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Delegates revise by-laws, elect state, district officials at 30th SPJST Convention June 8 to June 11, 2008 at Killeen Civic and Conference Center

   Delegates representing 83 lodges from across Texas convened in Killeen June 9 to 11, 2008, for the SPJST’s 30th Convention.  Activities began on Sunday, June 8 with the grand opening reception and ribbon cutting of the 11,084-square foot addition to the SPJST Home Office, located at 520 North Main in Temple.
    Delegates and guests then traveled to SPJST Lodge 80, Holland for the Howdy Party which officially kicked off the 30th SPJST Convention.
    A summary of significant convention actions and election results follows:
Convention Highlights
    Supreme Lodge President Brian Vanicek called the 30th Convention to order on Monday, June 9.  The Harker Heights Police Department Honor Guard posted the colors, and  Helen Hegwood of Lodge 88, Houston led the convention in the National Anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner and the Czech National Anthem, Kde Domov Muj.  Lodge 8, Weimar President Leo Jares then led the Pledge of Allegiance.  Reverend Henry Beseda of Lodge 88, Houston offered a convention prayer followed by greetings from Supreme Lodge Chairman/District One Director Donnie Victorick.  City of Killeen Mayor Timothy L. Hancock welcomed SPJST members to Killeen and issued a proclamation designating June 9, 10, and 11, 2008, as “SPJST Days” in Killeen.
    A memorial acknowledgement was then presented by Supreme Lodge Vice President Gene McBride in memory of departed District Four Director Stanley Broz, Honorary District Five Director Louis Hanus, and other departed members.
    President Vanicek recognized the  delegate attending the most conventions—Ben Jarma of Lodge 84, Dallas attending his 14th convention. The youngest delegate in attendance was Victoria Pajestka of Lodge 80, Holland, age 17, and the oldest delegates were Rudolph and Celestine Darilek, both age 86 and from Lodge 88, Houston.  Sibling delegates were sisters Gladys Havemann, Ruth Martinek, and Josephine Pflughaupt, all of Lodge 88, Houston.  Other sibling delegates were sister Carol Globke and brothers Larry W. Pflughaupt and Lynn Pflughaupt, all of Lodge 88, Houston. Two sets of three-generation delegates were also recognized.  They were Rose Steinman, Mary Steinman, and Appa Hargiss, all of Lodge 154, Fort Worth, and Helen Pajestka, Frank Pajestka, Jr., and Victoria Pajestka, all of Lodge 80, Holland.
    Credential Committee Chairman Darlene Engelke of Lodge 66, Waco reported that a total of 271 delegates, representing 83 lodges and 37,140 votes were seated for the convention on Monday morning, June 9.  The final delegate count, by district, was:

District One    ....................3,411 Votes
District Two    ...................7,554 Votes
District Three    .................7,319 Votes
District Four    ...................2,650 Votes
District Five    ...................8,515 Votes
District Six    .....................4,764 Votes
District Seven    ................2,917 Votes

    Delegates elected Donnie Victorick of Lodge 9, Snook as Convention Chairman.  Leonard Jansa of Lodge 160, San Angelo was elected Convention Vice Chairman.  The following committees were assigned by Chairman Victorick and Vice Chairman Jansa:

Credentials Committee
    Darlene Engelke, Chairman (66)
    Diana Engelke (66)
    Frank Pajestka, Jr. (80)

Convention Secretaries
    Elaine Berkovsky (63)
    Annie Vahalik (4)
    Amanda Greger (47)
    Debbie Galler (66)
    Mary Steinman (154)
    Regina House (202)

Tellers’ Committee
    James Skrabanek, Chairman (47)
    Dorothy Rackel (13)
    James Liska (84)
    Joyce Kotulek (207)
    Linda Wehring (88)
    Lisa Bubela (30)
    Jerry Sijansky (79)

Resolution Committee
    Ronnie Pflughaupt (1)
    Peggy Dobecka (6)
    Helen Zabransky (4)

Convention Order Committee
    Randy Gaas (17)
    Lynda Novak (84)
    Charlene Dusek (160)

Grievance Committee
    Woodrow Marek, Chairman (47)
    Carolyn Brinkman (186)
    Kay Lynn Kovar (25)
    Arnie Rivera (219)
    Lynn Pflughaupt (88)
    Ardis Bacak (40)
    Wendy Pruski (107)

Parliamentarian
    Susan Skrabanek (17)

Timekeeper
    Johnnie Janak (38)

Sergeants-at-Arms
    Joe Siptak (4)
    Ben Trcalek, Jr. (17)

By-Laws Revised   
    For the next day-and-a-half, delegates reviewed the recommendations of the By-Law Committee.

Finance Committee Report   
    The Finance Committee report included recommendations regarding remunerations for convention participants and salary recommendations for individuals employed by the SPJST.  Recommendations for Youth Department allocations and allocations for various other outreach and charitable projects were also made.

Patriotic Tribute
    Wednesday morning’s agenda included a Flag Day patriotic tribute with Pastor Joe Emerson of Seaton Brethren Church singing “America, the Beautiful” and “God Bless America.”  The Flag Day patriotic program continued with seven-year-old April Dvorak of Lodge 25, Ennis Youth Club reading her winning Flag Day Essay contest entry “What It Means to be a Patriotic Texan.”  President Vanicek capped the program by inviting all SPJST veterans to come forward and be recognized.  The program closed with Leroy Schiller of Lodge 47, Seaton performing a trumpet rendition of “Taps.”

Other Standing Committee Reports
    Also on Wednesday, reports were delivered to the convention by the other standing committees.  Reporting on behalf of the Publication Committee was Chairman Jarolyn Popp of Lodge 133, San Antonio.  She summarized the activities of the Vestnik/ Communication Department in the past four years.  The Publication Committee also expressed its thanks to Editor/ Director of Communication Melanie Zavodny for her work.
    Reporting on behalf of the Insurance Committee was Chairman Susan Skrabanek of Lodge 17, New Tabor.  She discussed the recommended By-Law changes and stated the goals of the Insurance Committee.  She thanked Supreme Lodge Vice President Gene McBride for helping the committee make recommendations and set goals.

Special Structure Committee
    The SPJST Special Structure Committee then presented its report regarding its work with restructuring the Society and reorganizing the SPJST By-Laws.  The committee’s by-laws document will be presented to the SPJST By-Law Committee later this year.

Education and Nature Center
    A video on the SPJST Education and Nature Center and its future plans was viewed by the delegates.  ENC representatives from each of the seven districts were introduced.  The delegation then gave authorization to SPJST to pursue a contract with the Education and Nature Center for a long-term lease agreement with Cooper Farm located in Fayette County.

2012 Convention
    Delegates voted for the 31st SPJST Convention to be held in Killeen, Texas, in June, 2012.

Elections
    Elections for Supreme Lodge President, Vice President, and Secretary-Treasurer, and Editor/ Director of Communication followed.  During tabulating, SPJST Home Office staff members were introduced.

District Caucus
    Following the elections for the four state positions, the convention recessed into district caucuses to elect district directors and district standing committee members.
    The convention then reconvened for district caucus result announcements and installation. The convention adjourned at 6:45 p.m. with Helen Hegwood of Lodge 88, Houston leading the delegates in singing “God Bless America.”

    The official proceedings of the 2008 Convention will include complete reports of the By-Law, Finance, Insurance, and Publication Committees, Supreme Lodge Officers, and Supreme Lodge Directors.