Special VESTNIK Supplement: 2021 Pre-Convention Reports Issue
Pre-Convention Report Editor/Director of Communication Melanie Zavodny Dear SPJST Members, remain relevant in the fraternal and life Thank you for your membership in insurance industry. SPJST. Our delegates will soon gather to Several efforts to reduce Vestnik deliberate and set the course for our great expenses were implemented in late fraternal organization over the next three 2016, which have resulted in a savings years—and beyond. This week’s Vestnik of $440,000. features pre-convention reports. I encourA bi-monthly publication since age you to take the time to read these re- October 2019, the Vestnik continues to ports and to stay tuned to the Vestnik as be the voice of SPJST and its members. we prepare for While the reduced the 33rd SPJST frequency has Convention in created a August. significant cost We have savings for accomplished SPJST, the same many things in amount of work the Vestnik/ goes into each Communication o v e r a l l Department over publication. The the past five same amount or years. The more content communication continues to be industry is designed, constantly developed, and changing, and edited in fewer we are staying publications with abreast of the increased page m a n y counts. opportunities The average that exist — page count per especially as it week in 2021 is relates to digital 31 pages. The Melanie Zavodny, FIC marketing, average Vestnik branding, and subscriptions communications. currently being mailed out are 4,746. The 2021 Vestnik cost is an average of 61 “The Voice of Our Members cents for printing and mailing each issue. and SPJST” Several special Vestnik features are The Vestnik is the tool that bonds all included throughout the year. These members in all departments - throughout include valentine greetings, Czech SPJST in youth clubs, lodges, districts, Easter activities, graduate recognition, and across the state. It is the voice of the 100 percent families, and Czech membership and the entire organization. Heritage Month activities. A weekly publication since its beginning My sincere thanks and appreciation to in 1912, the Vestnik recently transitioned Temple Daily Telegram, which has to a bi-monthly publication after printed the Vestnik since 2005. The delegates to the 2016 Convention voted relationship between SPJST and the in favor of the change in September Telegram has always been very friendly. 2019 through a ballot in lieu of I greatly appreciate the management and convention. The primary reason for the personnel at Temple Daily Telegram for change was to increase efficiency and their professionalism and expertise in the allow SPJST to expand its publication and news media industry. communication by integrating new Vestniks are also sent digitally to media tools and strategies to increase approximately 1,150 subscribers on the brand relevance. By adapting and second and fourth Monday mornings of embracing changes - in communications each month. Members can sign up and in SPJST’s governance - we will online for a digital subscription.
To those who submit articles and photographs to the Vestnik . . . my utmost appreciation to you— for you truly are the backbone and voice of our newspaper. Adult lodge and youth club correspondents and members provide a never-ending flow of lodge news, photos, feature ideas, and other communication projects for the Vestnik for each issue. Please keep those items coming! Thanks, too, to the readers for their loyalty. It is the readers and members who make it all worthwhile. Thank you. Vestnik Celebrates 109th Anniversary September 1, 2021, will be 109 years since Frank Fabian edited and published the first Vestnik in Hallettsville. To recognize the Vestnik’s significant 100th anniversary milestone in 2012 and to preserve SPJST’s history, the Vestnik/Communication Department partnered with Texas Czech Genealogical Society (TCGS) to scan all available past Vestniks from 1912 through 2004. Through a partnership with the University of North Texas, the archived Vestnik collection is hosted on The Portal to Texas History. The entire collection has also been uploaded to issuu.com, which is a digital discovery and publishing platform that enables distribution of digital content. In both collections, Vestniks are indexed and organized by years and can be searched in numerous ways. A link to the Vestnik archives appears on the spjst.org website. The direct link is https://issuu.com/spjst/stacks. This project has connected generations and has provided valuable historical research for SPJST and genealogical data for families. The Vestnik Reading Room, which is located in the downstairs gallery at the SPJST Home Office, includes bound copies of Vestniks and a computer with digital, searchable copies. A secure area of the room includes the permanent Vestnik collection that is stored in acidfree archival boxes. Vestnik/Communication Department Duties During the past five years, in addition to editing and publishing the Vestnik, the duties of the Communication Department have been vast and consisted of working hand-in-hand with other departments in a variety of capacities, including the promotion of fraternal and youth activities and programs and life insurance products and programs. This
17 also includes the design and development of digital and printed materials, newsletters, flyers, brochures, and advertisements for Society marketing and promotions. The Communication Department designed, developed, and distributed more than 30 annual lodge and youth club mailouts each year (prior to 2020). In addition, digital materials are designed throughout the year. Other printed communication projects that the Vestnik/Communication Department produces include the annual calendar, youth club handbook, SPJST Convention Souvenir Book, and membership promotional materials. As a matter of routine, the Editor represents the Society at various SPJST and member-related activities including heritage and cultural events throughout the state. In addition, the Communication Department promotes and assists Home Office events and initiatives such as SPJST Founders Day, Corpus Christi Getaway, and State Youth Achievement Day. Digital Communications Whether it is moderating a webcast, producing a video, designing a webpage, or composing an email blast, digital communications are at the forefront of our daily tasks. SPJST.org The Communication Department is responsible for designing and maintaining the SPJST website at www.spjst.org. A new website was premiered in late 2016. After extensive research, a common vision was created that enabled SPJST to re-engineer a site that better reflected SPJST’s evolving mission and helped build organizational and brand identity, awareness, strength, and interest in SPJST and the services it provides - while incorporating the latest web technology and functionality. The goal of the website was to fuse SPJST’s proud past with today’s technology to bring SPJST to life in the digital world. The new website unified and energized the SPJST brand online. It enhanced the user’s experience and increased access to organizational products, services, programs, departments, resources, and data. Lodge and agent locators, an interactive event calendar, and an online store were incorporated into the site’s final design.
