Milestone Members

• If you would like to donate clothing or wish to purchase supply items elsewhere, you may drop off at the donation boxes located at the Lodge entrance or at Swim Club entrance. We will be collecting items until Saturday, August 19.

On August 19, we will be meeting to assemble all the bags and get them ready to distribute. Be on the lookout for a signup for that!

Fraternally, Aaron Rigamonti, President —SPJST—

Lodge 91, San Jacinto meets Sept. 9

Lodge 88, Houston plans August 19 Day of Caring

Lodge 88, Houston’s Day of Caring is Saturday, August 19, 2023. We’re excited to pair up with our own Heights area schools, both elementary and secondary (middle/high), for our second lodge-wide Day of Caring in 2023!

Last year’s Back to School drive was a big success, and we hope to help even

Birthdays

more kids start off the school year successfully! Our goal is to pack at least 100 backpacks.

How can I contribute?·

• Items can be purchased from our Amazon wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/37G7827HDMQ G?ref_=wl_share and sent directly to the Lodge.

• Donations of gently used uniform clothing.

Dear Members, SPJST Lodge 91, San Jacinto will hold its third quarterly meeting on Saturday, September 9, 2023, at Dairy Queen in Crosby. The meeting will begin at 11 a.m. Hope to see you there. Fraternally, Malba Smesny, FAC —SPJST—

celebrates July Birthdays

Lodge 92, Fort Worth invites all to September 16 Czech Heritage Day

SPJST Lodge 92, Fort Worth invites all to Czech Heritage Day on Saturday, September 16, 2023, at National Hall, located at 3316 Roberts Cut-Off Road in Fort Worth, Texas. Doors open at 10 a.m. Admission is $10 per person with ages 12 and under admitted free of charge.

Dancing

Come and dance on our beautiful dance floor. Enjoy the Grand March, Chicken Dance, and country-western, polka, and waltz music. Jodie Mikula Orchestra plays from 12 noon to 4 p.m. and The Moravians play from 5 to 9 p.m.

Beseda Dancers

Enjoy a performance by beseda dancers dressed in Czech kroj.

Lodge 25, Ennis Welcomes New Member

Lodge 25, Ennis is proud to welcome new member Imrie August Langer. Imrie was born September 3, 2020, and has an older sister named Judy. Parents are Richard and Aron Langer of Forreston, Texas. Grandmother is Emily Blazek Langer of Waxahachie, and grandfather is Rick Langer of Ennis. Sales Agent is Margaret Krajca.

—SPJST—

Dinner

Food will be available from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Czech dinner consists of roast pork loin, sauerkraut, buttered parsley potatoes, kolaches, and more. Cost is $10 per plate.

Beer Mug Contest

March on Mugs from 4 to 5 p.m.! Guests are encouraged to bring their favorite mug/stein, glass, or drinking container to talk about with friends and new acquaintances during the day. Prizes will be awarded to the Top 3 Men’s and Top 3 Women’s mugs which will be selected by vote after “The March.” Winners will have to submit their “Mug Shot” photo for the record!

Cake Walk

A fun game where you could be a lucky winner of delicious baked goods!

Need More Details?

Call National Hall at 817-624-1361. For information about SPJST and its products and/or information about joining SPJST, call Sales Agent Jon Durham at 817-881-4284.

Come on out and enjoy a full day of fun, food, dancing, and activities. We

Lodge 25, Ennis Welcomes New Member

Lodge 25, Ennis is proud to welcome new member Kaden Ray Langer. Kaden was born July 5, 2022. He is the son of Keven and Cassidy Langer of Matador, Texas.

Grandmother is Emily Blazek Langer of Waxahachie, and grandfather is Rick Langer of Ennis. Sales agent is Margaret Krajca.

—SPJST—

Lodge 38, Kovar supports smithville junior ffa projects

Lodge 38, Kovar donated to the Smithville FFA buyers’ group that purchased the reserve and the grand champion broiler. Lodge 38 received very appreciative thank you notes from Jayden Coronado and Emily Synatschk for helping sponsor their projects.

—Dana Bunte Secretary

look forward to celebrating with you! Be sure and check out our advertisement on page 37 of this Vestnik. Fraternally, Jon Durham —SPJST—

Lodge 92, Fort Worth’s National Hall: site of Cowtown Birthplace of Western Swing Festival

November 9 to 11

From birthplaceofwesternswing.com

SPJST Lodge 92, Fort Worth was organized on September 4, 1910, in the Fort Worth home of Frank Paprskar. At the time the lodge was organized, all the business was conducted in the Czech language. With the establishment of Armour and Company and Swift and Company packing plants in 1903, a large number of Czech families migrated to the north side of Fort Worth in search of employment.

During a Czech social gathering at the home of John Krivanek, Mr. Frank Paprskar presented the idea to organize a local SPJST lodge. With the help of John Krivanek, he explained all he knew about SPJST (Slovanska Podporudici Jednota Statu Texas - Slavonic Benevolent Order of the State of Texas) and asked those interested to sign up as charter members. The first to sign was Bohumil Carboch followed by Josef Juran, Rudolf Koci, Vaclav Cihacek, Vaclav Becan, Frank Zacek, Arnost Valka,

Anna Paprskar, and Anna Becan. The necessary paperwork was sent to the Home Office in Fayetteville, Texas, and Lodge 84, Dallas assisted in the dedication of the new Lodge 92, Fort Worth.

