WestFest: In August, I attended a picnic for the Nebraska Czechs of York.  During Labor Day weekend, I rode down with the Kiesels from Wilber to West, Texas for WestFest.  It was such a fun time!  I met so many wonderful people.  One of my favorite things was the parade of Czech costumes.  At the end we did a traditional wedding march.  On Sunday we set up a booth and met different people.  We drove throughout the night -- I made it back just in time on Monday to be in Lincoln’s Labor Day parade at the state fair! 

Parades: On September 8th my grandfather and I were in two parades in York and Carleton, Nebraska.  We got a chance to see the exhibit of the world’s largest book, “The History of the Brave Czech Nation,” which has been traveling throughout the United States.

Czech Language Foundation at UNL: The week of September 17th was  a very special week for the Czech Language Foundation.  We celebrated 100 years at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  There was a celebration banquet, a proclamation at the Capitol and a Czech Culture Night for students.  

Prague Festival: At the Prague Festival, many Nebraska chapter queens represented and we each talked briefly about what each of us are doing for our reign.  I got to carry the USA flag, and the Prague chapter queen carried the Czech flag.  My favorite part was sharing the meaning of each of our kroj -- every queen has such a different and very unique kroj.

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TeamMates: This event was very rewarding!  I spoke to two groups in Hebron, Nebraska about being the national Czech queen.  The kids were of all ages and  I never knew what questions were going to be asked next!  One boy asked me if boys could enter the pageant, and everyone wanted to know what would happen if I broke my crown.  My grandma made kolache, and I shared my experience with designing my kroj.

Oklahoma Festival:  Grandma, Grandpa, and I visited Oklahoma City the day before the Yukon festival.  I had never been to Oklahoma before and the first thing Grandma pointed out was the red dirt!  We went to the Cowboy museum, and then to the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial.  This was so neat.  Something everyone should take time to visit.  After that we ate lunch at Coach’s, which overlooked the Red Hawks ball field.

On Saturday I was in the parade, and then got to speak for a bit at the opening ceremony.  Everyone was so nice!  Later that afternoon the Oklahoma Czech Royalty was crowned.  That night was the highlight of the trip.  We had a coronation ball and all the royalty participated in the Grand March.  My grandpa got to be my escort.  I even got a dance with the Czech prince. :) Yukon was also a special trip for us because it is where my great-grandma Sophie was born.

York Festival: Yet another year the York Chapter amazed me.  The festival was well organized and had a great turnout.  Three other chapter queens were present and we all got to perform our talent that we did at the pageants.  I also was interviewed by NTV.  They had a great video of it on Sunday night’s news.

To see the article: Go too www.nebraska.tv then in the upper right corner under search, type in “Czechfest ”  This should lead you to the article, “Czechfest comes to York”   

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Kansas Festival: On October 28th, I traveled down to Munden, Kansas for a Sunday afternoon dinner and dance.  My grandparents and my aunt, Irene came along with me.  I had a lot of fun dancing and speaking, and meeting the new Kansas queen who will compete next year for the USA title.

Veterans Day Parade:  On Saturday, November 10th, Grandpa and I and the convertible entered a parade near Omaha for the last parade for 2007.  It was cold!!

Worldfest:  On November 24th, Bellevue, Nebraska hosted a Worldfest event for the community.  It was about Christmas, cultures, and customs from around the world.  I was there representing the Czech Republic with the Omaha and Nebraska Queen.  We each performed our talent and even took a picture with Santa.

WFLA of Lincoln Christmas Party:  On December 2nd I was invited to attend a Christmas party in Lincoln for the WFLA.  After dinner we sung Christmas carols and learned about Czech Christmas traditions.  There was a penny taped under each of our plates to symbolize good luck for the coming year.  Only one person did not have a penny taped under his plate -- This symbolized a bad year coming!  I also spoke a bit about my travels.

Lincoln Church Czech Party:  On Sunday, December 16th I went to a Lincoln church to celebrate a traditional Czech Christmas.  Every year they celebrate a different culture and this year they decided to celebrate a Czech Christmas.  John Fiala ran the program, and I got a chance to perform my talent again.  There was a lot of time spent on food and decorations.  Everything looked so pretty!

