Masaryk Memorial Unveling and Dedication Ceremony

Save the Date - September 19th

The dedication of the Tomás Garrigue Masaryk Memorial Park and unveiling of the Masaryk Statue has been scheduled for September 19, 2002. The Park will be established on Embassy Row in Northwest Washington D.C., in the triangle formed by Massachusetts Avenue, 22nd Street and Q Street, only steps away from the former Czechoslovakian Embassy. Vaclav Havel, President of the Czech Republic, and George W. Bush, President of the United States, will officially unveil the Masaryk Memorial Statue and dedicate the Masaryk Memorial Park.

American Friends of the Czech Republic (AFoCR) is organizing a reception immediately following the unveiling ceremony tentatively scheduled for 3:30 pm on September 19, in the Atrium of the World Bank in Washington. AFoCR will also host a gala dinner that evening to celebrate the Memorial dedication and to present the Civil Society Vision Awards. The Civil Society Vision Award is presented to individuals or institutions that have served the world community through efforts to foster civil, democratic societies throughout the world. Receiving this award at the September gala will be: Maurice R. ("Hank") Greenberg, CEO, American International Group, Inc.; Frederic V. Malek, CEO, Thayer Capital Partners; and The World Bank (award to be accepted by World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn). The Event Chairman is Frank Zarb, Former Chairman of NASDAQ. Sam Donaldson of ABC News will serve as Master of Ceremonies and Sissy Spacek will be an honored guest.

Fundraising for the Memorial Park and Statue and for the Masaryk Endowment is well underway. As of April 15, 2002, over 1,400 individuals and organizations have contributed a total of $300,000 to the memorial project. The funds raised thus far will allow AFoCR to break ground on the T.G. Masaryk Memorial Park, which will include the Masaryk statue, sculpted by Vincene Makovsky, currently in the Prague National Gallery of Art. Additional funds are still needed to set up an endowment for construction of the Memorial Park, maintenance of the statue and the park (no government funds may be used). AFoCR will also establish scholarship grants providing opportunities for Czech and Slovak students to study in the United States and help prepare them to contribute significantly to civil, democratic societies in their own countries.

The Board of Directors of AFoCR is very appreciative of the Czech and Slovak communities in the United States and abroad for their outpouring of support for this Masaryk Memorial project. It is clear that T.G. Masaryk and his accomplishments have not been forgotten, and we are proud to share in this celebration of his enduring legacy.

A Monument Rises and Lifts Our Vision

Decision places Masaryk Memorial at entrance to Embassy Row

Tomás Garrigue Masaryk, the first President and liberator of Czechoslovakia, stands in history as the embodiment of politics based on truth and morality. He fought anti-Semitism and attacked and defeated prejudice and bigotry when they were almost universal. He built a humane and democratic tradition in the heart of Europe at a time when despots bent on its destruction and conquest built armies and stirred hatred. Inspired by great American leaders like Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln, he applied their ideals of freedom and democracy in writing the Czechoslovakian Declaration of Independence and in governing his new nation following World War I. He stands, too, as the finest embodiment of the powerful bonds of friendship Americans feel with the Czech and Slovak people. The statue will stand in Masaryk Park on Massachusetts Avenue at the beginning of Embassy Row in Washington, D.C.

The statue that will be raised to commemorate "one of history's foremost democrats, in the capital of the world's leading democracy" has long been a powerful symbol of President Masaryk and the ideals he championed. Sculpted in 1937, the year of Masaryk's death and not long before the Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia, the statue was never displayed. First the Nazis and then the Communists kept the statue hidden, along with Masaryk's writings and other images, fearing they might serve to remind Czechs and Slovaks of the proud, free, democratic and humane heritage Masaryk had helped build.

Beginning this fall, Masaryk will once again stand in the Washington he often visited, lifting our vision to the ideals he so zealously pursued. In a time of particular strife, terror and bloodshed, the statue should remind us of President Masaryk's commitment to freedom, democracy, human rights and peace, of his conviction that those ideals transcend time, geography, ethnicity, language, and of his personal testimony to the fact that a single individual can carry the torch of those ideals high enough for all to see and follow.

