On behalf of our young and dedicated President. Matt Mejač, and all members of the Slovenian Cultural Society Triglav, 1 would like to welcome delegates, members, family and friends of the 26'1' National Convention of the Slovenian Women s Union of America to our little piece of Slovenia - we call Triglav Park in Wind Lake, Wisconsin. SLOVENIAN TRIGLAV PARK rtnttts -• ,• OMir / am confident that your convention will be a total success and ending it with a trip to Triglav Park will be well worth . ^ your time. This beautiful park was founded in / 962 by Slovenian immigrants who came to America after World War II. Wanting to find a place where fellow Slovenians could gather, continue to speak the language and teach their children various traditions and customs, they were '> delighted when they found these 15 acres of thick woods and then had the vision along with hard work to transform perhaps get together a team and play some volleyball, take it into what you see today. a dip in the lake or maybe von were thinking of something less strenuous, like a walk around the park. Whatever Since then, we have been welcoming visitors throughout vou decide to do, a day at Triglav Park will be very the summer months to join us at our monthly picnics. We memorable. If you would like more information just visit begin the day with an outdoor Mass held at the St. Cyril our website at www.triglavpark.com. and Methodius chapel at 11:00 a.m. Before long you will be tempted to go and check out all the delicious aromas 4S )fK> SWUA marks its M5lh anniversary’ this year, we at coming from the kitchen and the barbecue area. There you Triglav will also he hitting a milestone of our own. Join will find chicken spinning on the rotisserie and juicy us on July 17th as we celebrate our 50,h Anniversary. To Slovenian sausages grilling. As you move up to the Dorn, b(,th organizations, congratulations on the past years, and you will soon be out on the dance floor as your feet start much success and happiness as you continue to move tapping to the music of the live band playing Slovenian forward carrying on the Slovenian heritage to the next music. After a round on the dance floor, quenching your generation of voting Slovenians. See you at Triglav Park!!!! thirst will be in order, and so a cold glass oJLasko Pivo or some homemade wine will hit the spot. Now that your bellies are filled with food and drink you will need to get some exercise. Make your way up to the balina courts. Lep pozdrav vsem! Helen Frohna, Member of SWUA Branch 43 and the Slovenian Cultural Society Triglav EDITOR: Debbie Pohar DIRIX TOR OF DESIGN: Bonnie Pohar Prokup EDITORIAL OFFICE: 16% Illinois St. LaSalle, IL 61301 TELEPHONE: 815.223.95% FAX: SI5.224.I074 WEB SITE: www.swua.org PUBLISHER: Slovenian Women’s Union of America TELEPHONE: SI5.727.I926 Vol. S3, No 3, May/June 2011 Published bimonthly Periodicals Postage paid at Joliet, II. and additional mailing offices. (ISSN 0044-184S) Postmaster: Send all changes of address to: SLOVENIAN WOMEN'S UNION OF AMERICA 431 N. Chicago St., Joliet, IL 60432 Communications for the next issue of publication: Do you have something SWUA-relatedyou would like to share with readers, like an event you want to let people know about or an idea for an article? We would love to hear from you! Please e-mail the editor at pohar4fa aol.com. We reserve the right to edit any article submitted. It is preferable that you submit your idea for discussion prior to writing an article. Articles must be related to SWUA events or members. The deadline for articles is the 15"' day of the month, 2 months preceding the issue. For example, articles for the July/August issue must be received by May 15"'. Thank you. National President’s Message Greetings: Ready for a great time? If so, I will see you in Milwaukee! I am so proud of Denise P. Bartlett and her hardworking crew from Wisconsin. I think they have done a tremendous job incorporating all the ideas we talked about four years ago when work for the 2011 Convention began. You can read more about the plans in this issue and past issues. The proposed Bylaws are in this issue. These are all changes requested by our membership. Some members will be in favor, some will not, but keep in mind that this is not the view of any one particular board member; this is what our members are asking for. Even the National Board didn’t always agree on each proposal. Everyone had the chance to voice their opinion during the past year and in this article are the results. These proposals will be voted upon at the Convention. If you have any questions, please contact any one of us for further information or call me at the number below. We are at the end of our four-year term and it’s getting close to that time to say goodbye. It is also the time where all of you should consider being on the next board. We have seven spots to fill; President, Vice President of Outreach, Vice President of Home Office, Vice President of Culture and Heritage, Vice President of Marketing and Fund-Raising, Corresponding/ Recording Secretary and Treasurer. This can be a rewarding experience and a great opportunity to give back to your Slovenian Heritage. Please contact me if you have any questions. Zivijo, Bonnie Pohar Prokup 3119 Carrie Street, Peru, IL 61354 wprokup@aol.com, 815.223.9596 Welcome to Our New Members! 1, Rupar, Joanne 2, Brandt, Chloe 2, Hanzlik, Meta (Maria) 2, Portillo, Richard 2,Tegel, John 3, Kristan, Marilyn 3, Secora, Linda 13, Phaller, Francine 13, Spencer, Bernadette 20, Groh, Rev. Chris 20, Hartong, Kathy 20, Terlip, Albin 23, Lunka, Ann 24, Cinotto, Michelle 30, Gorensek, Annmarie 30, Gorensek, Natalie 43, Gorenc, Tony 43, Vogeler, Rae 50, Hedderman, Alice 93, Konchan, Daniel 93, Konchan, Michael 93, Skrilec, Maria 99, Cepon, Margie 99, Kagay, Allison G 99, Nelson, Michaelanne 99, Nelson, Shianne 99, Schmidt, Christina Leann 99, Schmidt, Deborah 99, Schmidt, John Dustin 100, Lomshek, Alysia 100, Lomshek, Zala 100, Wulf, Mary Kay 109, Yapel, Valentina 2 wmnn ~! Thank You for the Following Zarja The Dawn Donations $300 Donation Jevec, Ernestine, 50, Honor of Ernestine Jevec $100 Donation Augustine, Tony, 20, Grandma! Kambich, Anthony, 20, Honor of St. Joesph Academy, Joliet Kostansek, Rosemary, 50, +Rose Gerlica Zuzek Podmore, Joan, 50, +Ann Tercek $80 Donation Barkovich, Cheryl, 105, +Edith Barkovich Burger, Mariana, 93, +Toncka Burger Mosquin, Sonja, 93, Zarja $50 Donation Aheame, Mary Ann, 93, +Frances Lesjack-Novak and Mary Lesjack Link Cameron, Mary Ruth, 38, +Rose (Samsa) Tobak, mother Engers, Carolyn Tomazic, 20, Zarja Freeman, Judith, 47, Honor of Jennie Praznik and +Mary Mundson Haslup, Aggie, 42, Zaija Lomshek, Janez, 100, +Joseph and Frances Pecnik Scharres, Pauline, 99, +Mary Gregorich, mother Seaton, Stasha Furlan, 108, +Dr. Boris Furlan, my father Stupnik, Frank, 30, +Rose (Brula) Stupnik and Frank Stupnik Sr. $40 Donation Birk, Sharon, 99, +Frances M Schultz Fidel, William, 71, +Bill (Blaz) and Pauline Fidel, parents Judnick, Marcia, 20, +Louise Riffle and Louise Krameric Pigat, Jessie, 47, -hlolea Pigat and +Pauline Pigat $30 Donation Burjes, Caterina, 25, Zarja Erjavec, Ronald, 20, Zarja Godnavec, Theresa, 30, +Mary Fortuna Govednik, Joseph, 13, Zarja Heim, Lydia, 30, Zarja Janes, Peter, 10, +Peter and Dorothy Janes Lapornik, Justina, 103, Zarja Lipic, Hilda, 100, Zarja Maloney, Mary, 85, +Mary Zogleh Quillman, Jan, 20, Zarja Ruggera, Frances, 20, Zarja Sabo, John, 3, Zarja Walsh, Douglas, 43, +Albert and Mary Tratnik Yankovic, Ida, 20, +Frank Yankovic, America’s Polka King Zakrajšek, Mary, 30, +Frances Dusa Grahek Zalar, Julia, 50, Zarja $25 Donation Argubright, Mary Elizabeth, 89, Honor of Grammy Flossie Grdin Argubright Argubright, Trudy, 89, +Marilyn “Mimi” Grdin Argubright Blackford, Nancy, 50, +Ann Dekleva Briscoe, Karen, 20, Zarja Chiodo, Barbara, 13, +Frances Chiodo Debevec, Madeline, 50, +Debevec and Urbancich Families Fitzsimmons, Bernadette, 108, +My father Eric A Kovacic and Slovenian ancestors Grisham, Linda, 20, +Rose Paver Hoag, Laverne, 38, +Anne RuperNickovich Hodnik, Margaret, 35, +Anna L Hodnik Holden, Kathleen, 20, +Bernice Suski Holmes, Beatrice, 20, +Frances A Papesh Jelinek, Albert, 43, +Anna Gorishek Jelinek Kaczmarek, Joan and Krempach, Wayne, 99, +Ethel Latimer Lomshek, Janez, 100, Zarja Princ, Rose Marie, 2, +Rose Moline Quillio, Merianne, 23, +Marie and Michael Mertel Robertson, Jean, 43, +Louis Kovach Ryan, Mary Pat, 28, ^Stephanie Ryan, former Secretary Branch 28 Ryczek, Karen, 30, +Marie Prince Kovalik Sanders, Joanne, 5, +Millie Sander, Milka Krpan, Julia Schmidt Schopper, Maria, 93, +Ivanna Dercar Ferrari Stancar, Frances, 1, +Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Stancar Veit, Alice, 102, +John and Mary Potisk $20 Donation Banich, Mary, 89, +Eunice Kemz Supan Barto, Jacqueline, 85, +Frank and Connie Benske, parents Bissell, Heather, 3, +Sally Glavich Blatnik, Robert, 50, ^Frances Blatnik Blatnik, Rosa Marlene, 50, +Albin Blatnik Bokar, Catherine, 20, +Anna Kozan and Honor of Margaret Bokar Bruch, Barbara, 89, Zarja Davidson, Holly Blatnik, 50, +Justine Gifford Emery, Catherine, 20, +Anton and Anna Anzelc Ferguson, Leslie, 20, Zarja Gaber, Agnes, 2, Zarja Gorenc, M.Lillian, 43, Zarja Gorshe, Margaret, 30, Zarja Gottke, Cheri, 50, +Anne Tomsick Gregorich, Stephanie, 20, +Mary Gregorich, Fran Schultz, Joe and John Petrič Gudac, Bernadine, 20, +Josephine A Buchar Kamnikar, Terry, 89, +Kemz and Kamnikar families Kapel, Anne, 100,+Frank Kapel Karpan, Kathleen, 30, +Pauline Taucher Karpan Kish, Nancy, 42, +Julia Lipnos and Sally Kish Twill Klun, Madelyn, 35, +Billy Slogar Kochevar, Eileen, 20, +Anton and Irene Kochevar Kumse, Vida, 16, Zarja Lanari, Vida, 39, Zarja Lostoski, Maijorie, 42, +Betty Košak Gawor Lukach, Janell, 89, +Mari lyn Argubright Mandel, Frank, 20, Zarja Morrow, Hermine, 50, +Albin Johm Blatnik, father Mueller, Maureen, 20, +Caroline Culik McGuckin and Mary McGuckin McAsey Novak, Genevieve, 97, +Mrs. Margaret Mihelčič, mother Orrego, Helena, 108, Honor of Valentin Leskovsek Pajunen, Nancy, 109, +Josephine Koslucher Erickson Pecharich, Linda, 99, Zarja Prokup, Bonnie, 24, Honor of Slovenian Aunts Pubentz, Margaret, 20, +lsabel Kodrick Ready, Rebecca, 30, Zarja Savol, Mary Jo, 20, +Ann Ramuta Savol Schatz, Janet, 20, Zarja Schutte, Leopolda, 39, Zarja Simms, Jacque, 3, +Josephine Horvat Slapnik, Nancy, 25, Zarja Soltysinski, Jaqueline, 16, +Mary Kompare Spagnolo, Marcia, 81, +Jacob Adam Stropnik, Milena, 1, +Helena Dolenc, mother Sustarich, Virginia, 13, +Katie Judnich Tezak, Dorothy Marie, 3, +Catherine Tezak Williams, Debra, 5, +Fran Yovanovich Yapel, Agnes, 34, Zarja Zaida, Angela, 20, +Louis and Paula Lukančič $15 Donation DeGarbo, Gianna, 3, +Helen Perse Gaspich-Barry, Nancy, 20, +Dr. Robert James Gaspich Gottardi, Paula, 39, +Larry T Gottardi Sr. Holderbaum MD, Michelle, 25, +Frances Spech Kaczmarek, Joan, 99, +Ethel Latimer Petrich, Joseph, 99, Zarja Stayduhar, Louise, 26, +Antoinette Jaketic Thompson, Josephine, 5, Honor of Angeline Dragan Tomasich, Rose, 16, +Deceased Tomasich Family Warren, Joann, 26, Zarja $10 Donation Adkisson, Helen, 34, Zarja Andrews, Mary Frances, 25, Honor of Kapla and Andrews family Androjna, Francka, 14, Zarja Anonymous, 3, Zarja Argubright, Florence, 89, +Marilyn Arbubright Barbarich, Mary, 5, Zarja Barbarich, Peter, 5, Zarja Barnett, Stephanie, 3, Zarja Batich, Martha, 10, Honor of Martha Batich, age 105! Bestic, Virginia, 55, +Frances Juvančič Briddick, Beverly, 89, Zarja Brozina, Dorothy, 10, Zarja Buol, Genevieve, 2, +Jennie Puhek, my mom Buol, Katherine, 2, +Jennie Puhek, grandmother Chokel, Mara Kočevar, 103, Zarja Cline, Sara Fon, 5, Zarja Cook, Agnes, 50, +Teresa Potokar and Anton Potokar Cox, Dolly, 20, +Millie Mikolič Ellena Curtis, Joann Fabian, 13, Honor of Anna Fabian Daniel Gergisch, Joan, 1, +Agnes Gergisch, mother DiBartolomeo, Lillian, 20, +Frances B Papesh Engelhardt, Florence, 108, +StefaniaContarini Fabian, Antoniette, 2, +Lewis Fabian Sr. Fedran, Theresa, 43, +Tony Krefel and Tony Fedran Ficek, Bob, 24, +John Pohar Sr. Ficek, Frances, 24, +Josephine Pohar Friedman, Mary Anne, 102, +Mary Staut Glowienka, Frances, 43, +Maiy Kokald Good, Deborah Voelk, 33, Honor of Mary Lou Voelk Haneman, Sylvia, 1, Zarja Hanks, Jacqueline, 50, +Jennie Omersa Hanzlik, Meta (Maria), 2, Zarja Harwood, Elizabeth, 38, +Angeline Verant Haug, Slyvia, 43, Zarja Hennelly, Dolores, 16, +Mildred James Herrick, Roberta, 102, +Mrion Herrick Hoppenyan, Shirley May, 33, Zarja Jermene, Murielann, 85, Honor of Anton and Mary Jermene family Johnson, Virginia, 100, Zarja Kaye, Katherina, 43, +Mici Coffelt Kellen, Susan O’Block, 26, +Kathryn Bergent Kern, Sophia, 71, +Richard J Kern Kemz, Alice, 89, +Joseph Kemz Klun, Marie, 23, +Rose Kozar, mother Kociancic, Mary Rose, 47, +Mary Locniskar and Anthony Kociancic Koncar, Dorothy, 20, Zarja Kovic, Judy, 20, +Helen (Malesich) Darin Kuhar, Alice, 14, +Anna Kuhar, mother Kwiecinski, Mary Anne, 39, +Mary Krebs Leach, Agnes, 13,+Josephine Aiuto Lilek, James, 20, Zarja Marel, Eleanor, 91, Honor of Eleanor P Marel Marentič, Fred, 20, +Theresa Lilek Marentič Marquardt, Darrell, 20, +Moka Chumovic Marquardt, Lydia, 20, +Moka Chumovic Massaia, Amelia, 93, +Mom Metesh, Bernice, 20, Zarja Meyers, Rose, 20, Honor of Mary Lou Meyers Michelich, Sophie, 81, Zarja "Miller, Shirley, 24, +Arthur Miller Jr, and Honor of Shirley Miller Mills, Marcelline, 25, Zarja Minello, Josephine, 50, +Elsie O’Hara Motta, Frances, 103, +Angeline (Nellie) Verant Mueller, Janice, 24, +Eunice Kemz Supan Mutz, Marie, 3, +Theodore M Mutz, husband Niskala, George, 23, Zarja Nowakowski, Gloria, 24, +Josephine Zokal Otis, Jennifer, 20, +Frances Jursinovic Higgins Papesh, Doris, 20, + Mary Bistry Papesh, Theresa, 20, Zarja Pascente, Georgiana, 20, +George Stonich family Peterson, Mildred, 20, +Justine Gregorich Petroskey, Antoinette, 34, +Eileen Poderzay Pivik, Marie, 25, Zarja Podlesnik, Ann, 2, Zarja Popovich, Mary, 63, +Michael J Popovich Pulkinen, Francine, 39, +Frank and Angeline Brula Reamer, MaryAnn, 30, Zarja Riordan, Kathleen, 39, +Annie Purkart Rossi, Helen Marie, 23, +Helen M Theno Rugroden, Mary, 30, +Agnes Troutman Sartorelli, Anne Schoener, 20, +Louise Schoener, loving mother Satej, Carol, 68, +Jennie Staej Mohorčič Scholp, Elizabeth, 20, +Rose M Pasdertz Schultz, Frances, 20, Zarja Serazin, Agnes, 40, +Mrs. Agnes Celik Snowberger, Sheila, 5, +Peggy (Stonich) Gazvoda Sorensen, Valerie, 3, Zarja Spendal, Dorothy, 10, +Mrs. Antonia Kapel, mother Steensland, Janet, 20, +Fr. David Stalzer and Margaret Stalzer Steller, Kristina, 100,+Frank Kapel Sterle, Rose, 38, Zarja Story, Loretta, 24, +Eunice Kemz Supan Tarro, Mary Ann, 56, Zarja Todd-Fellows, Mary Alyce, 2, Zarja Troha, Helen, 50, +Frank and Ann Kosten Valent, Jennie, 99, +Frances Certalic Vidmar, Michael, 20, Zarja Vidmar, Nicholas, 20, Zarja Vlasic, Maria, 99, +Mary Pecharich Vrhovnik, Mary, 2, +Mary Slabe, mother Webber, Carol, 20, +Claire F Bistry-Yaggy Widemshek, Frances, 43, Zarja Williams, Mary, 25, Zarja Wos, Charlotte, 30, +Josephine Pintar, former Sec. Branch 59 Yack, Sharon, 20, +Alice Belanger Zalar, Edward, 42, Zarja Zalec, Catherine, 38, +Frances Zalec Zawerschnik, Joyce, 43, +Gertrude Burg Zebot, Jean, 103, Zarja Zupan, Bonita-Bonney, 100, Zarja Zuponcic, Rose, 43, +Parents S5 Donation Agnich, Georgene, 20, +My Agnich and Sitar ancestors Benac, Helen, 20, Zarja Ebner, Anna, 89, +Josephine Argubright Ebner, Olivia, 89, +Josephine Argubright Elish, Jeannette Zaman, 10, +Jennie Zaman Hiti, Mary Jane, 14, Zarja Hull, Mara Cerar, 14, +Kristina Rihtar Hutar, Angela, 50, Zarja Klancher, Frieda, 102, Zarja Krogulski, Barbara, 24, +Mary Krogulski Laposa, Josef, 5, +Marija Filip Laposa, grandmother Maslyk, Virginia Bendick, 30, Zarja Miklavčič, Mary, 68, +Frank Miklavčič Moraski, Virginia Mae, 35, +Therese Beloy Newbould-Johnston, Ethan, 2, Zarja Presutti, Carol Mae, 1, +Deceased Love family members Rumple, Carol, 20, Zarja Schaeve, Cynthia, 1, +Frances MeLanz Shine, Angela, 50, Zarja Vergo, Mary, 20, Zarja Wagner, Denise, 2, Zarja Weber, Jeanette, 14, Zarja Zakosek, Jerry, 20, Zarja $2 Donation Burich, Antonia, 28, +Anton A “Tony” Burich, father 26th National Convention Monetary Donations Besides the many, many hours of time, talent, and donations received from Wisconsin's three Branches: 1-Sheboygan, 43-Milwaukee, 102-Willard, SWUA has also received several monetary donations to help us present a quality National Convention. Special thanks to: $1,000 Donation Branch 43, Milwaukee, Wisconsin $500 Donation Family of Eunice Kernz Supan, Branch 89, Oglesby, Illinois $100 Donation SNPJ - Badgers Lodge No. 584, Milwaukee, Wisconsin St. John the Evang. Society KSKJ Lodge No. 65, Milwaukee $50 Donation Tony and Harlene Gorenc, New Berlin, Wisconsin $30 Donation Frank and Lilly Gorenc, Branch 43, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Your generosity is deeply appreciated! Denise P. Bartlett - SWUA Treasurer & National Convention Chairperson Countdown to National Convention Membership Campaign Through June 1, 2011 by Bernadette Kovacic Fitzsimmons, Vice President of Marketing & Fundraising Recruit new members! Gain recognition at the SWUA National Convention and w in terrific prizes for you or branch members. There will be three categories of prizes given to the top three branches recruiting the most new members from February I June I, 2011. The prizes w ill be awarded as follows: lsl PLACE PRIZE - Free ticket for 3 evening events in the amount of $90 Includes Welcome Party Heritage Fest, ZarjaFest, and the 85"’Anniversary Banquet (The Is' prize will be awarded to the branch that recruits a minimum of 14 new members) 2nd PLACE PRIZE - $50 credit for purchases at the SWUA gift shop 3rd PLACE PRIZE One complimentary autographed copy of Janez Bogataj’s book valued at $30 The winning branches w ill he responsible to decide Itow best to distribute the prizes among members. One suggestion is to give the prize to the member/members who recruit the most new members. Tell everyone about SWUA! Invite family and friends to a special event and spread the word about our organization. Congratulations Winning Branches Branch 43 Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Branch 20 Joliet, Illinois - Branch 1 Sheboygan, Wisconsin Congratulations to Branch 43 Milwaukee, Wisconsin on their first place win, gaining 20 new members in the last membership campaign. They are the happy recipients of three complimentary potica’s from Rocky Mountain Potica. In second place. Branch 20 Joliet, Illinois with 11 new members were delighted to receive two complimentary potica’s. Branch 1 Sheboygan, Wisconsin came in third place with 9 new members, and was glad to receive one potica. Wisconsin is the winning state for recruiting new members in 2011 and the SWUA National Convention Committee is working