S 3.99 U.S./S 8.99 International Official Publication Slovenian Women’s Union of America Uradno Glasilo Slovenske Ženske Zveze v Ameriki The Dawn Vesele Božične praznike in Srečno novo leto Zarja- The Dawn EDITOR: Debbie Pohar DIRECTOR OF DESIGN: Bonnie Pohar Prokup EDITORIAL OFFICE: 1696 Illinois St. LaSalle, IL 61301 TELEPHONE: 815.223.9596 FAX: 815.224.1074 WEB SITE: www.swua.org PUBLISHER: Slovenian Women’s Union of America TELEPHONE: 815.727.1926 Vol. 82. No 6, November'December 2010 Published bimonthly Periodicals Postage paid at Joliet. IL and additional mailing offices. (ISSN 0044-1848) Postmaster: Send all changes of address to: SLOVENIAN WOMEN’S UNION OF AMERICA 431 N. Chicago St.. Joliet. IL 60432 Communications for the next issue of publication: Do you have something SWUA-related you would like to share with readers, like an event you want to let people know about or an idea for an article? We would love to hear from you! Please e-mail the editor at pohar4@aol.com. We reserve the l ight to edit any article submitted. It is preferable that you submit your idea for discussion prior to writing an article. Articles must be related to SWUA events or members. The deadline for articles is the 15"’ day of the month, 2 months preceding the issue. For example, articles for the January/February issue must be received by November 15"'. Thank you. IT’S IN EVERY SLOVENIAN SWUA Annual Dues Invoice 1 National President’s Message 3 Bylaws and National Convention News 5 SWU Scholarship Program 8 HERITAGE NEWS Men in a SWUA World 10 From Heritage 12 Creating the Slovenian Costume by Jana Hlade 13 St. Joseph s Cemetery Recollections by Vera Ancel Muir 14 Death of a Surname 16 Slovenian Win Calendar Fund-Raiser 17 Potica Stories 20 Branch Reports 24 CULINARY Jenka’s Taste of Slovenia 32 Give Friends and Family Holiday Gifts and Handcrafts brought Home From Slovenia Slovenia Map Clock Celebrate Slovenia's independence and heritage with artist Andreja Skul/s handcrafted, ceramic.map clock Coif in Slovenia An enthusiast's wtw mto the majestic courses of Slovenia Finding Slovenia -A Guide to Old Europe's New Country JW Stewart provides travel notes and immerses us m the land, culture and cuis«* Cobalt-Crystal Bud Vase Rich, hand-blown, cobalt-crystal vase from Kreativ. Rogaška Slatina Horne From Slovenia.. Handcrafts, Girrs, and Hckitaci See our Special Offers, and Shop securely on-line at www.HomeFromSlovenia.com ANNUAL DUES INVOICE Every year it costs approximately $3,000 to mail invoices and follow-up reminders. Due to increasing postage costs we are trying something new this year, and we hope that we can count on all members to help us. Instead of sending annual January invoices via mail, we are advising you in this issue that your annual membership renewal is now due. Please help us by providing your own envelope and taking a few minutes to fill out the renewal form. To make sure we credit your payment correctly please include your Member ID number which is located on the back cover address label. Payment should be sent to: SWUA Attn: Jana Hlade 431 North Chicago Street Joliet, IL 60432 Also, remember to notify us immediately when you have a change of address. Changes can also be sent via email to swuamembers@live.com. This year we are also asking for telephone numbers so we can enter in the database. This information is helpful to the Branches. c u T If necessary, we will send reminders to those who inadvertently forget or who do not comply with this notification, but we are confident that the majority of you will send in your dues so that reminders do not have to be mailed. It is very important that we receive dues as early as possible because our cash flow is always very low at the beginning of the year. Membership renewals are for January through December 2011. New members who joined after August 30, 2010 do not have to pay for this calendar year (2011). H E R E PLEASE DETACH FOLLOWING RENEWAL FORM AT PERFORATION Detach and enclose with your payment 2011 Annual Membership Renewal Adult Junior (born after 12/31/92) International Subscriber $20.00 $5.00 $30.00 Name____________________________________________________________________Membership No.__________________(on back cover) Address________________________________________________________________________________ Phone No.________________________ City________________________________________ State______________Zip____________________ Email____________________________ Enclosed is my gift of___________________ Memory of______ Honor of_ Print Name Clearly Amt Enclosed Check No If you are paying for other members, check here and please list on reverse side of form. Slovenian Women’s Union of America Attn: Jana Hlade 431 North Chicago Street Joliet, IL 60432-1703 NEW MEMBER APPLICATION Slovenian Women's Union of America Slovenska Ženska Zveza v Ameriki www.swua.orgswuhome@sbcglobal.net 815.727.1926 Choose type of membership: □ Junior (Birth to 18) Q Adult □ Adult International Address Annual Dues $5.00 Annual Dues $20.00 Annual Zarja Subscription Annual Dues$30.00 I I Check here if this is a gift. If you agree to continue paying for this membership next year, please provide your name/address and e-mail here:_______________________________________________ Payment notification will be published in the Zarja or invoices will be mailed; dues notices in the amount of $20.00/adult or $5.00/junior will be mailed to the address of the member listed below in January of the next calendar year after joining, unless otherwise specified. Please print the requested information below and send this application form with a check payable to: Slovenian Women’s Union of America 431 North Chicago Street Joliet, IL 60432-1703 Last Name First Name Phone_____________________________ Email_________________________________________ Date of Birth Branch Affiliation Number (if known) Location:_______________________________Maiden Name________ Please describe your Slovenian ancestry and provide Slovenian surnames____________________________ Applicant’s signature: _____________________________________________________________ Date: Tell a Friend! If you wish us to send information to a friend or relative just fill in name and address here: My friend’s name___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address City State Zip New Member Application Form - Revised January 2010 c Street Address______________________________________________________________ City/State/Zip______________________ I U T Do you speak Slovenian?_____________________________________________________________________________________ I How did you hear about us? SWUA member newspaper website Other_________________________________________ I would like to volunteer for the S.W.U.A. My area of interest or expertise is:________________________ E R E RENEWAL FORM IS ON PREVIOUS PAGE. ABOVE FORM IS FOR NEW MEMBERS. If you are renewing dues for other family members, please list here. Thank you National President’s Message This is that favorite time of the year for all potica lovers! How many of you crave a piece during the holidays? Luckily for me I have two sisters who make over 80 loaves and make sure our family has plenty. Even when I got married the family pitched in and made sure we had enough to feed our 700 guests. Yes, potica has been a part of my life ever since I can remember. I hope you enjoy a few of our potica stories and recipes in this issue. I also welcome back George Plautz as a writer for Zarja. You can read his introduction to his upcoming series in this issue. I am very sorry for the loss of our Wisconsin Regional President Yvonne Khaldy Johnstone. She was a wonderful person that I have known for around 10 years now. She was a great volunteer in our museum even though she lived over 100 miles away. We will miss her deeply. Besides regular business and the final stages of the 501c3 status we have been very busy gearing up for the National Convention. Debbie Pohar and I traveled to Milwaukee a couple of weeks ago and toured the hotel, meeting rooms and venue options. I have to say I am very excited about all the possibilities in this famous city. We are going to have a spectacular convention. I am encouraging all of you to attend whether you are a delegate or not. As for delegates its getting closer to the time to choose one from your branch. SWUA is an aging organization that constantly needs to be reinventing itself. We need change, new life and excitement. By choosing the right delegate we can move towards the future. Here are some of my suggestions when choosing a delegate: UNDERSTANDING: Does the delegate understand SWUA, our programs and what we are up against? Do they understand SWUA has to make changes to survive in today’s world? ABILITY: Does the delegate have the ability to motivate others? Can they be a team player? ENTHUSIASM: Above all else this delegate should possess enthusiasm for their heritage. Do they recruit members? Do they offer ideas? Do they attend events? LEADERSHIP: Is this delegate a leader within your branch? Do they assist and support the vision/mission/purpose of SWUA? Do they lead by example? If you can answer yes to all of the above, this is a great start in choosing the right delegate. Zivijo, (~: imiumj Bonnie Pohar Prokup 3119 Carrie Street Peru, IL 61354 wprokup@aol.com Welcome to Our New Members! 1, Chronis, Sandra 1, Kochevar, Jacqueline 1, Landgraf, Erin 1, Napotnik, Quirine 1, Schueffner, Denise 2, Bordoshuk, Rose 2, Kambich, Lisa 3, Desrosiers, JoAnn 3, Soffa-Clay, Marilyn 3, Yengich, Patricia 5, Morrison, Loretta 5, Snowberger, Sheila 20, Korringa, Frances 20, Miller, Caryn 23, Riddell-Wade, Mary 24, Balata, Bernice 24, Data, Diane 30, Blake, Lynn 30, Linza, Susan 30, Mencinger, Paul 30, Muniz, Nancy Sever 30, Vranesh, Georgianna 40, Cannavino, Joseph 43, Ivanchich, Dolores 43, Midman, Josie 43, Murn, Frank 43, Mursec, Ljudmila 43, Pierce, Mary 71, D’Arrigo, Agnes 71, Iannarelli, Joyce 71,Milliren, Lisol 71, Ulager, Gail 71, Zielinski, Joan 89, Scharf, Alex 89, Scharf, Danielle 99, Nickl, Elizabeth 100, Boudreau, Jennifer 100, Kochevar, Nancy 100, Urac, Kathleen 110, Grampovnik, John In Remembrance - Yvonne Johnstone Khaldy October 13, 1943 - August 10, 2010 Delopst family to attend Branch meetings and there are now 38 members of the Delopsts’ extended family that are members of Branch 43. During the last few years, Yvonne, along with cousin Betty Ann Kolesari, would accompany cousin Denise Bartlett, National Treasurer, in traveling to Joliet, Illinois to work at the Home Office during the National Board of Director’s meetings. She was eager to help and her services were certainly appreciated by the National Board. She was very much looking forward to Wisconsin hosting the 2011 National Convention in Milwaukee. Yvonne was to play a prominent role and would have been so disappointed to miss it and now the Convention planners are already missing her presence. SWUA extends its sympathy to Yvonne’s family and friends and to the SWUA members throughout Wisconsin. Zarja The Dawn Donations $100 Donation Hočevar, Suzanna, 93, +Frances Meglen Kosir, Mary Ann, 30, Zarja Walsh, Douglas, 43, +Albert and Mary Tratnik $50 Donation Smith, Judith, 108, +Mary Agnes Mutz Branch 1,+Yvonne Johnstone Khaldy $30 Donation Dragavon, Justine, 34, +Anton and Katherine Slogar Ganster, Diana, 20, Zarja Popich, Katherine, 30, Zarja $25 Donation Bayuk, Rosemary, 102, +Josephine Zima Bayuk Densa, Kim, 14, +Josephine “Pepca” Stanonik Janezic, Karen, 43, +Grace Gniotczynski Laskowski, Paula Uremovic, 20, +Mary Rose Uremovic Savol, Mary Jo, 20, +Josephine Sumic Voelk, Tom, 23, Honor of Mary Lou Voelk $20 Donation Densa, Kim, 14, Zarja Keller, Kristine, 26, +Agatha Orazem-Mozina Kinkopf, Frances, 100, ^Frances Kapel Sr. and Elfie Chesnic Miller, Lizette Kay, 109,+Angeline Skull Pershey, Ed, 50, +Mary and Edward Pershey Pucel, Zachary, 20, Zarja Pyszka, Barbara, 24, Zarja Stirnaman, Debbie, 20, +Frances Capitino Webb, Martha, 105, Zarja Zalokar, Robert, 71, Zarja Zandecki, Marie, 24, Zarja $15 Donation Novince, Anne, 14, +Angie Gerhard and Dorothy Edmiston $10 Donation Fencl, Lorraine, 2, Zarja Girman, Carita, 20, Zarja Girman, Maria, 20, Zarja Grampovnik, John, 110, Zarja Krebs, Janice, 50, Honor of Jane Berkopec, mother Marin, Patricia, 25, +Ted L Marin, father Newkirk, Mary Jodene, 3, Zarja Regis, Dorothy, 20, +Dorothy Kobe Cwudzinski Stepec, Martina, 25, Zarja Zalokar, Mildred, 2, Zarja $5 Donation Adkisson, Wayne, 20, +Wayne Adkisson Sr. and Rita M Adkisson Dries, Anna, 43, Zarja Kellen, Susan O’Block, 26, Zarja Oven, Mark, 108, Zarja Oviyach, Raymond, 20, Zarja Pausic, Bonnie Lynn, 108, Honor of Ann Pausic Shank, Laura, 1, Zarja Tanita, Cynthia, 100, Zarja Urbanski, Lenore, 2, Zarja Walker, Nina, 39, Zarja SWUA has lost a very proud, hard-working National Officer. Yvonne Johnstone Khaldy, Wisconsin’s State President, age 66, passed away suddenly of undetected heart disease. Yvonne was a lifetime member of Branch 43 Milwaukee. She was particularly proud that her maternal grandmother, Gertrude Delopst, was the first President of Branch 43. She encouraged many of the SWUA’s Bylaws Ideas for Amendments As SWUA works towards realizing a 501(c)3 status for our association, consideration will have to be given once again to our Bylaws. That may or may not require considerable changes that I do not plan to address in this report. Since the June 2007 National Convention I have collected the many suggestions received for further changes to our Bylaws. Following is the list of items that have been suggested as changes to existing Bylaws and also ideas for new topics to be included in the document that rules our association. Many have been suggested by SWUA’s National Board of Directors and some are from the general membership. We’d like to know what you think. If you have an opinion to express or an unaddressed concern please submit them to me - Denise Bartlett - at 7902 W. Howard Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53220-1612, or call 414.327.4990 or e-mail to denisepbartlett@wi.rr.com. All