Sokol SF Newsletter - December 2021 |
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Dear Sokol members and Friends of Sokol,
In the last newsletter of this year, December 2021, I would like to briefly summarize our unit’s results of the year.
Despite the varying levels of Covid-19 restrictions and limitations, I am happy to state that the Sokol SF unit exceeded all expectations.
We were able to organize new, popular activities such as Winery Tasting, Help Conserve Nature outings, Sokolský Běh Republiky, and Grand Gala. The events were well attended and much appreciated by participants, resulting in frequent requests for more such events in the future, and an increased interest in Sokol SF membership.
In 2021, we welcomed 41 new members, including a long-time Sokol SF friend, the Capriccio Dance Band leader, Joe Domitrowich.
In January 2022, at the annual meeting that will be held virtually, we will introduce our plans for 2022, and look forward to a new level of participation and collaboration of our new Sokol SF members with the dedicated Sokol SF board members on new projects and events.
Wishing you a wonderful and happy holiday season, and much health and happiness in the new year!
Nazdar!
Jara Dusatko
President
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December
Renew your membership!
December 12 @ 11 am
Czech Christmas Cookies Virtual Demonstration
December 18
Christmas Carols Singing
January 22, 2022
Annual Meeting @ 4 pm via Zoom
May 7, 2022
San Francisco Symphony -
A. Dvorak Symphony 9th - From the New World
May 14, 2022
Visit to San Diego
Cesko-Moravsko-Slovensky Folklorni festival in La Mesa
Event Times are on Pacific Time
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Czech Christmas Cookies
Virtual Demonstration
December 12 @ 11 am Pacific Time
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With the holiday season upon us, most of us are thinking about all the tasty treats we will make and share (or which we hope to receive!).
The house smells like vanilla and cinnamon, maybe some hot chocolate and apple cider?
Would you like to spend an hour and a half with us and learn how to prepare vanilkove rohlicky with Denisa, islske dorticky (aka brabantske dorticky) with Petra and linecke cukrovi with Milena?
Please join us in a virtual baking demonstration via Zoom.
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Christmas Carols Singing
December 18, 2021
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Let's get into the holiday spirit by singing Christmas carols together!
Sokol member Lea is opening her home on the Peninsula for this festive event. As a benefit of Sokol SF membership, members have priority attendance to this special (and fun) annual tradition.
Please register only if you are certain you will be able to attend, as the event is limited to 15 people.
The exact location of this gathering will be shared with those register for the event.
Finally, though refreshments will be provided, please bring some samples of your favorite Christmas cookies to share with the other carolers.
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Helping to Conserve Nature with
Sokol SF & The Czech School of California
Sunday, November 7, 2021
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On Sunday, November 7th, 28 helpers of all ages from Sokol, the Czech School of California, and the Czech community gathered for the event "Help Conserve Nature" at Candlestick Point Park. Together they removed 68 large fennel plants and about 280 small pioneer fennel plants. They also bagged the seeds, so that they would not go back into the environment and left the rest of the plant matter to decay and ameliorate the soil.
Adults, as well as kids, worked very hard to help restore the native flora at the park while chatting and having fun together.
Good job everybody!
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Sokol SF Celebrates
With a Grand Gala
Saturday, November 13, 2021
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On November 13th Sokol San Francisco hosted its Grand Gala with 125 guests; that was truly grand.
The evening was filled with an exciting program which started off with the heart-felt singing of three National Anthems. The “Star-Spangled Banner,” led by Geoff Luce, which was followed by the melodious Czech “Kde domov muj” and the Slovak “Nad Tatrou sa blyska” led by Johana Petrovicova.
