Vestnik 2016 04 20 by SPJST

ˇ ´ VESTNIK S P J S T

Volume 104 Number 16

Benevolence

Lydia Alholm Achieves Grand Age of 96

SPJST congratulates Sister Lydia Alholm, who will celebrate her 96th birthday on April 30, 2016. Sister Alholm receives all SPJST member benefits with no further dues or assessments. Lydia Mary Alholm is a member of SPJST Lodge 92, Fort Worth. She was born in Fort Worth to AnthonyFrances (Gajda) Tirk on April 30, 1920. She has three siblings, two of which are deceased, Joseph V. Tirk and Lt. Col. Anthony Tirk, Jr. Her sister Frances C. Matthews currently resides with Lydia in a North Richland Hills retirement home. Lydia’s late husband Roy Leonard Alholm was a production engineer and passed away on February 15, 2009. They had two sons, Roy Leonard Alholm, Jr. and Anthony J. Alholm, who are both deceased.

Life Story of Lydia Alholm Lydia was five years old when her parents, Anthony and Frances (Gajda) Tirk, traded a shoe shop and two houses for 165 acres of land, which is now incorporated into Colleyville, Texas. Her parents were immigrants from the Czech Republic and were living on

★ Humanity ISSN —07458800

Columbus Avenue in Fort Worth at the time. Lydia’s father changed the family surname from Tyrek to Tirk, therefore she is known as Lydia M. Tirk. In 1945, Lydia’s mother and four children worked the farm while her father commuted to his job as a garage Forman for the County Commissioners of Precinct Three in Tarrant County, Texas, where he was employed for 22 years. They did not feel the depression because they raised their own produce, and they also had dairy. Four siblings attended elementary school at Pleasant Run from grades one through eight. The eighth and ninth grades were spent at Grapevine High School in Grapevine, Texas. While in elementary school, the building was heated by a coal (bellied) stove. Toilets were outside, and drinking water came from a fountain outside with water coming from a well. They ate brown sack lunches, most of the time outside. At one lunch period, a friend told Lydia that she had fleas on her sandwich. It was a rye bread sandwich with poppy seed on it. The friend soon learned that Lydia’s mother raised

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Important Dates ...................................3 Interest Rates ......................................3 Readers Write ......................................3 From the Districts................................5 ENC Updates .......................................7 Lodge Section....................................10

H E R A L D ★ Brotherhood

Leonard Mikeska Honored with Prestigious TOCA Award

Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center President Retta Chandler, right, presents the prestigious Texans of Czech Ancestry (TOCA) Honorary Director award to SPJST Supreme Lodge Secretary-Treasurer Leonard Mikeska at TOCA’s appreciation reception and dinner on Saturday, April 9 in La Grange. Leonard’s wife Dorothy is also pictured sharing in the proud moment. More on page 27.

and Czech Heritage Celebration Saturday, May 7 SPJST Lodge 47 Seaton Star Hall

Continued on Page 18.

Temple, Texas

Inside Th is Week’s Vestnik

SPJST Car Show Info........................22 In Memoriam ......................................23 Youth Section ....................................25 Czech Culture ....................................27 Advertisements .................................29 Lodge Calendar .................................30

April 20, 2016

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Lodge 107 Floresville hosts annual banquet

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Lodge 202 Jourdanton youth named Strawberry Festival Queen

Page 28

State Fraternalist Kathleen Polasek receives TOCA award

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Editor’s Note

ˇ ´ VESTNIK

Invaluable Fraternal Networking

SPJST HERALD

SPJST HOME OFFICE PO Box 100 • Temple, Texas 76503 800-727-7578 • 254-773-1575 Fax: 254-774-7447 www.spjst.org VESTNIK EDITOR/ DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATION MELANIE ZAVODNY, FIC Office: 254-773-1575 • Mobile: 254-534-0807 VESTNIK Fax: 254-773-8087

email: m e l a n i e z @ v v m . c o m

SUPREME LODGE PRESIDENT BRIAN VANICEK, FIC Office: 254-773-1575 Mobile: 254-534-2902 • Home: 254-985-0007 email: vanicek@spjst.com VICE PRESIDENT CLIFTON COUFAL Office: 254-773-1575 Mobile: 254-931-5231 email: cliftonc@spjst.com

SECRETARY-TREASURER LEONARD D. MIKESKA, FIC Office: 254-773-1575 Mobile: 254-721-4739 • Home: 254-778-3720 email: leonardm@spjst.com

DISTRICT ONE DIRECTOR/CHAIRMAN DONNIE VICTORICK, FIC, CFFM P.O. Box 85, Snook, Texas 77878-0085 Home: 979-272-3265 • Mobile: 979-224-3125 email: dv.aggie@verizon.net DISTRICT TWO DIRECTOR JESSE POSPISIL 4710 FM 1331, Taylor, Texas 76574-2164 Home: 512-365-1110 • Mobile: 512-826-7371 email: jlpospisil@yahoo.com

DISTRICT THREE DIRECTOR JOHN ENGELKE 6475 Gholson Road • Waco, Texas 76705-5330 254-799-4247 email: john.engelke@hotmail.com DISTRICT FOUR DIRECTOR BILLY ROLLWITZ, FIC, CFFM P.O. Box 195, Rowena, Texas 76875-0195 Home: 325-442-3141 • Mobile: 325-277-5362 Office: 325-442-3038 • email: brollwitz@gmail.com

DISTRICT FIVE DIRECTOR LARRY W. PFLUGHAUPT, FIC 1243 Clovis Rd, Houston, Texas 77008-6232 Home: (713) 864-2163 • email: lpflugh@aol.com DISTRICT SIX DIRECTOR KAREN KASPAR, FIC, CFFM 8550 N. State Highway 71 El Campo, Texas 77437-9819 Home: 979-543-2532 • Mobile: 979-332-1616 email: k-kaspar@hotmail.com

DISTRICT SEVEN DIRECTOR BOB J. BAYER, FIC 4188 FM 1303, Floresville, Texas 78114-6092 Home: 830-393-2872 email: blackbayer39@hotmail.com FRATERNAL FIELD MANAGERS DISTRICTS ONE/TWO/THREE Philip (Phil) McBee, FICF, CFFM Mobile: 325-647-1949 • Fax: 325-784-7448 email: philipmcbee@aol.com DISTRICTS FOUR/SEVEN Bobby Davis, FICF, CFFM Mobile: 325-450-3748 • Fax: 325-657-2003 email: bgdsr2428@aol.com DISTRICTS FIVE/SIX Delisle Doherty Mobile: 254-239-9616 • Mobile: 832-232-2049 email: delisled@spjst.com

FINANCIAL SECRETARY ROY VAJDAK 254-773-1575 email: royv@spjst.com

STATE FRATERNAL ACTIVITIES COORDINATOR FRANK HORAK Office: 254-773-1575 • Mobile: 254-534-0681 email: frankh@spjst.com STATE YOUTH DIRECTOR LYNETTE TALASEK Office: 254-773-1575 • Mobile: 254-931-0639 email: lynettet@spjst.com

DISTRICT YOUTH COUNSELORS District One - Sharon Russell, 1292 CR 441, Dime Box, 77853 • 979-884-0807 - sharonTexas russell28@yahoo.com District Two - Patsy Koslovsky, 764 S. St. Joseph Road, Burlington, Texas 76519-3108 - 254-985-2396 patsyk2011@yahoo.com District Three - Kay Weeks, 4203 Treehaven Ct, Arlington, Texas 76016 • 817-896-5277 - kgweeks@att.net District Four - Pam Lehmann, PO Box 637, Tahoka, Texas 79373-0637 - 806-561-5105 - plehmann@poka.com District Five - Barbara Linney-Gonzales - 6043 Pineway Blvd., Houston, Texas 77023-6510 - 713-649-6138 - district5dyc@aol.com District Six - Lisa Bubela, 1405 Divide Street, El 77437 - 979-543-7120 Campo, Texas lisa_bubela@yahoo.com District Seven - Lian Pruski, 418 West Hunt Street Pleasanton, Texas 78064 - 830-480-2737 lianpruski@gmail.com BY-LAW COMMITTEE District One - Richard Ford, 2392 CR 424, Dime Box, Texas 77853 - 979-884-1451 - dimebox5@aol.com District Two - Ronnie Rieger, 350 Rieger Road, Coupland, Texas 78615 - 512-365-2000 - 512-848-2416/cell - RonnieR1056@yahoo.com District Three - Kay Lynn Kovar, 3303 West Lake Bardwell Drive, Ennis, Texas 75119 - 972-875-6827 District Four - Beverly J. Teplicek, 817 FM 381, Rowena, Texas 76875 - 325-442-4841 - bjtep@verizon.net District Five - Mildred Holeman, 4001 North Shepherd, Suite 112, Houston, Texas 77018 - 713-683-0018 - mmholeman@yahoo.com District Six - Joe Siptak, 2312 Norvell, Bay City, Texas 77414 - 979-244-4415; 979-479-0056 cell District Seven - Oscar Korus, 2565 Bruce Road, Poteet, Texas 78065 - 830-391-4169 - oscarkorus@gmail.com

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his week’s editorial comes from 40,000 feet up in the air! State FAC Frank Horak and I had the pleasure of attending the American Fraternal Alliance’s Fraternal and Communications Mid-Year Meeting in Hollywood, Florida, for the past few days. We are heading back to Texas with many exciting ideas that we learned in the different workshops and presentations. I serve on the Fraternal and Communications Advisory Council and was honored to lead a roundtable discussion topic on “Talking About Publications.” It was so interesting to share and learn from other fraternal editors and communication directors and coordinators. The networking opportunities that the meeting creates is invaluable!

Administrative Professionals Day is Wednesday, April 27 Just a friendly reminder to remember your administrative professionals!

Still to Come . . . Please see next week’s Vestnik for a very special memorial tribute to former District Three Youth Counselor Bessie Petr. The May 11 Vestnik will be a special issue. It will be the pre-convention issue with reports from all SPJST officers and standing committees. The issue will include the By-Law Committee’s recommendations that will be discussed at the 32nd SPJST Convention which is June 12 to 15 at the Killeen Civic and Conference Center. See next week’s Vestnik for the convention schedule.

FINANCE COMMITTEE District One - Thomas Cannon, P.O. Box 372, Caldwell, Texas 77836 - 979-567-4264 - jtcannon60@hotmail.com District Two - Edwin Pechal, 10660 State Highway 53, Temple, Texas 76501 - 254-985-2282 Edwin_Pechal@yahoo.com District Three - Michael Galler, 526 Karen, Waco, Texas 76706 - 254-662-4934 - mgaller@brazoselectric.com District Four - Herman D. Weise, 6006 FM Highway 765, San Angelo, Texas 76905 - 325-651-8550 - hdweise@zipnet.us District Five - Marceil Malak, 7444 Meiners Road, Ledbetter, Texas 78946-5118 - 979-249-5940 marceil@cvctx.com District Six - Glenn Kaminsky, 902 River Oaks Court, East Bernard, Texas 77435 - 979-335-4461 - gkamink@live.com District Seven - Roy Haag, 1334 Rivercrest Drive, New Braunfels, Texas 78130-3438 - 830-625-8262 39roha@gmail.com

INSURANCE COMMITTEE District One - Susan Skrabanek, 2657 FM 166, Caldwell, Texas 77836 - 979-272-3440 District Two - Dolores Skrabanek, 13107 State Highway 53, Temple, Texas 76501 - 254-985-2344 District Three District Four - Leonard Jansa, 6617 Plainview Drive, San Angelo, Texas 76905 - 325-234-8117 District Five - Helen Hegwood, 6702 Lindy Ann Lane, Houston, Texas 77008 - 713-864-0489 District Six - Charles Bucek, P.O. Box 147, East Bernard, Texas 77435 - 979-335-4118 District Seven - Wendy Pruski, 3895 CR 430, Pleasanton, Texas 78064 - 210-535-4916

PUBLICATION COMMITTEE District One - Floyd Kostelka, 1914 CR 403, Dime Box, Texas 77853 - 979-540-8531 District Two - Tammy Cannon, 305 Bluehaw Drive, Georgetown, Texas 78628-6367 - 512-948-5339 - tcannon4715@yahoo.com District Three - Lynda Novak, 7153 Cornelia Ln, Dallas, Texas 75214 - 972-948-4456 District Four - Sharon Hohmann, 222 Crestwood Drive, San Angelo, Texas 76903 - 325-651-5884 District Five - Lorenda Baldwin, 219 CR 47, Angleton, Texas 77515 - 979-922-1279 District Six - Helen Kelner, 911 Avenue K, Rosenberg, Texas 77471 - 281-342-2624 District Seven - Jarolyn Popp, 447 Shady Hollow, New Braunfels, Texas 78132 - 830-964-5135 HUMAN RESOURCES DEBBIE KLINKOVSKY 254-773-1575 • email: debbiek@spjst.com

State Fraternal Activities Coordinator Frank Horak, second from left, and Vestnik Editor/Director of Communication Melanie Zavodny, third from right, participate in the Fraternal and Communications Mid-Year Meeting in Hollywood, Florida on Wednesday, April 13 to Friday, April 15. They are pictured visiting and enjoying dinner with KSKJ Life representatives Fraternal Coordinator April Sleyko, left, Senior Vice President - Corporate Development and Marketing Tony Mravle, Marketing Coordinator Lauren Baltz, second from right, and Fraternal Board Chairperson MaryLou Stefanick. The meeting was presented by the American Fraternal Alliance. VĚSTNÍK, (USPS 658480) is published weekly except the third week of October and the fourth week of December by VĚSTNÍK, P.O. Box 100, Temple, TX 76503-0100. Subscription rates are $25 per year for non-members. Members’fees are paid as part of the insurance fee collected by SPJST, 520 North Main, Temple, TX 76501. Second-class postage paid at Temple, TX and additional mailing offices. The exchange of opinions, ideas and information is a vital aspect of our fraternal Society and enables us to make more informed decisions. The views expressed by writers in the Vestnik do not necessarily represent the views of the Editor or SPJST management. Please sign all correspondence intended for publication. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to VĚSTNÍK c/o Financial Secretary Roy Vajdak, P.O. Box 100, Temple, TX 76503-0100.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

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Family Fun and Important Dates

April 19-21 Supreme Lodge Meeting • Temple April 23-24 District Three Youth Development Workshop and Lock-In • Lodge 92, Fort Worth (3) April 24 District Three Spring Meeting Lodge 154, Fort Worth (3) April 27 Administrative Professionals Day April 28 Deadline for Pre-Convention Vestnik May 7 Join Hands Day May 7 SPJST Car Show and Czech Heritage Celebration Lodge 47, Seaton Star Hall May 8 Lodge 24, Cyclone Mother’s Day Barbecue (2) May 11 Pre-Convention Vestnik May 14 Lodge 88, Houston Free Public Dance (5) May 15 Lodge 28, East Bernard Honors Longtime Members (6) May 31 Lodge 202, Jourdanton Scholarship Application Deadline (7) June 9-11 Leader-In-Training Retreat SPJST Education and Nature Center, Ledbetter June 13-15 32nd SPJST Convention Killeen Civic and Conference Center

VESTNIK

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SPJST INTEREST RATES . . . 02/01/2016 - 04/30/2016

SPJST Farm/Residential/ Universal Life Commercial Property Universal Life 3 Information (plans 1203-1222 with a Call the SPJST Home Office guaranteed rate of 2.50%) 800-727-7578 for information. Credited Rate: 3.00% 75% Residential/Farm Whole Life/ Loans for 5 to 30 Years Universal Life 3 Commercial Property (plans 1223-1232 with a Loans for 1 to 10 Years guaranteed rate of 2.50%) and 11 to 15 Years Credited Rate: 3.50%

Annuities Annuity 5 (plans 8032-8039 with a 1.50% guaranteed rate) Credited Rate: 3.00%

Annuity New 5 Year (plans 8040-8041 with a 1.50% guaranteed rate) Credited Rate: 3.00%

Readers Write

Reader seeks stories about feed sack dresses

Dear Editor, I was wondering if any of our SPJST readers have any stories about feed sack dresses. I’d love to read about them and show them to my daughter. I just a showed her a short story about them on Facebook. My mother, Sylvia Havelka Bluhm, worked at a gin in Three Rivers, Texas. She was very tiny and when the women came in she had to move those heavy feed sacks so the women could have matching material to make clothes or hand towels or whatever they needed material for. I just can’t imagine my daughter ever wearing one! I hope this gets a good response! Fraternally yours, Bernadette Bellanger Lodge 97, Placedo —SPJST—

Vice President candidate shares qualifications

I am writing this article in response to the letter written by Supreme Lodge Chairman Donnie Victorick that appeared in the April 13, 2016, Vestnik. In the last paragraph, he asks that you call each of the candidates and ask what our qualifications are and what we plan to do if elected to the position. To save each delegate a phone call, I am writing this to address these questions. First, as a matter of public record, you can look up each of our qualifications as it pertains to the position via the Texas Department of Insurance laws. The Vice President must hold an insurance license and an annuity certification and must be compliant with his/her continuing education requirements. If his/her license had expired, you can still find if they were compliant at the time his/her license expired. If not, he/she would have had to pay a fine prior to re-issuing the license. In the public records, you will find I have had my license for more than 10 consecutive years. I have fulfilled all my educational hours, kept my annuity certifications current, and have never been non-compliant. Prior to

2005, I gave up my license to start up one of my companies that I was grooming my son to take over ( I gave it to him in 2010, and it is still growing strong today). I separated from one of my partners and continued the printing and marketing company as the sole owner. You will see when I gave up my license, I was still compliant in everything. This information is all public record. I not only have had the license for more than 10 consecutive years, but I also write the continuing education classes agents need to meet their requirements. These classes must be approved by the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), which means I must be aware of products, regulations, laws, and compliance requirements. In addition to that, I also conduct the classes. I wrote an eight-hour class for one of our most complicated products - Universal Life. I conducted the class for the agents in Districts Five and Six. I also conducted the class for the Home Office staff. I have written more than 30 hours of continuing education classes for SPJST and the agents. If you look up the public records, you will find that only two candidates have more than 10 consecutive years with their license, has had their required education hours, their certifications, and at no time has been non-compliant with the state during those 10 years. I am one of those candidates. Donnie wanted you to ask each candidate what they will do for this Society; I will answer that also. From here on, you will not hear anything about any of the other candidates, only what I will do for the Society. To understand what type of person you need in the position, I’ll first start by enlightening you on what the position should require. This is the “business end” of a $200 million fraternal company. The business end drives the money to the financial and fraternal side of the company. It brings in the money for the Secretary-Treasurer to invest. It brings in the premiums to fund the lodges, and it brings in membership to the Society. It is also responsible for more than 350 independent agents. This means we must be competitive in our products, our underwriting, and our marketing or these agents will take their business to other commercial and fraternal companies. It also requires the ability