submissions will be considered by the Bylaws Committee before presentation to the National Board for a final decision of proposed amendments for delegates to vote on at the National Convention in June 2011 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. All members have until December 16, 2010 to present their suggestions per Article IV -National Convention, Section 4.06, page 5 of our current Bylaws. SWUA’s Bylaws are available in a 17 page (plus 3 page Index) document on SWUA’s official web site: www.swua.org. Proposed Items for Consideration • Change name of the association -to delete mention • of women only. • Allow those of all faiths/no faith to join. Emphasis on Slovenian interest. • Study/im pro ve/determine/change wording of al 1 position descriptions. • Assessments/Dues to be paid by April 1 st each year. • No more than two voting delegates per Branch at National Conventions. • Delegates to receive Convention allowances to be used towards actual costs. • Term limits for all National Officer positions. • Annual Board meeting to be held within the first four (4) months of each year. • Regional Presidents to report to the National President. • Increase yearly dues to cover SWUA’s expenses. • State responsibility to preserve items for historical value and archives. • Enforce Branches’ responsibility to financially support Heritage Museum. Role for Immediate Past-President. No political endorsements by SWUA, National and Branch Officers. • No media contact unless approved by National President. • Voting/Elections by US Mail. • Delete Board minutes and financial report from Zarja - The Dawn expenses. • Change starting date for newly elected National Board. • Uniform wording throughout Bylaws; ex: “shall” “will”. • Reorganize Bylaws’ sections from current structure. • Honorary Officers? Honorary memberships? • Compose Code of Ethics. • Monies distribution when Branches fold or merge. • Extended term limits if 2/3 of delegates agree. • Clarify non-voting privileges for some positions. • Regional/State Conventions held every two years. • Remove insurance policy information; move to another document. Submitted by Denise P. Bartlett - Bylaws Committee Chairperson SWUA’s 26th National Convention DoubleTree Hotel Milwaukee City Center 611 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203 June 16-19, 2011 Dear SWUA Member & Slovenian Friends, Dober Dan! There is a lot of preparation going on for the upcoming SWUA National Convention in Milwaukee during June 16-19, 2011. We are confident that delegates, members, and guests will experience a very rewarding, entertaining, and educational Convention with much to share with their Branch members, families and Slovenian communities upon their return home. Exciting things are being planned for everyone’s interest. We are striving to keep our Slovenian heritage alive and plan for this to be dominant throughout our gathering. We’d also like to introduce you to Milwaukee’s well-known hospitality Since SWUA only meets once every four years for National Conventions it is important to make them relevant to the interests of all our Branches and individual members. Besides the important business to be conducted attendees will have several opportunities to be introduced to/ entertained by/educated in Slovenian culture, traditions, crafts, music, song and delicacies from the kitchen. By the next issue of Zarja - The Dawn we hope to be able to definitely report the notable speakers and presenters, workshop topics, special activities and what to expect at SWUA’s important days in Milwaukee. Some things we can tell you now. The DoubleTree Hotel is located just 7 miles from Milwaukee’s General Mitchell Field International Airport and four blocks from the Amtrak/ Greyhound Intermodal Station. Shuttles from the airport are available and numerous members of Milwaukee’s Slovenian groups are making themselves available to help provide transportation where needed. There is no need for car rentals if Convention attendees plan to stick with Convention activities in and near downtown Milwaukee. However, we encourage members to consider staying in the area to vacation in Milwaukee and vicinity. There is much to see in beautiful Southeast Wisconsin. The DoubleTree Hotel location is in a very safe neighborhood in the heart of downtown Milwaukee. It is conveniently located within walking distance to many interesting and inviting destinations. The hotel has a rooftop swimming pool, business center, fitness center and many other fine amenities. There is a free trolley that stops right outside the hotel to take our guests all around downtown Milwaukee. Children are welcome to attend and may take part in all Convention activities. Camp Heritage is for those of all ages at this Convention. Volunteer teachers will be on site to take young people to neighborhood attractions if desired during business meetings. The highly acclaimed Milwaukee Public Museum, an 1MAX theatre, The Theatre District, Bradley Center Complex, US Cellular Arena, Grand Avenue Mall and more are all within three blocks of the hotel. A few blocks further are the Milwaukee River Walk, Discovery World, Betty Brinn Children’s Museum, the lakefront of beautiful Lake Michigan, our famous Milwaukee Art Museum, and much, much more. Potawatomi Bingo & Casino is one mile away. The biggest problem will be - too many places, not enough time. On Sunday, June 19lh, a trip to beautiful Triglav Park for an outdoor Mass, Slovenian music, Slovenian food, Balina courts, and mingling with Greater Milwaukee area’s Slovenian community will be the perfect ending to our Convention. We will pay tribute on this Father’s Day to all Fathers - with special thought to those who immigrated with their families to the USA from their own beautiful Triglav area. We're eager for everyone to partake in this experience - something Slovenian locals have been able to enjoy for decades on Sundays each summer. We hope to allow for at least two hours free time each day for delegates to venture out to see some of Milwaukee. Have 1 sparked your interest? I sure hope so. I almost forgot - the staff at the DoubleTree asked me to tell you that warm, chocolate chip cookies will await you at the front desk. Reservations may be made by calling 414.273.2950. Visit their site at www.doubletreemilwaukee.com. Be sure to ask for our reduced Convention rate. Please watch for more details in the next three issues of Zarja - The Dawn. We all hope to see YOU here in Milwaukee in June 2011. Your presence will help to make this a very successful 26lh National Convention. Questions or concerns? Call me at 414.327.4990 or send an e-mail to denisepbartlett@wi.rr.com. Sincerely, Denise P. Bartlett Convention Chairperson Branch Wide Membership Campaign +10 Members by December 2010 As of August 31, Branch. 1 Sheboygan, Wisconsin is leading the way with 8 new members. The following branches are also at the top of the list in our final weeks of the +10 Branch Wide Membership Campaign: Branch 14, Euclid, OH; Branch 71. Strabane, PA; Branch 100, Fontana, CA with 5 new members; not far behind is Branch 3, Pueblo, CO and Branch 43, Milwaukee, WI with 4 new members. Branch 99, Lemont, 1L third place winner in the last campaign has 3 new members. There is still time to recruit new members during this holiday season and be the lucky winner of delicious Rocky Mountain Potica. Bring copies of the application form and brochure to Thanksgiving, Christmas, holiday gatherings.and any other social functions. Invite your friends and family members to join SWUA! These low membership dues won’t be available indefinitely; consider giving a gift of SWUA membership and be an ambassador to keep our Slovenian heritage alive. The lucky winners will receive the following complimentary gift from Rocky Mountain Potica FIRST PLACE - Three poticas SECOND PLACE - Two poticas THIRD PLACE - One potica Special thanks to Mary and Nick Carmody for their generosity and support of the SWUA membership campaigns! Thanks to our members who responded to the SWUA On-Line Survey in spring 2009. The National Board of Directors has been working hard to meet your needs and expectations of SWUA membership, and have discussed the data collected, including comments. One concern is that nearly half of the respondents don’t think the name, “Slovenian Women’s Union of America,” accurately describes the vision, mission and purpose of our organization. The name of our organization and alternative names were discussed at the last Convention and will once again be a hot topic since a new name was proposed, but narrowly defeated at the National Convention in 2007. As outlined on page 3 of the September/October issue of Zarja, the selection of the delegate is an important branch decision that needs to be thoughtfully considered by each branch in the weeks ahead. The delegate will participate in group discussions, will represent the interests of his or her branch, make a decision based on the discussions and material presented at the Convention, and vote on issues presented and also vote on a new National Board to serve from 2011 -2015. Another significant question in the survey, “Would you be open to a different form of receiving an annual membership invoice, such as an e-mail invoice, or an invoice form in the November/December issue”? Nearly 65% of the respondents answered yes to this question. The Vice President of the Home Office, Carol Ryba streamlined an e-mail invoicing system this year that has saved our organization hundreds of dollars in postage expenses. We realize that there are a significant number of members who do not use e-mail and prefer to receive their invoices by mail. One of the primary benefits of your membership is receiving Zarja The Dawn magazine. In your ranking of favorite column /section of the magazine from most interesting to least interesting, feature articles on various topic of interest, Jenka’s Taste of Slovenia and branch reports were among the top three favorites. Members appear to be in agreement that the magazine is interesting and keeps our nationwide organization connected. A question that wasn’t posed on the survey, but would be worth discussing at your next branch meeting is the concept of sending the Zarja out via e-mail to members who choose this over receiving a copy in the mail. Since publishing the magazine is the largest expense SWUA incurs, saving on Zarja printing expenses and postage “going green” could potentially save thousands of dollars. We realize that there are still a significant number of members who do not use e-mail and prefer to receive a paper copy of Zarja. About half of the respondents have been members for over 25 years; however, the other half of our respondents have been members for 10 years or less. Keep in mind that as the percentage of new members rises, the expectations of the membership is likely to be vastly different from following the same procedures as we did 25 years ago. Making changes is never easy, but over time, the use of computer technology will benefit our organization to assimilate to the 21st century. Bernadette Kovacic Fitzsimmons, Vice President of Marketing & Fundraising SWUA Scholarship Program Celebrating its 61st year of Financially Assisting Students Mission: To generate funding to financially assist young students, With hope that they will promote and preserve Slovenian Culture The second in a series of our eight 2010 S WU Scholarship Foundation winners expressed their ethnic views and values in essays, which follow: “The Importance of My Heritage and Culture”. We wish these special applicants and all students and their educators throughout the country a most productive, enlightening academic year. TABITHA ECKERT - Branch 103, Bourbonnais, Illinois “Every person experiences an identity crisis of some sort. Mine was slightly complicated. 1 grew up in Africa but my parents were American. I spoke English, French, and a West African tribal dialect; my white skin made me unique in Africa but I was invisible in the United States. In the midst of this confusion, there was one thing I never doubted - whatever else I might be, I was also 'A Slovenian. My Slovenian grandfather invested much time and effort researching and writing a book about our family ancestry; my mother sang Slovenian folk-songs; and we all made potica at Christmas time. During my f amily s furloughs in the stales I dressed in fill! Slovenian costume and learned the basic polka steps at SWUA dinner dances. Last year my family and I visited the SWUA museum in Joliet, Illinois. As I browsed the displays and imagined wearing this dress or being the woman who wrote that letter, I realized the richness of shared tradition. My Slovenian heritage links me to places, people, a language, and a culture, and adds deep meaning to my sense of identity. ” ANNA FON - Branch 5, Brownsburg, Indiana “Polkas, Dances, Concerts, Potica, Sausage and Saukeraut, Holy Trinity Church. All eighteen years of my life, I have gone to dances and other various Slovenian celebrations. Holy Trinity Church is more than an occasional visit. It represents my family and what we have gone through. My heritage is a way for me to connect to the past generations of my family. It brings us all together like we are all at a family dinner or at dances at Holy Trinity sponsored by KSKJ, or the frequent meetings of the Slovenian Women s Union of America Branch 5. My heritage is what makes me who I am today. It gives me character and morals, and beliefs. My Slovenian heritage is exactly the kind of heritage I would want if I got the chance to choose. I try to show my heritage is represented in my everyday life, because it makes all of the past and future Fon’s one big happy family. ” CONNOR GRANT - Branch 43, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin ‘7 am thrilled to have won the Helen Skoff Scholarship through the Slovenian Women s Union Scholarship Foundation. I plan to use it in my endeavors at Case Western Reserve University as a rising junior, including earning my Biochemistry major, Spanish minor