Volume 97 Number 6
ˇ ´ VESTNIK S P J S T Benevolence
H E R A L D
Humanity ISSN —07458800
Brotherhood
February 11, 2009
Raymond Tomek rediscovers Czech roots
SPJST to name 2008 State Fraternalist of the Year at Awards Banquet
Since 1987, SPJST has honored its outstanding statewide fraternalists—members who have demonstrated exceptional service to the lodge and community. Local lodge fraternalists are then considered for statewide recognition. The applications are reviewed and a decision is made by an outside selection committee. The 2008 SPJST State Fraternalist of the Year and four
2008 SPJST Local Lodge Fraternalists of the Year
DEBRA PFLUGHAUPT Lodge 1 Fayetteville
MILTON PETERSON Lodge 6 Cottonwood
GEORGE JANIK Lodge 8 Weimar
MARIE SHELFER Lodge 9 Snook
JOSIE STRMISKA Lodge 20 Granger
honorable mentions will be announced at the final statewide SPJST Awards Banquet on Saturday, February 21 in Killeen. Photographs of the 2008 SPJST Local Lodge Fraternalists of the Year appear in this week’s center spread, on pages 20 and 21. A listing of the dedicated members who have earned the SPJST State Fraternalist of the Year distinction appears on page 21.
CHRISTOPHER NOVAK Lodge 84 Dallas
JOE B. CAMP Lodge 87 Temple
BARBARA LINNEY- GONZALES Lodge 88, Houston
AL KERCHO Lodge 92 Fort Worth
E.R. PRASEK Lodge 93 Hobson
DOUG HENKE Lodge 107 Floresville
DANIEL A. ROZNOVSKY Lodge 183 Arlington
LINDA S. JOHNSON Lodge 187 Round Rock
SANDRA K. HOGGARD Lodge 202 Jourdanton
NORMAN M. KNESCHK Lodge 204 Stephenville
SPJST State Fraternalists of the Year
1987 Frances Olexa Lodge 88, Houston District Five
ANTON J. KELNER Lodge 28 East Bernard
NANCY FUCIK Lodge 30 Taiton
BETTY SANDERS Lodge 40 El Campo-Hillje
DAVID PECHAL Lodge 47 Seaton
DENISSE WUENSCHE Lodge 48 Beyersville
CHARLIE HERENDON Lodge 246 Morganʼs Point
JANA M. VACULIK Lodge 54 West
BRENDA BUSBY Lodge 66 Waco
MARCUS F. REBECEK Lodge 79 Corpus Christi
JEWEL WOLF Lodge 80 Holland
CURRY JENKE Lodge 258 Seguin
2000 Gussie Spacek Lodge 202, Jourdanton District Seven
1990 Dolores Skrabanek Lodge 47, Seaton District Two
1996 Evelyn Gustafson Lodge 18, Elgin District Two
2002 Leona Stalmach Lodge 48, Beyersville District Two
1998 Cyrill “Sid” Pokladnik Lodge 84, Dallas District Three
2004 Bettie House Lodge 202, Jourdanton District Seven
1989 Alvin J. Sefcik Lodge 172, Pasadena District Five
1992 Jerome C. Dressler Lodge 172, Pasadena District Five
Interest Rates ......................................3 Family Fun Dates ................................3 Awards Banquet Info.......................3, 5 100 Pennies Donor Listing .................6 Lodge Section .....................................7 Vestnik Valentines.............16-19, 22-28
1999 Helen Hegwood Lodge 88, Houston District Five
1994 Jerry Elzner Lodge 79, Corpus Christi District Seven
1991 Della Kadlecek Lodge 88, Houston District Five
BECKY WOOD Lodge 49 Rowena
1993 Bennie A. Jarma Lodge 84, Dallas District Three
1988 Timothy S. Kostom Lodge 88, Houston District Five
1995 Libbie Bartek Lodge 177, Academy District Two
1997 Willie E. Kohutek Lodge 47, Seaton District Two
2001 Dean Brisbin Lodge 80, Holland District Two
2005 Estelle Coker Lodge 80, Holland District Two
2006 Robert Hagen Lodge 246, Morganʼs Point District Two 2007 Ronnie Pflughaupt Lodge 1, Fayetteville District One
2003 David Nauert Lodge 24, Cyclone District Two
SPJST Lodge 15, Buckholts mem- found a niche there,” Raymond said. Later, while visiting the Defense ber Bea Williams enjoyed a preChristmas visit by her brother Language Institute English Language Raymond Tomek in December, and Center at Lackland Air Force Base in the Véstník had the pleasure of talking San Antonio, Texas, Raymond discovwith Raymond during his Texas visit. ered a job opportunity — and a way to make a T h e difference children to Czech of Clem students. a n d He disMartha covered To m e k , that indiBea and viduals Raymond w e r e w e r e needed to raised on a teach the farm five English miles west language o f in the Cameron Czech Rein the Elm public. So R i d g e Raymond Commun i t y . SPJST Lodge 15, Buckholts member Bea Williams s t a r t e d her brother Raymond Tomek to Texas. asking a Clem and welcomed Raymond teaches the English language to military lot of M a r t h a students in the Czech Republic. questions still reside to learn t h e r e today. Both Bea and Raymond are more about the country that his ancesgraduates of Cameron Yoe High tors came from. Raymond then decided he needed a School. The Tomeks grew up in a Czech change in life’s direction so he applied household. “Mom only knew Czech for a teaching of the English language when she was a young girl,” Raymond position in the Czech Republic. To said. “We only learned a few basic apply, he had to submit several items, Czech words though, but I wish we including copies of his birth certificate and degree from the University of learned more.” In the year 2000, Raymond visited Texas. “I was never a teacher in America; the Czech Republic, and he was inspired. “At that time, I thought the I was never interested in teaching,” Czech Republic may be a place to live Continued on Page 29. and work in the future because I really
Inside This Week’s Vestnik
Youth Section.....................................30 In Memoriam ......................................34 Death Claims......................................35 Czech Culture ....................................36 Advertisements .................................37 Activities Calendar ............................38
Page 8
Lodge 66 Waco recognizes members
Page 9
Lodge 117 Robstown hosts reorganizational meeting
Page 33
Lodge 246 Morganʼs Point youth enjoy valentines