Upcomig Events

On March 29th, the kukeri collective at Community Center "St.st. Cyril and Methodius", Rakovski, will be representing the tradition of Shrovetide before the audience at Popintsi. The 12th Annual Folklore Festival of Masquerade and Kukeri Dances will take place, in which groups kukeri groups from every corner of Bulgaria will participate.
Next week again will be full of children’s crafts and fantasies. In anticipation of the coming Easter, kids will paint and decorate Easter eggs with materials purchased by the sale of martenitsi made by the kids at the end of February.

"Very Delicious"

“Very Delicious” is a performance by National Puppet Theater of Stara Zagora, who will be visting the stage of Community Center "St.st. Cyril and Methodius", Rakovski, on March 31st 2009 at 12:00 pm.
The performance, choreography, music and puppets are by Olga and Alexander Churchich, with the participation of Elitsa Stoyanova and Stanislav Matev.

"1000 Scholarships" Again

The third competition of the Komunitas Foundation has begun for the for the “1000 Scholarships” project for the 2009-2010 school year. Full-time students from 6th to 11th grade in primary and middle schools who wish to continue their education are invited to participate.
The timeline for applying is as follows:
March 1st – April 20th 2009 – Preparation and handing-in of documents;
July 17th 2009 – Announcement of first classification;
By October 15th 2009 – Completion of interview;
October 30th 2009 – Announcement of “1000 Scholarships” project scholarship winners for 2009-2010
You can apply for the primary scholarship and the scholarship for outstanding achievement!
Details of the contest can be found on the website of the Komunitas Foundation http://www.1000stipendii.org/ or by visiting Community Center "St.st. Cyril and Methodius", Rakovski, where you can pick up the brochure with more information and forms for participation. This is a chance for you; don’t let the moment pass and don’t forget – the deadline for applications is coming right up!

The Kukeri Group will Aagain Perform in Bulgaria

On February 28th, 2009 the kukeri group from Community Center "St.st. Cyril and Methodius", Rakovski, will be in Plovdiv, Northern District. The parade will leave from the parking lot of Sankt Peterburg Hotel and will finish in the garden of Brezovsko Avenue, where the kukers will dance to expel evil forces.

On March 1st, 2009 the kukers will decorate the roads with martenitsas due to the fact that
They are taking part in a kukeri festival in Momin Prohod, Municipality of Kostenets.

Martenitsas

The week of February 23rd to the 27th, at Community Center "St.st. Cyril and Methodius", Rakovski, children will make martenitsas, after which a “Martenitsa Bazaar of Children’s Martenitsas” will open.

Once again, the staff of the community center and the lead teachers from the third grade at Hristo Smirnenski School, Mrs. Govedarova and Mrs. Pendakova, have taken on the task of organizing and implementing the event.

The kids will spend their free time constructively with the development of creative thinking and get a more detailed introduction to the March First holiday.

My Home is My Castle

This is the title of the production which will take place in the hall of Community Center “St. st. Cyril and Methodius”, Town of Rakovski on Tuesday, February 17th 2009 at 6:30 PM.
Entry is free!
The author of the production is Vladislav Karamfilov, director Alexander Iliev and composer Vlado Jambazov.
The cast includes Vladislav Karamfilov, Kiril Efremov, Kofe Babone, Plamen Peyev, Stefan Izvorov, Stefan Shterev and the Theatre Dreams troupe.
After the production an auction will be held for the winning wines from “Vinaria-Rakovski 2009”, which will take place on February 14th, 2009.

VINARIA 2009

The traditional Vinaria is being organized this year by the Municipality of Rakovski and Community Center “St. st. Cyril and Methodius”, Town of Rakovski, on February 14th, 2009.

Candidates who wish to participate in the competition for best wine may enter a sample of the wine – white, red and/or wormwood – from February 9th to the 13th at Community Center “St. st. Cyril and Methodius”, Town of Rakovski.

For the king of the wine and his runners up there will be different surprises, besides the traditions!

We await your arrival!

