The Czech/American Reading Circle
The Nebraska Czechs of Lincoln are proud to sponsor the Czech/American Reading Circle. Started in January, 2019, the Reading Circle shares significant books about, by, for, and important to, people of Czech Heritage.
Attendees are not required to have read the book being discussed, however, it helps to have some familiarity with it, and we encourage all participants to contribute any relevant information they may have.
Please join us! The circle meets the last Tuesday of each month (except December) at 6:15 pm central time
on ZOOM. Everyone is welcome.
Please contact the following or any Board Member for additional information and/or to get your Zoom Link.
Lois Shimerda Rood
on ZOOM. Everyone is welcome.
Please contact the following or any Board Member for additional information and/or to get your Zoom Link.
Lois Shimerda Rood
402-570-2333 lois@loisrood.com
Layne Pierce
402-770-5029 layne.pierce@yahoo.com
Mila Saskova-Pierce
402-770-4624 msaskova-pierce1@unl.edu
The Czech/American Reading Circle is continuing with its sixth year of reviewing great books.
Please join us the last Tuesday each month.
The Czech/American Reading Circle is continuing with its sixth year of reviewing great books.
Please join us the last Tuesday each month.
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Click here for a high resolution copy of the 2024 Reading Circle Brochure.
Past Reading Circle Brochures:
Český čtenářský kroužek
SUMMARY:
This book is a summary of the chain of political and military events that led to the formation of the Czechoslovak state. In the early 1900’s the Austro-Hungarian Empire was deeply troubled. Many were dissatisfied with the direction of the empire and began to seek independence. Among those were the Czechs and Slovaks. With the collapse of the Hapsburg dynasty, Czech leaders (Massaryk and Benes) declared war on Austria Hungary from Prague and proceeded to create a national political movement to build the new nation. With the chaos of 1918 Siberia (Russian Revolution), where Red & White armies, American, French, Japanese, German and Hungarian POWs all fought for control over the Trans-Siberian railroad, the Czech-Slovaks managed to prevail. And so were born the Czech Legions. The Czech-Slovak Legions took control of the Trans-Siberian railway for most of its length following the Russian Revolution. The Czech Legions suffered large numbers of casualties. In the end, with western support, the Czech and Slovak people finally regained their rightful homeland from the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
(Written by Maurice & Beverly Vonasek)
Even though Beverly (Genrich) Vonásek has German roots, she has willingly come over to the “Czech Side” having been married to her Czech husband, Maurice for 51 years as of last Dec. 1st. They live on an acreage in Southwest Lincoln and have two sons and three grandchildren. In 2022, Maurice and Beverly spent almost a month in the Czech Republic and were able to find many of his ancestral villages and discovered several ancestral homes still standing. They also took a side trip into Germany.
Beverly was born and raised in Beatrice, Nebraska. She has a degree in Business Administration and retired in 2018 having been a dedicated civil servant with the State of Nebraska for 48 years. She was previously Railroad Laison Manager at the Nebraska Department of Transportation for many years.
Maurice, also native to southeast Nebraska, was a Journeyman Ironworker with Local #21, Omaha, NE until a work related accident in 1982 forced him into a career change. He has a dual degree in Computer Science/Business Administration and later obtained a B.A. in Business Administration from Doane College. As an IT/Business professional, he has worked for numerous high profile companies/industries and multiple state(s) agencies both in Nebraska and surrounding states. In 1998, he incorporated his own successful IT consulting business and finally joined Beverly with retirement in 2019.
Presentation: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
THE ZOOM LINK
Our Zoom Link is the same for ALL of the Reading Circle Sessions.
This book is a summary of the chain of political and military events that led to the formation of the Czechoslovak state. In the early 1900’s the Austro-Hungarian Empire was deeply troubled. Many were dissatisfied with the direction of the empire and began to seek independence. Among those were the Czechs and Slovaks. With the collapse of the Hapsburg dynasty, Czech leaders (Massaryk and Benes) declared war on Austria Hungary from Prague and proceeded to create a national political movement to build the new nation. With the chaos of 1918 Siberia (Russian Revolution), where Red & White armies, American, French, Japanese, German and Hungarian POWs all fought for control over the Trans-Siberian railroad, the Czech-Slovaks managed to prevail. And so were born the Czech Legions. The Czech-Slovak Legions took control of the Trans-Siberian railway for most of its length following the Russian Revolution. The Czech Legions suffered large numbers of casualties. In the end, with western support, the Czech and Slovak people finally regained their rightful homeland from the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
(Written by Maurice & Beverly Vonasek)
OUR LEADERS: Maurice & Beverly Vonasek
Beverly was born and raised in Beatrice, Nebraska. She has a degree in Business Administration and retired in 2018 having been a dedicated civil servant with the State of Nebraska for 48 years. She was previously Railroad Laison Manager at the Nebraska Department of Transportation for many years.
Maurice, also native to southeast Nebraska, was a Journeyman Ironworker with Local #21, Omaha, NE until a work related accident in 1982 forced him into a career change. He has a dual degree in Computer Science/Business Administration and later obtained a B.A. in Business Administration from Doane College. As an IT/Business professional, he has worked for numerous high profile companies/industries and multiple state(s) agencies both in Nebraska and surrounding states. In 1998, he incorporated his own successful IT consulting business and finally joined Beverly with retirement in 2019.
MEETING INFORMATION:
Join Zoom: 6:15 p.m.Presentation: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
THE ZOOM LINK
Our Zoom Link is the same for ALL of the Reading Circle Sessions.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87384971615?pwd=anI0UXQ4T0I3Qk44RE16emhISGI5QT09
Meeting ID: 873 8497 1615; Passcode: 123553
Please Join Us for our October Nebraska Czechs of Lincoln Reading Circle!
BOOK: Dreams of a Great Small Nation (2016)
AUTHOR: Kevin McNamara
LEADERS: Maurice & Bev Vonasek
It is time to start planning our book selections and leaders for 2025!
If you have a book selection and would like to be a leader in 2025 please submit it to Mila, Layne or Lois BEFORE THANKSGIVING!
We would like to have the 2025 brochure available January 1, 2025.
