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Official Organ Of The Slavonic Benevolent Order Of The State Of Texas, Founded 1897. HUMANITY
BENEVOLENCE VOLUME 58 — NO. 52
BROTHERHOOD
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 with Undeliverable Copies to: SUPREME LODGE SPJST, POD 100, TEMPLE, TEX 76501
FROM THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE New Year's Message Dear Members: Another year has passed (flown!), and it is once, again time for your president to report on the old year and review some of the things that face us in the New Year 1971. In a more personal vein, my family and I wish to thank all of you who sent us the most beautiful Christmas cards we have ever received. God bless all of you. Insurance Written In 1970. At this writing, figures are, of course, incomplete pertaining to volume of insurance written, but it appears that we Will surpass last year's production. Also, we cannot tell what our net production will be until much later in the year, but we hope that will also surpass that of 1969! If we do score on both counts, it will have been another banner year for the SPJST. Credit for this achievement goes to many people, so I will pause here to extend thanks to all who helped in this effort. You are the backbone of our • growth and strength. Please keep up the good work. Vice President Hejny will have complete wrap-up figures for you later. The Supreme Lodge has continued its work of implementing decisions of the last convention and disposing of matters that arose during the year. Many important decisions were made. We are only mortals and we are not perf ec t , but we feel our decisions have been •- in • the best. interests of the
SPJST. Sometimes there is an absence of precedence for what we do, but we felt it was our responsibility to act and we did. The membership has a right to expect that of us. The refund of premiums to members will amount to $191,000 for 1970. The 7% refund to lodges will be well in excess of $70,000, which is an increase over last year, and which is an indication of growth, based on premiums sent in to the Supreme Lodge. During 1970, we lost, two lodge halls
DECEMBER 30, 1970 -^ to fire, and both are well along into plans to re-build. We have two new lodges on our roster. Of course, the really big item ahead Of us is the joy and pride we all share in occupying our new Supreme Lodge office building here in Temple. I don't think anyone really comprehends all that is involved in such an undertaking. Now, after some delay and a lot of misgivings and patient waiting, we are ready to open and dedicate our new home (your new home) on Sunday, January 31, 1971. This has already been announced in the Vestnik, and we hope all of you are making plans to attend this onec-in-a-lifetime even in the history of the SPJST. We know you will be proud of this edifice, because it symbolizes the entire SPJST — stability, strength, and protection. So many people in this area have remarked how beautiful this structure is and how it symbolizes the character of our people. Come se,e it on January 31st! 1971 is also the year preceding our next convention. How the time has flown! Before you know it, we will be convening the XXIst Convention in Houston! As some of our previous ones, this one can be expected to introduce some new things in our SPJST. A lot of advance planning needs to be done. Youth Department. This department may best be characterized by one word: change. There will be more of this until it achieves a more permanent stage. This is a big program. There are so many individuals involved. About the time you think you have one