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December 2008 vol. 31 no. 10 The Beaded Ornaments of Czechoslovakia By Sandee Kelsey The history of the Czech beaded Christmas ornament industry cannot be told without first acknowledging the early Bohemian glassmaking which, in turn, created the glass bead industry. In the early 1800’s, manufacturing glass as a garnet substitute began, and by the mid-19th century, the bead industry was established, creating jewelry and supplying beads to the millinery and dressmaking industries. Upcoming Once part of the vast Austro-Hungarian Empire, Events Czechoslovakia was named following World War I 5 December, and has the longest tradition of glassmaking on the 7 pm continent. The industry was centered in Gablonz, a Children’s Christmas tiny village located on the Niesse River in a valley of Kelsey Ornament Collection: Party Bohemia’s Iser Mountains. Gablonz had all the natural Unusual tree topper, most likely used on tabletop tree; c1926-1950. 7 December, resources needed to make glass. Equally important, it 3:30 pm was located near important trade routes and business centers, so that it was accessible to the Sokol influence of Venetian artisans. Initially they worked only with colored, hollow glass tubes Members’ Christmas heated over fire-lamps and shaped with molding tongs. Soon, inspired by the master glass artists Party of Venice and Murano, they turned out beads of every description: blown, drawn, spun, marbled, (invitation in painted, faceted, engraved, hand cut, wound and press-molded beads that could be given a satin- the Mail) like finish, and even lined with gold or silver. Please see Ornaments, page 4 20 December, 1:30-3:30 pm Czech Christmas Antique Den Svatého Mikuláše/Saint Nicholas Day Ornament exhibit & Children’s Christmas Party illustrated lecture by Friday, December 5 Sandee Kelsey 7 p.m./doors open at 6:30 23 January, 7 pm Featuring Taneční Mládež/children’s folk Membership Meeting dancers, Sokol Youth Gymnasts, visits from 24 January, sv Mikuláše (St. Nicholas), Andel (angel), and 5 pm Čert (devil), and refreshments. Roast Duck Dinner Veselé Vánoče/Merry Christmas! These large, clear glass beads from c1900-1925 are coated inside with a phosphorescent wax which, when exposed to light, glows in the dark. The details are painted on the angel (L) and the Bishop of Myra (R). These ornaments are rare. From the Kelsey Ornament Collection. President Komentář/President’s Note Czech and Slovak Greetings brothers and sisters/ Sokol Minnesota Pozdrav bratři a sestry 2008 Board of Directors Did you get the following letter? If you didn’t, you are not a Sokol member! President: You are registered only as a subscriber Joe Landsberger to the Slovo. If you did, I... First Vice President: “...would like to formally invite you Jay Fonkert to renew your membership in, and Second Vice President: contributions to, Czech and Slovak Open Sokol Minnesota. Recording Secretary: Kelsey Ornament Collection: Lobster, the popular Zeppelin and a horn; canes, Mary Cahill This year we again enjoyed historic high membership numbers. You may be surprised single beads, bead-rows; c1926-1950. Corresponding to learn that we forward all membership dues to our national organization, American Secretary: Jean Hall Sokol. They provide us with our nonprofit status, as well as context for our gymnastics program. So you may ask, how do we support our building and all our other programs? Treasurer: Tom Aubrecht I have learned a lot since I became president two years ago. I have made it my task Acting Financial to engage with just about every aspect of our organization in order to get a better Secretary: understanding. My greatest pleasure has been working with the archives since January. Jeanette Pafko I approached this task with awe: touching often-dusty fragile artifacts, papers, and collections that members’ hands created and worked before me, often with addresses on Educational Director: Louise Wessinger my very street in our West End neighborhood. Membership Director: With other members I worked in our meeting room on Tuesday mornings. This is the Norman Petrik same time that the hall echoes in more ways than one with the folk tunes of the Senior Sergeant at Arms: Singers, and I quietly hum along, reflecting on past Bohemian, Moravian, Silesian, and Ed Hamernick Slovak immigrants building what became our home, our hall. Members at Large: But members did not build just a three story building. Members built community. They Jeanette Pafko cooked; they danced; they shared books; they performed prostna. They meticulously Marit Lee Kucera tracked expenses and income. They documented meal preparations for future committees; Board of Budget they developed educational programs. They cleaned; they repaired. They came together; and Finance: they shared joys and difficult times; they even fought and forgave. They carried the Joyce Tesarek philosophy and spirit of founder Miroslav Tyrš “a sound mind in a healthy body.” Board of Instructors: How