. Guillaume Thierry, Dr. Ognjen Gajic, Dr. Emir Festic, and Dr. Predrag Kovacevic. Many other contributions to the medical field in BiH (Orthopedics, Neurosurgery, Oncology/Genetics) have been made on a yearly basis, including providing equipment and
Volume 3, Issue 1 charity operative procedures. These contributions are already well known to the Bosnian public. In addition, several BiH physicians (Dr. Bato Hasanagic from Sarajevo and Dr. Goran Lakicevic from Mostar) have been provided with an opportunity to visit BHAAAS doctors in the USA in organized specialty and subspecialty medical trainings. Our musician artists, Jessica Pierce, Eugenia
Molliner, Denis Azabagic and Almer Imamovic, will continue to hold yearly concerts during “Days in BiH” and work with the Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra. They are also working here in the USA to facilitate young musicians’ sabbatical visits to Sarajevo. Drs. Keith Doubt and Omer Hadziselimovic are continuing their editorial work on the bi- lingual (English and Bosnian) Electronic Journal, Spirit of Bos-
Days of BHAAAS in Tuzla The second annual manifestation “Days of BHAAAS in BiH” was held this past fall in Tuzla. It consisted of medical and non-medical seminars and included more than 40 lecturers, members of Academy and other experts from BiH and the region, who gave more than 80 lectures over 4-day period. It culminated with a Gala concert in Bosnian Cultural Center in Tuzla by soloists Eugenia Moliner and Denis Azabagic, Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by maestro Diane Wittry. Overall, organization of this manifestation by both BHAAAS members and the hosts was excellent and the overwhelmingly positive feedback from the participants labeled this event as a great success. Complete program, list of faculty and speakers and some pictures from the event. Click here
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nia, (the link is provided on our Web Site) and publishing many interesting literature pieces about Bosnian and other authors. There is not enough space to list all of our projects, but they are all very important to us. Our best asset remains our hard working members and their vision of strengthening cultural, professional, scientific, and artistic ties between the USA and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Kenan Arnautovic, MD, FACS, FAANS BHAAAS President
Volume 3, Issue 1
4th Annual BHAAAS Meeting in Santa Clara 4th Bosnian-Herzegovinian-American Academy Meeting in
restaurant with delicious food and live music by Almer Imamovic.
Santa Clara, California, December 3-4, 2010 See you all next year in St. Louis! The 4th annual BHAAAS meeting was held in Santa Clara, CA and hosted by our members Migdat Hodzic and Emir Hodzic. Santa Clara University, founded in 1851 is California's oldest operating institution of higher learning. It is located in the heart of the lush and beautiful Silicon Valley. Hotel accommodations at San Jose Fairmont Hotel and meeting location at the very University were excellent. The meeting itself was very productive, especially the “brainstorming” session. The very highlight was evening session at de Saisset Museum at Santa Clara University where our members Jessica Pierce and Almer Imamovic, Alma Nova duo, performed on their flute and guitar as a part of a fundraiser to fund BHAAAS scholarships for students in USA and Bosnia. The fun continued at the nearby Fiorillo’s
“State of the Union (BHAAAS)” presentation by our new President, Dr. Kenan Arnautovic and some pictures from the event. Click here
Sections Dear members and friends of Academy,
- Snjezana Buzov (buzov.1@osu.edu, snbuzov@gmail.com) Humanities - Eldin Karaikovic (karaikovice@yahoo.com) Medical section
There are 5 sections within the Academy, which were created in attempt to organize your activities better and also connect you with the other members who share your passion, profession or expertise. Please contact your newly elected sectionpresidents (listed below) and let them know about your ideas and projects that may help both you and Academy achieve their goals of providing connections between BosnianHerzegovinian scientists, artists and professionals in North America and build the bridges of cooperation with the homeland. All your suggestions, initiatives as well as critiques are worth consideration and welcomed.
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- Mirsad Hadzikadic (mirsad@uncc.edu) Technology - Almer Imamovic (almerguitar@yahoo.com) Art - Emir Hodzic (ehodzic@ucdavis.edu) Science
Volume 3, Issue 1
Members in the News Dr. Esad Boskailo, our member, his son Timur Boskailo, and Mugdim Karabeg, renowned Bosnian journalist, made a documentary film entitled: “From Auschwitz to Dretelj”, which premiered at this year’s Sarajevo Film Festival. This movie is a chilling testimony of two concentration camp survivors, psychiatrist and journalist about the time they spent in the Dretelj camp. They drew fascinating parallels between the methods used in both Auschwitz and Dretelj based on Dr. Boskailo’s conversations with a Jewish couple from Chicago that survived holocaust and Auschwitz concentration Camp. They shed light on resilience of the victims to survive unimaginable as well as on psychology of the perpetrators and how one could and should resist taking part in mass madness and cruelty.
