Zarja Official Publication Slovenian Union of America Uradno Glasilo Slovenske Zveze v Ameriki $8.99 U.S./$15.99 International Volume 92 Issue 2 Summer 2020 The Dawn St. Roch, pray for us, that we may be preserved from all diseases of body and soul. We are ALL in this TOGETHER Slovenian Union of America 431 N. Chicago St., Joliet, IL 60432-1703 LAURIE LEHMAN TELEPHONE: 815.727.1926 WEBSITE: slovenianunion.org 2015-2019 National Board of Directors PRESIDENT: Mary Lou Deyak Voelk (Branch 23) marylouv174@gmail.com VP OF OUTREACH: Annette Charron (Branch 3) amtcharron@gmail.com VP OF HOME OFFICE: Richard Grill (Branch 99) rlgrill@hotmail.com VP OF MARKETING & FUNDRAISING: George Plautz (Branch 102) doblice@gmail.com VP OF CULTURE & HERITAGE: Beverly Kochmann (Branch 109) bbkochman@msn.com NATIONAL TREASURER: Robert J. Kuhel (Branch 16) rjkuhel@sbcglobal.net CORR./RECORDING SECRETARY: Mary Risner Glaize (Branch 30) tankandfrog1@yahoo.com STANDING COMMITTEES RESEARCH & ADVISORY Chuck Debevec (Branch 109) cfdebevec@live.com Richard Terselic (Branch 103) rat1@verizon.net EDUCATION GRANTS Frances Kovatovich (Branch 35) velike2000@yahoo.com Bill Zerial (Branch 99) billzer@sbcglobal.net Carol Rutkiewicz (Branch 109) PRESERVATION Carol Novak (Branch 20) sua@slovenianunion.org Carole Terlep (Branch 20) sua@slovenianunion.org Georgene Agnich (Branch 20) sua@slovenianunion.org FACEBOOK EDITOR: Mary Risner Glaize (Branch 30) tankandfrog1@yahoo.com DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS: Allison Hrovat (Branch 50) MEMBERSHIP MANAGER: Rick Mutz sua.members@gmail.com (ISSN 0044-1848) Postmaster: Send all changes of address to this location: SLOVENIAN UNION OF AMERICA 431 N. Chicago St., Joliet, IL 60432-1703 © Copyright All Rights Reserved Afternoon Outing 12”x16” (scene of Piran, Slovenia) Original Paintings of Slovenia laurielehmanartist.com 989-560-1645 Zarja - The Dawn EDITOR: Bonnie Pohar Prokup DIRECTOR OF DESIGN: Debbie Pohar CONSULTING EDITORS: Annette Charron and Bernadette K. Fitzsimmons EDITORIAL OFFICE: 3119 Carrie St., Peru, IL 61354 PUBLISHER: Slovenian Union of America Vol. 92, No. 2 Summer 2020 Published quarterly Periodicals Postage paid at Joliet, IL and additional mailing offices. Communications for the next issue of publication Do you have something you would like to share with readers? We would love to hear from you! Please e-mail the editor at wprokup@ aol.com. We reserve the right to edit any article submitted. Articles must be related to Slovenia, SUA events, or members. The deadline for articles is the 10th day of the month, two (2) months preceding the issue. For example, articles for the Fall issue must be received by July 10. Thank you. Submission Guidelines E-mail your photos attached as jpeg files. If you have an old photo that is irreplaceable, please make a good-quality copy to share with us. (Scanned copies must be a resolution of 300 or higher.) By submitting material for publication, you grant the Slovenian Union of America the use of the material including your name, hometown, and state. We may modify, reproduce, and distribute it in any SUA-authorized medium and in any manner or appropriate place. Living the Legacy of our Slovenian Heritage Slovenian Union of America, Inc (SUA) THE STATE OF THE UNION It is April 10, 2020. I am writing the State of the Union address. The fear of catching Covid-19 knowing there is no vaccine has caused a frenzy resulting in massive effects throughout the world. Godspeed to the medical staff and service people throughout the world. With their own lives in peril, they have stepped forward and become the caretakers of the people. During these stress-filled days, weeks, and perhaps longer, taking time to manage our anxieties and bewilderment by sheltering in a place we call home may be the only normal. No doubt, these are perilous times. Patron saints are known for their miraculous deeds. During times of peril, many humans searching for hope turn to intercessory prayers to patron saints such as St. Roch, Slovenia’s patron saint of plagues. Tradition says St. Roch miraculously cured people with the sign of the cross. When he became afflicted, the saint isolated in the forest. A dog tended to him, brought him food, and licked his wounds. According to tradition, an angel appeared in St. Roch’s cell after his death. The angel said that those who invoked his intercession would be cured of the plague. As early as the Council of Constance in 1414, the plague broke out in that city. Prayers and processions were offered in honor of St. Roch. The plague ceased immediately. His feast day is August 16. On March 16, 2020, Bishop Peter J. Jugis of Charlotte, North Carolina asked for intercessory prayers to St. Roch to end the coronavirus. Intercessory Prayer to St. Roch O Blessed St. Roch, Patron of the sick, Have pity on those Who lie upon a bed of suffering. Your power was so great When you were in this world, That by the sign of the Cross Many were healed of their diseases. Now that you are in heaven, Your power is not less. Offer, then, to God Our sighs and tears And obtain for us that health we seek Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain photo of St Roch (holy card). Summer 2020 (Repeat the following 3 times) St. Roch, pray for us, That we may be preserved From all diseases of body and soul. 1 National Board Meeting, Joliet, IL April 23-25, 2020 The annual board meeting and Member Rep meeting had been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. To meet the needs/issues of the SUA, the national board will be meeting periodically via Ready Talk during the spring and summer months. The National Board and Member Rep meetings have been rescheduled for early October 2020 in Joliet. The exact dates will be published in the Zarja Fall 2020 issue. Nowadays eBooks offer the biggest selection of books ever. The following article by Debevec and Terselic is right on. Today we are confined to our homes, yet a click of the mouse will bring the library to your computer. Happy reading! If You Like to Read, eBooks are Important to Know About The Bible was probably the first book of which large numbers of people wanted to have a copy. However, back in Old Testament times, the only way to get a copy was for someone else to handwrite a copy for you. It became a lot easier when the printing press was invented (1440). While you can always go to a bookstore or a public library to buy or borrow a book, computer technology has made it even easier for gaining access. While not everyone has access to a computer, the majority of people worldwide do have access. Personal computers that people have in their homes can display text, and text is the basis of eBooks. If you have received and read long emails from friends, relatives, or businesses, you have been essentially reading “eBooks” via computer. In 1997 Amazon made it easy to fit actual books onto an electronic device that would fit into your hands and let you read them anywhere that you chose. That device was called a Kindle and initially cost $399 to buy. Gaining access to eBooks also requires that you have Internet access. However, once you download onto your device, you need not maintain a connection to the Internet; you can read an eBook anywhere you choose as long as your battery remains charged. In the time since 1997, a fully developed industry of sorts has developed that greatly broadened the means by which you can gain access to tens of thousands of eBooks through the variety of devices that provide the access. Do You Have to Have a Kindle to Read eBooks? Amazon was the innovator as far as making eBooks available to readers; a Kindle is a type of “tablet” device now available for as low as $90. The technology that made it possible to display large amounts of text on a small screen has been around since the early 2000s. Thus, you don’t have to have an Amazon Kindle to download eBooks. It can be done to your personal computer (PC), tablet, or even your smart phone. However, reading an eBook on your smart phone may not be as pleasant as reading it on a device with a larger screen. 2 Where Can You Get eBooks? Whatever your subject matter and whoever the authors might be, it is likely that eBooks of your choosing will be available to you online. Amazon, as the early innovator, has a collection of tens of thousands of eBooks available at prices starting as low as $0. Public libraries also have them available to you, provided you have a library card that makes you an authorized borrower. The website www.overdrive.com can help you to determine if your library carries the book you are seeking. There are also non-public services from which you may gain access. As SUA members there is reason to believe that you have interest in subjects of special interest to persons of Slovenian heritage. The books of SlovenianAmerican authors, such as Louis Adamic, are probably available. Further, through the National Library of Slovenia (NUK) one can gain access to books found there as well as in European libraries. NUK has archives containing the full collection of Zarja issues, as well as many other Slovenian publications dating back to the late 1800s. The website is dlib.si. The European community has a system – EODOPEN – with thousands of books available for downloading. The books can be ordered on-line at search.books2ebooks. eu. Some are available in an already digitized form while others can be digitized on order. In the latter case, the price is approximately 0.20 Euros, or 0.22 US$ per page. The books are supplied as pdf files for which the Adobe Acrobat Reader DC is required. The Reader is available online and can be downloaded at no cost. The pdf files can also be read on a Kindle. Internet Archive is a non-profit library with millions of free books, magazines, music, and more. It can be accessed at archive.org. This provides the basics related to eBooks. Good reading! Chuck Debevec and Richard Terselic From the Republic of Slovenia, the Government Office for Slovenians Abroad: This office maintains ties with Slovenian national minorities living abroad, focusing on the promotion of cultural, economic, and other relations with Slovenia. The Slovenian Union of America has been awarded a grant of $1,500 for the purchase of the newest scanning equipment. Capabilities such as doublesided scanning, advanced paper feeding systems, and scanning via Wi-Fi are examples of the capabilities of this equipment. Branch 93, New York City, received a grant of $1,300 for continued Slovenian language lessons. Zarja - The Dawn From George Plautz VP of Marketing and Fundraising: Amazon/Smile Program AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon with the same products, prices, and shopping features as Amazon.com. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice. See details on page 9 of this issue. Also, look for future information on the Benevity program that allows employees to donate to an employer-sponsored charity or non-profit. L’Bri Over $300 of L’Bri products will be raffled off during the first week of December 2020. Raffle tickets will be in the September issue of Zarja. L’Bri is a company located in Wisconsin that makes body and makeup products. Men’s and Women’s Aprons A printer has been engaged to produce two designed black aprons for men and women featuring “Kiss the Cook” in Slovenian and English. Decals Selling decals was a suggestion that came from Branch 43. The decal has been designed, and the committee is awaiting the finished project and price quotes. Forget me nots books Planning is ongoing regarding the creation of a DVD for the story spoken in Slovenian. SUA Archival Papers In the very near future scanned archival material will be made available at a small cost to those who make such request. George Plautz (813-651-2075) or email at doblice@gmail.com To readers who requested a recipe for Kidneys and Gravy, it can be found in the Pots and Pans cookbook, page 186, and also on SUA Facebook. While searching for the kidney recipe I came upon the recipe for Slovenian spaghetti, page 177, as prepared by Ron Strele of Stefanich’s Restaurant in Joliet, Illinois. In its day, Stefanich’s was known for its Slovenian food. The sauce is thick with a deep taste! It has become the spaghetti sauce served in the Voelk home. In a call to Char Kobe, Branch 20 President, it was suggested the dish might make for a great annual Slovenian Spaghetti Day! It was rumored Diane Hohenwater brought crockpots of Slovenian Spaghetti to a board meeting? While the restaurant at 457 W N Scott Street is no more, its marquee continues to keep watch over the neighborhood. Lenten and Easter Window Display Thank you to Georgene Agnich of Branch 20 for designing a spiritual story of the Lenten and Easter season. The scene changed as the story unfolded, from Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday to the Crucifixion and the Risen Lord. Also in the window was a poster from St. Joseph Slovenian Catholic Church with the entire schedule of events through Easter Sunday. A large wooden cross, draped in purple satin became the focal point of the story. The cross was made by Georgene’s husband Jim. Walkers passing by would stop. Cars would slow down. It was the first time in memory the windows were made to reflect the passion story, and the first time most Christians did not enter a church but attended virtual services in their own home and in front of our museum windows. To je to, (this is it) Mary Lou Deyak Voelk, SUA President Summer 2020 3 The The The windows windows windows ofofof our our our Slovenian Slovenian Slovenian Heritage Heritage Heritage Museum Museum Museum ininin downdowndowntown town town Joliet Joliet Joliet were were were aadaily adaily daily reminder reminder reminder ofofof the the the Easter Easter Easter season season season and and and aacelebration acelebration celebration ofofof our our our Slovenian Slovenian Slovenian Lenten Lenten Lenten and and and Easter Easter Easter traditions. traditions. traditions. They They They were were were aabeacon abeacon beacon tototo all all all passersby passersby passersby ininin the the the darkest darkest darkest days days days ofofof the the the coronavirus coronavirus coronavirus pandemic pandemic pandemic and and and aatestament atestament testament tototo our our our enduring enduring enduring Slovenian Slovenian Slovenian heritage. heritage. heritage. SUA SUA SUA President President President Mary Mary Mary Lou Lou Lou Voelk, Voelk, Voelk, comcomcommenting