Members of the Year Secrets of Slovenia” Zarja 80th Anniversary Tour - May 8-19, 2009 Official Publication Slovenian Women’s Union of America Uradno Glasilo Slovenske Ženske Zveze V Ameriki $ 3.99 U.S./S 8.99 International Volume 80 Issue 3 May/June, 2008 The Dawn CONTENTS IT’S IN EVERY SLOVENIAN 1 From the Editor 2 National President’s Message 3 Membership Donations 6 SWUA Scholarship Program 8 Meet the SWUA National Auditors 9 Men in a SWUA World 10 Let’s Explore... 11 “Secrets of Slovenia” 2009 SWUA Tour 12 Members of the Year 19 Calendar of Events Front Cover: Gorenjska Region Traditional House Photo by D. Mladenivič Slovenian Tourist Board www.slovenia.info Zarja The Dawn EDITOR: Debbie Pohar DIRECTOR OF DESIGN: Bonnie Pohar Prokup CONSULTING EDITOR: Corinne Leskovar 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. 80, No 3, May/June 2008 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 right to edit any article submitted. It is preferable that you submit your idea for discussion prior to writing an article. Articles must be related to SWUA events or members. The deadline for articles is the 15 day of the month, 2 months preceding the issue. For example, articles for the July/August issue must be received by May 15lh. Thank you. HERITAGE NEWS 20 Family Connected 22 The Path Taken - Dopoljena pot 27 SWUA Heritage Museum 28 WWI1 Battle Front Survey SPECIAL REPORTS 30 Branch Reports CULINARY 40 Entertaining... With a Touch of Slovenia Olga (Erjavec) Ancel V J\eeping the Spirit Alive “Reaching above and beyond the call of duty ” describes Jan best. A dedicated volunteer who rises to any occasion and knows how to spread that Slovenian Spirit. Jan King Editor of SWUA's Online Newsletter -The New Neighborhood Director of Special Projects Olga, 86, died March 29,2008, after living a full life based on faith and love. Olga was bom in Joliet to Joseph and Josephine (Setina) Erjavec, who had emigrated from Slovenia. She graduated from St. Joseph Grade School, St. Francis Academy and the University of St. Francis in 1942 with a B.A. in History, completing her thesis on the “History of Slovenia”. Olga married Edward G. Ancel on August 24, 1946, and together they lovingly raised six children, Vera, Joseph, Nadine, Carita, Marie, and Andrew. Olga took great pride in her Slovenian ancestry. Olga was a charter member of the Slovenian Women’s Union of America Branch No. 20, was active in the drill team from 1938 to 1953, and wrote the “Junior’s Page” in the Zarja for many years under the pseudonym of Regina. She was elected Financial Secretary of SWUA Branch No. 20 from 1968 to 1976 and National Secretary of SWUA from 1976 to 1995-Olga was named the SWUA Branch No. 20 Mother of the Year in 1964. Olga was also a member of K.S.K.J. St. Francis de Sales No. 29. Olga’s trust in God and spirit of giving will live on in the hearts of her husband Ed, her children, in-laws, and grandchildren: She is also survived by her sisters Mildred Pucel and Jonita Ruth, her brother Ronald Erjavec and his wife, Mary Lou, and many nieces and nephews. From the Editor Calling Our Volunteers! We Need You! I would like to congratulate the Zarja Team, the regular columnists, the branch reporters, our culinary Editor and you our readers for all the excitement you bring to our beloved magazine, Zarja the Dawn. Because of your dedication whether you are contributing to the articles, trying the recipes and crafts, researching your own family tree, making a donation, spreading the news about us or just enjoying the magazine you are helping us to become the best. Our mission: To Become the Number One Slovenian-American Magazine. We believe we can accomplish this. Please take a look at this issue and be sure to read what other branches are doing across the nation. There are some great ideas you can try in your own branch. I would also like to take this time to personally thank every member who made a donation to Zarja the Dawn, this is our best year ever. (Note: Due to our printing deadline and the time involved processing the donations, less than half of the donations are printed in this issue, the rest will be printed in the next issue.) It is important to know that Zarja is our largest expense in the organization. As much as we try to watch the costs we still have items that are out of our control such as postage and printing. Because of recent technology and us taking over the layout we have cut down overall costs but, regardless they are still high. Remember the dues you pay each year barely cover the costs of running an organization. The Zarja magazine alone costs approximately $ 16 per member per year to print and mail. This leaves us with around $4 per member to run an organization, a museum, research center, taxes, utilities and a few very small salaries. Your help is appreciated! - Debbie Pohar, Editor Letter to the Editor Dear Editor: I was working at a church fund raiser the other day and started talking to Pat Fields, one of our new members in Branch 1. She was saying how much she enjoys Zarja, that she reads each issue from cover to cover. She loves all the articles and learned much about our past ancestors. She also loves the branch reports. However, I think the thing she was most interested in was the recipes. She s always looking for new recipes to try. I have always thought Zarja was a wonderful magazine and it has helped me stay connected to my heritage. It was nice to see someone else’s reaction to their first taste of it. Mary Jo Sheboygan, Wisconsin The SWUA is growing and we need your help. Do you have a few hours to spare? Would you like to help an organization that is on the rise? Would you like to be a part of team that is successful? It does not matter where you live, we have a rewarding volunteer position for you to help be a part of revitalizing the SWUA. Please review the different areas listed below where your help can make a difference. By reaching out as a volunteer, you will be recognized, learn more about your heritage and make new contacts with Slovenians. Fill out the form and mail to the address below so we may contact you on how to get started. Name:________________________________________________ Address:_____________________________________________ City/State/ZIP: _____________________________________ Phone: EMail Address: What are your areas of interest? Office Skills Microsoft Access Data Base Microsoft Excel for data entry Analyzing Membership Information Computer repairs (must live near Joliet, IL) Web site experience Writing Correspondence Research on Slovenian customs and traditions Language column in Zarja the Dawn Writers for feature stories or regular bi-monthly columns in Zarja the Dawn Membership Campaigns State Ambassadors for TX, PA, FL and MI Help on WWII Project Fundraising Cleaning at the SWUA Heritage Museum Painting at the SWUA Heritage Museum Chairperson for Open Houses at the Heritage Museum Assistance with Exhibits Sorting through boxes at the SWUA Heritage Museum Volunteer at the SWUA Heritage Museum as needed Attorney assistance in obtaining 501C3 Status Registered Agent (must live in IL) to receive and handle all legal documents for 501C3 Status of Museum Vice President of the SWUA Heritage Museum Secretary/Treasurer of the SWUA Heritage Museum * The last four positions are for the SWUA Heritage Museum and attaining the 501C3 Status. Your help is greatly appreciated in these positions and will make a world of difference to the future of our Museum. Please consider! information contact wprokup@aol.com or mail SWUA, 431 North Chicago St., Joliet, IL 60432 National President’s Message Making a Positive Difference in SWUA by Keeping that Slovenian Spirit Alive! Greetings to all our members and friends through out the world. Just two weeks ago your National Board of Directors met in Joliet where many topics were addressed and some exciting plans were made. Minutes from this meeting and a financial report will follow in the July/August Zaija issue. One of our main areas of concern is the building, which is our Museum, Library, Research Center and Home Office at 431 North Chicago Street in Joliet. As many of you read we had some damage last August to the upstairs apartment, which then trickled down to our first floor. Most of the costs are covered under our insurance, however we still have some work ahead of us. We are doing our best to save money by trying to do the work ourselves. Prior to the Board meeting I asked for help to move boxes around, pack up items, paint and clean. During a four day period we saw some of the greatest volunteers come forward such as; Debbie Pohar, Karen Taylor, Denise Bartlett, Nancy Henkel, Joe Skala, Yvonne Khaldy, Barbara Bruch, Betty Ann Kolesari, Theresa Bums, Carol Ryba and Bob Bartlett. Our group worked from sun up to sun down each day, we were so far ahead of schedule that the next thing we knew we painted the first floor. You see the walls had a dark paneling and in many cases the paneling was not the same. It is now a creme color that matches perfectly with the high ceilings. We have lightened up the rooms and have given them a more appealing look. Our next step will focus on new exhibits, displays and hanging pictures on the walls. Nancy Henkel will direct this. We still have progress to make in the basement and some work on the second floor. If you think you can spare some time be sure to read where we are looking for volunteers. Your help would be greatly appreciated. We would like to get the building back in order by September 26, 2008. This is when we will have a large open house for all those traveling to the Bishop Baraga Association annual pilgrimage. This year for the first time in almost 20 years it will be held at St. Joseph’s Church in Joliet, which is across the street from our museum. This is an exciting time for Baraga members in Illinois and of course, for SWUA members as well. Be sure to read in this issue (page 19) and the following issue all of the exciting plans going on across the U.S. such as the Festival of Nations that Branch 109 of the Twin Cities is a part of, Camp Heritage for children in Iron World, MN, Forget me Not Series Tour featuring three more books, Regional Conventions, cooking classes and branch celebrations. Just recently I attended the Branch 99 of Lemont cooking class where we learned to make žlikrofi. This was such a super time; I can’t wait to go back for the next class. In May of 2009, we will have another SWUA Tour to Slovenia. Read about it in this issue (page 11). I think this is going to be a trip you won’t want to miss. In closing I want to thank everyone across the nation who makes a positive difference in SWUA. We need you! Let’s keep that Slovenian Spirit Alive! Sincerely, Bonnie Pohar Prokup wprokup@aol.com 3119 Carrie St., Peru, IL 61354 Welcome to Our New Members! Judith Grozdanik, 32 Margaret Laurich, 35 Carol Renning, 35 16 Richard Bizal, 39 Kathy