Highest awards of the mountaineering association for 2015

The highest awards of the mountaineering association for 2015 are a tribute to dedicated volunteers

The solemn presentation of the highest awards of the Alpine Association of Slovenia for 2015 took place on December 5, right on

World Volunteer Day, hosted by Litija, where the local mountaineering society is celebrating its 110th anniversary

of establishment this year. PZS awards the highest recognitions once a year as a reward and expression of respect

to recipients for their long-term and sacrificial voluntary work, which was also highlighted in the ceremonial

speech by top alpinist Andrej Štremfelj. This year, nine deserving individuals received PZS ceremonial certificates,

who have given a significant mark to mountaineering and the mountaineering organization, while sixteen

mountaineers received commemorative plaques on life anniversaries for successful operations and exceptional achievements. The Alpine Association also awarded four additional recognitions.

The presentation, prepared by the Alpine Association of Slovenia (PZS) in collaboration with the Mountaineering Society (PD)

Litija and the Municipality of Litija, was attended by numerous guests, and as the ceremonial speaker, the awardees were addressed

by top alpinist Andrej Štremfelj: "With your long-term work, you have become an important piece in

the mosaic called the Alpine Association of Slovenia. Your work in numerous fields of mountaineering has

become so extensive and important that you are today's ceremonial awardees. Today's day is dedicated

to you, to thank you for all the hours, days, and years of sacrificial work in the field of mountaineering, for

everything you have contributed to making mountaineering an important factor in our society that organizes, educates, and

inspires everyone connected to the mountains. Thank you and my sincere congratulations."

The highest PZS awards are a modest attention and expression of respect to individuals for long-term

voluntary work in various fields of mountaineering activities. "Heartiness, courage, perseverance, dedication,

self-sacrifice, human openness, above all great love for the mountains distinguish you, this year's

recipients of the highest PZS awards. As volunteers, you have done exceptional work to expand the mountaineering

movement in Slovenia and marked it each in their own way. All of you have contributed to the growth and reputation

of Slovenian mountaineering and thus become the best example for young people in our ranks," paid tribute to the

awardees by PZS President Bojan Rotovnik. Also speaking were the Mayor of the Municipality of Litija Franci

Rokavec, President of PD Litija Roman Ponebšek, and President of MDO PD Zasavja Borut Vukovič.

This year's presentation in the hall of the Cultural Center in Litija was also attended by the Honorary Consul of Nepal in

Slovenia mag. Aswin K. Shrestha, representatives of the Croatian Alpine Association Vladimir Novak and Ivan

Hapač, and representative of the Hunting Association of Slovenia Maksimiljan Lešnik. Bojan Ratej, Marketing Director at

Tuš company, under whose auspices the Fund for the Preservation and Maintenance of Aljažev stolp and the path to it was launched this year, on this occasion ceremonially handed over a donation voucher worth

ten thousand euros to the PZS President.

To the mountaineering-colored cultural event prepared by dedicated members of PD Litija, the performers added

a magnificent musical seal and curiosities about Litija and famous Litijans:

Wooden horn players led by Jože Setničar, Male Vocal Group Lipa, and students of OŠ Litija, prepared for the performance by mentor Petra Pavlica. In the foyer in front of the hall, the gathered viewed the exhibition From

There to Here and Beyond by painter Pavel Smolej, also this year's awardee.

Tone Jesenko, Head of the Membership Committee of the Alpine Association of Slovenia, described the awardees as an example

of self-sacrifice, voluntary work, and co-shaping mountaineering values and wished them: "Continue

doing what you love, and love what you do. And may health be your constant!" On behalf of all

recipients of the awards, recipient of the ceremonial certificate Stanislav Tomšič thanked, emphasizing that they have all been

breathing mountaineering for decades, investing countless hours of voluntary work into it.

Recipients of the highest awards of the Alpine Association of Slovenia for 2015:

Recipients of PZS CEREMONIAL CERTIFICATES, the highest awards of the Alpine Association of Slovenia, for 2015 are:

• Janko Ažman (PD Dovje - Mojstrana) for long-term, dedicated work in PD Dovje – Mojstrana,

for achievements in alpinism and dedicated work in GRS,

• Darko Butinar (Obalno PD Koper) for long-term dedicated work in Obalno PD Koper, for

work with youth and contribution to the development of mountaineering on the Coast,

• Hubert Kovačič (PD Prevalje) for long-term work in PD Prevalje, especially in the field

of economic activities and guiding,

• Leon Lavrič (PD Moravče) for versatile dedicated work in PD Moravče and in MDO PD Kamniško-bistriško

area,

• Ernest Preglav (PD "Bricnik" Muta) for versatile long-term dedicated work in PD "Bricnik"