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

to monitor the new products and regulations in the industry and the education and compliance of the agents. If you owned a $200 million company and needed one person to run the company for you, I would hope you would want someone that has been experienced in the industry, have business experience, and marketing experience for at least 10 years. This would make sure the person has experienced the technology advancements, market changes, industry regulatory and certification changes, along with experiencing the product shifts through the years. With that, I have owned a marketing company, which is still in business (I gave it to my son in 2010). I have been a business consultant for more than 20 years and a public speaker for networking business and marketing for more than 15 years. As a public speaker and the owner of Christian Business Fellowship Association(CBFA), I will use my contacts to help build the SPJST brand. Just last week, I was the keynote speaker for more than 80 small business owners in Houston. Even though I was asked to speak as the CBFA President, I still was able to promote SPJST. I have been writing continuing education classes for the industry for more than 10 years and conduct the classes agents need to fulfill their educational requirements required by law. With this said, I will break down each of these categories and give you my vision and plans to increase membership activities, premium income, and market and brand the SPJST. With over 350 independent agents, we must put together a program that will make these agents want to use us as their first choice. I will do that by looking at our product assortment and make it more attractive. There are three new products that have hit the market in the last two years, that has turned agents away from us, and made our product portfolio less attractive. I will not only get these products to the market, but I will stay on the leading edge of the three or four new products projected to be in the market over the next two years. I also will take the training to the districts. As I have done in Districts Five and Six, I will implement a training program that will allow me to be in each district to train the agents on new products, selling the current products, and providing the continuing education classes necessary to stay compliant. I will update our underwriting

guidelines, simplify our application process, and create a commission structure that will make it more attractive for professional agents to want to sell for us. All this is good for the agents, but if we don’t create a program to get current members reacquainted with us and non-active members active again, the new members coming will never offset the old members dropping off. We must give the agents tools to want to talk to the existing members. That will be done through three main programs: orphan accounts, term conversions, and annual reviews. Three years ago, we started an orphan training program for agents of Districts Five and Six. After three years of tweaking it and developing it, the program is finally paying off. I will take this program and implement it throughout the state. This program will require training and give agents an opportunity to work a soft lead list. The agent’s prime objective is to shake the family tree. Orphan members are those who no longer have an agent. These members have not had a review in years. They have gotten married, had children, grandchildren, and have grown. The agent will be taught how to call the member, update information, and do reviews. They will be taught how to reacquaint the members with the Society, their lodge, and what is new with us and their lodges. They will be taught reviews and how to find if there are family needs and how to use our products to fill those needs. I have already written a three-hour “Servicing Orphan Account” class and a three-hour “The Importance of Annual Review” class. Each agent is required to take these classes before they can service the orphan accounts. They will also be accountable for anyone on their list. The lists will be broken down by zip codes - not by lodges. When they do a review, they will become the agent for that lodge of that member. So if the list comes from Lodge 88, for example, no matter where that agent is, if they have part of that list, they are an agent of Lodge 88. I will create a total team environment. I will take all term policies that will become annual renewable terms within the next two years and create a program for the agents to visit those members and show them what is available for them to convert - before it becomes too expensive. This program will also require the agent to take

a class before they can work this. These three programs will all require the agents to reacquaint the members with the lodges. It will get new members in through our existing list (new spouses, children, grandchildren, grandparents, etc). More active members will mean more referrals for the lodge, and more referrals means more new members. Once we get the agent program to where they want to be part of us, I will work on a crossover plan to get new members to understand the values of SPJST, and I will put on a marketing program to get some of the over 90 percent of non-active members active again. This will take several programs; targeting the non-active members, marketing the lodges to the communities they are in, educating the lodges about our products and what they can do, and creating more benefits. This is part of the marketing and branding of SPJST throughout the state that is required of the position. With my 20-plus years of marketing and business consulting, I can easily put these programs together. The first thing is to get with companies and create benefits. For example, we can work with pharmacies and create a discount program for elderly members. We can work with more hotels for special discounts. We can work with local family businesses to produce discounts for the families. Many companies will be glad to offer special membership discounts if we can show them the value of marketing to our members. That is my specialty. With stronger membership benefits means more new members. Every new member will get a letter and/or a phone call welcoming them and showing them the benefits. It will be a welcome package that will include making sure they know what, where, and when their lodge meets. The second area would be to create more community awareness for the lodges. That can be done by helping the lodges embrace the community around them then teach them about Czech culture. Many lodges are not in high Czech areas so embracing the culture of your community while promoting Czech heritage will create relationship with the communities. That means more members. We can do that by offering to host or sponsor groups within the communities and working regularly with local charities. Many lodges think they can’t, because they can’t get the volunteers. That can be

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solved with joint ventures with other groups so the lodge would not be pressured to have all the volunteers. As a special consultant for several charities, I have created partnerships that has helped each charity grow. I can implement the same programs in your communities. This helps bring SPJST’s name as part of the community instead of “oh, that building we go to for the dance.” In addition to creating partnerships in the community, I will go out to the communities and offer seminars on various topics—like using life insurance for college, to build an emergency fund, and the importance of life insurance to a business. I will also go to the older communities and do seminars on annuities, the senior market, etc. Third, I will create a program to target the bridge members that is missing from many lodges. The bridge members are the 30- to 50-year-olds. They are the ones growing. They are the ones who will take over the leadership. They are the ones who will help grow the youth program. They are the ones who will bring others into SPJST if we make it attractive enough. They are also the ones we forgot about. The 30- to 50-year-olds are the key to the continued growth of SPJST. We will find out what is important to them. We will then work with the lodges to create programs attractive to them. We will also look at creating a product marketing plan that teaches them what they can accomplish with our products. We will make them want to be part of us. This will be a priority focus! Last, I will create programs to educate the lodge members on all our products and what they can do for you. If the members understand all our products and what the products can do, it will be easier for them to invite more into the Society. For instance, we have both IRAs. We have plans that can supplement college education, that fund buy/sell agreements, and that can provide keyman insurance for your business - and it can be used as an incentive program to keep your managers. You can combine policies to get more insurance and have cash build up. We have over 17 life insurance products and annuities, in addition to the two IRAs. We need to make sure everyone understands our product line and what the products can do for them. I will come and do programs and seminars for the members. This will help bring non-active members into the

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lodges. It will give the lodges opportunity to get those members active. As a person who has been active with my youth program at my church for over 10 years, attending nine youth mission trips and two national youth gatherings, I will work on programs that will help lodges attract more youth. I will work with the youth leadership to keep updated with the interests of the youth. I work with many children’s charities and understand the interests of our youth. I now have given you an outline of both my qualifications and my action plan. I did this at the expense of exposing my programs to the other candidates, but I believe you cannot make the proper decision if you do not know where I am coming from and where I plan on taking this position. Donnie Victorick has asked that you contact each candidate and ask them everything. I have now provided you with my plans and hope you can see that I have the qualifications necessary to take us to the next level and become a true leader in the industry. If you elect me, there may be other ways to im-

CONVENTION O R N E R

prove the membership, premiums, education, and marketing, but I won’t know until I get up there. I hope I was able to provide you the tools to make the decision easier. If you have more questions or want to know how to look up our records (including mine), I will be glad to help anywhere I can. You may contact me at 832-232-2049 or email delisled@sbcglobal.net. If you would like references to confirm everything I have written today, my life is an open book and everything can be confirmed. As the owner of the Christian Business Fellowship Association, I have to answer to a boss much higher than any of us. Win or lose, I will see you at the convention, Youth Achievement Day, Corpus Christi Getaway, and the annual banquet because I’m always there. May God bless you with the knowledge and the courage to make the right choice, no matter who it is. Fraternally, Delisle Doherty Lodge 196, Houston-West —SPJST—

June 13 to 15, 2016 Killeen Civic and Conference Center 3601 South W.S. Young Drive Killeen, Texas 76542

32nd SPJST Convention

Deadline to submit recommendations to By-Law and Finance Committees is 60 days before the convention — April 13.

2016 Important Convention Dates to Remember Thursday, April 28 Deadline for Pre-Convention Vestnik

Wednesday, May 11 Pre-Convention Vestnik published containing By-Law and Finance Committee recommendations, pre-convention reports, and other convention information. Sunday, June 12 32nd SPJST Convention Registration/Howdy Party Killeen Civic and Conference Center

Monday, June 13 32nd SPJST Convention Convenes • Killeen Civic and Conference Center

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

From the Districts District Three Spring Meeting Agenda Sunday, April 24, 2016 Hosted by Lodge 154, Fort Worth Complimentary Pastries, Juices, Milk, and Coffee provided by Lodge 154, Fort Worth 10 to 10:30 a.m. Youth and Adult Contest entries registration

10:15 to 11 a.m. Audit Committee: Tom Weeks, Karen Sonnenberg, Michael Galler

11 a.m. Call to Order President ....................................................................Selby Holder Pledge of Allegiance and Youth Motto ................................................................. Flag Bearer/District Three Duke Preston Sullivan Welcome.......................................................................President 154 Jerry Milan Response and Recognition of Visitors...............First Vice President Lesli Milan Names of Departed Members ..........................Second Vice President John Vrla and Memorial Service Dismissal of Youth ...........................................................President Selby Holder Recognition of Age 96, 75- and 50-Year..........Second Vice President John Vrla Members and Fraternalist Nominees Introduction of Nominating and Auditing Committees...President Selby Holder Introduction of Contest Judges ........................................President Selby Holder Approval of Minutes and Correspondence...............Secretary Patricia Dieterich Treasurer’s Report........................................................Treasurer Mary Steinman Committee Reports—Please limit time to three minutes per report. Insurance .....................................................................................Philip McBee Finance ......................................................................................Michael Galler By-Law...................................................................................Kay Lynn Kovar FAC .................................................................................................Vicki Sims Publication ..................................................................................Lynda Novak Audit......................................................................................Audit Committee Home Office Report........................Supreme Lodge President Brian Vanicek

Introduction of Royalty....................................................President Selby Holder Lunch Prayer...............................Royalty Melinda McClellan and Pierce Tignor Lunch Break Donation of six canned goods per person entitles member to a meal at no charge; otherwise $7 per plate. No expired canned goods, please. Meeting Resumes Lifetime Achiever Awards..................................First Vice President Lesli Milan Adult Contest Winners ................................................................FAC Vicki Sims Old Business New Business Announcement of Number of Members in Attendance and number of canned goods .........................................................Host Lodge Presentations.................................................................Treasurer Mary Steinman Youth Report/Contest Winners..................................................DYC Kay Weeks Election of Officers Coming Events *District Youth Achievement Day—June 25, 2016 *Fall Meeting—October 23, 2016 *Spring Meeting—April 23, 2017 *District YAD—June 25, 2017 *Fall Meeting—October 22, 2017 * Host lodge is needed for upcoming events. Please contact President Selby Holder or District Three Director John Engelke, if interested. Door Prizes Installation of Officers Adjournment of Meeting

—SPJST—

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Friend or Foe: Corporate Governance Annual Disclosure Model Regulation

Editor’s Note: Thanks to author Debra Thompson who is the founder and CEO of Strategy Solutions, Inc. for permission to reprint this article.

Friend or Foe? Really? How could anyone suggest that a government mandate could be anything but an administrative foe? June Rhee, co-editor of the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation observes “Corporate scandals and financial crises ceaselessly spawn new disclosure laws: the Securities Act of 1933, the Truth-in-Lending laws of the 60s and 70s, Sarbanes-Oxley in 2002, and, recently, Dodd-Frank.”1 These laws, along with the reporting burden they create, achieve no real benefit for the cost. On the other hand, Sean Griffith, Associate Professor at the University of Connecticut Law School advocated that the Security and Exchange Commission require the disclosure of Directors and Officers Insurance premiums as the cost of these policies can be compared and are a good indication of the quality of corporate governance.

Corporate governance best practices are your “friend.” The objective of corporate governance is to promote strong, viable, competitive corporations that are accountable to stakeholders. Broadly speaking, the term describes the processes, practices and structures through which a company manages its business and affairs and works to meet its financial, operational and strategic objectives and achieve long-term sustainability.2 Last year, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) voted to adopt the model Corporate Governance Annual Disclosure Act and Regulation (CGAD) at its summer meeting. Tennessee requires that the first filing of the CGAD begins in June 2016. Acredula, counsel for boards and executives, forecasted in September 2014, that as the state commissioners analyze the data submitted, they will become more prescriptive and add requirements. These could include, and not be limited to, annual board evaluations and recruitment of specific expertise to the board (i.e., financial expertise.)3

by Debra Thompson Founder/CEO, Strategy Solutions, Inc.

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• Board’s role in overseeing management compensation programs and practices and how compensation is determined and calculated and related to performance over time and whether they include risk adjustments, risk management incentives and clawback provisions • Processes by which the board ensures oversight of critical risk areas

• How the board is kept informed of strategic plans and associated risks and how reporting responsibilities are organized

There are numerous benefits to strong governance practices that support sustainability including:

• high performing Boards of Directors; • accountable management and strong internal controls; • increased stakeholder engagement; better managed risk; and • effectively monitored and measured performance.

The items that must be disclosed represent an excellent “checklist” of the best practices in corporate governance that will improve business performance. Insurance companies would benefit from viewing this mandate as an opportunity to incorporate these best practices into their operations, even if preparing for the submission requires short-term effort. Governance framework and structure including the board and various committees, and the rationale for the current board size and structure. • Duties of the board and each of its committees, how they are governed, how the board leadership is structured, and the roles of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and board chair

• Policies and practices of the board and committees including qualifications, expertise, and experience and how each meets the needs of the insurer; how independence is maintained

• The number of board and committee meetings and information on attendance • The nominations process, term limits, election/re-election process, and diversity policy

• Processes in place for the board and committees to evaluate their performance and recent measures to improve performance

• Policies and practices for directing Senior Management, including whether officers and key persons in control functions have appropriate background, experience, and integrity to fulfill their roles including suitability standards • Code of business conduct and ethics

• Processes for performance evaluation, compensation, and corrective action to ensure effective management

• Description of the policies and practices for directing senior management related to: risk management processes, actuarial function, investment decisionmaking processes, reinsurance decision-making processes, business strategy/finance decision-making processes, compliance function, financial reporting/internal auditing; and market conduct decision-making processes.

If you do not have all these items in place, the reporting process can seem daunting. But it doesn’t have to be a long, arduous process. Assistance, training, and support to adhere to all of these regulations is available through trade associations and consultants skilled in board governance practices. Your company will benefit if you take advantage of the resources available.

1 Rhee, June. 2014, May 6. “More Than You Wanted to Know: Failure of Mandated Disclosure.” Retrieved from http:// blogs.law.harvard.edu/corpgov/2014/05/06/more-than-you-w anted-to-know-failure-of-mandated-disclosure/ 2 Keys, Colleen. 2014, September 17. “The Top 5 Corporate Governance Practices that Benefit Every Company. Retrieved from http://www. mondaq.com/canada/x/340672/Corporate+Go vernance/The+Top+5+Corporate+Governance+Best+Practices+That+Benefit+Every+ Company 3 2014, September 23. Insurance Companies Will Soon Have to Disclose Corporate Governance Practices on an Annual Basis. Retrieved from http://www.acredula.com/details.aspx?id=119

—SPJST—

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

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From SPJST ENC

SPJST Education and Nature Center (ENC) is a year-round facility serving non-profit groups, churches, schools, and families through summer camp programs, retreats, team-building, high ropes courses, food service, and more. SPJST ENC is looking to fill several spots on its leadership team and staff. Please see the abbreviated job descriptions that follow this notice. For full job descriptions, qualifications, and job application, please visit

www.spjst.org. Please submit your completed application and resume to: Lynette Talasek, Secretary ENC Board of Directors Fax: 254-774-7447 Mail: PO Box 100 Temple, TX 76503 Email: lynettet@spjst.com

For any questions or concerns, please call Lynette Talasek at 254-9310639 or 254-773-1575, ex. 234.

Attention, College Students! Work at Summer Camp!

It’s more than a summer job . . . it’s an experience of a lifetime. Job Position: Seasonal Summer Camp Staff - Program Assistants SPJST Education and Nature Center Where: Ledbetter, Texas • What: Seasonal

This is a full-time, seasonal position. Program Assistants will attend CPR instruction, open water lifeguarding, challenge course instruction, archery training, bb gun training, kitchen training, and all other areas of operation training during the first two weeks of employment. • A Program Assistant’s primary responsibility is to assure safety of the campers.

• Program Assistants are to set a good example at all times, to show an enthusiastic attitude about learning and the outdoor environment. It will be your responsibility to ensure that campers have an enjoyable camp.

• Program Assistants will be in charge of all campers they are working with at the time, and Program Assistants will be under the direction of the Camp Director.

• Program Assistants will be responsible for running the programs they are assigned to do and any other duties as needed.

• Program Assistants will be responsible for providing a safe, fun, and pleasant atmosphere for campers.

• Program Assistants will be at camp at all times, unless scheduled to be off, or with permission to leave by Camp Director.

• Duration of work: Program Assistants will be at camp from June 8, 2016 to August 15, 2016.

• Salary range of $225 weekly, with room and board. For full job description and application, please visit www.spjst.org. —SPJST—

SPJST Education and Nature Center Welcomes New Camp Director

Hello, all! We are pleased to announce that Mr. Lawrence “Jeb” Lapeyrolerie (La-pelorie) will be joining SPJST Education and Nature Center as Camp Director. He comes to us from Camp Stewart for Boys in Hunt, Texas, where he has served in the roles of assistant camp director, program director, and senior side director. Jeb has been in the camping community most of his adult life and has many new ideas to help create an enjoyable camping experience for all. SPJST Summer Camp will be just as fun as our previous years, and we look forward to welcoming Jeb into this organization and learning more about him. Please remember that camp forms are online and ready to be completed and submitted. Visit www.spjst.org and follow the link to the camp application. All youth with an SPJST life insurance certificate are eligible to attend SPJST camp. If your youth is a non-active

Lawrence “Jeb” Lapeyrolerie

member, please contact me at 254-7731575 for more information on SPJST Summer Camp. Fraternally, Lynette Talasek State Youth Director —SPJST—

SPJST ENC JOB POSTING

Administrative Assistant

Job Position: Administrative Assistant SPJST Education and Nature Center Where: Ledbetter, Texas What: Part-Time - Non-Exempt

This is a part-time position that provides clerical and administrative sup-

port to camp management. Applicant must be computer literate, have excellent written and verbal communication skills, be organized, present a professional image, be a self-starter, take initiative, and be dependable. For full job description and application, please visit www.spjst.org. —SPJST—

F F F F F ENC SPRINGS FORWARD F F F F F ANNUAL WORK PROJECTS UPDATE SPJST Education and Nature Center greatly appreciates the donation of $750 by District Four towards the purchase and installation of four electric hand dryers. District Four has notified ENC that they will be providing additional funds to complete the purchase and installation by May 20 so that the hand dryers will be ready for summer camp. Lodge 29, Taylor has volunteered to donate the Gaga Pit to the ENC. Lodge 29 will provide all materials and labor so that the game will be available for the 2016 summer season. Lodge 29 . . . Thanks so much!

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

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District Seven Spring Meeting

Sunday, April 3, 2016 • Jourdanton Community Center • Hosted by Lodge 202, Jourdanton

SPJST Lodge 202, Jourdanton hosted the District Seven Spring Meeting on Sunday, April 3, 2016, with 58 members and guests attending. SPJST Education and Nature Center Director Donnie Howard noted the ENC has been in operation for six years, and rentals have increased every year. The second annual work week is Saturday, May 14 through Sunday, May 22, and he encourages volunteers to help. Several projects will be tackled. SPJST Foundation Director James Lee, III reported there were 2,000 campers last year at SPJST ENC last year. A Clean Out Your Barn statewide auction will be Saturday, September 17 to raise funds for the ENC and CHM. Czech Heritage Museum Director Roxanne Bertrand stated May 7 is the date for the SPJST Car Show and Czech Heritage Celebration to benefit the CHM and ENC. In 2014, the visitor log list at the Museum was 350. Senior Living Centers (Rest Homes) Director Jerry Sijansky reported the senior living center in Taylor is being replaced. Donations for furnishings are needed. The Hillje Senior Living Center was purchased and was named S.P.J.S.T. No. 3. District President James House called the meeting to order. Youth club members from Lodge 202, Jourdanton and Lodge 185, New Braunfels presented the colors and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Lodge 202 President James House welcomed everyone and introduced the guests. Appointed to the nominating committee were Kathleen Polasek, Oscar Korus and Mark Rebecek. Colleen Jenke, Larry Elzner, and Trey Bielefeld were appointed to the auditing committee. All district officers were present. Lodges represented were: 79, Corpus Christi; 107, Floresville; 133, San Antonio; 185, New Braunfels; 202, Jourdanton; and 258, Seguin. Director Bob Bayer conducted a memorial service. As each deceased member’s name was read, a candle was lit by District Second Vice President Jerry Sijansky and Assistant District Youth Counselor Regina House. District Secretary Bettie House read four sets of minutes that were approved as read with one addition. (Director Bob Bayer will donate $250 to

the Atascosa Family Crisis Center toward the purchase of a room.) Correspondence was also noted. District FAC Glen Pruski announced the 50-year, 75-year, age 96, and age 100 members. Supreme Lodge Secretary-Treasurer Leonard Mikeska reported good financial results for 2015. There are a lot of challenges, and the best management team is on board. Checks were presented to the district. District Youth Counselor Theresa Haag recognized District Queen Amanda Hoggard and Duchess Rileigh Kitchen. There are two active youth clubs and one in transition. The Youth Development Workshop will be April 16, followed by a district outing at the Botanical Gardens in San Antonio. More activities are in the planning stage. About 800 pounds of beans and rice have been collected for the statewide food drive. The meeting recessed for lunch. Leonard Mikeska gave the table prayer. The meeting reconvened after lunch. District Treasurer Sandra Hoggard presented a Powerpoint on ways to cut spending, and she also named fundraiser recipients. Members of the committee, in addition to Sandra, were Colleen Jenke and Roy Haag. Hoggard moved to eliminate committee member reimbursement and DYC and ADYC spring and fall reimbursement (paid by state); eliminate fall officers’ meeting; designate spring silent auction to benefit District Seven; designate fall silent auction to benefit District Seven Youth Fund; continue designation of fall raffle to benefit District Seven. The motion was seconded by Jerry Sijansky, and it carried. Director Bayer reported SPJST had a good year. The convention will be June 12 to 15 in Killeen. Lodge 179, Corpus Christi and Lodge 107, Floresville were Gold Star lodges. State Fraternalist Kathleen Polasek of Lodge 202, Jourdanton and Honorable Mention Donnie Howard of Lodge 185, New Braunfels were congratulated. Lodge 202, Jourdanton has had seven State Fraternalists and one National Fraternalist since 2000. Frank Sijansky was the lodge fraternalist from Lodge 117, Robstown. Javiar Mora of Lodge 79, Corpus Christi and Mike Rodriguez, Jr. of Lodge 107, Floresville were Million Dollar Pro-

ducers. Armando Perez of Lodge 79, Corpus Christi; Wendy Pruski of Lodge 107, Floresville; and Marie Garcia of Lodge 133, San Antonio were Persistency Bonus award winners. Fraternal Field Manager Bobby Davis reported 191 applications issued. There is a newborn benefit available. We are still working on orphan lists. Davis will contact lodge officers to set up a meeting to get some feedback on agents and what the lodges would like to have from the agents and from him. Publication Committee representative Jarolyn Popp stated the cost for printing and publishing the Vestnik is about 46 cents each week. There are 9,600 copies mailed each week. Finance Committee representative Roy Haag reported the deadline for by-law recommendations is April 13. Many restrictions are from the federal government and some from the state lawmakers mainly because of inaccurate ratings of bonds, etc. Insurance Committee representative Wendy Pruski stated as of February 29, 2016, District Seven had 60 agents. The member count was 3,701; the certificate count was 4,182; and the amount of insurance was $101,543,037. By-Law Committee representative Oscar Korus reported recommendations must be signed and submitted to any by-law committee member 60 days before the June 2016 convention. There will be a lot of changes coming from new government regulations. Some recommendations are only opinions. FAC Glen Pruski presented gifts to 2015 State Fraternalist Kathleen Polasek of Lodge 202, Honorable Mention Donnie Howard of Lodge 185 and Frank Sijansky of Lodge 117. The Lifetime Achiever Award for Larry Novosad of Lodge 79, Corpus Christi was accepted by Mark Rebecek and Jerry Sijansky. Colleen Jenke, representing the audit committee, reported the financial records of the district and youth club were in order. Chester Jenke stated the Texas Fraternal Alliance decided not to have fundraisers, and no scholarships will be awarded. Youth Counselor Theresa Haag announced the thank you card design contest winners were:

Ages K to 8 1st - Madeline Kitchen (185) Ages 9 to 11 1st - Diego Valdez (202) 2nd - Adeline Mares (202) 3rd - Rileigh Kitchen (185)

Ages 12 to 14 1st - Katlyn Polasek (202) 2nd - Kelly House (202)

Ages 15 to High School 1st - Samara Valdez (202) 2nd - Amanda Hoggard (202) 3rd - Isabella Wiederhold (202) 4th - Jordan Woodall (185)

Lian Pruski moved that the raffle at the End of Summer Getaway benefit the Czech Heritage Museum and the Education and Nature Center. The motion was seconded by Mark Rebecek, and it carried. The district donates $200 each year to Lodge 79, Corpus Christi to help defray the cost of the kolaches and cookies made for the End of Summer Getaway. Officers elected for 2016 are: President Donnie Howard First Vice President/FAC Glen Pruski Second Vice President Jerry Sijansky Secretary Wendy Pruski Treasurer Sandra Hoggard Youth Counselor Lian Pruski Assistant Youth Counselor Regina House

Director Bob Bayer, assisted by Supreme Lodge Secretary/Treasurer Leonard Mikeska, installed the officers. Lodge 107, Floresville will host the District Seven Fall Fun Day. Door prizes furnished by the Supreme Lodge, Fraternal Field Manager Bobby Davis, and Lodge 202 were awarded. The meeting adjourned. Fraternally submitted, Wendy Pruski District Seven Secretary —SPJST—

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

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Scenes from District Seven Spring Meeting

Sunday, April 3, 2016 • Jourdanton Community Center Hosted by Lodge 202, Jourdanton

P P P Presenting 2016 Officers P P P SPJST District Seven

Lodge 79, Corpus Christi President Mark Rebecek, center, and Vice President/FAC Jerry Sijansky, right, accept the Lifetime Achiever Award for Larry Novosad. District Seven First Vice President/FAC Glen Pruski presented the award.

BELOW LEFT PHOTO: Deceased members were recognized in a memorial service. Pictured are, left to right, are District Seven Director Bob Bayer, Assistant DYC Regina House, and Second Vice President Jerry Sijansky. BELOW CENTER PHOTO: Youth participate in the flag ceremony. BELOW RIGHT PHOTO: Left to right are Theresa Haag, Regina House, Sharon Lagrange, and Kathleen Polasek.

The 2016 District Seven officers are, seated, left to right, Treasurer Sandra Hoggard, Assistant District Youth Counselor Regina House, and DYC Lian Pruski. BACK: Second from left, Secretary Wendy Pruski, President Donnie Howard, First Vice President/FAC Glen Pruski, and Second Vice President Jerry Sijansky. The officers were installed by Supreme Lodge Secretary-Treasurer Leonard Mikeska, far left, and District Seven Director Bob Bayer, far right.

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1 1 1

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LEFT PHOTO: Czech Heritage Museum Director Roxanne Bertrand, is pictured with S.P.J.S.T. Senior Living Centers Director Jerry Sijansky, center, and SPJST Education and Nature Center Director Donnie Howard. CENTER PHOTO: Supreme Lodge Secretary-Treasurer Leonard Mikeska presents annual dis-

trict allocations to DYC Theresa Haag, left, and Treasurer Sandra Hoggard. PHOTO 3: SPJST Foundation Director of Development James Lee, III, left, visits with Lloyd House of Lodge 202, Jourdanton. RIGHT PHOTO: District Seven Duchess Ryleigh Kitchen and District Seven Queen Amanda Hoggard.

LEFT PHOTO: District Seven First Vice President/FAC Glen Pruski, right, presents a check to SPJST ENC Director Donnie Howard. PHOTO 2: Finance Committee representative Roy Haag presents a report. PHOTO 3: District Seven Secretary Bettie House reads the minutes. PHOTO 4: New

secretary Wendy Pruski reviews note. PHOTO 5: By-Law Committee member Oscar Korus reminds members about convention deadlines. RIGHT PHOTO: District Seven First Vice President/FAC Glen Pruski recognizes State Fraternalist of the Year Kathleen Polasek.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

SPJST Lodge Se ct ion

Lodge 8, Weimar meets April 25

The next meeting of Lodge 8, Weimar is Monday, April 25, 2016, at 6 p.m. at Oakridge Smokehouse Restaurant in Schulenburg. The meal will be compliments of the lodge. We look forward to seeing everyone. Fraternally, Carolyn M. Tobola —SPJST—

Lodge 9, Snook plans Join Hands Day project

The April 6, 2016, meeting of SPJST Lodge 9, Snook was called to order by President Donnie Hejl at 7:19 p.m. Donnie Victorick led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Minutes from the March meeting were read and approved. The hall manager’s, treasurer’s, FAC’s and statewide reports

The deadline for all Vestnik items is 5 p.m. the Wednesday before the publication date. Send your news and photos directly to:

SPJST Vestnik Editor Melanie Zavodny P.O. Box 100, Temple, Texas 76503

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P P P Presenting 2016 Officers P P P SPJST District One

Fax: 254-773-8087

Email: melaniez@vvm.com

Questions? Call 800-727-7578

were presented. Youth Leader Loree Lewis gave the youth report. Youth and adults are encouraged to participate in Join Hands Day on Saturday, May 7 when we clean the Snook Cemetery. May community services are to bring flowers for the cemetery. Congratulations to Riley Green for winning the camp teeshirt design contest. We welcomed two new applicants – Robert John Giesenschlag and Chelsea Nicole Agee. Motions were passed to sponsor Little League, cosponsor Relay for Life along with the youth club, allow the Booster Club to rent our tables and chairs for the athletic banquet, proceed with the new dumpster company, and purchase new speakers and microphone system. Laura Sebesta will become the new assistant youth leader. April birthdays include David Kovar on the 16th. James Schoeneman made a motion to adjourn the meeting, and Hannah Kovar seconded. Meeting adjourned at 7:56 p.m. Fraternally, Marie Shelfer, Reporter —SPJST—

The 2016 District One officers are, second from left to right, President Randy Gaas of Lodge 17, New Tabor; First Vice President Ronnie Roesler of Lodge 39, Bryan; Fraternal Activities Coordinator Kyle Skrabanek and Secretary/Assistant DYC Lindy Beasley, both of Lodge 17, New Tabor; Treasurer Sharon Kovar of Lodge 9, Snook; District Youth Counselor Sharon Russell of Lodge 13, Dime Box; and Assistant DYC Holly Narro of Lodge 17, New Tabor. The officers were installed by Supreme Lodge Vice President Clifton Coufal.

Lodge 15 Buckholts welcomes Vrazel family

President Doug Williams called the meeting of SPJST Lodge 15, Buckholts to order at 5 p.m. at the Post Office Restaurant. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Virginia Williams followed by a moment of silence in memory of our departed members especially remembering David Zajicek. We congratulated Doug and Virginia on their 63rd wedding anniversary.

We were honored to have Cynthia Vrazel Strmiska, who has announced her candidacy for Supreme Lodge Vice President of SPJST, and her parents Alfred and Bernice Vrazel as guests. Michael Morris was also a guest. Many years ago, our hall was leased to the Vrazel’s. Cynthia spoke to us. She is concerned about our drop in new members. We are losing more older members than we are gaining new members. We need to have more involvement in the training department. Cynthia has been a member of SPJST all of her life. She has some new ideas of things to offer that would be beneficial. We asked our guests if they had

Scenes from District One Spring Meeting Sunday, April 10, 2016 • Lodge 17, New Tabor

LEFT PHOTO: District One Director Donnie Victorick speaks to the attendees. CENTER PHOTO: Members stand for the Pledge of Alle-

giance. RIGHT PHOTO: Loree Lewis, left, Henry Mayo, and Binnie Ann Roesler review paperwork before the meeting.

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seen our new roof. If not, we asked them to look at it on their way home. We are so proud of it. We were so concerned about the leaky roof, which can destroy a building in a short time. We first checked out repairs. All said it could be done, but would fix it only temporarily. A new roof was so expensive. When Hilda Burtis passed away, her girls - Marguerite Burtis Vogel and Mary Irene Burtis - set up a memorial fund. These memorials were put in our roofing account. The Historical Society in Cameron gave us two grants, but what really gave us a boost was a sister of Hilda’s - Loraine Kuzel Millian - graciously gave a large sum toward the roof. Then Brian Vanicek worked with RVOS, and they gave us enough funds to complete it. We appreciate everyone who had a part in making this all possible. We appreciate so much all that President Doug did to make this a reality. If it were not for him, we would still have a leaky roof! In old business, Derrick Ruziska got the old rusty barbed-wire down by the building, and the fence row cleaned up. We now have all kinds of outside lighting; someone said we look like Las Vegas at night! In new business, Mary Helen Rodriguez said quite a few events are scheduled. We needed more weekends in June, but we didn’t have openings for them all. That’s good! Doug asked Alfred to say the dinner blessing before the delicious meal was served by Sandie Fischer at the Post Office Restaurant. Next Meeting—May 9 The next meeting will be on Monday, May 9 at 5 p.m. We hope you can meet with us. Fraternally, Dorothy Tomascik, Secretary —SPJST—

Lodge 18, Elgin: visit with your local sales agents

Another month gone . . . what a busy time. We lost another member Melba Morris. Melba will be missed. Melba and her husband Dud have been here for the lodge. Whenever we needed them, they came. They supported our dances as well. What will become of the lodge if we don’t get members to start supporting us? We

P P P Presenting 2016 Officers P P P SPJST District Four

The 2016 District Four officers are, left to right, Treasurer Kaycee Lehmann of Lodge 215, South Plains; Secretary Becky Wood of Lodge 49, Rowena; District Youth Counselor Pam Lehmann and Vice President/ Fraternal Activities Coordinator Janeece Williams, both of Lodge 215, South Plains; and President Laura Pospichal of Lodge 49, Rowena. In front are Flag Bearers Morgann Wood and Brody Schwertner, both of Lodge 49, Rowena.

will not be able to give scholarships, donate the hall for events, or help in the community. Thanks to the hard working members that are trying to keep the hall in good working condition. Thank you, Bill and Laurie McCrary, for the advertisement in the Elgin Courier. Bill and Laurie are the sales agents for our local lodge. Go visit with them, and check your policy. Is it updated? Is it enough insurance? How about your IRA and annuity? Can you do better with SPJST? What about your children? Do you have a policy on them? I know from personal experience what a blessing a policy is in a time of a tragedy. This month would have been our great-granddaughter’s sixth birthday. Instead of celebrating with her, we went to the cemetery to release balloons and put flowers on her grave. I know everyone thinks, ‘it will not happen to me.’ We just don’t know. My granddaughter just purchased the policy one month before the accident. They really needed the additional funds to help pay for all the expenses. We would love to have you come visit with us. Our meetings are short, and we always enjoy light refreshments and fellowship after the meeting. The older we get, the more we realize after all is said and done, more is said than done. Irene Vrabel —SPJST—

Lodge 24, Cyclone readies for Mother’s Day Barbecue

Lodge 24, Cyclone met amid oceans of older corn and newlyplanted corn that was taken out by too much rain. Hopefully, we are on a weather pattern that will afford a bumper crop for the farmers and furnish new money for our economy so we may all benefit. The meeting was called to order at 7:26 p.m. by President Daniel Wilde and he lead the Pledge of Allegiance and a silent prayer for our deceased members and the military. Shirley Hoelscher read the minutes of the March 16 meeting, and the minutes were approved as read. Linda Wilde gave the treasurer’s report, and there were no questions. Brenda Maddux gave the youth report. The youth club met on Sunday, April 10 at the hall. They made Blessing bags for distribution at Feed My Sheep. They will assist at the Mother’s Day lunch on Sunday, May 8. LIT registration is on the SPJST website. Brenda gave an outstanding bar report. She also gave the FAC report. May 7 is Join Hands Day and SPJST Car Show at Star Hall. Different districts are doing things at the ENC from May 14 to 20. Also a “clean out your barn” sale of equipment and anything

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

for the auction will be held. Corpus Christi Getaway is August 12 to 14. Old business is that Keith Andel has completed our tax return for the IRS. The Home Office has copies, and it has been Mailed by Linda Wilde. Several checks are in suspense. Cynthia Vrazel Strmiska, a candidate for Supreme Lodge Vice President, discussed her qualifications and her ideas for growing SPJST. We found the information new and exciting.

Mother’s Day Barbecue—May 8 The rest of the meeting was about our Mother's Day Dinner on Sunday, May 8. The chickens are on order with an extra box by Wilbert Mikeska. Barbara Macek will do a yeoman’s job of getting supplies and making enough sauce, ordering bread, cabbage, and spices. Slaw making will be Thursday, May 5 at 6 p.m. at he hall. Help is needed. The pits will be cleaned on April 29 at 6 p.m. The cooking will start at 3 a.m. on Sunday, May 8. The youth club will have a drawing for a peacock quilt. Advertising duties were discussed. Our lodge will host the Texas Polka Music Museum fundraiser on August 7. We need an auctioneer to donate his/her time. Birthdays are Cole Campbell on April 7. David and Mark Macek and Janet Ashcraft have birthdays in April. For the Lodge, Bobby Hoelscher, Reporter —SPJST—

Lodge 29, Taylor welcomes new sales agent, members

Vice President Sharon Kaderka opened the April 13, 2016, meeting of Lodge 29, Taylor. She introduced three new members of the youth club, Clayton, Weston and Wyatt Allen, to lead members in the Pledge of Allegiance and have a moment of silence for the departed. Officer roll call showed Ronnie Rieger absent. The March minutes were read and approved. Tammy Cannon gave the treasurer’s report. Sharon Kaderka gave the FAC report. The 2016 SPJST Car Show will be on Saturday, May 7 at Lodge 47, Seaton. On May 14 to 22, SPJST Education and Nature Center is

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

scheduling seven spring work projects that will help maintain and improve our SPJST camp facilities. District Two will be responsible for building a gaga pit and human foosball course. If there are costs associated with building these items, Albin Machu made a motion for Lodge 29 to donate $100. Frankie Pustejovsky seconded the motion. The motion passed. District Two Director Jesse Pospisil will match that amount. On Saturday, September 17, there will be a “Clean Out Your Barn” Statewide Auction at the ENC to benefit the SPJST Foundation which supports the ENC and the Czech Heritage Museum. The flyer listing items they would like donated is on the bulletin board at Lodge 29. The End of Summer Getaway will be in Corpus Christi on August 12 to 14. Sharon reminded members to fill out member referral cards to help get new SPJST members. Sharon read a thank you note for our donation to the Relay for Life. She also read a thank you note from Jimmie and Cindy Roepke for the use of our hall for Brian Roepke’s funeral gathering. Sharon presented information from Cynthia Strmiska who is running for the SPJST Supreme Lodge Vice President position. Cristy Girod gave the youth report. The youth club collected 129 pounds of rice and beans and will donate them to Meals on Wheels. On April 9, the youth had a District Two youth workshop and went to the Waco Zoo. On Friday, April 15 to Sunday, April 17, Cristy will attend the District Two youth leader retreat in Salado. Jesse Pospisil gave the property committee report. Jesse discussed the May 15 meeting where we will recognize the 50- and 75-year SPJST members. He is still getting bids on the vent and grill area. Jesse referred to the “Clean Out Your Barn” auction and suggested we donate the float we have in our shed. Albin Machu made a motion to donate the float to the auction, and Barbara Nygrin seconded. The motion passed. Sharon recognized Cristy Girod as Lodge 29’s newest SPJST sales agent. Cristy signed up five new members. They are Clayton, Weston and Wyatt Allen, William Falk, Jr. and Jase Falk. Charlie Campbell made a motion to accept these new members, and Mary Jane Pustejovsky seconded. The motion passed. Sharon recognized our guest, Kendra Wimberly. She is the mother of Clayton, Weston and Wyatt Allen. Members celebrating birthdays in

April are Brandon Girod, Kaitlyn Whatley, Ryan Kaderka, and Wayne Voigt. Mike and Tammy Cannon celebrated their first wedding anniversary on April 7. Charlie Campbell and Theo Vybiral brought door prizes. Cristy Girod and Tammy Cannon volunteered to bring door prizes next month. Mary Jane Pustejovsky and Barbara Nygrin will bring them in June. Next Meeting—May 15 The next meeting will be Sunday, May 15 at 3 p.m. The meeting was then adjourned. Fraternally submitted, Linda Pospisil Secretary/Reporter —SPJST—

Lodge 80, Holland meets May 1

Lodge 80, Holland will hold its next monthly meeting on Sunday, May 1, 2016. Board of Directors will meet at 4:30 p.m., followed by the general meeting around 5 p.m. A meal will be served. Please mark your calendar about the change in date and time for the May meeting. Hope everyone will attend and enjoy the fellowship. Fraternally, Rita Spinn, President —SPJST—

Lodge 80, Holland reports on April meeting

SPJST Lodge 80, Holland meeting was called to order by President Rita Spinn on Saturday, April 2, 2016, at 4 p.m. Membership stood for the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence for departed members. Secretary Linda Hill is still recovering and not able to be at the meeting. Board member absent was Ann Weir. Sales agent absent was Vicki Slye. Minutes were read from the Vestnik by Frank Pajestka in the absence of the secretary. Motion was made by Curtis Wolf and seconded by Coleman Benner to approve the minutes with one correction on the date of Join Hands Day project to read April 13. Motion carried. Financial report was approved by the board of directors prior to the general meeting. Motion to accept the financial report as given by Frank Pajestka, Treasurer, was made by Curtis Wolf and seconded by Coleman Benner. Motion carried.

Communications Vice President Joe Liles read thank you notes from Melany Cearley of Holland ISD for use of the lodge hall for testing; Bartlett Fire Department for a donation; Holland Fire Department for donation; Melanie Mowdy, Activities Director, for donation to

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Cameron Nursing and Retirement Center; Alexander Barton for Youth Fair donation; Holland Ag Mechanics Class and Marshall Miles for use of hall for bake sales and donation; Shelby Horak for Youth Fair donation; Andrew Vrabel for Youth Fair donation; Holland ISD for $1,750 donation to the scholarship fund; and Ronald and Melissa Vrabel for Lodge 80 support of the youth.

Youth Club Connie Horak reported that the Easter egg hunt was a huge success. She also attended the youth leaders workshop. The fraternal activities coordinator’s report was given by Frank Pajestka with discussion of events, including State 42 domino tournament which was held Saturday, April 2 with Frank and Cyril Pajestka representing Lodge 80. Volunteers are needed to help prepare the chicken for the Join Hands Day event. Lodge 80 again hosted residents of the Will O’ Bell nursing facility for bingo and hamburgers on March 30. Bingo report was given by Frank Pajestka. St. Patrick’s Day Bingo was very successful. Thanks to Risa Pajestka for sending pictures in to the Vestnik for Lodge 80. Another letter was received from the Texas Lottery Commission about the pre-bingo occasion protocol. The lottery’s suggestions are already in place by the lodge.

