
I can do anything … if I’m organized. That’s why I was beginning to panic when I stepped into the Lifestyles Editor-in-Chief position and couldn’t find a shop stocking one of my essentials for getting organized: a big wall calendar.
Luckily, at the sixth stationery store I ransacked, I met a cheery, helpful young salesman. No, he didn’t have the calendar in stock, but he would check the warehouse and call me back. And an amazing thing happened: That afternoon, he called. Yes, they would have the calendar in the shop tomorrow. The salesman promised to call the next day between noon and 2 pm to confirm.
And then another amazing thing: at 1:17 pm the next day he called. The calendar would be ready for pickup after 4 pm.
It is such a tiny thing, calling when you say you’ll call. Caring enough about a customer to track down a needed item. And doing it all with an attitude that says “it’s a pleasure for me.”
Yet, such tiny things are the way to build a great nation.
Former Czech President Václav Havel has a lot to say– has always had a lot to say – about nation-building. Some of his comments from a decade ago are still fresh and even more urgent today. That’s why in this issue we’ve dedicated our cover story and the following pages to some of his ideas.
And there are others who manifest a positive message about nation-building in the Czech Republic. They’re doing it in a quiet way, for example by supporting the arts and emerging Czech artists. The advertising messages from Glaverbel/AGC Flat Glass Europe in our magazine help us tell you the exciting news about the history of Czech glass and new glass products; information from Galerie Pokorná has helped us bring you a three-part story of Czech glass art and to introduce you to some of the youngest Czech glass artists.
And you’ll find some interesting comments about the contributions of Czechs to Canadian (and Czech) society, in our interview with His Excellency Michael Calcott, the Canadian Ambassador to the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
There are many other positive and interesting examples of nation-building in the pages of this issue. We’ll leave it to you to find them for yourself.
Happy reading.




















