TRIP TO RUZOMBEROK, SLOVAKIA
MARCH 12-14, 2007

Report by the President of SVU
Professor Karel Raska, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., F.C.A.P.

Upon the invitation from the Rector of the Catholic University, Ruzomberok and the Mayor of the city of Ruzomberok, my wife Professor Jana Raskova M.D., and I visited Ruzomberok on March 12-14, 2007 to explore the possibilities of the 2008 World Congress of the SVU which would celebrate the 50th anniversary of our organization.

On March 12, we were met by the Vice-Rector of the Catholic University, Dr. Dalibor Mikulas who presented us with the detailed program for our visit. Later that day we were greeted at the beautiful City Hall. Present were Ing. Michal Slastan, the newly elected Mayor of the city of Ruzomberok, Professor Boris Banary, Rector of the Catholic University, Dr. Jan Pavlik of the Mayor's office and Dr. Dalibor Mikulas of the Rector's Council of the Catholic University.

At this introductory meeting the Mayor and the Rector expressed an absolute commitment of the local government and the University to the success of the SVU Congress. We were very impressed by their enthusiasm for the event. Both the Catholic University and the Mayor's office spoke in a single voice with clear understanding of their separate, yet integral responsibilities for the meeting. I briefly recapitulated the history and the role of the Society for Arts and Sciences and mutual relationship of Czechs and Slovaks abroad to those living in the Czech and Slovak Republics.

Prior to coming to Slovakia I presented the leadership of the Catholic University with a list of issues surrounding the logistics and infrastructure necessary for the Congress to be addressed during my visit:

* Facilities for the scientific and cultural sessions at the meeting
* Accommodation facilities in Ruzomberok and the vicinity
* Details of transportation possibilities to Ruzomberok from North America
* Technical support for the meeting
* Cultural events which can be associated with the Congress
* Opportunities for excursions in the region
* Promotion of the World Congress; invitations to political and academic dignitaries

These points became the focus of discussion at the meeting at the Catholic University the following day. We were officially received by the Rector, Professor Banary, at the newly reconstructed building of the Rektorat. After some official photo-opportunities, the meeting with the Rector, Vice-Rector Dr. Mikulas and Bursar (Kvestor) Ing. Pavol Budaj followed. It was agreed that the most suitable time for the Congress would be 8-14 of September, 2008. We reviewed facilities for the official opening, preliminary sessions and scientific panels. Together we concluded that the facilities at the University, Town Hall, and Hotel Kultura are more than adequate for the purposes of the Congress and well equipped. Moreover, all of these facilities are within short walking distance of each other.

The discussion of accommodation facilities followed. There are hotels (3-star level), new pensions and student dormitories. A new dormitory is under construction in the direct proximity of the Rektorat (will be completed in the fall 2007). Local restaurants offer variety of menus and offer "cafeteria type services" for local employers and will be available to Congress participants. There is also an acceptable university cafeteria but it is somewhat distant.

Both overseas and local transportation possibilities were discussed. Local transport will be assured by the city and the University. Major access points for overseas travelers should be Prague, Bratislava and Vienna. The details of train, bus or air transport will be available at the Congress web site which is already under construction at the Catholic University. SVU will be a partner in its final preparations.

The afternoon was filled by visits to various University and city facilities including the student dormitories. The day continued with a visit to the magnificent historical village of Vlkolinec, three kilometers from Ruzomberok (on the UNESCO list of the world historical heritage). The day ended with another meeting with the Mayor of Ruzomberok.

The last day, Dr. Jan Pavlik introduced us to the area surrounding Ruzomberok, including the thermal springs Besenova and a water reservoir Liptovska Mara, both with ample recreational facilities which will be available for the Congress.

At the final meeting with the Vice-Rector Dr. Mikulas and the section chief of the Mayor's office, Dr. Pavlik. It was agreed that representatives of both the University and the Mayor's office would visit the USA to meet with the representatives of the SVU Board to discuss the binding aspects of planning of the World Congress during the last week of September, 2007.

In summary: The reception in Ruzomberok was exceptionally warm and the visit was very well organized. The facilities are adequate; the University and the city are very supportive and committed to the project. The state of preparations already underway was impressive.

Accordingly, I would like to recommend to the Board of the Society for Arts and Sciences to accept the Catholic University and the city of Ruzomberok as co-hosts of the 2008 World Congress of SVU.

Karel Raska

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