How the Festival Ended

The Seventh Annual International Festival of Kukeri and Masquerade Games “Kukove – Rakovski 2009” has come to an end. This year, in spite of the relatively short period of time for organizing, the 15 groups scrambled here for the prize. Two groups from the Republic of Macedonia participated in the opening ceremonies and at the beginning of the second day, followed by young majorettes from the Village of Trude in the Plovdiv Region who gave the start of the groups from Bulgaria.
A jury including Mrs. Irena Bokova, Mr. Angel Yankov, Mr. Nikolai Nenov, Mrs. Svetla Dimitrova, and Mrs. Tania Mareva, after a brief deliberation, delivered the following awards:
For good performance:
Village of Sokolitsa, Municipality of Karlovo; Town of Banya, Municipality of Karlovo; Village of Gabra, Municipality of Elin Pelin; Village of Kovachevtsi, Municipality of Kovachevtsi; Village of Kliment, Municipality of Karlovo;
For instruction in tradition:
Kukeri Association Alexandrovo – Osetenovo – Manolovo; Village of Karavelovo, Municipality of Karlovo; Village of Vasil Levski, Municipality of Karlovo; Village of Kamen, Municipality of Sliven;
For artistry and costumes:
Village of Stefanovo, Municipality of Radomir; Town of Batanovtsi, Municipality of Pavel Banya;
For artistry and support of the tradition:
Village of Shiroka Lucka, Municipality of Smolyan; Village of Turia, Municipality of Pavel Banya;
and the vote for complex performance:
City of Yambol; Town of Pavel Banya
Awards of achievement and encouragement go to the seven children’s kukeri groups from the municipality, who participated in the opening ceremonies of the festival.

Seventh Annual International Festival of Kukeri and Masquerade Games

The municipality of Rakovskli and Community Center “St. st. Cyril and Methodius”, Rakovski, are organizing the Seventh Annual International Festival of Kukeri and Masquerade Games “Kukove Rakovski 2009”. The festival will be carried out under the patronage of the Temporary Mayor of the Town of Rakovski, Mr. Stoyo Fitnev and the Chairman of the Rakovski Town Council, Mr. Ivan Antonov. According to the statute of the festival, it takes place every year the Friday and Saturday before Shrovetide, but this year the statute has not been followed due to the upcoming elections. The festival will take place on February 6th and 7th instead.
On February 6th at 5:30 PM, groups from the community centers and schools from the municipality of Rakovski will perform, and at 6:00 PM the real opening of the festival begins with the symbolic bonfire and the banishment of the evil spirits by the kukeri groups from the Plovdiv region and guest performers from Macedonia.
A majorette group with marching band will head up the second day of the festival, February 7th at 10:00 AM, when the groups from The Republic of Macedonia and The Republic of Bulgaria will perform.
A jury including Professor Irena Bokova from New Bulgarian University, Sofia, Mr. Angel Yankov from the Plovdiv Ethnographic Museum, Mr. Nikolai Nenov from the Russe Ethnographic Museum, Mrs. Svetla Dimitrova from the Stara Zagora Ethnographic Museum, and Mrs. Tania Mareva from the Smolyan Historical Museum will judge the performances of the groups of the seventh annual “Kukove Rakovski 2009”.

Kukove-Rakovski 2009

After a brief break in the participation of Community Center "St.st. Cyril and Methodius" in the organization of the International Festival of Kuker and Masquerade Dances, this year we were once again assigned to making this event a reality for the entire municipality. In spite of the brief period of time during which the organization of the undertaking must be completed, the festival will take place a little earlier taking into account the statutory time due to the date on which the private elections will be held for Mayor of the Municipality of Rakovski . The dates during which the events will take place are the 6th and 7th of February, 2009.
During 2009, for a difference from other years, the festival will take place under the patronage of Vr. I. D. Mayor of the Municipality of Rakovski Stoyo Fitnev and the Chairman of the Rakovski Municipal Council Mr. Ivan Antonov.
We await confirmation from a number of collectives from around the country and outside of it.

And a little for the sponsors

The week devoted to the 100-year anniversary of Community Center "St.st. Cyril and Methodius", Rakovski, was carried out under the patronage of Vr. I. D. Mayor of the Municipality of Rakovski Mr. Stoyo Fitnevand Chairman of the Rakovski Municipal Council, Mr. Ivan Antonov.
Backing received from ЕТ"ПАНЮК- Надка Мандраджийска", "Танита"ЕООД, "Масив-4" ООД, "Ориноко-Д" ЕООД , "ИМБО"ООД, "ЦИМА-99" ООД, "ИНСА"ООД, "ЛЕГИЯ"АД, Ямантиеви Wine Cellar in Ivailovgrad and Villa Vinifera in the Village of Brestovitsa. We would like to state our thanks to everyone who believed in us and supported us in the organization of one unforgettable week.