hard to give all their guests a Slovenia in America experience, and busily preparing for your arrival in Milwaukee in June. The following branches were also at the top of the list in the Branch Wide Membership Campaign: Branch 2, Chicago, Illinois and Branch 100, Southern California with 7 new members; Branch 24, LaSalle, Illinois and Br 71, Strabane, Pennsylvania with 6 new members; Branch 3, Pueblo, Colorado and Branch 14, Euclid, Ohio with 5 new members; Branch 5, Indianapolis, Indiana and Branch 109, Twin Cities, Minnesota with 4 new members. A total of 21 branches participated, with the remainder not listed recruiting between 1 - 3 new members during the duration of the campaign. CONGRATULATIONS to all our branches that are recruiting! Special thanks to Mary and Nick Carmody for their generosity and support of the SWUA membership campaigns! SWUA’s 26th National Convention - June 16-19, 2011 Last Minute Updates as You Pack for Milwaukee Little Tips - Big Rewards - Let’s Celebrate! The site of our26lh National Convention - the DoubleTree Hotel Milwaukee City Center - a Hilton property - was recently named once again the recipient of the “Hospitality Award of Excellence” by DoubleTree for great service, accommodations and guest loyalty. This Milwaukee location also was named a “Top 10 DoubleTree Hotel Nationwide for 2010”. We’re sure you will feel very comfortable during your stay. Haven’t registered yet for SWUA’s National Convention? There’s still plenty of time. No one will be turned away. However, the special SWUA Convention rate for hotel rooms at the DoubleTree Hotel will expire on Monday, May 16th. Don’t miss out on this discount. Make your room reservation by calling 414.273.2950. SWUA’s business meetings and workshops are from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, June 17 and Saturday, June 18 with one break and an hour luncheon break each day. Delegates are required to be present during all business meetings and workshops. All are encouraged to wear your Slovenian costume if you have one. We also plan to have many regional Slovenian men’s, women’s and children’s costumes on display. *** There is free use of two clothes washers and two dryers on the Hotel premises. Laundry soap and fabric softener are available for sale. You might want to save the cost and bring your own. *** Do you speak Slovenian and have no one to converse with? You will in Milwaukee. Thirty minutes each day we'll have a “Slovenian Only Spoken Here” location. Joining us at the Convention is an AFS exchange student from the village of Podlehnik, 10 minutes from Ptuj, Slovenia. Eighteen year old, Aljaž Jelen, nicknamed Al, has been staying with a host family in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin while attending Sheboygan Falls High School for his senior year. Al returns home at the end of June and expressed an interest in our Convention. If time permits we’d like attendees to have the chance to hear him play Slovenian songs on his guitar and talk about his homeland. *** The European Village in the Milwaukee Public Museum -ZarjaFest’s special event location on Friday night, June 17 - has cobblestone streets. Bring comfortable shoes. *** During Registration on Thursday and after both Friday and Saturday business meetings there will be free Slovenian entertainment. We’re planning performances by the Uspeli Chorus, Katie and Jim Gorton (Marie Prisland’s granddaughter). Interpretive Slovenian Dance by Helen Frohna, Kathy and Becky Kaye, Tony Gorenc on accordion, Eddie Vidmar on button box, Sing-Alongs led by Dolores lvanchich, Moški Zbor group, the Prešeren Vocal Ensemble, and much more. Many performances will be at the free entertainment sessions and others on Thursday in the Wild Earth Room at the Potawatomi Bingo Casino and on Friday in the European Village at the Milwaukee Public Museum. You won’t be disappointed! The last of the SWUA cookbooks will be included in beautiful Slovenian-themed baskets. Many items direct from Slovenia will be featured. Raffle tickets will be sold with proceeds going to the National Convention fund. We will have special items for sale from the traveling Heritage Museum gift shop. You will save on shipping costs and have the opportunity to buy new product merchandise. You may order some items in advance to ensure they’re on hand. Not all items will be available. We do plan on stocking books, cookbooks, dolls, aprons, tea towels, Christmas ornaments, broaches, music CD’s, charms, pins, magnets, and much more. Proceeds will be going to the Heritage Museum. Send group seating requests for the 85th Anniversary Banquet with Registration form or send to Denise Bartlett, Convention Chairperson, at denisepbartlett@wi.rr.com. We’re thrilled to report the debut performance of Slovenia’s Perpetuum Jazzile in Milwaukee; performing immediately after our 85th Anniversary Banquet on Saturday, June 18. (See ticket information on the back page.) Transportation by bus from the DoubleTree Hotel to the UWM concert hall is available. Free transport for delegates. Reserve your seat by contacting Denise Bartlett, Convention Chairperson at denisepbartlett@wi.rr.com. In case of inclement weather, there is a Dom in which to attend the mass, eat lunch and enjoy Slovenian entertainment on Sunday at Triglav Park. There is a dance floor indoors and out. Free entrance to the park. *** Leave this information at home with family members. If you need to be contacted in case of emergency: the DoubleTree Hotel number is 414.273.2950 and Chairperson Denise Bartlett’s cell phone number is 414.333.2289. The Hotel should be the first attempt to reach attendees. One possible disappointment - We’re sorry to report that the DoubleTree Hotel might close its rooftop pool to avoid structural damage. If they do, they’re turning the area into a sun deck and bar. We’re told one or the other will be completed by our Convention dates. Hope so! There is another Hilton property across the street with an indoor water park. We’ll try to get discounted passes upon request. Questions? Call Denise Bartlett at 414.327.4990 or send e-mail to: denisepbartlett@wi.rr.com or mail to 7902 West Howard Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53220-1612. Delegates to vote at 26th National Convention Thank you to the SWUA Branches and individual members who responded to my request for their review of the current Bylaws and for their forwarding of frustrations, suggestions, and comments. The Bylaws Committee considered all input, made recommendations of their own, and forwarded all to the SWU A’s National Board. The decisions for final amendment proposals rested with the seven member National Board which includes me as National Treasurer. And then this: anguish - vt: to cause to suffer distress. It was definitely a stressful process and we anguished for long hours over what to propose to the delegates for their final decisions as they represent the SWUA membership. Some of our votes were 7-0 in favor and a few 4-3; but we knew that the membership needed to be allowed to make their decisions on the easy and some hard, controversial proposals. Some proposals were determined through compromise. The proposal for a SWUA name change alone took an elaborate process pondered over several days to narrow 22 proposed names down to seven, then three and finally one. We learned once again that it is impossible to please everyone. The sections of the SWUA Bylaws that are listed below are printed with the exact wording (barring any typos) of the proposed amendments to the current Bylaws. Only the particular section and individual sentences considered for change are printed and the proposed wording change is in bold type. Unfortunately, space limitations do not allow for the printing of the complete SWUA Bylaws for comparison. A complete 17 page (plus 3 page Index) copy is available from the SWUA web site -www.swua.ora. All members are encouraged to read or copy the complete Bylaws to use as a guide while considering the proposed amendments. These proposed amendments will be voted on by the delegates to the 26lh National Convention on June 17 and 18, 2011 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the SWUA business meetings. All members are encouraged to attend the business meetings, however only National Officers and delegates elected by the individual Branches may vote on these proposals presented at the National Convention. Questions? Contact me at denisenbartlcttfa w i. it.com or 414.327.4990. Denise P. Bartlett, SWUA National Treasurer Bylaws Chairperson 26"' National Convention Chairperson Important: Special attention is drawn to the following notices: > Some votes will be by silent ballot. > Due to SWUA’s status as a burial insurance society - all amendments to the Bylaws must receive final approval after the National Convention from the Director of the Illinois Department of Insurance. SWUA insurance policies were last offered in 1999. > SWUA is governed by: Illinois Compiled Statutes -Insurance - (215 ILCS 5/) - Illinois Insurance Code - Article XIX Burial Societies. > Due to SWUA’s on-going legal process towards attaining a 501 (c)(3) Corporation status - the Bylaws will change to a more stream-lined, less elaborate, and of a very different structure. Elsewhere in this issue (page 14) is a sample page of what the future Bylaws may look like. These Bylaws have to be written in accordance with the State of Illinois Not-for-Profit Act of 1986 and also must conform to a legal structure that will be acceptable to the IRS for a 501 (c)(3) Corporation. This is for infonnation only - not delegate approval - as we must comply. We will be guided by legal counsel. > The State of Illinois and the IRS requires that certain language must be stated in a non-profit Corporation’s Bylaws. The SWUA will not be asking for delegates’ approval because we must comply and will be guided by legal counsel. > There are no changes to the burial insurance policies offered to members prior to the year 2000. The Illinois Department of Insurance must approve the newly structured Bylaws’ insurance content and may approve the removal of all insurance infonnation from the Bylaws and placed instead in a stand-alone document or as an addendum. > The move for SWUA to get out of the burial insurance policy business is not being completed at this time. That is fora future National Board decision and all insured members can be assured that their policies are valid under Illinois insurance laws. The delegates will be voting to allow future SWUA National Boards the authorization for dissolution of the burial insurance policy business part of SWUA under the guidance of legal counsel and the Illinois Department of Insurance. > Parliamentary procedure dictates that due to the Scope of Notice requirement for proposed amendments to Bylaws only the exact written proposals previously received by all members may be voted upon at the Convention. They will pass or fail as printed in our official publication - Zarja -The Dawn, barring any printing errors. > Delegates’ votes on issues and amendments during the convened National Convention are final. Proposed Bylaws’Amendments for SWUA ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION & CONSTITUTION of the SLOVENIAN UNION of AMERICA; formerly SLOVENIAN WOMEN’S UNION of AMERICA (As amended by the National Convention assembled in the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 17 and 18, 2011 and finalized by the National Board of Directors on___________, 2011 in Joliet, Illinois.) PREAMBLE We, the Slovenian Women of the United States of America, believing that it has become an absolute necessity to have a medium through which we may express ourselves as a unit in all matters which shall be of interest to us as loyal citizens of the United States of America, hereby unite ourselves in the Slovenian Union of America, formerly Slovenian Women’s Union of America and agree to become incorporated. ARTICLE I The name of this association shall be: Slovenian Union of America. The name as translated in the Slovenian language is: Slovenska Zveza v Ameriki. The association shall be composed of Branches under this name. If approved - Change name throughout Bylaws. Page 1 and 2 to include Originally “Slovenian Ladies’ Union of America”, also formerly known as “Slovenian Women’s Union of America.” ARTICLE II The purposes for which the Slovenian Women’s Union of America is formed are: Identical with 2.03 - page 2 a) To unite persons with an interest in preserving Slovenian heritage. **Note: Declaration of Principle (page 3 of Bylaws) and Membership Section 3.06 (page 4 of Bylaws) requiring member’s duty to uphold SWUA’s principles - both remain intact. b) To promote the social and intellectual development of its members. c) To promote American and Slovenian ideals. d) To encourage participation in local and national civil affairs. e) To honor and pray at the interment of its deceased members. f) Remove to another document if approved by IL Dept, of Insurance. CHARTER State of Illinois Department of Insurance I, the undersigned, Director of Insurance of the State of Illinois, do hereby certify that the annexed instrument is a full, a true and correct copy of the Notification of the Formation and Certificate of Association of the Slovenian Union of America, now on file in the formation of a part of the records of this department. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereto set my office. Done in the City of Springfield, Illinois, on the 23rd day of November, A.D. 1933. Sid-Ernest Palmer, Director of Insurance State of Illinois Department of Insurance All information removed to another document if approved by the Illinois Department of Insurance. SLOVENIAN WOMEN’S UNION OF AMERICA A Burial Insurance Society, located at Chicago in the State of Illinois - All information removed to another document if approved. GLAVNI NAMEN Slovenke, širom Združenih Držav Amerike, smo se združile v organizacijo z imenom: Slovenska Zveza v Ameriki. Naš osnovni namen je ohranjati in širiti Slovenkse kulturne-narodne vrednote in verske vrednote. BYLAWS of the SLOVENIAN WOMEN’S UNION of AMERICA (As amended by the National Convention assembled in the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 17 and 18, 2011 and finalized by the National Board of Directors on ____________, 2011 in Joliet, Illinois.) DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLE (Remains intact) The Slovenian Women’s Union of America hereby declares its belief in and commitment to Christian principles and the United States concepts of freedom and democracy. 1.01. The name of this organization is the Slovenian Union of America, or as abbreviated, S.U.A. Translated into the Slovenian language, the name is,Slovenska Zveza v Ameriki or as abbreviated, S.Z. v A. ARTICLE II Formation, Purposes and Governing Laws 2.03. The purposes of this association are as follows: Identical with page 1 a) To unite persons with an interest in preserving Slovenian heritage. b) To promote the social and intellectual development of its members. c) To promote American and Slovenian ideals. d) To encourage participation in local and national civic affairs. e) To honor and pray at the interment of its deceased members. f) Remove to another document. ARTICLE III Membership 3.03. The Slovenian Women’s llnion of America will have three (3) Classes of members - adults, juniors and those adults and juniors with previously issued burial insurance policies. The National Board of Directors may institute a Family Membership. Those members with policies are listed in the SWUA Burial Insurance Policy Listing. Remove listing. 3.06. It shall be the duty of all members to uphold the principles upon which the Slovenian Women’s Union of America is based and to abide by the Bylaws of the association. Ignorance of the Bylaws shall be no excuse for violation. Additionally, all members, when able, shall be expected to attend the business meetings of their individual Branches, to pay their yearly assessments by March 1st each year, and to promote the development of this association and its individual Branches to the best of their abilities. To preserve unity and friendship within the organization, members will be expected to be courteous and respectful to their fellow members. 3.09. Members who fail to pay their yearly assessment by April 1st of each year will have their membership cancelled. Burial Insurance information moved to another document. Any member who has failed to pay her/his assessment by April 1st of the year may be reinstated any time during that year upon payment of the full delinquent assessment. Members with burial insurance policies must be members in good standing to keep their policies in force. 3.10. A member may transfer from one Branch to another upon written notification to the Vice President of Home Office or the Director of Membership. 3.11. Every National Officer and Branch President shall maintain a copy of the Bylaws of this association. Copies of the SWUA Bylaws shall be made available to the membership. 3.12. Remove to another document. ARTICLE IV National Convention 4.09. Any adult member is eligible to be a delegate or alternate to the National Convention if she/he is at least eighteen (18) years of age and a member in good standing. She/He must also be a member for at least one (1) year and must have attended the majority of meetings of her/ his Branch during the year prior to the Convention as verified by Branch records. Attendance and membership requirements may be waived in the case of Branches newly organized within the preceding year. To be elected as a delegate or alternate, an individual member must receive a majority of the votes cast during the Branch’s delegate and alternate elections. 4.10. A Convention year shall be considered the twelve (12)-month period ending on the last day of June. Each Branch, of which members’ yearly assessments have been paid on or before April 1st of the Convention year, is to be represented at the National Convention as follows: a) Each Branch with up to 200 adult members shall be entitled to one delegate. b) Branches with over 201 adult members shall be entitled to two delegates. c) Delete. 4.11. No Branch shall be entitled to more than two (2) National Convention delegates in addition to their Branch members who may be serving in a National Officer position. ARTICLE V National Board of Directors 5.03. The members of the National Board of Directors will be elected for their offices at the National Convention. Voting will be by secret ballot only if more than one candidate accepts nomination to the same office. Board members shall be adult members of the association and may serve for a maximum of two (2) terms, a term consisting of four (4) years each. Elected Board members shall assume their respective offices on the first day of July following the National Convention. In the event that no other SWUA members are willing to be nominated to serve in a particular National Board of Director’s position, a Member of the National Board, having already served two (2) consecutive terms, may be elected to another term if two-thirds of the Convention delegates vote in favor of the Officer’s re-election. If a lack of a willing nominee for the same National Board position occurs at the next National Convention, the Board position shall remain vacant. 