menting menting ininin early early early February February February before before before the the the pandemic pandemic pandemic changed changed changed our our our lives, lives, lives, said said said that that that “The “The “The museum’s museum’s museum’s Lenten Lenten Lenten windows windows windows will will will be be be the the the only only only ‘church ‘church ‘church service’ service’ service’ that that that some some some passersby passersby passersby will will will attend attend attend during during during these these these forty forty forty days. days. days. We We We are are are not not not only only only celebrating celebrating celebrating our our our heritage. heritage. heritage. These These These windows windows windows have have have become become become aachurch achurch church service.” service.” service.” How How How could could could anyone anyone anyone have have have known known known just just just how how how grimly grimly grimly true true true her her her remarks remarks remarks would would would become, become, become, asasas the the the churches churches churches ininin Joliet Joliet Joliet and and and elseelseelsewhere where where soon soon soon were were were closed closed closed ininin fear fear fear ofofof the the the pandemic? pandemic? pandemic? Richard Richard Richard Grill, Grill, Grill, Vice Vice Vice President President President ofofofHome Home Home Office, Office, Office,had had hadsugsugsug- As As As Easter Easter Easter neared neared neared and and and the the the pandemic pandemic pandemic worsened, worsened, worsened, Georgene Georgene Georgene gested gested gested the the the idea idea idea ofofof “a“a“a window window window scene scene scene for for for the the the upcoming upcoming upcoming holy holy holy returned returned returned tototo the the the museum museum museum March March March 25 25 25 tototo hang hang hang aalarge alarge large “He “He “He IsIsIs season” season” season” tototo the the the other other other SUA SUA SUA Board Board Board members members members ininin early early early February. February. February. Risen” Risen” Risen” wreath wreath wreath on on on the the the cross cross cross ininin place place place ofofof the the the crown crown crown ofofof thorns thorns thorns Mary Mary Mary Lou Lou Lou Voelk Voelk Voelk then then then reached reached reached out out out tototo Joliet’s Joliet’s Joliet’s Branch Branch Branch 20 20 20 and and and tototo add add add St. St. St. Joseph Joseph Joseph Church’s Church’s Church’s Lenten Lenten Lenten schedule schedule schedule and and and an an an members members members and and and tototo St. St. St. Joseph Joseph Joseph Church Church Church tototo create create create “something “something “something announcement announcement announcementthat that thatthe the theDiocese Diocese DioceseofofofJoliet Joliet Joliethad had hadcancelled cancelled cancelled large large large that that that will will will cause cause cause people people people tototo stop stop stop and and and read.” read.” read.” all all all services services services asasas ofofof March March March 14, 14, 14, 2020. 2020. 2020. InInIn the the the other other other window, window, window, she she she displayed displayed displayed Slovenian Slovenian Slovenian Palm Palm Palm Sunday Sunday Sunday and and and Holy Holy Holy Saturday Saturday Saturday AAA week week week before before before Ash Ash Ash Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday, Branch Branch Branch 20 20 20 member member member GeorGeorGeor- customs. customs. customs. For For For Holy Holy Holy Saturday, Saturday, Saturday, she she she used used used aalarge alarge large poster, poster, poster, sugsugsuggene gene gene Agnich Agnich Agnichdisplayed displayed displayedaabeautiful abeautiful beautifulposter poster posterofofofSt. St. St.Joseph Joseph Joseph gested gested gested by by by Mary Mary Mary Lou, Lou, Lou, ofofof Maxim Maxim Maxim Gaspari’s Gaspari’s Gaspari’s folk folk folk painting painting painting ofofof Church’s Church’s Church’sLenten Lenten Lentenschedule, schedule, schedule,along along alongwith with withaahand-painted ahand-painted hand-painted Slovenians Slovenians Slovenians carrying carrying carrying baskets baskets baskets ofofof Easter Easter Easter foods foods foods tototo church church church tototo wooden wooden wooden crucifix crucifix crucifix and and and three three three prayer prayer prayer books books books from from from the the the museum’s museum’s museum’s be be be blessed blessed blessed (Žegen). (Žegen). (Žegen). She She She included included included the the the hand-painted hand-painted hand-painted crucifix, crucifix, crucifix, collection collection collection ininin one one one ofofof the the the windows. windows. windows. InInIn the the the other other other window, window, window, she she she aarelated arelated related article article article from from from The The The Slovenian-American Slovenian-American Slovenian-American Table, Table, Table, and and and presented presented presented Pust Pust Pust (Slovenian (Slovenian (Slovenian Carnival), Carnival), Carnival), with with with aalarge alarge large poster poster poster aaframed aframed framed Zarja Zarja Zarja cover cover cover showing showing showing Slovenian Slovenian Slovenian Easter Easter Easter eggs. eggs. eggs. For For For created created created from from from the the the Pust Pust Pust article article article ininin The The The Slovenian-American Slovenian-American Slovenian-American Palm Palm Palm Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, she she she chose chose chose aasmall asmall small poster poster poster ofofof Lucille Lucille Lucille DragoDragoDragoTable, Table, Table, along along along with with with aaframed aframed framed Zarja Zarja Zarja cover cover cover and and and article article article about about about van’s van’s van’sJoliet Joliet Jolietmural mural muraldepicting depicting depictingaaPalm aPalm PalmSunday Sunday Sundayprocession procession procession Pust Pust Pust and and and aaKurent aKurent Kurent poster poster poster from from from the the the museum. museum. museum. inininSlovenia, Slovenia, Slovenia,aaasmall small small poster poster postercreated created createdfrom from from The The TheSlovenian-AmerSlovenian-AmerSlovenian-American ican icanTable Table Tabledescribing describing describing the the thebutarice butarice butaricethat that thatSloSloSlovenians venians venians carry carry carry on on on Palm Palm Palm Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, and and and an an an actual actual actual butara butara butara from from from the the the musemusemuseum’s um’s um’scollection. collection. collection.She She She completed completed completed the the the display display display with with withcandles, candles, candles,vases vases vases ofofoftiny tiny tinycloth cloth clothflowers, flowers, flowers, and and and aacopy acopy copy ofofof The The The SloSloSlovenian-American venian-American venian-AmericanTaTaTable ble ble opened opened opened tototo “Velika “Velika “Velika Noč” Noč” Noč” (Easter). (Easter). (Easter). ItItItisisisunknown unknown unknownhow how how The The The day day day before before before Ash Ash Ash Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday, Georgene Georgene Georgene removed removed removed the the the mmm aananynyy ppapasasssseserersrsbsbybyy Pust Pust Pust display display display and and and replaced replaced replaced ititwith itwith with aafive-foot afive-foot five-foot wooden wooden wooden cross cross cross viewed viewed viewed the the the museum’s museum’s museum’s Lenten Lenten Lenten windows windows windows asasas human human human activity activity activity made made made by by by her her her husband, husband, husband, James James James Schaible. Schaible. Schaible. She She She draped draped draped the the the cross cross cross drastically drastically drastically decreased decreased decreased during during during the the the pandemic, pandemic, pandemic, but but but the the the winwinwinwith with with the the the purple purple purple satin satin satin Mary Mary Mary Lou Lou Lou had had had sent, sent, sent, placing placing placing aalarge alarge large dows dows dows were were were bright bright bright with with with the the the promise promise promise ofofof Easter Easter Easter and and and the the the hope hope hope wooden wooden wooden rosary rosary rosary and and and two two two prayer prayer prayer books books books from from from the the the museum museum museum ofofof better better better days days days tototo come. come. come. atatat its its its base. base. base. She She She later later later added added added aacrown acrown crown ofofof thorns thorns thorns tototo the the the cross. cross. cross. 444 Zarja Zarja Zarja - -The -The The Dawn Dawn Dawn Congratulations & Thank You for Your Support! SUA’s 2020 fund-raiser April’s Showers of Dollars was a huge success. Your 611 entries were very much appreciated! The profit enhanced all aspects of the activities planned for Member Representatives and all attendees at SUA’s 29th National Convention being held in Pueblo, Colorado, in June 2023. Top Seller Winner’s List: 1st Place (26 Sold) - Loretta Urh 2nd Place (13 Sold) - Lori Bond 3rd Place (13 Sold) - Barbara Friesenhahn Branch 43 – Milwaukee, WI Branch 20 – Joliet, IL Branch 5 – Indianapolis, IN $150.00 $ 75.00 $ 75.00 With the 2nd and 3rd Places being a tie, the prize amounts, $100 & $50, respectively, were totaled and divided by two. Daily Entry Winners: Entrant Apr. 1 Mike Knopick, Broadview Hts., OH Apr. 2 Kay Lennon, Joliet, IL Apr. 3 Michael Regis, Joliet, IL Apr. 4 Diane Varney, Akron, OH Apr. 5 Kathleen Starcevich, Pueblo, CO Apr. 6 Janyce Eviston, Loves Park, IL Apr. 7 Pat Drasler, Waukegan, IL Apr. 8 Terrance Haggerty, Joliet, IL Apr. 9 Dolores L. Ambrozich, Joliet, IL Apr. 10 Lori Bond, Joliet, IL Apr. 11 Anna Lomshek, Pittsburg, KS Apr. 12 Ralph Dottai, Sheboygan, WI Apr. 13 Judith Howard, Wilmington, IL Apr. 14 Tony Kambich, Winnetka, IL Apr. 15 Brett Johnstone, Wind Lake, WI Apr. 16 Jessica Reesman, Savannah, GA Apr. 17 William Ferguson, Joliet, IL Apr. 18 Donna Chesko, Morris, IL Apr. 19 Jennifer Grah, Chicago, IL Apr. 20 Candy Johnson, Eau Claire, WI Apr. 21 Joan Lesnik, Lockport, IL Apr. 22 Christine Label, New Berlin, WI Apr. 23 Mary Terselic, Frederick, MD Apr. 24 Delores A. Spelich, La Salle, IL Apr. 25 Tony Kambich, Winnetka, IL Apr. 26 Diane Data, Peru, IL Apr. 27 Barbara Carnes, Maple Lake, MN Apr. 28 Sam Murphy c/o Norm Setnicker Apr. 29 Joanna Johnston, Hawthorn Woods, IL Apr. 30 Tony Kambich, Winnetka, IL $210 $75 $65 $75 $75 $75 $65 $65 $75 $75 $65 $210 $65 $75 $65 $75 $75 $75 $65 $75 $75 $75 $75 $75 $75 $75 $75 $65 $65 $210 Amount Won/Seller/Branch #, Location Same – BR 111, Northeast Ohio Same – BR 30, At Large Dorothy Regis – BR 20, Joliet, IL Same – BR 111, Northeast Ohio Same – BR 3, Pueblo, CO Same – BR 24, La Salle, IL Loretta Urh – BR 43, Milwaukee, WI Lori Bond – BR 20, Joliet, IL Same – BR 20, Joliet, IL Same – BR 20, Joliet, IL Jerry D. Lomshek – BR 100, Southern CA Same – BR 1, Sheboygan, WI Helen Walsh – BR 20, Joliet, IL Same – BR 20, Joliet, IL John K. Johnstone – BR 43, Milwaukee, WI Same – BR 89, Oglesby, IL Same – BR 20, Joliet, IL Same – BR 20, Joliet, IL Julie Grah – BR 2, Chicago, IL Same – BR 102, Willard, WI Same – BR 20, Joliet, IL Same – BR 43, Milwaukee, WI Same – BR 103, Washington, DC Same – BR 24, La Salle, IL Same – BR 20, Joliet, IL Same – BR 24, La Salle, IL Same – BR 109, Twin Cities, MN Norm Setnicker – BR 109, Twin Cities, MN Dorothy Mahan – BR 20, Joliet, IL Same – BR 20, Joliet, IL Top Branch Support – Entries Sold: 140 – Branch 20, Joliet, IL 84 – Branch 30, At-Large 57 – Branch 43, Milwaukee, WI 53 – Branch 111, Northeast Ohio 38 – Branch 109, Twin Cities, MN Summer 2020 5 The The TheSlovenian Slovenian SlovenianUnion Union UnionofofofAmerica’s America’s America’sSlovenian Slovenian SlovenianLiterary Literary LiteraryAward Award AwardCommittee Committee Committee isisispleased pleased pleasedtototoannounce announce announceour our our2020 2020 2020winner: winner: winner:The The Thenecklace. necklace. necklace.by by byAllyn Allyn AllynHowey. Howey. Howey. Allyn Allyn AllynHowey Howey Howeyisisisaafood afood foodservice service serviceworker worker workerand and andsometime sometime sometimepoet poet poetliving living livinginininPhiladelphia, Philadelphia, Philadelphia,Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania. Allyn’s Allyn’s Allyn’s great-grandmother great-grandmother great-grandmother immigrated immigrated immigrated tototo the the the States States States from from from her her her hometown hometown hometown ofofof Ptuj, Ptuj, Ptuj, Slovenia. Slovenia. Slovenia. At At At 10 10 10 years years years old, old, old, Allyn Allyn Allyn was was waslucky lucky luckyenough enough enoughtotototravel travel traveltototoSlovenia Slovenia Sloveniawith with withher her hergrandparents grandparents grandparentsand and andtour tour tourthe the thegorgeous gorgeous gorgeouscountryside, countryside, countryside,sightsightsightseeing, seeing, seeing, visiting visiting visiting cousins, cousins, cousins, and and and being being being fed fed fed like like like royalty. royalty. royalty. While While While her her her grandparents grandparents grandparents were were were living, living, living, they they they instilled instilled instilled ininin Allyn Allyn Allynaasense asense senseofofofpride pride prideand and andpassion passion passionfor for forSlovenian Slovenian Slovenianculture, culture, culture,food, food, food,and and andpolka. polka. polka. Though Though Thoughthey they theyhave have havebeen been beengone gone gone for for for aalong along long time, time, time, Allyn Allyn Allyn strives strives strives tototo keep keep keep their their their legacies legacies legacies alive alive alive ininin her her her life life life and and and poetry. poetry. poetry. Congratulations, Congratulations, Congratulations, Allyn! Allyn! Allyn! The The The necklace. necklace. necklace. prologue. prologue. prologue. The The The necklace necklace necklace itself itself itself isisis nothing nothing nothing remarkable. remarkable. remarkable. AAA frail frail frail gold gold gold medallion, medallion, medallion, etched etched etched tototo glimmer glimmer glimmer ininin the the the light. light. light. I Iremember Iremember remember ititdangles itdangles dangles from from from my my my grandmother’s