a message from the kskj life home office 2015 … · fraternal activities coordinators, with an...

THE KSKJ LIFE VOICE 1

“Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one.” – Brad Paisley

This quote reminds me that a new year always brings great perspective, and it’s the perfect time for setting goals and creating a vision for where

you see yourself at the end of the year. This can also be applied to the goals of our lodges at KSKJ Life.

Hi everyone! My name is April Sleyko, and I have been working at the Home Office since July 2014. My main responsibility is to support lodge officers and fraternal operations. We’ve received the 2015 officer election forms here at the Home Office, and it is encouraging to see so many new officers! We are excited by our growth, and we are looking forward to working with so many members in these new positions. Equally encouraging is recognizing the many officers who continue to volunteer and provide leadership. Thank you all!

Our mission as a fraternal benefit society is to provide members and their families with financial security and fraternal benefits that promote traditional Christian heritage and family values. By serving as an officer in your lodge, you are promoting that mission and acting as the local face of KSKJ Life.

The 2015 Lodge Officer Handbooks are being mailed to your lodge Presidents, Financial Secretaries and Fraternal Activities Coordinators, with an electronic version coming soon to the new Lodge Officer Portal through our website. This handbook will serve as a resource for our officers, experienced and new, by sharing information and forms, introducing new procedures, and letting you know about all of the resources available. Please be sure to read the handbook and let us know if you have any questions. Particularly if you are new in your role, there can be a lot of information to process the first time. We want your volunteer experience to be a positive and rewarding one, so please let us know how we may assist you. Please also check out our newly designed website which showcases our new logo! Also, if you haven’t seen it yet, take a look at the KSKJ Life promotional video that was created for the 2014 National Convention. You may also find that on our website at kskjlife.com.

Thank you to all of the 2015 lodge officers for helping us serve our members and local communities by sharing your time, knowledge and spirituality. Whether your goals are to be more charitable this year, or to promote new membership, let’s write a good chapter for KSKJ Life in 2015!

APRIL SLEYKO KSKJ Life Home Office

A MESSAGE FROM THE KSKJ LIFE HOME OFFICE

2015 LODGE OFFICER ELECTIONS

IN THIS ISSUE

NATIONAL BASKETBALL & VOLLEYBALL TOURNEY Get the latest details and information on how to enter.Page 2

NEW WAYS TO CONNECT WITH KSKJ LIFELearn how we’ve made it easier than ever to connect with us.Page 3

LIFE INSURANCE 101Life insurance can be tricky. This guide will help you figure out which policy is right for you.Page 4

LODGE PERSONS OF THE YEARPage 5

FEED THE HUNGRY UPDATEPage 6

LOCAL LODGE NEWS & EVENTSPage 7

GLASILO5

VOLUME 125—NO.2 ISSN 1524-4407 FEBRUARY 2015

1-800-THE-KSKJKSKJLIFE.COM

THE KSKJ LIFE VOICE2

NATIONAL BASKETBALL & VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT FEB. 27 - MAR. 1 | WAUKEGAN, IL

By MaryLou Stefanick, National Director of Athletics

Are you ready for this year’s tournament? The deadline is rapidly approaching (Feb. 19)! Make sure your roster is set and your team is ready for the competition.

SCHEDULE

FEB. 27Friday Night Social Anastasia’s 3880 Northpoint Blvd. Waukegan, IL 60085 (847) 688-1317

FEB. 28Game Day The Waukegan Field House 800 N. Baldwin Ave. Waukegan, IL 60085

Saturday Night Dance Bonnie Brook Club House 2800 N. Lewis Ave. Waukegan, IL 60087

MAR. 1Sunday Children’s Activities* The Waukegan Field House 800 N. Baldwin Ave. Waukegan, IL 60085

*Open activities from noon - 2:00 p.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

KSKJ VOICEOFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF KSKJ LIFE,

AMERICAN SLOVENIAN CATHOLIC UNION, IN THE INTEREST OF ITS MEMBERS

The KSKJ Voice (ISSN 1524-4407) is published monthly by KSKJ Life, American Slovenian Catholic Union (2439 Glenwood Ave., Joliet, IL 60435). It is sent free of charge to KSKJ Life members and for $20 a year to other subscribers. Periodicals postage paid in

Joliet, IL and additional mailing offices.Publisher: KSKJ LifeManaging Editor: Tony Mravle, Jr. English articles for publication should be sent directly to [email protected]. Slovenian articles should be sent to:Mara Cerar Hull 1440 Bunts Rd. Lakewood, OH 44107 [email protected]

Submission Deadline: 2nd Friday of each month.To change address or name, or for matters concerning membership, please contact the KSKJ Life Home Office. This publication is also available electronically at kskjlife.com.

to the Athletic Director’s attention in such matters must be made within 30 days (not including the day of) to the National Athletic Director to submit to the Athletic Committee.

TEAM REGISTRATION AND ROSTER1. All participant names must appear on the Team Entry Form/Roster before the team begins its first scheduled game in the tournament. Entry Forms/Rosters are then considered locked, and no other players may be added without the approval of the National Athletic Director.

2. Entry deadline for tournament scheduling is Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015. Rosters can be sent via email ([email protected] ) or regular mail to:

John Deram, Fraternal Activies Coordinator 37015 N Mulberry Lane Gurnee, IL 60031

3. Entry fee of $75 per team for basketball and $30 per team for volleyball must be mailed to the address above to complete the team registration process. Checks may be made payable to, “Waukegan KSKJ Life Lodges.”

4. Proper liability releases are required of all participants and must be signed prior to the player’s first game. The release must be signed by a parent or legal guardian if player is under age 18, or by the participating individual if age 18 or over. Release forms will be available at the scorer’s table at the tournament.

DOWNLOAD THE ENTRY FORM AND OFFICIAL RULES ON THE ATHLETICS PAGE KSKJLIFE.COM.

HOTEL INFORMATIONThe Courtyard by Marriott 3800 Northpoint Blvd. Waukegan, IL 60085 (847) 689-8000

ROOM RATES (PLUS TAXES)• Queen: $94.00, King: $84.00

Call by Feb. 18 and be sure to ask for the “KSKJ Life” rate when calling.

