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Official Organ Of The Sla vonic Benevolent Order Of The State Of Texas. Founded 1897, BENEVOLENCE
VOLUME 54 — NO. 17
HUMANITY
BROTHERHOOD
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 with Undeliverable Copies to: SUPREME LODGE, SPJST, P. 0. Box 100, TEMPLE, TEXAS
APRIL 27, 1966
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK THIS, THAT, AND THE. OTHER According to late official information, our older members will be interested in knowing that the previous deadline of March 31st for signing up for Medicare benefits has been extended to May 31st. This came as the result of recent legislation signed by President Johnson. Nearly 90 per cent of the country's elderly were enrolled before the March 31st deadline. Five percent turned down the supplementary medical coverage, and another 5 per cent had apparently not made up their minds one way or the other. Social Security officials urge those of our older people who did not get to apply for Medicare for one reason or another, to definitely do so by May 31st. Why District Meetings? When the district boundaries setup was approved at the 1952 Convention in Houston, there was a good deal of pessimism and skepticism about how long the district setup would last. Many thought it wasn't even worth a try. The future indeed looked dim for the new arrangement. Since then, there is no doubt that the arrangement has proven itself to be useful and reasonably efficient. Like anything else, though, it works best when the membership attends these district functions and utilizes the machinery of the district. The district setup promotes a feeling of friendly com-
THOUGHTS . When you are enthralled by a program of music or comedy, you are resentful if your companion is indifferent. If you want to please your wife, buy her something as frail and useless as an orchid. The Lord compensates those who aren't important by making them feel important. Isn't it pleasant to hear of something nice someone said about you behind your back? petition among the seven districts in va0ous contests, among the youth and in organizational work. It gives certain sections of the state a special kind of "identity" that they would otherwise not have. Without district meetings, the membership in that section would probably not have an opportunity of seeing one another, exchanging ideas, and solving common problems. o It is the last to which we want to address ourselves today. Surely it is good to see one another twice a year. It keeps the SPJST family "together." It gives us a feeling of mutual kinship. Exchanging ideas is always good, because the experience of one can benefit the other. It is psychologically good for one to know that he does not
have to face a particular problem alone, or that he alone has that one problem. Now, about the problems. It is rare that a district (or lodge, for that matter) has no problems at all. However, if these problems are not brought up, discussed, and an attempt made at solving them, then the district arrangement develops a very weak link in the organization. If the district meeting consists of nothing more than a reading of the minutes from the last meeting, the few regular officers' reports, a few youth numbers, adjournment, and social, then one must seriously question whether anything worthwhile has been accomplished. Things simply aren't that routine and simple. If a member brings up a serious problem facing the district, then that problem should be tackled, then and there, and if a solution is not forthcoming at that meeting, then there should be one at the next one. There are many problems a district may be having: a slow down or lack of organizational activity, which results in too few new members being written up; lack of youth activity, and/or complete indifference to it. Both are very serious. Without attention to either one, the consequences can be far-reaching. Once you begin to slide downward in either sphere of activity, the recovery becomes much more difficult. And the fact that nothing is