Dr. Muharem Karamujic published a book entitled: The Determination of Home Loan Interest Rates and an Empirical Assessment of their Cyclicality and Seasonality. Dr. Karamujic currently holds a senior academic position with the University of Melbourne. Before becoming an academic, Dr Karamujic spent nearly 9 years with National Australia Bank, where he occupied several senior and executive management potions. Last several years with NAB Dr Karamujic worked in group risk as the Executive Manager, Group Risk Management. Before NAB, Dr Karamujic spent several years in Canberra as the Chief Economist for the Australian Capital Territory’s Treasury.
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A local newspaper article about our member Haris Alibasic from earlier this year (excerpt): “Lean and leveraged” Haris Alibasic Director of Energy and Sustainability, Legislative Affairs, Neighborhood Enterprise Zones, City of Grand Rapids
Wearing many hats at Grand Rapids City Hall helps Haris Alibasic connect the right people together to ensure the city works as effectively as possible. “For me, sustainability is all about the efficient use of resources to get the best results. In this economic crisis, there are still ways to get things done. That’s critical.” Because he operates without a staff and is charged with meeting lofty energy efficiency goals, for example, he must assemble coalitions of community members or city employees to achieve the city’s sustainability master plan, which he’s currently helping to rewrite to be more measurable. “What makes programs successful is collaborative work and leveraging resources.” A master at leveraging resources, his role is to get the right people involved and give them the right tools to help the city run better — and cheaper for taxpayers. A native of Bosnia and a survivor of the war, he wants this city to be healthy and viable for his one-year-old son. “What I want to do is make his future more sustainable. This is not pie in the sky -— it’s really applicable.”
Volume 3, Issue 1
Introducing: Alma Nova duo, Jessica Pierce and Almer Imamovic Hours’, explores the music of Macedonia through thoughtful arrangements and more original compositions by Mr. Imamovic and Ms. Pierce. Their fourth CD is set to be released in February 2011 and will feature the music of Spain and three new compositions by Mr. Imamovic. AlmaNova, is an innovative, award winning, flute and guitar duo presenting an eclectic program of chamber music. American flutist Jessica Pierce and Bosnian guitarist Almer Imamovic are both masters of their instruments elevating the flute and guitar ensemble to the highest level of virtuosity and artistry. Their live performances are filled with energy and passion creating a “…graceful, intuitively choreographed display of seamless connection.” (Fresno Beehive). AlmaNova met in France while studying at the famed Ecole 2ormale de Musique de Paris. They continued their graduate work at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and the USC Thornton School of Music. Since then they have had the privilege to perform extensively throughout the world including recitals in Paris, London, Sarajevo, Stockholm, Tijuana, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Kansas City, and San Diego. Many of you do not need special introduction of Jessica and Almer, as you know them well and listened to them both live at the concerts as well as at the comfort of your home, car or on your iPod. For those who did not have this pleasure, I would like to share a few lines of my personal experiences as well as some biographical facts and professional music critics’ insights. I have had two opportunities to listen to Jessica and Almer performing live, once in Sarajevo, last year, and second time just a few weeks ago in Santa Clara in California. On both occasions, I felt like their music and harmony first numbed my body and then caressed my soul. It was almost like feeling that my spirit and soul were set free and danced to their profound, yet gentle notes. AlmaNova’s recordings have been described as “…pure musical pleasure” (Flute Focus Magazine, 2009) and have received much critical acclaim. Their first CD recording 'Debut' features original works by Mr. Imamovic inspired by the sounds and folk melodies of his native Bosnia. It was recently honored by the largest worldwide independent music organization, Just Plain Folks, receiving Best Instrumental Album, 2009 as well as Best Instrumental Song, 2009 for ‘Sarajevo Nights’. Their second CD, ‘Classic Giuliani’ was awarded Critic's Choice, 2008 by American Record Guide calling it “… some of the best [Giuliani] I've heard”. Their newest release, ‘After
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As a composer, Mr. Imamovic is inspired by the traditional folk music of the Balkans, and Sevdalinka in particular. Mr. Imamovic played in folk bands most of his youth and continues to keep this music alive through his own compositions and arrangements. Through his music, AlmaNova has brought the sounds of the Balkans and its rich literature to a whole new audience and has given a new life to these treasured melodies. AlmaNova finds it important to bring attention to the current situation in Bosnia through their music. They were part of a huge fundraising effort and Gala Concert put together by the Bosana Foundation in Los Angeles. They were joined by Rade Serbedzija and American actress, Annette Bening, to raise money for Bosnia & Herzegovinian orphans attending college. Most recently, they gave the Gala Concert at the recent BHAAAS 4th annual meeting in Santa Clara in which significant funds were raised to help even more college students from Bosnia & Herzegovina. You can learn more about them and purchase their music at www.almanovaduo.com
