Sokol USA Convention: Looking to the Future

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1 (USPS ) PUBLICATION FOSTERING FRATERNAL, CULTURAL & PHYSICAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES SINCE JULY 14, 1905 Entered as Second-Class Matter, February 7, 1980 at East Orange, New Jersey under the act of August 24, 1912, provided in Sec. 1103, Act of October 3, 1918 authorized July 3, 1918 Sokol USA Convention: Looking to the Future Those of us who attended the XXXV Sokol USA Convention in August dealt with a very full agenda, the main thrust of which was how Sokol USA will focus its energy going into the future. The first item of business was the passing of a new set of Sokol USA By-Laws which reflect our status as an affiliate of GBU. (As a reminder, the previous Convention had voted for Sokol USA to merge with GBU, the fraternal which now issues life insurance policies to our members.) The delegates next considered a variety of proposed amendments to the new document. Some of these many proposals were passed and some were not. The soon-to-bepublished minutes and the reports of the lodge, district, and national delegates will fill in details about the many decisions and activities which comprised this Convention. I, as a member of the Sokol National Board/GBU District 4000, was assigned to be the advisor to the Officers' Reports Committee, and I am here reporting on their meeting. The members of this committee turned out to be very interested in discussing activities to maintain and grow their membership. They talked about activities that were ongoing in their respective lodges that their members enjoyed and what new activities they might initiate to attract new members. After some discussion, the Officers' Reports Committee prepared their report to the floor of the Convention. In their report, they chose to feature and emphasize the final paragraph of the report of the Sports, Fitness, and Wellness Committee. It is reprinted below: If we could change one thing in Sokol USA, it would be the atmosphere on the Board, which we believe has become stagnant. Too often, we settle for the same old way instead of trying new and innovative ideas. Too often, we have our own agendas and, too often, we don't listen to one another. We can't be afraid to try and we can't fault one another if an effort is not successful. Creative and new initiatives can be scary, but we must accept the challenge to ensure the future of Sokol USA. It's time to set a positive tone; it's time to be creative, but most importantly, it's time for TEAMWORK. Our founder, Miroslav Tyrs would have it no other way. How can we develop Several District Board officers with the convention parliamentarian on the right. Former President Bea Walko swore in the newly elected District Board members. We must accept the challenge to ensure the future of Sokol USA. It's time to set a positive tone; it's time to be creative, but most importantly, it's time for teamwork. and implement new activities in our Lodges and Regions/Districts to increase our membership and preserve Sokol into the future? In activities led by our National Co-Director of Sports, Fitness, and Wellness Chris Yatchyshyn during breaks in the Convention, all the delegates worked on answers to this question. By the end of these activities, groups of delegates had compiled lists of activities that might be popular among Sokol members, with or without a Sokol hall and with or without a lot of other members. The situation in each lodge is different. Some lodges will find some activities doable and other activities not so doable, but every lodge can be creative and try some new activities to attract new members. As examples, posters prepared for the Convention by Lodge 12 and Lodge 401 members (thanks, Linda Hanson and Debby Kruger) showed a wide variety of activities that Sokols of all ages are doing in all parts of the country to live the Sokol way of life: A sound mind in a healthy body. Why not take time at your next lodge meetings to plan activities you would enjoy for your current membership that might attract new members? Our Sokol USA By-Laws, in fact, provide guidelines for good Sokol activities, right in our Mission Statement. From the Constitution and By-Laws of Sokol USA, Article I, Section 2: The mission of Sokol USA is to promote a sound mind in a sound body through physical, cultural, moral, and educational development of its members. One last idea: After trying any new activity, write to the Sokol Times about it! Submitted by Ellen Kovac

