Volume 97 Number 20
ˇ ´ VESTNIK S P J S T
Benevolence
H E R A L D
Humanity
ISSN —07458800
Brotherhood
May 20, 2009
SPJST ENC at Cooper Farm: Enhancements Underway
Fraternal programs are started for
a number of reasons. For almost 40 years, an exciting fraternal idea—the quest to establish a family oriented camping, educational and nature facility has remained an elusive dream. But, now . . . the dream, the vision, is becoming reality.
Texas Fraternal Congress representatives from SPJST, Catholic Family Fraternal of Texas (KJZT), Catholic Life, Catholic Union of Texas (KJT), Grand Court Order of Calanthe, Knights of Columbus, Order of the Sons of Hermann, Thrivent for Lutherans, Western Fraternal Life Association, and Woodmen of the World gather outside the Texas State Capitol in Austin on April 15 for TFC Legislative Awareness Day.
SPJST joins fraternals in hosting Legislative Awareness Day at Texas State Capitol veterans residing in Texas’ seven Members of the Texas Fraternal toState Veterans Homes. The event also Congress (TFC) converged on the Texas State Capitol in Austin on Wednesday, April 15, 2009, for TFC Legislative Awareness Day held in conjunction with the 81st Session of the Texas Legislature. Fraternalists representing SPJST, Catholic Family Fraternal of Texas (KJZT), Catholic Life, Catholic Union of Texas (KJT), Knights of Columbus, Order of the Sons of Hermann, Thrivent for Lutherans, Western Fraternal Life Association, and Woodmen of the World participated in the event which included a picnic on the Capitol lawn and a fraternal project paying tribute
served as TFC’s statewide kick-off event for the 2009 Join Hands Day event on May 2. “We were thrilled by the turnout to our April 15 event at the State Capitol,” says SPJST President Brian Vanicek, who helped to organize the event. More than 600 legislators and legislative staff members attended the “Hot Dog! It’s April 15!” picnic. “It was a great opportunity for everyone in attendance to learn about the good works that SPJST and other fraternal
Interest Rates ......................................3 Family Fun Dates ................................3 Readers Write ......................................3 District News........................................9 Lodge Section....................................11 SPJST Graduates .........................16-20
About SPJST Education and Nature Center (ENC) In 2000, delegates at the SPJST Quadrennial Convention approved that a 501(c)(3) non-profit Education and Nature Center be established for the sole purpose of locating and building a camp primarily for the SPJST membership. The responsibility of the ENC Board is to locate land, construct a camp suitable for, but not limited to, its members, and raise funds. The ENC Board presently consists of: President Randy Gaas SPJST Lodge 17, New Tabor
Continued on Page 4.
Inside This Week’s Vestnik
Youth Section.....................................21 Reunions ............................................24 In Memoriam ......................................25 Czech Culture ....................................26 Advertisements..................................29 Activities Calendar ............................30
Pages 11-14
Lodges, youth clubs participate in Join Hands Day projects
Vice President Otis Beck SPJST Lodge 177, Academy Secretary Lisa Bubela SPJST Lodge 30, Taiton Treasurer Doug Henke SPJST Lodge 107, Floresville Corresponding Secretary Susan Skrabanek SPJST Lodge 17, New Tabor Director Ronnie Pflughaupt SPJST Lodge 1, Fayetteville Director John Engelke SPJST Lodge 66, Waco Director Brad Teplicek SPJST Lodge 49, Rowena Director Barbara Linney-Gonzalez SPJST Lodge 88, Houston Director Fred Warnette North Central Fayette County Wildlife Cooperative Advisor Brian Vanicek SPJST Supreme Lodge President Advisor John Hoelscher SPJST State Youth Director
Continued on Page 5. Slicing sausage? No. Cutting wood? No. Instead, it’s a core sample taken from land 20 feet deep into the ground at SPJST ENC at Cooper Farm last week. The sample will be used to take a geological survey of the ground foundation.
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Lodge 29, Taylor youth, adults ride float
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Lodge 239 Hondo Youth Club activities