April 13, 2025

Speaker Series na téma Distanční volby with JUDr. Jiří Krátký.M.A., Zvláštní zmocněnec pro krajanské záležitosti -

May 3, 2025

Visit and hike - Filoli House and Gardens in Woodside

May 18, 2025

Online Cooking Demonstration

May 31, 2025

Music Performance Group ZUŠ Kyjov, Redwood City

June 7, 2025

Sokol SF and Czech School of CA picnic

All event times listed are in Pacific Time

Share Your Outdoor and other Ideas with Us

Lead a Hike, Suggest an Event, Spark an Idea

While it may seem like April is devoid of our monthly group hike, this is actually a golden opportunity for you to take the reins and share your passion for the great outdoors!

If you have a favorite hiking spot in the beautiful Bay Area that you've been longing to explore with our community, why not step up and lead an adventure?



Your vision could inspire others and create unforgettable memories. Simply reach out to us at sokolsfevents@gmail.com, and let’s make it happen!

Additionally, if you have any other exciting ideas for events that could bring our Czech American community together, we are all ears!



Your creativity and leadership could spark a wave of enthusiasm and connection—let’s transform this moment into something extraordinary!

Sokol SF Rhyme Competition

Dear Sokol SF Members and Friends,

Those of you who enjoy reading poetry know the power of this artform in capturing emotions and expressing language.   

For three months this spring, we asked our readers to submit poems on any topic using any style in the language they felt best communicated their words, even encouraging our poets to employ "code switching" (criss-crossing languages in writing). We were thrilled to receive 8 submissions from writers of all ages, which we are including in this month's newsletter.

Though we believe that each of our poets are winners in their own right, we encourage you to read their rhymes and poems and we invite you to rate them. You will receive a separate Sokol SF April 2025 Poem Issue email on Wednesday and can do your reviews and voting by clicking on the corresponding "Select" button.

We hope to see all of the writers and also you - our judging panel in person at Sokolsky Beh Republiky on Sunday, October 29, 2025!

To enjoy all the poems in a book form, just click on the button bellow

Sokol SF is hosting a virtual presentation and Q&A with JUDr. Jiří Krátký, M.A.

Zvláštní zmocněnec pro krajanské záležitosti

Ministerstvo zahraničních věcí České republiky



Special Envoy for Expatriate Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic

Sunday, April 13, 2025

@11am PT online

The topic will be Distanční volby and how Czech citizens living abroad will be able to vote by mail starting in the Fall 2025

Presentation and Q&A will be in Czech



For those not in California, please adjust for your local time

Máte-li otázky pro Judr. Jiřího Krátkého, M.A. týkající se distančních voleb, prosíme o jejich zaslání na adresu sokolsfevents@gmail.com nejpozději do pátku 11.dubna.

Please register for this important and informative presentation to receive your Online Zoom link.

The presentation and Q&A will be in Czech language.

More information about distance voting is in the attached links in this newsletter.

Korespondenční Volba 2025

V srpnu 2024 podepsal prezident návrh zákona, který umožňuje českým občanům volit korespondenčně ve sněmovních, prezidentských a evropských volbách (do Evropského parlamentu). Novela zákona o správě voleb a zákona o volbách do Parlamentu ČR znamená, že Češi budou moci historicky poprvé volit korespondenčně při parlamentních volbách již na podzim 2025.  

Apel na včasné zapsání do zvláštního seznamu voličů a vyřízení potřebných náležitostí či podrobný proces fungování nově zavedeného korespondenčního hlasování pro Čechy v zahraničí zazněly na první odborné online debatě ve čtvrtek 14. listopadu 2024. Rovněž byla publikována přehledná "cestovní mapa" se zásadními termíny pro zájemce o korespondenční volbu. Další online debata by měla být 10.4.2025.

Hike and Visit to Filoli House and Garden

Saturday, May 3, 2025

10 am to 2 pm

60 Canada Ave. Woodside, CA 94062

In May we will combine both popular events into one.

You can participate in both or choose just one.

Everyone is invited - please read information bellow!

Sokol SF Members

who want to join us for this amazing experience need to respond by

Saturday, April 19, 2025, by paying $15

either

via

PayPal (recipient: sokolsfpay@gmail.com)

or

Venmo (recipient: Sokol SF)

Sokol SF Friends

who want to join us need to purchase their own tickets on Filoli's website

https://filoli.org/visit/

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

Please make a note in your payment "Filoli" and send an email by 4/19/2025 to leabronec@comcast.net that you are coming.

The plan is:

• we will meet at 10 am at the Filoli parking lot near the entry to the property
• we will take a hike on this beautiful property
• we will have a picnic lunch together near the Filoli house (we encourage you to bring your own food or there is a cafeteria at Filoli)
• 12:00 - 2 pm we will go visit the majestic Filoli mansion and see all the beautiful flowers in the gardens

This is a very popular time to visit Filoli gardens as everything is abloom, so please register early so we can get your tickets!

Join Our Popular

Online Czech Meal Cooking Class

Sunday, May 18, 2025

11 AM - 12:30 PM PT

Join us online on Zoom for another popular three-course Czech meal cooking demonstration.

We will be cooking:

• Potato Soup - Polévka bramboračka - Denisa
• Španělské ptáčky a houskový knedlík - Spanish birds with dumplings - Milena
• Crepes - Palačinky - Lenka

The event is FREE of CHARGE,

but we ask that you register for the event so we can send you the recipes and Zoom link for the event.

Sokol SF and the Czech School of California

invite you to an amazing and free performance!

