Our first 2021 Sokol SF event is the the Annual Meeting scheduled for Saturday January 9^th at 3:00pm via ZOOM. All members are welcome and we hope that you attend.

We welcome your questions, comments, or suggestions at sokolsf@gmail.com

Would you like to commemorate a milestone, such as a birthday, graduation or other special event? Submit a short paragraph and picture to sokolsf@gmail.com by the 28th of the month and we will include it in the next month's newsletter.

Sat Jan 9th 3pm - 4:30pm 2021 Annual Meeting via Zoom

Sat Jan 16th - Hike at Skyline Gate @ Redwood Regional Park / Oakland

Are you interested in joining the Board of Directors or serving on a committee? Email us at sokolsf@gmail.com

Join us on our next hike in the "Getting to know Bay Area Better" series at Skyline Gate @ Redwood Regional Park 8490 Skyline Blvd., Oakland CA 94611.

We will meet at 8:00am in front of the above Skyline Gate sign. Our walk will commence promptly at 8:10am. We are planning on walking between 3 - 5 miles but attendees may adjust accordingly to their ability. There is a parking lot and street parking is available around the trail entrance on both Skyline Blvd. There are a couple ADA spaces adjacent to the park entrance and a restroom facility available adjacent to the parking lot. Bring water, sunscreen, and your face mask.

Czechs are only now beginning to hear about “Eduard Ingriš, the adventurer.” And really, for all the colossal endeavors of his long life, perhaps it is still fitting that his homeland knows him best for that “Wistful Roar of the Niagara,” a song he wrote when he was only 19, because perhaps with its beautiful artistry and wandering spirit it encompasses the essence of him; and he goes on living Kantuta-like in the firelight of roving campers dreaming of strange worlds. Towards the end of his life, Ingriš resided at South Lake Tahoe, CA where he died in 1991 at age 86. Later his remains were moved to his native village, Zlonice. Ingriš was a friend of Sokol and would often spend time with his Sokol SF friends.

The book, Czech Immigrants and the Sokol Movement, is about the people of the Czech lands who settled in the USA, bringing their ideals and culture, and contributing in many ways to American life. They left their homeland because they were denied independence under Austrian rule during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Their culture included the Sokol movement, a philosophy of fitness through gymnastics (a sound mind in a sound body), which stressed discipline, morality, brotherhood, and equality. The movement was so strong that it helped spark the Czech Legions, an army consisting of men who left the Austrian army in order to fight on the side of the allies during World War I. Their legacy was a major factor that rallied support for the establishment of Czechoslovakia in 1918. This is the story of a determined people who sacrificed, endured, and contributed to the American way of life, especially by their love of country and freedom. The book documents the role of Sokol clubs in facilitating the Czech culture in America by contributing to fitness through gymnastics, as well as the arts.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Sokol Slet Committee proposed and the ASO Executive Board approved postponing the 2021 International Slet (Festival) in Chicago to June 2022. This was a difficult decision since American Sokol have not had to cancel a Slet since WWII.

By Marina Khidekel, Head of Content Development at Thrive Globa

By Bryan Robinson, Ph.D., Psychotherapist in Private Practice and Author of 40 books.

By Renata Gomide, Management Consultant & Content Creator at Ideas for Divas

Work out regularly, work out correctly & work out with Sokol. Tired of your exercise routine? Try the instructional videos for all ages prepared by Sokol trainers in cooperation with well known sports YouTuber Tomas Touha. The best part, you get to practice your Czech too! #cvičímsesokolem