Czech Culture

Slovanská Podporující Jednota Státu Texas

Česká Část

ROČNÍK 110 ZÁŘÍ 13 11.červenec.2022 Podpora ★ Lidskost ★ Bratrstvi´

BENEVOLENCE HUMANITY BROTHERHOOD

Uředni orgán SPJST ★ Založené roku 1897

Učme se česky Let Us Study Czech

Lekce třicet Lesson 30

Spojka — The Conjunction Souřadicí — Coordinating

Conjunctions link together words or sentences of the same rank, that is, two main clauses.

Example: Most je dlouhý, nebot’ řeka je široká.

Typical conjunctions connecting two main clauses are a–and; ale–but; nebo–or; and nebot’–for.

S S S

There are several types of conjunctions:

1.Cummulative–which may simply add one thought to another, such as:

a and i — and, also i and i — both, and jak and tak — as, as ani — neither, nor

2.Emphatic–the other part of a sentence or statement acquiring a particular stress, such as:

ba i, ba dokonce — and even. nejen . . . nýbrž–not only . . . but rather

3.Adversative signifying contrast or opposition, such as: ale, avšak, však–but, however a přece–and yet ovšem, ale–of course, but jenže–still, nevertheless kdežeto–whereas místo aby–instead of . . .

4.Alternative–statements mutually exclusive, such as:

nebo, anebo, či–or

5.Illative–inferring or concluding, an additional statement motivating or explaining the first, such as:

proto–therefore Tedy: tudíž–then, that’s why; consequently, therefore vždyt’–indeed totiž–that is, namely

S S S

Examples used in sentences:

1. Neznám ani jeho ani ji. 2. Bud’ mluv rosumně nebo mlč! 3. “A přece se točí!” řekl Galileo. 4. Byl jsem u Tondy, jenže si už nic nepamatuji. 5. Je to sice pravda, ale neřekl mu to. 6. Místo aby šel domů, šel do hospody. 7. Přesto, že ji neměl rád, šel ji navštívit. 8. Vím, avšak se mně neptejte! 9. Je to špatná věc, proto vás varuji. 10. Přijd’te všichni, nebot’ budou důležité volby. 11. Musím se učit, vždyt’ mám zítra zkoušky. 12. Vždyt’ je to Karel! 13. Nečti to, vždyt’ tomu nerozumíš! Subordinating conjunctions may stand in a sentence as:

1. Subjective –Je dobře, že pracuje pravidelně. Je docela správné, abychom ji pomohal.

2. Objective–Bratr mi píše, že přijede do Texasu. On mi píše, abych přijel domů. Sestra psala, zdali přijedu k nim. Nevím, kam pojedu. Nevěděla, kdy pojede. Ptala se mne, proč bych tam měla jet.

3. Attributive— Dostali jsme úkol — jaký — , abychom se naučili za jeden rok česky.

Vědomí — jaké? — , že pracujeme pro dobro celé Jednoty.

4. Adverbial— Až tu knihu přečtu, vrátím vám ji. (of time) Počkám na něho, až přijde,

Here, až means until. Jakmile mě uviděl, šel ke mě. Byl jsem tak unaven, že jsem usnul, sotvaže jsem si sedl. Nepůjdu. pokud je tam on. Pojd’, drive než přijde tatík.

S S S

Translate all the sentences into English.

—SPJST—

CESAT announces Czech classes at Blinn College

The Czech Ex-Students Association of Texas (CESAT) is pleased to announce the fall schedule of Czech classes at Blinn College at Schulenburg Campus which will be live online. All courses transfer as foreign language with a direct transfer to University of Texas.

Dual credit, university credit, and non-credit beginning Czech and intermediate Czech will begin August 24, 2022, and continue through December 8, 2022. These classes will be online from 7:45 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. Monday through Thursday. To register for credit Czech class, call Shannon Williford at 979-209-8228 or email shannon.williford@blinn.edu. A limited number of scholarships are available for credit Czech. To register for non-credit continuing education classes, call Loraine Orellana at 979-743-5237 or email lorellana@blinn.edu. Text book is required.

Continuing education Advanced Conversational Czech will begin September 13 to November 8. To register for non-credit continuing education classes, call Loraine Orellana at 979743-5237 or email lorellana@blinn.edu.

Join our continued effort to preserve the rich language and traditions of the Czech community. If you have questions about course delivery, please email Thadious.Polasek@blinn.edu.

To register for the Czech class, call 979-742-5237 and ask to speak to Mrs. Loraine Orellano, Coordinator of Distance and Community Education at the Blinn College Campus, Schulenburg. Courses are pending The Texas Education Coordinating Board approval. www.blinn.edu/czech Submitted by, Thadious Polasek Lodge 67, Schulenburg —SPJST—

Editor’s Note: The following article was shared with the Věstník by Nancy Machu of Lodge 29, Taylor. Our thanks to her and to East Wilco Insider for reprint permission.

PRESERVING CZECH CULTURE

Local efforts include a museum, preservation societies, and a choral group ~ by Angela Covo

Published June 4, 2022

East Wilco Insider, a product of Taylor Press P P P

There’s no such thing as a sausage kolache.