Volume 3, Issue 1
The Sarajevo Haggadah - A story of Common Life and Exile
As a part of our activities in the last year we supported and helped organize an event in Chicago “The Sarajevo Haggadah -A story of Common Life and Exile” that included our member and ambassador to Swizerland Mr. Jakob Finci as a guest speaker and Dr. Amila Buturovic, also our member, as the panelist. The moderator was the President of BHAAAS Aleksandar Hemon. The idea for the event came from our continuous colaboration with the Bosnian and Herzogivinian Consulate General in Chicago and Consul General Mr. Eldin Kajevic. In fact, during the long drive from Chicago to Springfield, IL (and that drive is a long and boring one, believe me) the two Eldins, General Consul Kajevic and Dr. Karaikovic, were talking about ways to present the Bosnian and Herzegovinian culture and heritage to the American public. There was an upcoming event about genocide at the Illinios Holocaust Museum, and they were talking about the possibility to be a part of that event, but to present our country in a somewhat different view, not necesserily only through the recent war and suffering. At the same time there was a need to stay close to the problem of displaced people, refugees and those who had to leave their homeland. The Sarajevo Hagada is well known especially after the book by Geraldine Brooks. The book was in a way a story about the Hagada and is also related to exile and refuges, as well as leaving homeland. So it looked like a good idea to present the story about the Sarajevo Hagada to the American people. Our president Sasa Hemon, our past president Dr. Karaikovic together with Consul General Mr. Kajevic went to meet with people at the Holocaust museum in Chicago and presented them this idea. They found an enthusiastic response, and we immediately started preparations for the event. Our original intention was to bring Geraldine Brooks, but she was unavailable due to a previous engagement. We also wanted to invite professor Imamovic who helped hide the Hagada during the war, and who wrote a book about the Hagada. Prof. Imamovic also had obligations with his students, and was unable to attend. Mr.Jakob Finci was our choice in any combination, because he was the president of the Jewish community, and of Page 6
course has a great knowledge about the subject. Luckily for us Mr. Finci was available and happy to join us. Dr. Buturovic is a Professor of Humanities and Coordinator for Religious Studies at York University in Toronto, and she was kind enough to join our project as a panelist. So with an enormous effort from our president Hemon, Dr. Karaikovic and Consul Kajevic, and with a little help from the rest of our members in Chicago on May 13th we held our event “The Sarajevo Haggadah -A story of Common Life and Exile” at the Illinois Holokaust Museum and Education Center. The Sarajevo Haggadah, a Bosnian National Tresure, a 14th century illuminated Jewish manuscript, a masterpiece of Spanish art, is one of the most important acquisitions of the Sarajevo National Museum. Mr Finciʼs presentention was exceptional and very well received. I was a little surprised, because for some reason I was expecting a series of historical facts, but Mr. Finci told his story in a very interesting and entertaining way: all historical facts were interpreted through the life stories of ordinary people. He managed to take us through centuries, Spanish inquizition, Holocaust, the siege of Sarajevo and all of that without ever lecturing, but rather someone who is sharing his knowledge and life experiences with us. The discussion that followed proved that the others in the audience shared my experience. During the cocktail reception, we had a chance to talk about Academy and our mission. This event was made possible by the joint effort of four partnering organizations: the Consulate General of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Chicago, the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, the Bosnian-Herzegovinian American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Jewish Committee.
Indira Arnautovic, MD
BHAAAS The mission of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian American Academy of Arts and Sciences (BHAAAS) is advancement and development of arts and sciences in the BosnianHerzegovinian diaspora in the United States and Canada. 2411 Newburg Road Louisville Kentucky 40205 USA E-mail: info@bhaaas.org Editor: Dr. Emir Festic Technical Editor: Adnan Atic
The Academy aims to provide connections between Bosnian-Herzegovinian scientists, artist and professionals in 2orth America and build the bridges of cooperation with the homeland. The Academy will promote the spirit of intellectual diversity and free exchange of ideas among the Diaspora in the belief that knowledge is shareable wealth.