Page 1

Minister Babiš Visited California

INDEX

Introduction by the Consul General........................1, 2

Minister Babiš in California.....................................1, 2

Unveiling of the Václav Havel’s Place in Portland.....3

Commemorating the End of WWII.............................3

In Memory of T.G. Masaryk........................................4

Czech Startups in San Francisco.................................5

From the Czech School of California..........................6

Compatriot Events in the Czech Republic.................7

As a part of the official visit to the United States of

America, the Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime

Minister of the Czech Republic, Mr. Andrej Babiš did not

miss out visiting the West Coast region. After meeting

with the Secretary General of the UN Pan Ki-Mun and

the former major of New York City Michael Bloomberg

and attending the annual meeting of IMF in Washington,

DC, he visited technology giants in California on

Monday, April 20th

2015. The purpose of the visit to the

world’s mecca of innovations and technologies Silicon

Valley was not only to meet potential investors to the

Czech Republic, but also the Czech entrepreneurs who

would like to expand to the USA.

The visit started off in the “Capital of Silicon Valley” San

Jose. Minister Babiš had also a unique opportunity to

meet up with the Google representatives in its

PartnerPlex in Mountain View, accompanied by the

Consul General of the Czech Republic in Los Angeles

Michal Sedláček, the Honorary Consul General of the

Czech Republic Richard Pivnička, the Director of the

West Coast Operations of CzechInvest Roman Horáček

and the Head of Economic Section at the Embassy of the

Czech Republic in Washington, DC, Tomáš Hart.

Economic activities of Google, the third world’s most

valuable brand, in the Czech Republic and Europe and its

innovation policy were among topics discussed during

the hour-long meeting.

Cont‘ on page 2

Dear Friends in San Francisco,

What a fantastic event we held at Roxie Cinema in San

Francisco. The annual Czech That Film Festival was a

great success. Every screening enjoyed great attendance

during the last weekend of March. The directorial debut

of the popular Czech actor Jiří Mádl “To See The Sea”

was almost sold out. Many of you came out to meet

director Andrea Sedláčková in person, watch her film

“Fair Play” and attend the follow-up reception.

This showcase of the best what the current Czech cinema

has to offer will now travel to 18 cities across the United

States. An incredible and fantastic number for a film

festival which is just 4 years old! From the modest

beginning in the Silent Theater in Hollywood with just a

handful of guest in attendance, this event grew into the

largest showcase of Czech culture in the United States.

I would like to thank Roxie Cinema (Isabele Fondevila

and Rick Norris) for hosting the festival for the 4th time,

Pavel and Barbara Šoltys of BayCzech for financially

supporting the event, Denisa Federson for taking care

including accommodation of our guest of honor, Director

Andrea Sedláčková, and the Czech Honorary Consul

General Richard Pivnicka for arranging the wonderful

reception. Special thanks also belong to all the supporters

and promoters of the festival such as Czech School of

California, Cafe Prague, CzechTech, Sokol and

BayCzechPro.

The visit of the Czech Finance Minister Mr. Andrej Babiš

also proved to be very successful. During all meetings

with tech companies, investors and trade partners in

Silicon Valley, the Minister was able to inform our

American counterparts about current business climate in

the Czech Republic as well as all advantages

Cont‘ on page 2

Minister Babiš and Luděk Motyčka, Head of Marketing

Czech Republic, in front of Google HQ.

Spring, 2015

.

Consul

General

Sedláček at

the Czech

That Film

opening in

San

Francisco

with

director

Andrea

Sedláčková

Page 2

Minister Babiš Visited California

Cont‘ from page 1

Directly at its headquarters in Palo Alto, Minister

Babiš held talks with leadership of the American

innovative car manufacturer Tesla Motors. Designing

and manufacturing electric premium vehicles and

components, Tesla belongs to the world’s innovators

in clean technologies.

In Silicon Valley Minister Babiš introduced the

Czech Republic to several US technology investors

and discussed with a software company NetSuite

their plans. Company’s worldwide activity includes

also the Czech Republic, with one of its biggest

offices in Brno.

At the end of the day, Minister Babiš met with Czech

tech companies and startups in San Francisco. The

discussion about the entrepreneurship in Silicon

Valley and challenges facing Czech investors and

firms in California, concluded not only the visit of

the West Coast, but also the entire US tour of the

Minister.