and bettering the pre-health clubs. I’m heavily involved in: Case EMS, Engineers without Borders, and Global Medical Initiative. In addition the money will aid my medical school aspirations and give me worldly and culturally profound experience in my study abroad to Barcelona, Spain this following spring. What’s more, simply being Slovenian has helped procure countless unexpected joys through my college years. Visiting the picturesque Slavic cultural gardens in Cleveland as welt as the impressionist paintings of Rihard Jakopič in the Cleveland Museum of Art has made me appreciate my heritage even more, and both remarkable exhibitions of brilliant Slovenian creativity have created wonderful college memories. From learning the Indian dance Bhangra, to telling stories of ethnic retreats, such as the SNPJ Young Adult Conference, over potica in the dorms, the sharing of my Slovenian customs, food, and perspective has opened others to share their culture with me and, ultimately, form the well-rounded Slovenian pre-medical student I am today. ” KARA MARUSZEK - Branch 50, Wickliffe, OH “To me, my Slovenian heritage is almost synonymous with my life. It is a connection to my grandparents, my relatives in Slovenia, and millions of other people across the world that also have Slovenian ancestry. Growing up, I was taught about the Slovenian language, culture, waltzes and old songs I played on my button box with my grandparents singing in Slovenian. I was taught to be proud of my heritage and embrace it. Slovenia may be a small county, but we have a lot to be proud of We are unique from every other country. Now that I am older, I see so many of my friends that do not know their heritage and / feel that they missed out on so much. To me, heritage is not just a word for ancestry, it is a cultural experience that takes years to fully appreciate and understand the full impact of ” \ A Special Home On Christmas Eve Christmas Eve, almost thirty years ago this year, a quiet, caring resident of Fontana, California named Jim Harley, put on his Santa Claus suit, added a little make up for effect and was immediately transformed into a gregarious fun loving Santa. He was out to visit his Slovenian friends that evening. His first stop at the SNPJ lodge was a disappointment. The balina court was vacant and when looking into the dark windows he saw empty card tables stacked up along the walls. The children of the SNPJ lodge had sung Christmas carols earlier that day and had gone home. Suddenly, Santa heard button box music and singing coming from the Fontana Rest Home up the street. He drove up to the brightly lit Home, with its parking lot full of cars, and proceeded to make an exuberant entrance into the main dining room. Residents, including snow birds, family and friends gave him a joyous welcome. Santa sat down on a chair next to a huge, fresh pine decorated Christmas tree and first gave his “Ho Ho Ho” greetings. He then asked the ladies to come up, sit on his lap, and tell him their Christmas wishes. This caused a huge stir of laughter, bringing some almost to tears. Santa looked around at the holiday decorated tables, filled with polished silverware, and trays of Slovenian delicacies. He could smell the aroma of freshly prepared homemade soup and other dishes being cooked to be served on Christmas Day. Rose Novak (Rosemary Mlakar’s mother) and Mary Vidergar (Frank Vidergar’s mother), the head cooks at the Home would soon be closing the kitchen after a long day’s work. Santa knew then that he had helped those elderly folks relive, remember and share their Christmas Eve memories of long ago, when they were very young back in Slovenia. On Christmas Day, residents were driven to Mass and later participated in a traditional Slovenian Christmas dinner. Gifts, purchased and wrapped by the Directors of the Slovene Rest Home Association were given to the residents. In 1988 the Fontana Rest Home was closed, funds were distributed and the Slovenian Women’s Union Scholarship Foundation was blessed to receive a generous gift. For over three decades the Fontana Rest Home Association had provided a clean, safe, and pleasant atmosphere for elderly Slovenian immigrants and now has turned its attention to providing financial help to young Slovenian students; descendents of Slovenian ancestors. The Fontana Rest Home association is entering its second decade of doing so. Special thanks to Rosemary Mlakar and Jean Koci for their interviews and photos We request your support in assisting the student members of 2011, who seek financial aid for completing their education. We realize the times do not allow for large donations but we would appreciate any amount you can comfortably give. Though limited for those who send $50 or more, we will be pleased to send a copy of “From Slovenia to America” written by Marie Prisland, foundress of Slovenska Zenska Zveza, 1929. May you and your family enjoy the blessings of this holy season and the coming year! The Officers and Trustees of the Slovenian Women 's Union Scholarship Foundation Mary Turvey, President Stane Kuhar, Trustee Mary Prisland, Trustee Patricia Figurowski, Secretary Marge Church, Joseph Cannavino, Trustee VP and Treasurer DONATIONS $40 Donation Anonymous, 100, +Marion Sader and Bill Vidergar $20 Donation Armbruster, Adrienne, 25 Lawson, Krista Lundgren, 100 Lundgren, Erik, 100 Thoms, Theresa Tevsh, 1 $10 Donation Branch 50, Euclid,OH (+ Mary OKickie) For more information on the SWUA Scholarship Foundation Program please visit http://www.swua.org “scholarship” Men in a SWUA World The Cathedral of Ljubljana The Masterful Craftsmanship and Beauty was Amazing, I Found Myself Getting Lost In Its Majesty I have toured many churches throughout my travels. That is why it is important that you read this article and visit the church known as “The Church of Ljubljana”. Because the masterful craftsmanship and beauty was amazing and I found myself getting lost in its majesty; which is no easy feat for a church to do. The journey to the church begins with a walk down a quaint little Slovenian street until you see the most unusual door imaginable; a three dimensional casting of the past cardinals of Slovenia. This alone is enough to peak your interest as it feels like you are about to enter an old tomb or maybe a secret passage into an ancient pyramid. But as you slowly creek the door open the most incredible scene unfolds; a gold laden masterpiece of remarkable character and beauty. As you walk in you respectfully remove your cap and feel the cool air from the air-conditioning (a welcome feel on a hot Slovenian afternoon) and you see a small gift shop with some free literature and other items to buy. The first time in I used the free booklet to help me but the next day when 1 took our younger travelers back to see the Cathedral 1 could not help but spend the two Euros to get the official booklet, well worth the price. As I moved my way into the Cathedral I quickly noticed the number of people in the facility touring and also how quiet and respectful everyone was. As I first sat in the amazing hard wood pews, 1 looked in amazement at the enormous and beautiful alter that had some lavish stone work all the way up its nearly forty foot walls and then as you fan your sight out you see these amazing little pipe organ balconies near the front of the church. Again a perfect reddish brown color with gold inlays; simply stunning. As you raise your head and follow the incredible walls up you realize that another true focal point is the ceiling, which is painted with a mural known as “Quaglio’s lllusionistic Painting.” Now through the use of my two Euro booklet I know that the original painter selected to paint the ceiling was Andrea Pozzo but he had too much work and was unable to do the job, so Giulio Quaglio was given the daunting task of painting the vaulted ceiling. Now Quaglio was told the painting had to have “emanate piety and also at the same time have pleasing beauty.” Which in so many words means it had to have an extremely holy meaning and be absolutely breathtaking; no easy task in those days but I must say old Giulio certainly pulled it off and if you ever see it in person I believe you will agree. The next thing I noticed were the many statues, busts and paintings that cover nearly the entire side walls of the great Cathedral; the names of the people and paintings are far to many to mention in this article and have to be appreciated individually as well as in the massive collection. Finally you turn all the way around and see the magnificent pipe organ that encompasses the entire back of the church. It is again a breathtaking view of the organ’s pipes incased in a reddish brown case with gold accent with statues and golden drapery; making it far to amazing to try to describe. Actually it is unfair to the Cathedral at Ljubljana to attempt to give an accurate description of the inside of this marvel, which can only truly be appreciated in person. I highly recommend stopping in and viewing it for yourself next time you are in Ljubljana. Well, as you can tell we saw some amazing things and had some amazing adventures on our last trip to Slovenia and I can’t wait to continue sharing them with you in the next several Zarja issues. Until next time let good luck be yours! - Don Baldin The unusual dour; a three dimensional casting of the past cardinals of Slovenia Cathedral of Ljubljana The first church on the sight of the Cathedral of Ljubljana was called the Church of the Fisherman and was first mentioned in 1262; it was consecrated to St. Nicholas and many fisherman worshiped their patron saint (St. N icholas) there. About 100 years later the church was expanded because its size would not accommodate a diocesan church as it was ordained and became known as a Gothic Cathedral Church. In the late 17th century it was determined that the run down church was on the verge of collapse and was badly in need of a renovation. But Bishop Joseph Rabatta did not want to take on the project due to its high cost but a quarter century later Bishop Count Ziga Herberstein gained support and gave his consent to start the project. In reality the timing of the project could not have been worse because a pair of major construction projects, St. James Church and the Podturn Castle, which drove up the cost of materials and used up much of the skilled labor. The two areas of most concern were getting someone to plan the Cathedral and the rising cost of the masons that were in high demand. But none of this deterred Substitute General Janez Anton Dolničar who would spear head the project. In 1701 the demolition of the old church began to make way to build the present cathedral. An interesting point was that the mortar used wine instead of water because it was believed to be stronger. On May 8,1707 the Cathedral of Ljubljana was consecrated by Prince Joseph Eggenberg representing the Emperor. Once the church was constructed its illustrious paint job began; the job was given to Andrea Pozzo and he painted the great vaulted walls but he had already been contracted in Vienna for the next several years so the job was entrusted to G i u 1 i o Quaglio who had gained fame in Friuli and Gorizia. He would then spearhead the beautiful paintings throughout the walls and ceiling in the Cathedral. The small pulpit pipe organ, which sits in the front of the Cathedral was completed in 1739 by Janez Janecek. The case and the balcony that the organ resides in was constructed by Janez Pergman in 1710 and features some amazing gold laid trim work and a unique two step construction. Since the original building of the church, there have been many renovations and additions starting with a new cupola which was installed in 1836. It was determined that the original one was not of the highest quality and it was feared that it may come crashing down. Then in 1859 Parish Priest Josef Zupan ordered a complete interior restoration and the frescos were cleaned and the walls marbleized amongst other small cosmetic and structural improvements. In 1907 the church was again given a renovation this time new windows were installed, new pews and the pipes in the organ were updated. The next major project was to install the massive pipe organ in the back of the church and it was completed by J. Milavec in 1912 and stands as a dazzling backdrop to the church as well as producing the traditional church music. The next repairs sadly were due to damage suffered during World War II; the major damage consisted of the demolished stain glass windows in the rear wall, the roof and the outer walls. By the end of 1961 the walls were painted, the windows replaced and the roof repaired and the inside restored to its previous state. The final changes were made between 1969-1971 when the altar was moved three meters closer to the congregation and lowered two steps. Also at this time a new main and side entrance were added thus concluding the Cathedral’s long and interesting history of construction. The church has sat the same way since 1971 and is a centerpiece in the City of Ljubljana and is not only a place of worship but a must see for all who visit the city. From Heritage World War II Survey and Those Who Continue to Serve Thank you to Cathleen Shober Shelstad of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, daughter of Rose Marie (Dolly) Kastelec Shober and the late Albert Shober of Ely, Minnesota Branch 23. After the death of Dolly’s parents the family home was sold. The new owner found never used WWII ration books tucked away in the basement and were thoughtful enough to return the ration books to Dolly who gave each of her children a book. Thank you Cathy for scanning and sending in the pages for our WWII Collection. Such a class act is called “volunteering without ever leaving home.” It was July, at a Duluth Huskies baseball game in Duluth, Minnesota. The Singing Slovenes were performing at a pre-game show. Frank Bucar introduced Bernard Gerl, of Joliet, Illinois, a WWII veteran. Bernie Gerl was also the starting catcher for the Duluth Dukes baseball team in the 