Volume 106 Number 19
ˇ ´ VESTNIK S P J S T
Benevolence
H E R A L D
★ Humanity
ISSN —07458800
Visit SPJST in Ennis this Weekend!
Visit SPJST at the National Polka Festival this Saturday, May 26 and Sunday, May 27 in downtown Ennis! See the SPJST State Royalty in the parade on Saturday at 10 a.m. After the parade til sundown and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., stop by the SPJST tent next to the Main Stage. Register to win a prize! Participate in the Fine Art of Fraternalism! Get a life insurance quote - or review your current coverage . . . plus, fun and games for everyone! SPJST will also sponsor the big Kolache Eating Contest at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Main Stage! The 3 a.m. barbecue crew, left to right, are Roy Malcik, Derek Campbell, Steve Bruggman, Daniel Wilde, Robert Macek, Brian Vanicek, and Billy Smetanka, all of Lodge 24, Cyclone. Not pictured is Kenneth Andel.
Lodge 24, Cyclone Mother’s Day Lunch Bunch
Lodge 24, Cyclone hosted its annual Mother’s Day Barbecue lunch on Sunday, May 13 at Flag Hall. The lodge served 860 plates. Pictured in the kitchen are, left to right, Barbara Macek, Carl Macek, and Jason Hoelscher, all of Lodge 24. More photos of scenes from the annual Mother’s Day barbecue lunch are on page 11.
★ Brotherhood
May 23, 2018
Sharing the fraternal - and SPJST - story on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
W
By Donnie Victorick SPJST Supreme Lodge Chairman/District One Director
hat an honor it was to represent 670,000 in Texas. What a great team to SPJST in Washington, D.C., on April 23 promote volunteer efforts to help make and 24, 2018, with the American Frater- our nation better. nal Alliance’s advocacy program. This The day started with a networking was a grand opportunity to tell the frater- breakfast and presentations with an innal story - but more so, to tell the story surance industry update from a D.C. inof SPJST and its sider, the American proud history and Council of Life Insurers. Following about the programs this, we were given that help others. an update by the Fraternals face National Associathe thought of possition of Insurance bly losing their taxCounselors (NAIC). exempt status, and A great amount of we as members information was must carry the mespresented - and I sage to Capitol Hill must say that for to let our leaders SPJST, we must adhere to the most efknow what fraterfective business nals do. The benefits practices and goverfar exceed what can nance. We were be collected from constantly reminded taxes from our busithat change is imminess operations. In nent if we want to Texas alone, fraterbe successful in the nals donated 6.7 21st century. Our million hours of vol- SPJST Supreme Lodge Chairman membership must unteer service and Donnie Victorick, right, is pictured be continuously ed$31 million into in April with Buddy Preuss of Her- ucated by our officommunities across mann Sons, left, and Michael Belz cers and directors on of Catholic Life inside Rayburn the state. Nationally, House Office Building on Capitol the changes in the way successful infraternals make up Hill in Washington, D.C. surance fraternals the nation’s largest do business. On the and most cost effecother hand, you, our tive network of community service vol- members, must have an open mind tounteers. In 2016, fraternal members ward change which will be necessary to volunteered more than 75 million hours ensure continued success. We must proand gave $486 million to charitable mote adopting procedures and govercauses. Membership-wise, there are 8 nance which are in line with best Continued on Page 3. million fraternal members nationally and
N N N N N N N N Inside This Week’s Věstník N N N N N N N N
Important Dates ...................................3 Interest Rates ......................................3 Readers Write ......................................3 Supreme Lodge Meeting Minutes ......4 Lodge Section......................................9 In Memoriam ......................................16
Death Claims ................................16-17 Youth Section ....................................18 Backing the Blog Update..................18 Czech Culture ....................................19 Advertisements.............................20-21 Lodge Calendar .................................22
Lodge 54 West joins hands at West Rest Haven
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Lodge 246 Morgan’s Point teen receives scholarship
Page 18
Lodge 17 New Tabor Youth Club honors seniors