Sales Agents, Home Office Staff attend life license prep class

Dr. B. J. Sims, standing, owner and founder of Texas Educational Services, Inc., leads a life license prep class at the SPJST Home Office April 11 to 13, 2016. Attending are, left to right, James Lee, III of Lodge 246, Morgan’s Point; Terry Malina (Home Office); Doyle Oliver of Lodge 191, Lufkin; Clay Zapalac of Lodge 232, Houston Midtown; Charlie Herendon of Lodge 246, Morgan’s Point; and Howard Leshikar of Lodge 48, Beyersville. BACK ROW: Cristy Girod of Lodge 29, Taylor; Virginia Longoria (Home Office); Seth Sacra of Lodge 81, Needville; and Holly Knecht; Sharla Pechal; Lori Slack; and Lisa Kirby (all Home Office).

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Announcements President Rita thanked the members who attended the District Two Spring Meeting in Beyersville on Sunday, March 13. These included Frank, Connie, Jacob, and Shelby Horak; Curtis Janke, and Rita Spinn. Frank Horak stated he would not seek the presidency again. Gene McBride was elected as president. All other current District Two officers were re-elected by acclamation. Three candidates for the Supreme Lodge Vice President’s position gave a brief message on their goals for SPJST. Those individuals were Cynthia Strmiska, Clifton Coufal, and Hiram Dixon. Business included discussion of the proposed state by-law changes to be voted on at the state convention in Killeen. Lodge 48, Beyersville served a delicious meal and homemade desserts following the meeting. Joe Liles spoke about the Fort Hood Memorial dedication in Killeen. He and his spouse Shirley attended the meaningful ceremony. Lodge 80 thanks you, Joe, for serving your country and for being at the dedication.

New Business President Rita presented several items related to maintenance and operation of the hall. In a motion by Silveria Tschoerner and a second by Coleman Benner, the following items were discussed and approved.

1. Bids for painting inside and outside. One bid has been received from Timmy Weir. Curtis Wolf will obtain another bid from Pablo’s Painting.

2. Purchasing new tables for the hall. This has been postponed until the painting has been completed.

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SPJST supports East Bernard 4-H Club

East Bernard 4-H Club President Myla Mahalitc, right, receives a $200 donation from District Six Director Karen Kaspar. The funds were presented from Director Kaspar’s discretionary fund. Lodge 28, East Bernard President/ Sales Agent was also present to support the local 4-H group.

3. Bids for maintenance of the air conditioning system with the possible purchase of one to two new units, if necessary.

4. Bids for resealing and striping the parking lot. Coleman Benner volunteered to contact the previous paver, Aaron Williams, for a bid. Rita Spinn volunteered to contact other contractors who have been suggested. 5. Roof repair. No decision has been made.

6. Board can make the final decision if needed prior to next meeting.

In a separate motion by Risa Pajestka, seconded by Cyril Pajestka, it was approved that Larry Kropp be hired for air conditioning maintenance and recommendations.

Other Business Several board members will be out of town on May 7 so everyone was in agreement to move the May meeting to Sunday, May 1 at 5 p.m. Frank Pajestka graciously volunteered to prepare a light meal for all. Members decided to send Linda Hill a get well gift card. We miss you, Linda, and hope you are recovering nicely. Birthday celebrants in April are Barbara Taisler Hill and Paula Weir. We send get well wishes to Linda Hill and Cyril Pajestka. Door prizes were won by Barbara Taisler Hill, Curtis Wolf, Paula Weir,

Coleman Benner, and Regina Peevey. The meeting was adjourned at 4:45 p.m. with a motion by Cyril Pajestka, seconded by Curtis Wolf. Motion carried. Social time followed the meeting. Submitted by, Rita Spinn, President —SPJST—

Lodge 15, Buckholts Welcomes Vrazel Family

Lodge 91 San Jacinto to join hands on May 7

Lodge 91, San Jacinto will join hands with Churches United in Caring on Saturday, May 7, 2016. Churches United in Caring is a non-profit organization that receives donations and is run by volunteers from several churches in the Crosby area. Lodge 91 will partner with CUIC to sort clothes and other items to be resold. We encourage members to participate to demonstrate support for our community. Vonda Smesny, Secretary —SPJST—

Lodge 92 Fort Worth to host district spring meeting

Dear Members and Friends, We invite you to mark these April activities on your calendar and plan to come on out to Lodge 92, Fort Worth. You will have a great time!

LEFT PHOTO: Pictured at the Lodge 15, Buckholts meeting on Monday, April 11, 2016, are, left to right, Dorothy Tomascik, Sandie Fischer, Cynthia Vrazel Strmiska, and Mary Helen Rodriguez. RIGHT PHOTO: Lodge 15 members visit after the meeting. They are, left to right, Sandie Fischer, Cynthia Vrazel Strmiska,

Mary Helen Rodriguez, Doug Williams, Cecilia Marak, Bernice Vrazel, and Alfred Vrazel. With their backs to the camera are Dorothy Tomascik and Virginia Williams. Cynthia is a member of Lodge 15, and she shared her announcement of candidacy for the Supreme Lodge Vice President’s position.

Sunday, April 24 District Three Spring Meeting at Sokol Hall - Lodge 154, Fort Worth.

Tuesday, April 26 Game night at Lodge 92, Fort Worth - National Hall at 7 p.m.

Hall Rentals For information regarding hall

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

rentals and upcoming events information, please call Events Manager Jon Durham at 817-624-1361 or check the hall’s website: www.nationalhallfortworth.com. Fraternally, Angela Paprskar Casteel President —SPJST—

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Lodge 48, Beyersville Honors 50-Year Members

Congratulations to 50year members Carolyn Veselka and Karl Wuensche of Lodge 48, Beyersville. They were honored on Sunday April 10, 2016, at the lodge meeting.

Lodge 160 San Angelo meets May 11

Dear Members, SPJST Lodge 160, San Angelo will hold its quarterly meeting on Wednesday, May 11, 2016, at 6 p.m. The Dutch treat dinner and meeting will take place at the Ole Gin Steakhouse in Wall. We invite all members to attend this meeting. Fraternally, Sandra Jansa, President —SPJST—

Lodge 180 Burleson meets May 3

Lodge 180, Burleson wishes a happy birthday to these April celebrants: Sharon Fraiser, Alice Janecka, Delinda Brown, Gordon Cox, Jimmie Waddell, Robert Smajstrla, Jr., Clay Hurtik, Ryan Faulder, Jerry Raney, Jaclynn Janek, and Dorothy Rosenthal. Our next meeting will be held at Spring Creek on Tuesday, May 3, and the June meeting will be at Sammy’s

—Submitted by Ruth Ann Wuensche

Italian Bistro on June 7. Both of these are located in Burleson and will start at 6 p.m. Please save the dates as we look forward to seeing you at our next meetings. Fraternally, Nancy Kelly Secretary/Reporter —SPJST—

Lodge 187 Round Rock reports on April meeting

We started by welcoming visitor Dennis McCarthy, father to Greg McCarthy. Then we got a great surprise when we saw some longtime members - Norma Jean Betak, Kelly Roy Fuessel, and Norman Fuessel.

We are still gathering items for our Join Hands Day project to support the Backpack Coalition. We have a member from Lodge 17, New Tabor that wants to transfer to our lodge. It was voted and accepted. We discussed helping the SPJST camp and Clean Out Your Barn auction. Both events need volunteers and donations. We also discussed the candidates for the Home Office positions. It was also mentioned that Greg and Jennifer McCarthy will get our lodge on social media via Facebook soon. April birthday celebrants are Greg and Dennis McCarthy on the 3rd and Luke McCarthy on the 30th. Entertainment included bingo and a great celebration. It is Norma Jean Betak’s and Kelly Roy Fuessel’s 50th year with SPJST! Congratulations! We had a wonderful potluck and a great time being in the company with our SPJST family.

Due to Mother’s Day weekend, our next meeting will be on Sunday, May 15. Blessings to all, Jennifer McCarthy, Reporter —SPJST—

Lodge 202 Jourdanton seeks scholarship applicants

Attention Lodge 202, Jourdanton High School Seniors: Lodge 202, Jourdanton is offering scholarships to its graduating seniors. If you are interested in applying for this scholarship, please email Youth Leader Regina House at spjst202youth@gmail.com or call 830-570-2046. Scholarship applications are due May 31, 2016. —SPJST—

★ ★ Reunions ★ ★

Lodge 38, Kovar Hosts SPJST Float in Smithville Jamboree Parade

Lodge 38, Kovar hosted the SPJST Float at the Smithville Jamboree parade on Saturday, April 9, 2016. CENTER PHOTO: Ready to ride are, left to right, Riley Jones, Ethan Holder, Elizabeth Holder, Alexis Newby, Dorothy

Lastovica, and Alyssa Newby. RIGHT PHOTO: Pictured are, left to right, Matt and Elizabeth Holder, Riley Jones, Alexis Newby, Ethan Holder, and Alyssa Newby.

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Lodge 47, Seaton Honors Longtime Members

Sunday, April 3, 2016 • Lodge 47, Seaton Star Hall • Submitted by Joyce Kraatz, Youth Leader

Lodge 47, Seaton honored its longtime members on Sunday, April 3, 2016. Special guest was SPJST President Brian Vanicek. Congratulations to the 50- and 75-year members on their dedication to SPJST.

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Lodge 107, Floresville Hosts Annual Appreciation Banquet

SPJST Lodge 107, Floresville’s awards banquet on Sunday, April 10, 2016, was a big success. It was a nice, cool day with the wind blowing, and the sun shining. Some members came in at 9 a.m. and decorated the hall. Members and guests started arriving at 11 a.m. and socialized until 12:30 p.m. Dinner was then served consisting of barbecue

brisket and special, fresh, homemade sausage with all the trimmings. Desserts were brought in by members. All of the desserts were out of this world. There were two huge tables full of different kinds of desserts. We had a very good turnout with 61 members and guests present. Those in attendance were Supreme Lodge President Brian Vanicek and wife Joan,

Wilson County Judge Dickie Jackson and his wife, Sheriff Joe Tackitt and his wife, and District Seven Director Bob Bayer and wife Polly. We had four 50-year recipients receive their pins. We recognized Gussie Sralla as an Age 96 member. Gussie also received her 75-year pin. After lunch, the meeting was called to order. All business was tabled until

the May meeting. President Vanicek and Director Bayer gave short reports. Fifty-year and 75-year pins were given out. Other recipients’ names were read. Every Day Hero pins were then handed out. Door prizes a plenty were handed out. Fraternally, Lian Pruski, Reporter —SPJST—

Congratulations to Lodge 107, Floresville’s 50-year pin recipients. They are, left to right, Michael Zidek, Maxine Pavliska, who is standing in for daughter Joan Pavliska Seibert, Lorene Chilek, and Rose Hosek Labus. CENTER PHOTO: Supreme Lodge President Brian Vanicek congratulates Gussie Sralla on achieving the Grand Age of 96. RIGHT PHOTO: Lodge 107

members receiving the Every Day Hero award are, back to front, Trey Bielefeld, Liz Bielefeld, Oscar Korus, Polly Bayer, Roxy Bertrand, Larry Bertrand, Lian Pruski, Lucille Novak, Thomas Novak, Bob Bayer, and Glen Pruski. Not pictured is Wendy Pruski. Thanks, members, for your dedicated service to Lodge 107.

Lodge 107’s scholarship was presented to graduating high school senior Nolan Janysec. Lodge 107 President Glen Pruski presents the award to Clara Bell Ahrens, left, and Dana Janysec who accepted the award since

Nolan could not be present. CENTER PHOTO: Left to right are Polly Bayer, Oscar Korus, Larry Bertrand, and Trey Bielefeld. RIGHT PHOTO: A delicious meal is served.

LEFT PHOTO: District Seven Director Bob Bayer draws bingo numbers as grandson Colt assists. CENTER PHOTO: Lodge 107 President Glen Pruski, center, welcomes special guests. Pictured are, left to right, Wilson County

Judge Dickie Jackson, President Vanicek, Brother Pruski, Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt, and Director Bayer. RIGHT PHOTO: Left to right are Maxine Pavliska, Liz Bielefeld, Wendy Pruski, and Lian Pruski.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

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Reunion notices are published at no charge and as a benefit to our SPJST members. First-run announcements may be edited to fit the space. Thereafter, until the week prior to the reunion date - as space permits notices will be run in an abbreviated form. Please include your SPJST lodge number/name, and your contact phone number. Thank you. April 23 Descendants of Cernosek and Amalia Cernosek Peter families—at Holy Rosary Parish Hall, Hostyn. Contact Frank or Wanda 210-6908237; or 210-262-2839. Submitted by Willie and Joyce Bohuslav, Lodge 88, Houston. —SPJST—

Seaton School

The annual Seaton and Lost Prairie Schools reunion will take place on Sunday, April 24, 2016, at Seaton Community Center, eight miles east of Temple, Texas on Highway 53. All Seaton School and Lost Prairie ex-students, teachers, bus drivers, relatives and community members are invited. If possible, bring your favorite food dish to share with everyone. Lunch will be served at 12 noon. Registration begins at 11 a.m. A short business meeting will be held at 12:45 p.m. followed by door prizes. Please bring any old school pictures or memorabilia that you would like to share or leave with the school. Submitted by, Louann Skrabanek Hight Lodge 47, Seaton —SPJST—

SPJST ENC springs forward with annual work projects

SPJST Education and Nature Center in Ledbetter is busy preparing for the upcoming summer youth camps by scheduling seven spring work projects. Each project will be led by an ENC district board member, and the completed projects will help to maintain and improve SPJST camp facilities. We will be working on these projects during the week of Saturday, May 14 through Sunday, May 22, 2016. If

Lodge 79, Corpus Christi member grills for Bicycling for Diabetes

District Seven Repair and Repaint Barns—Need 45 gallons of metal paint, estimated cost is $1,800; Add Sand to the Volleyball Pit – Need 5 cubic yards of sand Contact Donnie Howard, President donnie.occ@gmail.com

Other items that are also needed at the ENC include:

• 4 automatic flush commercial grade toilets • 25 cubic feet refrigerator for the kitchen • 1 large capacity microwave —SPJST—

Lodge 79, Corpus Christi member Stephen Rebecek volunteered to grill more than 500 hamburgers and 60 pounds of fajitas for Bicycling for Diabetes which was held at Corpus Christi Aquarium on April 9, 2016.

you or your lodge would like to participate in any of these ENC spring work projects, please contact your respective district’s ENC board member listed. In addition, to defray the cost of these ENC spring work projects, SPJST lodges and members may sponsor one of these projects by donating cash or materials to the SPJST Foundation. If you or your lodge are interested in donating to one of these work projects or would like additional information, please contact SPJST Foundation Director of Development James Lee, III at JamesL@spjst.com or 800727-7578.

District One Clearing Nature Trails—Need eight volunteers to work on cutting trees and brush and two flatbed trailers to haul cuttings to the back of the ENC property. Contact Randy Gaas lmg@woodsonlumber.com

District Five—To Be Announced Contact Barbara Linney Gonzales District5dyc@aol.com

District Six Stain the Housing Porches—Need eight painting volunteers and 50 gallons of stain to coat the porches, estimated cost is $1,200 Contact Lisa Bubela, Vice President lisa_bubela@yahoo.com

SPJST Foundation asks you to clean out your barn

Your SPJST Foundation, a tax-exempt, non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization, is off and running, and we would like to invite you to our Clean Out Your Barn Statewide Auction. The farm and ranch auction will be held on Saturday, September 17, 2016, at SPJST Education and Nature Center in Ledbetter. One hundred percent of all tax-deductible proceeds will benefit SPJST Education and Nature Center and the Czech Heritage Mu-

Vice President Candidate Visits Lodge 88, Houston

District Two Building a Gaga Pit and Human Foosball Course— Thank you, Lodge 29, Taylor!

District Three Repair Fishing Dock—Need two carpenter volunteers and $1,500 for lumber and materials Contact John Engelke john.engelke@hotmail.com 254-799-4247

District Four—4 electric hand dryers Thank you, District Four!

Cindy Vrazel Strmiska, left, of Lodge 15, Buckholts is pictured with Carol Stayton of Lodge 88, Houston. Sister Strmiska is a candidate for Supreme Lodge Vice President and attended the District Five delegates’ meeting on Sunday, April 10, 2016, at Lodge 88, Houston. RIGHT PHOTO: Sister Strmiska is pictured with her parents Alfred and Bernice Vrazel in front of the stage where Brother Vrazel played many times as the leader of Vrazels’ Polka Band.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

seum and Genealogy Center. The statewide auction will be conducted by Trey Gallaway owner/auctioneer of Central Texas Auction Services of Belton Texas, license no. 12798. Trey has more than 18 years of experience in farm, ranch, heavy and industrial equipment, automobiles and trucks, and commercial, residential and acreage auctions. Trey placed in the top 10 auctioneers in the 2010 World Auctioneers Championship contest and was awarded the title 2013 Automobile Auctioneers World Champion. Prior to our farm and ranch auction in September, we will be needing several member volunteers from each district, to assist with the auction by picking up donated items from members in your respective districts and delivering them to the auction site at the ENC. We also need a SkyLift or tractor with pallet forks the week prior to the sale to accept and remove donated items from trailers. Giving an honorary or memorial contributed item to our auction is a generous and thoughtful way to recognize a person’s life and accomplishments and may offer you and your estate an income tax deduction plus reduction or elimination of long-term

capital gains tax. While all items donated, no matter how small, will be graciously accepted, items preferred in this farm and ranch auction include: • • • • • •

• • • • • •

Farm Equipment and Implements Tractors, Dozers and Graders Mowers and Shredders Stock, Flatbed and Water Trailers Diesel and Water Storage Tanks Firearms, Antiques and Collectibles Trucks and Cars Boats and Watercrafts Travel Trailers and RVs Four Wheelers and UTVs Building and Fencing Materials Real Estate including Farms, Ranches, Acreage, Buildings, and Homes

If you would like to volunteer to help pick up donated items in your respective districts, have any questions, or would like more information on this farm and ranch auction, please contact me by emailing JamesL@spjst.com or calling 800-727-7578. Fraternally, James Lee, III Director of Development —SPJST—

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Lydia Alholm

Continued from Page 1.

poppy seed in her garden and made delicious kolaches from the poppy seed. In high school, Lydia played all sports and was honored to be the “All Around Girl.” After Lydia graduated from high school in 1938, she enrolled at North Texas Teachers College in Denton, Texas and graduated from North Texas Teachers in 1942, and she still wears her class ring. Lydia became a school

teacher and was recruited for her first job by a school principal from Iowa Park, Texas, who came to Colleyville and found her working in the family’s tomato patch. After about a year of teaching, Lydia was ready for a different challenge and decided to join the Navy (Waves). Women were accepted for volunteer emergency service. She enlisted in October 1943. Her big brother, Lt. Col. Antony Tirk, Sr., was a fighter pilot in the Air Force at the time. Lydia was sent to Hunter College in New York where she stayed about three weeks for boot camp and later was sent to Wash-

Attention SPJST Graduates

and parents and grandparents of graduates!

hether it’s your high school commencement or college graduation, it’s quite an accomplishment. Share your achievement with other members of SPJST in a May issue of the Vestnik. To be included, please complete the following biographical sketch and mail it, along with a color headshot photograph, no later than May 16, to:

VESTNIK Editor Melanie Zavodny c/o SPJST Home Office P.O. Box 100 • Temple, Texas 76503

Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you wish to have photo returned.

Information and headshot photographs can also be emailed to melaniez@vvm.com. Photograph must be in .jpg or .tif formats. For more information, contact the Vestnik Office 800-727-7578 or 254-773-1575 ★ ★ ★ Please print clearly. Thank you! ★ ★ ★

Name ________________________________________________________

Lodge No. and Name _________________________________________

Graduating from (name of high school or college) ______________ ______________________________________________________________

Major/Degree (if applicable) ___________________________________

Parents_______________________________________________________

Grandparents ________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

Future Plans __________________________________________________

Telephone:____________________________________________________ — Graduates must be SPJST members —

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

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ington, D.C., where she was the personal supervisor of 112 girls. The girls worked in communication, which was all secret. There were eventually 100 Waves operating the decoding machines 24 hours a day, setting rotors and charts. The machines were called Bombe, which received messages from Germany and Japan. After the war ended, most of the machines were dismantled, and their parts were used for other purposes. One of the Bombes was preserved and is now on display at the Smithsonian Museum. Being a Czech that loved Czech music and dancing when going to Czech halls with her parents, Lydia attended a polka dance at the Czech Embassy in Washington, D.C. She was the only girl in uniform. Yes, she did attract a lot of attention! There, Lydia met the love of her life. Roy Alholm had already served in the military and was working for the War Department in Washington, D.C. His family was Finnish and lived in Crosby, Minnesota. After a short courtship, Lydia resigned from the Navy, Roy quit his job at the War Department, and they were married in the Naval Chapel in

Lodge 177, Academy gives to Feed My Sheep

Lodge 177, Academy Vice President Don McCrea presents $1,000 to Churches Touching Lives for Christ for Feed My Sheep.