grandmother’s grandmother’s neck, neck, neck, sometimes sometimes sometimes she she she lets lets lets me me me touch touch touch it.it.it. ItItIt quivers quivers quivers rolling rolling rolling potica, potica, potica, and and and ininin the the the echo echo echo ofofof rare rare rare belly belly belly laughs. laughs. laughs. isisis rolling rolling rolling the the the necklace necklace necklace between between between her her her fingers, fingers, fingers, superstisuperstisuperstitiously, tiously, tiously, listening, listening, listening, when when when she she she realizes realizes realizes the the the official official official simply simply simply doesn’t doesn’t doesn’t have have have the the the tongue tongue tongue tototo pronounce pronounce pronounce her. her. her. [According [According [According tototo my my my father’s father’s father’s genealogical genealogical genealogical records: records: records: “This “This “This may may may explain explain explain some some some ofofof the the the markings markings markings on on on the the the ship’s ship’s ship’s manifest manifest manifest that that that look look look like like like aaname aname name was was was crossed crossed crossed out out out and and and the the the name name name “Antonija “Antonija “Antonija Pecuh” Pecuh” Pecuh” was was was written written written ininin later.”] later.”] later.”] ItItIt belongs belongs belongs tototo her her her mother, mother, mother, who who who isisis there there there with with with ususus and and and has has has InInIn the the the corner corner corner ofofof aaroom aroom room ininin 1990, 1990, 1990, there there there rests rests rests aacane acane cane never never never been been been there there there with with with ususus all all all ininin the the the kitchen. kitchen. kitchen. My My My aunt aunt aunt and and and which which which belongs belongs belongs tototo her, her, her, which which which isisis not not not really really really aacane, acane, cane, but but but aaa my my my mother mother mother lean lean lean easily easily easily on on on the the the dark dark dark wood wood wood cabinets cabinets cabinets that that that stick. stick. stick. Yes, Yes, Yes, aaplain aplain plain branch branch branch Tonchka Tonchka Tonchka plucks plucks plucks from from from the the the bare bare bare my my my grandfather grandfather grandfather built built built (he (he (he isisis somewhere somewhere somewhere compelling compelling compelling my my my ground ground ground ininin aamoment amoment moment ofofof need, need, need, loves loves loves sososo much much much she she she has has has ititit father father father and and and uncle uncle uncle tototo drink drink drink jagermeister jagermeister jagermeister from from from tiny tiny tiny crystal crystal crystal smoothed smoothed smoothed and and and varnished, varnished, varnished, has has has the the the bottom bottom bottom leveled leveled leveled and and and aaa goblets) goblets) goblets) - -and -and and my my my grandmother grandmother grandmother always always always half-minding half-minding half-minding small small small metal metal metal plate plate plate added added added that that that says says says words words words I Ican’t Ican’t can’t rememrememrememthe the the pot pot pot (I(I(I barely barely barely remember remember remember this) this) this) - -this -this this isisis where where where the the the belly belly belly ber, ber, ber, aadate. adate. date. I Iglide Iglide glide my my my hands hands hands over over over the the the canestick, canestick, canestick, touching touching touching laughs laughs laughs live. live. live. the the the carved carved carved signatures signatures signatures ofofof all all all the the the marvelous marvelous marvelous strangers strangers strangers she she she meets meets meets ininin her her her travels. travels. travels. Grinning, Grinning, Grinning, emanating emanating emanating another another another moment moment moment ininin another another another kitchen, kitchen, kitchen, where where where I Iam Iam am not, not, not, but but but Tonchka Tonchka Tonchka isisis there, there, there, my my my great-grandgreat-grandgreat-grand- ii.ii.ii. It’s It’s It’s June June June 1956, 1956, 1956, and and and maybe maybe maybe the the the Theotokos Theotokos Theotokos isisis swaying swaying swaying mother, mother, mother, dropping dropping dropping the the the silverware silverware silverware and and and saying saying saying company’s company’s company’s gently gently gently away away away from from from Tonhcka’s Tonhcka’s Tonhcka’s neck neck neck asasas she she she leans leans leans over over over the the the coming! coming! coming! (You (You (You see, see, see, we we we just just just miss miss miss each each each other.) other.) other.) I Iremember Iremember remember rail rail rail ofofof her her her ship, ship, ship, bound bound bound home home home tototo Slovenia. Slovenia. Slovenia. Surely Surely Surely she she she I Ithink, Ithink, think, what what what aalady alady lady she she she must must must have have have been, been, been, tototo have have have comcomcomclutches clutches clutches ititfrom itfrom from time time time tototo time, time, time, praying praying praying for for for her her her three three three small small small manded manded manded my my my own own own grandmother! grandmother! grandmother! More More More formidable, formidable, formidable, even, even, even, grandchildren. grandchildren. grandchildren. She She She isisis 58 58 58 now now now and and and will will will not not not return return return tototo the the the than than than my my my grandmother’s grandmother’s grandmother’s sister, sister, sister, Aurelia, Aurelia, Aurelia, who who who once, once, once, atatat aaa States States States for for for six six six months. months. months. tepid tepid tepid cocktail cocktail cocktail party, party, party, lay lay lay herself herself herself upon upon upon the the the serving serving serving table, table, table, arms arms arms folded folded folded like like like aacadaver acadaver cadaver with with with aagreen agreen green onion onion onion corsage, corsage, corsage, These These These letters letters letters are are are the the the last last last remaining remaining remaining written written written record record record ofofof her her her and and and trilled: trilled: trilled: This This This party party party isisis dead! dead! dead! We’re We’re We’re going going going tototo have have have aaa life, life, life, and and and I Ianoint Ianoint anoint my my my skin skin skin with with with the the the words, words, words, flexing flexing flexing and and and wake! wake! wake! And And And who who who could could could yyyyyyyyyyip! yyyyyyyyyyip! yyyyyyyyyyip! Like Like Like aatrue atrue true SloveSloveSlove- folding folding folding my my my hands. hands. hands. nian nian nian on on on the the the polka polka polka floor, floor, floor, Aunt Aunt Aunt Really. Really. Really. [My [My [My mother mother mother transcribes: transcribes: transcribes: “After “After “After super super super went went went up up up on on on the the the We We We are are are always always always ininin the the the kitchen, kitchen, kitchen, ititis itisis our our our HQ. HQ. HQ. At At At least least least for for for aaa deck”, deck”, deck”, Tonhcka Tonhcka Tonhcka writes, writes, writes, “in “in “in aalittle alittle little while while while somebody somebody somebody tap tap tap little little little each each each time time time we we we convene. convene. convene. We We We come come come tototo air air air our our our secrets, secrets, secrets, me me me on on on my my my shoulder shoulder shoulder and and and here here here was was was my my my spanish spanish spanish lady lady lady friend friend friend read read read back back back the the the minutes, minutes, minutes, preserve preserve preserve our our our kitchen kitchen kitchen history. history. history. aaverry averry verry nice nice nice person person person and and and she she she said said said tototo me me me kosce kosce kosce vola vola vola plaja plaja plaja dididi canasta canasta canasta sisisi ha, ha, ha, and and and I Isaid Isaid said bona bona bona signora signora signora me me me plaja plaja plaja canasta canasta canasta i.i.The i.The The necklace, necklace, necklace, ititseems itseems seems tototo me, me, me, isisis atatat this this this very very very moment moment moment and and and her her her answering answering answering tototo me me me aaki akiki swe swe swe bona bona bona signora signora signora mia mia mia worn worn worn by by by every every every woman woman woman ininin my my my family family family and and and very very very likely likely likely gracia.” gracia.” gracia.” many many many women women women from from from very very very many many many once-Catholic once-Catholic once-Catholic immigrant immigrant immigrant families, families, families, the the the gold gold gold isisis thin, thin, thin, the the the chain chain chain cheap, cheap, cheap, and and and the the the mememe- Tonchka Tonchka Tonchka rises rises rises early early early the the the next next next morning, morning, morning, asasas every every every morning morning morning dallion dallion dallion depicts depicts depicts Theotokos, Theotokos, Theotokos, God-bearer, God-bearer, God-bearer, whom whom whom we we we like like like tototo on on on the the the ship, ship, ship, tototo show show show the the the Theotokos’ Theotokos’ Theotokos’ face face face tototo the the the sunrise, sunrise, sunrise, call call call mother. mother. mother. and and and tototo write write write tototo her her her daughters: daughters: daughters: “me “me “me and and and spanjolka spanjolka spanjolka won won won 33games, 3games, games, Ivan Ivan Ivan and and and Captain Captain Captain Pesoli Pesoli Pesoli one one one game. game. game. At At At 11:30 11:30 11:30 Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps Tonchka Tonchka Tonchka isisis wearing wearing wearing this this this necklace necklace necklace right right right now now now went went went tototo sleep. sleep. sleep. The The The wheater wheater wheater still still still isisis beutifull. beutifull. beutifull. Last Last Last night night night III while while while she she she isisis waiting waiting waiting three three three days days days atatat Ellis Ellis Ellis Island Island Island for for for her her her saw saw saw another another another ship ship ship far far far far far far away.”] away.”] away.”] name name name tototo be be be called. called. called. It’s It’s It’s November November November 1920, 1920, 1920, and and and perhaps perhaps perhaps she she she 666 Zarja Zarja Zarja - -The -The The Dawn Dawn Dawn iii. iii. iii. The The The necklace, necklace, necklace, ititmust itmust must be be be admitted, admitted, admitted, would would would be be be aafar afar far more more more omnipotent omnipotent omnipotent narrator. narrator. narrator. Theotokos Theotokos Theotokos isisis there there there aafew afew few days days days later later later when when when Tonchka Tonchka Tonchka (age (age (age 58) 58) 58) accepts accepts accepts the the the arm arm arm ofofof an an an anonymous anonymous anonymous gentleman gentleman gentleman from from from California California California tototo go go go exploring exploring exploring ininin Casablanca Casablanca Casablanca because because because her her her friends friends friends are are are taking taking taking too too too long. long. long. Theotokos Theotokos Theotokos catches catches catches the the the glint glint glint ofofof Tonchka’s Tonchka’s Tonchka’s tears tears tears when when when she she she says says says goodbye goodbye goodbye tototo her her her Spanjolka Spanjolka Spanjolka there there there [“I [“I [“I believe believe believe ififif she she she stayed stayed stayed on on on for for for the the the rest rest rest ofofof the the the trip trip trip I Iwould Iwould would learn learn learn Spanish”] Spanish”] Spanish”] gleams gleams gleams like like like aamedal amedal medal on on on her her her breast breast breast when when when she she she isisis called, called, called, aboard aboard aboard the the the ship, ship, ship, “canasta “canasta “canasta champion.” champion.” champion.” not not not aachild, achild, child, I Istill Istill still see see see my my my grandmother, grandmother, grandmother, nine nine nine years years years after after after her her her passing, passing, passing, real real real and and and close close close asasas the the the necklace necklace necklace isisis tototo me. me. me. Theotokos Theotokos Theotokos follows follows follows her her her into into into Casablanca, Casablanca, Casablanca, Tangiers, Tangiers, Tangiers, PomPomPompeii, peii, peii, God-bearer God-bearer God-bearer isisis there there there weeks weeks weeks after after after the the the pen pen pen runs runs runs out out out ofofof ink, ink, ink, when when when Tonchka Tonchka Tonchka arrives arrives arrives ininin her her her motherland, motherland, motherland, the the the necknecknecklace lace lace isisis around around around her her her when when when she she she returns returns returns tototo her her her daughters daughters daughters and and and tells tells tells them them them every every every detail detail detail and and and perhaps perhaps perhaps Theotokos Theotokos Theotokos knows knows knows everything everything everything while while while I Iknow Iknow know sososo very very very little. little. little. New NewWelcome Members Members Welcome Welcome---Dobrodošli Dobrodošli Dobrodošli iv. iv. iv. Read Read Read back back back the the the minutes minutes minutes from from from our our our last last last meeting. meeting. meeting. [Ac[Ac[According cording cording tototo my my my father’s father’s father’s genealogical genealogical genealogical records records records for for for my my my grandmother: grandmother: grandmother: “She “She “She witnessed witnessed witnessed the the the death death death ofofof Antonia Antonia Antonia Pecuh Pecuh Pecuh 31 31 31 January January January 1982 1982 1982 atatat Zebrugg Zebrugg Zebrugg Memorial Memorial Memorial Hospital, Hospital, Hospital, Riverside.”] Riverside.”] Riverside.”] Theotokos, Theotokos, Theotokos, seer seer seer ofofof all, all, all, trinket trinket trinket who who who will will will survive survive survive us, us, us, isisis there, there, there, grasped, grasped, grasped, bequeathed, bequeathed, bequeathed, matter matter matter