ZARJA
-THE
URADNO GLASILO	OFFICIAL	PUBLICATION
SLOVENSKE ŽENSKE ZVEZE V AMERIKI	SLOVENIAN	WOMEN’S	UNION	OF	AMERICA
75th Year of Slovenian Women’s Union
July-August, 2001 - No. 4, Vol. 73
ERIN HART
Br. 33, Duluth, MN
SARAH CULLINANE
Br. 30, Newton, MA
\ STARS / WITH / a BRILLIANT
FUTURE'-
Scholarship Winners
DANIEL SPINUZZI
Br. 3, Pueblo, CO
DIANE BALACH
Br. 42, Maple Hts., OH
MAUK A. SELAK
Sr. 55, Girard, OH
SPECIAL COMING EVENTS
JULY
10	ZVEZA DAY IN LEMONT, Br. 2, Chicago, IL Hosts
Mass at 11 a.m. /Picnic follows Each person attending will receive a free ticket for a 75th Anniversary drawing at the picnic.
SEPTEMBER
9	MINNESOTA STATE DAY, Br. 39, Biwabik, MN Hosts
OCTOBER
7 IL—IN STATE DAY, Br. 2, Chicago, IL Hosts Celebrating 75th Anniversary of Br. 2
14	OHIO-MICH. STATE DAY, Brs. 14 & 32 Hosts
21	Dinner-Social, Br. 103, Washington, D.C.
DECEMBER
4 Christmas Dinner, Br. 14, Euclid, OH
CELEBRATING OUR 75TH ANNIVERSARY
September 16 SOLEMN MASS OF THANKSGIVING
National Slovenian Shrine of Marija Pomagaj, Brežje, Slovenia
September 22 GALA 75TH ANNIVERSARY BANQUET National Gallery of Art, Ljubljana, Slovenia
September 23 SLOVENIAN HERITAGE DAY -ANNUAL GRAPE FESTIVAL Br. 20, Joliet, IL, Hosts
October 7 ILLINOIS-INDIANA STATE DAY
Celebrating 75th Anniversary of Br. 2
Let us sow the seeds of our heritage!
ZARJA - THE DAWN
(ISSN 0044-1848)
Postmaster: Send all changes of address to: ZARJA - THE DAWN, 4851 S. Drexel Blvd., Chicago, IL 60615-1703
NUMBER 4	JULY-AUGUST 2001	VOLUME	73
Member, Illinois Fraternal Congress
Official Publication of the Slovenian Women's Union of America — Uradno glasilo Slovenske Ženske Zveze.
Published six times per year - šestkrat na leto.
Annual Subscription for non-members, $15.00 — naročnina $15.00 letno za ne-članice.
Publisher: SLOVENIAN WOMEN'S UNION OF AMERICA 431 No. Chicago St., Joliet, IL 60432 Telephone (815) 727-1926
Periodicals Postage Paid at Joliet, IL and at additional mailing offices All communications for the next issue of publication must be in the hands of the Editor by the first week of the month — vsi dopisi za naslednjo izdajo mesečnika morajo biti v rokah urednice do I. v mesecu.
Editor, CORINNE LESKOVAR Editorial Office: 4851 S. Drexel Blvd., Chicago, IL 60615-1703 Email: CORLESKOVAR@AOL.COM Telephone: (773) 548-8878 - Facsimile: (773) 268^4899
Internet webpage: www.swua.org e-mail: swuhome@msn.com On line newsletter: lzalokar@yahoo.com
HAPPY BIRTHDAY IN JULY & AUGUST
National Officers:
July 16 - Bonnie Prokup, Nat’l. Secretary, Peru, IL
Aug. 26 - Beverly Jackson, Nat’l. Aud., San Francisco, CA Aug. 29 - Angela Stare, Dir. Youth Services, Bethesda, MD
Presidents:
July	5	-	Ann Cooke. Br. 32, Euclid, OH
July	5	-	Anne Brdek, Br. 54, Warren, OH
July	6	-	Maria Selak, Br. 55, Girard, OH
July	23	-	AnnTercek, Br. 50, Cleveland, OH
July 24 - Anne Orazem, Br. 35, Aurora, MN
Aug. 4- Betty Matjašič, Br. 101, Bedford, OH Aug. 9- Catherine Sandrick, Br. 38, Chisholm, MN Aug. 22 - Mollie McIntyre, Br. 22, Bradley, IL
Secretaries:
July 7 - Mary Maxin, Br. 50, Euclid, OH July 10 - Rosemary Donald, Br. 33, Duluth, MN July 21 - Rose Marie Stebick, Br. 101, Bedford, OH July 23 - AlouiseEpley, Br. 73, WarrensvilleHts.,OH
Aug. 7 - Eileen Kaplan, Br. 3, Pueblo, CO Aug. 7 - Moreen Spencer, Br. 13, San Fran., CA Aug. 10 - Peggyann Moore, Br. 25, Cleveland, OH Aug. 16- Frances Ulle, Br. 68, Fairport Hbr., OH Aug. 20 - Charlotte Perdan, Br 32, Euclid, OH
Everyone attending the May meeting of Br. 55, Girard, Ohio received a favor with this encouraging message!
MANY HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY!
NATIONAL PRESIDENT
Kathleen Dorchak
11 5478
Communication -A Resource for Our Success
What a great time to belong to the Slovenian Women’s Union of America. Your National Board of Directors is continually “thinking out of the box” to make our association deliver what you as American-Slovenians are looking for. We are commmitted to better communication to meet your needs and we appreciate your honest input and suggestions. Members, thank you for answering our call for your contributions and suggestions for our growth.
One valuable tool to help each branch is the results of the Membership Survey. Every branch has been mailed a copy of these results. I hope your branch officers will find this survey useful to plan branch activities and events. Your National Board will find this a great resource to plan and expand future programs to meet the needs of our members. A big thank you goes out to Bonnie Prokup, Mary Lou Voelk, and Lynn Zalokar for pursuing and completing this successful project.
Honoring our 75th Anniversary is extremely important for our organization. For this event a commemorative handkerchief was created. They are beautifully embroidered with “SWU1926-2001" and a red carnation. Each Branch President has been sent one handkerchief. They are available from the Home Office for the low cost of $7.00. Contact Jonita Ruth to order yours now.
Our 75th Anniversary tour to Slovenia is already loading our second touring bus. I am so happy to see so many of our members joining us for this memorable event. Those of us committed to the trip have already received the bill for the total payment which is due this month. If you are interested in joining us, it is not too late. Kollander Travel will gladly accept your reservation. However, time is running out. Our window for holding seats on the airplane is counting down. I hoDe as manv of us as possible can take advantage of this trip of a lifetime.
Let’s capitalize on our Membership Campaign “Keep in the Spirit Alive. The winner of the contest will proudly display a beautiful authentic Slovenian item. The more members actively participating in our programs and activities will allow us to share what our great organization has to offer.
I am very excited to see the response we are having for the 75th anniversary quilt raffle. Checks are coming in daily. You still have time to get your money in for your raffle tickets. The drawing will be held in December.
Bernadette Kovacic Fitzsimmons has created a new set of photograph cards. The set of 2 Get Well Cards and 2 Sympathy Cards sells for $10.00. The cover of each is an original photograph and the inside page is blank for your personal message. They are gorgeous and a must have. 1 have actually framed the pictures and they are hanging in my library. Contact the Home Office to make your purchase.
Open communication is very important for a successful organization and your National Board of Directors is committed to this endeavor. Methods of communication are increasing and improving with the bi-monthly publication of the ZARJA, the online newsletter - The New Neighborhood, and website. Use all three of these methods to be current with our activities and plans.
Remember, as the summer season moves quickly into our lives, this is the appropriate time to remember - true friends are the flowers in life that never fade.
“Cherish your human connections: your relationships with friends and family.”
Barbara Bush
Inspire love and laughter,
Kathleen
Markle Drive Silver Lake, Ohio 44224 (330) 686-1336 (330) 688-6203 ^■ail: KDORCHAK@NEO.RR.COM
SECRETARY BONNIE PROKUP
CELEBRATE!
Back in 1926 Marie Prisland gathered a group of spirited women seeking better recognition in their immigrant country. Now 75 years later we are preserving the legacy that was left to us by those founding members. Today we hold the link that connects many of us with our mothers’, grandmothers’, great grandmothers’ and great great grandmothers’ rich cultural heritage - our Slovenian heritage.
Celebrating our 75th Anniversary is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to showcase our organization. Now is the time to highlight our rich history with Slovenians all over the world. 1 hope that everyone is thinking of ways in which your branch can celebrate. On a National level we are working on events in several major cities as well as our 75th Anniversary Tour to Slovenia in September. More information will come out on the local events after our next Board of Directors’ meeting.
In addition to the planned events we are including Slovenian related workshops at the Heritage Museum in Joliet. Our newly appointed Heritage Director Reza Rozman Lockwood is making plans at this moment to get this new service off the ground. I am sure you will read more about Reza later in this issue but for now I am thrilled to have her on our team. Reza is moving back to her hometown of Joliet, IL with her husband. Please read on further for ways you can join Reza in some of her great plans for the Museum.
Not only are we celebrating our 75th Anniversary but also the success of SWU. It seems that every month there is something exciting to report. That is what makes this team so much fun. The invoice donations are coming in hard and strong. The money is definitely needed and greatly appreciated. As many of you know and realize that our annual dues do not cover the cost of the ZARJA. Each issue is around $1.85. That means that it costs right under $12.00 a member to send the ZARJA. Besides the invoices our website is looking better every day. If you have not visited this site please plan to do so. The address is WWW.SWUA.ORG. We have recipes, ongoing stories about our founder Marie Prisland, past newsletters, branch upcoming events and much more. The Online Newsletter continues to grow daily. If you are not online try to find a family member or a friend and ask them to subscribe for you. It’s free and easy. You will enjoy this extra benefit that comes out at the beginning of each month. You can join by sending an email to lzalokar@yahoo.com.
It’s great to be on a winning team! And you, too, can join us. We are always looking for help and it doesn’t matter where you are located.
For those near Joliet, Illinois we invite anyone to join us in some exciting changes at the Museum. We could use help with the following:
• Designing new exhibits and displays
• Cataloging the books located in the basement for the future library
• Computerizing many areas at the Museum/Home Office
• Donations of Slovenian costumes or artifacts
• Are you talented in an area where you could give a Slovenian related demonstration?
For those living away from the Museum but have a computer at home:
• Website assistance
• Newsletter assistance
• Book Group Formation via internet
• Chat sessions (for members to talk about a certain Slovenian related subject at a designated time)
• Special projects
For a member or branches not on the computer:
• Assist with raffles or fundraisers
• Local demonstrations on Slovenian dance, song, language, potica making, noodle making and apple strudel to name a few.
By getting involved you will build on that LINK I referred to at the beginning of my message. The LINK that ties us together with our ancestors who left their beloved homeland in search of a better life for their generations to come. Since I became so involved in SWU not a day goes by that I don’t think of my grandparents or even other members’ famiiies who were the start and the reason for our 75 years. 1 get lots of correspondence from our members whether its via phone, email or mail. Its interesting to hear how certain things we did or wrote about affect other people. Phyllis Fon of Branch 5 wrote
IVIeet our new SWU Heritage Director
Greetings from St. Louis!! ... where summer seems to be in no hurry to appear. I hope that everyone’s summer is off to a good start with the flowers planted and at least one picnic grilling behind you.
You may have heard that 1 have cheerfully accepted the position of the National Heritage Director for the Slovenian Women’s Union and am hoping that we can all work together to keep our culture and heritage alive for our children.
For those of you that don’t know who I am. I’ll share a little bit of myself with you...
I am the youngest of four children of Bernard and Marinka (Markun) Rozman, which puts me in the middle of a large and extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins on both the Rozman and Markun sides of the family. Slovenian language, music and culture were a large part of our lives growing up as we spoke Slovene at home and with family, we all attended weekly “Slovenian School,” and honored and practiced the traditions and customs that my parents and grandparents grew up with.
In my youth, I was very active in SWU activities in the Joliet area. Growing up, I remember wearing my narodna noša often - many times, for Zveza celebrations or activities. I am a life-long member of SWU and received the 1989 SWU Antonia Turek Scholarship award. That year, I moved to the St. Louis area to go to college and study aeronautics
and aviation at Parks College of St. Louis University. After college, I stayed in the area making it my home. Last year,
I married a wonderful man,
William Scott Lockwood, III.
"Scott,” as friends know him, is originally from Los Angeles, California and spent eight years serving our country as a Corpsman in the U.S.
Navy. He is an active student of all things Slovenian (language, culture and cooking, to name a few...) and is excited to get involved with SWU to better learn the culture that I grew up in.
Scott and I are moving to Joliet so that we will be more involved with the Slovenian community of the Joliet-Lem-ont-Chicago area as well as the Zveza community across the country! I am really looking forward to working with you in preserving our Slovenian heritage.
I hope to hear from many of you soon! I can be reached via email at trlockwood@yahoo.com or call the Museum and leave a message for me and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Reza Rozman Lockwood
SWU STATEMENT OF OUR VISION, MISSION AND PURPOSE
VISION - To preserve the living spirit of the founders and past membership by promoting and nourishing tbe legacy left to us for future generations.	W	^
MISSION - To reach individuals oy uniting them through their common interest in Slovenian culture and traditions.
PURPOSE - To provide resources, communication, and foster friendships in honor of our cultural heritage.
Bonnie:
in response to my last article where I wrote about Dandelion Salad. She, too, remembers how great it tasted but added how she now uses Romaine, Arugula or her favorite curly Endive instead of dandelions because of all the contamination in the ground from our pesticides, etc. She also wrote a great tip from her mom who can no longer have the bacon dressing. She said to heat up some Italian dressing (regular or low calorie) in a microwave and pour it over the salad.
I conclude my message with congratulations! to everyone as we near our 75th anniversary date. And with high hopes that you too will step forward and join our winning team! We need everyone’s help and with that we will see another 75 years. For those of you who would like to volunteer please send me an email.
Bonnie Pohar Prokup WPROKUP@aol.com 3119 Carrie Street Peru, IL 61354
The Future is Now! Keep the Spirit Alive!
In this year of 2001 we have a new membership campaign and our goal is 200 new members in 2001! Can we do it? What a question - of course!
As of the month of May we have 43 new members - that means we are 157 away from our goal! We need to average 22 new members per month!
But wait! Why are we thinking of only 200 new members! With the success of our New Neighborhood Newsletter and the SWUA.org internet website, everything is popping! Cookbook sales are up! Gift items at the Home Office are popular! Our ideas are flowing and everyone on YOUR Board of Directors is taking on new responsibilities to make sure the Slovenian Women’s Union is out there in a positive way!
ENTER INTO THE CELEBRATION OF OUR ANCESTRY
Prize Opportunities for Every Age Group!
Children’s/Teen Categories: A PICTURE DRAWING AND 25 WORDS OR LESS
• 5-8 years of age
• 9-12 years of age
• 13-18 years of age
Topics:
V Family Traditions
V Slovenian Holiday Traditions
V Trip to the Homeland
Adult Categories:
A PHOTOGRAPH_______
AND 50 WORDS OR LESS
• 19—40 years of age, BRONZE
• 41-60 years of age, SILVER
• 61-80 years of age, GOLD •80+, PLATINUM
V Old Time Slovenian Neighborhood
V Most Admired Slovenian Relative
V Your Choice (but Slovenian-related!)
The 75th Anniversary of the S.W.U. presents an opportunity to spend some time talking about family, customs and traditions. Allow your child, grandchild or great grandchild to be the spokesperson for the family, allow them to declare who they are! What a proud moment for them!
What a wonderful opportunity to author your family’s special activities and Slovenian moments! Let’s put together a book with countless chapters on the Slovenian-American family for the future members of the S.W.U. Record and submit your joyous and cherished times!
All photos and drawings will become the property of the S.W.U. All entries will be stored at the S.W.U. Heritage Museum and will be filed, numbered and logged onto the computer. We hope to scan these entries onto a special 75th Anniversary CD which could be accessed on the S.W.U. website. 75 years is an incredible amount of time!
A Few Specifics:
• Paper should be no larger than 8-1/2” by 11”.
• Limit of three entries per person.
• Entries must be postmarked no later than November 16, 2001.
• Entrants must be members in good standing of the S.W.U.
Entries will be randomly selected for publication in ZARJA and the website throughout the 2001-2002 year. Keep
your eye on this new feature!
Participants: Fill out the information below and send with your entry to the S.W.U. home office. Entries must be received no later than November 16, 2001. Please print clearly:
Name: ___________________________________________________________ Address:______________________________________________________
City/State/Zip: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Phone: __________________________________________________ E-Mail:	____________________________________________________________
Topic: __________________________________________________________ Age:	  Branch	#:	__________________
Mail to: S.W.U. 75th Celebration 431 North Chicago Avenue Joliet, IL 60432
*(815) 727-1926 - swuhome@msn.com - www.swua.org*
Lynn Zalokar
“The New Neighborhood” Online Newsletter Update
Meet a “New Neighborhood” subscriber!