PARTICIPANT ELIGIBILITY1. All participants in KSKJ Life National or Regional Tournaments must be in good financial standing as described in the membership section of the KSKJ Life bylaws.

2. New members wanting to participate in a KSKJ Life tournament must have a policy issued at least one week prior to participation.

3. It is the responsibility of the lodge’s Fraternal Activies Coordinator or designee to verify the eligibility of all participants with the Home Office prior to the tournament. Names must be sent to April Sleyko ([email protected]) by Feb. 21. Note: Participants whose eligibility has not verified by the Home Office may still participate, but at their own risk.

4. In the event an ineligible player (non-member, member not in good financial standing, etc.) participates in a KSKJ Life tournament/sponsored sports activity, the Athletic Director is empowered to disqualify the entire team, including but not limited to loss of all awards, travel compensation and eligibility for future competition. A written appeal


NEW WAYS TO CONNECT WITH KSKJ LIFE

By now, you’ve probably noticed some of the updates at KSKJ Life: the new logo and brand identity, a brand new website, even some updates in The Voice. As we continue to update our communications, we’re making it easier than ever to connect with KSKJ Life and members across the country.

KSKJLIFE.COMAs we closed out a successful 2014, we launched a completely redesigned and reimagined website. The site was designed with our members in mind, and we focused on three primary purposes of KSKJ Life: Protect, Connect and Serve.

PROTECTThe “Protect” section of the website highlights KSKJ Life products. Since our inception over 120 years ago, KSKJ Life has existed to protect our members and communities. KSKJ Life was originally created to protect the families of Slovenian-American workers who had little financial security for their families.

This section of the website allows members to explore life insurance plans, annuity options and other financial products to help protect your family’s future. Our charts make comparing the products easy, and our staff is available to answer any questions you have along the way.

CONNECTThe “Connect” area of the site is for all things fraternal. Sign up for an upcoming athletic tournament, stay current on KSKJ Life activities, and see what other members are up to with the KSKJ Life Member Pulse.

The Member Pulse connects kskjlife.com with the social world including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. It automatically displays any KSKJ Life related posts that are made by KSKJ Life’s profiles, or any posts tagged with the hashtag #kskjlife. This functionality makes it easier than ever to share your KSKJ Life news instantly. Next time you have an update or photo to share, just tweet using #kskjlife

and you’ll be featured in the Member Pulse.*

SERVEThis section of the site focuses on the KSKJ Life story, history and mission. Learn more about the organization’s founding, see how we got to where we are today, and where we’re going in the future.

KSKJ LIFE GONE SOCIALWith big events coming up, such as the National Basketball & Volleyball Tournament at the end of February, what better way to share pictures and updates than through social media? Be sure to follow KSKJ Life on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (details below), and remember to tag your tweets with #kskjlife to share your updates in the Member Pulse.

FOLLOW US!

FACEBOOK KSKJ LIFE

TWITTER @KSKJLIFE

INSTAGRAM @KSKJLIFE

*Note: Due to privacy policies, only public users

and posts will be automatically displayed.


MEMBER MEMORIAL

Our prayers go out to the families of our recently passed members. Claims have been paid and a donation to the KSKJ Life Scholarship Fund has been made on behalf of each.

DECEMBER 2014Ascher, Mary - #300, Springfield, ILBriski, Ann - #50, Glenshaw, PABurtzos, Elizabeth - #7, Dekalb, ILCek, Anthony - #7, Richmond Hts., OHDoerfler, Ann - #108, Sarasota, FLGardner, Mary - #169, Lyndhurst, OHGoyak, Bernadette - #81, Pittsburgh, PAKastelic, Robert - #146, Weaverville, NCKlamic, Josephine - #226, Wickliffe, OHKokely, Amelia - #150, Euclid, OHLinza, Kathryn - #7, Grand Junction, COMartin, Floriann - #65, Greenfield, WIMartincic, John - #153, Tionesta, PAMerrill, Ural - #148, Upper Marlboro, MDNoble, Lois - #108, Joliet, ILNose, John - #146, Cleveland, OHPapesh Sr., Alfred - #29, Joliet, ILPekol Anthony - #169, Willowick, OHRosko, Rose - #53, Waukegan, ILSkerl, Richard - #110, Barberton, OHSmerke, Anthony - #144, Sheboygan, WISvigel, Josephine - #169, Lakeline, OHTominec, Ivanka - #169, Cary, NC

LIFE INSURANCE 101: WHAT TYPE DO YOU NEED?

The most basic feature of a life insurance policy is the death benefit: the lump-sum payment allotted for your beneficiaries. It’s the core reason to own life insurance—but not the only one. Some types of life insurance offer riders or other features that can play an important role in your financial strategy, such as the ability to accumulate cash value that grows over time.

TERM INSURANCETerm life insurance provides protection for a specific period of time—the “term”—and is designed for temporary circumstances. It makes the most sense when your need for coverage will disappear at some point, such as when your children graduate from college or when a debt is paid off. The most common term policies provide coverage for 20 years, but they can run the gamut from 30 years or even longer. In some cases, a term policy may also be converted to a permanent policy. Typically, term insurance offers the greatest amount of coverage for the lowest initial premium and is a good choice for young families on a tight budget.

PERMANENT INSURANCEPermanent insurance offers lifelong protection, and you can accumulate cash value on a tax-deferred basis. This cash account can be used for a variety of purposes, from helping you out of a tight financial spot, to providing funds to take advantage of an opportunity, to supplementing your retirement income. The downside? Initial premiums are considerably higher than what you would pay for a term policy with the same face amount.

WHAT TYPE IS RIGHT FOR ME?Term Permanent

Length of Coverage

A specified term, typically 10, 20 or 30 years.

Until age 100 or later, as long as premiums are paid.

Premiums Considerably lower than permanent insurance, when initially purchased.

Initially higher than term premiums but often level for life.

Cash Value None Accumulates over time on a tax-deferred basis.

Key Advantage Typically offers the highest death benefit for the lowest cost.

Offers lifelong protection and tax-deferred savings.

Have questions or need help determining which policy is right for you? Contact your local KSKJ Life Agent or the Home Office.

