"CHANGING TO MEET THE CHANGING NEEDS OF FRATERNALISTS" 7 •
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c "Joining Hands To Touch Lives-Fraternalism for the Family and Our Nation"
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"Preserving the Past, Protecting Your Future"
Official Organ Of The Slavonic Benevolent Order Of The State Of Texas, Founded 1897
BENEVOLENCE
HUMANITY
BROTHERHOOD
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 to: SUPREME LODGE, SPJST, P. 0. Box -100, Temple, Texas 76503 ISSN-07458800 February 3, 1988 VOLUME 76 NUMBER 3 NUNI1111■1011111■11
Annual Reports Of Supreme Lodge Officers And Directors that govern the fraternal system and its tax status. The SPJST and the many other fraternals that operate in Texas, after extensive work with the committee in charge of this revision, were pleased with the bill that was passed by the 1987 Legislature. Although the bill changed some requirements for our system, it preserved the tax - exempt status of fraternal societies who meet all the
Howard Leshikar
President's Annual Message Dear Fellow Members: As we have celebrated the 200th Anniversary of the United States Constitution and focused on the importance of democracy to the growth and prosperity of our nation, we have realized, also, the continued importance of democracy to the strength and vitality of the SPJST. We know that the ideas embodied in our Constitution must be implemented for their meaning to have force. So it is in our Society. For the SPJST to continue to have vitality as a democratically governed fraternal, we must continually engage our members in the planning and implementation of our programs. The SPJST has benefitted from the investment of thousands of hours of time and talent from its members who have coordinated the many varied fraternal projects that have made our organization an outstanding example of fraternalism. The past year has been an exciting and challenging time for our Society. If you recall in 1986 and 1987 the State Insurance Board and the State Legislature began a review of the codes
The success of our effort to secure this favorable legislation depended on the support and cooperation of many officers, directors and members from our organization and the other fraternals in Texas. We especially want to thank our members who volunteered to meet and/or call their representatives in the State Legislature. Plans for the XXV Convention of the SPJST are being finalized. We hope the delegates who will be representing their lodges are looking forward to helping make the decisions that will guide our Society for the next four years. In the next few months, members and lodges should be studying and discussing the by - laws and sending recommendations to the By - law Committee, Your input is extremely important to the continued improvement of our Society. Having a strong lodge system, a sound insurance program, and a vigorous fraternal program is the key to the preservation of our fraternal status. We depend on our members to help maintain and improve the programs we now offer. We especially appreciate your time and service in the programs of the local lodges. The officers, directors, sales representatives, and members in each of the local lodges are to be commended for their dedication and service to the SPJST. Without your hard work to implement the ideas and programs, our Society could not function. Implementing new programs takes patience and hard work. The directors and officers in the Supreme Lodge are to be commended for their service to the Society. With their counsel, the new programs were implemented with a minimum of inconvenience to our
members. Also, a special thanks to the Home Office staff for their diligent work and devotion to our Society. The quality of their work makes us all extremely proud. As you know, our mission as a fraternal society is to help our members and our communities. Our lodges around the state have done an excellent job in providing support for the needy, the prevention of child abuse, scholarships, local volunteer fire departments, hospitals, drug treatment centers, and for a host of other charitable causes too numerous to mention even generally. Keep up these extremely important works. Your knowledge and awareness of the needs within each community make it possible to select the worthiest projects and make a significant impact in your communities. Our many sales representatives also deserve special recognition for their carrying out the important task of making our insurance products available to our members. As they strive to meet the financial needs of our members and build lodge membership, they perform an invaluable service to this organization and deserve our praise. Congratulations to each and every sales representative for your work for our Society. Thank you for a job well done. In the Youth Department solid gains have been made. During 1987 two new youth clubs were organized, reflecting a desire by our members in these lodges to involve their youth in the programs available to them. Again, the State YAD brought 600 members and friends to Temple to enjoy the craft and talent displayed by the youth winners from each of the seven districts. There is definitely a new enthusiasm, and optimism evident in the SPJST Youth programs. District YADs and summer camps continue to grow with the encouragement and help of many adult members who continue to volunteer as chaperones and workers making the programs possible. Our State King and Queen, Michael Morris and Melissa Victorick, have
represented our Society at the Westfest, the Texas Fraternal Congress Youth Spectacular, and the Temple Christmas Parade. Their appearances on behalf of the SPJST are deeply appreciated. Our sincere thanks to the parents, local youth leaders, and the District Youth Counselors for their work and devotion to the youth program. Also, a special thanks to the local lodges for assisting youth in their projects. In 1987 we were happy that Claudette Reese assumed the position of State Youth Director. We welcome her to this position, knowing that her past experience with youth will be an asset to our Society. This year as part of the celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the United States Constitution, the National Fraternal Congress sponsored an essay contest. We are extremely proud that Bruce Skrabanek of Lodge 9, Snook, entered and won this national contest. His insight and initiative won him a $1,000 scholarship , and a trip to Chicago. We are extremely proud of Bruce. He represented Texas youth and the SPJST with dignity and maturity. He is certainly to be commended for his effort and success. The statement had been made that "only an enlightened people can enjoy the fruits of democracy." Through our SPJST Scholarship we hope to encourage our members to continue to pursue higher education. The Supreme Lodge allocates funds for fifty scholarships. Of course, we have many more youth needing encouragement. We were extremely proud of the additional donations and memorials made to the scholarship fund last year. These additional donations made it possible for the SPJST to award twenty additional scholarships. Altogether there were seventy scholarship recipients. We really appreciate the effort of the lodges and the individuals who supported this important program. Our state tournaments continue to generate interest and activity in our (Con't On Page 3)