Vestnik October 26.e$S:Layout 1
ˇ ´ VESTNIK
10/21/11
Volume 99 Number 42
12:27 PM
Page 1
S P J S T Benevolence
H E R A L D
Humanity ISSN —07458800
Brotherhood
October 26, 2011
Supreme Lodge names SPJST member Roy Vajdak as new Financial Secretary
SPJST welcomes Roy Vajdak as Financial Secretary. Mr. Vajdak was appointed by the Supreme Lodge when it met at the SPJST Home Office last week. His designation was based on the recommendation of a selection committee comprised of officers, directors, and Home Office personnel which interviewed prospective candidates for the position. He begins work on November 1. “Brother Vajdak has the financial experience and skills necessary to continue moving SPJST forward,” Supreme Lodge President Brian Vanicek says. “I’m confident that he’s going to do a great job for us.” Brother Vajdak, who is a member of SPJST Lodge 88, Houston, replaces Debbie Dohnalik, who had been serving as Interim Financial Secretary since the retirement of Jerry Mikulas last December. Mr. Vajdak has more than 30 years of experience in the fields of real estate development, finance, accounting, and
law. He started his real estate career Science degree and with a Master of with a Houston-based homebuilder. Agriculture degree in Land Economics and Real Estate. He He has held key sualso graduated from pervisory positions South Texas College with major real esof Law with a Juris tate development Doctor degree. firms in Texas and “I am very excited Nevada. about having the opMr. Vajdak is a portunity to serve member of the State SPJST as Financial Bar of Texas and is Secretary,” Mr. Vajlicensed as a Certidak says. “I also fied Public Accountwant to thank the ofant and a Real Estate ficers and directors Broker by the State of the Supreme of Texas. He is a Lodge for naming member of the me to this position. I American Bar Assohave some very big ciation, the State Bar shoes to fill in folof Texas, the Texas lowing the legacy of Society of CPAs, the SPJST Financial Secretary former Financial Houston CPA SociRoy Vajdak Secretary Jerry ety, and the Aggie Real Estate Network. Mr. Vajdak grad- Mikulas and Interim Financial Secreuated Magna Cum Laude from Texas tary Debbie Dohnalik, but I believe I A&M University with a Bachelor of can build upon their work.”
Celebrating Czech Heritage
Readers Write ......................................3 Important Dates ...................................3 Interest Rates ......................................3 Lodge Section .....................................4 Reunion .............................................10 Youth Section ....................................12
As the great-grandson of eight Czech immigrants and the grandson of another, Brother Vajdak was raised by his parents to be proud of his Czech heritage. “Although I am of a later generation, I can still relate to many of the teachings that Dr. Robert Skrabanek mentions in his book, We’re Czechs,” he says. “From a picture of the Snook SPJST building committee in the book, I know that my grandfather was active in SPJST. Both of my parents were members, and they saw that I became a member at an early age. Hence, I already have my 50-year pin.” Brother Vajdak states that he was fortunate to be able to study Czech at Charles University in what was then Czechoslovakia. “My ability to speak Czech has faded in the 30 years that have passed since I was there, but my memories of the beautiful homeland that my ancestors left are still strong,” he says. “SPJST is still strong 100
Continued on Page 3.
Pictured next to the SPJST Float in the Austin County Fair Parade in Bellville on October 13 are, left to right, Howard and Jo Bear, Mamie and Ed Lorenz, and Bernice and Bennie Stolarski. Ed and Mamie are members of Lodge 88, Houston, and Howard, Jo, Bernice and Bennie are members of Lodge 141, Sealy. The float earned the first place best decorated float award.
State King Robert Lewis, Duke Jaxson Brisco, Queen Alyssa Torres, and Duchess Emily Filla are pictured at the State Fair of Texas, with Big Tex in the background, for Heritage Day held October 16. More on page 7.
Inside This Week’s Vestnik
Word Find/Sudoku.............................14 In Memoriam ......................................15 Czech Culture ....................................16 Czech Cultural Calendar...................16 Advertisements .................................17 Lodge Calendar .................................18
Page 4
Home office Staff honored for years of service
Page 10
Lodge 186 Caldwell member celebrates 96th birthday
Page 11
Lodge 172 Pasadena hosts benefit