Czech Christmas Tree

Do I need to have the prize on hand at the time of the drawing?

CREA states that the organization must have the prize in its possession or ownership or it must post a bond with the county clerk of the county in which the raffle is to be held for the full amount of the money value of the prize.

2023 Statewide Charity Projects for Adult Lodges, Youth Clubs, Individual Members and Families

Lodges, youth clubs, and members at-large across the state are encouraged to participate in statewide charity projects in 2023. We will host one project for each quarter of the year. Stay tuned to the Vestnik for more details as we move through the year.

Lodges, youth clubs, individuals, families, and friends are asked to collect and donate items in your local community, take photos of the donations, and submit the photos to the Vestnik and post on social media using #spjst.

January through March Souper Bowl Collect and donate soup to your local food bank.

April through June Paws for a Cause Collect and donate supplies for your local animal shelter.

July through September Back-to-School Supply Drive Collect and donate school supplies for your local school.

October through December Socks for Seniors Collect and donate socks for local nursing homes and senior centers.

Addressing Changes

I want to reassure our members that SPJST is financially sound. The recent changes and updates to the youth program have nothing to do with finances. In youth program data collected since 2008, youth participation in the SPJST Youth Program has shown a steady decline. We have many less youth clubs across the state and many less youth participating in the program. For example, in 2005, we had 53 active youth clubs. Today, we have 23 youth clubs. Another fact - in 2008, more than 600 youth were involved in youth clubs across the state. In 2022, about 250 youth are involved. With the current participation numbers, the separate district events that we have

Traditional Czech Christmas Tree Decorations

In the 19th Century, a Christmas tree appeared for the first time in the Czech Lands. Traditional Czech Christmas trees were decorated using unique ideas, shapes, and materials. Many of the decorations had symbolism. Decorate the tree below using the decoration/symbolism guide.

Star Tree Top Guiding star that led the Wise Men White Dove Near Tree Top Peace Popcorn Garland Rope on Joseph’s donkey Walnuts Wrapped in Silver Gifts the Wise Men brought Religious Pictures Honor Mother Mary and Baby Jesus Apples and Oranges Hopes for a prosperous year Ribbon Candy Hopes for a prosperous year

Silver and gold garlands were added to the tree as they became available.

Gingerbread cookies, cut in the shapes of Wise Men, stars, bells, and fish, were decorated with colored icing. In the days of no electricity, clipon candle holders held candles that were small, round, and the thickness of a pencil Candles were placed from the top to about halfway down the tree so small children could not reach them. The candles were lit with a match for a short time, usually at night, by the parents who watched so a fire would not start and burn the house down. As the candles burned on the tree, the nighttime prayers were said. Christmas carols were sung when guests visited.

Angel The angel who appeared before Mary Candy Santa Clauses Honor Svaty Mikulas, the Czech Santa White Cloth Around Base Faith and purity Bowl of Fruit at Base Prosperity and good health Coins in Fruit Bowl at Base Good luck Pickle Hidden on the Christmas tree, whoever finds it first gets an extra gift

Vote on your favorite youth program theme for 2023: r 70 Sparkling Years . . . Fired Up for Many More! r 70 Years of Kind Hearts and Helpful Hands r Lighting the Path for 70 Years r Painting the World into a Better Place

SPJST Youth December Vestnik Project. Submit your completed project at spjst.org/youth-project

hosted in the past, are, unfortunately, no longer justified. Clearly, we must do something different if there has been a decline over the past 15 years.

The changes that we shared last month are challenging for all of us, but these changes were carefully considered and are inline with other fraternals and service organizations like SPJST. Just as our ancestors faced challenges and changes when they left family in Czechoslovakia to come to the United States, we will prevail and our program will continue.

I do want to thank the leaders and parents who contacted me and gave me positive feedback and understanding about the changes.

Quarterly Reports

In August, Tammy emailed all youth leaders the 2023 quarterly reports. The first quarter is for September through November and will be due no later than Thursday, December 15. All youth clubs should be meeting now.