1940’s when the Dukes were a farm team for the St. Louis Cardinals. My husband lived just a few blocks from the stadium, and NEVER thought he would meet or visit with Bernie Gerl. Thank you to Bernie’s sons who are committed to documenting Bernie’s WWII story and his baseball career. Front: Bill, Bernie and Chuck Gerl Back: Mary Lou and Gene Voelk Photo by Sharon Bucar In early August, I attended a memorial service in Ely, Minnesota. There I met Albert Feroni, a member of the 82nd Airborne Division, and his son, Scott. Scott calls his father a true hero and recommended reading “Those Devils in Baggy Pants” to understand what those in “baggy pants” were all about. Book by: Ross S. Carter. Book dedication: The Boys In the 82nd Airborne Division “American parachutists-devils in baggy pants are less than 100 meters from my outpost line. I can’t sleep at night they pop up from nowhere and we never know when or how they strike next. Seems like the black hearted devils are everywhere... ” - The above quote was found in the diary of a German officer who opposed the 504lh on the Anzio beachhead. And From the Preface: “The thing that distinguished us most from other soldiers was our willingness to take chances in a branch of the army that provided a great, new, almost unexplored frontier. In other days paratroopers would have been the type of men to sail with Columbus or the first to seek out the west... ” - Ross S. Carter A true memorable book: it is available on Amazon.com. Mary Lou Deyak Voelk VP Culture & Heritage, Zveza Heritage Donations $10 Donation Helen Frohna, Branch 43 +Yvonne Johnstone Khaldy, Regional President of Wisconsin XEYER BUY RATIO.XEO (.OOIIS WITHOUT BAT I OX STAMPS M.VKH PAY MODE TB AX TOE LEGAL PRHE I'nitrd 5mm Of** of Pric* tJniniiuaoon UlTOm OiTi tl« jvm kn awd Jtmt ntinat, itlnn A* Vtnrs Kao. IVj an la uki —ihi ■■ far n> fifktiafnm. Caufw.1. »ill, l—l l^ancUU«. Creating the Slovenian Costume Slavica Sovan from Branch 99 in Lemont, Illinois is a seamstress by trade. Several years ago, she was asked to help make Slovenian costumes for the Slovenian Radio Club dancers from St. Stephen’s Parish in Chicago. With the assistance of Corinne Leskovar, Slavica made costumes without complete patterns. She was able to duplicate the designs from looking at the styles in the pictures and photographs. Slavica has made costumes for 8 different regions of Slovenia. These styles are very different from each other and some I had never seen before. She has made four men’s and four women’s costumes for each region. The dancers wear the different styles depending on the number of people in the dance and what works best. Slavica Sovan helps Barb Block with a head dress worn in the Bela (white) Krajina region of Slovenia Most of us are aware of the detailed and decorated costume from the Gorenjska region. This costume is the most popular and considered the national dress. The women wear a large, highly decorated head piece called the avba, or a smaller version called the zavijačka. The avba was mostly worn by married women and the zavijačka by single women and girls. However, Slavica explained that wearing the avba may also have been a symbol of financial status. Slavica showed each piece of clothing for each costume, both for the women and the men. She explained what head pieces are worn, what length and color the dresses and pants should oUavba ,fo„ was worn by be, what accessories are /;/v grandmother, Helena used, and the correct Mally shoes. Some of the items, such as the scarves, socks, chains, and belts, she purchases only from Slovenia. Ironically, Slavica did not become familiar with the Slovenian costume until coming to the United States. At that time in Slovenia, the costumes were only worn for very special events and most people didn’t have one. After meeting several people in the Chicago area, she used her sewing skills to maintain this Slovenian tradition in America. However, still to this day, Slavica does not have her own costume. She is more intent on sharing her talents with the rest of the Slovenian community. - Jana Hlade mommočA Photo Contest Be on the Color Cover of Zarja Send In Your Photo Wearing the Narodna Noša and If Chosen You Will Be On the Color Cover of Zarja The Dawn Whether you’re in Slovenia, Cleveland, Southern California, New York City or even Joliet, it’s time to gear up for the 2011 National Convention. Send in a photo of yourself, friends and family in nardona noša or any traditional Slovenian attire to Zarja The Dawn. Entries will be chosen by the Zarja Staff. Deadline is January 1,2011. Send pictures injpeg format with a minimum resolution of300 dpi plus a 50 word essay on your costume via email to wprokup@aol.com or mail to Bonnie Prokup 3119 Carrie Street, Peru, IL 61354. (Pictures will not be returned.) St. Joseph’s Cemetery Recollections by Vera Ancel Muir, Branch 20, Joliet, Illinois Grandma shouts for me to hurry. I struggle with the heavy galvanized watering can that I just filled from the hand pump near the shed. It’s the mid-1950s and we are in St. Joseph s Cemetery in Joliet, Illinois and I 'm helping my grandmother, Josephine Erjavec, tend to the flowers, mostly geraniums, that grace the headstones of my ancestors. This is a chore that is repeated every summer during the past several years. Being the eldest grandchild it is usually I and my brother, Joe, who get volunteered for this job. To some people cemeteries are places to be avoided because of superstitions and legends. 1 find them peaceful and inviting, full of memories and history. It was there that I first learned the immigration stories of my maternal great-grandparents: Joseph and Theresa Erjavec, who had raised their family of eight children in Rockdale, and are buried on one side of the driveway; Simon and Mary Setina, who lived with their daughter and had their businesses on Chicago Street, lay immediately across the drive. Both of my mom’s families were key contributors to the cemetery’s history. In 1895 the parishioners of four-year-old St. Joseph’s Church were all Slovenian immigrants who wanted to retain the customs of their parish churches as they were back in the old country. One of the most important of these traditions is to have a nearby cemetery where they could lay their loved ones to rest. That year a five-acre plot of land was purchased for $1,500 on the west side of Joliet. Another $500 was spent on a cross that today still stands in the center of the grounds. On May 26lh a ceremony was held to bless the cemetery. Most of the parishioners as well as all the Joliet clergy were a part of the festivities. some of it carved by my greatgrandfather, Simon Setina. It’s especially exciting when I find another monument with the distinctive “S. Setina ” mark on the back. In a souvenir book, published in 1916 to commemorate St. Joseph’s Church silver jubilee, Simon Setina, was listed as “the only Independent Slovene stone mason” in town. He had been trained and worked in Austria and Germany before moving his family to the United States. In 1910 he established his shop in Joliet. Over the next several decades he supplied immigrants of all nationalities with memorials for their deceased loved ones, but his influence is most obvious at St. Joseph’s Cemetery. One of the most striking monuments in this place is the Setina-Erjavec statuary which sits near the cemetery’s entrance on Raynor Avenue. Great-grandpa designed and Wandering through St. Joe's Cemetery in 2001 with my camera I am on a hunting expedition, searching for headstones of the Ancels and Govedniks. Two years before on a visit to Slovenia with my parents, Ed and Olga Ancel, / was inspired by the small church cemetery in Businja vas. I’m now determined to document the family history of all my father’s and mother’s relations. This specijic five-acre plot is full of that history .1 Dl/tT i/.i. r. bEe.jJ)u.N.AM?RlKA crafted the granite marker and stone angel sculpture after his wife, Mary, died in 1937. By this time, his only child, Josephine, had been married to Joe Erjavec for 17 years. One might say he was planning ahead. The grouping also includes the tiny grave of my mother’s sister, Viola, who died when she was only two days old. The walk from our home on Frederick Street to the cemetery takes about 15 minutes. For October the weather is warm and the leaves crunch under my shoes as Mom herds all of us kids to a stone pew at the grotto for the weekly rosary. Being in high school in the mid-1960s this is the last place I want to be on a Sunday afternoon. I look up to study the statues of our Blessed Mother and Bernadette, who like me is kneeling with her rosary in her hands. A few weeks later we join in an evening procession of automobiles winding through the cemetery on All Souls’ Day. The lamps are lit on all the graves giving the place a warm glow as we pray for our deceased relatives. In 1946 the parishioners wanted to erect a memorial to the 930 young men and women from St. Joseph’s Church who had served their country during World War II. Inspired Try a Tax-Deferred Annuity for 1 Year! I I 1st Year Tax-Deferred Annuity Rate* ■fQlf I /?•/ / For full details, visit www.kskjlife.0r2 or nonM &//)&/ call 1-800-843-5755 AMERICAN SLOVENIAN CATHOUC / / UNION Hates subject to change without notice. Not ai/ailabie in all states. Not FD/C insured. Backed 100%by KSKJ Life with no administrative fees. by the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, the grotto was designed by the then assistant pastor, Fr. George Kuzma. My grandfather, Joe Erjavec, executed the design in stone, brick, and mortar. The grotto was funded totally by contributions from the parishioners. On September 21,1947 the grotto was dedicated and a bronze plaque was laid to commemorate the 19 parishioners who gave their lives for our country. Each year on the fourth Sunday in July the parish celebrates together at the grotto with a polka mass. The area is filled with young and old, past and present parishioners. The button-box players sing from under the awning of the memorial chapel. This was added in the 1990s at the far end of the site and is normally used for burial rites during inclement weather. It’s a rainy November day in 2008 and I’m holding a folded American flag. Although I’m surrounded by family and friends, I’m feeling lost and orphaned. We’ve just laid my dad to rest at St. Joe s Cemetery, just six months after Mom was buried here. But it’s comforting to know that they can rest here with their parents and so many of their parish friends. They are joining the hundreds of second-generation Slovenian-Americans from St. Joseph’s who lived and worked in Joliet and whose predecessors thought to create this sacred place over 120 years ago. I have been working on a project to identify pioneers to America that came from Slovenia in the years 1840 through 1879 and have descendants still living in America. There are many resources on the Internet to research and analyze, and books in my possession that I have read and made notations of, to identify these pioneers. Now, I have quite a list of individuals. This history of pioneers and their families will be published in Zarja - The Dawn. What I noticed is that many of the original surnames of these pioneers have died out. My own family’s maternal surname of Movrin (Maurin in America) from the village of Gric pri Dobličah (Gritsch) house number 1, in Črnomelj Parish have no living males with the surname(s). There are Maurins from Vimol and other parts of Slovenia and those from other countries and regions, but only the descendants of female members of the Movrin family of Gric survive today. Forty years from now no one will know this family existed in Slovenia or America. Another family surname of Brunskole from the village of Mavrlen, house number 9 and 15, in Črnomelj Parish has no living male descendants bearing that surname. There may be people with the surname of Brunskole, Brunskola and Brinskelle in America and Slovenia, but none of them are descended from our family from Mavrlen (Maierle). How many other surnames of our Slovenian pioneers to this country no longer exist? Will they die out in the near future? This, then is, only one of the reasons, why Slovenian descendants should create a family tree of ancestors. 