"CHANGING TO MEET THE C NGING NEE IS
• ESTNIK
FRATERNAL:STS"
"Joining Hands To Touch Lives-Fraternalism for the Family and Our Nation"
SPJST Herald
Official Organ Of The Slavonic Benevolent Order of the State of Texas, Founded 1897 BROTHERHOOD
HUMANITY
BENEVOLENCE
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 to: SUPREME LODGE, SPJST, P. 0. Box 00, Temple, Texas 76503 September 28, 1994 ISSN-07458800
VOLUME 82 NUMBER 37
Happy 90th Anniversary!
Scholarship drive aims to raise $10,000
100 Pennies Drive Kicks Off October 1 The annual SPJST 100 Pennies Scholarship Drive officially kicks off this Saturday, October 1. The goal of 1994 drive, which continues through December 31, is to raise $10,000. "Once again, we are encouraging members and friends of the SPJST to donate $tor more—to this worthy cause," says State Fraternal Activities Coordinator Frank Klinkovsky, who is coordinating the program. Last year's 100 Pennies Scholarship Drive generated more than $12,000 in contributions— enough to award 24 additional $500 SPJST Scholarships in 1994. The SPJST awarded a total of 88 $500 scholarships in 1994. Additional scholarships funding sources include memorials in memory of
SPJST members, SPJST lodges and through an annual allocation by the SPJST Supreme Lodge. "Every penny that is contributed goes directly into the scholarship Brother fund," says Klinkovsky, adding that all gifts are taxdeductible. Donors names or the names of their business will be published in the order that they are received in the Vestnik. Progress reports will also be printed on a regular basis in the Society newspaper. "Thanks to everybody who has worked so hard in the past to make our Scholarship Program so successful," says Brother Klinkovsky. "Your continued support will be appreciated."
SPJST 100 Pennies Scholarship Fund Drive
SPJST-
Members of Lodge 49, Rowena, pictured above, gathered at the lodge hall on Sunday, September 11 to celebrate 90 years of fraternalism. The occasion provided attendees with the opportunity to renew old acquaintances and to recollect the good times of the past. (See Related photos and article on page 4)
SPJST Interest Rates Increase Octobe Meeting at the SPJST Home Office in Temple on September 13 and 14, the SPJST Supreme Lodge voted to increase the interest rates paid on SPJST annuities and Universal Life Certificates. The increases, which become effective October 1, are as follows:
1
ANNUITY I Increase from 5 percent to 5.25 percent. ANNUITY II Increase from 5.8 percent to 6.25 percent. UNIVERSAL LIFE Increase from 6.75 percent to 7.15 percent.
Congratulations to Marie Anna Elsik
Lodge 79 member achieves "Grand Age of 96 The SPJST extends its hearty congratulations to Sister Marie Anna Elsik, a member of Lodge 79, Corpus Christi, who celebrated her 96th birthday on August 15, 1994. As such, Sister Annie is entitled to all SPJST membership benefits with no further dues or assessments required. Sister Elsik was born in 1898 in Rakova, Moravia. Both of her parents, Tom Laza and Anna Reha Laza, lived in the Rakova community. Her father died in 1900 and her mother later remarried to John Pagac. All are buried in the Czech Republic. Sister Marie had five brothers and one sister. All of them immigrated to the United States at different times—either alone or with relatives. All are deceased except for her brother, Joe Laza, age 98, who lives in San Antonio, Texas. In 1913, at the age of 14, Marie came to the United States with her uncle, John Laza, and his family. The ocean voyage, which took about two weeks, was quite an adventure for this young lady who had never been away from home. She arrived in Galveston, Texas and lived with her brother in Shiner, Texas until her marriage. On November 19, 1919, Marie married Charles A. Elsik. The Elsiks farmed
Marie Anna Elsik
She has fond memories of skating on coat tails in the snow and picking violets and wild strawberries in the spring.
in the Kingsville area until severe drought and low market prices forced them to quit farming. Charles worked as an auto mechanic and carpenter for many years. The Elsiks had four children: Charles A. Elsik (deceased, 1967), Marie Evelyn Elsik McMurrey (deceased, 1991), Harry A. Elsik (deceased, 1934), and a daughter, Lillian Elsik Herrington, who resides in Premont, Texas with her husband, Herman. Like most mothers of her time, Marie tended garden to help feed the family. Her duties also included canning, quilting and making sure that her family's needs were met. Over the years, Marie has loved telling
stories of her childhood in Chrastesov, Moravia. She has fond memories of skating on coat tails in the snow and picking violets and wild strawberries in the spring. She still corresponds with .a niece in the Czech Republic. These days, Marie lives in her own home, a few steps away from her daughter, Lillian, in Premont. She always enjoyed quilting, but is now unable to do so due to a broken wrist. She is still able to crochet but finds handiwork difficult because of her wrist. Once again, the SPJST congratulates Sister Marie Anna Elsik for reaching the Grand Age of 96. SPJST-
Historical Footnote A check into the SPJST Genealogical Records Section revealed that Marie's brother, Joseph (13), and Emil (8), arrived in the United States, unescorted, on July 18, 1908. They came from Rakova, Moravia on the ship, Hannover. Marie's arrival is incorrectly listed under the "Luza" family. (Misspellings such as this were common.) Records show that her travel party included: Josef, 41; Anna, 41; Marie, 16; Josef, 15; Franteska, 11; Hermina, 10; Frantisek, 9; Jan, 7; Jaroslav, 3 and Marie (Laza), 14. They travelled aboard the ship, Cassel. The reference source was Czech Immigration Passenger Lists, Volumes II and III by Leo Baca. For more information about immigration history or for assistance with genealogical information, contact the SPJST Library/Museum/Archives at 1 (800) 727-7578 and ask for the Curator. —SPJST-