"CHANGING TO MEET THE CHANGING NEEDS OF FRATERNALISTS"
Vi STNIK i
SPJST Herald Official Organ Of The Slavonic Benevolent Order Of The State Of Texas, Founded 1897
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Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 io: SUPREME LODGE, SPJST, P. 0. Box 100, Temple, Texas 75503 ISSN-07458800 November 4, 1992
VOLUME 80 NUMBER 43
State Fair Hosts zechoslova Day
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SPJST members round out lira ram For the past 52 year, the State Fair of Texas has hosted American Czechoslovak Day in Dallas. This year's event, which took place on October 18, began with a mass at the Hall of State Auditorium. The celebrant was the Most Reverend Charles Grahmann, D.D., Bishop of Dallas Helen Macik read the Epistle, and Bob Liska led the 60-voice Dallas Czech Singers. They were accompanied by accordionists Johnny Divin, Ray Dlkbaj, an4Joe Sykora. Bishop Grahmann gave an interesting history of the Czechs and Moravians who settled in Texas some 150 years ago. Having lived in the Central Texas area for many years, Bishop Grahmann was well acquainted with the people around Praha, Moravia, Hostyn, Shiner, Hallettsville, Victoria and other communities. The social program began at the Special Events Tent with James Macik at the Program Coordinator, Richard Sykora, Master of Ceremonies, and Cyril "Sid" Pokladnik, Conductor of the Dallas Czech Concerta Orchestra. James Macik, president of the American Czech Culture Society welcomed the guests in the English language and Stacy ZhanelAthas, extended greetings in Czech. Jerry Barton, Dallas City Councilman, delivered a proclamation from City Hall and Milton Spaniel provided an update on the Dallas/13rno Sister-Cities project. Alden Smith presented a report on the
status of Czechoslovakia today. Other officers of the American Czech Culture Society are George Reznik, first vice president; Debbie Macik, secretary; and Mildred Chervenka, treasurer. Calvin Chervenka also assisted with the program. The program continued throughout the day with the promenade of Czech Kroj with the music of the Dallas Czech Concert Orchestra, Czech songs and dances by SPJST Lodge No. 84, Dallas. Other performances included the youth dancers of the WFLA; Ceska Beseda, with the {eseda Dancers; Dallas Czech Singers under the direction of Bob Liska; and Kovanda's Czech Band. Married 55 years, Bob and Anne Zvolanek of Dallas were presented an award for being the longest married Czech-American couple. The oldest Czech-American lady in attendance was Lillian Urban Moran, 85, of Dallas, and the oldest Czech-American gentleman in attendance was Bob Zvolanek, 83, of Dallas In addition to the SPJST, other participating societies and fraternals who cooperated to make this occasion a success were: KIT, KJZT, RVOS, SVPS, WFLA, American Sokol Organization, Catholic Czech Club Historical Society, and the Dallas/Brno Sister Cities Organization. —Compiled by Richard Pavlasek
Bob Liska (84) leads the 60-1 ()ice Dallas Czech Singers on stage at the State Fair.
Am( the many performing on rtici ating 'a Czechosbvi Pay at the State Fair were the Lodge 4, riallas Beseda Dancers.
District III Director Cyril "Sid" Pokladnik and Master of Ceremonies Richard Sykora oversee the promenade of Czech Costumes.
Stac\ Zhanel-Athas, left, with Bob and Anne Zvolanek, longest-married cou. ple at 55 years. Also pictured are Mildred Chervenka and Richard Sykora.