A Week Full of Emotions

It has been a week full of emotions, songs, dances, music and rejoicing. It all began on December 15th with the making of children’s Christmas sticks and Christmas loaves, combining the 100 year anniversary of the community center with the components of the Christmas and New Year holidays. The day continued with the opening of and exhibit of local artists, and concluded with a magnificent concert by the Trakia Folk Ensemble from Plovdiv.
The second day of the celebration was also quite interesting and instructive. The children from the kindergartens in town had the opportunity to be introduced to Mary’s Puppet, a production of The Puppet Theater of Stara Zagora. The evening continued with Egocentric café-theater, As a Bulgarian, Am I an Idiot?
For lovers of wedding music, The Young Thracians Orchestra performed a one hour concert which a number of young local singers took part in. Earlier in the day, the kids were glad to meet with Santa Clause in the community center.

With the oncoming of the big date the events started to become progressively more thematically intense. An exhibit featuring local photographer Nedelcho Stoikov called The Community Center Through the Years had opened, the event finished with a large variety of colors and patterns as well as the rich sounds and voices of the students from Luben Karavelov High School in Plovdiv.
The amateur variety program of community centers from the Municipality of Rakovski was rich with local talent. The Hristo Botev Community Center from the Village of Stryama were represented by their always-dominant “Stryaman Brides”, and the young dancers from Enlightenment Community Center in the Village of Belozem brightened the audience with the rhythms of Cha-Cha and Samba.
The Slav Boikin Folklore Ensemble from Community Center "St.st. Cyril and Methodius" was in rather larger form due to the addition of participants from almost every incarnation of the group that has passed through the community center over the years.
The culmination of the week was on December 20, 2008, when the 100-year anniversary of the community center was marked with a concert by The Pirin Folk Ensemble from Blagoevgrad, a bonfire, and fireworks featuring the kukeri group from Vasil Levski Community Center in the Village of Kliment and the kukeri group from Community Center "St.st. Cyril and Methodius" in Rakovski.

A tale of the people and the men and the young people with character

On September 13, 2008 a group of young enthusiasts thought, considered and determined that six years is more than enough time for a community center to exist without a stage. A stage, which solely for the entire town, and more, that this community center after one or two months would be turning 100 years old. What did they do? -Martin, Phillip, Nikolai, Andre, Boiko, Penka, Maria and Victoria!
They rolled up their sleeves and for months in a row, in defiance of everyone and everything, worked day and night in order to attain their one secret dream – to dance on the stage of the local community center.
And… they made it from a pile of wood, two hammers, nails, nuts, bolts and one cementer. In under three months they crafted the stage, on which to dance, to frolic, to teach themselves, and to spend every free minute on something healthy and creative.
From here began everything…
The community center staff thank these young people, who didn’t waste their talent and time and decided instead to voluntarily make something beautiful and healthy for the whole city!

100 Years Community Center "St.st. Cyril and Methodius"

Community Center "St.st. Cyril and Methodius", Rakovski, becomes a centenarian. The event will be marked during the week of December 15th - 20th, 2008 under the patronage of the mayor of the Municipality of Rakovski and the Chairman of the Municipal Council of Rakovski.

PROGRAM

MONDAY
December 15, 2008

2:00 The making of children’s Christmas sticks and Christmas pastry-rings with kids from the applied art club



Organization of Christmas borough



5:30 Opening of gallery show of local artists

6:00 Concert: Trakia (Thrace) Folklore Ensemble, of Plovdiv



TUESDAY
December 16, 2008

10:00 & 11:00 Children’s puppet theater – Mary’s Puppet

6:00 “Egocentric” café-theater presents As a Bulgarian, am I an idiot?, with Simeon Alexiev



WEDNESDAY
December 17, 2008

9:30 Opening of exhibition of children’s Christmas sticks and Christmas bread

2:00 Santa Clause at the community center

5:30 Concert: Mladi Trakitsi (Young Thracians) Orchestra, featuring soloists Vania Vulkova and Violeta Kalinova


THURSDAY
December 18, 2008

5:00 Gallery opening: local photographer Nedelcho Stoikov – The Community Center Through the Years
5:30 Concert: Students from Luben Karavelov High School (Plovdiv) with soloists:
Svetelina Carlakasheva
Ivalina Carlakasheva
Mariana Oreshkova
Lilia Stancheva
Veronica Borgodjieva

FRIDAY
December 19, 2008

10:00 Debate including community center chairpersons, secretaries, librarians, trustees, and the public: The Community Center – Naturally Attractive Center of the Community

5:30 Mixed program including amateur performers from the community centers of the Municipality of Rakovski



STAURDAY
December 20, 2008

6:00 Grand concert including the Kukeri Collective of Community Center “Vasil Levski” (Climent Village, Municipality of Karlovo), the Kukeri Collective of Community Center "St.st. Cyril and Methodius" (Town of Rakovski), and the Pirin Folklore Ensemble (City of Blagoevgrad).