Statewide Camp

Hey, teens and youth! I want you to save the date and get excited about SPJST Camp in 2023. It will be a fournight/five-day camp, starting Wednesday, June 21 through Sunday, June 25. The teen camp and junior camp will be running simultaneously. Teens will have their program separately from the junior campers. All youth will have meals together, but when it comes to the blob, high ropes, special activities, and pool time, that will be separate. Teens will also have their own cabins. Teens and juniors will enjoy the dance and some social time together, too.

State Youth Showcase

The new State Youth Showcase will be held in Temple, Texas. Save these dates - It will be a two-day get-together on Friday, July 28 and Saturday, July 29. We are working through the details of this new event and will soon present this to our youth leadership. Special Category will be back for all youth! And, Friday evening will be a special event for all families to gather and enjoy visiting before the end of the summer.

SPJST Scholarship Season - Now through February 1, 2023

The 2023 SPJST Scholarship season continues through February 1, 2023. Graduating high school seniors and college undergraduates are encouraged to apply for an SPJST scholarship. Please see the online application at this link spjst.org/scholarships for details on eligibility and completing the application. If you have any questions, please contact Sandra at 254-773-1575 ext. 127. December Vestnik Project

The Věstník Project for December is learning about and decorating a traditional Czech Christmas tree! Czechs used various items to decorate their tree, and each items symbolized something. The project appears on page 9. Decorate your tree, snap a photo, and text it to 254-331-6076 or submit it online at spjst.org. Several youth who submit their projects before December 31 will receive fun prizes!

Merry Christmas!

May your heart and home be filled with all of the joys and the festivities Christmas brings. Here is a toast for a merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year: Na zdraví! Fraternally, Frank Horak State Fraternal Director —SPJST—

Scenes From District Six Fall Fun Day

District Six held its fall fun day in conjunction with SPJST’s 125th anniversary celebration in La Grange on Saturday, October 15, 2022. The event was very well attended, and the following lodges in District Six were represented: Lodge 4, Hallettsville; Lodge 8, Weimar, Lodge 23, Moravia; Lodge 28, East Bernard; Lodge 30, Taiton; Lodge 40, El Campo-Hillje; Lodge 63, Sweet Home; Lodge 97, Placedo; Lodge 151, Wharton; and Lodge 184, Moulton.

Members registered at the district booth with District Six Treasurer Marjorie Treumer. A delicious barbecue-on-bun meal was enjoyed at the SPJST tent. Everyone enjoyed the many exhibits and demonstrations on the grounds, as well as visiting and listening to the Czech bands.

SPJST President/CEO Brian Vanicek presented the program. State Queen Brooke Bacak and State Duchess Vanessa Riha, both of Lodge 30, Taiton, attended and assisted with events throughout the afternoon. The youth of District Six had their ornament contest, and District Six Youth Counselor Lisa Bubela presented the awards.

District Six sponsored the cornhole tournament and appreciated the help of Brad Teplicek of Lodge 49, Rowena who organized the teams and served as judge for playing and scoring. Thank you to Yvonne Marcaurele of Lodge 30, Taiton; Wanda and David Carpenter of Lodge 23, Moravia; and Joe Siptak of Lodge 4, Hallettsville for volunteering to help State Fraternal Director Frank Horak set up the game. It was a fun afternoon!

Annie Vahalik District Six Director

Scenes From District Seven Fall Fun Day

Sunday, October 23, 2022 • VFW Hall • New Braunfels, Texas

Costume Contest Winners. LEFT PHOTO: 2nd grade and under - Tillie Lynn. PHOTO 2: 3rd to 5th grades - Jack Stroobandt. PHOTO 3: 6th to 8th grades - Skeet Kitchen. PHOTO 4: 9th to 12th grades - Megan Ohnheiser. PHOTO 5: Group - Fortnite. RIGHT PHOTO: All costume contest winners.

LEFT PHOTO: Lian Lynn’s first place decorated trunk-or-treat car. PHOTO 2: Dunkin Donuts decorated trunk. PHOTO 3: Ben Gribble manning the trunk. PHOTO 4: Flo (Regina House) prepares for trunk-or-treat with husband James House. PHOTO 5: Megan Ohnheiser mans her trunk-or-treat game. RIGHT PHOTO: Jonathan and Michelle Haag with their decorated trunk.

