JAV LB APKLAUSOS REZULTATAI
LAC INC SURVEY RESULTS

Most associations have a logical path of accension (into management) for new members (e.g., post-1990 types) or younger members (e.g., those not born in LT or GER). 2. I have seen no long-term plans for JAVLB goals or growth (NATO/EU has overpowered everything). 3. I still see LB activities as ""reactionary"" (worked well during the fast changing 1988-1995 years, but is no longer enough in the 21st century). Stai mano du centai.

First things first: we need to open a wide discussion what is the LAC all about. To upkeep everyday needs of its members is the necessary and the major purpose of the LAC, but it lacks any more inclusive definition and the vision for the future. Many (especially the young) people do not see any distinguished difference between numerous American community organizations and the LAC. Moreover many American organizations offer even more opportunities to advance in everyday life for the being. Our major task I believe is to envision the highlights of the future (it's especially important for young people), to expand the vision of LAC as a prominent organization of American society with attractive force to involve more people (not only Lithuanians!) into LWC movement. We need to become an open, evolving and integral organization to overcome the extinctive mood of self-esteem. Thanks for this survey. I think it could become a very promising start for community-wide discussion of LAC mission to revive the active involvement of constructive and creative people.

Local LB should include reps from active organizations...parapijas, scouts, Ats

Find a role for LB that most understand and will accept

LAC must always strive to stay current with the changing interests and makeup of the community ( ie new immigration & baby boom/ genX) Survey is good, maybe more two way communication is better.

Do what you do better, not necessarily more.

Pick ONE goal. If you try to please EVERYONE, your chances of success will be very low. FOCUS and your chances are good.

Please do not let certain hostile opinions take up space in the press. These few agitators do more damage than any personal experiences, because then only the urban myths remain. The LB should bring in only truly dedicated people (third wave) who have no hostility issues with the dypukai. Best of luck, they're out there!

The gap between the ""waves"" is very much dependent as to the region. In some places it is not very noticeable and some places it is a major disconnect. It depends on the type of cultural / intellectual education these individuals arrived with from Lithuania. What can LAC do about it? Maybe to create and maintain a list of known ""bad apples"" and share it within the community to help avoid/prevent trouble?

I am committed to this community, but don't always feel welcome and would be interested in making it be a more warm and welcoming place for different groups of people. I think that this survey is a great first step and would be interested in knowing your long-term strategic plan. I also know that these struggles are the same that happen in other ethnic communities. The key is to recognize that and be mindful in the future roles and activities. Much of the community for me is about friendships, and finding a way to keep the connections strong and still open for new friendships is critical.

I thank you for not settling for the status quo, but to look for better ways of doing things. This is the best indicator of the future of DCLB I've seen in a while.

I think they are doing just fine already.

Role: to keep Lithuanian culture and traditions. Provide a social outlet. Opportunity to speak ones own language.

Increase the participation of younger generation, i.e. those born in USA and the new immigrants.

LAC, Inc. continues to pressure other American-Lithuanian focused groups to ensure the involvement of the youth in the United States. However, how is the youth supposed to feel welcomed and wanted if the focus is not directed towards them but rather the focus is directed towards those living outside of the United States. We live in the United States, not some place else. If you want the youth to be involved to ensure the survival of the Lithuanian culture, then start focusing more on them and not those who reside outside of the states. Stop stating that you care about the Lithuanian youth in the US because it is clearly shown that fundraisers, donations, and other events are designed to help those in other countries. What about financially helping the youth organizations here without questions asked. You wonder why the youth doesn't attend events. They don't have enough money! Most are college students who are trying to get high educations to get better jobs in this country. I belong to many Lithuanian youth organizations in the US and it is sad to see the youth disappear due to lack of attention and focus on them. You may ask then why do I continue to belong to such organizations? I continue to belong because I am not about to see people who don't know anything about today's youth make the youth disappear. I know of one particular organization who has worked extrememly hard to revive the youth's involvement. Yet this organization receives negativity from the second wave generation and other organizations because it does not agree with the same goals as other organizations (such as raising money and focusing on the youth in other countries, and not agreeing with political issues). Instead, it focuses on the needs and wants of the youth here in the states.

Instead of blaming the youth for being uninterested, why don't you think about how you can make them interested. It is disappointing to see that the youth is looked upon as the downfall when in fact the youth is not at fault. Who is? Think about it. Help. Don’t blame.

Support young people educational and cultural activities.

I think getting involved more with the jaunimo sajunga would be beneficial. The youth are the future, and without them then any activities JAV LB does is useless. Allow the younger generation to participate in LAC management. Accept their opinion occasionally even if it does not match our own. At least study why the younger people often stay outside the LAC.

I think its been concentrating too much effort on Politics. Its support for its own youth espcially american-lithuanians appears rather small compared to its support for lithuanians of other countries (including lithuania). Although this might not seem to be the to to those in charge, as a member of american youth organizations, I feel like I am constantly asked to raise money and do stuff which doesn't come back to me in return. As a successful student with good income potential, I feel i'm not going to support the Lithuanian American Community, Inc now or in the future - as it no longer represents ""local"" issues (even though it pretends too). It appears beuracratic and self supporting with only meager support for True ""Lith-Americans"". When they say the youth is the future - they better think twice about why the youth isn't involved anymore. I bet the youth is interested. But i'll bet they’re ignored.

Kulturos Taryba turetu daugiau demesio skirti pakrasciams, o ne vien tik centrui. Skirti lesu atlikejams is Lietuvos apsilankyti ne tik centruose. Nesijaucia jokio rysio tarp centro ir kitu bendruomeniu.

Recognize that there is life outside Chicago. Involve the younger generation residing elsewhere in the country - encourage 30-40 year olds to get involved in LB, not just at the local level, but also at national.

They say all politics is local. The needs have to be met on a local level. What is a burning issue in Chicago may be a non-issue in Seattle. How the LAC can improve in a given location depends so much on the pool of people available, the facilities available, the perceived needs of the members, etc. etc.

Do more to attract people living further away from Lith centers.

LB should make a greater effort to involve Liths living outside (and far from) the traditional ""ghettoes"", like Chicago, Philly, etc. Other than that, Gecys administration is doing a good job.

Each Lithuanian-American Community Chapter should have officer in charge to organize help needed for new arrivals (apartment and job search, basic information about community, etc)

Butu puiku jei kokie sporto, ypac krepsinio zaidimai butu tarp sakykim Lietuvos bendriju is ivairiu miestu. Pavyzdziui Seattlo Lietuviai pries Vancouverio, Portlando ir t.t.

More advertisement to the outside-many Lithuanians do not know that our community exists or that we really have a lot to offer. More parking for cars.

Start volunteer groups for certain activities, who can be asked to participate when needed

Use older generation volunteers to do projects to record the history of the 2nd wave of immigrants, their cultural achievements and their collective memory.

Make an inventory of our cultural possesions, like churches, buildings, Lithuanian Clubs, Libraries, Archives, and make sure they do not get discarded. Support those that are worth while, and close or sell those which have become a burden.

Need stronger political lobies to obtain finances to keep our cultural activities going. We need to find finances available at the State Department and Congressional level.

Jeigu Lietuviu Bendruomene (LAC) rimtai nori apsiimti JAV politine veikla, tai Bendruomene (LAC) rimtai financiniai paremtu is pasamdytu profesijonalus dirbti savo bustine Vasingtone. Kol kas, tas nera daroma. Kol tas nebus padaryta, Bendruomenes (LAC) JAV politine veikla nebus rimtai priimta Amerikos Kongreso rumose.

Have a professional paid executive director to co-ordinate activities, etc.

Proper role: Develop an English-speaking component of LB, then develop a weekly English-language section of ""Draugas,"" so that all Lithuanians read the same paper.

Lithuanian American Youth Association is important to me

I would be really nice to have very strong Lithuanian communities, where people could help each other in a lot of different ways, like employment, immigration, connections, you name it. Informal picnics where everybody brings food and drinks, socializes in a relaxed atmosphere, is a wonderful idea.

I think the Lithuanian American society should have more sport activities. (Besides Basketball)"

We would like to come together for another Song Festival in the United States since we participated in all of them held her in the US. Good article was in Draugas

It would be interesting to see rock groups and other performers from Lithuania, Lithuanian movies and also a place to buy Lithuanian products (besides amber, etc)

Need Children's athletic program in the Pacific North West (Seattle and other cities).

Seems not everyone can or wants to make a time commitment. We are only Liths on weekends, which time we have to share with family and personal errands. This lack of time may never go away. One thing that may help is a center that is open on a regular basis -- this of course is very expensive since no one can really be expected to volunteer their life for the cause. It would be nice to have a center with paid staff. Just an idea.

I think the role of the community is to provide opportunities for lithuanians in the area to keep in touch with their national heritage by providing ways to participate in traditional events/activities and meet other lithuanians.

I would like more facilitated small group events where we have a topic to discuss (not necessarily political), or maybe even a book club, establish play groups, babysitters exchanges (I don't have children but know that some of the new Liths don't have anyone to leave their kids with and they can't go out for a night on their own). On that same theme, what about small group nights with Lithuanian videos or capitalizing on the expertise of people in the area-- not just politically, b/c I feel this is covered VERY well, but what about other people's talents.

How about social groups/dinner parties for younger individuals, hands-on classes (like marguciai, cooking, etc), I would recommend nametags and more introductions. At events, invite people to greet their neighbor, etc. Invite people to serve on an organizing committee for one event (not just to be an exec member) this would encourage people to take on some leadership but not feel obligated to dedicate tons of time. I think there could be more focus on young families and having venues for them- this attracts kids and the parents meet. This is esp true for those who don't send their children to Sat. school.

I think that would be good to take the information when somebody is living in USA (maybe in the USA Embassy?, when they ask about visa?) . I knew about your organization only now and I live in USA almost 1 year.

How about providing a simple service letting you know where other lithuanians are in your area. Kind of like classmates.com where you can find past classmates and communicate. That starts the process of getting back together and possbily forming new groups.

As nesu lietuvis, bet gyvenau lietuvoje dviem metams. As tik noriu laikitis savo rysiu su lietuva. Ar yra vieta man jusu bendruomeneje?

We should be able to access a directory that tells us what Lithuanians live or work by community. Help to build networks and support.

I think it would very useful to create a communication network, where people would be able to express their concerns, share their thoughts, extend themselves to help and to support each other.

Maybe a step would be to establish a plan and invite people to share talents in an informal setting (for example at people's homes -6 people or so). I never feel I have the opportunity to meet and develop relationships with people on a deeper level b/c the events tend to be larger (or at least the ones I attend) and not knowing people creates distance among the community.

How about setting up home stays: where new Lithuanian immigrants can stay in the homes of longer-term residents and experience new cities, new lifestyles, etc. while the ""old-timers"" can brush up on their language skills and get a better idea of what ""new"" Lithuania is all about. Making contacts is key to survival/success. Let's start a home-stay/exchange program which can include both recent immigrants to the US staying in a US Lithuanian home, as well as hosting Lithuanian citizens, and vice versa: American Lithuanians will have a place to stay in Lithuania (rather than burdening their relatives who still live there). An exchange ""bill board"" could be posted on the web. Screening of the households/exchange folks could be an issue, but not an impossible task.

Provide information via nat'l mail/email list about upcoming activities, eg, summer camps (Dainava or others), language classes, etc. Perhaps organize local communtites to offer housing or other contacts to people visiting/ attending classes.

A calendar of events for the year would be helpful in order to plan in advance (I understand this is difficult sometimes) however, picnics, 2/16 etc the dates could be set aside in advance more so people could put them on their calendars.

Goal is to keep Lith culture alive in USA. Many mixed marriages - kids don't speak Lith. Can't someone make/sell a language learning CD/DVD for computers to appeal to younger kids.

I'm a 3rd generation American, proud of my heritage and interested in Lithuania and related activities. I can get by in Lithuanian but am the only one of my 10 cousins who can do so. All Lithuanian clubs and activities I've been involved in tend to dismiss the American-born Lithuanian. By the very questions you ask, e.g. relations between the 2nd and 3rd wave, it seems not much has changed, despite the fact that this survey is in English. Pretty soon there will be no 4th wave of immigration and we'll all be 2nd and 3rd generation Americans who speak English and know little of our heritage. What is the LAC doing to plan and embrace this inevitable future?

Please address needs of families where one of the parents is not Lith. For example, nothing in this survey gives me the idea that this issue is being considered.

SO MANY LITHUANIANS HAVE ASSIMILATED INTO THE AMERICAN LANGUAGE THAT KEEPING THE LITHUANIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE ALIVE IS INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT. THE NEXT GENERATION OF LITHUANIANS (THOSE WHO WERE BORN TO LITHUANIANS WHO CAME AFTER WWII) ARE NOW HAVING CHILDREN AND CANNOT THEMSELVES SPEAK LITHUANIAN VERY WELL. WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE IN THE NATIVE LANGUAGE, IT WILL BECOME THAT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN THE CULTURE. KIDS FIND IT TOO CONVENIENT TO SPEAK ENGLISH AMONGST THEMSELVES AND THE PARENTS DON'T ENFORCE SPEAKING LITHUANIAN. AT THE MOMENT, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE REALLY IS ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS, UNLESS EVERYONE BECOMES FULLY AWARE OF THE DYING LANGUAGE. AT THAT TIME, THOUGH, IT MAY BE TOO LATE. I HAVE HEARD THAT SOME HAVE SAID THAT IT WILL BE THE WAVE OF NEW LITHUANIANS COMING TO NORTH AMERICA THAT MAY SAVE THE LANGUAGE, BUT THEY ARE SO HUNGRY FOR AMERICAN INFLUENCE THAT I SEE IT ONLY AS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THEY START TO COMPLETELY ASSIMILATE INTO THE AMERICAN CULTURE THEMSELVES. IT IS UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE VALUES OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO KEEP THE LANGUAGE ALIVE.

As a 3rd generation american of Lithuanian heritage, I find it very frustrating that there is almost always an assumption that everyone at a Lith community event speaks the language. I wish I did but I don't.

I am also raising our daughter bilingual and would very much like for her to participate in the Lithuanian community and hope that she feels comfortable there. Activities for children who are not fluent in the langauge are necessary to make them feel welcome, involved, and connected with their heritage.

My parents were immigrants and I was born in the US. I have married an American, and I know that he feels uncomfortable going to some of the events (he does not speak the language). It would be nice to have activities for ""mixed"" couples or a group we could join with people in the same situation. That way, we could enjoy the events, and he wouldn't feel like such an ""outsider"". At the same time, I don't want to feel like a 2nd class lithuanian b/c of our situation.

I have a hard time relating to current issues facing immigrants-- I am the great-grandson of ""first-wave"" immigrants (ca. 1910). I enjoy listening to Lithuanian folk groups like Sutaras, Jievaras, Ula, Vydraga, etc. and would like to get them to perform in the USA. I am also trying (slowly) to learn the language (although it's extremely difficult since my grandparents passed away). I thought the organization might be a place to meet others to speak with (practice).

My wife is Lithuanian, I am not. The local Seattle community and Lithuanian cultural events provide an important outlet for her. This allow me to practice and keep up my Lithuanian language skills.

I also think that some of the problems with keeping younger people is that they have spouses who may not speak Lithuanian and how do you work to make it inclusive. That said, the new Liths may have Eng language difficulties.

The Lithuanian American Community consists of a great deal of Lithuanian Americans (probably, predominately) that preceeds either of the above mentioned groups. If you don't have something of interest to them, your numbers will be very limited.

Establish some type of forum for open discussion between the two waves of immigrants and finding common ground. We need to understand each other better to eliminate the ""we"" and ""them"" feeling.

In my experiences, there is no interest on the part of the 3rd wave to interact with the 2nd wave. The 2nd wave are viewed as 'Americans' by native Lithuanians. This can limit the interest and desire of the descendents of the 2nd wave to spend their free time pursuing Lithuanian activities. Why invest your energy into a group who views you as an outsider when there are so many other, more rewarding, things one could be doing.

I think the Lith community is only as strong as the sense of community on a local level because that is where we live. Locally here in WA state we have an incredibly diverse Lith population comprising old/new waves and many ""mixed"" families. I would characterize our relations as mostly harmonious and always vibrant. I know it personally enriches my family life, and we treasure our involvement in the Lith community. Nationally we can pay dues etc for betterment of Lietuva, but lietuviai in Lietuva should concern themselves with the running of the country, for us in US I see a continuance of honoring heritage as primary, and not political involvement.

Teach the new immigrants about religion and moral values. Entice them to join the church as a regular member, not only on holidays.

The differences between the two communities of immigrants, in the way of thinking and understanding Lithuanian history, Lithuanian culture, and in evaluating the period of the Soviet occupation, are too extreme and irreconcilable.

I believe that the relationship differences between the different waves of immigrants is a normal and natural and not necessarily negative phenomenon that will occur because of cultural, financial, social, ethical and yes - age differences.

Nereikia sitaip skaldyti bendruomeniu ir skirstyti i pirmos ar antros kartos emigrantus.Visi lietuviai.

My grandparents immigrated before WW I so there should be a question about relationships of 3rd generation descendants of immigrants with current immigrants.

MOST IMPORTANT IS THE NEED FOR LITHUANIANS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS TO WORK TOGETHER TO HELP PROMOTE COMMUNITY, INSTEAD OF USING LITHUANIAN ORGANIZATIONS AS A TOOL FOR STATUS AND SELF-SERVING PURPOSES. UNLIKE THE JEWS, WHO ARE EXCELLENT AT SUPPORTING ONE ANOTHER NO MATTER WHAT, WE LITHUANIANS ENJOY HURTING, EXCLUDING, AND DE-MORALIZING ONE ANOTHER. IF WE ARE TO KEEP LIETUVA ALIVE WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.

RATHER THAN ISOLATE AMERICAN LITHUANIANS FROM LIETUVA, WE NEED TO FOCUS MORE ON CREATING EVER CLOSER TIES WITH LIETUVA. THIS, IN THE HOPES TO ATTRACT THE FLOW OF PEOPLE MOVING BACK TO LIETUVA TO WORK AND LIVE. LIETUVA WOULD GREATLY BENEFIT FROM YOUNG INTELLECTUALS AND PROFESSIONALS RETURNING TO LIETUVA.

I grew up thinking that my parents, my sisters and I would return to Lithuania. We were raised as refugees, not immigrants. I think that immigrants who come now should plan to stay and become Americans. They should assimilate. Otherwise, their children will have a horrible experience as I did. We were neither here not there. When I go to a Lithuanian function, I feel sad afterward. It's okay for all of us, immigrants included, to learn Lithuanian history and know as much of the language as we can manage. But we should aim at becoming like Greek-Americans, Italian-Americans etc. We should not be singing the Lithuanian national anthem as ""our"" anthem. America is our tevyne.