Volume 104 Number 8
ˇ ´ VESTNIK S P J S T Benevolence
H E R A L D
★ Humanity
ISSN —07458800
★ Brotherhood
February 24, 2016
Annual Banquet Celebrates Lodges, Agents, Members wards were presented at the SPJST Awards Banquet held Saturday, January 30, 2016, at the Mayborn Civic and Convention Center in Temple. During the afternoon event, lodges, lodge fraternalists, top-producing sales agents, and youth clubs were recognized in accordance with the terms of the “Let the Good Times Roll!” 2015 membership campaign. The day began with the presentation of colors by District Four Director Billy Rollwitz of Lodge 49, Rowena and Jerry Sijansky of Lodge 79, Corpus Christi. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Supreme Lodge Chairman/District One Director Donnie Victorick. Supreme Lodge SecretaryTreasurer Leonard Mikeska then led the invocation. Temple Mayor Danny Dunn of Lodge 87, Temple read a proclamation announcing January 30 as “SPJST Awards Day” in the City of Temple. Supreme Lodge President Brian Vanicek introduced SPJST officials and welcomed all to the banquet. American Fraternal Alliance President/CEO Joe Annotti delivered the keynote presentation about the relevance of fraternals in the 21st century. Supreme Lodge President Vanicek and Supreme Lodge Vice President Clifton Coufal then honored lodges,
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Congratulations to 2015 SPJST State Fraternalist of the Year Kathleen Polasek, far left, of Lodge 202, Jourdanton. Recognized at the SPJST Awards Banquet on Saturday, January 30 in Temple were Honorable Mentions Donnie Howard, left, of Lodge 185, New Braunfels and Brandon Bartek, second from left, of Lodge 47, Seaton; State Fraternalist of the Year Kathleen Polasek (standing in is Regina House) of Lodge 202, Jourdanton; and Honorable Mentions Coleman Benner of Lodge 80, Holland and Karin Bryant of Lodge 87, Temple.
sales agents, youth clubs, and fraternalists with medals, plaques, certificates, and monetary awards. Eighty-one lodges across Texas were recognized for their life insurance sales and community service activities in 2015. Lodges received a total of $205,847.99 in incentive awards. SPJST honored 19 youth clubs around Texas for achieving youth certificates issued in 2015. Top Youth Clubs in the District Award were pre“Seeking the Treasures of SPJST” cakes baked and designed by Judy Pechal of Lodge 47, Seaton.
sented to Lodges 17, New Tabor; 47, Seaton; 154, Fort Worth; 88, Houston; 30, Taiton; and 185, New Braunfels. Districts One, Two, Three, Five, Six, and Seven Youth Clubs also received monetary awards for their efforts. Youth Program awards totaled $4,340. Several members were honored for their recruiting efforts in 2015. Five names—Marlene Clark and Betty Macalik, both of Lodge 25, Ennis; Norma O’Canas of Lodge 40, El Campo-Hillje; Alexis Festa of Lodge 48, Beyersville; and Gracey Grimm of Lodge 48, Beyersville—were drawn for $100 Wal-Mart gift cards. The 2015 sales agent incentive was a trip to New Orleans based on annualized premium and persistency. Three agents were recognized as “Best of the Best” for their annualized premium David Nauert, FIC of Lodge 200, Bruceville-Eddy; Mike Rodriguez, Jr., FIC of Lodge 107, Floresville; and Bobby Davis, FICF, CFFM of Lodge 160, San Angelo. Thirteen SPJST sales agents received honorable distinction and recognition for being Million Dollar
Producers. To be recognized, an agent had to have written at least $1 million of insurance in 2015 that was issued and in force on December 23, 2015. The agent must also have maintained at least 85 percent persistency over the preceding 13 months. These 13 sales agents have a total of $24,402,436 insurance in force. They are Pamela Pruett; Susan Skrabanek, FIC; Donnie Victorick, FIC, CFFM; Sabino Garcia; Janice Kaluza; Bobby Davis, FICF, CFFM; Ray Esparza; Baltazar Nunez, FIC; Delisle Doherty; Helen Hegwood, FIC; Kerry Herrington; Javier Mora; and Mike Rodriguez, FIC. Nine sales agents also received persistency bonus awards. Following the awards presentations, Janice Kaluza of Lodge 54, West delivered the benediction and Laura Pospichal of Lodge 49, Rowena led the dinner prayer. A catered steak dinner and cake were then served. Door prize drawings concluded the day. Congratulations to all sales agents, lodges, and youth clubs on their awards. —SPJST—