Volume 103 Number 31
ˇ ´ VESTNIK S P J S T Benevolence
H E R A L D
★ Humanity ISSN —07458800
★ Brotherhood
August 5, 2015
Kolache Christi Getaway
Lodge 79, Corpus Christi members Virginia Rebecek, left, and Lela Mae Hayek prepare dough to make 48 dozen kolache and 12 buchty to welcome attendees to this weekend’s Corpus Christi Getaway. More pictures on page 7.
§ Lodge 66, Waco member Mira Engelke, left photo, is pictured with Mittens, and Lodge 24, Cyclone member Caseton Shoesmith is pictured with Allie. Pages 12 to 17 feature the 2015 SPJST Members’ Pet Parade. §
Byli jsme . . . a budem. – We were . . . and we will be.
November 20 has been tentatively
set for a grand opening date for the new Sokol West Gymnasium, according to President Shane Bivins and Secretary-Treasurer Mary Beth Dulock of SPJST Lodge 6, Cottonwood. That date will mark the one-year anniversary since Texas Governor Rick Perry, Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, and Czech Ambassador to the United States Petr Gandalovič joined West Mayor Tommy Muska and Sokol representatives in a groundbreaking ceremony in 2014 for the new gymnasium. Representatives met in the conference room at PointWest Bank in West, Texas, on Monday, July 27, 2015, to receive updates on the construction of the new gymnasium. The gym is being rebuilt after it was destroyed in the fertilizer plant explosion on April 17, 2013. The devastating explosion killed 15 people, 12 of whom were first re-
sponders to a fire burning at West Fertilizer Company. The blast also injured hundreds of residents in the town of 2,800 and destroyed many of its buildings and homes. Honorary Consulate of the Czech Republic in Texas Brian Vanicek of SPJST Lodge 24, Cyclone opened the informal meeting with a quote from Marcus Aurelius, the last of the Five Good Emperors, “Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart.” Czech Ambassador to the United States Petr Gandalovič expressed his optimism on the great success of rebuilding the gymnasium. “This is great, and I am amazed that something new came up over such tragedy.” The gymnasium will once again house the Sokol Gymnastics Associa-
Continued on Page 10.
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Important Dates ...................................3 Interest Rates.......................................3 Readers Write ......................................3 Sales Agent Contest Winners ............3 Important Vestnik Dates .....................3 Lodge Section......................................4
Sokol West Secretary-Treasurer Mary Beth Dulock, who is a member of SPJST Lodge 6, Cottonwood, gives a tour of the new Sokol West gymnasium last week to SPJST District Three Director John Engelke, left, and American Sokol Executive Board First Vice President Bob Podhrasky, who is a member of SPJST Lodge 130, Dallas. A tentative grand opening date has been set for November 20, 2015.
Inside Th is Week’s Vestnik
Reunions ..............................................9 In Memoriam ......................................11 Youth Section ....................................17 Czech Culture ....................................21 Advertisements .................................21 Lodge Calendar .................................22
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Insurance Department hosts continuing education class
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Lodge 177 Academy presents $2,000 to Buckholts VFD
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Lodge 84 Dallas youth enjoy swim social