Changing to meet the needs of fraternalists.
"Joining Hands To Touch Lives-Fraternalism for the Family and Our Nation"
VESTNIK SPJST Herald Official Organ Of The Slavonic Benevolent Order of the State of Texas, Founded 1897 HUMANITY
BENEVOLENCE
BROTHERHOOD
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 to: SUPREME LODGE, SPJST, P. 0. Box 100, Temple, Texas 76503 ISSN-07458800 VOLUME 84 NUMBER 18
Frances Mildred Dvorak
Lodge 88, Houston member achieves "Grand Age of 96"
May 1, 1996
May is Fraternal Insurance Counsellor Month The SPJST joins the National Fraternal Congress of America in joining in the tribute to Fraternal Insurance Counsellors by proclaiming May as FIC Month. NFCA President Thomas E. Sheehan has issued a proclamation which states, in part, "I urge all fraternalists throughout the United States and Canada to join with me in heralding the accomplishments of Fraternal Insurance Counsellors and to note our grateful-
The SPJST congratulates Sister Frances Mildred Dvorak, a member of Lodge 88, Houston, who celebrated her 96th birthday on February 23, 1996. As such, Sister Dvorak is entitled to all SPJST member benefits with no further dues or assessments required.
Sister Frances Mildred Dvorak was born on February 23, 1900, in the village of Horni Villimovice, located in the Moravian region of Czech Republic. She was one of four
ness with pride." The complete text of his proclamation appears on the back cover of
"Frances devoted hundreds of hours to the Lodge 88 kitchen and cooking at home for lodge festivities."
children born to Frances Mildred Jasa and Frank Nemec. Her three brothers, Frank, Henry, and Joe, are deceased. Frances and her family entered the United States at the port of Galveston on Brass in Houston . He later joined the January 6, 1913. Of that occasion, she Czech detachment of the French Foreign recalls receiving a banana from a dock Legion (before the United States got into worker who explained to her — in World War I). Czech—that it was a piece of fruit. In After the war, Frank accepted a posiresponse, Frances took a "healthy bite" tion with Stowers Furniture Company in out of the banana. Houston. He retired Only later was sheat age 65 after informed that working for Stowers bananas are best for 40 years. In eaten without the addition to his repupeel! tation as a promiAs Frances and nent furniture refinher family were isher in the Houston finding out, it was area, Brother going to take some Dvorak was also adjusting getting widely-known for used to this new his oil painting. The country. Her father, oil painting of the she explains, was a Hradcany Castle in cobbler by trade — the entry hall of and had never lived Lodge Pokrok, No. on a farm. This 88, Houston was Frances Mildred Dvorak changed, too. After created by Frank. coming to America, Both Frank, all that the people seemed to talked about who passed away in 1989, and Frances was buying land and farming. Frank possessed a very strong work ethic and Nemec's first farm was near Pierce were happiest when they were active and Junction. The land was fine; however, making things happen. Frances devoted the well water had an "oily taste". As a hundreds of hours to the Lodge 88 result, the decision was made to sell the kitchen and to cooking at home for variproperty and purchase another farm near ous lodge festivities. She was a charter the town of Richmond. Years later, the member of the Lodge 88 Birthday Club family learned that the farm with the badand was an avid, eager worker in the asting water became a famous oil field. organization while she lived in Houston. Frances married Frank Dvorak on She continues to enjoy receiving updates June 4, 1920, in Rosenberg, Texas. Prior about their activities. to marriage, Frances worked as a teleThe Dvoraks were blessed with one phone operator in Houston. After they daughter, Elsie Mildred Dvorak Kadera married, Frank worked for Southern (Continued on page three) • 0-
this week's Vestnik. May is also the month for sales representatives who are not FICs to give serious consideration to getting the designation. To effectively sell and service fraternal life insurance in today's increasingly sophisticated — and highly competitive — marketplace takes continuing education . . . and that's something the SPJST takes very seriously. For information on how to enroll in the FIC study program, contact Supreme Lodge Vice President Leonard Mikeska at the SPJST Home Office.
Adult volunteers deliver Oscar-winning performances at Youth Leader's Workshop Marilyn Monroe, Cher, Charlie Chapman, Minnie Pearl, Clark Gable, Judy Garland, and Vivian Leigh were featured along with some of our brightest stars in the SPJST Youth Department during the recent SPJST Youth Leader's Workshop in LaGrange. Thirty-eight new and experienced youth leaders from across the state participated in this year's workshop. Attending for the first time were: Karen Gaas of Lodge 9, Snook; Yvonne Garrett of Lodge 97, Placedo; Jill Miller of Lodge 160, San Angelo; Lyn Olds of Lodge 84, Dallas; Wendy Pruski of Lodge 107, Floresville; Connie Jo Purchis of Lodge 107, Floresville; Binnie Roesler of Lodge 39, Bryan; and Deborah Spanel of Lodge 20, Granger.
A First Time for Everything Connie Jo Purchis, assistant youth leader for Lodge 107, Floresville displays her handiwork at the SPJST Youth Leader's Workshop held March 15 -17 at Camp Lone Star in La Grange, Texas. Connie was one of eight first-time attendees.
Thanks to these first-time attendees along with everyone who attended this year's workshop for helping make this workshop one of our best yet! We would also like to thank some very special ladies whose expertise, help and support are vital to the success of the youth department: our district youth counselors. We would also like to extend our appreciation to District Seven Director Bob Bayer for his help and support during the weekend activities. Some of the highlights of the various workshops were: "Spiller's Fillers" presented by Mike Spiller, in which youth leaders learned many new and exciting ways to entertain youth club members at meetings; "How to Resolve Conflict"
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