Changing to meet the needs of fraternalists.
"Joining Hands To Touch Lives-Fraternalism for the Family and Our Nation'
SPJST Herald Official Publication 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 100, Temple, Texas 76503 March 12, 1997 ISSN-07458800 VOLUME 85 NUMBER 11
Annual Reports Issue PRESIDENT'S REPORT
Giving Credit Where Credit is Due As you are aware, our past State Dear Members, Fraternal Activities Coordinator, Frank What a difference a year makes! Last year at this time it was very difficult to Klinkovsky, resigned at the end of the find moisture. The rains have changed year to assume his new position as Director of District Two. We want to say that. Also at this time last year, we were a big "Thank You" for his past eight more than a year from celebrating our years of service in this position created in 100th birthday. Now our society's birthday is just around the corner. We will be 1988. Over a period of time, Frank holding our celebration of this event developed this new position into a big under the dome at the Bell County Expo asset for our society and its fraternal programs. We want to Center in Belton on wish Brother Frank July 12 and 13. We the best in his new hope that you will position. set time aside to In January, the come and visit. We Supreme Lodge will be looking forappointed Barbara ward to seeing you Rosenkranz to the there. In our 100th position of State year we should feel FAC. She comes to fortunate that the the position with organization our experience and dedifounders put into cation. Barbara will operation is still be working with the serving our memlodges to coordinate bers. We know that the many fraternal many members activities of our worked long and society. hard during those Joni Lange, our formative years to State Youth Director, ensure the growth Supreme Lodge President Youth District and stability of our Howard Leshikar Counselors and society. Without member involvement our society would youth leaders have done a fine job in plannot be the vital organization that it has ning and carrying out the many youth programs across the state. The enthusiasm of become. the parents and the youth involved in these Also, we know that last year many members worked many hours so their programs is a testimonial to the superb job lodge could attain one of the categories in that these counselors do. , Our museum and library continues to the Lodge Incentive Program. This year, fifty lodges achieved one of the Incentive attract large groups of members and Awards. Our congratulations go out to all tourists. Curator Dorothy Pechal and fraternal secretary, Barbara Kovacevich, the lodge officers, sales representatives, and members who worked together to have done a splendid job this past year in guiding tours and preserving and promotachieve their goals. Last year at the convention held in ing our heritage. We are pleased that our Arlington, the delegates passed a number museum has been called "One of the jewels in Temple's Crown." Just a note, I am of proposals that stated that we should stress our financial programs, we should pleased to announced that Barbara Kovacevich has accepted the position of stress our fraternal programs, and we should stress our membership involve- secretary to the President. Our Editor Brian Vanicek and ment. The Supreme Lodge is implementing guidelines to meet these goals as Communications Assistant Melanie outlined. Also, major efforts would be Zavodny have done an outstanding job in working to make Vestnik a more directed toward establishing new lodges and revitalizing dormant lodges. Major dynamic and effective weekly newspaemphasis will be placed on the training per. Thanks too for the initiative and of new lodge officers, especially those creativity they demonstrated in producing the SPJST Member Services officers who are relatively new to our Directory and other communication and society.
marketing projects for the SPJST and our local lodges. Finally, I want to thank my fellow offices, the District Directors and Home Office Personnel for their help in the implementation of many different pro grams this past year. Stressing the positive and working together for the betterment of the entire SPJST, we can truly say, "THE BEST IS YET TO COME." Our best to each and every one of you from Mary, Cody, Ryan and myself. Our thanks to you, for your support and hospitality to us on our visits with you. Fraternally, Howard B. Leshikar Supreme Lodge President —SPJST-
"Congratulations to all the lodge officers, sales representatives, and members who worked to achieve their goals."
VICE PRESIDENT'S REPORT
Insurance Department Expresses High Expectations in Centennial Year our second century and continue our misIt will soon be a century ago that a really great idea began to take root in this sion: "To Serve our Members and great state. This idea soon led to the Improve Their Quality of Life." We expect 1997 to be a very busy and founding of a fraternal organization that was to influence over a hundred commu- exciting year. We are looking forward to nities throughout Texas. This organiza- a grand centennial celebration on July 12 tion became known as the Slovanska and 13. Throughout the year, the insurance department Podporujici Jedwill focus attention nota Statu Texas, on goals to increase the SPJST. As we membership and prepare to celebrate premium income for our centennial let us the long term finanreflect upon the cial strength of the thousands upon SPJST. We will thousands of fraterwork with lodges to nal acts that would secure and train new not have been done sales representatives if the SPJST had and continue to not been estabupdate life insurance lished. Think of the products. We will impact we had on provide training, the lives of thoucommunication and sands of people since our founding build on the service relationship between in 1897. I can't help but our members and wonder what fraterour sales representaSupreme Lodge Vice President tives. nal act or acts may Leonard Mikeska have had the greatCentennial Membership Drive est impact. Was it the joy attributed to fellowship and friendships formed On March 1, we will begin a grand through our lodge activities? Was it the effort to enroll new members through a caring, sharing and encouragement of drive unlike anything we have done members for one another? Was it the before. The drive will continue for 10 financial benefit of meeting the needs of months until year end. The Centennial numerous families after the death of a Membership Drive has three exciting feaprovider? Was it building character and tures: confidence of youth through one of our youth programs? We will never know for 1) Members who recommend two or certain. We do know that we will enter (Continued on page 3.)