[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23410]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF SHARON K. VALASEK, THE FIRST HONORARY CONSUL FOR THE 
       CZECH REPUBLIC TO REPRESENT KANSAS, MISSOURI, AND NEBRASKA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KAREN McCARTHY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 25, 2003

  Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise to recognize 
the historic appointment of Sharon K. Valasek as the first Honorary 
Consul for the Czech Republic to represent Kansas, Missouri and 
Nebraska. Czech Republic Ambassador to the United States, His 
Excellency Martin Palous, who officially announced her appointment, 
will take part in the installation ceremonies September 24-26, 2003, in 
the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan area. Sharon K. Valasek holds a 
Masters of Business Administration Degree from Avila College. As 
Honorary Consul, she will incorporate her education and her expertise 
in business and trade to facilitate United States commerce with the 
Czech Republic. She has valuable telecommunications and marketing 
experience from working for a global provider of broadband and wireless 
services. Her marketing and developmental skills will be of great value 
to the business partnership between the United States and the Czech 
Republic.
  Honorary Consul Valasek is committed to supporting local relationship 
building initiatives. She has a strong base for fostering new 
partnerships in the Czech Republic since her relatives live in Moravia. 
She serves as a board Member for the People to People International, 
Club President of the Czech and Slovak Club of Greater Kansas City, 
member of the Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences, and 
Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International.
  Ms. Valasek will serve as an advocate of educational and cultural 
initiatives while preserving customs and traditions.
  The importance of an Honorary Consul in our region stems from shared 
heritage and our combined histories that provide a foundation for 
exchange. Immigrants from the region of Czechoslovakia migrated to the 
United States since the 1800s, many finding their way to Missouri and a 
home in the Kansas City area. In the Fifth District, Sugar Creek has a 
rich heritage fostered from their Czechoslovakian immigrants, many who 
found work at the oil refinery.
  In 1989, we witnessed the overthrow of communist totalitarian rule in 
Czechoslovakia with the Velvet Revolution, a modern day revolution for 
independence, which brought a new beginning for the people of 
Czechoslovakia.
  In 1993, Czechoslovakia evolved into two independent states: the 
Czech Republic and Slovakia. On March 12, 1999, the Czech Republic 
became an international member of NATO. Today, Prague is the capital of 
the Czech Republic, a tourist destination with its rich architectural 
treasures, educational opportunities and the center of activities and 
events.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in proudly recognizing Honorary Consul 
Valasek's appointment as an opportunity for cultural exchange and 
economic advancement to further our shared goals for both of our 
nations.

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