Vestnik Project

100 Pennies Scholarship Fund Drive

The 100 Pennies Scholarship Fund Drive to benefit the scholarship fund is still underway. This link: https://spjst.org/programs/scholarships/ will take you directly to the scholarship page to make a donation. Click on the yellow donate button to make your donation. You can also find the Scholarship page at www.spjst.org and click on “Programs,” then click on “Scholarships.” The 100 Pennies Scholarship Drive will run through March 31, 2021. Fraternally, Frank Horak State Fraternal Director —SPJST—

Lodge 84, Dallas Youth Club meets virtually

Dear Readers,

In an effort to keep up with everything, the youth of Lodge 84, Dallas continue to meet virtually during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Youth Leader Lynda Novak has been keeping us current with upcoming events like getting our Vestnik Projects submitted on time.

Also . . . do not to forget about the Second Sunday webcast schedule with State Fraternal Director Frank Horak. The next one will be held on Sunday, March 9 at 6 p.m. Register online at spjst.org under “Events.”

Youth Leader Lynda said she hopes we are working on our projects for District Three Youth Achievement Day (YAD) which will be held virtually this year. Lynda is looking for lots of scrapbook items to showcase our youth club activities!

We are all staying busy during this pandemic and doing our best to stay healthy. Hope you all are, too! Fraternally, Josh Tucker, age 11 Reporter —SPJST—

SPJST February Věstník Project

This project earns a maximum 1 point in the SPJST Youth Merit Point System. To complete the project questions to earn 1 point in the SPJST Merit Point System, scan the QR Code below, or go directly to spjst.org/programs/vestnik-project/

Get to Know Camp Kubena Executive Director Rob Clift

Robert “Rob” Clift III grew up in the small North Texas farming town of Bonham, Texas, near the Red River. His father, Robert “Bob” Clift Jr., owned Red River Tractor, the only John Deere dealership in the area, and Rob spent many hours playing and exploring the multitude of new tractors, combines, and various farm implements on the lot. It was like a giant playground of green.

Bob tells the story taking Rob, who was about seven years old, to work with him at Red River Tractor on a cold, wintery Saturday. After some time, Bob suddenly realized no one had seen Rob for hours. The entire staff stopped work and began franticly looking for Rob. They soon found Rob fast asleep in the cab of a brand-new John Deere combine. The sun had warmed the cab and the seat was so comfortable, that is where Rob decided to take his afternoon nap. There were many naps taken in that combine.

When Rob was about 10 years old, his family decided to move to the larger town of Sherman, Texas. His mom, Judy Clift, had an opportunity to further her career as a State Farm Insurance agent. The 1980s had not been kind to farm implement dealers. Rob and his younger brother, John Clift, were excited about this new adventure in a “big town” with a mall. Rob and John would go on many adven tures as their house was on the edge of town and had acres of forest, creeks, and trails to explore.

They each had a trail motorcycle and so did all the neighbor friends. Like Lewis and Clark, they would be off discovering new places and treasures until the first streetlamp came on, which was the sign to get home ASAP. Not a bad way to grow up!

As Rob got older, he attended Sherman High School and became highly active in the Sherman High School band program as a percussionist. He was always able to pick up an instrument and

just play it. Rob remembers learning the theme song to The Pink Panther by ear on his mom’s black lacquer piano. He was always playing music with his friends and would load his 1966 Mustang with a drum set and head out to jam in someone’s garage. This passion for music and adventure would eventually take Rob across the Atlantic Ocean to Ghana, Africa, where he would spend a summer studying African music.

Even though Rob’s passion was music, his love for the outdoors and adventure was always there. His father always took Rob and John on boating and fishing trips on Lake Texoma, to Boy Scout meetings and campouts, and on hunting trips to the Texas Hill Country. During Summer Scout Camp, Rob decided to earn the Boy Scout of America Sailing Merit badge. This would be the beginning of many sailing adventures. One of his favorite adventures was after a flood on Lake Texoma in 1990, a neighbor offered to give Rob a 21foot sailboat. The issue was the sailboat was 20 feet under water at a marina. Rob, along with other friends in his Boy Scout troop, were able to get the boat out of the water and begin restoring the 21-foot Santana sailboat. Rob built his skill of boat work, sailing, and leadership during this time and found a deep passion for the open water. This experience would lead Rob to the opportunity of earning his Captain’s license and leading weeklong sailing adventures for the Boy Scouts National High Adventure Sea Base in the Florida Keys. Rob said the opportunity to pass along the adventuro u s spirit and encourage youth to grow in a positive direction, lets him feel he is making a difference in the lives of others. —SPJST—