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Call of Dudy Concert: In January the Call of Dudy traveled across the midwest.  I got to hear the bagpipes played by Michael Cwach in York, Nebraska on January 3,2008.  After the live entertainment, a video was played.  It was very interesting to see a little history about the Czech Republic and the bagpipes.

Cavett Elementary Heritage Night: On February 28, my cousins invited me to the annual heritage night at their school.  My grandma made kolache, and there was an entertainer who played some Czech polkas.

WorldFest: I traveled down to the warmer state of Arizona for a WorldFest on March 1.  This event was neat to learn about.  There was 10 cities represented, Prague being one of them.  Each year Phoenix sends a few high school students to Prague for three weeks to learn about the culture.  What a great opportunity!  I held the Czech Republic flag in the parade, and spoke with many people at the Prague booth about my experience as queen.  I took lots of pictures and signed some autographs -- everyone seemed so interested.  It was my first time in Phoenix and my first time without a winter coat in February!

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Czech Concert: On March 16, Wilber NE had a Czech concert.  I was very excited that I got to see my little sister again and the many people who supported me last August at the competition -- I haven’t seen them since then!  The accordion players were amazing -- They were playing with gloves on and putting the instrument above their head.  Very entertaining!

York Queen Coronation:  I crowned the new 2008-09 York Czech Queen.  Wow! I was the 2005-06 queen!  Time has went so fast.  It was nice to be able to visit York, NE again to see where I started as queen three years ago.  It is hard to believe what I have done and the people I have met since then.  I would’ve never imagined I would have this opportunity.  I also got to see the 2005 NE Czech queen again.  -- She was the one who crowned me when I won the 2006 title of Miss Czech Nebraska.

Czech Language Foundation Banquet:  This has always been a great banquet to recognize everyone who supports the Czech culture and the preserving of that culture through language.  I have taken four semesters of language at the University and it has been very rewarding.  Thanks to the scholarship donors these classes are possible!

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Minnesota State Pageant: I felt very welcome in Montgomery the weekend of April 12-13 and was honored and excited to be asked to be a judge.  It was different being on the other side and not being the one judged!  However, it was a great experience and I enjoyed my time there.  I was impressed by how professional and smooth the program and pageant went.  I was surprised when the mayor of Montgomery presented me with a “key to the city,” and a state representative gave me a house resolution for my service to Czech communities. 

Lincoln Czech Festival:  It always surprises me how many current and past queens are still involved in the Czech festivals.  On May 4, the Lincoln chapter even added their first prince and princess to the royalty this year.  It was good to see everyone and I realized just how long I have been involved with queen things.  My first Lincoln festival for the York chapter was four years ago!

Baltimore Bohemian Cemetery Dedication: Two days after getting back from the Czech Republic I flew to Baltimore for a Memorial Day Service at a Bohemian Cemetery.  A Czech lodge in Baltimore has been restoring the cemetery and surrounding buildings.  What hard work they have put into it!  It looks great so far and I am excited to see the finished project.  They hope to use the buildings for activities and meetings, and they are officially going to become a historic site!  I got a chance to meet with many of the members and speak at their ceremony.  Jeanne Taborsky, the president of the lodge, let me stay at her home.  She made my visit very enjoyable!  They had a reception and private tour for me at the Baltimore Museum of Industry.  I also got to tour surrounding cities in Maryland.

Reception for the Czech President: Wow! I was not planning on meeting the president on my trip to Baltimore.  The last day I was there I went sight-seeing in Washington, DC and then got invited to a small reception for the president of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Klaus.  He was visiting the US and had a book signing for his new book.  He gave a great speech and then I got to take a picture with him and have my book signed.   I was talking with some other people afterwards and the ambassador came up to me and asked if the president could take another picture with me.  I felt very honored that he wanted a picture with me!  He was very surprised I came from Nebraska to represent the culture.  This will definitely be a highlight of my year.

Wisconsin Czech Festival: My grandparents took me to the Wisconsin Festival held in Phillips, Wisconsin on June 21, 2008.  I was again asked to be judge, and again very honored.  Four great contestants competed for the state title.  I also got a chance to perform my dance at the talent portion of the pageant.  A Queen’s Dinner was held that evening in honor of all contestants and past royalty.