On May 30, 2015, SVU Washington Chapter organized a spring celebration of SVUW members, contributors and friends.
Event was held at the Embassy of the Slovak Republic on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in May.
Both Ambassadors Mr. Peter Kmec (Ambassador of Slovakia) and Mrs. Kmec and Mr. Petr Gandalovic (Ambassador of Czech republic) and Mrs. Gandalovic were in attendance.
Celebration participants included most of the members of the SVUW chapter and their invited guests, over fifty attendees.
Some of the prominent members and executives of SVU in attendance included Dr. Mila Rechcigl, Mrs. Dagmar Hasalova-White, Jiri Stavovcik, Frank Backer, Dr. Fiehler and others.
Mrs. Otakara Safertal, current President of SVUW Chapter, opened the celebration by introducing the guests of honor and presenting the purpose of the afternoon event – to celebrate and appreciate all those past and current members of SVUW who significantly contributed to SVUW or influenced progress and directions of SVUW chapter in its 50 years history. Mrs. Safertal then invited Ambassadors Kmec and Gandalovic to present their remarks.
Ambassador Kmec highlighted in his comments on activities of the Slovak Embassy with respect to high tech companies in Slovakia and Embassy continuing efforts to provide a forum for young high tech and science professionals and entrepreneurs in the greater Washington area. Ambassador Gandalovic focused more on the SVUW role in promoting Czech and Slovak culture and sciences – he supported SVUW financial contributions to Czech and Slovak children schools, operating under the Sokol auspices. He also mentioned potential role of SVUW as a sounding board for Czech embassy with respect to USA/ Czech republic issues.
A selected group of SVUW members then provided reminiscences and memories of members past. Dr. Rechcigl spoke about the history of SVUW, Magda Clyne highlighted major contribution of Dagmar Hasalova-White, Helena Fabry spoke emotionally about Dr. Alexej Borkovec and his wife Dr. Vera Borkovec contribution to SVUW. Frank Backer spoke about his longtime friend Tomas Gibian. Charlie Kern paid a tribute to Barbara Podoski. Other members highlighted included Lida Brodenova, Frank Meissner, Emil and Emilia Royko, and others. Juraj Slavik presented a list of active Slovak participants in SVUW over the history of the chapter.
Due to the limitations of time, we were not able to present and formally recognize all past SVUW members and friends – members such as Zdenko and Eva Rakusan, Tony Svehla, Christmas Bazaar workers, Zdenek and Zdena Sadlik, Eva Rechcigl, Charlie Kern, Jana and Karel Kansky and many others. We would like to thank all past and present members.
At the conclusion of the presentations Mrs. Dagmar Hasalova-White was honored with a SVUW chapter bouquet of flowers.
A champagne reception and refreshments followed the formal presentations with all attendees appreciating Slovak Embassy hospitality.
SVUW Chapter would like to thank Embassy of Slovakia (and Mrs. Lubomira Heringhova) for their hospitality and pleasant ambiance.
Submitted by Otakara and Frank Safertal