Samargia, 39 Mary Skorjanec, 39 Theresa Beaulieu, 99 Rosemary Bayuk, 102 Teresa Jolivette, 102 Colette Jordan, 102 Mary Jane Nauertz, 102 Janet Phelps, 102 Christine Polzin, 102 Tatjana Zunko, 103 Cheryl Burke, 1 Charlene Leonard, 3 Elizabeth Skul, 3 Bertha (Betty) Kremaric, Lillian Dzwinel, 20 Alexander Rodrigue, 20 Kathleen Senfffner, 20 Anthony Nemanich, 23 Emma Nemanich, 23 Carol Klobuchek, 24 Olivia Swintosky, 24 Elle Wroblewski, 24 Kristine Keller, 26 Barbara Zalokar, 30 Bonnie Pohar Prokup, National President, painting the paneling at the museum Zarja The Dawn Donations - “Keeping the Spirit Alive” $100 Donation Carolyn Tomazic Engers, 20, Zaija $80 Donation Jim Miklich, 100, Memory of grandparents, Marija and Ignac Miklič Cheryl Barkovich, 105, Memory of Edith Nagel Barkovich $75 Donation Genevieve Shubitz, 33, Memory of Mary Shubitz $50 Donation Maxine Kaprelian, 1, Memory of Frances Krcinik Carol Goergen, 13, Memory of Rudy Tony Troya from sisters, Carol and Nancy Bernadette Blatnik, 30, Memory of Blatnik Family Sarah Evangelista, 43, Memory of Maria Yakos Karen Engelking, 43, Memory of mother, Ruth Kodrich Engelking Elsie Shine, 54, Memory of Jennie Shine George Edgington, 100, Memory of mother, Julia, George and Anna Stepan Stasha Seaton, 108, Memory and honor of Dr. Boris and Ana Furlan $40 Donation Marcia Judnick, 20, Zarja $35 Donation Lois Jensen, 13, Zarja $30 Donation Marian Luoma, 13, Memory of Alice Kocjancich Hardy Ileene Collins, 14, Memory of Josephine and Louis Lustic Rosanne Savol, 20, Memory of Josephine Ramuta Sumic and Ann Ramuta Savo Helen Lukančič-Valerugo, 20, Memory of mother, Paula Lukanic Ronald Erjavec, 20, Zaija Helen Mara, 23, Zaija Margaret Dupont, 30, Memory of Margaret Kochevar and Lillian Serra Douglas Walsh, 43, Honor of Mary Tratnik Jean Križman, 50, Memory of Albina Novak Josephine Sovich, 50, Memory of Josephine Fajdriga and Lillian Goijance Stella Rupe, 50, Zaija Karen Zuga, 54, Memory of Victoria Zuga Mary Maloney, 85, Memory of Mary Zugich Maria Krajnc, 99, Zarja Mary Ann Palmer, 109, Memory of Stephanie Vranesich $25 Donation Angela Bougher, 1, Memory of Minka Tevsh Angeline Fritz, 1, Zarja Margaret Cukale, 2, Zarja Barbara Kosi, 2, Memory of Mary Pacholski Alice Veit, 12, Memory of John and Mary Potisk Mary Lesnik, 20, Memory of Mary and John Lesnik Fran Mutz, 20, Memory of Frances J. Smrekar Raymond Osterman, 20, Memory of parents Marilea Zajec, 20, Memory of Victor W. Zajec Angela Godec, 23, Memory of Joseph A. “Phil” Godec Deanna Martin, 30, Memory of Anne R. Dikovich Frank Stupnik, 30, Memory of Rose (Brula) Stupnik Mary Sterle, 32, Memory of Richard Sterle Margaret Radosevich, 33, Memory of Tony Radosevich Arlette Mikulich, 35, Memory of Edward Mikulich Frances Pavlovčič, 40, Honor of Mary Pavlovič Nancy Kish, 42, Memory of Julia Legan Lipnos Ann Zupančič, 42, Memory of Margaret Zupančič Josephine Lea, 47, Memory of Jennie Pugely (Tajnica) of Branch 47 Frances Burns, 93, Memory of Frances Klun Mary Ann Partyka, 99, Memory of Frances Zibert Anne Kapel, 100, Memory of Braddock Family Karen Hribar-Spires, 102, Memory of Anton and Pauline Arancel Hribar Amelia Thomas, 103, Memory of Frances Levstek Jerich $20 Donation Elsie Rodenbostel, 2, Memory of Marvin Rodenbostel Katrina Petrich, 2, Zaija Donna McNally, 2, Memory of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ribich Maureen Crocker, 3, Honor of mother, Elizabeth Zupa Kasnic Annette Betz, 3, Memory of Raymond and Margaret Orazem Terri Kashman, 5, Memory of Rosie Dugar ANONYMOUS, Zaija Joseph Barbarich, 5, Honor of grandmother, Mary Barbarich Mary Barbarich, 5, Josephine Zgonc and Josephine Barbarich Sylvia Jansa, 10, Memory of Ivanha (Jean) Svet Judith Price, 12, Memory of Cecilia Verrick Barbara Chiodo, 13, Memory of mother, Frances Chiado Mary Therese Ehnat, 16, Memory of Maryh Brebrick and Mary Matasick Maria Gulas, 20, Memory of Isabelle Gulas Father James Radek, 20, Honor of Jonita Ruth Helen Walsh, 20, Honor of Matt and Agnes Verbiscer Dolores Klepec, 20, Memory of Betty Klepec Agnes Dobczyk, 20, Zarja Diane Govednik, 20, Memory of William Govednik Josephine Lustik, 20, Memory of Joseph and Mary Vidmar Catherine Emery, 20, Zaija Betty Hurst, 24, Honor of Betty (Lushina) Hurst and Jim Vida Habjan, 25, Memory of Vida A Habjan Louise Stayduhar, 26, Memory of Antoinette Jaketic Mary Pat Ryan, 28, Zarja Karen Ryczek, 30, Memory of mother, Marie Prince Kovalik Vida Theresa Perme, 32, Memory of Francis Perme Kathleen Schiltz, 33, Memory ofT. Kambic Gersich Agnes Yapel, 34, Memory of Angela and Barbara Yapel Barbara Vodovnik, 35, Honor of Ann Orazem Lainie Cargould, 40, Memory of Milo Uehlein Agnes Serazin, 40, Memory of Agnes Celik Marjorie Lostoski, 42, Zarja Jack Haslup, 42, Honor of Teresa Gorup Sienna Haslup, 42, Honor of Teresa Gorup Marilyn Zefran, 43, Memory of Amelia Zefran Jennie Kouchich, 43, Honor of Ann Rebemisek Mary Rose Kociancic, 47, Memory of Frank and Mary Locniskar Barbara Sostakowski, 47, Memory of Slovenian grandparents Agnes Zabak, 47, Memory of Rose Lausche and Mary Zabak Joan Podmore, 50, Memory of mother, Ann Tercek Evelyn Pipoly, 50, Memory of Michael Pipoly (past member) Janice Krebs, 50, Honor of Jane Berkopec Josephine Misic, 50, Memory of mother, Angela Misic Robert Blatnik, 50, Memory of Justine Gifford Rose Marlene Blatnik, 50, Memory of Vida Heisroth Loretta Anne, 50, Memory of Albin Blatnik Holly Blatnik, 50, Memory of Harry Blatnik Sharon Gillen, 50, Memory of Ann Tercek Patricia Chisholm, 52, Memory of Angela Hrovat Wanda Virginia Shine, 54, Honor of our Mothers Mary Kell, 79, Memory of Anna Mae Anderson Alice Ebner, 89, Zaija Mary Elizabeth Argubright, 89, Honor of Grammy Flossie Argubright Mary Irene Banich, 89, Zarja Ona Rehn, 89, Honor of Yonk and Skip Komater Genevieve Novak, 97, Memory of mother, Margaret Mihelcicr Amalija Novak, 99, Zaija Rosemary Mlakar, 100, Memory of Rose Novak Jeanette Eckert, 100, Zarja George J Plautz, 102, Memory of Frances Podrovitz Plautz Frances Adamic, 105, Memory of Helen Grasser $20 Donation Judith Ovnik, 2, Memory of Mary Ovnik Veronica Allen, 7, Zarja Jean Ivons, 10, Zarja Virginia Sustarich, 13, Memory of Rudy Sustarich Jean Herbst, 20, Zarja Memory of Martin and Anna Buchar Juricic Judith Zupancich, 23, Memory of Aunt Rose Pucel Carolyn Mallik, 25, Zarja Charlotte Wos, 30, Memory of Josephine Pintar Anna Dries, 43, Zarja Olga Dorchak, 47, Memory of Jennie Gerk Joan Kaczmarek, 99, Honor of Ethel (Krempach) Latimer $10 Donation Marilyn Hendricks, 1, Honor of Frank and Martha Kotnick Ann Stancar, 1, Memory of Frances Stancar LeAnn Tevsh, 1, Memory of Joseph and Mary Tevsh Milena Stropnik, 1, Zarja Clare Gospo, 2, Zaija Maria Hanzlik, 2, Memory of David Hanzlik Annette Corgiat, 2, Memory of Amelia Smith Ann Podlesnik, 2, Memory of sister, Frances Leban Jennie Kovacic, 2, Zarja Jean Železnikar, 2, Memory of Luba Troha Frances Yucevicius, 2, Zarja Mary Rose Scott, 2, Honor of a great family Viola Strupeck, 2, Memory of Anna Strupeck Mary Vrhovnik, 2, Memory of Mary Slabe Kathleen Marie Starcevich, 3, Memory of Frances and Stephen Hiza Rose Ann Jersin, 3, Memory of beloved husband, Stanley J. Jersin Helen Skul, 3, Honor of Sam Skul Mildred Stofac, 3, Memory of Raymond Stofac Ann Zaitz, 3, Zarja Ann Perko, 3, Zarja Josephine Thompson, 5, Zarja Angeline Dragan, 5, Memory of Marteje and Mary Dragan Mary Pierzga, 7, Memory of Mary Katar Mary Doles, 10, Zarja Elsie Zalar, 10, Memory of Perusek-Zalar families Martha Batich, 10, Honor of Martha Batich who is 102 years old Dorothy Spendal, 10, Zarja Frances Piwoni, 12, Memory of Helen Pizar Elizabeth Arthur, 12, Memory ofHelen Pizar Frances Glowienka, 12, Memory of Mary Kokalj Ruth Ann Hue, 12, Zarja Albert Jelinek, 12, Memory of Anna Gorishek Jelinek Agnes Leach, 13, Memory of Josephine Aiuto Alice Kuhar, 14, Zarja RoseMiklich, 14, Memory of Miklich Family Helen Violet, 14, Memory of Helen Kusar Ann Dus, 14, Zarja Frances Novak, 16, Zarja Dorothy Rossi, 16, Honor of Veda Kumse Cynthia Gudac, 20, Zarja Joan Lesnik, 20, Memory of Mary Lesnik John Lesnik, 20, Memory of Mary Lesnik Julie Lesnik, 20, Memory of Mary Lesnik Lillian Di Bartolomeo, 20, Memory of Frances B. Papesh Mary Wanthal, 20, Memory of Rev. David Stalzer and Margaret Stalzer Marie Scheidt, 20, Zarja Dolores Plut, 20, Memory of Anton and Theresa Papesh Lois Geary, 20, Memory of Petan Family Dorothy Zupančič, 20, Honor of Mary Gregovash Vera Gale, 20, Memory of Jennie Janezic Daniel Ivanich, 20, Zaija Bemadine Gudac, 20, Memory of Thomas and Anne Buchar Dorothy Koncar, 20, Zarja Anne Schoener Sartorelli, 20, Memory of Louise Schoener Margaret Kaisher, 20, Memory of Paul and Margaret Kaisner Frances Ruggera, 20, Zarja Dorothy Regis, 20, Memory of Dorothy Kobe Cwdzinski James Lilek, 20, Zaija Bemadine Rutkowski, 20, Memory of Anton Grayhack Mary Sova, 20, Memory of Walter Sova Carol Novak, 20, Memory of grandmother, Katarina Wedic Dorothy Mahan, 20, Zarja Dolores Maki, 23, Memory of mother, Rose Kozar Evelyn Prijatel, 23, Zarja Mary Omerza, 23, Memory of her mom a past Mother of the Year Gloria Smuk, 23, Zaija Florence Telich, 23, Honor of Aalonia Zitko Josephine Elioff, 23, Honor of mother, Ann Lunka Branch 23 Mary Ann Brunner, 24, Honor of Pohar and Brekan Family Wendy Lauer, 24, Honor of mom, J. Mueller and grandma, A .Bedenko Bemadine Kostellic, 24, Honor of Louis and Francis Amcin Frances Ficek, 24, Memory of Josephine Pohar Carol Swanson, 24, Memory of Frank Kodrich family Frances Mary Andrews, 25, Zarja Dorothy Pelcic, 25, Memory of Anna Anchka Pelcic Lucille Hervatin, 30, Memory of mother, Kate Mary Williams, 30, Memory of parents, Carl and Ana Boncha Angela Musil, 30, Zarja Dorothy Swintosky, 30, Zarja Marcia Jean Smith, 30, Memory of Vem Zadel Shirley Ferguson, 30, Zarja Lorelei Little, 30, Zarja Frances Alice Ogoreuc, 32, Memory and honor of husband, Frank Josephine Gornik, 32, Honor of Marjeta Jamnik Karen Lester, 32, Memory of Frances Penko Agnes Galleberg, 33, Memory of mother, M. Ivanovich and sister, F. Thoreson Helen Adkisson, 34, Zarja Margaret Yernatich, 34, Memory of Agnes Tekautz Barbara Urick, 35, Memory of Ed Urick Madelyn Klun, 35, Memory of William Slogar Rose Sterle, 038, Zaija Elizabeth Harwood, 38, Memory of Angeline Verant Anne Rudolph, 38, Zarja Mary Anne Kwiecinski, 39, Memory of Mary Krebs Mary Ferkul, 39, Zaija Angeline Zgonc, 40, Memory of Frank J. Zgono Tillie Skusek, 43, Memory of sister, Mary Cvay Betty Ann Kolesari, 43, Zarja Jack Kolesari, 43, Zarja Arline Fritz, 43, Zaija Jozica Tompa, 43, Memory of Ivan Omerzu Ernestine Jevec, 50, Memory of Mamie Marin Helen Troha, 50, Memory of Ann Kosten Frances Vidmar, 50, Zaija Rosemary Darden, 50, Memory of Mrs. Albina Mrsnik Rose Mary Toth, 50, Memory of Albina Mesnik Mary Louise Dale, 54, Memory of Anne Savor Louise Vett, 54, Memory of Anne Savor Frances Sainato, 54, Memory of Josephine Kassan Joanne