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Monday, November 22, 2021
FROM THE SPJST Executive Committee October 20 and 21, 2021, Minutes of the Regular Meeting of SPJST Executive Committee held at the SPJST Home Office Temple, Texas PRESIDING The meeting was called to order by Board of Directors’ Chair John Engelke on Tuesday, October 20, 2021, at 8:55 a.m. ATTENDING Board of Directors: Donnie Victorick - District One/Vice Chair of the Board of Directors; Jesse Pospisil - District Two; John Engelke - District Three/Chair of the Board of Directors; Bobby Davis - District Four; Bradley Stavinoha - District Five; Annie Vahalik - District Six; Regina House - District Seven. Executive Officers: Brian Vanicek, President/CEO; Delisle Doherty, Vice President of Sales and Marketing; Leonard Mikeska, Chief Financial Officer; Roy Vajdak, Controller; Melanie Zavodny, Vice President of Communications. Recording Secretary: Linda Hill, Executive Assistant to the Chief Financial Officer. OPENING OF MEETING The meeting was opened by Board Chair Engelke with a welcome to all. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited, and a moment of silence was observed in respect for our departed members. Chief Financial Officer Mikeska led the Executive Committee in an opening prayer. ANNOUNCEMENTS President/CEO Vanicek announced the visitors who would be joining the meeting: Home Office Staff Members at 11 a.m.; Rob Clift, Executive Director of Camp Kubena at 1 p.m.; and Larry White and Stephen Gonzalez of AQS Asset Management at 4 p.m. Dinner with RVOS leaders would be at 6 p.m. Home Office Staff Member Linda Hill will be the recording secretary. APPROVAL OF SUPREME LODGE MINUTES After review July 20 and 21, 2021, regular minutes of the Supreme Lodge meeting, Director Stavinoha moved we accept all the minutes as written. Director Pospisil seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. MANAGEMENT TEAM MEETING NOTES The management team meeting notes were reviewed. Director Stavinoha moved to acknowledge the notes as written. Director Vahalik seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.
VĚSTNÍK OLD BUSINESS President/CEO Vanicek, Vice President of Sales and Marketing Doherty, Chief Financial Officer Mikeska, Controller Vajdak, and Vice President of Communications Zavodny each presented a report on their old business, and each report was accepted as presented.
Recess was from 5:20 p.m. until Wednesday, October 21 at 8:46 a.m.
President/CEO Vanicek congratulated Lodge 1, Fayetteville on the secured grant of $50,000 from Texas Historical Association to complete the restoration of Lodge 1’s historic hall.
NEW BUSINESS The Executive Officers each presented a report on their new business.
Recess was from 9:57 to 10:10 a.m. STRATEGIC PLANNING MEETING The strategic planning meeting will be November 22 and 23. The BKD report and budget will be central themes. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. on November 22. MEMBERS’ PORTAL Controller Vajdak discussed a program of the members’ portal system. Director Victorick moved to add a members’ portal that would allow members to review their certificates online. The cost would be $20,000. Director Vahalik seconded the motion, and the motion carried unanimously. HOME OFFICE STAFF RECOGNITION Several Home Office Staff were recognized for a total of 165 years of service. They were Linda Hill - 10 years and Marissa Salinas - 15 years from Chief Financial Officer Mikeska’s department; Cynthia Hutka - 35 years from Vice President of Sales and Marketing Doherty’s department; Marie Wolf - 5 years, Debbie Dohnalik - 45 years, and Dorothy Stuchly - 55 years from Controller Vajdak’s department. Recess was from 12 to 12:50 p.m. CAMP KUBENA Executive Director Rob Clift presented a comprehensive report on Camp Kubena. EXECUTIVE SESSION The Committee entered executive session to discuss salaries. Recess was from 3 to 3:28 p.m. AQS INVESTMENT REPORT Larry White and Stephen Gonzalez of AQS presented a report on SPJST investment performance and book yield increase from 4.37 percent to 4.69 percent since January 1, 2021. Needed changes to the investment policy statement were reviewed. Director Stavinoha moved, and Director House seconded, that maximum amount of NAIC-2 be increased to 55 percent of assets and the real estate mortgages amount be increased to 15 percent. Director Victorick moved, seconded by Director Stavinoha, to amend motion to increase from 15 percent to 20 percent. Vote was taken, and the amendment carried unanimously.
Board Chair Engelke welcomed everyone to the meeting. Chief Financial Officer Mikeska led the Executive Committee in an opening prayer.
President/CEO Vanicek presented a program to designate an SPJST Youth Charter Committee, which consists of President/CEO Vanicek, Director Victorick, Director Pospisil, Director House, Director Vahalik, Vice President of Communications Zavodny, State Fraternal Director Frank Horak, Camp Kubena Executive Director Rob Clift, and all District Youth Counselors (DYCs). Director Engelke recommended that the committee meets on November 4. EXECUTIVE SESSION The Committee entered executive session to discuss salaries. It was noted that there are 41 full-time equivalent SPJST employees of which 33 work at the Home Office. Director Pospisil moved, seconded by Director Victorick, to give each full-time employee a bonus of $500 and $ 250 to part-time employees. The motion passed with six in favor and one opposed. Voting in favor: Director Victorick, Director Pospisil, Director Engelke, Director Davis, Director House, and Director Vahalik. Opposed: Director Stavinoha. Recess was from 10:13 to 10:29 a.m. Controller Vajdak discussed information for a technology support specialist and assistant controller. Motion was made by Director Stavinoha, seconded by Director Vahalik, to search for applicants for an assistant controller position, which would be evaluated by a committee. Motion carried unanimously. President/CEO Vanicek proposed that the SPJST 125th anniversary be celebrated in October 2022 at the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center in La Grange and in conjunction with its annual heritage festival. The Committee entered executive session to discuss one of the lodges concerning audit of that lodge. Recess for lunch was from 12:26 to 1:10 p.m. Vice President of Sales and Marketing Doherty presented new annuity products. Motion was made by Director House, seconded by Director Pospisil, to accept these changes to the annuity products that we would allow children to meet membership requirements by purchasing an annuity. Motion carried unanimously. Recess was from 2:50 to 3 p.m.
