Youth Section

state vital statistics office in Austin for more than 26 years until her retirement.

She was a member of SPJST Lodge 24, Cyclone for more than 70 years. Anne loved to watch the Texas Rangers, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, and the University of Texas football and baseball teams. She enjoyed listening to Elvis Presley and George Strait. She loved to cook, and she loved to dance to polka bands like Vrazels and Mikulas which were her favorite. Anne was strong in her Catholic faith; she had been attending mass at St. Luke’s in Temple since 2011 when she moved to Temple from Austin. Anne will be dearly missed by friends and family.

She is preceded in death by her parents Sam and Leona; sister Lucille Greener and husband Walter; brother Randolph Green and wife Evelyn; and brother-in-law Marvin Wilde.

Anne leaves behind to cherish her memory her sister Oleta Wilde of Cyclone; sister Rachel Green of Temple; brother Joseph Green of Brenham; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

A memorial service was held at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Temple on Friday, June 25 at 12 noon with Father John Guzaldo officiating. The rosary began at 11:40 a.m. at the church. Burial will be held at later date at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Cyclone.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph’s Cemetery Association or to a charity of your choice.

Hewett-Arney Funeral Home of Temple was entrusted with the arrangements. —SPJST—

SPJST Youth Section

The deadline for all Věstník items is 5 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of each month. Send your news and photos directly to: SPJST Věstník Editor Melanie Zavodny P.O. Box 100 Temple, Texas 76503 Fax: 254-773-8087 Email: vestnik@spjst.org Online: spjst.org/news/submitarticle-photo Questions? Call 800-727-7578

This section is dedicated to the youth of SPJST. As part of its membership benefits, SPJST offers a statewide youth program. If you or someone you know is interested in learning about opportunities offered to young members of SPJST, please contact your local lodge, District Youth Counselor (listed on page 2), State Fraternal Director at 800-727-7578, or visit www.spjst.org.

Lodge 30, Taiton youth ready for camp

SPJST Lodge 30, Taiton Youth Club met on Wednesday June 2, 2021. Mrs. Bubela discussed all upcoming events and reminded us to submit all of our virtual YAD projects by June 13. After the meeting, we practiced our group talent.

On Sunday, June 13, I attended the District Six Meeting at Camp Kubena, where we got to eat hamburgers, ice cream, have a decorated rock contest, and go for a swim. I can’t wait for camp! Abigail Garrett, age 10 —SPJST—

Lodge 49, Rowena youth: long summer days

Dear SPJST,

School is out, and I have a summer job building metal buildings and construction. I’m putting in long hours starting with morning workouts then my job and coming home to work as well. It’s okay though because I’m making some money to pay my pickup. Hunter Wood, age 15 —SPJST—

Lodge 49, Rowena youth encounters snake

Dear SPJST,

I’m so glad it’s summer! I get to go work at my Nanny and Grandpa’s house. Yesterday, a snake fell from one of her trees and scared my uncle. I’m not going to help her pick up pecans now because it was a huge snake. Cotton Wood, age 10 —SPJST—

Lodge 49, Rowena youth helps grandparents

Dear SPJST,

It’s summer, and summer workouts have begun. They haven’t been too bad so far. I’m working at my Nanny and Grandpa’s getting the planter ready and doing anything they need me to do. Tanner Wood, age 16 —SPJST—

Lodge 84, Dallas Youth Club reports on meeting, activities

Dear Readers,

With the pandemic still a threat to everyone’s health, the youth of Lodge 84, Dallas continue to meet monthly via Zoom. We continue to stay busy with our monthly Vestnik projects, keeping current with State Fraternal Director Frank Horak’s webcasts and waiting for Youth Achievement Day project results and the upcoming State Youth Achievement Day in July.

Additionally, we continue to work on potential community service project ideas and submitting our 100 Pennies Scholarship Fund Drive contribution. I am hoping to attend the mother lodge annual lakeside picnic on Sunday, July 18. The details are listed on page 14 of this week’s Vestnik. I hope you can come, too!

