Changing to meet the needs of fraternalists.
"Joining Hands To Touch Lives-Fraternalism for the Family and Our Nation"
ESTNIK SPJST Herald 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 VOLUME 84 NUMBER 19 ISSN-07458800
May 8, 1996
Pre Convention Reports Issue Table of Contents President's Report Vice President's Report Secretary-Treasurer's Report Financial Secretary's Report Legal Advisor's Report
1 Directors' Report 1 By-Law Committee's Recommendations 4 Finance Committee's Recommendations 5 Insurance Committee's Report 7 Publication Committee's Report
President's Pre-Convention Report Dear Members, require that our sales representatives As you are aware, this will be our last would have to be licensed. The Supreme convention in our first one hundred years Lodge has voted that we are not in favor as a fraternal benefit society. Every of this provision. Sometime this summer, member can be proud of the work that we will meet with the law committee and has been done by both past and present again state that we are not interested in members to make the SPJST one of the adopting the code if these regulations are strongest existing societies both financialnot removed. ly and fraternally. Our success, even in As you are aware, the Internal difficult times, can be attributed to the Revenue Service is the Federal agency eftbrts of many peothat determines ple at all levels— whether our tax local lodge, district, exemption for the and state—working fraternal system is for the benefit of the merited. We feel whole. that our society has We should be met both the letter especially proud of and the spirit of the the many benefits law. Our fraternal that are offered by acts, monitored and our society to our documented by our members: quality local lodges, show insurance and annuthat our members ities; home and busithroughout the state ness mortgage perform thousands loans; and a host of of hours of volunfraternal activities teer service for our designed to promote members and their our cultural heritage, communities. We foster community Howard Leshikar are extremely proud and patriotic stewof the wide variety ardship, and to develop in our youth those of ways that our many lodges respond to leadership skills, that love of service, and the very different needs in their commuthat fierce loyalty and dedication to the nities. According to law, we must have a goals and objectives of the SPJST which lodge system to be a fraternal benefit will be desperately needed by our Society society, but as fraternalists there has never in the 21st century. needed to be a law to make us do the Although we rightfully should and things we do out of love for our fellow will be able to celebrate accomplishman, our communities, and our SPJST ments, we must also remain vigilant and Society. However, our lodge system active in those areas that can have lasting must be kept vibrant; therefore, it is and detrimental effects on our operations important that our members be recogand, thus, on our future. For instance, we nized for the work they do in our lodges. have been notified by the members of the Our lodge incentive program has been a law committee of the National Fraternal very successful attempt to recognize the Congress that they want the fraternal importance of all the work done by the societies operating in Texas to consider sales force, lodge officers, and members adopting the Model Fraternal Code in that contribute to the vitality of the entire 1997. This Model Code is a set of regu- SPJST. Although it has been important to lations that the Texas societies would fol- recognize and reward, it has been equally low in conducting their day-to-day busiimportant to involve you, our members, ness. One aspect of the code would in designing and implementing new pro-
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Around the District Lodge Letters Section Youth Letters Section Czech Language Section Calendar of Events
grams and ideas. As this has been done, we have better satisfied you, the members we hope to serve for many years with products and services which reflect your consideration and input. At this convention your decisions will shape our entry into the 21st century. Make certain that you preserve your right to elect those persons that will be serving you. Also, make certain that a democratic atmosphere will be carried forward in all our convention proceedings. As your President these last four years, my family and I have attended many society functions over the state. To the members that were responsible for orga-
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nizing and carrying out these events we want to say, "Thank you. Your enthusiasm has been inspiring to us." As a 50-year member of this society, it has been my privilege to serve you as President. Therefore, I would like to ask for your support for President for the next four years. Our society has been a leader in the fraternal field for many years and with your help we can continue to design and carry out those products and programs which will benefit you and your families. Fraternally, Howard Leshikar, President —SPJST-
Vice President's Pre-Convention Report Scope of Report insurance sales some two years ago, it To simplify the reporting process, I am became quickly evident that our activities including information for 1992 through would need to be centered around train1995 although my responsibility in the ing, motivating, recruiting, new product Vice President's position covered only the development, membership drives and serperiod from March 11, 1994 to the present. vice. The positive increases in sales and was responsible for membership growth the Secretary-Treasare the result of a lot urer's position for the of work and focus period from January on the key areas list1, 1992 to March 11, ed above. Please 1994. The successor efer to the producto the Secretaryti on figures at the Treasurer's position end of this report. will report informaWe are very tion for the entire excited that the four year period to results for 1995 simplify that report. showed significant I will share inforgrowth over the premation with you privious year: marily covering my • We wrote period of responsibil1,578 applications ity in the Insurance for insurance, 263 Department spanning more than the previapproximately the ous year, a 20% past two years. I will Leonard Mikeska increase. share with you what • Sales of over we have accomplished during this brief $53 million, over $17 million more than period. I want you to also be fully the previous year, a 47.7% increase. informed about the vigorous goals we have • First year earned premium of set and to share with you my vision for the $693,513, which is $197,118 more than future. the previous year, a 39.7% increase. I think it is remarkable that this outProgress Report standing production was done by an all On assuming the responsibility for (Continued on page three)