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About Friends of Czech Greenways
 Friends of Czech Greenways (FCG) is a not-for-profit organization registered in New York State in 1994.
It was founded by Lubomir and Tiree Chmelar, co-founders of Greenways-Zelené stezky (GWZS), to reach out
to the international community and promote the Czech Greenways program and ecotourism along the Prague-Vienna Greenways.
Activities
Friends of Czech Greenways is active in three primary areas:
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Promotion - FCG gives presentations and talks about
the Czech Greenways (USA, Ireland, South Africa) and works with travel writers to place articles in magazines and
newspapers, such as the National Geographic, Conde Nast Traveler, British Airways High Time and The Boston Globe.
Every October, FCG participates in the Annual Czech Independence Day street festival at the Czech Center in New York.
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Tourism - We provide information for tourists and
people interested in the greenways projects, and distribute brochures and flyers. We work with professional
tour operators in the Czech Republic and their representatives in the United States. Since 2000, we have maintained
this website.
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Special projects and cultural exchanges - FCG initiates and
facilitates special projects and cultural exchanges between the Prague-Vienna Greenways and its sister organization,
the Hudson River Valley Greenway
- 2005 - FCG presented Czech greenways at the Rail Europe Group's event promoting Central Europe as a travel destination.
- 2005 - FCG initiated and raised $20,000 for a new project "Tiree Chmelar Herb Garden" at the Valtice Chateau.
It will be developed in cooperation with the Mendel University and its Horticulture faculty and students. The garden design was discussed at a brain-storming
meeting at the Czech Center by experts including directors of Horticulture at The Cloisters and The Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
- 2005 - FCG launched a new interactive biking map on our website, thanks partly to the grant from the Czech Ministry of Culture.
- 2005 - Tiree Chmelar Herb Garden design presentation and workshop with garden experts at the Czech Center in New York
- 2004 - Cultural exchange between Oratorio Society of NY and the Brno Academic Chorus
- 2003 - Facilitated signing of cooperation between the US East Coast Greenways Alliance and the newly established
Central European Greenways program
- 2003 - Established a Scholarship Program for best students of the Landscape Architecture School at the Mendele University in Lednice
- 2002 - Flood Relief Drive
- 2000 - American chorus exchange program
- 1999-2004 - Tree restoration project at Lednice Castle park
- 1995 - Visit of Czech mayors to the Hudson River Valley Greenway, followed by visit of mayors from HRVG in the Czech Republic
- 1994 - Twinning of PVGW and HRVG by Governor Cuomo
| Supporting Friends of Czech Greenways |
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The success of the Prague-Vienna Greenways model inspired a movement and the development of similar
ideas in other parts of the Czech Republic, and other Eastern European countries such
as Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, and Romania. FCG is fully involved in developing the
Greenways for Central Europe.
We appreciate any contribution to help us further our work worldwide to benefit
the preservation of the environment and cultural heritage along the Prague-Vienna Greenways,
and to facilitate cultural and professional exchanges, and mutual understanding between
people of the Czech Republic and the United States.
Friends of Czech Greenways is a not-for-profit, 501(c)3 organization,
(exempt organization number: EX 212746, Employer Identification Number: 13-3789395)
and your donation is tax-deductible under the law.
Please make your check payable to:
Friends of Czech Greenways
Mail to:
FCG/Suzanna Halsey
515 Avenue I, #1B
Brooklyn, NY 11230
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Board Members
- Lubomir Chmelar
- Chairman (New York, USA/Mikulov, Czech Republic)
- Richard Pivnicka
- Hon. Consul General of the Czech Republic (San Francisco, USA)
- Stephen Raphael
- Attorney, (New York, USA)
- Hon. Jennone Walker
- former United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic, and
Vice-President of World Monuments Fund-Europe in London
- Stefan Yarabek
- Landscape Architect
Hudson & Pacific Landscape
Architects (Kingston, NY, USA)
Administration
- Suzanna Halsey
- Administrator/Public Relations (New York)
Accounting
- Wilen, Klapper & Glassman
- CPS (Newburgh, NY, USA)
- Safia Johnson
- Book Keeper (Rhinebeck, NY, USA)
Contact:
Suzanna Halsey
info@pragueviennagreenways.org
Tel: 718-258-5468
Fax: 718-258-5632
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