ˇ ´ VESTNIK
Volume 100 Number 27
S P J S T
Benevolence
H E R A L D
★ Humanity
ISSN —07458800
★ Brotherhood
July 4, 2012
Lodge 84, Dallas Member Carolyn Nemec Achieves Grand Age of 96
SPJST congratulates Sister Carolyn Theresa Mahdak Nemec, a member of SPJST Lodge 84, Dallas, who celebrated her 96th birthday on April 24, 2012. As such, Sister Nemec is entitled to all SPJST member benefits with no further dues or assessments required.
tradition. One of Carolyn’s earliest and fondest memories are of her father, John, telling Czech fairy tales to her and her three sisters and five brothers at bedtime. One of Carolyn’s favorite tales was that of the Hosterman or Czech water spirit. Hosterman, who was covered with slime and scales, had a malicious streak of drowning people and keeping their souls in a ceramic pot. He may have been a make-believe creature, but just the thought of Hosterman kept the youngsters from swimming in the farm’s stock pond. These days, Carolyn and her brother, Bernard Mahdak, are the only surviving siblings. Sisters Mary Mah-
dak Mikus, Frances Mahdak Crane, Wilma Mahdak Gribbin and brothers John Mahdak, Gerard Mahdak, Lewis Mahdak, and George Mahdak are all deceased. Nimble in mind and body, Sister Carolyn joined the Catholic Sokol in Ennis, Texas, around 1934 when she was 18 where her sisters Wilma and Frances had joined before her, eventually becoming the women’s nacelnice/instructor. A group comprised primarily of Ennis Sokol gymnasts formed several Beseda dance circles and went on to perform at the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition held on the grounds of the Texas State Fair near downtown Dallas. Most of the
buildings constructed for the Centennial are still in use today at Fair Park. Of this experience, Carolyn is proud that some of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren still dance the Beseda at the State Fair of Texas each year — in costumes that she sewed for them — just as she did her own kroj in 1936! Interesting to note is that Carolyn’s daughter Carole was in the first SPJST Lodge 84, Dallas Teen Club Circle to dance the Beseda in Texas and at the State Fair. Carolyn also made many of their kroje, as well as scores of other kroje for Lodge 84 and many family mem-
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Districts Three, Five Crown Royalty
What makes those first memories stick into adulthood? According to psychologists, it has a lot to do with the adults who raise the children. Children who grow up in homes that value family heritage and tradition typically develop an appreciation for the family culture. That was certainly the case for Sister Carolyn Nemec. Born April 24, 1916, in Ennis, Texas, to Czech immigrants John Mahdak from Ostrata, Czechoslovakia, and Frances Pavlicek Mahdak from Hrobice, Czechoslovakia, Sister Carolyn grew up in a household immersed in Czech music, language, and
Congratulations to 2012-2013 District Three Duchess Kennedy Ballew, Queen Reagan Langer, King Dustin Motley, and Duke Lane Slovak, all of Lodge 25, Ennis. They were crowned on Sunday, June 24 at District Three YAD held at Lodge 92, Fort Worth. RIGHT PHOTO: Congratulations to 2012-2013 District Five Duke Mathieu Barcak and King Ryan Bronikowski, both of Lodge 88, Houston. They were crowned on Sunday, June 24 at District Five YAD held at Lodge 88, Houston.
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Important Dates ...................................3 Interest Rates.......................................3 Readers Write ......................................3 Lodge Section......................................6 Reunions ............................................12 Youth Section.....................................18
Inside This Week’s Vestnik
Vestnik Project...................................19 Youth Merit Points Report ................24 Quarterly Youth Clubs’ Report .........26 Czech Culture ....................................27 Advertisements..................................29 Lodge Calendar..................................30
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Lodge 49 Rowena member restores tractors
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Lodge 88 Houston members celebrate 70 years of marriage
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Lodge 202 Jourdanton member travels to Ethiopia