Sesquicentennial. Sokol/Sokolice Milwaukee. Milwaukee Sokol International Holiday Folk Fair Fall Gymnastics Exhibition

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1 SOKOL/SOKOLICE WINTER WINTER Edition Sokol/Sokolice Milwaukee Sesquicentennial In this issue CALENDAR...2 PRESIDENT S CORNER...3 Milwaukee Sokol International Holiday Folk Fair SOKOL SESQUICENTENNIAL SOKOL GYMNASTICS REPORT...4 & 5.. THANK YOU WFLA! HOLIDAY FOLK FAIR SOKOL CHRISTMAS PARTY Fall Gymnastics Exhibition FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO CZECH REPUBLIC...8 THE ACCIDENTAL HERO...8 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL...9

2 SOKOL/SOKOLICE WINTER Executive Board President Sonia Riecan 1st Vice President John Kozlik 2nd Vice President Jaroslav Novotny Secretary Sonka Tostrud Treasurer Ann Cramer Financial Secretary Jenni Miller Education Director Mary Anne Gross Director of Women Jennifer Romine Director of Men Gerald Novotny To submit an item for the calendar or an article or letter for publication or to suggest a topic that you would like included in this newsletter please contact the editor: Gerald Novotny 1409 Iowa Drive Madison, WI Phone: (608) novotny01@sbcglobal.net Kalendář (Calendar) ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING & ELECTIONS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, :00 pm in the Constitution Room WEST ALLIS PUBLIC LIBRARY 7421 W National Ave, Milwaukee, WI Regular Membership Meetings First Monday of the Month 7:00 pm at LOCATION TO BE ANNOUNCED Sokol 150th Anniversary Event Special Guest Speaker Richard William Graber United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic from 2006 to 2009 SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2018, 2:00 to 3:30 pm New Berlin Public Library Library Lane, New Berlin, WI (In the New Berlin City Center) Sokol 150th Anniversary Event PATRICK DEWANE PERFORMS ACCIDENTAL HERO SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2018, 2 PM PIUS HIGH SCHOOL 135 N. 76th Street, Milwaukee, WI GENEALOGY GROUP SESSIONS TO BE ANNOUNCED

3 SOKOL/SOKOLICE WINTER PRESIDENT S CORNER Dear Brothers and Sisters of Sokol Milwaukee, Happy 150th years since the start of Sokol/ Sokolice Milwaukee!! I am very proud and honored to be a part of this organization for over 25 years! Sokol as an organization has gone through many transitions and many changes is once again a transitional year. Sesquicentennial Sesquicentennial. It s a fun word to say. The six syllables just roll off your tongue. It has Latin roots of course and sounds like an obscure philosophical term. But it simply means a 150th anniversary. June 14, 2018 will mark the 150th anniversary of Milwaukee Sokol. On that day in 1868, 14 young Czech immigrants met in the upstairs hall at Meister Brewery, to found the Těločvicná Jenota Sokol, the Milwaukee Sokol Gymnastics Union. We intend to mark this milestone with a variety of events some of which you can read about in this issue - others yet to be planned. We are actively looking for a new building to host our meetings, our Jaternice dinner and our Gymnastics classes. Please let the Executive Board know if you have any suggestions of locations we should check out. We are excited and proud to have made it to 150 years and we will continue!! We have some fun events coming this year to celebrate, and as we know more about where we will meet we will let you know. Our next meeting, is the Annual meeting and elections. If you know anyone who would like to run please have them run or nominate them by January 25th and let a board member know. Our next meeting is February 5th at the West Allis Library in the Constitution room. We look forward to seeing you all in February at our Annual meeting and elections and all the exciting changes this 150th year will hold!! Nazdar! Your Sister and President, Sonia Riecan Meister Brewery birth place of Milwaukee Sokol. It s unfortunate that our anniversary coincides with the need to find new venues for all our activities but it is good to remember this is not the first time Sokol has relocated. The lack of a home base makes it a little harder but as things settle down we will plan other celebratory functions. This year will bring many changes so stayed tuned to our newsletter and s and check our web site for the latest information. [Here your editor apologizes for not getting out a fall newsletter. But there have been a few distractions.] Two special events have already confirmed. See the calendar and page 8 for details. Best New Year Wishes to All, Gerald Novotny

