Important Dates

SPJST Family Fun • • • • • and • • • • • Important Dates

(Number in parentheses denotes SPJST district.) Nov. 28 Lodge 8, Weimar Holiday Meal Oakridge Smokehouse Restaurant (6) Dec. 1 District Six hosts SPJST Float El Campo Christmas Parade (6) Dec. 3 Lodge 18, Elgin hosts SPJST Float Elgin Christmas Parade (2) Dec. 3 Lodge 88, Houston Christmas Party (5) Dec. 3 Lodge 117, Robstown Christmas Gathering Hilltop Community Center (7) Dec. 3 Lodge 180, Burleson Christmas Party Villa Diana Restaurant (3) Dec. 4 Lodge 6, Cottonwood Christmas Party (3) Dec. 4 Lodge 9, Snook hosts SPJST Float Bryan-College Station Christmas Parade (1) Dec. 4 Lodge 17, New Tabor Memorial Service/ Christmas Program (1) Dec. 4 Lodge 23, Moravia Christmas Party (6) Dec. 4 Lodge 29, Taylor Christmas Party (2) Dec. 4 Lodge 30, Taiton Christmas Party (6) Dec. 4 Lodge 47, Seaton Christmas Party (2) Dec. 4 Lodge 49, Rowena Christmas Party (4) Dec. 4 Lodge 54, West Christmas Party • Tours Hall (3) Dec. 4 Lodge 84, Dallas Christmas Party • Sokol Dallas (3) Dec. 4 Lodge 189, Bryan-College Station Christmas Dinner C&J Barbecue, Bryan (1) Dec. 5 SPJST Float: Temple Christmas Parade (2) Dec. 6 Lodge 32, Victoria Christmas Party • Sky Restaurant (6) Dec. 8 Lodge 67, Schulenburg Christmas Party Oakridge Smokehouse Restaurant (1) Dec. 8 Lodge 88, Houston Christmas Party (5) Dec. 10 SPJST Float: Hyde Park (Austin) Neighborhood Christmas Parade (2) Dec. 11 Lodge 4, Hallettsville Christmas Party (6) Dec. 11 Lodge 9, Snook Christmas Program/Social (1) Dec. 11 Lodge 107, Floresville Christmas Party/Meeting (7) Dec. 11 Lodge 142, Houston Christmas Lunch/ Longtime Member Recognition • Lodge 88, Houston (5) Dec. 11 Lodge 202, Jourdanton Christmas Party Jourdanton Civic Center (7) Dec. 12 Lodge 151, Wharton Christmas Social Wharton Depot Museum (6) Dec. 13 Longview/Kilgore Members’ Christmas Dinner Posados Café, Longview (3) Dec. 17 Lodge 141, Sealy hosts SPJST Float Wallis Christmas Parade (1) Dec. 18 Lodge 81, Needville Christmas Meeting (5) Dec. 18 Lodge 133, San Antonio Christmas Celebration VFW Hall (7) Dec. 18 Lodge 200, Bruceville-Eddy/Lodge 246, Morgan’s Point Christmas Party • Cotton Patch Cafe, Temple (2) Dec. 26 SPJST Home Office Closed • Christmas Holiday

SPJST Posts Upbeat Third Quarter

TEMPLE, TEXAS – “SPJST’s investment income and annuity program enabled the Society to post strong operating results through the quarter ending September 30, 2022,” said SPJST President/CEO Brian Vanicek. Investment income increased 20 percent to $9.383 million compared to $7.812 million a year ago. Insurance premiums and annuity deposits increased 60 percent to $19.184 million compared to $11.956 million a year ago.

“SPJST’s annuity program is on track for a good year as risk-averse individuals appear to have steered in our direction, away from the volatility of the stock market,” says Vanicek. Correspondingly, SPJST’s sustained increase in investment returns enabled the Society to increase interest rates on its annuity plans in October. “That trend could continue if the Federal Reserve continues raising its benchmark interest rate,” says Vanicek.

Net income for the nine-month period ending September 30 remained flat at $80,657. “With the dramatic increase in annuity sales, it was necessary for SPJST to set aside ample reserves to guard the security of these member investments,” says Vanicek.

“Excellent progress has also made year-to-date in executing the strategy of investing in digital tools for frontline workers and sales agents to modernize workflows, and improve workplace culture and communication,” says Vanicek.

In 2022, SPJST began what is expected to be a three-year data migration and conversion process to the cloudbased Oracle Insurance Policy Administration software. Also, in 2022, illustrate inc, a powerful cloud-based insurance quoting and illustration software platform was introduced to SPJST sales agents, providing them with needs analysis tools and the ability to complete and submit applications for new certificates online.

Overall, SPJST assets increased to $261.932 million through the end of the third quarter, a 4.4 percent increase from the $250.843 million recorded at year-end 2021. SPJST’s unallocated surplus declined slightly to $13.108 million, down from $13.225 recorded at year-end 2021. More than $849,000 in expenditures on software for the first nine months contributed to the decrease. Death benefits paid for the first nine months of 2022 were $4.536 million, up from the $4.090 million paid over the same year-to-date period in 2021. SPJST dispersed annuity benefits totaling $9.667 million for the first nine months of 2022, up from the $6.311 million dispersed over the same year-to-date period in 2021.

“On the fraternal front — that’s where our lodges and organization reach out to communities to make a positive difference – our watchword was “relevancy” — doing those things that bring substance to the SPJST fraternal mission,” says Vanicek.

Local lodges sponsored a wide range of family-oriented events, including community service projects and recreational activities. Additionally, the Home Office regularly partnered with lodges and other organizations on special events, including parades and festivals. As of September 30, there are 38,000 SPJST members in 102 lodges throughout Texas. “Since its inception, SPJST members have worked diligently to establish the Society’s reputation as a proactive, nonsectarian fraternal organization,” says Vanicek.

SPJST marked its 125th anniversary on October 15 with a grand celebration at the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center in La Grange. An exciting new chapter in SPJST’s history is being written as SPJST continues to fulfill its financial obligations to its members and keep pace with the life insurance industry.

“Through the SPJST Home Office and in lodges all over the state, men, women, boys, and girls are committing their time and energy to supporting worthwhile causes,” says Vanicek. “They are taking the best that SPJST has to offer — a tradition of helping people to care for their families – and are extending these values to their communities.” —SPJST—