Changing to meet the needs of fraternalists.
"Joining Hands To Touch Lives-Fraternalism for the Family and Our Nation"
STNIK
SPJST Herald
Official Publication Of The Slavonic Benevolent Order of the State of Texas, Founded 1897
BENEVOLENCE
BROTHERHOOD
HUMANITY
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 to: SPJST Home Office, P. 0. Box 100, Temple, Texas 76503 VOLUME 86 NUMBER 12 ISSN-07458800
March 25, 1998
Annual Reports Issue President Presents Centennial Year Overview Dear Members: highlighted and rewarded at the Lodge Perhaps it is appropriate that the Workshop and Lodge Incentive second century for SPJST begins with Awards Banquet held in Caldwell at a variety of issues that challenge all its Lodge 186. Forty-nine lodges' officers members to ask what next? What else? and sales representatives were given What if . . . ? Certainly there are awards for their outstanding achievemany highlights to allow each of us to ments during 1997. We want to thank feel quite content with the growth and the members and officers of Caldwell direction of our society to the present. for hosting this important annual event. But can we engage in a bit of soul You did an outstanding job. Also, searching—maybe a bit of strategic thank you again to each of the lodge planning about our of what is in officers and sales representatives and store for members of tn,r. SPTST it the mem! .1, who worked cooperatively to near future. achieve the goals If you attended that enabled your the 100th Annivlodge to be recogersary Celebration nized for one of the at the Bell County Incentive Awards. Expo Center in We would like to July, you may reward even more have been very lodges and sales aware that there representatives were close to 7,000 next year. who took part in Therefore, we will the festivities. We be working very were pleased with hard to help lodges the enthusiasm of revitalize their proall who came to grams and renew celebrate the actheir members' complishments of enthusiasm. the society in the Barbara Rosenareas of cultural krantz, our State Supreme Lodge President awareness, finanFraternal Activities Howard Leshikar cial and social Coordinator, along benefits offered members, and pro- with fraternal secretary Gena fessional achievements of Czech Goodwin, will be placing a high priorischolars. We felt deeply honored that ty on training and assisting lodges with Ambassador Alexandr Vondra, State their goals. Barbara has done an excelComptroller John Sharp, and lent job in 1997, and we are looking for Representative Diane Delisi were able even greater achievement in 1998. to share this important occasion with Have you attended and/or participated us. As we watched members and in a state tournament lately? If not, friends participating in this celebra- why not? You will meet some of the tion, we were once again reminded of nicest people in the state! Encourage the importance of our members and your members to participate; support their involvement. Thank you all for them when they do. the part you have played in bringing Have you attended a State Youth our Society to and through its 100th Achievement Day? If not, you have year. Whether you have held one or missed many opportunities to see some many jobs within our Society, whether fine individual and group talent, as at the local, district or state level, well as outstanding crafts made by our whether you were able to be in Belton youth. What if every child knew the in July to celebrate or not, we thank thrill of congratulations from one of his you for your interest in and love of the family following a performance at SPJST. State YAD? Our State Youth Director, Recently member involvement was Joni Lange, our District Youth
Counselors and their assistants, and hundreds of parents work very hard to ensure each child a positive experience. They are to be commended for giving their best year after year with only partial expenses covered. Let us all remember that our next 100 years most certainly will depend on our youth, as will our communities and -everything else of any real importance to us. Encourage your children and grandchildren to participate, and then support them when they do. In other programs to nurture and develop our youth, the SPJST has now launched dance programs in two districts. We have certainly seen many positive results from the Lodge 88, Houston pilot classes. We know that we can clepc:Ic2 on District Two to also see benefits from its newest youth activity. Although each of these programs has struggled with the logistics both organizational and fraternal, those involved have brought the real priority—our youth—into their deliberations and dedicated themselves to making the best of their situations for the betterment of our Society. Again, what if we became involved? In the same vein, we have wanted to encourage our young adults who continue to pursue college or technical training. Because tuition has increased, the SPJST has raised the value of our scholarships to $750. We have enjoyed hearing from members who have benefited from these scholarships. It is truly gratifying to see so many lodges now creating additional scholarships for their members and others in their - local communities. Thank you to the many local lodge officers and district directors who have graciously attended the awards ceremonies at the high schools in your area to present the SPJST scholarships. Also, thank you to each member or organization within our Society who sent in contributions or memorials to the scholarship fund during 1997. Every penny counts! Although our museum and archives does not exist strictly for youth, it certainly continues to be a resource for our youth as many youth leaders and teachers bring groups. Whether from the Chamber of Commerce, a local teacher, a patron researching genealogy or a member, the compliments that are shared with us on our facility, always contain a special thank you for the "ladies who made our stay enjoyable
and productive!" Thank you, Dorothy Pechal and Sandra Dubcak, for helping our Society reach out to our members and our community in this positive way. We want to extend a special thank you for helping the youth to appreciate the unique ethnic flavor, which adds enormously to the Temple community and the state. Keep up the good work. Editor Brian Vanicek and Assistant Melanie Zavodny continue to provide each of us valuable information on SPJST functions throughout the state through their tireless efforts to accurately print as much as possible each week. Brian has encouraged input from local lodge reporters and youth reporters, on reporting of the various Society functions. We depend on and benefit from the quality of information provided by the Vestnik. Thank you, Brian and Melanie, for all your attention to detail and all your extra efforts to represent the events of all the lodges well. We appreciate and use the Vestnik. Again our Society is facing the possible challenges of meeting many new requirements mandated by the State Board of Insurance's appointed committee to study licensing for different areas including our sales representatives. The Supreme Lodge will be monitoring this study very closely as the committee continues to gather. information and draw its conclusions. Barbara Kovacevich, secretary to the president, has done a superb job in taking care of many details to better serve the members throughout the state. If you need help, don't hesitate to call. Also, I want to thank my fellow officers, the District Directors, and Home Office Personnel for their help in stressing the positive and working for the betterment of our society. May 1998 provide each of you with many opportunities to lift our volunteers to new levels of service and participation in the many benefits of our fraternal order—financial, cultural, and social. Finally, my family and I want to wish each and every member of the SPJST the best of everything. We thank you, for your support and hospitality on our visits with you. May you continue your hard work and enjoy the fruits of your many labors. Fraternally, Howard B. Leshikar Supreme Lodge President —SPJST-