Home Office Staff Visits Camp Kubena

Wednesday, April 19, 2023 • Camp Kubena • Ledbetter, Texas

For the April SPJST Caring Challenge, Lodge 13, Dime Box members painted rocks at their May meeting. The rocks will be bring positive joy to all who see them when they are displayed in their community.

Lodge 18, Elgin: please come to our dances, the next one is May 21

If we want to have the bands come to SPJST Lodge 18, Elgin, we need to work on the attendance at the dances. So far this year, we have Glen Collins on Sunday, May 21; Western Days on Saturday, June 24 with Glen Collins; Mark Halata on Sunday, August 13 – the first polka band since February; and the Red Ravens for the Christmas dance on Sunday, December 10. Please attend these dances if you want to keep the polka dances going at Lodge 18. The bands needs money for expenses. They can’t play for a few dollars.

The hall needs income to pay the bands, bills, insurance, etc. We do have some rentals, but we do not have enough members volunteering at the hall to have more rentals. So many SPJST halls are being sold. I don’t want to see that happen to Elgin. Let’s keep the Czech, German, etc. heritage going.

We need sales agents to keep SPJST going. SPJST has many benefits and many plans of insurance. Are you insured to keep the family together if something happens? Check your policy - is it updated? Is the beneficiary correct? This year has been an eye-opener for me. I saw how important it is to have everything in order. Thank the Lord I have a chance to look into everything. SPJST has been around for a long time . . . check it out!

Irene Vrabel, Reporter —SPJST—

Lodge 25, Ennis readies of National Polka Festival on May 27

Dear Readers, Lodge 25, Ennis met on Thursday, April 20, 2023. Members enjoyed a meal before the meeting. Thank you, Betty, for the delicious pork roast, knedlicky, gravy, sauerkraut, green beans, with cheese cake and peach cobbler for dessert!

Margaret led the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence for deceased member Danny Lee Zaidle and for Carol Rejcek. Prayers also go out to Shep Honza, infant grandson of Larry and Jimmie Honza, who underwent open-heart surgery.

All reports were approved as given. Discussion was held regarding the upcoming National Polka Festival that will be held on Saturday, May 27. JoAnn thanked everyone for their past support and asked for volunteers to help make this day a fun and successful event. If you can help, let us know!

Rita announced that the youth club garage sale was a huge success and thanked everyone for their donations and help. High school scholarship applications for SPJST Lodge 25 members are due and will be presented at the May meeting. Contact Rita if you need more information 469-337-2284.

Margaret announced new member William Ray Walker, grandson of Marlene Clark. Membership approved Janet and James McKensie to transfer to our lodge.

We expressed thanks to domino players representing our lodge who traveled to the state tournament in Temple— Bryan Honza, Ronnie Honza, Dustin Zajik, and Don Wesley.

Next Meeting—May 11

The next meeting will be Thursday, May 11.

Fraternally

yours,

Margaret Krajca Reporter/Sergeant-at-Arms

—SPJST—

Lodge Karel Jonas, No. 28, East Bernard reports on March meeting

Members of Lodge Karel Jonas, No. 28, East Bernard met for its quarterly meeting on Sunday, March 12, 2023, at 12 noon at Riverside Hall in East Bernard. All officers were present.

President Glenn Kaminsky called the meeting to order. All said the Pledge of Allegiance, and he welcomed everyone. Then he said grace for members to partake in our luncheon and social.

When President Kaminsky called the meeting back to order, it was reported that member Cindy Kubicek passed away on February 10. A moment of silent prayer was observed for all who passed away and for members on the sick list.

Next, President Kaminsky called for minutes of the December 2022 meeting. Helen Kelner read the minutes, and they were approved by all members. President Kaminsky then called for the treasurer’s report for December 2022, January 2023, and February 2023. Helen Kelner gave the reports. A motion

Executive

was made and seconded to approve the reports. The motion passed.

