Official Organ Of The Slavonic Benevolent Order Of The State Of Texas, Founded 1897. HUMANITY
BENEVOLENCE
BROTHERHOOD
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 with Undeliverable Copies VOLUME 61 — NO 18 to SUPREME LODGE SP.1ST, P.O. Box 100, Temple, Texas 76501.
MAY 2. 1973
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK Our delegates and members will remember that the XXIst Convention provided for a Field Manager to be hired by the Supreme Lodge as an assistant to SL Vice President Joe B. Hejny in our Insurance Department. Brother Silas Smith has been selected for that position. His picture and write-up, furnished by Brother Hejny from the Supreme Lodge, appeared in last week's issue under "Office of Supreme Lodge" and is repeated on page 3 of this issue. We wish Brother Silas Smith much success in his association with the SL and in his new duties. He proved his abilities and interest in 1972. Recently, Sister Norma Andel was elevated to the position of Brother Hejny's assistant in the insurance office itself, so we can see that the Insurance Department is growing. • • Also in the last issue and repeated May 9 under the heading, "Office of Supreme Lodge," is information about the referendum being conducted about two different issues. Your editor feels that an affirmative or "Yes" vote on both issues is warranted; however, of course, each delegate should, and we feel sure will exercise his or her democratic right to decide individually. The first is a matter of good business and the second certainly is promoting section (b) of Article II of our original charter, Le.: "To promote and en-
THE BRIGHT SIDE If we noticed little pleasures As we noticed little pains, If we quite forgot our losses And remembered all our gains. If you looked for people's virtues, And their faults refused to see What a comfortable, happy Cheerful place this world would be courage the education of the members of this association and their families in the Czech and English languages, and to advance their moral and literary inclinations." • • The first weekend in May each year sightseers, neighbors and other people congregate for a jam-packed weekend of enjoyment which draws participants by the thousands from near and far; it is just a few days away, and there naturally is a spirit of excitement because plans are bein g quickly brought to completion for the May 5th and Gth National Polka Festival where you will see a "Little Bit of Czechoslovakia" in Ennis, Ellis County, Texas. It commences on Saturday morning with many fraternal societies participating, including local SPJST Lodges 25 and 135, Sokol, K, T, and Itnights of Coluttthns, where many different ages will delight in the hour-long display of warmth and welcome. Dancing in the
streets with the dancers in their colorful Czech costumes whirling in time to the music, will be enjoyable to many spectators. Other featured attractions will be the Beseda dancers, composed of boys and girls of all ages of Cech descent, and American Sokol Organization performing their precision gymnastic routines. Other activities include Czech. Choral Groups and a colorful display of Czech dolls dressed in authentic costumes made to perfection. Another attraction for those who need a rest, there is usually a brief halt to provide the visitors an opportunity to view the local surroundings of Ennis, such as the well-known Ennis Bluebonnet Trials, offering the everlasting wonder of spring in the form of acres of Texas Official State Flower from sunup to sundown. There will be approximately twelve bands alternating lively music and providing beautiful continuous polka and waltz music at the four fraternal societies' ballrooms, for the two-day period. If you have already visited this festival previously, don't expect it to be the same this year. Each year it gets bigger and more fun-filled and more exciting. Your editor had the privilege of attending the festival on two occasions and fotind each ballroom packed with people dancing ,in their beautiful and colorful costumes to the lively polkas