1 am asking our fellow Slovenian descendants to create and submit their family trees to an organization that has been created to enable and assist genealogists with roots in Slovenia. The Slovenian Genealogy Society International (SGSI) Inc. will accept various media and store them at their location at the SGSI Research Library located in the Slovenian Museum and Archives (SMA) in Cleveland. You can send them a paper copy, an electronic record via E-mail, and CD’s or DVD’s of your family tree(s). Being able to have a working organization with the resources to index and archive these records means that these records will be available to a large number of people and will not be lost. My suggestion is that you copy your reports from existing genealogy software into MS Word. This software will allow all people to view these documents without needing the numerous software packages that exist today. Is your family name no longer used? Write me via E-mail or post and I will incorporate it into a subsequent article. Did your family settle in this country between 1840 and 1879? Is there an extant family of descendants living in the U.S? If you let me know about the family and provide some basic information, I will research the family and include them in my project for future publication. Columns will start January 2011. Here are the addresses to submit family histories, genealogies and family trees. Do you want to send an email with or without attachment? Send it to rlsgsi@gmail.com or send your documents, CD’s and DVD’s in care of Rose Marie Jisa, SGSI President, 12185 Pheasant Run Circle, North Royalton, OH 44133- First Midwest Bank Joliet 50 W. Jefferson St. 1415 W. Jefferson St. 2801 W. Jefferson St. 230 N. Chicago St. 1301 N. Larkin Avc. 2300 Rt. 59 Crest Hill 16051 Weber Rd. Lockport 800 S. State St. New Lenox 1888 E. Lincoln Hwy. 800.322.3623 • firstmidwest.com & 5678. To contact me: George Plautz 1307 Dragon Head Drive Valrico, FL 33594 or by email at doblice@gmail.com Slovenian Women’s Union of America 26th NATIONAL CONVENTION Slovenian Win Calendar February 2011 Fund-Raiser $10.00 PER TICKET CASH PRIZES TOTALING $2,500 24 Daily Drawings at $55 Feb Is1 and 28lh at $110 Feb 8th and 14lh at $220 28 Daily Seller Prizes at $ 10 Top Seller Prizes: 1st Place-$110.00 2nd Place - $70.00 3rd Place - $40.00 Towards Convention Package You are eligible for all daily drawings in the month of February, 2011. Sellers of the winning entries will receive $ 10 as an award for their selling efforts. The daily drawing amount and the seller’s $ 10 prize will be mailed to the winners of record the next business day. Winners will be personally contacted and posted on the website. For information on how Fund-raiser works, see next page. The following entry form should be printed clearly and accompany your $ 10 donation. Detach at perforation Entry Form Purchaser’s Information: Name:_____________________________________________________ Address:________________________ City:_______________________________________________________State:__________________ZipCode_ Phone:_______________________________________________________Email__________________________ Seller’s Information: Name: Address:________________________ City:_______________________________________________________State:_________________Zip Code Phone: Email__________________________ Branch Location and Number:__________________________________________________________________________ Please complete form (Print) and mail with your check in the amount of $ 10 payable to SWUA to Denise P. Bartlett SWUA National Treasurer 7902 West Howard Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53220-1612 Phone: 414.327.4990 or denisepbartlett@wi.rr.com Slovenian Women’s Union of America 26th NATIONAL CONVENTION Slovenian Win Calendar 2011 Fund-Raiser www.swua.org Need additional entries? Contact Denise P. Bartlett at: Phone: 414.327.4990 or denisepbartlett@wi.rr.com February SOU Si sr f(/n rue Veti ('hit i'ti Si:; I 2 jt t J 6 T ti V ifi I i 12 }J 14 fi /6 >7 iff W 2 a 2 i 22 23 26 27 2H 2011 SWUA National Convention. SWUA holds its National Convention every four years in host cities around the country. These gatherings are important not only to conduct SWUA business but to have a forum for branch representatives to come together to give their reports, share their ideas, discuss concerns and further cement their mutual love and respect for all things related to their Slovenian heritage. Our next SWUA National Convention will be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from June 16-19,2011. Plans are underway to make this another memorable event. The successful completion of this “Slovenian Win Calendar” Fund-raiser will provide monies to help defray the costs of conducting SWU A’s National Convention. The Convention Committee is striving to offer an affordable convention package to enable delegates and members from every SWUA branch to attend. The calendars make excellent gifts for the holiday season, birthdays, and to say “Thank You.” How Does the Fund-raiser Work? Everyone participating in the SWUA “Slovenian Win Calendar” Fundraiser has the chance to win cash prizes. Prizes have been raised 10% from 2010. Each day in the month of February, 2011, one winner will be chosen to win the listed cash prize for that day - $55, SI 10 or $220. In addition, each day the person who sold that day’s winning ticket will win $ 10. The daily winner and seller can be one and the same and win both prizes. Winners chosen on the 1st and 28lh of February will win $110 each. The month of February has long represented love and our beloved Slovenia is the only country in the world with “love” in its name. Thus, the names chosen on February 8th- Prešeren Day (Slovenian Cultural Holiday) and February 14,h- Valentine’s Day will win $220 each. In addition, the top sellers (1st, 2nd and 3rd place) will win $110 and $70 and $40 respectively towards their Convention package. It’s a WIN opportunity for everyone. Your Participation is Appreciated! Good Luck! Elizabeth Kambič Doherty A Slovenian American is Queen for the Day On her 100th Birthday! Elizabeth (Betty) Kambic was born in San Francisco on August 16, 1910. Her father, John Kambic (1886-1971) emigrated from Črešnjevec in 1904. Her mother, Anna Kukar, was born in San Francisco (1891-1914); she was the daughter of Slovenian immigrants. Betty’s mother and both of her brothers died before she was 8 years old. The Jacob Cesar family cared for Betty while her father worked. John Kambic then married their lovely daughter, Matilda, and soon Betty had two brothers, Robert and Donald, and a sister, Marie. died as an infant in 1936. The family lived on Kansas Street in a house her father had built. They continued the Slovenian tradition with activities at “the Hall.” Her daughters were always with her, helping serve, punch whist cards, play the piano and dance. It was a joyous time. The young family participated fully in the life of the San Francisco Slovenian colony and its parish, the Church of the Nativity. John grew his construction company and built 48 houses on Potrero Hill where most Slovenians settled. Betty attended Catholic schools and then Commerce High School where she learned her expert secretarial skills while helping with her young siblings. As the demographics changed in San Francisco, Betty and Frank moved to the Parkside district, but continued with Slovenian activities on “the hill.” With age and the death of Frank, Betty moved to Atria Retirement Inn, but continued to attend SWUA meetings, luncheons and the Mother’s Day brunch. Elizabeth Kambic Doherty San Francisco 1932 The Slovenian Hall was the center of activity on “the hill” and Betty participated in its many functions. She joined the Slovenian Woman’s Union of America and eventually became Branch 13 secretary for many years. In 1932 Betty married Frank Doherty, also from “the hill”, but from an Irish immigrant family. They had four children, Betty Ann, Gerald, Anne Marie and Frances. Sadly, Gerald On August 15, 2010 Betty’s family gathered at the Retirement Inn to celebrate Betty’s 100 years. Of the 80 guests, there were 53 Slovenian relatives. She gasped with surprise and joy when a letter from Senator Diane Feinstein was read to her. Her comment was “to ME...? Really?” and then she just beamed with pride! An accordionist from “the hill” provided music for the polka and happy birthday. Betty danced the polka with her grandson. Betty laughed and even kicked up her heels in grand polka style. Betty is my mother and she always told me to be proud to be Slovenian. She regaled me with stories of our proud traditions. At her 100th birthday party and in keeping with her jovial personality, Betty told the cheering crowd to smile, laugh and be happy. - Frances Granger Greetings from the Online Newsletter! May you have a Christmas season filled with love-family-friends; and may continued good health and abundance be yours in the coming New Year! If you are a new member and would like to receive the monthly Newsletter, email: listoperator@swua.org Potica Stories We all reminisce of that wonderful aroma coming from the oven when our grandmother was baking potica or the excitement we used to have when she would let us get messy and spread the filling on with our hands. Whether we knew it or not at the time, we were keeping the tradition alive. I am sure everyone one of us yearns for that piece of potica especially around Christmas. udy Deyak Ostrander, making the wedding potica This year keep the spirit of the tradition alive by making your own potica, whether it be one of the short cut methods or the method your grandmother used, and show your pride and warm friendship by sharing your potica with family and friends. Keeping the Spirit Alive. Frank and Kot tan Jared and Dena Ostrander sharing Judy Ostrander ’zJst potica. /A potica : .-.v making My granddaughters have been helping me make potica since they were old enough to stand in a chair. When Maty, my granddaughter, was 4 years old (now 12) she was helping spread the nut mixture. Papa (her grandpa) was sitting at the table observing, he said “Maty spread more over here, Maty you missed a spot over there, Maty, Maty...” Maty put her hands on her hips and said “Papa I’ve been doing this for a long, long, long time -1 know what I’m doing.” He laughed so hard I thought he was going to fall off his chair. We tell this story every time we make potica. I think it’s important to carry on this part of my Slovenian heritage. Gloria Nowakowski Branch 24 Maty Nowakowski, Age 4 Ice Box Potica From Mickey Kaprelian Branch 1 DOUGH: 4 cups flour 3 tablespoons sugar 1 '/2 teaspoon salt % pound butter 1 cake yeast '/4 cup lukewarm water 1 teaspoon sugar 3 egg yolks beaten 1 cup sour cream Have all ingredients at room temperature. Method: Measure flour, sift in sugar and salt: cut in butter as for pie crust. Dissolve yeast in lukewarm water and add sugar. Let yeast stand until it foams. Mix egg yolks and sour cream and add to foaming yeast mixture. Knead into a smooth dough (5-10 minutes). Place in a bowl. Grease the top and put into refrigerator over night.___ My mother taught us how to make potica, even though she was not of Slovenian descent. She used Marie Prisland’s recipe that she found in a Zarja magazine many, many years ago. My mother passed away in March, but as you can see by the photo, we have kept up the tradition! We were making this potica for our Slovenian Potluck and we always enjoy our times baking it together, and we’ve been making potica for almost 40 years! - Cheryl Kotnick Lopour Branch 1 Martha Kotnick,Marilyn (Kotnick) Hendricks, Erin Lopour and Cheryl Kotnick Lopour FILLING: 1 pound ground nuts (walnuts or pecans) '/4 pound butter 1 cup sugar '/2 to % cup scalded milk 3 stiffly beaten egg whites 2 teaspoons vanilla Method: Pour scalded milk over ground nuts, add butter and stir until melted. Add vanilla. Add sugar and egg whites to cooled milk mixture. Roll dough until very thin. Spread with filling and roll up as tightly as possible. Seal ends and edges very tightly being careful not to allow the filling to escape. Place in well greased pan. Allow to rise at least IV2 hours. Bake at 325 degrees for one hour. I divide dough into 6 portions to fit into the small loaf pans. Let rise. Bake 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on oven until brown. Wait a few minutes and then turn out of pan to cool. Potica Stories Our potica baking marathon began on a Monday morning. In 5‘/2 hours, my sister Marguerite Shavor and I had accomplished our goal. We had made 30 poticas, half walnut, and half apple. Our backs were sore and we were tired. One day later we were fully recovered and ready to sell our prize loaves of potica at the Ely Farmer’s Market. We had signed up to operate a booth for four Tuesdays. This was a commitment! There is a story behind this potica making! Marguerite Shavor and Rea Rossi at Ely s Tuesday Nights Farmer s Market Like many Slovenian-Americans of the 60’s and 70’s, I had not learned the art of making potica “from scratch”. Over the years, I had moved far away from the Slovenian kitchen 1 knew, and my mother was in her 80’s and no longer able to make her potica. Our holidays had come and gone without a slice of potica! Armed with determination, Marguerite and 1 with our mother, Helen Slogar Theno, began experimenting on a “short cut” recipe for both walnut potica as well as apple potica which is like an apple strudel. Pillsbury Crescent Roll dough fit the bill for the walnut potica. We just manipulated the crescent roll pieces into a solid rectangle, used a rolling pin, spread on the filling and then rolled it up.* This summer we found a new Pillsbury Seamless Creation dough which is an even better time saver, no more sealing the perforations! The walnut filling is my grandmother Slogar and mom’s recipe. I refined the recipe for apple potica (strudel) by using Athen’s thick fillo pastry sheets. They can be purchased at Bill’s Imported Foods in Minneapolis and Zup’s Store in Ely. *In 2006, Zarja ran an article with me and my mom making walnut potica using “the new short cut method”. In spring 2010, Lake Superior Magazine published an article about “store bought potica”. My response: “No, we need to be making potica in our family kitchens and I have just the recipe! ” I was armed with determination to reach potica lovers. Everyone could have a home made potica for the holidays. My own website, www.PoticaRea.com became a reality. It contained the “short cut” recipes and instructions for walnut potica and apple potica (strudel) complete with illustrations. Unbeknownst to me, my second cousin, Mary Jo (Gornik) Pouchnik, had used her ingenuity to construct an instructional DVD on apple potica for the Iron Rangers. I then accepted the challenge of constructing an instructional DVD for walnut potica. Today this DVD can be downloaded from my website. The marathon potica making took place at our family cabin in Ely, Minnesota where I have been visiting for the past month. Marguerite and I learned we could sell our potica loaves at the Ely Farmer’s Market and now could add the walnut potica DVD to sell, too. What a grand time Marguerite and I had talking with former neighbors, old friends and classmates, and meeting new fans of potica. Each week was a surprise, not knowing how many we would sell. Would we have to freeze them? Would we break even, considering the cost of ingredients? Spreading walnut filling on the Pillsbury Seamless Dough for walnut potica - 7 year old Sydney Shavor Making walnut potica at the cabin (L to R) Rea Rossi, Marguerite Shavor and Ginny (Rodich) Stage Word got out and the potica sales increased, along with the latest hot seller, a blueberry and apple potica. By the 4th week, we sold lots of poticas and several DVD’s! Thank you! There was another plus: we added