CALL: 800-843-5755 EMAIL: [email protected] VISIT: WWW.KSKJLIFE.COM

Article provided by Life Happens

Mary Nage - Anaheim, CA #79Mary Chamernik, $20

Rose Rosko - Waukegan, IL #53St. Joseph #53, KSKJ, $25

Evelyn Sajbel - Pueblo, CO #7Sandra Sajbel McKinley, $100

IN MEMORY OFJosephine Spanich - Joliet, IL #2John & Cheryl Spanich, $100

Joseph Farrell - Chicago, IL #44Knights of St. Florian #44, KSKJ

Michael Rescan - St. Petersburg, FL #44Knights of St. Florian #44, KSKJ,

Roseann Tendy - Homer Glen, IL #44Knights of St. Florian #44, KSKJ


CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2014 LODGE PERSONS OF THE YEAR!

THOMAS MCNALLYLODGE #1CHICAGO, IL

JENNIFER WOODLODGE #69GREAT FALLS, MT

RUDOLPH MIHELICHLODGE #2JOLIET, IL

MARY PETRELLALODGE #29JOLIET, IL

JANET OBERMANLODGE #44S. CHICAGO, IL

ASHLEY MIKULANLODGE #50PITTSBURGH, PA

JAMES VELIKANLODGE #52INDIANAPOLIS, IN

MARK KLEMM SR.LODGE #53WAUKEGAN, IL

THERESA LAVIGNELODGE #59EVELETH, MN

DAVID HAMMERGENLODGE #79WAUKEGAN, IL

JOHN CHUMALODGE #148BRIDGEPORT, CT

AGNES GLAVICHLODGE #104PUEBLO, CO

ALAN MIHELICHLODGE #108JOLIET, IL

MONICA RACKILODGE #115KANSAS CITY, KS

EDWARD BAYUKLODGE #136WILLARD, WS

CYNTHIA MARTISLODGE #143JOLIET, IL

PATRICIA SLAPNICKLODGE #144SHEBOYGAN, WS

LYNNE POWERSLODGE #146CLEVELAND, OH

MARLENE TRACHLODGE #153STRABANE, PA

VICTORIA HEROLDLODGE #170LEMONT, IL

ALICE JANCHARLODGE #171DULUTH, MN

STACY LAUTIGARLODGE #196GILBERT, MN

JAMES BERNARDLODGE #197ST. CLOUD, MN

CLARA ABRIANI & RAY YARTZLODGE #226CLEVELAND, OH

KATICA & FRANCI PECAVARLODGE #236SAN FRANCISCO, CA

KATHLEEN IRELANDLODGE #257WASHINGTON, D.C.


The KSKJ Life Home Office sends a special “thank you” to all of the lodges and members who participated in the 2014 Feed the Hungry Food Drive. In total, we donated over 1,000 non-perishable food items, cash donations and had over 550 members in participation across the nation. Donations were made to the local food pantry or church of each lodge’s choice.

Lodges who reported donations include:

ST. STEPHEN #1Chicago, IL

ST. JOSEPH #2Joliet, IL

BLESSED VIRGIN #50Pittsburgh, PA

ST. ALOYSIUS #52Indianapolis, IN

ST. JOSEPH #69Great Galls, MT

ST. JOSEPH #110Cleveland, OH

ST. VERONICA #115Kansas City, KS

MARY OF PERPETUAL HELP #136Willard, WS

ST. JEROME #153Strabane, PA

ST. JOSEPH #169Cleveland, OH

ST. ANNE #170Lemont, IL

ST. ELIZABETH #171Duluth, MN

ST. STEPHEN #197St. Cloud, MN

FEED THE HUNGRY FOOD DRIVE RECAP


Albin Orehek - Treasurer, Brian Fabo, Martin Turek and John Prawdzik - Auditors, Joe Hocevar - Chairman Lodge Membership Commitee. As you can see, it is basically the same list. Ee are trying to get our younger members involved in the operation of the lodge as new officers. As you know this lodge belongs to the members and without some younger members stepping up and getting involved, the lodge will dwindle and possibly fade away.

POLKA! THE MOVIE SCREENING

Polka! The Movie, the documentary about Slovenian music in America, returns for a special screening at the Cleveland Cinematheque, Sunday, Feb. 8 at 4:00 p.m. Joe Valencic, writer and narrator of the film, will share behind-the-scene stories. The film will be preceded by an accordion jam session at 3:30 p.m. hosted by the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum, with Patty Candela and Joe Strukel.

Polka! The Movie traces how Cleveland-style polka music became a national sensation and is still enjoyed today across the country. Joe takes you through the Slovenian neighborhoods where the Cleveland-style sound was born a century ago. The music got Americans dancing after World War II when Polka King Frank Yankovic scored million-selling hits. Polka! The Movie shows the music’s enduring popularity at festivals and events. Vintage film clips and photos bring the polka past to life.

Polka! The Movie features performances and interviews with legends like Joey Miskulin (Riders in the Sky), Walter Ostanek (Canada’s Polka King), Richie Vadnal and Cecilia Dolgan, to younger musicians such as Kim Skovenski and Joey

REGION 1PENNSYLVANIA, CONNECTICUT & WASHINGTON D.C.

LODGE #257WASHINGTON, D.C.

ST. NICHOLAS CELEBRATION

On the evening of Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014, the Bishop Baraga Society celebrated its 50th annual Slovensko Miklavževanje/Celebration of the Feast of St. Nicholas. This year we were honored to have several special guests. His Excellency, Dr. Božo Cerar, Ambassador of Slovenia attended, along with the First Secretary for Political Affairs, Mr. Borut Blaj and his family, and the Counselor for Press, Public Diplomacy, and Cultural Affairs, Ms. Nuška Zakrajšek. Also, from the Steelton/Harrisburg area of Pennsylvania, our past Regional Director, Tony Flaynik, came with accomplished accordionists Jeff Dermes, Christine Iozza, and their friend Rob Rafaj. Before the evening’s activities began, President Chris Bohince took this opportunity to honor three 50 Year Members Gabrielle Mejač Dawyot, Catalina Zorc and Peter Mejač. The program then started with vocal and instrumental presentations, by individuals and duets, performed by young members of the Slovenian community of greater Washington, D.C. These were coordinated by the Bishop Baraga Society’s Youth Director, Anne Zorc. Our president next called all children to the stage. With his accordion, he led the children and the audience in a Slovenian melody that called St. Nicholas into the hall. Father Peter Rožič, a Jesuit priest from Slovenia who earned his Ph.D. at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., first introduced this song to us in 2009 and continued to perform it for the next three years. St. Nicholas then entered, attired in bishop’s robes, and accompanied by angels and devils. He called each child or family to the stage for their gift, often adding saintly compliments or authoritative reprimands. A light meal of klobase, hot dogs, sauerkraut and bread followed. Although the meal was very good, we also enjoyed another treat. Jeff Dermes entertained by strolling and playing well-known songs from Slovenia and the United States, first on the piano accordion, and then on his button box. Throughout the evening, baked goods,

including potice and krofe, were available for sale. The evening ended with a raffle, which was enjoyed by all, particularly the children.