do you see yourself in Sokol? Whether you live near or far, we appreciate and value Women’s Physical your membership. We appreciate your past contributions, and the memories you can Director: provide us. They are so important. It does not matter if you cannot travel to be part of a Alisa Hollibush standing committee, what matters is that one or two events benefit from your talents or Men’s Physical Director: attendance. Besides our social get-togethers, Sokol Minnesota must host a constant stream Norman Petrik of dinners, bake sales, festivals, etc. that contribute to supporting our hall and programs. Gambling Manager: We also value your donations! Our immediate Ken Wyberg project is to install a fire protection sprinkling Public Relations system that meets current standards, and Director: Open protects our history. All the other Sokol units SLOVO in Minnesota have been closed or merged into Contributing Editor: Sokol Minnesota, we stand alone, proudly and Sharon Wyberg symbolically, but in unity, honoring the Sokol Copy Editor: Open tradition. Business Manager: So: please renew your membership! We have Ken Wyberg had an extraordinary year: our 125th anniversary celebration; transition of Honorary Consul; Czech and Slovak Sokol Minnesota SLOVO Published 10 times yearly festivals and dinners; and meetings where we by Czech and Slovak Sokol Minnesota, share each other. See you soon. a non-profit organization, 383 Michigan Street, St. Paul, MN 55102 Nazdar! Joe Landsberger, President 2 Help our Hall, CSPS Hall Needs an Upddate By Joyce Tesarek Petrik, Finance Chair The new year will soon be here, so it’s time to make those end of year tax donations to causes close to your heart. How about a contribution to our Hall Building Fund? The Board of Directors (BOD) has approved a number of must-do projects, from fire protection and air conditioning, to elevator, remodeling and infrastructure repairs. Fundraising has begun! Our BOD has started things off with pledges (close to $10,000 already received), and we have written and received grants from the Minnesota State Historical Society for $8000 and a City of St. Paul Star Grant for $22,000. These are matching grants, so we need your help to make the $30,000 match. All donations are tax deductable and qualify for corporate matches from participating companies. Make checks payable to the Sokol MN Building Fund. If you have any questions, or would like to discuss other methods of donation, please contact me at 612-822-6147. Memorials are welcome! Donations Board of Trustees By Jean Hall, Corresponding Secretary by Terry Shima General fund donations: Claire Press, Anne The Board of Trustees (BOT) has been busy with a number Neubauer; in memory of Donald McKenney: of projects this fall with extensive tree trimming behind the Sue and Dave Martin; in memory of Rose Roch: building and along the parking lot as well as weeding and Rosemary & Dan Bodien ($100.00), George general parking lot cleanup before the festival. Our work Dostal, Bruce and Melinda Adams, Keith, Alan, projects continued in early November as we gathered up Mark Adams; in memory of Val Hanover, Stan more than 20 bags of leaves and worked in the basement. Vosejpka, Joann Oliva & Donald McKenney: Our basement work included cleaning out the drains along Gene Kubes ($100.00); 125th Anniversary: the building as well as disposing of a number of unused Carol Richter ($100.00). Building Fund/elevator: items and reorganizing the kept items. Ceiling tiles have in memory of Harris Rogers (brother to Marlene been purchased for the second floor storage room off the Hinshaw): Georgiana Dolejsi elevator for installation soon. Thank You! Bake and Take for the Holidays (limit 10 cooks/class) Perniky/Czech Ginger Cookies Instructors: Sokol Cooks Wednesday Dec. 10 6:00-8:30 PM Fee: $15.00 (Sokol Members) $18.00 (Non-members) Cooks should bring their own apron, large bowl, mixing spoon, rolling pin, breadboard and containers for their cookies. Each cook will make about 2 dozen cookies. Vanočka/Christmas Bread with raisins and nuts Instructors: Sokol Cooks Wednesday Dec. 17 - 6:00 to 8:30 PM Fee: $18.00 (Sokol Members) $20.00 (Non-Members) Cooks should bring their own apron, mixing bowl, large spoon, bread Kelsey Ornament Collection: board or baking sheet. (you will take your Vanočka home to bake) The very popular human forms are from c1951-1975. Glass buttons, simple and molded beads make up the body parts; Registration is required. Send payment with registration. For fabric and chenille used in the center ornament. further information please see our website, www.sokolmn.org, “Education” or call 651-452-6240. 6th annual Roast Duck Dinner Saturday, January 24 5 p.m. $22.00 Limited seating by reservation Send check payable to Sokol Minnesota no later than January 19 to: Doreen McKenney, 7301 West 101 Street, Unit 211, Bloomington, MN 55438 For more information call 952 941 0426 3 continued from page 1 Sokol Minnesota In this environment, the beaded Christmas ornament was born.