Cont‘ from page 1

(such as skilled labor force, low taxation and competitive

wages) the Czech Republic has to offer.The discussion with

many Czech entrepreneurs and startups was also very

informative and engaging for all participants. I would like to

extend my thanks to Roman Horáček of CzechInvest for

organizing the visit and Barbara and Richard Pivnicka for

hosting fantastic reception at their residence during the V4

Startup Week.

I am looking forward to return to Portland after two years.

It is a great honor for the Czech Republic that Václav

Havel’s Place will be erected on the campus of Lewis and

Clark College. I would like to thank on this occasion

professor Štěpánek Šimek and Honorary Consul Marie

Amicci who played a key role in securing this location and

organizing the unveiling ceremony.

In May, we will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the end of

World War II and the liberation of Western Bohemia by

American armed forces. On this occasion, the Consulate will

organize a special exhibit about liberation of Pilsen, my

hometown, by Americans. The opening of the exhibit will

take place on Wednesday, May 6th and will be followed by a

screening of the beautiful Czech film “Dark Blue World”.

We are also excited that the annual conference of Czech

schools will take place in Los Angeles this June. More than

30 delegates are expected to come to Southern California

from all over the United States. Minister of Education, Mr.

Marcel Chládek and the Czech Ambassador to the US, Mr.

Petr Gandalovič confirmed their presence. The attendees

will have an opportunity to learn about various grants

offered by the Czech Government to support education and

teaching Czech language abroad, and get recommendations

on how to raise funds for Czech schools here in the U.S.

I am also happy to welcome the newest addition to our staff

in Los Angeles Tomáš Loníček, the new deputy consul. He

permanently replaced Tomáš Kára who left last summer.

I enjoyed my two trips to San Francisco last month and I

look forward to seeing you at our cultural events. For more

information, please, check and like our Facebook page or

visit our website: www.mzv.cz/losangeles for more details.

Michal Sedláček, Consul General

Minister

Babiš with

Czech

Enterprenuer

s of Sillicon

Valley

(above) and

with Czech

Honorary

Consul

General

Pivnicka

(below)

The Embassy of the Czech Republic and Lewis &

Clark College in Portland cordially invite you to

celebrate and commemorate legacy of one of the most

profound figures of Czech history, former president,

dissident, philosopher and writer Václav Havel (1936

– 2011). On Saturday, May 9, 2015, former Czech

Minister of Foreign Affairs Karel Schwarzenberg,

as an Honored Guest of the university, alongside with

the Czech Ambassador to the United States Petr

Gandalovič and the Consul General of the Czech

Republic in Los Angeles Michal Sedláček, will

unveil the Václav Havel’s place at the Fir Acres

Theatre on the Lewis & Clark campus (0615 S.W.

Palatine Hill Road, MSC 54, Portland, OR 97219).

As one of the most influential political and

humanitarian thinkers of the 20th

century, Václav

Havel and his legacy are still being remembered all

over the world. Project Václav Havel’s Place started in

2013 with the initiative of Ambassador Gandalovič

and Bořek Šípek, the head architect and friend of

Václav Havel, designed the authentic installation of

two metal chairs with a table around Linden tree.

Nowadays, the Havel’s place is located in several

countries such as the Czech Republic, USA, Ireland,

Spain and Italy.

The ceremony in Portland will be launched at 6:00

p.m. and will include remarks by Minister

Schwarzenberg and Ambassador Gandalovič. The

event will be preceded by a screening of the Czech

documentary “Life According to Václav Havel”

directed by Andrea Sedáčková, who will be present

afterwards for Q&A.

For more information on the project, please visit

Václav Havel library website http://www.vaclavhavel-

library.org/en/havelsplace.

It meant

more than

freedom,

it meant

friendship

between

American

s and

Czechs

Page 3

Unveiling of the Václav

Havel’s Place in Portland

Václav Havel

© Václav

Havel Library

Commemorating the 70th

Anniversary of the End of WWII

Exactly 70 years after the liberation of Plzeň (Pilsen)

and other West Bohemian towns by American Armed

Forces led by General George S. Patton, we are

honored to introduce the exhibition “Story of James

Duncan”, representing unrivalled photo report of the

event so important not just for the Czech Republic, but

also for lasting friendship between American and

Czech people. The exhibition will be launched at the

Czech Consulate on Wednesday, May 6th

at 6pm

and will be followed by 7pm screening of Czech

war drama “Tmavomodrý svět” (“Dark blue

World”) directed by Jan Svěrák.

