In This Issue - Slovenian Quintet Visits Embassy - Slovenian Honorary Consul Meets Obama - Pipistrel s Bobsleds - Slovenka Running for European Academy Award Nomination - Slovenian Players to Train at Bollettieri s Tennis Academy - It s Summer ------------------------ Slovenian Quintet Visits Embassy The Slovenian embassy recently had the pleasure of being entertained by the Slomšek Quintet from Maribor, Slovenia. The group was on a tour through the United States and Canada, visiting and performing traditional religious and Slovenian folk songs for Slovenian parishes and cultural groups in New York, Toronto, Chicago, Cleveland, and Washington, DC. In Cleveland, they visited and performed at the well-known Slovenian parish of Assumption of Our Lady and for the Slovenian consulate general. In Washington, DC, they performed not only at the embassy but also in the Slovenian chapel of Our Lady of Brezje at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The group s tour hoped to raise money to build a church to Blessed Anton Martin Slomšek in the diocese of Maribor (establisahed in 1859 by Slomšek himself) as well as bring a closer sense of unity and faith to Slovenes and those of Slovenian descent living in America. As the group s leader, Rev. Igor Novak, noted, Slovenian hymns will help bring unity to America and Europe by bringing together Slovenes from both continents. - List to do/ see: - Jože Vodlan s Exhibition - Beyond by Michael Benson - Slovenian Genealogy Month Slomšek Quintet. Embassy Newsletter Page 1
Slovenian Honorary Consul Meets Obama Honorary Consul, Barbara Nelson with her husband Bill and President Barack Obama. In July the Honorary Consul for the Midwest, Barbara Nelson, and her husband Bill attended a private photo session and luncheon with President Barack Obama in Kansas City. The occasion was a fundraiser for Missouri Democrat Robin Carnahan, who is a candidate for the United States Senate. During the photo session, Mrs. Nelson remarked to the President that she had recently been in Slovenia and that the President was extremely popular there; to which he replied with a smile that his popularity is soaring abroad and he could use a little of that good cheer in the USA. During his remarks at the luncheon, the President talked of the success of a small start-up business in Kansas City that makes components for electric cars. He also spoke of the rebound of the American auto industry, which directly affects Kansas City where there are two major auto assembly plants. Pipistrel s Bobsleds Although Pipistrel is more accustomed to making ultra-light airplanes, the famous Slovenian aircraft maker is moving onto designing and building bobsleds. Like the light-weight planes the company currently makes, bobsleds also require an aerodynamic design and special engineering to reduce their weight in order to attain the maximum potential speed. The company s owner and head manager, Ivo Boscarol, hopes that the similarity between bobsled and plane designs will help expand Pipistrel`s area of expertise and present the company with a new and exciting challenge. The company plans to improve the sport of bobsledding by inventing new, lighter bobsleds with the ability to go faster than the current models. Pipistrel s Sinus 912 In addition to bobsleds, Pipistrel has recently explored and opened several other new product designs including designing solar cells for uneven surfaces and a hybrid drive system for motorized vehicles. Embassy Newsletter Page 2
Slovenka Running for European Academy Award Nomination The Damjan Kozole feature film Slovenka (Slovenian Girl) has been selected as one of the 30 to 40 candidates for nominations for the 2010 European Film Awards. It means a lot that your film is selected as one of the best, since all the film professionals voted for it, said Kozole. Slovenka was able to qualify due to the excellent critical reviews abroad, Kozole added Ṫhe production company Vertigo/ Emotionfilm highlighted that the film, which deals with the fate of a 23-year-old student Aleksandra -- who secretly works as a callgirl -- participated in over 40 international festivals, including Toronto and Rotterdam. Female lead Nina Ivanšin last year received best female lead award at a film festival in Valencia and best actress award at the first Festival of European Film in the Savoy Alps. This is Kozole s second film in the competition, as he also participated in 2003 with the film Rezervni deli (Spare Parts). Slovenian Players