NEWSLETTER€¦ · screenplay for which was written by Juš Kozak, was directed by Janko Ravnik....

NEWSLETTERNOVEMBER 11, 2012, VOLUME 8, NUMBER 42

In the Realm ofGoldenhornpage 3 >

The Feast of St. Martinpage 5 & 6 >

SlovenianPresidentalElectionspage 8 >

Embassy of Slovenia2410 California Street, NWWashington, D.C. 20008, USAT: +1 202 386 66 01E: [email protected]

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and economic issues through travel to organizations around the world and meetings with decision makers, distinguished executives, and scholars. In the spring of 2013, a group of junior-year student associates of Lehigh University will visit Slovenia to gain fi rst-hand experience by taking part in an extensive educational fi eld

trip organized by their faculty advisors in conjunction with those from other faculties. As a result of their trip, the group will prepare an academic journal on the perspectives of business and economics in Slovenia. Ambassador Kirn also met with the Slovenian community in Bethlehem, PA, and with the board of the Bethlehem-Murska

Ambassador Kirn addressing the faculty, students and other guests at the Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA.

Ambassador of Slovenia to the United States, Roman Kirn, on Wednesday, November 7, 2012, visited Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA, upon invitation of Mr. Stephen Antalics, visiting scientist at Lehigh University and a founder of the Bethlehem-Murska Sobota Sister-Cities association. Ambassador Kirn fi rst met with the university’s faculty and later with professors involved in the Martindale Student Associates Program, which actively explores global business

Ambassador

Kirn Visits

Bethlehem,

PA

NOVEMBER 11, 2012, PAGE 2

Sobota Sister-Cities Association. Since many of the Slovenians in Bethlehem have ancestors who immigrated from Slovenia’s region of Prekmurje (the principal city of which is Murska Sobota), the Bethlehem-Murska Sobota Sister-Cities Association was established in 1996 to maintain an active cultural partnership between the two towns and the two countries. The meeting was held in the premises adjoining the old sanctuary of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran

Church, established in 1910 to serve Slovenian immigrants. Ambassador Kirn commended the endeavors of the vital Slovenian community of Bethlehem to maintain their cultural identity and expressed his strongest support for the enhancement of the cultural exchange. In the afternoon, Ambassador Kirn delivered a public address, titled “The Future of the E.U.-Slovenian Perspective”. The event, held at the Martindale Center,

was sponsored by the Department of Political Science, International Relations. Ambassador Kirn emphasized the vision of the E.U. and, moreover, stressed that the E.U. has always been an inspiration for change, even though experiencing some challenges. The ambassador also stated that the E.U. has always had a U.S. support due to the fact that we share common values which strengthen our transatlantic partnership.

The auditorium. Ambassador Kirn meeting with the board of Bethlehem - Murska Sobota Cister City association, furthermore with the members of the Slovenian community.

President of The Republic of Slovenia Dr. Danilo Türk and Prime Minister Janez Janša congratulated U.S. President-Elect Barack Obama immediately after the announcement of the elections results. On behalf of Slovenia, President Türk expressed to Obama best wishes for a continued successful discharge of his duties. Our common values and our common support of

democracy, the universal respect of human rights and the rule of law represent for President Türk a fi rm foundation for further cooperation. Prime Minister Janez Janša, also congratulated Barack Obama on his reelection as the President of the United States. On this occasion, the Slovenian Prime Minister highlighted the excellent relations and strong alliance between the two

CONGRATULATIONS

President Türk and Prime Minister Janša Congratulate U.S. President Obama on Reelection

countries. The President of the Slovenian National Assembly, Mr. Gregor Virant, also sent to President Obama his congratulations. The Embassy of Slovenia also wants to express its sincere congratulations to the people of the United States on the succesful elections, in particular Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Congressman Paul Gosar of Arizona.


