PZS General Assembly 2015 Marked by Major Anniversaries

Today, on April 11, 2015, the regular annual general assembly of the Alpine Association of Slovenia (PZS), one of the most mass-based and content-richest non-governmental organizations in Slovenia, took place in Sevnica, marked by this year's important anniversaries: the 120th anniversary of Planinski vestnik and Aljaž Tower, and the 110th anniversary of the establishment of the Posavska branch of the Slovenian Alpine Society in Sevnica.

The Slovenian alpine organization (Alpine Association of Slovenia and its member societies) has developed since 1893 up to today on the basis of volunteering into one of the most mass-based and content-richest non-governmental organizations in Slovenia and has managed to preserve its basic mission to this day – organizing various activities in the mountain world, caring for alpine infrastructure (alpine trails and alpine huts), protecting mountain nature, caring for safety in the mountains, and caring for alpine culture. The Alpine Association of Slovenia accepted three new societies into its membership in 2014: Climbing Club Kamnik, Climbing Club Rimske Toplice, and Mountaineering Society Goričko Tromeja, so currently 283 societies with almost 54 thousand members of various age groups operate under the umbrella of PZS.

For a vivid and alpine-colored cultural introduction to the assembly, the host of the assembly, Mountaineering Society Lisca Sevnica, which is celebrating the 110th anniversary of the establishment of the Posavska branch of the Slovenian Alpine Society in Sevnica this year, took care with the performance of young mountaineers from OŠ Sava Kladnika Sevnica and the Alpine Singing Group Encijan. Proud to host mountaineers from all over Slovenia in the town on the Sava, the mayor of the Municipality of Sevnica Srečko Ocvirk extended a welcome to them, the president of PD Lisca Sevnica Rok Petančič addressed the gathered, and in addition, the history and current significance of the magazine Planinski vestnik, the oldest Slovenian magazine still in publication, were presented.

At the regular annual PZS General Assembly in Sevnica, 120 delegates gathered, with a quorum of 42.4 percent. The delegates of the mountaineering societies, among other things, confirmed the amendment to the rules of procedure of the assembly, the content and financial report for 2014, the framework content and financial work program for 2016, the proposal for amendments and additions to the Code of Honor of Slovenian Mountaineers, were informed about the procedure for adopting programmatic guidelines, and received information on the start of the procedure for amending and supplementing the statute. "Today's assembly passed in a very productive and pleasant atmosphere. The unanimous adoption of all proposed decisions is a great recognition to all the preparers of the materials and a great vote of confidence for future work," was satisfied PZS President Bojan Rotovnik.

This year's assembly, in addition to the high anniversary of the local mountaineering society, was marked by two other important anniversaries, as in 2015 we celebrate the 120th anniversary of Planinski vestnik and 120 years since the erection of Aljaž Tower on the summit of Triglav. In the Cultural Hall of Sevnica, an exhibition on the history, mission, and activities of the oldest still-publishing Slovenian magazine was on display, the special event Planinski vestnik – 120 Years with Us on Alpine Trails on the occasion of the esteemed anniversary will be on Saturday, April 18, in the Slovenian Mountaineering Museum in Mojstrana, and a conversation with members of the editorial board will be held as part of the Night of Books on April 23 at the PZS headquarters in Ljubljana. Exactly 120 years have passed since April 15, 2015, when Jakob

Aljaž bought the summit of Triglav for one goldinar and erected Aljaž Tower there in August 1895, which still represents the pride of the Slovenian nation today. On Thursday, April 9, PZS and Tuš established a fund for the preservation of Aljaž Tower and alpine trails, the exhibition of the National Museum of Slovenia Aljaž Tower – This Tin Can Has a Soul! will travel around Slovenia this year. Exactly 120 years after the erection of Aljaž Tower, i.e., on August 7, 2015, PZS together with some other organizations will hold several events dedicated to honoring this high anniversary of the cultural monument and symbol of the Slovenes.

Before the assembly, two workshops for society workers were held in the Cultural Hall of Sevnica: Status of a society operating in the public interest and obtaining funds from income tax (as part of the project Network of NGOs for recreation in nature – All to Nature) and Opportunities for societies in marketing products of the alpine shop, Planinski vestnik, and membership fees; at the end of the assembly, PZS Vice President Tone Jesenko invited the gathered to this year's day of Slovenian alpine experiences, which with a diverse program for mountaineers of all generations and touring cyclists invites to Krvavec on June 13, 2015.

The documentary exhibition Together in the Mountains, in which the Croatian Alpine Association on the occasion of last year's 140th anniversary of its establishment highlights an important part of its history related to friendship, socializing, and cooperation between Slovenian and Croatian mountaineers, was opened in the afternoon at Sevnica Castle, where it will be on display until May 10, 2015. In a friendly and productive atmosphere, the evening meeting of the highest representatives of the Slovenian and Croatian alpine organizations continued at Tončkov dom on Lisca.

STATEMENTS

Srečko Ocvirk, Mayor of the Municipality of Sevnica: "I am honored that Sevnica is hosting the General Assembly of the Alpine Association of Slovenia, as together with Mountaineering Society Lisca Sevnica, which is celebrating 110 years since its establishment this year, we have a common interest in developing Lisca as a sports facility and developing nature-friendly tourism in our municipality. Lisca is the central alpine point in the municipality and I believe that in five to seven years it will regain its reputation as an attractive alpine area between Celje and Zagreb. Mountaineering is a very important nation-connecting activity also in the local community, so you are invited to visit Lisca and the area along the Sava River."

Rok Petančič, President of PD Lisca Sevnica: "I am glad that the Alpine Association of Slovenia accepted our society's initiative to host the assembly on the 110th anniversary of the establishment of the Posavska branch of the Slovenian Alpine Society in Sevnica. The main ceremony will be on Lisca on October 3 this year, when we will mark this high anniversary, and I would also invite you to the Sevnica alpine marathon at the end of August. Let me also inform you that the development of a very demanding alpine trail to Lisca is underway, which will be the first such trail in this part of Slovenia and thus an opportunity for young mountaineers for their first contact with such trails, which they otherwise get only in the high mountains."

Bogdan Gabrovec, President of the Olympic Committee of Slovenia – Association of Sports Federations: "The Alpine Association of Slovenia is the largest family in the Association of Sports Federations. Live healthy and honestly and I believe you also pass that on to your environment. I believe that we will allocate part of the funds for societies at the local level to you as well and that the activity of PZS President Bojan Rotovnik as President of the OKS Expert Council will contribute to our even better cooperation."

Dr. Hrvoje Kraljević, President of the Croatian Alpine Association: "I bring you warm greetings from 30 thousand registered Croatian mountaineers who operate in 283 mountaineering societies of the Croatian Alpine Association. The connection between Slovenian and Croatian mountaineers has a long and bright past, which will surely pay off in the future as well. This can also be seen in the exhibition Together in the Mountains, which will be on display at Sevnica Castle until May. Congratulations on all this year's anniversaries and I wish prosperity and progress to Slovenian mountaineering."

Katica Garoska Acevska, Representative of the Balkan Association of Alpine Organizations and the Alpine Association of Macedonia: "Congratulations and thanks to the Alpine Association of Slovenia for the cooperation, as it helped in Macedonia with the organization of training for trail markers and alpine guides, and Bojan Pollak's book Basics of Movement in Mountains and Highlands was also published in Macedonian. On behalf of the Balkan Association of Alpine Organizations and the Alpine Association of Macedonia, I invite you to visit us."