Ponikvar, 54, Memory of mother, Rose Racher Dorothy Nevelos, 63, Zarja Helen McFarland, 66, Zarja Frances White, 66, Zarja Carol Satej, 68, Memory of Jennie Satej Mohorčič Pauline Fidel, 71, Memory of Pauline Micklege Ruzena Kokal, 91, Memory of Paula Kokal Bernice Bubel, 95, Memoiy of Amelia Cuzzella Marie Martinčič, 99, Zarja Julie Partyka, 99, Memory of Frances Fannie Zibert Frances Schultz, 99, Memory of Frances Zibert Jennie Valent, 99, Memory of Frances and Martin Certalic Anne Germaine, 99, Memory of mother, Ursula Svetina Zupančič Jacqueline Stewart, 100, Zarja Julie Stewart, 100, Zarja Rosemary Demshar, 100, Memory of Rose Baraga Patricia Sixel, 102, Memory of Josephine Artac Susan Pakiž, 102, Honor of mother and mother-in-law Agnes Debevec, 102, Memory of Michael and Katherine Klapatauskar Rose Pakiz, 102, Memory of Josephine Bayuk Frances Motta, 103, Memory of Angeline (Nellie) Bcrant Helen Sisto, 108, Zarja Nika Kovačič, 108, Honor of Eric Kovacic Evan James Jorstad, 109, Honor of Frank Setnikor, Jr. $5 Donation Anne Slebir, 1, Zarja Bonnie Modiz, 1, Memory of Anna Modiz Elsie Statkus, 2, Zarja Julia Petrich, 2, Zarja Madalyne Lattuca, 2, Honor of Mary Marinčič Michael Miller Jr., 3, Memory of Frances Habjan Frances Krall, 10, Zarja Jean Korošec, 10, Honor of Jean Korošec Alma Barile, 10, Zaija Mary Sinkovič, 10, Memory of Mary Mam Theresa Mershnik, 12, Memory of Anthony Mershnik Diane Brahney, 13, Zarja Francka Androjna, 14, Zarja Rose Lokar, 14, Honor of Mary Noda Mary Jane Strus, 16, Memory of Anna Jamnik Cyndi Karges, 20, Memory of Tony Grayhack Bernice Metesh, 20, Zarja Michael Vidmar, 20, Zaija Nicholas Vidmar, 20, Zaija Richard Korst, 20, Zarja Joyce Korst, 20, Zarja Elaine Bottomley, 20, Zaija Doris Papesh, 20, Memory of Mrs. Mary Bistry Margaret Tomich, 20, Memory of Eva Pesut Mary Vergo, 20, Zarja Eileen Plese, 20, Memory of Rose Hrvatin Helen Benac, 20, Zarja Lucille Gregorash, 20, Zaija Lillian Adamic, 20, Zaija Helen Sebastian, 22, Memory of Anna Yaknfich Julie Puzel, 23, Memory of mother, Julia Zaman Thomas Klun, 23, Memory of Julia Klun Sharon Brady, 24, Zarja Florence Smorkol, 24, Zarja Marilynn Hurley, 24, Zarja Bekki Prokup, 24, Zaija Barbi Prokup, 24, Zarja Elsie Cavey, 25, Zarja Dorothy Lamm, 32, Zaija Caroline Frank, 32, Zarja Agnes Cook, 32, Memory of Therea Potokar Mary Stragisher, 32, Zarja Bertha Panyan, 33, Zarja Jenna Frances Zimmerman, 34, Honor of Frances M. Dolenshak Phyllis Turk, 35, Zarja Bernice Ceglar, 35, Memory of Pauline Pleveli Anne Laurich, 38, Zarja Angela Smith, 39, Memory of Kozina and Vesel famlies Mary Kay Kais, 43, Memory of Rank R. Fritz Mary Bregant, 43, Zarja Aleah Dovnik, 43, Honor of G P. Ida Barut Webb, 46, Memory of Marie Thompson Helen Yerman, 47, Memory of Helen Tomazic Linda Ford, 47, Zaija Angela Hutar, 50, Zaija Josephine Minello, 50, Memory of Elsie O’Hara Dorothy Wolowiecki, 50, Zarja Mary Jane Adamic, 66, Honor of Pauline Boben Sophie Michelich, 81, Memory of Michelich family Mary Palcic, 93, Zarja Manda Dosen, 95, Zarja Frances Griffin, 95, Memory of James Griffin Pauline Petrie, 100, Zaija Patricia Hostnik, 105, Memory of Louise Hostnik Serjak Bonnie Lynn Pausic, 108, Memory of Emeric J. Pausic Natasha Leskovsek, 108, Honor of Valentin Leskovsel Betty Poferl, 109, Honor of cousin, Marija Turensek in Slovenia $2 Donation Mary Miklavčič, 68, Honor of Antonia Svegal $4,937 Total Thank you to all the members who immediately sent in their 2008 dues payments and to so many of you who have made generous donations. We really appreciate your generosity. We apologize if your check did not clear quickly. Pictured is I weeks worth of mail. If you need immediate attention on a subject please email swuhome@sbcglobal.net or call our Home Office at 815.727.1926. Thank you for being patient at this time of the year. SWUA Scholarship Program ______________1949 - 2008______________ SWUA Scholarship Mission: To generate funding to financially assist young students with hope that they will promote and preserve Slovenian culture. The Slovenian Women’s Union Scholarship Foundation has lost a beloved benefactor. FRANK J. VIDERGAR, son of Slovenian immigrants, Frank and Mary Vidergar, was bom March 15, 1935 at Gardnerville, New York. As a young child he already exhibited a benevolent character trait which was to guide him through a wide variety of important ventures during his life. As a young farm boy, Frank’s memories include hard farm hand work at a young age, and the responsibility of grooming a prized steer, which later was poisoned: an event which remained with him throughout his life. The Vidergar Family relocated to California in 1949, purchasing a poultry and citrus farm. Young Frank entered the Navy and in 1957 was honorably discharged as a Second Petty Office. He married his dear wife, Mary Lou, Charter member of SWUA Branch 100, in 1960 and soon earned a BS in Accounting from Cal Poly, Pomona and later attended law school. For much of his business career Frank was an employee of the IRS as a large case manager and as a chosen member of the Organized Crime Drive under Attorney General Robert Kennedy. He later was self employed as a financial and tax consultant for 17 years. The benevolent character of this man was evident throughout his years. He not only served for 15 years on the Fontana Citizens Advisory Committee, but was an active member of KSKJ, SNPJ, serving as an officer for 7 years, American Legion and USS Boxer Association. Frank instituted a work experience program for the deaf of Los Angeles. With his mechanical ability, he was able to repair cars and just about anything else. He prepared his famous “palačinka” (Slovenian pancakes) for SWUA social events, made strudels for accordionist get togethers and most importantly to the SWUA SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION, as the President and Financial Advisor of the Fontana Slovene Rest Home Association, he chose it as one of 11 charities to receive a substantial gift after the Rest Home had been sold. The steer incident lived on in young Frank’s mind as did a New Year’s Eve dance held in the small village of Cornfield, New York. Here for the first time, he experienced the delight of Slovenian musicians playing wonderful, old music on their button boxes. Frank received his first button box many years later, learned to play it, wrote its music, and in February 1977 organized the now well known and loved Fontana Button Accordion Club, comprised of musicians throughout the country. The group has played at Memorial Day concerts for the past 26 years. Hundreds of musicians from all over the United States including Alaska and Hawaii attend and participate each year. The most touching of many of Frank’s kindnesses, was his patient work with a thalidomide victim who, after being turned down at almost 100 job interviews, had been trying, unsuccessfully, to pass a secretarial exam. He worked long hours with her in training and eventually hired her, finding her to be an excellent employee. Frank died on December 27, 2007 at Colton, California and is survived by his dear wife, Mary Lou, two children, Frank Vidergar Jr. and Lisa Vidergar Lucas, five grandchildren, the Fontana Community and a host of Fontana Button Accordion Club members who will honor him at their June 2008 jamboree. Many communities including the community of handicapped, civic community of Fontana, Slovenian cultural communities, St. Joseph’s Church community, the community of those seeking justice and financial advice and most importantly of all, Frank’s close family community were deeply touched, encouraged and assisted due to his life of caring for others. Officers and Slovenian college students are deeply appreciative of all of the many contributions that have been received these past months. May each of you, dear donors and supporters of the SWUA Scholarship Foundation Program, be rewarded for your kindness. The SWUA Scholarship application deadline for awards of2009 is due March 1,2009. For more information please visit our website at http://www.swua.org or contact Mary Turvey, 4 Lawrence Drive, Marquette, Michigan 49855 or mturvey@aol.com. Scholarship Donations $5 Donation Dolores Maki (+Chris Cadari, +Jane Yadlosky) $10 Donation Dolores Maki (+Her Mother, Rose Kozar) Dorothy Zakrasek - Scholarship Fund $25 Donation Dorothy Zakrasek (+Darlene Nemanich) Sandra Farrell (+In memory of her father, Edward P. Kumick) Olga Dorchak (+Mary Taucher) $100 Donation Anonymous $115 Donation In memory of deceased members of Branch 20, Joliet, Illinois, Victoria Bernikas, Mary Barbie, Margaret Briese, Sophia Dirker, William Govednik, Mary Gregarash, Betty Klepec, Anthony Kodrick, Lorraine Lang, Anne Mahkovec, Agnes Maloney, Theresa Minier, Mary McAsey, Mary Ann Pemot, Sister Barbara Jean Rivera, Josephine Rositch, Louise Sega, Frances Smrekar, Edna Spreitzer, Katherine Stonich, Lillian Wetzel, Zora Zelko and Florence Zupančič $120 Donation Branch 42, Maple Heights, Ohio - proceeds of a Christmas party with matching funds from Branch 42 Treasury $125 Donation Rae Anna Krasovic Tucker - Scholarship Fund $285 Donation Christmas gift from members of Branch 3, Pueblo, Colorado, Stephanie Barnett, Margaret “Toni” Carter, Katherine Chrisman, Margaret Cullen, Andrea DeGarbo, Francesca DeGarbo, Gianna DeGarbo, Mike DeGarbo, Mary “Mitizi” Drobnick, Lillian Garlich, Mary Gersick, Agnes Glavich, Eileen Kaplan, Bernice Krašovec, Josephine Krašovec, Joan Martinelli, Christine Mascarenas, Marie Mutz, Pauline Pauchick, Eileen Krašovec Perez, Helen Perse, Florence Snider, Bernadette Spinuzzi, Kathleen Starcevich, Mildred Stofac, Evelyn “Maizie” Vertovec, Hermelinda Vigil, Dorothy Zakrasek and Anna Knific J Important Bylaws Updates - Officially Approved Bylaws Copies - Member’s Concerns The State of Illinois, Division of Insurance, Department of Financial and Professional Regulation has officially approved SWUA’s proposed Bylaws amendments. Their involvement is mandatory because SWUA was originally formed as a “burial insurance society” in Illinois. The amendments were voted upon by Convention delegates in June 2007, approved by tne new SWUA National Board in July 2007, but it is not until the Division of Insurance gives their approval that the process is complete. SWUA’s complete, updated Bylaws are now available to all interested members on our website at www.swua.org as a 20 page (17 plus 3 page Index) document. I will be sending copies to Branch Presidents and Recording Secretaries as an attachment to an e-mail. Copies of the Bylaws will be sent in this manner to any member upon request to denisepbartlett@wi.rr.com. For those without computer access please callDenise Bartlett in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at 414.327.4990 to arrange for a copy to be sent by U.S. Mail. It has been ten months since the 2007 Nat’l Convention and I’m still receiving e-mails and phone calls asking