5.04. The annual meeting of the National Board of Directors will be held within the first four (4) months of the year. Special meetings may be called at any time by the National President or a majority of the official members of the Board, and may be held at the Home Office. It shall be the duty of the Board members at the annual meeting to arrange for an audit of all the financial accounts, records and investments of the association and to determine the organization’s program for the coming year. The presence of four (4) official members of the Board shall constitute a quorum. All matters before the Board shall be decided by the majority vote of the official members present. Members of the association may be invited to attend Board meetings by either the National President or a majority of the National Board. Such invitees will be allowed a voice in the meeting but on no matter shall they be allowed to vote. 5.05. Any action required by the Articles of Incorporation of this association or these Bylaws, or any action which otherwise may be taken at a meeting of the National Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action to be taken, is signed by 2/3 of the persons entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter of the consent. 5.06. All members of the National Board of Directors shall be responsible to the National President and the National Convention for their work. Additionally, each member of the Board shall present a written report concerning their activities for the association to the National Convention. Such reports shall be made available to the membership upon request. 5.10. No member will be eligible for the National Board of Directors if she/he holds an executive office in another substantial organization, which would prevent her/him from fulfilling her/his duties with this association. ARTICLE VI Committees 6.01. A Scholarship Program Committee may be formed consisting of a Scholarship Program Director/ Committee Chairperson and six (6) members. The Scholarship Program Director/Committee Chairperson is appointed by the National Board of Directors. The six (6) Scholarship Program Committee members are selected from nominees recommended by the Branches. Selection and approval of Committee members is made by the Scholarship Program Director and the National Board of Directors. Committee members will serve one (1) term of four (4) consecutive years. ARTICLE VII Elected and Appointed National Officers Regional Presidents National Auditors and Appointed Directors 7.01. The nineteen (19) National Officers of the Slovenian Women’s Union of America will consist of the following personnel: Members of the National Board of Directors will be elected at each National Convention and may serve in their individual positions for a maximum of two (2) terms, a term consisting of four (4) years each. An exception is allowed as presented in Article V, Section 5.03. In addition, National Officers, namely, the Editor ofZaria-The Dawn. Scholarship Program Director, Director of Membership, Director of Special Projects, Heritage Museum Director, and the On-Line Newsletter Editor may be appointed by majority decision of the National Board of Directors. There are no term limits for these National Officer positions. 7.02. The National President will be the Chief Executive Officer of the association; while overseen by the National Board of Directors, she/he shall supervise and manage the affairs of the association. The National President shall perforin all duties incident to such Office and such duties as may be provided in these Bylaws or as may be prescribed from time to time by the National Board of Directors or National Conventions. By virtue of her/his office, the National Conventions and all meetings of the Board of Directors or directorial committees, she/he shall have the authority to call meetings of the National Board of Directors, and to sign all official association papers and docu-ments, as may be required. The President shall oversee the Regional Presidents and receive their yearly reports. 7.04. The National President shall be responsible to the National Convention and the National Board of Directors for all work carried out on behalf of the association. She/He shall present a report of her/his activities at all meetings of the National Board of Directors. She/He shall also provide a written report covering her/ his term of office to the National Convention. This report shall be available to the membership upon request. Further, the National President has the discretion to: a) Adopt a Code of Ethics for the National Officers. b) Authorize a non-voting role for the immediate out-going SWUA President. c) Offer Honorary Memberships for the duration of the President’s term. 7.06. The National Vice President of Outreach will oversee and be responsible for the following areas: publication of the Zaria - The Dawn, along with the Zarja -The Dawn Editor; maintaining and updating of the official website, along with the Webmaster; production of the On-Line Newsletter, along with the On-Line Newsletter Editor; and maintaining the Scholarship Program; working with the Scholarship Program Director. The National Vice-President of Outreach shall not allow any political endorsements in any of the SWUA publications. 7.11. The National Vice President of Culture and Heritage will oversee the operation of the Heritage Museum and ensure that museum standards are maintained. She/ he shall direct the acquisition and exhibition of collections, promote fund-raising, procure grants, and communicate such information with the membership. 7.17. The National Treasurer shall oversee the recording of all receipts and disbursements of the association. She/He shall sign all checks presented to her/ him by the National Vice President of the Home Office and the National Vice President of Culture and Heritage, and she/he shall deposit all bonds, investment papers and documents pertaining to the funds of the association in a safety deposit box located in a bank approved by the National Board of Directors. She/He will have access to the safety deposit box only when accompanied by the National President or the National Vice President of Home Office or the National Vice President of Culture and Heritage. 7.18. The National Treasurer will be an adult member of the association for at least two (2) years. She/He should have knowledge of accounting, finance and investments. The Treasurer shall be responsible for arranging for an audit of the financial accounts, records and investments of the association to be conducted by the appointed National Auditors from the membership in conjunction with the annual meeting of the National Board of Directors. 7.19. The National Auditors will have the following responsibilities: d) To arrange for a professional outside audit as required by law. 7.21. Regional Presidents will have the duty to foster interest in the association in their respective areas. They shall promote the development of the organization generally, and shall program activities on a region-wide level. In addition, they will organize and preside over Regional Conventions. The Regional Presidents shall send a report within two (2) weeks after their Regional Convention to the National President and Editor of Zarja -The Dawn for publication. Regional Presidents report to the National President and each year shall submit a written report to the National President prior to the National Board of Directors’ meeting. Regional Presidents shall strive to attend one (1) meeting of the individual branches within their jurisdiction each year, and will supervise all regional membership campaigns. Regional Presidents shall attend the National Convention and shall present reports describing the activities of the branches within their respective jurisdictions. In addition, they shall perform such other duties as may be required by law, by the Articles of Incorporation, or by these Bylaws, or which may be assigned from time to time by the National President and the National Board of Directors. 7.23. The Regional Presidents will be elected at the annual Conventions of their respective regions, which immediately follow the association’s National Convention. The term of office of each Regional President will commence on the first day of January of the year following the National Convention. Regional Presidents may serve for a maximum of two (2) terms, a term consisting of four (4) years each. The election of a Regional Vice President, who shall also serve for a maximum of two (2) terms, shall be left to the discretion of the Regional President. The Regional Vice-President may fill the Regional President’s position if a vacancy occurs. 7.26. The Scholarship Program Director will be appointed by the National Board of Directors, will be an adult member, and will chair the Scholarship Program Committee. She will have the duty to supervise the activities of the Scholarship Program of the association. She/he shall manage the Scholarship Fund, conduct the Scholarship Program, accept contributions and make all necessary payments to award winners. Each year the Scholarship Program Director shall present to the National Board of Directors a written report giving an accounting of the Scholarship Fund’s income and disbursements and listing the current scholarship winners. She/He shall also present a written report to the National Convention detailing the activities and actions of the Scholarship Program Committee. Such reports shall be made available to the membership upon request. ARTICLE VIII Initiative and General Referendum 8.02. Every Branch shall have the right on behalf of its members to propose an amendment or repeal of any of the Bylaws, except in the regulation of assessments, and may propose any measure it may deem proper for the success of the association. These proposals must adhere to the time frame as presented in Article IV, Section 4.06. ARTICLE IX Assessments, Investments Income and Disbursements 9.01. In order to meet the obligations of the association, a yearly assessment will be levied on those members of the Adult, Junior, and Family Classes. 9.02. A yearly assessment is payable one (1) time per year immediately upon billing, usually in January or February of each year. The regular yearly assessments are as follows: a) Adult & Adult Policy Holder Classes: $25.00 per year b) Junior & Junior Policy Holder Classes: $5.00 per year c) Family Memberships to be determined by the National Board of Directors 9.03. Remove burial insurance reference if approved. 9.06. Any burial insurance policy benefits (if applicable), and all other salaries, management expenses, official publication (Zarja-The Dawn)expenses,National Convention expenses, per diem expenses, travel expenses and educational activity expenses will be paid from the General Fund and other association promotional funds. 9.07. a) A self-sustaining Scholarship Fund will provide educational scholarships and cover the expenses of the Scholarship Program Committee. This fund will be comprised of monies received from contributions, investments and from activities held for the benefit of the fund. b) A self-sustaining Heritage Fund will provide for the promotion of Slovenian culture, heritage, and the Slovenian Heritage Museum of the Slovenian Women’s Union of America. 9.08. If applicable, eligible members shall be entitled to all burial insurance policy benefits, which the association granted up to and ending in 1999. b) If applicable, the association shall pay burial insurance policies as listed in the SWUA Burial Insurance Policy Listing. 9.09. Previous removed to another document. 9.09. Formerly 9.10.National Officers shall be entitled to travel expenses and per diem allotments for activities carried on for the association as determined by the National Board of Directors. The outgoing National Board of Directors shall determine the salaries and stipends to be paid to the incoming National Board of Directors. 9.10. Formerly 9.11. The insurance bonding of the National Officers shall be procured by the association and the policy shall be kept in a safety deposit box in a designated bank. ARTICLE X Official Publication, Zarja - The Dawn 10.01. For the purposes of progress and better understanding of the aims of the Slovenian Women’s Union of America, this association shall issue an official publication called Zarja - The Dawn. Copies published shall be sent to each family of the association in the Adult and Social Classes. Adult family members residing at the same address may receive individual copies upon request. 10.04. The National Board of Directors shall decide on all articles of doubtful content. The Vice-President of Outreach shall not authorize any political endorsements in SWUA publications. ARTICLE XI Junior Classes 11.01. The National Board of Directors shall supervise the Junior Classes, and shall have exclusive power to make decisions and Bylaws for administering the Junior Classes. 11.02. Junior Class members shall have the right to attend the meetings and functions of their individual Branches but shall not participate in any elections of the association or the Branches. The Junior Class membership does not include receiving the official publication, Zarja - The Dawn. Members who sponsor junior members will be responsible for the yearly assessments of the junior member and for all information stated in the junior membership application. 11.03. Junior Class members may transfer to an adult membership (without loss of burial insurance benefit, if applicable) when she/he attains the age of eighteen (18). The assessment for an adult membership is required beginning with the year of transfer. Juniors (removed to another document - enrolled after January 1, 2000 will be uninsured members and) shall be assessed $5.00 per year until the age of eighteen (18). 12.01. To create additional interest, sociability and to foster new ideas benefiting the welfare of the organization, Regional Conventions will be held at least once every two years in each region. Each Branch in a region will send a representative-at-large. The Regional President will preside over the Convention and a Recording Secretary of the hostess Branch will serve at each Convention. The minutes of the Convention will be published in Zarja-The Dawn. There shall be six (6) regions, with each being entitled to one Regional President. The regions are: ARTICLE XIII Branch Meetings 13.08. When individual Branches conduct profitable fund-raisers, 10% of the profit shall be forwarded to the SWUA National Treasurer to be placed in the SWUA General Account to also support the financial status of the SWUA. 13.09. Branches must receive approval from the National President or the Vice-President of Outreach or the Vice-President of Marketing and Fund-Raising before participating in or allowing publication of SWUA business with outside media. ARTICLE XIV Branch Officers 14.03. It will be the responsibility of the Branch President to see that appropriate honor is shown to their Branch members upon their death. 14.09. The Branch Treasurer shall provide to the Branch accurate monthly and semiannual reports of its expenditures and receipts. The Branch Treasurer shall be held accountable for the Branch financial income and shall perform any other related duties as may be assigned to her/him by the Branch President. In the event of a Branch merger, the Branches’ monies shall also be merged with both Branch Treasurers ensuring proper monetary control. In the event of a Branch tolding, the Branches’ monies shall be forwarded to the SWUA National Treasurer to be deposited into the SWUA General Account. ARTICLE XV (re-numbered) General 15.01. Remove (Per legal counsel this is strongly discouraged as SWUA moves toward a 501 (c) 3.) 15.01. Branch thirty (30) consists of members from all over the United States of America and beyond its borders (* if membership requirement to live in US is deleted ) who do not live within a reasonable distance to a Branch. There is no provision for Branch thirty (30) members to be represented by a delegate(s) at National Conventions. ARTICLE XVI (re-numbered) Heritage Museum 16.01. The association may operate a Museum for the purpose of preserving, protecting and interpreting the story of the Slovenian Woman and the Slovenian people in general, as immigrants to and citizens of the United States. As part of the operational activity, the Museum will provide educational services as a means of increasing and enriching public knowledge about the Slovenian Story. 16.05. All Branches have the responsibility to preserve Branch meeting minutes and all other records of historical value for SWUA’s archives. All such records remain the property of SWUA and should be transported to the Home Office in the case of a folding or merging Branch. ARTICLE XVI General 16.01. Moved to Article XV, Section 15.01. Calendar of Events MAY 15, 2011 Uspeh Chorus from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to perform their Spring Concert at Sacred Heart Church on North 49th West Wells Street at 2 p.m. JUNE 5, 2011 Reception and Exhibit by artist Bogdan Grom, see www.belskieinuseum.com for further information. JUNE 16-19, 2011 SWUA National Convention in Milwaukee. JULY 16, 2011 Branch 99, Lemont, Illinois 2nd Annual Bocce Ball Summer Social to be held at the home of Paula Mavec. JULY 17, 2011 Branch 2 of Chicago, Illinois to host annual Zveza Dan Pilgrimage and Picnic in Lemont. SEPTEMBER 18, 2011 (details in next issue) Wisconsin State Convention in Willard, Wisconsin. OCTOBER 2, 2011 (details in next issue) Branch 2 of Chicago, Illinois to host the Illinois/Indiana Regional Convention. For Reference Only: Sample page of the Bylaws for the new proposed 501c3 SWUA organization as recommended by our lawyers. BYLAWS of the SLOVENIAN WOMEN’S UNION of AMERICA (As amended by the National Convention assembled in the (PLACE1, (DATEl.j DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLE The Slovenian Women’s Union of America hereby declares its belief in and commitment to Christian principles and the United States concepts of freedom and democracy. ARTICLE I Name and Location 1.01. The name of this organization is the Slovenian Women’s Union of America (the “Corporation”), an Illinois not-for-profit corporation, or as abbreviated, S.W.U.A. Translated into the Slovenian language, the name is Slovenska Ženska Zveza v Ameriki, or as abbreviated, S.