All the pictures retain the authenticity of WWII, as

former US army sergeant James H. Duncan, a man

directly confronting the event, took them personally.

The camera, booty from a German captive, helped

document the successful movement of the allied

armies from Germany up to the Czech Republic.

James H. Duncan, who entered Pilsen only as a 19-

year-old, was able to transmit his memories into

pictures alongside with fighting. More than 300

pictures, capturing moments before, during and after

the liberation, tell a story of men, who were not only

soldiers - liberators but also became friends of the

locals.

The exhibition will provide you with a wide range of

emotions while looking at the pictures of tanks,

weapons, liberators fighting against the enemies and

destroyed towns as well as happiness of the locals

over the victory and peace. The unique collection of

photographs will be on display till the end of June

2015 at the Front Gallery of the Consulate General

of the Czech Republic in Los Angeles.

Page 4

It was a beautiful Saturday mid-March morning when we all met up in The Rose Garden of the San

Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. All, the Sokols from San Francisco and neighborhood, members of the

Czech Fraternal Life and parents with children from The Czech School of California, came to salute and

commemorate the 165th

birthday of the first Czechoslovak president T.G.Masaryk. The Fraternal Life and

The Sokol have held the March meeting by the Masaryk’s bust for many years. The attendance of The

Czech School, which participated for the first time, was truly recognized. More than 50 attendees were

meeting and welcoming their old acquaintances, bringing flowers to the bust, even though it is more or less

hidden in the shadow of trees.

Masaryk’s bust, made by sculptor Mařatka, was for the first time exhibited in the Czechoslovak pavilion at

the International Golden Gate Exposition on the San Francisco’s Treasure Island and was drawing attention

of masses. Pavilion remained till the end of the exhibition, and the Masaryk’s bust got into custody of the

Sokol San Francisco. Later, in 1962 was the bust installed at its current spot.

In Memory of the First President T. G. Masaryk

Czechs and Slovaks from SF area gathered in The Rose

Garden in The Golden Gate Park by the bust of TGM

Brother Walter Strach from The Fraternal Life and

sister Jara Dušátko, president of the Sokol San

Francisco, commemorated Masaryk’s significance

and his legacy of the present days. Ellie Rypstra,

pupil of the Czech School and the third speaker of

the event, achieved huge success during her

speech presented in perfect fluent Czech.

In the end, Bohoušek Botcha with his guitar

performed the most well-known and beloved

Czech, Moravian and Slovak national songs.

Naturally, Masaryk’s favorite “Ach synku, synku”

was the first one, followed by many others. We,

especially the older generation, were delighted

that children of the Czech School were familiar

with most of the songs and sang them with a great

joy. Another generation that reminds of the first

Czechoslovak president and will remember him.

Zelmira Zivny Sokol San Francisco

Pictures by Miloš Živný

2015 Spring Feast!

California Czech and Slovak Club cordially

invites you to Spring Feast 2015 accompanied

by a magic show of famous Czech illusionist

Václav Havlík. Including traditional lunch

enriched by first-class Czech beer and live music,

the feast will take place on Saturday, May 2,

2015 at 11:00 a.m. at the Elks Lodge (1475

Creekside Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 945 96).

Admission is $32.50/person (or $22.50/person for

CCSC members) and is payable either by mail or

at the door.

For information about reservations and food

choices, please visit californiaczechslovak.com

or call 925-285-1317.

Page 5

Sokol San Francisco would like to express many

thanks to Mr. Michal Sedlacek, the departing Consul

General in Los Angeles.

Mr. Sedlacek has generously contributed his time

and energy in actively supporting Sokol and the

Czech community in the Bay Area. Mr. Sedlacek

initiated the establishment of the Czech School of

California, started a new movie festival "Czech That

Film", created new, collaborative relationships

among several Czech groups in the Bay Area, and

coordinated performances of various Czech

musicians and artists. The newsletters periodically

published by the Consulate, and many articles

written by Mr. Sedlacek, were always interesting

and informative.

Mr. Sedlacek's diplomatic, professional, and modest

demeanor endeared him to many, and he was always

warmly embraced at all events. He would readily

adjust his busy schedule to attend and participate at

celebrations, creating an atmosphere of cooperation

and collaboration among Czechs living abroad.

