Sokol SF Newsletter - October 2025

Sokol SF Calendar of Events




October 4, 2025

Festive Fall Harvest Dinner and Dance


October 8, 2025

Pamatny den sokolstva


October 26, 2025

5th Annual Sokolský Běh Republiky

Registration is now OPEN!


November 1, 2025

Our hikes return. Save the date. More details later in the month.


December 7, 2025

Christmas Cookie Baking Workshops


All event times listed are in Pacific Time

Upcoming Events

The headcount for food to the hotel is due!

Get your tickets now!


Harvest Dinner and Dance

October 4, 2025

6:30pm -10:30pm

Crowne Plaza

1221 Chess Drive, Foster City


Sokol San Francisco is proud to announce celebrating the end of summer 
and the bringing in autumn with style 


We were lucky enough to secure the fantastic band the Groove Doctors. Enjoy their music with a variety of genres featuring their 2 singers with their band. Their brass section incorporates a trumpet, saxophone & trombone accented by guitars and drums lets them electrify a room with an assortment of tunes. 


The Buffet Dinner

will include some of our favorite dishes featuring Pan Seared Salmon and Flank Steak.


You will want to be on time as we will start out with performances from the students from the Czech School. Stay for the night as we will culminate with a fun raffle drawing


Tickets are available on www.Eventbrite.com

Sokol Members are $75, nonmembers are $90 and Children: $25. 

Dinner and a welcome drink is included in your ticket price.



Limited amount of tickets will be available for purchase at the door.

Sokol SF Supports

Czech & Slovak Community with Scholarships


Sokol San Francisco is proud to support the Czech & Slovak Community in the Bay Area by providing Scholarships to students attending the Czech School of California. 


Sokol San Francisco began their scholarship program in 2014 and to this day has given out over $16,900 to 41 students & their families.


We are delighted to have a wonderful collaborative relationship with the Czech School of California. Sokol SF believes in investing in young families who want to have their children learn more about the Czech language & culture. Families who receive the scholarships actively participate in Sokol SF activities, including participating in Sokolsky beh, hikes, camping, attending concerts, attending our online Czech & Slovak cooking classes and our Christmas Cookie Making Workshops. 


One of our favorite events is in June, our end of the school year “Children’s Day Picnic”. Here Sokol SF and the Czech School have a picnic together at Lake Chabot with fun, games and a BBQ lunch.


Come and join us on Oct. 4, 2025 at the Fall Harvest Dinner Dance to see many of the students present in the entertainment portion of the evening where the young will sing traditional Czech nursery songs and the older children will give short a theater performance “Pohadkove noviny” while others will treat us to songs playing their musical instruments. 


If you are interested in applying for a scholarship or more information about the Czech School of California vist their website at https://czechschoolcalifornia.com/enrollment/


article written by Helenka Livingston

Památný Den Sokolstva 
October 8, 2025

On October 8th, let us remember together all those who have indelibly written themselves into the history of our movement over the past 163 years of Sokol's existence. On October 8th, we symbolically remember not only the five thousand male and female Sokols who gave their lives in the anti-Nazi resistance, among whom were 150 collaborators of the Anthropoid paratroopers who participated in the preparations for the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, but also all the Sokols who fell during the First World War in the ranks of the Czechoslovak legions fighting for the establishment of an independent state, as well as the male and female Sokols from the ranks of the 3rd anti-communist resistance.

Připomeňme si 8. října společně všechny, kdo se za uplynulých 163 let existence Sokola nesmazatelně zapsali do historie našeho hnutí. Dne 8. října si symbolicky připomínáme nejen pět tisícovek sokolů a sokolek, kteří položili své životy v protinacistickém odboji, a mezi nimiž bylo i na 150 spolupracovníků výsadku Anthropoid podílejících se na přípravách atentátu na Reinharda Heydricha, ale i všechny sokoly, kteří padli v letech 1. světové války v řadách československých legií bojujících za vznik samostatného státu, stejně jako sokoly a sokolky z řad 3. protikomunistického odboje.

Sokolský Běh Republiky and Family Picnic

Sunday, October 26, 2025

8am - 2pm

Ryder Park, San Mateo, CA

Our 5th annual Sokolský Běh Republiky is almost sold out!

