VESTNIK SPJ ST'-1v - 4=- Herald Official Publication of the SPJST, originally chartered as the Slovanksa Podporujici Jednota Statu Texas, in 1897
VOLUME 89 NUMBER 11
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 to: SPJST Home Office, P. 0. Box 100, Temple, Texas 76503 ISSN-07458800
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Pictured here are SPJST's 2000 Million Dollar Producers who received recognition at the Lodge Recognition and Incentive Banquet held February 24 at Lodge 24, Cyclone. As a group, they generated $21,928,400 in new insurance written in 2000. They are, from left, front: Karen Kaspar, FIC, of Lodge 30, Talton; Martha Broz, FIC, of Lodge 160, San Angelo; Dorothy Rackel, FIC, of Lodge 13, Dime Box; Evelyn Mikeska, FIC, of Lodge 196, Houston-West Linda Johnson of Lodge 177, Academy; and Yvonne Garrett, FIC, of Lodge 97, Placedo. BACK: James Bacak, FIC, of Lodge 40, El Campo-Hillje, Sheldon Holub, FIC, of Lodge 40, El Campo-Hilije; Albin Machu of Lodge 29, Taylor; Tom Taylor of Lodge 183, Arlington; Jerry Kucera, FIC, of Lodge 6, Cottonwood; Frank Pajestka of Lodge 80, Holland; and Johnnie Krizan of Lodge 6, Cottonwood. Not pictured is Bernardo Garcia of Lodge 220, McAllen. Statewide Top Producers are acknowledged on page 10.
Winning design to be featured on camp tee-shirts Congratulations to Jessica Lyon of Lodge 177, Academy Youth Club — the overall winner in the SPJST's 2001 SPJST Summer Camp Tee-Shirt Design Contest. Jessica's design, based on the theme "Reaching for the Stars," will be featured on this year's camp tee-shirt. This year's contest drew 99 creative entries in four age categories. Age category winners are as follows: Ages 6 to 8 Cory Cerny of Lodge 40, El Campo-Hillje Ages 9 to 11 Whitney Dobecka of Lodge 6, Cottonwood Ages 12 to 14 Lynde Roesler of Lodge 39, Bryan Ages 15 to High School Senior Jessica Lyon of Lodge 177, Academy Congratulations to all of the winners and the participants for a job well done. Participants will receive a recognition certificate and 20 points to be applied toward the youth program's merit point system. Judges for this year's contest were Barbara Wilson, owner of Wilson School of Art in Temple; Katherine
Smith, who holds an Associate of Arts degree; and Bill Hale, owner of H&H Tee-Shirt Printing Co. in Belton. Tee-shirts will be available for purchase for $4.10 for youth and adult sizes; $5.10 for adult 2X-large; and $6.10 for adult 3X-large. Youth club members attending camp will receive their tee-shirts at camp. Teeshirts can also be mailed for an addi-
tional charge of $2.50 per shirt. Teeshirts must be pre-ordered and prepaid by May 15, 2001. Please note a complete listing of all tee-shirt contest participants — along with a tee-shirt order form — will appear in next week's Vestnik. Fraternally yours, Melanie Zavodny State Youth Director —SPJST-
Winning Design Annouilced The tee-shirt design pictured at right, will be reproduced in color on the official 2001 SPJST summer camp tee-shirt. The artwork was rendered from a design submitted by Jessica Lyon of Lodge 177, Academy.
PART I (Editor's Note: In their January meeting, Supreme Lodge members paid tribute to retiring Supreme Lodge Chairman and District Six Director Matt Vanek and District Five Director Louis Hanus for their dedicated ser vice to the SPJST. In his years with SPJST, Brother Vanek has earned the reputation as a goal-oriented leader. As Supreme Lodge Chairman, he emphasized the necessity of reactivating SPJST's dormant lodges. Matt Vanek Most recently, in 2000, he helped spearhead the formation of the SPJST's Mission 2100 membership drive. During his years on the Supreme Lodge, Brother Hanus always sought to ensure that the SPJST's core values remain intact. To him, our Society's watchwords — Benevolence, Humanity and BrotherLouis Hanus hood — were principles that he lived by every day. Together, in 2000, Brother Vanek and Brother Hanus were two of the driving forces behind the incorporation of the SPJST Library, Archives and Museum. This week and next week in the Vestnik, we take a closer look at these two gentlemen and their service to the SPJST.) Matt Vanek: A Man of Persistence "Matt was a great help to District Six and to the SPJST," said Supreme Lodge Vice President and past State Field Manager Gene McBride, referencing Brother Vanek's easy-going style and skill at writing new members into the SPJST. "He made me look good," says Brother McBride. Matt smiles when he hears that. "You make yourself look good when you take care of business," he says. "It doesn't matter if you're selling trucks or insurance. You've got to set goals and then work to achieve them. Brother Vanek joined the SPJST in 1962 as a member of Lodge 39, Bryan; however, it wasn't until 1970, (Continued on page 4.)