As the descendants of Czechoslovakian immigrants in Taylor and Granger explained, the proper name for a sausage enveloped in kolache dough is klobasnek. The true Czech kolache is a sweet pastry, like a Danish.

And while the savory Texas “kolache” is ubiquitous throughout the state, the confusion underscores the importance of preserving Czech heritage. blood engage in this endeavor today.”

Diane Volek, the director of the Taylor Czech Chorus, which just recently started performing again for private events, shares the Machus’ concern.

“We are the last of the singing groups - the Taylor Czech Chorus is about 50 years old,” Volek said. “We are still part of that original group, but many of our members are getting older and the pandemic disrupted things as well. Most of us are second- or third-generation Czechs.”

She explained that older Texas Czechs grew up with their grandparents, living the language and traditions, but that may not be enough anymore.

“Our kids appreciate it, but they didn’t grow up in it like we did,” Volek said. “Then it was more rural, now it’s more urban, more integrated, and so naturally, there is some loss of what came over.”

One of Volek’s favorite features of Czech culture is the Czech wedding celebration, a daylong affair that starts with the couple tying the knot early.

“The big deal is the meal and the dance in the early evening. At the dance, everyone lines up, flanking the bride and groom for the Grand March,” she said. “It is so much fun, there are so many different formations . . . the Grand March continues today at many Czech weddings.”

And, of course, Slivovice, the plum brandy considered to be the Moravian “national” drink, is always present at Texas Czech celebrations.

The 62-year-old mayor of Granger, Monica Stojanik, is also the youngest member of the Taylor Czech Chorus and a major force in celebrating Texas Czech culture.

“I’m so very proud of my heritage,” said Stojanik, who was born and raised in Granger. “I remember when I was a kid, we weren’t allowed to speak Czech at school, but I can still speak, read, write, and pray in Czech.”

The mayor’s family came to Texas from then-Czechoslovakia in the early 1900s. She explained that Granger was not much more than a one-horse town back then.

“Families who were already here sponsored other families,” she said. “My family settled about seven miles east of the city limits in a predominantly farming community – Grandpa Alphonse Stojanik worked for the Denson family and got paid in land for their sweat equity to build a farm.”

Today, that land encompasses about 119 acres. The Stojanik elders, including the mayor’s dad, Leonard Stojanik, continued to farm the parcel until a few years ago, but now the property is leased to other farmers.

Monica Stojanik, whose town is still recovering from the recent tornadoes that hit the area in March, was determined to bring back another traditional celebration, called Lakefest, this year.

“Lakefest is a 43-year-old tradition in Granger, and I’m just so excited we

LEFT PHOTO: Holiday kolaches are larger than everyday kolaches and beautifully decorated. Photo courtesy of Chef Denise Mazal. RIGHT PHOTO: Traditional Czech kolaches. Photo by Vitezslav Vylicil.

Nancy Machu, who studies Czech genealogy, and her husband Darwin Machu, a member of the Taylor Czech Chorus, agree.

“Preserving and passing on genealogy and heritage to future generations is a passion for me and for a small number of Texas Czechs,” Nancy Machu said. “If we fail to do our part, the Czech language, history, heritage, and much genealogical information will most likely be gone within two generations, as very few people with Czech dancing and a Czech kolache sale. The mayor was even able to get a carnival to come to town for the four-day fest, which kids (young and old) enjoyed.

Stojanik not only speaks fluent Czech, she’s also an expert at making traditional and authentic Czech pork sausage and jitrnice, pronounced yeetry-nee-tza, a head sausage like boudin made with barley (not rice).

“It’s very flavorful, but not spicy or hot like boudin,” Stojanik added. “In the future, I would love for an authentic kolache shop to open in Granger that serves jitrnice, open-face sandwiches, kolaches, and klobasnek – a place that serves traditional Czech cuisine.”

In this photo from 2012, the Taylor Czech Chorus includes, front row, left to right, Vlasta Vitek, Edith Remmel, Carolyn Hickman, Beatrice Janecka, Monica Stojanik, June Kubala, Adele Rosipal, Marie Ann Ripple, Loretta Goericke; second row - Mary Ann Stauffer, Lillian Kaspar, Betty Zimmerhanzel, Shirley Werchan, Angeline Malicoat, Katherine Merka, Sarah Vitek, Eileen Rosipal, Trudy Kincl; third row - Edward Bucanek, Gilbert Shiller, Darwin Machu, Emil Kaderka, Carl Goericke, Jimmy Palla, Henry Ripple Jr.; and fourth row - Herbert Rosipal, Sid Krhovjak, Felix “Buster” Pavlicek, Diane Volek, Billy Hodde, and Nolin Werchan.

were able to coordinate everything to have a fantastic event this year,” she said. “It would be the 44th year, but we had to cancel it in 2020, thanks to COVID-19.”

Indeed, the 2022 festival was a grand success - for the first time they incorporated a Cinco de Mayo celebration complete with Tejano music and margaritas, but patrons also enjoyed the band, polka

The mayor also finds the time to visit local schools to share Czech culture.

During her programs, usually in October, declared by the Legislature as “Czech Heritage Month” in Texas, Stojanik teaches Czech words, discusses the food traditions, and brings a display with traditional Czech costumes, dolls, and pottery.