Washington, D.C. in August 1946. They were married for 53 years. The couple’s first residence was in Chicago, Illinois, where Roy enrolled at the National College of Chiropractic. Both of their sons, Roy (R.L.) and Anthony (Tony), were born there. Son Roy Leonard (R.L.) Alholm, Jr. re-

ceived a master’s degree from Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, Texas, and he taught math and computer science at a local high school for 27 years and coached baseball from 1975 to 2002. He retired from teaching and enjoyed a single life. Son Anthony J. (Tony) Alholm, a graduate of Notre

Dame in South Bend, Indiana, became a lawyer and had his own law firm in Chicago, Illinois. He married a young lady who attended St. Mary’s University in South Bend, Illinois. They made their home in Chicago, where they raised their family. The dreadful disease of cancer took both R.L’s and Tony’s young and early lives, but left Lydia with a wonderful daughter-in-law, three grandsons, and their families who live in the Chicago area. In 1948, Lydia wanted to return to Texas. Roy practiced naturopathy out of the house, but attended night school at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth and graduated with a history degree. After graduating, he went to work at General Dynamics and continued to work in aircraft. Lydia followed him to Ogden, Utah, for Thikol Missiles, McDonald Douglas in St. Louis, Missouri, and the final stage, Lockheed Martin Corp. in Grand Prairie, Texas. They both retired in 1980, after Lydia had taught school for 30 years. In 1964, Lydia’s father divided the 165-acre farm in Colleyville. She was given 50 acres on which she and Roy built their home. On this farm, they had

Lodge 187, Round Rock Honors Longtime Members

LEFT PHOTO: Congratulations to Kelly Roy Fuessel and Norma Jean Betak who are celebrating 50 years of membership with SPJST! CENTER PHOTO: Dennis McCarthy, left, and Greg McCarthy, center, enjoy their

birthday cakes while Mathieu McCarthy, right, looks on. RIGHT PHOTO: Kelly Roy Fuessel and Norma Jean Betak receive their 50-year pins. —Submitted by Jennifer McCarthy, Reporter

LEFT PHOTO: Linda Johnson, standing, helps Alexandria Johnson, Kember Meyer, Kadnce Meyer, and Karter Meyer watch their bingo cards at Lodge 187, Round Rock’s meeting on Sunday, April 10, 2016. CENTER

PHOTO: Left to right, Luke, Greg, and Dennis McCarthy play bingo. RIGHT PHOTO: Pictured are, left to right, Norma Jean Betak, Kelly Roy Fuessel, and Norman Fuessel.

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Lodge 246, Morgan’s Point Prepares Sack Lunches for Feed My Sheep

Lodge 246, Morgan’s Point members gathered on Tuesday, April 12, 2016, for their monthly meeting. Members prepared 200 sandwiches and assembled sack lunches for the homeless and less fortunate at Feed My Sheep in Temple. LEFT PHOTO: Charlie Herendon, left, Ingrid Petrik, cen-

many SPJST and Sokol picnics for 50 years. In 1982, they were very happy to have Věstník Editor Rudy Sefcik and his wife Maxine attend their old fashioned picnic with music, food, and games. After coming back home to Colleyville to raise cattle, Lydia also became involved in the Ex-Student Pleasant Run Association. In 1986, the Ex-Students Association placed a historical marker on the Pleasant Run School ground. Two of the students and Lydia wanted to give something back to the community, and they worked hard and were able to collect money to buy three granite stones. These three war monuments were unveiled at the Village of Colleyville in June 2002. The monument she uncovered had the fewest names engraved on it, as they were the names of the soldiers who did not return. Lydia’s brother’s name, Lt. Col. Anthony Tirk, Jr., who had been in the United States Air Corps Squadron and leader of this group of P-47 Thunderbolts was shot down on March 11, 1944, over Padova, Italy. His body was never found, as he went down over water. Her own name, Lydia Alholm, is at the top of the tablet listing residents who had been living in the city of Colleyville six decades ago before leaving to serve our country during World War II. She was also the only woman in uniform. The third monument continues to list 52 residents that returned home from World War II. These three memorial stones are now in the Colleyville Senior Residents Park. Tony’s and Lydia’s names, along with their photos, are on the Czech Veterans’ Wall of Honor at the SPJST Home Office in Temple, Texas. Tony also has a plaque in the deceased section of the display. This Wall of Honor

is sponsored and maintained by the Texas Czech Genealogical Society. In 2004, the farm was sold to a developer, and now it has stately kingsized homes. The gated community is called “Castleton Manor.” Roy and Lydia moved to a retirement establishment called The Wellington in North Richland Hills. Since moving, the developer has made the Tirk-Alholm family very proud. They feel very honored to have three historical markers dedicated because of events and places on the farm. First, on May 13, 2006, a historical marker was placed on the soccer field complex as being the site of the founding of the Texas High School Gymnastics program. Lydia’s mother and father were charter members of Fort Worth Sokol since 1913, and they were always interested in promoting gymnastics. The Alholm-Tirk Pond carried the

ter, and Susan Hutton stuff bags. CENTER PHOTO: District Two Director Jesse Pospisil, left, James Lee, III, and Linda Pospisil prepare sandwiches. RIGHT PHOTO: Left to right are Charlie Herendon, Director Pospisil, Ingrid Petrik, Melanie Zavodny, Susan Hutton, and Brooke Hoelscher.

second marker, which was dedicated in November 2007. Instead of a street name for the Tirk family, the stock tank, which is now called a pond, gives the residents a beautiful view of a spraying fountain. The third marker, being the log barn, was dedicated on May 2009. The log barn stood on the pioneer’s family property for more than a century. The barn has been restored and relocated to a park in Colleyville. Lydia’s parents would be proud to know how much their Czech heritage meant to their children and community. Despite the family crisis, Lydia continues to be active at her retirement home. Her sister Frances Matthews, age 91, is also living at the same retirement home, and they can both still speak Czech. Lydia has a longtime family friend Willie Skrasek that keeps her 2005 white Crown Victoria Ford in good shape, which she still drives, and

District Two Director Supports Lodge 246, Morgan’s Point

District Two Director Jesse Pospisil and wife Linda, left, present a $100 personal check to Lodge 246, Morgan’s Point to support the lodge’s mission of preparing food to feed the homeless.

car dealers would love to buy. Other interesting notes are that Lodge 92, Fort Worth President Angela Paprskar Casteel was Lydia’s pupil when she taught school in third grade, and Mary Ann Krivanek at Lodge 92 is a true friend.

Lydia’s Special Life Events Lydia received a certificate of merit for four years for being neither tardy nor absent for the elementary school years in 1929, 1931, 1932, and 1933. In elementary school, Lydia was called the SAW Dust Girl in a play presented to the Pleasant Run School Community. A character in the play was shot in the forehead with a cap gun, and the burn was carried on his forehead for the rest of his life. On August 16, 1945 - VJ Day Standing in the middle of a large crowd in front of the White House, Washington, D.C. - The War is Over! 1998 - Coming Home Queen Class of 1938. Roy and Lydia rode in a convertible down Main Street in Grapevine, Texas, and were honored with three other class queens graduating in the years ending with “8”. 2003 - Guest speaker at the Colleyville Women’s Club with a “Time Travel” speech topic and donated two high school yearbooks, 1935 and 1938, to the Grapevine Library. 2004 - Roy and Lydia received a Lifetime Achievers plaque from SPJST Lodge 92, Fort Worth for loyal service and dedication to the Society. They led the Grand March at many weddings and wedding anniversaries and donated kroj, a Czech dress, to the SPJST Lodge 92, Fort Worth Museum. 2005 - On March 30, Lydia was interviewed by the Department of History and Government of Texas Women’s University in Denton, Texas.

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The topic was “Women from World War II,” and a tape of the interview was made and given to her. 2011 - Lydia, at age 91, was one of two people to receive a plaque at the Fort Worth Southern District Sokol Slet by being honored for the dedication and service to Sokol Fort Worth and by being a member for 65 years. Memberships SPJST Lodge 92 Fort Worth for 80 years. Sokol Fort Worth, 70 years. Fort Worth Friendship Club, 30 years and held office for 19 years. Circle of Czech Women of Dallas, 30 years.

POLKA Club (Polka Lovers Club of America). SPJST Lodge 92, Fort Worth Ladies Circle, 2 years.

Hobbies Lydia has enjoyed taking trips across the Red River to Oklahoma once a month on the Wellington bus. She has had fun and keeps winning by using her “One Arm Bandit.” In the past, Lydia enjoyed several trips to the Czech Republic, especially visiting with relatives and attending the first Sokol Slet after the Velvet Revolution in 1996. Roy and Lydia always made lots of trips to Las Vegas. He went to the library to read, and Lydia went to the casino.

Accidents and A Tragedy While Living On The Farm Since her sister Frances and Lydia were at school very early each day because they rode with their father on his way to work, they had time to play on the school ground. One day, Lydia pushed her sister too high on the “Johnny Stride” - a swinging merrygo-round. She fell, hit a stump, and broke her arm. Another accident was when her oldest brother went to crank his Model “A” Ford car to go to school; it “kicked” and broke his arm. After a hard rain, sister and Lydia went wading in a low area. She stepped on a piece of glass, and the cut required many stitches.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Lydia’s experience was when riding a goat, it jumped a barbed wire fence, cutting a two-inch gash into Lydia’s right leg. The scar is still visible and serves as a reminder. Lesson learned, don’t ride goats! The tragedy was a drowning of a lady friend and her two children who were going home from the Sunday visit with Lydia’s parents. They tried to cross a low area after a hard rain. The car was swept downstream. This occurred on Kimbo Road in northeast Fort Worth. The husband survived. —SPJST—

Lodge 229, Abilene hosts District Four Spring Meeting

Saturday, April 2, 2016 • Logan’s Roadhouse in Abilene • Submitted by Jerry Wayne Macek, Secretary

SPJST Lodge 229, Abilene would like to thank everyone who made the District Four Spring Meeting on Saturday, April 2, 2016, a big success. Almost every lodge in the district was represented. We were especially honored to have SPJST President Brian Vanicek, Hiram Dixon, and James Lee, III as our special guests. We really appreciate District Four Di-

rector Billy Rollwitz and Fraternal Field Manager Bobby Davis for their encouraging input and leadership in making District Four a big fraternal success. A special thank you to Lodge 49, Rowena for bringing a big youth club to the meeting. District Four is so proud of our young people. It was such a big honor to have Arnie Rivera

LEFT PHOTO: Left to right are Cyndy Kristinek of Lodge 157, Lubbock; Janeece Williams of Lodge 215, South Plains; Supreme Lodge President Brian Vanicek; Jerome Kristinek of Lodge 157, Lubbock; and Arnie Rivera of Lodge 219, El Paso. CENTER PHOTO: Carson Lehmann, left, Norma Rivera, and Cyndy Kristinek judge the youth thank you card contest entries. RIGHT PHOTO: District Four youth are

from Lodge 219, El Paso representing our very successful El Paso lodge. Many thanks also to Lodge 229, Abilene President Janice Stevens for rounding up door prizes and all of her planning in making Logan’s Restaurant in Abilene a great place for our district meeting. In new order of business, delegates met to prepare for the upcoming con-

vention, and District Four’s election of officers was held. Once again, many thanks to President Vanicek for his very informative and encouraging message. We hope to see everyone again at the convention. Sincerely and fraternally, Jerry Wayne Macek Secretary —SPJST—

pictured with Supreme Lodge President Brian Vanicek. LEFT PHOTO: Youth and adults visit after the meeting. CENTER PHOTO: Vice President candidate Hiram Dixon of Lodge 183, Arlington speaks to the members. Also pictured are Arnie and Norma Rivera of Lodge 219, El Paso and SPJST Foundation Director of Development James Lee, III. RIGHT PHOTO: District Four youth await dinner.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

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SPJST to host 11th Annual Car Show, Czech Heritage Celebration in Seaton

Saturday, May 7 will be filled with classic cars, arts/crafts, food, music, Czech heritage, kids’ activities, kolache eating, and fun at SPJST Lodge 47, Seaton Star Hall for the 11th Annual SPJST Car Show and Czech Heritage Celebration. Star Hall is located at 10842 State Highway 53, seven miles east of Temple in the community of Seaton. The event opens to the public at 9 a.m. Car show registration begins at 8 a.m. The show is organized into 40 classes. Vehicles will be independently judged, and more than 100 trophies will be awarded. Trophies will also be presented to the top three people’s choice entries. Other special awards include SPJST King’s and SPJST Queen’s choice, club participation, distance, best engine, best paint, best graphics, and best interior. A special SPJST Award will be presented to an SPJST member. Car show entry fee is $20 per vehicle ($15 for SPJST members) on or before April 27. After April 27 and day of show registration is $30 ($25 for SPJST members). The day will also include a silent auction and will benefit the SPJST Foundation which supports the Czech Heritage Museum and Ge-

nealogy Center, located at 119 West French Avenue in Temple, and SPJST Education and Nature Center, located in Ledbetter, Texas. Museum volunteers will have special displays like sauerkraut-making, noodle-making, lace-making, and rope-making and accordion music. SPJST ENC will feature several kids’ activities. The day will also be filled with music, and the Praha Bros. polka band will play from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. SPJST District Two Beseda Dancers will perform at 1 p.m. The silent auction featuring many unique items closes at 2 p.m. Adults and youth are encouraged to enter the kolache eating contest. Registration closes at 2:15 p.m., and the contest begins at 2:30 p.m. Car show awards will be presented at 3 p.m. Arts/crafts, service, and auto-related vendors are welcome. A 10’ by 10’ inside space is $35; outside is $25. One of the vendors will be Texas Czech Genealogical Society displaying various Czech wares and memorabilia. Event admission is free of charge. Bever-

SPJST Lodge 47, Seaton Star Hall 10842 State Highway 53 • Temple, Texas 7 miles east of Temple in the community of Seaton

Registration opens at 8 a.m. Registration closes at 10:30 a.m. Judging begins at 11 a.m. • Awards at 3 p.m. Many Trophies!

First, second, and third place awards in 40 independently judged classes. Other awards include: People’ss Choice • SPJST King’ss and Queen’ss Choice Club Participation • Distance • Best of Show Best Paint • Best Graphics • Best Interior • Best Engine

Door Prizes • Music/Entertainment • Food • Silent Auction Vendor Booths • Kolache Eating Contest • Kids Fun Zone Benefits Czech Heritage Museum and SPJST Education and Nature Center

C AR SHOW CL ASSE S A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M.

T-Bucket Pre-1948 Street Rod - Open Street Rod - Closed 55-57 Chevy Chevrolet Camaro (1967-1981) Chevrolet Camaro (1982-2002) Chevrolet Camaro (2010-newer) Chevrolet Chevelle Corvette C1/C2/C3 (1953-1982) Corvette C4 (1984-1996) Corvette C5 (1997-2004) Corvette C6 (2005-2013)

N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. V. W. X. Y. Z.

Corvette C7 (2014-newer) Other Chevrolet GM (not Chevrolet) Ford Mustang (1964-1978) Ford Mustang (1979-2004) Ford Mustang (2005-newer) Ford Thunderbird Other Ford Classic Mopars Modern Mopars (2006-newer) Pontiac El Camino Foreign/Exotics

AA. Imports/Compacts BB. Chevy Truck CC. Ford Truck DD. Dodge Truck EE. 4 x 4 FF. Truck (2000-newer) GG. Open Class - Cars HH. Open Class - Trucks II. Special Interest (race cars, police, etc.) JJ. Motorcycles KK. Tractors LL. Under Construction MM. Unrestored (vehicles 25 years and older) NN. Youth (ages 21 and under)

SPJST Car Show Ent r y Fo r m

circle size

Name_________________________________________ Class______________ T-Shirt: S M L XL 2X 3X Address_____________________________________ City__________________ State______ Zip____________ Email Address ____________________________________________ Phone (_____) ______________________ Year_________ Make of Car___________________ Model___________________ Color__________________ Club Affiliation_____________________________________ Club Location_____________________________ Ì SPJST Member - Lodge No. ______

Vehicles judged on interior, exterior, engine, and wheels/tires.

In consideration of the acceptance of the right to participate, registrants and accompanying persons, by execution of this form, release and discharge SPJST, SPJST Lodge 47, Seaton, Czech Heritage Museum, SPJST Education and Nature Center, SPJST Foundation, and affiliates including officers, directors, members, agents, representatives, and anyone else connected with management or presentation of this event of and from any and all known or unknown damages, injuries, losses, judgments, and/or claims from any causes whatsoever that may be suffered by any registrant, or his accompanying person or persons, to his/her person or property. Tee-shirts/goodie bags to first 150 entries.

Early Registration received by April 27 — $20 • After April 27 and Day of Show — $30 • SPJST Members Receive $5 Discount

Enter and pay online at www.spjst.org. Or, mail form and payment to: SPJST Car Show • P.O. Box 100 • Temple, TX 76503 Questions? Call David (254) 534-0809 or Melanie (254) 534-0807 or email melaniez@vvm.com • Visit www.spjst.org

Car Show Rules No outside food/drinks. No animals. No weapons.

ages will be available from Lodge 47, Seaton both inside and outside Star Hall. Various food items including sausage wraps and turkey legs will be available inside the hall from Lodge 47, Seaton Youth Club. Breakfast tacos will also be available from 7 to 9 a.m. from Lodge 48, Beyersville Youth Club.

Visit spjst.org for more information or to register online! Visit www.spjst.org for complete event information or to register for the car show online. Contact David Nauert 254-534-0809/email davidn@vvm.com or Melanie Zavodny 254-534-0807/email melaniez@vvm.com for car show information. For vendor booths, contact Lynette Talasek 254-931-0639/email lynettet@spjst.com. For kolache eating contest information, contact Frank Horak 254534-0681/email frankh@spjst.com. To donate an item for the silent auction, contact James Lee, III 254-7731575/jamesL@spjst.com or Susan Shofner 254-773-1575/susans@spjst.com. —SPJST—

Vendors Wanted!

Saturday, May 7

at the 11th Annual SPJST Car Show and Czech Heritage Celebration

Visit www.spjst.org for event details!

Visit www.spjst.org for forms and more information.

SPJST Car Show - Saturday, May 7

Event benefits SPJST Foundation

Saturday, May 7, 2016 SPJST Lodge 47 Seaton Star Hall

10842 State Highway 53 • Temple, Texas (7 miles east of Temple in the community of Seaton)

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Seeking Arts/Crafts, Service and Auto-Related Vendors

$35 for a space with two tables - inside Star Hall $25 for a space with two tables - outside Star Hall Set-up Times: Friday, May 6 between 3 and 6 p.m. and Saturday, May 7 between 7 and 9 a.m.

SPJST Car Show and Czech Heritage Celebration Vendor Form

Vendor __________________________________________________ Phone (_____)________________________ Contact Name(s)_______________________________________________________________________________

Street Address_______________________________________ Email Address______________________________ City________________________________________________ State___________ Zip______________________

Booth Type/Products to be Offered ________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________

Number of Inside Spaces: _____ x $35 per space = $_______ Number of Outside Spaces: _____ x $25 per space = $_______ Check/Money Order Enclosed - Payable to SPJST Foundation Credit Card __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ exp. __/__ CSC _____ billing zip code ________ All products/services must be suitable for a family audience. Vendors must be registered and paid no later than April 27. Register and pay online at www.spjst.org or mail check/money order/credit card info and form to: SPJST Car Show • PO Box 100 • Temple, TX 76503-0100 For more information or questions, contact Lynette Talasek at (254) 931-0639 or email lynettet@spjst.com.