Fraternally, Josh Tucker, age 12 —SPJST—

District six youth visit camp kubena

Members of Lodge 30, Taiton and 40, El Campo-Hillje Youth Clubs are pictured at the District Six Meeting held at Camp Kubena. Youth enjoyed eating hamburgers and ice cream, a decorated rock contest, and swim time. —Submitted by Abigail Garrett - Lodge 30, Taiton Youth Club

District Two Annual Meeting

Sunday, June 13, 2021 • Lodge 48, Beyersville

TOP LEFT PHOTO: Lodge 48, Beyersville Youth Leader Michelle Newsom, far left, presents awards to coloring contest winners Della Miksch (48), Tynlee Beckendorf (182), MaKayla Newsom (48), and Brooke Newsom (48). Assisting with the presentation is Honorary District Two Youth Counselor Patsy Koslovsky. TOP RIGHT PHOTO: District Two Decorated Rock Contest winners are, left to right, Mathieu McCarthy (187), Everhett Bartek (47), Luke McCarthy (187), and Brooke Newsom (48). BELOW LEFT PHOTO: The Martinez family from Lodge 47, Seaton - Kal-El, Tammy, Adam, Seth, and Tristan. BELOW RIGHT PHOTOS: Trent and Trevor Wuensche (48) spin the prize wheel in the country store game and Brooke Newsom (48) helps with the ring toss game.

District Six Annual Meeting

Sunday, June 13, 2021 • Camp Kubena in Ledbetter, Texas

LEFT PHOTO: Congratulations to the District Six Decorated Rock Contest winners. They are, left to right, Millie Garrett, Brett Bacak, Brooke Bacak, and Grant Bubela, all of Lodge 30, Taiton. CENTER PHOTO: Youth from Lodges 30, Taiton and 40, El Campo-Hillje proudly display their decorated rock contest entries. RIGHT PHOTO: Heather and Ella Garrett, both of Lodge 30, Taiton, listen during the meeting. BELOW PHOTOS: Youth visit prior to the meeting and at lunch. Youth also enjoyed swimming and other activities at Camp Kubena.

The importance of safety when swimming in backyard pools

Backyard pools provide families with ample opportunities for recreation. It’s easy to be distracted by all the fun when swimming in a backyard pool, but it is crucial that homeowners take steps to ensure everyone is safe when spending time in the pool.

Establish a barrier

The Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death in children between the ages of one and four in the United States. Pools attract curious children, so maintaining a barrier between the home and the pool is essential. Many municipalities require some sort of fencing around pools or ladders that self-latch or can be closed off to climbing.

Locks and alarms on windows and doors that face or provide access to the backyard also can serve as barriers.

Keep play under control

Children and even adults may be swept up in the fun and engage in potentially dangerous behaviors. Pool users should not be allowed to run around the perimeter of an inground pool, as the cement can get slippery when wet and lead to falls that can cause injuries.

Lodge 202, Jourdanton Youth Club: Fun Times at Paradise Canyon

Lodge 202, Jourdanton Youth Club members enjoyed an outing to Paradise Canyon in Rio Medina on Monday, June 14, 2021. The youth had a great time swimming, floating, and fishing. —Submitted by Regina House, Youth Leader

Lodge 258, seguin youth win awards in spjst contests

Lodge 258, Seguin youth members proudly show off their winning ribbons! Kora Johnston, left, won first place in pictorial arts and photography for ages 15 to high school senior in the 2020 District Seven Youth Showcase. Erin Johnston won second place in the Christmas Ornament Contest for ages 12 to 14. Way to go, girls! —April Howard District Seven

Youth Counselor

Exercise caution when using diving boards or diving into pools. It’s easy for divers to hit their heads when diving off a board into a pool due to close proximity of the transition wall in the deep end of the pool or by diving into shallow water. The Red Cross recommends a water depth of 11.5 feet for safe diving and the transition wall should be at least 16.5 feet from the tip of the diving board. However, the standard depth for many pools is 7.5 feet of water and a slope beginning seven feet from the board.

Exercise caution with inflatables

The Good Housekeeping Research Institute found that inflatable pool toys are especially dangerous. Such toys can flip easily, putting children at risk for injury (from striking the sides of the pool) or drowning (especially if the children were ejected into deep water). Inflatables also can prevent access to the surface of the water for submerged swimmers.

Choose a backyard lifeguard

At least one person should be designated as backyard lifeguard when the pool is in use. This person should always direct his or her focus on the pool, counting swimmers and keeping track of who enters and leaves the pool. Safe Kids Worldwide suggests rotating water watchers every 15 minutes.

Pools are fun places to spend summer afternoons, especially when every step is taken to ensure the safety of swimmers. (MS)

—SPJST—