NOW until February 28, 2025

Participate in the Rhyme Competition

November 2, 2024

Join us for our monthly hike

November 3, 2024

Speaker Series UNESCO Wooden Churches in Slovakia by Renata Bricka

December 8, 2024

Hands-On Christmas Cookie Baking Workshops in Orinda

December 14, 2024

Holidays at Filoli

you need to respond by 11/3 to secure a ticket!

February 1, 2025

Sokol SF Annual Meeting

May 31, 2025

Need a name for the zUS Kyjov visit

All event times listed are in Pacific Time

Sokol San Francisco Monthly Hikes

Briones Reservoir

Saturday November 2, 2024 @ 10 am

Join us for a hike at Briones Reservoir. This will be about 3 mile in an out hike.

No worries! We will not hike the whole 13 miles loop around the lake but should you desire to do that, you can!

This is a moderate hike , the trail is mostly shaded by trees with some beautiful views of the lake.

Dogs can come too :-) Parking is free.

We will meet at the Briones Overlook Staging Area at 10 am

Sokol SF Speaker Series

UNESCO Heritage Wooden Churches of Slovakia

November 3, 2024 @ 7 pm PT

Virtually on Zoom

Folk ingenuity at its best is expressed in the picturesque wooden churches of Slovakia. The perfect harmony of the soul with nature still speaks to us today. Whether Protestant, Catholic, Greek Catholic, or Orthodox, Slovak wooden churches are breathtakingly beautiful. They have exceptional worldwide value, which is why they are part of the UNESCO global human heritage.

Some of them were built 5 centuries ago!

Others were constructed without a single nail! 

There were once over 300 wooden churches in Slovakia.

Sixty remain for us to admire today.

Join Renata Bricka to learn more about this unique part of the inheritance of our ancestors. Renata Helena Bricka, born in Slovakia, moved to the US in 1982. She holds an M.A. in Fine Arts and Art History and an M.A. in Russian Language and Literature. Renata's career has been rich. She has worked as a translator at the Oregon State University, designed opera costumes, and taught costume design and art. She also worked as a docent in the Haggin Museum and currently gives many varied presentations on Art History. Renata Bricka received several awards for her costume design and also an award from the Stockton Arts Commission.

 The event is free of charge, but registration is required.

Hands-On Christmas Cookie Baking and Decorating Classes

Sunday, December 8, 2024

Two sessions offered @ 1:30pm & 3:00pm

Orinda Community Center

There will be two one-hour sessions:

 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

The first session is suitable for kids, but parents must be there with their children.

 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

The second session will be mainly for adults.

Place:

Orinda Community Center

28 Orinda Way, Orinda CA

Please make sure you register for the time you want to attend.

Class is suitable for kids, but parents must be there with their child.

Please register every person who will be attending.

If your plans change please let us know as space is limited and somebody else can go! sokolsfevents@gmail.com

We will be working with traditional Czech Christmas cookies like linecke cookies, gingerbread cookies and vanilkove rohlicky cookies.

Everyone will leave with baked goodies and in a festive mood! You will receive the recipes as well.

Wear comfortable clothing which you do not mind getting some flour, sugar or frosting on :-)

Please plan your arrival 10 minutes before beginning of the class so we can start the class on time! Thank you.

Suggested donation is $10 per person

NOTE: we will also be working with nuts.

If your plans change please let us know as space is limited and somebody else can go! sokolsfevents@gmail.com



Please make sure you register for the time you want to attend.

Holidays at Filoli

Saturday, December 14, 2024 @7 pm

response needed by 11/3!

Join us for a magical evening visiting Filoli. Every room in the house has different holiday decorations and the gardens twinkle and shine in the dark!

This is always a sold-out event, so

Sokol SF members who want to join us for this amazing experience need to respond by November 3, 2024, by paying $5 either

via

PayPal (recipient: sokolsfpay@gmail.com)

or

Venmo (recipient: Sokol SF)

Sokol SF will cover the rest of the entry fee for members only

Please make a note in your payment "Filoli" and send an email by 11/3 to leabronec@comcast.net that you are coming.

If you have not visited Filoli during the holidays, do not miss it!

Excerpt from Filoli: "'Tis the season to make special memories, bask in the vibrant landscape, and spend time together. Step into the magic of the House decked in holiday cheer and explore the winter Garden, where inspiration glows.



During the day, bask in the winter sunlight as it brings out the hues of splendid decor and enchanting Garden displays and sets the tone for the perfect family photo. Indulge in daytime delights with warm drinks by a firepit or stop for a hearty lunch at the Quail Café.

In the evening, enter a dazzling world of holiday cheer as immersive displays and historic, natural beauty bring magic to returning favorites and new experiences."

Renew Your Membership for 2025

or

Become a Member of Sokol SF

Dear Sokol Members

Thank you to so many of you who have already renewed!



Renew your Sokol San Francisco membership now.

2025 membership dues are $45, due by December 31, 2024.

All Sokol SF members who renew and pay the dues by 11/30/2024 will be entered into a drawing and five lucky winners will get $10 Starbucks gift card!



Drawing will be held at our Annual Meeting on February 1, 2025

Save the date

Please note that our organization is run fully by volunteers

with their families, jobs and lives.

Make it easier for them and renew on time!

We now accept Paypal & Venmo in addition to a mailed check.

Please follow these steps to renew easily:

A) renew via mail

using the paper renewal form and a check made out to "Sokol SF."

