PAWS CAUSE

Animal Shelter Drive

April 1 through June 30, 2023

• SPJST lodges, youth clubs, and members are invited to collect and donate supplies to a animal shelter near you. Contact your donation site for specific needs.

• Photograph your donations with the donors. Submit your photo along with the total items donated at spjst.org/gives and share on social media using #spjstgives

• Questions? Call 254-773-1575, ext. 177

Member Engagement news from state fraternal director frank horak

May News and Updates for Adult and Youth Members

The month of May is full of special days, but there is one very important day — Sunday, May 14. This is a day we celebrate that special person that always gave us unconditional love . . . our Mother.

Tyler Rose Festival VIP Tour

We are excited to share a new member benefit — group tours. Please save the date – October 19 to 21, 2023 – and make plans to attend the 90th Annual Texas Rose Festival in Tyler, Texas. This will be a fun trip for rose enthusiasts and those just wanting to getaway and experience this historical festival. Members can choose to drive or ride the passenger bus starting at the Home Office in Temple. You will find more information on page 9 or at spjst.org/tours. After viewing the itinerary, this trip looks like a fun time for all!

Czech Republic Holiday Tour

Night At The Museum

Many leaders and friends of the Czech Heritage Museum in Temple enjoyed the opening of Night At The Museum on April 13. There was food and drinks provided to all and a guest speaker. The museum store was open with items of Czech glass, food, postcards, and so much more. The next event is Thursday, May 11 at the Czech Heritage Museum in Temple from 5 to 7:30 p.m. We look forward to seeing more friends come and visit.

2023 State Charity Project Paws for a Cause

at Camp Kubena in Ledbetter, Texas. The session is open to SPJST members and non-members, pending availability.

SPJST youth members who will be in first through 12th grade as of September 1, 2023, are eligible to attend.

Activities will be age-specific for both teens/leaders-in-training and juniors, and programs will run parallel during the camp session.

“A mother’s love is everything. It is what brings a child into this world. It is what molds their entire being. When a mother sees her child in danger, she is literally capable of anything. Mothers have lifted cars off of their children and destroyed entire dynasties. A mother’s love is the strongest energy known to man.”

—Jamie McGuire

Remember to pay tribute to your mom this Mother’s Day!

SPJST has many fun and exciting activities and opportunities just beyond the horizon for our members.

State Camp Registration

Closes May 1

If your child or children are planning to attend camp this summer — as of Friday, April 21, we have 40 open spots for girls and 27 open spots for boys for the 2023 State Camp. When these spots are taken, campers will be placed on a waiting list. If there are openings after June 1, the first camper on the waiting list will be contacted and then the next and so on. This link https://spjst.org/camp/ will take you to the camp registration. There is more information about camp pricing and other information later in my letter.

Make plans for November 29 to December 11. This will be 10 exciting days, visiting 14 cities during Christmas time in the Czech Republic. You will enjoy Christmas markets, museums, vineyards, the Prague Castle, and so much more. Visit spjst.org/tours to find all the information you need to plan your trip.

Lodge Incentives

The lodge incentive program is available at spjst.org/gives. What counts as fraternal hours and community service hours as set by American Fraternal Alliance is outlined in the pages. The process is very similar to previous years. Enter your lodge’s information at spjst.org/gives. We understand you may not have a sign-in sheet or photos from your January through March activities. That’s okay. Still go ahead and enter the information. Starting in April, use the sign-in sheet to record all attendees at any activities and events. This will help you keep track of your volunteer hours.

We are asking the FACs to enter these hours on a quarterly basis instead of waiting until January to enter the hours. Some amazing incentives are available to our lodges, and we look forward to visiting with you and helping you work towards achieving them for your lodge. I am planning an online informational session on the process of entering all the information. This will be Monday, May 15 at 6:30 p.m. If you are unable to attend, I will be setting up times to meet with lodge officers to assist you with this process.

We are kicking off our second quarter state charity project — Paws for a Cause. The collection time is April through June. Lodges and youth clubs are asked to identify a local animal shelter or pet rescue organization. Contact them to determine their needs. Then, collect items or offer assistance, according to the specific needs. Take photos of your lodge’s or youth club’s project. Submit online at spjst.org/gives. Be sure to also share on social media using #spjstgives.

We thank all the lodges and youth clubs that joined in the Souper Bowl and made donations to their local food banks. If you collected soup cans and have not submitted your information, please do so at spjst.org/gives. We will be compiling the information on May 1 for a final report.