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Expression of Sympathy

The officers and members of Lodge 48, Beyersville express their deepest sympathy to the family of MARTHA WAGNER. Martha Ann Voight Wagner, 81, of Taylor, Texas, was born on July 2, 1934, in Bartlett and was called home to her Lord on April 6, 2016. She was surrounded by her family during her final hours. Martha was preceded in death Martha Wagner by her parents Wallace L. and Ernestina Voight; brothers Milton and Wallace; sisters Juanita Veazey and Dorothy Reichle; and step-great-granddaughter Thalia Bernal. Martha is survived by her dedicated husband of 61 years, Charles; sons Phillip and wife Pam and James; daughter Janet and husband Albert Filla; special son Tommy Kotila; grandchildren Erica and Hayden Wagner, William and Emily Filla; stepgrandchildren Christy (Gus) Bernal, Kimberly (Dave) Briggs, and Kari (Hondo) Gonzalez; step-great-grandchildren Sofia and Sabian Bernal; uncle Johnny Muyers; many cousins, nieces, and nephews; and her fur babies Bob and Chip. Martha graduated from Bartlett High School and John’s Hospital Nursing School as an LVN. She worked at John’s Hospital and private duty nursing in the Taylor area. She also babysat many children that were always loved as her own. Martha loved to plan parties and will be remembered for her homecooked meals and always caring for others above her own needs. She was a member of SPJST Lodge 48, Beyersville. Pallbearers were Justin Bosley, David Clawson, Mike Dykowski, Darrel Maxey, Gary Reichle, and Larry Safarik. Honorary pallbearers are Dan Kaspar, Arnie Safarik, and Abel Villaforte. Visitation was Sunday April 10 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Condra Funeral Home in Taylor. A celebration of her life service was Monday April 11 at 10

a.m. at Condra Funeral Home. Burial was at Taylor City Cemetery, followed by a lunch reception at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Taylor. Donations may be made to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church or Shepherds Heart Food Pantry in Taylor. Please visit Martha’s memorial site at www.condrafuneralhome.com where you can share memories and leave your condolences for her family Resolution Committee Alice Wuensche Ruth Ann Wuensche —SPJST—

In Memory of Alfred Cerny

Alfred Jim Cerny, 82, of EI Campo, Texas, departed from us to be with our Lord and Savior on April 9, 2016, after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s and dementia. He was born on November 10, 1933, in El Campo, Texas, to Joe Victor and Rosie Louise (Cerny) Cerny. He married his lifelong love, Catherine (Cathie) Ann Vana on April 6, 1957, in St. John Catholic Church. They made El Campo their one and only home. They Alfred Cerny teamed up with one another in every aspect of life raising their two children, farming, working at Wal-Mart in their later years, opening their home for each of their grandsons to stay for a few years, and also caring weekly for their greatgrandson. Alfred served in the United States National Guard for five years before getting drafted into the United States Army as a sergeant. He served for two years, with 17 months of that time being spent overseas in Germany. He spent a large part of his life as a farmer and worked hard to provide for his family. He was a giant of a man, not in stature, but in his gentleness and the outpouring of love to his wife and family. After retiring from the farming industry, he then worked as an inde-

pendent oil pumper gauging wells in and around the EI Campo community. He later worked as a greeter for WalMart, offering a smile and conversation to everyone he met. He never met a stranger and was known for his lengthy conversations with anyone who would listen. He had little spare time, but when he did, he enjoyed being outdoors mowing and maintaining a nice, clean yard and spending time with his beloved dogs: Cory, Molly, and Walker. He also enjoyed listening to polka music. His favorite bands included Joe Patek from Shiner and Leo Majek from Corpus Christi. He was a member of SPJST Lodge 40, El Campo-Hillje and Catholic Life. Alfred’s greatest joy was spending time with his wife, his children, his grandsons, and his great-grandson, who he lovingly called “Hot Shot.” He was a man who loved his family well, and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for them. He will be remembered as a caring husband, dad, and grandpa. He was happiest when he was surrounded by his family. He was a wise man who enjoyed the simple things in life. People were important to him, things were not. Alfred is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Cathie; son Don Cerny and wife Edna of Stephenville; daughter Jeanne (Staff) Elder and her husband James of Houston; grandsons Travis Staff and wife Amy of Hillje, and Justin Staff and companion Kelly Marek of Louise; great-grandson Tanner Staff of Hillje; step-grandchildren Robert Martin of Minnesota, Matthew Cox and wife Krista of Fort Worth, and Angela Cox and companion Jason Bogle of Fort Worth; step-great-grandchildren: Brittany and Katrina Cox of Minnesota, Hayden Haywood and Noah Cox, both of Fort Worth; sisterin-law Gladys Cerny of El Campo; nephews Pat, Kenneth, and Glen Cerny of El Campo; and niece Cynthia Hickl of El Maton. He will be missed by his kind and thoughtful caregivers. Alfred was preceded in death by his parents; brother Joe L. Cerny; and step-grandson Nathan Elder. Visitation was Monday, April 11 at Triska Funeral Home from 2 to 7 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 4 to 6 p.m. The funeral mass was at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 12 at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church with Reverend Michael Rother officiating. Interment followed at Holy Cross Memorial Park. Pallbearers were Pat Cerny, Glen Cerny, Kenny Cerny, Tray Stavinoha,

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Travis Staff, Justin Staff, and Tanner Staff. Honorary pallbearers were James Elder, Edna Cerny, Amy Staff, Kelly Marek, Marcus Staff, Ronnie and Cindy Hickl, Pedro and Delores Balderas, Lynn and Helen Blankenburg, Gene Benavidez, and Dr. George Hanna. Donations of stuffed animals may be donated to El Campo Police Department or El Campo Fire Department. Donations may also be made to the St. Philip’s School Endowment Fund or to Houston Hospice - El Campo. —SPJST—

Expression of Sympathy

We, the members of the Resolution Committee of Lodge Hvezda Texasu No. 47, Seaton, Texas, on behalf of our membership, wish to express our deepest sympathy to the family of our departed member, ALBERT V. SIMCIK, age 87 of Temple, who died Tuesday, April 12, 2016, at a local hospital. Funeral service was held at 10 a.m. Friday, April 15 at First Lutheran Church in Temple with Reverend Eric L. Petty officiating. Burial followed at 2 p.m. at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen. The family received visitors from 5 to 7 Albert Simcik p.m., Thursday, April 14 at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home. Albert was born on February 18, 1929, in Taylor to the late Albert Simcik and Lydia Maresh Simcik. He attended schools in Thrall and graduated from Thrall High School. In 1948, he enlisted in the United States Army and was honorably discharged in 1954 after six years of service. Albert married Helen Pasemann on February 4, 1953, in Taylor. After his service in the Army, he farmed for a few years before joining Superior Dairies. He retired after 36 years of service as district manager. Albert then worked for Scott and White Hospital and retired after 20 years in property management. He loved the outdoors, especially camping and fishing. Albert was a member of SPJST Lodge 47, Seaton and First Lutheran Church.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

He was preceded in death by his parents; and daughter Candace Rosen. Survivors include his wife of 63 years Helen Simcik of Temple; daughters Cindy Saffle and husband John of Bruceville and Cheryl Mraz of Temple; grandchildren Kevin Morano, Jason Morano, Jennifer Mraz, Misty Andersen, Brad Andersen, Donald

Heisch, Jr., Troy Heisch, and Justin Saffle. Memorials may be given in Mr. Simcik’s name to the First Lutheran Church, 1515 West Adams Avenue, Temple, Texas 76504. Resolution Committee Ruth Hanusch Joyce Skrabanek —SPJST—

It’s time to register for 2016 SPJST Summer Youth Camps! All camps will be held at SPJST Education and Nature Center (ENC), located at 2001 Ledbetter Road in Ledbetter, Texas. Camp dates are:

will need to list all medications including dosage, form of medication, and frequency. If the application is not 100 percent completed, a reminder to complete the application will be emailed. The application can be filled out on a smart phone, computer, or tablet. If anything changes prior to camp, you may make changes to the application, but you will need to let your DYC know. LITs will need to fill out a separate release form in order to participate in BubbleBall. The release forms will be mailed to the youth leaders.

Leaders-In-Training Retreat Thursday, June 9 to Saturday, June 11

District Camps District One—Thursday, July 7 to Sunday, July 10 District Two—Thursday, July 21 to Sunday, July 24 District Three—Wednesday, July 13 to Saturday, July 16 District Four—Thursday, July 7 to Sunday, July 10 District Five—Thursday, July 7 to Sunday, July 10 District Six—Thursday, July 21 to Sunday, July 24 District Seven—Wednesday, July 13 to Saturday, July 16

Campers/adult chaperones can sign up for LIT and their camping session at the same time. All youth participants including the chaperone will be listed under one email address. The information will be stored from year to year. The registrant will need to have shot record information to complete the registration. The shot record can be entered or uploaded. The registrant

All camp applications are due no later than June 1. If anyone has any questions or needs any help, please contact State Youth Director Lynette Talasek at 254-773-1575 or 254-931-0639. —SPJST—

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SPJST Youth

Section

The deadline for all Vestnik items is 5 p.m. the Wednesday before the publication date. Send your news and photos directly to:

SPJST Vestnik Editor Melanie Zavodny P.O. Box 100, Temple, Texas 76503 Fax: 254-773-8087

Email: melaniez@vvm.com

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, State Youth Director at 800-727-7578, or visit www.spjst.org.

District Three Youth Development Workshop, lock-in begins Saturday

You’re invited! Bring a friend! SPJST District Three Youth Development Workshop and Lock-in is Saturday, April 23, 2016, at 6 p.m. through 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 24. The workshop and lock-in will be held at SPJST Lodge 92, Fort Worth National Hall, located at 3316 Roberts Cut-Off Road in Fort Worth, Texas. We will then go to Lodge 154, Fort Worth for the District Three Spring Meeting. The will be an interactive and informative workshop and lock-in. Sessions include crafts, public speaking, talents, team building, meeting protocol, socials, games, etc. RSVP Requested We hope that you will plan to attend and be a part of this fun and educa-

tional workshop and lock-in. Please RSVP by Monday, April 18 to District Three Youth Counselor Kay Weeks 817-896-5277. Fraternally, Kay Weeks District Three Youth Counselor —SPJST—

District Five Youth Development Workshop set for April 30

Dear District Five Youth, Parents and Leaders, This is a reminder that we will have our District Five Youth Development Workshop on Saturday, April 30, 2016, at 9:30 a.m. at Lodge 88, Houston in the youth room. We will discuss the new rules in the handbook, Youth Achievement Day (YAD) cards and

categories, camp, and upcoming dates and events. See you there! Fraternally, Michelle Wockenfuss Assistant DYC —SPJST—

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Lodge 25, Ennis youth: horse whisperer

Dear Readers, I spent several days with my grandparents on their farm in Ennis. I always enjoy spending time there making memories with them. I found an app on my iPhone that has animal sounds and would play them to the horses. Every time I would play the app, the horse would respond and talk back to me. It was really cool. My meme now calls me the Horse Whisperer! Brandon Droste —SPJST—

Lodge 25, Ennis youth enjoys visit to grandparents’ farm

Dear Readers, This weekend was spent at my grandparent’s farm. We burnt trash and sticks and mowed the pastures. I love coming to my grandparents farm because we are never bored. She always puts us to work. It is nice going out there because we aren’t as attached to our phones, and we get to enjoy the nice fresh air. Amanda Droste —SPJST—

Lodge 202 Jourdanton youth crowned Strawberry Queen

Congratulations to Lodge 202, Jourdanton youth Isabella Wiederhold! She was crowned 2016-2017 Strawberry Festival Queen! —Submitted by Regina House, Youth Leader

Scenes from District One Youth Development Workshop

District One hosted a youth development workshop on Sunday, April 10, 2016, at Lodge 17, New Tabor. Youth enjoyed activities and games. —Submitted by Holly Narro, District One Assistant Youth Counselor

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Lodge 47, Seaton youth visits zoo

I enjoyed getting candy at the youth workshop for answering questions. I knew a lot. But the zoo was so much fun seeing the monkeys, tigers, and elephants. Camdon Bartek, age 6 —SPJST—

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District One presents greeting card contest winners

Lodge 47, Seaton youth enjoys workshop

I was the only president present for District Two’s youth workshop, and I liked the opportunity to learn more about leading the youth club. We had a great turnout and were able to learn from each other. The zoo was a lot of fun with the district and getting to see so much. Hunter Bartek, age 16 —SPJST—

Vestnik project to earn points. We colored Easter eggs with creative designs while practicing the art of kraslice in Czech tradition.

Next Meeting—May 1 Our next meeting will be Sunday, May 1 at 1 p.m. at Seaton Star Hall. I hope you all can attend! Fraternally, Katelyn Erskine, Reporter —SPJST—

Lodge 88, Houston Youth Club to meet May 1 Congratulations to District One’s thank you card contest winners! They are, left to right, Wyatt Beasley, Chandler Sebesta, and Macy Narro, all of Lodge 17, New Tabor; and Elias Rose of Lodge 186, Caldwell. —Submitted by Holly Narro, Assistant DYC

Lodge 47, Seaton Youth Club reports on April meeting

Dear Vestnik Readers, The SPJST Lodge 47, Seaton monthly youth meeting was held on Sunday, April 3, 2016. We had 34 members present and some guests as well. What a great turnout! Our treasurer, Chase Alexander, reported that Lodge 47 will be hosting a beseda

District Four presents greeting card contest winners

Congratulations to District Four’s thank you card contest winners! They are, left to right, Morgann Wood, Olivia Schwertner, Tracy Schwertner, and Bella Schwertner, all of Lodge 49, Rowena.

fundraiser on April 10. I hope everyone can make it! We celebrated three April birthdays by singing and asking how old the members had turned. We also had guest speaker Jeff Pedigo from Kids Against Hunger. He told us about his program that provides rice and bean meals for underprivileged children (mostly in Haiti and America). These meals are super cool because they only take water to prepare them. Our youth club is very excited about raising money for such an important cause. We ended the meeting with the April

Dear Members, Our next meeting will be Sunday, May 1, 2016, at 2 p.m. We will go over the district trip to the folk festival in Huntsville on Saturday, May 14. I hope it will be a pretty day when we go. See you at the meeting! :-) Fraternally, Keith Wockenfuss, President —SPJST—

District Seven presents greeting card contest winners

Congratulations to District Seven’s thank you card contest winners! They are, left to right, Madeline Kitchen of Lodge 185, New Braunfels; and Diego Valdez, Katlyn Polasek, and Samara Valdez, all of Lodge 202, Jourdanton.

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Leonard Mikeska receives TOCA Honorary Director Award

Texans of Czech Ancestry (TOCA) hosted its 2016 Awards Appreciation Reception and Dinner on Saturday, April 9, 2016, at Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center in La Grange, Texas. The evening began with a wine and cheese reception hosted by SPJST in the Koliba Lobby at TCHCC. The recognition ceremony was called to order at 5 p.m. by TOCA President Arlene Cloyd. Vice President Kevin Kana welcomed all attendees. Treasurer Tom Stavinoha led the Pledge of Allegiance. President Cloyd and TOCA organization representatives then presented recognition awards to Theodore and Sarah Vitek - KJT (Catholic Union of Texas); Chuck and Jan Kalat (Sokol American Sokol - Southern District); Arlene Uherek Vojtek Family (Czech Heritage Society of Fort Bend County); Joe and Alice Janecka (Czech Heritage Society of Texas); Theodore Vitek (Czech Heritage So-

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ciety of Travis-Williamson Counties); Louise Polasek (KJZT - Catholic Family Fraternal of Texas); Julius Dubcak (RVOS); Kathleen Polasek (SPJST Lodge 202, Jourdanton); James Sassin (Czech Educational Foundation of Texas); Leslie and Georgia Zajicek Kovar (Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center); and Eileen Rosipal (Texans of Czech Ancestry). The TOCA Honorary Director Award was presented to SPJST Supreme Lodge Secretary-Treasurer Leonard Mikeska. TCHCC President Retta Chandler presented the award to Brother Mikeska. Sister Chandler, who is a member of Lodge 25, Ennis, shared her remarks with the Vestnik that she read before the presentation: How many of you know individuals who work behind the scenes for years and years . . . individuals who do not seek the spotlight . . . yet always contribute more than is expected of them at work, at church, and in all aspects of daily living? I would say . . . not too many. However, we have such an individual among us today, and TOCA would like to honor him with a very special award that will not be given every year but only when someone has truly

Texans of Czech Ancestry (TOCA) President Arlene Cloyd, left, and Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center President Retta Chandler presents the TOCA Honorary Director Award to Supreme Lodge Secretary-Treasurer Leonard Mikeska. Leonard wife’s Dorothy proudly shares the moment with Brother Leonard. The award was presented April 9 at the 2016 TOCA Awards Appreciation Reception and Dinner. CENTER PHOTO: Secretary-Treasurer Leonard Mikeska presents his speech of acceptance.

earned it. Texans of Czech Ancestry (TOCA) Directors named and elected an Honorary Director at their January 24, 2016, meeting. This is special award that will recognize an individual who has worked tirelessly to promote Czech heritage and culture over a period of many years. The person named was instrumental in the subsequent development and founding of Texans of Czech Ancestry. He is not named on the Founder’s documents; however, his work behind the scenes contributed significantly to the success of a project to coordinate the Czechs of Texas. This project was to showcase the Czech people during the Sesquicentennial Celebration in Texas in 1986. All aspects of Czech history and culture were highlighted and spotlighted. Czechs were reminded of all of the accomplishments they had made to the state and of their many individual achievements. It felt good to be Czech. Among those who worked on this project above and beyond with little recognition is our honoree, Leonard Mikeska. Leonard is very modest and certainly did not share this information with me. So I will tell you how I dis-

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covered his behind- the-scenes work. After I was elected president of TOCA in 1995 and during 1996, we met every month at one of the following places hosted by, the RVOS Headquarters Office in Temple (Glenn Hutka was president), the KJT Office in La Grange (Elo Goerig was president), or the SPJST Home Office in Temple (Howard Leshikar was president) to develop plans for a Czech Center. It was then that I started reading through the notes that Calvin Chervenka sent to me and that he meticulously kept as well as the related documents leading up to this special celebration in 1986. I called Calvin many times, and he shared what was involved in putting all of this together. That is where I found letters and press releases and communications that Leonard Mikeska had initiated in getting this project off the ground. Basically, this project was accomplished through a group of people that were committed to the project. At the time, it was not a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization so a definite mission was not in place, but they all shared a common mission to have a spectacular Czech celebration and they did. After their success, they decided to

RIGHT PHOTO: SPJST officials congratulate Brother Leonard. Pictured are, seated, left to right, Vestnik Editor/Director of Communication Melanie Zavodny, Dorothy Mikeska, Brother Leonard, Joan Vanicek, and President Brian Vanicek. Back: David Nauert, State Youth Director Lynette Talasek, Financial Secretary Roy Vajdak, Becky Vajdak, Supreme Lodge Chairman/District One Director Donnie Victorick, Janice Victorick, State Fraternal Activities Coordinator Frank Horak, and Connie Horak.

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TOCA Honors 2015 SPJST State Fraternalist of the Year Kathleen Polasek

LEFT PHOTO: Congratulations to 2015 SPJST State Fraternalist of the Year Kathleen Polasek of Lodge 202, Jourdanton who was recognized by Texans of Czech Ancestry and presented a special award at its annual appreciation dinner on April 9, 2016, at Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center in La Grange. Kathleen, center, is pictured with SPJST State Fra-

write out a mission statement, write by-laws, and apply for non-profit status, which is now Texans of Czech Ancestry (TOCA). In 1986, The Executive Committee included Jerry E. Valchar, Executive Director; Glenn Hutka, Deputy Executive Director; Jeanne H. Jacques, Liason Officer; Calvin C. Chervenka, Public Relations Officer; Leonard D. Mikeska, Communications/Publicity Officer; Robert B. Jacques, Business Manager Promotional Aids; Albert J. Blaha, Sr., Publications Officer; Howard Leshikar, Coordinator Organizational Representatives; Ace L. Chlapek, Coordinator Area Representatives; Joe D. Janak, Jr., Coordinator Project Advisors; and Roger Kolar, Designs Officer. Mr. Mikeska’s work career is also truly amazing. After a career of 42 years with SPJST, he retired and traveled with his wife Dorothy. However, at the 2008 Convention, he was again elected to the position of SecretaryTreasurer of SPJST and is in that position today. He has a bachelor of science degree, an FIC designation, a Texas Insurance license, is past president of the Texas Association of Fraternal Insurance Counselors, and past president of the Texas Fraternal Congress. He is a kind and gentle person and very deserving to be named Honorary Director of TOCA.

TOCA Treasurer Dan Mares delivered the invocation before dinner was served. Dinner music was by Henry Machicek. The purposes of TOCA are to improve and facilitate communication among the Czech founded organizations operating in Texas; to make it

possible for member organizations to mutually assist one another in their pursuit of their purposes which are mainly for the preservation and promotion of the Czech language, culture, and heritage in general, citizenship, fraternalism, mutual aid, and other activities, services, and products; to encourage and assist member organizations to undertake worthy projects and activities in accordance with their purposes; to continue certain projects which were envisioned for, or started during the 1986 Texas Sesquicentennial Year; to undertake those appropriate projects and activities which will benefit the Czechs of Texas and for which direction, management, and funding are needed, as may be determined by this organization; to encourage and/or conduct public relations activities which will acquaint all Czech Texans, their friends, and the public everywhere with the history, contributions, and present status of persons of Czechoslovak descent on the local, state, national, and world scenes; to provide and maintain an organizational structure of organizations and individual membership grades, representations, and funding. Member organizations and representatives are American Sokol Southern District (Robert Podhrasky, and David Slovak), KJZT (Grace Vinklarek and Arlene Cloyd), KJT (David Wagner and Kevin Kana), CEFT (Clinton Machann and Clarice Snokhous), CESAT (Jane Reynolds), Czech Heritage Society of Fort Bend County (Betty Anhaiser and Leon Anhaiser), Czech Heritage Society of Texas (Richard Skopik and Phyllis Teykl), Czech Heritage Society of Travis-Williamson Counties (Kay

ternal Activities Coordinator Frank Horak and TOCA President Arlene Cloyd. CENTER PHOTO: Left to right are SFAC Horak, Kathleen, her mother Katherine Marek, and daughter Katlyn Polasek. RIGHT PHOTO: Left to right are Carli Foster, Kathleen, Katlyn, Katherine, and Sandra Hoggard of Lodge 202, Jourdanton.