to Train at Bollettieri s Tennis Academy The Slovenian Tennis Association has signed a cooperation contract with the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, run by the famous U.S. tennis coach Nick Bollettieri. Nick Bollettieri. Nina Invanšin. The contract will enable Slovenian players to practice at the Florida-based academy, which has produced world-class champions such as Andre Agassi, Jim Courier and Monica Seles. Expected to train at the facility are members of the Slovenian men s and women s national teams and talented up-and-coming players. The academy, located in Bradenton, Florida, employs more than 500 people and has 53 tennis courts stretching across 400 hectares. The 79-year-old coach, who is considered a global tennis legend, told that he was looking forward to working with Slovenian players as Slovenians are a sport-loving nation. Embassy Newsletter Page 3
It s Summer! This summer we have been introducing several of Slovenia s most exciting and interesting places that every European visitor ought to see. With the snow covered Alps, serene forest rivers, Mediterranean breezes, and bustling cities, Slovenia is one of the most promising countries in the EU. While many of Slovenia s places challenge travelers by their natural beauty and outdoor adventures, others captivate visitors by the charm of their Slovenian culture. So far we ve looked at Bled and Postojnska Cave. This time we will introduce you to Otočec. Even if you can t come to visit, we hope you become enchanted with our beautiful country and learn a little bit more about the place we love so much, Slovenia. While featuring daily tournaments with prizes for the more experienced players, the event also holds a golf school and regional specialties for kids and emerging golfers. Slovenia s best golf course. OTOČEC Castle Otočec. The beautiful countryside of Otočec brings together the pleasure of both sports and good food. A well-known spot in the sports world, Otočec is home to one of Europe s finest golf courses. For two consecutive years, the course has been named Best Golf Course in Slovenia, and amateurs and experts alike consider Otočec the best of its kind. While most prefer the quiet beauty of an afternoon playing 18 holes, the club also provides events for younger and less experienced players. In August, families can enjoy traditional Golf Days. Golf Course. Off the course, Otočec also boasts one of Slovenia s finest restaurants, the Grad Otočec Restaurant. Head chef, Robert Gregorčič, works wonders with Slovenian cuisine mixing local delights with a hint of the international. Between the course and the table, the entire family can enjoy the delights of sports and fine dining at Slovenia s Otočec. Restaurant Grad at Otočec. Embassy Newsletter Page 4
Our To Do/ To see list: 1. Jože Vodlan s Exhibition at the Embassy of Slovenia Jože Vodlan, born in Klenovo, Slovenia, in 1938, is one of Slovenia s most prolific modern day artists. Vodlan s work expresses strong dynamics in composition and color where his artistic development from impressionism and expressionism, through cubism, surrealism, and abstract art confirms the truth that the aim of art is the search of the unknown. Vodlan s show will be on view at the Embassy through September 15, 2010. 2. Beyond by Michael Benson Beyond: Visions of Our Solar System, an exhibition of 148 brilliant color and black-andwhite photographs images from space captured by unmanned interplanetary probes by Michael Benson. Beyond, will be on view at the Smithsonian s National Air and Space Museum in the second floor Art Gallery through May 2, 2011. 3. Slovenian Genealogy Month A very creative collection of family trees prepared by members of the Slovenian Genealogy Society of Slovenia will be opened on Septemebr 4, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. Free genealogy chart informational handouts will be given to all attendees. Where: Slovenian Museum and Archives, 6407 St. Clair Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44103. When: Saturday, September 4, 2010 (1p.m. 4 p.m.) The weekly e-newsletter is produced by the Embassy of Slovenia in Washington. The archive of the e-newsletter is available online. To subscribe or unsubscribe to the e-newsletter please send an e-mail to: vwa@gov.si. Network of Slovenes by connecting professionals, Your online trainig entrepreneurship connection and reanimating Slovene to everything culture. Slovenian all around the world. Embassy Newsletter Page 5