Chris Bohince, President

REGION 2CLEVELAND AREA

Once again, the Slovenian Cultural Garden Association invites you to their Pusta Vecerja/Fat Tuesday Dinner on Feb. 17 from 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Parish Hall (15519 Holmes Ave, Cleveland, OH). Call St. Mary’s at (216) 761-7740 for additional information.

Dec. 18, 2014 - KSKJ Life Vice Chairman meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Slovenia, Brent Hartley. Mr. Hartley traveled to Cleveland to meet with several groups and individuals before he takes his post in Slovenia. Currently, Hartley serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs US Department of State. Traveling with Ambassador-Designate Hartley was Tim Piergalski of Austria and Slovenia Desk Officer of the US Department of State. (Pictured From Left): Phil Hrvatin, Brent Hartley, Tim Piergalski.

LODGE #25CLEVELAND, OH

LODGE UPDATE

Belated season’s greetings to all. Our lodge had our annual meeting on Dec. 14, 2014 with approximately 50 members in attendance. We had our election of officers: Joe Hocevar - President, James Debevec - Vice President, John Turek - Financial Secretary,

LOCAL LODGE NEWS & EVENTS


Mother/daughter duo accepting 50 Year Membership Awards (From Left: Anna Cesar, Anne Zudic).

Newly elected officers: (Front From Left): Helen Troha - Recording Secretary, Loretta Brown - President. (Back From Left): Joanne Ash - Fraternal Activities Coordinator, Mary Urbancic - Vice President, Elizabeth Kusar - Financial Secretary.

Lodge members at the Christmas Party.


MATCHING KSKJ LIFE GRANT EVENT

Good food, good company and helping good causes

are on tap for the annual Palm Sunday benefit dinner to be held on Mar. 29, 2015 in St. Vitus Parish Auditorium, 6111 Lausche Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44103. Both sit-down and take-out dinners will be served. Roasted chicken and roast beef will be the main meal items along with side dishes of home-made Slovenian-style soup, potatoes, lettuce, veggies and pastry. Two Northeast Ohio lodges, St. Vitus #25 and Christ The King Lodge #226, are teaming up to sponsor this as a “KSKJ Life Matching Grant” event.

The two designated not-for-profit organizations for the matching grants are the St. Edward High School Outreach Program (serving local food banks and starting up a youth St. Vincent de Paul Society initiative at the high school) and St. Paschal Baylon Helping Hands Ministry (SPBHHM). Each designated organization is eligible for a maximum grant of up to $1,000 based on the outcome of the benefit event. SPBHHM serves hot meals at various sites around Cleveland, including St. Malachi Parish on the the near west side and in the St. Vitus neighborhood area on the east side. SPBHHM also assists in placing homeless to indoor facilities and providing clothing and food on wheels through its “Care-A-Van” initiative.

The benefit dinner will occur from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Take-out dinners will be served in the social room of the parish auditorium while sit-down dinners will be served in the auditorium. Cost is $14 adult and $7 child under 12 years old. Tickets are available by contacting Joseph Hocevar (216) 881-9586 or the parish directory at (216) 361-1444. Mass schedule is: 9 a.m. (English) and 10:30 a.m. (Slovenian). The colorful Slovenian tradition of “butare” will also be on display at the 10:30 a.m. mass.

AMERICAN SLOVENIAN WRITER. FIRST NOVELMr. Kim Zupan, a third generation American-Slovenian writer, recently published his first novel, The Ploughmen. The novel was published in Oct. 2014 with the Great Falls, MN landscape as the primary backdrop for this novel. This novel is not for the faint of heart. Mr. Zupan is a life-long resident of Montana with a most fascinating life, ranging from working as a smelterman, pro rodeo bareback rider, ranch hand and Alaskan salmon fisherman. He currently teaches as an assistant professor in

LOCAL LODGE NEWS & EVENTSTomsick. Personalities include Jan Paulich Jones, Tony Petkovsek and the late Frank Yankovic Jr.

The film screens in the Aitken Theater at the Cleveland Institute of Art, 11141 East Boulevard in University Circle. General admission is $10, Cinematheque members and those age 25 & under are $8. Parking is free. For more information contact the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum at (216) 261-FAME.

LODGE #219EUCLID, OH

LODGE UPDATE

Our 2015 St. Christine Lodge #219 officers include newly-elected President Loretta Brown and Financial Secretary Elizabeth Kusar. Officers retaining postitions from last year are Vice President Mary Urbanic, Recording Secretary Helen Troha, Fraternal Activities Coordinator Joanne Ash, and Auditors Mary Cooke, Mary Urbanic and Loretta Brown. Loretta will also be our Fraternals Give reporter (assisted by Elizabeth). We are seeking a Membership Chairmen—if interested please contact an officer. The highlight of our meeting was honoring 50 Year Members Anna Cesar and Anne Zudic of Euclid who attended our meeting and Christmas Party. Member Kathleen Jurcago accepted her daughter, Janice Frioni’s certificate. We held our Christmas Party which included dinner and had gifts from the Home Office we used as door prizes—we thank Home Office for this treat. A raffle for other prizes was then held, table decorations were presented to those attending, and it was a great time for all. Money raised from the raffle will be used to fund our charity project, which we will select at our next meeting.

Due to inclement Cleveland weather, we will not meet until Mar. 8 at 1 p.m. in the Gateway Manor Community Room in Euclid. Keep warm and safe over the winter months, we’ll see you in the spring. God Bless.

