Lithuanian Radio Amateurs Come Together

On July 25th, ten Lithuanian Radio Amateurs met at the immaculate Conception Convent’s Annual Picnic in Putnam, Connecticut.

The ten men were as follows: W1HNF ED, DK1BJ ED, K1AMG TONY, K1NCZ DAN, WEIN FRAN, KD1SI GEORGE, AA1SR HIGH, KB1TY RIMAS, W1WHM VIN, and K1WWZ LOU. We all enjoyed what we amateurs call an "EYEBALL Q SO", and we had a great time just being together.

We also have our regular weekly meetings by radio at 9:30 a.m. on Mondays at 7.233 megahertz, and we often use our native language. We call this meeting by radio our LY NET. LY is the international call for Lithuania and we all take turns conversing when conditions are favorable in our native Lithuanian. We look forward to getting together again!u

— Tony Sidla, K1AMG

It’s School Time!

The New York Maironis Lithuanian School is offering a course for adults wishing to learn the Lithuanian language. Although the class started on September 18th, there is always room for other interested students.

The class meets every other Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the Lithuanian Cultural Center, 361 Highland Blvd., Brooklyn, New York. Fausta Sinkūnienė teaches the class.

For more information, please contact Audrė Lukoševičiūtė at 718-849-6083.

A Gift to Lithuania

The Lithuanian Human Services Council of the USA., together with the Embassy of Lithuania and the Lithuanian American Community, Inc. Washington D. C. Chapter, invite you to participate in the "Gift to Lithuania" Conference on November 5 to 7, 1999 at the Key Bridge Marriott (1401 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA 22209)

The purpose of this conference is to:

• summarize the work that has been done;
• analyze what has and has not worked;
• gain an understanding of what is still required;
• obtain information from individuals who have worked and continue to work in Lithuania and with Lithuania’s people in providing humanitarian assistance.

The Conference will begin with a "get acquainted" reception and end after symposiums and workshops.

The Organizing Committee is made up of Jūratė Budrys (chair), Algis Augaitis, Birutė Jasaitis, Rita Kazragas, Ramunė Kligys, Saulius Kuprys, Jurgis Lendraitis, and Dr. Vytautas Narutis. The Committee asks that those interested in attending, register in advance by sending your full name, address, phone number together with the registration fee of $85.00 per person to:

Jūratė Budrys
8015 S. Karlov
Chicago, IL 60652.

Make checks payable to: Lithuanian Human Services Council.

Hotel reservations can be made by calling the Key Bridge Marriott at 1-800-228-9290, mentioning the "Group Code LITO" and that you will be participating in the November 5th to the 7th, 1999 Conference. The room rate is $104.00 per room per night.

If you need more information, please call Jūratė Budrys at 773-284-6786.

Baltic Way Commemorated

Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia marked the 10th anniversary of the anti-Soviet Baltic Way solidarity human chain. It was on August 17, 1989 that Lithuanian Independence movement Sajūdis announced that the three Baltic states were to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact by inviting people to join into a live chain to link the Gediminas castle in Vilnius, the Freedom Monument in Riga and the Tompea Castle tower in Tallinn.

Approximately two million Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians flocked to a highway stretching from Vilnius to Tallinn through Riga and held each other's hands to show to the world a three-nation solidarity. Black ribbons, flags, and candles, manifesting the resolution of to get rid of Kremlin rule, adorned this uninterrupted chain.

To commemorate this 10 year anniversary a conference was held in Vilnius on August 23rd. Baltic Way organizers and public figures made speeches.

In addition, a memorial plaque was unveiled in Vilnius's Gediminas Castle to designate the point of origin of the Baltic Way chain.

The Sajūdis movement encouraged people to go to the same sections of highway where they had been standing ten years ago. There, freedom-symbolizing bonfires and photo exhibitions were arranged.

Earlier in the day, a group of Lithuanian lawmakers headed for the Latvian capital to participate in the 29th intellectuals' conference called "Baltic Way - Ten years ago, in the Present and in the Next Millennium." Here the top member of the national delegation to the Baltic Assembly, Laima Andrikienė, delivered a report. During their stay in Latvia, the Lithuanian Parliamentary Ministers also joined other decennium events and a special bonfire ceremony at the border checkpoint.

The Lietuvos Paštas Co. (the Lithuanian Post Office Company) introduced into circulation a new set of three postage stamps, as a joint project with the Latvian and Estonian postal administrations, marking this historical Baltic Way event.

Painter Violeta Skabeikienė designed the Lithuanian stamp for the Baltic Way. The stamps depict the flags of the three Baltic countries with stylized pictures of Baltic Way participants.

The countries have issued a half a million of the stamp units and about 100,000 units of the stamp sets. The nominal price of a postage stamp was fixed at one litas (approximately 25 cents), and for the whole set -- six litai (approximately $1.25).

The protest of the Baltics surprised the world and marked the start of "the evil empire's agony", according to the Kauno Diena, a Lithuanian daily. According to Lietuvos Rytas, the Baltic Way was the most successful protest at the militant end of the century and, in the background of the Balkans and Northern Caucasus, it looked as peaceful and effective as Ghandi who led the protest movement in India.

Lithuanian Wins Tour de France

Lithuanian cyclist Diana Žiliutė, 1998 world champion rider, won the women's Tour de France title after the final fourteenth stage outside Paris, the Lietuvos Rytas and the Respublika reported. The 85-km stage brought the participants of the race around Vincennes Castle outside Paris.

Žiliutė, 23 years old, won the 1998 world cycling championships at Valkenburg in the Netherlands. Žiliutė's coach told the Respublika that hope to achieve the title became apparent after the first stage. She led the Tour de France after she won the fourth stage at Laruns in southern France.
Source for news from Lithuania: ELTA News Agency

Oops!

Editor: In the last issue, July/August 1999, in the article entitled, "Hope for Lithuania’s Waters", I mistakenly used Nemunas River where the river’s actual name is Neris River (flowing through Vilnius). Nemunas seemed to stick in my thoughts more profoundly and so I overlooked this error. Thank you to those readers who alerted me to this mistake.