OVER 80 and On the Internet!
My name is Sophie (Lach) Baraga and I was 85 years of age on May 9th, 2001. I was born to Slovenian parents John and Mary Lach who came from Austria-Hungary, which then became Yugoslavia and is now Slovenia.
I am proud to say that 1 have been using a computer since 1995 and loving every minute of it. I use it mostly for e-mail letters to our 4 children in Ohio, and nine grandchildren scattered across the country.
I was forced into using the computer by our daughter who bought us a computer and then said: “You will just have to learn how to use it.” I kept telling her “This is impossible, I will never learn how to use it, and why would I even want to?”
The computer was delivered, and my husband who was 87, in May also thought he could never use it. We now live in Sun City, Arizona, a community of senior citizens who have to be a! least 55 years of age to live here. We have 6 recreation areas which are used as classes for sewing, crocheting, knitting, silver clubs where you can learn how to make jewelry, (something my husband has mastered and he does a good job at making jewelry for our daughters, and their children.)
We also have a computer club where members can learn how to become proficient on the computer. It is a club with over 900 members and still growing. There are members in their 90s who are using the computer. We joined the club and have learned how to use it, even though we use it mostly for e-mail.
It is the most active club in the Sun City area, which shows you that age has nothing to do with your capacity to learn something new!
* * * *
To answer your question, Lynn, on how 1 learned to use the computer? Our first teacher was our daughter, who taught us how to start it, and how to send and receive e-mail. Then we did join the computer club as I stated above.
You ask how often do you get on the computer? As often as I can, at least twice a day. The e-mail letters I write late in the evening. I have been on line for about 5 years.
Another question: Have you found any good web sites relating to Slovenia? No, I have not and it is because I don’t know how. But I must tell you that some one in Slovenia
did find us. A distant cousin of my husband got in touch with our son, who lives in Independence, Ohio. In Jan. 2001 he received a phone call from Dusan Baraga from Kozarišče, near Lož. He was inquiring about a Jacob Baraga. My son’s wife almost hung up. She said “I don’t know anyone by that name, my husband’s name is Stan." Then he told her that a Zofija and Stanko visited Slovenia in 1978 and he was trying to get in touch with them to see if they were related to his father. He spoke English very fluently. She then told him that we were in Slovenia, and she gave him our phone number. He then called us and was so happy to hear that my husband was still living and was indeed the person he was looking for, and, to make a long story short, we have been communicating with him ever since.
At first I wrote to him in Slovenian and he wrote in English, but later we decided that it was easier for each of us to write in our own language, which means that he writes to me in Slovenian and I write to him in English and we each understand what the other is saying. He is a family physician, married and has two children, a girl and a boy.
Baraga Family Tree connects via e-mail
He was interested in genealogy and was working on his family tree and wondered if we had any information about our ancestors in Slovenia. While we were in Europe my husband received a copy of his family tree which dated to 1724. We shared this information with him and found that his great grandfather was a brother of my husband’s father!
He is very interested in the reason for the Slovenian immigrants coming to America and what types of jobs they were able to hold in this country.
In one of my letters I found the answer which was written by you (Lynn), who told of the reason the immigrants did come here and the type of jobs they held. I sent a copy of the letter to him by airmail and hope he received it.
Now to give you some information about myself.
My husband and I were both born in the St. Vitus parish area in Cleveland, Ohio's Slovenian neighborhood on the East Side. We were both baptized at St. Vitus, went to school through the 8th grade, made our first Holy Communion there, our confirmation, graduation, and lived there in the area.
While I was in the 6th grade a young man by the name of Frank Turk came to America and taught the Slovenian language during the summer. He taught us how to read and write and to speak in the language, which was not difficult for any of us since our immigrant parents spoke Slovenian to us at home.
When I was in the 8th grade a young priest. Rev. Mathias Jager came to our parish to be an assistant to our pastor. He also taught the Slovenian language. I will be forever grateful to our parents for sending us to these classes. There was a small tuition, and it wasn’t easy for them to pay for those classes but they felt it was important for us to learn how to read and write in their mother tongue. We all could already speak it.
I would not have been able to communicate with Dusan (pronounced Dushan, which rhymes with the word on), if I had not had those lessons in the Slovenian language. Please turn to page 18.
-ANNOUNCING SLOVENIAN WOMEN’S UNION 2001 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS! -
SARAH CULLINANE - ROSE MARIE PRINC AWARD ERIN HART - ANNA ROSE SMOLICH AWARD MARK SELAK - JOSEPH PRINC AWARD DANIEL SPINUZZI - FRANCES BARMAN AWARD
DIANE BALACH - CONTINUING EDUCATION AWARD
SARAH CULLINANE - member of Branch 30, resides in Newton, Massachusetts with her parents Peter and Suzanne Sankar Cullinane and is a senior at Newton North High School. She has spent much time studying and tutoring Spanish at bilingual elementary schools in Boston during the past several years, serving as the tutoring leader, along with her other deep interest in history. As a junior, Sarah’s thesis in American History was entitled “Domesticity and the Early American Cookbook”, during which she spent hours at Harvard University reviewing old scrawled writings of early recipes. She received a first runner up award in the John F. Kennedy prize for Excellence in American History for her paper. She has worked in Boston soup kitchens the past four years and has participated in her school’s organization for women and is a member of the Newton Women’s Commission.
Awards consist of a gold medal in Latin and a seventh placement in the state of Massachusetts for Spanish. She has received advanced placement in English, Latin, Spanish and U.S., Caribbean and European history. Sarah has a deep interest in Slovenian culture through her grandfather’s stories of his parents lives in Slovenia and by reading Ivan Cankar’s poetry (in translation).
Sarah plans to attend the University of Chicago and major in either History or Latin. We wish her well!
ERIN HART - a member of Branch 33, Erin lives in Esko, Minnesota with her parents Robert and Linda Mosack Hart and graduated from Esko High School in June 2001. As a “straight A” student Erin was able to take post secondary enrollment opt classes at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. She participated in competitive basketball, volleyball, softball and soccer. She was first chair in the jazz band, first chair baritone sax in the concert band, but she says she also was one of the last Duluth Accordionairs and can play a mean polka. Theatre is Erin’s first love and she played Mrs. Van Dann in the "Diary of Anne Frank” and Marty in the school’s production of “Grease”. She won a superior acting award for her portrayal of Mary Warren in “The Crucible” in State of Minnesota competition. Church activities include helping with spaghetti dinners at St. Elizabeth’s Church in Gary, Minnesota and volunteering at her own Queen of Peace Church in Cloquet. Other contributions consist of Salvation Army work during Christmas time, and an elementary book yearly bool fair in which she loves to tell stories to the children. She is involved with the D.A.R.E. program in Esko School and regularly talks to fifth graders about high school and the dangers of drug abuse. Erin attended a SWU branch meeting recently in which she shared her story telling ability with it’s members and has also helped with branch fund raisers. Losing her beloved grandfather recently has been a most difficult time in Erin’s young life, yet she was able to attend a final theatre rehearsal on that sad day. Grandfather must have been proud. Erin has been accepted by the School of Fine Arts at University of Minnesota, Duluth where she will be pursuing Theater Arts.
Erin, we will be anxiously looking forward to hearing more from you in the future!
MARK SELAK - A member of Branch 55, resides in Girard, Ohio with his parents August and Maria Selak and is a 2001 graduate of Ursuline High School. Mark was chosen to receive the SWU cultural award this year. His maternal and paternal grandparents immigrated to the United States in 1945 and through them, his mother, aunts, and sisters, has learned much of the customs and traditions of Slovene culture. Mark is fluent in the Slovenian language, which includes reading, writing, speaking, as well as singing. He enjoys the SWU Branch Christmas parties for which he is often one of the entertainers. Church activities include altar serving, Christmas pageant work, and most recently, youth ministry.
Mark enjoyed being a peer tutor to a student struggling with pre-Calculus and felt rewarded as a member of the Service v lass: seniors who are permitted to leave school and go to various locations throughout the community to provide whatever assistance is asked of them.
Mark’s plan is to attend Aeronautical/Engineering at a college level, and seek admittance into the ROTC program which will allow him to join the Air Force after college. His main goal then will be to become a pilot.
We wish Mark the best of luck!
DANIEL SPINUZZI - a member of Branch 3 resides at Pueblo, Colorado with his parents Daniel S. and Bernadette Starcevich Spinuzzi. He recently graduated from Pueblo South High School, where he did well in academic studies as well as in extra curricular and community activities. Daniel has been a member of the South High’s Student Council, National Honor Society and D.E.C.A. He is a four year member of the varsity football team and volunteers regularly at the local nursing home and a local elementary school. Daniel feels that his greatest accomplishment and endeavor was serving as chairman of the Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box Program at his school. With the help of classmates, local businessmen, and families over one hundred boxes were filled with personal hygiene items, clothes, candy, toys and sent to indigent children overseas.
Confirmation was also a big day for Daniel this year and at church he serves as an Altar Minister and a member of the Mardi Gras Confirmation Committee. In the past he helped with parish festivals.
Branch 3 does not have activities for young members but Daniel has been raised with many Slovenian customs and traditions. His great grandmother Kathleen Starcevich and great grandmother Christina Bradish told him many stories, one which he remembers well from childhood:
“As a young woman, she traveled from Europe to the United States, where she landed a job at a local hospital. Job duties were extremely difficult to understand because she was not fluent in the English language. It brings a smile to my face when I envision her running back and forth to the janitor’s closet in search of a bucket, when it was a mop that perhaps was needed. She would continue running back and forth to the janitor’s closet, each time returning with a different item, until she finally received a nod of approval from her supervisor.”
Daniel states “Her (my great grandmother) perseverance paid off, and she eventually conquered the language barrier.
I,	too, have a strong desire to add depth to my skills and work with people, creating partnerships, and implement change. The qualities I uphold as a leader come with the initiative to work hard and maintain self-confidence.”
Daniel will be attending the University of Colorado at Boulder with a major in biological sciences. He will then apply for entrance into medical school.
God be with you always, Daniel!
DIANE BALACH - member of Branch 42, Maple Heights, Ohio has received the Continuing Education Award for paralegal classes at Penn State University. Diane is a 1976 graduate of the Cuyahoga Community College, and served as Assistant Controller at Aitron, Division of Atlantic Richfield before becoming an employee of the City of Maple Heights where she currently serves as Chairman of it’s Planning Commission. Diane is pursuing a Paralegal Certificate with specialized studies in elder law, legal research, real estate, planning and zoning.
Diane has served Branch 42 as it’s vice president, has been their ZARJA reporter and also participated in various branch activities. However, most important of all, Diane is a devoted wife and mother.
Good luck to you, Diane, in all that you do!
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR BENEFACTORS:
Frances Barman Award
sponsored by her son, Tony Colnar Anna Rose Smolich Award - funded by her estate Joseph Princ Award in honor of her husband by Rose Marie Princ Rose Marie Princ Award funded by Rose Marie Princ...and
THE SLOVENE REST HOME BOARD OF FONTANA, CALIFORNIA
DONATIONS OF APRIL AND MAY, 2001
$5.00 donations: Elberta Erzen (ther sister Frances Gercar), Branch 23, Ely, MN (tRose Kemtz)
$10.00 donations: Bill Slogar (tRose Kemtz), Dorothy Koncar (Ann Dragovan - “Woman of the Year”)
$25.00 donations: Branch 20, Joliet, IL (Ann Dragovan, “Woman of the Year”), Mary F. Maxin - gift to the Scholarship Fund
$30.00 donation: John and Catherine Emery - gift to the Scholarship Fund
$2,000.00 gift from Rose Marie Princ to fund the 2002 Joseph Princ Award and the 2002 Rose Marie Princ Award
HONORARY MERIT AWARD WINNERS FOR 2001:
Roberta Herrick - Br. 102, Willard, WI Derek Karlinger - Br. 3, Pine, CO Julie Partyka - Br. 2, Naperville, IL Elizabeth Yuko - Br. 25, Novelty, OH
The SWU Scholarship Committee found decision making very difficult this year. All of the candidates were highly qualified to receive our awards. May our high school graduates and those in continuing education strive to attain the goals they have set for themselves as they enter new academic territory this fall semester.
SWU Scholarship Committee Lisa Lucas	Therese Koci
Gail Milton	Mary	Prisland
Mildred Pucel	Margaret	Francel
Mary Purvey, Director
52 Oakridge Dr., Marquette. MI 49855
Ted Prisland
(1914 - 2001)
Ted Prisland was a sculptor, a painter and an industrial designer and had also been a teacher. His career was an eclectic one, with an emphasis always on imaginative and innovative ideas.
Ted (Theodore) was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, March 7, 1914, the son of John and Marie Prisland. He attended the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee where he earned a degree in Fine Arts. He taught art in a junior high school in Beloit, Wisconsin and went on to teach art at a high school in East Orange, New Jersey.
During World War II, he served as an army lieutenant in Europe. After military service, he enrolled at the Institute of Design in Chicago and spent two years completing courses in Industrial Design. He was fortunate in being in the right place at the right time, for he studied with Laszio Moholy-Nagy, a world class industrial designer.
Beginning in the 1950’s he worked for several design firms in the Chicago area, including Raymond Lowey & Associates, Litton Industries, Medical Systems, and Bang & Olefson, a Swedish manufacturer of radio and t.v. equipment. After retirement, he continued to do free-lance design work. Over the years, he designed many products including china, flatware, x-ray equipment, and even a popcorn machine.
He produced many water colors as well as pen and ink drawings. He also created wooden sculpture, one of which “The Com Husker” was exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago. Ted designed the cover of the 1986 edition of SWU’s “Pots and Pans” Cookbook, using wife Frances as his model. He also did the pen and ink drawings in Marie Prisland’s “From Slovenia to America.”
Ted Prisland died on May 23, 2001 in Savoy, Illinois. He is survived by two daughters, Ann Prisland and Sarah Prisland Evegelos, a step daughter, Petra Hull in Australia, a daughter in law, Christine Prisland in Ft. Langley, B.C., five grandchildren and two sisters, Margaret Prisland Fischer of Sheboygan, and Hermine Prisland Dicke of Madison, and also many nieces and nephews.	M.T.
PotS and
_ Pans
>2-
ml TO
™ xu-X A Slovenian American Cookbook
His sister Hermine Dicke edited the first Pots and Pans SWU cookbook and Ted did the graphic design on the cover.
SWU New Member Report
February 1 - April, 2001
Branch	Member ID	Name	Date Joined
105	68298	Thomas, Diane	04101101
14	68287	Bowman, Joanne	03104101
2	68283	Roschay, Louis F	03104101
20	68295	Caneva, Lillian	04101101
20	68268	Deed, Albina Rose	02104101
20	68296	Pfister, Donald P	04101101
20	68285	Quillman, Jan	03104101
24	68300	Donahue, Robbie	04101101
25	68280	Marin, Patricia	03104101
3	68271	Carter, Margaret A.	02104101
3	68289	Lipich, Laura	03/04101
3	68270	McCarthy, Patricia	02/04/01
30	68297	Costello, Anthony	04101101
30	68288	Draper, Charlotte	03/04/01
30	68299	Kostric, A	04/01/01
30	68281	Levanger, Jodi	03/04/01
30	68267	Oven, Stana	02/04/01
30	68282	Smith, Marcia Jean	03/04/01
30	68272	Zadel, Dolores A	02/04/01
32	68269	Riddlebaugh, Mary Jane	02/04/01
33	68284	Schoen, Mary T	03/04/01
38	68286	Rupar, Terry J	03/04/01
50	68279	Oberman, Sara Elizabeth	03/04/01
Donations to Heritage Museum
$1000 for improvements to the Slovenian Heritage Museum from members of Br. 24, LaSalle, IL. Following is the gracious letter sent by their president, Ann M. Wangler and financial secretary, Michelle Pangrcic that accompanied the donation.
Dear Museum Director and Staff:
Enclosed please find a donation for improvements to the Museum, our check in the amount of $1000.00. Bonnie gave us such an inspiring talk on the Museum and the need for shelves, etc. we voted to help a hit.
We always enjoy our visits to the Museum when we are in Joliet for conventions, etc. and we view it with much pride.
Thanks to all who give so much of their time to be there for all of us.
Sincerely,
Anne M. Wangler,
President, Br. 24, S.W.U.
Michelle Pangrcic,
Financial Secretary
Also happy to acknowledge following donation:
$10: In memory of Ann Kambick from officers and members of Br. 13, San Francisco, CA.
Ask Tončka!
\o<3V
Gene®
I would like to know if anyone might have information on the Slovenian home town of Anton VODISEKO or Franz ZUPAN. These two men came from Slovenia on May 17, 1905 with my grandfather, Josef Mliner or Mlinar. (I am searching for my grandfather’s home town and the passenger manifest says they were all from the same town in Slovenia.) Two of the men, my grandfather and Anton Vodiseko went on to Pueblo, Colorado. Thanks.