about or commenting about the outcome of two (2), in particular, of the proposed Bylaws amendments. I’ll tiy to answer member’s concerns as best that I can. While it is true that the two (2) proposed amendments eliciting the most interest of our membership did receive a majority of YES votes, they did not receive a 2/3’s majority vote that is required of proposed Bylaws amendments, so they failed to be approved. A 2/3’s vote requirement is the norm in parliamentary procedure when considering the very serious action of changing an organization’s Bylaws. Every four (4) years our membership has the opportunity to consider Bylaws changes at our National Conventions, the next one to be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in July 2011. In reference to the proposal to change the name of our association, removing gender (women) from the name, I assure the many members that are disappointed that the Bylaws Committee will again consider your suggestions and will present them to the National Board in 2010. Unfortunately, the name of our association is the deciding factor for some Slovenians considering membership. Recently a male member dropped his membership citing his frustration in the delegates decision to retain “women in our name. In reference to the proposal to eliminate SWUA’s purpose/requirements that members live in the United States, be in good health, of good moral character and are Christian: NO, there is not a committee with the assignment of making the determination of who is and who is not actually following those requirements. For the most art, these are personal and private areas of information, o, how do we enforce them? Some members suggest that being “unenforceable” makes them null and void; a good point, which may be considered by the National Board and delegates in 2011. A few suggestions have already been received for Bylaws amendments to be considered in 2011. Members may send their ideas to Denise Bartlett at denisepbartlett@wi.rr.com. A Bylaws Committee will be formed in 2010 to review the proposals and to present them to the National Board. All members are encouraged to become familiar with SWUA’s Bylaws and to follow proper parliamentary procedure at Branch meetings as outlined in ROBERT’S RULES of ORDER, stated in Article XVII, Section 17.01 of our Bylaws. Denise P. Bartlett, Bylaws Committee Chairperson Meet the SWUA National Auditors On Saturday, February 23, 2008 the newly appointed National Auditors met at the home office in Joliet, Illinois to examine SWUA’s financial accounts, records and investments. The process took several hours; afterwards the Auditors gave approval of the records on hand, tabled two areas needing documentation and made recommendations to the newly elected SWUA National Board members. They were very diligent in their work and worked very well together. National Treasurer, Denise Bartlett, thanked the three (3) members - Genevieve Buol, Mary Banich and Rita Bottomley for taking on this important task in their service to SWUA and appreciated their suggestions for improved record-keeping. The First National Auditor, who presides over and presents the auditor’s findings, is Genevieve (Gen) Buol, member of Branch 2 in Chicago, IL. Gen has been a member since 1995 and served as SWUA’s IL/IN Regional President from 1999-2007. Her financial background includes being an auditor for KSKJ Lodge #1 in Chicago and responsibilities in her profession as a Certified Professional in Medical Services Management at Loretto Hospital in Chicago for over twenty-five (25) years. Gen (maiden name Puhek) is proud to be 100 % Slovenian and is able to speak the Slovenian language which she learned from her parents and grandmother. She enjoys reading, her time serving in her choir and as a lector and eucharistic minister. Gen relates that she had a wonderful time at the 2007 Nat’l Convention. grandmother and aunt were charter members of Branch 89. After twenty-five (25) years of marriage to Bill Banich, she was widowed in 2005. Mitzi enjoys time spent with her two (2) sons, gardening and her volunteer work with the Meals on Wheels program for the American Red Cross. She also enjoyed attending the 2007 Nat’l Convention. Mitzi’s financial experience includes past bank teller work and serving as Branch 89’s Treasurer for the past seven (7) years. The Third National Auditor is Rita Bottomley who lives in Joliet and has been a member of Branch 20 in Joliet, IL for over five (5) years. Rita’s Slovenian heritage is from her mother’s (Jean Herbst) side of the family. Her activities include attending her daughter’s sporting events, reading and singing in Cathedral of St. Raymond’s choir. Rita also possesses relevant financial experience - she worked five (5) years as an accountant and has been a mathematics teacher for over thirteen (13) years. Rita is currently an 8lh grade Algebra teacher at Summit Hill Junior High in Frankfort, IL. Genevieve Buol, Mary Banich and Rita Bottomley The Second National Auditor is Mary (Mitzi) Banich SWUA is fortunate to have these well-suited, experienced who has been a member of Branch 89 in Oglesby, IL for members volunteering their time for such an important task over 50 years. Mitzi’s maiden name is Komater and her for SWUA and its members. Thank you to each of them! Looking for a “bit” of Slovenian heritage, culture, information and great stories, before the arrival of the next issue of our bi-monthly magazine, Zarja the Dawnl By subscribing to our monthly Online Newsletter, The New Neighborhood, you can have that “bit” of Slovenia pick-up each month!! Thank you! I look forward to sending you the Newsletter! - Jan King, SWUA Online Editor To begin receiving the Newsletter, send and email to: listoperator@swua.org Men in a SWUA World Is It a Tea Party or a Tee Party? Well, this issue at first offered a big challenge to old Don, I mean a tea party? What do I know about a tea party? 1 don’t even like the taste of tea and I’m way too big for those little chairs not to mention there isn’t any real food or drink at one of these deals. So, 1 was about to give up when I thought, hey, I do know something about a tea party just spelled tee party as in golf tee! Yes, this is something I know about, sure it’s a matter of semantics, but trust me, I would much rather write about golf than a party where I need to hold out my pinkie just so. I think we need to look at how golf is perceived in Slovenia and maybe I can give you a tip or two on where to play, depending on your skill level and your pocket book. I have not had the pleasure of teeing it up yet in Slovenia but, someday I will and when I do you can bet that I will start my golf adventure at the oldest and most prestige course in Slovenia, the Lake Bled Golf and Country Club, which is only a few kilometers from the famous and breathtaking lake it is named after. The course added a newer lake course a few years ago and now has a total of twenty-seven holes. The problem with this course is that you have to concentrate on each shot while being engulfed by the amazing beauty of the region and the course. But the course is fair with wide fairways and true but not lightning fast greens. So, with green fees averaging about 65 US dollars, the Lake Bled Golf and Country Club is the starting point for Slovenian golf. The next oldest and grandest course would be the Lipica Golf Club located in the Karst town of Lipica. Yes, this is the same place the world famous Lippizzaner stallions come from and is in its own right a beautiful region. The course is wide open and long at 3000 meters, not to mention inexpensive at about 40 US dollars a round. Which makes this course a must for old Don, when you factor in wide open and cheap, the only draw back is that you have to really watch the weather in this region as it is generally the coldest area in the winter and hottest in the summer, so keep an eye on that. Now, if you are visiting the capitol city of Ljubljana and need some time on the links the Arboretum Golf Club is about a twenty minute drive outside of the city. Now don’t let the scenic mountains lull you to sleep as this course may only be nine holes but it is tough. The course features very tight tree lined fairways, so if you have a hook or slice on the driver then leave it in the bag and trust your irons. Well, my plan on this course is simple, lots of golf balls and pivos. Well that’s a quick rundown of a few of the Slovenian courses and the ones I hope to play soon. But for me this summer it’s just another year of hacking up the Midwest and enjoying a few cold beers or as I call it another productive summer. So, hit them straight and as always, may good luck be yours. If you have any comments or suggestions please send them to me at doomsports@aol.com. - Don Baldin UNION Accidental Death and Dismemberment Policy BECOME A MEMBER WITH A NEW _____________________________________ INSURANCE PLAN AMERICAN SLOVENIAN CATHOLIC I/ UNION FROM ICSICJ! ACCIDENTAL DEATH & DISMEMBERMENT PLAN Available from ages 20 to 65 (coverage expires at age 70) Minimum Amount Available $25,000 - Maximum Available $100,000 $30 minimum per mode premium - $1.00 per thousand in PA $1.20 per thousand in CA, CO, CT, IL, IN, KS, Ml, MN, MT, OH, DC, Wl Call your local sales agent or the Home Office at 1-800-843-5755 www.kskjlife.com So c'mon... Lets Explore Hi Kids! It's JOJO again. Remember I told you just how beautiful Slovenia is with the high mountains and lots of thick forests? Mt. Triglav, the highest point in the Julian Alps, is also called "Three Heads", which is supposed to mean one head controls the skies, another head the ground, and the third the underground. There is an old saying that "Every Slovene should climb Mt. Triglav at least once in their life time". There are steep hiking trails to the top and it takes about 5 hours to reach it. Gee, I'd be tired before I got to the top, but it sure would be neat to try it, wouldn't it? It can remain cool in the mountains even in the summer so local people enjoy a hot cup of caj sometimes. Slovenes love caj. What is caj? Tea in Slovenian. The other day I was telling my friend Colee Moly about caj and he couldn't believe it. At first he said "Yuk" but changed his mind after he tasted it. Now he thinks it is pretty cool. Why not have a caj party at a branch meeting for the kids? Send a special invitation to them and ask each one to bring a nice tea cup and saucer from home, but not a mug. My Stara Mama says the prettier the cup the better the tea tastes. All you need is tea, a tea pot, boiling water, sugar cubes, napkins, a nice table cloth, small plates and some small tea sandwiches (see Entertaining with Jenka for some great recipes to use at your tea party). Ask the oldest child to pour and serve each guest their tea and boys are most welcome. Actually, it was a man who invented tea centuries ago. One day a king in China was boiling water in a small pan under a tea tree when some of its leaves fell into his water. He tasted the pretty brown water and it has been enjoyed ever since. It's very healthy. Another big Slovenian thing is gardening. Many Slovenians have beautiful gardens. Try it yourself this spring, Colee Moly says you don't need much space 'cause maybe your parents don't want you digging up the yard (leave that for them to do). If you live in the city with no yard, you can use a flower pot instead. You can paint pretty designs on the pot but, before you begin, let the paint dry. All you need is a pot, dirt, water and a sunny spot on a deck, patio, driveway or even a very sunny south window. You can plant seeds or buy plants already started. Which plants to grow depends if you want vegetables, herbs or flowers. You can even stick a tomato plant among the flowers. Remember to water often! Send the Zarja editor a photo of you garden and the best one may win a prize! See details on the back page. Deadline is JULY 10. Be sure to include your name, address and branch number. Don’t forget!!! It will be fun. Well, until next time! Just think...if we had no winter, spring wouldn't be so pleasant. Enjoy spring. - See ya.... JOJO A Slovenian word to learn Stara Mama (star a mama) it means Grandmother Another is caj (ch i) means tea. j...............FUNNY CORNER........ ; What do you get if you jump ! into the Adriatic Sea? il°M :su3MSuy Tour Slovenia Sponsored by the Slovenian Women’s Union of America In Honor of Zarja the Dawn’s 80th Anniversary May 8-19, 2009 Have you been searching for the perfect Mother’s Day or Father’s Day gift? I earch no further - here it is! S‘ Are you looking for a chance to experience a piece of the Slovenia that our ancestors longingly and lovingly spoke of? Te will show you! w Have you dreamed of seeing the incredible beauty of Slovenia and its famous sites for the very first time or have you always promised yourself that you would return to Slovenia’s splendor and take the time to enjoy its many unforgettable gifts? [It imate opportunities await you! u Have you always wanted to learn more about the culture of Slovenia and trace your Slovenian heritage? Have you longed to see your Slovenian family and friends? ttend this trip! A' For further information contact: Kollander World Travel, Michael J Benz 1-800-800-5981 or mbenz@aaaoma.com or Bonnie Pohar Prokup 815-223-9596 or wprokup@aol.com Explore the “Secrets of Slovenia" as we take you to the sights and sounds of a Slovenia our ancestors described. Come with us as we take you through the unspoiled back roads of Slovenia. Stop at cozy little goslilnas for old world cuisine, button box music, dancing and singing. Visit historic museums, such as those dedicated to the mercury miners or beekeepers of Slovenia, where we can see what life was like for many of our ancestors. Enjoy extended stays in Ljubljana and Potorož, visit Alpine Slovenia, rugged Prekmutje and the rich farm lands of Bela Krajina. Participate in a cooking lesson with the world famous chef, Sister Nicolina. Take part in the day-to-day operations of a local tourist farm-whether you are picking wild mushrooms, making the house wine or baking the evening’s bread, you will be a part of life in Slovenia. Be our guests as we celebrate the 80lh Anniversary of Zarja the Dawn with a traditional Slovenian picnic on the foot of the spectacular, breath-taking Alps, complete with the delicious regional food, live music, dancing under the stars and the kind of fun that memories are made of. Whether this is your first or your tenth time to Slovenia, we believe this tour is perfect for you! We have designed it with an understanding that you may want a few days to visit with your Slovenian friends and family or you may just want time to explore on your own. If you prefer to have your time planned, we will take the worry out of it by setting up one of several optional excursions that will be just right for you. There will be something for everyone, whether it’s enjoying the old world charm of ancient cities, visiting one of the many fascinating museums, hiking in the majestic mountains, exploring a medieval castle or basking in the sands of the Mediterranean you will find a Slovenia that you only dreamed was possible. This truly is the trip of a lifetime so don’t let it pass you by. Come join us as we explore the land of our ancestors. Come discover. SWUA Members of the Year 2008 Kathy Schroeder, Branch 1 Sheboygan, Wisconsin Kathy Schroeder, nee Brezonik was enrolled in the SWUA at the age of five. Her mother and grandmother were active members. Though her mother, Dorothy, was not of Slovenian heritage, she was involved in everything Slovenian. Kathy has followed in her footsteps. In 1979, Kathy married the love of her life, Peter Schroeder. Being in the armed services, they lived in Kentucky, Hawaii, Germany and Florida. During this time their children Jason and Melissa were bom. After twelve years in the military they finally came home to Sheboygan to begin a new life with family and friends. Through all of this time, the Slovenian heritage was important to Kathy. Kathy was fill-in treasurer of Branch 1 for her mother who was in failing health. In 1999, Kathy became full time treasurer and did an excellent job in her eight-year term. Joseph Skala, Branch 2 Chicago, Illinois “Our Go To Guy” We are proud to have as our Member of the Year Joseph Skala. Joe’s mother, Frances Skala, belonged to Branch 2 for 73 years; she was very active and when she was unable to drive, Joe drove her to the meetings where he became interested in ZVEZA and joined. We are fortunate to have him! He is always there to help. At meetings he works in the kitchen, at the picnic he sets up tables, a Santa’s helper at the children’s Christmas party and when we were stuck with all that snow and ice, he shoveled the snow, cleaned the ice off the cars so our ladies could go home, he drove the members to the IL/IN Convention in Indianapolis and was our alternate at the 2007 National Convention. He always has good ideas. Joe does not know the word “NO”. He is a sincere, caring individual who has enthusiasm that is contagious. Joe is very proud of his Slovene roots, he attended Slovenian classes at the Cultural Center to learn the language and took classes on Slovenian cooking. He traveled to Slovenia and researched his family genealogy back to the 1700’s and upon his return home, wrote a book and shared the information with his relations. Mildred Grahek Stovac Branch 3 Pueblo, Colorado Branch 3 congratulates Mildred Grahek Stofac as our Member of the Year. Mildred is pictured in her Narodna Nosa. Highlight of the past year was being selected as an alternate Delegate to the SWUA National Convention and visiting with guests from Slovenia. Born in Petrov Vas, her journey to America began at age six, entering through Ellis Island and by rail to Pueblo, Colorado, not knowing one word of English. (Read Mildred’s story Nov/Dec 2007 Zarja) Learning English was a priority. After high school during World War II, the Pueblo Army Depot employed her. Now a widow, she was married to Ray Stofac, has one son, Kenny, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Millie can still feel the exhilarating emotion felt as a little six year old upon first sighting the Statue of Liberty. To quote her, “I’m proud to be an American and I’m proud to be Slovenian!” Kathy is a very congenial and caring person who is well liked by all who know her. She is available to volunteer whenever needed. When “sloppy joes” or potato-cucumber salad are needed Kathy is the chef. Kathy and her family lost her father, John, in 2006 and her mother, Dorothy in 2007. During the last years of their lives, Kathy never hesitated in her care for them and always maintained all of the Slovenian traditions. Our Member of the Year is Sylvie Stanfield, long time member and past president of SWUA Branch 5. Sylvie is very involved in the Slovenian community and at Holy Trinity. Her very active family life included her late husband, Frank, and children, Carol, Frank and Randy, and always welcomed many others. Her cousin Tom Vertačnik writes: “Sylvie has been like a second mother to me my entire life. She helped watch me while my parents went to work from the time I was an infant through the 4"’ grade at Holy Trinity School. She taught me to enjoy many different types of food and to always try new things. She reinforced my discipline, taught me respect and helped me become a fine young man. ” Congratulations, Sylvie! Agnes Petkovich Leach, Branch 13 San Francisco, We proudly name Agnes Petkovich Leach as our Member of the Year. Agnes was bom on Potrero Hill, the Slovenian area of San Francisco in 1922. In 1946 she married Wallace Leach and celebrated their 61st Anniversary in October. Agnes has five children, Dr. Thomas Leach, twins Sister Mary Virginia, O.P. and the Rev. Jerome Leach and her two youngest sons, Vincent and Joseph live a few blocks away from their parents so they can take them to Mass on Gen Marco, Branch 16 South Chicago, Illinois California Sundays. Agnes is the proud grandmother of Tom Jr., Stephen and Christine. Agnes is active in the Catholic Church, serving for many years as Secretary at St. James School and worked in the Rectory. She continues to work as a volunteer at St. James. Agnes has been a member of SWUA for almost thirty years. She is one of our most dedicated members. For many years she took a bus and walked up a long hill to get to our meetings and always arrived with a smile on her face. She can always be counted on to bake a wonderful cake for our monthly Pot Luck luncheons. Agnes will be honored at our annual luncheon on Sunday, May 4th. You are most deserving of this honor and we love you Agnes. God Bless you! Send a Gift Subscription Zarja the Dawn is a perfect gift for a friend or relative. For $20 (U.S.) and $30 (outside U.S.) you can give the gift of Heritage! Just fill out this form and send with money to Carol Ryba, 3305 Glenshane Way, Ormond Beach, FL 32174. Please send Zarja the Dawn to: Name:________________________________________ Address:_____________________________________ City/State/Zip:______________________________ Name of Donor:______________________________ Address:_____________________________________ City/State/Zip:______________________________ We would like to congratulate Gen Marco on being chosen our Member of the Year. She is a very special woman. She is the mother of Mickey, Margie, Eddie, Mary Ann, Bill, Pat and Karen. She has 10 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. When she worked, she was a food service worker and then promoted to manager at St. Francis de Sales Elementary. All the youngsters remember her for her “Gravy Train” meal and her peanut butter cookies. Since her retirement she keeps herself busy by being involved in many different clubs and organizations. Gen is very valuable