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Marit Lee Kucera installed as the New Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic in Minneapolis

On Saturday, December 5, 2015, Marit Lee Kucera, an independent businesswoman from Saint Paul, was installed as the new honorary consul of the Czech Republic for Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

The ceremony was officiated by Bořek Lizec, Consul General of the Czech Republic in Chicago and Jaroslav Zajíček, Deputy Head of the Embassy of the Czech Republic to the United States at the historic C.S.P.S. Hall, 128-year old home of Czech and Slovak Sokol Minnesota located in Saint Paul.

Also in attendance were Sharon Valašek, the Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic for Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska; Don Pafko, the Honorary Consul for the Slovak Republic for Minnesota; Betty McCollum, Fourth Minnesota District Congresswoman; Gail Naughton, President/CEO, National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Chuck Nickolay, Mayor of New Prague, Minnesota. Over 200 people attended including members of various Czech organizations, Minnesota Consular Corps, and Committee on Foreign Relations-Minnesota. Live traditional Czech music and refreshments preceded the ceremony, which was followed by a reception. Servers wore kroj, traditional national costumes from the various regions in the present-day Czech Republic.

Kucera’s Czech background, her successful professional career, and her long-standing activism in local Czech organizations promise to make her an effective and hard-working honorary consul, say local Sokol colleagues. Kucera attended Saint Olaf College in Northfield, then earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. She has her own successful business as an independent textile artist.

 “It is a great honor for me to serve as honorary consul of the Czech Republic for these four states. I am very proud of my Czech heritage, a pride instilled in me by my wonderful grandfather Joseph J. Kucera, a first-generation Czech-American whose parents emigrated from Bohemia in the 1870s and settled in New Prague. I grew up on my grandfather’s homestead near International Falls in Koochiching County. I’d like to thank my many friends in the local Czech community from whose examples of service I’ve learned so much. I look forward to helping Czech citizens living or visiting the area. I plan to continue promotion of cultural events, plus work to increase the trade and tourism to strengthen ties between our two countries.”

Kucera is the third consul to serve since the office was revived after the fall of communism. She succeeds the late Dr. Josef Mestenhauser, Minneapolis, who served from 1998 until 2008, and Robert Vanasek, New Prague, whose five-year term as consul ended in 2013. Dr. Charles Proschek, Minneapolis, held the post prior to World War II.

Honorary consuls are important assets not only to the region they serve but also to the foreign government they represent. As honorary consul, Kucera represents the Czech Republic and gives assistance and protection to its citizens locally. She will also be called upon to facilitate trade and friendship between the people of the Czech Republic and the United States.

The post of honorary consul of the Czech Republic in St. Paul was re-established after the “Velvet Revolution” ended communist rule of Czechoslovakia (1989). The Czech Republic has an embassy in Washington, D.C., and consulates-general in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York. There are 23 honorary Czech consuls in the United States. This newly re-opened Czech honorary consulate is one of nearly 30 honorary and official consulates with jurisdiction in Minnesota.    

The Honorary Consulate in St. Paul is a part of the jurisdiction of the Consulate General in Chicago. It is responsible for Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

The office is located at 383 Michigan Street, Saint Paul. The services are provided by appointment.
Phone: +1 651 238 0447    

e-mail: minneapolis@honorary.mzv.cz

 

Bořek Lizec, Consul General of the Czech Republic in Chicago (left), Jaroslav Zajíček, Deputy Head of the Embassy of the Czech Republic to the United States (right)      Toasting the installation with Staropromen Beer from the Czech Republic: (l-r) Don Pafko, the Honorary Consul for the Slovak Republic for Minnesota; Chuck Nickolay, Mayor of New Prague, Minnesota; Sharon Valašek, the Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic for Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska; Marit Lee Kucera, new Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic for Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota; Jaroslav Zajíček, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington, D.C., and Dr. Bořek Lizec, Consul General of the Czech Republic in Chicago       Dr. Bořek Lizec, Consul General of the Czech Republic in Chicago;  Betty McCollum, Fourth Minnesota District Congresswoman; Marit Lee Kucera, newly installed Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic; and Jaroslav Zajíček, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington, D.C.

Bořek Lizec, Consul General of the Czech Republic in Chicago (left), Jaroslav Zajíček, Deputy Head of the Embassy of the Czech Republic to the United States (right)

HK Minneapolis Toasting the installation with Staropromen Beer from the Czech Republic: (l-r) Don Pafko, the Honorary Consul for the Slovak Republic for Minnesota; Chuck Nickolay, Mayor of New Prague, Minnesota; Sharon Valašek, the Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic for Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska; Marit Lee Kucera, new Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic for Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota; Jaroslav Zajíček, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington, D.C., and Dr. Bořek Lizec, Consul General of the Czech Republic in Chicago

HK Minneapolis Dr. Bořek Lizec, Consul General of the Czech Republic in Chicago;  Betty McCollum, Fourth Minnesota District Congresswoman; Marit Lee Kucera, newly installed Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic; and Jaroslav Zajíček, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington, D.C.