Future projects are July through September - Back to School Supply Drive to collect school supplies, and October through December - Socks for Seniors to collect socks, gloves, etc. for our elderly friends and neighbors.

2023 Youth Group Incentives

SPJST is also offering a new incentive program to engage our young members in community work and volunteerism. Through this process, youth will help fund their youth clubs by participating in Group Community Service, Social Engagement Activities, and Matching Funds. You can read more about the program by visiting spjst.org/gives. If you have any questions, please contact me, and I will help you.

State Camp Registration Fees Increase on May 2

SPJST will host one state camp session this summer beginning Wednesday, June 21 through Sunday, June 25, 2023,

Discounted registration for members closes when filled or on May 1. Camper slots are first come, first serve and a waiting list will be created, if necessary. The fee for youth members is $335. The fee for youth who have attended at least seven lodge/youth club meetings between June 1, 2022, and May 31, 2023, is $125, which includes a $25 non-refundable registration fee. Fees will be prorated for youth who have attended less than seven meetings.

The camp fee for non-members is $450, which includes a $50 non-refundable registration fee.

Late Registration - May 2 to 15

Pending availability, late registration is May 2 to May 15. The non-refundable registration fee will increase during this time. Late registration camp fee is $335 for SPJST members (which includes a $50 non-refundable registration fee). The late registration camp fee for nonmembers is $450 (which includes a $100 non-refundable registration fee). All registration ends on May 15.

All fees must be paid by June 1. Fees (except non-refundable registration fees) are refundable until June 6.

If you have any questions about camp registration, please contact Frank at 254-773-1575, ext. 177; or Tammy at 254-773-1575, ext.164.

SPJST Camp Gift Card

Leaders and parents, set up a gift card through the Amilia website for your campers. They will be able to purchase camp merchandise at Camp Kubena Outpost (camp store). With the gift card, campers and chaperones will not have to keep up with cash or a debit card while at camp.

Visit spjst.org/camp. Then sign into your Amilia (camp registration) account. Under the SPJST logo, click on the tab labeled “Gift Cards.” To the right of the page, you will see Description and five fill boxes. After you have completed adding your information in the fill boxes, click on add to cart. You will then select checkout, and the next page will come up. Select checkout again. Then select Continue my purchase, and on the next screen, you will be able to pay with a credit card.

State Youth Showcase

We are looking forward to presenting the 2023 SPJST State Youth Showcase on Friday, July 28 and Saturday, July 29 at the Frank W. Mayborn Civic and Convention Center in Temple. The State Youth Showcase Guidebook and registration is open at https://spjst.org/showcase/. The guidebook is full of information on how to enter, general rules, and all the contests. Registration ends on Friday, June 30 at 11:59 p.m.

Save the Date!

Cars & Guitars

Cars & Guitars is Saturday, November 4 at Camp Kubena. Planned activities include classic cars, music, food, arts/crafts vendors, kids’ activities, and a lot of family fun. Camp Kubena is located at 2001 Waldeck Road in Ledbetter.

May Caring Challenge

Our caring challenge for May goes hand-in-hand with Paws for a Cause –collecting and donating supplies for a local animal shelter. We have a fun activity that you can participate in, too. It’s featured online at spjst.org/gives. A reminder - make sure you take a group photo of your members with the items collected and a photo of the sign-in sheet. Go to www.spjst.org/gives to submit your completed project. The process will take less than 2 minutes to complete.

We would also love to see your group photos. When you create a post on Facebook and/or Instagram, please set your post as ‘public,’ upload your photo, write a short description, and include #spjstgives and #spjst to link your info to the SPJST website and social pages.

Thanks for participating in the April Caring Challenge. Now that you have submitting your decorated rock, you can place it somewhere in your community, your yard, or bring it to Camp Kubena when you come to camp and place it in the rock garden by the dining hall.

Fraternally, Frank Horak

State Fraternal Director —SPJST—

District Six Meeting Annual Meeting Scenes

Sunday, April 16, 2023 • Our Lady of Victory Cathedral Hall • Victoria, Texas

From the Desk of Delisle L. Doherty SPJST Vice President of Sales and Marketing

It’s Your Life

Change Your World

Just before Jesus ascended into a cloud, He had some final words for his followers, a promise, and a directive. In a few days, He told them, a monumental moment would occur. He had told them about it a few weeks before, and now it was going to be a reality. The Holy Spirit was going to enter each of them and take up residence there! No longer would God be at arm’s length. Now He would live inside them.