Ž.Z. v A. 1.02. The Corporation shall have and continuously maintain in Illinois a registered office and a registered agent whose office address is identical with such registered office, and may have other offices within or without the State of Illinois as the National Board of Directors may from time to time determine. ARTICLE II Formation, Purposes and Governing Laws 2.01. The purposes for which the Corporation is organized are to operate exclusively for charitable, educational and religious purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as may be amended from time to time, or any corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law (the “Code”) including, but not limited to, the following: a) To promote and preserve the legacy of Slovenian-Americans through educational and cultural activities intended to educate Members and the general public about the history of Slovenian-Americans and their contributions to society; b) To participate, so far as circumstances warrant, in any activity designed and carried on to promote Slovenian culture, including the operation of an educational museum documenting Slovenian culture; c) To organize and support charitable activities; and d) To secure, raise and arrange capital to provide for the development, implementation and support of such facilities, programs, and services consistent with the purposes of the Corporation. 2.02. All of the assets and the earnings of the Corporation shall be used exclusively for charitable, educational or religious purposes within the meaning of the Code, in the course of which operation: a) No part of the income or profit of the Corporation shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its Members, Directors, Officers, or other private persons, except that the Corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth herein. b) The Corporation shall not loan money or credit to its Members, Officers or Directors. c) No substantial part of the activities of the Corporation shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Corporation shall not participate in, or intervene (including the publication or distribution of statements) in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office except as authorized under the Code. d) Notwithstanding any other provisions contained herein, the Corporation shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on by a corporation exempt from tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code, or by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Code. The Corporation shall not engage in any activity which would cause the Corporation to be defined as a private foundation within the meaning of Section 509(a) of the Code. e) The Corporation shall forever use its property and provide its services without regard to race, sex, age, creed, color, condition, ancestry, or national origin. SWUA Scholarship Program Celebrating its 62nd year of Financially Assisting Students Mission: To generate funding to financially assist young students, with hope that they will promote and preserve Slovenian Culture Introducing a Dedicated Benefactor ANTHONY COLNAR, A treasured contributor to the SWU Scholarship Program/Foundation has been funding awards in honor of his mother, Frances Barman, annually for the past 15 years. Upon request, Anthony has submitted a little of his fascinating biography. “Mother, Frances Barman, was a long time member in the SWUA Branch 22 and later Branch 25. She worked as a seamstress on ladies garments (making complete dresses) and retired in the late forties - then we moved to North Olmsted in 1951. She became an ardent gardener, joined garden clubs, rose societies and other fraternal clubs, etc. She loved competition and displayed vegetables and flowers in shows for awards of which she had received many over the years. As for me, 1 graduated from Fenn College, Cleveland, Ohio which is now Cleveland State University. Upon graduation 1 went with NACA agency in the state of Virginia and after a couple of years was transferred to Cleveland, Ohio. With a team of engineers and technicians, we established a new facility for research work in developing power plants and equipment for air travel - NACA. In 1964 the name NACA was changed to NASA to also incorporate space equipment and travel. I retired in 1974 and spent more time with Mother doing her specialty -gardening and travel. During this time I was growing Anthony Colnar and his mother, Frances Barman, Blue Ribbon Winner many times over. roses, dahlias and maintaining a small orchard - this also included grafting of apple trees. Mother and 1 enjoyed life and worked together outdoors quite a lot and also established various scholarship funds at Cleveland State University, church endowment funds, along with the Slovenian Women’s Union.” Anthony (Tony) was born in Slovenia. As a young child he immigrated with his widowed mother, Frances Barman. His father, a Slovenian soldier, had been killed. Today Tony, aged 90+, is happily married to Marilyn. She keeps a close eye on him as he climbs ladders to prune and graft in his beautiful orchard. They have a wonderful life together. AMY FREE a SWU Scholarship winner of 1992, has graciously sent us an update on her career since high school. “In the time since I received my scholarship from SWUA, I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology at the University of Wisconsin, worked for a couple years, and then went back to school for the two-year Interpreter Training Program at UW - Milwaukee. Since 2001 I have worked professionally as a sign language interpreter. Currently I work on staff at the McBurney Disability Resource Center on the U W campus, providing interpreting in the classroom for deaf and hard of hearing students. I also do video relay interpreting work for Purple VRS and fit some community assignments into my schedule too. Most importantly though, I must tell you that I am still writing. The SWUA ZARJA is the first publication to have printed any of my writing (when I was 8 years old) and now I enjoy writing as a free lancer for Fetch Magazine. I’m also Editor for the Wisconsin House Rabbit Society and I do some volunteer writing for the Dane County Humane Society. It’s my way to combine my passions of zoology and working with words and language. Enclosed is a check for the scholarship fund. I hope this fund continues to be strong!” THERESA MLAKAR KOCI, a SWU Scholarship winner of 1986 kindly wrote about her life experiences recently. “I would like to thank SWUA once again for the generous scholarship I received about twenty years ago. I can’t believe how time has flown by. It is wonderful that the scholarship opportunities for members continue to this day. SWUA membership has been a family tradition that started with my grandmother, Rose Novak, and my mother, Rosemary Mlakar. Within my family over the years, membership has spread to my sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, my son, daughter, and now my husband. I graduated from California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, California, in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Manufacturing Engineering Technology. During my last year of school, I was hired as an intern for Aerojet Electrosystems in Irwindale, California. I later joined American Racing Equipment, a manufacturer of automotive wheels for original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and after market, in the southern Los Angeles area. I stayed with this company for nearly five years until 1 was expecting my first child. I married Ken Koci in 1992 (whose mother and many other family members, by the way, are also SWUA members of Branch 100) and we had our first child in 1995. Since then, I’ve consulted as a quality and/or finishing engineer for several companies while trying to juggle my “domestic engineering” job. Paid jobs diminished as my responsibilities grew at home; our daughter was born in 1997. As our kids grew, I became more involved with my children’s schools; I held PTA offices and chaired events for which, to my surprise, I received the PTA’s Honorary Service Award in 2006. In 2007, I’ve entered the work force once again working part time for Intertek Testing Services. Feeling blessed to have such a flexible work schedule that allows me to tend to Ellen, Ken, Teresa and Ken Koci, all SWUA members my family’s needs as necessary, my kids are becoming more and more independent. Life has come full circle now that I’m toying with the idea of full time employment once again. I have always enjoyed attending the SWUA activities even to this day. Introducing my children to old friends and keeping the Slovenian culture alive within our local Branch and at home, I’ve hosted a cooking demonstration day in my home where my mother-in-law, Jean Koci, showed the members how to make štrukelj. More recently, my daughter recently expressed an interest in making fillo dough for strudel. This task is something I haven’t done in years, but 1 look forward to showing her one day soon just as my grandmother did with me when I was just a little girl.” During the past several years, on SWU Scholarship application forms, appears a clause: “IfI receive a SWU Scholarship, I agree lo do 6 hours of volunteer work for my Branch Some scholarship winners have volunteered by driving members to meetings, providing a nice raffle gift, helping with branch activities, and even putting on little programs for their members. Kara Maruszak, SWU Scholarship winner of 2010 and her Brother, Mark Maruszak SWU Scholarship winner of2008, felt so strongly about SWUA that they enrolled 6 new members. For those past winners who are not near a branch locality, 6 hours of community work will work well. May those who have so generously given to our young college students, receive in return many blessings! What is a KSKJ Life Tax-Deferred Fixed Annuity? A financial vehicle that accumulates money on a tax-deferred basis and can also be used: • As an alternative to bank Certificate of Deposit. • To Provide lifetime income that you can never outlive. • A systematic way to save for retirement. For more information call 1.800.THE.KSKJ Check out the KSKJ Life 1 -Year Window Annuity Rate* at www.kskjlife.org “Rates subject to change without notice. Not available in all states. Not FDIC insured. Backed 100% by KSKJ Life with no sales fees. 0.00% $2,000 Donation Anthony Colnar to fund the 2011 SWU Frances Barman Scholarship. $500 Donation Branch 23, Ely, MN - Scholarship Fund Raiser project -sold “miracle” fiber cleaning cloths, chemically and soap free that clean everything. $300 Donation *Dr. Donald Carek (+his spouse) $100 Donation Dr. Carole Rogel Poirier $50 Donation Rogene and Mary Jo Grabner in honor of Pauline Rupar’s 100th Birthday {Pauline, a very young centenarian was an early, dedicated member of Branch 1, Sheboygan, Wisconsin. She has enthusiastically promoted Slovenian culture for decades.) Ivanka Matic (+Anne Tomsick) Rose Mary Toth (+Anne Tomsick) *Aimee Staut Nething (+Theresa Kotar and +Mary Staut) Branch 99,Lemont, IL Branch 50, Euclid, OH (+Anne Tomsick) Branch 1,Sheboygan, WI (+Sylvia Powers) Dr. Gilles Edward Gobetz Halvorsen, Zahn and Rickmeier Families (+Edward C. Chopich) $25 Donation Agnes A. Kurnick-Valentine Branch 33 Duluth, MN *Amy Free Mary Pat Ryan Lina Kerwick (new member of SWUA) $20 Donations Jean Železnikar (+Luba Troka) Patricia Leubke Marjorie Church (+Anne Tomsick) and (+Josephine Vercek) Dr. Gilles Edward Gobetz Arlene Sunkel $15 Donation Olga Dorchak (+Anne Tomsick) $10 Donation Irene Družina Branch 50, Euclid, OH (+Darlene Turek) *SWU Scholarship recipients donors are marked with a star *. They are special people who portray the worthiness of the Slovenian Women’s Union Scholarship Foundation. Donations and further information on the SWU Scholarship Foundation can be found by contacting Mary Turvey, 4 Lawrence Drive, Marquette, Michigan 49855, mturvey@aol.com, or visit our website, http://www.swua.org, “scholarship”. Men in a SWUA World The 26th National Convention Colors: Red - White - Blue I have been thinking about the color choices for the 2011 National Convention: red, white and blue, the colors of both the Slovenian and American flag. What do the colors mean to the respective countries, are they similar in meaning? The Slovenian flag’s colors white, blue and red are traditional Slavic colors and stand for Slavic unity and independence. The colors can be seen in nearly all Slavic nations, the Slovenian colors were adopted in 1848. The coat of arms; was designed by Marko Pogačnik in 1991. The three white peaks represent Mount Triglav and the other mountains of Slovenia, the blue wavy lines stand for the many rivers flowing into the sea that are found in Slovenia and finally, the three gold stars are taken from the arms of the coats of the Counts of Celje. Pogačnik wanted the Slovenian shield to include the earth and the sky and wanted all of its elements included; which are fire, water, air, and earth. The end result is a design distinct to Slovenia and one we can all recognize and be proud of. In the United States, Old Glory has specific meaning for each color: the red represents hardiness, valor, strength and bravery, the white represents peace and honesty and the blue stands for vigilance, perseverance, justice, truth and loyalty. And of course the fifty stars represents the 50 states united. As always may good luck be yours. - Don Baldin A Special Welcome to the 26th National Convention The Slovenian Women’s Union of America Celebrating 85 Years A True Heritage Fest Experience! Not to miss! Special guests include: Dr. Janez Bogataj - Department of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology, University of Ljubljana Dr. Barbara Ivančič Kutin - Institute of Slovenian Ethnology, Ljubljana Sonia Avguštin - Slovenian World Congress, Ljubljana Rose Marie Jisa - President, Slovenian Genealogy Society International Nick Carmody - President of Rocky Mountain Potica Heritage Fest begins Thursday evening, June 16 kindles one’s sense of Helen Frohna and Kathy Kaye will be present in traditional taste and smell! You costume to greet you! How about a bit of bread and a sip are in for a delightful of Slivo! Mingle with friends, old acquaintances, and with treat! our special guests from home and abroad. Want to have your cookbook autographed? How about a photo session with our special guests? Laugh over a few fun games! Have you heard of God’s Comer? And there’s more. Eddie Vidmar will fill the air with music from his button box, and Moški Zbor, a men’s chorus from Milwaukee, will fill the hall with blended voices. Darko Berginc, Al Chandek, Nick Krmpotich, Mike Maren, and Jeff Martinka make up this chorus. Again, Thursday evening is not to miss! What to expect at the Heritage day time Workshops Dr. Janez Bogataj uses a Latin proverb: “You are what you eat...tell me what you eat and I will tell you which dishes set you apart from other people. ” Throughout the centuries, local, foreign and invading forces have influenced Slovenia. The result is a distinct Slovenian Cuisine. On Friday, Dr. Bogataj will be speaking on “Slovenia’s National Heritage in the Modern World.” On Saturday, it is all about “Taste Slovenia.” Just Dr. Janez Bogataj hearing the words Rose Marie Jisa will be delivering great references and tips. No matter if one is beginning their genealogy research or whether you have gone as far as you know how and have hit a brick wall, you will want to learn about these very Dr. Barbara Ivančič Kutin Rose Marie Jisa special Slovenian genealogy resources, the information you garner may save you precious time and effort! The Slovenian Genealogy Society International (SGSI) has over one million Slovenian surnames in several surname data files available to members for their research needs. Don’t forget to bring any questions you may have! Dr. Barbara Ivančič Kutin has many stories to tell. She will be presenting a story or two as it was narrated to her when doing fieldwork in the Bovec area. This is a great time to recollect any family stories, expressions, and traditions and get them documented before they are lost forever. Do you have family stories of the arranged marriages, runaway lovers, jokes, and family nicknames? Dr. Kutin will be available to hear your stories! Sonia Avguštin and yours truly will take you back to the days when the colorful beehive fronts decorated the landscape. Did you know this folk art is unique to Slovenia? Did you know that each tells a story? You are in for a “honey of a time.” Sonia Avguštin Friday evening at the Museum: ZarjaFest A Slovenian heritage experience will feature a reenactment of the “Smoking of the House” in the European Village. Nick Carmody will also be there, making up his delicious, mouth watering poticas outside the bakery shop in the Streets of Old Milwaukee. To experience Nick Carmody roll out potica dough! Not a hole anywhere, it all looks so easy. And this wonderful, delectable potica recipe comes from his grandmother. Again, not to miss! All this in addition to Slovenian music and a Slovenian folk song Sing-Along. Note: Depending on the number of guests and/or children who register at the convention, a gathering may take place on Friday morning from 8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Our special guests will be conducting mini sessions in language, genealogy, beehives and story- telling. Slovenian folk songs are a specialty with Sonia Avguštin. Note: All are welcome! There is a charge for non-delegates to attend many of these events. Please check the Convention Registration Form included in this issue (pages 37-38) and in the March/April issue of Zarja - The Dawn. To je to, see you in Milwaukee! Mary Lou Deyak Voelk Vice-President of Culture & Heritage Studies show that a strong, secure ethnic identity makes for a positive contribution to our psychological well being. Heritage events on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday have been selected to touch your psyche! Heritage events day and night - not to miss! Katie Gorton is the granddaughter of SWUA’s founder Marie Prisland and the daughter of Hermine Dicke. Katie and her husband, Jim, are professional musicians in the Milwaukee area and will be performing Slovenian songs including an original song that Katie wrote called “Marie” on Saturday, June 18th at 4:00 p.m. at the Double Tree Hotel. Katie remembers vividly how much Marie loved music and the time her Grandma Prisland taught her to sing Kje Je Moi Mili Dom. Through her eyes Katie learned the meaning of that simple folk song written by a Slovenian immigrant long ago who missed his home far, far away. Nick Carmody Slovenian Pioneers to America 1840-1879 A Record of Immigration As we continue through the years preceding the Civil War we find more immigrants that arrive in America as merchants. Starting this decade some of the immigrants come primarily to farm while others came over to work in the copper and gold mines. October 1, 1855-On this date, Marcus Maurin, born April 11,1836 in Slovenia, arrives in America and settles first in Chicago where he travels over a multi-state area to sell household goods. Sometime in 1859 he and his brother move to Minnesota and begin selling merchandise, setting up in St. Paul, Minnesota. Marcus marries Marie Lauer, in Chicago in 1863, and they move to Cold Spring, Minnesota, where he establishes a mercantile and real estate business with his brother Peter. Marcus and Mary have the following children: Mary, Louisa, Annie, and Peter. Marcus moves to Little Falls in 1878. There he forms a mercantile store with Joseph Medved, he was also the proprietor of the Little Falls steam brewery with Medved and sold beer under the label of Marurin & Medved. He was a councilman on the Little Falls town council and served as mayor of the village of Little Falls. Marcus died on November 6, 1905. It appears the son Peter did not have any children. Family history is traced through a descendant of the family. Marcus also has a brother, Peter, who arrives in America about 1859. There will be more about him later. 