SUNDAY
December 21, 2008

5:00 Christmas Pageant organized by the children of “Holy Heart Jesus” parish

Kukers in Kurjali

The kukeri collective from community center "Св.св.Кирил и Методий" took Kurjali by storm on October 4th to celebrate 95 years of active community centers in the province of Kurjali, and more specifically the 95th anniversary of community center "Обединение" (Society), City of Kurjali.

The smallest participant in the kuker procession was the tiny Йоана, who is one year and 11 months old. One of the newest members in the kukeri collective of community center "Св.св.Кирил и Методий", Town of Rakovski.

For the excellence of their presentation, the collective was rewarded a certificate and a gift from the Regional Director of Kurjali Province. After the young people’s presentation at the 95th anniversary followed a short, two-hour tourism lesson. The group visited the area "Перперикон" (Perperikon), of course climbing to the top, and the smallest kuker didn’t quite make it.

Plovdiv on the night of the museums and the galleries

Despite the rain which fell throughout the entire day on September 26th, in the old part of the city of Plovdiv the night of museums and galleries was carried out. Surprisingly, even with the unusually wet and cold weather for this time of year, the old city was full of people who wished to visit the prepared events which occur once a year in the museums and galleries. One of the participating museums was the Ethnographic museum, which exhibited folklore wool this year. Participants included the ensemble and kukeri collective from community center “Св.св.Кирил и Методий”, Rakovski, amateurs from the city of Isperih and the village of Malevo. The ring of cow bells and from the kukeri from the community center and the cries of the devils in the streets of Old Plovdiv took command of the night, followed by a performance by Anna Mandrajiska, the presentation of the custom "Попрелки" from from the amateurs from the village of Malevo and the performance of the a cappella group "Бели карамфили" (White Carnations) from the Historical museum in Isperih. After completing their performance, the program continued until the early dawn and the dance and improvisation school of the folklore ensemble from community center “Св.св.Кирил и Методий” drew countless visitors to the museum.

For the people and the places the rulers

Community Center “Св.св.Кирил и Методий” has gone six years without a stage, but despite the wishes of many people for it to remain that way even longer still, we turned to the community for help with the reconstruction of the stage. The appeal to them did not go unanswered. Ten volunteers were collected starting this week, and the stage is already almost ready. With this attitude we are already sure that there is at least a real possibility of the planned events from December 15th to 20th, 2008 will take place in the auditorium of the community center.
We would like to express our sincere thanks to the people who believe in us helped us to check up on the problems at the community center. We would also like to extend the sincere gratitude to the representatives of businesses who believe in our accomplishments and help us to organize activities. Sincere thanks to the municipal administration of Rakovski for their tireless work concerning the community center building, events which are organized by the community center, and the contribution for the lack of staff in the community center through the transfer of such in non-working community centers in the municipality.

The community center in Kurjali turns 95

The community center “Обединение” (Society) in the city of Kurjali will celebrate its 95th anniversary week from September 30th to October 5th.
On October 4th the kukeri collective from community center “Св.св.Кирил и Методий”, Rakovski, will take part in the celebration in the anniversary of community center “Обединение”. And on October 2nd the Director of the community center will be part of a round table discussion on the theme: “The community center secretary – traditionalist or modern manager.” A presentation on good practices of community centers from southern Bulgaria, organized by community center “Обединение”, Kurjali.

Night of the museums

The annual Night of the Museums will be conducted once again this year in the old part of the city of Plovdiv. The event takes place on September 26th and the doors are open for everyone. One of the participants in the night pageant are the dnacers from the folklore ensemble “Слав Бойкин” (Slav Boikin) from community center “Св.св.Кирил и Методий”, who will perform at one of the museums in Plovdiv.
The mission for the youth, however, is not only to perform at the event, but also to take on the role of instructors of folk fitness for the visitors of the Ethnographic museum – Plovdiv.

New association of the hard-working community centers

A new association of the hard-working community centers from the south central district was founded last week. The staff of Community Center "St.st. Cyril and Methodius" participated in the establishment. The name of the association is "ЧАР-ЮГ" (or “Magic-South”), whose entire goal is to help the development and approval of the intellectual value, the civil society, the education and the culture through the community centers in the Southern central system region -- the traditional social center; to ensure favorable circumstances for the stable development of the area community, through the development and implementation of strategies, projects and programs, connected with the community centers in the Southern central system region; to further the development of community center work, through the help of community center projects and initiatives, consistent with the development and endorsement of the local cultural traditions, the aid of socially isolated social groups, educational – learning activities, social integration, and character development.
Membership of the association may be community centers, who have received two recommendations from members of the association.

