Fraternal Updates For Your September Meeting

Dear Lodge FAC, Please share the enclosed information

at your September lodge meeting

Our thoughts and prayers remain with those who must now focus on rebuilding homes and lives following the devastation of Hurricane Harvey. May we also be ever thankful for all that we have been given in our wonderful life. Please know that you — our members in this hard hit region of Texas — will be in our thoughts and prayers in the days and weeks ahead.

End of Summer Getaway Recap The 11th annual Corpus Christi Summer Getaway goes into the history books as another great fraternal event! Thank you to all SPJST members who came out and enjoyed fraternalism at its best. It was so very wonderful to see members of all ages celebrating together. A special thank you to Lodge 79, Corpus Christi members for helping to make this event such a success.

Friday evening was our Welcome Aloha Party and everyone enjoyed music, contests, food, and fun. Saturday morning started off early with the horseshoe tournament, sand sculpture contest, sack races, and egg toss contest. It was enjoyed by all. In the afternoon there was a Progressive 42 domino tournament in the Kokomo room and Bunco in the main event area. Saturday evening ended with awards ceremony, King and Queen contest, Chris Rybak performing, and dancing the night away. Hail to King Dennis Hermis of Lodge 142, Houston and Queen Christine Festa of Lodge 47, Seaton for your spirited presence on Saturday night. Keep an eye out in the Vestnik for exciting adventures for next year.

Fall Fun Days Underway District Fall Fun Days are underway. Remember, these are fun events. Any business should be limited to emergency issues only. What a great time to meet fellow members in your district, renew old acquaintances and make new ones! Dates for the Fall Fun Days are as follows:

District One Sunday, October 8, 2017 hosted by Lodge 186, Caldwell District Three Sunday, October 22, 2017 hosted by Lodge 183, Arlington District Four Saturday, October 7, 2017 hosted by Lodge 215, South Plains at The Barn in Towel Park, 3000 Towel Park Road, Snyder, Texas District Five Saturday, September 23, 2017 hosted by Lodge 196, Houston-West District Six Saturday, October 21, 2017 hosted by Lodge 28, East Bernard and Lodge 151, Wharton at St. John’s Catholic Parish Hall, Taiton, Texas District Seven Sunday, October 22, 2017 hosted by Lodge 185, New Braunfels at Landa Haus, 360 Aquatic Circle, New Braunfels, Texas

District Two had their Fall Fun Day Sunday, August 27 at Lodge 24, Cyclone. Registration was from 1 to 2 p.m. The officers started with the Pledge of Allegiance and had copies of the minutes from the Spring meeting present for members to look over before the meeting started. Members approved the minutes and made two announcements and turned the time over to District Two Youth Counselor Patsy Koslovsky to introduce District Two Royalty. This was all done in a matter of 20 minutes. District Two Fraternal Activities Coordinator Ruth Hanusch and other officers drew door prizes and then began the fun!

District Two had two General Stores, Plink-O Board, Cake Walk, and Egg Races. Everyone young and old had a great time. The meeting was adjourned at 4:30 p.m. and everyone enjoyed the meal of chicken spaghetti, green beans, salad, and desserts. Thank you to Lodge 24, Cyclone for providing a wonderful meal.

SPJST Sponsorship: 33rd Annual Kolache Festival in Caldwell, Texas The festival will start with a pre-festival party Friday, September 8 and the main festivities on Saturday, September 9. What a great opportunity to celebrate Czech heritage and culture with family and newfound friends. Opening ceremony starts at 9 a.m. at the South stage located on the corner of Buck and Echols Streets. There will be food, music, State Championship Kolache Bake Show, Kolache Eating Contest and Lodge 9, Snook and Lodge 17, New Tabor Beseda Dancers and many other attractions. For more information you can go to the web address below: http://www.burlesoncountytx.com/kolachefestival.html

Houston Slavic Heritage Festival The festival will start Sunday, September 24, 2017 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Come out and enjoy traditional ethnic food, dancing, music, singing, prizes, local vendors and fun for the whole family. SPJST will have a booth at the festivities. Stop by and come visit us. The

festival is held at the Knights of Columbus Hall and Grounds located at 607 East Whitney Street, Houston, Texas 77022. There will be more information in the Vestnik in the coming months.

