A very successful twenty-seventh Annual Dinner Meeting of the Slovak Heritage Society of NEPA was held Monday, May 10, 2010 at Genetti’s Best Western Hotel in Wilkes-Barre Pa. Sixty-eight members and guests were in attendance. During the Slovak folk sing-along, Andy Chuba accompanied with his accordion.
The following members were elected to a serve a 3-year term on the Board of Directors: Ann Hudock, Mary Migatulski, Elaine Palischak, Michael Stretanski, and Philip Tuhy
The society had a very busy year (you can check our calendar to see all of the activities.) The annual report covers most of the activities that have appeared on the web page. Copies of the report will be mailed to all members who were not in attendance. It is gratifying to hear that our members do read all the notices and reports that we issue.
At the 2010 planning meeting, the calendar of events for September 2010 to June 2011 will be prepared. Please check back to our web site for all upcoming activities.
Summary of Chairman’s Report
“To advance an awareness of Slovak Heritage and Culture among all people through education and social interaction” is the Society’s purpose as stated in our by-laws.
On May 21, 2009, a Commemorative Ceremony was held in Tajov, Slovakia, the birthplace of Father Murgaš. Organized by the State Scientific Library in Banska Bystrica, the event was under the patronage of the Governor of Banska Bystrica Self-Governing Region, Milan Murgaš and the Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of the United States of America in Bratislava, Keith Eddins. It was composed of two parts, a teleconference and the presentation of five papers on the life of the Slovak scientist, inventor, priest, and artist Jozef Murgaš. The teleconference on the USA side was arranged by Thomas McHugh at the Luzerne County Community College, and featured Magdalen Benish and the Chairman in a half hour presentation. The teleconference was important to the ceremony, because it demonstrated one of the results of Father Murgaš’ contribution to radio.
In August, the Chairman was the speaker of the Hazleton Rotary Club. An edited version of our TV documentary “Radio’s Forgotten Genius” was followed by a discussion of Father Murgaš. The Society’s Father Murgaš Exhibit was recently on display for a week at the Wyoming Seminary Lower School Library. The Exhibit has been requested to be viewed in Pottstown for an anniversary celebration, and also for display at the annual meeting of the Laurel Highlands Slovak Heritage Association in the Altoona-Johnstown area.
At the request of the Eckley Museum’s director, the members of the Society manned the Slovak house at Eckley Miners’ Village in June, discussing the lives of the early immigrants to the Anthracite fields in the post Civil War period. Samples of kolace were made available.
A special thank you is extended to Michael Stretanski for acting as “in loco parentis” of Pavol Kuban and Norbert Danis as they attended the Performing Arts Institute at Wyoming Seminary during June and July and to Peter Kmec this spring at Holy Savior High School. It was a challenging experience in terms of time and effort.
As of this writing, our mentor and co-founder Msgr. Francis Beeda is a resident of Little Flower Manor, where he is recuperating and receiving physical therapy.
My deep personal thanks to the members of the Board of Directors as well as to all of the members of the Society who willingly give of their time, talent and treasure to fulfill our mission. May God continue to bless the Slovak Heritage Society Of NEPA ! !