that that that can can can never never never be be be destroyed. destroyed. destroyed. Theotokos. Theotokos. Theotokos. Always Always Always everywhere everywhere everywhere right right right now, now, now, always always always alone, alone, alone, always always always belonging belonging belonging tototo someone someone someone else, else, else, crossing crossing crossing unfathomunfathomunfathomable able able oceans, oceans, oceans, Theotokos Theotokos Theotokos diaspora. diaspora. diaspora. She She She isisis there there there when when when Spanjolka Spanjolka Spanjolka taps taps taps on on on Tonchka’s Tonchka’s Tonchka’s shoulder, shoulder, shoulder, rippling rippling rippling with with with inscrutable inscrutable inscrutable light light light wherever wherever wherever two two two women women women conspire conspire conspire tototo cause cause cause trouble trouble trouble together. together. together. Theotokos Theotokos Theotokos isisis already already already there there there during during during WWII, WWII, WWII, toiling toiling toiling alongalongalongside side side my my my grandmother grandmother grandmother ininin the the the South South South Philadelphia Philadelphia Philadelphia shipshipshipyards, yards, yards, whispering whispering whispering “wars “wars “wars make make make armies armies armies ofofof women, women, women, too.” too.” too.” epilogue. epilogue. epilogue. ItItIt isisis June June June ininin the the the early early early 1990s, 1990s, 1990s, and and and we we we are are are ininin the the the kitchen, kitchen, kitchen, and and and Theotokos Theotokos Theotokos isisis there, there, there, many many many ofofof her, her, her, polysepolysepolysemous. mous. mous. Tonchka Tonchka Tonchka isisis there, there, there, I Ican Ican can see see see her her her because because because my my my grandgrandgrandmother, mother, mother, my my my mother, mother, mother, my my my aunt, aunt, aunt, breathe breathe breathe her her her into into into the the the room room room and and and she she she mingles mingles mingles with with with the the the smells smells smells ofofof the the the tomato tomato tomato gravy, gravy, gravy, and and and because because because I Iam Iam am aachild, achild, child, her her her image image image more more more definite definite definite than than than the the the tiny tiny tiny golden golden golden face face face on on on the the the necklace. necklace. necklace. ItItIt isisis Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Thanksgiving 2011, 2011, 2011, 2012, 2012, 2012, 2013. 2013. 2013. The The The meal meal meal isisis over, over, over, my my my mother, mother, mother, my my my aunt, aunt, aunt, and and and I Iin Iinin the the the kitchen, kitchen, kitchen, scraping, scraping, scraping, rinsing, rinsing, rinsing, washing washing washing plates, plates, plates, containing containing containing and and and distributing distributing distributing leftleftleftovers overs overs (all (all (all ofofof the the the nightmare nightmare nightmare organizational organizational organizational aftermath aftermath aftermath ofofof aaa great great great family family family meal) meal) meal) we we we delegate delegate delegate wordlessly, wordlessly, wordlessly, aatime-oiled atime-oiled time-oiled tupperware tupperware tupperware machine. machine. machine. And And And after after after that, that, that, chatting chatting chatting while while while we we we dry dry dry dishes dishes dishes (each (each (each piece piece piece ofofof China China China by by by hand, hand, hand, helped helped helped by by by the the the bottomless bottomless bottomless drawer drawer drawer full full full ofofof clean, clean, clean, dry dry dry towels), towels), towels), though though though I Iam Iam am Summer Summer Summer 2020 2020 2020 Where Where Where my my my grandmother grandmother grandmother followed followed followed Tonchka, Tonchka, Tonchka, each each each year year year more more more extraordinary extraordinary extraordinary women women women ofofof my my my acquaintance acquaintance acquaintance are are are bound. bound. bound. The The The one one one place place place Theotokos Theotokos Theotokos never never never goes. goes. goes. She She She stays stays stays and and and shows shows shows ususus how how how tototo anoint anoint anoint our our our skins skins skins with with with their their their words, words, words, light light light the the the incense, incense, incense, read read read back back back the the the minutes. minutes. minutes. It’s It’s It’s the the the most most most and and and the the the least least least we we we can can can do. do. do. Remember Remember Remember them, them, them, remember remember remember and and and survive. survive. survive. 001, 001, 001, Brager, Brager, Brager, Joseph Joseph Joseph F.F.F. 001, 001, 001, Mintner, Mintner, Mintner, Gary Gary Gary 001, 001, 001, Pentek, Pentek, Pentek, Sharon Sharon Sharon A. A. A. 002, 002, 002, Kuhel, Kuhel, Kuhel, Ashley Ashley Ashley 002, 002, 002, Prinz, Prinz, Prinz, Emily Emily Emily Ann Ann Ann 003, 003, 003, Cucek, Cucek, Cucek, Mira Mira Mira 003, 003, 003, Cunningham, Cunningham, Cunningham, Bridget Bridget Bridget 003, 003, 003, Cunningham, Cunningham, Cunningham, Sean Sean Sean 003, 003, 003, Cunningham, Cunningham, Cunningham, Shannon Shannon Shannon 003, 003, 003, Douglas, Douglas, Douglas, Caleb Caleb Caleb 003, 003, 003, Douglas, Douglas, Douglas, Rylee Rylee Rylee 003, 003, 003, Kennedy, Kennedy, Kennedy, Carol Carol Carol 003, 003, 003, Kihn, Kihn, Kihn, Sara Sara Sara 003, 003, 003, Myers, Myers, Myers, Carol Carol Carol 003, 003, 003, Nunez, Nunez, Nunez, Emily Emily Emily 003, 003, 003, Nunez, Nunez, Nunez, Haley Haley Haley 003, 003, 003, Shelton, Shelton, Shelton, Mary Mary Mary Beth Beth Beth 003, 003, 003, Ulisse, Ulisse, Ulisse, Patricia Patricia Patricia 003, 003, 003, Zallen, Zallen, Zallen, Sloan Sloan Sloan 003, 003, 003, Zallen, Zallen, Zallen, Zara Zara Zara 016, 016, 016, Ewan, Ewan, Ewan, Brandon Brandon Brandon M. M. M. 016, 016, 016, Ewan, Ewan, Ewan, Megan Megan Megan K. K. K. 020, 020, 020, Boudreau, Boudreau, Boudreau, Denise Denise Denise 030, 030, 030, Douglas, Douglas, Douglas, Belle Belle Belle 030, 030, 030, Douglas, Douglas, Douglas, Cole Cole Cole 030, 030, 030, Thomas, Thomas, Thomas, Mary Mary Mary 089, 089, 089, Gorenz, Gorenz, Gorenz, David David David 089, 089, 089, Kuhel Kuhel Kuhel OSU, OSU, OSU, Sister Sister Sister Marie Marie Marie Ellen Ellen Ellen 100, 100, 100, Gray, Gray, Gray, Amy Amy Amy Anne Anne Anne 108, 108, 108, Hester, Hester, Hester, Daniel Daniel Daniel 108, 108, 108, Kokal, Kokal, Kokal, Erika Erika Erika 108, 108, 108, Kokal, Kokal, Kokal, Lisa Lisa Lisa 108, 108, 108, Kokal, Kokal, Kokal, May May May 108, 108, 108, Sanders, Sanders, Sanders, Jonna Jonna Jonna Ann Ann Ann 109, 109, 109, Vovk, Vovk, Vovk, Frank Frank Frank 111, 111, 111, Globokar, Globokar, Globokar, Paul Paul Paul 111, 111, 111, Zakrajsek, Zakrajsek, Zakrajsek, Katelyn Katelyn Katelyn 777 Donations $100 Donation Barbara Bruch, 089, + The Terselic Girls Carleen Ozanich, 109, + Jennie Ozanich Charles Dolinar, 023, SUA Frances Oldenburg, 020, Building Improvements George J. Plautz, 102, SUA Jim Miklich, 100, SUA Kathleen DeMuth, 002, Educational Grant Marcelene Brann, 111, + Albina Marsey & Charlene Glass Michael J. Kravcar, 100, + Joseph T. Kravcar RIP 8-30-2019 Richard Smolich, 020, + Anton & Mary Smolich Stacy Mavec, 099, + Paula Mavec William Ferguson, 020, Building Improvements $70 Donation Anthony Kambich, 020, Educational Grant + Anton J. & Helen M. Kambich Georgina M. Varani, 030, SUA John Zakelj, 109, SUA Kathleen Clime, 093, SUA + Josef Kozole & Marija Gmajnic Leslie Ferguson, 020, SUA Mariana Burger, 093, Educational Grant Peggy Argubright, 100, SUA Rosemary Kostansek, 111, + Rose Gerlica Zuzek Sonja Mosquin, 093, SUA $65 Donation Barbara Friesenhahn, 005, SUA $50 Donation Aggie Haslup, 111, + Teresa (Vrcek) Gorup Anne K. Stratton, 108, + Louise Tamse Hagan Boris Durjava, 100, + Stefan & Sonja Durjava Frances Oldenburg, 020, + Mary Rojic Hermine Blatnik Morrow, 111, + Albin J. Blatnik Jacob Yakos, 003, SUA Joyce Ferlic Arredondo, 111, +George & Mary Ferlic Karl Ocepek, 108, Educational Grant Karl Ocepek, 108, Cultural Grant Kathleen DeMuth, 002, SUA Mary Ann Greiner, 111, SUA 8 Thank you! -Hvala lepa! Mary Ann Teitelbaum, 111, + Mary Ferlic & Mary Mlach Mary M. Ravnikar, 023, Educational Grant Nancy Jagodnik, 111, + Marie Beck Renata Weber, 093, + Ivana Slavec $45 Donation Jeanne Just, 020, + Ann Krasovec Kraus $40 Donation Frank Pohar, 024, + Helen Swietek & Josephine Pohar Katherine Gorton, 001, + Fannie Smole $30 Donation Angela Nankin, 043, + Alice Delopst Barbara Sostakowski, 111, SUA Connie Newberg, 023, Building Improvements Elizabeth Gross, 093, + Rozi Klansek & Johan Martincic Linda Edgington, 100, SUA Patricia Warren, 026, Building Improvements Wileen Dragovan, 100, SUA $25 Donation Annette M. Charron, 003, Cultural Bonita (Bonney) Zupan, 100, + Joseph & Francesca Klaus Deborah Voelk Good, 033, Cultural Grant Dorothy Andrews, 111, + Margaret Slavec Ostroska Edward A. Tesovnik, 001, + Olga Saye Georgene Agnich, 020, Building Improvements Helen Baumann, 001, + Daniella Zagozen Jo Ann Dryden, 102, H/O Dolores Kozar Maki Jo Ann Dryden, 102, + Rose Peritz Kozar, Koschak & Francel Families of Willard, WI Kathleen Schroeder, 001, + Dorothy Brezonik Mary Louise Terselic, 108, Educational Grant; H/O Richard A. Terselic Michelle Carlson, 023, + Florence V. Markovich Michelle Carlson, 023, H/O Julia Puzel Richard Terselic, 108, Cultural Grant + Mathilda Terselic Terri Kashman, 005, + Rosie Dugar Zarja - The Dawn $20 Donation Angela M. Zaida, 020, SUA Anne M. Antich, 099, SUA Bernadine Gudac, 020, SUA Beth Ann Manion, 002, Cultural Grant Betty Wiley, 003, + George & Elizabeth Skube Catherine Bokar, 020, H/O Mother - Magaret Bokar Dorothy Govednik Cummings, 030, + John Govednik Family Elizabeth Walker, 005, Educational Grant Frank Udovich, 023, SUA Fredrick Mlakar, 100, SUA Genevieve Buol, 002, + My Mom Jennie Puhek Janice M. Krebs, 111, Educational Grant + Jane & Frank Berkopec & Mary Hrovat Jean A. Herbst, 020, + Joyce Korst Jean A. Herbst, 020, Building Improvements Jennie Kovacic, 002, + Frank Kovacic Joan Steinman, 002, Cultural Grant Julie Grah, 002, + Julia Petrich, Branch 2 Karl Dovnik, Jr., 043, + Rosalie Dovnik Lizette Kay Miller, 109, Building Improvements Lucinda Soltesz, 109, + Edward A. Skapin Lynn M. Zalokar, 093, + William & Marilyn (Kovacic) Zalokar Marcelline Mills, 111, SUA Martha A. Pecharich, 099, + Maria Vlasic Mary Ann Govek, 001, + Sophia Govek Mary Ann Hozjan, 111, SUA + Frances Rigler Mary Ann M. Tarro, 030, + Mother, Father, & Brother Anthony Mary Ann M. Tarro, 030, H/O Our Families Mary Anne Kwiecinski, 035, + Mary Krebs & Johanna Belay Mary Lou Vidergar, 100, + Frank J. Vidergar, Mary Lipovec, Glad & Mary Vidergar MaryAnn Brunner, 024, + Pohar Family Michele Kochevar, 002, + Helen Kochevar Nancy Slapnik, 111, + Antoinette Gerbec Paul Lambert, 005, + Martin & Theresa Lambert Peter R. Janes, 111, Building Improvements Susan Smith, 043, SUA Susan Smith, 043, + Patricia Glatch Vera Muir, 020, SUA Vesna Straser, 093, SUA Vida Lanari, 035, SUA Wayne Krempach, 099, + Joan Kaczmarek William F. Koncar, 020, + John & Dorothy Koncar Summer 2020 $15 Donation Lorraine Ovnik, 002, + Marie Ovnik $10 Donation Antonia Burich, 111, H/O Vernerable I. Bishop Baraga Catherine A. Kramer, 020, + Charles Kramer Daniel Ivanich, 020, + Susan Ivanich Daniel Ivanich, 020, H/O Mayme Ivanich Diane Lister, 030, SUA Fran Hrastar, 108, + Gary Daum Jan King, 111, Building Improvements Jessica Dusich, 023, Educational Grant Jo Ann Dryden, 102, Building Improvements Jo Ann Dryden, 102, SUA Kathleen M. Recht, 023, + Mary Omerza Marjorie Mitchell, 016, + Albert Salakar Mary Jane Hiti, 111, SUA Maryann Mayer, 111, + Jennie Zalek Milena Stropnik, 001, SUA Nika B. Kovacic, 108, + Eric A. Kovacic Rosemary Kalfas, 111, + Christine (Basca) Duche Sandra Rodeghero, 020, Building Improvements Sandra Schiffler, 002, + Antoinette Gradishar Sandra Schiffler, 002, H/O Gloria Schiffler Valerie Sorensen, 003, Educational Grant Vincent Rigler, 002, Cultural $5 Donation Alyssa Owens, 093, SUA Antonia Burich, 111, + M & C Kroll Antonia Burich, 111, + Anton A. Burich Barbara Krogulski, 024, + Paula J. Illman; H/O Barbara J. Krogulski Rosemary Ribich, 035, Educational Grant Become an AmazonSmile customer! The Slovenian Union of America is now registered with AmazonSmile. Look for the AmazonSmile logo on products. Just browse, order, and you will be giving to the SUA. AmazonSmile Foundation donates 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to your choice of charitable organizations. 