In This Issue - A m b a s s a d o r K i r n v i s i t e d S a n F r a n c i s c o a n d S i l l i c o n Va l l e y - G a r y B u k o v n i k D o n a t e s P a i n t i n g t o E m b a s s y - V l a d o K r e s l i n p e r f o r m e d i n Wa s h i n g t o n - A n n o u n c e m e n t s - I n v i t a t i o n t o t h e R e d e f i n i n g g l o b a l h e a l t h d i p l o m a c y - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - L i s t t o d o / s e e : Ambassador Kirn visited San Francisco and Silicon Valley This week, Ambassador Roman Kirn visited San Francisco and Silicon Valley, CA. The purpose of the visit was to explore the possibilities for Slovenia in the field of high technology and innovation and to support Slovenian companies in San Francisco and Silicon Valley. Ambassador Kirn, who was accompanied by Franc Gider, director of Slovenian Technology Agency from Ljubljana and Maša Šiftar de Arzu, Science & Technology counselor at the Embassy, visited Chambers of Commerce of San Francisco and San Jose - the capital of the Silicon Valley, where he was also welcomed by Mayor Chuck Reed. Meetings with the CEOs of both incubators Plug and Play Tech Center and U.S. Market Access Center presented some great opportunities for Slovenian start-up and relatively established Slovenian companies. The visit of Google was an experience one of its kind. Opportunities for the cooperation were discussed at Stanford School of Engineering and Stanford Research Institute International, as well as at the Law School of University of San Francisco, where the ambassador lectured about Slovenia in the EU. Ambassador Kirn meet also with the former Defense Secretary William Perry. - N a t i o n a l C h e r r y B l o s s o m F e s t i v a l - D C C h e r r y B l o s s o m t o u r s - D e l i r i u m 2 7 From left: Maša Šiftar de Arzu, Betty Franca, Ambassador Kirn, Pat Dando, Bob Ruth, Franc Gider, Tom Brandi at San Jose Chamber of Commerce. Embassy Newsletter Page 1
with several young Slovenian entrepreneurs and professors interesting and useful. Kayvan Baroumand, CEO with the Ambassador Kirn at Plug and Play Tech Center. To decide which model of representation would best fit Slovenia, the delegation visited offices of Estonia Enterprise, Czech Invest, Innovation Center Denmark as well as the General Consulate of the Netherlands. Tom Brandi introducing Ambassador Kirn at the reception for the Slovenian community in SF. We want to thank Tom Brandi, Honorary Consul of Slovenia in SF, for excellent support and organization of the visit as well as Andrej Nabergoj, Noovo, for all the insights and help with the meetings at the Sillicon Valley, Jacqueline Widmar and Zvonko Fazarinc for hospitality and establishing important acquintanceships. Delegation at the School of Engeneering, University of Stanford. Ambassador Kirn was delighted to meet a large group of Slovenians living and working in the San Francisco bay area and he found discussions of the business opportunities Gary Bukovnik Donates Painting to Embassy Gary Bukovnik, American artist with Slovenian roots, who recently exhibited in our embassy, is right now preparing a big exhibition in the Idrija castle, Slovenia. During his recent trip to San Francisco, Ambassador Kirn also visited Gary s studio. Bukovnik generously donated one of his watercolors to the embassy. The embassy team is thankful and expresses its highest gratitude to the artist. His colorful and joyful work will definitely enrich our embassy. Watercolor lovers of Gary s art can obtain more information about his work at www.garybukovnik.com. From left: Franc Gider, Tom Brandi, Mayor Chuck Reed and Ambassador Kirn. From left: Gary Bukovnik, Norbert Volk, Tom Brandi and Ambassador Kirn in front of donated painting. Embassy Newsletter Page 2