to our organization; she usually handles all our parties and does a very good job of it. She became a member of our branch a few years ago and has not been afraid to pitch in and help where needed. We will celebrate our Member of the Year in May. Nancy Horwath, Branch 20 member for 36 years, has been chosen as their Member of the Year. She feels truly honored to receive this award. During the last few years she has held the position of Sgt. at Arms. Nancy is always willing to help when needed. She feels that what she has contributed through the years doesn’t begin to compare with what she received. The lasting friendships, the enjoyment of attending the many events such as Regional Conventions, National Conventions and other social events. What she truly appreciates is that it’s a long-standing organization, which holds tradition and keeps the Slovenian heritage alive for future generations. Nancy’s mother, Thelma Minarich, is a member also. Nancy has three children and four grandchildren, which bring her much, joy and pride. Her most joyous memories are family vacations and just watching her grandchildren grow. Her professional life includes working for Joliet School District 86 for 27 years. Other organizations that keep her busy are Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Cantigny Post VFW, K.S.K.J. and the Moose. Nancy said God is good and has blessed her with many wonderful people and things in her life and she appreciates every moment, one just like this. Geraldine Petrich, Branch 23 Ely, Minnesota Geraldine (Gerry) Klun Petrich is the daughter of Anton and Julia (Pishler) Klun. She has been a member for over 30 years, held numerous offices, including president for the past 4 years. Gerry and her husband, Bemie, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this past April. Their son, Michael, is married to Diana (Mavetz). They have two sons, Nick and Dave, who make the family 100% Slovenian. Gerry worked as a telephone operator for the DM&IR Railroad, for her father in Klun’s Store and for her brother in the Klun Law Firm. Gerry’s grandparents were all bom in Slovenia. Her Slovenian heritage is very important to her. She spent many hours on her and Bemie’s family trees. They traveled to Slovenia three times and visited with relatives from Ribnica. Via the internet and Skype she is able to keep in touch with everyone. Gerry and her family, along with Frank Deyak make potato sausage and blood sausage. Gerry likes to make pecan and apple potica as well as many other Slovenian dishes. She and her husband, Bernie, also host bus trips to Polka Festivals. Gerry loves to knit and quilt. The solitude of living on the lake affords her many opportunities to watch the wildlife. She has many wonderful stories to tell of the things she has seen. Gerry thanks everyone for this honor. Antonia (Toni) Hoefferle, Branch 24 LaSalle, Illinois Branch 24 Member of the Year is Antonia (Toni) Hoefferle. “Toni” was bom on December 20, 1907 in Slovenia and recently was honored at her 100th birthday party at St. Joseph’s Nursing Home in Lacon, Illinois, where she has resided since 2003. Toni, a former member of St. Roch’s Church, La Salle, was always an active member of the Slovenian Women’s Union of America until her health began to fail. She and her late husband John, extended many kindnesses to those less fortunate and in spite of the many hardships and heartaches she has endured over the years, especially beginning in Slovenia, where her first husband, Louis was killed, to spending five years in a concentration camp, her strong faith in God and love of her heritage has made her an inspiration to all. Our congratulations and very best wishes to our member “Toni”! Our members have chosen Julia Pimat as Member of the Year, 2008. She has been a member for 23 years. Julia was married to Matt Pimat in 1938 and is the proud parent of five children, eleven grandchildren and four great grandchildren. She has been active in our community as a member of the All- Slav Club, the American Legion Auxiliary and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. She also accepted the SWUA position of Sgt. at Arms. Julie has always been a loyal and devoted member, a cheerful and willing helper. If you should be in town and see a lovely lady on a bicycle, that’s our Julia. Branch 35 is proud to honor her as our Member of the Year for 2008. Congratulations and God Bless you with good health. Phyllis Lamkin, Branch 39 Biwabik, Minnesota Phyllis’s hobby of genealogy has been a i lifetime venture. She has researched family lines back hundreds of years. She i was asked by two friends, who are | members, to join SWUA and became I interested in Slovenian culture. As a new member in 2004, she immediately took on j the role of making and embellishing a scrapbook to honor all our Members/ Mothers of the Year since its inception in 1951. How lucky we are to have her, our I own historian aboard. We will honor Phyllis, May 4,2008, along of organ donations, she says it is a beautiful experience with all our former Members/Mother of the Year, with coming from such a tragedy. dinner at Elroy Supper Club. Denise P Bartlett, Branch 43 Milwaukee, Wisconsin “Caring, competent, dedicated, detail-oriented, fun-loving, GENEROUS, loving and proficient - these words kept recurring when our family was asked to describe Denise. For example: As a detective putting together a photo array, I found one arrestee wearing an old shirt of mine. When queried, Mom stated that she'd been bringing our old clothes to the jail in case a prisoner came in with overly dirty, wet or ripped clothes. We were a good team - I’d jail them and she’d clothe them!” - Son, Jeff “Mom will try to re-arrange her errands, appointments, luncheons, etc., to help out with a sick grandchild in a pinch. We love her!! ” - Son, Gary “Denise introduced me to my husband and helped him propose to me with 21 little notes she wrote for him and hid around his house. I had to go on a scavenger hunt to find my ring!” - Sister, Kathy “Denise has taken several memorable trips to Slovenia The only word to describe them -Supercalifragilisticexpealidocious! ” - Husband, Bob Phyllis was bom in Minneapolis, MN. She moved with her family to Buhl, MN in 1943 and graduated from there. Married and the mother of six children, Phyllis suffered the pain of losing two of her sons. Both of her sons were organ donors, one being the first successful heart transplant in MN in 1978 and the first ever pancreas transplant in the world. A total of 18 people were recipients from her sons and Phyllis has become friends with their families. The heart recipient lived almost 30 years longer. An advocate Debbie Duris obtained her Slovenian heritage from her father, William V. Gartroza. She joined the branch at the urging of Kathy Ferrante, our past National President. Debbie is currently the Vice President of her branch and ended her four-year term as Ohio Regional Vice President. She was the branch delegate at our 25th National Convention. Debbie enjoyed meeting and developing friendships with other branch members while participating on the Heritage Festival Committee in 2004. This was a joint effort by the northeast Ohio branches, and the first festival of its kind. Debbie was responsible for the treasurer function and thoroughly enjoyed her duties. She learned the fine art of potica making from her mother (who jointly made it with her father when they were first married) and will make it during the holidays to be enjoyed by family and friends. Debbie is a 30-year employee of The Sherwin-Williams Company and works at their headquarters in downtown Cleveland. Debbie and Frank have been married for 27 years, and with their adopted Chihuahua, Tiki, live in Macedonia, Ohio. To relax, Debbie enjoys reading, flower gardening and traveling. Debbie is honored to be Member of the Year. She will be recognized at a branch dinner on May 10. Josephine Arko, Branch 50 Euclid, Ohio Our honoree was born Josephine Rutar in Cleveland in 1919. When she was two years old, her mother moved the family to Sodražica, Slovenia while her dad stayed in America to work. They returned to Cleveland in 1929. Her career started with babysitting, followed by Anzlovar’s Department store and the St. Joseph High School cafeteria. In 1941 she married Frank Urbančič. They had four children: Arlene, Gerrie, Frank and Joanne. She has six grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, and two greatgrandchildren. In 1966, while Gerrie sang in Slovenia with Glasbena Matica, her family traveled there. While in Europe, her husband Frank was diagnosed with cancer and sadly died two months later. In 1970, Josephine married Tom Arko who passed away in 1983. As a “Cadet”, Josephine sewed her own uniform and proudly displayed the S WU A banner. Originally a member of Branch 25, she joined Branch 50 in 1965. Her attendance at three conventions in Lemont, Illinois, Washington, DC and Utica, Illinois are fond memories. Jo is involved in the Euclid Pensioners Club, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Slovenian Society Home, she belongs to AMLA St. Anne Lodge 4 and 576 Spartans Lodge. Congratulations Jo, we’re very proud of you and your accomplishments and happy to have you as our Member of the Year 2008! Molly Rodriguiz, Branch 89 Oglesby, Illinois Molly is a second-generation member. She is the youngest child of Elsa (Simenc) (life-long member) and Cyril Ambrose. Her father came to America from Slovenia in 1914, her mother following in 1920. Molly has one sister, Alice (Ambrose) Kemz, also a member. Molly and her late husband, Louie, are the proud parents of six beautiful daughters, two of which are members. Molly is a very talented, devoted member, and is always willing to help whenever needed. Her love of her Slovenian heritage shines through her baking poticas, strudels and her beautiful crochet work. Whenever there is a raffle to be held, Molly is one of the first to generously donate her beautiful items. Her baby blankets, place mats, table runners, and doilies will be cherished forever. Molly is very proud to be Slovenian and it shows through her love of life, faith, family and friends. Congratulations Molly, for being Branch 89’s 2008 Member of the Year. Thank you for being a special part of us. Mary and Paula Mavec, Branch 99 Lemont, Illinois Branch 99 is proud to introduce a super sister duo as Members of the Year. Two of 12 children, Mary and Paula Mavec were bom in Prebačevo, Slovenia. Their lives are truly a miracle, for World War II would force them to cross the border into Austria, and fight for their lives until their arrival in America by 1954. After being separated for several years in Europe, the sisters were reunited by marrying two brothers. Together, over the past thirty years the families have been actively celebrating their heritage through their involvement in hosting singing