ˇ ´ VESTNIK S P J S T Benevolence
Volume 96 Number 18
H E R A L D
Humanity
Brotherhood
April 30, 2008
ISSN —07458800
Volunteers inspire by example
Ninth Annual Join Hands Day this Saturday
National Volunteer Week celebrates Join Hands Day promotes partnerships between youth, adults America’s and SPJST’s assets It’s a viable way to make social and Volunteer Week — economic impact on our community. Sunday, April 27 to Saturday, May 3 For example, volunteers who partici— is about inspiring, recognizing and pate in service-learning, the connecencouraging people to seek ways to tion of community service to classengage in their community. It’s about room learning, make the following showing the impact: nation that we meet our chal• 96 percent lenges not as isoof teachers lated individuals report chilbut as members dren learn of a true commumore through nity with all of us service learnworking togething than er. This week instruction which concludes alone on Saturday, • 46 percent May 3—Join r e p o r t Hands Day— improved allows individugrades als to be at the • 36 percent r e p o r t center of social decrease in change discoverabsenteeism ing their power to make a differ- Hats off to 2007 SPJST State Students ence. Fraternalist of the Year Ronnie Volunteers are Pflughaupt of Lodge 1, Fayetteville. who engaged in one of America’s Through Ronnie’s efforts and volunteer service-learning higher — and certainly coordination, the one and only base- had field in the Fayetteville community attendance rates SPJST’s — most ball is being restored so that America’s control important assets. pastime can once again be played and than peers About 60.8 mil- enjoyed by all ages in the community. group lion people vol- Ronnie, left, is pictured with Lodge 1 (Shaffer 1993; 1996; unteered through member and former San Diego Padres Supik or for an organi- Pitcher Josh Vitek. Josh volunteers Shumer 1994). National zation at least working with local youth baseball playVolunteer Week once between ers at the field. began in 1974 September, when President Richard Nixon signed 2006, and September, 2007, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. an executive order establishing an Department of Labor reported. That annual celebration of volunteering. represents more than a quarter of the entire United States population. Continued on Page 2.
National
Connecting
youths and adults in neighborhood volunteering is the unique focus of Join Hands Day, a national day of service scheduled for this Saturday, May 3. SPJST local lodges and partnering organizations will participate in Join Hands Day through many different service projects listed on pages 22 and 23 of this week’s Vestnik. Sponsored by America’s fraternal benefit societies, Join Hands Day encourages people to form partnerships across generations to build greater mutual understanding, respect and trust. Join Hands Day is an opportunity for youths and adults to work sideby-side as they tackle projects and make life better in communities across America. “Many young people have little interaction with adults except their teachers and family members. And many adults know few young people outside their own circle of family and friends,” said SPJST Supreme Lodge President Brian Vanicek. “Join Hands Day is one way to break down the barriers between the generations, while promoting volunteerism and making a difference in the community.” To create these partnerships, an important goal of Join Hands Day is for adult groups to invite youth organ-
izations, and youth groups to invite adult organizations to join them. Youth and adult groups participate together through the entire process, from the planning stages to the actual work; and people of all ages take on important responsibilities for the day. SPJST and other fraternal benefit societies throughout the country serve as community facilitators to help connect individuals and groups, identify neighborhood needs and assist with community connections to civic leaders and dignitaries. Scheduled annually on the first Saturday in May, Join Hands Day can provide the first step in changing communication and cooperation in a neighborhood. This one-day event can introduce volunteering to different audiences of all ages and encourage participation together. Getting involved in Join Hands Day is easy. The key is finding youth or adult partners. SPJST can help. Contact SPJST by calling Fraternal Services Specialist Tammy Martinez (800) 727-7578. For more information about Join Hands Day, visit the Join Hands Day Web site at www.joinhandsday.org or call the Join Hands Day Action Center at (630) 522-6322, ext. 116. —SPJST—
MAY 3, 2008
Inside This Week’s Vestnik Interest Rates ......................................3 Family Fun Dates ................................3 By-Law Recommendations ................4 District News .......................................8 Lodge Section .....................................9 Reunions ............................................21
In Memoriam ......................................21 Join Hands Day Projects..................22 Youth...................................................24 Czech Culture ....................................28 Advertisements .................................29 Activities Calendar............................30
State Queen’s Notebook
Lodge 30 Taiton members honored at banquet Page 13
Page 25
Lodge 97 Placedo members celebrate Earth Day Page 26