To all members of the Czech Handel Society, registered association
Yesterday, symbolically on the first day of spring this year, I was elected the second chairman of the Czech Handel Society.
Being the first successor to the founder and spiritual father of ‘Händelovka’, Pavel Polka, is an unexpected honour and a commitment at the same time. Honour to his memory!
During the last autumn, during and after the ascent to the Říp mountain, at the Venison Feast at Karlštejn, we talked with many of you about the continuation of the Society after Pavel's death; discussions also took place via e-mail. The current committee identified the overwhelming will of the membership base to continue in everything we can do as best we can, while being aware that opposing voice/voices has/have also been heard.
This and other important issues can only be finally decided by the highest body of the Society, the Members' Assembly. According to the Articles of Association (of the Society), this is convened by the Chairman of the Society. After Pavel's death, there was no one to convene it until yesterday. The Committee therefore considered it its duty to enable a smooth and undisputable calling of the Members' Assembly. This also has to take place this year because the term of office of the current Committee, including the member co-opted yesterday, ends in 2025. My profession as a lawyer should therefore contribute to ensuring that everything runs smoothly (not only) from a legal perspective.
We would also like to continue to develop the Society's foreign relations, which Pavel had been building so carefully over the years. My language skills, especially my fluent German, should contribute to this.
The committee and I, as the new chairman, want to meet you and talk with you. We will be happy to renew contacts with those who have been less active recently or have left the Society for various reasons. We will be interested in getting to know those we may not have met yet.
I also cordially invite you all to follow our website, where we have placed two new sections this year: XI. Handel 300 and XII. Confessions and Memories.
I thank all of you who got involved in the turbulent time after Pavel's death and contributed to the continuity, in favour of which we are now taking another important and necessary step together.
May the splendour of the Master's music always accompany you and enrich your lives!