Základní umělecká škola Kyjov

May 31, 2025 @ 4 pm - 6 pm

Veterans Memorial Senior Center, Redwood City

We are absolutely buzzing with excitement to welcome the incredibly talented dancers and musicians from Kyjov! And we hope you can join us!

During their last year's tour, they performed at stages from the illustrious Carnegie Hall in New York to the vibrant Moravian Societies in Illinois, and now they’re bringing their magic to us!

It’s an extraordinary opportunity to witness their artistry firsthand, and let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want to experience a whirlwind of culture and rhythm?

So, check out the links below to see all the fuss - you won’t want to miss this chance to connect with your Czech, Moravian, and Slovak roots in such a lively and entertaining way.



Join us for a celebration that promises to be as enriching as it is fun.



The performance will start at 4 pm so please arrive a on time!

At 5 pm we will all gather together for a song along of traditional Czech and Moravian songs (songbooks will be provided :-) and refreshments

Remember, everyone is invited to dance along, laugh together, and embrace our shared heritage!

We will have a sing along and a potlach with the performers after the show !

To learn earn more about ZUS Kyjov :

Bez rodiny Petrů by bylo Slovácko, zejména co se místního folkloru týče, poloviční. Žádná jiná rodina v takovém rozsahu a tak pozitivně neovlivnila místní kulturu jako rodina Petrů.

Počínaje otcem, legendárním primášem Jurou Petrů – ročník 1922, přes bratry Juru (ten současně vede dva mužské sbory – Mužáky z Kyjova a Paniháj z Moravan) a Petra a jejich cimbálovou muzikou, žen Hany (vedoucí ženského sboru Tetky) a Věry (ze souboru Tragačnice), až po jejich děti – zpěvačky Bohdanu a Janu a kontráše Jirku a šest vnuků, kteří již hrají ve svojí muzice. V případě dcer, vnuček a vnuků „nepadlo jablko daleko od stromu".



Lidová muzika ve všech svých polohách, prožívaná jako přirozená součást života tohoto rodinného "klanu", se tak stává pojivem rodinným, ale také důležitým prvkem, který utváří živé folklorní tradice na Kyjovsku.

Recap of Past Events

Ambroš Duo Violin and Piano Concert

Thursday evening, March 6, 2025

What a delightful evening it was for 40 Sokol San Francisco members and friends as we gathered at the Piedmont Center of the Arts for a concert that was nothing short of spectacular! A huge round of applause goes to the Ambros Duo for their mesmerizing performance that had us tapping our feet and swaying in our seats, and let’s not forget Pavel Soltys, who expertly introduced each piece of music!

The pre-concert reception was a joy, as we connected with fellow music lovers, and the post-concert interaction with the Ambros Duo was the cherry on top.

This event was a vibrant reminder of the cultural connections we cherish and the personal growth that comes from sharing such experiences together. So, if you’re curious about what other enriching adventures Sokol has in store, don’t miss out! We invite you to join us in our upcoming events, because every moment spent together strengthens the ties that bind our community. Let’s keep the music playing and the camaraderie alive!

Enjoy more pictures and musical excerpts from the concert

Hike in Golden Gate Park

and our annual visit to T. G. Masaryk's Bust

Sunday, March 9, 2025

Czech Heritage Night with the SJ Sharks!

Saturday, March 22, 2025

More than 100 Czechs, their families and friends gathered for an exciting evening of ice hockey with the San Jose Sharks vs. the Boston Bruins in a full stadium.

The Sharks won 3:1 and we all cheered, waved and had a wonderful time!

After the game we all had our picture taken on the ice with SJ Sharks player Jan Rutta, who graciously signed autographs and posed for quick pictures young and veteran fans.

Sokol San Francisco organized the Czech Heritage Night, provided Czech flags for most and hosted the Frank Jirik Room pre-game reception which was funded in part by a grant from the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

View more photos from the Czech Heritage Night Ice Hockey Game

České Kempování s Dětmi 

15. do 22. června 2025

Arnold, CA

V termínu od 15. do 22. června 2025 se bude konat čtvrtý ročník českého

kempování (nejen) rodičů s dětmi.



V tomto týdnu se pokusíme vytvořit v Kalifornii české prostředí plné českých her, pohádek a písniček. Budeme kempovat u městečka Arnold, nedaleko od Bear Valley.

Kempování přinese aktivity převážně pro děti, ale určitě neodmítneme

dospělé bez dětí, zvláště pokud by chtěli s organizací kempování nějak

pomoci.

Přihlášení a více informací - Pavlína Weigle pavlina.weigle@gmail.com

Czech Language and Culture Summer Course

offered by

The Czechoslovak Institute for Foreign Studies

June 24 to July 15, 2025 in Prague, CZ

This program is separate from the one offered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It has a cost associated with it, but a grant to reduce the program cost is being processed.

Applications will be accepted until all spaces are filled.

If you are interested in the program:

Send an email in either English or Czech stating your interest to:

Program Director, Helena Briardova, rbriard@quick.cz

Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for (audience)? Why should they care (benefit)? What do I want them to do (call-to-action)?

Create a great offer by adding words like "free," "personalized," "complimentary," or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take action, so consider inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"

Slavic Festival 2025 in San Francisco

Friday, May 2nd, 5pm-1am

Saturday, May 3rd, 11am-10pm

2460 Sutter Street, SF

You're invited to a celebration of Slavic culture with traditional music, dance, food, and crafts on May 2-3, 2025, at 2460 Sutter Street in San Francisco!

Bring the family to lively performances, music, dancing, delicious cuisine, and kids' activities.

Czech School of California as well as Sokol San Francisco will have an information booth present at the festival.