PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL REPORTS - STATE OF SVU

State of the SVU in the Year 2001

Report of SVU President Dr. Miloslav Rechcigl to SVU General Assembly
convened 3 August, 2001 in Lincoln, NE

Welcome to our 2001 Annual Meeting. Since I don't to wish to deprive you of attending any of the exciting events that our Nebraskan friends arranged for us, I will make this year's report brief.

Generally speaking, I am pleased to report that, since last year, we have made excellent progress in a number of areas and our finances are sound and well. Thanks to our new Website the SVU visibility and its overall image could not be better.

As customary, the newly elected Executive Board, in its first meeting, reexamined the aims of the Society and decided on its priorities. Considering the aging SVU membership, the Board has selected as its main objective to revitalize the Society with younger people under the new initiative, "Accent on Youth."

Toward this aim, we have established a new Youth Advisory Committee which is busy at work on special projects, including the formation of a separate database and a new page on our Website relating to young people. In addition to Anna Vysoka, who is responsible for this activity, I would like to introduce to you one young man, who is here with us, the SVU Webmaster, Jiri Eichler of Prague. Let the initiative of these young persons serve as an example to others.

The second major priority of the Executive Board has been focus on the computer technology and its application in SVU work. The Executive Board members now communicate among each other entirely via e-mail and, similarly, tho Board's contact with SVU Local Chapters, for the most part, is conducted electronically. Those chapters which don't as yet have their e-mail addresses are admonished to add new officers to their boards who have access to a computer.

Technically speaking, our greatest advance has been made in establishing and perfecting a new SVU Website. In close cooperation of the already mentioned SVU Webmaster, Jiri Eichler, we now have a fully functional comprehensive and interactive website which provides information practically on every aspect of SVU work, past and present. In addition, it is  becoming an excellent resource on Czech and Slovak matters, in general, including history, literature, culture, conferences, available grants, etc. The thousands of visitors who  frequent our Website is indicative of the Website's popularity.

To make the Website as user-friendly as possible, it has been provided with a SEARCH tool which allows the user, by choosing appropriate key words, to readily find names, places and things, in a matter of seconds. Furthermore, we have also established a special SITE MAP which shows a detail outline of our site, permitting one to access any category or subcategory.

One of the major activities of SVU have been regional conferences and world congresses. This year, in its wisdom, the Executive Board chose Nebraska as its site for a conference and traditional annual meeting. It was obviously the best choice, as judged by the program our Nebraskan friends put together as well as the excellent logistical arrangements. I haven't witnessed for some time such enthusiasm with which they have carried out their tasks. They truly deserve over heartiest thanks.

As far as the next SVU World Congress is concerned, this time it will be held in Pilsen, Czech Republic in June 2002. Our principal contact there is Dr. Ivo Budil, Dean of the Faculty of Humanity Studies.

Let me now turn briefly to other SVU activities. By now, our subscribers have received the second issue of Kosmas, under the able editorship and management of Clinton Machann and David Chroust. I am sure, you are pleased with its contents. From now on, you should expect to receive future issues on time.

With reference to our newsletter, Zpravy SVU, each issue now contains regular features, such as SVU Calendar, From New Membership Rolls, Focus on Younger Generation, etc. The SVU Calendar periodically brings information on the varied SVU activities worldwide. To keep it current it is imperative that local chapters send us their periodic updates in a timely fashion.

As for the other publications, we have two monographs in process: a collection of Zdenka Fischmann's Papers on Musicology and an Anthology of Czech and Slovak Poetry in Exile. Our goal is to have them published within a year.

You will be pleased to know that we are also proceeding with publishing selected papers from the last SVU World Congress under the editorship of Prof. Jan Skalny. Our current plan is to first issue them in the form of a CD and, depending on the interest, we may then also publish the papers in the conventional way.

I have also good news about our SVU Biographical Directory. Having solved a number of technical problems relating to the merging of new biographical data with the old SVU Directory, we are now proceeding with the transcription of data as quickly as we can under the capable hands of Jiri Eichler.

Let me now turn to another of our initiatives, i.e., the SVU efforts toward preserving Czech and Slovak heritage abroad. As part of this undertaking, I had the pleasure of conducting a comprehensive survey relating to Czech historic sites and archival material in the US. This led to two draft reports, "Czech-American Historic Sites. Monuments , and Other Memorabilia" and "Czechoslovak American Archivalia" which were presented to the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under whose sponsorship and financial assistance
they were prepared. The reports generated lots of interest here as well as abroad and suggestions have been made that they be published. It should be noted that the survey was done in cooperation with our National Heritage Commission, comprised of major Czech organizations in America.

A propos, the present Nebraska Conference, with its central theme, "Czech. and Slovak Legacy in the Americas, " is a part of the SVU continual quest to preserve our national heritage in America. Our aim is to sensitize the Czech and Slovak American community to get them involved in this important effort so that the work of the early immigrants from the Czechlands and Slovakia and their legacy not be forgotten.

In conclusion, I wish to express my sincere appreciation to all SVU members who have assisted us with our multi-facet agenda and especially our Nebraskan friends who have made this conference and everything connected with a big success.

In parting, I wish to reiterate that we always welcome suggestions and volunteers from SVU membership at large, as well as nonmembers, particularly among the younger folks, to help us with our aims. Thanks again and I look forward to seeing you in full force at our SVU World Congress in Plzen.

~~~