ACCENT ON YOUTH - NO.1 PRIORITY

Upon assuming SVU Presidency at our General Assembly Meeting in June 2002, I stated that I would make SVU's initiative "Accent on Youth" our number one
priority. I am pleased to report that the newly elected Executive Board has given the idea their full-hearted support.

It is my desire not only to revitalize the SVU ranks with young people but to eventually put them in the leadership roles. The young people are capable to
organize our conferences and congresses, take charge of specific projects, edit monographs, etc.

We are obviously not starting from scratch. Some ground work has already been laid, thanks to last year's Youth Advisory Committee chaired by Anna Vysoka
and by activating our SVU Forum run by Amy Garrett. Through our deliberate efforts we have also been extremely successful in the recruitment of young
people and their rolls are continually growing.

We are now entering the second phase of our initiative -- a proactive stage -- in which we want to get the young people involved in all aspects of our work. I am therefore calling on young people to come forward and get involved. There are tremendous opportunities for anyone who has ideas and is interested in doing something that is worthwhile while also advancing his/her own professional career.

In this connection, the SVU Executive Board has already appointed a special Search Leadership Committee whose function will be to seek potential leaders
among the younger generation to succeed us, whose time has come to retire from leadership roles.

In the same vein, we would also like to constitute a new committee composed entirely of young people worldwide to help us with the next rejuvenation
steps and with the preparation of a meaningful agenda for the future. Anyone who would like to participate in such a committee, please let me know.

A logical place for the young people to start are our SVU Local Chapters. Although a number of these chapters are doing an outstanding job, there are some which do very little. The age factor obviously plays a role here. Not too long ago, several of our chapters ceased to exist primarily because of the inability of the local members to find suitable leaders and partly because of the unwillingness of the previous officers to let new people take over. Chapters which are currently showing poor performance may follow them soon, unless some corrective action is taken. Here is a real opportunity for young people to change the trend by stepping forward and offering help. We have already advised these Chapters of the necessity to enlist assistance of younger generation before it is too late. Consequently they may be receptive if you volunteer for some of the functions and/or activities.

What the young people can do has been amply demonstrated in Nebraska where the young people assumed leadership positions in the newly organized Nebraska
Chapter. In less than 10 months they have had 26 different activities to their credit which outdistance all the other SVU chapters throughout the world.

We had similar experience during our last SVU World Congress in Plzen in June 2002. As I stated in my appraisal, 'Plzen with Flying Colors', ".....the Congress was a smashing success, which was due not in a small part to the young people, working under the leadership of Dean Ivo Budil. It was the army of his young people -- there must have been some fifty of them - all of whom attend the University of West Bohemia, who made the difference. They seemed to be everywhere, handsome looking with pleasant smiles and helping hand, many of whom spoke flawless English. Most of them sat behind a whole array of computers, both at the registration desk and in the press room. They were not only computer literate, many of them were real pros. Some of these young people were in evidence already upon our arrival at the Prague Airport carrying highly visible signs "SVU World Congress" for easy identification. They were there on Saturday and Sunday, guiding the Congress participants to buses which took them to Plzen. One of the innovations of this Congress was the daily Congress Bulletin, consisting of 6-10 pages, prepared in the SVU Press Room, under the guidance of Mgr. Premysl Rosulek and his able student staff. The responsibility for the registration rested on the shoulders of Ing. Jan Cerny and his student helpers. The students were also in plain evidence in every academic session tending the audiovisual equipment and making sure that everything moved smoothly. And finally, several young people tended the sales of books, not to speak of the countless invisible mundane
activities they were involved with during the organizational phases of the congress...."

In a category of its own, stands our capable Webmaster, Jiri Eichler, who has done wonders with our SVU Website and who can serve as the prime example of
what a young person can do if given an opportunity.

In this spirit, I call on young people to get involved. Apart from doing something really worthwhile, you would also gain a unique experience and make personal contacts that may be helpful to you later on. Don't stand by - the train may pass you by!

We would also welcome if you would pass the word among your friends and tell them about the advantages and benefits they would gain from SVU membership
which is still only $5 in case of students. Some of these benefits include: 1. to present papers in SVU conferences and world congresses; 2. to submit papers to the SVU English periodical Kosmas; 3. to periodically report on their progress and work in SVU Newsletter (actually we have a special column entitled "Focus on Our Younger Generation for which we solicit success stories); 4. to participate in student essay contests; 5. to consult with many of our knowledgeable members at universities and other institutions throughout the world; 6. to assist in organizing future SVU congresses and conferences; 7. to work on special projects; 8. to become active in various SVU Committees or become SVU officers. You may, of course, have additional ideas. We welcome specific suggestions on how else SVU could be helpful to students and young people starting their careers, on both sides of the Atlantic.

The possibilities of your involvement are unlimited and your initiative is encouraged. Send your suggestions or comments to the following address: SVU1@aol.com

I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Mila Rechcigl
SVU President

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