ˇ ´ VESTNIK
Volume 101 Number 22
S P J S T
Benevolence
July 20 Gala to Benefit West Community
O n Wednesday, April 17, a massive
fertilizer explosion rocked the Central Texas city of West. Six weeks have passed and, as expected, the media fanfare has subsided. Even so, dozens of homes near the plant remain vacant or have boarded-up windows as families work to repair the damage caused by the explosion that sprayed debris as far as two-and-a-half miles away from the plant. The blast destroyed 150 homes and buildings, injured 200 people, and killed 15, including 12 first responders who were working to put out the fire. The West Benevolence Fund was established by SPJST on the day after the explosion. Initial response — pri-
H E R A L D
★ Humanity
ISSN —07458800
marily, from SPJST members and lodges — has been gratifying. To date, more than $26,000 has been received. A committee consisting of the presidents of the four West-area SPJST lodges has been working to identify projects needing attention and submitting requests to the SPJST Home Office for the disbursement of funds contributed to the West Benevolence Fund. The first check issued was in the amount of $3,937 and was presented to West Sokol to enable the gymnastics club to purchase needed equipment that was lost when their building was destroyed. Continued on page 4.
★ Brotherhood
Supreme Lodge President Brian Vanicek and West-area SPJST lodge presidents Randy Pavelka of Lodge 35, Elk; John Engelke of Lodge 66, Waco; Milton Peterson of Lodge 6, Cottonwood; and Freddie Kaluza of Lodge 54, West discuss the destruction and damage from the West explosion to Lone Star Hall, home of Sokol West and SPJST Lodge 54, West. —Photo by Samuel Vanicek
Float Earns 1st in Ennis
Czech Crafting
The SPJST Float received the Chamber President’s Award in the National Polka Festival parade held Saturday, May 25 in Ennis. Holding the banner are State Duchess Kyleigh Hruska, State Queen Emily Lewis, Alex Fusco, Alexis Allen, State King Jerry Pechal, and State Duke Michael Hoelscher. On the float are Lodge 25, Ennis Youth Club members Madison Holland, April Dvorak, Amanda Droste, Olivia Zmolik, Ava Gurley, Samuel Zmolik, Austen Holland, Brandon Droste, and Zoe Talasek (Lodge 47, Seaton).
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Interest Rates.......................................3 Important Dates ...................................3 Readers Write ......................................3 Financial Statement ............................4 Bloomin’ Temple Donor Thanks.........5 Lodge Section......................................8
Inside Th is Week’s Vestnik
Reunions ............................................16 In Memoriam ......................................16 Youth Section.....................................17 Czech Culture ....................................19 Advertisements .................................21 Lodge Calendar .................................22
June 5, 2013
Pages 6 - 7
SPJST participates in National Polka Festival
SPJST Executive Assistant to Supreme Lodge President Sandra Dubcak assists Emerson Remington with Czech crafts at the Lodge 182, Falls County meeting held May 19 at the Czech Heritage Museum in Temple.
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Lodge 35 Elk gives $2,000 to West Benevolence Fund
Page 12
Lodge 156 Baytown members gather for meeting