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| Issue: 7 |
December 7, 2009 |
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 I had the pleasure of visiting Lithuania
with the Pennsylvania National Guard, who have taken the lead in a federally
mandated partnership program that matches ex-Soviet republics with sister
states in the U.S.A. It was a special
honor for me as this is where my parents were born and it is the first language
I learned to speak. Thank you to
General Jessica Wright and her wonderful staff, especially Major Christopher
Ferrara and Lieutenant Colonel Steve Timmons, for making this trip possible and
for inspiring this issue of the newsletter.
General
Jessica Wright, Krista Bard, General Vaiciuliuas Photo: Rimas Gedeika
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| Select Lithuania |
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 The Lithuanian Development Agency just produced a great new video to give you a quick overview of the
country.
For an even quicker overview, think: high
literacy, large IT workforce, English fluency, great quality of life, the
geographic center of Europe, beautiful architecture, hip and handsome.
Napoleon loved the capital city Vilnius -
he said he wished he could take St. Anne's Gothic molded brick church home in
the palm of his hand.
When you decide to visit, plan to stay in the wonderful Relais Chateaux hotel "Stikliai"
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| Economy |
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· Lithuania's economy is beginning to recover, according
to a recent Alfa report.
Recent quarter-on-quarter GDP results have shown 6 percent growth,
the highest in the EU. Government
spending cuts in 2009-2010 are expected to further strengthen GDP expansion. Lithuania's economic ministry
has made courting foreign direct investment (FDI) a top priority.
 · One of the strongest sectors, IT, leads the way with Barclays Bank establishing a major Technology Centre in Vilnius. "Vilnius is especially attractive because of a huge number of
highly educated people who have talent in IT," noted Jim Dimore, head of
Barclays Bank's IT department. The
US company Strategic Staffing Solutions (S3) is handling the executive
search and staffing for the new Barclays Technology Centre, due to open this
summer.
Amy Vasquez
and Jeff Nelson of S3 meet with new US Ambassador to Lithuania Anne Derse
(center)
· The Lithuanian government is seriously committed to
nationwide technological advancement, planning an EU-funded project to provide
residents in remote rural areas with broadband connections. Within 2 years, over 98% of the
country's territory will have broadband coverage. The US Trade Development Agency recently hosted a
group of Lithuanian officials to promote the use of US-sourced ICT equipment.
· This little country is big on style, with a burgeoning
fashion industry. Of note:
Christian Dior has made men's suits in Lithuania, the US ladies retailer Blue
Fish uses Lithuanian linen, and the Lithuanian designer Juozas Statkevicius/Josef Statkus is making couture fashions for European royalty
as well as selling in Bergdorfs, represented by the tony Greg Mills in
NYC.
 · "Handmade in Lithuania" - art and craft here is worldclass quality. A trend-tracking blogger has put
together a clever catalog of her top ten favorite Lithuanian gifts available
via various ecommerce sites.
Ula amber necklace available at www.ona.com
· Anyone bought an IKEA couch lately? The slipcovers are sewn to order
in Lithuania!
· Toasting all these successes, say "I
sveikata" (to your health) with Svyturys beer, winning World Beer Cup
bronze, silver and gold medals, now being imported in to the US.
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| Holiday Spirit |
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For it is in giving that we receive.
St. Francis of Assisi
We all have our favorite charities. Mine are these two.
The Sisters of the Immaculate Conception work in the
states and in Lithuania, here running senior care facilities and there shelters for women and orphans. I am especially grateful to them because my mother was sick when I was growing up and they raised me - so if there is any good in me, they get some credit.
Known in the US as "the godfather of American avante-garde cinema," Jonas Mekas is my hero. His numerous films and publications are riveting - MOMA is showing his and other Lithuanian filmmakers' work this December 4-13 in NYC (let me know if you are going and want company!).
Mekas' vision for renovating the nonprofit Anthology Film Archives in NYC is inspiring. Here's a man who came to the US with nothing, and now not only rocks the world with his own visual poetry but leads others internationally in preserving, studying, and exhibiting film and video.
 Thank you for helping these dreams grow. May you dream big too, and be blessed with realizing your finest ideals.
Krista Butvydas Bard
The first Butvydas, Grand Duke of Lithuania 1291-1295
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· Award-winning international photographer Julia Blaukopf
"
Sarunas led the Lithuanian national team to bronze medal
In case you've been to Baltimore's waterfront and wondered how a bust of 
Viewed by gazillions and recently honored by the 
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