The Embassy of Slovenia organized on Monday, November 5, 2012, at the West End Cinema art center, a cultural evening with the screening of the fi rst Slovenian feature fi lm, In the Realm of Goldenhorn (V kraljestvu Zlatoroga). The silent fi lm, made in 1931, the screenplay for which was written by Juš Kozak, was directed by Janko Ravnik. Last year Slovenia celebrated 80 years of its fi rst screening, which took place in 1931 in Union Hotel in Ljubljana. The story of the semi-documentary, semi-fi ction fi lm begins in the capital as a student from Ljubljana, an ironworker from Jesenice and a farmer decide to climb the highest mountain of Slovenia – Triglav. Although the fi lm is – unfortunately -- preserved only in fragments, it shows everyday life of Slovenes in the 1930s and the beautiful nature of Slovenia, its culture and traditions. The fi lm was accompanied live by Slovenian pianist and composer Andrej Goričar, who also wrote an orchestra scores for the fi lm, which was fi rst performed by the Slovenian Radio Orchestra

during the celebration of 100 years of Slovenian fi lm. The fi lm, recorded for the fi rst time for this occasion on DVD from the archived fi lm roll, was also screened and accompanied live on piano on Saturday, November 3, 2012, in Annapolis, MD, at the Robert Kauffman Theater in the Pascal Center for Performing Arts ,at Anne Arundel Community College; and on Wednesday November 7, at the Holloway Hall, Salisbury University, 1101 Camden St., Salisbury, MD.

These two events were organized by the Embassy of Slovenia in cooperation with the World Artists’ Experiences. The WAE provides a bridge of international understanding using the universal language of the arts through Ambassador Teams, which produce the events of the Ambassador Series also in communities outside Washington, DC. The WAE encourages international interacting by providing channels for communications and exchange as well as opportunities for cross-cultural learning.

CULTURE

In the Realm of Goldenhorn

Andrej Goričar.

The screening of the fi rst Slovenian feature fi lm. The event in Annapolis featured presentation of colorful Slovenia.


An overview of amazing and undeniable Slovenian American inventions and innovations. By Dr. Edvard Gobec – part 4. Milos Krofta, the world-wide leader in water treatment, with more than 3,250 installations in 77 countries; founded Krofta Engineering Corporation, Krofta Waters, Inc., and degree-granting Lenox Institute for Water Technology; Krofta is an inventor with over 90 U.S. and foreign patents, and over 400 published technical reports and papers to his credit. Moreover, Verna Grahek Mize is known as “First Lady of Lake Superior,” who led the successful fi ght to save its waters from massive pollution by industrial waste and was deservedly hailed on American national television and in numerous papers and magazines, including the National Geographic Magazine, as a shining example of what a humble secretary and housewife can accomplish for the common good. While clean water is essential for human health, Frank A. Ziherl, with over 50 patents to his credit, including the Western Reserve portable resuscitator, oxygen inhalator and anesthesia machine, was also the Inventor of Press-O-Jet inoculators, which greatly contributed to world-wide prevention of epidemics. In the May 1957 issue of GP, Dr. Robert A. Hingston, M.D., with three other colleagues from Western Reserve School of Medicine, discussed the usefulness of the Press-O-Jet high pressure needleless injection units, reporting on [until then] one million mass immunizations and the role

they played in reduction of leprosy, polio, cholera, etc., the world over. They were widely used also in control of 1976 swine fl u epidemic in America. Dr. Fred Billerbeck, grandson of Maria, nee Jurjevcic, and Matija Fink from Slovenia, in 1963 accepted the position of Product Development Manager at Gerber Products Company and developed and patented a variety of Gerber Baby Foods, consumed by millions of babies. This brings us to the last Slovenian American inventor so far covered whom we can present in this brief overview, Dr. Dusan Prevorsek (1922-2004), an outstanding Slovenian immigrant scientist in polymer and fi ber technology, a prolifi c researcher, author, lecturer and inventor with over 100 patents to his credit. In 1989, he was, together with his colleague Dr. Sheldon Kavesh (not Slovenian), selected Inventor of the Year for having developed the revolutionary high-strength SPECTRA polyethylene plastic. Spectra is the strongest man-made fi ber on earth, ten times stronger than steel, yet so light it fl oats on water. It is used for cut-resistant gloves for surgeons, bullet-proof vests and helmets for law enforcement agencies and the military; sports equipment such as kayaks, canoes, boats, sails, bicycles and skis; artifi cial tendons, ligaments and joint prostheses; and composites of all types, such as ropes, nets, aviation components, etc. He developed a brilliant career, which he started in 1958 as Research Chemist at Goodyear Tire

and Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio, and continued in 1961 as Principal Scientist at the Textile Research Institute in Princeton, N.J. and in 1965 at Allied Chemical Corporation in Morristown, N.J., whence he retired as Leader of Polymer Physics Group in 1994. As his colleague Dr. Kavesh wrote to this writer in 2006, “Dusan was an exceptionally gracious and personable individual and an excellent scientist. He managed by leading and encouraging. He was widely known in the polymer and fi ber physics and attracted many distinguished guest lecturers to Allied, now Honeywell International.”Slovenian American inventors and innovators have contributed to American and international progress much more than anyone would have ever dared to dream. God bless Slovenia, the beautiful Central European land that gave them to us and God bless America, the land of freedom and unequalled opportunities where their talents could be fully developed!

HERITAGE

Slovenian American Inventors and Innovators

Dr. Dusan Prevorsek, 1989 Inventor of the Year, doing research on viscosity of tires.


Because of the many accompanying traditions that go along with it, grape harvesting holds a special place in Slovenian culture. The harvests normally take place from late August through mid-October, depending on the weather. However, some winegrowers decide on a “late” or even “ice” harvest, which needs special conditions (at least three days of cold, with temperatures around 19°F) and is usually carried out in December or January. The fi rst grape harvests occur in the winegrowing region of Primorska, where the grapes ripen sooner as a result of the warm climate, followed by the harvests in Posavje and Podravje. Due to the smaller size and fragmented ownership of vineyards, hand picking of grapes prevails. This method is, of course, more

TOURISM

Grape Harvesting, Vineyard Cottages, Wine Roads and the Feast of St. Martin

they also invite friends or even tourists to join them. The experience in very unique and lively, as the cheerfulness of the grape-pickers is refl ected in the singing and joking that takes place throughout the harvest. The pressing of grapes is also done by hand in many smaller vineyards and represents an integral part of grape harvesting. The most famous harvest of all is certainly the Old Vine’s grape harvest on Lent, Maribor. The ceremony begins with the tasting and evaluation of the fi rst grapes, which is carried out by the master of the Old Vine, the Mayor of Maribor. When he ascertains that the grapes are ripe, he orders the grape harvest to begin. Grape pickers from “Šompetra” near Maribor, who are chosen by the master of the Vine, collect, weigh, measure

time-consuming and tiresome than machine picking, but the harvesting experience is more authentic and unforgettable. Traditionally, the whole family gathers on this occasion and

Vineyards in Kalvarija, Pohorje in the fall.

House with the oldest grapevine in the world.


the sugar content, grind and press the grape, pour the liquid into containers and hand it over to the Meranovo Estate, which is responsible for storing the wine. At the end of the grape harvest, the last wooden tub of grapes symbolically meets with the fi rst tub of manure, as we have to return what we took away. The youngest grape-picker puts a grape on a vine shoot so that the vine will drink its own juice. Dolenjska, Bela Krajina and Bizeljsko-Sremič wine districts are known for a special type of vineyard cottages, which stand on the sunny sides of hills, right next to the vineyard. The cellars of vineyard cottages are used to store barrels of wine, which the hospitable owner will invite you to taste when you arrive. Traditionally, only friends are invited to a vineyard cottage, but now their owners wish to share them with people who would like to experience the life in vineyards, so they offer them for rental. The surrounding areas are crisscrossed by

numerous themed trails (a total of 870 miles) for hiking, cycling or horse riding. Each of the 14 wine-growing districts in Slovenia also offers at least one established wine road. The roads are a great opportunity to get better acquainted with the Slovenian vintner’s tradition and learn about the special features of individual winegrowing areas.

