Changing to meet the needs of fraternalists.
VESTNIK SPJST Herald
Joining Hands To Touch Lives .. . . . . Fraternalism for the Family and Our Nation
Official Publication of The Slavonic Benevolent Order of the State of Texas • Founded 1897
HUMANITY
BENEVOLENCE
BROTHERHOOD
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 to: SPJST Home Office, P. 0. Box 100, Temple, Texas 76503
VOLUME 88 NUMBER 47
Family Fun and Important SPJST Dates December 6
Christmas Party for Lodge 139, Danbury at E.J.'s Restaurant December 6 Seniors Toys for Tots Benefit Dance at Lodge 92, Fort Worth December 7 Christmas Party at Lodge 67, Schutenburg December 8 Christmas Party at Lodge 80, Holland December 9 Christmas Party at Lodge 13, Dime Box December 9 Christmas Party for Lodge 155, Austin at Ryan's Steakhouse, 1813 West Parmer Lane December 10 Christmas Party for Lodge 4, Hallettsville at the American Legion Tap Room December 10 Christmas Dance at Lodge 18, Elgin December 10 Christmas Party at Lodge 24, Cyclone December 10 Christmas Party at Lodge 28, East Bernard at the home of Glenn Kaminsky December 10 Christmas Party at Lodge 30, Taiton December 10 Christmas Party at Lodge 40, El Campo-Hilije December 10 Christmas Party at Lodge 47, Seaton December 10 Christmas Social, Meeting for Lodge 63, Sweet Home at Queen of Peace Parish Hall, Sweet Home December 10 Christmas Luncheon for Lodge 65, Crosby and Lodge 91, Crosby at Crosby American Legion December 10 Christmas Party for Lodge 79, Corpus Christi and Sokol Corpus Christi December 10 Family Christmas Party for Lodge 92, Fort Worth December 10 Christmas Luncheon for Lodge 185, New Braunfels at Bavarian Village December 10 Christmas Party at Lodge 189, Bryan - College Station at the Brazos Center December 12 Christmas Party at Lodge 87, Temple December 12 Christmas Party at Lodge 186, Caldwell December 13 Christmas Party for Lodge 32, Victoria at Las Cazuelas Banquet Room December 13 Christmas Party for Lodge 177, Academy at Golden Corral December 14 Christmas Social for Lodge 51, Ellinger at the Ellinger Fire Station December 14 Christmas Party at Lodge 154, Fort Worth December 14 Christmas Party at Lodge 179, Warrenton December 15 Christmas Party at Lodge 49, Rowena December 15 Fratemalist of the Year application deadline December 16 Christmas Dance at Lodge 191, Lufkin December 17 Christmas Party at Lodge 84, Dallas December 17 Christmas Luncheon at Lodge 133, San Antonio December 17 Christmas Party at. Lodge 172, Pasadena December 17 Christmas Party at Lodge 196, Houston-West December 23 Christmas Dance at Lodge 88, Houston
Got an addition or a correction to this calendar? Please let us know by calling the Editor's Office at 1 (800) 727-7578 or via Email at bvanicek@vvm.corn.
SPJST Mortgage Interest Rates Rates subject to change without notice
December 6, 2000
ISSN-07458800
Universal Life 7.25% for Annualized*
Roth IRA
Home or Farm Mortgages:
6.30% for Annualized*
7.25% for 1 to 7 years 7.75% for 8 to 15 years 8.00% for 16 to 20 years 8.25% for 21 to 30 years
6.30% for Annualized* Certificates issued 4-1-93 and after
Qualified Business Real Estate Mortgages
5.30% for Annualized*
9.00% for 10 years 9.25°A for 11 to 15 years
*Rates effective 11-1-2000 through 1-31-2001
What'll You Have? Coal or Candy? The coming Christmas season will pass swiftly into history, leaving footprints for future generations to see and read about, just as now, we remember some of the ways the Czechs and Slovaks celebrated Christmas long ago .. The Christmas season "officially" begins with Saint Nicholas Day on December 6 and ends with "Tri Kralu" (Three Kings) on January 6. The legend of St Nicholas dates back to the Third Century. On December 6, Saint Nicholas, wearing a bishop's robe and traditional miter on his head, visits all homes that have children. Known as the patron saint of children, he descends from heaven on a golden cord with a report on all of the children's behavior. Saint Nicholas is typically accompanied by an angel in white. In the meantime, waiting on earth is a black devil (cert) with horns, holding a whip and rattling a chain. Saint Nicholas reads the names of the good children and the bad children. The angel gives the good children fruit and candy and the devil reaches in his burlap bag and gives the bad children coal and potatoes. As the story goes, the bad children ask for forgiveness and Saint Nicholas, responds, asking the angel to give these children fruit and candy. - Willa Mae Cervenka, Lodge 54, West
CEFT advances appreciation of Czech language, and culture When the Czech Educational Foundation of Texas received its state charter as a non-profit organization on October 19, 1954, it was composed of three men who together served as its first board of directors: Henry R. Maresh,M.D., of Houston; Dr. John M. Skrivanek of College Station; and August Kacir of Temple. As stated in the charter, the purpose was to promote the Czech language and culture in Texas by supporting any educational undertaking by providing for or making contributions as gifts or donations in cash or property to persons or institutions engaged in the promotion of learning and understanding of the Czech language and culture, the study of the
origin, structure and modification of the Czech language and its grammatical relationships as given and preserved in literary embodiments, [and] the dissemination of information to the public concerning the importance of a knowledge of Czech and other Slavonic languages in our citizenry to the effective leadership of the United States of America in international affairs.
"As stated in the charter, the purpose was to promote the Czech language and culture in Texas."
CEFT's Founders The CEFT carried on the tradition of strong support for Czech language and culture in the State that had led to the establishment of the Department of Slavonic (later, Slavic) Languages at the (Continued on page 4)
Annuity!! Annuity I Certificates issued prior to 4-1-93
(Editor's Note: Since CEFT was founded in 1954, many SPJST members have been instrumental in its growth. Indeed, past SPJST Supreme Lodge Chairman Sid Pokladnik served as CEFT's President for many years. A history of CEFT, its mission and those working to make it reality commences in this week's Vestnik. Thanks to current CEFT Chairman and Texas A&M University English Professor Clinton Machann for sharing CEFT's story with us.)