Sokol SF Newsletter - June 2022 |
|
Dear Sokol SF Members and Friends,
A busy Sokol SF spring can only be followed by a busy Sokol SF summer - but we mean that in the best sense of the word - full of fun-filled activities for all to partake in!
I'd like to highlight two of those activities -- the first is the return of our annual Children's Day Picnic at Lake Chabot, which we are planning in cooperation with our friends at the Czech School of California. After a two year hiatus, we'll have the grill going, the children's games set up and we might even twist an arm or two for someone to bring a guitar, so that we can sing some of our beloved fire-side songs together- lake-side!
The second activity is our Zoom meeting with JUDr. Jiří Krátký, M.A. Special Envoy for Expatriate Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. We had the great pleasure of welcoming Mr. Kratky in-person (pre-Covid), once online since, and again this month, as he gives us updates relevant to Czechs living abroad, including the proposed law about voting abroad. This gathering is open to our members and friends, with just a registration required (you'll find those details below)
As always, we hope that you're enjoying our newsletter and to see you at our events!
Nazdar!
Linda Janourova
President
|
|
Sokol SF Calendar of Events |
|
June 11, 2022
Children's Day Picnic at Lake Chabot - planned in cooperation with The Czech School of California
June 19, 2022
Speaker Series Event via Zoom - JUDr. Jiří Krátký, M.A. Special Envoy for Expatriate Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic
October 8, 2022
Celebrate Day of Czech Culture, Orinda, CA
October 30, 2022
Picnic and Sokolsky Beh Republiky, Ryders Park, San Mateo, CA
All event times listed are in Pacific Time
|
|
Children's Day Picnic at Lake Chabot
June 11, 2022 11 am - 5 pm - come any time
|
|
Our traditional Children's Day is back!
Join Sokol San Francisco and Czech School of California for this fun, active family afternoon.
Children's fun activities such as potato sack race, ring toss, egg and spoon races and more will commence at 2pm.
Join us earlier for an outdoor picnic lunch and bring some food for the grill,
we will have the BBQ ready to go from 11 am.
We are asking Sokol members and friends to please help out during the picnic
and
with staffing the children's games.
Thank you!
We are meeting at Lake Chabot, the Mallard Picnic Area by the lake with large picnic tables and extra large BBQ.
Charcoal, water and coffee will be provided.
Bring your own picnic lunch and maybe something to share.
|
|
Speaker Series Event -
Special Envoy for Expatriate Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic JUDr. Jiří Krátký, M.A.
June 19, 2022 @ 10 am
|
|
Please join us for an informative presentation via Zoom by Special Envoy for Expatriate Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Jiri Kratky. He will give us the news relevant to Czechs living abroad including the proposed law about voting abroad.
This is your chance to get some of your questions answered!
|
|
Be a part of the Day of Czech Culture!
There are three opportunities to do so:
|
|
1.Czech Salon Dance BESEDA
Looking for dancers!
|
|
This very special dance that links folk dance forms with the elegant dance style will
come to life again at our “Day of Czech Culture on October 8th in Orinda.
Česká beseda was introduced at a particularly important time in Czech cultural history,
a period characterized by a great upsurge of activity in art, politics and cultural events of
all kinds. The initiators were poet Jan Neruda, musicians Ferdinand Heller and Bedřich Smetana, dancing master Karel Link and other Czech artists of the new national cultural life.
Česká beseda is performed by four couples in a square formation and consists of
four parts, each has several sections (various steps variations).
All potential dancers are WELCOME!
|
|
2.Design a T-shirt for the occasion |
|
As you may have read, we're planning a festival-style Day of Czech Culture this fall and we're looking for a gifted graphic designer to create a logo for this very special event! We're hoping to use it on all of our marketing - from flyers to t-shirts.
Here's what we're envisioning that our logo (or graphic image) should include:
- Sokol SF logo
- American flag
- Czech flag
- Slovak flag
- Something that evokes images of a Czech festival - dancing, delicious food, beautiful imagery of the old country!
The winner will be recognized on the Day of Czech Culture and will receive a free lunch voucher!
We invite you to let your creativity flow!
Entries due by June 20th.
|
|
3.Participate as a vendor
|
|
If you own a business or know about a business whose products would enrich our Day of the Czech Culture, please let us know at sokolsfevents@gmail.com
|
|
Grant Approval
We are pleased to announce that Sokol SF has received a 2022 Grant from the American Sokol Organization, as part of the ASO's "Engaging our Families" program
Thanks to the generous grant that we've received this year, our goal is to engage our families by introducing new and varied activities physical fitness activities, particularly to youth members (think indoor soccer, badminton, dance and more!). We'll have more specific information soon, so be on the lookout for that!