Along the picturesque wine roads, there are many cellars where one can taste and buy quality Slovenian wines. Some also keep archive wine, with their richest selection housed in the Ptuj cellar, while the largest wine cellar is at Dobrovo in the Goriška Brda area. While many wine-related events take place throughout the year, the most recognized is Martinovanje - the Feast of St. Martin, which occurs at the time around November 11 - St. Martin’s Day. St. Martin is a patron saint who, according to legend, turned water into wine. To honor this holiday, which symbolically ends the period of work in the fi eld, orchard and vineyard, many ritual celebrations take place throughout Slovenia. Wine matures at this time and the “impure” and “sinful” must is blessed into real wine. As a rule, these events are fi lled with joy, music, local culinary specialties and, of course, wine.

Traditionally food eaten on the day of St. Martin is goose, red cabbage and almost always home-made or store bought “mlinci”.

Vinag wine cellar in Maribor, Slovenia.


CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

The Slovenian Centre of Excellence for Space Sciences and Technologies (CoE SPACE-SI) has identifi ed the outstanding potential of rising technologies and applications and has merged into a consortium, consisting of academic institutions, high-tech SMEs and large industrial and insurance companies in order to take advantage of the benefi ts of small satellite technologies and applications in Earth observation, meteorology and astrophysics. Forty-six researchers and engineers at the CoE come from fi ve Slovenian research institutions (Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, University of Ljubljana; Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana; Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana; Scientifi c Research Center of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts; and The Jožef Stefan Institute), fi ve high-tech companies (DEWESoft, Sinergise, TIC–LENS, Impol, Iskra TELA) and the fi nal user (Maribor Insurance Company) and work in the fi elds of remote sensing, meteorology, astrophysics, micro- and nanosatellite technologies, collaboration in international space missions, development of a multidisciplinary laboratory for testing space technologies, satellite communications, hybrid antennas and radar technologies, transfer of space technologies to terrestrial applications and RTD results dissemination. The RTD activities of SPACE-SI are focused on high resolution interactive remote

sensing and formation fl ying missions. These goals are supported by the concurrent development of micro- and nanosatellite platforms, an advanced ground control infrastructure and satellite integration facilities as well as a multidisciplinary laboratory for testing of satellite systems and components in simulated space environments. On the application side, SPACE-SI is developing a complete and fully automatic processing chain from raw satellite data to web-delivered map-ready images and products. For the effi cient utilization of geo-located data, a crowd-sourced dissemination platform Geopedia.si has been developed in Slovenia, and thousands of data sets with several million data entries have been collected over the past few years. SPACE-SI has applied these systems to several solutions including advanced visualization of real-time high-resolution forecasts of weather and pollution dispersion, rapid

SPACE-SI

estimation of damages caused by fl oods, detection of invasive plants, illegal dump-site cleaning and several other government and privately run initiatives as well as several educational and research projects. CoE SPACE-SI facilitates effi cient Slovenian integration into international research of space sciences and technologies. The Centre strongly supports these efforts with a network of strategic E.U. partners from Sweden, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Great Britain, and Austria, which assures consortium’s access to research and development of the most advanced space missions PRISMA, LAPAN–TUBSAT, VENUS, and GAIA. CoE SPACE-SI totally supports Slovene efforts for integration into the European Space Agency (ESA). For more information about CoE SPACE-SI, please visit http://www.space.si/en/.

Micro- and nanosatellite technologies.