1855-During this year, Joseph Turk, bom March 4, 1838, arrived in America, he started in Chicago as a pack peddler, eventually settling as a manufacturer. He is listed in the US Censuses for Shannon Township, Carroll County, with his wife Mary A. Bear, and children: Mary, Rosina, Frank, Clara and Emma. By the 1900 US Census, he is living with his wife, daughters: Emma and Clara, and his nephew, Joseph Peschel, born in 1871 in Iowa, Joseph was an iron bed maker. Joseph Turk died March 21, 1908, in Illinois. Frank, Joseph’s only son, died in California in 1921, leaving a son named Myron G. Turk, who died 1986. In 1882, Joseph Turk secured John Kirchner’s interest in F. Mayer & Co. The firm was situated at 11 South Canal Street, with other buildings at locations on Clinton and Lumber Streets. This included a huge lumber warehouse from which came the wood they used to manufacture all kinds of chamber suites, sideboards and bookcases. Items were sold all over the United States. It is not known if any direct descendants are alive or have traced their family tree. 1855-During this year, John Stonich arrived in New Orleans on a sailboat. He fought in the Civil War, settled in Chicago and operated a saloon, where he is said to have died in 1914. However, I believe his death was December 14, 1903, in Chicago. The Business Directory of 1866 for Chicago listed him as John Stonitsch, proprietor of New Orleans Palace Saloon, 51 and 53 LaSalle, residence S. Clinton. Civil War Veteran records reveal that he filed a pension claim on April 17, 1880. He served in the Illinois Infantry, Regiment 24, Company A. John is not listed in the 1910 US Census for Illinois. I could not determine if he was married or if he had any children. December 12, 1855-On this date, Josef (Stalcar) Stalzer arrived in New York on the ship Orpheus. He settled in Chicago, bom about 1823, in Slovenia, he worked as a peddler then moved to Kansas to farm, returning to Chicago in 1881. He worked for Mayer Furniture in Chicago then opened his own grocery store. He shows up in the 1900 US Census living with his wife Mary and son Anton, whose occupation is a grocery clerk. After 1900 I can find no trace of the family. December 22,1855-On this date, George Lamuth (Lamut) arrives in America and settles in Clinton County, Iowa. George is bom on May 14, 1833 in the village of Gric, house number 14, Črnomelj Parish, Slovenia. His parents are Peter Lamuth and Katharina Peschel. George married Catharina Vogrin in Iowa in 1864. Catharina’s parents are Michael Vogrin and Katharina Rozic. George and Catharina had the following children: John, Catharine, George, Mary and Anna. Only Mary married, her husband was Andrew Peschel. George was a farmer. A descendant of the Peschel family traces this history. George’s brother, John, came later and settled in Clinton County, Iowa. 1856-During this year Jakob Rabic immigrates to America. He is the first settler of Slovenian descent in the Calumet area in Michigan. Jakob is mentioned in John Molek’s autobiography, but I could find no trace of him in the databases on the Internet. 1856-During this year, Jakob Gorshe arrives in Chicago. Born April 19, 1827, died April 29, 1912, Conception Junction, Nodaway, Missouri. Married December 27,1867 to Margaret Stuckel (Stukel) in Peoria, Illinois. Children born in Illinois to Jakob and Margaret are: Emma (1869-1921), Jacob J. (1872-1932), Louis E. (1873-1958), Anna Rose (1875-1962), William Stephen (1877), Mary Margaret (1881-1966), John Aloysius (1883-1961), Catherine Magdalena (1885-1974), and Francis Peter (1888-1989). Jacob J. Gorshe appears as a farmer in Montana and is single and Francis Peter shows up as a proprietor of a hotel in Los Angeles, and is married. 1856-During this year, John Zagar arrived in America. He started as a pack peddler eventually running a mercantile business on Canal Street in Chicago. I could find no records relating to him in the electronic databases. July 3, 1856-On this date, Michel Butala (Buthala) and family arrive in New York from the village of Gric house number 12, in Slovenia and settled in Clinton County, Iowa. Michael was born March 9, 1829 and married Maria Stonitsch on November 23,1850. One daughter was born in Slovenia. From New York the family made its way to Browns Township in Iowa. A daughter Anna was bom about 1873 in Iowa. Michael was a farmer. Nothing more is known of this family. July 3, 1856-On this date, Joseph Peshel arrives in New York, destination Chicago. He is a peddler. No other information is available regarding him. February 1857-During this year, Marcus and Joseph Krakar, brothers, arrive in Baltimore, Maryland, and settle in Joliet, Illinois. Marcus, born April 24,1839 in Laibach, the son of Joseph and Agnes Krakar, his mother died and father remarried. (Many settlers said they came from Laibach (Ljubljana) but were from other villages, so it is unknown if the family is from Ljubljana.) He first came to Chicago where he peddled goods throughout the Midwest before eventually settling in Joliet. He married Jakobina Gorges on February 20, 1861, they became the parents of fifteen children. The surviving children are: Sophia, the wife of Joseph Comp; Anna, the wife of Leo Miksche; Magdalena, the wife of Matthias Vertin; Elizabeth, the wife of Henry K. Schuster; Gertrude, the wife of William Huppeler; Angeline, the wife of Joseph Zirbes, Myrtle, the wife of Joseph Vertin; Marcus and Jacob. In Joliet he began a shoemaking store with his brother Joseph, as their father was a shoemaker in Slovenia and they had been trained in the trade. He opened “The New Shoe and Boot Store” and from there he went on to a cigar business, and eventually became interested in quarrying stone. He was half owner of the Joliet Stone Quarry. He provided stone from his quarry for the establishment of St. Joseph’s church in Joliet and he was a member of the German church, St. John’s. At times the surname is spelt Kraker. Marcus died on October 26, 1824 in San Jose, Santa Clara County, California. There are many descendants tracing this family tree. Joseph Krakar married Elizabeth Werdell and they had several children: Marcus, Margaret, Frank, Joseph, Elizabeth, Margaret, John, Mary, Francis, Teresa, and Otto. He worked at shoemaking but it is unknown where he went from that profession. Joseph was born August 20, 1835 and died on April 28,1918. No one seems to be tracing his family tree, although there are descendants. For those keeping track, Mathias Vertin is the great great-grandson of John Vertin, the father of Joseph Wertin who I wrote about in a previous column and Joseph Vertin is the son of Joseph Vertin and Katharina Staudaker, he is related to Mathias through his father, whose mother is of the same line of Vertins. Joseph’s father was married a second time to his cousin Katharina Thometz, whose family we read about before. January 15,1858-On this date, John Wittine came to New York on the ship Republic, he began peddling then operated a saloon on Canal Street in Chicago. He married Sophia Weber Fiegel from Pennsylvania on September 7,1881 in Chicago, Illinois. John died October 22,1907, in Chicago and is buried at St. Boniface Cemetery; Sophia died March 9,1926 in Chicago. Two children, Michael J Wittine, bom November 24,1878, married Carrie Fell, and died April 3, 1924, in Chicago, and Julia Wittine, bom about 1874 and died November 3, 1924 in Chicago, appear to be from a first wife, unidentified. John and Sofia had a number of children, many died in childhood, but the following children were found: Anna Maria Wittine, bom August 21, 1885, died August 28, 1885, buried at St. Boniface Cemetery in Chicago; Andrew Wittine bom July 22, 1891, moved to California and died March 17,1958; Alexander F. Wittine, bom March 14, 1893, in Chicago, married Vivian Kanoff on November 13, 1934, died January 10, 1981 in Chicago, Vivian Wittine died December 20, 1982. The first wife may have been Catherine Blaumheiser. The name is listed on Julia’s death record. It appears no current descendant is tracing this family. 1858-During this year,Steve Kočevar and Josef Stukel arrive at the Klondike mine in California to prospect for gold. In 1865, Kočevar returned home to Semic in Slovenia; it is not known where Josef Stukel went after prospecting. A reference page is posted on the website that lists books and electronic resources for this series of articles. The surname Stonitsch was spelt incorrectly in the last column as Stonitisch. Next time we start with immigration in the year 1859 and among the pioneers are farmers in Minnesota and Iowa, more merchants and people who came to work in the mines. Perhaps the largest issue for researchers is the transcriber’s errors of surnames or various spellings of surnames when settling in America. I apologize for those who I may have missed reporting on. To contact me: by mail: George Plautz 1307 Dragon Head Drive Valrico, FL 33594 or by email at doblice@gmail.com Č^VVCJA Member of the Year 201 / Pauline j^upar- branch 1 ^hebotjgan, Wisconsin place from where it would be hoisted to the spire. After 100 years, this cross glows even more radiantly, not only in its significant reference to Christ, but also reflects the endearing moments of constant devotion and intense faith of the Slovenian immigrants who sacrificed their lives, and dedicated themselves, and their faith, to His Providence. Pauline continues to do many of her enjoyable activities, reading her Zarja and her loved Sheboygan Press, where she was employed for twenty years. She also enjoys playing Yahtzee, exercises, watches TV, and listens daily to her Slovenian music. Most importantly, however, Pauline enjoys guiding and instructing her daughter, Joanne, how to make her wonderful, signature, potica, that she has been so well known for throughout her life. Having behind her many years of membership, Pauline has countlessly and selflessly, contributed to her Slovenian community, her endless talents, both musical and culinary. In every way, she has proudly displayed her convictions, both personal and social, to contribute to, and uphold the traditions of her Slovenian heritage. Ann C- Yengich - £> ranch 5 Yueblo, (Colorado Ann C. Yengich is eighty-three years old and was married for sixty years to John Yengich. Together they shared three children, four grandchildren, and four greatgrandchildren. Through the years their family has remained dedicated to keeping their Slavic heritage alive through their involvement in Okolitza Tamburitzans, including music, dance and strudel making. She retired in 1990 from Centel Electric after thirty-four years of service where she worked as a Credit Representative. She enjoys her weekly shopping trip with her two sisters, playing video games, working on crossword puzzles and passing down traditional Slovenian recipes to her grandchildren. £>ranch 59 5 iwabiic, Minnesota This year we are honoring a group of members who attend all the meetings, hold offices and vote on the major decisions concerning our branch. They all devote their time and energy to promote and nourish our Legacy as is stated in our SWUA Mission Statement. Below are the names and years of membership for these dedicated members. It is said, “Ask the busiest person to take on a project, they will willingly accept”. Congratulations and thanks to Katie Bone - 13 yrs, Maria Ferkul - 54 yrs, Anne Geržina - 56 yrs, Eleanor Intihar - 13 yrs, Jeanne Korsman - 37 yrs, Phyllis Kukar - 35 yrs, Vida Lanari - 54 yrs, Martina Michals - 54 yrs, Phyllis Nisen - 5 yrs, Jane Purkat - 36 yrs, Rosemary Ribich - 29 yrs, Carol Sherek - 23 yrs, Marie Vaida - 19 yrs, Lee Schutte - 3 yrs, Helen Zallar - 65 yrs. Several other members would enjoy being involved, but are unable to because of distance, age or health issues. We will celebrate all of them at our annual Member of the Year dinner at the Rustic Rock in Eveleth, MN. Pauline Virant Rupar, born on January 3, 1911 and celebrated her 100th Birthday with over one hundred guests. Her birthday coincided with the 100lh Anniversary of SS. Cyril and Methodius of Sheboygan, WI, during which she was a fifty-year choir member and director. Pauline spent many moments of her life upholding the Slovenian culture. She directed a children’s Slovenian song and dance group; led a Slovenian song group and the Church Festival Polka Mass, in which she always donned the traditional Slovenian costume. At the beginning of those one hundred years, Pauline carried the steeple cross to its Č?WCJ/\ Member of the Year 20 J / fete £)art>arich - £)ranch ^ Indianapolis, Indiana Pete was born on July 18, 1924 at 921 N. Haugh Street where he lived until 1976. He and Mom married June 20, 1953. He never wanted to leave Haughville but they moved to Avon and are currently living at Heritage Lake. Although he and Mom moved from Holy Trinity almost thirty-five years ago, they both clung to the church and community that they knew as children and then as a married couple raising four children. For that reason, they have never become a parishioner of any other church and have always donated their time and effort back to the Holy Trinity Slovenian church and community. Whether repairs needed to be made at the church or school, tickets needed to be sold at the May festival, church needed to be decorated for Christmas and Easter, voices were needed in the choir, donuts and coffee needed to be shared with the parishioners, poticas needed to be baked, sausages needed to be made, apple strudel needed to be made for the bake sale (dad always peeled), funerals needed to be attended, spirits needed to be lifted with the music of Polka Pete and of course all the things you do when you love your community and you love your God. ^hirleij 5terfc>enk. (^ooper- £>ranc h >55 an rancisco, (California broadcasting for thirty years, currently at KGO-TV. She has worked in sales, promotion and administration. Shirley Sterbenk Cooper joined SWUA in 1959 as a junior member. Shirley’s grandmother Thresa Sterbenk and her great aunt Mary Slanec were founding members of Branch 13. Her mother Millie Sterbenk was also a member. Shirley is very proud of her two great heritages. Slovenian on her Dad’s side and Serbian on her Mom’s side. Shirley is an only child. She is also proud to be a native San Franciscan. Shirley holds her degrees from Healds Business College and Sacramento State University. She has been in television Shirley has generously donated four box seat tickets and preferred parking for the San Francisco Giants and Oakland A’s every year for our yearly raffle. By doing this she has paid our monthly rent every year! Shirley said she loves living in San Francisco so she can enjoy the theatre, opera and ballet. Her other hobby is to crochet and she is also an avid reader. Shirley says the greatest inspiration in her life is her mother and father. She said this is a wonderful tribute to them, to see that she has carried on with her pride in their heritages. Helping people of the world learn more about one another SCOLA WWW.SCOLA.ORG ČyWCJ/\ Member of the Year 201 / Yranees f*rijatel - j^)ranch j^uciid, O^110 Frances Prijatel has been a member since 1936, over seventy years! Fran passed away on June 19, 2010, at the age of 90. Fran devoted her life to her Slovenian heritage. At the age of 90, she was still playing her button box with the “Buttonaires” who came to her home to play and be with her in her final illness. She was a staunch supporter of Branch 14 and instilled in her family of four children, twelve grandchildren, and twenty-one great grandchildren a loyalty to the SWUA and their Slovenian heritage. Branch 14’s Mother’s Day and Christmas dinners were very important to her and she would decorate the tables and provide favors, often for over eighty guests. She always treated her family, at least fifteen members, to dinner. Even though she is gone, the family continues to attend the dinners in her honor, and plans to decorate for our May dinner. Fran’s children marched in parades dressed in Slovenian costumes. Fler funeral Mass was a Polka Mass with her grandchildren in Slovenian costumes and the family, including her, dressed in matching shirts. Everyone will miss our “Member of the Year”, Frances Prijatel. Mihael “Mike” Vid013*"- £>ranch 20 Joliet, Illinois Mike Vidmar is an active member for 22 years. Mike and son Nicholas set up for the Grape Festival Dance. Mike gladly lends his knowledge of our heritage from his perspective. He visited Slovenia four times and states: It is always a wonderful experience to meet relatives and enjoy such a beautiful country. Mike retired as District Manager of the Joliet office for the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board. He is a member of St. Joseph Church, board member of St. Joseph Slovenian Catholic League, graduated from Joliet Catholic high school and College of St. Francis majoring in history. Mike loves singing in the church Slovenian choir and served on the grade school board. Mike is active in the K.S.K.J., was president of Lodge 29 and serves as president of the Illinois Federation of Lodges. He is active in the Slovenian Genealogy Society, and compiled an Every Name Index from the book From Slovenia To America with the help of his mother and his wife. The names are entered into a database ready to be accessed online. Mike is an adult committee member of Joliet Boy Scout Troop 18 and merit badge counselor for Genealogy, American Heritage and American cultures. Do you want to receive the monthly SWUA Online Newsletter? If so, please