9 Member Year of the Slovenian Union of America ED AND GERMAINE TESOVNIK BRANCH 1 - SHEBOYGAN, WISCONSIN Germaine is of Swiss and German ancestry and Ed is 100% Slovenian. His parents were born in Slovenia in the Recica ob Savinji region. They came to America in 1912 and settled in Sheboygan. The family homestead is located on South 9th Street where Ed still maintains a garden with lots of “solata” every summer. Ed met Germaine in 1951, and they were married in 1960. They are members of the Slovenian parish of St. Cyril & Methodius. Ed remembers Marie Prisland as a young boy. His mother had given him a handful of change and asked him to take it to Marie’s house to pay for her dues. Ed and Germaine love to travel in the U.S. and Europe and have been to Slovenia four times. In 1972, they found the area where Ed’s father grew up and learned that relatives were still living in the original homestead. In the 90s, they paid for four family members to come to the States and have wonderful memories of sleeping in the family homestead. Ed and Germaine have been SUA members for a long time, remembering that Olga Saye was the president when Germaine joined in the 1960s. They enjoy the Slovenian food from the Sheboygan community and participate in many of the holiday traditions such as taking a basket for blessing at Easter time. DIANE SLATEN BRANCH 3 - PUEBLO, COLORADO Branch 3’s Member of the Year is Diane Slaten, a dedicated SUA member along with others in her family. Diane is currently serving as the Branch 3 Treasurer. She and her husband, Chuck, have two sons, Matthew and Michael. Diane’s MOY photo shows her enjoying apple strudel and spiced tea in a small café in the Julian Alps. Diane received all of her sacraments at her parish, St. Mary Help of Christians Church. After graduating from Gonzaga University and obtaining her Master’s 10 They are active members of our branch enjoying the sociability, participating in the games in which we learn some Slovenian words. Ed speaks Slovenian quite well as he spoke it at home when he was growing up. When asked why they are in SUA they said, “the Slovenian people are great” and they enjoy being with them. Smiles are on their faces when talking about Slovenians. They are proud of their heritage, and they let it shine for all to see. degree from Adams State College, Diane worked for 32 years as a Speech/Language Pathologist for Pueblo City School District 60. Diane and Chuck enjoy traveling in the United States and internationally, including a cherished trip to Slovenia. They spend much of their time at their cabin in beautiful Westcliffe, Colorado, about 50 miles west of Pueblo, where Diane enjoys taking long walks, gathering firewood, and even splitting kindling for the fire. Because her maternal grandfather immigrated from Spain, Diane holds dual citizenship (United States and Spain). Her mother and son, Matthew, also have Zarja - The Dawn dual citizenships (both Spain and Slovenia). Diane’s paternal grandparents immigrated from Slovenia; Glavich, Okorn, and Kamby are the family’s Slovenian names. Diane’s fond childhood memories include her relatives gathering to make klobase. She remembers the backyard smokehouse where the klobase were hung to be smoked and the huge vat into which lard and potatoes were dropped. The taste of those scrumptious potatoes is still a vivid memory! Žegen continues to be an Easter tradition. Diane and her family enjoy making žlinkrofi using the ham and klobase which were blessed on Easter Saturday. Making krofi, potica, and apple strudel from family recipes are also treasured traditions. Diane feels truly blessed to be influenced by her strong Slovenian heritage, from traditions and food, to the music and language! SHERYL AND TERRY THORPE BRANCH 5 - INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA Our 2020 Members of the Year are Sheryl and Terry Thorpe, longtime participants in all things Slovenian in Indy! Terry, a United States Air Force veteran and retired USPS worker, acquired his Slovenian background when he married Sheryl Loviscek over 30 years ago, and the two of them can always be counted on to help out. With her business background, Sheryl has helped out with bookkeeping and accounting advice with the Indianapolis-Piran Sister City Committee and SUA. For over 30 years, they have attended Holy Trinity reverse raffles, bazaars, National Home dances and sausage feasts. Sheryl and Terry often participate in KSKJ Christmas and Easter parties with their nephews and nieces and are excellent bowlers in the Thursday Night KSKJ LEAGUE! Congratulations Terry and Sheryl, our 2020 Members of the Year!! SANDY BROWN RODEGHERO BRANCH 20 - JOLIET, ILLINOIS Sandy’s Slovenian roots originate from the Tomsicks and the Juricics on her maternal side. Her great-grandparents, grandparents, and mother were 100% Slovenian. Before settling in Joliet, her ancestors lived in Cleveland, Ohio, and Leadville, Colorado. Sandy’s cousins are active in the Cleveland branch of the Slovenian Union of America, while her mother, Dorothy Summer 2020 Juricic Brown, and her aunt, Marie Juricic Gulas, are members of the union’s Branch 20 in Joliet. Sandy was born in Joliet and is a lifelong resident. She graduated from St. Raymond’s Grade School and from St. Francis Academy there, then earned her B.S. in Chemistry from St. Mary’s College of Notre Dame, Indiana. She married Dale, her high school sweetheart, 11 Member Year of the Slovenian Union of America SANDY BROWN RODEGHERO continued... and they will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this summer. They have two sons, Christian and Benjamin, and two granddaughters, Taelynn and Cambrey. Using her education in chemistry, Sandy worked for the Illinois State Bureau of Identification (the original “CSI” of television fame) before starting her family. She has also worked as a chemist in environmental laboratories at Arro Labs and as a Q.A. Chemist at Ecolab in Joliet. Sandy is proud of her Slovenian heritage and has been a member of Branch 20 for several years. She is currently Branch 20’s Member Representative, and she enjoyed serving as a Branch 20 delegate at the 2019 Slovenian Union of America National Convention in Cleveland. Sandy has given several cooking demonstrations highlighting traditional Slovenian delicacies at Branch 20 meetings. With her 100% maternal Slovenian heritage, of course she loves potica of all kinds, especially her Grandma Marie Juricic’s apple potica with frosting - delicious! Sandy’s special interests include cooking Slovenian dishes of all kinds (no potica, yet), as well as researching and learning about Joliet’s Slovenian history. SHARON STARKOVICH BRANCH 35 - AURORA, MINNESOTA Sharon joined Branch 35 in 2010 to gain more knowledge of Slovenian culture and history. In 2013, she became the branch secretary and holds the position currently. Also a member of the Aurora All Slav Club, she has been their vice president for several years. She is 100% Slovenian and was born in 1949 to Anton and Agnes (Skraba) Zaverl. Along with her sibling, Gary, she grew up in Ely, Minnesota and resided above the family business, Zaverl’s Bar. Three children, Shannon, Shane, and Slade, complete her family along with her special granddaughter, Paige. Being a court clerk for St. Louis County’s judicial system in Hibbing and Virginia kept Sharon busy for 25 years up until retirement in 2013. Since then she enjoys her cabin outside of Ely along with her hobbies of reading, handwork, puzzles, scrapbooking, baking, skiing, Zumba, power walking, and vacationing. She joined the “Živijo, Zarja” to Slovenia. Such a wonderful group of new friends, fun times, breathtaking sites, and great Slovenian cuisine was enjoyed! In 2013 Sharon was active in hosting the SUA State Convention in Aurora, Minnesota. In July of 2014, she helped host Slovenian 12 Zarja - The Dawn Ambassador to the U.S., Dr. Bozo Cerar, along with her cousin JoAnne Coombe, Executive Director of the St. Louis County Historical Society at the Depot in Duluth. This took place at the home of her uncle, Albin Zaverl, who had his artwork displayed at the Slovenian Embassy in Washington, D.C. Dr. Cerar admired his paintings of Slovenia and wanted to meet him. On December 6, 2015, a Polka Mass and St. Nicholas Honor Day at St. Joseph’s in Gilbert, Minnesota was sponsored by Branch 35. Sharon was an active participant in helping with this memorable event. Sharon is honored to be part of the Slovenian community and is willing to help! JOHN AND JANET CERAR BRANCH 43 - MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN Branch 43 - Milwaukee is very proud to recognize John and Janet Cerar as our 2020 Members of the Year. It was just seven years ago that they discovered the Slovenian organizations in Milwaukee. Of the nine Milwaukee Slovenian groups, John has become active in six of them and Janet has joined three. Married for 53 years and parents of six children and grandparents of five, this couple keeps busy as they support John’s quest to explore and experience John’s 50% Slovenian heritage. Both now retired, John was an experimental and service mechanic for 38 years at Harley Davidson Motor Co., and Janet was a teacher’s aide for 13 years in The West Allis-West Milwaukee School District. They are now very enthusiastic, supportive, and generous members of Branch 43. They have attended the last two SUA National Conventions and traveled to Slovenia two years ago with the Zarja Fest 2018 tour. Upon returning home they have raved about their experiences at all three events and cherish their Slovenian souvenirs. Janet enjoys all of our local Slovenian events, going to movies, reading, and jigsaw puzzles, while John is very interested in exploring his Slovenian genealogy, singing in the USPEH Slovenian Chorus, and serving on the UWM – Slovenian Arts Council. John also serves as a Chorus Representative to Milwaukee’s umbrella group, the United Slovenes to Preserve Our Ethnic Heritage (U.S.P.E.H). Both John and Janet enjoy the SNPJ Balina League and the Slovenian Social Club. Our branch lunches always have delicious homemade contributions from the Cerars. John especially enjoys making recipes from SUA’s The Slovenian–American Table cookbook and follows its holiday traditions. Congratulations and Thank You to both John and Janet Cerar for this well-deserved recognition! A celebration luncheon will be planned. MIKE BRIERTON BRANCH 102 - WILLARD, WISCONSON Branch 102 is proud to announce Mike Brierton as our Member of the Year. Mike started attending Branch 102’s meetings in 2005 with his grandmother, Vicki, who had been a longtime member of the branch. Although a junior member, he found himself being welcomed by the members of the group. Mike has helped with many meetings, including being “tech support” when our state president attended a meeting and needed assistance with audio/visual equipment for a presentation. Summer 2020 Mike is currently a sophomore at DC Everest High School in Weston, Wisconsin. He is active with the Finance Bowl Team, History Team, a varsity letter winner for the curling team, and a member of the track team. He was also recently elected to a state office for the Wisconsin Future Business Leaders of American (FBLA) and will be attending the national convention in Salt Lake City this summer. Mike is also a Boy Scout, earning his Eagle Scout rank in 2019, and was honored to receive a congratulatory letter from the 13 Member Year of the Slovenian Union of America MIKE BRIERTON continued... Ambassador of Slovenia for this achievement. Mike is a regional officer for the Order of the Arrow, which is considered the honor society for the Boy Scouts of America, and had the opportunity to attend training at Florida Sea Base near Key West. Besides being actively involved with scouting, Mike’s other hobbies include sailing, boating, and water skiing. Although he does not live in Willard, he has deep ties to the area with both sets of his maternal great-grandparents being some of the earlier founders of Willard. Mike enjoys the friendships he had made with Branch 102 members and is proud of his Slovenian heritage. LIZ MILLER BRANCH 109 - TWIN CITIES OF MINNESOTA The daughter of a Slovenian father and Scandinavian mother (Bill and Doris Skull), Liz grew up attending Slovenian activities and learning songs for holiday parties. As an adult, she and her dad sang with The Slovenian Singers, a group started by her cousin, Sue Skull. This group was a precursor of The Singing Slovenes. The treasured photo shows Liz and her father at an event in Chisholm, Minnesota in 1989 shortly before he died. A long-term member of SUA and a lifelong member of KSKJ, Liz originally belonged to Branch 33 in Duluth and served there as recording secretary. Living in the metro area, Liz joined Twin Cities Slovenians and soon became an active member, serving as recording secretary for seven years, keeping photo albums and archives, and participating in Slovenian language classes. Liz volunteers at the Slovenian booth of the Festival of Nation and often bakes large quantities of strudel for events. When Liz and her son John traveled to Slovenia in 2019, they used Liz’s genealogy work to connect with many relatives, some of whom had been lost for two generations. Most were from Gradez and Kaplanovo, southeast of Ljubljana. The oldest cousin they met was ninety-year-old Gabriela, who had corresponded 14 with Liz’s paternal grandmother, Angela, years ago. In a poignant moment, Gabriela asked why letters stopped abruptly during WWII and was saddened to learn that Angela had passed away in 1941. Another trip is planned, and John is studying Slovenian in preparation. Liz is a cytotechnologist at University of Minnesota Health in Minneapolis where she assists in the collection of small biopsy material in OR and other suites and screens specimens for cancer. Professionally, she has held offices including President in the Minnesota Society of Cytology; she has also served as den leader and the Advancement Coordinator for Boy Scouts. Zarja - The Dawn BECOME A MEMBER OF SUA TODAY! Benefits of Membership ✓ Receive quarterly issues of Zarja – The Dawn Magazine that highlights Slovenia, its rich heritage, culture, traditions, recipes, and more. ✓ Participate in local branch activities which promote “Keeping the Slovenian Spirit Alive.” ✓ Educational Grant and Cultural Grant Opportunities ✓ Research both of SUA’s historical and genealogical resources – the Ivana Project and the Matti Register, both long-term scanning projects of member documents since 1926. ✓ Visit SUA’s website with links to numerous Slovenian-American interests. ✓ Visit SUA’s free Heritage Museum in Joliet, Illinois, with Slovenian heritage exhibits and library. New Member Application Annual Member Support is payable each January and covers the period January through December Membership Renewal Notifications are sent annually in December Adult ($30 Member Support/Zarja Subscription) Junior – Birth to 18 ($5 Member Support) International ($55 Member Support/Zarja Subscription) It is our policy to send one issue of Zarja to each address unless requested otherwise. Please print the requested information below and send this application form with a check payable to: Slovenian Union of America, 431 N. Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432-1703 First Name__________________________________ Last Name________________________________________ M___ F___ Address__________________________________________________ City/State/Zip___________________________________ Phone____________________________________ E-Mail________________________________________________________ Date of Birth_________________ Branch Affiliation Number (if known) _______ Location __________________________ Maiden Name_________________________________________ Do you speak Slovenian? _____________________________ Please describe your interest in Slovenia: ______________________________________________________________________ Slovenian Surnames (if applicable): ___________________________________________________________________________ How did you hear about us? SUA member ___ newspaper___ website___ other___________________________________ I would like to volunteer for the SUA. My area of interest or expertise is______________________________________________ Applicant’s signature______________________________________________________ Date__________________________ SUA operates exclusively for charitable, educational, and religious purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. www.slovenianunion.org ■ sua@slovenianunion.org ■ 815-727-1926 Summer 2020 15 C O P P E R Big Annie COUNTRY’S By Staff Writer David Sodac Branch 89 Oglesby, IL bdsodac@gmail.com Annie Klobuchar Clemenc became a noted, colorful folk hero during her most prominent years as a union activist leader for the copper miners during the 19131914 miners’ strike in the Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan. Her contagious passion spirited the miners who were striking for a union contract that would provide safer working conditions and pay. Annie became the heart and soul of the strikers’ cause. The long-standing, contentious strike took place from July 23, 1913 to April 13, 1914. She was arrested and jailed on numerous occasions because of her vocal and active role in leading daily parades in support of the strike. Annie was an imposing figure over six feet tall as she led the street marchers through the 16 streets of town in a plain gingham dress and carrying a huge, billowing American flag secured to a ten-foot pole. She became a national media sensation, and the newspapers across the country referred to her as the “Joan of Arc of Calumet.” On one occasion, Annie, with her flag and a thousand marchers behind her, was attempting to march into a neighborhood housing non-striking workers. They were met and blocked by armed militia on horses with sabers fully raised. In the midst of the melee, Annie held her American flag across her body and dared the militia screaming “Kill me!” at the militia. “Run your bayonets and sabers through this flag and kill me, but I won’t move. If this flag will not protect me, then I will die with it.” Zarja - The Dawn There is no doubt, Annie was probably the best-known spread that miners in Montana were making $4 an person, even today, from the Copper Country during hour. Dissatisfaction grew amongst the workers. They its boom period. wanted shorter hours, more pay, and the elimination of the one-man drill. The miners were ripe for orgaAnna Klobuchar was born in 1888 in Calumet, in nizing and uniting against the mine operators. The Michigan’s Copper Country on the Upper Peninsula in Denver-based Western Federation of Miners (WFM) Lake Superior. She was the oldest of George and Mary saw viable opportunities and arrived in Calumet to Klobuchar’s five children. George and Mary were help solve their problems. The WFM had earned a born in Slovenia, in the Municipality of Črnomelj. Her well-deserved reputation after winning workers higher father was born in Dobliče and her mother from Dol- wages and shortened workdays for the copper miners nja Paka. Her father became a copper miner employed in Montana, Idaho, and Colorado. By February 1913, in one of the Calumet and Hecla Mines (C&H), and five federation locals and nine thousand card-carrying her mother worked as a domestic. They were among members had organized in the Copper Country. The the thousands of immigrants who had flocked to the C&H Mining Company bigwigs refused to hear their Upper Peninsula to work in the booming copper and concerns. iron mines. She graduated from the eighth grade at a school operated by the Mining Company. She then be- On July 23, 1913, the miners voted to strike. The memgan working with a local church giving aid to injured bers began organizing daily to march down the street miners and assisted her family financially by doing in protest. A few days into the strike, Annie, marching laundry. Because of her 6-foot-2-inch frame, Anna with her ten-foot pole and massive American flag was nicknamed “Big Annie.” At the age of eighteen, and followed by hundreds of wives and children who she married Joseph Clemenc, a Croatian miner, who joined her, stepped in front of the striking men. Every worked for the C&H Mining Company. Before the strike years, Annie became actively involved with various Slavic fraternal organizations. In 1910, she helped to organize and then became president of the People’s Slovenian Women’s Lodge (#128) of the Slovenian-American fraternal benefit organization, the SNPJ. This was a prominent role for a young Slovenian-American woman of that era - she was likely the first woman of Slavic descent to have a public leadership role in Houghton County. Annie later became the president of the Calumet women’s local of the Western Federation of Miners. Her involvement in this fraternal organization propelled her into taking an activist role in leading the strike. The once plentiful, high grade copper was becoming harder to find and mine. The veins of copper were becoming less pure and were deeper underground. To increase profits, the C&H Mining president ordered that the usual two-man drilling procedure be replaced by the more dangerous but cheaper one-man drill operation. The one-man drill was a 150-pound machine referred to as the “widow-maker.” The twoman drilling provided a safety feature enabling one man to watch for difficulties. In addition to the fear of the one-man drill, the miners were working eleven hours a day and being paid only $2.50 a day. Rumors Summer 2020 17 morning afterwards, Annie would lead the over two thousand women and miners in their seven-mile march down the street to the mine company’s administration office. As the strike began to receive more notoriety and newspaper coverage, leading labor movement officials from across the country joined in the protest. Leading figures like Attorney Clarence Darrow, AFL’s president John Lewis, and union activist Mary Harris “Mother Jones” arrived to march side-by-side Annie and her flag. She was arrested multiple times for fighting with deputies, assaulting non-striking miners, and inciting riots. She spent ten days in jail, but her strong will and determination never wavered. The County Sheriff’s Office was becoming alarmed about the strikers’ increasing confrontations and proposed to the General Manager of the C&H Mining Company to hire out professional “strike-breakers” from the Waddell-Mahon Company to interfere and disrupt the strikers. The strike-breakers were generally considered strong-armed thugs with guns from inner New York City and referred to as “Waddies.” In addition to the Waddies, the County Sheriff deputized over a hundred and fifty men to help enforce order. Needless to say, things got very ugly in Calumet. In August 1913, the Governor of Michigan sent in the state’s entire militia to prevent loss of life and destruction to the city. After personally visiting and assessing the situation, Governor Woodbridge Ferris publicly stated that the mining conditions were indeed unfair and urged the Mining Company to work on settling disagreements. On August 14, two Waddies and several of Cruse’s deputies killed two strikers in a shooting spree at a boardinghouse in Seeberville, south of Calumet. Warrants were issued, but there was no action taken to track down and arrest the killers. The day of the two strikers’ funeral, Annie and her flag led the funeral procession of over five-thousand 18 people down the streets of Calumet. During the following weeks and months, she was engaged in many confrontations with the strike-breakers and was arrested several more times. As the strike entered into its fifth month, Annie and her WFM Women’s Auxiliary No. 15 organized a Christmas Party for the children of the miners. It would be a grim Christmas for everyone, but especially for the children. Because of the strike, money was scant, and debts were piling up fast. The children deserved a relief from all the tough times their families faced. The Christmas party was held in the Italian Hall, a two-story wooden building. Its lower floor housed a grocery store and a saloon, but the party was held upstairs and featured a ballroom, balcony, stage, and a small kitchen. By noontime on December 24, over seven-hundred attendees had noisily gathered in the ballroom pushing excitedly to the stage. Annie and some other WFM Women’s Auxiliary ladies were on stage next to Santa Claus handing out the bags of candy, hand-knitted scarfs, and gloves to the eager children. Somebody yelled “FIRE!” inducing an anxious stampede to exit the ballroom down the eight-foot-wide, winding staircase to the outside. Only there wasn’t a fire. Annie tried to calm the crowd, but it was impossible to make her voice heard over all the screaming. Panic and terror took over. Frantic, people Zarja - The Dawn pushed, stumbled, and fell down the stairs. An alarm was sounded in Calumet. When rescuers opened the doors to the stairwell’s street-level entrance, they found a tangle of bodies piled five feet high. Some appeared to jump over the tousled bodies beneath them to escape, but the door was blocked. When the stairwell was finally cleared, seventy-four people were dead, and all but eleven were children. Witnesses at the inquest swore they saw a man in black with his collar turned up and a hat on his head yelling “Fire.” Some were certain that the man was wearing a white Citizens’ Alliance button, the button representing the group organized to support C&H Mining Company. Outraged over the possibility that a “company man” might have riled the crowd into the deadly pandemonium, union strikers and sympathizers sought revenge. Charles Moyer, president of the WFM, told reporters that the disaster was a mass murder, and he laid the blame squarely on the C&H Mining Company. On Christmas morning, Charles Moyer was beaten in his hotel room, shot, dragged through town and thrown onto a Chicago-bound train. The assailants, openly wore their white Citizens’ Alliance buttons. Big Annie, carrying her flag one last time, led the solemn procession of over seven thousand mourners through the streets of town to the mass burial site in Calumet’s cemetery. After they buried the seventy-four victims of the Italian Hall disaster, the city of Calumet started to die. Spirits were broken. Trainloads of miners and their families began leaving the Copper Country, heading for the industrialized cities of Detroit, Cleveland, and Chicago where working conditions and pay were better. Calumet, once a bustling city of 80,000 people, increasingly shrank to a population of 726 as recorded on the 2010 Census. Annie Klobuchar Clemenc divorced Joseph sometime shortly after the Italian Hall disaster. She went on a speaking tour across the Midwest to raise money for the families whose members were victims in the stampede. She eventually fell in love with Frank Shavs, a Chicago reporter who had been sent to cover the copper mine strike and had frequently interviewed Annie. They moved back to Chicago, married, and had a daughter they named Darwina. Big Annie died there in the summer of 1956 at the age of sixty-eight. All that remains of the Italian Hall is the stone and brick doorway arch after the building was demolished Summer 2020 in 1984. The empty space has now become the focal point of a memorial park site in Calumet. An informational marker was engraved with the list of the seventy-four people who died in the disaster. Annie Klobuchar Clemenc Shavs was inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame in 1996. Her likeness was one of three important figures in Michigan history that were designed into a medallion given as an achievement award presented annually to the organization’s inductees. The three women were Anna Howard Shaw, a leader in the national women’s suffrage movement; Sojourner Truth, a former slave who became an outspoken crusader for human rights; and Anna Clemenc, a union activist who helped lead the historic 1913 copper strike in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The Hall of Fame stated that “Together, these women represent the three principal themes of the early women’s movement: the striving for political, social and economic justice.” A portrait of Annie was also commissioned and hangs in the Women’s Historical Center in Lansing, Michigan. She was admitted into the Labor’s International Hall of Fame in Detroit, Michigan during the 2013 centennial of the copper union strike. Several books have chronicled the heroine of the Michigan miners including: Big Annie of Calumet: A True Story of the Industrial Revolution by Jerry Stanley, published in 1996; Annie Clemenc and the Great Keweenaw Copper Strike written by Lyndon Comstock, published in 2013; and The Women of the Copper Country by Mary Doria Russell, published in 2019. It looks like our “Big Annie” has definitely made a name for herself. 19 Slovenian Union of America Across America - Branch Reports BRANCH 1 - Sheboygan, Wisconsin Contact information: Mary Ann Schellinger 920.457.7946/rhmas@yahoo.com We did it again. On February 11th SUA Branch 1, Sheboygan, Wisconsin met in Fr. Cherne Hall at Ss Cyril & Methodius Church for a potluck dinner. A variety of Slovenian foods were shared and of course lots of desserts. Slovenian wine and pink tea were also available. February is noted to be a month of love, hearts, and flowers. Well, we took it one step further to make it an evening of food, frosting, and fun. One of our members baked and base frosted 100 sugar cookies. After enjoying our wonderful potluck (which also included a smoked fish caught by one of our Slovenian members), we set out to the task of decorating the cookies. Who knew we could all be so creative - even the guys! After the frosting dried, our president, Mary Sandwick, delivered the cookies to the Salvation Army to share with the residents at their facility. 