Michal Sedlacek actively and enthusiastically

embraced the role of Consul General and connected

with Czechs throughout California - representing the

Czech Republic in the U. S., and creating and

promoting connections between the Czech culture in

California with the homeland.

On behalf of Sokol San Francisco: Michale - we are

so thankful for all the work you've done. It was a

pleasure meeting you, thank you for all your support

and dedication that you have provided to our Czech

communities in California. We wish you the best of

luck in the future and we will miss you!

Sincerely,

Jara Dusatko

President of Sokol San Francisco

Message from Sokol SF

Czech Startups in SF

On Thursday, April 23rd

, 2015, Silicon Valley belonged

to startups from the Central European Visegrad Group.

As the countries from the heart of Europe had been

evincing attractive growth opportunities within a

competitive market environment, 12 hottest startups

from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary

got a chance to establish new contacts with investors and

enhance the awareness directly in the heart of Silicon

Valley. By presenting in the world’s center of innovative

technologies, young ventures introduced their efforts in

exploring unknown business platforms.

The Czech Republic was represented by three successful

startups. A social customer care platform Brand

Embassy, Manta Tools supervising business intelligence

and the world’s first 100% cloud-based app store for

security cameras Angelcam, alongside with others,

attempted to prove the innovation and growth potential

of the Visegrad Group. Participants were supported by

personal attendance of the Czech Consul General in Los

Angeles Michal Sedláček, Mr. Roman Horáček, Director

of CzechInvest in San Francisco and Mr. Tomáš Hart

from the Czech Embassy in Washington, D.C.

The presentations organized by We4Startups and the

SVForum took place in the GSVlabs in Redwood, CA

(425 Broadway Street, Redwood City, CA 94063). The

program was accompanied by significant speakers,

including the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs

of the Slovak Republic Miroslav Lajčák, Executive

Director of the International Visegrad Fund Karla

Wursterová and KPMG Managing Partner Kenneth

Ryan. The pannel of startup pitch judges, moderated by

the CEO of SVForum Adiba Barney, put an end to the

presentations.

Czech

Startup

„MAN

TA

Tools“

present

ing in

Silicon

Valley

Page 6

From the Czech School of California

Spring has arrived at the Czech School of California!

And what better way to honor spring, than by celebrating Easter in true Czech School of California fashion, with a

mazanec taste-off, which took place at the School’s annual Easter Celebration in Marlin Park in Redwood City in

early April! Over 60 attendees were treated not only to 9 delicious mazanec entries, but also to an Easter egg hunt,

during which children collected over 250 eggs! The Easter Celebration was a delightful afternoon for all, and

though it was tough to pick between the mazanec loafs, ultimately it was one of our lucky parents, Marketa Hand,

whose entry took the top prize.

On the horizon, the School is planning to host an “open house” to showcase its impressive library collection,

which features a catalog of over 500 Czech titles for children and adults alike. The “library open house” will be

taking place at the School’s Palo Alto campus on May 9th from 9:00am – 10:00am, with the School’s volunteer

librarians on hand to help.

And last, but not least, the School and Sokol SF will – once again – be joining forces to host an annual Childrens’

Day event – the School’s largest event of the spring semester. The event will feature 10 “contests” for children,

including potato-sack races, a fishing game and sorting shapes, which the children will win medals and prizes for.

This potluck event will be taking place on June 6th from 2:00pm – 5:00pm at Lake Chabot in Castro Valley. The

event is open to the public, but requires registration in advance through the School’s website.

As always, we hope to see you at one of our events or in the classroom soon.

On Behalf of the Entire Czech School Team

Linda Janourova-Tang Co-Chair of the Board

The Czech School of California is pleased to announce that at the Board of Directors annual meeting in early February,

the Board selected Denisa Feddersen and Linda Janourova-Tang as Co-Chairs of the Board.

Mrs. Feddersen, MBA/CPA, was born in Prague, and works as a corporate controller at Episcopal Senior Communities

in Walnut Creek. She brings to the Board financial, accounting and management expertise from across multiple sectors,

as well as non-profit board experience from two other boards where she has served as treasurer. She is the proud

mother of three boys.

Mrs. Janourova-Tang, JD, was born in Pilsen, and currently assists the Honorary Consul General of the Czech Republic

in the Bay Area. She brings to the Board previous experience from her work as a policy analyst with the City of San

Francisco's Human Rights Commission and currently has two children enrolled in the Czech School's East Bay location.

