CZECH SLOVAK CLUB OF TUCSON Hlasatel/Newsletter
Czech Slovak American Club of Tucson Newsletter
May 2008
Meeting Update
For our April meeting, Andre De Leon talked about his visit to Prague last winter. Andre grew up around the world and enjoys sharing with others about his travels. He showed personal photos and played a film he produced himself. He really enjoyed the gulaš and will be having a couple of Czech friends visiting Tucson this summer. He hopes to introduce them to the Club. For our next meeting, the last formal Club meeting until September, on May 11th at 1:30PM at 1330 South Mountain View in Tucson the legendary Bouncing Czechs (headed up by John Prokop) will be performing, Ladi and Hana Kletečka will be serving gulaš again, and we will recognizing some very special people. The gulaš has become a crowd favorite. The Bouncing Czechs Band was formed twelve years ago by members of our Club. Their music ranges from the traditional band music played in the Czech Republic and Slovakia - polka's and waltzes, as well as music from other central European countries, to the popular American music of the pre-Be Bop era. As always, members please bring items to donate for the raffle and side dishes to complement our feast, which we are so grateful for. Having enough food is a priority. Personal plates and trays are not allowed. Czech and Slovak beers will still be on sale.
Volunteers for Setup/Cleanup Please
Volunteers are appreciated to help at the monthly meetings to help set up the room as well as clean up afterwards. Please consider coming early to help and to make some new friends. We begin setting up at 11:30. Thanks to those that have been helping. It makes the world of difference. This past month some of those who helped included Petr Chylik, Lucka Cavallo, Jean and George Coffos, Ladi and Hana and their friends, Linda Cerveny, Jan Svoren, Mike Smirga, and Eva Vaclavikova. Thanks!
International Friends Festival
Members and friends attended the International Friends 1st annual picnic gathering at Reid Park. International Friends is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community organization that brings together international students attending the University of Arizona and residents of the Tucson community. International Friends is not a live in hosting program. Students and their local friendship partners get together throughout the year. There are no membership fees. If you are interested in becoming a "host" pick up an application at a Club meeting or contact International Friends directly at 520-621-4627.
Slovak Songs are a Gift to the World
Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers have two CD's for sale featuring Slovak songs in English and Latin. They may be heard at this next Club meeting. Go to Slovak Culture if you would like to purchase.
Board Meeting Update
Available board members met at the home of Jean and George Coffos, and they will be meeting again on May 10th at Vera Masa's. Issues presently include raising dues, balancing the budget, developing a bilingual website, and pursuing grants working with Karl Kmoch's team at the American Czech Slovak Club of Miami. Discussion has also been raised about planning a group trip to the Czech Republic and Slovakia sooner than later.
Select Current News
Martin Dzuris immigrated to the United States from Czechoslovakia in 1989. He has a self-titled radio show called Martin Dzuris Live which airs weekly online at www.dzuris.com. Depending on the issues, Martin has been labeled as a conservative, traditionalist, libertarian and a liberal. He encourages members and friends to listen.
From the Prague Post
Well-known gay and lesbian rights activist Jiří Hromada has become the first openly homosexual candidate to run for the Senate in the Czech Republic. Nominated by the Green Party April 19, Hromada's name will be on the ballot in the upcoming fall elections.
Desperate for action in the wake of municipal funding cuts, the Prague's nonprofit arts groups are intensifying their fight for grant money. On April 28, the Prague organization Initiative for Culture met to identify upcoming strategies, including the continuation of a petition, and the planning of a May 29 demonstration to further raise awareness about the the dire status of the arts in Prague.
On April 24, the Communist Youth Union (KSM) — an organization of approximately 600 members — received a ruling of the Prague City Court ordering its immediate dissolution. As its leaders struggle to postpone the decision by filing an appeal with the Supreme Court, the verdict represents the culmination of a three-year battle between the KSM and a group of government officials who maintain its existence threatens democratic ideals.
