Official Organ Of The Slavonic Benevolent Order Of The State Of Texas, Founded 1897 HUMANITY
BENEVOLENCE
BROTHERHOOD
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 to: SUPREME LODGE, SPJST, P.O. Box 100, Temple, Texas 76501 NOVEMBER 24, 1976 VOLUME 64, NUMBER 47
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK LAST MINUTE NEWS — Saturday morning, November 20th, a telephone can from SL President Morris informed us that the chartering of Lodge No. 185, in New Braunfels, set for November 28th, HAS BEEN POSTPONED. Please take note of this. * Wednesday, November 10th we had a sales representatives' seminar at Lodge No. 54, West. It was conducted by SFM Silas Smith and District III SR Alvin Nesuda who had arranged the meeting for that date. Brother Nesuda convened the seminar and conducted it for a while and then turned the helm over to Brother Smith. There were 13 sales representatives present, which both Brother Nesuda and Brother Smith considered a good turnout and appreciated. Every. one seemed to be very interested and to this editor, the seminar proved most productive and Informative. This was also expressed by all of those present. Brothers Smith and Nesuda presented the insurance information and facts in a very informative and understandable language. I encourage all sales representatives to attend their seminars if at all possible. Remember that sales techniques, insurance, laws, benefits, etc., are changing constantly and we must keep abreast of them at all times. We will have the pictures of 'those sales representatives and visitors
Polish origin and also the song. Here are some historical recorded facts. The Czech Otto's encyclopedia published in 1903 states (translated by the editor): PolkaCzech dance in 2%4 time and rhythm, now known throughout the world. Invented by a maid named Anna Slezikova in 1830 in Labsk6 Tynici to the tune of "StrYeek Nlmra koupil (Erben 613, Malatuv 6es. nalrod. poidad IV) and gave the dance the name of "nimra" or "mad6ra.." Music was composed to the words by teacher Josef Neruda, and the new dance caught on immediately throughout the Czechland. It arrived in 1835 in at the seminar next week; space Praha (Prague) and here is where was rather limited this issue. the name was changed to "ptilka" a which means one half (01) of Be sure to read the information 4/4 and ptilka was changed to from Legal Adviser Lesikar (mid- polka. The first published polka dle column, page 4, this issue). music was composed by F— Hilmar, Some may wonder why it is im- a teacher . in Kopidlne. The originportant and here is the reason: al polka was later adapted to eithOur original charter did not in- er 8 or 16 measures and, finally, a clude the initials " SPJST" and was trio was added which is its present renewable every 50 years. Now it form. In its present form it is is perpetual. beloved as light music as well as * * While at Czech Day in Houston, in concert form. Composer Bedrich Sunday, October 24th, the Lodge Smetana (The Bartered Bride), 88 Czech Concert Orchestra played used the polka extensively in piano "gkoda lasky" (Beer Barrel Polka) compositions which are truly repas one of their selections. I prom- resentative of the Czech people. ised the audience that I would One of his best characteristic exwrite an editorial giving the his- amples of the use of the polka as a tory of polka and that particular folk dance is his use of it in his song because Mr. Lawrence Welk dramatic productions and especialhad stated that the polka was of ly his production "Hubi,6.ka" (The
FAREWELL TO SUMMER The wild geese journey across the autumn sky. In the distance one hears their haunting cry. Farewell, farewell to summer they seem to say as they honk on their way. Southward bound away from their mating ground. It's echoed in their lonely sound As in a V formation they soar. For some will be siledced by a hunter's gun To return north never more. —Laura Krobot