Lithuanian World Community elects new chairperson and management

The XVI Lithuanian World Community (PLB) Seimas has elected Dalia Henke for a second term as its chairwoman. The new management will be comprised of Lithuanian community representatives from three continents, according to a press release from the PLB.

"The Lithuanian World Community Seimas clearly stated three avenues of continued action – nurturing and supporting Lithuanity and giving back to the Homeland – Lithuania. In order to achieve these goals, one of the most important tasks is to create the possibility for Lithuanians across the world to retain their citizenship," the re-elected PLB chairperson stated.

The community's management will also be comprised of Vaidas Matulaitis (PLB public relations, lives in Estonia), Rolandas Žalnierius (public and special project affairs, lives in Latvia), Eglė Garrick (finance and fund gathering, lives in Australia), Alvija Černiauskaitė (education, lives in the UK), Jūratė Caspersen (culture, lives in Switzerland), Sigita Šimkuvienė-Rosen (PLB development and sustainability, lives in the USA), Rimvydas Baltaduonis (economic cooperation, lives in the USA), Laurynas R. Misevičius (sports, new area of PLB representation, lives in the USA), Edmundas Putrimas (Pastoral guidance and South American issues, lives in Canada), Vladas Oleinikovas (Lithuanian World Youth Association board chairman, lives in the UK) and Vida Bandis (PLB representative in Lithuania).

Lithuanians from 33 countries around the world gathered in the Seimas palace in Vilnius on July 8-11. They discussed and resolved relevant PLB organisational and developmental questions, with especial attention to increased interaction with Lithuania.

This year marks exactly 60 years since the Lithuanian World Community Seimas first gathered in 1958 in New York. The occasion was marked by a greeting to the world Lithuanians from President Valdas Adamkus.

The Lithuanian World Community events began on July 1^st with the event 100 faces of Lithuania – unite Lithuania in Vilnius City Hall Square, which was backed by Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė, while the event ambassador was Andrius Mamontovas. The unique event presented 35 Lithuanian communities. On July 1-11, a unique world Lithuanian artists' exhibition was organised in the City Hall Square. World Lithuanians also actively participated in the Lithuanian Song Festival.