Elizabeth Kusar


carpentry in the industrial arts program at Missoula College-University of Montana. He holds an MFA (Master in Fine Arts) from the University of Montana. I hope to have a book review of The Ploughmen in a coming edition of The Voice. Writer’s Note: The local KSKJ Life lodge in Montana is in fact in the Great Falls, MT area, that being St. Joseph Lodge #69. If possible, I am hoping to have Mr. Zupan give a book presentation and signing in northeast Ohio in 2015.

Stane Kuhar

REGION 3CLEVELAND AREA


UPCOMING EVENTS

FEB. 21 Tobogganing at the Metroparks Chalet in Strongsville. We will meet there starting at 1 p.m. If possible, let me know if you plan on attending so we can keep an eye out for you. As an FYI, this was a very popular event last year. The chutes do get pretty full starting around 3 p.m. If you want to take a few quick runs, I recommend you get there around 1 p.m.

MAR. 22 50 Year Member Dinner at Sterle’s (E 55th). Dinner will be at 4 p.m. More details to follow.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Hope everyone has had a great start to the New Year. In the Cleveland area, we are struggling to stay warm, that is for sure. As usual, our Browns failed to survive the month of December and went from being contenders to pretenders! What a way to end the year, leaving all of us bitter. Perhaps the Cavs or Indians will provide some momentum to get us through these doldrums.

We are busy with our preparations for the “Big Game” party on Feb. 1. Hoping that many of you will be able to join us. This will be our annual Matching Funds benefit, with this year’s recipient being St. Mary’s in Collinwood. Squares are $25 each and

include food and beverage (beer/wine/pop). Come along and see what it is all about!

So, we have a few events to look out for in the quarter. Hopefully they will appeal to a wide range of members.

As a reminder, the scholarship applications will be due shortly. Start gathering info for them so you are not pressed at the end.

Hope you youngsters are trying out for the ABC bowling!

Stay warm and safe!

Josie Kmet, Secretary/Treasurer


WONDERFUL ORGAN RECITAL

On Dec. 7, 2014, Nathan Laube, 26 year-old Assistant Professor at Eastman Conservatory of Music, University of Rochester, performed a vibrant and versatile church pipe organ recital on the church organ in St. Vitus Church.

A reception and fellowship followed in the lower church hall. Attendees had the opportunity to meet with Professor Laube over the next 90 minutes. His connections to his Slovenian roots were evident by many of the comments he made during the recital as during the reception. Thank you to Joe Tavcar and staff for the great food provided. Thanks to Sophie Mazi and staff for the wonderful pastry that was a delight for all. Thank you to all who attended this wonderful event, an advent gift to the parish and broader community. Thanks to the American Mutual Life Association, KSKJ Life Cultural Grant Program, St. Vitus Lodge #25, The Frances and Jane S. Lausche Foundation, and St. Vitus Parish for providing funding to make this performance a reality. A note of thanks to The Voice, Slovenian American Times, Tony Petkovsek Jr. ,Tony Ovsenik, Ed Mejac, Paul Lavrisha, News Herald, Catholic Universe Bulletin, and Our Voice (AMLA) for informing KSKJ Life members and the general public of this event. When informed that there were four events occurring on the same day, Professor Laube noted that it must

mean our local and broader community is vibrant.

REGION 4JOLIET AREA

Happy New Year my friends! I trust that everyone had a Merry Christmas and rung in the New Year safely. Just think—we get to do this again in 11 months. Anyway, here’s what’s happening with the Joliet Lodges.

On Tuesday, Jan. 6, the combined Joliet Lodges held their first meeting of the New Year with the newly elected officers at the helm. I must say, they did a fine job. Roll call was taken with members from the following lodges in attendance: Lodge #2, Lodge #29, Lodge #108 and Lodge #143.

Under old business—Lynn Miller gave a report on the kids Christmas party that was held on Saturday, Dec. 6 at Haunted Trails. A total of 205 people were in attendance. Everyone had a great time—especially the kids. A big “thank-you” goes out to all the members who had met to help with the 467 Christmas cards that were sent out to the 80 and over. Good job everyone.

As for new business, the “240” raffle for January will be pulled at the February meeting. Mike Vidmar reported that the Illinois Federation of KSKJ Life Lodges would meet on the following days:

• Friday, Mar. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Slovenian Cultural Center in Lemont

• Sunday, Jul. 26 at St. Anne’s Lodge Picnic in Lemont

• Friday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Slovenian Cultural Center in Lemont.

As always, all are welcomed to attend.

The next regular meeting of the combined Joliet Lodges will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. at T&C Lanes. Again, all members are welcomed to attend.

Well, that’s it for now. Stay warm and safe.

Pauline Mihelich, Joliet Lodges VP/Reporter



Following the meeting, members enjoyed a delicious meal and fellowship.

Jodi Wartenberg, Recording Secretary

Rudy Mihelich accepting a gold watch from out-going president Rick Churnovic.

Rick Churnovic congratulating newly-elected President Gregg Vershay.

.LODGE #29JOLIET, IL

UPCOMING EVENTS

MAR. 8 Chili Cookoff & Lodge Meeting: 11 a.m. at St. Joe’s Park.

ST. FRANCIS DE SALES NEWS

I hope that everyone is having a blessed year so far. In St. Francis, we are having a great start to the year with many things to update. In December, we had our annual food drive. We collected canned goods and donated it to the Guardian Angel Home. A BIG thank you to our members who donated. You truly showcase what fraternalism is all about.

On Jan. 4, we had our Christmas Party. It was held at 176 W. Banquet Hall in Joliet. It was a wonderful

LODGE #2JOLIET, IL

UPCOMING EVENTS

FEB. 1Membership meeting at Town and Country Lanes, 2231 Jefferson Street in Joliet at 11:00 a.m. This meeting will be held in conjunction with the KSKJ Life “Alternative Bowling Competition” for our youth members. The lodge will provide pizza for members at the meeting and pay for our lodge’s youth (ages 5 - 15) who bowl for the competition. We look forward to seeing you there! For questions, call Gregg Vershay at (815) 723-1497.