Official Signing Ceremony

Ambassador Palous (far left) and John Parsons of the National Park Service (far right) oversee the official signing by Minister of Culture Pavel Dostal and AFoCR president Milton Cerny

On March 25, 2002, the Czech Minister of Culture, Pavel Dostal, while on an official visit to the United States, signed an agreement with the American Friends of the Czech Republic finalizing plans for shipment of the statue of T.G. Masaryk to the United States. Minister Dostal was very impressed with AFoCR's "efforts to accomplish what he thought was impossible"-passing legislation in Congress to have a statue of T.G. Masaryk placed on federal land in Washington, D.C. He reported on the fundraising efforts for the Memorial in the Czech Republic, stating that 1.3 million Crowns ($41,500) have been raised to date and he will personally encourage people to continue to contribute to this important initiative.

Message from the Ambassador

We finally know the location where the statue of T. G. Masaryk will stand in Washington, and it is a prime place, indeed - a small park on Massachusetts Avenue in front of the Cosmos Club. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the American Friends of the Czech Republic, and especially to the efforts of AFoCR President Milton Cerny, the Masaryk statue will stand on the so-called Embassy Row, adding a new and I dare say quite substantive dimension to the Czech presence in Washington. For those who are aware of the weight and depth of history, who connect their own lives to all of human existence as a whole, with all of its triumphs and tragedies, spirit and culture, this is truly welcome news. There may be debates, and even controversies, regarding the meaning and placement of Masaryk's legacy in our contemporary political thought. There might be questions of our political history in the twentieth century that will require now, in the beginning of the twenty-first century, new examinations and even new answers. However, Masaryk's permanent presence in Washington will remind us of the ever-lasting importance of personal integrity in politics and of basic political virtues, such as courage and readiness not only to talk in the time of crisis, but to act. Masaryk as an independent thinker and as a statesman will always be a silent partner to our "social contract;" he will remain always, as he was in the past, a great challenger for future generations of Czech politicians. And certainly, there is one more aspect to his Washington presence that I would like to remind you all about: T. G. Masaryk will be here not only as a representative of Czechs living in the old country, he will stand as a representative for many generations of Czech Americans here in the U.S. In this capacity, he can and he will be perceived as the best possible guardian of Czech-U.S. relations. - Martin Palous

Message from the President

NATO EXPANSION
The Prague Summit in November will provide an opportunity for the NATO Alliance to meet the growing challenge of international terrorism. The expansion of NATO membership to include additional qualified countries in Central and Eastern Europe is critical to the development of a network of nations to meet this challenge.

In 1997, NATO took historic steps by bringing the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary into the Alliance. Since that time, these new members have played a vital role in extending stability by helping to secure and nurture the democratic process in the former Yugoslavia, for example, and to counter increasing dangers from international terrorism. The concept for enlarging NATO to include partners in Central and Eastern Europe was a response to the new security environment that followed the collapse of communism and the end of Soviet domination in the area. Today, as a result of that initial NATO enlargement, both Europe and NATO are stronger, safer and more stable.

Now, NATO must respond to another new security environment. September 11 brought home to us that we are not immune to heinous acts of international terror - acts that, in this case, were planned in Germany, financed in other regions of the world and carried out on our own shores. If we are to win this war against international terrorism, we will have to view NATO in this new light. Realizing now that, in the post-9/11 world, the principal threats to our security derive not from large monolithic blocs but from terrorist cells and their sponsors in various parts of the world. We recognize, too, that we do not stand alone against them. Our alliance against terror is expanding, with many countries across the globe providing invaluable assistance ranging from intelligence to basing rights and military participation. As usual, our NATO allies are at the core of this increasing support, and recognize that NATO, too, must grow to embrace additional partners and meet these new security challenges.

The AFoCR strongly supports NATO's growth to include additional nations. From the southern tier of Europe (including Slovakia), to the Baltic countries in the North, countries that are ready to contribute in a unified manner to the common defense against "Article Five" attacks, as well as the terrorist threat, should take their place at our sides in NATO and be brought to bear in our common struggle. Thus, the vision at the NATO Summit in Prague should be that of marshaling all the Alliance's resources, old and new, so as to reinforce our ranks and bring this war against terrorism to its rightful end.

What can we do, as citizens in a democracy, to advance this goal? We can act in concert with our friends and counterpart ethnic groups throughout the United States to advise the administration and our elected representatives that further NATO expansion is in our national security interests. For those organizations that are basically educational in nature, information about legislative actions and hearings on this topic can be distributed. Those organizations that can be more politically active should directly contact their congressional representatives so that this matter is placed on their agendas. We should also not hesitate to express our opinions to the Bush Administration and to the Press.

