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Joining Hands To Touch Lives . . . . . . Fraternalism for the Family and Our Nation
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Official Publica on of the SPJST, originally chartered as the Slovanska Podporujici Jednota Statu Texas, in 1897
Lives
BROTHERHOOD
HUMANITY
BENEVOLENCE
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Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 to: SPJST Home Office, P. 0. Box 100, Temple, Texas 76503
October 30, 2002
ISSN-07458800
VOLUME 90 NUMBER 42
Family Fun and mportant SPJST Dates October Czech _-.3ritage Month National Make a Difference Day October 26 Lodge 88, Houston Czech Day Oct ber 27 District Three Fall Fun Day at Lodge 66, Waco )ctober 27 Texas Fraternal Congress, Round Rock ]ove ber 2 District Seven Family Fun ay at Lodge 107, Flores lovember 3 Novembe: 3-9 Lodge 24, Cyclone Barbecue Cookoff/Countywide Lodge 133, San Antonio Annual Thanksgivin „ L ch November 17 1 L tl ". 1, ayetteville and C of C Christmas Party 25, Ennis and RVOS No. 51 Christmas Pa y 1 Lodge 40, El Campo-H!; ;a Christmas Party December 1 Lodge 54, West Christmas Party December 1 Lon 92, Fort Worth Christmas Party and Dance .::ecember 1 ist as arade an. SPJST Open House ecember 3 Lodge 18, Elgin Christmas Dance December 8 47, Seaton Christmas Party December 8 Lodge 151, Wharton Christmas Party December 9 Lodge 32, Victoria Christmas Party December 11 Lodge 142, Houston Christmas Party December 12 Lodge 155, Austin Christmas Party December 14 Ldoge 183, Arlington Christmas Party December 14 Lodge 204, Stephenville Christmas Party December 14 -
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Establishing a Presence Seeking to raise an awareness of the SPJST and their youth club, members of the Lodge 215, South Plains Youth Club participate in the recent Tahoka Homecoming Parade. Joining District Four Queen Tiffany Stark on the float are Sara Morad-Ali, Reed Williams, David Spruiell, Kenzie Angeley and Audree Williams. Lodge 215 President Shorty Williams pulled the float.
—SPJST-
Texan named NFCA Fraternalist of the Year Marvin
Marek cited for his efforts to bring Czech American heritage to life
Marvin Marek of Missouri City, Texas, a retired flood plain manager and permit division manager for Harris County, Texas, has been named 2002 Fraternalist of the Year by the National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA). The award honors the nation's top volunteer among the more than 10 million members affiliated with NFCA fraternal benefit societies (membership organizations offering social, educational, volunteering and financial benefits). Brother Marek is a member of Marvin Marek SPJST Lodge 88, Houston. He was nominated for the award by the Catholic Union of Texas (The KJT), La Grange, Texas of which he has been a member for more than 61 years. Marek received a $1,000 check from the NFCA for the organization of his choice. Marek chose to contribute the monetary award to the KJT Fraternal Activity Center.
Brother Marek received the award primarily for his work as project manager for the restoration of the first building of the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center in La Grange, Texas. This involved finding the original farmhouse of a 19th Century Czech American immigrant family to Texas, as well as preparing the moving of the house to the center's site and overseeing its restoration by more than 90 volunteers. For Brother Marek personally, this meant 674 hours of volunteering and 13,611 miles added to his personal vehicles during the project. The center is ultimately proposed to house an amphitheater, living museum and library, and will contribute to the education of younger generation of Czech Texans in preserving the legacy of Czech immigrants to Texas. Brother Marek received the volunteer award at the NFCA's annual meeting in Indian Wells, California, September 25 - 28. "It is said that we are the sum of our experiences. The formation of our attitutdes is influenced by others: our parents, siblings, extended family, religious leaders, work associates, fellow
volunteers and our fraternal brothers and sisters," said Brother Marek. "So in truth, this award belongs to all those who have played a role in its achievement: firstly to my God and my parents, who were born first- and secondgeneration Americans and simple Texas cotton farmers; and who taught me the essence of life and nobility of serving others." "Marvin Marek embodies fraternalism at its very best," said Fred Grubbe, NFCA president and CEO. "We are proud to honor him as our
outstanding volunteer in 2002." Brother Marek currently serves on the boards of the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center, Czech Educational Foundation of Texas, Fort Bend Czech Alliance, Czech Ex-students Association of Texas and National Alliance of Czech Catholics. In addition, he served as founding president for his Holy Family KJT Society Number 1987. For his many years of service to the board of directors of the Catholic Union of Texas, (Continued on page 3.)
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