20 We want to make sure that we “let our Slovenian heritage shine,” and since there is “love” in every Slovenian, what better way than to share our good fortune with others. It truly was a “Happy Valentines” for many. MARY ANN SCHELLINGER Zarja - The Dawn BRANCH 2 - Chicago, Illinois This report begins with the sad news that our two oldest members have passed away. Mary Reich (101 years old) and her younger sister, Elsie Ciszek (99 years old), died only 6 hours apart on the same day in January. Mary and Elsie lived together for many years just a block away from St. Stephen Church. In their younger days, they were both very active in the SUA and participated in numerous branch functions. A funeral Mass was performed at St. Stephen Church which is now the Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Chapel. Our condolences to their families. Twenty-one members and guests showed up for our Christmas celebration at Buck’s Pit Stop in early December. A huge, tasty buffet, highlighted by delicious lemon chicken and roast pork, was really special and enjoyed by everyone. Gen Buol is a happy first-time Grandma! Her grandson, Matthew Gabrie, was born on December 9th to Matt and Holly Buol. What a wonderful pre-Christmas gift! Joan Steinmnan came from California to help her sister, Jennie Kovacic, observe her 95th birthday. Happy Birthday, Jennie, from all your friends at Branch 2. The Slovenian Catholic Center in Lemont hosted a traditional ethnic dinner called Koline. It featured homemade turnip soup, blood sausage, and other Slovenian delights including krofi for dessert. Our members, Judy Ovnik, Ben Buol, and Lorraine Ovnik attended this event, and they especially enjoyed the wine tasting contest. Our next meeting will be held at Buck’s Pit Stop on Thursday, April 16th at 1 p.m. We always have such a nice time just getting together. Try to join us! Contact Judy Stoll 708.479.2864 or Deborah Morris 708.478.1279. DEBORAH MORRIS Summer 2020 BRANCH 3 - Pueblo, Colorado Contact Information: 719.569.7125/amtcharron@gmail.com Due to the social distancing requirements resulting the coronavirus pandemic, all Branch 3 meetings and events have been suspended until further notice. We hope that everyone will stay safe and healthy! Branch 3’s regularly scheduled meeting for February was cancelled due to the snowy weather forecast. The March meeting was hosted by Annette Charron who served cream puffs from Shuster’s Banquet Bakery. The mystery gift was provided by Eileen Kaplan and was won by Andrea DeGarbo. Plans for the Member of the Year luncheon were discussed, and Elaine Volk, Barbara Greenwood, and Angela Mock signed up to be in charge of the luncheon entertainment. Branch members voted to replace the usual gift exchange with a donation to be used for a charitable cause. On Sunday, February 16, Branch 3 hosted a mixer at St. Mary’s church hall with the purpose of providing Puebloans the opportunity to share their Slovenian heritage. The mixer attracted twenty-one participants who had fun sharing family stories and photographs. Because of the success of the event, future mixers are planned with the intent of documenting and memorializing Pueblo’s rich Slovenian immigrant history. The Slovenian-American community in Pueblo is mourning the loss of Monsignor Marvin Kapushion, who passed away in April just a few days before his 90th birthday. Monsignor Kapushion was born to George and Anna (Matkovich) Kapushion in Crested Butte, Colorado. He received a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. and spent decades 21 working as a state and national leader on social services issues. Until a few years ago, for more than 30 years he commuted to Rye, Colorado to care for parishioners at St. Aloysius Church. Parishioners of St. Mary’s Help of Christians Church have fond memories of the Masses Monsignor Kapushion offered for Slovenian-Americans to celebrate the feast day of St. Nicholas and the Masses prior to the annual Slovenian Heritage Dinner. ANNETTE SABO CHARRON & BARBARA KARLINGER BRANCH 5 - Indianapolis, Indiana I would have never imagined that I would be writing this article today from the “safety” of my house! Spring in Indiana means strong winds, spectacular thunderstorms, and deadly tornadoes, but nothing prepared us for this invisible danger, COVID-19. A wonderful Disney trip in January with many fun family memories, to a total “no-contact,” family distancing, social cancelling event of epic proportions... did anyone see this coming? As Indiana, and the country, shut down around us, the “stay at home” order brought a new panic into our lives... do we have necessary supplies to last through a lengthy quarantine? Many of us were alone in houses or apartments, but because of the Tech Age we live in now, there are so many ways to pass the long days. What did our Slovenian families do during the 1900s? Newly arrived in Indiana, not speaking English, and with a short supply of Slovenian-speaking medical personnel, neighbors relied on each. Corner grocers ran tabs for families, taking small money amounts when families could pay. Men worked in foundries, women took on odd jobs, washing and ironing laundry, cleaning and cooking for the grand houses on Washington Boulevard and Meridian Street, for very small wages. In 1918, the Spanish Flu hit, wiping out many families, making remaining family members ponder their decision to come to the U.S., with many returning to their homelands. In the 1920s, numerous Slovenian families left Indy for the Chicago area and promises of better jobs. What they found were few job opportunities and no housing, forcing them to camp out along the shores of Lake Michigan. Illnesses from using and drinking the unclean waters of the lake ran through the camp, causing several children and adults to die. Tuberculosis and polio were constant threats to families until vaccines were found in the 1950s. These Slovenian families stood strong during these trying times, with little medical or safety information available to them. Imagine how scary to see your parent or child fall ill to high temperatures, a horrible cough, loss of muscle control, hallucinations, and not being able to understand. How strong these immigrants were to persevere in those difficult times! We were asked to stay at home. We know the illness; we know good people are working very hard to come up with 22 a vaccine to keep us all safe and healthy. We know good people who are working long hours as first responders, medical personnel, and hospital staff, sacrificing their safety to help others. We were asked to stay at home. Did you reach out to family and friends through the wonders of technology? Did you FaceTime your grandchildren, just to see their faces? Did you text an old friend, knowing he was out of a job and might need help? Did you call someone and just listen to her because you knew she lived alone? Reach out today to neighbors, school friends, church acquaintances, or a Slovenian family members and reconnect! Share stories, memories, recipes, concerns, and laughter, but most importantly, listen to them. You may be the bright spot in their day, and they will certainly make your day memorable! Hopefully, we will be meeting up at the Slovenian National Home again soon! Until then, please stay healthy, stay safe, and stay in touch!! Your Fellow Home Detainees, MARY, KAREN & PHYLLIS BRANCH 20 - Joliet, Illinois Contact Information: Georgene Agnich 773.205.1326/jamesschaible1469@att.net We offer our sincere sympathies to the family of member Dolores Klepec, who passed away on April 4, 2020, and to the family of member Lucille Gregorash, who passed away on April 4, 2020. Diane Hohenwater introduced SUA Membership Manager and new Branch 20 member Rick Mutz at our February 18 meeting. Rick later gave a summary of his duties as Membership Manager at our March 10 meeting. Georgene Agnich gave a talk at the February meeting on “St. Joseph’s Church: The Slovenian Rome.” We had an excellent turnout of 23 members for our March 10 St. Joseph Table and meeting. We served catered chicken, with each member bringing a dish to pass. Diane Hohenwater brought “Slovenian Spaghetti” made from a recipe that SUA President Mary Lou Voelk discovered in SUA’s Pots and Pans cookbook; this dish used to be made by Ron Strle at the former Stefanich’s Restaurant in Joliet. We honored all members named after St. Joseph and St. Patrick at our meeting and discussed plans for our annual fundraiser Bake Sale at St. Joseph Church on March 28-29. Alas, as the coronavirus pandemic worsened, the Diocese of Joliet closed all its churches starting March 14, and the governor of Illinois soon issued a stay-at-home order to reduce the spread of the virus. We cancelled our Bake Sale, with the hopes of having it at a later date. We did not participate in the St. Joseph Day “holy hour” devotions at St. Joseph Church on March 19 which were cancelled because of the virus. Likewise, we cancelled our May 21 “Member of the Year” banquet and will honor Sandra Rodeghero at our 2021 banquet. KSKJ cancelled the annual Maria Zarja - The Dawn Pomagaj Mass at St. Joseph Church as well. The Catholic Mission in Lemont has scheduled “Baraga Days” on September 19 in Joliet and on September 20 in Lemont. There will be a Mass at St. Joseph Church in Joliet on September 19 and a reception. The Slovenian Heritage Museum across from the church will be open to visitors that day. In these unprecedented and difficult times, may we all rely on God’s mercy, may we sustain each other, and may we reflect on the hardships our Slovenian ancestors endured. GEORGENE AGNICH BRANCH 23 - Ely, Minnesota As I am writing this our small town of Ely is preparing for the coronavirus. We are just like all the rest of the United States doing what needs to be done – cancelling meetings, closing schools, bars, and restaurants. I am not going out unless I absolutely have to! I have asthma, and I am afraid of getting the coronavirus. Stay safe everyone!! One of the special things Branch 23 did was to donate a Slovenian dinner for four to be auctioned off at the Ely Community Resources money raising event. Jodi and Mike Chaffin of Ely outbid everyone else! Pat Koski and Mary Icenhour from our branch cooked and served up a delicious meal. Thanks to Pat and Mary for all of their hard work. The two couples thoroughly enjoyed the meal! On May 4 Professor Klemenc who wrote a book about Ely Slovenians is going to present a program. It will be at 3 p.m. in St. Anthony’s Church Hall classroom. Pat Koski has been working closely with him on this book. It is written in Slovenian, but he hopes to get it written in English soon. Refreshments will be served. Mary Icehour will make a potica. On Sunday January 19 we had a luncheon at the Grand Ely Lodge. Beth Haakensen was our guest speaker. he showed us a very interesting film about the accordion museum in Superior, Wisconsin along with a speech. May 6th is World Accordion Day. Summer 2020 Taste of Slovenia is set for Saturday, August 1 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in St. Anthony’s Church Hall. We will be selling noodles, cookbooks, towels, potholders, and various other items. Bernie Palcher will be playing accordion music. Come one, come all! Enjoy Slovenian food and music. Mark your calendars! I want to take this time to congratulate Maya Kakuichi Voelk, granddaughter of Mary Lou Voelk, who are both members of Branch 23 here in Ely. Maya is the recipient of the 2012 Slovenian Women’s Union scholarship. Maya is a graduate of Ballard High School in Seattle, Washington. She attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois where she graduated summa cum laude with a major in journalism and marketing from the Medill School and a minor in Asian American Studies. Afterward she took a marketing analysis position at Pepsi Co. in the Quaker Oats and Tropicana divisions in Chicago, Illinois. In 2018 she moved to Los Angeles, California to work at the Wonderful Co., marketing Fiji Water, Halo clementines, and Pom pomegranate juice. Maya is excited to announce that she has been accepted to Harvard Business School in Cambridge, Massachusetts beginning in the fall of 2020. The Harvard Business School only accepts 100 students each session. Maya will be in the two-year master’s program. She plans on sharpening her marketing skills. She is the daughter of Tom and Mariiko Kakiuichi Voelk of Seattle. If you know of any students in your branch, let them know there are scholarships available. Maya is proof of how good a scholarship is. P. S. Due to the coronavirus, events we have planned may be cancelled. CHOSTIE HARRI BRANCH 24 - LaSalle, Illinois Zivijo! It is April and snowing in Peru, Illinois as I type this branch report. Welcome Spring! We had our first meeting of 2020 scheduled for mid-March, but it was cancelled due to our meeting site, the LaSalle Public Library, having to close because of the virus and social distancing regulations. Due to this situation, any further meetings or activities are on hold until the world is safe again to proceed with planning for 2020. Marilyn Jean (Bedenko) Temple, our longtime member, passed away on March 9. She is survived by her husband, Wayne, and son and daughter-in-law as well as two grandchildren and several nieces. She enjoyed reading, knitting, and showing cattle at various local fairs. Please keep her family in your prayers. While you are offering prayers… add our world to those prayers! During this time of sheltering in place, have you found out something new about yourself? Have you found a new love of baking? Did you open that old Pots and Pans cookbook and try a new recipe? Have you read any new authors? Or did you finally finish all those books on your reading list? Same with movies? Has your daily walking 23 increased from around the block to around the entire town? Are all your closets cleaned out? Has your family used Zoom to get together on a regular basis? And finally, are you back to your “real” hair color yet? Pray that soon we can all hug our families again! DIANE DATA BRANCH 43 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin Contact Person: Jan Gehm 414.321.1413/twogames@wi.rr.com There is not much news here in Milwaukee as our last meeting was held in February before this pandemic erupted. We are in the same position as everyone else, but I wanted to greet all of you with Best Wishes and encourage- Tjasa Ferme in “Wild Child in the City” ment to try and make the most of this unexpected situation. A bit of sad news. Our president, Jan Gehm, after a long vals worldwide. She has also secured a 1-year distribution illness and then the death of her husband, Tom, in De- deal on a ROKU channel. All 7 episodes of season 1 are cember, is now settled in her new home. If anyone would available at www.vimeo.com/channels/woeisshe. like to send a greeting, you can do so. Her new address is It is with a heavy heart that we announce the death of our as follows: Jan Gehm c/o Clifden Court 6801 W. Loomis oldest Branch 93 member. Mary Palcic (born September 7, Road Greendale, WI 53129. 