Margaret Addicott,
addicott@saclink. csus. edu
Dear Margaret:
Hope some readers can help you. Meanwhile, keep at it - don’t give up!
Tončka
Dear Tončka:
Genealogy seems so confusing. Can you give me some suggestions on how to begin tracing my Slovenian ancestors? My great grandparents came to the United States about 1900.
Hvala!
Ančka
Dear Ančka:
Congratulations on joining the most popular hobby in the world, genealogy! I must advise that this hobby can become addictive, a giant, unending puzzle in which your ancestors come alive in your mind after you have learned much about them through pictures, old documents, visits to the cemeteries, and historical materials, and through newly found living relatives (we hope).
STEP ONE:
To begin, most importantly, is to interview all of your relatives, including auxiliary relatives (distant cousins, in laws,) people from the old neighborhoods that may know of your family. Interviewing may be difficult at first. Many of our elderly have suffered greatly from a hard, frugal, war tom experience in the old country. They may have blocked the past from memory and not want to share it at first. Rather than asking straight forward questions, such as who are your parents, where were they born, etc. ask a question like, “What was Christmas like for you as a child? - foods prepared? who were the guests?” Another important option would be to ask if the family member has old pictures that you could see. It may take several visits
before you are able to open the past. Ask for names and dates and write all of this down; or better still tape it if it is not objectionable to the person being interviewed. Be sure to include the date and place of the meeting and as much detail as is possible. One never knows when a name mentioned in passing will become important years later in pursuing a record. A written interview will be a most attractive addition to your family history.
Please write again and keep our ZARJA readers posted on your progress.
Happy Hunting! Vso srečo pri izkanju sorodnikov!
Tončka
QUERIES:
ZARJA readers: mail your queries to Tončka for this column:
Examples:
Surname	Place	of family of Name of
origin
GAZVODA
POHAR
BREKAN
DEYAK, MAROLT PEROVSHEK (PEROVCK) PR1JATEL
Velike Brusnice, near Novo Mesto
Radeče, Slovenia Smarjeta, Slovenia
nearSv. Gregor or Sodražica
Researcher
Fran Gazvoda 1113 E. 67th St. Cleveland, OH 44103-1757
Bonnie Prokup 3119 Carrie St. Peru, IL 61354
Mary Lou Volk 6982 West Long Lake Road,
Iron River,
WI54847
Website: www.ellisisland, org is very informative for our Slovenian genealogists. Eleven million immigrant records cover the period of 1892-1924 when many of our ancestors came to America. This website is still overloaded but early morning hours seem to be less frustrating. Remember to use various spellings of surnames, use only first initials to include more possible hits, and do not use the gender option for the same reason. A free membership is required to access this system so be prepared to establish a user name and password.
We have available some beginner genealogy materials and family biographical report forms which may be helpful. Copies of the biographical sheets could be kept on file at our Archival Library in the Museum at Joliet as a good source of our SWU member’s family records. Our older members have much valuable history to share with us if we only ask for their help. Their knowledge of the past is crucial in preserving our rich heritage.
For a packet of research information, charts, Slovenian letter writing guide, and biographical report forms, please send a check for $6.00 addressed to the Slovenian Women’s Union Heritage Museum to:
Tončka, 904 Margaret Street,
Iron Mountain, Michigan 49801
S.W.U. WOMEN OF THE YEAR 2001
Mary Miller	Ana	Šonc	Jevtič	and	family:	husband Milomir,
Ana, and sons, Damjan and Matija
Mary Lou Height
Branch 50, Cleveland, OH
Mary Miller
We are proud to honor Mary Miller, the Woman of the Year 2001 of SWU Branch 50.
Mary Schneider was born April 30, 1926 in the State of Michigan. She and her parents, she was an only child, moved to Cleveland, Ohio in 1950. She attended school at St. Peter’s School.
Mary’s head for numbers lead her to different places of business. She worked at Omar Bakery, the May Company, Madison Pickle Company, and Sears & Roebuck until retirement.
She married Bill Miller May 12, 1962. Mary and Bill did not have any children of their own. Sheba (dog) is their baby, and is treated very well. She travels everywhere with them, and Mary loves her as her child. Mary does have a step-daughter, 4 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren.
On the recommendation of her best friend, Mary Maxin, Mary joined the SWU Branch 50 in 1983. She has been a great asset to the Branch as our Treasurer and Auditor. During her years with the SWU. She has done a great job keeping our numbers in order for the Branch and we all thank her for continuing to do such a great job.
We are all fortunate to have Mary as a faithful member, we treasure the thoughts and ideas that she shares with us. She is a wonderful and loving woman, and deserves to be honored as Woman of the Year 2001.
Good luck to you Mary, and congratulations!
Sincerely,
All the Members of Branch 50
Branch 100, Fontana, CA
Mary Lou Height
Branch members enjoyed celebrating with their Woman of the Year Mary Lou Height and extend sincere congratulations! Read about Mary Lou’s tribute in Br. 100 Report on page 26.
Branch 103, Washington, D.C.
Ana Sonc Jevtič
Ana Sonc-Jevtič holds hte office of Branch 103 vice president for the year 2001 having been a member for only a little more than one year. Ana has offerd an infusion of new ideas to keep alive the Slovenian culture. She has been a happy volunteer for Branch 103’s activities.
Ana was bom in Krško, Slovenia on July 23, 1948. Krško is in the eastern part of Slovenia along the River Sava. Ana was the sixth and last born of Emilija and Alojz Sonc. Ana attended the University of Ljubljana, studied psychology, and graduated in 1972. While at University of Ljubljana, she met Milomir Jevtič, a Fine Arts student. Ana and Milomir were married on July 9, 1977 at St. John’s parish in her hometown of Krško. That same year, 1977, Ana and Milomir moved to Serbia to return to his home. During the next eleven years in Serbia, their two sons were bom, Damjan in 1978 and Matija in 1983.
Life was not easy in Serbia. In 1988, the economic and political situation grew worse. Milomir, who today is a renowned artist and sculptor, decided to try his fortune in the USA, where he thought that artistic talent should be better appreciated and rewarded. Milomir moved to the United States, while Ana and the children moved back to Slovenia. Then, after almost three years, in July 1991, Ana and the children joined Milomir in the United States. After settling in the Washington, D.C. area, Ana began work as an assistant teacher to young children at a Montessori School.
Thereafter, with the aide of fellow Branch 103 member, Leopolda Pregelj, Ana began teaching the Slovene language to American diplomats from the State Department. Ana had worked very hard and long hours learning and preparing how to teach. Her teaching utilizes Slovenian College textbooks for foreigners and the direct method of language instruction. Her students go on to represent the United States at the U.S. embassy in Slovenia. The independence of Slovenia has created a new market in Washington for Slovenian language education.
Ana and her family now live in Gaithersburg, Maryland, which is a suburb of Washington. Ana and her family enjoy sports and winter outdoor activities. Her sons, Damjan, now 23, and Matija, now 18, play basketball and volleyball. Ana enjoys ice skating and family ski trips to Ski Liberty in nearby Pennsylvania.
Ana’s mother still lives in Slovenia and is very healthy at 87 years. Ana’s father passed away in March 1977, after suffering a long time with arterial sclerosis. Ana maintains a close relationship with her mother, sisters, and brothers in Slovenia. It is a rare and special occasion when all six siblings, their respective families, and her mother can be together.
Every day. Ana strives to keep Slovenian traditions alive in the kitchen, home, and daily life. She cooks Slove-
nian foods using only natural unprocessed ingredients and traditional cooking methods. This is not easy in today’s world of managing both job and family responsibilities. Nonetheless, Ana does it and enjoys it! She is an inspiration!
The Slovenian Woman’s Union has been a vehicle for Ana to keep her Slovenian traditions and enjoy the company of other Slovenes. This is especially meaningful to Ana with her family so far away in Slovenia. Keeping the Slovenian language is most important. Since April 2001, Ana has conducted classes of Slovene language instruction to any interested members of Branch 103 folowing our meetings. Ana says that the SWU is quite impressive given the small size of the Slovenian nation.
Valerie Bohince
Mother’s Day is a special occasion
BARAGA DAYS IN LANSING, MI
The picture above was taken at the Mother of the Year celebration honoring Dorothy “Dolly” Brusacoram of Branch #38, Chisholm.
The occasion started with 10:00 a.m. Mass at St. Joseph’s Church, followed by brunch served in the church social hall. Veda Ponikvar gave an interesting history of Dolly’s life, followed by some humorous comments by Dolly’s son, David. Music was provided by Mike Laurich on the button-box accordion. It was a special occasion for a special lady.
The picture shows Dolly surrounded by her family. In front, Dolly is seated with her grandchildren, Ryan and Cassie Lyn Brusacoram. Standing, left to right, Kathy Brusacoram, Mark Brusacoram and his wife, Lisa. Unable to be present for the Honor Tribute were John and Brenda Brusacoram of Casper, Wyoming and Gene and Patrice Brusascoram of Mesa, Arizona.
Our heartfelt congratulations!
Charlotte Laurich
NEW MEMBERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME
takes place Saturday and Sunday Sept. 22 and 23. 2nnt
There win be a group tour from Chicago-Lemont-Joliet area via deluxe motorcoach. For reservations please call Irene Kalina, (312) 733-7868 or Jonita at the SWU Home Office, (815) 727-1926. Everyone is welcome to join us!
Bishop Baraga Association membership is available by contacting them at Box 550, Marquette, MI 49855 at a cost of $15 per person per year or $50 Life Membership. We encourage your support of the Cause for his Canonization as the first American-Slovenian saint of the Catholic Church.
For more information on the Baraga Association event you can contact the Diocese of Marquette on their website: WWW.DIOCESE OF MARQUETTE.ORG., click on the Diocese Calendar of Events, and find listing of Bishop Baraga Days, or email the BBA Secretary, Elizabeth Delene at EDELENE@DIOCESE OF MARQUETTE. ORG.
Another idea for family or group fun this summer - why not take a biking or hiking tour of Baragaland in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan? Elizabeth, (contact at above email), has many hints and helps for you.
Activities of our Branches
Reports due first of month preceding publication.
NO. 2, CHICAGO, IL Meeting: 2nd Thurs. St. Stephen’s lower hall
July 4th - Happy Birthday America
-	225 Yrs. Old!
We are very proud of our Angels who were honored as “Mother/Women of the Year 2001The celebration was well attended - there were 60 members and guests. Thanks to Father Vendelin who came from St. Mary’s Lemont so we could have Slovenian music in the church, also, to Father Stan who had a touching homily for our ladies. Our Angel-in-waiting, Ashley Shachter carried the crown. Stella Longosz and Elsie Kroschel Wojdula - last year’s honoree, crowned Our Lady; attending were Marie Ovnik, Helen Fitzgerald, Elsie Statkus. Irene Smid and Amelia Smith. We missed JoAnna Ferraro who was in the hospital (she is doing better). Supper was served afterwards in the church hall which was decorated in blue/white. Our Pres. Fran Morison presented each with a small Angel musical globe with inscription: Friendship lifts the spirit. It was a fun evening.
Also honored this year: Irene Kalina was chosen as “Mother of the Year” by Our Lady’s Guild and Agnes Wrob-lewski from St. Stephen’s Senior Women. Congratulations to all!
On Mother’s Day, thanks to Father Stan and the men of St. Stephen’s, there was a beautiful Mother/Daughter Mass and Breakfast. What a long and wonderful tradition. You men did a great job. Keep it up! The girls, both young and old, all appreciated being spoiled on their day.
ZVEZA PICNIC: Third Sunday in July - July 15. St. Mary’s, Lemont, IL Mass 11:00 a.m. Lunch will be served on the hill after Mass (if it should rain we will serve lunch in the Retreat House). So let’s try to make this a great day! You will dance and sing to the music of Vince Rigler, get together with old friends to renew memories. And what better place to be where the setting is peaceful and spiritual. Rain
Congratulations 70th Anniversary in 2001!
Br. 47, Garfield Hts., OH Br. 50, Euclid, OH
or shine it will be a fun time. There will be games and prizes!
As Holy Year 2000 drew to a close, our inveterate traveler, Marie Ovnik flew to Rome in November and saw our Holy Father John Paul II at St. Peter’s Square. She said the day was beautiful and thousands of people gathered in the square at 8:00 a.m. to await the arrival of the Holy Father -who appeared promptly at 10:00 a.m. for a 2 hour audience. Marie felt it was a blessed and humbling experience and was so happy she was able to make the trip.
Our member, Jean Zubek has a very kind heart - she won a Color TV at the St. Stephen’s Fish Fry and then donated the TV to Holy Trinity Religious Education Classes where they will certainly make use and appreciate her generosity.
So many of our beloved members and friends have left us since our last ZARJA. Our condolences to the families of: Louis Fabian; Carol Fabian Gutierrez; Frank Martinčič; Louis Trinko; Marija Rebrica; Tony Tkalec, Antoinette Asich, Helen Adelman, Ann Kambich, Betty Zalig’s brother, and my dear friend, Fran Zefran. Please remember them in your prayers that they will rest in peace.
Remember our sick and shut-ins in your prayers, also with a card or phone call. Frances Kremesec; Tony and Alma Trinko; Anna Scieszka; Angie Blatnick; Lottie Chalapecka; Millie Paisoli; Chris Pirman; Albie Rasp; Frances Martinčič; Jo Anna Ferraro, Mary Foys Lauretig, and Millie Persa who fell and broke her hip.
We are sorry to hear that Father David Srumpf, pastor of St. Mary’s Marija Pomagaj in Lemont will be leav-
ing and returning to his homeland of Slovenia. He will be Pastor of a parish in Kostanjevica near Nova Gorica. Father David is young and has a lot of energy. He brought many new ideas as well as many improvements in Lemont. He will be missed. We are sure he will be successful at his new parish and the people will be happy to have him with them. Remember him in your prayers that our Lord will give him good health so he can achieve all his goals. In his place Father Metod Ogorevc will be arriving from Australia as guardian of the Franciscan Monastery and Director fo the Slovenian Catholic Mission.
Everyone have a safe and fun summer. Be careflul - we need you all.
Don’t forget-FLY OLD GLORY!
Love,
DAISY
ZVEZA DAY PICNIC Sunday, July 16th Lemont, Illinois Mass is at 11 a.m. followed by Picnic on the Hill. Every person attending will receive a free drawing ticket in honor of the 75th Anniversary of our Branch and SWU. It will be a fun day, Come and enjoy it with us!
Branch 2, Hosts
NO. 3, PUEBLO, CO Meeting: 1st Tues.
St. Mary’s Church Hall
Greetings to all. Hope everyone is enjoying the summer despite some of the inclement weather we have had, especially the 80 mile per hour winds in May.
Bernice Krašovec received a shipment of butarice (Palms from Slovenia). These are ornamental “bundles” that are made in Slovenia for Palm Sunday. They were specifically used for the eighty-five žegen baskets for the shut-ins at St. Mary’s with a nom-
CHICAGO HONORS SEVEN MEMBERS /
inal number for parishioners and friends. The larger butarice were used in the Palm arrangements on the altar on Palm Sunday. Since ours were made of dry shavings, they can be saved for future years.
On Friday, May 18, at the 8:00 p.m. Mass, parishioners assembled in church and with prayers to Our Lady of Brezje large votive candles were lit and placed in the windows. Following the candle lighting the Rosary was said in the prayer garden.
On Saturday, May 19, Richard Eurich lead the Prešeren Glee Club in appropriate Slovenian songs at the 3:00 p.m. Mass. Our Patroness, Mary Help of Christians, was honored. Following the Mass, there was a reception in the Parish Hall featuring Slovenian food courtesy of St. Joseph’s Lodge 7. We were also treated to a medley of Slovenian songs. What a treat this was!
On June 3, The Historic Southside Catholic Community - Our Lady of Assumption Church, St. Mary’s Church and St. Patrick’s Church - celebrated the 50th Jubilee Anniversary of Ordination of Rev. Edward G. Pettit with a Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Patrick’s Church. A reception followed after the celebration of the Eucharist.
Congratulations are in order for all high school and college graduates.
As always, let’s not forget our shut-ins, nursing home residents, caretakers and those who have lost loved ones and remember them in our prayers.
PAULINE PAUCHICK
NO. 5, INDIANAPOLIS, IN Meeting: 1st Thurs. SND, from May to Dec.
We had a great luncheon at our May meeting and social. It was a small crowd, but everyone enjoyed the company and the food.
Branch 5 will be having its annual coffee and krofe after one of the Masses in October again. We have to confirm the date, but will let you know.
For those of you wanting to plan ahead, we will be having our Holiday party on November 8th. Please mark your calendars now and plan to attend. It would be great to see everyone there. For those of you who work, try to take a few hours out of your day and join us for lunch.