4 SOKOL/SOKOLICE WINTER Gymnastics Report GYMNASTS ACKNOWLEDGE APPLAUSE OF AUDIENCE Tumble into Our Sokol Milwaukee Gymnastic Program By Jennifer Romine The Sokol Milwaukee gymnastic program came tumbling into Norway House on September 20, 2017 with coaches Gerald Novotny, Jennifer Romine, Lisa Hoeck, Noah Romine, Linzie Stuckart, and Brad Bradley leading the way. Within weeks, our gym was filled with 36 gymnasts flipping, twirling, and balancing! Our class was held from 6:00-7:30pm on Wednesday evenings. The gymnasts learned many skills as they tumbled on the floor, flipped over the vault, twirled on the bars, balanced on the beam, displayed strength climbing the rope, coordination on the rings, and skill on the parallel bars. They also practiced their stuck landings and jumps on the mini trampoline. Each week they participated in warm ups, strength and conditioning, and dynamics (a fast-paced cardiovascular workout led by Noah). Through marching and calisthenics drills gymnasts also demonstrated teamwork. Throughout our fall season, we had many exciting opportunities. One of our favorite events is the International Holiday Folk Fair held at State Fair Park in November. This gives our gymnasts the experience of a lifetime as they demonstrated their skills of pyramid building and tumbling representing the Czechs and our Milwaukee Sokol organization. They made us very proud as they tumbled into the hearts of the audience. We also participated in annual Central District Track and Field competition. The competition is held in our own gym and results are sent to our district office where their scores are tabulated against other Sokol from all over the Midwest. We are happy to announce that all of our gymnasts did extremely well and we even had all-around winners in every age group we participated in. In our five- year-old division, Ella Rasvonag and Carissa Hoeck tied for first in the all-around. In our six-year-old division, Mia Markonovic took first all around for girls and Andrej Goronja took second all around for boys. Annalise Romine placed first for the seven-year-olds, and Riana Hoeck placed first for the eight-year-olds. Our first-place boy all-around champion was 11-year-old, Blaise Wood. Placing second all around were Piper Moorman for the 9-year-olds, Annika Romine for the 10-year-olds, and Noah Romine for the 14-year-olds. We are so proud of our athletes as they made Sokol Milwaukee shine at District level. Continued on next page.

5 SOKOL/SOKOLICE WINTER GYMNASTICS REPORT Continued from page 4. Our fall season closed with a beautiful Christmas Program on December 20, 2017 which displayed the skills of all our gymnasts. Our program opened with the presentation of the flags and singing of the National Anthems. The gymnasts then performed their calisthenics routine and marching routine. Following, each age group had a chance to display their skills on all events and then receive their track awards. Of course, we had to involve our audience, so Noah led a lively dynamics session, not only for our gymnasts but to all our audience as well. The program closed with our weekly shout of Na Zdar (To Success)! We ended the evening with fellowship as we enjoyed treats brought by all. Thank you, WFLA! The coaches and gymnasts would like to thank the Western Fraternal Life Association for their continued support of our gymnastics program such as Halloween Treats provided at October 25th Class. As the doors are closing on us at the Norway House, we are looking for that window opening to the future. This program is a wonderful opportunity for so many families to allow their children to enjoy the sport of gymnastics but also become a part of the Sokol family of tradition. We look to continue our traditions into to our 150th year in 2018 and beyond. Let s celebrate our past and our future!!!

6 SOKOL/SOKOLICE WINTER Holiday Folk Fair November 2017 Another fantastic year for the Czechs at the Holiday Folk Fair! Thank you to all who helped. This is what our country needs more of people sharing their cultures and getting along with each other. This is what makes America great. I am proud that we started it and still are a part of it. Ann Vojta Cramer More photos on the next page.