We are at a crossroads in history where either we sail on the high tide for progress or succumb to the shallows where fear and international terrorism lurk. This year, as we honor Tomás Garrigue Masaryk, the first President of Czechoslovakia who led the movement for freedom and democracy in Central Europe, the AFoCR will take the high tide.

New Advisory Board Members

ROBERT CHARTENER
Robert Chartener is a partner of Winslow Partners LLC, a private-equity firm. He

and Kenneth D. Brody founded Winslow Partners in 1996, and Mr. Chartener has worked extensively on the firm's activities in the Czech Republic for over five years. He travels regularly to Prague, where Winslow opened an office in 1997.

From 1985 to 1995, Mr. Chartener worked for Goldman, Sachs & Co., where he was a senior member of the firm's Principal Investing Area. While in the Principal Investing Area, Mr. Chartener led or participated significantly in the investment of $863 million in 14 companies, and he worked extensively with company managements as both a board member and an advisor. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Mr. Chartener earned a bachelor's degree from Princeton University and a master's degree from Cambridge University (Magdalene College). He received a Master of Business Administration degree with high distinction from the Harvard Business School, where he was a Baker Scholar. He and his wife and their son live in Washington, D.C.

MARTIN PALOUS

Martin Palous is the newly appointed Ambassador from the Czech Republic and a new AFoCR Advisory Board member.

Mr. Palous was one of the first signatories of Charter 77 and served as spokesman for this dissident human rights group in 1986. A founding member of the Civic Forum (November 1989), he was elected to the Federal Assembly in 1990 and became a member of its Foreign Affairs Committee. He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Czechoslovakia as advisor to Minister Dienstbier and was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs from October 1990 to October 1992.

Since 1990, Mr. Palous has held a number of teaching positions at Charles University. He became a member of the Faculty of Social Sciences (Foreign Relations Division) in 1994 and served for some time as the Faculty's Vice-Dean. In 1993, he joined the Centre for Theoretical Studies (research center run jointly by Charles University and the Czech Academy of Sciences). He has lectured extensively in the United States. Until 1998 he was also active in various non-governmental organizations (Chairman of the Czech Helsinki Committee, Co-Chairman of the Helsinki Citizens Assembly). In October 1998 he became Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.

Mr. Palous is married to Pavla Paloucov. They have two children, Michal and Johana.

ARTHUR COLLINGSWORTH

Arthur J. Collingsworth is a consultant on international philanthropy and a real estate investor who lives half of the year in San Francisco and the other half in Prague. He holds a BA from the University of Michigan and a MA from Georgetown University. He was a Graduate Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.

His professional background includes the following: thirteen years as Director of Public Affairs and Vice President of the Youth for Understanding International Youth Exchange Program, Senior Resource Development Officer for the United Nations University in Tokyo, Director of the European Office of the United Nations University in London, Senior Advisor to The Royal Institute of International Affairs in London, Senior Advisor to the World Institute for Development Economic Research in Helsinki, Finland, and Advisor to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

He was awarded the Order of the White Rose (l984) by the Government of Finland, honored by the Government of Brazil and is a Commander of the British Order of St. John. He serves as a lecturer on many overseas study trips organized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Milton Cerny and Fred Malek with Ambassador Craig Stapleton

CRAIG STAPLETON

Craig Stapleton, Ambassador of the United States to the Czech Republic, has recently been named to the AFoCR Advisory Board.

Ambassador Stapleton is a real estate executive, serving as President of Marsh and McLennan Real Estate Advisors, Inc., since 1982. He is on the Board of Directors of Alleghany Properties, Security Capital Corporation, Sonoma West and T.B. Woods. Under the presidency of George H.W. Bush, Ambassador Stapleton served on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Peace Corps.

Ambassador Stapleton's charitable involvement has focused on private education. He has served as a Trustee of the Brunswick School and numerous committees at Harvard including Chairman of the Committee to Nominate Overseers, the Committee of University Resources, the Schools and Scholarship Committee, the Harvard Alumni Association and the Harvard Capital Campaign. Ambassador Stapleton is a graduate of the Phillips Exeter Academy, Harvard College (magna cum laude) and Harvard University Business School.

Ambassador Stapleton is married to Dorothy Bush Walker.

