From the President's Desk

Greetings to all of our members as I prepare to assume my new role with the National Slovak Society as President/CEO on November 1st.

Congratulations and best wishes for a healthy and enjoyable retirement to our past President Dave Blazek. Enjoy the sunshine and golf! Thank you for your leadership over the past twenty- seven years. The National Slovak Society has been Blessed with excel- lent leadership over the course of its 130-year history.

I have had the honor of serving the National Slovak Society for 35 years in a variety of capacities and have met many members of the Society from different parts of the country. Those who have attended our Quadrennial Conventions as delegates have an understand- ing of my background with the Society but many members do not, so I offer a brief summary of my involvement with the Society. I have been a lifelong member of the National Slovak Society and was first elected as a member of the National Tribunal at the XXIX Quadrennial Convention in 1986 and again at the XXX Quadrennial Convention in 1990. I served the Society as the National Fraternal Activities Director from 1988 through 1994. In addition to the National positions, I have served as the Financial Secretary of Assembly 588 of Avella, Pennsylvania, since 1986 and President of Region #5 of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, since 1996.

I have been a member of the Board of Directors of the Society since being elected at the XXXI Quadrennial Convention in 1994. In 2014, following the adoption of the new By-laws and a move to Board Governance at the XXXVI Quadrennial Convention, my fellow Directors elected me as Chairman of the Board and I have been honored to serve in that capacity for the past six years. I would like to thank all of the Directors, Officers, and Home Office Staff with whom I have worked over the past twenty-six years as a Director for their hard work, diligence, and thoughtful decisions in guiding the Society to its current status. I would also like to thank the current Board of Directors for their support and confidence in my leadership abilities and electing me as your next President. I am excited, honored, and look forward to serving as your President/CEO and leading the National Slovak Society into the future beginning on November 1st.

The United States and countries around the World have faced great uncertainty during 2020 due to the COVID-19 Virus. Many restrictions have limited assembly and region meetings, fraternal events, and festivals through- out our Society. The restrictions have not only limited our Society’s activities but have impacted other organizations as well. The University of Pittsburgh for the past 29 years has sponsored a Slovak Heritage Festival each November at the Cathedral of Learning. This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Slovak Heritage Festival but due to the COVD-19 restrictions, the festival will be held virtually on November 1st at 1:00 pm and will be live streamed on Facebook and YouTube. Hopefully, the pandemic will soon be behind us and we will all return to some sense of normalcy in our lives! Please continue to be safe and healthy!

November 3rd is Election Day. Be sure you get out to cast your vote or vote by mail to exercise your right. On November 11th we celebrate Veterans Day which was originally established to celebrate the armistice ending World War I and therefore designated as Armistice Day. In 1954, the holiday be- came known as Veterans Day to honor American veterans of all wars. Thank you to all veterans who have served our country. Your service to our country is greatly appreciated! On November 13-15th the Board of Directors will be meeting for the Fall Board Meeting. If you have any issues for the Board to consider, please submit them to Secretary-Treasurer/CFO Linda Strom. Thanksgiving will be celebrated on November 26th. I wish each of you a safe and Happy Thanksgiving as you gather to give thanks for all of your blessings.