Take the things in your hands !

This year, the “Komunitance” Foundation has announced a competition for talented and studies students from the 6th to the 13th grade – “1000 Scholarships”. The competition has two rings. The first ring is connected with the preparation of documents and applications, and the second ring consists of interviews with approved candidates from the first ring. Registration in the competition can be on the internet, but after July 15th.
Candidates may participate alone or together with a teacher. For more information, you visit the site of the “Komunitance” Foundation -- www.1000stipendii.org, or the library of Community Center "St.st. Cyril and Methodius", where you will find paper copies of application forms, the brochure for the eligibility requirements for application a description of the project.

“Global Libraries – Bulgaria” Project

The research and assessment of the needs of the libraries for the new project “Global Libraries – Bulgaria” from the “Bill and Melinda Gates” foundation has begun. The project is accomplished in two phases: the first is the evaluation of the needs of 1,500 libraries from general number 2,814.
From the municipality of Rakovski, seven of the eight community center libraries are included in the evaluation of the needs, one of which is the library at Community Center "St.st. Cyril and Methodius", Town of Rakovski.
For the second phase, 1,200 libraries will remain and will be aided with the project. In these, the entire program will be carried out with a duration of 3 to 5 years.

Together we achieve more

For the third straight year, the staff of Community Center “ “ and the class instructors together with their graduates from “Hristo Smirnenski” Elementary School celebrated the big Bulgarian holiday – May 24th – The Day of Bulgarian Characters and Culture.


In what has practically already become a tradition, 45 kids participated from the 2nd grade class. Each and every child participated in a number of activities such as skipping rope, orienteering with maps and collecting the pieces of a puzzle, tug of war, forming sentences out of jumbled words, and a number of games in which the kids gave everything they from themselves both creatively and physically.



Of course, this year we didn’t forget the primary game


“What I made with Mom and Grandma” which includes the presentation of the dishes


which the kids had cooked together with their parents.


For the fulfillment of the undertaking, the teachers and the community center personnel would like to express their gratitude to the Director of the Budgetary function “Education” for the municipality of Rakovski, who provided transportation to the area in which the event took place.

National Library Week

The community center is joining in the campaign under the heading “The Library Days Series,” and from May 12th to the16th the community center library will be participating with “Open Doors Days” and Days Without Fines.” The campaign includes students from Hristo Smirnenski School, who are helping to assist in the operation of the library and they are giving every visitor a ribbon bearing the inscription “Friend of the library.” The goal of the campaign on the national level is for librarians to participate in the daily process of forming legislation to encourage bills which support public libraries. The measures, which are implemented through the community center library as part of the national campaign, will be going on all week.

The kuker group at Community Center “St.st. Cyril and Methodius” have returned from Montenegro

The kuker group at Community Center “St.st. Cyril and Methodius” were part of the carnival fiesta in Budva, Montenegro. The carnival takes place every year and ushers in the beginning of the tourist season and activities that take place during this period.


This year the event was conducted under the title “The Spring Night Behind the Mask.” The participants numbered over 2,000 present from cities on the coast of the Adriatic Sea and from countries all over Europe.



After the parade, the participants continued with their presentations in the streets of Budva and in the square in the old section of the city, followed by thousands of masked and non-masked people.


Of course, the group’s stay didn’t pass only with its participation in the festival. As part of the Federation of European Carnival Cities, we took part in the cocktail party organized in honor of Henry Van der Croon, founder of the Federation.

National Fund "Culture" approves a project of Community Center "St.st. Cyril and Methodius"

In the competition of National Fund “Culture” for financing participation of representatives of Bulgarian culture and art in international cultural forums in foreign countries and visiting foreign managers and programmers in the area of culture and the arts for the Program for Cultural Contacts – Mobility – 2008 /session 1/, Community Center "St.st. Cyril and Methodius", Rakovski participated and was approved.

The project proposal from the community center , submitted to National Fund “Culture” under the name “International dialogue through ‘The Spring Night Behind the Masks’”, will be used to fund the forthcoming traveling of the kukeri collective from the community center to Budva, Montenegro, which will be carried out in the beginning of the month of May. The goal of this proposal project is for the kukeri collective to represent Bulgarian culture and at the same time to accomplish a lasting intercultural dialogue between participants in the carnival in Budva, who represent non-governmental tourist and cultural organizations from all over Europe.

