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Special VESTNIK Supplement: 2021 Pre-Convention Reports Issue Communication Department staff learned how to do work disparately and with far less oversight: they learned “on the job” what works and what doesn’t work remotely. Ironically, in the midst of social distancing, we became closer. We built a more agile, adaptive team, have been more consistently in touch with each other, and connection has become a priority in the name of working remotely. But beyond that, we are connected with purpose and as a community. Resilience has become just as important to strategic thinking as cost and efficiency. SPJST leaders now have, in some sense, been gifted with a better idea of what can and cannot be done outside the Home Office’s traditional processes, and COVID-19 forced both the pace and scale of workplace innovation. In the Communication Department, we are finding simpler, faster, and less expensive ways to operate. All of this points to our innate ability to change and to move away from standardized solutions and prescribed approaches. COVID-19 has certainly been a catalyst to reinvent the future of work and to create opportunities for SPJST to look at things differently. Project Management In a given week, the Communication Department is juggling a multitude of projects. The Department is currently integrating an efficient project management platform into its daily routine in an effort to better organize work. Tasks are managed, tracked, and shared with teammates. Project cards provide an ecosystem of checklists, due dates, attachments, conversations, and more. Today’s Communications Even with the considerable efforts that have been made in the communication area, many exciting communication and growth opportunities exist for SPJST. Communications has changed dramatically over the past 15 years, and our ability to anticipate and respond to those changes is what makes an impact for our organization and ultimately drives success. Even though communications has changed, the underlying strategy hasn’t. Finding strong message pillars and brand story and communicating it clearly and effectively to target audiences is still the way to go. We can be effective telling our story—no matter how the media changes. And, of course, in a fast-changing world, creativity is always the best weapon! Publication Committee My sincere thanks to the Publication Committee for its service to SPJST and its tremendous support of the Vestnik/Communication Department. The Committee’s role is to meet annually with the Editor/Director of Communication in order to evaluate past performance and to make
recommendations for improving organizational communications on a regular and as needed basis. Current Publication Committee members are Chair Floyd Kostelka of Lodge 13, Dime Box (District One); Vice Chair Lynda Novak of Lodge 84, Dallas (District Three); Secretary Baley Stavinoha of Lodge 81, Needville (District Five); Amber Bartek of Lodge 47, Seaton (District Two); Sharon Hohmann of Lodge 160, San Angelo (District Four); Marjorie Treumer of Lodge 30, Taiton (District Six); and Trey Bielefeld of Lodge 107, Floresville (District Seven). Thanks, too, to past committee members Chair Jarolyn Popp of Lodge 133, San Antonio; Secretary Helen Kelner of Lodge 28, East Bernard; Tammy Cannon of Lodge 29, Taylor; Lorenda Baldwin of Lodge 139, Danbury; Vonda Smesny of Lodge 91, San Jacinto; and Regina House of Lodge 202, Jourdanton for their service since the 2016 Convention. Appreciation and Thanks My thanks to everyone who has helped me achieve deadlines and goals over the past five years. Sincere thanks to Vestnik/Communication Specialist Katherine Morris (23 years of service) and Graphic Designer/Communication Specialist Brooke Hoelscher (7 years of service) for their dedication and support. Both of these ladies are lifelong SPJST members and are graduates of the SPJST Youth Program. Their experience and knowledge of SPJST and the communication areas, along with their creativity, are invaluable assets to the Vestnik/Communication Department and the entire SPJST organization. My thanks to our lodge and youth club correspondents for their input over the years and to all of our members who help to spread the good word about SPJST. And, finally, thank you to my husband David for his support, encouragement, and priceless assistance that have certainly been the wind that has carried me. As a third-generation and lifelong SPJST member whose heart is filled with excitement and passion for this organization, I will greatly appreciate your continued support and confidence in me as Vestnik Editor/Director of Communication. The Vestnik, promoting SPJST, and communicating the SPJST brand will continue to be my top priorities, and I will continue to work with the Officers, Directors, Home Office Staff, and our members. Thank you, and may God bless SPJST and our membership. Fraternally yours, Melanie Zavodny, FIC Vestnik Editor/ Director of Communication —SPJST—
Pre-Convention Report By-Law Committee The purpose of this pre-convention report is in compliance with the current SPJST By-Laws as approved by delegates at the 32nd Convention in 2016 and to share with you information that was submitted and acted on by the By-Law Committee. The By-Law Committee met six times in 2020 - with four of those being teleconference meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic which led to postponing the 33rd Convention to August 2021. The Committee also meet four times in 2021. All of the recommendations received were read, reviewed, and discussed at great length before being acted upon. The Committee worked diligently to ensure that the results would be in the best interests of SPJST. The recommendations were published in the Vestnik for all members to read. They can be viewed in the SPJST Convention App that is available for all delegates to download. The submitted recommendations can also be viewed on SPJST’s website at https://spjst.org/2021-convention/ The By-Law Committee appreciates you, members and lodges, who submitted your recommendations to us for consideration as this proves your interest in the SPJST organization. The By-Law Committee recommendations for the 33rd SPJST Convention are presented beginning on page 21. Please note that the document is color coded: Black is the current by-laws. Red is the proposed change. Green signifies moving the text to the SPJST Operations Manual. Blue represents codification of the text. Respectfully, Dorothy Pflughaupt, Chair District Five Joe Siptak, Vice Chair District Six Beverly Teplicek, Secretary District Four Bill Orsak District One Bridget Bohac District Two Mary Steinman District Three Oscar Korus District Seven —SPJST—
