The Twin Cities Slovenians (TCS) group was formed in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St Paul Minnesota, as Branch 109 of the Slovenian Union of America (SUA). What began in 2005 with a handful of founding members gathered around a table has grown into a branch of more than 200 members. Small backyard potlucks blossomed into larger celebrations, including Slovenian Statehood Day picnics (complete with bocce tournaments), Martinovanje festivities, and farewell-to-summer gatherings. Through the years, camaraderie has been our greatest tradition, with food, music, and laughter bringing us together. There’s something especially joyful about raising our glasses and singing Kol’kr kapljic, tol’ko let, wishing one another many more happy years. And while we appreciate all our members, those who bring food hold a particularly special place in our hearts!
TCS is an all-volunteer group. Your donation supports a variety of activities which preserve and promote our Slovenian heritage. At monthly meetings, we’ve shared memories of Slovenian relatives, treasured recipes, childhood traditions, and visits to the homeland. Each member brings a unique connection to Slovenia, enriching our shared heritage. Guest speakers have enlightened us on everything from sports and lace-making to beekeeping and immigration. We’ve even enjoyed Slovenian trivia and Tombola! Each year, we produce a calendar featuring members’ photographs of Slovenia, sharing the beauty of our ancestral homeland. We’ve also embraced Zoom for board meetings and winter gatherings, keeping us connected year-round.
In our early days, we sang Slovenec sem, one of the few Slovenian songs many of us knew. Through the Festival of Nations, now iFestMN, and the Slavic Experience, we’ve shared Slovenian culture with others while learning more about its traditions, holidays, music, and language. We’ve expanded our song repertoire and improved our pronunciation—perhaps not always perfectly, but certainly enthusiastically!
Our success owes much to generous members who volunteer their time, share their knowledge, and keep traditions alive. Our Slovenian language classes are one example of that dedication.
TCS meetings are generally held at the New Brighton Community Center, 400 – 10th Street NW, New Brighton, MN, room 224, or Applewood Pointe, 1900 Rush Lake Trail, New Brighton. Our board meetings are usually via Zoom. Check the Calendar page and our home page for full information on all meetings.
Donations
Your donation goes a long way to keep TCS running all year long. These funds make it possible to run this website, host visiting Slovene performance groups, participate in heritage festivals and provide interesting presentations. Learn how you can support our activities with the links below.
Organizational Guidelines
Learn more about our structure and rules of operation.
Annual Reports
Each year we produce a report that outlines all the fabulous stuff we’ve managed and funded. You should read this.
Current Officers and Board Members
| President | Mike Koski president@twincitiesslovenians.org |
| Vice President | Mary Jo Verschay |
| Treasurer | Ruth Pechauer |
| Recording Secretary | Marian Brezovec |
| Membership Secretary | Bailey Peternell membership@twincitiesslovenians.org |
| SUA Member Representative | Liz Miller |
At Large Board Members
Elaine Barthelemy, Jeanne Jakel, Jolene Pearson, Rick Pisa, Sue Rademacher, Patrice Pakiz, Norm Setnicker, Mary Ann Setnicker and John Zakelj
Past Presidents
Mary Vidas – 2005 – 2006
Norm Setnicker – 2006 – 2011
John Zakelj – 2011 – 2016
Mike Koski – 2017 –
