12-309 MOST Fall Newsletter:MOST 10/9/12 2:07 PM Page 1 MOST[MOST: The Bridge ] Volume 22 • Number 2 Fall 2012 Smiling after the ribbon cutting are, (L-R): Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley; Mr. Peter Zelenák, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Embassy of the Slovak Republic; Gail Naughton, NCSML President/CEO; His Excellency Petr Gandalov iˇc, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the United States; and Iowa Senator Tom Harkin. Applause, Cheers, Celebration How Grand It Was e Are Back!” exclaimed Gail ceremony. Speakers praised the accom- Naughton, president/CEO, plishments of Cedar Rapids and wished the “W amid applause and cheers at the Museum and Library the best of luck. Two National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library’s pageant queens presented customary bread Grand Opening. and salt to welcome the officials. Scissors After four years of moving between snipped the red and blue ribbons. interim locations, the Museum and Library is Gail led the way into the relocated and now open in its original and now expanded expanded building. Within the first fifteen home at 1400 Inspiration Place SW, Cedar minutes, more than 5,000 curious and eager Rapids, Iowa. With a facility three times guests flowed into Rozek Grand Hall, larger than pre-Flood, staff offices, galleries, marveling at the new Museum and Library. the library and event spaces are all united Visitors from all over Iowa and across the under one red roof with room to grow. nation lined up for tickets to the exhibitions. One festive weekend began on Saturday, Hemphill Theater, featuring films about the July 14 with a parade from New Bohemia to Monumental Move and Alphonse Mucha’s life Czech Village. Eighteen states showed their and works, was standing-room-only. WFLA/ support in the Parade of States Pageant, with ZCBJ Heritage Hall was packed for all five additional parade floats and entries including Lecture Series presentations. Czech and Slovak dignitaries and Alphonse Outside, more people gathered for food Mucha’s grandso n. Czech and Slovak pageant and fun. Smiles spread across the spectators royalty tossed candy to the crowds lining watching Czech and Slovak folk dancers 16 th Avenue. swirling in their kroje (folk costumes) to Crowds shifted to the recently named traditional folk music. A concert stage stood Inspiration Place to watch the opening Continued on page 9 SPECIAL GRAND OPENING EDITION 12-309 MOST Fall Newsletter:MOST 10/9/12 2:07 PM Page 2 . FROM OUR PRESIDENT . Today, the NCSML looks on . a bright future, a future as . Officers . a place where anyone from . Lu Barta Barron, Chair . anywhere can appreciate . Rich Mitvalsky, Vice-Chair . the stories, experiences and . contributions of Czechs and Tom Stanczyk, Treasurer . Bernard Drahozal, Assistant . Slovaks. Because in learning . Treasurer . about others, we learn about Craig Van Dyke, Secretary . ourselves. After all, the Czech Sue Plotz Olson, Past Chair . and Slovak peoples’ search for . freedom is a story we all Board of Directors . Dr. Christopher Blake . share. It’s a human story. museum is not just Terri Christoffersen . a building, it’s really On Saturday night of Grand Tom DeBoom . the hearts and souls . “A Opening, as everyone sat Carey Downs Gibson . of the community and we still outside watching the fun Denver Dvorsky, Czech . have those intact.” My son and entertaining Caravan of Heritage Foundation Rep. Greg sent those words with Thieves, I looked around and Marilee Fowler, Ex-officio . — President/CEO, Cedar . flowers the day after the 2008 saw people sitting in chairs . Flood. They sustained me Rapids Area Convention . in front of the stage; there & Visitors Bureau . through four long years of . were people in the beer tent, Tony Golobic . recovery but their meaning people sitting on the grass, Neil Havlik . was never more evident than on the curb, on the steps and Melvin Holubar, . during the Grand Opening. on the planters. This scene Museum Guild Rep. The NCSML community— Hilery Livengood . captured my hopes and dreams . friends, members, Czechs, Janelle McClain . for the new NCSML as no other . Slovaks, people of all that day. The silence at the Ann Poe, Ex-officio, Cedar . Rapids City Council . backgrounds, from near and end of the light show moved . far—shared their hearts and Gary Rozek . me as I know it did many . souls with us that weekend. Jim Sattler . others. I felt that we had Marvin Smejkal . We were touched and . finally come home. And all Dyan Smith . overwhelmed by the joy of our hearts and souls were . Kyle Skogman . and enthusiasm for the new not only intact but glowing. Museum and Library. Yes, we Bill Stone . Ted Townsend . were celebrating a building, Enjoy this special issue of . Robert Vancura . but it was so much more. MOST with highlights of the . Doug Wenzel . opening. Plan on returning . It was a celebration of an often to the Museum and National Advisory Board . expanded beginning when Library. It’s your home. Dr. Madeleine Albright . all things are possible. We’ve . Dr. Willard L. Boyd . proven that we can rise to All my best, Ms. Christine Branstad . any challenge and not only Mr. William and . survive but excel beyond all Mrs. Catherine Cabaniss . expectations. We’ve shown the Captain Eugene Cernan . world that adversity can be Mr. Miloš Forman . turned into victory. Gail Naughton Dr. Sally Mason . Mr. Michael Novak . Mr. Peter Sis . Miss Czech-Slovak USA 2001- Mr. Herb Sklenar . 