After the initiation, the following officers were elected: President Josef Juran, Vice President Bohumil Carboch, Recording Secretary Rudolf Koci, Financial Secretary Vavlav Cihacek, Treasurer Vaclav Becan, Guard Josef Becan, Inside Guard Frank Zacek, and Outside Guard Arnost Valka.

Lodge 66, Waco Honors July Birthdays

Lodge 66, Waco recognized July birthday celebrants Dana McAdams and Michael Galler at the July 24, 2023, meeting. Happy birthday!

They named the lodge Svaz Cechoslovanu (Alliance of Czechoslovaks) No. 92. After the meeting, there was a social dance held in President Juran’s home, where all of the charter members discussed and greatly anticipated many future Czech meetings and social polka music dance gatherings in Fort Worth. The meetings were held the second Sunday of the month in different members homes, and in 1917, they moved into their first building in the 2600 block of Houston Street near Fort Worth’s historic Stockyards. In 1938, a new significantly larger hall was built on three acres of land at the current address of 3316 Roberts Cut-Off Road, where meetings are still held on the second Sunday of the month, and where Czech polka and waltz dances are still celebrated to this day.

The early pioneering bands of Western Swing - the Light Crust Doughboys, Derwood Brown and his Musical Brownies, Cliff Bruner and his Texas Wanderers, Buster Coward and his Tune Wranglers, Adolph Hofner and his Czech Texans, and the King of Western Swing himself - Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys have all performed at Historic National Hall during the late 1930s all the way through the 1960s.

We are thrilled to announce that the Third Annual Cowtown Birthplace of Western Swing Festival will be held at Fort Worth’s Historic National Hall on

Lodge 79, Corpus Christi Shares July Meeting Scenes

Lodge 79, Corpus Christi Secretary Virginia Rebecek celebrated her birthday on July 21. Happy birthday, Virginia! RIGHT PHOTO: Congratulations to $25 door prize winners Jacob Rebecek, left, and Mark Rebecek.

Thursday, November 9 to Saturday, November 11, 2023.

We gather at historic National Hall to celebrate the 92nd anniversary of this beloved dance music - a fusion of frontier fiddle, jazz, blues, polka, waltz, and pop, that was created in 1931 at Fort Worth’s legendary Crystal Springs dancehall by “Father” Milton Bown, “King” Bob Wills, and the famed Light Crust Doughboys.

Featuring 13 bands over three days, we will also be screening our landmark documentary film The Birth & History of Western Swing—a tribute to the contagious music that swept across the Southwest during the 1930s and 1940s,

Paws for a Cause: Lodge 84, Dallas supports Humane Society of Dallas

starring the early pioneers, legendary musicians, and their lasting influence. Check out the preliminary lineup:

Thursday, November 9

11 a.m. - Doors Officially Open

12 p.m. - Chuck Cusimano

2:30 p.m. - Robert Huston and Western Swing RULES

5:30 p.m. - Steve Markwardt and his A-Lis Swing Band

8:30 p.m. - Jody Nix and the Texas Cowboys

Friday, November 10

10 a.m. - Stockyards Tour Bus Pickup

10:30 a.m. - Shopping and HERD Cattle Drive

12 p.m. - Lake Travis Fiddlers - 2nd Rodeo

3 p.m. - The Western Flyers

5 p.m. - Veterans Day Honor Guard

5:30 p.m. - Kelly Spinks and Miles of Texas

8:30 p.m. - Jake Hooker and the Outsiders

Special Guest Tommy Hooker

Saturday, November 11

10:30 a.m. - BHWS

Award-Winning Film

1 p.m. - Mariachi Espuelas de Plata

1:30 p.m. - J.D. Barham’s CowJazz Band

4 p.m. - Billy Mata’s Texas Tradition

Special Guest Floyd Domino

7 p.m. - Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys

Special Guest Katie Shore

10 p.m. - Drake Milligan

For complete information and to purchase tickets, visit birthplaceofwesternswing.com.

—SPJST—

Lodge 142, Houston honors 50-year members

Dear Readers, Lodge 142, Houston met on Sunday, July 16, 2023, in the dining area at Lodge 88, Houston. A lunch of hamburgers and all the trimmings was prepared by Dennis and Keith. Thank you! The meal was delicious!

President Dennis Hermis called our meeting to order at 2:10 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all members. A moment of silence was held for departed member James T. Worsham. May he rest in peace. We had 16 members in attendance.

Roll call of officers showed all present except Youth Leader Amanda Muzny, Assistant Youth Leader Kyle Herrington, Flag Bearer Zac Coleman, and Guide Karole Coleman. Sales Agents Kerry Herrington, Mary E. Bird and Margaret Norris-Guerrero were also present.

Our 50-year members Keith Kieschnick and Jo Dien Roznovsky were recognized by President Dennis and FAC Pat Schleider. Cake was served by Mary Bird and Margaret Norris-Guerrero. Congratulations!

Lodge 91, San Jacinto members attend

Lodge 139, Danbury social