Drama - Kavala - Thassos Island

This is the route which we propose to you together with tourism firm "ILFI". The trip is two days for the price of 99 leva, which includes transportation from Plovdiv – a bus with climate control, video, and a minibar / one night of lodging including breakfast, a ferry boat taxi to Thassos Island, medical insurance for the period of travel.
The dates for the two-day trip are: March 29, April 4, May 24, and June 14

Travel with only your personal identification card for the promotional price!

Visit picturesque places!

We are taking orders!

We’re waiting for you!

130 Years Since the Liberation of Bulgaria

130 years since the liberation of Bulgaria from Turkish slavery is the theme of the exhibit which opened today at community center “St.st. Cyril and Methodius”, Rakovski.
It covers the period from the creation of the BRCC (Bulgarian Revolutionary Central Committee), through the preparation of the April uprising and ultimately its suppression. On display are some pictures representing the cruel atrocities that occurred in the Bulgarian villages after the suppression of the insurgency and the following actions – the calling of the Istanbul Conference, the explosion of the Russian-Turkish liberation war, the role of Bulgarian volunteers in the war and the dismemberment the Bulgarian lands after the climax of the liberation war.
The exhibition is hung in the lobby of the community center, where there is a display area, and everyone who wishes may visit the exposition.

Happy 3rd of March to everyone!

Grandmother March hurries along...

And this year Grandmother March visited the children’s day center of community center “St.st. Cyril and Methodius”, Rakovski. While a little bit hastened, instead of on the first of March it started on the 29th of February, she tied martenitsi on every child for health and good luck. Like a prize for the kids having learned the verses and songs for this unique traditional Bulgarian holiday, she told them the legend, handed down from generation to generation, of the origination of the martenitsa.

Like this the kids were told throughout the day to receive their blessing from Grandmother March, which her wish for every child to be smart, happy, smiling, to be healthy and obedient, to be white and red throughout the entire year.
Out of their gratitude for the blessing, the kids also fulfilled their piece of the custom and returned the gesture to Grandmother March and, like her, tied martenitsi!

Happy Grandmother March to you all!

On February 19th we observed the 135th year since the hanging of Vasil Levski – the deacon. A simple display in the lobby of the community center was organized, which included a spot with a bust of Levski, and a little later during the day we lead a brief lecture about the deeds, the life and the mishap of the apostles with a group interested in the doings of Vasil Kunchev’s students, regularly visitors to the library.
At the moment the community center is preparing an exhibit to commemorate 130 years since the liberation of Bulgaria, which will be opening on February 29th. The show covers/includes the period from the April uprising to the end of the Russian-Turkish Liberation war.

Grandfather Christmas Visits the Children's Day Center at the Community Center

On December 21st Grandfather Christmas visited The Children’s Day Center at the community center, built with the financial backing of the “Tulip” Foundation during 2005. The good old man couldn’t arrive with a sled due to the small amount of snow, therefore according to the kids, he arrived via a new “BMW,” and the kids insisted the whole time that that it must not be confiscated by the police.
Despite their anxiety, which was abundant, they received Grandfather Christmas with much joy.

And at least the dear old, white, and tired man from the Lapland looked happy to be among the kids. After this he listened to all the songs, verses, and wishes for health, long life, and abundant crops during the new year. The good old man awarded those present with gifts, in view of the fact that you know, that exactly two days before this, the kids had prepared painstakingly for the holiday, with the traditional holiday baking and the crafting of decorated twigs. His presents were for everyone, but also for the disobedient kids! Of course, after this he got a promise that everyone will work harder during the new year!

Interaction Between the Local Authorities and the Members of the Public - "Community Centers" in the Municipality of Rakovski

This was the theme for which was conducted today, December 20th 2007, a round-table discussion with the staff of Community Center “St.st. Cyril and Methodius,” Town of Rakovski. Those invited to the meeting included the Mayor and Vice Mayor of the municipality, the municipal advisors, the representatives of the community centers in the Municipality of Rakovski, and old and young supporters of the community center idea. The date was not chosen by accident; exactly 99 years ago, on December 20th, 1908, medical technician Giorgi Michev and a group of vigilant intellectuals formed Community Center “St.st. Cyril and Methodius.” With this round-table from one direction stands command of the celebrations devoted to the 100-year anniversary during 2008.
The aim of conducting this event was to inform the newly elected members of the municipal council of Rakovski such that they begin to understand the function of the community center and municipal administration and for the people of the town to be informed of the programs for which the community center works. The challenge for the group, however was to find a way to jointly work between the community center administration, the municipal administration, and the municipal council through the formation of teams for municipal cultural strategy and preparation for the major undertakings of the municipality that ultimately occupy the resources available from structural funds.