Magician “Diego the Great” performs for District Seven youth. LEFT PHOTO: Diego with Steel McCoy. PHOTO 2: Diego with Lily Howard. PHOTO 3: Diego performs magic tricks for youth. PHOTO 4: Diego with Payton Mills. RIGHT PHOTO: Diego with Skeet Kitchen.

PHOTOS 1 and 2: Youth play games. PHOTO 3: Costumed adults. PHOTO 4: Steel McCoy and Lily Howard. RIGHT PHOTO: Trunk-or-treating.

District Seven Fall Fun Day

Thank you to everyone who came out to the District Seven Fall Fun Day on Sunday, October 23, 2022, at the VFW Hall in New Braunfels, Texas. New Braunfels is one of the fastest growing cities in Texas, and we made the front page of our local newspaper, bringing in new faces to enjoy the event. It was a great day filled with magic by “Diego the Great,” trunk-or-treating, games, door prizes, silent auction, domino tournament, along with many contests such as Christmas ornaments, costume, best decorated trunk, homemade cookies, needlework, and so much more. A svacina was provided by hosting Hill Country Lodge 185. A big thank you goes out to everyone who participated in giving out candy, the difficult task of judging, and especially Jeremiah and Brandi Mills for organizing the food.

Congratulations to the contest winners:

Christmas Ornament Kindergarten to 2nd Grades 1st - Ben Gribble (185) 2nd - Knox Sosa (185)

3rd to 5th Grades 1st - Sydney Haag (185) 2nd - Lily Howard (185) 3rd - Michael Gribble (185)

6th to 8th Grades 1st - Garrett Mills (185) 2nd - Katie Haag (185) 3rd - Madeline Kitchen (185) 9th to 12th Grades 1st - Megan Ohnheiser (185) 2nd - Rileigh Kitchen (185)

Adult 1st - Lian Lynn (107) 2nd - Roxy Bertrand (107) 3rd - Brittany Sosa (185)

Needlework 1st - Sandra Hoggard (202)

Domino Tournament 1st - Sandra Hoggard (202)

Cookies 1st - Sandra Hoggard (202) 2nd - Brandi Mills (185) Costume Contest 2nd Grade and Under Pebbles Tillie Lynn (107)

3rd to 5th Grades Werewolf Jack Stroobandt (185)

6th to 8th Grades Alien Kidnapping Kid

Skeet Kitchen (185)

9th to 12th Grades Bank Robber Megan Ohnheiser (185) Group Fortnight Characters

Hudson Lago (185)

Steel McCoy (185)

Colt Pruski (107)

Harrison Lago (185)

Adult Progressive Insurance Flo Regina House (202)

Best Decorated Trunk Lian Lynn (107)

—April Howard District Seven Youth Counselor —SPJST—

Ann Paruzinski Posthumously Honored for 45 Years of Service to SPJST

The SPJST Executive Committee posthumously recognized Ann Paruzinski for 45 years of devoted and loyal service to the SPJST Home Office at the Executive Committee meeting on Wednesday, October 19, 2022. Ann served as Mortgage Loan Processor. She celebrated her 45th year of service on August 16, 2022. Ann passed away on September 28, 2022.

LEFT PHOTO: Ann’s supervisor, Chief Financial Officer Leonard Mikeska, left, and Chair of the Board of Directors John Engelke display her certificate of recognition. RIGHT PHOTO: CFO Mikeska, right, and Executive Assistant to the CFO Linda Hill present the certificate to Ann’s brother, Jerry Paruzinski.

125 Prizes for 125 Years

SPJST representatives prepare for the “125 Prizes for 125 Years” raffle on Friday, November 18, 2022. Pictured are, from left, Chair of the Board of Directors/District Three Director John Engelke, District Seven Director Regina House, Executive Assistant to the President/CEO Sandra Dubcak, Diana Engelke, District Six Director Annie Vahalik, Fraternal Services Specialist Tammy Martinez, and State Fraternal Director Frank Horak. Winners are listed on page 4 of this week’s Vestnik. Special thanks to all who donated prizes and who purchased tickets.