e-mail: listoperator@swua.org to be on our list. SWUA Member of the 'YearZOi / Linda *3truna ~ E>ranch 2A- La^aiie., Illinois Branch 24 proudly announces its Member of the Year - Linda Struna. When Linda married her husband Jeff Struna in 1972, it was the beginning of her adventure into Slovenian traditions, customs and food. Both sets of Jeff’s grandparents came to this country in the early 1900’s so the customs and traditions were very strong. Linda gradually became accustomed to and involved in Slovenian heritage at family gatherings, getting hands-on experience in cooking and baking, even making blood sausage. When Linda joined SWUA she immediately became a very involved member. She is always willing whenever help is needed and is eager to learn more of the Slovenian way, including the reciting of the Hail Mary and singing the beautiful Slovenian hymn - “Cesscena si marija”. She is a true friend to all and we are very proud to call her our “Slovenian sister”. Linda is equally happy to be in our branch - “Joining and participating has been just great. I’ve met so many wonderful people and have been so happy to have been a part of keeping the Slovenian heritage alive Congratulations, Linda! May God bless you always and in all ways. Anna Mae Lyle ~ E)ranch 55 Aurora) M|nnes°ta Anna Mae Lyle a member for twenty-three years, was born in Aurora, Minnesota to parents Ludwig and Dorothy Drobnich on July 26, 1928. Her father was a blacksmith and storeowner. Anna Mae and her sister Dorothy attended school in Aurora and enjoyed helping out with their father’s shop. Her mother was an amazing cook and served potica, zlinkrofi, sarma s kislim zeljem and other Slovenian dishes. Dorothy and Anna Mae loved carrying on the tradition of serving Slovenian cuisine. Anna Mae was known for her dedication and compassion. She provided medical care for polio patients in iron lungs and later worked as a psychiatric nurse for Veterans Administration hospitals in Texas, where she met her husband, Dr. Francis Austin Lyle. The couple settled in Houston. They raised two children, Greg and Linda. Anna Mae provided volunteer service as a school nurse and later returned to her First Midwest Bank 'r Joliet 50 W. Jefferson St. 1415 W. Jefferson St. 2801 W. Jefferson St. 230 N. Chicago St. 1301 N. Larkin Ave. 2300 Rt. 59 Crest Hill 16051 Wcbcr Rd. Lockport 800 S. State St. New Lenox 1888 E. Lincoln Hwy. 800.322.3623 • firstmidwest.com ic liž career. She was active in Houston’s Slovenian club, enjoying polka, sausage making, and donning traditional costume at events. She helped with fundraising events and also shares her musical talents, singing in the choir and playing the organ at Church. She enjoys spending time with family, including son-in-law, Roger, grandchildren, Christopher and Laura, and her calico cat, TDC. 5 WUA Member of the 'Year 201 / Antonette Needham and Rose dhepeclc £>ranch 4*5 M>l wau Icee, W isconsm Twelve children were born to Joseph and Louise Barborich, Antonette (Toni) Needham and Rose Chepeck are the last survivors of this Slovenian family. When they gathered for a special event, it was an instant party with their brother playing the accordion and everyone singing the traditional Slovenian songs. Toni and Rose are both very active in our branch always willing to bake their famous apple strudel and help in any way they can. They both participate in several Slovenian organizations and are dedicated members of the Uspeh Chorus. Both of these ladies spend many hours volunteering in the Slovenian Booth at the annual Folk Fair. They are happiest on the dance floor, dancing to their favorite polkas and waltzes. After twenty-five years of nursing, Toni retired as an LPN. She has two sons and two granddaughters. Rose raised four children and has twelve grandchildren. She also finds time to sing in the Slovenian church choir. Both Rose and Toni are Red Cross Volunteers and spend many hours at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee. Rose has received awards, both nationally and locally. We are very proud of our “Members of the Year” and wish them well. Rose Chepeck (left) and Toni Needham (right) Joanna flese arrage ~ £)ranch 1 OO 5outhern (California Joanna Plese Farrage was born in San Bernardino, California to Joe and Molly Cuder Plese. Joe was Croatian and Molly, Slovenian. The Plese and Cuder families were instrumental in the building of the Slovene Hall in Fontana, California in 1936. Growing up at the hall, learning about her heritage with family and friends, was a truly memorable experience for Joanna. Her mother still is doing well at age 96 and is cared for by Joanna and sister, Francine. After her marriage in 1960, the family made several moves including Chicago, the Island of Guam and Omaha. During the years that Joanna was raising her family of three children, she earned teaching and counseling degrees. After moving back to Fontana in 1984, she utilized this education by working for the Rialto Unified School District, retiring in 2010 after twenty-five years. She still tutors adult learners as a volunteer. Joanna became involved again with her lifelong Slovenian friends and many new ones by joining SWUA. In 2003, Joanna traveled to Slovenia with these members and searched for her roots. She and her husband, Larry Husted, attend SWUA events regularly and truly enjoy their involvement. Joanna is honored to receive the “2011 Member of the Year” award. Special Event, Special Location, Special Opportunity: Sunday, June 19,2011 - Triglav Park, Wind Lake, W1 History, pictures, menu, directions and more at: www.triglavpark.com Some things you just have to experience yourself! 3WUA Member of the Year 201 / Candy Johnson - branch 1 02 \l\l\Ward, VV isconsm Candy Johnson has been a member of Branch 102 since 2004. She attended her first meeting with her childhood friend, Pat Sixel, and they have been attending together ever since. Candy is the daughter of Alvin and Lucille Kaltinger. She has three sisters, Mary, Karen, and Sue. She lives in Eau Claire, Wisconsin with her husband of thirty-one years, Steve. They have one daughter, Megan, who is a member and goes to the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Candy participates in meetings and bake sales and helped out when Branch 102 hosted the 2006 SWUA State Convention. Candy loves to connect with her heritage. Candy, along with her mother and grandmother (Mary Landini), went to Yugoslavia in 1978 and visited the village where her grandmother’s parents were bom. She helps her mother make potica and loves anything with vinegar and oil in it, that’s a sign of a true Slovenian! She is the “salad person” for our potluck lunches. She is also willing to try her best at singing “Slovenian Karaoke” at the meetings. She always helps friends in need. She is a loyal, hardworking and fun person. These are great qualities and why she is our Member of the Year. Yvonne Mcd.omber- £)ranch 1 T~w,n Cjties Slovenians Yvonne McComber has been our treasurer for the past three years and has graced our Branch 109 with her generosity and graciousness. She organized our first silent auction, which put our Branch on a firm financial footing, and then this past fall organized a very successful raffle at our State Convention. Yvonne is among the first to volunteer to bring a gift, make a quilt or bring the potica for any of the special occasions hosted by Branch 109. In addition to Yvonne’s Slovenian interests, she is a member of St. Mary of the Lake Parish: Leadership Council, Stewardship committee, lector, Eucharistic Minister of Care (Communion to homebound), and Prayer Shawl Ministry. She is currently on the College of St. Scholastica Alumni Board, a member of the Ladies of the Lake Quilting Society and the White Bear Lake Senior Citizen’s Book Club. Yvonne and A1 have 5 children and 13 grandchildren, needless to say this is a busy lady! Heritage Donation - Thank You $100 Donation Janet Short, 32, +mother, Josephine Jamnik-Gornik, Branch 32 5 WCIA Member of the Year 20] / John (jrampovnik. - £>ranch 1 1 0 inois John Grampovnik II, born in his family home in North Chicago, Illinois when Howard Taft was president has lived through the great Typhoid fever, 1918 flu pandemic, the Great Depression, World War I and World War II most of his life, volunteering, willing or unwillingly. He volunteered, but also necessary to quit school in the sixth grade to get a job. He was a golf caddy in the summer and set bowling pins in the winter to help support the family. In his free time he helped his parents with the large garden that would sustain them and a few neighbors throughout the winter. That sense of volunteering and caring for the neighborhood only grew stronger. In later years John and his wife Frances cared for and fed all the kids that came around. Because they had a big family they made sure that the children of the other Slovenian immigrants were always included in their family even though he was of meager means himself. Today, 100 years later, John still continues to live in the same family home cooking, gardening and caring for himself and his old and new neighbors. At his 100th birthday celebration last June, John was awarded his High School diploma which drew him to tears because it meant more to him than any other gift he received. Uspeh Chorus will be singing at the opening of the Convention and Friday afternoon. The Uspeh Chorus was established in 1979 by Professor Leo Muskatevc of UWM. He was the first Director of over 40 singers. Their first performance benefitted the Slovene House at the Milwaukee Public Museum - the site of ZarjaFest on Friday evening. They’ve been performing in the Milwaukee area continuously for the last 32 years and have performed three times in Slovenia. Today the Chorus numbers 21 beautiful singers - most lost due to deaths. Mary (Mici) Bregant has been Uspeh Chorus’ Conductor for the last 12 years. They perform at two concerts a year and by request at funerals, nursing homes, etc. Many of the Uspeh Chorus members are also members of SWUA’s Branch 43, Milwaukee, and are very proud of the opportunity to sing for SWUA members at SWUA’s 26lh National Convention. Branch Reports Poročila Podružnic BRANCH 1 - Sheboygan, Wisconsin President Aggie Gruenke introduced Aljaž Jelenc and his host mother, Mrs. Nancy Ottmann at our March meeting. Aljaz is a Foreign Exchange student from Slovenia. He is staying with the Ottmann family in Sheboygan Falls. Aljaz resides in Ptuj, Slovenia, which is in the northeast part of the country. It is the oldest city, established around 69 BC, with an area of 26 square miles. The city was built around the oldest landmark, the Ptuj castle, which is very beautiful. High school in Slovenia is very different than the U.S. They do not have sports in school, and a typical curriculum is 13 subjects. Students stay in small groups throughout the high school years and there are about 900 students in a school. Aljaz mentioned that he only really got to know the small group of students that he studied with, unlike American schools, in which you typically know many classmates, including the younger and older ones. Denise P. Bartlett, 2011 Convention Chairwoman from Milwaukee also joined us. Denise talked about the Convention. It has been 53 years since Milwaukee has hosted; hopefully many of us from Branch 1 can attend. There are exciting activities happening throughout the four days of the convention; workshops, guest speakers, ZarjaFest, and Father’s Day at Triglav Park, just to mention a few. Branch 1 was the 3rd place winner in the membership drive and received a potica from Rocky Mountain Potica. Rachel Fredricks was the lucky member who had the winning “P” on her napkin and won the potica -Congratulations, Rachel! The meeting concluded with a Slovenian sing-along; Aljaz played the guitar and our Vice President; Mary Ann Schellinger played the organ. Hope to see many of you at the convention! Na Svidenje! CHERYL KOTNICK LOPOUR BRANCH 2 - Chicago, Illinois Gen Buol announced the installation of Officers for Branch 2 for 2011: President - Fran Morison, Vice President - Joe Worth, Secretary - Delores Puhek, Recording Secretary - Debbie Morris, Treasurer - Terry Morison, Auditors - Jennie Kovcic, Lenore Urbanski, Mary Podder, Sentinel - Elsie Reich and Reporter -Daisy Železnikar. An article describing Lenten Traditions (Pust) in Slovenia was read by Fran Morison at our last meeting. Two new members were announced; Sandy Schiffler and Chloe Brent a fourth generation member from the Ovnik Family. Slovenian pictures painted by Mary Voys Laueritig were displayed. In 1989 she had a doll collection representing all regions of Slovenia and Croatia on display at the SWUA Home Office in Joliet. Mary was a very talented lady, we will miss her. On May 15th we will celebrate Mother’s Day with a Mass at Saint Stephen’s Church at Noon, Father Jim Gartland will officiate. To honor Fran Morison’s 30 years as Branch 2’s President, she has been nominated as our member of the year. We hold her in high regard. Our condolences to the family of Jean Zubek, and especially her daughter Patty and granddaughters Allie and Adrain on their loss. Jean was a member for 44 years and held office for Branch 2. Our condolences are sent to Michele Hanson and her family on the loss of her husband Patrick. Please keep them in your prayers. Thank you to Matt, Rick and Terry for setting up for our Valentine’s Day meeting. We are looking forward to visiting with members at the National Convention in Milwaukee. Dates to remember: July 17 - ZVEZA DAN Pilgrimage and picnic, October 2 - the Illinois and Indiana State Convention in Chicago. Happy Mother’s and Father’s Days to all! As always, please keep our service personnel serving over seas in your prayers. DAISY BRANCH 5 - Indianapolis, Indiana Greetings all Branch 5 members! Mary, Karen and I are very excited about attending our very first Convention in beautiful Milwaukee! We hope to bring back important news to share with you, and many great ideas to add to our meetings. I know the Milwaukee ladies have been working very hard putting together an exciting weekend, so we will bring back lots of pictures to share! Our Member of the Year for 2011 is a longtime friend of Branch 5, even before he joined! We congratulate Mr. Pete Barbarich as an outstanding member of the Slovenian community here in Indianapolis, as well as the best accordion player. Hvala Lepa Polka Pete! We hope you all are enjoying the warm summer weather! Watch for info on our Member of the Year meeting and luncheon by mail, after we return from the Convention! Milwaukee, Here We Come! KAREN, MARY & PHYLLIS BRANCH 14 - Euclid, Ohio Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers and especially to those who have been mothers to children who were not their own. All mothers deserve to be honored on Mother’s Day. We once again held our Mother’s Day Dinner at which time we honored our late member, Frances Prijatel, as our Mother of the Year. It is regrettable that Fran could not be there physically, but we KNOW she was there as we certainly felt her presence. She has not forgotten us and knowing her, she has asked the Blessed Mother to shower blessings on our branch and especially on her wonderful family. The Convention is coming up in June and I plan to be there as a delegate. We discussed at the dinner some of the topics that were important to our members, and came to a consensus on how I was to vote representing Branch 14. It is unbelievable how things have changed even in the past few years, and we must decide how we will address these changes. Unbelievably, my grandmother was bom at a time when people traveled by horse and buggy, a time before there were airplanes or automobiles. Radio and television, not even in the imagination! By the time she died in 1998, airplane travel was as common as driving in a car, we had computers and the Internet, and man had gone to the moon. In the space of less than one hundred years, life had changed and improved so much that it would have been unrecognizable to a person living at the time of my grandmother’s birth. Some of our older members have seen some of the same changes. So life goes on and we must choose what to save, what to modify, and what to eliminate. Condolences to the family of Ann Tomsick of Branch 50. May the angels be with her always. PATRICIA BUDZILEK BRANCH 16 - South Chicago, Illinois For our Christmas luncheon we decided to combine with KSKJ, St. Florian Lodge 44. We had a good time and our members were in a festive mood. We had our first meeting of the year on Saturday January 12th. It was good to see all the women, since our last meeting of the year was in November. Mitzie Klobučar was one of the $55.00 winners in the February drawing. Congratulations Mitzie. We had two of our members on the sick list; Dolores Franko had a cochlear transplant in her ear. She is doing very well. At our meeting yesterday, you could tell the difference. Betty Krcmaric had surgery on her knee in January, she is doing well, but she is not able to get out and about just yet. We wish both ladies a good healthy and quick recovery. Mary Aikovich’s daughter Romona had a Christian Burial Mass at St. George. Helen Battista (our member) sang and her Ave Maria was just beautiful. We will have our Member of the Year Dinner on May 12th at the Center Lounge in Whiting, IN at Noon. On May 22, we will celebrate Our Lady of Brezje with a Rosary, Mass and Benediction. We ask everyone to come and join us in prayer. After the Mass everyone is invited to come down to the Church Hall for coffee and rolls, maybe even some potica. One of our former parishioners, Bob Kuhel is very involved with our Slovenian Heritage. He came to our Lady of Brezje last year and did a presentation on Slovenia. He is going to also do a presentation on the bees and honey in Slovenia, please join us. DOROTHY NOVAK ROSSI BRANCH 20 - Joliet, Illinois Contact Information: patricia.schager@att.net We are looking forward to our Member of the Year Banquet on May 17. Mike Vidmar will be honored for his willing participation in all things Branch 20. He is an outstanding volunteer, and we are proud to make him our “first ever” male recipient. The Branch has a copy of the famous Marija Pomagaj painting that is always displayed during the banquet. A recently restored painting has resided in a side chapel of St. Joseph Church in Joliet, which is directly across the street from the Heritage Museum. It is a truly beautiful painting of a crowned Mary holding the infant Jesus. Our Branch Spiritual Advisor Fr. Tom Paul will read a special tribute to Our Lady of Brezje during the banquet. An interesting story surfaced from Branch 103 to member Pat Figurowski, whose husband Bob is an avid wood carver. The Terselec’s called Mary Lou Voelk when Mary Lou Terselec found the item in their Branch