Changing to meet the needs of fraternalists.
"joining Hands To Touch Lives-Fraternalism for the Family and Our Nation"
VESTNIK SPJST Herald Official Publication of The Slavonic Benevolent Order of the State of Texas, Founded 1897
BENEVOLENCE
BROTHERHOOD
HUMANITY Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 to: SPJST Home Office, P. 0. Box 100, Temple, Texas 76503
VOLUME 88 NUMBER 18
SPJST families, friends share love of the land
Family Fun and Important SPJST Dates May 10 May 13 May 14 May 28 June 2-4 June 4 June 12 June 12-14 June 24 June 25 June 25 June 25 June 27 July 16 July 16 November 19
SPJST Pre-Convention Vestnik Issue State Horseshoe Tournament at Temple Lions Park Mother's Day Barbecue at Lodge 24, Cyclone
in
Spring Festival at Lodge 80, Holland Teen Leaders Workshop at Peaceable Kingdom Retreat Annual Picnic at Lodge 47, Seaton Delegates Fish Fry and Dance at Lodge 47, Seaton SPJST 28th Convention, Temple District Four Youth Achievement Day at Parish Hall in Wall District Two Youth Achievement Day at Lodge 29, Taylor District Three Youth Achievement Day at Lodge 92, Fort Worth District Five Youth Achievement Day at Lodge 88, Houston District Seven Youth Achievement Day at Lodge 185, New Braunfels District One Youth Achievement Day at Lodge 186, Caldwell District Six Youth Achievement Day at Lodge 30, Taiton District Six Fall Meeting at Inez Hall
Keep in touch. Toll Free: 1 (800) 727-7578 Web Site: www. spjst.com Home Office E-mail: info@spjst.com Vestnik E-mail: bvanicek@vvrn.com
Convention 1:ee night party planneri The evening of Monday, June 12, will be a free night for delegates to ,•:.1e 28th SPJST Convention. Lodge 47, Seaton will be hosting a filet fry and %dance that evening. Watch your Vestnik for details and ticket information.
Supreme Lodge expands criteria for membership At their April meeting, the Supreme Lodge voted to expand membership in the SPJST to include individuals, aged 50 and older, who purchase an annuity in the amount of $5,000 or more. Previously, membership through the purchase of an annuity was reserved for those individuals aged 70 or older or those who were otherwise considereed uninsurable. The new policy
SPJST Mortgage Interest Rates Rates subject to change without notice
becomes effective June 1. Also during their April meeting, the SPJST Supreme Lodge also voted to increase interest rates on SPJST annuities from 6 percent to 6.3 percent on the Annuity II program, Roth IRAs and immediate annuities and from 5 percent to 5.3 percent on the Annuity I program. The new rates become effective May 1. The Supreme Lodge also voted to increase the rates on Universal Life products from 7 percent to 7.25 percent, effective May 1.
Universal Life
Farming and ranching remains a way of life to many SPJST members. The Bacak brothers — James, Frank and Allen — members of Lodge 40, El Campo Hillje, are no exception. In addition to maintaining their own farms, the brothers and two nephews, Alan and Douglas Trochta, manage the Bartosh family homestead south of LaGrange near Ammansville in Fayette County. There's a lot of family history here and SPJST history ,) not far away." James explains. As a crow flies, the SPJST started out just about eight miles from here at the Fayette County Courthouse in LaGrange." It was on December 28, 1896 that 25 Texas Czechs met in LaGrange for the purpose of organizing a new fraternal benefit society in Texas. Once organized, the state headquarters for the fledgling fraternal was set up just down the road in Fayetteville. The Bartosh farm was purchased in 1903 by the Bacak brothers' grandpar(Continued on page three.)
ri
Roth IRA
7.00% for 1 to 7 years
Annuity II
8.75% for 10 years 9.00% for 11 to 15 years
every dollar spent on agricultural commodities, more than three dollars are pumped into other sectors of the economy — creating a $45 billion a year industry. One in five Texans works in some phase of agriculture. It's a way of life and helps to define the state's character. Even though farming and ranching are not referenced in the SPJST By-laws or mission statement, agriculture comprises an important part of the Society's heritage. In the early years, the SPJST logo reflected this close relationship to the land. The logo, which is pictured above, consisted of a cotton and corn stalk almost completely surrounding the star with the letters "SPJST" arranged between them. Most likely, cotton and corn were selected as they represented the two principal money crops in Texas at the turn of the last century. In fact, during the early years, illustrations of mature cotton plants framed the entire front
A Way of Life
7.25% for Annualized" 6.30% for Annualized*
Qualified Business Real Estate Mortgages
Texas, farming and ranching is big business. According to the Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas is the nation's leader producer of cotton, cattle, sheep, goats, wool and hay. For
cover of the Vestnik. Other farm crops, including wheat and barley were also pictured on the cover.
—SPJST-
Home or Farm Mortgages: 7.50% for 8 to 15 years 7.75% for 16 to 20 years 8.00% for 21 to 30 years
May 3, 2000
ISSN-07458800
6.30% for Annualized* Certificates issued 4-1-93 and after
Annuity I 5.30% for Annualized* Certificates issued prior to 4-1-93 *Rates effective 5-1-2000
through 7-31-2000
Frank, left, and James Bacak walk the old family homeplace located south of LaGrange in Fayette County. "As a crow flies, SPJST got started just about eight miles from here," says James, who is refurbishing the old farmhouse.