Presidential elections will be held on Sunday, November 11, 2012, at the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Washington, DC and the Consulate General of the Republic of Slovenia in Cleveland, OH. Voting at the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Washington, located at 2410 California Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008, will be possible between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. local time. Slovenian citizens with registered residence (»stalno prebivališče«) in the United States can vote in person at the above listed representations on November 11 or by mail. Voting procedure at the polling station is the same as in Slovenia: voter identifi cation with a personal ID, the signature of the voter, voting

by ballot. If voting by mail, instructions and voting material has been sent to the voter’s permanent residence address. Slovenian citizens with registered residence in Slovenia and visiting or temporarily residing (»začasno prebivališče«) in the United States can vote in person at

ANNOUNCEMENT

Slovenian Presidential Elections

the listed representations or by mail only if they have registered with the National Electoral Commission by October 11, 2012. Detailed information on presidential elections is available on the website of the National Electoral Commission www.dvk.gov.si.

Jan Gričar won second place as the youngest contestant at the ISSAC International Saxophone Symposium and Competition that was held on October 25-28, 2012, at Columbus State University’s Schwob School of Music in Columbus, GA. Among 40 excellent contestants from Hong Kong, Japan, China, Germany, Puerto Rico, Slovenia, and the United States, fi rst prize went to Zach Shemon and third prize was taken by Phil Pierick. Jan Gričar is a third-year saxophone student at the

Ljubljana Academy of Music, his mentor being Prof. Matjaž Drevenšek. In three stages of the competition, the music of different styles and eras was

CULTURE

Jan Gričar at the ISSAC

performed, featuring composers such as Bach, Ibert, and Cockroft.


TO DO LIST


Martinovo in Seattle, WASlovene Society Slovenska miza invites you to the traditional celebration of St. Martin’s Day. This celebration was made possible in part with the generous support of the Republic of Slovenia’ Offi ce for Slovenians abroad.When: Sunday, November 18, 2012 from 2:30 pm to 6:30 pmWhere: Anderson Park, Adair House (the biggest log cabin in the park) in downtown Redmond.More information: [email protected]

MaMartininovo inin S Seattlele WAWA

Glasbena Matica in ConcertEnjoy Slovenian, classical and American melodies performed by Cleveland’s legendary Slovenian chorus.When: Saturday, November 17, 2012. The cocktail hour begins at 4:00 and dinner is served at 5:00. Curtain time is at 7:00 with Angela Perrine directing the chorus and Michael Cercek at the piano. Where: Slovenian National Home, at 6417 St. Clair Avenue, Cleveland, OH.More information: Lori Sierputowski at (440) 449-5643.

Bread and Circuses (Kruha in iger) – Film ScreeningSynopsis: In 1987 Communist Slovenia, the Novak family wins a spot on the popular quiz show BREAD AND CIRCUSES, and a trip to the big city. But their experience of appearing on the program turns out to be much different than their perception of the show on their television set at home, as does their opinion of the show’s popular host Jos Bauer (real life Slovenian TV presenter Jonas Znidarsic) once they’re exposed to his boorish real-life behavior. Still, the power of the medium makes a mighty impression on teenage son Simon (Jurij Drevensek), a valuable lesson for the changes to come to Slovenian society in the 1990s. Directed by Klemen Dvornik. Slovenia, 2011, color, 94 min. In Slovenian with English subtitles. When: Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012 at 11:15 am and Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 5:00 pmWhere: AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910More information: http://www.afi .com/silver/fi lms/2012/v9i5/eushowcase.aspx

FRU FRU THEATRE at the Kids’ Euro Festival 2012A celebration of European arts for kids at the largest children’s performing arts festival in the United States with 250 free performances, workshops and fi lms!Slovenia’s FRU FRU Theatre will present a puppet show: Videk’s New Shirt (Kdo je napravil Vidku srajčico?)