MAR. 15Brunch Membership Meeting at Syl’s Restaurant in Rockdale, IL at 11:30 a.m. Prices: Adults (13 years old and over) are $10, under 12 years old are free.Adult guests are $20, child guests are $10. Our 50 Year Members, who will be honored at the event and their one guest are free. Reservation and prepay are required. RSVP to Sylvia Churnovic at (815) 353-1161 or Sue Mihelich at (815) 727-4370.

MONTHLY UPDATE

The January Membership Meeting was held on Jan. 4 in the Legion Room at St. Joseph Park. Highlights of the meeting included the presentation of a gold watch to Rudy Mihelich, our out-going Financial Secretary, in honor of his 48 years of dedicated service to our lodge.

Rudy Mihelich installed the new officers with Rick Churnovic passing the gavel to new President Gregg Vershay.

The Alternative Bowling Competition was discussed as well as the March Brunch. Winners of the attendance award included Gregg Vershay and Sue Mihelich.

Door prize winners include Jeanna Bain, Julene Schumacher, Joann Russ, Season Lawler, Lydia Marquardt, Lori Bond, Bob Verbiscer, Matt Schumacher, Lynn Miller, Sylvia Churnovic, Rick Churnovic, Janice Coats, Nancy Churnovic and Sue Mihelich.

day with entertainment by Steve Lydell, door prizes, and a 50/50 raffle. We also had the installation of our 2015 officers. Congratulations to the following officers:

• President - Debbie Zelinski

• Vice President - Bob Zelinski

• Financial Secretary - Judy Corum

• Recording Secretary - Karen Colman

• Communications/Reporter - Laurica Petrella-Zitko

• Fraternal Activity Coordinator - Mary Petrella

• Fraternal Activity Coordinator - Vicky Soliman

• Fraternal Activity Coordinator - Mel Keltz

• Sargent at Arms - Louie Derlinga

• Membership Chairperson - Bill Potochnic

• Auditor - Kathy Lovati

• Auditor - Paul Boettcher

• Auditor - Nick Vidmar

Happy New Year and God bless in 2015.

Laurica Petrella-Zitko, Communications/Reporter

2015 Officers (From Left) Front Row: Laurica Petrella-Zitko, Bob Zelinski, Debbie Zelinski, Judy Corum, Karen Colman. Back Row: Paul Boettcher, Mary Petrella, Mel Keltz, Vicky Soliman, Louie Derlinga, Bill Potochnic, Nick Vidmar. Not Photographed: Kathy Lovati



LODGE #143JOLIET, IL

UPCOMING EVENTS

FEB. 27 - 29 National Basketball & Volleyball Tournament, Waukegan, IL APR. 18 - 19 National Bowling Tournament, Milwaukee, WI

JUN. 27 National Golf Tournament, Waukegan, IL

JUL. 26 Splash Station, Joliet, IL

LODGE UPDATE

We are happy to hear from Tony Mravle Jr. that the new KSKJ Life website has launched, along with Instagram, mobile site, etc. He also initiated conversation about the new KSKJ Life logo, informing us that the background of the logo represents the Triglav Mountain range in Slovenia. We all agreed that the new logo is a favorable new look for our beloved fraternity.

Speaking of Tony, we wish to thank him for his dedicated attention to his recent position as President of Lodge #143. We appreciate your hard work, Tony. Tony graciously offered his assistance to our newly-elected President, Eric Schmitt. We welcome Eric with open arms, as well as the following new and returning officers:

• President - Eric Schmitt

• Vice President - Thomas Markun

• Financial Secretary - Lynn Schmitt

• Fraternal Activities Coordinator - Margaret Koncar

• Asst. Fraternal Activities Coordinator - Stephanie Schmitt

• Membership Committee - Annette Koncar

• Treasurer - David Markun

• Recording Secretary - Kristina Osburn

LODGE #108JOLIET, IL

NEW YEAR, NEW EVENTS!

On Jan. 4, St. Genevieve Lodge #108 held their first meeting of the New Year. Even though it was on the chilly side—members came out to enjoy themselves for the afternoon.

Our new President Alan Mihelich welcomed everyone who was in attendance and wished all a Happy New Year! This is a first for St. Genevieve Lodge #108’s history—there has never been a male President and a male Vice President at the same time. Hip-hip hooray! Way to go St. Genevieve Lodge.

Get-well wishes go out to all of our shut-in and ill members. Also, let us not forget our members who had recently passed away. Let us keep them in our prayers.

Under new business, St. Genevieve Lodge #108 will sponsor another ice skating/pizza party on Sunday, Feb. 15 at Inwood Ice Arena in Joliet. Check in/registration will start at 12:30 p.m. and ice skating will be from 1 - 2:30 p.m. As in the past, the lodge will pay for children up to age 18. Any adults wishing to ice skate will have to pay their own way. After everyone is done ice skating, they will be treated to pizza and soda pop.

On Sunday, Mar. 8, there will be a mass for all living and deceased members of St. Genevieve Lodge #108 with a breakfast brunch following the mass in Ferdinand Hall. Cost is $5 per person.

Congratulations to Beatrice (Bea) Fothergill. She was the lucky attendance winner for the month of January.

After the meeting, a luncheon was served, consisting of a platter of finger sandwiches, a fruit and cheese platter, potato chips, cookies and candy, along with soda pop and coffee.

Stay warm and hope to see you at our next event.

Pauline Mihelich, Financial Secretary/Treasurer

• Communications/Voice Reporter - Cynthia Martis

• Auditor - John Koncar

On Dec. 21, thanks to the organizational efforts of Margaret Koncar, about a dozen Lodge #143 members congregated for caroling to the residents of Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home. Our audience was most attentive, especially a resident who sat with her visiting family just in front of our stage. We discovered that her name is Jenne Skubic-Vercelate, and she was celebrating her 104th birthday that very day! Jenne is Slovenian and became a member of KSKJ Life Lodge #2 at age 16 in 1926—what a sweet-sixteen birthday present! We enjoyed celebrating with her. And as if that wasn’t a nice enough event, we received a wonderful compliment. When lastly we proclaimed Joy To The World in cheerful song, some of the audience told us that we harmonized beautifully. With that praise well-received, we proudly dispersed and got back to our Christmas shopping. How fun was that!