four more short cut potica baking fans. One week we received help from Marguerite’s granddaughter 7 year old, Sydney Shavor, and her daughter-in-law, Clare Shavor. On the next week Rea Rossi s grandparents Marko and Magdalene Slogar, 1944 covered table and the aroma from the oven bring back memories of that old time Slovenian kitchen. But the proof is in the first bite, that unique and wonderful flavor of walnuts and honey. Potica making has never been easier! - Rea Theno Rossi and Marguerite (Geet) Theno Shavor, Branch 23 The word potica has been in my vocabulary for as long as I can remember. It started with grandma Kambic and became a household word when she passed the recipe down to my mother, Loraine Kambic, who passed it down to my sister-in-law, Krista Kambic. I remember when lent came, we had plenty of meals with potica and vegetable soup. When I moved out of state, my wonderful sister-in-law, Krista, would send me some walnut potica during the holidays and whenever 1 would come back for vacations, I could always plan on a supper of cheese potica. Grandma Kambic’s Cheese Potica Dough 3 cups flour 1 cup water 1 egg 3 tablespoons oil ‘/2 teaspoon salt our second cousin Ginny (Rodich) Stage stepped up to the plate. On the last week our cousin Geno Klun got his fiance Joellyn Mortenson involved. At our Ely Branch 23 SWUA meeting in August, we explained the method to the members. Several of the members said they are willing to try the method with their grandchildren. Filling % lb. oleo or butter 3 tablespoons sugar 3 eggs 12 oz. cottage cheese Our grandparents overcame many hurdles as they adjusted to America. Most important to them was family tradition. I will continue my quest. I encourage Slovenian-Americans, male and female, to keep their family baking traditions. Let’s share them with our children and grandchildren and anyone else who happens to be in the room! The sheet Dough: Mix ingredients together about 20 minutes, let stand 1 hour, roll as thin as possible. Melt butter in sauce pan, mix in rest of filling and spread filling over rolled out dough. Roll into a log shape, form a circle with wrapped dough. Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees. - Laurie Kambic Suwal Branch Reports Poročila Podružnic BRANCH 1 - Sheybogan, Wisconsin I mentioned our Ss. Cyril and Methodius’ Annual Festival last time, but I just wanted to add a few things that happened that day. Our Polka Mass was interrupted by a heavy thunderstorm with a lot of thunder, but Fr. Glenn managed to celebrate a beautiful Mass. The sun finally came out and things started to dry up, but then at 4 o’clock the tornado sirens went off! Everyone ran for shelter, and there was a small tornado touchdown north of us. Fortunately, there were no injuries due to the storm, and then once again the sun came out, and we were able to enjoy the rest of the day! Our church’s 100th Anniversary continues with much enthusiasm. We had a Family Fun day on September 5, and the children enjoyed hotdogs and games. On Sunday, September 12, we enjoyed a potica and apple strudel demonstration in the church hall. There were plenty of samples to go around and the ladies did a wonderful job teaching us the methods to make these wonderful treats! Rogene and Mary Jo Grabner (mother and daughter, presented the strudel recipe; Aggie Gruenke and Jeanne Mullen presented the potica. Well-done ladies! Na Svidenje, CHERYL KOTNICK LOPOUR BRANCH 2 - Chicago, Illinois Please read your Zarja (September/October 2010) especially the SWUA bylaws and the annual Board Meeting report. Many bylaws will be voted for change. If you cannot attend our meetings and are for or opposed to any change, call Fran. This is very important! Five young engineering students from Slovenia stopped off in Chicago during their 62-day tour of America. A visit to Joliet was very educational for them. At the SWUA home office, Jonita showed them pictures and told them how Slovenians immigrated to this area. A brief history of the perils and hardships of the immigrants surprised them, as they were unaware of it. Jonita invited them for ice cream sundaes with much laughter and jokes. We took a ride to La Salle to see old St. Roch’s where Father Mike Železnikar was pastor, then visited his gravesite as well as relatives at the La Salle nursing home. Fortunately, they were able to attend our ZVEZA picnic. Father Blase was pleased to have their participation at Mass. After Mass we all enjoyed their company dancing, singing Slovenian songs with Vince Rigler, as well as refreshments. Before heading northwest, their cousin, Josie Bogolin, took them on a complete Chicago outing. They loved our city. They await SWUA’s arrival to Slovenia. Member Theresa Prah passed away on August 2nd at the age of 96. Condolences to her family daughter, son and grand children. Member Julia Petrich lost her husband Frank August 25th. Condolences to Julia and her children and grandchildren. Please remember them in your prayers so that they may rest in peace. Welcome to three new members. Rose Bordoshuk (Zerdin), Julie Grah (Petrich) and Rick Portillo. Dates to remember: November 20th - Penny Social, December 4th - Juniors Christmas party, December 20th -Adults Christmas dinner. Vesele božične praznike in srecno novo leto 2011. DAISY BRANCH 5 - Indianapolis, Indiana Holiday greetings to all Branch 5 members. Holidays always bring one thing to mind for me...FOOD! Why is it as we get ready for the long winter blast of weather and the round of holiday gatherings, the uppermost thought is “where did I put that recipe?” Get out your Slovenian Women’s Union of America cookbook; there are over 15 different recipes for potica. Flavorful fillings get your taste buds going just by reading the recipe. Pictures of strudel makers lifting a long bundle onto a pan, ready to pop into the oven, ahhh, you can almost smell its golden apple goodness! The little hints from the recipes, like soaking a cup of raisins in wine or liquor overnight are invaluable to those of us who just have the cookbook to go by, not a baking relative to show us the way. Me, I prefer two cups of soaked raisins, because somehow, mysteriously they deliciously disappear as I am baking! Please consider a wonderful gift of an SWUA cookbook this holiday season, especially if it is a gift to yourself! Mary, Karen and 1 are looking forward to our Holiday dinner with all of you to kick off the Season. Hope you are able to join us. May all of you have a Blessed and Merry Christmas. We will see you in the New Year! MARY - KAREN - PHYLLIS BRANCH 13 - San Francisco, California Contact Information: bchiodo@comcast.net I took a vacation for five days and when I returned home I found a beautiful thank you note from member Agnes Ansel Kurnick. She said the Ansel family was thrilled to read about their family and she knew her mother would be pleased to be remembered. Agnes said she attended her cousin Betty Dorherty’s 100"' birthday party. She said Betty looks wonderful and even danced a polka with one of her grandsons. I am happy to report that Virginia Sustarich was taken to the hospital, but is home now and doing well. Remember to mark your calendars for our annual Christmas party, which will be on Wednesday, December 1st at noon at the Slovenian Hall. It is always a good time with lots of great food. If you can come please let President Doreen Sustarich know at 415.468.5039 and tell her what you would like to bring. It is wonderful to get together and wish everyone a Merry Christmas. BARBARA CHIODO BRANCH 14 - Euclid, Ohio This is the most blessed time of the year, the time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus by getting together with those who have added so much happiness to our lives. Branch 14 encourages a gathering of friends and relatives by sponsoring its annual Christmas Dinner on the first Tuesday on December 7th at 6 p.m. Everything will be the same as before, the delicious meal prepared by Sophie Mazi and her staff, the usual raffle and of course, once again getting reacquainted with old friends. As we grow older, being with old friends takes on a special meaning when we look around and notice that someone is missing, having been taken to their eternal reward. Life is fragile at this point and we must experience it to the fullest while we still have the chance. Stana Grill will be contacting you for reservations for our Christmas dinner. If she misses you, a most unlikely happening as she is so precise, please call her. The Ohio 2010 Regional Convention took place on October 10th, and for the first time in a long time Branch 14 had three representatives: Diane Varney, Stana Grill and I. It was held at the beautiful Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine on Chardon Road in Euclid starting with a Mass, then a meal, and then the business meeting. If you have not been to the Shrine, you will find that is most uplifting to see the grotto and the Church. You must make a visit someday. Get well wishes go out to Stana Grill who is being watched over by the angels. She has such a positive attitude that we all know that she will be her old self soon. See you at the Christmas dinner. God bless. BRANCH 20 - Joliet, Illinois Contact Information: patricia.schager@att.net WOW! Holiday season already. Remember Fuller Brush? November meeting guests and members get a look at new and old products for the home. December, Christmas party at Giovanni’s restaurant is a must for members and their families. Santa always finds his way for a visit. What a variety of meetings we’ve had. September we enjoyed filmed highlights of a Tour of Slovenia with the Ancel families; then we danced and ate at the annual Slovenian Grape Harvest Fest. October was nominations for officers and member Don Fisher gave us a twenty-five year behind-the-scenes peek at his career with the City of Joliet as Director of Planning. Our members are so involved in the community. Jean and Jerry Herbst met with Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White when he visited the Joliet driver facility. White talked about the importance of organ donations, which he has championed through all driver facilities in the State. A liver donation saved Jerry’s life, and Jean and Jerry are able to lead a full life. Pauline, Alan and Mary Mihelich, Colleen Kovic, Amanda and Darla Tomac joined volunteers picking up trash, clearing brush and painting during a community service day at Joliet’s Rock Run Trail. Gen Klainsek was recently honored as KSKJ St. Francis De Sales #29 Lodge Person of the Year for her fourteen years of service. Marianne Wolf-Astrauskas was awarded First Place honors for her short story, ALPHA MALE, during the National Federation of Press Women’s conference in Chicago. Sympathies to members Marie Muster, wife, and Sharon Schroeder, daughter, on the passing of Frank Muster; sympathy to members Marge Grayhack and Bernadine Rutkowski on the passing of brother Joseph Cernugel. Sympathy to members Debbie, daughter, and Dustyn Martincich, granddaughter and member Pat Schager, niece, on the passing of Edward Horvath. PAT SCHAGER BRANCH 23 - Ely, Minnesota Hello to all, Branch 23 has been very busy this year. We have had a number of luncheons that were all well attended. During the month of May, we honored our Member of the Year, Virgie Ivancich, with a luncheon at the Creek Ridge Resort. Johnny Pouchnik entertained everyone with his accordion playing and led the group in song. It was a wonderful day and very special for Virgie and her family. This past August at our luncheon at the Grand Ely Lodge, Rea Rossi and her sister, Margarite Shavor, gave us a presentation on making potica an easier way. If you wish more information on this process you may check out www.PoticaRea.com. Our group is still selling the Ultimate Cloth. It is unbelievable how many people are excited about this cloth that cleans with only water. We couldn’t have found a better fundraiser because it literally sells itself! Recently seven members from Branch 23 attended the SWUA Minnesota State Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Mass was celebrated in St. Bernard’s Church, which was designed by John Jager, a Slovenian architect. The church was simply beautiful with all of its statues and the many murals painted on the walls and ceiling. We were also introduced to the new Slovenian Consul General, Jurcek Zmauc, who spoke to the group. It was a super day with great people and great food. Thanks to the members of Branch 109 - well done! GERRY PETRICH BRANCH 24 - La Salle, Illinois Contact Information: 91ives@comcast.net Dober Dan! Twenty-Four members, including five new ones, attended the September meeting held in the Eureka Building in La Salle. It was good to see everyone following our “long, hot summer”, and to plan for upcoming events. October saw us all in Deb Pohar’s house learning how to make flanciti, with Cathy Lenkaitis doing the demonstration. November was “family treasures” month, with everyone bringing some item that’s connected to their heritage, and in December we will be celebrating with a Christmas Brunch to be held at John’s North Star. The Illinois/Indiana convention, held by SWUA Branch 89, Oglesby, was a huge success and we thank our delegate, Linda Struna, for doing such a great job in representing our Branch 24. It’s not too early to start making plans for the SWUA National Convention - it sounds like it’s going to be an exciting time - there’s lot’s to do in Milwaukee. Please remember in your prayers, our sick and shut-in members, especially Fr. Bernard Horzen. O.S.B., who is a patient in St. Joseph’s Nursing Home, 401 Ninth St., Lacon, Illinois 61540. He would love to hear from you! Wishing everyone warm and heartfelt wishes for a blessed and happy Christmas season and a New Year filled with hope and peace. Until next time, may your hearts be filled with peace and love. LORETTA STORY BRANCH 35 - Aurora, Minnesota Our State Convention was held in St. Paul at the Church of St. Bernard, which was designed by John Jager, a Minneapolis architect who was Slovenian. Branch 