Highest PZS Awards for 2014 Presented

On Saturday, December 6, 2014, the solemn presentation of the highest awards of the Alpine Association of Slovenia (PZS) for 2014 took place in Ajdovščina. The presentation, organized by the Alpine Association of Slovenia (PZS) in collaboration with the Ajdovščina Mountaineering Association (PD Ajdovščina) and the Municipality of Ajdovščina, was attended by numerous distinguished guests, including alpinist Viki Grošelj as the keynote speaker. The highest PZS awards are presented once a year and represent a great honor and recognition to the recipients for their long-term and dedicated voluntary work. This year, eleven deserving individuals who have made a significant mark on mountaineering and the mountaineering organization received PZS solemn certificates, while fourteen mountaineers received commemorative plaques on the occasion of life milestones (65, 70, 75, 80 years) for successful operation and exceptional achievements. PZS also awarded three additional recognitions.



The Alpine Association of Slovenia, one of the largest and most mass-based non-governmental organizations in Slovenia, unites more than 55,000 mountaineers dedicated to volunteering, nature and environmental care, trail maintenance and preservation, and positive mountaineering values, which were also highlighted by the keynote speaker at the solemn presentation of the highest PZS awards, the top Slovenian alpinist Viki Grošelj: "Slovenes are considered a sports-educated nation. The most important indicator justifying this title is the largest possible number of citizens who engage in physical activity at least somewhat regularly. The Alpine Association of Slovenia and its members are undoubtedly the best proof of this education, as in addition to movement, which is so important for human well-being and health, we promote other important values: patience, perseverance, dedication, help to fellow human beings, protection and preservation of nature. These universal values are common to us, regardless of how we go to the mountains – as hikers, mountaineers, high-mounters, tourists, or alpinists. There are no differences among us. Sometimes our paths in the mountains are different, but experiences unite us. Many of us have, each in our own way, dedicated our lives to the mountains, and they have abundantly rewarded our dedication. It is good and right that with PZS awards we remember the most dedicated among us. Therefore, first sincere congratulations to all the awardees and to them and all present many more beautiful moments in the mountains." Grošelj also spoke more extensively about Slovenian Himalaism, which has significantly contributed to the recognition of Slovenia and PZS in the world, and highlighted a particularly deserving individual – the legend of Slovenian Himalaism Aleš Kunaver.



Individuals and associations dedicated to mountaineering are making important steps both in the world and at home, past and present, which is why the Alpine Association of Slovenia has also this year awarded them its highest recognitions for their tireless voluntary work. "The Alpine Association of Slovenia is one of the largest non-governmental organizations in Slovenia and one of the largest, if not the largest, volunteer organization in Slovenia. Volunteering has been one of the foundations of the mountaineering organization for more than 120 years, and with today's awards we want to thank those who with their voluntary work have contributed an important building block to the mosaic of the mountaineering organization," greeted the assembled president of PZS Bojan Rotovnik, who were also addressed at the beginning by the mayor of the Municipality of Ajdovščina Tadej Beočanin and the president of PD Ajdovščina Bogdan Kodele.



This year's presentation in the alpinistically decorated hall of the First Slovenian Government in Ajdovščina was also attended by numerous guests: honorary consul of Nepal in Slovenia mag. Aswina K. Shrestha, representative of the Croatian Alpine Association Darko Berljak, representative of the Ministry of the Interior of the RS Srečko Jarc, representatives of MORS Emil Velikonja and Boštjan Močnik, representative of the Mountain Rescue Association of Slovenia Robert Kovač, representative of the Hunters' Association of Slovenia Kazimir Saksida, and representative of the Fishing Association of Slovenia.

The cultural event interwoven with a mountaineering note, excellently prepared by the dedicated members of PD Ajdovščina led by president Bogdan Kodele and cultural program leader Irena Šinkovec, was musically and dance-enriched by Oktet Castrum from Ajdovščina, students of OŠ Šturje, folklore group Most led by Silvana Bajc accompanied by accordionist Simon Štokelj, and students of the Secondary School Veno Pilon from Ajdovščina.



Tone Jesenko, head of the Membership Committee of the Alpine Association of Slovenia, highlighted the valuable contribution of the awardees to the operation of the mountaineering organization and the co-shaping of mountaineering values as well as the prestige of the highest awards to the best cadres recognized by the mountaineering associations.