A Short Review of the Past Month

From the first week of the month of November and so far the community center has begun a sport-dance club with kids and youth from the school “Hristo Smirnenski,” at the same time during day and night we are teaching English to participants from UniCredit Bulbank, to a class of participants from the Rakovski Police Department, to employees of the kindergarten “Clover,” to children and elderly, and even youth from the folklore ensemble at the community center prepare for the language for the new tournaments during 2008.
This year, and more specifically this month, we participated in one of the final meeting of Project ABLE/which is an idea exchange for library ventures and the finding of connections for collaboration/, as well as participating at the final training as instructors, for those who attempt to pursue connections with colleagues.
But with all of this going on this month at the community center and outside of it, we overslept on stocking up on new literature for the community center’s library through a program of the Ministry of Culture. In the beginning of December we will make a funded subscription to published periodicals for our participation in a competition for the Ministry of Culture supplemental grant.
And how will we begin the new month – with an exhibition, of course – but for those who are curious to discover at the community center on Monday, December 3rd, it will be more interesting to come and see than to read.

The First of November - Day of the Community Leaders

This is the theme of the show/exhibition which was unveiled yesterday for the occasion of the Day of the Community Leaders at Community Center “St.st. Cyril and Methodius.” At 12:00 in front of the community center building, students from the school “Hristo Smirnenski” and young people from folklore ensemble “Slav Boikin” put on a brief presentation for the occasion of the holiday.
The show was devoted to local community leaders – religious leaders, teachers, and cultural activists. It is an occasion for the remembering and learning about our forefathers. With this presentation we barely scratched the surface of the theme for every “honored Bulgarian,” but we supported the beginning of a more finite theme with through the collection and organization of data on the local, vigilant community leaders – our forefathers. At least, we repeatedly began asking the questions “Who is a community leader? How will we define who is sufficiently worthy of the title Community Leader?” We hope that everyone who has seen the show will understand the message we were hoping to convey through the imagery, the buildings, and the texts hung in the exposition – namely that any one of us would be able to be community leaders if we stop thinking inwardly of our own individual wishes, strictly speaking for I, and if we are selfless and contribute to the creation of the future’s history. If every one of us welcomes the responsibility of the future day as his personal responsibility, he will ensure that we have built a genuine, responsible Bulgarian nation, ready to be vigilant and work for a better tomorrow.
All those people involved in the construction of the hospital, the school, and the church after the earthquake during 1928, the people who helped to build the community center – all of them are community leaders. The people who leave something after them of course, because they possess the wish to extend and to build their history – these are community leaders.
We are exceptionally thankful to our colleague and friend Petur Turnovaliski, who collected materials from over the years and researched the history of the local population, and gave us many materials including both pictures and text. Of course we can’t forget our partners from the school and “Zombori” Press in Plovdiv, who kindly worked closely with us for our Folklore ensemble’s trip to France, and helped us now with the organization of the show for local community leaders.

The Community Center Brings Together Two Towns

Thanks to the members of folklore ensemble “Slav Boikin” from community center “St.st. Cyril and Methodius”, in Sremska Mitrovitsa, Republic of Serbia during August a new brotherhood of two towns was initiated. Rakovski and Panchevo, Republic of Serbia signed a preliminary agreement for partnership in the presence of the ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria in the Republic of Serbia Mr. Giorgi Dimitrov, cultural attaché Mr. Ivailo Kirov, the Mayor of the town of Panchevo Mr. Sergian Mikovich and Stoyo Fitnev, a representative from the town of Rakovski. These public figures along with all the other guests squeezed into the village of Ivanovo for the holiday St. Vendelin, celebrated locally on October 20th, and the Day of Community Leaders, celebrated by the Bulgarians on November 1st. These two dates were the occasion for the dancers from folklore ensemble “Slav Boikin”, who had invitations to bring a program to the village of Ivanovo. Apart from the extended hour and a half performance, community center members gave books in Bulgarian language for cultural education of society in the village of Ivanovo and Belo Blato. Donors of the literature in Bulgarian language for the two cultural educations of society are Publishing House “Hermes”, “Zombori” Press, Community Library “Ivan Vasov”, the Ethnographic Museum in Plovdiv, and Community Center “St.st. Cyril and Methodius”. Memories of the trip, performance, conference, and new acquaintances of the dancers from CC “St.st. Cyril and Methodius” owe probably the most thanks to the assistance of Mr. Frantz Kokov – Mayor of the Town of Rakovski, and the generous support of Vecelin Doshkov, manager of “Hebros Bus” OOD.