"What a wonderful idea to sponsor the monument to Masaryk! He was always a friend of the United States - and the story of the Czech Constitution first written here, then taken to Czechoslovakia always fascinated me."
- Bella Vista, AR

"Realizing the impact that President Masaryk had on the relationship between the Czech and the American people, we were happy to learn that he will be remembered through means of a memorial to be erected in Washington, D.C."
- Chicago, IL

"I want to preserve my Czech heritage in giving to this great cause. I often remember my grandmother and mother speaking of Tomás Masaryk and their high regard for him."
- Fort Worth, TX

"...it is a pleasure to make this donation, ... in memory of them [my parents] and their love for their native country. Both of my parents came from Rapotice, near Brno, Moravia, in 1911. The memorial to Pres. Tomás G. Masaryk would have been close to their hearts and I commend you for the hard work you have done to honor this Champion of the Czechs."
- Sarasota, FL

"We, ...are proud to add our small donation for this historic memorial."
- Novelty, OH

"We appreciate the impact your mission has on the quality of life for the many people in the area."
- Cedar Rapids, IA

"Our check is in honor of our grandparents,...who had the courage to come to this great country."
- Riverside, IL

"This donation is made in memory of my parents,...who emigrated to this country in the early 1900's. Thank you for giving us this opportunity to exhibit our Czech heritage."
- Culpepper, VA

"The statue is a great tribute to this great leader."
- Cicero, IL

"My late husband... was a great admirer of Tomás Garrigue Masaryk. I am very proud and happy that a Memorial Statue will be erected in his honor."
- Sherman Oaks, CA

Notable Americans with Czech Roots

Congratulations to Sissy Spacek
AFoCR would like to extend its heart-felt congratulations to Sissy Spacek, an AFoCR Advisory Board Member, for her third Golden Globe award and Oscar nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in the motion picture "In the Bedroom."

Ms. Spacek's family is originally from Moravia; her great-grandfather immigrated to the United States and settled in Northeast Texas. The Spacek's remained in that area and Sissy grew up in Quitman, Texas. She now lives in Virginia with her husband and two daughters. Ms. Spacek is very proud of both her Czech and Texas heritage both of which have been instrumental in her life and career. Ms. Spacek will be a special guest at the Tomá_s Garrigue Masaryk Dedication Ceremony on September 19, 2002 for her career accomplishments.

Her earlier awards include Golden Globe and Oscar awards for Best Actress in a Motion Picture for "Coal Miner's Daughter," and her Golden Globe award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture for "Crimes of the Heart."

_________________________________________

Augustine Herrman

Augustine Herrman was the first Czech to immigrate to the United States, arriving in 1633. Like many others, Augustine fled Prague to Holland in order to escape religious persecution. From Holland, he came to America and became prominent in the Dutch colony in the New England area, called the New Netherlands Colony. In America, Augustine was regarded as a highly respected businessman and an influential citizen. Regularly sent on missions to settle disputes among Native Americans and settlers, Augustine was a member of the elite "Nine Men," the New Netherlands Colony's chief counselors.

In addition to being the first Czech immigrant, Augustine is also credited with being the first person to create a map of Maryland and Virginia; the map took 9 arduous years and was completed in 1670. Considered to be of the highest quality and detail, it was regarded as unparalleled for its time. Augustine offered to create the map for Lord Baltimore in exchange for 18,000 acres of land in Cecil County, MD. Fortunately, Lord Baltimore agreed.

History tells us that Augustine planned to build a Czech-Protestant colony in Maryland and a canal to connect the Delaware River and the Chesapeake Bay. Clearly, Augustine saw the potentially positive impact these plans could have on the region. While these plans were not fulfilled in his lifetime, Augustine left behind the necessary foundation and spirit for future entrepreneurs.

_________________________________________

A Notable Czech Makes His Mark in America

Vasek Polak immigrated to the United States in 1956 after escaping from the Communist secret police in his homeland of Prague, Czechoslovakia. One of several freedom fighters credited with saving the Charles Bridge in Prague after disassembling explosives left by the Nazi's, Vasek Polak came to the United States completely penniless. Sleeping on the floor of an equipment room in a Manhattan volleyball court and working as a Porsche repairman, Vasek managed to save $3,000. With his savings and all he owned Vasek packed up his beat-up VW bus, with his Karmann Ghia sports car towing behind him, and drove cross country, not stopping until he reached Hermosa Beach, CA. In Hermosa Beach, Vasek opened a one-man Porsche repair and used car shop. The shop quickly grew into the United State's first exclusive Porsche dealership. Today, Vasek Polak, Inc., has expanded into BMW, Audi, VW, Saab and Subaru, and is a 200-employee company with approximately $51 million in annual gross revenue.

