SUA History
2026-02-01 13:00 - 14:00 UTC | Zoom Meeting
Srečno novo leto (Happy New Year)!
This is just an informal reminder that our next event will be Sunday, February 1st at 2PM Eastern/11AM Pacific. Dr. Milan Mrđenović of the University of Nova Gorica will give a Zoom talk for us called From Immigrants to Citizens: Slovenian Americans and Political Life in the United States in the Early 20th Century.
Please note that the time and day are unusual. Prof. Mrđenović will be zooming in from Slovenia, so we have to compensate for the time difference. He and I met over Zoom. He is also eager to talk to you. He’ll talk for about 45 minutes, with 15-20 minutes for questions afterward.
To receive the Zoom invitation link please email us your interest.
We are very excited about this, so I hope to see many of you there!

Wines of Slovenia (EST)
2026-03-26 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York)
Join New York Branch 93 for a virtual conversation exploring the wines of Slovenia with Level 2 Sommelier and Branch 93 member Dalton Jaklitsch. All SUA Members Welcome!
Rather than a traditional guided tasting of specific bottles, this session will focus on Slovenia’s wine regions—their landscapes, grapes, traditions, and the styles of wine they produce.
During the conversation, Dalton will highlight Goriška Brda, the region where renowned producer Edi Simčič is based, and will enjoy a bottle of Duet Lex while discussing the wines of the area.
If you’d like, feel free to sip along with any Slovenian wine you’re able to find, but it’s not required. The goal is to learn about the region and its wines rather than follow a structured tasting.
For those interested in exploring Slovenian wines further, here are a few outstanding producers to look for:
• Edi Simčič — Goriška Brda
• Movia — Brda
• Marjan Simčič — Brda
• Klinec Plešivo — Brda
• Radikon — Oslavia / Collio (a historic producer just across the border that has influenced the region)
👉 RSVP HERE and Branch 93 will send you the Zoom link ahead of the event.
About the Speaker
Dalton Jaklitsch was born and raised in New York to a Slovenian and Austrian father and an American mother. He studied Finance and International Business before beginning his career in finance and later transitioning into data science. He currently works as a Team Lead in Strategy and Analytics at a large fintech company and is also a founding partner of the cookie brand Good Ol’ Cookie.
Growing up around wine and cooking, Dalton developed an early appreciation for food and hospitality. During his college summers, he interned at several fine dining restaurants, which inspired him to start creating cooking and wine content on YouTube as a creative passion project.
🍷 Where to Find Slovenian Wines
If you’d like to taste along during the event you can explore Slovenian wines in the Wine-Searcher database to see producers, bottles, and stores that carry them. It’s basically amazon for wines!

3rd Annual Women’s Celebration (EST)
2026-03-26 20:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
Commemorate Women’s History Month with this one-hour showcase of five fascinating and inspiring Slovenian and Slovenian-American women. Register at www.tinyurl.com/WomenSUA2026.
Presentations

Phyllis Wood (Branch100) honors Ana Klobuchar Clemenc, Labor activist known as the “American Joan of Arc.”
Heidi Rixman (Branch 30) honors Irena Gubina, Lipizzaner equestrian.
Patti Meglich (Branch 30) honors Alma M. Karlin, writer, collector, polyglot & one of the first European women to circle the globe.
Diane Bronstein (Branch 30) honors Ivana Kobilca, Slovenia’s best known female painter.
Karen Apolloni (Branch 30) honors Breda Loncar, co-author of the first Slovenian-American language
manual.

Slovenians of the Iron Range Film presentation
2026-04-18
Presented by Joe Valencic. Branch 109.

Member Rep Meeting
2026-04-25 10:00 - 12:00 UTC
Zoom meeting.

Slovenian History
2026-05-05 20:00 - 21:00 (Asia/Dubai)
On May 5th at 8pm (EST) Prof. Gregor Kranjc will discuss his 2014 book To Walk with the Devil: Slovene Collaboration and Axis Occupation, 1941–1945. The Cultural Interest Group (CIG) “Slovenia: History, Politics, Current Events,” is open exclusively to SUA members, the quarterly meetings via Zoom, will be co-chaired by SUA-member brothers Dr. Michael Kozuh, professor at Auburn University, and Daniel Kozuh, writer, editor, and media professional. If you would like to be added to the CIG mailing list send an email to mikekozuh+SUAhistory@gmail.com.

