Czech and Slovak Club of  Greater Kansas City

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Czernin Palace Memorial Award	Jirina LaVine	Photos
Although the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has several awards for various forms of achievement on behalf of the Czech Republic, none was specifically directed at Czech-American relations. The Czernin Palace Award was initiated by Martin Palous, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic in the United Nations, and former Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the United States from 2001-2005. Ambassador Palous obtained approval for the award from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, housed in the Czernin Palace, hence the name of the medal. The award is an honor given to an individual or entity that has made significant contributions to fostering Czech-American relations. Award selection is based on nominations from honorary consuls and honorary consuls general who are entitled to make one nomination each year. His Excellency, Ambassador Petr Kolar, current Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the United States, conferred the award. He said, "You represent the foundation on which the solid Czech-U.S. friendship is built and remind us of the humanity that underlies that closeness.”	Jirina’s efforts in promoting Czech-American relations began in earnest in 1986 with her appointment as commissioner to the Mayor’s Ethnic Enrichment Commission (EEC). In addition to chairing key EEC events, her outreach work includes presentations in school classrooms, at business venues, and trade and civic organizations throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area. She contributed to the establishment and growth of the Czech and Slovak Club of Greater Kansas City. She was one of the club’s first members and has been part of the board holding several offices and chairing numerous committees continuously since joining. Mrs. LaVine was instrumental in flood relief fundraising for the 1997 and 2002 floods in the Czech Republic. After the 1997 flood, she delivered the money personally to Ms. Nadace Olga Havlove. The funds raised helped affected senior citizens in the Czech Republic. Jirina is motivated by her passion for keeping the presence, history and culture of her beloved homeland alive in the Midwest.