events 2008

Ambassador Graber with honorary consuls at the American Center [Photo M. Holcman]

American Center Welcomes Influential Czech-Americans

June 4, 2008

More than 10 honorary consuls, who represent the Czech Republic in different states in the U.S., visited the American Center on June 3. This was the first time that Americans who volunteer as Czech honorary consuls, helping to develop Czech-American relations, were meeting at the U.S. Embassy in Prague. They help visitors from the Czech Republic in the U.S. in difficult situations by providing consular assistance.

One of the invited honorary consuls was Alan Becker from Florida, who is the longest-serving Czech honorary consul in the United States. Also present were representatives of Czech-Americans in Philadelpia Peter Rafaeli and George Novak, who assisted the Czech national team in Atlanta in 1996. We also welcomed Kenneth Zezulka from New Orleans, who reconstructed the consular office destroyed by hurricane Katrina at his own expense and fully renewed the activities of the Honorary Consulate in Lousiana. The third generation of Czech-Americans living in the U.S. was represented by Honorary Consul from Texas Raymond Snokhouse. We also welcomed Richard Pivnicka, Honorary Consul from California, Honorary Consul Marie R. Amicci from Oregon and Washington, and the Honorary Consul in Alaska, Francis Nosek. Renowned TV and radio ancor Judith Gordon from Puerto Rico also joined us, Kansas was represented by Sharon Valasek, Pennsylvania and Ohio by Carol Hochman and we welcomed the Honorary Consul from Minneapolis, Robert Vanasek.

In total, there are 14 honorary consulates in the U.S. directed by the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Czech honorary consuls travelled to Prague for a conference organized by the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs.