Interview Series: Mrs. Barbara K. Nelson Honorary Consul

Mrs. Barbara Koval Nelson is Slovenian Honorary Consul for the Midwest, living in Kansas City. She grew up in Pennsylvania in a family, where Slovenian heritage was cherished and Slovenian tradition past onto younger generations. She has been always enthusiastic about Slovenia and has showed her enthusiasm in recent years through a very successful promotion of Slovenian culture within the US.

1. How would you describe your connection to Slovenia?

Growing up in Pittsburgh meant that being Slovenian was not that unusual. My mother's parents came from Slovenia in 1912 and all of her five children knew how proud and sentimental she was about her heritage. Eating her delicious walnut laden nut roll and listening to polka music was just natural to all of us. It wasn't until I went to college at the Pennsylvania State University that I realized that not everyone had a Slavic background. As a journalist for McGraw-Hill's Magazines, including Business Week, I was sent to London and wrote stories from many cities in Europe and even had a bylined column from the London Metals Exchange. During the summers in collage I was a stewardess on Capital, a non scheduled airline that took me mainly to Europe and Africa. Traveling is in my genes and my first trip to Slovenia left a lasting impression on me. I've never stopped wanting to help publicize the country. As a banker's wife, I have met many leaders of business and government and because we travel widely and have a lifetime of volunteering for causes we admire, I was delighted to become an Honorary Consul.

2. As a Slovenian Honorary Consul in Kansas, what part of this position do you experience as the most rewarding and challenging?

I especially enjoy introducing Slovenia to those who aren't certain just where it is on the map. When then Ambassador Žbogar came to Kansas City we visited with the Kansas City Star Editorial Board who wrote an article titled "Little Country with a Big Voice". During a visit with Kansas Governor, Kathleen Sebelius, we discussed the possibilities for increased trade and travel. She was interested in the thriving Slovenian community in Kansas who came to work in the slaughterhouses and meat packing plants in the early 1900's.

3. What are some of your latest engagements to promote Slovenia in Kansas and nationwide?

Many of that loyal group has been supportive of the events such as last summer's showing of the film “Slovenian Women in America” which I have sponsored. We reached many more on an hour long public radio show about Slovenia and the European Union. It's been a pleasure working with the Embassy staff, Slovenians from around the country (such as historian Joe Valencic of Cleveland) and serving with the 28 other Honorary Consuls in our Kansas City Consular Corps. I am currently preparing for this year's participation of Slovenia at the Kansas City Film Jubilee.

4. Do you travel to Slovenia often and do you plan on going soon?

In 2003, my brother and sisters and I traveled to Slovenia and found our Bitenc cousins in Rafolce and the Cevecs in Laseno. How surprised we were when they produced pictures of our American families from years ago and when they pulled out the button box to play traditional songs my mother would have loved. One cousin Anita Jemec traveling to America on business went to Ellis Island and saw where her relatives had been remember on a plaque. Next summer my son, Chris, is planning a trip to Slovenia, and we are hoping to go again very soon.

5. Are there any particular connections between Kansas and Slovenia www.washington.embassy.si Newsletter February 13, 2009 Page 3 that you want to especially point out?

I am especially proud of the Department of Slavic Languages at the University of Kansas and its department head, Marc Greenberg, which offers the only undergraduate four year degree in Slovenian in a major US University. Helping to fund students from Slovenia and from the USA in that program is high on my wish list as an Honorary Consul.

State Department International Religious Freedom Report 2009 - Slovenia