President Kaminsky reported on thank you notes from the Boy Scouts for the donation. Also Helen reported on a thank you from Rainbow Room Children Protective Services and the rest homes for the donations from 2022.

Helen reported on correspondence from the Home Office and announced that the District Six Annual Meeting is April 16 in Victoria.

Mary Jo Salinas reported on sales and new activities within SPJST.

Helen requested volunteer hours and donations need to be turned in. Door prizes were drawn.

Next Meeting—June 4

The next quarterly meeting will be Sunday, June 4 at 12 noon at Riverside Hall in East Bernard. Attendees are asked to please bring animal food to be donated to the animal shelter for the Paws for a Cause community service project.

Fraternally, Helen Kelner Secretary/Reporter

Lodge 32, Victoria plans May 11 social

The District Six Annual Meeting on Sunday, April 16, 2023, was a real success – if you weren’t present, you missed out. The Cathedral Center was the perfect venue, and the weather was great for a Sunday afternoon drive.

Lodge 32, Victoria will meet Thursday, May 11 at 6:30 p.m. at the Grapevine Café, 110 Medical Drive, Suite 102, in Victoria. We’ll have a social after the meeting – hope to see you there. We have completed the Souper Bowl soup drive and donated to VCAM. They were very appreciative. If you have something to donate, you might want to consider VCAM – they will take food, clothes, etc.

Taylor Jungmann of Lodge 24, Cyclone joins elite baseball players as Texas officially retires his No. 26 jersey

By Danny Davis - Austin American-Statesman

We will be now collecting items for Adopt-a-Pet for the Paws for a Cause service project. See you on May 11.

Fraternally, Kathy Ahlstrom FAC/Reporter —SPJST—

When Taylor Jungmann first started playing baseball, the T-ball team coached by his father didn’t have a complex way of assigning jersey numbers.

Jungmann was a shortstop, so he was given the No. 6 since that number correlates with the shortstop position in the scorebook. The number stuck. Years later, Jungmann wore No. 6 while leading Rogers High School to a state championship as a star pitcher and infielder.

Jungmann transferred to Georgetown High School for his senior season in 2008, but the Eagles did not have a No. 6 jersey that was big enough for his 6foot-6 frame. So Jungmann added a digit to his uniform and adopted a new number.

Jungmann is the ninth UT baseball player to have his jersey retired. Texas has already set aside Nos. 3 (Keith Moreland), 20 (Burt Hooton), 21 (Roger Clemens and Greg Swindell), 23 (Brooks Kieschnick), and 25 (Scott Bryant and Huston Street).

Kirk Dressendorfer, who wore No. 10 in 1988-90, was honored last month.

Taylor Jungmann delivers a pitch against Kent State at Disch-Falk Field in 2011. Jungmann ranks in the top 10 in UT's record books for career strikeouts (356, sixth), ERA (1.85, seventh) and wins (32, 10th).

“When I was playing, you see those names up there. It’s just, those guys are on a different level, so it’s amazing to be able to have my name up there with those guys,” Jungmann said earlier that week. “University of Texas was my dream school growing up. I’ve bled burnt orange my entire life.” lot of fun that year.”

In 2010, Pierce was an assistant coach on a Rice team that was beaten by Jungmann in an Austin Regional. Since winning a player of the year award is an unofficial but understood requirement for jersey retirements in the Texas athletic department, Jungmann’s ceremony Saturday might not have happened without his 2011 season. But he said his favorite memories at Texas were made in 2009.

Jungmann was selected by Milwaukee with the 12th overall pick in the 2011 MLB draft. He pitched in 30 MLB games and spent some time playing in Japan. Jungmann attempted a return to professional baseball in the States when he signed a minor league deal with Texas, but he began to rethink his future after that spring training was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 33-year-old Jungmann is now a former baseball player. He lives in Austin with his wife, Brittany. His son, Heath, turned 2 on Friday, April 21, and he has another child due in May. Jungmann invests in real estate and rental properties and owns painting and roofing companies.