News with an Extension...

Today, October 18th, our new friend and colleague John Shryock begins work. After his two-day visit in town during September, now he begins with us as a volunteer from Peace Corps for two years. His assignment is to work with kids and youth in the community center and our partner organization – the newly-renovated school “Hristo Smirnenski”. John will organize free English language classes for beginners; those who wish to be included may call the community center. English classes are already organized together with members of the local Police Department, the school “Hristo Smirnenski”, and employees of Unicredit Bulbank, who expressed a desire to learn the language during John’s two-day visit last month.

After much thunder preparation and work, but again always with successful finish, tomorrow October 19th Folklore Ensemble “Slav Boikin” from Community Center “St.st. Cyril and Methodius” leaves for a two-day tour in the Republic of Serbia. It goes without saying that the young dancers will carry quite a lot of talents to our fellow countrymen living there. The Bulgarian cultural information centers will receive the donation of Bulgarian literature, computers, and a copy machine. Besides their presence and the donation youth members of the ensemble will bring, the ensemble will be part of the creation of a new friendship and partnership between the local governments of Rakovski and Panchevo.

Information on how and who helped this time to gather the donation and the ensemble that traveled to Serbia, how and what occurred there during the weekend will be available here on this blog on Monday, October 22nd.

Once Aagain on Tour

On October 19th, 20th, and 21st the folklore ensemble "Slav Boikin" from Community Center "St.st. Cyril and Methodius" will join in the holiday "St. Vendeli" in the village of Ivanovo, Republic of Serbia.

The invitation was sent from the consul of the Republic of Bulgaria in the Republic of Serbia, Mr. Metodi Metodiev. The idea began with this and the initiative of "Zombori" Press and Communty Center "St.st. Cyril and Methodius" for the collection of Bulgarian literature and skill for Bulgarians in the village of Ivanovo.

The idea that the ensemble prepare a one-hour program for the holiday in the village, whose population is predominately Bulgarian Catholics, is connected with the wish from their side for fraternization between the town of Rakovski and the village of Ivanovo.

To the moment of our appeal for the collection of skills and literature we heard back from "Jhanet-45" Press, the Ethnographic Museum in Plovdiv, and the Rakovski branch of Unicredit Bulbank. We sent letters of notification and appeal to "Zahari Stoyanov" Press, "Hermes" Press, and the Provincial Administration of Plovdiv. The appeal addressed all those who wish to help support fellow countrymen's initiative for the Bulgarians in the village of Ivanovo, Republic of Serbia.

New Member of the Community Center Team

After the existing partnership between the community center library and the library of Colorado Christian University, thanks to Project ABLE funding from the American Department during 2004, the library team continues to broaden it's contacts and to search for new friends and like-minded peers for new ideas which are and will be realized at the community center. It was in this vein that we, during the month of April, applied to the Peace Corps for the "Youth Development" program for a volunteer worker at the community center.
After a long wait they contacted us and they hadn't kept us waiting for nothing: during the month of September, for two days the the future friend of the community center team will visit with us here. He will move into the town for his prolonged two-year stay around October 20th.

A Journey to France

The folklore ensamble at the community center has returned from a tour in the town of Bezie, in the South of France. Before traveling to the country of wine and wonderful landscapes, on August 9th the ensamble went to Sremska Mitrovitsa, Serbia where they participated in an International Folklore Festival.

After the presentation of the kookeri group and the dance ensamble in our neighboring country, the dancers continued on toward France, where they waited from August 11th to the 15th.

Amongst groups of participants from Italy, Belarus, and Nepal, the Bulgarian group once again one of the most attractive in the city, which draws around one million guests every year carring incomes of 65 000 euro to the local business.

For a series of 5 days with over 3 performances every night, the kookers from the community center in Rakovski chased evil spirits from the streets of Bezie, amongst lines overflowing with cheery spectators and participants in the fiesta, organized for the fifteenth time. At the end they were tired, but full of unforgettable memories and the best feelings from the week in Bezie. On August 16th, the younger members of the ansemble headed to the capital of France - Paris. Like an award for their performance at the Fiesta, beforehand sponsors from "INSA"Ltd (Rakovski), "Masiv-4"Ltd (Rakovski), Printing-house "Zombory" (City of Plovdiv), and the help of the provincial government administration of Plovdiv gave the possibility to the young people of the community center to visit the Arc of Triumph, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower; the last from a list of different culturally significant landmarks like Munich, Vienna, and Budapest.

Even the long way to the dancers home it was a tour full of emotions, positive reports and a lot of impressions from new and different cultures.