Rolling into the new year, about 30 Lodge #143 members met for our Annual Christmas Party on Jan. 10. We began at Town and Country Bowling Lanes, where six lanes were reserved just for Lodge #143. Adults and little ones alike challenged the pins, and we bowled our hearts out. Check out little Kiernan Markun (see photo). The minute the ball left her hands, she knew her ball was headed for victory! Congratulations to Frank Markun—he got four strikes in a row. What’s that called—a turkey plus? Then we moved the party to Traditions Sports Bar at Inwood Recreational Center where we conducted a short meeting, then feasted on pizza and salad. Thank you Lynn Schmitt for organizing this fun event.



LOCAL LODGE NEWS & EVENTSWe welcome member news and boastful events. Convey them to Cindy at [email protected].

Cindy Martis, Communications

REGION 5CHICAGO, WAUKEGAN & INDIANAPOLIS

LODGE #44S. CHICAGO, IL

FEBRUARY UPDATE

As the year came to a close, Lodge #44 celebrated another successful year of operations at its annual Christmas Party on Dec. 14. We had 33 guests who attended the banquet and enjoyed traditional polka music provided by Vince Rigler as they dined. The tunes changed to Christmas Carols as guests heard the sound of sleigh bells, announcing the arrival of the season’s hero. Santa Claus made his appearance towards the end of the event and bestowed gifts upon the three children in attendance, much to their delight. Adults enjoyed a competitive game of put-put golf with cash prizes. In the spirit of the season, in addition to the festivities, the Lodge collected food and made a monetary donation for the St. Vincent Depaul food pantry.

The party was preceded by Lodge elections for the year 2015. President Bozzetti opened the floor for nominations during the meeting, resulting in all incumbents being re-elected to their posts with the exception of the Financial Secretary. The 2015 executive board will consist of the following: George Bozzetti, President; Betty Krcmaric , Vice President; Mary Jane Strus, Treasurer; Christopher Bozzetti, Financial Secretary; Bob Oberman, Recording Secretary, Jim Rossi Jr., Athletic Director; Jan Oberman and Mitzy Klobecar, Auditors; Jim Rossi Sr., Sargent in Arms; and Angela Rossi, Voice Reporter. Here’s to another successful year!

Furthermore, we would like to congratulate Jan Oberman as Lodge 44’s elected Person of the Year for 2014. Jan has been an instrumental part of our operations during the year, in addition to attending every event and meeting of the Lodge. Without the dedication and commitment to KSKJ Lodge #44

that Jan has demonstrated, we surely would not be able to accomplish the level of service and sense of community that we have achieved this year. Many thanks to you, Jan!

Finally, our next meeting, and first of the year, will be held February 8th, 2015 at Crow Bar at 10 a.m. following mass. At the meeting we will vote on the location of our 2015 meetings, and start setting up our agenda for the year. We hope to see you all in attendance!

If you would like any additional information either provided from Lodge #44, or if you’re aware of any accomplishments or activities of members you know reported in The Voice, please contact me directly at [email protected] or (708) 668-3476.

Christopher Bozzetti, Lodge #44 Reporter

LODGES #1 & #170CHICAGO, IL

ST. STEPHEN #1 AND ST. ANNE #170 CHRISTMAS PARTY

A total of 75 adults and 35 children attended. A delicious lunch of soup, salad, spaghetti and meatballs and Slovenian sausage was served with potica and cookies for dessert.

Santa visited with each child and the children gathered around Santa for a picture. (Thank you, Santa/Pat Sierzega.)

Thank you to Barbara Krampac who led the children and adult musical chairs games and prepared the

“guess how many items are the jar” games.

Thank you to Donna and Tom McNally, Theresa Krampac and Joanne Sierzega for donating the prizes for the raffle and to Don G., and Irene and Joanne Sierzega for the door prize items.

Thank you to all who donated food items for the annual KSKJ Life Feed the Hungry campaign. The items were donated to the Lemont Food Pantry.

A Healthy and Happy New Year to all.

(From Left): Lodge #170 President Barbara Krampac, Financial Secretary Theresa Krampac and Lodge #1 Financial Secretary Joanne Sierzega and President Dawn Zamora.

REGION 6WISCONSIN

UPCOMING EVENTS

MAR. 8 Annual Lodge 50 Year Member Luncheon Meeting at Bonnie Brook Club House at 12:00 p.m. RSVP to Sue Dolence at (847) 662-0908 or Victoria Drinka (847) 244-8949 by Feb. 28.

APR. 12 Meeting: 9:15 a.m at Bertrand Lanes.

MAY 10 Meeting: 9:15 a.m. at Bertrand Lanes.

REGIONAL NEWS

Your time and talents are needed at the National Basketball Tournament, which is around the corner (the weekend of Feb. 28). In addition, the Women’s Volleyball Tournament, which was started in Milwaukee, is back! It will run in conjunction with the aforementioned basketball games. The Field


House in Waukegan will be the host site for these contests and volunteers are needed to help make this weekend a success. Please contact Fraternal Activities Coordinator Sue Dolence at (847) 662-0908 to volunteer and to register your teams for this event .

Our annual Lodge Leaders/50 Year Member Luncheon will be held on Mar. 8 at the Bonnie Brook Club House in Waukegan this year. The family style lunch (dinner for most!) will be served at noon with a cash bar. There is no cost for this meal for our members—your guests will be welcome for the cost of the lunch.

RSVPs are necessary by Feb. 28 to Sue Dolence at (847) 662-0908 or myself at (847) 244-8949.

Victoria Drinka, Secretary

LODGE #65MILWAUKEE, WS

UPCOMING EVENTS

PLEASE NOTE: Our monthly meetings have changed. They will now be held on the first Wednesday of each month. Our next meeting will be held on Feb. 7. We are hoping this is a convenient time, and we’ ll have a bigger attendance of members. The meetings will be held at 6:30 p.m. in room A of the Rectory of St. John the Evangelist Church. Please enter on the north aside of the building (second door). Hope to see you there.

MATCHING FUNDS DONATION

St. John the Evangelist #65 sponsored a Four Guyz in Dinner Jackets show on Oct. 18, 2014 as a Matching Funds program. Proceeds were to go to St. John the Evangelist Church in Greenfield, WS in honor of its coming 100th anniversary and in memory of the Slovene immigrants who founded the church back in 1916.

