On September 26, former U.S. Ambassador to Slovakia and Friends of Slovakia Board of Advisors member Tod Sedgwick gave a fascinating luncheon presentation on “How Cleveland Played a Crucial Role in U.S. Diplomacy in Central Europe”. Ambassador Sedgwick gave a brief overview of the history of Slovak emigration to the U.S. He described why and how Slovaks emigrated in such large numbers to the US in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, including particularly to the Cleveland and Pittsburgh areas. He explained how they eventually came together with Czechs to push for a new, independent nation of Czechs and Slovaks by signing the October 1915 Cleveland Agreement and later the Pittsburgh Agreement in May 1918 which led to the formation of independent Czechoslovakia under President T.G. Masaryk.  Attendees included members of the Cleveland Club of Washington, D.C. and Slovak Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Jozef Polakovic. FOS members Richard Marko, Helen Fedor and FOS Founding Chairman Ted Russell also attended. The luncheon lecture was organized by Cleveland Club President Brooke Stoddard.

Upcoming – Save the Date:

Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Pittsburgh Agreement – May 31, 2018 in Pittsburgh, PA.