BBLA Newsletter October 2015 | Issue No. 34
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 Photograph: Katerina Kyselica
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 Dear Friends,
BBLA jumped into the fall season the way Aja's skates would do-sharp and polished up. In September, we hosted a grand celebration of Aja Vrzanova-Steindler's life. Many people traveled from faraway places to toast to her legacy and to remember her. The stories and memories showed the strength of Aja's unfailing positive thinking and her happy spirit. Some shared humorous stories-for example, Martina Navratilova remembered driving with Aja through Everglades; or the Czech Ambassador to the UN, Edita Hrda, recalled a particular moment of introducing Aja to a diplomat from a tropical country. Obviously, there were many skating stars among the guests introduced by Aja's fellow skater Milada Kubikova Stastny. I would like to thank those who helped with organizing the celebration, mainly our Georgina.
The last couple of days have been quite hectic for New York City. A truly wide and colorful spectrum of human caliber could be seen visiting the city. The Pope, President Obama and Vladimir Putin, and the Czech President Zeman were among the throngs of the UN General Assembly participants. Most New Yorkers were excited to wave at the popemobile but perhaps less excited to endure the total gridlock caused by the other leaders. As one local paper shouted: "Can we have our town back, please?!"
The Czech delegation arriving to the UN also visited our Bohemian National Hall. Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Zaoralek, admired the building and appreciated the work of all our teams.
I am looking forward to seeing you at our many upcoming events.
Joseph Balaz, President Bohemian Benevolent & Literary Association
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 HERE IS WHAT'S COMING IN OCTOBER
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THE 2015 CELEBRATING PRINT COMPETITION 
call for submissions
call to artists of Central and Eastern European backgrounds TWO DAYS LEFTdeadline for submissions: Friday, October 2
The second annual Celebrating Print Competition with exhibition at our BBLA Gallery in December/January is open to submissions of fine art prints by artists of Central and Eastern European backgrounds. All fine art printmaking media, including intaglio, relief prints, lithography, silkscreen, monotype, and monoprint are eligible. For more information, contact the organizer KADS New York at: celebratingprint@gmail.com.
>> Read more...
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Wednesday, October 7, 6:30 pm
SOLVING THE WORLD'S PROBLEMS 
discussion
free and open to the public
suggested donation $5
A talk by H.E. Edita Hrda, the Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the United Nations. Learn first-hand about challenges and accomplishments of the Czech United Mission team. A well-respected diplomat, Edita Hrda represented the Czech Republic for the last four years. She participated in talks including sustainable development, poverty, immigration, the peace and security issues, terrorism and ISIS.
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Thursday, October 15, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
MARTIN KALLAY: NEW YORK, SILENT LONELINESS IN THE MIDDLE OF CHAOS
art exhibition opening
exhibition on view: October 13 - 30
Opening reception for the exhibition New York, Silent Loneliness in the Middle of Chaos, featuring photographs by Slovak artist Martin Kallay. Pierluigi Solieri, curator of this exhibition, on Martin Kallay's work: New York - an iconic metropolis of modernity, a stratigraphy of times - past, present and future - all blended in a disorderly and casual manner, a melting pot of forms and structures, fascinating and unique.
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Sunday, October 18, 3:00 pm
WORKD AND MUSIC IN THE WORKS OF DVORAK: A NEGLECTED TREASURE TROVE
inaugural lecture/recital program
Annual Lecture/Recital Program featuring Antonin Dvorak scholar David Beveridge and a vocal music performance. Dr. Beveridge has chosen one of his most striking discoveries during his decades of research in all aspects of Dvorak's life and work, namely the amazing quantity and stunning beauty of his vocal music--operas, choral works, duets, and songs--and the peculiar circumstances that have caused music historians to underrate most of this music and performers to neglect it.
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Friday, October 30, 7:00 - 11:00 pm
Ghouls and goblins alike will agree, there's no better way to celebrate Halloween than with a dance party! Guaranteed to have a frightfully fun time. Our bewitching dance instructor Blanka Stichova will also be hosting with a dance lesson, showing the tricks and treats of dancing the night away, followed by a scary good dance performance.
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Bohemian Benevolent & Literary Association | 321 East 73rd Street, 3rd floor | New York, NY 10021
(212) 988-1733 | www.bohemianbenevolent.org | info@bohemianbenevolent.org
BBLA is a not-for-profit organization established in 1891 in New York City as an umbrella organization for almost eighty Czech and Slovak immigrant organizations. The mission of BBLA is to preserve and support Czech and Slovak culture in New York City. BBLA's member organizations include American Fund for Czech and Slovak Leadership Studies, Association of Free Czechoslovak Sportsmen, Czech and Slovak Solidarity Council, Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences in America, Dvorak American Heritage Association and Sokol New York. BBLA is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.
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