Seven members were feted at the May party of Br. 2, Chicago, and honored as Women of the Year. The event began with the crowning of the Blessed Virgin Statue at St. Stephen’s Shrine. On this photo taken in church are: from left, Marie Ovnik, Elsie Wojdula who was last year’s chosen mother, Stella Lon-gosz, Elsie Statkus and Helen Fitzgerald. In front holding the crown is little Ashley Shachter. Missing from the photo are Joanne Ferraro, Amelia Smith and Irene Smid.
Our sympathy goes to Sylvia and Joe Stevens, who lost their youngest daughter, Monica, in a car accident in Kentucky on April 13. Our prayers and thoughts are still with you.
Please remember to update our Treasurer, Mary Frances Mohr, (317) 852-8305, if you move. It is very important to do so.
Well, this has been a short update. Remember, we will accept any member news. In our next newsletter, we hope to hear from Betsy and Sara Fon on their stay and studies in Slovenia.
Love from Texas,
BARBARA FRIESENHAHN
NO. 10, CLEVELAND, OH Meeting: 4th Wed. Alternate months SND Holmes Ave.
Hi ladies! Mother’s Day is over. Memorial Day is gone. How fast the days are going. Next will be 4th of July. I hope everyone will be enjoying themselves. I know I will because i like fireworks; such beautiful colors.
Stephanie Segulin’s great grand-
daughter and Joyce Segulin’s granddaughter, Victoria Minardo made her First Communion at St. Justin Martyr Church in Eastlake. Victoria looked beautiful, like a little bride. The party was wonderful. Congratulations, Victoria.
Frances Klemencic’s grandson Ricky Penicka made his First Holy Communion at St. John Vianey Church in Mentor. Ricky’s brother, Jason was an altar boy at this beautiful mass. Ricky is the great grand nephew of Elsie Zalar. Congratulations, Ricky.
The ladies give thanks to Pat Never and the Workman’s Home. Our mothers’ get together was there on May 18th. It was wonderful, no steps, just walked into the building and sat down at a table already fixed. All the ladies enjoyed themselves.
Donations were given to the Lodge at this time. Bea Zimmerman, Stephanie Segulin, Theresa Dagg, Mary Pozelnik, Lillian Romeo, Francis Klemenčič, Elsie Zalar, Ann Augustine, Lucy Romih, Sylvia Jansa, Antonia Kerzisnik, Faye Moro, Marian Moro, Mary Podlogar, Theresa Ferrac-coli, Marie Gombach, Ann Stefančič and Frances Rusmak. Thank you and God bless you all. The generosity of these members was greatly appreciated. Would like to hear from other members. Please send donations to Theresa Dagg, Secy, of S.W.U. Br.
10,	15611 Saranac Rd., Cleveland, OH 44110.
I want the ladies to know we have a special person in our Lodge 10. She is my favorite volunteer. Albina Zimmerman (Bea) has devoted 22 years and thousands of hours taking care of sick babies and sick children to the age of 12 at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital. At the volunteer dinner in
Bea Zimmerman
April at the Skating Club in Shaker, 500 volunteers attended. Bea Zimmerman was highly honored with a standing ovation, one of the top five volunteers of this year. Congratulations, Bea, we are very proud to have such a gracious lady in our Slovenian Women’s Union, Br. 10. Am enclosing a photo of Bea, so you can all see our wonderful member.
Get well wishes to our ailing members, especially to Joyce Le Nassi, living at the Slovenian Home for the Aged on Neff Road. Also, Mary Pierce is recovering from a stroke. May God bless them and help them on the road to recovery.
“With God all things are possible.” STEPHANIE SEGULIN
NO. 13, SAN FRANCISCO, CA Meeting: 1st Thurs. Slovenian Hall on Mariposa St.
I have just returned from our June meeting and annual luncheon called "Hello to Summer!” Since we don’t meet in July and August, we always look forward to this event.
Our Mother’s Day Brunch was on a beautiful day and it was great to see so many families there. Sandra Farrell told us she is going to Slovenia with our SWU group in Sept. and is very excited.
I want to thank everyone who supported our raffle. The lucky winners were Ken Lovsin and John Pechavar.
Am saddened to report the death of long-time member, Anna Kambic. Everyone loved Annie and her delightful smile and disposition. She was always the first to help and give support
to Br. 13. We will miss you terribly, Annie, but you left so many wonderful memories! Our sympathy to daughter, Jackie and son-in-law, Jerry Lowe.
On a happy note, there was a beautiful mass and celebration for Alec Simenc for his 50 years of service to the Church of the Nativity. He has been the choir master and organist and every Christmas sets up our glorious nativity scene - he’s been doing this for as long as I can remember. Thank you, Alec and Dora for all your years of dedication and love. The love is certainly returned many times.
Much happiness and celebration in the family of Mr. & Mrs. Wallace
Fr. Jerry Leach
Leach. Their son, Fr. Jerome Leach celebrated his twenty-fifth anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood. He had a Mass of Thanksgiving on April 29th at St. James Catholic Church in SF.
We send get well wishes to the husband of Helen McQuiller who was having health problems. Also, good wishes to all our members on the sick list. You are remembered.
Happy Birthday wishes to Mary Copp, Anna Fabian, Diana Fir, Karen Jensen, Ivanka Lukezic, Linda Phaby, Margaret Schmidt, Mary Coppinger, Mary Goodman, Lois Jensen, Carol Ann Purtell, Margie Schleiger and especially to my sister, Barbara Chiodo.
Have a wonderful and safe summer. Take time to smell the roses!
We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
BEVERLY JACKSON
ZRRJfl donations!
$5 in memory of Ann Kambic, Br. 13, San Francisco, CA from Beverly Jackson
NO. 14, EUCLID, OH Meeting: 1st Tues., 6 p.m. Slov. Society Home
What a lovely evening when we honored member, Frances Prijatel as Mother of the Year at our Mother’s Day dinner. Twenty-two members of her family were there to congratulate her along with a full house of members and friends. Fran’s three lovely daughters and handsome son with their children proudly distributed specially made chocolate candy bars to everyone. These bars were wrapped in words of a loving poetic tribute to their mother and also with Happy Mother’s Day greetings to all. Fran has kept active with her four children, eleven grandchildren, and twelve great grandchildren along with gardening, Red Cross volunteer work and she even plays the button box accordion. Once again, congratulations to a great lady!
The lower hall was gaily decorated with vivid pink cyclamen otted plants on each table which were provided by Petitti’s Garden Center. President Jennie Fitzthum and Secretary, Diane Varney’s husband, Larry decorated the hall while Diane had to hobble around on crutches because of a broken ankle. Actually Larry once again did double duty busily selling tickets for door prizes which were generously donated by members and guests. Thanks to all! And once again thanks to Jimmy Slapnik Florist for donating the beautiful flowers as decorations and prizes.
Great to once again see Josephine “Pep” Stupica and her family of eleven enjoying the evening’s festivities. They have rarely missed any of our biannual gatherings.
Thanks also to those who helped distribute door prizes. Unfortunately I lost my list of names of these workers in-
eluding Fran’s adorable great granddaughter who raced around the hall bearing gifts. Ed Koren did an outstanding job as bartender along with Frank Korelec who had to work with one arm in a sling due to recent surgery.
As we relaxed after the delicious home-cooked meal of breaded pork chops and roast chicken prepared by Sophie Mazi and her capable staff, A1 “Teeny” Ulle and Steve Valenčič brought out their button accordions and serenaded guests with nostalgic “down home” polkas and waltzes. Polka Hall of Fame musician, Eddie Habat, husband Vice-Pres. Pat Habat, could be seen at our table clapping along with the tunes.
As Diane Varney bid guests goodnight her husband took over to pay a loving tribute to her as he announced that they were celebrating their eighteenth anniversary that night. Thanks to Larry who also helped pick up several ladies in order for them to be able to join us for tonight’s festivities.
Sunshine lady, Rose Rodgers reported that Marilyn Fitzthum is on the mend after a recent illness.
Condolences to the families of Mary Bradac and Ann Vihtelic who passed away recently. May our merciful Lord grant them eternal peace.
We send along “Bon Voyage” wishes to all of our members who will be leaving in September for the S. W. U. Kollander Travel Heritage Tour of Slovenia. I know you will have a memorable trip! I’ll be leaving for Slovenia in the middle of August for two weeks so I’ll miss seeing you there.
Remember ladies, next meeting will be Tuesday, November 6 at 6:30. Then we have our Christmas Dinner on Tuesday, December 4th.
Have a great summer!
ALICE KUHAR
NO. 16, SO. CHICAGO, IL Meeting: 2nd Saturday, 1 p.m. monthly except Jan.-July-Aug. St. George’s Hall
Greetings and salutations!
Happy Fourth of July!
Happy things: Our gardens are thriving beautifully.
We have so many young people to congratulate. Let’s share their joy.
Edna’s granddaughter, Katie Bittner and Jonathan Ottenfeld, grandson of Bernice Jarkovich, received their First Holy Communion on May 5th. We keep these youngsters in our prayers.
Three eighth grade graduates: Patrick Krillic, grandson of our V.P. Mary Jane Strus and her mate, John. Also Matthew Krai, grandson of Andrea Krai and her spouse, Ed. Our third young man is Tim Jurincie, grandson of Katherine and Bob Jurincie.
Dolores Franko is the proud grandmother of Vince Suchocky; and Barb and Tom Ireland are the proud parents of Jason. Both finished four years of high school. Our congratulations and best wishes as they venture into new and higher halls of education.
We have travelers - Olga Kowal-kowski returned from Florida, fit and tanned. So good to have you back, Olga. Gladys Buck (the perennial traveler), Dolores Franko, Andrea Krai, Vida Kumse, Mary Ann Skibee and Susan Skibee traveled via the Mayflower bus tours. They oohed and aahed at the beauty of our western states. Yes, we do have a beautiful country.
At least three of our members will be on the Heritage Tour to Slovenia. More about them later.
Mary Brozovich surprised us by coming down to our last meeting. She was a week-end guest of Mitzi and Ed Klobučar. We were all grateful to Mitz and Ed for driving her in from Dyer, IN. It was so good to see her again.
We celebrated birthdays for April and May. Clara Saviano would have had a real inferno on her cake - she reached ninety! God bless you dear friend!
Vida Kumse, Mary Puterko, Gladys Buck and Sandra Miller all had birthdays and shared cakes and desserts. Many happy returns to all of you.
Gladys read a thank you note from Marie Livaich; her mom, the late Amelia Zee, was a charter member.
Congratulations to our dear member, Lena Amicarelli, chosen as Mother of the Year by the St. George Church’s Christian Mothers Group. She had the honor of crowning Mary. It was a beautiful ceremony.
Our best wishes and congratulations to newlyweds, Jimmy Rago and his bride Rosalinda Gomez, joined in marriage on May 26th at Sacred Heart
Church surrounded by loving family and friends. The happy couple honeymooned in Spain. Our dear Mary is Jimmy’s mom. All of us wish you a long and happy life together.
On June 16th, at the Cathedral of St. Raymond in Joliet, IL, the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate celebrated their Jubilees. There was one 75th Jubilarian, five Diamond, six Golden, and eight Ruby Jubilarians. My daughter, Lois celebrated her Ruby (40th) Anniversary in the service of our Lord. Thank God, that I was able to be there to share in her joy with all of our family and friends. God has been so good.
Dear members, have a nice summer
-	no meetings in July or August. We really need some new members if we intend to stay intact. Look around, ask around, maybe there is someone interested to join a good group of ladies.
I just had word that Ana Lustig is going to have hip surgery. Our prayers are with, Ana.
Our condolences to Sandra and Bruce Bittner and their daughter on the loss of Bruce’s father and Katie and and Kristin’s grandfather. May he rest in peace.
Call me with any news bits or just to say hello - 646-0705.
Love,
MARGE PREBIL P.S. - Birthday wishes to all June, July, August celebrants! We’ll see you on September 8th.
NO. 20, JOLIET, IL Meeting: 3rd Tues. except June to Sept. St. Joe’s Park Hall
Dear members,
I wish to congratulate our Woman of the Year, Ann Dragavon, whom we honored at the event at St. Joseph Park Hall on May 15 with a banquet and entertainment by the J.T. West Swing Choir and Button Box music by the Wolf Bros, and George Burich. As usual the food was provided by Lil Cepon and we all had a good time. $500 scholarships were given to Robert Koncar and Janice Singletary.
St. Joseph School students received an Outstanding at the Regional Science Fair at the University of St. Francis in March. They advanced to the Illinois State Science Fair in Champaign on
May 4-5. Congratulations to the following students:
Robert Koncar Gr. 8 - "Natural Antibiotics”; Frank Koncar Gr. 7 - "Corn Syrup, Maple Syrup, Honey - Natural Adhesives?”
St. Joseph School recently held its first History Fair. The seventh and eighth grade students had the option ot doing either a science project or a history project this year. Twenty students with thirteen projects competed. One of the outstanding projects was by Matt Lilek entitled, "German Tanks of WW
II.”
Recently our 4th grade students participated in the "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” Poster Contest sponsored by the City of Joliet. There were 247 posters from fifteen schools.
Sarah Blowers and Amy Lilek’s posters were selected to be placed on display in the lobby of the Joliet Municipal Building.
Our member Bertha Hofer who has been a giant force in Shorewood politics as the Mayor for a number of years is retiring to take a breather and hoping to have more time with her family of 5 children, 14 grand kids and 5 great grandchildren. Do you blame her with a wonderful family like that? Good luck and thanks for your contribution to society.
Congratulations to Jill DeJule and Sean Killelea married at St. Joseph’s Church on 9-2-2000.
On April 27th, a baby girl was bom to Bob and Colleen Krzysciak.
Get well wishes to Elaine Dinquel.
Our sympathies are extended to the families and friends of our members who have passed away: Paul Dirker, Therese Gasperich, Genevieve Golobitch. Sister Jane Gregorich, Isabelle Gulas, Albert Hrvatin, Stanley Mackovic and Mary Mutz. May they rest in peace.
Our attendance drawing was for $90.00 and was won by Marie Mravle, who was not present; in September it goes back down to $10.00. The 50/50 drawing was won by Jo Ann Legerski for $74.00.
Please remember to call me at 727-3177 or drop me a line at 1120 Ingalls Ave. #1, Joliet, IL 60435 for your news you wish to share with us in ZARJA.
KATHY STONICH, Reporter
Roman Possedi in the Ironworld Polka Hall of Fame!
One of the midwest’s polka stars, Roman Possedi was named to the Ironworld Polka Hall of Fame in June. He was presented with the National Lifetime Achievement Award! Roman is a well known accordionist - like Polka King, Frankie Yankovic - and has devoted all his life to polka music. "I’ve enjoyed 46-1/2 years of playing for dances, picnics, on the radio and tv, making friends and bringing happiness to fans all across the country,” says Roman. He lives in Las Vegas now and will be featured at the Grand Polka Festival at the Plaza Hotel/Casino, Sept. 9-12, 2001. Lots of good luck, Roman! Keep those polkas coming!
Roman is a loyal member of Br. 20, Joliet, IL.
Slovenian Ifomen's Union
Sharing Cultures
An exciting multicultural event is scheduled for Saturday, July 14th, 2001 at the Slovenian Cultural Center in Lemont where you will enjoy a unique musical concert performed by a Slovenian singing troupe from Argentina. They will be performing Latin-Argentinian and Slovenian folk music on the same program! The combined groups of singers called Los Chaneras and the Slovenian Mendo-zian Oktet will take the stage at 8 p.m. We’re sure you will find it very enjoyable. Tickets are available at the door. We hope our members of SWU will attend.
Paula Mavec (20)
Members of our Joliet branch took part in the March of Dimes annual fund-raiser on April 29th. Each wore an ID sign stating they were members of SWU. $525 was raised by these few members who walked 6 miles! Bravo!
NO. 24, LA SALLE, IL Meeting: 3rd Thurs. Catholic School Library Mar.-Apr.-May-June Sept.-Oct.-Nov.
There were twelve members in attendance at the April meeting. Donations were made to Lighted Way Developmental Center, Resurrection Parish for the use of the school for meetings and to the Slovenian Museum in Joliet for bookcases or for other needs. Mention was made of the Slovenian Litany to be said in Resurrection Church on May 20th but unfortunately it had to be cancelled later because of a conflict with school activities. Loretta Story served delicious refreshments after the meeting and this is always a special part of our meetings. The name drawn for the attendance award was Dorothy Parola; unfortunately she was not present so we will have a larger award at our next meeting.
Twenty of our members enjoyed our annual May dinner at Mario’s Maples in Peru on May 17th. Mary Mecum and Linda Struna served as chairmen and did a wonderful job. There was a cookie favor at each place and the table centerpieces were given out as door prizes. We thank Linda and Mary for the fine job they do in planning our parties.
