Paulis Lazda, a professor of history and founder of the Occupation Museum of Latvia, has been honored with the Excellence in Service Award by the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire. Lazda joined the faculty in 1967, the university said in a press release.

In 1991, he established the university’s study abroad program in Latvia. Two years later, he helped set up a scholarship to bring students from Latvia to the university.

And in 1994, he began the annual Symposium on East Europe, which brings members of the university community in contact with internationally recognized experts on the region.

Lazda was honored with the Order of Three Stars, Latvia’s highest civilian honor, in 2000.

Latvian citizens living abroad have until Sept. 7 to submit documents that would allow them to vote by mail in the upcoming parliamentary elections, according to Central Elections Commission in Rīga.

Instructions posted on the commission’s Web site affect Latvians who are temporarily living abroad as well as thousands of Latvians who hold dual citizenship.

According to the instructions, voters abroad may either show up in person at a designated polling place on Oct. 5 or cast their ballots by mail. To vote by mail, voters must submit a written request to the nearest election district office along with their Latvian passport or registration issued by the Latvian Department of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.

A total of 35 election district offices have been established abroad, according to the commission, including two in the United States, two in Canada, two in Australia and one in Great Britain. The elections commission provides a full listing online.

A resolution urging NATO membership for the Baltic states is stalled in a subcommittee of Congress, so Baltic-Americans are being asked to contact their legislators to push for its adoption.

Valdis Pavlovskis, president of the Baltic American Freedom League, issued a call to action regarding HCR 116 in a letter circulated via e-mail.

In the meantime, BAFL appears concerned that another resolution might gain more favor, although the group says it supports both. HCR 116, which recommends integration of the Baltics into the NATO defense alliance, was introduced April 26, 2001, by Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.). The resolution was referred to the House Committee on International Relations’ Subcommittee on Europe.

While HCR 116 has seen little movement for more than a year, the chair of the subcommittee, Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.) on June 27 put forth another resolution, HCR 468, which supports NATO expansion but fails to stress membership for the Baltics.

“The odds are against us, but then when has that stopped Balts from doing the right thing,” Pavlovskis asked in his letter. Observers say Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are sure to be invited to joing NATO during the alliance’s November summit in Prague.

BAFL, which recently revamped its Web site, is one of several lobby groups pushing Congress to support Baltic membership in NATO.