SPJST Sponsorship: Heritage Fest and Muziky Mark your calendars for Heritage Fest and Muziky. This event has been picking up steam in recent years and is a wonderful venue for families to enjoy. Friday, October 20 begins the preview party with Octoberfest on the Deck from 4 to 10 p.m. The opening ceremony will kick off at 10 a.m. Saturday, October 21 at the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center in La Grange, Texas. Entertainment will be music, antique farm equipment, train rides for kids, Kolache eating contest, arts and crafts and much more. This will take place in the Czech Village around the museum.

Grandparents Day is September 10, 2017 Grandparents Day is the first Sunday after Labor Day. This is a day to remember those who are special in our daily lives. Everyone is somebody’s grandchild and can be involved in the observance of this wonderful day of celebration.

In 1970, a West Virginia housewife, Marian Lucille Herndon McQuade, initiated a campaign to set aside a special day just for grandparents. Through concerted efforts on the part of civic, business, church, and political leaders, this campaign expanded statewide. Senator Jennings Randolph (D-WV) was especially instrumental in the project. The first Grandparents Day was proclaimed in 1973 in West Virginia by Governor Arch Moore. Also in 1973, Senator Randolph introduced a Grandparents Day resolution in the United States Senate. The resolution languished in committee.

Mrs. McQuade and her team turned to the media to garner support. They also began contacting governors, senators, and congressmen in every state. They sent letters to churches, businesses, and numerous national organizations interested in senior citizens. In 1978, five years after its West Virginia inception, the United States Congress passed legislation proclaiming the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day. The proclamation was signed by President Jimmy Carter. Today this event is observed by millions throughout the United States.

100 Pennies Scholarship Drive Starts October 1 Everyone spread the word! October 1 starts the SPJST 100 Pennies Drive to benefit the scholarship fund. Through your generous donations, SPJST has been able to continue to provide scholarships to members who wish to further their education. Donations of any amount will be accepted and added to the general scholarship fund that is maintained by the Home Office. No amount is too small or too large. The 100 Pennies Scholarship Drive will run through March 31, 2018. Please see the enclosed letter from President Vanicek for additional details.

SPJST 2018 Scholarship Applications SPJST 2018 scholarship applications are now available starting September 1, 2017 and must be submitted to the Fraternal Department by February 1, 2018. I am providing a flyer with information about the General Scholarship and Leadership Grant applications. If you have a graduating senior in your lodge, please let them know they can apply for the SPJST General Scholarship. Only active youth club seniors can apply for both the SPJST General Scholarship and Leadership Grant.

Please see the provided flyer with information about the scholarships or contact Sandra Dubcak at 800.727.7578 or email Sandra at sandrad@spjst.com. You can also download the scholarship applications at www.spjst.org. Click on Benefits, Scholarships, and then SPJST Scholarship/Grant Program. You will then find the pdf files to download.

SPJST FAC Assistance We are here to help if you need assistance. Please feel free to call me at 254.534.0681, email frankh@spjst.com or Fraternal Services Specialist Tammy Martinez at 800.727.7578, 254.773.1575 or email tammym@spjst.com. Your District FAC is also available to assist you.

They are as follows: District 1 – Kyle Skrabanek 979.820.0531 District 2 – Ruth Hanusch 254.771.0193 District 3 – Vicki Sims 214.763.0341 District 4 – Janeece Williams 806.990.3351 District 5 – Don Fruin 832.651.5388 District 6 – Helen Zabransky 361.798.3347 District 7 – Theresa Haag 830.625.8262 Fraternally submitted,

Frank Horak State Fraternal Activities Coordinator

Dear SPJST Lodge Officers,

Please share the following information with all lodge members. Enclosed is a

sign that you may wish to post as well.