groups from Slovenia and Argentina, and attending many Chicago area events. They preside over the branch’s Christmas Cookie Sale and conduct the food and bakery for Bunco parties. In addition, Paula is the Sunshine Lady, sending greeting cards to our members, and “Micka” is the instructor for the dumpling-making class. It is obvious that our branch has been twice blessed with their time and talent. Frances Hiti Ambrozich, Branch 100 Southern California Frances Hiti (center) was born in Gilbert, Minnesota to Slovenian immigrants, Frank and Annie (Hočevar) Hiti. She was the eleventh of twelve children. The family was devoutly Catholic, and Frances remembers that her mother belonged to the “Zenska Zveza”. Frances moved to California and later her widowed mother followed. She adapted well to city life and was successful in her wonderful career as an executive secretary in the Los Angeles Mayor’s office. She would frequent the activities in Fontana at the Slovene Hall and Mlakar’s Elbow Room. There, while listening and singing the old folk songs, she met Frank Ambrozich of Chisholm, Minnesota. They married and had two children, Gary and Janet. Frances has been a widow for 24 years. She is proud of her children and Gary’s two sons, Dean 14, and Kurt 12.When Frances retired, she moved to cool and breezy Huntington Beach and loves it. Her social life is centered on two choirs, and her involvement with the SWUA and the SNPJ. A recent highlight was her attendance at the SWUA 80th Anniversary and Convention. She experienced the warmth of the members, not only there, but also with visits to Joliet and Lemont where there is so much Slovenian history. We are proud to have, as our Member of the Year this fun-loving and enthusiastic woman! Edward W. Bayuk, Branch 102 Willard, Wisconsin Willard, WI has been a Slovenian community since it’s settlement in 1907. Ed Bayuk has been a resident of Willard all his life (86 years), except for the six years he served in the US Navy during WWII. He married his wife, Josephine, in 1946 and they had thirteen children. Today there are fifteen grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. Ed has been a member and officer of the KSKJ for many years. He is also a member of the Willard Slovenska Družba, which published the Willard History Book in 1982, as well as a Slovenian cookbook. Ed really takes his Slovenian heritage to heart, he has always enjoyed taking part in the Slovenian traditions put on by the Holy Family Parish, like the Vinsko trgatev or “Grape Harvest Festival”. With Josephine as his teacher, Ed even learned to make a batch of potica and apple strudel. In 1994, he took a trip to the homeland with his son, Fr. Richard Bayuk. That trip included a visit to the birthplace of his father in Podzemeje, and a stay with his cousin, Metlika. Today, Ed continues to enjoy the Slovenian traditions in Willard. He attends our meetings and helps out where ever he can. Amelia Jerich Thomas, Branch 103 Washington, DC Our Member of the Year is Amelia (Molly) Jerich Thomas. She was bom in McKinley, MN, and grew up in Ely, MN. Molly enjoys singing beginning with the Glee Club in high school, various church choirs and choral groups in the Metropolitan area of Washington, DC, and the Washington Slovenian Choral Group. She still sings in the Fort Myer Memorial Chapel Catholic Choir (25 years) in Arlington, VA. When Molly traveled to Slovenia in 2001, she visited the houses where her parents were bom in Videm, Dobrepolje, and Vas Graben. She keeps in touch with her cousins via e-mail. Molly has been a diligent Treasurer of Branch 103 almost from the beginning. She cheerfully takes part in branch activities, always is willing to do whatever is necessary for any branch event and in particular, is always concerned about and eager to keep in touch with members who no longer can attend meetings. In addition, she comes up with many innovative ideas to enhance our meetings or events. All Members, Branch 108 Olney, Maryland Since the inception of our branch, members, families and friends gather together each spring for a Member Appreciation Slovenian potluck dinner. We honor all members and strive to share our unique Slovenian heritage with one another. We especially thank our officers and regular attendees at meetings/events for their input and dedication to the SWUA. A round of applause goes out to Branch 108 officers: Bernadette K. Fitzsimmons - President, Marjeta Cedilnik - Vice President, Erika Maxel - Recording Secretary, John Klansek - Treasurer, Lynn Koiner - Program Chairperson, Erika K. Roda - Historian, Fr. Peter Rozic - Spiritual Advisor, May Kokal and Nika Kovacic - Auditors and Lisa Kokal and Marge McFarland - Sargeant of Arms. Thanks to Mrs. Florence Engelhardt for her three years of service as Vice President, and to Mrs. Eveline Lawrence for her two years of service as Recording Secretary. Your loyalty and commitment is exemplary for our new team of officers that have taken your places. We’ll miss you both as officers, but look forward to your participation at meetings and coordination of future events. Mary Ann Palmer Branch 109 Twin Cities, Minnesota Mary Ann Palmer has been selected as the Member of the Year for Branch 109 in the Twin Cities. She has been our Recording Secretary for the past two years. Mary Ann is more than just a Recording Secretary. Besides keeping detailed records of all of our activities and meetings, she manages the membership roster to ensure that every member is contacted via email or regular mail. She has helped build our membership through her Slovenian contacts and has brought a wealth of experience in the planning and implementation of our Festival of Nations project. This 100% Slovenian transfer from Branch 23 (Ely, Minnesota) is an enthusiastic, knowledgeable and fun member who hasn’t missed a meeting since she joined Branch 109 shortly after its inception. 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! ZIMMER FUNERAL HOMES Mark Zimmer, Funeral Director mark@zimmerfuneralhome.com 805 North 6th Street, Sheboygan, W1 53081 (920) 457-7012 - Fax: (920) 457-7013 W 2132 Ganton Rd., Sheboygan, W1 53083 (920) 565-2331 www.Zimmerfuneralhome.com SWUA CALENDAR OF EVENTS Sunday, May 18 Uspeh Slovenian Chorus at St. John’s Church Hall in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Sunday, May 25 Our Lady of Brezje Devotion - Mass at 9:00 a.m. at St. George’s sponsored by Branch 16 South Chicago, Illinois and KSKJ Lodge 44 Sunday, June 1 Wine Tasting Party in Temecula Keyways Winery sponsored by Orange Coast SNPJ Lodge Friday - Saturday, June 6-7 Camp Heritage to be held at Ironworld in conjunction with All Slav’s Day Saturday, June 7 Potato Dough Cooking Class in Lemont sponsored by Branch 99 Lemont, Illinois; register with Julie at 630-229-6416 Friday-Saturday July 11-12 Willard Slovenian Days - A weekend of polkas and good food Friday, July 18 TRAMONTANA from Indianapolis Sister City, Piran will perform at the Slovenian National Home in Indianapolis Sunday, July 20 Slovenian Festival in Sheboygan, Wisconsin at Kiwanis Park from 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Sunday, September 14 Wisconsin Regional Convention in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, 8:00 a.m. registration Saturday, September 27 Open House at SWUA Heritage Museum - Book signing by Father Horzen “Maybe Be Rain” - Book signing and presentation by the Forget Me Not Tour of Slovenia introducing three new books to the series - Tour of the museum, scanning project, library - View the documentary Američanke, Look through my Eyes and the Golden Years Saturday, September 27 Baraga Days Mass at St. Joseph’s Church in Joliet, Illinois - reception to follow at St. Joseph’s Hall Sunday, September 28 Baraga Days Mass in Lemont, Illinois Sunday, September 28 Grape Harvest Festival by Branch 20 Joliet, IL Saturday, October 18 Open House at SWUA Heritage Museum Sunday, October 19 Illinois/Indiana Regional Convention and 80th Anniversary of SWUA Branch 20 Joliet, Illinois Saturday, November 1 Apple Strudel Demonstration in Lemont sponsored by Branch 99 Lemont, Illinois register with Julie at 630-229-6416 Friday - Sunday, November 7-9 “Sample Slovenian Heritage” weekend at the Mohican Outdoor Center in Blairstown, NJ -open to all SWUA members, friends and guests (see Branch 93 report in this issue for more exciting details) For more information on any event contact wprokup@aol.com ALL SLAV DAYS Extra! Extra! Read All About It! Camp Heritage For Children June 7-8,2008 Chisholm, Minnesota Ironworld in beautiful Chisholm, Minnesota, is again hosting All Slav Days, Saturday and Sunday, June 7 and 8, 2008. Enjoy music, food and costumes of the Eastern European nations at this exciting event. Performers include The Singing Slovenes, Eddie Karosa and the Boys from Illinois and Duluth’s Serbian Orthodox Choir, plus local performers Joe Cvek, The East West Buttonnaires, Johnny Pouchnik and Ronny Setniker. Don’t miss Mass with Father Frank Perkovich on Sunday morning, or the daily buffet in Ironworld’s restaurant! A special feature during All Slav Days will be Camp Heritage for children. SWUA, Slovenian World Congress and Ironworld have teamed together to bring the Slovenian heritage to children. Activities such as Slovenian folk songs and games, special heritage crafts (Kurent, Piri and beehive planks,) genealogy, the Slovenian language and more will be featured. The Camp will be a two day event, culminating with a performance by the children on Sunday, June 8lh. Ages 8 and up, $30 includes lunch on both days, T-Shirt with logo. Space is limited. More information and the application form for this fun event will be available on both websites: www.ironworld.com and www.swua.org or call Ironworld 800.372.6437, Rosemary Ribich 218.865.6600 or Anita Vovk 218.229.3202. Family Connected „ With George Plautz by Janyce Eviston Grandma Lekan’s birth place What kind of reception would you expect in the village holding the record for the coldest temperature in Slovenia? A very warm one, of course! My grandfather, Michael Lekan, was bom in Babno Polje, which lies at the peak of the border between Slovenia and Croatia, in 1894. He came to America with his parents and siblings in 1909, eventually residing in Ottawa, Illinois. When maturity finally prompted me to ask questions about years old was worth the trip, but seeing my grandfather’s and other family members’ baptismal records was astonishing. Father Kobe traced my family’s records back to the early 18,h century. Slovenia, the immigrant generation was gone and my mother had little information beyond the name of their home village. Even finding the correct spelling of “Babnapula” proved to be a challenge! Two days later we again met Olga and Stanko at a rest area on the highway between Ljubljana and Koper. They guided us southeast through the Lake Cerknica region. The “disappearing lake” was