Note from 11 March 2020: The news about the spread of the corona virus is of great concern—and our group of mostly older folks is also of concern. State and county health officials have recommended that smaller non-essential meetings be cancelled or that stringent measures be taken to disinfect and sanitize meeting places.

Therefore, I think it is prudent to cancel our April 4 meeting. I'm sorry to do this, but I think it's the wise and appropriate course of action.

We are still scheduled to meet on June 6 at the usual location. I hope that by that time, we will be past this critical situation.

Stay Healthy!
Jo Herber

4 April 2020 Notes: Greetings, Czech/Slovak Interest Group Friends!

We are scheduled for our next meeting on June 6. However, if the stay-at-home order is still in effect, then that probably won't happen. Let's hope we can get together soon!

Meanwhile, now is a good time to dive into your family history research or other Slavic interests.

Below are some ideas for your amusement and information:

Films, books, webinars, virtual tours

Ready for a change from your "new old" routine? Here are some suggestions for Czech and Slovak activities:

Due to the corona virus epidemic and temporary closure of cinemas in the United States, the Czech Centres decided to offer 6 contemporary Czech films online for the public. Each week you will find one Czech movie online on the website www.czechthatfilm.com for a small fee, starting with the film Old-Timers on April 27, 2020.

The following films will be available to watch: Old-Timers, Karel, Me and You, The Cage, On the Roof, Overfingers and The Play.

You will find annotations to the films on the website of the festival: http://www.czechthatfilm.com/film.html and also on the website of the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Chicago: https://www.mzv.cz/chicago/en/culture_events/culture_events/czech_that_film_festival_online.html

In Czech language: https://www.mzv.cz/chicago/cz/kultura_co_nas_ceka/filmovy_festival_czech_that_film_filmy.html

We wish you enjoyable watching of the Czech movies.
Best regards,
Team of Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Chicago

From the Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International Newsletter:
This past month has been extraordinary and staying connected has meant utilizing online resources even more. The purpose of this email message is to share some information from various sources to hopefully help you find some interesting items to explore online during this extended period of staying home:

Global Slovakia is offering a free online webinar titled From Iron Curtain to Freedom. The exclusive live event features Q&A with a Velvet Revolution Leader, Boris Strecansky, and a communist Czechoslovakia crash course. The event is free and on Saturday, May 9th at 11am EDT (USA & Canada)/5pm CEST (Central Europe). Click here for more information and to reserve your spot.

Global Slovakia recently hosted an online event title "The Global Corona Quarantine: A New Iron Curtain" and the recording is available here to watch. They have also compiled a YouTube playlist of 16 videos titled "Behind the Iron Curtain."

For the health and safety of staff, members and visitors, the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is closed at this time. There is however, plenty to browse through on their website. Click through to read their blog, browse through the Online Artifacts Collection, or read and watch Recording Voices & Documenting Memories of Czech & Slovak Americans.

Klára Moldová from the T.G. Masaryk School offers some suggestions:

WATCH
If you are an Amazon Prime member, you have access to a huge variety of Czech movies with English subtitles. Here are a few good ones:

• Head Waiter
• The Snowdrop Festival
• My Sweet Little Village

READ
The Czech Center New York (CCNY) and Radio Prague International present a series on classic books every Czech culture-lover in the USA should know. As part of the project, prepared by the Radio Prague International editorial staff and award-winning author Pavla Horáková, the CCNY is featuring an interview with the author about the selected works, and the CCNY Program Manager's take on why these Czech greats can hold their own and engage American readers.

LISTEN
You can listen to (or read) stories from Radio Prague International.

CGSI
CGSI continues to add material to our Member Home Page, including several dozen recordings from our 2019 Conference in Lincoln. To help navigate to the Recent Additions page, watch this short video.

NEXT MEETING: Saturday, June 6 at 9:30 am. We will meet at our usual location, Fire Station 22 in Kirkland, 6602 - 108th Avenue NE.

Here are driving directions:
Directions: From the SOUTH, COMING ON HWY 405: TAKE EXIT 17. Be in the left lane so you can turn left at the light onto 116th Ave. NE. Proceed to the next light. Turn left at the light to cross over the freeway. Continue on this road (which becomes NE 72nd), past one traffic light and downhill to 108th Ave. NE. Turn left, proceed half a block, and Fire Station #22 is on the left-hand side. Park on the side or in the back.

From the NORTH, COMING ON HWY 405: TAKE EXIT 17. Be in the left- hand lane to turn left at the stoplight onto NE 72nd. Proceed down the hill to the next stoplight which is 108th Ave. NE. Turn left, proceed about half a block, Fire Station #22 is on the left-hand side. Park on the side or in the back.

Jo Herber

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