One of the many benefits SPJST offers to its members is the Scholarship

Program. In 2017, 47 General Scholarships, two Technical Scholarships, and seven

Leadership Grants were awarded. In addition, at the 2017 State Youth Achievement

Day, six District Merit Scholarships, one State Merit Scholarship, and two Royalty

Scholarships were awarded for a total of 65 scholarships and grants presented for the

year. Since the program’s inception, more than $1.5 million has been awarded.

General and Technical Scholarships are funded through an annual allocation

by the SPJST and through voluntary contributions received through our 100 Pennies

Scholarship Drive and memorial donations received throughout the year. Donations

are tax deductible.

Applications for scholarships are sent out from September through January

upon request. The Fraternal Department must receive the completed application and

all requested information by February 1, 2018. Recipients are announced in April.

The following scholarships are available through the program:

General and Technical Scholarships – For all SPJST members

Leadership Grants – For active SPJST youth club members –

Applicants may only apply for this grant in his/her senior year of

high school. (*Note: Active youth club members are strongly

encouraged to apply for the General Scholarship (or Technical

scholarship if attending a technical school) and the Leadership

Grant.

All interested SPJST members who wish to apply for a scholarship must meet the

following criteria:

Have an active SPJST insurance certificate in force for at least one full year

as of February 1; if the membership is in the form of an annuity, the amount

must be at least $10,000

Be a full-time student

Hold an active SPJST insurance certificate and/or annuity for the duration

of the scholarship

Be a high school graduate or equivalent

Attend an accredited – as designated by the Southern Association Of

Colleges And Schools Commission On Colleges – two or four-year college,

university, or technical college

Best wishes to all SPJST members who wish to apply for a scholarship this year.

We hope to have many respond to this opportunity.

Fraternally,

Brian Vanicek

Supreme Lodge President

Please Note:

Attention SPJST High School Seniors and College

Undergraduates:

Attention SPJST High School Seniors and College

Undergraduates:

Please Note:

Applications and all required information must be submitted to the Fraternal Department by February 1, 2018.

To receive a General Scholarship Application and *Leadership Grant Application, please call the SPJST Home Office Fraternal Department at 800.727.7578 or 254.773.1575 or download an application at www.spjst.org.

*Must be an active SPJST Youth Club member to apply for the Leadership Grant.

SPJST Scholarship Applications Available September 2017 Through January 2018

Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund Established by SPJST Foundation

The devastation experienced by Texans living along the Texas Gulf Coast and many points inland re-minds us of the fragile existence that we share with our environment. In the aftermath of Hurricane Har-vey, SPJST members and others have been contacting the SPJST Home Office in Temple wanting togive financial assistance — under the auspices of SPJST.

The Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund has been organized and will be managed by the SPJST Foundation, a501(c)(3) non-profit organization, located within the confines of the SPJST Home Office at 520 NorthMain Street in Temple, Texas.

Relief efforts are currently underway and are expected to continue for months if not years. A HurricaneHarvey Relief Committee will be established to identify projects needing attention and submitting re-quests to the SPJST Foundation for the disbursement of funds contributed to the Hurricane Harvey Re-lief Fund.

As Texans work to rebuild their lives post Hurricane Harvey, it is important that SPJST — through theSPJST Foundation — do all it can to help them get back on their feet. The Hurricane Harvey ReliefFund is being organized in a fashion similar to that of the West Benevolence Fund which sought to ad-dress a multitude of needs and projects promulgated as a result of the massive April 18, 2013, fertilizerexplosion which rocked the Central Texas City of West.

Checks may be issued to the “SPJST Foundation” and designated in the memo portion of the check to bedirected to the “Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund.” Donations to the relief fund are tax-deductible and canbe mailed to:

SPJST Foundation • PO Box 100 • Temple, TX 76503