Recipients of the highest awards of the Alpine Association of Slovenia for 2014:



RECIPIENTS OF THE HIGHEST AWARDS of the Alpine Association of Slovenia, PZS SOLEMN CERTIFICATES, for 2014 are:

- Milan Čelik (PD Iskra Kranj) for long-term mountaineering work in PD Iskra Kranj, especially in the field of guiding,

- Jože Gobec (PD Železar Štore) for versatile long-term and dedicated work in mountaineering in PD Železar Štore,

- Ferdinand Igerc (PD Ravne na Koroškem) for the development and expansion of mountaineering in PD Ravne na Koroškem and the wider area,

- Janez Korošec (PD Srednja vas v Bohinju) for long-term, versatile and highly dedicated work in PD Srednja vas v Bohinju and in MDO Gorenjske,

- Vinko Komprej (PD Prevalje) for versatile, long-term and dedicated work in PD Prevalje,

- Vladimir Lemut (PD Ajdovščina) for versatile mountaineering work in PD Ajdovščina and for the development of mountaineering in the wider Ajdovščina area,

- Janez Merhar (PD Kočevje) for versatile, dedicated work in PD Kočevje and for the development of mountaineering in the wider Kočevje area,

- Marica Okršlar (PD Gorje) for versatile, long-term and dedicated work in PD Gorje and MDO Gorenjske especially in the field of management,

- Emil Milan Savelli (PD Črna na Koroškem) for versatile mountaineering work in PD Črna na Koroškem and for the development of mountaineering and alpinism in the wider Koroška area,

- Tone Šeško (PD Lisca Sevnica) for versatile mountaineering work in PD Lisca Sevnica and for linking culture with mountaineering,

- Jože Varl (PD Radovljica) for long-term work in PD Radovljica and MDO Gorenjske especially in the field of guiding and training new cadres in mountaineering.





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

for 65 years: Roman Močnik (PD Črna na Koroškem), Magdalena Paradižnik (PD Rimske Toplice), Franc Somrak (PD Krka Novo mesto),

for 70 years: Janez Jamar (PD Dovje - Mojstrana), Jože Jančič (PD Zabukovica), Marjeta Kovačič (PD Prevalje), Tone Potočnik (PD Mariborski tisk), Jože Vodušek (PD Ljubno ob Savinji), Oton Zagoričnik (PD Polzela), Alojz Zadel (OPD Koper),

for 75 years: Pavel Štular (PD Križe),

for 80 years: Herman Borovnik (PD Podbrdo), Jožef Murko (PD Tam Maribor), Ivan Zorman (PD Prevalje).



The Alpine Association of Slovenia also awarded three additional recognitions, with which we want to highlight especially those who, outside the mountaineering organization, have significantly contributed to the development of mountaineering in Slovenia. The recognitions were received by:

- Jure Žerjav – PZS gold honorary badge for versatile support in the development of mountaineering in the area of the Municipality of Kranjska Gora and great personal contribution to the preservation of mountaineering cultural heritage, especially in the construction, operation and promotion of the Slovenian Mountaineering Museum,

- Dušica Kunaver – PZS gold honorary badge for lifelong work in mountaineering and for great personal contribution to the preservation of mountaineering and alpinism heritage and ensuring its accessibility to the wider public.

- Uršula Ramšak – PZS praise for the diploma thesis titled Mountaineering and Climbing among Primary School Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children in Slovenia.



On behalf of all recipients of the awards, the recipient of the solemn certificate Vladimir Lemut from the Ajdovščina Mountaineering Association thanked, emphasizing that no one worked in mountaineering solely for recognition, which everyone is exceptionally pleased about, but it also means encouragement, an easier step and a brighter face for all active in mountaineering. A pleasingly large number of them gathered at the presentation and afterwards at the exhibition on the history of the operation of MDO PD Posočja Na skrajnem ogranku, whose conceptual father is Gregor Rupnik and chief editor Žarko Rovšček. For the awards to this year's recipients of the highest PZS awards, we thank our partner, the company Krka, d. d., pharmaceutical factory Novo mesto.



We sincerely thank all recipients of the awards for their dedicated work in the mountaineering organization and congratulate them from the heart!

Manca Čujež, PZS representative for public relations.