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 seventh year of reviewing great books.
Please join us the last Tuesday each month.
The Czech/American Reading Circle is continuing with its seventh year of reviewing great books.
Please join us the last Tuesday each month.
Click here for a high resolution copy of the 2025 Reading Circle Brochure.
Český čtenářský kroužek
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 November
Nebraska Czechs of Lincoln Reading Circle!
Nebraska Czechs of Lincoln Reading Circle!
BOOK: Prague in Black & Gold (1997)
AUTHOR: Peter Demetz
LEADER: Maurice & Bev Vonasek
Past Reading Circle Brochures:
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BOOK SUMMARY:
The author, Peter Demetz, does an excellent job of telling the somewhat obscure history of Prague. It may appear to be a bit like a history book on the surface, but it is not, as it provides for more of a deep explanation of what made Prague. The book provides an intellectual, artistic, and literary history of the city and tells the story of the three major communities: Czech, German, Jewish with some Italian influence. The collabora-tions and conflicts of these communities are exposed to the reader to better understand the large number of languages and their dialects being problematic…as is with any melting pot society. In the early years we are reminded there was no true “Czech” language. The author stated, "Prague has always been a dual or triple city, and its topography has changed with the language that was spoken and the religion that was es-poused." The effects of Jan Hus and the Hussite revolution and the impact of the Thirty Years War are covered as well as the various rulers such as Ottokar II, Charles IV, Rudolf II and the roles they played in the Holy Roman Empire and the role of the Habsburgs. Prague (Praha) is a most unique, beautiful and loving city to experience firsthand. Reading this book will make you want to go back for another visit…join us as we explore the true background of this fascinating city. (by Mau-rice & Beverly Vonasek)
LEADERS:
Maurice and Beverly (Genrich) Vonásek have been married for 52 years. 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 where Beverly’s ancestors came from. Planning is underway for a repeat trip in June of 2026.
Beverly was born and raised in Beatrice, Nebraska. She has a degree in Business Administration and retired in 2018 hav-ing been a dedicated civil servant with the State of Nebraska for 48 years. She was previously Railroad Liaison Manager at the Nebraska Department of Transportation for many years.
Maurice, a native of 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/Business Management from Doane College. As an IT/Business professional, he has worked for numerous companies/industries and multiple state(s) agencies both in Nebraska and surrounding states. In 1998, he incorporated his own IT consulting business and finally joined Beverly with retirement in 2019.