Jane Sherman has been a patient at Illinois Valley Hospital in Peru, Betsy Klopcic was seriously ill and a patient at St. Francis Hospital in Peoria and is home now, and Mary Mecum had surgery in Edward Hospital in Naperville. I’m writing this a few days early as my husband will be undergoing surgery at St. Francis Hospital, Peoria on Tuesday, May 29th. We pray for all of our members and other family members who are ill and ask that God will return them to good health.
Florence and John Smorkol wili have their 50th wedding anniversary on July 11th. I hoped to have some information regarding their plans for the day, but Florence has been in Chicago with her daughter who had surgery. We include Pat Smorkol in our prayers, too. Speaking of 50th anniversaries, Wanita Helmer informed me that she and George didn’t celebrate theirs on March 31 as her children and grandchildren
were not able to come home. Later this year they will have a family get-to-gether.
I neglected to wish greetings to our May and June birthday celebrants, so
—	a belated Happy Birthday to Jo Foley, and Rita Pyszka who added to year in May and to the June celebrants, Paula Illman, Abby Schweickert, RoseMary McLaughlin, and Jr. Members, Patricia Weihman and Becky Jo Prokup. I hope all of you had a great time and will enjoy many more Happy Birthdays in the future. Our July birthday girls are: Amy Schweickert, Jr. member Barbara Jean Prokup, Mary Mecum, Anne Dre-sen, Bonnie Prokup, Alvina Ann Strukel, Jr. Melissa McLaughlin, Barbara Krogulski and Audrey Prokuski. Those celebrating in August are Julie Ann Wangler, Jane Sherman, Evelyn Kastigar, Susan Collins, Dorothy Parola and Barbara Pohar. I hope each of you will have a very special Happy Day!
Our June meeting will be a Slovenian Pot Luck Picnic hosted by Helen Swietek and Barb Pohar to be held at Barb’s beautiful big back yard on Thursday, June 21, at 6:00 p.m.
Our Branch has been guests of Barb’s for many picnics but none can compare with our last year’s Slovenian picnic. We had the best food—like mother used to make.
After two months of vacation from our meetings, we will be anxious to see everyone at our opening fall meeting on Thursday, September 20th at 7:00 p.m. in La Salle Catholic School.
Even though gas is high-priced I’m sure all of us will go somewhere this year so have a safe summer and plan to join us for our opening meeting. Janice Mueller and her daughters, Wendy Lauer and Michelle Pangrcic will serve as Hospitality Committee. See you then???
ANNE W. WANGLER, Reporter
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NO. 33, DULUTH, MN Meeting: 6 per year Community Sr. Center
The family of Pauline (Polly) Stojevich put on a program for her as she was our honored guest and Mother of the Year!
A turkey dinner fund-raiser was held on April 25.
Beverly Menart is making a beautiful quilt for the 75th Anniversary of the Slovenian Women’s Union. A raffle ticket is in every ZARJA.
Congratulations on their 50th anniversaries to two couples: Dorothy and Jerome Hinnenkamp of New Duluth and Tony and Margaret (Marg) Radosevich of Two Harbors.
Praying for every member who is sick, home bound or in a nursing home. Call Virginia Mikrut at 624-9597 so she can send them each a card.
Greetings to all as we celebrate the beauty of summer and the goodness of God.
LOIS M. PELANDER Reporter
THINK
HERITAGE
Over 80 and on the Internet!
Continued from page 5:
A simple happy childhood and uncomplicated youth
Our life while growing up in our Slovenian neighborhood which was a close knit community was enhanced by the clubs in our parish, which consisted of the choir, as well as a junior singing group, dramatic club, gymnastic club named “Orel,” the Sodality for the girls and the Holy Name club for the boys and men. Dances were held in the parish hall, as well as the Slovenian National Home, the largest Slovenian Home in America. The orchestras who played at the dances were Slovenian young men from the parish or from the neighborhood. We danced every Saturday to great Slovenian waltzes as well as polkas and the Big Band music of the golden years. Those were happy carefree days, until World War II broke out in Europe and took so many of the young men into the army, navy, marines, etc., from which some of the young men never returned, as they were killed in different countries.
In 1937 I became a member of the Slovenian Women’s Union #25 the only Cleveland Slovenian Society at that time. Our branch was the largest group in the Union, with over 900 members. Br. 25 had a drill team, I was a member of the team and later became a captain of the young girl’s team, which consisted of girls between the ages of 5 through 13.
In 1939 the senior team along with other S. W.U. teams, as well as other drill teams who were not members of the S.W.U., took part in the competitive work at Euclid Beach Park and to our greatest surprise and pleasure our team scored the highest marks and we were awarded First Prize. A trophy was handed to Emily Mahne, our captain at that time. We were a group of excited and happy young ladies.
In 1941 I was married to Stanley J. Baraga. We have 4 children and 9 grandchildren. We just celebrated our 60th wedding anniversary on June 28th, 2001.
I do enjoy hearing about other members and their experiences. I would appreciate receiving e-mail, or regular mail - from the “old neighborhood” as well.
Here are Sophie’s answers to Lynn’s questions:
What do you think of the online newsletter?
If you are askig about the “New neighborhood” articles I thoroughly enjoy them and anxiously await the next ones. They are so interesting and all bring back happy memories of the “old neighborhood” and our life as we lived it in those days.
What do you think is the secret to longevity for you and your husband?
I can’t think of any one specific reason, but there are a number of reasons that might contribute to our longevity of my husband Stanley and me.
First of all, we never smoked, and rarely drank alcoholic beverages, in spite of the fact that drinking wine was part of almost all of the daily routine of the Slovenian people in our area. My father came from a fruit growing area in Slovenia, and they always had wine. In October of every year in our St. Vitus parish area, as you walked down
the street, you could smell the grapes being pressed into wine, and you knew who was making wine on that day.
Another reason for living longer, I feel, comes from the fact that most of us were used to the simple life, which in those days meant that you enjoyed your family, your relatives who lived nearby and friends. Our only recreation as children was playing with home made toys, skating, bicycle riding, using a home made scooter, etc. Living so close to Lake Erie we would go swimming in the summer. We had a bath house in our area, where the adults would go for their weekly bath and there was an indoor swimming pool which we would frequent in the summer months. We had to walk everywhere, because very few people had cars. Also, in our parish, we had a young priest who came from Slovenia (then Yugoslavia), who believed in sport programs for children. We had calisthenics and tumbling for the younger girls, exercise classes for teen-aged girls as well as for the boys and adult clases for men who participated on the bars and aerials. Everyone was much more physically active than today.
Our meals were simple but home cooked, and they were nourishing. There were no “fast food” restaurants in those days. So, I think all these things helped keep us strong and healthy.
As young adults we spent every Saturday dancing to the polkas and waltzes in our Slovenian National Home. We went to picnics in the summer and that kept us outdoors in the sunshine. We had a great life. We never felt “we didn’t know who we were,” or that “we had to find our selves.” We all knew who we were and what we were about.
We all felt that our parents loved us and therefore we would not want to hurt them by improper language or improper actions which would embarrass them. While living at home for almost 25 years, and in the same neighborhood,
I heard of only one young man who had gotten into trouble and ended up in jail.
After we were married and our home was too small, Stanley and I moved to the suburbs. We had 3 girls by then, and then, when I was 40-1/2 years old and my husband was 42-1/2, we became the parents of our only son! Now our lives really changed. Bringing up girls is entirely different from bringing up boys. He was a very active little boy. By the time he was old enough to be in scouting we were old enough to be his grandparents and in fact some people did think we were bringing up a grandson. He was in “little leagues” also and we attended all his games and really loved it. I finally found out what baseball was all about. He really kept us hopping, and we had to keep up with him! We forgot we were already almost 50.
By then, our oldest daughter became a nurse; she was 15 years older than he was. She kept after all of us and taught us how important it was to be active, to eat the right foods and to exercise. Another daughter and her husband bought bicycles for our birthdays when we were 57 and 59 years of age, and we rode them regularly.
In 1969 when our son was almost 13 we bought an Airstream trailer and we used it on weekends during the summer traveling around or spending time in trailer parks with some friends who did the same. Our son came along every time we went because we tried to go with friends who had boys the same age. My husband had to start playing
Sophie and Stan Baraga on their Golden Anniversary in 1991. This year, on June 28th they observed their 60th. Wishes to them for continued good health and happiness.
baseball again because there were son and father games at the trailer parks. These were the things that kept us going and we forgot that we were getting older.
Having a child at an older age we enjoyed him so much more because we were more relaxed than with our other children. We had more time to spend with him and somehow he didn’t seem to think that were old. He would say to my husband, “Dad let’s go to the field or to the park and practice baseball.” My husband would say to me, “Doesn’t he realize that I am too old to do this?” I would say to him, “Be happy that he doesn’t consider you too old to be with him!”
We also joined a square dancing group which kept us hopping and laughing throughout the evening as we were always learning new steps.
Three of our daughters married and we became grandparents in our early fifties.
Now we again had young children in the family and again made the rounds going to little league baseball games for our grandchildren.
On occasion we would take our four little grandsons on a camping weekend where we would chase butterflies and look for worms and use the swings in the parks and skip stones across the lake. We had great times together.
It is never just one thing that helps you to live longer; it is a combination of what you do through your life time. Just enjoying the simple things, accepting what life has to offer, not complaining, not holding grudges. That only hurts you and looking on the dark side of life will only make you bitter.
My faith has helped me throughout my life. I could not have come this far without the help of my Heavenly Mother. It is to her I have turned in sickness and in health, in joys and in sorrows.
We were also so very lucky to have four wonderful children who have never given us any serious worries or problems, even in their teen years, although they may think that we had given them problems because of certain rules that had been set down. They were never involved with drinking or drugs and for this I am deeply grateful.
I am also grateful for having a great husband who has been at my side in every endeavor; he has been a faithful husband, a good worker and a good example to our son of what a husband and father should be to his family. He always made sure that he supported us adequately so that I could be a “stay at home Mom,” something so many women cannot do today with the high cost of living. You really need two paychecks in the home today.
Living to the age of 85 and 87 has not been all fun and roses. We did have some health problems. I had a mastectomy nineteen years ago and my husband also had cancer. We were both very fortunate we did not need chemotherapy or radiation treatments. We had gone to the doctor in time and the cancer had not spread to any other areas.
The health problems we have today are not any different from those of other people in our age category. We will never be as good as when we were in our 70’s but that’s O.K. God is in charge of our lives and He also knows when it will be time to leave this earthly home. When troubled or worried or not feeling up to par I always say, “let go, let God,” this is what my daughter has taught me to say, and it works. The worry or trouble seems to disappear because God is in charge and He will help us to get through what ever it is.
Sophie Baraga
SWU 75th Anniversary Tour to Slovenia - 2001
September 13—27, 2001
A lot of thought and planning has gone into making the 75th Anniversary HERITAGE SLOVENIAN TOUR one that will be memorable and unique. The accent is on Slovenian Heritage and we hope that every passenger will return home after the trip with greater knowledge of his ancestry and greater appreciation of what our Slovenian homeland offers.
Two of the highlights we have just finalized is the visit of our group to Brezje for the 75th Anniversary Mass of Thanksgiving to take place on the first Sunday after we arrive. The following Sunday, Sept. 23rd we will go to Ribnica na Dolenjskem to view a special exhibit on immigration of people from that area to America. Then we go to Žlebič, a small village nearby, and up the hill to the top, to the pilgrimage church of Nova Štifta. There we will be on hand at the blessing of their new church bells! This most unique ceremony is seldom seen any more and we are thrilled to know we will be a part of it.
Kollander Travel will be closing the passenger reservations this month, so if anyone still wishes to come along, please call Kollander World Travel, 1-800-800-5981 right away. You can get the travel details in the previous issues of ZARJA.
The art of good communication (see President Kathleen’s message on page 1) comes to mind as we learn of the recent visit of our U.S. First Lady to the Shrine of Marija Pomagaj at Brezje in Slovenia. She found it to be a beautiful experience as her written words state:
God Bless America and God Bless Slovenia.
With special appreciation,
Laura Bush June 16, 2001
NO. 35, AURORA, MN Meeting: 6 per year Community Sr. Center
Our Mother of the Year, Helen Simonich was honored on May 6th with 29 members and her family present at a gala party. American Legion Auxiliary catered the delicious dinner beginning with wine and ending with a special cake for dessert. President, Jan-cie Grebence presented her with 3 carnations and Marie Prisland’s book, “From Slovenia to America.” Helen’s daughter, Mary Ann Grier from Chicago represented her brothers and families who were unable to attend. She related many happy memories of their mom and “nanny” and how much she means to all of them. Mary Ann has learned to make all their favorite Slovenian foods from her mom. Several nieces, nephews and friends related how much Aunt Helen means to them. Vice President, Anita Vovk read a poem on what all the letters in the word MOTHER mean, in Slovenian! We had a sing-a-long to conclude the program. You can learn more about Helen in the article in the May issue of ZARJA. (By the way, I was disappointed to see how few articles there were on this beautiful Mother’s Day tribute!)
I found the “A family reunion” article in ZARJA very interesting, especially since we have some of the Bajda family members living in Gilbert and Aurora. We are looking forward to the Argentine cultural group appearing in our area. Thank you to Matt Shuster for his generous donation to the SWU Scholarship Fund again in memory of his sister, Frances Payton. She was our 50 year member.
Our Holy Rosary Happy Quilters had another successful year. They made quilts, baby outfits and sweater sets, also afghans, slippers, hats and mittens, all crafted from donated material and yam. These items are all donated :o charities and very much appreciated jy many needy people. Several of the quilters are our SWU members.
Congratulations...
...to all our college and high school graduates including one of our members, Robert A. Orazem, my grandson. He graduated with highest honors from Mesabi Community and Technical Col-
lege in carpentry. We saw the results of what they learned when we toured a home that they helped build. A job well done!
...to Tyler Mirau, grandson of Mar-lys Steven Rabb who graduated from Mesabi East High School in Aurora;
...to Alison Furry who was confirmed in May by our new Bishop Dennis Schnurr. God bless you, Alison.
.. .to the Joseph Orazems on the birth of their daughter, Rainy on March 22nd. Her 18 month old brother, Tate, thinks she is pretty special as do grandparents Paul and Linda Orazem and great grandmother, Anne.
...to Brian and Michelle Klandar Hubbard on the birth of their daughter, Lucy Elizabeth, on April 28th. Proud grandmother is Kristine Walburn. Michelle is a former SWU Scholarship Award winner.
Get well wishes to Ann Mismash who has had major surgery and to Dorothy Jamnick who broke her left wrist. Our prayers are with you, Ann and Dorothy, as well as to all our members and families who are ill.
Minnesota State President, Charlotte Laurich held a noon luncheon meeting on May 23rd with 16 in attendance. I missed being with you but heard you had a good meeting. Many will be happy to hear that the date of the National Convention in 2003 is changed from May to June (12th to the 15th). As you know, it will be hosted by Br. 33 in Duluth. Many activities are being planned for family participation.
The winner of the Anna Rose Smolich SWU Scholarship is Erin Hart of Br. 33. Congratulations, Erin!
Our next meeting will be a noon luncheon at the Legion on Wed. Aug. 15th. Plans will be made to attend the MN State Convention in Biwabik on Sept. 9th.
ANNE ORAZEM
NO. 39, BIWABIK, MN 1st Sunday monthly St. John’s Church
Our Mother of the Year dinner was held on May 6, at 12 noon at the Holiday Inn in Eveleth with thirty-two in attendance.
Phyllis Kukar, our guest of honor, was accompanied by her two daughters, Margaret and Dee Dee. Her
other daughter, Paula, from Denver, CO was unable to attend.
After a brief welcome and introduction of her family and guests, we all went up to the buffet table and chose our dinner, complete with champagne and dessert. Our charter member from McKinley, Jennie Ahlin, led us in prayer.
Following the meal we enjoyed a short program of congratulations. President Jean read the article from the May-June ZARJA; so beautifully written by Phyllis’s daughters, who then offered their comments. It ’ s so wonderful to see these Mothers honored in this way. I hope we never stop carrying on this tradition.
Those present were reminded of our Branch meeting in June where we will organize our raffle items and make other preparations for the State Convention to be hosted by our Branch on September 9, 2001.
Our thanks to Secretary Vida Lanari who volunteered to purchase the gift certificate and the beautiful corsage for Phyllis; and designed and printed the unique programs for our celebration.
JEAN K., Reporter
NO. 42, MAPLE HTS., OH Meeting: Quarterly, 2nd month of the quarter, 2nd Saturday Maple Hts., Library
Once again we have lost a beloved member and stalwart of the Maple Hts. Slovenian community. Vida Verček (nee Perušek) passed away in April after a lengthy illness. To me, Vida epitomized what it meant to be Slovenian. As a young teenager in 1937, Vida along with Agnes Verček, served as welcoming hostesses greeting guests attending the grand opening of the Slovenian National Home on Stanley Avenue. The Perušek family was very much involved in the development of the hall. Vida’s father, Anton, was a hardworking, highly respected pioneer and her mother, Mary, was always a part of the cooking team. It was only natural that Vida would follow in their footsteps. I always looked up to her when we sang with the children’s chorus, Kraljički (Wrens), under the directorship of Ivan Zorman. She was by far the most knowledgeable of us in Slovene. In later years we again sang
together in the alto section of the adult chorus, Planina, where she met her future husband, Eugene. To the entire Verček family, we express our deepest sympathy on the loss of an outstanding wife and mother. May she rest in heavenly peace.
