Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences (SVU)

jointly with the

American Czech-Slovak Cultural Club of North Miami (ACSCC)

announce a

Special Conference and a Festival

bearing on

"Czech and Slovak Cultural Heritage"

North Miami, Florida, 17-20 March 2005

PREREGISTRATION AND CALL FOR PAPERS

The Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences (SVU), in conjunction with the American Czech-Slovak Cultural Club of North Miami, Florida will hold their annual meeting on March 17-20, 2005 on the southeast coast of sunny Florida. This meeting is significant because it will help to establish an annual Czech and Slovak Heritage Festival in Florida for everyone in the United States to enjoy. This is the time of the year when the weather in Florida is exceptionally nice so that you can combine the visit with a family vacation.

The program will include a combination of scholarly presentations and creative works. The program will focus on the rich preservation of the Czech and Slovak culture including literature, music, dance, folklore, folk art, ethnic history, and preservation of cultural treasures. Featured artists and lecturers include legendary Czech singer Waldemar Matuška, Czech Ambassador Martin Palouš, Slovak Ambassador Rastislav Kacer, Czech country and western singer Larry Morava, Slovak folk dancers from Masaryktown, Florida, Europa Band from Orlando, Czech folk singers from Key West, Dr. Joseph Patrouch Professor of History at Florida International University (FIU), Howard Kaminsky, Professor Emeritus of Medieval History from FIU and Helene Cincebeaux internationally recognized Czech and Slovak folk dress expert. Other Heritage events planned include ethnic food and craft demonstrations, folk art booths, ethnic food tasting, an accordion jamboree, and last but not least, the Miss Czech & Slovak Florida Pageant.

We are seeking additional speakers who are knowledgeable about the major theme of the Conference: "Czech and Slovak Cultural Heritage". Although the focus will be on Czechs and Slovaks in America, we would welcome contributions which would link their contributions with the rich historical traditions in the "Old Country", encompassing almost a Millennium.

A warm invitation goes out to everyone to visit sunny Florida, bid farewell to winter, welcome the spring, and participate in this important new cultural tradition. There is little time left, so we’ll need to move fast. We need to know who is planning to come so that we can reserve sufficient number of rooms in the nearby motel. Since this is in the middle of the tourist season in Florida, the accommodations may not be easy to find. It is imperative therefore that you return the Preregistration Form to us a.s.a.p.

Miloslav Rechcigl

SVU President

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Preliminary Registration & Speaker's Form

Name: ______________________________________________________________

Institutional Affiliation (if applicable):

_____________________________________________________________________

Mailing Address: ________________________________________________________

Telephone: ____________________ e-mail: _____________________

Title of the proposed talk:Zpravyt /s

______________________________________________________________________

Other suggestions, ideas, etc.:__________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Please respond a.s.a.p. to SVU President, Mila Rechcigl at: SVU1@comcast.net

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