2 Page SOKOL TIMES official organ of the SLOVAK GYMNASTIC UNION SOKOL OF THE USA Sokol USA - District 4000 a Division of GBU Financial Life Published bi-monthly on the 2nd Thursday of the month SOKOL OFFICE: Telephone: (973) FAX (973) SOKOLUSAHQS@aol.com All communication for publication should be sent to Editor at P.O. Box 189, East Orange, NJ by the 22 nd of the previous month. Second Class postage paid in East Orange, NJ Annual Subscription for non-members is $10.00 FROM LODGE 32, BOONTON, N.J. Greetings Former Sokol Gymnasts: We hope this letter finds you in good spirits and health. Boonton Sokol has been a strong community gymnastics program for many decades. We are very lucky to have one of the largest and longest running programs in the Sokol USA Organization. How long ago were you a participant? We would like to keep this great tradition vibrant and even grow in the future. As such, the Lodge is looking for additional instructors to support the gymnastics program and lead it into the future. Do you remember your days at Sokol? Learning gymnastics in a fun way? Marching, trampoline, relay races, cal (OK, not too many people liked that). Maybe you were even lucky enough to go to a Slet or Kurz! Would you be willing to help keep those traditions and memories alive? If you can help in anyway, please reach out to one of us. We're sure we can find a way for you to get involved again. We look forward to hearing from you. SOKOL USA DISTRICT MCT ANNUAL MEETING Sunday, October 22, PM Quality Inn (Former Clarion Hotel) Route 28 North, Exit 14 Agenda Report of Convention Officers Reports Lodge Reports Election of Officers Please RSVP by calling Patricia A. Blistan at We trust all lodges will be represented!! Nazdar! Patricia A. Blistan Recording Secretary Congratulations to Sokol New York on their 150 th Anniversary! Nazdar! Boonton Sokol Directors Nicole Zaremba, nfavale@optonline.net, Judy Bindas, judithbindas@hotmail.com, Eric Skovronek, eskov65@gmail.com, DONATIONS GRATEFULLY APPRECIATED To the Milan Getting Scholarship Fund From District Jan Francisi $ Proceeds from Silent Auction at Convention $ From Lodge 36, Binghamton, N.Y. $ From Lodge 74, Plymouth, Pa. $ From Milan S. Kovac $50.00 In memory of Aunt Sue Kovac From Milan S. Kovac $50.00 In memory of James R. Stoker To the Sport, Fitness & Wellness Department From Lodge 36, Binghamton, N.Y. $ From Lodge 74, Plymouth, Pa. $ From Lodge 248, Rossford, Ohio $45.00 In memory of deceased Members GBU Financial Life A Member Owned, Not-for-Profit Insurance Provider 4254 Saw Mill Run Boulevard Pittsburgh, PA * info@gbu.org

3 SOKOL TIMES Page 3 Milan Getting Scholarship Recipients From the President s View Madeline Skovronek The school year was my sophomore year at the University of New Haven. I am majoring in forensic science, with a concentration in biology, as well as minoring in psychology. This past academic year, I took challenging courses like organic chemistry and really began learning the bulk of my major and the different fields of forensic science I could choose a career in after college. In addition to a challenging academic year, I decided to join our women s rugby club here as New Haven. It was a great learning experience for me since I had never played the sport before and a great way for me to continue to stay physically active while away at school. I made many new friends playing and had a ton of fun playing a team sport again. Sokol was always such a great way for me to stay active throughout my childhood. I missed having that outlet up at school, but luckily was able to find it through rugby. Abby Moffit I am the daughter of Ron and Cathy Moffit of Charleroi, Pa. Our family participates in Lodge 47 Monessen, having been members since its reopening in I volunteer my time both in and outside of the Falcon gym. I have been coaching and volunteering at Lodge 47 for the past six years. I teach both boys and girls gymnastics from beginners to competitive levels. I have participated in gymsponsored activities throughout the years as well. My father Ron and sister Bethany also coach gymnastics at the lodge. I am an active member of the Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority at California University of Pennsylvania. I am a student member of PSEA-Pennsylvania State Education Association, on the dean s list and I volunteer by tutoring school-aged children, participating in Relay for Life and Special Olympics. I would like to thank the Milan Getting Scholarship Committee for the renewal of my scholarship which will help me continue my education in early childhood education/special education at California University of Pennsylvania. I greatly appreciate it. Thank you. Talladaga DeWitt I have been involved, along with my parents, in Sokol since I began gymnastics. Over the years, I have not only competed in many Sokolfests, but helped out with them as well. My Sokol lodge that I am a part of has hosted several Sokolfests that has given me the opportunity to participle in them. I have enjoyed participating in all the calisthenics that were done over the many years I was in Sokol. My parents have also been active within Sokol. They helped to coordinate the Team Sokol Talladaga DeWitt very many Sokolfests that we have hosted. They have also competed in the marching competitions as well. Right now, I am enrolled as a full-time student at West Virginia University. There I am majoring in Forensic and Investigative Sciences. Though after my first year, I am planning on focusing my major on Forensic Chemistry. After my four years, I plan to go back and receive my master s in that major. Hopefully, coming out of college I can begin working at a well-paying job in my field. As most people have their dream job, it would be amazing if I could take what I learned in my major and work at either the FBI or CIA. As of now, I am focusing one day at a time and working hard on my school work. Our Sokol USA District 4000 Convention was a great success! Many lodges sent convention delegates and a great deal of important business was successfully conducted at the convention. Our delegates to the Pittsburgh convention passed revised District By-Laws and elected new officers for our District for a four-year term commencing on January 1, Several new individuals were among those elected to the board. Additionally, it was good to see many younger people participating in the convention. People were engaged and there was considerable productive debate regarding the by-laws and other topics at the convention. The delegates enjoyed the various events and activities held at the William Penn Hotel, such as the Black and Gold Tailgate Party and the cocktail party. At the cocktail party, the delegates wished Brother Milan Kovac a successful retirement effective January 1 st and presented him with a cake, and offered many, many congratulations. I thank all of our outgoing board members Emil Trgala, Steve Banjak, Ellen From left are Mark Omasta, Bryon Holick, Aaron Russell, Bill Layda, Guy Holick and Tom Omasta, members of Sokol Lodge 30 of Brookfield, Conn. Team Sokol competes in the Danbury Industrial Golf League and is one of the longest continuous teams that participates in the league of 42 teams with seven Divisions. The league consists of a 16-week season on seven different golf courses in which each division rotates weekly. This past season, Team Sokol finished in second place in their division in a close battle for the title, which was determined in the last week of the season. Joseph Bielecki Kovac, David Walko and Tim Brandt for their years of dedication and service to Sokol USA and for all of their many efforts in helping this society be a vibrant organization. Their devotion and hard work for Sokol USA has been greatly appreciated by all. I look forward to working with the new district board on our Sokol USA District 4000 activities in the coming year. My deepest sympathy to the family of our member James R. Stoker. Jim was a Sokol USA member of Lodge 276, Pittsburgh. In addition to being the Chief Executive Officer of GBU, Jim was actively involved in the dayto-day management of GBU up to the day of his untimely passing. He was active in the American Fraternal Alliance and numerous other charitable and fraternal organizations. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, and his two children. He will be greatly missed by many. I encourage our members to attend lodge meetings and various charitable activities, and to continue their efforts at physical fitness by participating in the walking club, the bicycle club, and other fitness activities conducted by our local lodges. Once again, as Brother Kovac s term winds down, I speak for all of our members in thanking him for his many years of devoted service to Sokol USA and for all of his efforts on our Society s behalf. I wish much happiness in his upcoming retirement. NAZDAR! Joe Bielecki President, Sokol USA

