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Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 to: SPJST Home Office, P. 0. Box 100, Temple, Texas 76503 VOLUME 92 NUMBER 37 ISSN-07458800
September 29, 2004
SPJST Supports High School Czech Classes with $2,000 Contribution
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Patriotic Pledge
Annice Guenther, center, donated an American flag to Lodge 202, Jourdanton in memory of Tony Ventrcek. Accepting, the flag for the lodge are Vice President Joe Huizar, left, and President Jeff Barta.
District Six Cookoff Crowns "SPJST Doubletree Cookers" team Supreme Lodge Vice President Gene. McBride and his wife, Frances, receive the "Best Overall Team" award at the Sixth Annual District Six Barbecue Cookoff. They also received trophies for chicken, pinto beans, sausage, chili, and brisket categories. BELOW LEFT: Philip Vahalik, left, and James Vanek, both of Lodge 4, Hallettsville and "The Best Shots" team, win the District Six Traveling Trophy. BELOW RIGHT: Gene Veselka of Lodge 8, Weimar enjoys a taste of chili. Brother Veselka had the top sales in the district for the prize drawing tickets.
SPJST recently contributed $2,000 which will be applied towards the Czech classes taught by Mr. Polasek at Flatonia High School, which is in District One and Granger High School, which is District Two. What makes the classes so unique is that Mr. Polasek is able to teach both classes at the same time via the Internet and distance learning equipment. Directors Victorick and Wuensche, accompanied by Supreme Lodge President Brian Vanicek, sat in on a recent class at Flatonia High School. This is the fifth year that Czech is being offered via distance learning. Mr. Polasek's Czech I class teaches basic vocabulary and grammar. Czech II presents advanced vocabulary and
grammar as well as an introduction into Czech history and texas Czech history. Czech III students read novels, poetry, and history in Czech. The novel currently being read is the latest translation of the "Wizard of Oz." Mr. Polasek, a member of SPJST Lodge 67, Schulenburg, received the John A. Baker Memorial Award for Excellence in K -12 Distance Learning in April of 2004 from the Texas Distance Learning Association (TXDLA). High school administrators interested in the possibilities of linking with Mr. Polasek's Czech language classes are encouraged to contact Mr. Polasek in Flatonia at (361) 865-2944, Extension 531. —SPJST-
Thadious Polasek, center, accepts checks totaling $2,000 from
SPJST District Two Director Bobby Wuensche, left, and SPJST District One Director Donnie Victorick.
Lodges, districts encouraged to post important 2005 dates on SPJST calendar The Vestnik office is looking for your lodge's and your district's important dates for the 2005 SPJST calendar. There's no cost, and this can be a great reminder for lodge members. What qualifies as an "important date?" Think in terms of your big annual events such as picnics, member appreciation dinners, and heritage day observances. On the district level, think in terms of district meetings and districtwide activities. Please get together with your lodge members at your next lodge meeting and determine which dates you want
to include on next year's SPJST calendar. The deadline for submitting your lodge and district calendar information to the Vestnik office is Friday, October 8. You can email your information to melaniez @vvm.com or send a fax to (254) 774-7447 Attention: Vestnik Editor Melanie You Zavodny. may also mail your listing of important dates to:
SPJST Vestnik Editor Melanie Zavodny
PO Box 100 Temple, Texas 76503