What is Sokol?
Sokol is one of the oldest sports organizations in Central Europe, dedicated to the physical, mental, moral, and cultural advancement of its members. It is based upon the theory that only physically fit, mentally alert, and culturally well-developed citizens can form a healthy, strong nation.
Sokol activities are meant for everyone, to develop motion abilities such as speed, strength, and endurance, and to teach its members to win and lose, and to not give up in failure.
The name Sokol means falcon, a bird known for its strength, swiftness, and energy, symbolizing the active, vigorous, strenuous, and independent life, which is the ideal of Sokol programs.
What We Do
For over 100 years, Sokol San Francisco has been bringing together, supporting, and celebrating Northern California's Czech-Slovak/American community.
Sokol SF organizes cultural and social activities, such as family-friendly picnics, informative lectures on a wide range of topics, world-class concerts, and fun-filled dinner dances. In the spirit of the founders of Sokol, we also organize activities centered around physical fitness, such as monthly walks in the Bay Area's stunning nature preserves, periodic participation in "slets," and an annual family camp in the rugged Sierra Nevada mountains, where our members reminisce and share stories about the old world!
Who We Are
Executive Board 2019
President - Jara Dusatko
1st Vice President - Linda Janourova-Tang
2nd Vice President - Vera Teyrovsky
Recording Secretary - Milena Harvey
Financial Secretaty and Membership - Denisa Feddersen
Treasurer - Lea Bronec
Public Relations Director - Helenka Livingston
Women's Director - Jana Wichova
Committees
Auditing Committee - Milena Harvey, Vera Teyrovsky, Karin Sargis
Budget and Finance Committee - Lea Bronec, Denisa Feddersen, Roman Wicha
Entertainment Committee - Helenka Livingston, Daniel Botcha, Linda Janourova-Tang, Petr Jansa, Lenka Jansa
Reconciliation Committee - Milena Harvey, Eva Gubisova, Petr Jansa
District Representitives - Jara Dusatko, Lida O'Donnell
Meetings
Regular Board meetings are held every Second Saturday of the month at 2:00PM (except during July and August).
They are located at Livingston Residence 19617 Forest Ave, Castro Valley, CA, 94546.
All Sokol members and friends are welcome!
History
Czech Sokol Organization
Sokol organization was first founded in 1862 in the Czech lands which later became Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic and Slovak Republic). SOKOL organization continues today in the United States as a vital, thriving entity. Based on founder Dr. Miroslav Tyrs' credo of "A Sound Mind in a Sound Body", member units of American Sokol offer physical training in gymnastics and other athletics, as well as providing cultural awareness and family oriented activities.
Miroslav Tyrš
Born (Friedrich Emmanuel Tiersch) September 17, 1832 – Died August 8, 1884 in Ötz, Tyrol, Austria, the immortal founder of the Sokols, was an exceptional philosopher, aesthetic, art critic, teacher and leader of men. He was above all an ardent patriot, in the finest sense of the word. Orphaned when 7, with the help of his uncle he received a good education, graduating with honors from Charles University. Interested in athletics, especially gymnastics, and following the example of ancient Greece, he saw that any nation must be physically fit, morally on a high plane, and intelligent to secure its independence and retain it. Elevated to Doctor of Philosophy at Charles University, and member of the Editorial staff of Rieger's Encyclopedia he formulated his Sokol plan, creating an excellent, entirely new gymnastic terminology. He was the first Physical Director, editor of the Sokol paper, creator of drills and exercises, placing the whole on a firm scientific basis. The next twenty years of his life were devoted to Sokol, creating extreme hardship in his professional work and leaving him penniless. His conception of the meaning of the Sokols he told in one sentence. "Our idea is not for any faction, but for the whole nation, – it is not subject to change like religious or political ideologies, – rather it is eternally true and important, and stands in that respect, elevated above temporary disputes."
Jindrich Fügner
Born (Heinrich Fügner) September 12, 1822 in Praha – Died November 15, 1865, in Praha Co-founder of the Sokol organization, first president, of the original Praha Sokol and builder of the first Sokol gymnasium. Well educated for business, widely traveled, and well read he commanded a high place in the commercial, political and social sphere of his time. Too sublime and generous a soul to be fully satisfied with his life, he became Tyrs' natural partner in the Sokol organization. Democratic in his relations, devoted to the Sokol ideal, in a few years he set a precedent of self-sacrifice, intelligent leadership and devotion to the welfare of his people and country that are unequaled in our history. He drew to the young Sokol organization many outstanding men of his time and cemented their relationship so well they carried on after his death. Dr. Scheiner expressed his value the best when he said, "He created a new conception of the Sokol, and that new conception, which was his work, he clothed in those virtues, of which he was a shining example."
History of Sokol San Francisco Unit
Sokol San Francisco was founded in 1904 as part of American Sokol. The founding members of the San Francisco Sokol were: J.J. Justice, Frank Lastufka, Bohumil Kantner, Antonin Matlach, Frank Budinsky, Karel Kotal, Josef Fousek, Josef Widerman, Jan Zak and Vaclav Storek. They met on August 22nd 1904 and formulated the preliminary steps for instituting the Sokol organization in Bay Area.
In January 1910, Czech women organized a new branch of Sokol called “Sokolice” San Francisco Unit, an independent unit of Sokol SF and held classes with gymnastics the German Turner Hall at the Mission Street. One year later, on January 31, 1911 the two units were combined, creating one unified - Gymnastic Association Sokol – San Francisco Inc.