State Tournament Info

From the State Fraternal Director

Adult and Youth Member News and Information for January

Happy New Year!

New Year’s Day around our house consists of waking up late morning, getting ready to watch college football bowl games, and taking life at a slower pace for the day. We also prepare the traditional New Year’s Day meal— the one consisting of ham, black-eyed peas, cabbage, and cornbread. Does this sound familiar with your family?

According to popular folklore, if these foods are eaten on New Year’s Day, they guarantee good luck throughout the year. Each food group represents something. You probably already know, or it can be googled!

I express gratitude to our membership. We just celebrated 125 years of service and financial care for your family and families across our great state. Without you, we wouldn’t be here. Your membership is very important in keeping SPJST moving forward in 2023. You have made this fraternal organization what it is today. As a fraternal benefit society, we must all be involved in setting goals to attract new members. May the New Year bring you happiness, peace, and prosperity. Wishing you a joyous 2023!

2022 SPJST Lodge Enhanced Premium Refund Important Paperwork to Complete:

Lodge Officers, this is very important for your lodge. This information must be turned in to the Home Office no later than 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, January 15, 2023. If the below information is not completed, then your lodge will forfeit its enhanced premium refund. • Lodge Officer Listing – This must be completed online at spjst.org/lodge-officer-update. All information must be completed for each officer. You will need each officer’s position, their name, address, phone number, and email address. • Fraternal and Community Service Hours – The lodge FAC or selected officer must add all volunteer hours to the www.fraternalsgive.org website. • Lodges that earned more than $50,000 in 2021– Must submit a copy of their 2021 – 990EZ and 990-T forms to the Home Office. • Vestnik submissions – Lodges were required to submit articles/photos in four or more of the 24 published Vestniks in 2022. This is the final Vestnik issue of this year.

Outgoing Officer Award

Any lodge officer who is not elected to serve in 2023 and will not be seeking re-election in the future is eligible for this special award. • The recipient must be an active member with a current certificate • Complete and submit the online form: spjst.org/outgoing-officer-forms/ • Awards should be presented at the next local lodge meeting. 2023 State Tournaments

All SPJST state tournaments for 2023 are scheduled to be played in Temple at the Home Office. The address for the Home Office is 520 North Main Street in Temple, Texas. Registration fee is $30 per person and includes lunch and snacks.

Saturday, January 14 Progressive “42” Dominoes

Saturday, February 4 Tarok

Saturday, March 4 Progressive Straight Dominoes

Saturday, April 1 Regular “42” Dominoes

SPJST STATE PROGRESSIVE 42 DOMINO TOURNAMENT

Saturday, January 14, 2023

SPJST Home Office 520 North Main Street, Temple, TX 76501 Open to the public Ages 16 and above!

Check-in: 8 to 8:45 a.m. Play begins at 9 a.m. Registration Fee: $30 per player Includes snacks and lunch

Seating for 60 players only. Individual format, no partners needed! Prizes will be awarded! Please register by Monday, January 9

REGISTER AND PAY ONLINE!

visit spjst.org/tournaments

IF YOU DO NOT REGISTER, YOU MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PLAY.

Scan to register online

For more information, Call: 254-534-0681 or 254-773-1575, ext. 164 Email: tammym@spjst.com 100 Pennies Scholarship Drive

The 100 Pennies Scholarship Fund Drive began October 1. Donations of any amount will be accepted and added to the scholarship fund that is maintained by SPJST. The drive will end March 31, 2023. Donations can be made online at https://spjst.org/scholarships/ or mailed to SPJST, c/o 100 Pennies, PO Box 100, Temple, Texas 76503.

Get Ready for the Souper Bowl!

In the United States, an estimated 1 in 7 people uses a food bank each year. This amounts to approximately 43 million people who rely on food pantries to help them get by. We can help this need.

Make it your goal to participate in the Souper Bowl Canned Soup Drive from January 1 through March 30, 2023.

• SPJST lodges, youth clubs, and members are invited to collect and donate soup to a food bank near you. Contact your local food bank for specific needs. • Photograph your soup donations. Submit your photos along with the total ounces donated to spjst.org/gives and share on social media using #spjstgives. • Questions? Call 254-773-1575, ext. 177

District Youth Counselors’ Workshop

The youth department will host a workshop for our DYCs to review the recent changes to the youth program on Saturday, January 28 at the Home Office. I know everyone has questions and I will be addressing them when we meet. I look forward to visiting with the DYCs in January. We will then be scheduling workshops around the state with the youth leaders in the weeks to come after our DYC workshop.

Back in February and March 2022, when Melanie and I met with each district, we communicated that updating the youth program would be a long procedure. I appreciate your patience and understanding through this process.

State Camp

SPJST camp in 2023 will be a four night/five day camp, starting Wednesday, June 21 to Sunday, June 25. Camp registration will open the first week of February on spjst.org. Leaders, please inform the parents of youth members that all camper information entered last year into the Amilia registration system will make the 2023 registration process easy for them.