Bouska and Helen Oldrich), RVOS (Tom Stavinoha and Dennis Vanek), SPJST (Brian Vanicek and Leonard Mikeska), and Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center (Retta Chandler and Johnnie Polasek). The awards dinner committee consisted of Arlene Cloyd, Kevin Kana, Vlasta Vitek, Eileen Rosipal, Lynette Talasek, Frank Horak, Georgia Vyvial, Johnnie and Lorenda Polasek, Mark Hermes, and Retta Chandler. —SPJST—

Listopad to be shown April 25 in Victoria

Listopad . . . a story of three boys and the Czech Velvet Revolution. A Czech feature film, Listopad, will be shown at the Leo J. Welder Center for the Performing Arts, 214 North Main Street Victoria, Texas on Monday, April 25, 2016, at 7:30 p.m. The film’s title Listopad meaning “November” in Czech (when the uprising occurred) is about three young boys in the former Czechoslovakia in 1989 standing up to the Communist government and changing world history forever . . . Petr, Jiri, and Ondrej are an unlikely trio of friends.An artist, a hockey player, and a music trader, who survive Communism by playing sports, drinking beer, chasing girls, and listening to underground music. But they are bound together by their common desire for freedom and, on a cold, dark night in November, Petr, Jiri, and Ondrej join the front lines of a student

demonstration in the streets of Praha. Face-to-face with the riot police, the boys are forced into a momentous decision: stand up against the Communist regime or give in to a system that has silenced their families for generations. The Velvet Revolution (in Czech: Sametová Revoluce), was a non-violent transition of power in what was then Czechoslovakia. The period of upheaval and transition took place from November 17 to December 29, 1989. Popular demonstrations against the one-party government of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia combined students and older dissidents. The end result was the end of 41 years of Communist rule in Czechoslovakia, and the subsequent conversion to a parliamentary republic. On November 17, 1989, (International Students’ Day), riot police suppressed a student demonstration in Prague. That event sparked a series of demonstrations from November 19 into late December. By November 20, the number of protesters assembled in Prague had grown from 200,000 the previous day to an estimated 500,000. A two-hour general strike involving all citizens of Czechoslovakia was held on November 27. On November 24, the entire top leadership of the Communist Party, including General Secretary Miloš Jakeš, resigned. The film is in the Czech language with English subscript. Tickets are for sale only through the Welder Center on their website, http://weldercenter.org/ or at their location on 214 North Main Street in Victoria. The film is co-sponsored by Victoria County Czech Heritage Society presented in partnership by Victoria College and the Victoria Film Society.

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Complimenting the film will be Czech fruit and sausage kolaches, beer, wine, coffee, and other refreshments, and Czech gift items for sale when the doors open at 5:30 p.m at the Welder Center. Jeffrey Brown, one of the film’s producers and a Texan living in the Czech Republic for 20 years, will be present to visit with the public, introduce the film, and host a discussion after the film. Tickets are only $9 for general admission. For more information, contact the Welder Center staff at (361) 485-8540 or weldercenter@victoriacollege.edu. Submitted by, Joe Janak Victoria CHS Member —SPJST—

Mother’s Day gifts available in TCGS gift shop

Wednesday Evenings Czech Language Class (extemporaneous)—at S.P.J.S.T. Rest Home, No. 1, Taylor, 500 East Lake Drive, Taylor, 6 to approximately 8 p.m. informal gathering for the purpose of listening to Czech, and reading and speaking Czech.

email czechheritagemuseum@gmail.com. Submitted by Susan Chandler, Museum Administrator, CHMGC.

As one begins to think of a gift that Mom would enjoy on Mother’s Day, the old saying, “April Showers Bring May Flowers” comes to mind. With that in mind, it would seem that a perfect gift for mom would be a beautiful Czech flower vase or basket from the Texas Czech Genealogical Society’s Gift Shop, located in the lower level of the SPJST

Czech Cultural Calendar

Second Sunday each Month Czech Language Class—at Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center, 250 West Fairgrounds Road on US Highway 77, La Grange, 1 to 4 p.m. informal understanding of basic Czech terms, alphabet/conversational Czech, children’s literature, Czech song lyrics. Fee is $10 per person per class. Call or email to verify classes. Preregistration is suggested, but not required. Call toll free 888-785-4500; 979-968-9399; or email info@czechtexas.org

First/Third Tuesdays each Month Tarok Lessons with Tarok Champion Jimmie Coufal—at Czech Heritage Museum, 119 West French Avenue, Temple, 7 p.m.: Designed for all skill levels, beginners to proficient. Enjoy some inexpensive entertainment; it’s a great social game. Get off your Xbox and join us. Free and open to everyone. For information, call 254-8992935.

Mondays during Spring Semester Brazos Valley CHS Czech Language Class—at St. Joseph Catholic Church Parish Activity Center, 600 East 26th Street, Bryan: for all levels; 7 to 8:30 p.m. Cost of class $35. instructor is Jan Benes, CEFT Fellow Hlavinka Fellow-selected student from the Czech Republic. For information, contact Jo Ann 979-846-2035; or Lynette 979-450-1820/email lurbanovsky@gmail.com. Submitted by JoAnn Zaeske, Lodge 189, Bryan-College Station.

Second/Fourth Tuesdays each Month Czech Heritage Museum and Genealogy Center “Svacina Time!”—at 119 West French Avenue, Temple: Bi-monthly Czech language social hour, 2 to 3 p.m. Social hour will follow a structured format that changes every 15 minutes. This is not a class - no homework. Betty Marek and Janet Young will coordinate the logistics. For information, call 254-899-2935; or

April 19 Annual “Czech That Film” Festival feature: “Home Care” - “Domácí péče”—at Violet Crown Cinema, 434 West Second Street, Austin, 78701 at 7 p.m. Film has English subtitles. question and answer session with director Slávek Horák. For information and to purchase tickets, visit www.czechthatfilm.com.

April 20 Annual “Czech That Film” feature: “invention for Destruction” - “Vynález zkázy”—at Violet Crown Cinema, 434 West Second Street, Austin, 78701 at 7 p.m. Film has English subtitles. For information and to purchase tickets, visit www.czechthatfilm.com.

April 20 Travis-Williamson Counties CHS Meeting— at Pflugerville Recreation Center, 400 immanuel Road, Pflugerville, 7 p.m. For information, contact Eileen Rosipal ERosipal@aol.com; or 512-452-3292. Submitted by Edwin Gerick.

April 21 Annual “Czech That Film” feature: “Gangster Ka” - “Gangster Ka”—at Violet Crown Cinema, 434 West Second Street, Austin, 78701 at 7 p.m. Film has English subtitles. For information and to purchase tickets, visit www.czechthatfilm.com.

April 28 to May 1 Mollie B Polka Party Taping—at Sokol Hall, Ennis, : Enjoy more than 20 bands from multiple states playing polkas in a variety of styles. For ticket information, go to http://store.rfdtv.com/category-s/100.htm or call 402-991-6290 during the day.

May 13 Movie Night—at Czech Center Museum Houston, 4920 San Jacinto Houston, 77004: “Zelary”. Free and open to the public. Free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; movie begins at 7 p.m. For information, contact CCMH 713-5282060; or via email: events@czechcenter.org.

H o m e Office building in Temp l e , Te x a s . There are numerous shapes and sizes of vases from which to choose, in all price levels. Other gift ideas include crystal serving pieces, candle sticks, porcelain trivets, mugs, cookbooks, and genealogy books for the mom who is interested in discovering more about her family. Items displayed are just a small sampling of

Texas Czech Genealogical Society Website: txczgs.org

Promoting the study of the genealogy of the particular group of people known as “Texas Czechs.”

For membership: Merlene Bravenec 254-778-7285

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

the available selection of gifts you could be proud to give your mom, grandmother, or Godmother on Mother’s Day — the one day set aside to honor the person who has done so much for all of us. To visit our showroom or to ask questions about our gift selections, please contact Nancy Machu at 512-218-1559 or nbmachu@aol.com. She would be happy to help you choose the perfect gift this year. —SPJST—

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SPJST Fraternal Activities and Entertainment

Post your lodge’s upcoming SPJST fraternal activities and entertainment dates and information here. These listings are free. The deadline for submitting information for the Fraternal Activities and Entertainment Guide is Wednesday at 5 p.m., unless otherwise posted. Send updates directly to: VESTNIK, c/o Editor Melanie Zavodny, P.O. Box 100, Temple, Texas 76503. FAX to: 254-773-8087. Email to: melaniez@vvm.com. Advertising rates are $2 per column inch for lodge ads; $4 per column inch for non-profit organization ads; and $6 per column inch for commercial ads. For advertising information, please call the Editor at 800-727-7578 or email melaniez@vvm.com.

LODGE 1, FAYETTEVILLE (1) Lodge Hall: 507 East Main Street, Fayetteville. Directions: Directions: Lodge building is located on Highway 159 East, three blocks from the town square. Hall Rental Information: (979) 966-3795. Lodge Meetings: First Monday of even-numbered months February, April, June, August, October, and December, 6 p.m. at the lodge hall. Potluck served after meeting. Youth Club Meetings: First Monday of each month, 6:30 p.m. at the lodge hall. For information, contact Youth Leader Ronnie Pflughaupt 979-249-6702; rpflughaupt@hotmail.com.

LODGE 4, HALLETTSVILLE (6) Note: Lodge meetings are held at Hallettsville Chamber of Commerce, 1614 North Texana Street, Hallettsville, the second Sunday of each month at 3 p.m.

Lodge Meetings: Second Sunday of each month at 3 p.m. at Hallettsville Chamber of Commerce, 1614 North Texana Street, Hallettsville.

LODGE 5, PILOT POINT-TIOGA (3) Lodge Meetings: First Saturday of each month, 2 p.m. at PointBank Community Center, 739 East Liberty Street, Pilot Point. For directions/meeting information, contact Brian Heitzman 940-686-4429; or Dean Carender 903-564-7359.

LODGE 6, COTTONWOOD (3) Note: The bridge on the road to the hall is out; but good news; there is a detour to the hall. Directions: Take Farm Road 2114 East for 5 miles. Turn right on Adair Road and immediately veer right onto Marek Road. Marek Road runs into Czech Hall Road. Turn right onto Czech Hall Road. The hall is on the left about 1/2 mile. Saturday, April 30—Knapek reunion Sunday, May 1—Lodge meeting, 2 p.m. Friday, May 20—Social

Lodge Hall: 700 South Czech Hall Road, West. Note: The bridge on the road to the hall is out; but there is a detour to the hall. Directions: Take Farm Road 2114 East for 5 miles. Turn right on Adair Road and immediately veer right onto Marek Road. Marek Road runs into Czech Hall Road. Turn right onto Czech Hall Road. Hall on the left about 1/2 mile down. Hall Rental Information: 254-799-8550; Hall Phone: 254-2278759. Lodge Meetings: First Sunday of each month, 2 p.m. at the lodge hall. Youth Club Meetings: First Sunday of each month, 1:30 p.m. at the hall. For information, contact Youth Leader Peggy Dobecka 254799-8550; or dataped@sbcglobal.net

LODGE 8, WEIMAR (6) Lodge Meetings: Fourth Monday of each month, 6 p.m. at Oakridge Smokehouse Restaurant, Schulenburg.

LODGE 9, SNOOK (1) Lodge Hall: 457 CR 269, Snook. Directions: From Snook, turn on FM 2155 to downtown. At Snook School, stay right on Spur 2155. At “T”, turn right on CR 269. Go 3/10 mile; hall is on the left. Hall Rental Information: 979-272-3732. Lodge Meetings: First Wednesday of each month, 7 p.m. at the lodge hall. Youth Club Meetings: First Wednesday of each month, 6:30 p.m. at the hall.

LODGE 13, DIME BOX (1) Lodge Hall: 1081 County Road 425, Dime Box. Directions: in Dime Box, turn left from FM 141 on CR 424. Go east on CR 425 for 3/10 mile; hall is on the left. Hall Rental Information: 979-884-1451; Hall Phone: 979-884-1451. Lodge Meetings: Second Thursday of each month, 7 p.m. at the hall. Youth Club Meetings: Second Sunday of each month, 5:30 p.m. at the hall.

LODGE 15, BUCKHOLTS (2) Lodge Hall: 600 State Hwy 36, Buckholts. Directions: Hall is located on Highway 36, east of Buckholts. Hall Rental Information: 254-593-2222. Lodge Meetings: Second Monday of each month, 5 p.m. at the hall. Refreshments served after meeting, and door prizes awarded.

LODGE 17, NEW TABOR (1) Lodge Hall: 2674 CR 225, Caldwell. Directions: From Caldwell, turn from Highway 36 east onto FM 166. Proceed 2.1 miles; turn left on CR 225. Go one mile, veering to the right. Lodge building is on the right. Hall Rental Information: 979-272-3440. Lodge Meetings: First Sunday of each month, 2 p.m. at the hall. Youth Club Meetings: First Sunday of each month, 3 p.m. at the hall. LODGE 18, ELGIN (2) Note: Until further notice, youth club meetings will be held with the adult meetings, which are on the third Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m. at the hall. Sunday, May 15—Ennis Czech Boys, polka/waltz, 3 to 7 p.m. $8/person Sunday, May 22—Glen Collins Band, country western. 3 to 7 p.m. $8/person

Lodge Hall: 702 Hwy 95 North, Elgin. Lodge 18 is a non-smoking facility. Hall Rental Information, Country-Western Band Bookings: David Meyer 512-2170162; Polka Band Bookings: Artie Monson 512-281-3711; Hall phone: 512-285-3100. Lodge Meetings: Third Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m. at the hall. Youth Club Meetings: Until further notice, youth club meetings will be held with the adult meetings, which are held on the third Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m. at the hall. For information, call Youth Leader David Meyer 512-217-0162.

LODGE 20, GRANGER (2) Lodge Hall: 114 West Davilla, Granger. Hall Rental Information: Rita Marburger 512-859-2584. Lodge Meetings: First Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at the lodge hall - unless it’s a holiday then the meeting will be held on the second Monday. A light meal is served before each meeting. All members are invited. Youth Club Meetings: Second Sunday of each month, 1:30 p.m. at the hall.

LODGE 23, MORAVIA (6) Lodge Hall: FM 957 North, Schulenburg. Directions: Located 12 miles south of Schulenburg, in Moravia. From Highway 77 between Hallettsville and Schulenburg, take FM 532 West four miles to Moravia. Turn right on FM 957 North. Go one mile; hall is on the right. Lodge Meetings: Tuesday after the second Sunday in March, June, and September, 7:30 p.m.; and the first Sunday of December, 3 p.m.

LODGE 24, CYCLONE (2) Sunday, May 8—Mother’s Day Barbecue: Barbecue chicken; dine-in or plates-to-go; $9; 11 a.m. until ?; youth club quilt drawing. Treat yourself or someone you love to a delicious dinner! Sunday, August 7—Texas Polka Music Museum fundraiser. Watch for details.

Lodge Hall: 411 FM 964, Burlington. Directions: Hall is 12 miles east of Temple, past Zabcikville. Exit at blinking light on Hwy 53 to FM 485; go one mile to FM 964. Hall Rental Information: Mark or Brenda Maddux 254-985-0002; Hall phone: 254-985-2393. Lodge Meetings: Second Monday of each month, 7 p.m. at the hall. Youth Club Meetings: Second Sunday of each month, 2 p.m. at the hall.

LODGE 25, ENNIS (3) Sunday, May 1—Youth club meeting; dining room rental

Lodge Hall: 1901 East Highway 34, Ennis. Directions: From iH-35 East at Waxahachie, take Hwy 287 East exit. Stay on Hwy 287 East until you come to Ennis. Go straight through downtown Ennis and go under the overpass at interstate 45. Go approx. 3/4 mile on Hwy 34. Hall is on the right. Hall Rental Information: 972-875-8381; Hall Phone: 972-875-8381. Lodge Meetings: Second Thursday of each month, 7 p.m. at the hall. Youth Club Meetings: First Sunday of each month, 1:30 p.m. at the hall. Game Room: Open every Wednesday, 5:30 p.m. LODGE 28, EAST BERNARD (6) Sunday, May 15—Lodge meeting

Lodge Meetings: Second Sunday of each month (unless otherwise noted), at 12 noon at Wharton County Library - East Bernard Branch, 746 Clubside Drive, East Bernard. For information, contact Secretary Helen Kelner 281-342-2624. LODGE 29, TAYLOR (2) • All Wednesday/Friday night dances - Free admission • Old-fashioned hamburgers and grilled cheese sandwiches sold every Friday beginning at 6 p.m.

Wednesday, April 20—Sam and Bobby Band. Guest musician Fritz Hodde, 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, April 22—Night Skies, 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Friday, April 29—Glen Collins Band, 7:30 to 11:30 p.m.

Lodge Hall: 5025 FM 619, Taylor. Directions: in Taylor, at intersection of State Hwy 95 and US 79 Business (4th Street), turn east on Hwy 79. Proceed to FM 619, turn north (left) and go about .8 mile to the hall. Hall Rental Information: 512-352-9139; Hall Phone: 512-352-9139. Lodge Meetings: Second Wednesday of each month, 6:30 p.m. at the hall. Youth Club Meetings: First Sunday of each month at 1 p.m. For information, call Youth Leader Cristy Girod 512-468-1347. Music: First and third Wednesday each month, music by Bobby Jay Five Band, 7 to 10 p.m.; Friday evening, 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. All Wednesday and Friday night dances are free admission. Old-fashioned hamburgers served every Friday beginning at 6 p.m.; fish burgers also sold during Lent.

LODGE 30, TAITON (6) Lodge Meetings: First Sunday of each month, 1:30 p.m. at Taiton Community Center, 14221 FM 961, El Campo. Youth Club Meetings: First Sunday of each month, 2:30 p.m. at Taiton Community Center, 14221 FM 961, El Campo.

LODGE 32, VICTORIA (6) Lodge Hall: 3502 North Laurent, Victoria.Lodge Meetings: Second Thursday of each month, 6:30 p.m. at the hall.

LODGE 35, ELK (3) Saturday, April 23—Lost Heart Highway Saturday, May 14—Steve Dansby and the Tailgate Philosophers

Lodge Hall: 9508 Elk Road, Axtell. Directions: From iH-35 in Waco, take Hwy 84 East exit. Stay on Hwy. 84 East through Bellmead; go approx. 8 miles. On the right side of Hwy. 84 will be a sign saying “Elk.” Turn right onto Elk Road; go approx. 1 mile; road will dead end - turn right; go approx. 1/2 mile. Hall is on the left. Hall Rental Information: Gene Pavelka 254-7493326; Hall Phone: 254-863-9320. Lodge Meetings: Second Wednesday of each month, 7:30 p.m. at the hall. Sales Agents: James (Dude) Mann 254-715-0275 and Gene E. Pavelka 254-749-3326.

LODGE 38, KOVAR (1) Lodge Hall: 278 Zimmerhanzel Road, Flatonia. Hall Rental Information: 512-237-9099/day; 830-8394353/night. Lodge Meetings: Second Monday of each month, 7 p.m. at the hall.

LODGE 39, BRYAN (1) Lodge Hall: Cherry Bend Circle, Lot 12, Bryan. Directions: From Hwy 6, turn west on OSR; go 2 miles to Mumford Road and turn left. Go 1.1 mile and turn left on Magnolia. Take the first right turn on Cherry Bend Circle. The lodge hall is at the bend of the road (white building). Lodge Meetings: Second Sunday of each month, 1 p.m. at the hall. Lunch at 12:30 p.m. Meat, drinks, and serving items provided by the lodge. Please bring a dessert or side dish. For information, call President Wade O’Shields 979-218-3527; FAC Ronnie Roesler 979-406-0158.

LODGE 40, EL CAMPO-HILLJE (6) Lodge Hall: 30420 Loop 524 US Hwy 59, Hillje. Directions: Hall is just off US 59 in Hillje. Hall Rental Information: Cathy Garcia 979-332-1614; Hall Phone: 979-648-2317. Lodge Meetings: Second Sunday of each month, 1 p.m. at the hall. Youth Club Meetings: Second Sunday of each month, 11:30 a.m. at the hall.

