Podpora ★ Lidskost ★ Bratrstvi´

CESAT announces Czech language classes for high school, university, and adult students

The Czech Ex-Students Association of Texas (CESAT) is pleased to inform you of the Czech language courses that are offered through Blinn College. CZECH 1471 (Beginning Czech I), CZECH 1472 (Beginning Czech II) , Czech 1371 (Intermediate Czech I), Czech 1372 (Intermediate Czech II), and advanced conversational Czech are offered at Blinn College via the internet. You can study Czech from the comfort of home. High school students may take the courses for dual credit. Dual credit classes are taken by high school students for high school foreign language credit as well as transferable university credit.

Because of the rich Czech heritage in Texas, learning the Czech language is particularly appealing to students and adults. It provides an opportunity for students of Czech descent to maintain their heritage and culture that is interwoven in the settlement and growth of many communities in Texas. It may also provide an additional language for students who are interested in majoring in international business or European studies.

Due to scholarships offered by CESAT, a high school student can earn 14 hours of transferable university credit for free.

The instructor of the course uses distance learning technology so that students can take the course live online on their high school campus using a computer equipped with a microphone and headset. In the Fall 2023 semester, the course will be offered live online Monday through Thursday from 7:45 a.m. until 8:50 a.m. for beginning Czech and intermediate Czech from 8:55 to 9:40 a.m. To defray the cost of the course,

CESAT and other Texas Czech organizations have provided funds so that scholarships are available for students enrolling in the Czech language courses.

Adults may also take these classes for either university credit as a continuing education class.

Shannon Williford who serves as the Director for Dual Credit Programs at Blinn College can assist you in getting your students registered for the university or dual credit course. Her email is Shannon.Williford@blinn.edu or telephone 979-209-8218.

Loraine Orellana, who serves as Coordinator of Distance and Community Education at the Blinn College-Schulenburg Campus, can register you for the continuing education class. Ms. Orellana’s phone number is 979-743- 5237, and her email is lorellana@blinn.edu.

Please contact me with any questions

Czech Cu l tural Calendar

Hours of Operation

Czech Heritage Museum and Genealogy Center (CHMGC), 119 West French Avenue, Temple. Hours: Open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for those 60 or older, and $2 for kids, 12 and under. Every First and Third Tuesday Evenings: Tarok Parties—All ages and anyone interested are welcome. No admission or fee. Awardwinning tournament champions Jimmie and Carolyn Coufal not only teach beginners, but also help experienced players increase their skill. For Museum information: tours, happenings, and activities, call: CHMGC 254-899-2935 (can leave a message); email czechheritagemuseum@gmail.com; find them on Facebook; or visit the Center’s website https://czechheritagemuseum.org

Monday through Saturday

Czech Center Museum Houston, 4920 San Jacinto Street in Houston, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Exhibits. Experience the culture, art, music, and stories of many Czechs, Slovaks, and people of all cultures who left their country to seek liberty and democracy in America. Beginner Czech Lessons: Monday evenings, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Conversational Czech hour - Saturdays, 1 to 2 p.m. Bring a friend or neighbor and come practice your Czech! Not a member? Join today for early access to concerts, movie nights, lectures, and events at CCMH as well as free Czech language lessons and monthly membership socials. Monthly

Movie Night: CCMH has reinstated monthly movie nights. CCMH, 4920 San Jacinto Street in Houston. For information, call 713-528-2060; or visit czechcenter.org

July 13

Night at the Museum SPJST Home Office—at SPJST Home Office, 520 North Main Street, Temple, 5 to 7:30 p.m.: Part of a spring / summer series to establish the Czech Heritage Museum as a community meeting / networking place with regularly scheduled activities including performances. Admission free. Public is invited. For information, contact organizer Brian Vanicek at vanicek@spjst.com.

July 30

Save the Date! Vrazels’ Tribute Band— at SPJST Lodge 24, Cyclone - Flag Hall, 411 FM 964, Burlington, Texas 76519. Take a trip down memory lane. Doors / kitchen open at noon. Dance 2 to 6 p.m. For advance tickets and reservations, call 254-985-2258 or 254-2315348.

August 10

Night at the Museum—at Czech Heritage Museum, 119 West French Avenue, Temple, 5 to 7:30 p.m.: Part of a spring / summer series to establish the museum as a community meeting / networking place with regularly scheduled activities including performances, outdoor activities. Admission free. Public is invited. For information, contact organizer Brian Vanicek at vanicek@spjst.com.

—SPJST— about the Czech language program offered at Blinn College by sending an email to Polasek29@gmail.com. CESAT hopes that you will encourage students to take advantage of this wonderful learning opportunity!

Thadious Polasek CESAT President Lodge 67, Schulenburg —SPJST—

The SHARE! Student Exchange Program sponsors high school students from abroad for either one semester (5 months) or one academic year (10 months) of study in the United States. In the SHARE! Program, each student is matched with a suitable host family and attends the local high school in the district in which the family lives.

The students come to America from around the globe, including Brazil, Vietnam, Mongolia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Spain, and more! They are between the ages of 15 and 18 years and are carefully screened in their home countries to ensure that they are academically prepared as well as proficient in English.

