This is a sampling of presentations from past membership meetings. View and download the presentation materials using the provided links. The latest presentations are on top, oldest on the bottom. In some cases, we were not able to obtain the material, or the presenter chose to not have their material posted.
Michael Hlebaen presented “Scenes from the Life of the Hlebanjas” – March 15, 2025
Thanks much to Michael Hlebaen and his wife Paula Schaefer for the fascinating presentation about Michael’s ancestral home in Slovenia. Mike and Paula showed us a beautiful video made by Slovenian public TV titled Prizori Iz Življenja Pri Hlebanjevih (Scenes from the Life of the Hlebanjas). This 1997 documentary shows 500 years of the Hlebanja Family and farming on the mountainside outside of Srednji Vrh, Slovenia, with interviews of family members and reading of documents from hundreds of years of holding on in upper Carniola near the Austrian border. Here’s a link to this 49-minute video:
The above video was part of their PowerPoint slide show which includes photos of the Hlebanja farm and family from their May 2024 visit and is available in PDF format here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cdRiEhb6m647ayibVA0eQCE12U7OnejI/view?usp=sharing
Mike also suggested watching a couple other videos which include the Hlebanja homestead:
Na domačiji (On the homestead) 1982. The video is about 15 minutes long and shows life on three different homesteads from three parts of Slovenia – among them is the homestead of the Hlebanja family who farm on the mountain outside of Srednji Vrh, Slovenia. The video is accompanied by music but has no text so no need for subtitles. Produced by Slovenia Public Television. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ehe4geQR0Y
TRIGLAVSKE STRMINE 1932 / The Slopes of Triglav 1932
Jolene Pearson presented “My Month in Maribor 2024 – A Fulbright Specialist’s Experiences in Slovenia” – January 18, 2025
In 2023 Jolene made a short trip to Slovenia and fell in love with the home country of her maternal grandparents. An incredible bonus was meeting relatives. Her desire to return came through the Fulbright Program. This presentation will include highlights from her 2023 trip and her return in 2024 as a Fulbright Specialist collaborating with the Faculty of Education at the University of Slovenia in Maribor.
A video of Jolene’s presentation is available here.
Elaine Barthelemy presented “Merry Christmas Tombola – Slovenian Bingo” – December 7, 2024
Elaine presented a slide show touching on many aspects of Slovenian culture, including holidays, music, nature, cities, food, and tourism. We learned some Slovenian vocabulary. As we watched the slideshow, we made our own Tombola (Slovenian for Bingo) cards. Then we played Bingo for wonderful prizes, many relating to Slovenia.
Elaine’s slides are available here. Once you open the link. go to “view” and then “slideshow” for optimum viewing.
Luke Novak presented “Reconnecting with Heritage” – October 19, 2024
Luke Novak provided an overview of his genealogy and a brief introduction to his family presently in Slovenia. He also walked through key experiences on various topics from visits to Slovenia over the past 5 years. This included natural areas of interest and general travel tips for getting around Slovenia. Finally, there was an introduction to his journey to obtain Slovenian citizenship by ancestry.
Luke is a third-generation Slovene-American who grew up in the mining heartland of Minnesota. He enjoys spending time yearly travelling to Slovenia to visit family from the Ig and Kamnik areas and enjoy the mountains.
Luke’s slides are available here.
Mary Jo Verschay & Mike Cardinal presented “Slovenia Travels & Family Discoveries” – May 18, 2024
Mary Jo Verschay & Mike Cardinal took us to Piran, & on curvy Southern Slovenia back roads to Cerknica & its disappearing lake. Then on to visit a Mlakar family homestead & meet maternal relatives in Babno Polica. Taking a morning drive to Butoraj, they chance upon a young lady who leads them to friends of their Vrščaj relatives-who Mary Jo has been seeking for 11 years.
Three days in Ptuj completes their Slovenian journey. Information on the places visited, Slovenia travel, cultural, genealogy & heritage resources. Resource handouts! Observations & insights gained.
Mary Jo’s slides are available here.
Norm and David Setnicker presented “Slovenian Emigration to the Iron Range of Minnesota” – April 20, 2024
Norm Setnicker’s PowerPoint Slides – Slovenian Emigration to the Iron Range of Minnesota
David Setnicker’s part of the presentation was based on his two part series entitled, “Climb Every Mountain-Stories of Escape and Resettlement” published in the “Home Town Focus” a local newspaper serving Mesabi East area of the Range. Click below for links to David’s articles:
December 2, 2023 Membership Meeting with a Christmas Theme!
Presented by Sue Rademacher and Patrice Pakiz
TCS Monthly Membership Meeting for December included:
Slovenian Christmas and New Year’s Greetings
Slovenia 2022 Visit by Liz Miller
Presented January 21, 2023
Liz returned to Slovenia in fall 2022 to strengthen her family ties – slides
Translation of article published in Slovenia about Liz’s visit – here
Slovenian Genealogy Presentation by Anthony (Tony) Bombich on Oct. 15, 2022
Please see our Genealogy page here
Slovenian-American filmmaker Joe Valencic presented 100% Slovenian: Slovenian Women in America Sept. 17, 2022
Slovenian-American filmmaker Joe Valencic came from Cleveland to present an inspiring film that he co-wrote: 100% Slovenian: Slovenian Women in America. What does it mean to be Slovenian? Is it grandma’s strudel recipe, dancing the polka, teaching children Slovenian songs, or something deeper? Witty observations and moving stories create a memorable movie about real-life women and how they stay “100% Slovenian” when Slovenia is only a distant memory. Women in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, New York, Washington DC, and Chicago tell about the joys and challenges of expressing their identity.
The film presentation was the highlight of our September membership meeting on Saturday September 17, 2022.
The Slovenian version of this film is available on Slovenian TV here. Most of the film is in English.
To Bee or Not to Bee
May 21, 2022 TCS Meeting
Presentation by Norm Setnicker about the importance of the honeybee, Slovenian education in beekeeping, beekeeping history and much more, followed by a special video prepared by Norm’s cousin Marjan Bradesko and his family for this occasion.
here
Slovenia – World War II
May 15, 2021 TCS Meeting
Presented by Pat Dillon, Chuck Debevec, and Joe Petrich
Family Experiences • Slides • Transcript
The Massacres at Jelendol, Grahovo, and Teharje •
Slovenian Holiday Traditions
December 5, 2020 TCS Meeting
Presentation by Sue Rademacher • Slides
December 5, 2020 TCS Meeting
Presentation by Rich Samec
- How to wish Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in Slovenian [“Vesel Božič in Srečno novo leto”]
- Edi Pecjak shows how he made Potica for Easter!
- Godba Dobrepolje – White Christmas
- Sarma (Cabbage Rolls) • Video • Recipe
- Stuffed Cabbage (Sarma) from Chef Klara Cvitanovich
Slides
Slovenia 2019 Visit by Liz and John Miller
October 24, 2020 TCS Meeting
Liz and John set out to find their Slovenian Roots, from America to Europe • Slides
The Journey to Prhajevo
January 21, 2017 TCS Meeting
John Perhay described the search for his family’s roots which took him to the town of Prhajevo, Slovenia.
