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American Sokol Slet 2009 Fort Worth, Texas |
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| Opening Ceremonies | |
 1010027 - A representative from each unit or lodge was invited to participate in the opening ceremonies and wear a decorated hat representative of their hometown area. Lodge 306’s hat featured downtown Chicago and pizza, Lodge 12’s fruits and vegetables represented New Jersey, the "Garden State," and Lodge 47’s hat boasted the Pittsburgh Steelers - the XLIII Super Bowl Champions. |
 1010012 - The Opening Ceremony Gala featured elaborate special numbers, displaying tumbling, dance and pyramids. |
 1010017 - Colorful hand apparatus and costumes in the special numbers added to the opening night festivities. |
 1010019 - "Sokol Slim", portrayed by Slet Chairman Rome Milan, meets the Sokol falcon during the Opening Ceremony Gala. |
%20-%20Bonnie%20Valentine.jpg) 050 - A junior girl proudly displaying the Sokol USA bandana and her cowboy hat. |
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| Slet Performance | |
 1010006 - Sokol USA officers marched in the assembly of participants which opened the American Sokol National Slet Program. From left: Joe Bielecki, Milan Kovac and Gerald Von Schwedler |
 1010012 - The slet program was originally scheduled to be held outdoors. Due to the excessive heat - temperatures hit 103' the day before - the decision was made to hold the event in the arena of the Fort Worth Convention Center. |
 1010019 - Participants entered the arena floor marching to enthusiastic marches performed by the Dallas Czech Concert Orchestra. |
 1010037 - The Girls and Boys Calisthenics was performed to a lively medley of current tunes. Sokol USA children from the Chicago and Farrell lodges took part in the exercise. |
 1010060 - The Junior/Young Adult Calisthenics was an aerobic exercise composed of fast-paced steps and movements. Pat Bindas of Boonton is picture in the center of this photo, as the participants displayed their enthusiasm and energy. |
 1010075 - The Women's and Men's Cal was done with great precision, displaying a variety of formations and a 3-person pyramid near the end of the performance. |
 1010030 - Members of lodge 306 and 39W did a great job of performing the Senior II Coed Calisthenics. The group made up the first three rows in this column of performers. |
 1010099 - The "Let Loose" All Participant Finale was a fun, upbeat number performed by over 700 participants. The number evoked great enthusiasm and was a fitting way to end the week-long International Sport and Cultural Festival. Following the final "Nazdar" participants remained on the floor celebrating and dancing to country western music. |
| Sokol USA Members | |
%20-%20Boonton%20girls%20with%20Falcon.jpg) 049 - The Boonton junior girls enjoyed a moment with the Sokol falcon after competition. |
%20-%20Nicole%20with%20Garrett%20&%20girls.jpg) 053 - After the parade in downtown Fort Worth, , it was time to again pose for a photo with the Sokol falcon. |
 1010125 - The Banjak Family after their performances in the "Let Loose" Finale. |
 1010131 - The Pracko Family posed for one last photo before heading back to Chicago by bus on Saturday evening after the slet performance. |
 Rich - So this is what the Sokol USA Director of Men Rich Yatchyshyn does when the American Sokol holds a slet and he's doesn't have to worry about the details! |
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| Competitors and Winners | |
 Congratulations to Thalassa Millwood of Chicago Lodge 306 who won 2nd place in Senior Women Level 4. |
 Amy Tudisco of Chicago Lodge 306 did a great job by winning 1st place in Senior Women Level 3! |
 A junior from Chicago Lodge 306 won 1st place in Junior Boys Level 4. |
 P1010051 - New to the list of events at the America Sokol Slet was COED Volleyball. Sokol USA was proudly represented by the Chicago Lodge 306 team. |
 1010001 - Monessen Level 7 gymnasts, who attended the 2007 Kurz in Cleveland, were anxious to go to Texas and see their Sokol friends. |
 1010089 - Monessen's Charity Ruhl was having a great meet until her last event. She even displayed a controlled landing on her beam dismount, before she dropped to the floor. Unfortunately, she broke a bone and tore several ligaments, but she's still smiling because she earned a blue ribbon for her first-place beam performance! |
%20-%20Maddie%20Skovronek.jpg) 045 - Congratulations to a Boonton gymnast who placed 5th in Level 3 Junior Girls ages 12-14. |
 2246 - Performing on balance beam is a Farrell gymnast whose strong performance earned her 2nd place in Level 3 Girls. |
 2606 - Sokol friends from Farrell each earned first-place medals in Fort Worth. One is the the Level 6 Champion and the other the Level 4 Champion. Fantastic job girls! |
 0050 – A young Sokolad of Lodge 306 is all smiles as Boys Level 2, Ages 6-9 Champion. He also received the 2nd-place award in the Fitness Challenge for his age group. |
 0028 - Vice President of Sokol USA Scott Pracko proudly wears his Men's Level 4, 2nd-place medal. |
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| Fort Worth | |
 1010029 - While in Fort Worth, everyone had a taste of Texas. Pictured are characters who participated in the Opening Ceremonies Gala and were available for pictures during the Water Gardens Social that followed. remained on the floor celebrating and dancing to country western music. |
 1010025 - The Fort Worth Stockyards was an authentic background for some western-style dancin' and socializin' on Thursday evening. |
 1010019 - Twice daily visitors to the Fort Worth Stockyards can view the long-horned cattle as they mosey down the main street. |
 1010036 - You couldn't help but feel welcome as your arrived in downtown Fort Worth and were greeted by banners announcing the Sokol International Sport and Cultural Festival. |
| Parade in Fort Worth | |
 1010017: Sokol USA had over 60 participants at the XXII American Sokol Slet held in Fort Worth, Texas, June 23-28. |
 1010045: On Friday, June 26, Sokol USA participated in a downtown parade. Members marched from the courthouse to the convention center. Though the temperatures were in the high 90s, the tall city buildings provided shade along the parade route. |
 1010007: The Farrell contingent was the largest from Sokol USA, with 22 members participating in the slet activities. |
 1010004: The members of Lodges 306 and 39W of Chicago came prepared with cowboy hats to add to the festive occasion. |
 1010012: Supreme Lodge offices at the parade included: Front row - Debbie Golden, Chris Yatchyshyn and Scott Pracko. Back row - Rich Yatchyshyn, Joe Bielecki, Milan Kovac and Gerald Von Scwedler. |
 1010010: Members of Central Jersey at the ASO event that was more than the usual Sokol Slet. The event was referred to as the International Sport & Cultural Festival. |
 1010011: The Boonton juniors and seniors ready to march in the parade. |
 1010053: Every Sokol USA member was given a bandana with the organization logo attached. At various points along the parade route the members waved the bandanas to the spectators along the route. The children from the Chicago Lodge also sang Sokol songs as they marched through the streets. |