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The Tesla Memorial Society
21 Maddaket, Southwyck Village
Scotch Plains, New Jersey 07076

William H. Terbo
Executive Secretary

Maria Godfors
Treasurer

Nikola Tesla: 1856 - 1943

Principles of the Tesla Memorial Society, Inc. Regarding Cooperation, Sponsorship and Endorsement

Society Executive Secretary, William Terbo, spent 22 days in Yugoslavia (Serbia) of which five full days were spent in Belgrade (plus two days involved in arrival and departure). The better part of two days was spent in meetings and events at the Nikola Tesla Museum (Muzej Nikole Tesle) in Belgrade, and with Director, Mme Marija Sesic.
At the Nikola Tesla Memorial	On Tuesday, September 17th, William and Boyana Terbo placed a large floral display at the foot of the pedestal on which is placed the golden sphere holding the ashes of Nikola Tesla. The pedestal and sphere are located in a place of honor, a draped and paneled large alcove, in a quiet area of the first floor of the Museum. The ribbon attached to the floral display read in part "Your Family Remembers You and the World Remembers You". A video and photographs were made of the presentation for press, family and Society archives.
With schoolchildren at the Museum	The Nikola Tesla Museum is a popular destination for school class field trips. The Museum provides professional tour presentations for these groups. Every day several classes visit the Museum to absorb something of the presence of this icon through his personal effects, to participate in demonstrations of the Tesla Coil, the robot boat and other exhibits, and to see the honors given Tesla from around the world. While at the Museum, to the delight of their teachers, Mr. Terbo took time to interact with a 5th Grade (11 and 12 year olds) History class and, later, with a 6th Grade combined Physics and English classes. The children were enthusiastic and asked many thoughtful and serious questions both about Tesla and Mr. Terbo. Each group insisted on individual autographs and each teacher requested a written paragraph to bring back to school as a reminder of the visit. This contact was very special for both the students and Mr. Terbo.
This year represents the 50th year that the Museum has been open to the public. The principal founder of the Museum was Dr. Sava Kosanovic, nephew of Nikola Tesla and former Yugoslav Ambassador to the United States and the United Nations. Mr. Terbo's father, Nicholas Trbojevich, and Dr. Kosanovic were very close in several ways: close in age, as first cousins raised nearby, and both went away to University in Budapest. (Society Executive Board member Charlotte Muzar was secretary to Dr. Kosanovic both in New York at the time of Tesla's death and later in Washington during his tenure as Ambassador.) Mr. Terbo had ample time to meet and talk to Dr. Kosanovic on his visits to Detroit during his time in the U.S. in the late 1940's and early 1950's.
At Dr. Kosanovic's memorial	Later on September 17th, William and Boyana Terbo placed a large bouquet on Dr. Kosanovic's memorial at the Belgrade Central Cemetery. The memorial is prominently located on the right-hand side of the central walkway about 50 meters from the Cemetery Grand Entrance. Photos were taken for family and Society archives.
With Mr. Vasilije Perendija	Mr. and Mrs. Terbo had the opportunity to visit with Mr. Vasilije Perendija, a 90-year old gentleman who was an assistant to Dr. Kosanovic in London and Charge de Bureau at the Embassy in Washington. Mr. Perendija has a clear recollection of those times and told many stories of the people involved in that turbulent postwar period. Of special personal interest were memories of Mr. Terbo's aunt and niece of Tesla, Dr. Mica Trbojevic, who served as Attache and Hostess at the Embassy during Dr. Kosanovic's tenure. A video and photos were taken for personal and Society archives.
With Mme. Sesic.	The museum, under Director Mme Sesic, has accelerated publishing books and other material using the Museum archives. Recent items include: Nikola Tesla, Tagebuch Aus Strasbur 1883-1884 (Diary from Strasbourg), 251 pages, ©2002, ISBN 86-81243-03-9 (German and Serbian) Nikola Tesla in Belgrade 1892, 96 pages, ©2002, ISBN 86-81243-04-7 (Serbian) The Orders, From Nikola Tesla Legacy, 80 pages, ©2001, ISBN 86-81243-02-0 (Color Photos of Awards, Medals and Diplomas, text in English and Serbian) Catalogue ©2002, ISBN 86-81243-05-5 (15 Tesla Photos, captions in English and Serbian) These items are available for sale at the Museum (Krunska 51, 11000 Belgrade, Yugoslavia). Prices and whether they can be ordered by mail (and shipping charges for overseas delivery) are not known. Copies were acquired for family and Society archives.
With Momcilo Simic	A meeting was held with Society European Correspondent (and ex officio Executive Board member) Momcilo Simic to coordinate current activities and plan toward future projects. Mr. Simic is Department Director of Radio Television Serbia and represents Yugoslavia in many technical and scientific committees of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva.
An interview was given to Vecrnje Novoceti, the newspaper with the largest circulation in Yugoslavia. The half-page interview, with color photo, appeared in the Friday, September 27 issue. A television interview was given to a Serbian regional TV network. The 50-minute taping is to be edited into a 25-minute program with voice-over interpretation to Serbian. It is scheduled for an early October broadcast.
Tesla Stamps	A new (2001) 100-Dinar (about $1.60 US) postage stamp featuring the 1890 image of Tesla holding the wireless light bulb is available at Yugoslav Post Offices. Samples of this stamp and a (1993) 40,000-Dinar (old currency, no value) stamp with a similar, but painted image (bought at a philatelic store) were acquired for the family archive.

TMSou 2005