Changing to meet the needs of fraternalists.
Irk STNiK
"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: SPJST Home Office, P. 0. Box 100, Temple, Texas 76503 ISSN-07458800 VOLUME 86 NUMBER 26
Family Fun and Important SPJST Dates July 11
Tarok Tournament, Lodge 17, New Tabor
July 19
Lodge 6, Cottonwood 101st Annual Picnic
July 19
District One Youth Achievement Day, Lodge 13, Dime Box
July 19
District Six Youth Achievement Day,
August 1
SPJST State Royalty Competition, Temple
August 2
SPJST State Youth Achievement Day, Temple
Lodge 40, El Campo - Hillje
[See you in Temple! I August 1 SPJST State Royalty Competition, Angust 2 State: : Yooth . .. ILAthteveinentipay August 3
Deadline to post your major lodge events on the 1999 SPJST Calendar
August 9
Lodge 4, Hallettsville Family Day
August 30
District Six Fall Meeting, REA Building in Victoria
November 1 District Seven Fall Meeting, hosted by Lodge 202, Jourdanton
—SPJST-
Lidice Remembered
Pianist Richard Urbis, a member of Lodge 117, Robstown, takes a break during his June 14th performance at the Cultural Activities Center in Temple. The District Two Fraternal Fest concert entitled, "An Evening of Czech Classical Music," commemorated the anniversary of the destruction of the Czech village of Lidice during World War II and attracted.235 (See related photos on page three.) attendees.
July 8, 1998
CEFT seeks to preserve Czech language, heritage in Texas PART
I
When the Czech Educational Foundation of Texas received its state charter as a non-profit organization on October 19, 1954, it was composed of three men who together served as its first board of directors:. Henry R. Maresh, M.D. of Houston; Dr. John M. Skrivanek of College Station; and August Kacir of Temple. As stated in the charter, the purpose was to promote the Czech language and culture in Texas by supporting any educational undertaking by providing for or making contributions as gifts or donations in cash or property to persons or institutions engaged in the promotion of learning and understanding of the Czech language and culture, the study of the origin, structure and modification of the Czech language and its grammatical relationships as given and preserved in literary embodiments, (and) the dissemination of information to the public concerning the importance of a knowledge of Czech and other Slavonic languages in our citizenry to the effective leadership of the United States of America in international affairs. CEFT carried on the tradition of strong support for Czech language and culture in the state that had led to the establishment of the Department of Slavonic (later, Slavic) languages at the University of Texas, and many of the Texas Czechs who became active in CEFT had been members of Cechie, the Czech Club at UT-Austin. Among this group was Dr. John M. Skrivanek, who wrote a Master's thesis at UT entitled "The Education of the Czechs in Texas" in 1946 before going on to study at Charles University in Prague, Czechoslovakia. One of the founders of CEFT, Dr. Skrivanek was a professor of Slavic languages who developed a Czech language program at Texas A&M University. Skrivanek long served
as Secretary-Treasurer of CEFT, along with J.M. Skrabanek as President and the Rev. Joseph A. Barton as Vice President. Czech-Americans from across the state served on the Board of Directors during the early years. In addition to the founders and the officers mentioned above, the list includes R.J. Bartosh of Taylor, F.K. Bucek of Hallettsville, Charles Holasek of Corpus Christi, Joseph F. Holasek of West, Jaroslav Kleprlik of San Antonio, Tim Kostom of Houston, Vladimir Malec of Hallettsville, Edward L. Marek of Temple, Mrs. Henry R. Maresh of Houston, Joseph V. Maresh of Granger, Rev. A.W. Nesvadba of Wallis, I.C. Parma of Granger, Mrs. Benita Pavlu of Granger, E.W. Plasek of West, Cyrill Pokladnik of Dallas, Ben Prevratil of Dallas, E.W. Schovajsa of Temple, Dr. John J. Shiller of Rowena, Joseph J. Skrivanek of Caldwell, Rudy Sefcik of West, Senator L.J. Sulak of LaGrange, and Stephen Valcik of Houston. CEFT strongly influenced the teaching of Czech in Texas high schools, colleges, and universities during the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s. Scholarships were awarded to students of the language, and several of these students went on to obtain advanced degrees in Slavic languages while others accepted civilian or military linguistic positions with the United States government. Dr. Skrivanek himself built up the Czech program at. Texas A&M University, and the development of the Czech language program stimulated the growth of a Russian language program there as well. At Texas A&M, Dr. Skrivanek developed a textbook and audio-tape program entitled "Conversational Czech," which was adopted by language programs in other institutions. He also assisted J.L. Chervenka, Sr. in establishing a Czech
"CEFT strongly
influenced the teaching of Czech in Texas high schools, colleges and universities."
(Continued on page 3.)
(Editor's Note: The Society has designated four groups as SPJST Statewide charities in 1998. They are as follows: The Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center, Inc.; The Czech Cultural and Community Center; The Czech Educational Foundation of Texas; and The Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for Children. In 1998, the SPJST will focus its statewide fund raising efforts to support the goals and objectives of these groups. Part of this process involves raising an awareness of these organizations, what they do and their plans for the future.)