The Holy Spirit is called the Comforter, but He could also be called the Generator because He supplies power for believers to follow Christ’s directions and change the world. Jesus told those first disciples that they would represent Him as His ambassadors, first in Jerusalem, then in the surrounding areas; and finally, to the remotest corners of the globe.

Jesus gives us the same promise and directive today. If we have trusted in Christ, His Spirit now lives inside us to comfort us, guide us, and give us power to do what God wants us to do. And what, exactly, does He want us to do? He has given us the incredible honor of representing Him in our families and neighborhoods, in our workplaces, and at school. He has given us the power to pray, to give, and to reach the world for Christ.

Today’s article is taken from “Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar” – one of my favorite books. Zig Ziglar was not just a great businessman and motivational speaker, he was a great man of faith. It was his faith that allowed him to stay humble in success. He is also the author of one of my favorite quotes, “You can get anything you want in life if you help enough people get what they want in life.” When we become a servant to society, we will find many riches we never realized we had.

The new programs for our youth and lodges are centered around being servants to our communities. If you are willing to take on that task, with Jesus (not SPJST), as your foundation we can grow the youth and lodges and become true servants for our communities. Are you ready to change your world?

My door is always open; figuratively and literally.

Stay blessed,

Delisle L. Doherty Vice President of Sales and

Marketing

832-232-2049

—SPJST—

Lodge 88, Houston to host District Five Annual Meeting

April

30

SPJST Lodge 88, Houston welcomes all to the District Five Annual Meeting on Sunday, April 30, 2023, at 1435 Beall Street in Houston, Texas.

Registration begins at 11 a.m. with a meal from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. prepared by the board and officers. Meeting starts at 1 p.m. with a welcome by Lodge 88 President Aaron Rigamonti. See agenda for meeting details.

Several activities will be ongoing. Youth will have a kite project. Adults will have a Bloody Mary contest so get your recipes out and get ready to register your participation. Guidelines are published on page 7.

Wear your Astros gear, and plan on staying to cheer them on. Watch the game at 6 p.m. on the patio TVs. Astros will play Philadelphia in a rematch of the 2022 World Series.

We would like to award door prizes so if the lodges in District Five will please donate some cash prizes as we have in the past. Please put the cash in envelopes with the lodge donating and amount enclosed.

For those with a sweet tooth, please bring your favorite dessert to share.

Come join us at Lodge 88, and see all the new additions and changes that have taken place in the last five-plus years.

Save the date, and plan to join us! We look forward to seeing you there!

Fraternally

Dorothy Pflughaupt

District Five President

District Five Spring Social

Sunday, April 30, 2023 • Lodge 88, Houston 1435 Beall Street • Houston, Texas 77008

Registration 11 a.m. - Youth Kite Project Meal 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Brief Meeting Begins at 1 p.m.

Welcome.................................................District Five President Dorothy Pflughaupt (88)

Lodge 88 President Aaron Rigamonti Pledge of Allegiance

Memorial and Prayer for Departed Members ........................Dorothy Pflughaupt (88)

Introduction of Guests .....................................................................Linda Bratina (196)

Roll Call of Officers.......................................................................Krystal Peterson (81)

Meeting Minutes (printed in handout) ..........................................Krystal Peterson (81)

Treasurer’s Report (printed in handout).....................................Kerry Herrington (142)

DYC Report (printed in handout) ......................................................Kristen Jones (81)

Senior Living Centers’ Report (printed in handout) ..........................JR Coleman (142)

Camp Kubena Report (printed in handout) ............................................Rob Clift (179)

District Director’s Report (printed in handout) .........................Bradley Stavinoha (81)

Executive Committee Report (printed in handout) .....................Delisle Doherty (196)

Each attending lodge is asked to share a report on fundraising, fraternal activities, and/or success stories.

Old Business

New Business

District and Lodge Incentives Program ...............................Melanie Zavodny (246)

Election of District Five Officers 2024 SPJST Convention in Temple

Youth Winners and Raffle Results Announced

Site Selection of Fall Fun Day

Installation of Officers Door Prizes —SPJST—

District Five Spring Social

Sunday, April 30, 2023

SPJST Lodge 88, Houston 1435 Beall ST • Houston, Tx 77008