boxes. Mary Lou Voelk suggested it be sent to the museum, and so it was mailed. Pat and Bob Figurowski could not recall the display, but upon seeing the item, remembered it was made years ago. (A similar display had been used by Branch 20 for their meetings.) Now at the museum, MLV opened a box given by a donor. You guessed it, another display! And now there are two! It is a mystery to the Figurowski’s how the display made it to Washington. Look for them at the National Convention where they will make their debut! It is with sadness that we report on the passing of three valued members. Our condolences to the families of member Margaret Rems; member Matilda “Tillie” Felbinger, mother-in-law of member Evelyn Felbinger; and member Alice Valek, mother-in-law of member Laurie Suwal. They will be remembered in our prayers. PAT SCHAGER ZIMMER FUNERAL HOMES Mark Zimmer, Funeral Director mark@zimmerfuneralhome.com 805 North 6th Street, Sheboygan, WI 53081 Tel: 920.457.7012 Fax: 920.457.7013 W 2132 Ganton Rd., Sheboygan, WI 53083 920.565.2331 www.Zimmerfuneralhome.com SWUA Keeping the Spirit Alive 26th National Convention Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 16 - 19,2011 BRANCH 23 - Ely, Minnesota A meeting of Branch 23 was held on March 14, 2011 at the Grand Ely Lodge. The members’ opening prayer was for all those suffering through the effects of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. After the roll call of the officers, correspondence was read from Mary Turvey, President of the SWU Scholarship Foundation thanking Branch 23 for the wonderful $500 donation made to the scholarship fund. The SWU Scholarship Foundation was organized by Marie Prisland and was approved at the 1946 SWUA National Convention held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Financial support of higher education was their decision. A letter was read from a student who is traveling to Spain and Italy for the World Day of Prayer and has requested a monetary donation from Branch 23 to help her with trip expenses. After some discussion, the branch awarded the student $200. An excellent book, “From Slovenia to America” written by Marie Prisland was sent to the branch by Mary Turvey. The members will take turns reading the book and each will sign and date it as they complete it. The Minnesota Convention will be held in Ely, Minnesota on September 11,2011. After-a discussion by the members, it was agreed to hold the event at the Grand Ely Lodge. Mention was made of the death of a branch member, Rose Gomik. A donation will be made in Rose’s memory toward the purchase of a new statue of St. Anthony for St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Ely. Rose will be sadly missed. ROSE MARIE “DOLLY” KASTELEC SHOBER BRANCH 35 - Aurora, Minnesota Contact Information: anitaml@frontier.com On February 6, we met at our Community Center. The day was not too cold but a sharp wind spoiled it all. President, Anita Vovk, opened with a welcome and a prayer. All Officers were in attendance and we discussed many issues and went over the proposed Bylaws as we had members there who were not at our last meeting. This was the month of our Dime Auction and there were many items to bid on. The money from our auction was given to the local Nursing Home for the residences. We took care of the business at hand and were treated to a lovely dessert by Marlys Rabb and Bernice Ceglar. A Jello cake, topped with cherry pie filling was served. On February 5, our branch attended First Friday Mass with our members who reside in our local Nursing Facility. Ann Orazem and Anita Vovk baked apple strudels for coffee and had a chance to visit with our shut-in members. Bernice Ceglar and Marlys Rabb took care of the table decorations done in Valentine motif. Our members were as happy as we were to have this visit. We should do this more often. We wish Sec-Treas., Bernice Ceglar a speedy recovery. We extend our condolences to the family of Marlene Palkovich of Branch 109, who recently passed away. Naše iskrene sožalje! Počivaj v miru! ANITA M. VOVK BRANCH 39 - Biwabik, Minnesota Contact Information: rribich@northlc.com 218.865.6600 By the time this report goes to press, we will be delighted to see green grass and apple blossoms on the trees? Well, maybe not in Minnesota, but I’m sure most other states are enjoying the color of spring. Easter is here and the Resurrection of our Lord brings us “New Life”. Alleluia! Members are reminded again to notify either our branch secretary or the home office of address changes. We need this for mailing the Zarja and also membership notices. One of our long-time members, Ann Geržina will soon be moving to Duluth to be near her daughter. We will miss you, Ann, but we know you will be here to celebrate occasions with us. We have a few students who have applied for scholarships. Good luck to all of them. We are busy planning another annual event. Our Member of the Year dinner will take place at the Rustic Rock Chop House in Eveleth, MN on May 1,2011. Carol Sherek is in charge of the arrangements. This year we are honoring all our participating branch members who have given much of their time keeping our legacy alive. Our branch is struggling with aging membership and with that all the work is on the shoulders of the few who attend all the meetings. These members must be honored for their desire and spirit. We know that many of our members are unable to attend and we celebrate and honor them also for their dedication in previous years. Many of them have been honored as Members of the Year in the past and are still proud to call themselves members of Ženske Zveze. We also remember our deceased members. Čestitam everyone for eighty-one years. MARIJA POMAGAJ PROSI ZA NAS ROSEMARY (SERTICH) RIBICH Tezak’s 1908 - 2008 Home to Celebrate Life ® 1211 PLAINFIELD RD., JOLIET, IL 60435 www.tezakfuneralhome.com 815.741.2563 Fax 877.587.8460 815.722.0524 Celebrating our 100"' Year! New 2011 Branch 43 Officers taking an oath of office. (Back row) Rita Starich, Virginia Strukel, AI Jelinek, Helen Frohna and Jan Gehm (Front row) Betty Ann Kolesari, Mary Bregant, Ti I lie Skusek and Pat Tomaszewski BRANCH 40 - Lorain, Ohio On St Joseph’s Day on March 19th, our Mom would have been planting her spring garden of lettuce, parsley and carrots. We will all welcome spring after such a long hard winter! In fact the winter has been so bad that we cancelled two of our luncheons. With the warm-up we will be meeting again. I’m sorry to report that John Woelfl died on January 17Ih. He was the loving husband of Martina Woelfl our last year’s Member of the Year. To her and her whole family, we extend our heartfelt sympathy. A number of us attended the beautiful memorial service at St. Peter’s Church in Huron, Ohio. The branches have chosen their delegates to the upcoming convention. I hope these members are giving serious thought to what will be demanded of them at this time. Much work will be required to keep our organization viable. Some changes will undoubtedly need to be made. In the coming months there will be graduations and other important occasions in our families. Ladies please call me with the happy news! In the meantime, remember the second Wednesday of the month is our day. You will be called where to meet. I promise you will enjoy the get-together. STEPHANIE POLUTNIK BRANCH 43 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin Contact Information: Jan Gehm 414.321.1413 It’s been 53 years since Milwaukee has hosted a SWUA Convention, and you want to be here for the 26th National Convention. Denise P. Bartlett and her committee have been working diligently to insure that everyone will enjoy themselves. In addition to the business meetings, there will be entertainment galore. You read about all of this in the last Zarja, so I won’t elaborate, but one of the events planned is the appearance of PERPETUUM JAZZILE, a highly acclaimed group of young singers from Ljubljana, who will present a concert at the beautiful Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts on the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Campus. This will be a premier performance and is sponsored by the Slovenian Arts Program at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Lent is here and Pustna veselica is a memory. Many thanks to Josephine Janezic who chaired this gala evening along with Jan Gehm, her co-chair. There are so many people to thank that if I tried, I am sure to miss some one. So Hvala lepa to all, bakers, kitchen workers, servers, decorators, bartenders, donors of raffle prizes, and of course all who attended. There are two people that I do have to especially thank, Josephine Janezic and Maria Pirc, who spent many days planning, shopping and preparing the food that all enjoyed and to two young men, Mark Frohna and Trevor Nord, who were helpful in assisting our guests who were unable to manage taking their plates to the table and for their help in bussing tables. Again thanks to all. Mark your calendars for the Uspeh Chorus Spring Concert on Sunday, May 15,2011, at Sacred Heard Church on North 49th West Wells Street at 2 p.m. MICI BREGANT BRANCH 47 - Garfield Heights, Ohio Contact Information: Olga Dorchak 1.330.468.7989 or Elsie Spellacy 1.330.669.0031 or Katherine Wallace 1.330.253.0825 webblekatt@hotmail.com Hope everyone has a Beautiful Mother’s Day. Spring is finally in the air, and the weather is finally going to get warmer. Welcome back Elsie Spellacy. She has returned after her hip replacement surgery. It is really good to see her out and about. Our next meeting will be May 7th at the Dolphin Restaurant at 1:00 p.m. That is in Northfield, Ohio. Any questions call Olga Dorchak. We will be celebrating all members this year. If you have any suggestions about where we can have our Mass for Living and Deceased members, let Olga Dorchak know. KATHERINE WALLACE BRANCH 50 - Euclid, Ohio Contact Information: 440.655.6735 ricktomsick@gmail.com Greetings from the “FIVE-O” on America’s North Coast! A happy and blessed Easter to all of you. This year Easter was on the 24lh of April, just one day shy of the latest possible day for an Easter Sunday. The next time Easter will be that late (on April 25th that is), is the year 2038! I hope I’m still around writing Branch reports in my late seventies! I am certainly looking forward to an end of the tumultuous weather of March as I write this report. It is great to see an end of Lent as well and once again enjoy all the traditional foods of Easter. The ritual blessing of food (brought to church in Easter baskets on Holy Saturday) is still a vibrant Slovenian tradition at several of our churches in the Cleveland area, including St. Vitus, St. Mary’s in Collinwood and St. John of the Cross in Euclid. Our basket included bread, hard boiled eggs, salt, želodec, klobase, horseradish root, and toothpicks. Preparing the food the day before makes the kitchen smell so wonderful that the Good Friday fast is especially difficult to endure. Rose Mary Toth sends her greetings as well, from an extended stay at her daughter’s in Texas. Our prayers and best wishes for recovery go out to Jo Wutchiett who is scheduled to have back surgery this spring. As a reminder, the national convention is coming up in June. Maureen Podlogar and Cookie Maxin have submitted their names as our delegates. Mary Lou Voelk writes to tell us about the heritage workshops she is helping to plan for the Convention. Such fascinating cultural history to share! Please plan to attend. We would like to express our deepest sympathy and condolences to the family of our member, Carol Traven, who passed away in early February. Please remember to call or write with any updates for our next Branch 50 report. We’re especially anxious to report on news of our younger members, so keep those emails coming! RICK TOMSICK BRANCH 55 - Girard, Ohio Hello from Girard, Ohio! Summer is quickly approaching, and it won’t be long before the sight of sprinklers, lemonade stands, and children playing outside adorn our neighborhoods. It is such a great time of the year to go on vacation with family or friends or spend a quiet summer afternoon enjoying the warm weather from the comfort of home. In Branch news, we offer our congratulations to member Anna Fooy who will be graduating from 8lh grade in Michigan this June. Anna will also make her Confirmation this May. Both are special occasions certainly worth celebrating! In other news, Nicolas Fooy recently won third place in the annual Boy Scout Car Racer event. Nicolas also received his Parvuli Dei religious scout award. Congratulations, Nicolas! We encourage members to continue to participate in our monthly meetings. New ideas for Branch activities are always welcome! That’s all the news for now. In closing, a short quote by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: Then followed that beautiful season... Summer... Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood. MONICA SELAK BRANCH 89 - Oglesby, Illinois Contact Information: barbarabruch@yahoo.com or 815.339.2714 We would like to extend our condolences to the family of Marilyn Argubright. Marilyn passed away recently after celebrating her 90th birthday. She was the mother of our new President, Mary Jane Gunderson, who had to miss conducting her first meeting because her daughter, Janelle Lukach, had gone into labor. We were called during the meeting to let us know that Janelle and her husband Dan had become the parents of a baby boy named William Daniel Gunderson. Marilyn would have been so happy to have a new great grandson. Marilyn served for many years as our Sunshine Chairman and Chaplain and was in charge of sending all the birthday and other cards that we enjoyed getting in the mail. Marilyn will be greatly missed. We would like to thank Julie Kamnikar Harbeck for volunteering to fill Marilyn’s appointment. Julie was partially rewarded for volunteering by winning the 50/50 drawing. Our member Mitzi Banich was a winner of $65 in the February Convention fund raiser raffle. We had a thoughtful discussion of the proposed bylaws changes and everyone at the meeting agreed that becoming more welcoming towards men and people of other faiths was a good idea. The family team of Flossie, Trudy and Mary Argubright provided refreshments. Mary is a junior member and a student at Holy Family Grade School; she is a member of the Illinois Valley Dolphins Swim Team. At a recent swim meet Mary won the 50 meter butterfly stroke race, and competed in three other events. Congratulations Mary! Congratulations to our member Rosie Kamnikar who married Ryan Bell on February 19,2011. As always we send our greetings to out of town members. Call anytime with questions or concerns. Several from our branch are attending the Convention and are really looking forward to it. See you in Milwaukee. BARBARA BRUCH BRANCH 93 - New York, New York Contact Information: lgross@tstnyc.org Our Kulturni Dan event in February was a success with over 30 attendees. We started with France Preseren’s “Zdravljica” (A Toast) read in Slovenian by Ria (Polajner) Whitmire. “Trivial Pursuit-Slovenian Style” was next. The room was divided in two: Team A and Team B. Many thanks to Liz Gross for researching many topics/questions Liz Gross and Ria (Polajner) Whitmire conducting “Trivial Pursuit Slovenian Style ” for two rounds of the game. The question that stumped everyone was “What is the Bigfish, invented by well-known Slovenian sports commentator Niko Mihelič?”* (More event details and photos on our website.) Photographer and writer Tadej Žindarčič was in New York during March and early April to meet descendants of Slovenians who came to the U.S. at the end of the 19th/ beginning of the 20th centuries. For those participating, Tadej was conducting interviews and creating portraits in order to explore how the experiences of their ancestors (who left Slovenia 100+ years ago) in combination with their own experiences of living in America have shaped their identities. He will present his work in exhibitions in Slovenia and the U.S. Tadej’s website: www.tadejznidarcic.com. Saturday, April 2nd we met for “Afternoon Tea-Balkans Style” at Djerdan in mid-town Manhattan for coffee/tea and a tasting of cevapcici (veal kebabs) and three types of burek (meat, cheese, spinach), plus dessert! We had a Slovenian “Bring and Brag” (show and tell). Djerdan’s Sonja Kneževič-Kong with her mother Vesna and daughter Yuna (three generations) at a Kulturni Dan event in Seattle. We are thankful that Sonja still maintains the beautiful Branch 93-NYC website though she has now lived in Seattle for several years. Trivial Pursuit Slovenian Style: Team A Please join our Yahoo group - it’s our primary way of communicating, plus notifying members/friends of upcoming activities and events (especially last minute things)! Just e-mail: SWUABranch93NYC- subscribe@yahoogroups.com. For a look at past activities, check our web-site www.swuanyc.org. Any questions; suggestions for an event or want to lead an event: contact Lynn Zalokar at lzalokar@yahoo.com or call 201.947.6336 *answer: folding bicycle LYNN ZALOKAR & ELIZABETH GROSS BRANCH 99 - Lemont, Illinois Contact Information: jmhlade@hotmail.com Happy Spring! We wish all you a wonderful new season! It’s great to be back outdoors enjoying the sunshine and warmer weather. In March, we attended a mass at St. Mary’s Slovenian Mission Church in Lemont for all deceased members of our branch. We lost a dear friend and member, Fran Schultz, in January. Our deepest sympathy to her family. She will be missed. This year, as mentioned in previous articles, we will not host an annual Member of the Year celebration. Instead, we are hosting a “Member Celebration” to honor all our members. Please join us on Sunday, May 15th, at 2 p.m. at the home of Sonja DePratt - 520 Rollingwood Drive, Shorewood, IL 60404. The branch will supply the main meal, but bring a dish to pass. Pop and coffee will be provided - any other drinks are on your own. RSVP is required to VP Paula Mavec at pmavec@live.com or website has a video “What is Burek?” showing the burek dough being kneaded and stretched, www.djerdan.com. Anyone in the NYC area Sunday, June 5th is welcome to attend a reception and exhibit of works by the internationally renowned artist Bogdan Grom at The Belskie Museum in Closter, NJ from 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., phone 201.768.0286 and website: www.belskiemuseum.com (public transportation is available from NYC) Bogdan’s website: www.bogdangrom.com. Branch 99 Palancinke class 815.729.9787. Members and a friend or spouse are welcome. Come join us for some Slovenian games, entertainment and an afternoon of fun! Our next meeting will be June 12th at 2 p.m. at the restaurant This Must Be The Place, 206 Main Street in Lemont, 630.243.1500. Cost is $5 per person. Contact Barb to RSVP at