If the accomplishments of some of our younger members is any indication of the progress of the American Slovene, we have nothing to worry about. Josie Perko Gruden’s family is a perfect example. Her granddaughter, Katie Gruden, recently competed in the Ohio Academic Decathlon representing West Geauga High School as a junior. Katie won a gold medal for math, a silver for music and 2 bronze medals for language, literature and speech. In addition, the school placed 1st in the small school category and 5th overall in Ohio. Katie’s performance qualified her for the National Academic Decathlon competition held in Anchorage, Alaska. Joined by 8 other West Geauga High students she flew there in April and placed 10th nationwide in Math and art while her school placed 11th in their division.
Katie is the daughter of John and Mary Catherine Gruden and at present is considering a career in medicine. Congratulatins to Katie and the entire family.
We are proud to have all you ladies as members of Br. 42. Incidentally, Josie’s grandson, Scott Gaines, son of Sue Harris, is in London, England studying Economics and Accounting at Regents College as an extension of his senior year from Miami Univ. in Oxford, Ohio.
Happy July birthdays to: Josie Gruden, Rose Meljac, Ellen Bodziony, Mary Catherine Gruden, Mae Danicic, Ludmilla Tacsar and Alex Kossakoski.
Happy August birthdays to: Betty Ann Harr, Emily Gruden, Suzanne Harris, Mary Lou Prhne, Frances Hočevar, Jane Szymkowski, Mary Fink, Eleanor Charvat, Gabrielle Gruden, Terry Son and Marge Zupančič.
Recovering from eye surgery is member, Joe Stoltz while Eleanor McArdle had to undergo a second eye surgery. Get well wishes to both ladies. Jennings Hall has now become Angie Zupanc’s residence where she is undergoing therapy following a stroke.
If you haven’t taken advantage of
the SWU on-line newsletter you don’t know what you are missing. It was through the newsletter that I recognized the name Gorsha and after researching it discovered it to be a member of the Frank Gorsha family that once lived in Maple Hts. on Raymond Street before they moved to Gilbert, Minn, in 1931. My contact proved to be Gary Gorsha, son of Louis and Sophie, who reside in Cape Coral, Fla. Gary lives in Seattle and in deeply involved in Slovenian genealogy and history. His Gorsha family web-site contains Bob Kas-telic’s entire history of the Maple Hts. Slov. National Home and includes a formal photo of the founding board of directors. I almost fell off my chair when I pulled all this up on the internet. Isn’t modem technology wonderful? Gary wrote me that he had been hoping to hear from someone in our family for a long time and to think it finally happened thru the S.W.U.!
Have a happy and safe summer.
Zbogom!
LIL SADOWSKI
God bless and reward ^ our beloved departed sisters!
Name
Joanna Oblak Katherine J. Gacnik Josephine Lipich Anna M. Zaletel Theresa Hoholick Mary Casar Bernice Ogulin Theresa Gende Delores Janchar Mary Hegler Antoinette Mestnik Eileen Kaucic Ana Cernelc
Br.
2
3
3
3
7
10
20
24
33
50
81
100
103
tU LOVE.
NO. 43, MILWAUKEE, WI Meeting: 4th Wed.
St. John Evangelist Rectory
Our meeting was well-attended and we were treated to a wonderful luncheon by the Birthday Girls. Our speaker was Katie Simenson, the Product Consultant at Natural Ovens. She talked about the necessity of fiber in our diet. She brought bread and muffins for us to take home.
I	received the Hunger Filler Whole grain bread made from stone ground wheat. It was good tasting and made wonderful toast.
On May 5th we had a special luncheon at Klemmer’s Banquet Hall honoring our “Mother of the Year” Angeline Delopst Johnstone. Lorraine Johnston, our “Woman of the Year” for the year 2000, presented Angeline with the crown. Many of Angeline’s family came to this luncheon.
The Lord was with two of our members. Theresa Kotar had a Pace-maker put in, and Mici Bregant had a hip replacement. Both of them are doing fine.
On June 27th we were going on a trip to Elgin, Illinois by bus.
Our speaker for the September 26th meeting will be Sue McDonnell. She
is a Mortician with Molthen Bell & Sons. This is a subject that we normally don’t talk about, but we have many questions that must be answered. Sue is the daughter of our member, Karen Goldman, and she will be able to answer any questions we have.
The Slovenian Arts Council of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, presented a 10th anniversary celebration of the Republic of Slovenia, on June 23rd in the student union ballroom at 3 p.m.
Appearing on the program were the USPEH Chorus, the Consulate General, Anton Gogala, of the Republic of Slovenia and Joseph Valenčič, Director of Public Relations and Publications, Cleveland State University, presenting the History of Slovenian polka music. The folkdancers, Veselje, from Lemont performed. There were also proclamations read designating Slovenian Day here in Milwaukee. Hoping many were able to attend this nice affair.
Wishing all a very happy, healthy and safe summer.
Don’t forget our meeting, Sept. 26th, same place, same time.
ANNE E. KONCZAL, Reporter
70th Anniversary for Br. 47
Members and guests of Br. 47 celebrated their 70th Anniversary on June 10th with mass at St. Lawrence Church and dinner at Sterle’s Slovenian Country House. The event was well attended by many members and guests. We were especially happy to see our National Vice President, Marge Church along with a few members of Br. 42, Maple Hts., and Ohio-Michi-gan Regional President and Vice President, Fran Gazvoda and Peggyann Moore, both of Br. 25, Cleveland and members from Cleveland branches 10, 50 and 101. It was so nice to have you with us!
Entertainment was provided by the accordian expertise of Frank Culkar and son, - these musicians are Mary’s son and grandson and they were fantastic! Some of the fine members of the St. Lawrence church choir led us in a sing-a-long of both Slovenian and American songs. Seeing the sights of Slovenia in living color was another highlight of the after-dinner program. Heartiest thanks to Michael Benz of Kollander World Travel. Many of us are planning on taking the September 75th Anniversary Tour and we are not only ready to go, but anxious! Beautiful Slovenia, here we come!
To end the day everyone received a door prize and went home happy
-	the food at Sterle’s is delicious and set the tone for a wonderful and memorable day!
Kathleen
n
r
j I
We are reading about the 70th anniversary of Br. 47, Garfield Hts., Ohio. On that day in May, (left) gifts were presented during mass at St. Lawrence Church, honoring all members of Br. 47, living and deceased. All who attended the dinner could view an elaborate display of historical and cultural items relating to the branch and SWU. It was a great party, with a smiling company.
NO. 47, GARFIELD HTS., OH Meetings: 2nd Sunday in March, Sept., and Nov. Maple Hts. Public Library
We would like to thank our members and their families who joined us at our Mother’s Day luncheon celebration. Everyone not only enjoyed the excellent menu (selected by our members), but also the fine camaraderie. All the ladies looked lovely in their spring outfits. Sister Julie Mezgec looked especially chic, and she wore a beautiful corsage, given to her by her family.
Sister Ann Harsh is home and recuperating from her surgery. We want to thank all our members for their prayers and well wishes, but girls, keep them coming!
Sisters Olga Dorchak and Elsie Spel-lacy were on a Brown Bag bus trip down to Holmes County in May. They enjoyed the lush green countryside, and goodies (free gifts). Most enjoyable was the meal they were served at a private Amish home.
Birthday greetings go out to the following July members and their families; Mary Kociancic, Mary Kuzel, Anthony Mezgec, Julie Mezgec, Courtney Mundson, and Katelyn Mundson. August members and families, Judy Freeman, Jason Hall, Elsie Kohun, Ginger Kemmerling, 'Herminie Mezgec, Mary Jo Nawalaniec, Rosalie Železnik, and Emma Zupan.
Our next meeting will be Sunday, September 9th, 2001 at the Maple Heights, Public Library, at 1:00 p.m. Refreshment will be served. See you all there.
Please note - there was an error in the last issue of the ZARJA. Your reporter noticed this immediately upon reading our article. The heading for Branch 47 indicated our meeting place as the Bedford Public Library. This was incorrect information. We all know our meetings are held at the Maple Heights Public Library. Hopefully the publication staff will correct this. (We will! C.)
We extend our sincere wishes for a happy, healthy and safe summer to all. May God Bless you all and remember all our sick and deceased members in your prayers.
DOROTHY SQUIRE Reporter
NO. 50, EUCLID, OH Meeting: 3rd Wed. Euclid Public Library except July & Aug.
We are still having unseasonal weather, but Summer is supposedly on its way. We will welcome it wholeheartedly.
Our April 18th meeting was fairly well attended during which we discussed our “Woman of the Year” meeting on May 16th at Sterle’s Restaurant. Mary Miller, who truly deserved the honor, was our honored member. Her husband, Bill attended, along with Josephine Smith’s husband, John and Mary Jo’s Rom’s husband, Peter. It was good to have the men around along with over forty members. At our last
summer meeting, on June 20th, all this was happily discussed.
Our members who are not too well at this time are Ann Cem, Agie Flanders, Albina Mrcnik. Albina is recuperating with relatives in PA. Come back home soon, Albina. Mary Maxin, our Secretary. I’m sorry to report, was scheduled to have hip surgery in June. We wish her the best and an early recovery. Our President, Ann Tercek, is trying to beat a cold while endeavoring to do her duties at her post. Get well everyone. We need you near us.
To a more lighter happening, Jennie and Stanley Laurich celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in May at Alexander’s Restaurant. Let’s see how many more you two can add to that!
Now for the permanent departure section. A former regular member,
Mary Budas died at the end of May and was followed by Helen Rap-lenovic. We will miss their presence.
Even though we will not have regular meetings in July and August, the “Anns” of our branch will get together for St. Ann’s day in July. We will have our picnic in September, and we have the rest of the year to look forward to. Details will be forthcoming.
A reminder to heed the recent development taking place this year and in the early new century. Do not be too free with your savings. Those in power want the return of the “Middle Ages” only they will give it another name by cutting out the middle class where most of us occupy. Review your history.
Blessings to everyone.
Na svidenje!
VI MORAVCHEK
NO. 54, WARREN, OH Meeting: 3rd Wed. Feb. thru May, Sep., Nov., Dec.
Our group enjoyed a very nice Mother-Daughter Luncheon with 13 in attendance. The table was decorated with plants and favors, all generously donated by Louise Vett. Thanks again, Louise. We had some door prizes and then just chatted the rest of the afternoon.
We really missed our Anne Savor. She fractured her hip after attending a Slovenian Pensioners’ party in Sharon, PA. She is doing quite well and is getting tender loving care from her son, John and daughter, Louise Vett. Get well soon, Mrs. Savor!
Our sympathy and prayers to Fran Sainato on the loss of her brother, Edward Smuke, who passed away suddenly. He was my first cousin and we will all miss him. He was a great tease and story teller. Only Fran and her brother, Dick remain from a family of ten children.
Vacationing in Michigan are our charter member, Vic Zuga and her daughter, Karen who is now our member. They’re visiting relatives and doing some sightseeing. Mary Zuga has been transferred to a nursing home in Cortland, Ohio and seems to be doing better there.
Our next meeting will be in September at my home and I’ll call you
with the final date. Get well to those ailing, and safe traveling to all vacationers this summer.
JOANNE PONIKVAR
NO. 73, WARRENSVILLE HTS., OH Meeting: only as needed
Time is flying by so quickly, I thought I had turned two pages of the calendar at once. And, with First Communions, Confirmations, graduations, weddings, showers, picnics - the squares on my calendar are already filled.
We held a meeting on April 3rd, and in the minutes of our previous meeting, we discovered we met one year ago. Seven members were present when we met and we tentatively set the date for our next meeting as the first Monday in April, 2002, with the help of the Good Lord.
A decision was made regarding our finances. Since we have no fund-rais-ing plans, and since our savings accout is dwindling, we have reached the point where if we do not keep a substantial balance, we will be charged monthly for the bank services. We felt we could not afford absorbing such fees. The account will be closed and the remaining funds (considred petty cash) will be entrusted to the Treasurer who in turn will submit a report to the officers at their request. It should be mentioned that, at one point, a member “fed” the account to keep it above the given limit. This could not continue. If you have questions regarding this decision, please contact Kay Yuratovac or myself.
Our anniversary mass was attended by five (5) members. I was out-of-town on a family emergency and missed a chance to see Helen Dodyk, who managed to join the group for the Mass, and whose presence we have missed for such a long time. Her husband, Benny, was with her. To both of you, take care of yourselves. We shall keep you in our prayers.
Another group of five attended the Spring Luncheon at St. Mary’s. Although she was not with us at our table, Helen Husky was also in attendance. Sorry we didn’t get to speak with you, Helen. But in the crowd of 300, you were at one end, we were at the other. Hope all is well with you (and our get
We mourn the death of a beloved member, Antoinette Louise Mestnick
Member of Br. 81, Keewatin, MN for many years, Antoinette died on March 30, 2001. She was bom in Virginia, MN and had worked as a nurse at the Mesaba Clinic. We send our deepest sympathies to husband, John Mestnik, two daughters, Mary Jo (Dennis) Gustafson and Jane (John) Potter and a son, John. Her two sisters also survive, Stephanie O’Leary and Margaret Stupica. She was the grandmother of five and great grandma of four.
She was a dedicated member and we pray for her eternal happiness.
Josie Kapla, Pres.
well wishes to your husband).
We located Virginia Nemeth after mail to her was returned. Virginia has moved to the Akron area, and is presently in a rehab facility after having hip replacement surgery. We do hope you are mending well, Virginia. Glad we were able to get your new address.
Get well wishes to Marge Munley who resides in Florida, and who was recently diagnosed with lymphoma. Hang in there, Marge. If you are able to make the trip to Slovenia, we wish you well. Please take good care of yourself.
Fran (Ozimek) Stepic is undergoing treatment for her ailments, and is doing well. I spoke at length with her, and she is putting up a terrific battle. Our prayers and thoughts are with you, Fran.
I	attended the funeral of Vida Vercek (No. 42). Have known Vida and the Vercek family all my life; they were relatives of a dear, dear neighbor and Sunday afternoons in the Danicic backyard are part of some vivid memories. Our sympathy and condolences to the Vercek family, especially to her husband, Gene who remained at her bedside for the past few years.
On the photo we see the members gathered in May: (from left, front row) Tricia Kren, Sophie Kren, Jack Twaddle, Anna Marie Zaggar and Anka Krakora; (back row), Maria Selak, Anna Marie Gearheart, Paulette Kren, Frank Kregar, Milka Kregar and Joan Twaddle. Great job, ladies!
We are given to understand that Josephine Turk is spending time with her daughter, Joanne Tomsick. We are sure she is receiving plenty of TLC from Joanne. Again, your prayers for Josephine, and all our ill members, are deeply appreciated.
Branch 73 extends congratulations to Branch 47 as they celebrated their 70th anniversary in June.
Cleveland is very proud to have Roger Gries, OSB elevated to Auxiliary Bishop. He was ordained to that position on June 10th. You may remember him from the 1991 Convention held here in Cleveland when he celebrated our mass at St. Vitus.
Have a safe and happy summer. I will be in Michigan and South Dakota during that time. If you are traveling, let us know, so we can tell everyone else.
EVELYN A. MAJERCIK
NO. K9, OGLESBY, IL Meetings: Feb.-Apr.-May-Sept.
Oct.-Nov.-Dec. at Hardees, 2nd Monday 7 p.m.
The month of May proved to be another sad month for us. We lost Emma Foltynewicz on May 18th. She held the office of Financial treasurer
for 25 years. She will be greatly missed by all. May she rest in peace.
Remembering the birthday dates in June for Eunice Supan; July, Anne Batty and Darlene Wasielewski; August, Joan Watson and Betty Hamilton.
Our Mother-Daughter Banquet was held on May 16th at “Bullheads” in Lostant, IL. The food was super and a good time was had by all. What a pleasant surprise to learn that Nancy Henkel became a grandmother on April 30th and her mother Eunice Supan is now a great grandmother. It was a girl! Congratulations to the Henkels and Supans.
Mitzi Banich was a proud mom when her son, Christopher received the outstanding senior award at La Salle Peru Township High School graduation May 17th. Congratulations, Christopher. We are all proud of you. Now on to U of I in the fall.
Marilyn Argubright’s grandson, (Adam Gunderson received the scout-ing’s highest honor, the Eagle Scout Award. Congratulations, Adam, a job well done!
Have a safe, pleasant summer and we’ll try to get together in ZARJA’s Sept.-Oct. issue.
Branch 89 sends their best regards to all, along with all of their love.