At the meeting, the Board also appointed Michaela Zuckova as Executive Director of the School. Mrs. Zuckova, who

was born in Prague, has a Masters Degree in Education from Charles University, co-founded the Czech School and has

served as its President for the past year.

In addition to the individuals named above, the Board's Directors include Helena Cinkova and Petra Weinbergova,

MBA/CPA. Mrs. Cinkova, who is from Trutnov, has a Master Degree in Math, Geography and Education from Charles

University and serves as the School's Fundraising Director and a teacher at two of the School's locations. Mrs.

Weinbergova, who is from Pilsen, has a Masters Degree in Education from the University of West Bohemia in

Pilsen and brings significant management and business experience from her career in several Silicon Valley high

technology companies.

For more information about the School, please visit: http://www.czechschoolofcalifornia.com

Special Announcement of Czech

School of California

Page 7

Compatriot Events in The Czech Republic Under The Patronage Of The Ministry Of

Foreign Affairs of The Czech Republic in 2015

On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, the Consulate General in Los Angeles would

like to invite you to traditional compatriot events in the Czech Republic, supported by the Special Commissioner

for Czechs Living Abroad JUDr. Karel Kühnl. All the 2015 events are focused on maintenance and spreading

Czech traditions and language.

The annual Conference of Czech School Without Borders (CSWB) will take place in the Tuscany Palace of the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Prague on August 3 – 7, 2015. The conference will be focused on a concept of our

mother language maintenance abroad, as an instrument of cultural and historical heritage preservation.

(www.csbh.cz)

Two sessions of the favorite summer camp, organized for the kids from Czech schools abroad, will be held on

July 12 – 17, 2015 (for 6-12 year-olds) and July 17 – 22, 2015 (for 6-15 year-olds). (www.csbh.cz)

The summer camp for older kids, including Czech language classes (for 12-17 year-olds), is planned on July

17 - August 1, 2015. Organized by civic association Seven Rays (www.sevenrays.cz), the camp will take place in

Pohoda Pension in Jizera Mountains. Please note that applications must be submitted to the end of March to

info@sevenrays.cz!

Seven Rays alongside with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organizes the 9th

year of International Compatriotic

Festival on September 9 – 13, 2015. (Applications are available at www.krajanskyfestival.eu.)

Information about learning programs and courses organized within the Programme to Support the Czech Cultural

Heritage Abroad is available on www.dzs.cz.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will keep on supporting the activities of our compatriots abroad in order to spread

the Czech traditions and language.

All Czechs living abroad are cordially invited and welcomed!

We are pleased to announce arrival of the new Consul, Mr. Tomáš Loníček,

at our Consulate General in Los Angeles, who will serve as Deputy Consul

General and who permanently, replaced Tomáš Kára who left last summer.

Mr. Tomáš Loníček has previously served as Consul in various Embassies and

Consulates of the Czech Republic around the world: Brasília and Sao Paulo

(Brazil), Madrid (Spain), Rabat (Morocco), Tunis (Tunisia) and most recently in

Hanoi (Vietnam) from where he was transfered directly to Los Angeles.

His vast experience and knowledge of consular issues will certainly be a great

benefit to our Consulate over the next four years as well as to all our clients,

applicants and, of course, to the whole Czech community living within our

consular district.

Mr. Tomáš Loníček is married to his wife Helena and his hobbies include gun

shooting, hunting, cooking and minigolf.

As he has already settled down, please, do not hesitate to contact him with all the

consular issues at (310) 473-0889 ext. 226 or losangeles@embassy.mzv.cz

Introduction of New Deputy Consul General

May 2015

May 2, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. – Spring Fest of California Czech and Slovak Club at Elks Lodge

(1475 Creekside Drive, Walnut Creek)

Reservations at californiaczechslovak@yahoo.com

May 9, 2015 from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. – Czech School of Caliofrnia Library Open House at the JCC Palo Alto Campus

Further information at info@czechschoolofcalifornia.com

June 2015

June 6, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. - Picnic of Children´s Day at Lake Chabot Park

Further information at info@czechschoolofcalifornia.com

July 2015

July 19-26, Sokol Family Camp at Dinkey Creek

Further information at info@czechschoolofcalifornia.com

CONSULATE GENERAL OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC

10990 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1100

Los Angeles, CA, 90024-4879

Phone: (310) 473-0889 Fax: (310) 473-9813

www.mzv.cz/losangeles