109 and their President, Norm Setniker did a wonderful job from arranging for the Mass to the delicious food! There were a lot of helping hands. The Slovenian Consul General, Jurček Žmauc brought everyone greetings from Slovenia. President, Rosemary Ribich, conducted a short meeting. She stressed the need for all branches to recruit new members; also, the need to review the by-laws before the National Convention in 2011, because many issues will be discussed. A brochure on the SWUA Scholarship Fund was passed out earlier which contained information for prospective applicants: deadline for scholarship application is March 1, 2011. Everyone was encouraged to donate. Branch 23, of Ely will host the 2011 SWUA Minnesota State Convention. Former Minneapolis columnist, Jim Klobučar, father of U.S. Senator Amy Klobučar, reminisced about past travels to Slovenia and visits with family there. He read a poem about his grandmother when she died. She was a special person to many. MARLYS RABB BRANCH 39 - Biwabik, Minnesota Contact Information: rribich@northlc.com 218.865.6600 Everyone is rested and contemplating by-law issues briefly discussed at our Minnesota Regional Convention. What a lovely ZVEZA DAN it was in celebration of our culture and heritage. The Mass at St. Bernard’s Church was beautiful and our branch members were intrigued with the beauty of the architecture with Slovenian influence. The dinner was excellent and Branch 109 Twin Cities put a great day together for all of us. The presentations by the speakers on our beloved Slovenia were an inspiration. “Let’s go to Slovenia” could be heard across the tables. Our bus of twenty-eight delegates from the Iron Range branches boarded the bus, some as early as 7 a.m. for the four hour trip to St. Paul. Our Branch 39 had eleven delegates on the bus and we met several other branch 39 members at the event, some who have relocated to the Twin Cities and others who chose to drive. Our trip home included discussions on the pending by-law changes to be addressed next year at the National Convention in Milwaukee. We were reminded to read about them and express our ideas at the upcoming branch meetings. Our “Absent Tea” project was successful and we thank our members for their generosity. We hope you enjoyed the Borovnica tea. We will have branch meetings in October and November and our next social event will be our Christmas/Epiphany party in January. Let’s work on membership and continue Living the Legacy. Marija Pomagaj Prosi Za Nas ROSEMARY (SERTICH) RIBICH BRANCH 40 - Lorain, Ohio A belated Happy Grandparent’s Day to all grandparents! Did you know that September 12lh was your day? I didn’t, until I received several cards and calls. Grandchildren are the ties that keep us older folks connected to what’s going on in the world. Bless them! Aggie Serazin’s grandson, Nick, is in New Zealand and was in the area struck by the recent earthquake there. His mother was able to reach him and he assured her that he was fine. Another of her grandsons, Brian, is a senior at Lorain County Community College, where he is the editor of the college newspaper “The Collegiate”. Our congratulations to him! We have lost another member, Anne Tomsic, died on September 12 at age 98. Anne had been in assisted living for several years, but more recently she was in a nursing facility. She was still able to get around with her walker. She was at one of our luncheons this past year. I’ll remember Anne as a gentle and caring person. She is survived by her four loving stepchildren and sister, Angeline Grayson. To them we extend our sympathies. Rest in Peace, dear Anne. Don’t forget our luncheons are on the second Wednesday of the month. Save the date! As this will be our final issue of Zarja for the year 2010, we are reminded that the Holidays are upon us. I wish you all a Bountiful Thanksgiving, a Blessed Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year 2011. STEPHANIE POLUTNIK BRANCH 43 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin Contact Person: Jan Gehm 414.321.1413 Plans are continuing and enthusiasm heightens as the committee meets to insure your stay at the 26th National Convention in Milwaukee will be a pleasant one. Remember the dates are June 16-19, 2011, at the Double Tree Hotel in downtown Milwaukee. Did you remember that our branch will have a bake sale on election day, November 2, 2010, at the 88"’ School. A heavy turn out of voters is expected so a lot of bakery items will be needed. Won’t you please help. Also a collection of cookbooks, donated by the family of Yvonne Khaldy, will be on sale. Have you heard that the Singing Slovenes will be here on Friday, October 22, 2010, at St. John’s Church Hall, 8500 W. Coldspring Rd. at 7 p.m. This program is being brought to you by the Slovenian Arts Program at the University of Wisconsin. Join us for an evening of fun and music. Looking ahead, Pustna Veselica, is back by popular demand. Mark your calendars, Saturday, February 26, 2011, and plan on attending this fun filled event. More information will be forthcoming. Congratulations and best wishes are sent to Katie Kaye, our young member, who is attending school at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. On September 11,2010, at a special ceremony, Katie was presented with her white coat, a symbol of service. Her parents Kathy and Jim proudly attended this ceremony. A short eulogy was given by Denise Bartlett, and a special SWUA Tribute was read by President, Jan Gehm at the funeral of Yvonne Khaldy who passed away suddenly on August 10. Yvonne was currently the State President and a very active and supportive member of our branch. When chosen as Member of the Year, she declined since she would want her only son, Karim, to share this happy event with her. Karim lives in Nevada and serves in the Army National Guard. He recently returned home after a tour in Afghanistan. Rest in Peace, Yvonne. MICI BREGANT BRANCH 47 - Garfield Heights, Ohio Contact Information: Olga Dorchak 330.468.7989, Elsie Spellacy 330.699.0031, Katherine Wallace 330.253.0825 or e-mail webblekatt@hotmail.com Hi everyone, our next meeting is November 14th at the Maple Heights Library. We will be discussing the National Convention. Also congratulations to Samantha Spellacy and Keith Groose Jr. on their marriage in April. We wish them all the best. She is the granddaughter of Elsie Spellacy and niece of Katherine Wallace. The wedding was beautiful. We all had a good time. Samantha made a very beautiful bride. Our Christmas Party will be the first Saturday in December. Hope everyone has a very Blessed Holiday Season. Get well wishes go out to Elsie Spellacy as she recuperates from hip replacement surgery. Hope she will be up and about soon. KATHERINE WALLACE BRANCH 50 - Euclid, Ohio Contact Information: 216.531.2745 cjaynow@yahoo.com Our president, Rose Mary Toth, was anxious to share the exciting news about the upcoming Ohio SWUA Convention, hosted by Branch 50 on October 10, 2010 at Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine at our first fall meeting in September. I must say “thanks” to Dorothy Lamm for the wonderful suggestion as to the locale. The sisters of the Most Holy Trinity are a very welcoming group. They were wonderful hosts for SWUA. Our Christmas party will be held on Thursday December 2, at 1 p.m. at the Dubrovnik Gardens in Eastlake, Ohio. Please plan to join us (and bring a friend!) for a warm and convivial atmosphere at a popular ethnic eatery that promises excellent food. This annual event is a great way to kick off the Christmas season. It is not too early to begin planning for your attendance at the SWUA National Convention, which will be held on June 16-19,2011 at the Doubletree Hotel in Milwaukee. I’d like to post a note of thanks to Mary Lou Voelk for her informative article in the July/August issue of Zarja, which discussed the colorful history of my husband’s family as 19lh century pioneers in the Leadville, Colorado Slovenian community. Her research was extensive and the article was concise and interesting. One interesting member of the current generation of that family is my Helping people of the world learn more about one another SCOLA WWW.SCOLA.ORG nephew, Dr. Tom Tomsick, director of Neuroradiology at the University of Cincinnati Medical School, and a former bullpen catcher for the Cleveland Indians. Tom was recently in Cleveland to talk about his new book, Strike Book Signing (L to R): Ken Tomsick, Anne Tomsick, Rick Tomsick, Judy Tomsick and Tom Tomsick MD Three. My Life in the Pen, which details his first-hand experience of some of baseball’s great pitchers in the mid-1960’s when the Indians pitching staff were strikeout kings! More info about the book is available at strikethree.biz. ANNE TOMSICK BRANCH 55 - Girard, Ohio Greetings from Girard! I can hardly believe that the end of another year is drawing near. What a wonderful time of year to celebrate with loved ones! On a sad note, Leonard Sefcik, husband of Katherine Cvetnic Sefcik, died this past July. He loved polka music and belonged to the Mahoning Button Box Club. Katherine also plays the button box and has entertained us at our holiday parties. Our deepest condolences to Katherine and her family in this time of loss. In other Branch news, Anka Krakora, our Secretary/ Treasurer, began this past school year teaching 7,h and 8th grade math at the new Jr/Sr High School in Girard. A dedication ceremony for the new high school was held of September 4th and Governor Strickland, among others, was in attendance. For the past 34 years, Anka has been a well-loved teacher in the school system and is excited to have a new facility with state of the art technology. In other news, Joan Twaddle, our Vice-President along with her son Jack, is active with the local Ham Radio Club. This past Labor Day, she and Jack spent several days at the Canfield Fair promoting interest in the group. It’s that time of year for our annual Christmas party. Once again, it will be held with members of AM LA Lodge 42. The party is planned for Wednesday, December 1 at 6 p.m. at Amen Corner in Girard. Please call Maria Selak for further information. Reservations will be due by November 20. That’s all the news for now. In closing, I include a short excerpt from Rose G Kingsley’s The Autumn Garden. “In the garden, Autumn is, indeed the crowning glory of the year, bringing us the fruition of months of though and care and toil. And at no season, safe perhaps in daffodil time, do we get such superb color effects as from August to November. ” Vesele Prazmike in Srečno Novo Leto 2011! MONICA SELAK BRANCH 89 - Oglesby, Illinois Contact Information: barbarabruch@yahoo.com or 815.339.2714 We had our annual September potluck and as usual had a very good time. Barbara Beer brought a very tasty pasta, pesto, white beans, tiny tomatoes and mozzarella salad that everyone enjoyed. Bridget Gunderson brought home grown watermelon that was sweet and delicious. Her husband Mike grew a 55-pound whopper this year. We had a bags game set up outside for the junior members and they had a good time playing. President Alice Ebner read the names of the members who were not with us and we sent our thoughts to all of you. Doris Ambrose won both halves of our 50/50 drawing and was very surprised. We are looking forward to the coming year of meetings and programs and are always looking for suggestions. What Slovenian food would be good for next year’s cooking demonstration, maybe goulash. Keep in touch and Na svidenje! BARBARA BRUCH BRANCH 93 - New York, New York Contact Information: lgross@tstnyc.org Our stellar event of the year, “Sample Slovenia” Heritage Weekend was once again a resounding success, check our website www.swuanyc.org after November 7th for photos of the happy hikers! The White Light Festival at Lincoln Center gave our branch another opportunity in our ongoing outreach to “former Yugoslavians” to attend the NY premiere of Judith, a liturgical drama and musical reconstruction of 16lh century Marko Marulias’s poem. Medieval chant specialist, Katarina Livljaniae from Zadar, Croatia was accompanied by archaic flutes, lirica and fiddle. Thanks to the Slovenian Ministry of Education, language classes are once again in full swing at the Church of St. Cyril. Branch 93 member Marta Stemberger is teaching and will be happy to give you more information, phone: 718.919.0727 or marta@earinna.com. And also at St. Cyril’s, Slovenian mass every Sunday at 10:15 a.m.; social hour with Slovenian delicacies on the 3rd Sunday of the month following mass. Future programs being planned, certainly another Kulturni dan (Slovenian Cultural Day) celebration in February, perhaps a visit to the Tenement Museum in lower Manhattan, www.tenement.org. And later on in April or May we’re excited to have Andrej Rozman Roza visit, he’s the author of Forget-Me-Not’s Slovene/English How Oscar Became a Detective that many of us have purchased for our children or grandchildren! We also encourage branch members to attend the SWUA National Convention in Milwaukee next June, an opportunity to meet fellow members from across the U.S., learn more about the SWUA and immerse ourselves in many things Slovenian! Since we frequently get information about events just before they’re scheduled to happen, please join our Yahoo group (e-mail: SWUABranch93NYC- subscribe@yahoogroups.com). This is where we post late-breaking news of events, don’t miss out! We’re also on facebook, www.facebook.com (type in “SWUA”). We welcome ideas for events and if you’d like to lead one, contact Lynn Zalokar at lzalokar@yahoo.com or call 201.947.6336 ELIZABETH GROSS BRANCH 99 - Lemont, Illinois Contact Information: jmhlade@hotmail.com Happy Fall! We hope you had a fun Halloween and are enjoying the fall colors. This month our branch is hosting a Segedin Goulash culinary class. The class will be held on Saturday, November 20th at 1:00 p.m. in the Slovenian Cultural Center kitchen. Fanika Fritz will be instructing. Cost is $ 10.00 per person payable at the door. Please RS VP to Barb Block at barbandlarryblock@att.net or 630.379.6442. Bakers needed! Our annual Cookie Sale will be held on December 12th at the Slovenian Cultural Center from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. Please drop off all bakery by 10:00 a.m. that morning. We are also of need of small cookie tins to be donated. If you have any questions, contact Paula Mavec at 815.729.9787 or Mary Mavec at 815.723.9003. Last year our branch donated to the military through an organization called Operation MOMS Cookies. We had a very successful drive last year and are collecting this year again. Items most needed are chapstick, wet wipes, deorderant, hand sanitizer, candy, beef jerky, snack bars, nuts, men’s tube socks, and black pens. Travel or individual sizes are best. Please bring items you wish to donate to the cookie sale on December 12th or contact Julie Partyka atjamp817@comcast.net or 630.854.5400. Our 7lh annual Bunco fundraiser was in October. Details will be in the next issue. At our August meeting, our branch voted to purchase a $50 raffle ticket from SCC to hopefully win the $10,000 prize. Also, see the article in this issue about Slavica Sovan speaking about the Narodna Noša, the Slovenian Costume. She gave such an informative talk! Please pay your SWUA 2011 annual dues using the invoice form in this issue! This will save our organization time and money in postage and materials.. Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving and blessed holiday season! JANA HLADE BRANCH 100 - Southern California Contact Information: ajkoci@cox.net I can’t believe that Christmas time will be upon us by the time you read this and really, it’s time for us to start thinking about the special events that we all enjoy with our friends and family members who are part of the SWUA. It is always a special time when we gather for our luncheons and meetings. Even the cooking and baking sessions are great times of togetherness. It’s too bad we don’t do it more often, however, but the distances between members in Southern California can be difficult. Our Christmas holiday luncheon will be announced by president Mary Lou Jensen via email, phone calls and regular post, so that you can plan for it perhaps before you receive this issue of Zarja. I had the opportunity to make a presentation for the Knights of Columbus at our parish church here in Laguna Niguel. It included a lot of personal letters, photos, and original artwork received from my cousin, the Slovenian Jesuit Missionary, Fr. Joze Cukale, s.j. who had spent almost 50 years in the area of Calcutta, India from 1950 until his death in 1999. Fr. Joze worked very closely with Mother Teresa during those years and I was fortunate to have corresponded with him for most of those years and kept almost every letter that I had received during that time, as well as photos that included Mother Teresa as early as 1956 and on through the years. Since this is the 100th anniversary of Mother Teresa’s birth, it seemed an appropriate time to share this information. It was a very nice evening and another opportunity to enlighten folks about Slovenia and some of the struggles of the people who lived through the post war era in Yugoslavia. We wish everyone a Blessed Christmas and a Joyous New Year! JEAN KOCI Tezak’s 1908 - 2008 Home to Celebrate Life ® 1211 PLAINFIELD RD., JOLIET, IL 60435 www.tezakfuncralhome.com 815.741.2563 Fax 877.587.8460 815.722.0524 Celebrating our 100“' Year! BRANCH 102 - Willard, Wisconsin Contact Information: kleespires@comcast.net Branch 102 sends greetings to all as we approach the holidays. How quickly another year is coming to a close. We remain thankful for our blessings this season and wish you a joyful Christmas. Here on the home front; our very active members Dot Podboy and Judy DiPasquale left for their winter homes in October. Dot didn’t leave before bringing her daughter Betsy Lonchar of Lake Villa, Illinois to our August meeting. It was wonderful to meet Betsy. Betsy we would love to have you join Branch 102! Pat Sixel has reported that she is feeling much better. She is home, recuperating after her treatments and thanks all branch members for their prayers and good wishes. Pat shared that she was sure your prayers helped her recovery immensely. It will be very good to see Pat at meetings again. Please keep George and Ellen Plautz in your thoughts as they become accustomed to their new living arrangements at the Angelus Retirement Community in Marshfield. Best wishes to all our members celebrating birthdays in November and December. We have learned that Father Joe would like to reserve the Parish center on Saturdays for events that come up suddenly. This may make scheduling our meetings more difficult. Aggie Debevec is working with Father Joe so that our meetings may continue to be held there. Thank you for this effort Aggie. The Parish is the center of the Willard community and Branch 102’s home. Thank you to the members of Branch 1 for a wonderful State Convention on October 24lh. You ladies really know how to throw a nice party. Speaking of conventions, Branch 102 is scheduled to host the Wisconsin State Convention in September 2011, right on the heels of the National Convention in Milwaukee. It’s not too early to put these events on your calendar. Our annual Christmas party is scheduled for December 4lh at the Parish Center. We hope to see many members there. Remember there is always a tasty assortment of Slovenian food, a chance to visit, and a small gift to start the holiday season. Until next time. KAREN SPIRES ' ZIMMER FUNERAL HOMES ' Mark Zimmer, Funeral Director mark@zimmerfuneralhome.coni 805 North 6th Street, Sheboygan, WI 53081 Tel: 920.457.7012 Fax: 920.457.7013 W 2132 Ganton Rd., Sheboygan, Wl 53083 920.565.2331 www.Zimmerfuneralhome.com v___________________________________________________/ BRANCH 108 - Olney, Maryland Contact Information: Bettekfitz@verizon.net We had a good turnout of members at our September luncheon meeting. The by-laws in question were discussed. At our next meeting, we will finalize the suggested wording and forward it to the convention by-laws committee. Fran Hrastar invited her cousin Joyce Turk to join our branch and attend the meeting. We look forward to welcoming her soon as a new member. Joyce has offered to be a guest speaker early next year. She will lecture on the management of swine in central Europe and other parts of the world. She will share some of her job related travel experiences and original paintings inspired from her trips throughout the world, including Slovenia. On November 14, members and guests are invited to join us for a visit and tour to Georgetown University’s campus and Jesuit community, hosted by our spiritual advisor Fr. Peter Rožič. Please join us in celebrating our 7th branch anniversary and wishing good luck to Fr. Peter before he leaves for Russia for nearly a year to complete his doctoral dissertation research. Christmas blessings to all our SWUA friends near and far. Blagoslovljene božične praznike! BERNADETTE K. FITZSIMMONS BRANCH 109 - Twin Cities Slovenians With the changing of the leaves came a change in the colors and appearance of our website: www.twincitiesslovenians.org. Mary Alice Schwanke continues to do an excellent job as our website designer. In addition, Mary does all the “layout” for all our projects. She designed the regional convention programs, menu cards along with WW II project slide show. The highlight of our fall schedule was hosting the Regional Convention at St. Bernard's Church in St. Paul. After a beautiful Mass, touched with Slovenian song and tradition (ozanil je angel), the “Slovenian community” of family and friends proceeded to the social hall where we were immersed in the sights and sounds of Slovenia. Magnified pictures of Mt. Triglav and a panoramic view of Ljubljana captured the essence of our last Festival of Nations exhibit last May. The enhanced cut out of “Urban” the Ribničan along with the other Slovenian icon, the kozalec added to a festive atmosphere. Karen Medved and Shelby Setniker Eshiti greeted the 98 guests with a rendition of traditional Slovenian “button box” songs. A herb crusted pork loin with Au Jus highlighted a five course dinner followed by our main speakers: Consul General Jure Zmauc, Dr. Margaret Pryately and Jim Klobuchar. The Slovenian Consul General, making his first trip to Minnesota, proved to be a very gregarious and personable in his remarks. Dr. Pryately’s lecture was of regional interest speaking about “Slovenian Missionaries in Central Minnesota.” Jim Klobuchar, former sports columnist for the Minneapolis Tribune, reminisced about his Slovenian roots in Ely and spoke emotionally of the memories of his grandmother Rose. Time constraints limited the business portion of the convention, although State President, Rosemary Ribich did highlight issues dealing with some of the controversial bylaw proposals facing the upcoming National Convention in Milwaukee. As the Iron Range delegation boarded the bus, preparing for the 4 hour drive back, snippets of conversation about the role of religion and possible name changes to SWUA could be heard. Branch 109 would like to thank all the delegates from the Iron Range for making the 500 mile round trip to the Twin Cities and for sharing their dedication and enthusiasm for the SWUA. Our young Twin Cities Slovenians Branch 109 tries to enhance our Slovenian legacy based on the path that our Iron Range branches have forged over these 60 plus years. As president of Branch 109 I would like to thank all the members whose hard work and long hours made for a successful Regional Convention. NORM SETNICKER ^ 1 Fresh Evergreen Holiday Decorations Now Available Through SWUA We are again conducting a holiday season fundraiser to support SWUA. These beautiful Christmas items are made from fresh evergreens, and each wreath comes with a door hanger. Orders will arrive at your door via UPS or FedEx between November 22 and December 10. See page 31 of the September/October issue of Zarja for details. Checks should be made payable to SWUA and sent to: SWUA c/o Carol Ryba 3305 Glenshane Way Ormond Beach, FL 32174 Orders must be received by SWUA no later than NOVEMBER 10 Questions contact: Carol Ryba at ryba4homeoffice@yahoo.com or 386.615.3965 Calendar of Events NOVEMBER 2, 2010 Branch 99 of Lemont, Illinois to host a Segedin Goulash culinary class at 1:00 p.m. in the Slovenian Cultural Center kitchen. NOVEMBER 14, 2010 Branch 108 of Olney, Maryland to host a visit and tour to Georgetown University’s campus and Jesuit community, hosted by spiritual advisor Fr. Peter Rožič in honor of Branch 108 7th anniversary. NOVEMBER 20, 2010 Branch 2 of Chicago, Illinois to host annual Penny Social. NOVEMBER 26 - 28, 2010 Tony Petkovsek’s 49th annual Thanksgiving Day Polka Party at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Cleveland. DECEMBER 1, 2010 Branch 13 of San Francisco, California to host annual Christmas Party, call 415.468.5039 for further information. Branch 55 of Girard, Ohio to host annual Christmas Party at 6 p.m. at Amen Comer in Girard. DECEMBER 2, 2010 Branch 50 of Euclid, Ohio to host annual Christmas Party at 1:00 p.m. at the Dubrovnik Gardens in Eastlake, Ohio. DECEMBER 4, 2010 Branch 2 of Chicago, Illinois to host annual Junior Christmas Party. DECEMBER 4, 2010 Branch 102 of Willard, Wisconsin to host annual Christmas Party at the Parish Center. DECEMBER 7, 2010 Branch 14 of Euclid, Ohio to host annual Christmas Dinner at 6 p.m. DECEMBER 20, 2010 Branch 2 of Chicago, Illinois to host annual Christmas Dinner. JUNE 16 - 19, 2011 Mark your calendars for the National Convention to be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.____ Jenka’s Taste of Slovenia fa WTiether you’re hosting a full house with all of your friends or watching the ball drop with your sweetheart, a bottle of Slovenian champagne or wine and tasty appetizers are in order. Try these appetizer recipes for an easy cocktail party and spend more time with friends and family in celebrating bringing in the new year. Add some of your favorite cheeses and crackers to complete your menu. Remember keep it simple with a Slovenian twist and your family and friends will love it. Make a toast to health, happiness, good friends and to keeping the Slovenian spirit alive of our parents, grandparents and those before that passed down to us such a wonderful culture and heritage to embrace and celebrate. - Jenka An old Slovenain Toast: As things are on New Year’s day such they will be the whole year long. Fresh Bruschetta Ingredients 1/4 cup butter, melted 1/4 cup olive oil 10 slices French bread (1 inch thick) 1 package (4 ounces) crumbled feta cheese 2 to 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 tablespoon minced fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried basil 1 teaspoon of sea salt 1 large tomato, seeded and chopped Directions In a small bowl, combine butter and oil; brush onto both sides of bread. Place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned on top. Combine the feta cheese, garlic, sea salt and basil; sprinkle over toast. Top with tomato. Bake 8-10 minutes longer or until heated through. Serve warm. Yield: 10 appetizers. Shrimp Kabobs Ingredients 20 shrimp 1 can cube pineapple 10 small cherry tomatoes 1 teaspoon of sea salt 2 tablespoons olive oil 10 wooden skewers Directions Soak skewers for 1 hour in water. (Note: If using metal skewers, brush with oil or spray with non-stick spray.) Wash and peel shrimp. Preheat grill for 10 minutes on medium-high heat setting. Load skewers each with 2 shrimp, 2 pieces of pineapple and 1 tomato, repeat until all 10 skewers are prepared. Place on grill pan sprayed with non-stick spray and drizzle with olive oil and sea salt. Grill kabobs for 4-7 minutes. Yield: 10 appetizers. ^O' 9V1S AKMAIL NARODNA IN UNIVERZITETNA KNJIŽNICA DS £* II54 7882010 IRENA SESEK 920100321,6 TURJAŠKA 1, P.O. BOX 259 1000 LJUBLJANA SLOVENIA "VeseCe 'Božične Traznike in Srečno Novo Leto Rocky Mountain Potica 720.587.9499 RockyMountainPotica.com for all your gift giving needs