ˇ ´ VESTNIK S P J S T Benevolence
Volume 106 Number 35
H E R A L D
★ Humanity
★ Brotherhood
October 3, 2018
ISSN —07458800
Beautiful, pristine countryside . . .
Family, friends visit fascinating places in Czech Republic By Mary Archer niece of Laddie Gajdica of SPJST Lodge 84, Dallas
vineyard in the cellar as we tried to sing along in Czech, using songbooks put together by Charline, Margie, and Mary. Laddie played with Eva and Vasek, who SPJST Lodge 84, Dallas members are a famous band from Blansko/KlepaLaddie and Helen Gajdica along with cov that toured Texas recently. They their daughter welcomed us Diane Deily, into their Laddie’s nieces recording studio Charline Poland home. We lard, Margie were served dinGunter, Mary ner, beer, and Archer and huswine at their band Keith, club. They also Helen’s niece let us pick apVicky Castleples and pears man and husfrom their backband John - plus yard. 20 other new While in friends from La Frenstat, we Grange and surwere welcomed rounding comto City Hall munities, who Center by the now are like council memfamily - had an bers and examazing two- Lodge 84, Dallas member Laddie mayor. We all week trip to the Gajdica serenades tour members after sang “My Jsme Czech Republic lunch near Frenstat, Czech Republic. Valasi,” - “We and Poland. Are WalWe traveled through beautiful, pris- lachian,” and “Pisnicka Ceska,” accomtine countryside . . . fascinating places panied by Laddie on the accordion and to see and visit . . . Lidice, Dubi, Beroun, a local guitarist. Decin, Hrensko, Litomerice, Tapla Our visit was covered by the local Monestery, Chodova Plana, Plzen, news and world news. Aunt Helen Karlov, Olesnice, Dalesice, Trebic, Telč, Gajdica was interviewed by three teleRoznov, Vizovice, Lesna, Zlin, Frenstat, vision station reporters who wanted to Trojanovice, Hrachovice, Hodslavice, know where she learned to speak Czech Pardubice, Kladuby and Labem, Kutna and where her grandparents and parents Hora, Prague, Trinec, Czech Republic, immigrated from in Czech Republic. and Ustron, Poland. Helenka did a great job. Alas, we did not Uncle Laddie played his accordion arrive to our hotel in time to see the for us on the bus, in the hotel, and at the broadcast.
Pictured near Decin, Czech Republic, are, front, left to right, Helen and Laddie Gajdica, both of Lodge 84, Dallas, and Charline Pollard and Marie Gunter, both of Lodge 130, Dallas. BACK: Keith and Mary Archer, and Diane Deily. More photos on page 10.
Most impressive is what the Czech people have accomplished, in all aspects of their lives and the country’s wellbeing, in less than 30 years especially considering the wreckage that was left after eight years of Hitler and 40 years of Stalin and the Soviet Union.
The experience was truly amazing. Everyone on the trip wanted an Uncle Laddie and Aunt Helen Gajdica! And, one last note . . . always remember: Bring the pivo before the cheesecake, prosim. —SPJST—
N N N N N N N N Inside This Week’s Věstník N N N N N N N N Interest Rates.......................................3 Important Dates ...................................3 Readers Write ......................................3 Recipe...................................................3 District News .......................................5 Lodge Section......................................6
Reunions ............................................13 Youth Section.....................................15 In Memoriam ......................................20 Czech Culture ....................................21 Advertisements .................................21 Lodge Calendar .................................22
Lodge 151 Wharton honors deceased members
SPJST supports Food Bank of the Golden Crescent Page 8
Page 11
District Youth Counselors gather for fall meeting Page 15