About us
Czech Beseda Rijeka was founded on September 17, 1994, being the first newly-formed Czech organization after the war in Croatia. Today it counts about 150 members. The Czech Beseda Rijeka is active as a part of the Czech Union in the Republic of Croatia, a non-political organization of voluntarily united Czech Besedas, clubs and individuals, which embraces 28 Czech Besedas from all over Croatia. Out of the 28 Besedas, the one in Rijeka is the furthest away from Daruvar, the center of the Czech Union, and also the only Beseda on the Adriatic coast.
From its very foundation, the young Beseda in Rijeka has been working diligently on preservation of Czech culture, language and traditions. During the eleven years it has accomplished a lot, being no worse than many older Czech Besedas.
Nowadays, Beseda Rijeka has three dance groups, amateur theatre, puppet theatre, choir and library. Until now, 49 issues of news bulletin "Our Word" have been published. Beseda organized Czech language classes, and established contacts with many folklore groups from the Czech Republic, most other Czech Besedas from Croatia, and other similar groups from Istria, Kvarner and Gorski Kotar region of Croatia. Dance groups, choir, and theatre groups performed not only in home towns of other Czech Besedas in Croatia, but also in many towns that do not have the Czech minority, and in th Czech Republic (in Bilovice nad Svitavou, Řimov near Česke Budějovice, Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, Němčice nad Hanou, Ostrava, Prague and Chomutov).
All these accomplishments were made in spite the fact that Czech Beseda Rijeka does not have its own space.
The lack of space has always been in the minds of all members, directing their thoughts towards the solution of this problem from day one. This is why they set the building of the Culture Center of Czech people in Rijeka as the number one priority, and are working successfully on its completion.
Czech Beseda Rijeka leadership:
- President: Fanika Husak
Vice-presidents: Snježana Herceg and Franjo Sedlaček - Steering committee: Zdenka Blažek, Marija Dmejchal, Snježana Herceg, Slavko Horaček, Otilija Hovan, Jirka Matković, Drahuška Munić, Libor Pokorni, Jana Radović, Josip Ružička, Antun Řehak, Franjo Sedlaček, Bogumil Selichar, Dušanka Selichar, Herta Tadić, Vedrana Valenčić and president Franciska Husak
- Building committee: Josip Ružička (president), Franjo Sedlaček, Anton Řehák, Željko Tesař, Marinko Valenčić, Božo Selichar, Jaroslav Husak, Stanislav Labik, Fanika Husak
- Supervising committee: Darinka Milde, Erika Klepo and Jasna Herceg
- Secretary: Dušanka Selichar
- Treasurer: Herta Tadić
Membership fee treasurer: Dobrila Řehák