EUNICE
“PIE IN JULY”
Members of Br. 55 in Girard, Ohio came up with this catchy name for their Bake Sale last year! (Maybe it will be a repeat this month or another branch will follow this great idea!) It was a successful fund-raiser for their treasury. They are full of good ideas!
For the annual Mother’s Day celebration (see photo), they came up with the saying:
“Let us Sew the Seeds of our Heritage!”
Packets of flower seeds were favors and garden tools made up the decorations! So, now, we know that in Girard “heritage” flowers are blooming in all our members’ gardens and in their hearts!
Grandma proud of Eagle Scout grandson!
Our fine member, Marilyn Argub-right proudly announced that her grandson, Adam Gunderson was awarded the highest ranking in the Boy Scouts of America. Adam has been a star in scouting ever since his Cub Scout days in 1989. In 1992 he earned the Parvuli Dei Religious Medal; in 1994, he received his Arrow of Light, the highest Cub Scout Award. He has earned 28 merit badges as a senior scout holding troop positions and participating in many parades and shows, plus accumulating camping time at a variety of camps including Cache Lake in Canada. For his Eagle Scout project he coordinated the construction of two large storage cabinets and two large display cases for the Oglesby Fire Dept.
Adam is a senior at St. Bede Academy and is the son of William and Mary Jane Gunderson of rural Hennepin.
We are happy to share the family’s pride in Adam’s successes and wish him all the best!
Veda Tonikvar:	^	^
Trom Our ‘Heritage ‘Kitchens
Fragrant snow white May flowers, golden buttercups, and wild cherry blossoms brought a smile to a winter-weary population.
On Sunday, May 6th, Branch 38 of the Slovenian Women’s Union honored Dolly Bruscoram as Mother of the Year. Dolly has contributed much of her time and talents to the Branch, as well as to the Slovenian National Home Association and the Auxiliary.
Members of Dolly’s family attended the event which made everyone very happy. What’s more, Dolly is an excellent cook and baker. What a treasure!
POTATO SKINS WITH ROQUEFORT AND SCALLIONS
4	baking potatoes (about
2l/2 pounds total) scrubbed x'i cup crumbled Roquefort cheese
2	scallions chopped about cup
!/4 cup sour cream !/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce teaspoon black pepper !/4 teaspoon paprika
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Pierce each potato in several places with a fork.
Bake potatoes in 400 degree oven for 1 hour or until knife-tender. Leave the oven on.
Halve each potato lengthwise. Scoop out potato, leaving inch thick layer of potato on the skin. Refrigerate scooped-out potato for other uses.
Mix cheese, half the scallions, the sour cream and Worcestershire in small bowl. Evenly divide mixture into potato shells. Place on baking sheet. Sprinkle with pepper and paprika.
Return to 400 degree oven for 15 minutes or until cheese has melted and potatoes are heated through.
Sprinkle the remaining scallions over skins. Cut each half lengthwise into quarters and serve.
ZUCCHINI WITH PECANS
l(/2 cups julienned zucchini
1 teaspoon olive or vegetable oil teaspoon garlic salt
Dash of pepper
2 tablespoons chopped pecans, toasted
In a skillet, saute zucchini in oil for
5	minutes or until crisp tender. Sprinkle with garlic salt, pepper and pecans. Serve immediately.
CINNAMON SOUR CREAM CAKE
3	cups all purpose flour
2	cups granulated sugar
2	teaspoons baking powder
	teaspoon salt
1	container (8 oz.) sour cream
4	eggs
2	teaspoons vanilla extract
1‘ 4	cups(2!/2 sticks) butter,
	softened
l2'.	cupsOOoz. pkg.)
	Hershey’s Cinnamon Chips
2	tablespoons all purpose flour
	Powdered sugar
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease and flour 12-cup fluted tube pan.
Combine 3 cups flour, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt in large bowl. Beat sour cream, eggs and vanilla with fork or whisk in medium bowl until smooth.
Add butter and 1 cup sour cream mixture to flour mixture. Beat on low speed until thoroughly combined; beat
1	minute on high speed. Add remaining sour cream mixture; beat on medium speed until fluffy.
Stir together cinnamon chips and remaining 2 tablespoons flour until chips are coated. Gently stir into batter. Pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake 60 to 70 minutes in 350 degree oven or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
Cool 20 minutes. Remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired.
SESAME-ORANGE CRUSTED SALMON
!/4 cup sesame seeds 11;2 tablespoons grated orange rind
l,2 teaspoon white ground pepper
!/2 teaspoon salt 4 salmon fillets
(about l'^lbs. total)
2	teaspoons dark asian sesame oil
Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Toast sesame seeds in dry medium-size nonstick skillet over medium heat, shaking skillet from time to time, until seeds are lightly golden and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Remove sesame seeds to plate and let cool.
Place sesame seeds, orange rind, white pepper and 1;4 teaspoon salt in food processor. Whirl until mixture resembles bread crumbs.
Place salmon fillets on aluminum foil-lined baking sheet. Rub sesame oil all over the salmon fillets. Sprinkle the fdlets evenly with the remaining ''j teaspoon salt.
Evenly divide sesame mixture over top and sides of salmon fillets, patting the mixture to stick.
Bake salmon fillets in 400 degree oven for 20 minutes or until cooked through.
Excellent with a Caesar Salad and a piece of home made bread.
SLOVENIAN -.AMERICAN COOKBOOK
Popular MORE POTS & PANS cookbook is still only $18.00 per copy postpaid.
NO. 95, SO. CHICAGO, IL Meeting: 2nd Wed. Apr.-May-June Sep.-Oct.-Nov.-Dee. 12:30 p.m. Sacred Heart Church Hall
Back from Florida and on our way home, Dan and I had a nice time visiting friends in Virginia and Penna. We are now enjoying the nice weather here in Illinois.
We had a meeting in May and it was nice to see the ladies. Evelyn Driscoll and I provided the goodies. Thank you, Evelyn.
I	heard that Marge Nicksich’s husband, Matt, has died. Our condolences to her and her family. Please let us know if you are sorrowing for a family member, or someone who is ill. We wish to extend our wishes to you and offer prayers.
To birthday ladies in July and August, Happy Birthday, and, a special hello to our readers who live out of town. How are you all doing? Have a wonderful summer.
God’s blessing to all!
DOLORES HENNELLY
NO. 100, FONTANA, CA
Almost thirty Branch 100 members, family and friends came out to honor this year’s Mother of the Year, Mary Lou Height, on Sunday, May 6th. Most of us attended the Mass at St. Joseph’s Church in Fontana that morning where our group was acknowledged. We then proceeded to our favorite Italian Restaurant, Napoli’s, in Loma Linda for lunch. The restaurant has a lovely banquet room which is just the right size for our gatherings and the food is very good.
Mary Lou was radiant as she was joined by her mother, Anne Kapel; sister, Linda; brother, Bob and his wife; as well as fiance, Paul. Mary Lou is always smiling and ready to help with Branch functions and is especially knowledgeable with travel arrangements for members or the group as a. whole. The family is very close-knit and Mary Lou seems to be the one to help keep it that way. 1 know this would have been a very proud day for her father, Frank Kapel. Congratulations, again!
Quite a few of our members took part in the recent Concert by the Slovenian Slowind Woodwind Quintet here in Laguna Niguel. We appreciate the publicity offered by "The New Neighborhood” E-mail on this event and, of course, the ladies who made pastries for the reception were all members of SWU as well as SNPJ. The concert was a huge success and we truly enjoyed meeting these young musicians from Slovenia. The music was really beautiful and Slovenia must be proud to have such talented musicians represent their nation.
We hope those of you who will be traveling to Slovenia with the SWU Tour in September have a wonderful time. I wish we could join you... maybe next time!
JEAN KOCI
NO. 102, WILLARD, WI Meeting: When convenient Parish Center
Meeting at the Parish Center May 6th, 2001 was followed by pot luck dinner, with 15 members and 3 guests. Our Mother of the Year, Theresa Zorman was honored. A basket of flowers was. given to her. We also had a plant sale the 5th and 6th of May after both masses.
May crowning was May 12th at 4:00 o’clock mass when Veronica Landwehr crowned Mary. On May 13th the Senior graduation class was honored followed by a lunch for them and the Mothers.
Our sick list, Mary Djubinski was hospitalized and is home and doing fine.
Deaths were Steve Imre and Rose (Djubinski) Zalewski. Condolences to the families.
Frieda Klancher moved back to her home in Willard. Frank and Jean Govek are back from Arizona.
Allison Gregorich wrote about her grandma, Dorothy Gregorich, and ethnic Slovenian foods. (See below.)
Roberta Herrick’s letter was read for the scholarship.
Sincerely, from your reporter.
AGNES DEBEVEC
v'/
#
My Grandma’s Ethnic Slovenian Foods
by Allison Gregorich,
St. Mary’s School, Greenwood, Wisconsin
My grandma has always told me stories about when she was younger. My favorite is when she told me about her special ethnic Slovenian foods, and the work she did to do it.
My grandma started cooking when she was very young. Her mother died when she was 19, but was sick when my grandma was 10. So in turn, she took on most of the family cooking. She had to cook for six brothers and her dad. She cooked many Slovenian foods her mother had taught her before she died. She cooked foods such as strudel, potica, floncate (flancete), strukle, pohinia (pohanje), and many more. She learned many foods as well as ethnic foods, but her family stuck to their customs very much.
Many recipes are kept to the family as secret recipes. There were also foods like blood sausage and meat sausage, that my dad and I make at home now. My grandma also taught us that. She has told me many stories, but I am very interested in cooking, and I love my Slovenian heritage.
My grandma has even started to teach me how to make some of the pastries. My grandma has been cooking them so long she doesn’t even need a recipe anymore. I love cooking and I love my grandma’s special ethnic Slovenian foods.
NO. 103, WASHINGTON, D.C. Meeting: 1st Sun. except July & Aug. St. Columba's Ch. Albermarle St.
On Sunday, January 7,2001, Branch 103 convened for the first meeting of 2001. The meeting took place at Our Lady of Brezje Chapel at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., following the monthly mass. Father Ray Waddas blessed the 2001 Branch Officers and committee chairs as follows: President Mary Lou Terselic;
Vice President Ana Šonc Jevtič; Secretary Mimi Mejač; Treasurer Molly Thomas; Recording Secretary Tillie Ausich; ZARJA Reporter Valerie Bohince; Auditors Mara Chokel, Jana Bevec and Ana Skopec; Program and Special Events Committee Chair Nika Kovačič; Greetings Angela Daly; and Spiritual Advisor Fr. Ray Waddas.
Our meeting scheduled for Sunday, March 4, 2001 was cancelled due to a snowstorm that threatened to be the blizzard of 2001. However and thankfully, its threats were full of hot air, not cold, as March-like temperatures prevailed and gave us mostly rain by Sunday afternoon. Nearly everyone would agree though, better to be safe than sorry. Thus, when the decision to cancel was made the afternoon before, it was the prudent one.
On April 1, 2001, Branch 103 members convened at our usual meeting room at St. Columba’s Church. Branch business and financial matters were discussed, as well as the Fall social event. Mimi Mejač presented the Branch financial report. Our status is looking up. Great thanks are extended to the thirty (30) members who responded to the free will offering. The contributions
totaled $385.00, which will pay nearly all the rental cost of the meeting room for six (6) meetings.
The death of those close to our members saddens us. We offer our prayers for Amalya (Mollie) Ausich Johnson, who passed away on December 20,
2000.	Mollie was the sister of Branch 103 member, Matilda (Tillie) Ausich. As many of you know, Tillie has been a member and recording secretary since 1965. Tillie was our steadfast ZARJA reporter until this year.
Our prayers are also offered for Ana Čemele, who at the age of 92, passed away peacefully on January 3, 2001 at her home in New York. Ana enjoyed an active membership in Branch 103, when she lived in the Washington area some 30 years ago. Our sympathies are extended to her surviving family.
Plans for the October Dinner Dance Social event were the focus of our April discussions. The majority concurred that St. Columba’s offers the most convenient space. The final decision of the date was not concluded. Selection of the date and time combined with availability of the hall are tight. We plan either for Sunday, October 21 or Sunday, October 28. As these are Sundays,
and most of us have either school or work the next day, we prefer to have the event commence in the late afternoon, as opposed to early evening. However, simultaneous masses at the church prevent us from entering the hall and kitchen as early as we would like due to the natural noise that we would cause. We are permitted to enter the kitchen to commence cooking at 1:00 p.m. We discussed menu ideas. As time and labor are big issues, the food takes much thought. One can count on Slovenian klobase and sauerkraut. In addition, Iča Žebot suggested preparing Chicken Tetrazzini.
Various ideas were presented for items to sell or raffle at the Social. We discussed sewing Slovenian National Costumes for dolls the size of the popular “American Girl Dolls.” National Secretary Bonnie Prokup suggested this idea. Although, a decision has not been concluded because a dress flat pattern is not available. Angela Stare presented a beautifully framed picture of Our Lady of Brezje and Pope John Paul II, copies of which may be offered for raffle or sale. It would indeed be a desirable prize.
The agenda for the next few months’
Slovenian Women’s Union 75th Anniversary Raffle
Win a beautiful, hand-made, queen-size QUILT, crafted by SWU National Auditor, Beverly Menart
%
Winner need not be present.	■V |	We	will	fill	out	your	tickets,
Drawing will take place at the	T'	u	and	place	them	into	the	Raffle
75th Anniversary Celebration.	R£D	CARNATION	DESIGN	for	y°u-
December, 2001	You	will	not	receive	any	tickets.
Tickets, $1.00 each, available by mail. Use coupon below.
Make your checks to S.W.U.
Send to SWU National President, Kathleen Dorchak, 3088 Markle Drive Silver Lake, Ohio 44224 Telephone (330) 686-1336 Email: KDORCHAK@NEO.RR.COM
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meetings and possible speakers were reviewed. We have invited Mrs. Kračun the wife His Excellency Dr. Davorin Kračun, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia, to speak to Branch 103. We look forward with much anticipation to greet and hear Mrs. Kračun.
Thank you April hostesses, Nika Kovačič, Ana Šonc Jevtič, and Tillie Ausich, for providing the delicious refreshments.
Following the adjournment of the meeting. Ana Sonc Jevtič held a Slovene language lesson to those who were interested. Ana, who is Branch 103 Woman of the Year, teaches the Slovene language professionally to American diplomats, who will be posted to Slovenia. Ana’s instruction is greatly appreciated.
VALERIE BOHINCE ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
On May 6, 2001, our meeting was held for the purpose of finalizing the plans for the October Dinner and Social event. The date is scheduled for October 21, 2001. The menu has been confirmed. In addition to klobase, sauerkraut and bread, we will serve chicken tetrazzini, a green salad and a bean salad. The dessert will be the traditional Slovenian pastry, “miške” which in English means little mice. (Can you see them getting away faster than we can make them? Guess that’s why each is a miška!) Other Slovenian pastries and potica will be offered for sale. We call upon all bakers to pitch in. Accordion player Frank Vidergar will provide entertainment and dance music. The complete program has not yet been finalized. We will recognize our Woman of the Year, Ana Šonc Jevtič. We have considered the possibility of a program for children or a recital. It is hoped to have Slovenian craft items for sale and raffle. Ana Šonc Jevtič presented a prototype of a T-shirt, onto which she had printed Slovenian motifs. It was very enthusiastically received, and shirts will be available at the Social. Members will receive details about the festivities.
A representative from the Washington Branch of the Slovenian Genealogy Society International (“SGSI”), George Plautz, Jr. attended the May 6th meeting. George encourages anyone interested in his or her Slovenian roots to join the SGSI and
Our branch members mourn the passing of Ana Cemelc, a member of Branch 103 since September 1967 who died in New York City on January 3,
2001.	From the start she actively participated in and generously contributed to branch activities and will be remembered for her quick smile and quiet demeanor.
Ana became a member of the Ad-zemovic family in September 1936, when she was hired by Mr. Adzemovic, a diplomat posted to all the countries Ana went to with the family, to take care of Danica’s younger sister who was just a few days old.
Attached is a tribute in memory of Ana written by Danica Adzemovic.
MARY MEJAC, Secretary
Ann Cernelc 1908 - 2001
Ana was bom in Slovenia, in the beautiful area around Brežice. She had traveled widely during her long life, joining our family while we lived in Salonica, Greece. Then on to Ankara, Turkey, Cairo, Egypt, and Cape Town, South Africa. By that time, World War
II	had broken out. Eventually, as our family gathered in the United States, Ana followed us here and remained a cherished member of our family, first in Washington, D.C., then in Virginia and, during her last years in New York.
to look at its web site at www.sloveniangenealogy.org. Discussion of our common heritage segued into the history of Slovenia.
To those who have access to email, the SWU’s own on-line newsletter, “The New Neighborhood” is available and is as easy as pie to subscribe by sending an Email to Lynn Zolokar at lzalokar@yahoo.com. You will receive the free monthly Email newsletter.