When: Nov. 10, 2012 at 12:00 noonWhere: Artisphere, 1101 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209

When: Nov. 11, 2012 at 12:00 noon Where: Dance Place, 3225 8th St., NE, Washington, DC 20017

When: Nov. 13, 2012 at 10:00 am Where: Potomac Lighthouse, PCS 4401 8th St., NE, Washington, DC 20017

When: Nov. 13, 2012 at 4:00 pm Where: Georgetown Neighborhood Library, 3260 R St., NW, Washington, DC

When: Nov. 14, 2012 at 10:30 am Where: Greenbelt Branch, 11 Crescent Rd., Greenbelt, MD 20770

When: Nov. 14, 2012 at 6:00 pm Where: Kennedy Center Millenium Stage, 2700 F street, NW, Washington, DC 20566

More information and schedule of the performances: http://www.kidseurofestival.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=74&Itemid=63


The weekly Embassy Newsletter, produced by the Embassy of Slovenia in Washington, is available on: www.washington.embassy.si.Send us your comments or request for a subscription on: [email protected],

Editor: Nuška Zakrajšek

The weekly Embassy Newsletter, produced by the Embassy of Slovenia in Washington, is available on: www.washington.embassy.si.

SlovenSki Program for 2013 Schedule:February: 1-3, 2013, SlovenSki weekend Windham, NYFebruary 15-23, 2013, SlovenSki trip to 3 Vallees, FranceMarch 18-24, 2013, Nastar Nationals Aspen/Snowmass (qualifi ed racers)April 1-7, 2013, SlovenSki week in Sun Valley, ID More information and application form: John F Kamin, 61-32 75th Place, Middle Village, NY 11379, phone: (718) 424-2711, email: [email protected]

SlovenSki Program for 2013

Beyond by Michael BensonA spectacular photography exhibition of images from space.When: Monday through Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PMWhere: Embassy of Slovenia, 2410 California Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008More information about the work of Michael Benson on: http://www.kinetikonpictures.com/

Beyond by Michael Benson

Polka Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary and the Awards ShowJoin the silver celebration! The American Slovenian Polka Foundation marks the 25th anniversary of its National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum with a three-day Thanksgiving weekend polka festival.When: November 22, 23 and 24, 2012Where: Different venues: Marriott Hotel on Public Square in Cleveland, OH, and Euclid Auditorium, 711 East 222nd Street. More information: www.polkafame.com and [email protected]

SUA’s St. Martin’s Day with “Taste of Slovenia”In Slovenia, St. Martin’s Day marks the symbolic winding up of all the wine growers’ endeavors. At this time, the must (fermented juice of the season’s grapes) offi cially becomes wine. It is a time to eat, drink and be merryWhen: Saturday, November 10, 2012, from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Where: Slovenian Union of America, 431 North Chicago Street, Joliet. For reservations or more information contact Bonnie Prokup at [email protected] or Jonita Ruth at (815) 727-1926.

Vlado Kreslin in the U.S.Vlado Kreslin is one of the most infl uential Slovenian musicians, whose distinctive style combines elements of folk, pop and rock music, American blues and even gypsy music. He began as a singer in rock groups (Martin Krpan), gradually breaking through to the foreground also as the author of numerous unforgettable songs. He shared stage with R.E.M., Bob Dylan and many more.When & Where: Tuesday, November 20, 2012, at 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Embassy of Slovenia, 2410 California Street, NW, Washington, DC-- an evening of music and poetry, featuring the new English translation of his collection Instead of Whom does the Flower Bloom

When & Where: Wednesday, November 21, 2012, at 6:00 p.m at the Millenium Stage at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC.

When & Where: Friday, November 23, 2012, at Cafe Marlene, 41-11 49th Street, Sunnyside, NY. Presentation of the book Instead of Whom does the Flower Bloom and concert

When & Where: Tuesday, November 27 at the SNPJ, Pittsburgh, PA

When & Where: Wednesday, November 28 at 7:00 p.m., St. Mary’s, Cleveland, OH

When & Where: Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OHMore information: www.kreslin.com

NEWSLETTER€¦ · screenplay for which was written by Juš Kozak, was directed by Janko Ravnik....

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