Vlado Kreslin performed in Washington On the 23rd of March, the Embassy of Slovenia hosted a reception for the opening of a new exhibition of graphic art by ZEK Crew, which was followed by a concert of the Slovenian musician and poet Vlado Kreslin. The ZEK Crew exhibition will be opened through June 15. With his touching poetry and warm music, he created an unforgettable evening for the listeners, who filled the assembly room of the embassy. The visitors had come from various places and countries, and thus Vlado Kreslin once more proved that his music and poetry are timeless and boundless in reaching people s hearts. Z.E.K. Crew official logo. Vlado Kreslin also performed on March 22 at Busboys & Poets in Washington. Washington was his last stop on his U.S. tour, having already touched Boston, Milwaukee, Cleveland, and New York. In the bohemian, artistic and rather cozy club atmosphere, he enchanted the crowd with his unique interpretations of his greatest hits. After a few chords on his black guitar, the concert turned into a friendly and relaxed gathering where virtually everybody knew the lyrics and sang along. We are looking forward to the artist s visits also in the future. Slovenian Embassy team together with the artist. The guests enjoyment of the exhibition and the concert was enhanced by delicious Slovenian refreshments. Kreslin in BusBoys and Poets. Embassy Newsletter Page 3
Announcements 1. EU Open House - Volunteers Needed On May 8, 2010, embassies of Member States of the EU and the EU Delegation in the United States will celebrate Europe Day by organizing the fourth annual EU Open House day, under the slogan Green Europe. Embassies of 27 countries and the EU Delegation in Washington, D.C., will open their doors, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. showcasing our art, culture, food, and introducing the European Union to public. 2. Opportunity for young managers This year we are planning to prepare sports activities for kids! The event has gained extreme popularity and success. Last year more than 1000 people visited Slovenian Embassy. We would like to offer anybody the opportunity to do their part. If you would like to volunteer with the Slovenian Embassy, please send an email on: neja.brglez@gov.si Please sign up till April 9, 2010. Slovenian wine-producing company is looking for a young employee and future manager of its distributing company in Atlanta. For more details please contact: irena.lukac@gov.si or (+) 1 202 386 6618 3. Z.E.K. Crew Exhibition at the Embassy About the Exhibition: The works have been printed on lenticular panels that give the illusion of animation to otherwise static images. The concept could be best described as interactive pictures or dynamic posters. The principle of animation has been translated into an analogue medium; in this way, it creates a story inside the poster. Show will be on display untill June 15, 2010. Embassy Newsletter Page 4
Invitation We Cordially Invite You to the Launch of RSVP by April 2 to nina.aguilar@gov.si or 202 386 6611 Embassy of Slovenia 2410 California St, NW Washington, DC 20008 In co-organization with Embassy Newsletter Page 5
Our To Do/ To see list: 1. National Cherry Blossom Festival The festival is more than just a showcase for the beautiful flowering trees on the Tidal Basin. The two-week citywide schedule of events features diverse programming incorporating the best of Washington DC s arts, culinary and recreational attractions complemented by elements of Japanese culture and tradion. More about program you can find on: http://washington.org/cherryblossom/events.html 2. DC Cherry Blossom tours These special tours will feature all our regular stops on the monuments tour and will conclude with a walk thru the outdoor F.D.R. memorial on the Tidal Basin and spectacular views of the cherry blossom trees. Date: March - April 2010 Time: All tours begin at 11:00 am. Location: NE corner of 15th and Constitution Ave. NW 3. Delirium 27 International and interdisciplinary, DELIRIUM 27 unites collaborators from Slovenia, the U.S. and Italy in an artistic investigation of the struggle to regain one s bearings after loss, and its distorting effect on interpreting the past. Written and directed by Erika Latta, DELIRIUM 27 features performances by Eric Dean Scott, Gregor Gruden, Primož Bezjak and Gillian Chadsey. This event is part of the WaxFactory YEAR 11 RETROSPECTIVE and is sponsored in part by the Consulate General of Slovenia. When: March 24-28 Abrons Art Center 466 Grand Street 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 6