Muta and in the wider Carinthia,

• Gregor Rupnik (PD Bovec) for long-term versatile dedicated work in mountaineering, in guiding

and in leading MDO PD Posočja,

• Jože Težak (PD Poljčane) for long-term, versatile, and highly dedicated work in PD Poljčane and for

development of mountaineering in his area and wider environment,

• Lovro Telban (PD Sovodenj) for long-term leadership of PD Sovodenj and for great contribution to

marking and guiding fields,

• Stanislav Tomšič (PD Pošte in Telekoma Ljubljana) for long-term dedicated work in the highest

bodies of PD Pošte in Telekoma Ljubljana and for active cooperation with other PDs at home and abroad

and in MDO PD Ljubljana.

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:

Marica Breznikar (PD Rimske Toplice) – for long-term exemplary care for Koča na Kopitniku and

participation in organizing camps for young mountaineers,

Stanko Curk (PD Saturnus) – for recruiting new members, work in organizing the 40th mountaineering camp

MDO PD Ljubljana and other voluntary work in the society,

Franc Kapun (PD Krka Rimske Toplice) – for various works on Koča na Kopitniku, for leading young

mountaineers and organizing orienteering competitions,

Franc Kosmač (PD Luče ob Savinji) – for 20 years of successful leadership of PD Luče ob Savinji, organization

of Arničev pohod na Raduho, coordination of youth work and care for mountaineering trails,

Jože Stegnar (PD Križe) – for active work in the society, renovation of the hut on Kriška gora, organization of Zimski

trim pohod and sacrificial work as a marker,

Slavica Tovšak (PD Jakob Aljaž Maribor) – for long-term committed, responsible, and successful work in PD

Jakob Aljaž Maribor, in MDO PD Podravja, and in numerous PZS bodies.

For 70 years:

Janez Dovžan (PD Dovje - Mojstrana) – for work in the economic section of the society, for activities in GRS and

in thematic activities of the Slovenian Mountaineering Museum,

Vladimir Možina (PD Pošte in Telekoma Maribor) – for passing on mountaineering experiences to young

generations and merits for keeping excursion activities alive in PD Pošta in Telekom Maribor,

Janez Pretnar (PD Radovljica) – for long-term work in the management and supervisory board of the society and in

numerous PZS commissions, including 24 years of leading the commission for international cooperation,

Štefan Purgar (PD Cerkno) – for persistent activity in the economic board of PD Cerkno, for performed

construction works on the hut on Porezen and for arranging mountaineering trails,

Blagoja Tošeski (PD Metlika) – for versatile work in PD Metlika, especially in building the hut on Krašnji

vrh, and for passing on mountaineering knowledge to the young,

Štefka Urh (PD Zabukovica) – for successful organization of excursions and mountaineering camps, for leading youth

on Slovenian connecting trails and leading seniors over 65 on their excursions.

For 75 years:

Roman Jeras (PD Saturnus) – for active work in the management board since the establishment of the society, for

organization of events and camps and safe leading of excursions,

Meta Petrič (PD Brežice) – for long-term dedicated work with youth at OŠ Brežice, in society bodies

and in conducting mountaineering schools for youth and adults,

Pavel Smolej (PD Litija) – for co-shaping the content of mountaineering camps, for shaping the monthly

society Notices of PD Litija and making plans for renovation of the home on Janče.

For 85 years:

Franc Vračko (PD Maribor Matica) – for careful management at Koča na Žavcarjevem vrhu, excellent

management of the society treasury and care for primary school mountaineering groups.

The Alpine Association of Slovenia each year at the central event also awards up to five additional recognitions, with

which it wants to highlight some of those who have also significantly contributed to the development of mountaineering in

Slovenia. This year's recipients of four additional recognitions are:

• Planinsko društvo Litija – jubilee certificate for successful work and contribution to the development of Slovenian

mountaineering on the 110th anniversary,

• Janez Kocijančič (former director of Adria Airways and long-term president of OKS-ZŠZ) – golden

honorary badge of PZS for significant contribution to the implementation of alpinist expeditions and for promoting

mountaineering in the field of sports,

• Jelko Gabrijel Flajs (PD Tolmin and GRS Bovec) – golden honorary badge of PZS for 25 years of caretaking

of PZS training center in Bavšica, for decades of work in GRS and exemplary guiding in the mountains,

• David Debeljak (Association for the Development of Climbing Culture and graduate of the Faculty of Sport) – praise

of PZS for the diploma thesis titled Computer Application for Guiding Sports Climbing Training.

We sincerely thank all awardees for their dedicated work in the mountaineering organization and sincerely

congratulate them!