Youth Section

SPJST Youth Section

State Fraternal Director shares February updates

Hopefully, everyone had a great time bringing in 2022! There were many SPJST lodges hosting New Year’s Eve dances and celebra tions. It was low key at our house this year. I received my Covid booster shot and f e l t crummy so I decided to turn on the television to watch the ball drop in Times Square while in the comforts of home!

Did anyone see the full moon on Monday, January 17? The Farmer’s Almanac calls it the full Wolf Moon. It caught my eye looking into my rearview mirror coming home Monday evening after work. I only wished I had pulled over to take a photo of it. I did find a great photo online taken Monday night from Yahoo. I wanted to share with you.

Let’s Get Together!

In the coming weeks, I will be heading to each district to visit with our youth leaders and DYCs. The goal: to listen to your thoughts about our youth program and to hear your ideas about revitalizing it. You will receive thought questions prior to the visit that will be designed to encourage meaningful discussion. Your own questions will also be encouraged. This informal gathering will last no more than a couple of hours and be held at your lodge or a quiet restaurant.

2022 SPJST Lodge Membership Drive: Up, Up and Away!

Introducing the 2022 Membership Drive and Contest for all lodges. Here’s your chance to help grow your lodge and raise a little funds for the lodge, too.

As we enter the new 2022 year, it’s time to focus on bringing in new members to your lodge. Last year, we introduced a new referral program. In 2022, your lodge can be paid for those referrals. For more information, see page 7.

2021 Youth Quarterly Reports

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for turning in your last youth club quarterly report for 2021. • Next report due Friday, April 15. • Youth Leaders, please become a member of the closed Facebook group page—“SPJST Leadership.” Questions? Give me a call.

2022 SPJST Youth Club Handbook Review

Youth Leaders, please add this to your calendar. We will review changes to the 2022 SPJST Youth Club Handbook in a virtual meeting. • Saturday, January 29 at 9 a.m. and ending no later than 12 noon. • A .pdf file of the handbook will be sent to you weeks prior. • Here’s the link to join: https://www.gotomeet.me/spjst/youthclub-handbook-review

Dates for 2022 Camp Sessions • LIT Camp

Thursday, June 23 to Sunday, June 26 • Junior Camp Session One

Thursday, July 7 to Sunday, July 10

Districts Two, Three, Four, Five • Junior Camp Session Two

Thursday, July 14 to Sunday, July 17

Districts One, Six, Seven • All camp registrations start at 2 p.m. and last one hour. • Late registration must be coordinated with your District Youth Counselor. • All qualifying campers, LITs, and chaperones may choose either session.

Camp Registration Coming Soon

We ask for your patience as we will soon introduce the camp registration process for 2022. Stay tuned to the “SPJST Youth Program” Facebook group page for updates on camp registration.

Youth Leaders Appreciation and Workshop Save the Dates: April 22 and 23

Our youth leaders are very important to SPJST. Make plans to join us at Camp Kubena as we show our appreciation. • 6 p.m. - Friday night social • 7 p.m. - Appreciation dinner • Enjoy an overnight stay at beautiful Camp Kubena. • Saturday will be filled with fun, team building activities to assist you in your youth club. and a motivational speaker. • Experience high ropes, axe throwing, disk golf, and other activities and amenities at Camp Kubena. • Saturday morning breakfast and lunch will be provided. • District Youth Counselors, youth leaders, and camp chaperones are invited. Bring a guest, too.

SPJST Camp T-Shirt Orders

Members, youth clubs, and parents will order camp t-shirts online in 2022. More details coming soon!

District Youth Achievement Days

All districts will host live District Youth Achievement Days (YAD) in 2022. We will be converting to an online registration process through the SPJST website. No more cards! Yeah!

• Craft categories that will have attachment uploads: * Photography * Hobby Kit (photo of box/package) * Desserts (pdf/photo of recipe card) * Royalty (speech and headshot photo)

• Entries are due 20 days before the respective scheduled District YAD (Contact youth DYC for more information.) • District One - Sunday, July 10

Caldwell Civic Center • District Two - Sunday, July 17

Lodge 47, Seaton • District Three - Sunday, March 27

Lodge 25, Ennis • District Four - Sunday, June 12

Venue TBA • District Five - Saturday, July 16

Lodge 88, Houston • District Six - Sunday, July 10

Taiton Community Center • District Seven - Sunday, June 12

Lodge 202, Jourdanton hosting

• Royalty speech topic - “My SPJST Family — What It Means To Me.”

State Youth Achievement Day

State YAD will be in Temple at the Frank W. Mayborn Civic and Convention Center on Saturday, July 30.

