Czech Republic’s Ambassador presents flood recovery gift to 4 Cedar Rapids Organizations

The Czech Republic’s ambassador, Petr Kolař, arrives in Iowa today to survey the flood damage to the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library and Czech Village and to present a monetary gift for flood recovery to the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, Sokol Cedar Rapids, St. Wenceslaus Church and the Cedar Rapids Public Library.

The gift is the outcome of an on-going relationship between the Czech immigrants to Cedar Rapids and their descendents. For over 150 years, there has been an ongoing friendship fostered by generations of Czech immigrants and their descendents.

Tonight’s event is about mutual gratitude. We’re grateful because, they’re grateful because.

Story behind the gift
On June 13, the day of the flood crest, NCSML President/CEO, Gail Naughton called the embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington DC to inform them of the flood. Naughton talked to Ambassador Petr Kolař and he expressed his love and concern for the museum, the staff and the people of Cedar Rapids. On his previous visit in 2006, he had been impressed by how people of Czech descent in Cedar Rapids had preserved and honored their heritage, especially by founding and building the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.

The Czech government, since the dedication by Vaclav Havel on October 21, 1995, has looked upon the NCSML as their national museum in the United States and wanted to help rebuild it after this disaster. At the urging of the Ambassador and hard work of the embassy staff, including two visits to tour flood damage, Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek introduced and passed in parliament a total gift of 10 million crowns ($583,780) for flood recovery to Cedar Rapids.

The government wanted to help not only the NCSML, but also Czech organizations affected by the flood, so in addition they are making gifts to Sokol Cedar Rapids and St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church gymnasium. Also, they wanted to give a gift unrelated to ethnic heritage - from the people of the Czech Republic to the people of Cedar Rapids - so a gift is being made to the Cedar Rapids Public Library.
Background information on recipients

National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
In 1974, a group of second and third-generation descendants of Czech immigrants founded the Czech Fine Arts Foundation in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with the purpose of preserving Czech heritage and culture. By 1978, their burgeoning artifact and document collections impelled the group to open a Czech Museum in a three-bedroom house. In 1981, the collections were moved to a building on 16th Avenue and publicly exhibited. In 1983, the group acquired a 19th-century immigrant home.

In the 1980s, the organization also began to attract attention, collections, and financial support throughout the nation. The name was changed to reflect this increasing significance, and on July 2, 1992, the Congressional Record officially recognized the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.

With admirable foresight, the museum's leadership made ambitious plans for organizational growth. An architect created plans for a new 16,000 sq. ft. building, fund raising began, and ground breaking took place Oct. 28, 1993. On Oct. 21, 1995, Presidents Bill Clinton of the United States, Václav Havel of the Czech Republic and Michal Kovác of the Slovak Republic presided over the current building's dedication, underscoring the international significance of the event and the NCSML. This building was flooded in June 2008. On Oct. 24, 2008, the NCSML at Lindale opened providing an interim museum presence in the community.

Sokol Cedar Rapids
Sokol was founded in Prague by Dr. Miroslav Tyrs and Jundrich Fugner in 1862. The organization was based on the philosophy that only physically fit, mentally alert, and culturally well developed citizens can make a nation strong and give life to the honorable spirit of patriotism.
In 1873, a group of Bohemian and Moravian immigrants organized a gymnastics training center in Cedar Rapids that became associated with the national Sokol (meaning Falcon) gymnastics organization. After several years of growth, the current building was erected in 1908. Sokol was preparing to celebrate the building’s centennial in late-June 2008. Despite the flood, Sokol Cedar Rapids continues to follow the mission of American Sokol, to provide fitness and community for individuals and families through physical, educational, cultural, and social programs.

Saint Wenceslaus Church
St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church community was established in 1874. A pillar of the area’s Czech community, the church served as a unifying entity bringing immigrants from Bohemia and Moravia together to worship. At its peak, St. Wenceslaus parish included an elementary and high school. Both have since closed.
In 2005, the church installed a stone copy of the statue of St. Ludmila with St. Wenceslaus by Czech sculptor Jan Kotek. The original is included with the sculptures on the Charles Bridge in Prague.
Today, this historic church building is 104 years old, and is the Czech national parish. Any Catholic of Czech descent may be a member of this church regardless of residence.

Cedar Rapids Public Library
In January 1895, Ada Van Vechten organized the City Federation of Ladies Literary Clubs. Throughout that year, the women campaigned, despite indifference and disagreements from many in the community who thought a public library would cost too much or that adequate library facilities (notably the Masonic Library) already existed.

Ada Van Vechten persisted, and on March 12, 1896, the people of Cedar Rapids voted on the public library question at the regular city elections. The vote was 1105 yes, 1046 no. A scant 59 votes established a new public library.

In June 1905, the new Carnegie library building was dedicated on the north side of Greene Square Park. In 1985, a new library was built on 1st Street SE. An important contributor to the local quality of life, the Cedar Rapids Public Library strives to provide a complete spectrum of information to the community through a variety of materials, appropriate technology, and a well-trained staff.