2002 Lisa Volesky (center) and Mr. Martin Votruba . Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa 2009- His Excellency Petr . 2010 Amanda De Hoedt present Gandalovi ˇc, Ambassador . bread and salt to Senator Tomáš of the Czech Republic . Grulich, Parliament of the Czech PhDr. Michal Lukeš, The . Republic. National Museum in Prague . Presentation of bread and salt is . The NCSML is funded in part . a Czech and Slovak tradition for by a grant from the Cultural . welcoming important, respected . Enrichment Partnership Program . or admired guests. It is also a administered by the Iowa . housewarming tradition for Department of Cultural Affairs. happiness and luck. 2 FALL 2012 12-309 MOST Fall Newsletter:MOST 10/9/12 2:07 PM Page 3 FROM OUR BOARD CHAIR e did it! The Museum and Library Czech beer. The staff was busy organizing has come back from the 2008 Flood dancers, puppets, face painting, musicians, W stronger and bigger than before. food vendors, beer tasting and exhibit tours. We began our celebration If you haven’t visited the new Museum with a Black Tie Gala on and Library yet, please make plans to do Friday evening. Then, so. You will be amazed at the stunning on Saturday, July 14, we appearance and all we have accomplished. continued with a two-day And if you have visited us, thank you! We festival complete with a hope you will come back soon. The unique parade and floats; the Alphonse Mucha exhibit is a once-in-a- Czech Plus Band; and a lifetime event and is a must-see for anyone ribbon-cutting ceremony interested in the Art Nouveau movement. featuring the Czech While you’re there, check out the lovely Ambassador Petr Gandalovi cˇ, Peter Zel eˇnák, new Store filled with incredible merchandise Slovak Chargé d’Affaires a.i., Senator Harkin directly from the Czech Republic and and Senator Grassley along with other Slovakia. If you’re looking for a place to dignitaries. Saturday morning was hot, but host a wedding, a service club meeting or we still had an overflow crowd of supporters. just a party, be sure to contact the Museum And it was certainly grand! and Library for the hottest venue in town. I greeted visitors at the front door for two Most of all, please visit and bring your hours, and, with the steady stream of people friends and family. This is your Museum and coming and going, the door never closed. Library and we hope to see you soon. People came from 38 states to help us celebrate this historic event. I want to thank the Sincerely, NCSML Board of Directors for volunteering to greet people, to give tours of the newly relocated and expanded building and to pour Lu Barta Barron . Member & Volunteer Preview Night Light Up Gift Giving . 5-8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 15 . Members and volunteers receive a 25% in the Museum . discount in the New Museum Store . Stores . (One night only. No other discounts apply. Books and stationery not included.) . Museum Store Open House . Friday, Nov. 16 – Monday, Dec. 24 . Enjoy free cookies and cider . (Members receive member discount.) . Buy three ornaments get the fourth . free (of equal or lesser value) . Friday, Nov. 16 – Monday, Dec. 24 Ornament . Personalization by . Corporate Days Master Folk Artist Marj Nejdl . Monday, Nov. 26 – Saturday, Dec. 8 . All dates 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the . Corporate Members receive 25% off New Museum Store . regular-priced merchandise Saturday, Nov. 17; Friday, Nov. 23 . (Books and stationery not included. No other . Saturdays, Nov. 24, Dec. 1, Dec. 8 & Dec. 15 . discounts apply. Excludes Kosek Museum Store.) Q: What’s one thing you In return, you’ll get timely information about the NCSML can give to the NCSML …and the NCSML won’t have to slap a stamp on it! that costs you If you haven’t already provided us with your email address, please do so by sending us an email at NOTHING? [email protected]. Put your name and your postal A: Your email address in the body of the email (just so we can make address! sure it is you!). If you need an incentive, we have one! We’ll enter every email we receive in response to this request into a drawing for a $50 gift certificate that can be spent on anything in the NCSML Museum Store.