4 Page 4 SOKOL TIMES Everyone enjoyed the Black and Gold Tailgate Party on Saturday evening of the Convention

5 SOKOL TIMES Page 5. Delegates at the Sokol USA XXXV Convention held at the Omni William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pa. Delegates were encouraged to bring photo posters to share activities that are occurring in their lodges and districts. The colorful posters made a beautiful display across the back of the convention room and were enjoyed by all.

6 Page 6 SOKOL TIMES Happy Birthday! Former District Board Member Brother Gerald von Schwedler celebrated his 87 th birthday with family and friends on July 31 st. With him are his wife, Arlene, and youngest grandson, Brett. The opening session of the XXXV Sokol USA Convention began on Friday, August 11 th in Pittsburgh, Pa. Sokol USA District Board officers lined the sides of the convention room during the playing of the national anthems.

7 SOKOL TIMES Page 7 Black and Gold Tailgate Party at the Convention Sokol USA Profit & Loss January through June 2017 Sokol USA Balance Sheet As of June 30, 2017 IN MEMORY Of our deceased Brother and Sister Sokols with a sincere expression of sympathy to their families from the National Officers of Sokol U.S.A. FRANK BABIC ( ) A member of Lodge 114, Tarrytown, N.Y. BEATRICE BACHARDY ( ) A member of Lodge 500, East Orange, N.J. MELVIN BARNA ( ) A member of Lodge 240, Aliquippa, Pa. MICHAEL BRUZDA ( ) A member of Lodge 68, Blairsville, Pa. MARY CAMPBELL ( ) A member of Lodge 20, Ford City, Pa. OLGA CERNICKY ( ) A member of Lodge 130, New Kensington, Pa. JOSEPH CHAMBAL ( ) A member of Lodge 114, Tarrytown, N.Y. MICHAEL DERUBIS ( ) A member of Lodge 68, Blairsville, Pa. JOHN DOBISH ( ) A member of Lodge 26, Guttenberg, N.J. STEPHEN FUSEK ( ) A member of Lodge 30, Danbury, Conn. HELEN KOPY ( ) A member of Lodge 248, Rossford, Ohio. DONALD PICKEL ( ) A member of Lodge 276, Pittsburgh, Pa. NINA SMOLEN ( ) A member of Lodge 244, Westfield, Mass.

8 Page 8 SOKOL TIMES At left, President Joe Bielecki (right) recognized Fraternal Secretary Milan Kovac, who will be retiring from his position in Sokol USA at the end of this year. With them is former President Bea Walko. At right, Fraternal Secretary Milan Kovac was presented with a "thank you" cake for his 23 years of service to Sokol USA. Catching up at the Sunday Social at the Convention