1925) passed away on November 29, 2019, at the age of No definite plans have been made for our upcoming 94. Mary, who lived in Ridgewood, New York, was a big Member of the Year celebration as yet, but John and Janet fan of Zarja and read every issue cover to cover. She will Cerar have been chosen to share this honor. Hopefully, we be sorely missed, and we send our love and condolences will be able to gather once again in May and celebrate our to her family and friends. honored members. We are excited to announce that our Slovenian language Our deepest sympathy is to extend to the family of Fannie classes will resume again in the Fall. If you are interested Smole who passed away on March 13 at the age of 93. in participating, please contact Stephanie Owens at nycsloFannie was a longtime active member of our branch. May venianunion@gmail.com for information or to sign up! she rest in peace. KATHLEEN SIMMONDS Let’s storm heaven with our prayers for this pandemic to be over soon. May God keep you all in the palm of His BRANCH 108 - National Capital Area hand. Contact Information: Bernadette Fitzsimmons MICI BREGANT bettekfitz@verizon.net On February 23, 2020, Branch 103 and 108 members met BRANCH 93 - New York, New York for a luncheon meeting to formally discuss the merging of Contact Information: Kathleen Simmonds the two branches. Bernadette K. Fitzsimmons and Mary 917.780.9412/kathleensimmo@gmail.com Lou Terselic, Presidents, and Lynn Koiner and Ana Sonc We are so proud of Tjasa Ferme. During quarantine, Jevtic, Vice Presidents of both branches were present. In she re-defined entertainment at home by bringing her addition, Rich Terselic, Treasurer, and member Ana Skoone-woman show “Wild Child In the City” online. The pec of Branch 103 were present in support of the merger. show is an award-winning absurdist comedy structured to Other Branch 108 members in attendance, Nika Kovacinvite interaction with the audience. Directed by acclaimed ic, Estelle Zorman, Margy Whitmore, May Kokal, and Romanian director Ana Margineanu, the piece combines Jonna Sanders enthusiastically contributed their positive Tjasa’s European sensibility and Kafkaesque sense of irony feedback to support the merger. Officers for this year will with down-to-earth toughness of a New York single girl remain; Bernadette, President and Lynn, Vice President who’s seen it all. It is a story so unbelievable, twisted, and and elections will take place at the end of the year to fill smelly that it must be true. Tjasa, who is also the writer, other positions. has received three international awards and has performed We voted to keep Branch 108, and to change the location her show in New York and Russia. to National Capital Area. The newly established 108 will Another member of our Slovenian community, Kathleen strive to encompass a wider geographic range of memberSimmonds, produced and stars in a new web-series called ship in the DC, MD, and VA areas. The transiency of the “Woe is She.” Over the last year, this show has received area has diversified the membership, with members prinumerous awards and official selections in over 25 festi- marily from the state of MD, followed by VA, PA, DC, and 24 Zarja - The Dawn FL. Branch 108 members are also from OH, TN, NC, NJ, TN, and TX. Having members from so many geographic regions presents its challenges, so we will work together stronger, as one chapter now with over 70 members from 10 states, and the District of Columbia. Somehow, we were so wrapped up in conversation and the Slovenian National Anthem, “Zdravljica,” to commemorate France Prešeren for Cultural Day in the month of February that we regretfully forgot to take a photo at this monumental occasion. We also thank Lynn Koiner for sharing about her trip to Slovenia in November, 2019, offering tips and anecdotes of her interesting travel excursions through the countryside. We are glad to have met for our meeting just three weeks before the COVID-19 situation changed our lives with statewide stay at home restrictions. There is no doubt that life has changed, but many of us still celebrated Easter Sunday Mass and Slovenian Easter traditions by baking potica and dying eggs, just as our ancestors passed down the customs through the ages. We hope our fellow SUA members in all the other branches across the US have stayed safe and well during this unprecedented public health crisis. May the Mercy of Our Lord protect us and our loved ones, today and always. Understanding Slovenian Sayings by Bernadette: Resnica ni veselica. Reality isn’t a festivity. Veselo srce je pol zdravja. A happy heart is half of taking care of one’s health. BERNADETTE FITZSIMMONS BRANCH 109 - Twin Cities (TC) of Minnesota Contact Information: Elaine Barthelemy elaineab@yahoo.com Writing about our Twin Cities Slovenians branch 109 is usually a matter of choosing what to highlight from many great options. Not this time! Our January membership meeting was cancelled due to a winter storm. We weren’t able to cheer on Slovenian Nordic skier Anamarija Lampic as she competed in Minneapolis in the first World Cup event held on American snow in twenty years. Our April and May member meetings and our special May event featuring polka music by Bill Koncar and the Boys were not meant to be. Then, for the first time in its eighty-eight-year history the Festival of Nations in St. Paul, an event in which our branch has shined for years, was cancelled. “Sheltering in place” and “social distancing” are the buzzwords and Summer 2020 25 important safety measures that have distinguished the spring of 2020. Thank goodness we had been able to hold two events earlier. Each year beginning in 1945, Slovenians have celebrated Prešeren Day on February 8th, honoring national poet France Prešeren with a public holiday. It was fitting that, on that day, we gathered in St. Paul at the Julian H. Sleeper House, the home of a comprehensive exhibition on the history and culture of Slovenia. After host Seth Hawkins welcomed us, Mike Koski, Cindy Gauthier, and John Zakelj shared about the many trips they each had taken to Slovenia, during which they found ancestral homes, visited relatives, and, in Cindy’s case, got an authentic traditional Slovenian outfit. Both Mike and John also wear their traditional garb to many of our events. Our February member meeting began with Miro Medved describing his many responsibilities as Honorary Consul of Slovenia. The extent of his work in this position is impressive, and we are grateful that Miro and his wife Karen play a key role in our organization, sharing their musical talents and opening their home to us every year for our Martinovanje celebration and other events. Our main speaker, Sue Rademacher, shared her wonderful PowerPoint presentation to teach us about the history of St. Stephen, Minnesota, the earliest Slovenian settlement in the United States. We learned about Father Francis Pierz, an early missionary from Slovenia who worked with the Ojibwe tribe for years in Central Minnesota and recruited many Slovenians to settle in the area. In addition, German migrants crowded one thousand to a ship and traveled for six to eight weeks across the Atlantic and then on to the St. Stephen area. Settlers built log cabins, cleared land, and built their first church, St. Stephen of the Woods. What had been called Brockway Township was renamed St. Stephen after the church. In 2021 a celebration will be held honoring the 150th year of St. Stephen’s Church. preparation for the current stay-at-home scenario. Monthly Saturday classes and Tuesday evening classes continue via videoconferencing. On March 26, in a videoconference with thirteen participants, we heard about the current situa- Slovenian language instructors, Dr. Ksenija Rener Sitar and John Zakelj. tion in Slovenia - they have plenty of toilet paper. We also learned the current Slovenian closing greeting, Ostanimo zdravi, which translates to, “Let’s stay healthy!” In closing, Hvala to our wonderful Slovenian language instructor, Frank Medved, who has worked with us in person for many years, to our online lesson facilitator, John Zakelj, who faithfully shares lessons and notes, and to John Perhay, our technical guru, who constantly updates and improves our Twin Cities Slovenians website. And to all who are reading this, Ostanimo zdravi! ELAINE BARTHELEMY Sue Rademacher shares her presentation on the history of St. Stephen, Minnesota. Our Slovenian fall language classes had a record participation of over thirty people led by visiting professor Dr. Ksenija Rener Sitar. After she returned to Slovenia, our connections with her through Skype turned out to be a great 26 Frank Medved, longtime Slovenian language teacher. Zarja - The Dawn Word Search Puzzle K R A N J S K E K L O B A S E R T U I O P Z S A O B S D N A L S I R P E I R A M S A V A I E R B L E D E J N A V O N I T R A M V N A V S K S Z N I M B R N I K A I R P O R T E M L S A E T L V A N O G A R D E L R I K O A T E G E R J P I C B K E A A K N Z B T N R U K I L I N I N S L O V E N I A N U N I O N O F A M E R I C A R B Z A R R N N E G E Z S H F U F I S T K S V A E S C I T A I R D A I E L I Y P K O T B Z O I E A C I P I L O R P O A F E N E L T N R A R S A N A J L B U J L R N O L U K J A S U O L T P O G A G A U A L O C R L A I S E V E O T O S R I B Z O T T P B A K A C O D C T Z M M H U E E Z R P F H A I T N V E V E V K S E O I E S V S A I A E C R I I A I A I G O I U G V L R R L E R O D N A A L C E P A C I T O P P O K S Z I R J A P M V Z O I P D P E J U L I A N A L P S E W T U I Z S Z R A V O K S E L E N N I R O C N A R O D N A N O S A N L I T S O G K C R I A See how many of the following words you can find. Words can be discovered horizontally, vertically, diagonally, or backwards. ADRIATIC SEA KOLINE PIVO AVBA KRANJSKE KLOBASE POGAGA AVSENIK BROTHERS KROFI POTICA BLED LAKE BOHINJ PRESEREN BRNIK AIRPORT LIPICA PUST BUTARA LJUBLJANA SAVA CORINNE LESKOVAR MARIBOR SILVESTROVANJE CVICEK MARIE PRISLAND SLOVENIAN UNION OF AMERICA DRAGON MARTINOVANJE SOCA VALLEY FLANCATI MOUNT TRIGLAV SVETI MIKLAVZ GOSTILNA NARODNA NOSA ZARJA THE DAWN JULIAN ALPS NOVO MESTO ZEGEN KARST PIRAN ZLINKROFI Join Us Today WE slovenian OUR MEMBERS https://slovenianunion.org Summer 2020 27 Logic Puzzle Four women traveled from the village of Šmarjeta for a weekend trip. While there, they each visited the local market and brought home a special treat. Which city did they travel to, in which month, and what was the special treat they picked up from the market? The woman who traveled to Ljubljana is neither the woman who traveled in April or purchased the sea salt. Mojca purchased the carnations. Špela went to the seaside in April. Pepca traveled sometime after the woman that traveled to the capital of Slovenia. Mojca traveled one month after the woman who purchased potica. The potica was not purchased in April. The woman who purchased the potica traveled one month before the woman who traveled to the city with a church on an island. The woman who purchased the sea salt is either Pepca or the woman who traveled to Piran. July June May April Month Carnations Potica Honey Sea Salt Souvenir Novo Mesto Piran Ljubljana Bled City Visited Names Marija Mojca Pepca Špela Month April May June July Honey Potica Carnations Answer: Marija - Ljubljana - Potica - May Mojca - Bled - Carnations - June Špela - Piran - Honey - April Pepca - Novo Mesto - Sea Salt - July Souvenir Sea Salt SUA Collegiate Scholarship: For your journey down the education road. SUA Cultural Grant: For historical research; for sponsoring heritage activities. For Applications: slovenianunion.org 28 Zarja - The Dawn WANT MORE OUT OF LIFE? At KSKJ Life we’ve put members and communities first since 1894. We offer quality, reliable life insurance and annuity solutions. And, because we are a not-for-profit organization, we’re able to focus our profits on giving back to members and their communities. Take advantage of the great financial and member benefits that KSKJ Life has to offer. FINANCIAL BENEFITS LIFE INSURANCE PRODUCTS ANNUITIES Whole, Term and Final Expense policies available Reliable products designed to help provide a future steady income MEMBER BENEFITS PERKSPOT DISCOUNT PROGRAM EDUCATIONAL GRANT PROGRAM Online discounts on travel, retail, entertainment and more One-time $1,000 educational grant for all members who meet the requirements AMERICAN HEARING BENEFITS VOLUNTEER & SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES Discounts on hearing aids plus access to free hearing consultations SOCIAL AND ATHLETIC ACTIVITES FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS SCRIPTSAVE WellRx Prescription Savings Program KSKJLIFE.COM | 800.THE.KSKJ KSKJ Life, American Slovenian Catholic Union, is an Illinois fraternal benefit society located at 2439 Glenwood Ave., Joliet, IL 60435. 2019-04-Z Spring 2020 29 Plan a Picnic PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID LASALLE, IL We all need a little fresh air and sunshine during these trying times to remain sane. All over the country, parks, forests, hiking trails, and beaches are closed. Summer weather is often perfect for outdoor adventures, and while travelling is highly discouraged, why not try a Slovenian-style picnic on your outdoor porch or in your backyard? This means you can maintain the social distancing the CDC is recommending while still having fun. Most Slovenian picnics would last the entire day and built many family memories. They were full of good food, drinks, music, games, and plenty of laughs. We are sure plenty family favorite recipes come to mind that would be great for a picnic, but if your mind goes blank, look to the many pages in the Slovenian-American Table cookbook that SUA produced to get your creative juices flowing. Also, all the hassles of taking your picnic on the road do not exist. You do not have to worry about keeping food hot or cold, packing a cooler, running out of something, etc. So, set aside the whole day for your family picnic and create new memories. Set up a table with a pretty tablecloth, pick some flowers, play fun music, have plenty of games available, and turn off electronic devices. Hopefully you have a great garden with many fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs to use for your picnic. Of course, do not forget the pivo, vino, and slivovitz. Živijo! The Zarja Staff We hope you enjoy the puzzles with a Slovenian theme in this issue. We would love to hear from you on what you have done during this time to “Keep the Slovenian Spirit Alive”. Whether it is cooking, planting, musical, artistic, writing, etc. please e-mail us at wprokup@aol.com and tell us all about it.