Highest Awards of the Alpine Association for 2016

The highest awards of the alpine association for 2016 are a tribute to tireless volunteers.



The Alpine Association of Slovenia awards the highest recognitions every year as a modest reward and expression of respect to recipients for their long-term and sacrificial voluntary work, characterized by intergenerational cooperation, which was highlighted by the keynote speaker Jože Ružič, the driving force of mountaineering in Prekmurje. At the solemn ceremony in Lendava on December 3, 2016, eleven deserving individuals who have left an exceptional mark on mountaineering and the alpine organization received PZS solemn certificates, while twenty mountaineers received commemorative plaques for life anniversaries for their successful and dedicated work. In addition to the highest awards, the PZS leadership also presented four awards for special achievements in 2016.



The ceremony, prepared by the Alpine Association of Slovenia (PZS) in collaboration with the Lendava Mountaineering Association (PD Lendava) and the Municipality of Lendava, was attended by numerous guests, and as the keynote speaker at the foot of the Lendava Hills, Jože Ružič, the driving force of mountaineering in Prekmurje, addressed the awardees: "Dear award recipients. The mountains have marked you for life, and once they embrace you, they never let you go. Therefore, it is important to teach young people, educate them, and prepare them for a healthy mountaineering life, as well as for tolerance and personal growth. However, we must also change ourselves at the same time, renew and update. Only then can we offer the younger generations what the French proverb says: One must live with the youth of one's time and not with the time of one's youth." He sincerely congratulated them, shared joy, pride, and gratitude with them, and expressed confidence that they would continue to strive to help in the work of the alpine organization to the best of their abilities.



The highest PZS awards are an expression of respect and a modest attention to individuals for their long-term dedicated and voluntary work in various fields of mountaineering activities. "The annual presentation of the highest PZS awards is a tribute and thanks to those who have set milestones in the development of the alpine organization, and that on a voluntary basis. Volunteering has been under great strain in recent years due to ever new legislative and administrative burdens. In the alpine organization, we hope that the state will listen more often to non-governmental organizations and adopt more appropriate measures for the further development of social and voluntary activities in Slovenia. This is indeed one of the basic conditions for individuals to continue finding enough time, energy, and motivation for voluntary work in the future, which is usually directed towards public good and improving the quality of life for all of us," emphasized PZS President Bojan Rotovnik. The Mayor of the Municipality of Lendava, mag. Anton Balažek, and the President of PD Lendava, Štefan Kozak, also spoke.



This year's ceremony in the magnificent Lendava Theatre and Concert Hall was also attended by the President of the Olympic Committee of Slovenia - Association of Sports Federations, Bogdan Gabrovec, the President of MDO PD Pomurja, Franc Slokan, Vladimir Novak and Ivan Hapač from the Croatian Alpine Association, and other representatives of organizations, associations, and state bodies. On this occasion, Police Director General Marjan Fank, President of the Mountain Rescue Association of Slovenia Igor Potočnik, and PZS President Rotovnik signed the cooperation plan for 2017.



The mountaineering-colored cultural event, prepared by members of PD Lendava, was given a special touch by the Chamber Choir Vita with music and dance, the Hungarian zither group Potonika, and the Prekmurje Folklore Group Lendava. In the hall before the auditorium, the attendees viewed exhibitions "Lendava through the lens" by the Lendava Photo-Video Club and "50 years of MDO PD Ljubljana"; after the event, they climbed the Vinarium Lendava tower. On behalf of all recipients, Jože Perše, recipient of the solemn certificate, expressed thanks, emphasizing that each awardee has strived according to their abilities for the reputation and progress of the alpine organization, but above all, they are happy to have awakened love for nature in the young and the elderly and encouraged them to walk alpine paths, which contributes to physical and mental health.



Recipients of the highest awards of the Alpine Association of Slovenia for 2016



Recipients of PZS SOLEMN CERTIFICATES, the highest awards of the Alpine Association of Slovenia, for 2016 are:



Ivan Izlakar (PD Vransko) for exceptional contribution to the development of mountaineering in PD Vransko and in the Lower Savinja Valley,

Pavel Jerebic (PD Maribor Matica), posthumously, for extensive and versatile work in PD Maribor Matica and in MDO PD Podravje, especially in leadership,

Franc Lakota (PD Dovje - Mojstrana) for long-term and versatile work in the alpine organization, especially in alpinist training,

Kristl Ogris (PD Gorje) for long-term versatile and dedicated work in PD Gorje and in the wider Gorenjska region,

Štefka Pavčnik (PD Rimske Toplice) for long-term, versatile, and dedicated work in PD Rimske Toplice,

Jože Perše (PD Krka Novo mesto) for long-term dedicated work in mountaineering, especially with youth and in nature protection and preservation,

Janez Pohar (PD Viharnik) for exceptional contribution to the development of mass mountaineering,

Marjan Jožef Ručigaj (PD Iskra Kranj) for dedicated work in PD Iskra Kranj, especially in leadership and training new cadres,

Emil Leon Sekne (PD Iskra Kranj) for long-term, versatile, and dedicated work in PD Iskra Kranj,

Ivan Šuler (PD Šempeter v Savinjski dolini) for long-term work in PD Šempeter v Savinjski dolini, especially in leadership,

Fanika Wiegele (PD Laško) for long-term, versatile work in PD Laško and in MDO PD Zasavje.