In 2021, you'll recall that we received a similar grant, which allowed us to update our technology, including improving our utilization of social media and updating our website. We were also able to introduce new events and activities to attract younger members, specifically families with children. Our Easter egg decorating class via Zoom was a big hit among kids as well as adults, we purchased exercise bands to use on our hikes for workouts and for games as well to keep everyone moving! Finally, the 2021 grant also allowed us to cooperate on events with the Czech School of California and provide scholarships for two students at the CSC.
Thank you ASO!
By visiting our website sokolsf.org, reading this Newsletter and attending our events you are already witnessing the grant at work!
|
|
San Francisco Symphony performs
A. Dvořák Symphony 9th
From the New World
Saturday, May 7, 2022 @ 7 pm
|
|
On Mother's Day weekend, approximately twenty Sokol SF members and friends were treated to a performance by the San Francisco Symphony, which included Antonín Dvořák's New World Symphony, conducted by Xian Zhang.
Thanks to Board member, Anastasia, our attendees were also invited to partake in a pre-concert wine reception and lecture by Stephen Paulson, principal bassoonist (with a tenure at the Symphony of over 40 years) to learn more about how Dvořák's travels to the United States and the people he met while in the New World inspired this renowned Symphony.
The evening's program also included two premiers: Nokuthula Ngwenyama’s Primal Message for percussion, harp, and strings, and Florence Price’s Piano Concerto, featuring jazz and classical pianist Aaron Diehl.
We thank all those in attendance for sharing in such a special evening with us.
|
|
Family Camping Trip and táborák in Del Valle
Saturday May 7, 2022 to Sunday May 8, 2022
|
|
|
|
Na zacatku kvetna jsme usporadali spolecne kempovani na Lake Del Valle.
Nas kemp se nachazel na brehu jezera v klidne casti parku. Slunce svitilo, voda v jezere nebyla studena, i kdyz nas rangeri nechteli videt se v ni koupat.
Pocasi otestovalo nasi odolnost vuci vetru. I tak byla ucast hojna a asi 15 rodin si prijelo zazpivat, opect klobasy, podelit se o domaci gulase, chleby, babovky a jine dobroty.
Dreva na ohen jsme meli dost a tak jsme zhudebnili vsechny nase zpevniky a nektere songy hrali i 2x. Nedelni rano probehlo podle zvyku kazdeho tabornika.
Nekteri se probouzeli protazenim, jini skokem do vody, dalsi rozfoukali zhave uhliky v ohni a zatopili. Hladovci dojidali vsechno jidlo, co se nemelo dovezt zpatky domu. Deti se honili okolo stromu ignorujice snidanovych pokynu jejich maminek.
Na zaver jsme vsichni sbalili vsechny svoje svestky, nalozili se na kola a voziky a s pisni na rtech se vydali zpet k autum a vyrazili domu.
Pro velky uspech akce se vsichni zarekli, ze priste prijedou zase ;)
|
|
Visit to San Diego
Cesko-Moravsko-Slovensky Folklorni Festival
in La Mesa, California
Saturday May 14, 2022 to Sunday May 15, 2022
As if we needed an excuse to visit San Diego, the appeal of a Czech and Slovak Festival was simply impossible to resist!
And so, on the weekend of May 14th, a group of about 10 Sokol SF members and friends met at the 10th Anniversary of the Czech, Moravian and Slovak Folklore Festival in La Mesa, California. Often referred to as the biggest and most popular Czech and Slovak event in San Diego, after a two year hiatus, it certainly didn't disappoint.
Each year it is estimated that around 300 spectators and volunteers gather for this event and this year was no different. Folklore groups Karička (the adult folklore group), Podkovička (the teen folklore group), and Podkovienka (the children's folklore group) danced and sang, while onlookers browsed folk art and crafts and ate delicious Czech food, including some incredible traditional desserts!
The day following the festival, we were grateful to our friend Martina (a co-organizer and dancer) who prepared a spectacular breakfast for us at her home, followed by an in-depth tour of the Czech and Slovak House in the International Village of Balboa Park.
We left grateful and inspired to say the least!
And we are thrilled to announce that Karicka has accepted our invitation to perform at our Day of Czech Culture in October. You won't want to miss their kroje or dancing!
|
|
May Hike and Visit to Filoli Gardens
Sunday, May 22, 2022
|
|
On 5/22/22 group of Sokol’s members (4) and non Sokol’s members (5) visited Filoli. We took 1 mile nature hike around Filoli property. Along the way we learned about the San Andreas fault that traverses the property. We passed Red's Barn, once the stable of Filoli owner Lurline Roth's prized stallions and visited animal museum. Along the way Lea informed the group about Filoli history.
