Dear Friends,

Let me start by mentioning the very successful Ceramic Art Fair, which took place at the Bohemian National Hall during the previous week. It was the largest event of this season so far and gathering from the enthusiasm of the organizers as well as the exhibitors it was a great event for all participants and the visitors. The organizers work in close cooperation with the BBLA and will be back again next year and that shows that we're doing something right.

I'm glad that even the epic, to be, the Mother of All Snow Storms, did not slow down our teams and I am proud that BBLA contributed to a month long multimedia project to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust organized by the Czech Center. The well attended commencement of the program (Shoah in Us) took off on January 28. The evening was opened by the new director of the Czech Center, Barbara Karpetova, and our Consul General Martin Dvorak and Jiri Ellinger, the deputy representative to the UN. The key speaker was Rabbi Arthur Schneier.

I want to thank BKB catering for helping with the event as well. BKB is our new collaborator in the restaurant at the building. We will reopen the restaurant very soon and I'm looking forward to reporting to you about it in the next newsletter.

I also want to mention that the BBLA board of trustees dedicated a section of our library to our sister organization: the Vaclav Havel Library Foundation. The chairman of the Foundation, Craig Stapleton (the former American Ambassador to the Czech Republic) and the Vice Chair, Wendy Luers, were delighted to learn about this during their last visit. 

So, my dear friends, stay warm and comfortable during the winter months but please do venture out to visit with us occasionally.

Joseph Balaz, President 

Bohemian Benevolent & Literary Association