Annual Report 1999

 

I. General

1)  Board of Directors
The National Council Act nr 248-1995 Sb. limits the term in office of Board members to a three years. A board member can be re-appointed for a second term, but after two consecutive terms a board member cannot be re-appointed for a period of 1 year. The Act also regulates that after the first year of existence, one-third of the board has to resign, in the second year another one-third. For this reason, Dr. Eva Jelinkova resigned from the Board and was replaced by Dr. Josef Vochozka.

2)  Employment and staff members
In the year 1999, the Society did not employ personnel. All Society activities, including those conducted by the director, were done so on a voluntary basis or, in one case, within the framework of a civil service as replacement for military service.

II. Activities in 1999

The year 1999 was mainly used as a period to ensure local support for the activities of the Society and to continue with the development and first implementations of projects started in 1998 and 1999.

1)  Restoration of Jewish Cultural Heritage in South Bohemia
Applications for funding for this project have been without success in the year 1999. The Town Council of Jindrichuv Hradec, key municipality in this project, has guaranteed a grant of 250 000 CZK as matching fund as soon as other funding becomes available.

2)  Tempus project
An application for a PHARE-funded Tempus Institution Building Joint European Project was developed in 1998 and submitted January 29, 1999. The Project proposed to provide a training programme targeted at officers responsible for Nature Conservation and Environment and for Regional Panning and Development at the Czech County Offices, as part of the Czech Pre-Accession Strategy for entering the European Union. In November 1999, the EU decided that the project was not selected. Funds for 1999 had been comparable low, and this year only 6 projects could be funded. Our proposal was number 8 on the list of eligible projects.

2) Project for the Kojakovice Peasant Museum
Together with the Trebon Biosphere Reserve Administration, the Rozmberk Society is involved in trying to develop a strategy for sustainable tourism in the Trebon Biosphere Reserve, as part of a wider effort to start a Local Agenda 21 initiative in this region. Helping develop educational trails in the Trebon Biosphere Reserve form a part of the activities. The main activity is the initiative to established a small village museum in the protected village of Kojakovice. Establishing the museum in this village can help conserve the rural cultural heritage of this region and also help provide additional jobs and new economic opportunities for people from the region. Revitalizing small-scale agricultural activities in restored historic farms will form an integral part of the project. These activities are still in a planning stages and the Society is trying to encourage other local partners become involved in this project too.

Proceedings VII^th International Otter Colloquium.
Work on the Proceedings continued throughout the year 1999. The International Fund for Animal welfare has provided a grant of US $ 1 000 in support of this project.

III Future activities

In the year 2000 and further, the Society will focus on realizing its two main projects, that is, the Kojakovice Project and the Jewish Heritage Project. In particular, the educational and community revitalization potential of these projects will be further developed and strengthened.

The Proceedings for the VIIth International Otter Colloquium are expected to be completed in the year 2000.

IV. Financial Year 1998

The full financial report concerning the expenditure of the financial year 1999, including the auditors approval, is available upon request. The main points of the report are mentioned here.

1) Income and expenditure
The Society received 62 250 CZK in the form of grants and donations from the   International Fund for Animal Welfare and the Nadace Partnerstvi through the Greenways-Zelene stezky program.

The Society received 66 000 CZK for services provided in furtherance of its projects (complementary operations).

A soft loan from the Founders to the Society covered expenses in the year 1999 in excess of the mentioned income.

2) Audit
The audit firm Audit, Dane H+V s.r.o. has completed the financial administration of the Society and submit the tax return over 1999. The financial administration for the year 1999 has been approved by an independent, registered auditor.

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Dr. Vilem Zachleder                                   Drs Robert Dulfer

President Rozmberk Society                     Director Rozmberk Society