After hike we visited one of the few remaining historic country estates on the Peninsula - Filoli famous elegant mansion and beautiful gardens with blooming roses and fox gloves. Finally we had pot luck together under trees. We shared home made pie, cookies and stories.
What a nice Sunday.
|
|
Czech-style summer camp for parents with children
the theme: Ctyrlistek
June 12 - 19, 2022, Lake Tahoe Area, CA
|
|
Join a group of dedicated parents and their kids
for camping where everybody speaks Czech.
The goal is to simulate Czech summer camps, with Czech games, songs, stories, and atmosphere.
A group campsite is reserved at
Sugar Pine Point State Park, by Lake Tahoe.
The theme of this summer camp is Ctyrlistek!
Let me know if you would be interested in joining us.
Space is limited.
This event is not organized by Sokol SF.
|
|
Postavy a příběhy České Kalifornie
HERMINE BAER (1852-1928)
PRAŽAČKA OBLÉKAJÍCÍ SANFRANCISKOU SMETÁNKU
By Amb. Jaroslav Olša, Jr. Czech Consul General
V silně hierarchizované americké společnosti konce 19. století nebylo jednoduché prosadit se jako žena-podnikatelka, navíc imigrantka a židovka. Ovšem San Francisko bylo v řadě věci jiné než velká města na východním pobřeží Spojených států.
Ve městě byla druhá největší židovská komunita v zemi. Navíc San Francisko bylo vlastně postaveno imigranty ze všech částí světa, a většina jeho bohatých obyvatel si na konci 19. století ještě dobře pamatovala, že před pouhými několika málo lety řada z nich nebyla v takto privilegované situaci.
A když se toto „nové“ město stalo „Paříží Západu“, kde se konaly nespočetné bály, bankety a párty, mohla se v San Francisku v polovině 80. let 19. století prosadit i čerstvá imigrantka z Prahy - Madame Baer, resp. Madame Joseph Baer (podle jména manžela) - která začala oblékat místní společnost.
|
|
Note: For those of our subscribers who may not be able to read the Czech language, we recommend using the following online translator developed by researchers at Charles University called CUBBIT:
|
|
May 27 marks 80 years since Operation Anthropoid -
An assassination of senior Nazi Reinhard Heydrich
One of the key factors in the successful assassination of senior Nazi Reinhard Heydrich 80 years ago was the support that members of the Sokol patriotic gymnastics movement provided to the Czechoslovak soldiers. Many of them would later pay for it with their lives.
|
|
Jury head on why planned Philharmonic building is ideal for Prague
Prague looks set to get a futuristic new building, designed by internationally renowned Danish studio Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). Representatives of City Hall and the city’s Institute for Planning and Development announced the winner of the international design competition on Tuesday. If all goes to plan, construction on the new seat of Prague’s Philharmonic Orchestra should start in five years’ time. I asked the head of the jury Michal Sedláček why BIG came out as the winner.
|
|
World’s longest suspension bridge opens in the Czech Republic
The longest suspension bridge in the world is opening up in the Czech Republic. At 721 metres in length, the bridge is nearly a third longer than the previous title holder and offers magnificent views of the surrounding mountain range that lies on the border between Czechia and Poland.
|
|
Czechs take “bronze that feels like gold”
in ice hockey
The Czech Republic came third at the Ice Hockey World Championship in Finland on Sunday. A storming comeback win over the United States gave the Czechs their first medal at a major tournament in 10 long years – bronze that players say feels like gold.
The Czech Republic were 3:2 down to the United States at the end of the second period of Sunday’s game for third place at Ice Hockey World Championship in Tampere.
But then the Czechs went into absolute overdrive.
At the start of the third period David Pastrňák scored two and captain Roman Červenka one goal within just three minutes to give them a 5:3 lead.
|
|
Česká Katolická Mise v Kalifornii
|
|
Please see their website or sign up for their Věstník for the dates and places for mass schedule.
Father Libor Svorcik is inviting you to a mass every third Sunday in San Francisco!
The next one is on June 26 13:00 hod., Nativity Church (240 Fell St, SF)
|
|
Josef Abrhám, one of the most popular of Czech stage and screen actors, has died at the age of 82 |
|
Abrhám starred in a number of the best-loved movies in Czech cinema and was married for many decades to actress Libuše Šafránková, who also had a firm place in the nation’s hearts. I discussed Josef Abrhám’s career with arts journalist Veronika Bednářová. .
|
|
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”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
