eraiti Official Organ Of The Slavonic Benevolent Order Of The State Of Texas, Founded 1897.
VOLUME 59 — NO. 19
BROTHERHOOD
HUMANITY
BENEVOLENCE
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 with Undeliverable Copies to: SUPREME LODGE SPJST, FOB 100, TEMPLE, TEX 76301
MAY 12, 19'71
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Lodge No, 25 Ennis Youth Club on winning the Judges' Award trophy and the Lodge No. 135 Volna Cechie Youth Club, also of Ennis, on winning the Grand Marshal Award in the parade at the annual Polka Festival. The youth and also the adults of both projects are certainly letting the public know about the existence of our SPJST. Your editor is proud to hear this news and values the efforts of all very much, and we are sure that this is the case with our entire Society. Keep up the good work; you can justly be proud of your accomplishments! • Being the editor of a fraternal weekly such as our Vestnik has its pleasant and lighter times and then, also, on the other hand, has its saddening periods. That is especially the case every week When we print the news of the passing away Of some of our fellow members. It always seems as though we are losing a brother or sister from a large family of which we are members, esp ecially when the member is youthful and in the prime of his or her life. Having known Brother J. D. Elzner since his childhood, it is especially so in his tragic passing away. Certainly he had no chance to avoid his sudden death with it coming toward him headon at great speed, even though it seems
THE BETTER PART The days are all too short to waste A moment, with the time it takes For hunting flaws in useful folks, And magnifying small mistakes. But there is time enough to spare Between the dawn and sunset's glow, To recognize the kindly traits Possessed by people whom we know. Why make ado for minor faults; And would it not be better far To notice only things that prove What loyal friends the neighbors arc? —Edith R. Smith he made an effort to do so, from the information we have read. Our sincere sympathy to Sister Wanda, the children and the families of all of the Elmer families, especially Brother and Sister Joe Elzner, his parents. All of them are good fraternal workers and members. It is as Sister Helmcamp mentioned, words seem so insignificant at a time like this, yet, somehow, they do serve to convey the sincere feeling in everyone's heart. o • Reactivating Lodges. How to go about reactivating the lodges? This has been a major problem in the past two decades as apathy has extended its corruptive influence. The problem has become so acute that one is, frankly, moved to say that the person who
could come up with a solution would be greeted in fraternal ranks as nothing less than a hero. In an attempt to trace the causes of lodge inactivity and effect some sort of cure, here are a few suggestions: 1. Treat the new member with the utmost deference and respect. 2. Emphasize the fraternal instead of the business end in your relations with him. 3. Conduct the meetings in the strictest sense of parliamentary procedure. In elaboration let us cite all too often the first welcome the new member gets is a card or statement from the financial secretary telling him how much he is to pay without one word of welcome and without any mention of initiation. All too often when such a member does arrive at a meeting the financial secretary accepts his or her dues, hands him or her a certificate, and that completes his or her acceptance into the lodge. How much better an impression and, first impressions are usually lasting ones, of the lodge and Society would have been created on that member had he received a visit from the organizer or a committee of the lodge shortly after the lodge was advised he had signed an application for membership. Such a visit would have made him feel wanted and appreciated. He would much more welcome an invitation to