7 SOKOL/SOKOLICE WINTER Sokol Christmas Party More Folk Fair Photos Milwaukee Sokol Christmas Party this year was held in an intimate dining room at Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant in Southridge Mall. The family style food was very good and company was even better. Thanks to Jenni Miller for making the arrangements. Hope to See you all next year! 7

8 SOKOL/SOKOLICE WINTER Milwaukee Sokol 150th Anniversary Event Richard Graber Remembering My Years as Ambassador to the Czech Republic, of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. In 2010, he joined Honeywell as vice president of global relations. In 2016, Graber became president and CEO of the Bradley Foundation.. At the end of his talk there will be time for a few questions and light refreshments will be served. This event is free and open to the public. Milwaukee Sokol 150th Anniversary Event The Accidental Hero Sunday April 22, 2018, 2:00 to 3:30 pm New Berlin Public Library Library Lane, New Berlin, WI (In the New Berlin City Center) As part of our 150th Anniversary Celebration, Milwaukee Sokol is proud to present Richard Graber, former U.S. to the Czech Republic. Ambassador Graber will share memories of his time in the Czech Republic and his impressions of the people, places, language, food and culture of the Czechs. He will give insights into politics during his tenure and how the Czechs view their history between East and West, relations with the U.S. and their future place in the world. Mr. Graber was appointed by President George W. Bush on September 14, 2006 and served until Graber received his B.A. degree from Duke University in 1978 and J.D. from Boston University in He practiced law at Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren from 1981 to 2006 and returned to that firm after leaving his ambassadorial post. He has served on the Board of Trustees of the Medical College of Wisconsin and is former vice chairman and director Saturday, October 6, 2018, 2:00 PM PIUS HIGH SCHOOL 135 N. 76th Street, Milwaukee, WI Thanks to the efforts and patronage our Education Director, Mary Ann Gross, a special performance of The Accidental Hero, by Patrick Dewane, will be part of our 150th Anniversary celebrations. The Accidental Hero is a multi-media one-man show about a WWII American officer from Kewaunee County who miraculously liberates the Czech villages of his grandparents. It's a true story, written and performed by his grandson. Although his grandfather never talked about his experiences in the war, Dewane was able to create this performance based on his grandfathers typewritten memoirs. Dewane has given performance across the US and multiple times in the Czech Republic. Ticket prices have not been set as yet but you won t want to miss seeing this powerful performance.

9 SOKOL/SOKOLICE WINTER Dear Members, ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL It is that time of year again to renew your Sokol membership. We ve had a very successful year. It started out with serving 400 people at the annual Czech dinner and finished up by participating in the International Holiday Folk Fair for the 74th year. We still have a lot of unknowns to deal with in We are still looking for a facility that would house our gymnastics program, monthly meetings, baking sessions and Annual Czech Dinner. If anyone has any ideas, please let us know. We are striving to keep Sokol alive in Milwaukee! We will be celebrating 150 years in Please help us in any way you can; whether it is monetary support, attending meetings and cultural events, running for office, planning an event, helping out with baking or telling your friends and relatives what a great organization Sokol is. Please send your dues as soon as possible. Thank you! American Sokol Organization (ASO) Membership Renewal Sokol Milwaukee I/we would like to renew my/our membership in the American Sokol Organization (ASO) Please find $ for my/our membership dues for Annual membership dues are $40 per member or $45 for members joining after I/we would like to make a donation to Sokol Milwaukee of $ in memory of Name: Address: City, State, Zip code: Phone # Please write a check payable to Sokol Milwaukee. Mail completed form and check to: Jenni Miller 120 N. 75 th Street Milwaukee, WI 53213

10 Sokol/Sokolice Milwaukee A Sound Mind in a Sound Body Sokol Gymnastics is for Every body. Our Final Norway House Gymnastics Class.