The Vrtačarji group from Lesce

(head of group: Majda Dobrila Žan)
Proposer: Radovljica Adult Education Centre

These regular meetings under the ancient linden in Lesce date back to 1997. At Vrtača, on the sunny side of the mighty slopes of Mt. Stol, families started getting together to improve their quality of life through informal learning, sports and socialising. The originally amateur activities of the group grew into a real learning local community, which is also open to friends from elsewhere. To begin with their main purpose was socialising among friends and the creative, active spending of leisure time. Holidays were enriched with cultural events. They started producing folk plays (Popotovanja, Nad breznom, Lov Agate Švarckobler, Tam koplji pod lipo, Žandar in tolovaj - a puppet show), they made costumes and designed the overall image of the group for Pust (Carnival) celebration and other public events (they won competitions for best costumes twice). In 2001 they set up the Vrtačarji octet. But most of all they have been brought together throughout all these years by sports. And this always brings in all generations, from the youngest to the oldest, whether it involves cross-country skiing, mountain hikes, rafting, camping, bowling, tennis or cycling. With the entry of new members, each of which brings with them new talents, knowledge and curiosity, the possibilities have opened up for learning in study circles. They select topics that relate most to their desires and needs, be it of the group or individuals. This year they opted for a computer literacy circle, and even the oldest members are attending. Before this they studied the secrets of good photographers and creating video-documentation. All of their main activities and achievements are presented on CD. In past years their most outstanding circle has been Sirtaki, which they successfully presented elsewhere in Slovenia. And their civic responsibility has been most evident in the circle Po toči zvoniti je prepozno (No use shutting the gate after the horse has bolted), in which they studied the safety of their children's routes to school and proposed solutions that would significantly improve safety to municipal authorities.