PZS COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUES, which the Alpine Association of Slovenia awards on life anniversaries to its most deserving members for their long-term loyal and exceptionally successful work, were received by:



For 65 years:



Srečko Čulk (PD Zabukovica) for multi-year work in PD Zabukovica and for initiating numerous actions in the Savinja Valley,

Leopold Kavkler (PD Poljčane) for the exemplary maintained alpine hut on Boč and work in PD, especially in leadership,

Anton Lavtar (PD Križe) for versatile work in PD, especially for long-term accompaniment of the Winter TRIM hike to Kriška gora event.



For 70 years:



Marica Brezavšček (PD Idrija) for long-term youth education, bringing the mountain world closer to them so they loved it,

Miro Drnovšek (PD Trbovlje) for versatile work in PD, especially in leading excursions, marking work, and organizing camps,

Vladimir Ivan Hlede (PD Jesenice) for long-term dedication to mountaineering, both in educational and organizational fields and safety of mountain visitors,

Boris Lazar (PD Pošte in Telekoma Ljubljana) for extensive and committed work in PD, leading alpine excursions, and careful management of the Postarjev dom on Vršič,

Sonja Peternel (PD Dovje - Mojstrana) for work with youth, with an exceptionally refined educational sense she became a synonym for educator and pedagogue for many young generations,

Jože Sinigoj (PD Litija) for work in PD, leading hikes to Tisje, care for Badjurova circular trail, and transcribing the Guide to Badjurova circular trail into electronic form,

Jožica Heber (PD Dravograd) for very dedicated long-term work in PD and as thanks from all mountaineers to whom she showed the beauties of our country,

Martin Tajnik (PD Mislinja) for very dedicated work in PD, leading mountaineers on excursions, and efforts to erect the three-dimensional cross on Črni vrh on Pohorje during Slovenia's independence,

Andrej Mašera (PD Kamnik) for exceptionally extensive publishing work in which he brought the Alps closer to us, including those outside Slovenia.



For 75 years:



Štefka Feltrin (PD Slovenska Bistrica) for long-term work in PD, work with youth, promotion of mountaineering, and all written words about PD's work and excursions,

Anton Progar (PD Krka Novo mesto), whose work marked mountaineering in the Dolenjska and Bela Krajina areas, especially in youth work and management of the Planinski dom pri Gospodični on Gorjanci,

Franc Maček (PD Podpeč - Preserje) for very dedicated work in PD, both in marking work, renovation of Dom na Krimu, and leading projects of new trails in the Municipality of Brezovica area.



For 80 years:



Alojz Bogdan (PD Mura Murska Sobota) for long-term and very dedicated work in PD, honorable and conscientious performance as standard bearer, and marking work on the Pomurska planinska pot,

Anton Kreševec (PD Ajdovščina) for work in PD, leading the Mountaineering Section in Kamnje, connecting all locals and bringing the alpine world closer to them in his own way,

Marijana Pančur (PD Gorje) for work in PD, especially in leadership, youth work, mountain nature protection, and great help in the economic committee's work.



For 85 years:



Hedvika Pavčnik (PD Rimske Toplice) for work in PD, all help in renovation and operation of the hut on Kopitnik, organizing and leading numerous alpine excursions, and connection with the sister association Mosor from Split.



For 90 years:



Zoran Klemen (PD Hrastnik) for exceptionally dedicated, long-term work in PD Hrastnik, connecting with other associations in the region, all work done at the hut on Prehodavci, and finally for the association chronicle, which he has maintained for years.



Awards from the leadership of the Alpine Association of Slovenia for special achievements in 2016, awarded by the PZS presidency, were received by:



Sandra Šimic – praise for an exceptionally successful diploma thesis titled Roblekov dom na Begunjščici - possibilities for further development,

Commission for European Long-Distance Paths (KEUPS) – praise for long-term successful coordination of activities in the field of European long-distance paths in Slovenia,

Boštjan Gortnar (PD Medvode) – PZS bronze honorary badge for multi-year successful leadership of high-altitude very difficult trail renovation actions,

Jože Rovan (PD Ljubljana Matica) – for leading the project of establishing the Slovenian touring cycling path.



We sincerely thank all awardees for their dedicated work in the alpine organization and congratulate them from the heart!