AMERICAN CZECHOSLOVAKIAN CLUB

922 VALLEY STREET, DAYTON OH 45404



OUR 2021 CLUB OFFICIALS





President - Mary Chidester, Vice President - Joe Porkowski, Secretary - Pat O'Brien, Sgt. at Arms - Virgene Mallonee,

Trustees - Jim Weaks, Ray Bruns, and Joe Lawrence



OUR CLUB HISTORY





Adapted from "A Tribute to John and Rita Lipovsky"
Written by Stan Folda, former Vice President



On November 5, 1975, a group of interested Czechs and Slovaks that included Emil Novotny, Emil Jaros, and Johnny Lipovsky, met at Wolf's Party Hall to form an organization that would promote and preserve the music, dancing, culture, traditions, and heritage of the Czech and Slovak immigrants and their descendants. On that day the "American Czechoslovakian Club" was chartered and founded, with Johnny Lipovsky as club President.


The primary goal was to raise enough money to purchase and own a building that would be home to the club, and host cultural and social events. In the early years of the Club, monthly meetings were held in the homes of the members Emil and Kate Jaros, Johnny and Rita Lipovsky, and at other ethnic and social clubs in the area. The membership of the club was knitted together with a monthly newsletter that was published beginning in 1976 by then editor, Rita Lipovsky.



A secondary club goal of cultural preservation was achieved in 1976 with the formation of the "Beseda Dancers" in the basement of Ann Slouffman's home. Donated and homemade costumes adorned the dancers until 1985, when hard work and love of the beautiful folk dances motivated Rita and Johnny Lipovsky to apply for a grant from the Ohio Arts Council to purchase fabric to make the Moravian style costumes that the dancers still wear to this day when performing. In addition, director Charles Cerny, applied for a grant from the Czech Republic to replace those badly worn costumes for the dance group. In 2009, the Beseda Dancers were awarded a grant from the Czech Republic Embassy in Washington, DC to add to their collection of dance costumes that will continue to represent the Czech and Slovak heritage of the group for many years to come.


The fund raising events in 1976 continued, including the Club's participation in the Dayton International Festival, many polka dances and picnics, garage sales and donations, until 20 years later in 1996 the club purchased it's first building at 700 Wyoming St. After much hard work, the club became a gathering place for members, but the legacy was short lived as the building was sold to make way for a corner drug store. Eager to find a new home, club members searched and went back to their roots to find the perfect residence in the former Lithuanian Club in the heart of "Old North Dayton".



Johnny and Rita Lipovsky were the glue that held the club together, and we are thankful for their hard-work and dedication, and that they lived long enough to see the dreams for the club come true, and that we are alive and well in "Lipovsky Hall" at 922 Valley St., Dayton, Ohio.


Rita was neither Czech nor Slovak. She was introduced to the culture of Czechoslovakian at age 13 when her classmate, Betty Zahora invited her home for an authentic "Slovak" dinner. After meeting and marrying Johnny Lipovsky, she devoted her life to Czech and Slovak culture. The Club and it's membership are still active in many community events, festivals, and parades, which include the Dayton International Festival's annual "A World A'Fair". The club also hosts between 15-25 Polka Dances and ethnic dinners annually to continue to promote our Czech and Slovak culture, and cover the building expenses at our home at 922 Valley St., in Old North Dayton.


Today our club prospers, and guided by our current board of directors, the dream of our ancestors lives on.



Johnny and Rita Lipovsky



Mr. & Mrs. Emil Novotny



Performance at the Dayton International Festival - A World A'Fair



CONTACT US



INFO@ACCDAYTON.COM | Phone: 937-222-9771