In 1983 Vasek met Anna Maria Littlejohn, a Czech native, while repairing her Cadillac, and the two were married in 1986. Sadly, Anna Maria died of breast cancer in 1993, upon which Vasek donated $1.2 million to the Torrance Memorial Hospital's Breast Diagnostic Center. The Center, now renamed the Vasek and Anna Maria Polak Breast Diagnostic Center, is able to continue its work thanks in large part to the contributions of Vasek Polak. A true "from rags to riches" success story, throughout his life and after Vasek Polak used his hard-earned money for all the right reasons - for the well being of others.

Dark Blue World

The film "Dark Blue World" is more than a movie about pilots going off to fight in battle. It is more than a movie about young, love-struck men, and it is more than a movie about true friendship. While it is all of those things, it is much more - it is about the perils and the courage of the Czech pilots who fought with the Allies during World War II.

From Oscar-winning Czech Director Jan Sverak, "Dark Blue World" portrays the lives of two WWII pilots, Franta and Karel. Fighting against the Nazi's who occupied their homeland, they not only risked dying in battle but also being captured and prosecuted as traitors. "Dark Blue World" depicts Franta and Karel's wartime life - learning English, fighting and flying.

The deeper meaning "Dark Blue World" demonstrates, and what the people of the Czech Republic and Slovakia acknowledge with pride, is that these men risked their all for their country. It shows that they were true heroes, true patriots. And after the events of September 11, these values have gained a new appreciation and importance all over the world.

Czech and Slovak Unity!

On November 19th, several important events took place for American Friends of the Czech Republic. At 12:00 pm, the AFoCR Board of Directors held their biannual full Board meeting at the offices of President Milton Cerny where a status report was given on the Masaryk Memorial Statue project. At 2:30 pm, the Board attended the second annual Woodrow Wilson Center lecture series on "Czechs and Slovaks: The struggle for freedom." The Honorable Madeleine Albright was the keynote speaker and discussed the importance of supporting emerging democracies in Central Europe. AFoCR was proud to present a memorial plaque to Ms. Albright in recognition of her speech. Czech Ambassador Martin Palous, Slovak Ambassador Martin Butora, and former Congressman Lee Hamilton, President of the Woodrow Wilson Center also spoke at the lecture. Other notable attendees included Czech Senate Chairman, Petr Pithart; former Ambassador to Slovakia, Theodore Russell; and former Ambassador to the Czech Republic, John Shattuck. The lecture was broadcast on C-SPAN. At 6:30 pm, 150 people attended the Czech and Slovak Unity Dinner at The University Club in Washington, D.C. The evening program consisted of a delicious Czech and Slovak meal, speeches from notable guests, and a musical performance by a native Prague harpist and opera singer. Former Secretary Albright spoke to the audience about her memories of Czechoslovakia and the importance of remembering Czech and Slovak ties. Ambassadors Palous and Butora addressed the guests, as well as Czech Senate Chairman, Petr Pithart and University Club President, Douglas Spaulding.

NATO Advancement

Alexandr Vondra

On April 12, the AFoCR and the U.S. Baltic Foundation sponsored a luncheon on Capital Hill for fourteen staff members of the House and Senate Foreign Relations Committees with Alexandra Vondra, Czech Ambassador-At-Large and Commissioner of the Task Force on NATO 2002 Summit in Prague this November. Ambassador Vondra discussed the issues vital for NATO advancement and responded to candid questions asked by the staff members. The AFoCR strongly supports the expansion of NATO. Milt Cerny again reiterated AFoCR's support for the entrance of Slovakia at a meeting of aspirant countries at the Slovak Embassy on March 16, 2002.

Deputy Prime Minister Spidla visits AFoCR

In a recent trip to Washington, D.C., Vladimir Spidla, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labour and Social Affairs for the Czech Republic met for a luncheon meeting with the Board of Directors of the AFoCR to discuss the current projects and activities of the AFoCR. This was Minister Spidla's first visit to the United States and the AFoCR encouraged him to return and to learn more about the United States and the various communities and organizations that advance Czech-American interests. He was here on a business visit to the Pentagon and for meetings with U.S. government officials.

Newsletter Archive -- Fall 2003
Newsletter Archive -- Spring 2003
Newsletter Archive -- Fall 2002
Newsletter Archive -- Spring 2002
Newsletter Archive -- Fall 2001
Newsletter Archive -- Spring 2001
Newsletter Archive -- Fall 2000