Download, print, fill out the paper renewal form and mail form and check to:

Sokol SF, P.O. Box 5252, Walnut Creek, CA 94596

B) renew online via PayPal or Venmo

Go to your Paypal or Venmo account.

Send your payment recipient on Paypal: sokolsfpay@gmail.com

Send your payment recipient on Venmo: Sokol SF

Remember to include the full names of all members for whom you are sending payment in the message field. 

If your address, phone, and/or email changed, please include that information in the message as well.

Like last year, we would like to honor our unit's veteran members by providing complimentary membership to our unit to individuals ages 85+. 

These members are not just a crucial link to the past but serve as our current-day mentors and inspire us to continue to remember Sokol's credo and what continues to bring us together today, as it did when Sokol was first established. 

If you fall into this category, please send us an email or call Jara Dusatko to confirm that you would like to renew your membership, and we will take care of the rest.

Benefits of Membership include:

• Event Discounts
• Preferred seating at events
• Pre-registration at popular events, e.g., our Christmas cookie-baking event and winery visits.
• Financial stipend to attend American &/or CZ Slets & Festivals
• Monthly newsletter
• Networking opportunities
• Access to educational & cultural programs
• Creating Czech connections
• Opportunities to practice Czech language skills
• Opportunity to earn a scholarship for the Czech School of California tuition
• Financial support toward entry fees to select events
• Lunch at our Annual Meeting
• ....and more

If you have membership questions, please email Jara Dusatko at sokolsf@gmail.com

Recap of Past Events

Czech and Slovak Festival

Celebrating 120 years of Sokol SF

Saturday, October 12, 2024

in Orinda Community Center & Park

What a great day!

Thank you all who joined us at the Sokol San Francisco Czech and Slovak Festival!

View our Photo and Video Gallery on Google Photos

Thank you to United Moravian Societies, Dance Studio Light and Czech School of California for our entertainment; La Trattoria Bohemia for feeding our bellies, Sacramento Wafer Cookies and Rosie & Franie for koláčky and oplatky! Primator and Lev Lion beers, Vinne Sklepy Lechovice wines, and R. Jelinek lifted our spirits!

A big thank you goes to our MC Pavel from the California Czech and Slovak Club!

We also want to thank our special guests, Amb. J. Olša Jr, Czech Consul General in LA, former President of Slovakia, Madam Čaputová, JuDr. J. Kratky, Special Envoy for Expatriate Affairs, Honorary Consuls of CZ and SK, Barbara and Richard Pivnicka and Orinda Mayor Darlene Gee.

And, a big thank you to our friends from the Czech Consulate in Los Angeles, Tender Loving Collectibles, to Lenka Glassner for presenting her art, to Daniela Mahoney for leading the egg decorating and cornhusk doll-making workshops, to Prof. Ethan Scheiner for reading from his book, "Freedom to Win" and to Mr. Kratky for his presentation and Q&A session on current expatriate affairs.

Over 400 Czechs, Slovaks, their friends, and families attended our festival and anniversary celebration. How wonderful it is to have such a strong community!

Sokolský běh republiky and Picnic

Sunday, October 27, 2024

Ryders Park

Our 4th annual Sokolsky beh republiky was a huge success! We joined Sokol organizations from around the globe in a day of movement and physical activity to celebrate the founding of Czechoslovakia. The event, with its first run in 2019, is quickly becoming a modern tradition among Sokols worldwide.

Our event, hosted by Sokol SF and the Czech School of California, had three running events - children under 10, children 10 - 14, and adults, followed by a group BBQ and lunch.

The morning started was chilly, but then the sun came out, and it was a beautiful day. We had nearly 60 runners this year, 30 in the children's and 30 in the adult categories. Our men's winner was a young 16-year-old, and in both our men's and women's categories, we had a couple visiting California from the Czech Republic who are active members of Sokol there. They were impressed with both your vibrant community and our Sokol spirit. Nazdar!

View Photo Highlights from Sokolsky Beh Republiky

Wondering what American Sokol is planning?

Kurzy češtiny pro členy krajanské komunity konané v ČR

Czech Language Courses and Studies

in the Czech Republic

Thank you Ann Marie for writing about your experience at the Czech language program over the summer!

Applicants to the language program are asked to provide a recommendation from a compatriot organization in which they are active. Sokol SF was happy to support

Ann Marie in her summer experience.



Application deadline for summer 2025 is March 15, 2025

Thank you Mr. Olsa for bringing us this invitation!

Amadeus

San Francisco Symphony - Film with live orchestra

November 29 & 30, 2024

Lights, Camera, Music!: Watch favorite films on the big screen at Davies Symphony Hall as the scores are performed live by the SF Symphony. Experience the tale of Mozart’s music, loves, and rivalries in Amadeus, the winner of eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor. Rated PG

Thank you, Slavko, for bringing us these two articles!

Americká Sokolka

Učitelka a gymnastka Norma Zabka byla 27 let starostkou newyorského Sokola. Stála u základů rytmické gymnastiky v USA, a tak je její jméno zapsáno v Síni slávy americké.

iVysílání České Televize nabízí ke shlednutí dokumentární film



Proměny doktora Tyrše

Čeští vlastenci stvořili ze zakladatele sokolského hnutí bezchybného hrdinu. Jaký ale byl Miroslav Tyrš ve skutečnosti?

Režie: Michael Kaboš. Scénář: Michael Kaboš, Martin Červenka