Changing to meet the needs offraternalists.
Joining Hands To Touch Lives .. . . . Fraternalism for the Family and Our Nation
nsuring Official Publication of the SPJST, originally chartered as the Slovanska Podporujici Jednota Stain Texas, in 1897
VOLUME 91 NUMBER 4
BROTHERHOOD
HUMANITY
BENEVOLENCE
CI Enriching Lives
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 to: SPJST Home Office, P. 0. Box 100, Temple, Texas 76503 ISSN-07458800
January 22, 2003
Family Fun and Important SPJST Dates January 24-25 JanUary 25 January 29 January 31 January 31 February 1 February 2 February 8 February 14 February 15 February 22
Thanks for Fift y Great Years! On January 15, the SPJST honored Dorothy Tomasek for 50 years of service with a luncheon at the SPJST Home Office. Sister Tomasek received her 50-year plaque from Supreme Lodge Chairman Bob Bayer, far right; Supreme Lodge President Howard Leshikar and her supervisor, Supreme Lodge Secretary-Treasurer Lanita Anglin. RIGHT PHOTO: Home Office employees Doris Tyroch, Linda Johnson, and Debbie Dohnalik reminisce over old photographs with Dorothy at 50th anniversary party. See page four for related story.
February 23 February 23 March 1 ..larch 28-37
The Hee-Haw Production at Lodge 15, Buckholts, 6 p.m. benefitting the Buckholts Volunteer Fire Department Lodge 47, Seaton Tarok Tournament SPJST Member Services Directory published Deer Antler Contest Entries due to Home Office Camp Tee-Shirt Design Contest Entries Due Spring DYC Meeting at SPJST Home Office in Temple District Two Skating Party at Skate Haven Lodge 29, Taylor hosts SPJST State Tarok Tournament Valentine's Day Dinner and Dance at Lodge 24, Cyclone District Two Lock-In at Lodge 47, Seaton SPJST Lodge Recognition and Incentive Banquet at Lodge 47, Seaton Lodge 32, Victoria Polkafest at Inez Community Center Youth Leaders Workshop at Inn at Scott & White, Temple Straight Domino Tournament at Lodge 66, Waco at Lodge 6, Cottonwood " SPJST State Camp at Greene Family Camp, Brucevii:e —SPJST-
February 22 2003! The Annual SPJST Lodge Recognition and Incentive Banquet Host Lodge: SPJST Lodge 47, Seaton oming
Stormy seas, shell fire put young pilot to test by Sidney Kacir Lodge 87, Temple
The time that I spent in the islands of Taiwan, Matsu and surrounding waters in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea provided a real opportunity for growth. I was a U.S. Air Force pilot assigned as a combat operations officer and forward air controller to Air Task Force 13. The time frame was between the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The tension frame was that Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek at Taiwan was going to invade mainland China and the Communist Chinese were going to invade Taiwan. As such, we worked on a round-theclock basis with Chinese pilots and ground forces and I had the opportunity for many interesting experiences.
Beautiful on One Hand, Treacherous on the Other The island of Taiwan is roughly 90 miles wide by 200 miles long and it is an incredibly beautiful island in the South China Sea. The weather is very impressive and the Formosa Strait is about 100 miles wide separating Taiwan from China. The mountain ranges run north and south and have about 30 peaks rising over 10,000 feet and many aborigines are still on the island. Daily rains may reach as much as 10 inches in July and August. Winter brings heavy rains to the north. The typhoon season lasts from May to October and a slight earthquake shakes some part of Taiwan nearly every year. Among other duty locations, I was a forward air controller at the tiny island of Matsu, which is approxi(Continued on page three.)
Due to its diversified climate and complex topography, Taiwan — see inset — nourishes an incredible variety of plant and animal life. For all its beauty, Taiwan and mainland China provided Air Force pilot Sidney Kacir with some challenging obstacles during his tour of duty there following the Korean War.