She regards a large part of her role as that of a connector or go-between for Slovakia and California. “It makes life very interesting for us,” says Barbara. In the Pivnicka household, something relating to their diplomatic roles comes up almost daily. As a result, a large number of major foreign consulates still reside in the tony neighborhood. headquarters would remain in San Francisco. After the United Nations Charter was signed at the Fairmont Hotel in 1945, major countries snapped up mansions in Pacific Heights, assuming that the U.N. The Bay Area’s connection to the tech industry plays a huge part in the large number of foreign diplomats here, but history selected San Francisco as a diplomatic home as well. “The mandate under the Czech statute,” he said, “is to encourage cultural exchange, business and commerce exchange, and be of assistance to Czech citizens who are here.” It’s a role that takes an extraordinary amount of time and personal expense, but one he relishes. The angel investor has been Northern California’s honorary consul general of the Czech Republic since 1995. Richard grew up in a Czech family outside Chicago. When citizens of Slovakia want to transport a beloved pet to or from the Bay Area, they end up on the phone with their honorary consul. But the Pivnickas take their responsibilities seriously, and they laugh at the notion that their low-level diplomatic immunity excuses them from parking tickets.įor Richard Pivnicka, his role as honorary consul manifests itself in everything from helping to arrange Czech film screenings and leading delegations from the Czech Republic through tech tours of Silicon Valley, to assisting backpacking students with stolen passports.īarbara, who is CEO of the San Francisco Global Trade Council, says she has become somewhat of an expert at talking to veterinarians.
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Some skeptics may look at the appointments as an excuse to go to fancy parties, zip through airport customs lines and avoid paying parking tickets. State Department - no Senate approval required - the honorary consuls act as on-the-ground intermediaries between the country and the region over which they preside. Here’s how the honorary consul system works: When a country wishes to have representation in a city or region, but does not wish to fund an entire consulate and staff, the country can appoint an honorary consul. In Slovakia, Barbara Pivnicka says, “they’re math-trained and science-oriented - they need to interact here.” Many international governments consider themselves and their citizens early adopters of technology, and they want to tap into the innovation and rapid growth of the Bay Area’s most famous industry. With 32 honorary consuls, San Francisco ties Los Angeles as the third-largest hub of appointees, just behind New York and Chicago. Most folks have no idea what honorary consuls do exactly, let alone possess an awareness that the tech-centric Bay Area is a hotbed for volunteer diplomats. “We think we’re being of substantial benefit to the citizens of our respective countries,” says Barbara Pivnicka, who serves Slovakia, while Richard does diplomatic duty for the Czech Republic. That’s because Richard and Barbara Pivnicka of Woodside serve as honorary consuls to foreign nations, and they may be the only husband and wife in the United States to do so.
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Tesla owners are a dime a dozen in Silicon Valley, but only one married couple drives twin versions of the high-end sports car with matching diplomatic license plates. Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle Show More Show Less Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle Show More Show Less 3 of3 Richard Pivnicka's license plate shows his official position as an honorary consul. His father was also a consul to Uruguay for many years.
Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle Show More Show Less 2 of3 Honorary Consul Mark Ritchie sits in the lobby downstairs from his office before lunch in San Francisco, California on Wednesday, March 25, 2015. They may be the only husband and wife to hold such positions in the United States. 1 of3 Barbara Pivnicka is an honorary consul to Slovakia, while husband Richard does diplomatic duty for the Czech Republic from their home in Woodside.
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