VĚSTNÍK

LODGE 41, PORT LAVACA (6) Lodge Meetings: Second Tuesday of February, May, August, and November at 6 p.m. at Six Mile Presbyterian Church, Royal Road, Port Lavaca.

LODGE 47, SEATON (2) Lodge Hall: 10842 State Highway 53, Temple. Directions: Seaton Star Hall is five miles east of Temple on Highway 53 (Adams Avenue). Star Hall is a non-smoking facility. Hall Rental Information: Michelle Porubsky 254-493-8020; Hall Phone: 254-985-2548. Lodge Meetings: First Sunday of each month, 2 p.m. at the hall. Youth Club Meetings: First Sunday of each month, 1 p.m. at the hall. Visit www.seatonstarhall.com.

LODGE 48, BEYERSVILLE (2) Lodge Hall: 10450 FM 619, Taylor. Directions: From Taylor, take the South Loop. Turn right on FM 112. Go about 1/2 mile. Turn right on FM 619. Go about three miles. Hall is on the right. Hall Rental Information: 512-450-8310. Lodge Meetings: Second Sunday of each month, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.; except for the following months, the meeting time will be at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, May 11; Monday, June 15; Monday, July 13; and Monday, August 10 at the hall. Youth Club Meetings: Second Sunday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at the lodge hall.

LODGE 49, ROWENA (4) Lodge Hall: 706 FM 2133, Rowena. Hall Rental Information: 325-442-4841. Lodge Meetings: First Wednesday of February, May, August, and November, 7 p.m. at the hall. Youth Club Meetings: First Sunday of each month at 1 p.m. at the lodge hall. LODGE 51, ELLINGER (1) Lodge Meetings: Third Friday of March, June, September, and December, 6:30 p.m. at Ellinger Fire Department, West Main Street in Ellinger.

LODGE 54, WEST (3) Lodge Meetings: First Friday in March, June, and November; the second Friday in September at 7 p.m. at St. Joseph Hall, 303 South Harrison Street in West.

LODGE 63, SWEET HOME (6) Lodge Meetings: Third Thursday of the month, 7 p.m. For meeting location, call 361-594-8429

LODGE 66, WACO (3) Lodge Meetings: Location, date, and time to be announced in the lodge’s monthly meeting minutes that appear in the Věstník. Call 254-799-4247 for more information.

LODGE 67, SCHULENBURG Lodge Meetings: Third or fourth Sunday of March, June, September, and December (Christmas) at Frank’s Restaurant in Schulenburg at 2 p.m. Call Ernest Kutac to confirm meeting date 979-561-7190. LODGE 73, SEYMOUR (4) Lodge Meetings: First Sunday of each month, 12 p.m. For meeting location, call 940-256-2263.

LODGE 76, WICHITA FALLS (4) Lodge Meetings: First Sunday in March and June at 1 p.m. at Luby’s Cafeteria, 1801 Ninth Street in Wichita Falls; second Sunday in September and December at 1 p.m. at Luby’s Cafeteria, 1801 Ninth Street in Wichita Falls.

LODGE 79, CORPUS CHRISTI (7) Lodge Meetings: Third Sunday of each month, 1 p.m. at Sokol Hall, 5502 Kostoryz Road, Corpus Christi. Meal served at 1 p.m.; meeting follows. Visitors welcome. Hall Phone: 361-854-8423. Youth Club Meetings: Third Sunday of each month, 2 p.m. at Sokol Hall, 5502 Kostoryz Road, Corpus Christi.

LODGE 80, HOLLAND (2) Lodge Hall: 12141 East FM 2268, Holland. Directions: On Hwy 95, south of Holland, turn east onto FM 2268; go 1/2 mile to hall on the right. Hall Phone: 254657-2485. Lodge Meetings: First Saturday of each month, 4 p.m. at the hall. Youth Club Meetings: Second Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. at Youth Leader Connie Horak’s home; call 254-541-9165 for address. Board of Directors’ Meetings: First Saturday of each month, 3:30 p.m. Bingo: Every Thursday at 7 p.m. Permit No. SP12371416574; AL17460607355.

LODGE 81, NEEDVILLE (5) Lodge Hall: 13609 Highway 36, Needville. Directions: Lodge building is located at the corner of Highway 36 and FM 361. Hall Rental Information: 979-793-4313; email td_stavinoha@yahoo.com. Hall Phone: 361-793-4742. Lodge Meetings: Third Sunday of each month, 1 p.m. at the hall. Youth Club Meetings: Contact Youth Leader Bradley Stavinoha 979-739-2386.

VĚSTNÍK

LODGE 84, DALLAS (3) Note: Youth club meetings are held one hour before the adult lodge meeting at the lodge hall unless otherwise noted.

Lodge Hall: 2625 Floyd Street, Dallas. Directions: From iH-35 East in Dallas, take iH-20 East. From iH20 East, take the iH-45 exit toward downtown Dallas. iH-45 runs into Hwy 75. From Hwy 75, take a right at Bryan Street exit. From Bryan Street, turn right on Cantreal Street and go until you come to Floyd Street; take a right on Floyd Street. Hall is the second building on the right. Hall Rental Information: Contact Kelly Tucker 469-951-7396. Hall Phone: 214-823-0072. Band Bookings: Cherri Petr 214-352-4397. Lodge Meetings: Third Sunday of each month, 2 p.m. at the hall. Youth Club Meetings: Held one hour before the adult lodge meeting at the lodge hall unless otherwise noted. Contact Youth Leader Lynda Novak 972-9484456.

LODGE 87, TEMPLE (2) Lodge Hall: 320 North 50th Street, Temple. Directions: From East Adams Avenue, turn north onto 50th Street; go 2/10 mile. Hall is on the left. Hall Rental Information: Karin Bryant 254-947-3100 or Judith Little 254-913-8568. Lodge Meetings: Third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the lodge hall.

LODGE 88, HOUSTON (5) All dances are held from 8 to 11:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Reservations suggested, but not required, unless otherwise noted. Reservations held only 30 minutes past start of dance. For reservations, call 713-869-5767, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Beer, set-ups, soda, and ice sold at bar. Please do not bring from outside. *Dress Code dances: evening attire for ladies and gentlemen. Lodge Hall: 1435 Beall Street at West 15th, Houston (the Heights). Directions: Highway 290—Take Mangum Dacoma exit; stay on frontage road. At third traffic light, turn left onto 18th Street. Go under freeway at third traffic light, turn on Beall Street. Hall Rental Information: Lodge Hall: 713-869-5767; or visit www.lodge88.org. Lodge Meetings: Third Monday, 7 p.m. at the hall. Youth Club Meetings: First Sunday of each month, 2 p.m. at the hall. Bingo: Every Thursday evening; early bird special starts at 7 p.m. Regular games start at 7:30 p.m. License No. 17407503501. LODGE 91, SAN JACINTO (5) Lodge Meetings: quarterly meetings—TBA in the Věstník. Contact Secretary Vonda Smesny 713-8707114.

LODGE 92, FORT WORTH (3) Sunday, April 24—District Three Spring Meeting at Sokol Hall, Lodge 154, Fort Worth Tuesday, April 26—Game night at Lodge 92, National Hall, 7 p.m.

Lodge Hall: 3316 Roberts Cutoff Road, Fort Worth. Directions: From interstate 35 West in Fort Worth, take interstate 30 West to the Henderson exit. Take Henderson North, and it becomes Jacksboro Highway (TX199). Stay on this road north until Roberts Cutoff which is a right off of Jacksboro Highway. The lodge also known as National Hall is on the right about 2 or 3 blocks down the road. (A Great Western inn Motel is on the corner.) Hall Event/Rental Information: For hall rentals and upcoming events information, call National Hall Events Manager Jon Durham 817-6241361. Also visit Lodge 92 website www.nationalhallfort-worth.com. Lodge Meetings: Second Sunday of each month, 2 p.m. at the hall. Youth Club Meetings: Second Sunday of each month, 2 p.m. at the hall. Game Nights: Second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. Ladies Circle meets the second Tuesday of each month. Randy and the 92nd Road House Band plays every first Sunday. Dressy casual.

LODGE 97, PLACEDO (6) Lodge Meetings: Second Friday in March, June, September, and December, 6 p.m. For meeting location, call Secretary Diana Redd 361-649-4388.

LODGE 107, FLORESVILLE (7) Lodge Hall: 1156 FM 1303, Floresville. Directions: From Floresville, take FM 536 West three miles to FM 1303; turn right and go two miles. Hall is on the right. Hall Rental Information: 830-393-7796. Lodge Meetings: Second Sunday of each month, 3 p.m. at the hall. LODGE 117, ROBSTOWN (7) Lodge Meetings: First Saturday of March, June, September, and December, 1:30 p.m. at Hilltop Community Center, 11425 Leopard, Corpus Christi.

LODGE 130, DALLAS (3) Lodge Meetings: For monthly meeting date/time/location, contact President/Sales Agent John Vrla 214906-3385; or via email jvrla@cebridge.net.

LODGE 133, SAN ANTONIO (7) Lodge Meetings: Third Sunday of each month, 2 p.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Activity Center, 1630 Goliad Road, San Antonio.

LODGE 135, ENNIS (3) Lodge Hall: 2622 East Highway 34, Ennis. Directions: From iH-35 East at Waxahachie, take Hwy. 287 East exit. Stay Hwy. 287 on until you come to Ennis. Go straight through downtown Ennis and under the overpass at iH-45. Then go approximately 1 3/4 miles on Hwy. 34. Hall is on the left. Hall Rental Information: Larry Valek 214-794-7674. Lodge Meetings: Third Thursday of January, April, July, and October, 7 p.m. at the Sokol hall.

LODGE 139, DANBURY (5) Lodge Meetings: Second Tuesday of each month at 11 a.m. at The Smith Group Building, 1718 Main Street, Danbury. For information, call 979-922-1279; or 979-922-1553.

LODGE 141, SEALY (1) Lodge Meetings: Second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at Gordon Memorial Library, 917 North Circle Drive, Sealy.

LODGE 142, HOUSTON (5) Lodge Meetings: Second or third Sunday of each month - whichever is noted, at 2 p.m., meal served at 1 p.m.; held at SPJST Lodge 88, Houston dining room or annex building - whichever is noted, at 1435 Beall Street at West 15th, Houston (the Heights). Youth Club Meetings: Same time/location as adult lodge meetings. For information, contact Lodge 142, Houston President Keith Kieschnick 832-627-2842; or Secretary Alice Jochen 979-743-3613.

LODGE 148, EL MATON (6) Lodge Meetings: Second Sunday of each month at 3 p.m. at Frank Hahn’s Camphouse in El Maton. Youth Club Meetings: Second Sunday of each month following the adult lodge meeting at Frank Hahn’s Camphouse in El Maton. LODGE 151, WHARTON (6) Lodge Meetings: Second Monday of March, June, September, and December, 6:30 p.m. at Wharton Depot Museum, 100 South Sunset Street, Wharton.

LODGE 154, FORT WORTH (3) Lodge Hall: 6500 Boat Club Road, Fort Worth. Directions: From iH-35 West in Fort Worth, take iH-20 West exit. Stay on iH-20 West until you come to 820; stay on 820 until you come to Jacksboro Highway and Azle Street exit. Take Azle Street exit; go to the traffic light. Turn left at the traffic light. Go to the second traffic light, then turn right onto Boat Club Road. Go approx. 2 1/2 miles. Hall is on the right. Hall Rental Information: Hall Phone: 817-237-5181. Lodge Meetings: Third Sunday of each month, 3:30 p.m. at the hall. Youth Club Meetings: Third Sunday of each month, 5 p.m. at the hall. LODGE 155, AUSTIN (2) Lodge Meetings: First Sunday of March, June, September, and December. Call Secretary Ginny Prasatik 512-472-1721 for meeting time/location. LODGE 157, LUBBOCK (4) Lodge Meetings: Second Sunday of every other month, 1 p.m. Contact Secretary Cynthia Kristinek 806-763-7245; cjkristinek@yahoo.com for meeting location.

LODGE 160, SAN ANGELO (4) Lodge Meetings: Second Sunday of January, April, July, and October, 12 noon at Wall Volunteer Fire Department, Wall.

LODGE 162, IOWA COLONY (5) Lodge Meetings: First Sunday of each month, 2 p.m. at iowa Colony Community Center, 12003 CR 65, iowa Colony. Youth Club Meetings: First Sunday of each month, 2 p.m. at iowa Colony Community Center, 12003 CR 65, iowa Colony.

LODGE 169, BRENHAM (1) Lodge Meetings: Fourth Thursday in February, April, June, August, October at 6:30 p.m. at Texas Seafood and Steakhouse, 2209 South Market Street, Brenham. (December meeting/social information will be announced at a later date.) For information, contact Nello and Dorothy Strickland 979-836-2609.

LODGE 172, PASADENA (5) Lodge Hall: 3609 Preston Road, Pasadena. Reservations/Hall Rental Information: Jo 713-993-6878; Hall Phone: 713-487-3297. Country/western dances held the first Saturday of each month, 7 to 11 p.m., except when noted. Variety dances are held the fourth Saturday of each month, 7 to 10 p.m., except when noted. Beer, soft drinks, and ice are available at the bar. (Do not bring them inside the hall.) Regular Lodge/Covered Dish Meetings: Fourth Sunday of each month, meal at 1 p.m. followed by meeting at 2 p.m. with the exception of November and December, as noted. Lodge Executive Board Meetings/Trustee Meetings and Workdays: Second Monday of each

month, (unless the second Monday is a holiday) at 2 p.m. Dances: Held the first Saturday of each month, unless otherwise noted. Variety Dances: Fourth Saturday of the month, unless noted.

LODGE 177, ACADEMY (2) Lodge Hall: 711 Rio Poco, Little River. Directions: Hall is on the south side of Academy, just off Hwy 95, on the right. Hall Rental Information: 254-982-4530. Hall Phone: 254-982-4434. Lodge Meetings: Second Wednesday of each month at the hall; Board of trustees meet at 6 p.m.; lodge meeting follows at 6:30 p.m. Bingo: Every Tuesday and Friday at 7 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; kitchen is open. LODGE 179, WARRENTON (1) Lodge Meetings: Second Thursday of each month, 7 p.m. at Carmine Lions Club Building, 201 Centennial Street, Carmine.

LODGE 180, BURLESON (3) Lodge Meetings: First Tuesday of each month, 6 p.m. Check Věstník for times or call one of the following: 972-268-0022 or 817-905-2097. LODGE 181, CONROE (5) Note: Watch the Vestnik for lodge meeting location/time to be announced.

Lodge Meetings: Lodge meeting location/time will be announced in the Vestnik. For further information, contact President Barbara Williams-Rash 936-295-7778; email b.d.willrash@att.net; Vice President Chuck Toney 281-362-9062; email cdtiii@toney.us; or Treasurer Patsy McClelland 936-788-5714; or email pmcclelland@consolidated.

LODGE 182, FALLS COUNTY (2) Lodge Meetings: Second Sunday of each month, 3 p.m. at The Chicken Place, 504 Bridge Street, Marlin. Youth Club Meetings: Same time and place as adult lodge meeting.

LODGE 183, ARLINGTON (3) Note: Lodge monthly meetings and family night are held together - the third Sunday of each month at 4 p.m. at the lodge hall.

Lodge Hall: 3100 Pleasant Valley Lane, Arlington. Directions: Take iH-35 West to Fort Worth. Take iH-20 East exit and proceed on iH-20 East until you come to Cooper Street exit. Take Cooper Street exit to the North and stay on Cooper Street until you come to Mayfield Street. Take a right on Mayfield; go down and take a left on Pleasant Valley Lane. Hall Rental Information: Hall Phone: 817-465-8538; 214-876-9029. Lodge Meetings and Family Night: Third Sunday of each month at 4 p.m. at the hall. Youth Club Meetings: Last Friday of each month, 7 p.m. at the hall. Game Nights are every Tuesday and Thursday, 7 p.m. and every Sunday, 1:30 p.m. Permit No. 17516910506.

LODGE 184, MOULTON (6) Lodge Hall: FM 532 West, Moulton. Directions: From Texas 95 in Moulton, take FM 532 West four miles. Lodge hall is located on the right. Lodge Meetings: Second Wednesday of each month, 7:30 p.m. at the hall.

LODGE 185, NEW BRAUNFELS (7) Lodge Meetings: Every other month - February, April, June, August, October, and December. Call for meeting date, time, and location. Youth Club Meetings: Call Youth Leader Theresa Haag 830-625-8262 for meeting date/time/location.

LODGE 186, CALDWELL (1) Lodge Hall: 937 State Hwy. 36, Caldwell. Directions: Lodge building is just off Hwy. 36 on the south side of Caldwell, next to Burleson County Fairgrounds. Hall Rental Information: 979-567-4264. Lodge Meetings: Second Tuesday of each month, 6:30 p.m. at the hall. Youth Club Meetings: First Sunday of each month, 2:30 p.m. at the hall. Social games: Every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Kitchen and bar open. License Permit No. 1-74-20733095-41002. LODGE 187, ROUND ROCK (2) Lodge Hall: 920 Luther Peterson Place, Round Rock. Hall Rental Information: 512-255-1554; 512-7714948. Lodge Meetings: Second Sunday of each month, 2 to 3 p.m. at the hall followed by entertainment and potluck meal. LODGE 189, BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION (1) Lodge Meetings: Second Sunday of March, June, September, and December, 2 p.m. at (unless otherwise noted) C and J Barbecue, 1010 South Texas Avenue in Bryan. LODGE 191, LUFKIN (5) Friday, May 20—Covered Wagon Chow Down: Glenn Lenderman and Friends Lodge Hall: 197 Hughes Road, Lufkin. Hall Rental Information/Dance Reservations: George Scogin 936-

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

875-2867. Lodge Meetings: Monday night before the third Friday night of the month, 7 p.m. at the lodge hall. Regular Dances: Third Friday night of each month, 7 to 10 p.m. Please continue to bring finger foods for the snack table.

LODGE 196, HOUSTON-WEST (5) Lodge Hall: 17810 Huffmeister Road, Cypress. Directions: Off Hwy 290 West at Skinner. Hall Rental Information: 281-351-1045; Hall Phone: 281-3739482. Lodge Meetings: Second Sunday of each month, at 1 p.m. at the hall. Covered dish meal will be served.

LODGE 200, BRUCEVILLE-EDDY (2) Lodge Meetings: First Wednesday of each month, 6:30 p.m. at Bruceville-Eddy City Hall.

LODGE 201 BLEIBLERVILLE-NELSONVILLE (1) Lodge Hall: 3948 FM 2502, Bleiblerville. Directions: Hall is across the street from the post office in Bleiblerville. Lodge Meetings: Second Sunday of each month, 3 p.m. at the hall.

LODGE 202, JOURDANTON (7) Lodge Meetings: First Sunday of each month, 2 p.m. (March, June, September, and December at 1 p.m.) at Jourdanton Community Center, 1101 Campbell Avenue, Jourdanton. Youth Club Meetings: First Sunday of each month at 1:15 p.m. (March, June, September, and December at 1 p.m.) at Jourdanton Community Center, 1101 Campbell Avenue, Jourdanton. LODGE 204, STEPHENVILLE (3) Lodge Meetings: For meeting date/time/location, call Norman Kneschk 254-386-3222; or email normkneschk@gmail.com.

LODGE 207, IOWA PARK (4) Lodge Meetings: Third Thursday of each month, 6 p.m. Call Secretary Mary Hatter 940-322-8503; or any sales agent for meeting location.

LODGE 215, SOUTH PLAINS (4) Lodge Meetings: Second Saturday of January, March, May, July, and September at 6:30 p.m. at Tahoka Housing Authority (small room - 1400 Ave K). For any questions, call Secretary Pam Lehmann 806535-8356. Youth Club Meetings: For location/time, contact Youth Leader Janeece Williams 806-990-3351.

LODGE 219, EL PASO (4) Lodge Meetings: Second Wednesday of each month, 9 a.m. Call Secretary Edna Rivas 915-727-2048 for meeting location. LODGE 229, ABILENE (4) Lodge Meetings: Second Tuesday of each month, 6 p.m. Call Secretary Tammy Copeland 325-333-4089 for meeting location.

LODGE 246, MORGAN’S POINT (2) Lodge Meetings: Second Tuesday of each month at SPJST Home Office, 520 North Main Street, Temple, 12 noon. For information, contact President James L. Lee, iii 254-289-6816. LODGE 258, SEGUIN (7) Lodge Meetings: For meeting date, location, and time, contact President Chester Jenke 210-413-3053 or Treasurer Colleen Jenke 210-215-9494. —SPJST—

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