Bojan Rotovnik remains President of PZS

Yesterday, April 12, the regular annual PZS Assembly took place in the premises of Krka, d. d., in Novo mesto, which was this time an electoral one. Delegates from mountaineering associations (quorum was 55.4%, i.e., 155 votes present out of 280 mountaineering associations) confirmed the current PZS President Bojan Rotovnik as PZS President, who was the only candidate for this responsible position of one of the largest volunteer organizations in Slovenia with 55,159 members.



The assembly also held elections for the new PZS Presidency, Management Board, and Supervisory Board of PZS. For presidency members, among candidates for vice-presidents, on the proposal of the new – old president Bojan Rotovnik, they confirmed the previous vice-presidents Miro Eržen (PD Dovje – Mojstrana) and Tone Jesenko (PD Brežice) as well as Roman Ponebšek from PD Litija. Among ten candidates for seven management board members, where women's quota will be strongly represented, the elected were Brigita Čeh (PD Matica Murska Sobota), Milena Brešan (PD Tolmin), Slavica Tovšak (PD Jakoba Aljaža), Jožef Bobovnik (PD Fram), Marija Štremfelj (PD Kranj), Danilo Škerbinek (APD Kozjak Maribor), Štefan Keber (PD Prevalje). The president of the PZS Supervisory Board (NO) was elected the new – old NO PZS president Andrej Brvar (former PZS president), for supervisory board members Anton Purg (PD Ptuj), Milan Kirbiš (PD Miklavž), Vlasta Senica (PD Bricnik Muta), Ladislava Stranščak (OPD Koper).



Upon election, strong support from mountaineering associations, and the new four-year term, President Bojan Rotovnik said: "The position of PZS President is voluntary and, given the very broad scope of work and the massiveness of the mountaineering organization, requires a lot of time. Therefore, I am glad for the great support from the associations, as it is precisely the great trust that gives me additional motivation to perform this responsible function. Given that one term as PZS President is already behind me and since we do not plan any major changes in the way of working, the mountaineering associations could decide on support for the new term without major unknowns. Together with the elected vice-presidents, I will try to justify the received trust to the greatest possible extent."



Rotovnik also presented programmatic guidelines for the 2014–2018 term, the outline content and financial plan for 2015, which the assembly approved, and on the main tasks in this term he said: "The greatest challenge in the new term will certainly be preserving volunteer work as the basic form of work of the mountaineering organization, as current difficult general conditions in our society are not conducive to it. We will place even greater emphasis on increasing the content of work and in this way try to attract even more mountain lovers to the mountaineering organization, which will be the basis for strengthening the status of one of the most massive non-governmental organizations in Slovenia. A special challenge will certainly be cooperation with the state in the legislative field, from which, due to the large scope of volunteer work performed in the public interest, we expect appropriate understanding and support."



The electoral assembly took place in a good working and constructive atmosphere, to which the venue – premises of Krka, d. d., Novo mesto and well-prepared materials certainly contributed, all submitted reports and plans were approved, including the content and financial report and the outline financial and content work program for 2015. Delegates were also informed about the elected presidents of inter-association committees of mountaineering associations (total 12 MDO PD). At the end of the assembly, membership certificates and the PZ flag were awarded to new associations, members of PZS; new associations in PZS since last year: Plezalno društvo Cempin, PD Preddvor, Športno plezalni klub Plus, Športno društvo Proteus, PD K2, ŠD Pajki and Pohodniško društvo Novo mesto.

The choice of the assembly venue – Novo mesto – was no coincidence, as this year Planinsko društvo Krka Novo mesto, co-organizer of this year's PZS Assembly, celebrates 100 years of operation. Thus, part of the introductory cultural program, prepared by members of PD Krka Novo mesto with the youngest mountaineers at the forefront and the Krka company choir, was also dedicated to the 100th anniversary of PD Krka Novo mesto. With their presence, we were honored by Krka CEO Jože Colarič, Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Novo mesto mag. Franci Bačar, President of the Mountaineering Association of Serbia Boris Mićić, President of the Executive Board of the Mountaineering Association of Croatia Vladimir Novak, Alojz Sladič from the General Police Directorate, and representatives of the Slovenian Hunting and Fishing Association.



Before the PZS Assembly, at 9 a.m. in the same room as the assembly, a workshop on the Legal Aspects of Organizing Mountaineering Trips took place, where Matej Verbajs, head of the legal service of the Center for Non-Governmental Organizations of Slovenia, and the PZS professional service informed presidents or delegates of mountaineering associations about important facts regarding the organization of mountaineering trips, financial operations in this regard, and also practices of the Market Inspectorate ... At the end of the assembly, PZS Vice-President Tone Jesenko invited everyone to this year's Day of Slovenian Mountaineering Experiences / Day of Slovenian Mountaineers, which will be on June 14 in Bohinjska Bistrica with a rich and interesting program.



After the end of the assembly, delegates and guests stayed at the refreshments provided by the host – Krka, d. d., Novo mesto for pleasant conversation and socializing, and many also viewed with interest the PZS exhibitions and the Krka, d. d. production plant.