Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences (SVU)

announces a special

North American Conference

on

"Czech and Slovak Presence in North America:

Retrospective Look and Future Perspectives"

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

June 26-27, 2003

PREREGISTRATION AND CALL FOR PAPERS

Coe College will host the 2003 North American Conference of the Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences (SVU). The conference is being organized by its Nebraska Chapter, and is being sponsored by the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library, Coe College, the Federation of Czech Groups in Cedar Rapids, and the Cedar Rapids Convention and Visitor's Bureau. The dates of the 2003 SVU North American Conference have been selected to coincide with the 20th Annual Freedom Festival held in Cedar Rapids (June 26 - July 5).

This conference is taking place in Cedar Rapids, the City of Five Seasons, because this city has a rich heritage of political and cultural life organized by the Czechs. Even today, 25% of the population of Cedar Rapids can claim Czech heritage.

The program will focus on three main issues of interest to Czech and Slovak Americans: 1. Ethnicity and Preservation of Language and Culture (includes presentations on history and genealogy). 2. Historical and contemporary settlements of people from the Czech and Slovak Republics in North America. 3. Future relationships between Czechs and Slovaks living in North America and those in the Czech and Slovak Republics.

The open format of the conference will allow discussion of other topics of interest. We are looking for submissions on almost any topic pertaining to Czechs and/or Slovaks in America (including Canada and Mexico), as well as on the relations between them and the Czech and Slovak Republics.

The Conference participants will have the opportunity to attend various cultural and social programs scheduled during the two-day conference, as well as events scheduled for the 20th Freedom Festival (celebrating the spirit of patriotism and a sense of community and family) during the evenings and weekend. There will be an opening reception on Wednesday, June 25 at the National Czech and Slovak Museum from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. The museum has a permanent exhibit, Homelands, that leads you on a tour through Czech and Slovak history and culture, as well as other special exhibits.

For your culinary delights there will be a Chuckwagon Barbeque dinner the evening of Thursday, June 26 and a Czech banquet on the evening of Friday, June 27, both to be held on the Coe College campus. Two tours will be available. On Saturday, June 28, there will be an all day tour to Spillville, Protivin and Ft. Atkinson (all located 2 hours north of Cedar Rapids). Among the many sites in Spillville are the Bily Brothers Clock Museum, the Antonin Dvorak Museum, the St. Wenceslaus Church where Dvorak performed the summer of 1893, the adjacent cemetery with the Andera crosses, and the Dvorak monument. The second tour will be on Sunday, June 29 to the Czech Village, followed by a tour of St. Wenceslaus Church, the Czech National Cemetery, and the nearby communities of Ely and Solon. A minimum of 30 participants is needed for each of these tours (maximum 56; first come, first served).

Accommodation for SVU participants is available in the Coe College dorms ($17.00 per night, per person in Voorhees Hall) or the Coe College apartments ($27.00 per night, per person -- 4 single bedrooms; 2 bathrooms; full kitchen). All participants can purchase meals that are served in the cafeteria (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). The cost of the meal plan is $21.00 for three meals a day (with the exception of Friday because of the special banquet) or you can purchase individual meals (breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner (details will be on full Registration Form later). Parking will be on campus near the dorms. You may view the Coe College facility at: http://www.coe.edu

The Clarion Hotel is the off site hotel and we have made arrangements for special SVU prices ($69/single; $79/double; $89/triple). They have agreed to shuttle SVU participants to and from Coe College during the conference and reception. Please call the Clarion Hotel to make your reservations: 800-325-3535 or 319-366-8671. Be sure to mention you are with the SVU Conference.

Preliminary Registration and Speaker's Form

Deadline February 28, 2003 one form per person; please type or print:

Name: __________________________________

Institutional Affiliation (if applicable): _________________________________

Mailing Address: ________________________________________________________

Telephone and/or FAX: _______________________ e-mail: _____________________

Title of the proposed talk: ________________________________________________

Additional comments and /or suggestions including recommendations for speakers:

Speakers are required to send a short abstract (summary) of their paper, not to exceed one page, including the title of their paper, their name and institutional affiliation (if any), with abbreviated address (exclude the street and number). We would prefer either a 3.5 inch disk or via email to Cathy Oslzly (All speakers need to be registered).

Registration fees:* $ 40.00 (SVU Member) $ 50.00 (NonMember of SVU $ 35.00 (Spouse) $ 20.00 (Students)

*This includes a $10.00 fee per person for the use of the Coe College facilities. If you decide to stay in the Coe College Dorms or Apartments, you will be credited with $10.00 when you fill out the full Registration Form later. This fee has been built into the room rates of on-campus participants.

Please send this form, along with your registration fee (made payable to SVU Nebraska) a.s.a.p. to: Cathy Oslzly, Department of Psychology, 238 Burnett Hall, Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588-0308.

Upon receipt of your preregistration you will be contacted with further details.

Czech Info Center is not responsible for content of this public message. Please contact SVU with any questions.