District Youth Development Workshop

Each district will conduct its own workshop for their respective youth. Leaders and parents, please bring your youth club members to the workshop.

• District One - At spring meeting • District Two - Sunday, February 20 • District Four - to be announced • District Seven - to be announced

Due to the upsurge in Covid cases, our districts have an option to host the workshop now or hold off until a later date.

100 Pennies Scholarship Fund Drive

Everyone spread the word! The 2021-2022 SPJST 100 Pennies Scholarship Fund Drive to benefit the scholarship fund is in full swing, and we need your help!

Lodge 25, Ennis youth: fun pizza, bingo times

Kalynn Ryan and her dad, Blake, enjoy a game of bingo. Kalynn’s sister Kenley Ryan and great-grandmother Margaret Krajca.

Dear Readers,

I had pizza and played bingo at the meeting. We won prizes. It was fun. —Kaylynn Ryan, age 8

• Ends: Thursday, March 31, 2022 • A donation of any amount is accepted. • All contributions provide scholarships for higher education.

Vestnik Projects

Vestnik Projects are accessible on the www.spjst.org webpage under the Youth Program tab. The QR code on page 29 will take you to the project as well. Parents will start receiving an email after their child has completed the project. This will help them keep track of the projects completed.

I hope the month of February will be good to you, and I will see you soon. Fraternally, Frank Horak State Fraternal Director —SPJST—

Lodge 25, Ennis youth enjoys Christmas break

Dear Readers,

I liked my Christmas break and new year! My favorite present was a Bayblade arena. I got to see all my family and played games like Left, Right, Center.

Fraternally yours, Luke Holland, age 7 —SPJST—

Lodge 25, Ennis youth visits trampoline park

Dear Readers,

Today, I went to the trampoline park with my family. We had so much fun! I liked the ninja warrior course the best. I saw snow falling down at my Gram’s house in Waxahachie. It’s been a great day!

Fraternally yours, June Holland, age 5 —SPJST—

Lodge 25, Ennis youth attends first meeting

Dear Readers,

I had fun at my first meeting of 2022. We colored and sang the kolache song.

I am excited that my grandma and grandpa are coming to my house soon! Love, Garrett Wyatt, age 5 —SPJST—

Lodge 84, Dallas Youth Club shares upcoming activities

Dear Readers,

The youth of Lodge 84, Dallas continue to meet via Zoom for pandemic precaution. At our January meeting, Youth Leader Lynda Novak reminded us that State Fraternal Director Frank Horak stated the 2022 January Vestnik project was now online. Everyone was reminded to double check that they had submitted their 2021 projects. Youth Leader Lynda said all our youth were current so we should keep an eye out for the new ones to continue completing and submitting.

She said the youth development workshop would be held on January 22 in Ennis. The youth leaders’ workshop is April 22 and 23 at Camp Kubena.

March 27 is District Three Youth Achievement Day in person at Lodge 25, Ennis and for us to keep an eye out for the registration that we are to use to upload our entry cards and pictures. For those who are entering in the royalty competition, “My SPJST Family - What it Means To Me” is the speech topic.

Flag Day essay deadline for submission is May 31, and “What Does the Red, White and Blue Mean to Me” is the theme for 2022.

Youth leader Lynda continued to encourage us to get started on our YAD projects soon as it is approaching quickly! She then said to keep up the good work that we are doing and that she will be in touch for anything further that comes up. Fraternally, Josh Tucker, age 13 Reporter —SPJST—

Lodge 25, Ennis Youth Club Welcomes 2022 at January Meeting

Lodge 25, Ennis Youth Club members met Sunday, January 9, 2022. Items discussed were the upcoming annual lodge fundraiser which will be held Saturday, February 12. District Three Youth Achievement Day (YAD) will be held at our lodge on Sunday, March 27. Everyone was encouraged to begin their YAD entry plans. Lunch, snacks, and bingo was enjoyed by everyone.

—Rita Holland, Youth Leader

LEFT PHOTO: Bingo callers Madison and Misty. PHOTO 2: The Holland family plays bingo. PHOTO 3: Pictured are Jennifer, left, Laure’s family, in back, and Margaret. RIGHT PHOTO: The Oliver girls. BELOW LEFT PHOTO: Youth recite the Pledge of Allegiance. BELOW PHOTO 2: Lodge 25 Youth Club officers include Misty, Preston, and Madison. BELOW PHOTO 3: The Wyatt family. BELOW RIGHT PHOTO: Lodge 25 youth are recognized for participating in the theme design contest. Congratulations to, left to right, Layne, Morgan, Tori, and Misty.