Former University of Texas pitcher

Taylor Jungmann and his family put their horns up at Jungmann’s jersey retirement ceremony ahead of the Longhorns’ doubleheader on Saturday, April 22, 2023, against Oklahoma.

So that is the story of why Jungmann chose to wear No. 26 at Texas. Only seven players are known to have worn that number in UT’s history, and there won’t be an eighth. Ahead of its doubleheader against Oklahoma on Saturday, April 22, Texas officially retired the No. 26 that the pitcher wore from 2009 to 2011.

Of the nine Longhorns who have had their jerseys retired by the Texas baseball program, Jungmann is the only one who played in the 2010s. He and Street are the only members of that group who were coached by Augie Garrido.

Jungmann appeared in 61 games for Texas. He ranks in the top 10 in UT’s record books for career strikeouts (356, sixth), ERA (1.85, seventh), and wins (32, 10th).

During the 2011 season, Jungmann went 13-3 with a 1.60 ERA and five complete games. He won the school’s fourth Dick Howser Trophy, an accomplishment that would not happen again until Ivan Melendez was honored as college baseball’s top player last year.

So what was it like to face Jungmann in his heyday?

“Miserable,” recalled current Texas coach David Pierce.

During that 2009 campaign, Texas went 50-16-1. Jungmann, who was a freshman, did his part as he won 11 times. One of those wins was a complete-game five-hitter against LSU that forced a decisive game in the championship series at the College World Series.

“He’s as special a kid as we’ve had since Calvin Schiraldi, Greg Swindell, Brooks Kieschnick, and Kirk Dressendorfer,” Moreland said in that game’s aftermath.

Jungmann’s Omaha heroics weren’t the only highlight of that postseason run. Texas beat Boston College in a 25-inning marathon that is still the NCAA’ s longest game. Preston Clark secured the Austin Regional with a walk-off grand slam against Army. At the College World Series, the Longhorns recorded a walk-off win over Southern Mississippi and rallied from a 6-0 deficit against Arizona State. Texas finished the year as the NCAA runner-up.

“Travis Tucker, Brandon Belt, Michael Torres, Preston Clark, Austin Wood, all those guys, being around those guys, they taught us how to win,” Jungmann recalled. “We just found ways to win. It was just a

While being honored at UFCU Disch-Falk Field ahead of April 22’s action, Jungmann was accompanied to the mound area by his wife, son, parents, and sister. He posed for pictures during the pregame ceremony with Oklahoma coach Skip Johnson, who was his pitching coach at UT. Texas student assistant Cameron Rupp, who was a catcher for UT from 2008 to 2010, caught the ceremonial first pitch from Jungmann. https://www.statesman.com/story/sports/college/longhorns/b aseball/2023/04/22/taylor-jungmann-is-ninth-texas-baseballplayer-with-retired-jersey/70139683007/ —SPJST—

Lodge 39, Bryan invites members to attend special called meeting on Wednesday, May 24

Dear Members, Greetings!

On behalf of the officers of Lodge 39, Bryan, I invite you to attend a meeting at which lodge members will be voting to sell the lodge building and enabling the lodge to capitalize on the equity that exists in the property.

In accordance with SPJST operating procedures, a special called meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at 1 p.m. to discuss, consider, and vote on the proposed sale. The meeting will take place at Carter’s Burger, located at 3105 South Texas Avenue 700 in Bryan. All adult members are encouraged to attend and to weigh in on the discussion.

SPJST District One Director Donnie Victorick and SPJST President/CEO Brian Vanicek will be in attendance.

In the event that members decide to sell, this will be a good opportunity for us to discuss our future going forward as a lodge. If you are unable to attend the meeting, you are invited to share your thoughts with us through email at binnieroesler@gmail.com; however, please note, in order to vote on the proposed transaction, it will be necessary for you to be in attendance at the meeting on May 24.

Thank you for your attention.^

Fraternally,

Omer Everett, President —SPJST—