28.02.2013
Yesterday, on February 27, 2013, the Alpine Association of Slovenia and the entire mountaineering organization uniting mountaineering societies and all mountaineers celebrate 120 years of organized mountaineering in Slovenia - 120 years since the foundation of the Slovenian Alpine Society (SPD). Today at 12 o'clock, we solemnly unveiled the memorial plaque at the founding site of the SPD, at the entrance to NAMO at the intersection of Tomšičeva and Slovenska streets.
<br> "Today is a very special day for me and for the organization I have led for the last three years. A day entirely dedicated to remembering the path of Slovenian organized mountaineering," said PZS President Bojan Rotovnik in the introduction to his solemn address at the unveiling of the memorial plaque.
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<br> Josip Hauptman, Ivan Korenčan, and Anton Škof (later the Piparji) met with like-minded individuals on Rožnik, where they had to ascend every Sunday if they were not on a hiking trip elsewhere in the Slovenian mountains. The aforementioned three set out on a trip to Stol on July 23, 1892, which became historically significant. In the Karawanks, the natural linguistic boundary between Slovenianhood and Germandom, the idea of founding a mountaineering society matured. After the trip, they began spreading this idea among their circle of acquaintances, and the pipar group gathered like-minded people at a preparatory meeting for the establishment of the Slovenian Alpine Society in the Pri Zajcu inn in Ljubljana (today the Mrak inn on Rimska Street). Just over a month later - on November 13, 1892, the provisional committee met, followed by the preparation of the society's rules, approved on January 10, 1893. Thus, everything was prepared for the final act of founding the long-desired Slovenian Alpine Society. "Allow me to interrupt the flow of history here and remind you that this was not the first attempt to organize Slovenian mountaineering. Of course, I mean the Triglav Friends Mountain Society under Ivan Žan, as well as Fran Kadilnik and Simon Robič. Let us not forget the circumstances of the time - it was a period of strong German pressure on Slovenian lands. It was also a time of national defensive awakening among the Slovenes, but simultaneously the formation of bourgeois life that enabled interest in the beauties of the homeland. The founding general assembly of the Slovenian Alpine Society took place on this day, February 27, 1893, and at this location - in the garden salon at Malič in Ljubljana. Those present elected the first committee: Fran Orožen became the leader, Dr. Josip Furlan - deputy leader, Anton Mikuš - secretary, Josip Hauptman - deputy secretary, Ivan Soklič - treasurer, Fran Tavčar - deputy treasurer, Fran Triller - steward, Ivan Hrasky and Ljudevit Wölfing - committee members," solemnly explained President Rotovnik.
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<br> It is to their memory, will, and idea that we owe thanks for solemnly unveiling the memorial plaque today on behalf of the Alpine Association of Slovenia, 278 mountaineering societies, and 57,520 individual members. How great their enthusiasm was is shown by the fact that in the first year they marked as many as 97 paths with Slovenian signs and signposts, and immediately began cultural-propaganda and scientific work. We also wanted to emphasize their attachment to Slovenian territory, so the memorial plaque is made of local stone - Pohorje granodiorite from the quarry in Cezlak near Oplotnica in the Pohorje Mountains. The cultural component can be recognized in the conceptual sketch of the placement and thoughtful design of the plaque, the work of architect Janez Bizjak from the Kapitel architectural studio. Commitment to fulfilling the agreement is demonstrated by the company Mineral d.o.o. from Podpeči near Brezovica, which produced and installed the plaque and even partially donated its contribution to Slovenian mountaineering at the end.
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<br> The memorial plaque on the pillar of the Nama department store in Ljubljana, inscribed with the milestone of organized Slovenian mountaineering, was solemnly unveiled by the President of the Alpine Association of Slovenia, Bojan Rotovnik, and Nama's marketing manager, Maruša Komac.
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<br> "It is pleasant to know that we mountaineers are a respected part of Slovenian society, as all those we invited to collaborate approached it with great heartfeltness. Thus, permission for the plaque's installation was also granted by the building owner - Nama d.d. Ljubljana, represented by Director Mira K. Veljić, and the competent institutions - the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia, Ljubljana Regional Office, and the City Municipality of Ljubljana, Department for Spatial Planning. On behalf of the Alpine Association of Slovenia, I sincerely thank all mentioned and all others who participated in the conception, preparation, and execution," added President Rotovnik.
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<br> Regarding the installation of the memorial plaque, Mira Koporčić Veljić, Director of Nama d.d. Ljubljana, said: "We are proud that the memorial marks the facade of the Nama department store. Tradition is important, so it is right to remember the beginnings of good stories that connect people and will continue to connect them in the future. Every event in the center of Ljubljana is welcome, as it enlivens the daily lives of many passersby. The memorial plaque is placed at a location where the most people pass daily, both regular visitors and tourists."
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<br> In the cultural program hosted by PZS Vice President Borut Peršolja, baritone Marko Kobal and zither player Tomaž Plahutnik further enriched the gathering with the mountaineering anthem Oj, Triglav, moj dom! and the song Veseli pastir. At the end of the program, the Nama department store treated all numerous attendees to mountaineering tea.
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<br> ABOUT THE MEMORIAL PLAQUE:
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<br> The memorial plaque stands at a highly visited location in Ljubljana. It will be seen daily by both Ljubljanans and local and foreign visitors to the capital (therefore, the plaque's inscription is bilingual). It will remind us that we Slovenes would not exist without mountains. And this in both a figurative and literal sense. From this spot, where a beautiful view of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps opens at the end of Slovenska and Dunajska streets, the plaque will also be an invitation each time to set out and meet where gods once dwelt, and today we primarily discover ourselves.
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<br> The plaque is square-shaped, 70 cm x 70 cm, 3 cm thick; its surface is textured, with a mountain silhouette used as the background. The upper part of the plaque and the part around the inscription in the coat of arms is polished, while the rest of the plaque's surface is hand-flamed. All letters are black and deeply carved. The coat of arms of the Alpine Association of Slovenia is also next to the inscription.
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<br> The plaque's text reads:
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<br> NA TEM MESTU JE BILO
<br> 27. FEBRUARJA 1893
<br> USTANOVLJENO
<br> SLOVENSKO PLANINSKO DRUŠTVO.
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<br> THE SLOVENE ALPINE CLUB WAS FOUNDED
<br> ON THIS SITE ON 27 FEBRUARY 1893.
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<br> 27. 2. 2013
<br> PLANINSKA ZVEZA SLOVENIJE