While in Washington, Ana was an active participant in SWU, Branch 103. An inimitable pastry cook, she would take platters of her delicacies to SWU functions. She would also bring along, as guests, many of our family’s young ones, for whom such outings were special treats.
Travel around the world in no way diminished Ana’s love for Slovenia. Once she became a U.S. citizen, she would visit her family in Slovenia and Belgrade by taking advantage of her vacation time.
She had been a valued employee of Jelleff’s Department Store for over ten years. As fitter in the bridal department, she took special care of the young brides, helping them to make the right choice of gown, headdress, and accessories and, at the same time, soothing their youthful anxieties and nervousness. I know of no one who had received such a vast pile of wedding invitations in one lifetime, all from grateful young brides.
Like most Slovenians, Ana had a fine singing voice, a rich contralto. She taught us many Slovenian songs and little poems, which we all remember, even today. Ana was also an accomplished mountaineer. She liked reminiscing about her young days when mountain climbing was the favorite pasttime of young people. We would be awestruck by her accounts of climbing to the very top of Mt. Triglav, a perilous ascent, and admired the photograph showing her standing on the very summit of that mountain.
Ana will always be remembered in our family as a loving, generous, devoted, determined, and most rare human being. After 64 years with us, she is family and we mourn her passing.
Danica Adzemovic
Thank you May hostesses Jana Beveč, Ana Šonc Jevtič, and Amy Sheridan for the many and varied delicious cookies and refreshments.
Following the conclusion of the meeting, a few stayed for another Slovene language lesson.
The next meeting of Branch 103 will be on September 9, 2001.
VALERIE BOHINC,
WITH CONTRIBUTION FROM AMY SHERIDAN
DOPISI
Spominčica od Stare mame
Vsak teden, dva dni, pomagam hčerki paziti otroke in vsak teden je kaj novega pri razvoju otrok. Bilo je na predvečer rojstnega dneva najmlajše vnukinje. Pripravljala sem jo za v posteljico. Najprej gredo spančkat njene punčke, tudi kužek in zajček, šele potem pride na vrsto za y posteljico sama. Po molitvi Sveti angelj varuh moj in glasnem AMEN, vse utihne, le medla svetloba prihaja iz kopalnice. Stara mama potrpežljivo sedi poleg posteljice na gugalniku. Čisto potiho, skoro s šepetajočim glasom, mala punčka še nekaj čeblja, nato pa z nebeško srčkanim glasom začne peti: “Happy Birthday to you, Stara mama, Happy Birthday to you, Stara mama”. Ze par dni ji namreč govorimo in jo pripravljamo na njen drugi rojstni dan. V tem tihem, sproščenem večeru pa ona čuti, da je tista pesmica, ki ji jo pojemo, nekaj lepega, ki razveseljuje vsakega, ki jo sliši.
Po celodnevnem skakanju, igranju in vseh mogočih aktivnostih tisti večer ob njej sedi Stara mama. S to pesmico je v vsej svoji otroški preprostosti, skoro dvoletna punčka, delila vse najlepše kar je imela tisti večer. Stara mama pa sije otrla solzo z očesa in v srcu je bilo vse tako lepo. -------------------------------nikova	-  ---------------------------
ŠT. 39, BIWABIK, MN
V nedeljo 6. maja smo počastile letošnjo “Mater leta" nadvse zaslužno članico Phyllis Kukar. Zbrale smo se v Eveleth Inn za opoldansko kosilo in ob spretnem vodstvu predsednice Jean Korsman je vse poteklo v najlepšem družabnem počutju. Zbralo se je za to priliko preko 30 članic. Ko smo se pred nekaj leti združile članice iz Gilberta v podružnico na Biwabik, je Phyllis ostala zvesta načelom Slovenske Ženske Zveze in tu zdaj nadaljuje in razdaja svoje talente v prid celotne organizacije. Njena mama, Pauline Lopp, ki je v letu 1999 doživela 100 let in odšla v Večnost, je bila članica 65 let.
Phyllis je bila rojena na Gilbertu, kjer je tudi preživela večji del svojega življenja. Rojena je bila 20 julija, 1921, končala doma višjo solo in nadaljevala študij bolniške sestre v Springfield, III. Ko je prejela diplomo je kmalu odšla in se pridružila Army Nurse Corps od 1944-1946. Pot jo je vodila v tistih časih na Normandy Beach v Carentan, Francija in Bayreuth, Nemčija. Ko se je vojna končala, je delala v več bolnicah tukaj na Železnem Okrožju.
Leta 1955 se je poročila z Anton Kukar, kjer so se jima rodile 3 hčerke. Margaret, Paula in DeeDee. Vse so poročene in njunih 6 vnukov in vnukinj dela družbo stari mami posebno za praznike.
Phyllis je bila poleg svoje dela v bolnici vedno tudi soudeležena na raznih področjih v domačem mestu. Povsod je poznana s svojim prisrčnim nastopom in talenti, ki iih vedno razdaja za dobro bližnjim.
Kadar ji uspe, tudi zelo rada potuje po svetu. Bila je v Sloveniji že večkrat, nazadnje lanskega septembra s svojimi tremi hčerkami. Obiskale so veliko sorodnikov tam in se seznanjale z lepotami prelepe Slovenije.
V letu 1999 je tudi obiskala sorodnike v New Zealand, Australia. Tam
je imela priliko poslušati slovenski zbor, “Hrušinski Fantje", ki so prav tedaj gostovali v slovenskem klubu. Bila je tudi na Karibejskih otokih z župnikom Fr. Perkovičem in skupino, ter napravila romanje v Fatimo, Lurd, Assisi, Rim in Sveto Deželo.
Poletje, ki se je pa letos zelo pozno prijavilo v naše kraje, jo najde v prijetni poletni hišici na jezeru Eshquagama, kjer se ji često pridružijo ostali v njeni družini.
Slovenska Ženska Zveza ji je bila vedno zelo pri srcu in vse članice naše podružnice se pridružujemo iskrenim čestitkam in upamo, da bo
zmogla to lepo delo nadaljevati še lepa in blagoslovljena leta pred nami.
Ob tej priliki nam je naša predsednica Jean dala še nekaj navodil za poletje pred nami. Priprave bodo za bližajočo se "Minnesotsko konvencijo" ki bo septembra 9. letos na Biwabiku. Vse članice so nap-rošene, da pomagajo po svojih močeh, da bomo to delo kar najbolje izvršile v prid naše celotne organizacije.
Vsem pa želimo kar najlepše počitniške dni in na veselo svidenje v septembru.
ANNE TUSHAR
Mala vnukinja Juliana v kateri je veliko Nikino dobrotljivo srce!
SREČANJE MED POETOM IN SVETNIKOM
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V literarnih krogih so nove pismenke takoj spočetka vzbudile dokaj negodovanja. Vkljub splošnemu nezadovoljstvu pa celih šest let ni bilo slišati glasu protesta. Prvi se je javno oglasil čbeličar dr. Jakob Zupan. Napisal je leta 1831 v celovški “Carinthiji” članek, v katerem je zahteval takojšnjo odpravo metelčice, ki jo je označil kot "barbarsko pačenje večnolepih latinskih črk". Metelkovci so takoj reagirali in vnel se je oster boj v časopisju, v glavnem v ljubljanskem "lllyrisches Blatt". Boj se je neodjenljivo nadaljeval celi dve leti.
Tedaj je stopil vmes tudi Prešeren. Objavil je v tretjem zvezku “Čbelice" satirični sonet ‘Crkarska pravda'. Prešernu je bilo prekrekanje o črkah zoprno, ker so se po njegovem mnenju v njem tratile dragocene sile, ki bi sicer lahko služile bolj konstruktivnemu kulturnemu delu. V satiri je postavil ironično dilemo: katera je boljša kawa ali kafha? Če pa radi črk v okusu jedi ni razlike, tedaj
"obdaja taka misel nas Slovence, da pravdajo se ti možje znabiti, zakar so se nekdanji Abderiti v sloveči pravdi od oslove sence."
Koncem decembra 1831 je bil v “Ilirskem listu” objavljen članek ‘Bildung der Windischen Sprache’ z anonimnim podpisom Winde. V članku je podrobneja razčlenjena ista osnovna misel kot v Prešernovem sonetu. Glavnima akterjema, Metelku in Zupanu, očita brezplodno prerekanje o zunanjih formah (črkah), ki niso vredne izgube časa in tratenja energije. Članek je bil teden dni pozneje ponatisnjen v graški literarni reviji “Der Aufmerksame". V čbeličnem krogu so domnevali, da je članek napisal Slomšek, naročili so celo Prešernu pred odhodom v Celovec, da ga o tem povpraša. Prešernoslovec Anton Slodnjak pa je v zadnjih letih dokazal, da je avtor članka Prešeren sam. Resnega članka ni mogel izdati pod svojim imenom, ker bi radi napada na Zupana lahko povzročil notranji razpor v ožjem krogu čbeličarjev. Metelkovci so odgovorili v obrambo svojega črkopisa v reviji “Der Aufmerksame". Članek je nosil podpis 'Slovene'. Priklicali so na pomoč tudi Kopitarja, ki z metelčico ni bil popolnoma zadovoljen; ker pa je bil v resnici on njen duhovni oče, jo je trmasto branil.
V sredi tega prerekanja o novih pismenkah je Prešeren januarja 1832 odšel v Celovec, da se pripravi na odvetniški in sodnijski izpit pri tamkajšnjem apelacijskem sodišču. Ob svojem skoraj štirimesečnem postanku v Celovcu (v Ljubljano se je vrnil sredi maja) se je Prešeren sestajal s Slomškom. Potek, vsebina in zaključki njunih zgodovinsko pomembnih razgovorov bodo obravnavani v naslednjem poglavju. Tu se imejimo le na oni del njunih pogovorov, ki je v neposredni zvezi z abecednim bojem.
NADALJEVANJE
From the Youth Director Angela Stare:
Dear readers: I hope that you are enjoying your summer vacation, doing special things with your families, reading, exploring and being adventurous. I hope, too that you will take some extra time this summer to reflect and think about your involvement with the Slovenian Women’s Union. Remember that I am always willing to ‘reach out’ to you and to answer any questions that you may have. I would love hearing from as many of you as possible. Please let me know how we can best serve you, your interests and needs in the Slovenian Women’s Union. Don’t hesitate to write to me, fax me, phone me and even e-mail me. Some of you have written (be sure to sign your names, as they have been omitted) and all of the information that you wish shared with our Board will be forwarded to them, so that we can all work together and help make the SWU more appealing and exciting for all of you. We need your input and your willingness to become involved.
I’d also like to thank all of those who have written to me regarding the Bishop Baraga series. I am pleased to report that there is much interest in this endeavor and I will continue to provide for all of you as much information, from time to time on the life of Bishop Baraga. Please keep your ideas and suggestions coming. To those of you who have requested information about Bishop Baraga; your packet of information is in the mail.
Any of you out there who received your First Holy Communion this past May or this year, please send me anything you’d like to share with our readers and what that special day meant for you.
I look forward to many stories.
My First Holy Communion
by Veronika Stare
1 received my First Holy Communion on Saturday, May 5, 2001 at St. Andrew the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Clifton, Virginia.
This was the happiest day of my young life. I will never forget receiving Jesus in Holy Communion. He is so ‘real’ to me now and I hope and pray that He will always be. I know that Jesus is my special friend, especially now as 1 am able to receive Him often and talk to Him. I cannot explain the joy in my heart after receiving Him and how close to Him I feel. He speaks to me. Yes, He really does.
I reflect back on that special day when I just received Jesus and was prayerfully walking back to my place in the pew,
I knelt, wrapped my face in my hands in thanksgiving, it’s like He spoke to me and said He was happy and pleased and never to be afraid. I prayed so hard for so many things and remembered all of those special people in my life who so generously prepared me for this special day. 1 especially thanked Jesus for my mother, who helped me prepare so reverently and spent so much time with me, teaching me the truths of our faith and all of the beautiful prayers, teaching what 1 needed to know and understand and to accept with my whole heart so that I would be ready with a pure heart to receive Jesus. I am so happy.
Thank you Jesus!
1 would like to thank so many of our Slovenian friends from the SWU Br. 103 and many others who came to celebrate with me. The greatest gift and joy that you bestowed on me was your presence and prayers at Holy Mass.
Please accept my sincere public thanks for your many kindnesses to me and your gifts, very much appreciated. I hope that all of my guests who came to my home for my reception experienced an extension of the celebration of the First Holy Communion Mass. I, hope that we will all remember this special day and pray for each other.
ANGELA STARE, 7601 Elmore Ln„ Bethesda, MD 20817, tel. (301) 229-7587, Fax (301) 229-8149, email bartstare(5 wans.net
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SABINA’S ESSAY ON SLOVENIA’S MT. TRIGLAV
Little Sabina Cashin, age 9, constructed this relief map of the Mt. Triglav area of Slovenia - using photographs and maps she found after researching it in libraries and on the internet. Her dad and mom thought she did a super job of presenting a place she has never seen. With encouragement from our email newsletter editor, Lynn, they submitted this photo and an essay on Sabina’s project for ZARJA readers.
(When we are looking for ways to bring our young members into greater awareness of their ancestry, and become active with SWU, a project like this is an exciting recommendation. - If any of our junior members have had school projects or done something similar about family histories or ancestry, tell us about it and let us publish it on this page. Send photos to ZARJA. Editor)
The Julian Alps of Slovenia
by Sabina I. Cashin
I chose this region because my grandparents are from Slovenia and have said how beautiful the area is. My mom and uncles have climbed Mount Triglav, which is the highest mountain in Slovenia. Mount Triglav (its name means "three heads") is the symbol of Slovenia.
Slovenia is located in southeastern Europe on the Adriatic Sea and is bordered by the countries of Austria, Hungary, Croatia and Italy. After World War II, Slovenia became a part of the Republic of Yugoslavia. The Slovenians were unhappy with Serbian leadership and, in 1991, they declared their independence from Yugoslavia.
My relief map has a styrofoam base. The land shapes are made from a mixture of 2 parts flour, 1 part salt, and small amounts of water until the mixture resembles cookie dough. I used a toothpick for the steeple of St. Mary’s Church, which is on the island in the center of Lake Bled. There is also a toothpick covered with dough forming a bridge over the River Vintgar. I used Acrylic paints to color the relief map.
Since ancient times, people have lived in the valleys of the Alps. In the summer, the sheep, goats and cattle are driven up from the farms in the valley to the high alpine meadows to graze for the entire summer. The summer farm, that is, this pasture high up in the mountains with a simple hut where milk is turned into cheese, is called the "planina” in the Slovenian language. While the animals graze on these high pastures, the grass in the valleys below is mowed as many as three times in a summer to prepare enough hay for the animals that will be brought down from the mountain pastures for the winter. This type of farming takes place even today.
Mount Triglav is 9,396 feet high (2864 m), the highest point in Slovenia, and can be seen from great distances. Because of this, many stories have been told. There is an old Slovenian legend that before there was a Triglav mountain, there was only a goat (“zlatorog”). This goat had beautiful golden horns and an enormous treasure that it guarded in a beautiful garden high in the Alps near where Mount Triglav is today. One day, a hunter, greedy for these riches, shot and wounded the goat. But, as the blood from the
wound dropped to the earth, a healing flower grew. The goat ate the flower and was immediately healed from its wound. The hunter tried to back away, but, dazzled by the light of the golden horns, the man fell down into a deep hole. In its anger, the goat with golden horns destroyed its mountain paradise and left only the rocks.
The two largest lakes in this region are Lake Bohinj and Lake Bled. The River Sava flows from Lake Bohinj and eventually into the Danube River. A train track runs through the area, using a series of tunnels. The church in the center of the island in Lake Bled is a Roman Catholic church. Most Slovenians are Roman Catholic. There is also a medieval castle, now a museum and restaurant, on a high cliff on the shore of Lake Bled.
Sabina’s dad writes the following: "My daughter, Sabina, nine years old, had a school project for which she made a relief map out of clay and other household products. She chose the Triglav area, after much encouragement from her mother, Ann, who climbed the three-headed mountain with her father several years ago. Ann found SWU’s address in a Slovenian magazine that she subscribes to, ZARJA, and thought that you would be able to give us some direction in the early stages of Sabina’s project."
Now that the project is completed, we are pleased to reprint her essay and photo. In hopes that she will find more places to learn about and share her impression with us, we are sending her more maps and books describing Slovenia.
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In order to improve our mailing system for ZARJA, any changes in your postal address must be made in advance to our National Secretary, Bonnie Prokup, 3119 Carrie St., Peru, IL 61354. Your ZARJA delivery will be delayed if you send your address change in any other way.
Change of address form may be obtained from the Secretary of your Branch. Or just mail in letter form to Bonnie.
We are anxious to eliminate heavy postal costs for changes channeled through the U.S. Postal Service, plus, the delays that are caused.
Thank you very much!
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