The Graffe String Quartet, ranks today among the best Czech quartets of the younger generation. It was founded in 1997. The Quartet has appeared at hundreds of concerts in the Czech Republic and in many other European countries and in the USA. The ensemble's recordings have been obtained by several broadcasting companies. You can hear the Graffe String Quartet perform with Michiko Otaki online at http://www.wuftfm.org/archive/Graffe.htm
Other Events
The Greater Oro Valley Arts Council will present the 7th season of the Riverfront Concert Series "Sunday's in the Park" this May - June 2008 in three spectacular concerts under the twinkling stars of Oro Valley. All performances will take place at the Riverfront Park Stage at 7:45PM (551 W Lambert Ln) and are brought to the public FREE OF CHARGE! Donations will be accepted as well as cold water for sale to raise monies for GOVAC's art education and learning programs in our local schools. Attendees are encouraged to bring picnic dinners to enjoy while listening to the music of some of Arizona's most popular bands. Sunday, May 18: JOVERT! Steel Drum Band, Tucson High School's steel drum band upholding a tradition of excellence in steel drum music since 1991! Sunday, June 1: Our very own Bouncing Czechs! June 22: Granny's Rocker, a well known local Tucson band playing classic rock and new country! Additional details at www.GOVAC.org or 520-797-3959.
The American Sokol has joined with USA Gymnastics to create the 2009 International Sport and Cultural Festival, a week long extravaganza of sport, recreation, culture and fitness. It will be held June 23-28, 2009 in Fort Worth, Texas. Sokol, having it's beginning in the Slavic regions of Europe would like to invite all interested groups to attend. Sokol has long been synonymous with gymnastics and other sports. For more information please view http://www.slet2009.com/ or contact Rome Milan, Slet Committee Chairman - American Sokol, at 817-371-1944 or romeparis@aol.com.
The University of Arizona Offers Language Classes
The Department of Critical Languages at the University of Arizona will have Czech language classes next fall. Contact Martin Lebl at 520-850-9213 for more information. Martin also provides individualized lesson plans. Czech is a Western Slavonic language spoken by about 12 million people. Czech is closely related to Slovak, Polish, and Serbian. The region where Czech is spoken is traditionally called Bohemia and is named after a tribe, who according to the Romans, inhabited the area since at least the 1st century AD. The dialects spoken in Moravia are also considered forms of Czech. From www.omniglot.com.
Recipe - Alice's Kolacky
10 cups flour
1 lemon grated and juice
1 lb melted butter
1 pt sour cream
8 tbs sugar
4 tsp baking powder
4 egg yolks
1 shot whiskey
Place flour in large bowl. Add sugar, baking powder. Mix together with wire whisk. Set aside. In another bowl, mix lemon grated and juice, melted butter, sour cream, egg yolks, and whiskey. Add all to flour mixture at once. Work until mixed well. Wrap in wax paper and chill overnight. Remove dough from refrigerator, cut off to work with, and put rest back into refrigerator. Roll dough out thin. It should be 2 to 3 inches by 2 inches. Add nut filling. Roll horseshoe shape, dip in egg whites and nut mixture. Bake at 375 degrees about generally 20 minutes. Everyone has a different nut filling. Filling: 2 tsp lemon juice, 2 tsp cinnamon, 3 cups sugar, and 2 lbs nuts chopped. Mix all together. Have egg whites and nuts on side to roll in before baking. Enjoy! Any questions, call Alice 520-296-0659.
Care Corner
Please remember the following members. Georgia Rice is recovering from cancer treatment. William Macek is serving in Iraq.
Items for Sale at Meetings
T-shirts, revised Club cookbooks, and Bouncing Czech CD's are always on sale!
Tax status
The Czech Slovak American Club of Tucson is an active 501(C)7 with the following IRS number: 86-0701323. A patron donation from you provides additional support for the Czech Slovak American Club of Tucson's continuing effort to present and promote Czech and Slovak cultural events in south Arizona. Donations play a major role in ensuring the cultural and financial health of our club. Your help is needed and appreciated. To make a donation mail your check made out to the Czech Slovak American Club of Tucson to the address below.
Czech Slovak American Club of Tucson
1923 East Copper St., F
Tucson, AZ 85719
Attention: Treasurer
Please include your name, address and telephone number.
The Newsletter editor is interested in having more articles regarding Slovaks and Slovakia appear in the future. We invite all Club members to submit any appropriate articles.
Current Board Members
David Hensley, Past President
Jack Simons, President
Petr Chylik, Vice President
Linda Cerveny, Secretary
George Coffos, Treasurer
Members at Large
John Prokop
Robert Wack
Vera Masa
Jean Coffos
Lucka Cavallo
Important Links
Club Website
Club Facebook
Arizona Yahoo Group
Any questions? Contact us at csaclubcluboftucson@gmail.com or 520-762-7586.