Next, the Czech Honorary Consul General, Richard Pivnicka, introduced Amb. Jaroslav Olsa, Jr., the Czech Consul General from Los Angeles. Amb. Olsa was greeted by our young Sokol SF Nejedly family dressed in their Czech national costumes, who presented him with chleb a sul (bread and salt) which is an old Bohemian tradition to welcome a dignitary. The Ambassador came to present our very own Sokol SF President Jara Dusatko with the very prestigious Gratias Agit Award. This award is given by the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the promotion of the good name of the Czech Republic abroad in appreciation of prominent personalities and organizations developing activities in nongovernmental fields. The entire congregation then toasted Jara for her accomplishments with Champagne while singing the celebratory song “Zivio”.
Dancing started as soon as the guests completed their delicious dinners to a variety of music ranging from a waltz to the swing to modern hip hop. Next, Helenka Teyrovsky Livingston presented one of the three Sokol SF Scholarships to Noemi Nejedly who is continuing her studying of the Czech language and culture at the Czech School of California. Since 2014, Sokol SF has awarded more than $14,700 in scholarship funds.
Then the floor was graced by 18 dancers who entertained us with a spectacular performance of the Polonaise, a dignified ceremonial dance of Polish origin from the 17th century, led by Anastasia Heroldova. It was a true delight and when that ended these dancers, made up of Sokol and friends of Sokol, grabbed guests from the audience for a waltz to music written by the Czech composer Antonin Dvorak.
Many danced as others enjoyed their delicious chocolate mousse dessert while gazing at the elegantly decorated ballroom with hand-selected flowers by our board member Denisa Feddersen. All floral decorations were beautifully arranged by Martina Ladova, with great help by Renata Kobylik, Daniel Kollehner, and John Feddersen. We allowed everyone to rest their feet as we had a good old-fashioned sing-a-long. Guests joined in the “tra-la-la” of Tancuj, Tancuj, and then the “umby, umby, umby” of Na Tech Pansky Lukach. Resting our feet did not last long! As requested by our younger members, a dance lesson taught us how to Polka. The floor was full as everyone was hopping around the dance floor for a very enthusiastic and energetic time to the Beer Barrel Polka.
The evening did not just wind down, it amped up with Daniel Teyrovsky Livingston heading up the Snake Dance which took almost all 125 guests around the room and down the hall of the Crowne Plaza. Once we all gathered on the dance floor, guests switched up partners as we all danced the Chicken Dance and later taxed our memories as we line-danced to the Macarena.
The evening ended with Sokol enthusiastically greeting four new members as we left with happy hearts because we could all be together celebrating life once again!
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Beach Táborak - Call for Help |
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We are looking for volunteers to help organize a Beach Táborak in the future.
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Sitting around a camp fire and singing, guitars playing, buřty sizzling over the fire...
Does that sound good to you? Would your kids have fun on the beach? How many songs do you remember?
Can you help us put the event together?
If you play guitar or any other instrument we would love to have you!
Let us know!
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Benefits of Membership include:
- Event Discounts
- Preferred seating at events
- Pre-registration at popular events eg. our Christmas caroling event and a 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
- ....and more
Renew your Membership
2022 membership dues are $40 and are due by December 31, 2021.
A $5 late fee is assessed after January 15, 2022, for those renewing their membership.
We now accept Paypal & Venmo in addition to a mailed check.
Follow ONE of these steps to renew easily:
A) renew via mail using the paper renewal form and a check made out to "Sokol SF".
Sokol SF, P.O. Box 5252, Walnut Creek, CA 94596
B) renew online via PayPal or Venmo
Do not forget to include the full name of all members you are sending payment for in the message field. If there was a change in your address, phone, and/or email, please add that in the message as well.
Not a member yet? You can join here too!
- Click on the button below "New member application"
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Submit your $40 annual membership payment to sokolsfpay@gmail.com online via PayPal or Venmo
- Include the full name of all members you are sending payment for in the message field.
- If you wish to pay via check, after you complete the online new member application, mail your check to: Sokol SF, P.O. Box 5252, Walnut Creek, CA 94596
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On November 4th, 2021 we lost a long time Sokol SF member Jaroslava "Jaja" Prossr |
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"Jája” was born in Beroun, Czechoslovakia. After graduating from Prague University of Education, Jaja taught Math and Physics in middle school in Prague until she, her husband Otto and their two daughters emigrated from Czechoslovakia in 1984. After a short stay in Yugoslavia, the family flew to California where they lived with Jaja’s mother in Millbrae.