It is happening on Sunday 26, October 2025 at Seal Point Park, Ryder Park Picnic Area; San Mateo, CA.


Sokol SF members who register for the run will receive complementary official SBR 2025 T-shirt


There are 3 categories for the run:

children under 10 (born 2016 and later)

children under 14 (born 2011 - 2015)

adults (all born before 2011)

For general information about the run and its history, go to: https://www.behrepubliky.cz/


The registration fee for an adult is $10


There is no registration fee for children

but they need to be registered to run

(so we have their starting number and medal as well as prizes)


Do not wait and register now!


Should you have any difficulties with registration or payment, please contact us at sokolsfevents@gmail.com


You do not need to run to come to the picnic; everyone is welcome;

you can help us cheer on the runners and

spend time with your fellow Czechs and Slovaks



Everyone is welcome to join us for the picnic and the run!


To thank our Sokol San Francisco members who register for the run will receive a complimentary Sokolsky Beh Republiky T-shirt from Sokol SF. 


Sool SF members - after you complete the registration 

please send an email to sokolsfevents@gmail.com 

with your name and T-shirt size.

Sizes are limited so register and send in your size early.

First come, first served.


The winners of our Poem competition will be awarded at our picnic lunch!



After the run, we will have a picnic sponsored by Sokol San Francisco and the Czech School of California. 


Charcoal for the grills, water and coffee will be provided.

Bring your own picnic lunch and maybe something to share.


Program dne


8:30 - 8:55am -- Výdej čísel dětského behu v Ryder's Park Picnic Area

8:30 - 10:15am -- Výdej čísel hlavního behu v Ryder's Park Picnic Area

9:00am -- Odchod do Seal Point Park na vrcholu kopce a skupinová rozcvička

9:10am -- Start dětského běhu 2016 a mladší

9:30am -- Start dětského běhu 2010 - 2015

10:00am -- Navrat do Ryder's Park Picnic Area

10:30am -- Start hlavního běhu

12:00pm -- Vyhlášení výsledků SBR a Rymovaci Souteze

nasleduje piknik


Program of the day


8:30- 8:55am -- Children's check in at Ryder's Park Picnic Area

8:30 - 10:15am -- Adults check in at Ryder's Park Picnic Area

9:00am -- Children and fans hike up to Seal Point Park and a group warm up

9:10am -- Start of children's run 2016 and younger

9:30am -- Start of children's run 2010 - 2015

10:00am -- Return back to Ryder's Park Picnic Area

10:30am -- Start of the Adult run

12:00pm -- Awards for the fastest runners and our Rhyme Competition

Picnic will follow


We are looking forward to seeing you at the picnic and at the starting line!

Mark your calendars and start training! 


More information at "Registration is now open!"


Renew your Sokol San Francisco

Membership Now!


2026 membership dues are $45 and are due by December 31, 2025.


Sokol SF members who pay by 11/30/2025 will be entered into a drawing for $10 Starbucks gift card! Five lucky winner will be drawn!

Drawing will be held at our Annual Meeting.


The date and location of our Annual meeting are yet to be determined.

Our organization is run fully by volunteers with their families, jobs, and lives.

Make it easier for them and renew on time!

Think about volunteering, too!

Thank you.


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


Please follow these steps to renew easily:

A) renew online via PayPal or Venmo.

Go to your PayPal or Venmo account.


Remember to include the full names of all members for whom you are sending payment in the message field. If your address, phone number, and/or email have changed, please add that information as well.


B) 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



BENEFITS OF SOKOL SF MEMBERSHIP:

  • Event Discounts
  • Preferred seating at events
  • Pre-registration at popular events e.g. our Christmas caroling 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 Our Past Events

Czech That Film!

September 25 - 27, 2025

Orinda Theatre

4 Orinda Theatre Square, Orinda, CA



9/25 @ 7:30PM Zahradníkův Rok/ Gardener’s Year

Plevel / Weeds (Short Feature)


9/26 @ 7:30 PM Amerikánka /An American Girl

Poslední den Kamila Krofty / Last day of Kamil Krofta (Short Feature)


9/27 @ 7 PM Vlny/Waves

Ostrov svobody / Island of Freedom (Short Feature)


The audience was treated to a prerecorded welcome and short introduction by director Jiří Mádl of the 2024 film Vlny/Waves.