The Four Guyz performance had attendees dancing in their seats (or twisting in the aisles), singing along with the beautiful harmony to tunes from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, and laughing at their antics. Smiles were evident everywhere.

Homemade food and bakery (plus drinks) added

to everyone’s enjoyment. However, it was the welcoming attitude of our lodge members that set the tone for the entire evening. True fraternalism in action!

On Dec. 20, 2014, a few officers gathered at St. John’s to present two checks to Father Michael Merkt, Pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church. One check totaled $3,888.90, the net profit from the Four Guyz show, the second, for $1,000, was KSKJ Life’s Matching Funds donation. Both were graciously accepted by Father Merkt.

Many thanks to all officers and members who made this an unforgettable and successful endeavor.

Agnes Lobacz, Recording Secretary

LODGE UPDATE

I hope that everyone had a very Merry Christmas, and may 2015 be a happy, healthy and prosperous for all.

We tried something different this year for our Christmas Party. In addition to our usual talent show and a visit from Santa (aka Adam Budda), we had a pizza party. Many thanks to members who brought special sweet treats for all. They were certainly appreciated. Many thanks to all who helped.

I’m sorry to say that none of our 50 Year Members were in attendance at our Christmas Party, but were thought of.

The winners of the bean bag contest were Tanner Sebastian and Jake Halstead. Thanks to Pat Slapnick for providing gift cards as prizes. Your thoughtfulness was appreciated.

Welcome Declan James Luzar. Congratulations to Matt and Angela Luzar, the happy parents and to his big brother Jackson.

Greetings and best wishes to all of our sick and shut ins.

Nasvidenje

Edmar Mici Bregant

REGION 7MINNESOTA & MICHIGAN

The Minnesota Federation of KSKJ Life Lodges will hold their quarterly meeting in Gilbert on Feb. 8 at 1 p.m. The meeting will be at St. Joseph’s Church Hall. Please call in your reservations by Feb. 2 to Katherine Trampusch at (218) 741-5029.

LODGE #59EVELETH, MN

2015 OFFICERS

The election of officers for 2015 was held at the Christmas Party on Dec. 14. Jennifer Menart was elected President, Ron Erjevec was re-elected Vice President, Connie Menart is Financial Secretary, Theresa LaVigne is Treasurer, Dawn Barchus is Recording Secretary, Rosemary Mattson is Youth & Adult Activities Coordinator, Bob Mavec remains Sargent-at-Arms, and the Auditors are Frank Erjavec, Gloria Leseman and Amy Erjavec.



(Front Row): Frank Erjavec, Gloria Leseman, Jennifer Menart. (Back Row): Rosemary Mattson, Sharon Bucar - Region 7 Director, Ron Erjavec, Dawn Barchus, Connie Menart, Theresa LaVigne, Amy Erjavec, Bob Mavec.

Everyone enjoyed playing Bingo.

LODGE #171DULUTH, MN

UPCOMING EVENTS

FEB. 14 Annual sleigh ride from 1 - 3 p.m. at Country Side Rides. Please RSVP by Feb. 10 to Frank Bucar at (218) 626-1928.

LODGE #196GILBERT, MN

WHAT’S NEW

On Dec. 14, we held our annual Youth & Adult Activity Christmas Party at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church - Father Kausek Hall. About 45 people were in attendance. We enjoyed a great dinner catered by Mary Skerjance and her Angels (ladies of the Church who also do catering for funerals at our Parish). We enjoyed a very delicious turkey dinner with all the fixings and dessert. The group spent some time visiting with other members who they

haven’t seen for a while, bringing out that Christmas spirit. Santa Claus stopped by to give presents to all the boys and girls, and door prizes were drawn and distributed out by the boys and girls to all the winners. Frank and District 7 Director Sharon Bucar also joined us this day, we thank them for coming. We also honored our 50 Year Member Donna Mae Schmidt (from Mankato, MN). Donna could not be with us so we mailed her the certificate. This year we also honored Karl Oberstar Jr. for serving our lodge as an officer for five years. A year-end report of the lodge activities was recited to all and then we reconvened a recessed December lodge business meeting with the remaining unfinished business required to complete before 2015.

We elected Karl Oberstar Jr. - President, Leo Skrbec - Vice President, Katherine Trampusch - Financial Secretary/Treasurer, Rocco Leoni and Yvonne Skrbec -Auditors, Fraternal Activities Coordinator - Stacy Oberstar (the Recording Secretary position is open). We wish to thank outgoing 2014 officers Rose Samarzja - Recording Secretary and Marianne Nanti - Auditor, for their service to the lodge.

Included once again at this year’s Christmas Party was a Feed The Hungry campaign in which members were asked to bring non-perishable food items to the party. This was a very successful venture since we were able to donate 24lbs. of grocery items and through the passing of the basket, we collected $70. All of this was brought to the Quad City Food Shelf located right here in our city of Gilbert. Thanks to all who made this possible. At the close of the Christmas Party, we all joined in with singing of a few Christmas carols led by Leo Skrbec, Rocco Leoni and Tom Prosen. Once again, it is safe to say that a wonderful time was had by all.

The Lodge #196 board and membership hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year. God bless you all.

Karl Oberstar Jr., President

REGION 8COLORADO, CALIFORNIA, MONTANA & KANSAS

LODGE #236SAN FRANCISCO, CA

FEBRUARY UPDATES

Happy New Year dear members and friends of KSKJ Life! We welcome 2015 with hope and excitement.

Our Santa party was a wonderful event that children of all ages enjoyed. The children sat on Santa’s lap with wonder and shared their hopes with him. This fraternal event is treasured as another special memory was created!

Our officers, Frank Pecavar Jr., Mary Pecavar Lehane and Jozi Plut, will lead our lodge in 2015. We are also fortunate that John Pecavar, Katica Pecavar and Tony Lukezic will continue in their roles as Auditor, Religious Leader and Sergeant-at-Arms, respectively.

May this new year bring you and yours much health and happiness!

Fraternally Yours,

Diana Fir Gremett, Reporter

OTHER NEWS & NOTES

SEND IN YOUR LODGE UPDATE

Remember to send your lodge news and events to [email protected] by the second Friday of each month.


a message from the kskj life home office 2015 … · fraternal activities coordinators, with an...

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