Students arrive with medical insurance and ample pocket money to cover personal expenses. SHARE! students are prepared to make real contributions to their school, community, and host family.

Host families provide a bed and three meals a day, as well as a loving environment, friendship, and a desire to share American culture.

Ple ase contact Exchange Program Coordinator Stephanie Rodriguez 682-847-9561; or via email info@sharesouthwest.org. Visit sharesouthwest.org.

—SPJST—

Stars & Stripes Sausage & Sauerkraut

Thursday, June 8, 2023 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

TCGS to host Czech Family Reunion on July 8 in Caldwell

Are you Czech? Are you part Czech? Are you married to a Czech?

If you answered “Yes” to any of the above, the Texas Czech Genealogical Society will host a Czech Family Reunion just for you on Saturday, July 8, 2023, at Caldwell Civic Center, 103 Presidental Corridor (Highway 21) in Caldwell, Texas.

The day will be filled with exciting events and presentations:

1. Morning Refreshments. Kolaches, coffee, juice, water

2. Kolache Eating Contest. If you love kolaches, enter the contest to see if you will be the winner of eating two kolaches the fastest and receive a $15 Visa gift card. Registration is free but please register ahead of time of time.

3. Speaker Brian Vanicek’s presentation. “The Origin and Evolution of the Kolache” will give everyone insight on how this special Czech treat began.

4. Family Photo Contest. A display of your favorite family photos will provide the table decorations. Large, small, framed, unframed, all become eligible to be voted on as the “#1 Family Photo.” Just think of the bragging rights the winning photo will bring - not to mention the $15 Visa gift card!

5. “Heart of a Tin Trunk.” Many will remember this musical production from 2011. It is the story of an immigrant family who left the Fatherland, sailed across the Atlantic, and arrived at the Port of Galveston. After arriving at the Port, they made their way to Fay- etteville. While this is the story of one Czech family - it is the story of all our Czech ancestors. Delightful, entertaining, and informative for all Czechs of all generations.

6. A Delicious Lunch. Grilled hamburger steak, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, salad, rolls, tea, and cake for dessert will be served.

7. Luba Ruzicka. She will bring an informative presentation on her life “As a Child Growing Up Under the Socialism and Communism Regime.” You will learn of her education and employment with its consequences before defecting to the USA.

8. A Special Opportunity Just For You! If you would like to give a 5- to 10-minute presentation on your family, this will be your open door. The presentation could be on the family photo displayed on the table. It could be on a family heirloom. It could be on “This is my family mystery” whereby you give the clues you have and let attendees know the answers you seek. If interested, please notify Charlene Hurta at cmhurta@earthlink.net by July 1, 2023, and a she will gladly add you to the program.

9. and 10. Caldwell High School Best of Show Essay Winners. Keyni Farrow and Wyatt Beasley will present their papers. Keyni’s paper, “Czech Culture in My Town” won first Place. Wyatt’s paper, “The Czech Way of Life” placed second.

11. Researcher. Danny Leshikar is helping more and more learn answers, or see photos they never knew existed, of their family through his 115,000-plus family files. He invites you to join him at his table, give him the family name you are researching, and he will do his

Texas Czech Genealogical Society

Website: txczgs.org

Promoting

“Texas Czechs.”

For membership: Marie Dulak 979-324-7871 best to supply answers or photos to bring you a smile. His services are free of charge, but please provide a flash drive and he will load it with his information.

12. 13. and 14. A Beautiful Carnival Glass Bowl, an Immersion Blender, and a Meat Grinder. These items will be featured in a live auction. The proceeds from the auction will benefit the TCGS Building Fund.

15. Gift Shop. Always a delight and of interest is to see what new items Gift Shop Manager Nancy Machu has added. Maybe you are in need of a special gift for a “special someone” or a “treat” for your self. Unique gifts from the Czech Republic are among the treasures to be found.

16. TCGS Published Books. Robert Vitek will be available to walk you through the 25-plus books TCGS has published. Our books cover a wide range of areas to help in your family research. Czech Family Histories, Early Czech Schools, Czechs in Uniform, emigration records from Moravia to America from a number of specific Moravian villages, cookbooks, Lee County

Czechs, Pamatnik are but a few. Visit with Robert, and he will help you Czech them out!

17. Silent Auction Tables. We invite you to add a unique item or two. Chair Eileen Tabola Lyster displays the numerous items in a way which makes for easy silent bidding. Plus, oftentimes, she has first-hand knowledge of particular items up for bid. All proceeds will benefit the TCGS Building Fund.

18. Bingo is always fun. Will you be the first winner!

The preceding 18 reasons are why the TCGS Czech Family Reunion event will be a day filled with fun and excitement for all ages! The event begins at 9 a.m. Doors open at 8 a.m. on Saturday, July 8 at Caldwell Civic Center in Caldwell, Texas. Registration includes morning refreshments and lunch. Be sure to register (by check or credit card). A registration form can be found on the tcgs website at: www.txczgs.org.

Charlene Hurta

TCGS Vice President —SPJST—

Czech heritage museum visit

The Czech Heritage Museum and Genealogy Center (CHMGC) in Temple was honored to welcome Peter Babel, formerly from Slovakia, and Livia Kollarova, formerly from Moravia, to CHMGC. They both now reside in Pennsylvania.