Calling All Soccer Fans! (5 PM EST)
2026-05-12 17:00 - 19:00 UTC | Zoom Meeting
Calling All Soccer Fans!
Zoom Event | May 12 at 5:00 PM EST
Slovenia’s women’s soccer journey began with pioneers who built the game from nothing,long before the country had a flag of its own. Through setbacks, silence, and rebuilding, the program grew into a resilient force, now standing among the top teams in the world. Today, that momentum is carried forward through the NZS Women’s Soccer Heritage Player Project, which opens the door for players around the world to connect with their Slovenian roots and compete at the highest level. It is more than a pathway—it is an invitation to be part of something meaningful, to represent heritage, ambition, and opportunity. The next chapter is still being written, and it may belong to those ready to step forward and claim it.
Join us for a special presentation on the past, present, and future of Slovenia’s women’s soccer program—and the growing opportunities for players worldwide to connect with their Slovenian heritage through NZS Women’s Soccer Heritage Player Project—an initiative designed to identify and connect players of Slovenian descent with elite international opportunities.
Click Here to Register!
Featured Speaker:
Saša Kolman | Head Coach, Slovenia Women’s National Team
Saša Kolman was appointed head coach of the Slovenia women’s national team in 2023, leading the program under the Football Association of Slovenia. A UEFA Pro License holder, Kolman brings a modern, development-driven approach shaped by international coaching experience across Europe and Australia.
Kolman began his coaching career while still an active player, notably serving in a player-coach role with TB/FC Suðuroy/Royn. He went on to manage at club level in Slovenia with ND Gorica and gained further experience abroad, including a senior coaching role with South Melbourne FC.
As a player, Kolman was a professional defender, featuring for clubs including ND Primorje and NK Nafta Lendava. His transition into coaching came early, combining on-field leadership with tactical development.
With the national team, Kolman emphasizes structure, clarity, and long-term player development, aiming to elevate Slovenia’s competitiveness in UEFA competitions and strengthen the growth of the women’s game nationally.”Appointed in 2023, Kolman brings a modern, development-driven approach backed by international coaching experience across Europe and Australia. A UEFA Pro License holder, he is focused on strengthening Slovenia’s competitiveness and long-term player development.
Joe Keiser | U.S. Scout, NZS Women’s National Team | Head Coach, Bryant University Women’s Club Soccer | SUA Member
SUA Member and Brooklyn born, Joe Keiser is a United States–based scout for the Slovenian Football Association (NZS) Women’s National Team, supporting the identification and evaluation of players within the international women’s talent pathway. In this role, he contributes to the broader scouting and performance analysis network aligned with NZS women’s national team development objectives. He also serves as Head Coach of the Bryant University Women’s Club Soccer program, where he is responsible for all aspects of team leadership, including player development, training design, and competitive preparation. His work focuses on establishing a high-performance environment that supports both athletic progression and holistic student-athlete development within the collegiate club structure.
Click Here to Register!

Growing and Using Herbs At Home
2026-05-23 15:00 - 16:00 UTC
“Growing and Using Herbs At Home” will be presented on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at 2:00 pm (Central) at the Planinsek Market Museum, 1314 Elizabeth Street, Joliet, Illinois. This is a workshop on Slovenian herbalism. Fee is $20.00. See Joliet Area Historical Museum website for ticket information.

Slovenia on Screen - Po isti poti se ne vračaj’
2026-06-16 20:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
We will be discussing the 1965 film Po isti poti se ne vračaj’ (Don’t Come Back by the Same Way).
Film-watch week, June 11th through the 15th

Discussion, June 16th, 8PM (EST)

Po isti poti se ne vračaj’ IMDb page: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0170413/

This is our first collaboration with the Slovenian Film Centre (https://www.film-center.si/en/). They are going to “host” the film for us on a website, with English subtitles.

Written and Directed by: Jože Babič

If you are interested in joining the Slovenia on Screen Cultural Interest Group (CIG), please reach out to Dan at sloveniaonscreen@gmail.com. See the Slovenian on Screen CIG page for more information.

You must be an SUA member to join a CIG.

Slovenian Handicrafts Workshop
2026-06-20 13:00 - 14:00 UTC
“Slovenian Handicrafts Workshop” will be presented on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at 12:00 pm (Central) at the Planinsek Market Museum, 1314 Elizabeth Street, Joliet, Illinois. This is a children’s workshop. Fee is $15.00. See Joliet Area Historical Museum website for ticket information.

Book Club
2026-08-18 20:00 - 21:30 (Asia/Dubai) | Zoom Meeting
David R. Roediger recounts how ethnic groups considered white today-including Jewish-, Italian-, and Polish-Americans-were once viewed as undesirables by the WASP establishment in the United States. They eventually became part of white America, through the nascent labor movement, New Deal reforms, and a rise in home-buying. Once assimilated as fully white, many of them adopted the racism of those whites who formerly looked down on them as inferior.
Footsteps Through Time by Irene Planinsek Odorizzi, tentatively scheduled for June 16th, has been rescheduled to Tuesday, October 6th.