barbandlarryblock@att.net or 630.379.6442. The National Convention is this June in Milwaukee, WI. President Julie Partyka will be the delegate from our branch. Several other branch members are attending so please consider joining us! Details in this issue. Lastly, the 2nd annual Bocce Ball Summer Social will again be at Vice-President Paula Mavec’s home on Saturday, July 16th, at noon. $5 to enter the tournament. Details to follow. Come join us for some summer fun! Until next time! JANA HLADE BRANCH 100 - Southern California Contact Information: ajkoci@cox.net Branch 100 had a wonderful and well attended cooking class on Saturday, February 12,h at the home of Bonney Zupan. She graciously offered her spacious home and gourmet kitchen for our use on that day so that we could demonstrate an easy and delicious way to make cheese štrukelj. Sixteen members came to watch and help in the process and then were able to sample the delicious dumplings and BRANCH 102 - Willard, Wisconsin Contact Information: kleespires@comcast.net Greetings from Willard! We are so happy that Candy Johnson is our 2011 Member of the Year. Candy travels to attend meetings here in Willard and doesn’t often miss one. She supports all of our projects and is vitally important to our Branch. Congratulations Candy! Several bake sales are in the works to help our Branch raise some much needed funds. While we do have a decent amount in our treasury, we will have additional expenses related to the National Convention (June 16-19) and the State Convention (September 18). Bake sales are held in the Parish Center at Holy Family after all Masses, with potica and strudel always available. Please contact Branch officers for the specific dates of upcoming bake sales. Good luck to Megan Johnson as she applies for our SWUA scholarship. Megan is studying Retail Merchandising and Management with a minor in Photography. She is just one of Branch 102’s four outstanding junior members. Doug Krultz, grandson of our member Vicki Krultz and nephew of our President, Bonnie Brierton recently returned from a one year tour of duty in Iraq. Doug serves with the National Guard. We are thankful for his safe return. Rose Pakiz reports that she is finally feeling better after her surgery in January. Vicki Krultz, Ed Bayuk and Frank Pakiz are celebrating milestone birthdays. These wonderful folks will celebrate 90 years life this summer. KAREN HR1BAR-SP1RES Sixteen Branch 100 members gather for a štrukelj making session at the home of Bonney Zupan. even take a piece or two home to share. Believe it or not, one of the ladies drove as far as 95 miles to attend this and another carload came 75 miles! Such interest and dedication is amazing, thank you Bonney for making this possible. It was also nice meeting your husband Terry and seeing your mother, Franceska again. The soup and bread was yummy for lunch! We are all looking forward to our Member of the Year Luncheon. Joanna Farrage is our honoree this year. Until next time. Na svidenje. JEAN KOCI BRANCH 108 - Olney, Maryland Contact Information: Bettekfitz@verizon.net On March 6th we celebrated an impromptu Pustna veselica with a wonderful spread of Slovenian treats typically served for Pust. Thanks to all our members/friends who joined in the camaderie, we had Slovenian sausages with fresh bread, sauerkraut, a variety of delicious salads, krofe, miške (fried mice), flancate and other desserts. The youth and young at heart made their own masks and decorated them with colorful markers and sequins. We raffled off enough prizes to put a smile on many faces. Thanks to youth members, Claire Daum and Zala Weyker for assisting John Klansek with the raffle. Thanks to older youth members, Matthew, Thomas and Juliana Fitzsimmons who were a big help in setting up, decorating and cleaning up the hall. The rain poured all day, and the following day we awoke to a light dusting of snow. We did our best to frighten winter away with our Pust celebration and Kurant, and truly noticed winter dissipating within three days of our Pustna veselica. On a sunny day March 12th, we participated in a St. Patrick’s Day parade dressed in Slovenian national costume and Slovenia shirts. Youth members, Brielle Roda and Daniel Kokal Hester proudly held the banner at the front of our line, as we waved Slovenian flags along the parade route. SWUA was introduced as we passed the reviewing stand, the 30th organization out of 65 represented at the Gaithersburg parade in front of 7,000 spectators. We certainly spread the word about SWUA through our signs and hope it may lead some people to check out the website. In spring, we will meet to honor all our members with a membership appreciation luncheon. Our wonderful members who share their unique qualities make our branch comprised of families, women, men and children very special! I look forward to seeing you at the National Convention in a couple of weeks. BERNADETTE K. FITZSIMMONS BRANCH 109 - Twin Cities Slovenians Spring in Minnesota beckons all of us with hopeful thoughts of a blessed Easter season, an exciting Twins baseball season, a rewarding fishing season and a reawakening of Nature in its lush glory. It is also decision making time for Branch 109 as we make final preparations for the Festival of Nations, which is held in St. Paul during the first week of May 5-8. Sue Rademacher and Mike Koski, our co-chairpersons, made final plans for our exhibit, which centered on the theme of “World Marketplaces.” Pictures of our exhibit will be displayed in the next issue of the Zarja. On March 19th, Branch 109 elected a new President, John Zakelj. John will replace Norm Setnicker, who has been President for the past five years. Other new officers elected were Mary Ann Setnicker, treasurer and Jamie Monson, recording secretary. Bob Grahek will continue as vice president, with Jean Rolstad, corresponding secretary; Mary Alice Schwanke, webmaster; and Karl Grahek, membership chairperson. All the members of Branch 109 would like to thank Yvonne McComber (treasurer) and Norm Setnicker for their years of service and leadership. Norm, however, will continue to be the liaison for the SWUA and reporter for the Zarja. Our April 16th membership meeting centered on a presentation of the Slovenian Easter celebration and the symbolism of the “Zegen” basket. With the Easter celebration on April 24th, the Twin Cities Slovenian membership asked Frank Medved if he would give a repeat performance of his excellent Easter presentation from four years ago. We made a concerted effort to not only have good attendance from our members but also to have more children from younger families attend. Every branch in the SWUA should see this presentation and share the significance of Slovenia’s largest religious celebration. The Twin Cities Slovenians - Branch 109 would like to thank the SWUA National Convention Committee, Denise P. Bartlett, Convention Chairperson for their excellent preparations for the National Convention in Milwaukee. There is something for every Slovenian who attends and I am sure that those that do will be deeply enriched in our Slovenian heritage and culture. Hvala Lepa. NORM SETNICKER 26th National Convention Registration Form Please use this form to register your participation June 16 - 19, 2011 Each individual to use separate form. Make copies as needed. Preferred Registration Deadline: May 5, 2011 Please Print Name:____________________________________________________________________________________________ Address:_________________________________________________________________________________________ City/State/Zip:__________________________________________________________________________________ Telephone:____________________________E-Mail:____________________________________________________ SWUA Branch #:__________________Location City:__________________________State:__________________ (Circle one) Delegate Alternate Member Guest Teenager (13 -17) Child (6-12) Staying at DoubleTree Hotel: Yes________No__________ If not, where:________________________________________Contact Telephone Number:__________________ Requesting Airport or Bus/Train Intermodal Station pick up (Itinerary required): Yes__No_________ Entering Potica Contest: Yes__________No________ Special Needs____________________________________________________________________________________ Thank you! Looking forward to seeing YOU! Make check payable to: SWUA Submit registration form and payment to: Denise P. Bartlett, SWUA Treasurer 7902 West Howard Avenue Milwaukee, WI53220-1612 1 1 For Official Use Only: Date Rec’d Check Number Amount 1 1 j Event Registration All delegate’s fees, meals, and events are paid by the National Convention Fund Registration Heritage Fest Workshop Fee $ Free Delegate $ 15.00 Age 13 to Adult Member $ 20.00 Adult Non-Member $ 5.00 Child 26th National Convention Welcome Party Thursday, June 16 - 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Potawatomi Bingo Casino: Food-Drink-Music Children allowed - event outside of casino entrance $ Free Delegate $ 20.00 Age 13 to Adult Member $ 25.00 Adult Non-Member $ 10.00 Child Healthy Start Breakfast Buffet Friday, June 17 - 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. $ Free Delegate $ 19.00 Age 13 to Adult Member $ 19.00 Adult Non-Member $ 12.50 Child Slovenia’s Recognition Luncheon Friday, June 17 - 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Milwaukee Fish Fry (includes baked) $ Free Delegate $ 22.00 Age 13 to Adult Member $ 22.00 Adult Non-Member $ 14.00 Child Alternate Meal Request Adult Alternate Meal Request ZarjaFest - European Village Friday, June 17 - 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Milwaukee Public Museum: Food-Drink-Music $ Free Delegate $ 30.00 Age 13 to Adult Member $ 35.00 Adult Non-Member $ 20.00 Child All American Breakfast Buffet Saturday, June 18 - 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. $ Free Delegate $ 19.00 Age 13 to Adult Member $ 19.00 Adult Non-Member $ 12.50 Child National Officers’ Recognition Luncheon Saturday, June 18 - 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Special Chicken Entree $ Free Delegate $ Free Former National Officer $ 19.00 Age 13 to Adult Member $ 19.00 Adult Non-Member $ 12.50 Child SWUA’s 85th Anniversary Banquet Saturday, June 18 - 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Dinner, Wine, Music $ Free Delegate $ 40.00 Age 13 to Adult Member $ 45.00 Adult Non-Member $ 20.00 Child 85 years old in 2011 (Bring proof) **********^ yy ^ Perpetuum Jazzile Concert at UWM Concert Hall Saturday, June 18 - 8:00 p.m. $ Free Delegate $ 20.00 General Admission $ 15.00 Senior 60+, Students 12+ $ 5.00 Children under 12 Perpetuum Jazzile Concert Transportation Saturday, June 18 BUS MUST LEAVE at 7:40 p.m. $ Free Delegate Transportation $ 5.00 Adult & Child Bus Transportation “Na svidenje” Breakfast Sunday, June 19 - 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Potica, Coffee, Milk, Juice $ Free to All Father’s Day at Triglav Park, Wind Lake Sunday, June 19 - 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Slovenian lunch available for purchase (See menu at www.triglavpark.com) Outdoor Mass, Balina, Music $ Free Delegate $ 11.00 Adult Bus Transportation $ 11.00 Child Bus Transportation $ Free for Fathers (Bring picture of children) Special Event - Group Discount Sunday, June 19, 2011 6:30 p.m. Need information about attending the “Broadway Tour of Fiddler on the Roof’ playing in Milwaukee (one mile from DoubleTree Hotel). SWUA’s 2011 National Convention February Win Calendar - Fund-Raiser Results Top seller prizes (1st, 2nd and 3rd place only) 1st John Zore of Branch 1, Sheboygan, Wisconsin - Sold 40 Entries 2nd Fannie Smole of Branch 43, Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Sold 17 Entries 3rd Jonita Ruth of Branch 20, Joliet, Illinois - Sold 16 Entries Top Branch Support: 57 Sellers: Branch 20, Joliet, Illinois 37 Sellers: Branch 43, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 21 Sellers: Branch 2, Chicago, Illinois 21 Sellers: Branch 50, Euclid, Ohio 19 Sellers: Branch 16, South Chicago, Illinois 15 Sellers: Branch 24, LaSalle, Illinois 13 Sellers: Branch 30, Various Locations 12 Sellers: Branch 3, Pueblo, Colorado 12 Sellers: Branch 47, Garfield Heights, Ohio 10 Sellers: Branch 10, Cleveland, Ohio 10 Sellers: Branch 23, Ely, Minnesota Feb. 1 2011 Winners Mary Lou Voelk - Foley, AL $110 Feb. 2 Margarita Franchini -No.Randall,OH $55 Feb. 3 Dianne Zebrowski - W. Milwaukee, WI $55 Feb. 4 Carol Marubio - Westchester, 1L $55 Feb. 5 Lillian Bavec - Euclid, OH $55 Feb. 6 John C. Zore - Wausaukee, WI $55 Feb. 7 Frank Duris - Macedonia, OH $55 Feb. 8 Weyland Raymond - Milwaukee, WI $220 Feb. 9 Dorothy A. Brown - Joliet, IL $55 Feb. 10 Ruth Ann Hue - West Allis, WI $55 Feb. 11 June Znidorka - West Allis, WI $55 Feb. 12 Helen Mavrich - Canonsburg, PA $55 Feb. 13 Susan Regis - Joliet, IL $55 Feb. 14 Judith Howard - Wilmington, IL $220 Feb. 15 Mitzi Banich - LaSalle, IL $55 Feb. 16 Kris Mulligan - Hohokus, NJ $55 Feb. 17 Dolores Puhek - Chicago, IL $55 Feb. 18 Mary Klobučar - Dyer, IN $55 Feb. 19 Brian & Emily Petronio - Joliet, IL $55 Feb. 20 Jean Koci - Laguna Niguel, CA $55 Feb. 21 Sue Block - Oak Creek, WI $55 Feb. 22 Mary Ann Brunner - Mendota, IL $55 Feb. 23 John C. Zore - Wausaukee, WI $55 Feb. 24 Shirley Vidmar - West Allis, WI $55 Feb. 25 Gina Thacker - Okeechobee, FL $55 Feb. 26 Jerry Watson - Zionsville, IN $55 Feb. 27 Josie Midman - Mukwonago, WI $55 Feb. 28 Kathy Wallace - Akron, OH $110 This picture was taken on Feb. 1, 2011 as Jan and Tom Gehm, both members ofBranch 43, Milwaukee, draw the winners for Feb. Is', 2"J, 3rd and 4,hfor the Nat 7 Conv Fund-Raiser. Jan is President of Branch 43 and Tom is past auditor. SWUA Auditors picking the February 26, 27, 28 Fund-Raiser winning entries at the Heritage Museum. From Left: Mitzi Banich - Branch 89, Oglesby, Illinois, Gen Buol - Branch 2, Chicago, Illinois, Rita Bottomley - Branch 20, Joliet, Illinois Thank You For Your Support! The 26th National Convention lund-raiser for the month of February 2011 was a huge success. Your entry was very much appreciated! The profit of over $4,000.00 will enhance all aspects of the activities for SWUA delegates and members. Thank you for your support! YOU can ensure even greater success by your attendance at SWUA’s National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin during June 16-19, 2011. Members of all ages are welcome to attend. |M» est Dolores Ivanchich, SWUA member of Branch 43, Milwaukee, is well known by Milwaukee area Slovenians for her inspiring Slovenian folk song Sing-Alongs. Besides the songs being pleasing to their ears many have been seen with tears in their eyes as they recall childhood memories of their families and beloved Slovenia. Come sing and cry with us at Dolores’ Sing-Along sessions at the National Convention in Milwaukee. Lyrics in English and Slovenian will be provided along with Dolores’ descriptive song histories. Dolores has a Master of Music from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and a post graduate diploma from the Academy of Music, Ljubljana, Slovenia. Her other experience: along with brother, Louis, produced and announced the Slovenian Radio Hour on station WMIL for seventeen years, produced Sunday TV Mass for shut-ins on a local channel for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, served on voice faculties of Illinois State University, Normal and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, is past director of the Uspeh Chorus of Milwaukee, and currently serves on the UWM - Slovenian Arts Council of UWM. Tony Gorenc comes from a family of accomplished button box musicians whose roots are from the Dolenjska region of Slovenia. At age nine Tony started his formal studies of the accordion with Slovenian teachers Jack Barlich and Anton Martinsek. In his teenage years he became a serious student at the Andy Rizzo School connected with Loyola University. That was interrupted when he was drafted during the Korean War but fortunately for all of us listeners he was assigned to the 10th Mountain Infantry Division Band. Tony credits this as his most significant musical experience. He’s also experienced playing with Frank Yankovic but admits he has a passion for the jazz scene. Tony can also boast of strong Slovenian polka music in his blood; he’s composed two polkas. He stays connected to his family roots with twenty-six trips to Slovenia in twenty-eight years - where he feels at home. For the last twenty-five years he has performed at local ethnic venues; oftentimes with bassist Fred Buchel in the Tony Gorenc Ensemble. Tony is a member of the UWM Slovenian Arts Council and a new member of Branch 43, Milwaukee. ZariaFest j\low’s the tilve to rol! out the barrel, formthe^ sang’s all here! I 114 i. ^ \ V ' |n just a few weeks we will be singing ana having a great time at z7arjai estl Meet the Zarja Team at the Milwaukee Public Museum in the European Village no later than 6:00 p.m. Get ready to join the parade that takes us through the imaginative re-creation of homes and shops as they may have appeared about 1875 to 1925. Tony Gorenc, our ZarjaFest “Pied Piper” will march us through the cobble stoned streets where we will get a glimpse of daily life, skills and traditions that were characteristic of many Europeans who came to the United States at the time. The fun continues as Dolores |vanchich leads us in a Slovenian S«ng Al one, followed by the I raditional 5molcing of the House performed by the Museum £)oard. Your evening will include a commemorative gift from Z.ar|a> a European Mar"ket Fcast of sausages, cneeses, breads and soft drinks and Deer. nyone attending in Slovenian costume will be featured in the next issue of Zarja. Saturday, June 18, 2011 Performance at 8:00 p.m. IRMAIL NARODNA IN UNIVERZITETNA KNJIŽNICA MEMBER ID 70665 IRENA SESEK •»nr->T tt> t a 01 r t i t\ /a nm? r* r rx»t 1 URJA5KA 1, r.U. dUX Z3V 1000 LJUBLJANA SLOVENIA III 54 7882011 920110982,3 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee /ela/o Center for the Performing Arts 2419 E. Kenwood Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53211 $20 General Admission V iew them on; $15 Seniors 60 yrs+, Students YouTube: Perpetuum Jazzile-Avsenik Medley $5( hildren under 12 Website: www.perpetuumjazzile.si/en C hecks made out to: U.VY.M. foundation Sponsored by the U.W.M. Slovenian Arts Program Mail ( heck to : Denise P. Bartlett, S\V U A1 reasurer Frank and Mary Ermenc Memorial Fund 7902 W. Howard Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53220 U.W.M. Peck School of the Arts '0 it.A Pop Jazz A Capella Group . . ■ •' V- W jr - ! •' • • ** \ f it * ** j ■ /‘■■tj.* . j«>| * * *- ; *v,‘tl .1 * * 1 * •> A-‘V * L * f . •> v.v ^ /; 'v' ‘f • i**» « . • v£ i i//S'/I sit (•... 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