Thank you to Jiří Mádl and Martin Palan (the distributor of Vlny) for procuring the interview with Jiří Mádl.

The 2025 Czech That Film Festival was a huge success! We enjoyed full-length films as well as thought provoking movie shorts. Saturday night's showing of Vlny was to a full house at the Orinda Theater! We were treated to not only a prerecorded welcome by Jiří Mádl and the powerful film Vlny/Waves but also a 2022 movie short, ostrov svobody/island of freedom in which Jiří Mádl acted.


A BIG THANK YOU TO:
The Orinda Theater, Sokols SF, The Czech and Slovak Club, Orinda-Tabor Sister City Foundation, the Czech School of California, as well as the Honorary Consul General of the Czech Republic in San Francisco, Mr. Pivnicka, for their support and sponsorship in making this year's film festival such a huge success!

Czech News & Announcements

Virtual University of the Third AGE

Czech School of California



Course for adults 50+: Genealogy- Searching for Your Ancestors

Register by October 13, 2025 for 6-lesson group class

Self-paced option available until November 15, 2025

Term ends December 15, 2025, $97

California Czech and Slovak Club

2025 Christmas Gala

Saturday, November 29, 2025

3pm - 8pm

Pleasant Hill Senior Center

Výzva Národního muzea krajanum


Vážené krajanky a krajané, milé sokolky a sokolové!


Ve spolupráci s generálním konzulem ČR v Los Angeles, pane Jaroslavem Olšou, Jr., bychom rádi provedli sběr historického materiálu zachycujícího dějiny sokolského hnutí v USA.


Obracím se proto na vás jménem Národního muzea České republiky s prosbou o pomoc. Součástí našeho muzea je Oddělení dějin tělesné výchovy a sportu, které shromažďuje dokumenty a předměty k dějinám tělovýchovných organizací a spolků nejen na našem území, ale i v zahraničí. Naši činnost bychom ale nemohli dostatečně naplňovat bez vás a vaší pomoci a spolupráce.


Věříme, že je naším společným zájmem, aby dokumentace dějin sokolského hnutí nejen v českých zemích, ale i v rámci zahraničních komunit byla co nejúplnější. Mnozí z Vás jste jistě shromáždili řadu významných a zajímavých tiskovin, archivních dokumentů, fotografií i předmětů, které by podstatně obohatily sbírky Národního muzea a které by především měly zůstat zachovány pro současné i následující generace. 


Vaše sbírky můžete věnovat a poslat přímo nám do muzea, případně je převezmeme prostřednictvím pana generálního konzula Olši a dopravíme k nám do České republiky. Získané materiály budou odborně zpracovány, uloženy a vhodně prezentovány formou výstav, odborných publikací, filmů nebo televizních pořadů.



Přispějete tak nejen k tomu, že naše muzeum bude moci lépe plnit svůj účel, ale především tím zabráníte možnému znehodnocení či rozptýlení těchto památek a jejich nenahraditelné ztrátě.


S pozdravem

PhDr. Zuzana Strnadová

ředitelka Historického muzea


NÁRODNÍ MUZEUM

Vinohradská 1, 110 00 Praha 1

Czech Republic

E: zuzana.strnadova@nm.cz

W: www.nm.cz

Pomozte nám dostat Sokolský Slet na seznam nehmotného kulturního dědictví UNESCO


Všesokolský slet je událost, která nemá ve světě obdoby. Jednou za šest let je sportovně-kulturní akcí roku v Česku. V posledních letech se jí účastní desetitisíce sokolů a přes 100 tisíc návštěvníků (z Česka i zahraničí). Slet je fenomén, tak jedinečný, že je potřeba ho chránit a šířit jeho popularitu. K tomu nám pomůže i to, když se dostane na seznam UNESCO. 


The All-Sokol Festival is an event that has no parallel in the world. It is held once every six years and is the sports and cultural event of the year in the Czech Republic. In recent years, tens of thousands of Sokols and over 100 thousand visitors (from the Czech Republic and abroad) have participated in it. The festival is a phenomenon so unique that it needs to be protected and its popularity spread. It will also help us if it is included in the UNESCO list.

Share Your Outdoor and other Ideas with Us

Lead a Hike, Suggest an Event, Spark an Idea

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 want to know!



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

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.
The Sokol credo is “a sound mind in a sound body”