Jája immediately took classes in accounting, gaining certification and worked first in an accounting department in Spumante (clothing manufacturer), and later at BKF, an engineering firm. Jaja retired at the age of 73.
Right after their arrival in California, Jája and Otto became active members of Sokol SF. They invited and hosted many Czech artists such as E. Pilarová, W. Matuška, M. Horníček, K. Kryl, J. Bohdalová, and K. Štědrý, and they frequently took care of Sokolovna. They both enjoyed line dancing, social activities, hiking, and traveling.
Jaja continued in dancing and all previous activities after her husband passed away almost 20 years ago. Her family and her daughters were always the center of her life. Jaja was a loving and caring mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was always ready and happy to spend time with her grandchildren. She was modest and generous, regularly supporting many charities, veterans, children in need, and hospitals.
One of Jaja’s favorite past time was watching her favorite basketball team, SF Warriors. Jaja was an expert and remembered details of every single game and every single player by name. Jaja also loved working in her garden, and her house was full of plants that bloomed and thrived under her loving care.
Jaja passed on peacefully on November 4th, after a sudden stroke in early October.
Jaja will be greatly missed by her family - daughters Sylva and Katka, grandchildren Jennifer, Kevin and Lukas, great grandchildren Preston, Kennedy and Sutter, and by so many, many friends.
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November 21 is World Greeting Day
One particular Czech greeting – Nazdar – has a colorful history.
The future of Sokol is in the hands of those who accept the mantle and carry it forward. NAZDAR! (ON TO SUCCESS!) © 2021 American Sokol.
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Global Slovakia
Sharing the love for Slovak Culture
December 4, 2021 @ 8am PT
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In Slovakia, the authentic essence of Advent is still alive in age-old practices, rituals, and traditions. Far from the hustle and bustle of commercial Christmas, Advent in the heart of Europe is an enchanting affair. The season literally sparks with magic.
Join Global Slovakia as they explore the spirit of the season, its mesmerizing customs, and delicious food! This event consists of a webinar and a live virtual baking class. They will bake the iconic vianocka.
Saturday, December 4th at 8am Pacific Time / 11am Eastern Time / 5pm Central European Time.
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Czech California Mission Christmas Mass
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At the Sokol SF Gala on November 13th, we had the chance to meet and welcome Fr. Libor Svorcik among Sokol SF members and friends.
Fr. Libor invited us to the Czech Christmas mass which will be served on Sunday, December 19, 2021 at 1 pm in San Francisco's Nativity of Our Lord R.C, Church on 240 Fell Street
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Médii v Čechách proběhla nedávno zpráva o jednom nenakupujícím důchodci v supermarketu.
Tisk to popsal následovně – titulek zněl:
Když 70 letý muž neztrácí hravost, ani ve vyšším věku…Proč zakazují vstup p. Krejčíkovi do Supermarketu?
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90 years of Barrandov Film Studios |
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November 28, 1931: construction work begins on Barrandov film studios
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Císař a král Karel I. (1887–1922), poslední Habsburk na českém trůnu |
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Na trůn po svém prastrýci Františku Josefu I. usedl koncem listopadu 1916. Zdědil monarchii v rozkladu. Široké vrstvy obyvatelstva žily v nouzi a o hladu. Armáda bez úspěchu bojovala na několika frontách. Vídeň byla v politickém područí císařského Německa. |
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Sokol San Francisco is a non-profit organization operating as an independent unit of the American Sokol Organization (ASO) and its Pacific District. Sokol SF provides physical, educational, and cultural programs for all who are interested in Czech, Moravian, and Slovak culture and their history, as well as those who are bonded by a common heritage and ethnic identity.
Sokol credo is “a sound mind in a sound body”
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