low for the season and appeared as a sea of grass crisscrossed with streams. On the far side of the lake region, we visited the rectory in Stari Trg. The baptismal and marriage records for the area are housed there, and Father Kobe is a bottomless source of information on the people, homes, and history of the area going back 500 years. Just looking at record books 300 But thanks to the Internet, especially the ellisisland.org and telekom.si, my husband, Mike, and I met Olga and Stanko Kotnik in Kamnik in September 2007. A delightful couple that were happy to practice English and encouraged us to “try Slovenish,” they had lived in Germany for thirty years and returned to Stanko’s hometown in 2004. They set the hospitable and delicious pattern for all our subsequent home visits throughout Slovenia; a sincerely warm welcome followed by slivovitz, Turkish coffee, a meat and cheese tray, potica or another sweet and wine. Often we received a handmade gift as we left. We continued southeast to the village of Babna Polica where my great-grandmother lived before coming to the United States. Anton Mlakar lives in a house built on the site of her girlhood home. His grandfather and my greatgrandmother were brother and sister. As we began the ritual slivovitz at his kitchen table, he placed a box of photographs before me. Smiling up from the top photo were my grandfather and three of his siblings! As I uncovered Mike, Olga, Jan and Stanko Anton Mlakar with Jan arid Mike more photos of family members long gone, scenes of weddings and reunions, pictures of hunting and harvesting on the Wisconsin farm, I felt such a deep connection with Anton that it truly left me speechless. Anton’s smile told me he shared my emotion. The photos ended about 1960, and his daughter, Andreja, told me he had been looking at them just a month earlier, wondering how to get in touch with his American family! Leaving Babna Polica, we drove five minutes around the mountain (The walking path over the mountain would have taken an hour!) to Babno Polje. Again a surreal feeling overtook me as I saw the sign at the entrance to Grampa Mike’s village! A general store and a gostilna lay ahead of us and cream-colored homes with red tile roofs climbed wooded hillsides to the left. Grassy pastures spread out to the left. Beyond these fields (polje means collapsed limestone field) lay more homes, the school, and a church with its encircling cemetery, this was my grandfather’s world. Olga led us up the street, which ran up the ridge to the left. We passed “farmettes” with sheds, small barns, cascading flowers and disinterested dogs as we drove further up the ridge. We stopped at Olga’s girlhood home that is now used as a weekend retreat for her and her sister’s families. The similarities between this typical Slovenian home and the house my grandfather built in Ottawa were striking: the rooflines, grapevine-covered trellises big enough for shaded outdoor “rooms,” built-in pantry and shelves, pull-down attic stairs, the attic itself. Now 1 understood why Grampa Mike’s house was such a niche-filled haven for us grandchildren. He brought his Slovenian architecture with him! From this point on, Olga insisted we walk the ridge road so we could literally follow my grandfather’s steps. This was his route between home and school, church, the store. At the end of the ridge we came to Grampa’s boyhood home, like the others, but with a magnificent overlook of the village to the right and the pass through the mountains ahead of us (including the border checkpoint into Croatia), and a view of the mountainside and timber to the left. What a glorious spot, no wonder it was hard to leave! A middle-aged couple working in the barn stopped to greet Olga. When she explained our mission, they eagerly showed us around. The house had been renovated twice, once in 1883 and again in 2001. No one really knew its age, but they gave us a picture of the house before its most recent renovation, as it would have looked when my grandfather lived there. The only unchanged room was the arch-ceilinged pantry, and knowing that my grandfather had laid eyes on those same plastered walls made me feel even more connected to him and to this place. On the way back down the road, we met Pico the Pohl, or dormouse, a pet of Olga’s neighbor. During WW1I the villagers suffered greatly and pohl were their primary source of protein. The children set pohl traps to capture the 2"-3" long creatures. Pico will be spared, but each fall the young people still go into the woods to capture pohl for a feast commemorating the difficult times of that period. This is the only time of the year that pohl are eaten. Our last visit (Remember the slivovitz, coffee, food, wine pattern has continued all day!) was to the home of Felix and Minka Lekan. According to Father Kobe’s records, our families branched apart in the early 19,h century, but he welcomed us like long-lost siblings. As we sat in their cozy kitchen, learning more about our family, I felt more than ever as if 1 had in fact come home. Olga and Minka have been friends since childhood and they spoke about growing up in a country that had been ravaged by WW1I. Perhaps the resilience of these friends is emblematic of the strength of this country as well. We left Olga and Stanko to drive a few miles to the Gostisce Mlakar in rural Markovec. This chalet-style inn, which is owned by relatives of my great-grandmother, sits on a bike trail running from the Baltic to the Adriatic. We took a few minutes to stand in the drive watching shooting stars dash across the Milky Way. The warm feelings we all carried with us at that moment have only increased since our return to the states. Even if we’d experienced the -30 degrees F. record, we would have been warmed by the good feelings of connection and welcome from everyone we met. The Path Taken.. .Dopoijena pot by Mary Lou Voelk Anton and Frances Krmovnar Tegelj (Tegel, Tagel) Our family is indebted to Tona Tagel* Skeris for keeping family facts and stories near to her heart. Her research into family history and her letter writing to family in Slovenia has allowed this story to be written. Tona, age 91, still lives in the home that she and her husband purchased in 1947. - Maxine (Mickey) Krolnik Kaprelian, Branch 1 * It is not known when the Tegelj family name change occurred. Flranciska (Frances) Krmovnar was bom June 21, 1887 in Vas Laze, Planina pri Rekeku, Slovenia to Franc and Elizabeta Komolc Krmovnar. Frances lived on a small farm with her parents, two brothers and two sisters. The children worked very hard to help their parents. Her father Franc died when she was 16, her mother Elizabeta, died when she was 17. Anton Tegelj was bom April 10, 1886 in Logatec to Anton and Marija Matitic Tegelj. Frances Krmovnar and Anton Tegelj were marred on October 29, 1911 in Slovenia. In June 1912, Anton left for America. He departed from the Port of Trieste on the Kaiser Franz Josef 1, and arrived in America, Ellis Island on June 9, 1912. Anton made his way to Minnesota and found work at the St. James Mine in Aurora, Minnesota. On September 11, 1912 Frances gave birth to a son Frank. Frances and Frank set sail for America in June 1913. They departed from the port of Trieste on the Kaiser Franz Josef 1 and arrived at Ellis Island on June 18, 1913. The last leg of the long trek ended in Aurora, Minnesota where Anton awaited them. In Aurora, Anton and Frances set up housekeeping in the upstairs level of the Hodnick house. Two daughters were bom in the next two years, Frances on October 29, 1914 and Antonia (Tona), on May 13, 1916. Anton was employed at the St. James Mine on the Mesabi Range. Work was grading in the underground mines. Labor had been unsettled for many years. And now Anton and Frances were about to experience an event that would go down in American history. It also would have a profound effect on their family. *(See a Bit of History) Antonia had been bom just 3 weeks prior to the strike of 1916. With rent to pay, children to feed and with anticipation of a long strike, Anton left for the coalmines of Lloydell, Pennsylvania in search of a job. For the second time, Frances traveled alone across country to join Anton, this time with 3 young children. A fourth child Anton Jr. was bom in Lloydell on May 5, 1919. Back in Aurora, Minnesota - Toni’s Memories After the birth of Anton Jr., the family moved back to Aurora. They purchased a home about 1 1/2 miles from Aurora. The two-bedroom home had a “middle room” and a large kitchen. In the middle of the kitchen sat a long table with 2 benches. A large front porch was attached to the house and a well was located out in the yard. The acreage consisted of an outdoor toilet and a large hay bam. Maggie the cow supplied the dairy needs for the family. Frances kept chickens and turkeys (with bells on) to help find the eggs. There was always a pig and the memories of a large container of hot water that was used to remove the skin of the pig. As Anton was a skilled butcher and sausage maker the family had a good supply of blood sausage, pork sausages (kranskies), zelodic and home made lard. A large garden with vegetables and juicy strawberries supplied their needs. Frances’ preferred method of planting was the “broadcast” method. There were no rows! And of course, nothing grew as good or as big as in the Old Country. The children attended school in Aurora where everything was free. The mining companies paid for all schoolbooks, paper and any school needs. Frances and Anton also attended night school in preparation for their citizenship. The high school newspaper, Aurora Borealis, wrote about activities of immigrants who went to night school in preparation for citizenship. The following was printed in the January, April and May 1924 issues: “Frances Tegelj walks 1 1/2 miles in any kind of weather to get to night school. She is the only one in her class who has never been absent or tardy since she enrolled in October 9, 1922. She is anxious to learn hard, and shows a true American Spirit. She attended night school for 68 nights. ” Also printed was Frances’ essay: “My father and mother had a big farm. We all worked very hard on the farm. My father worked in a big field with 4 oxen. We had some cows. We lived in a good house and it was made of stone. I was learning history, bible and Catechism. ” and Anton’s essay: (with no help): “I vork in a kool mine 3 yers. Thay vork vary hard bikas vi rax kool 3 foot hay to kars. In det mine moder pull 175 kars. Kool sold tar miner for $4.25 a ton. ” Taking their exam in night school caused much excitement. The following diary entry sums it up: “April, 3, we had a naturalization exam. There was a pretty good bunch for the Diplomas. All of them did not pass. At 2:00 p.m. Mr. R.K. Doe began to examine us. Everybody was afraid to go in because nobody saw him before and he talks so loud. Mrs. S. and Mrs. T came out pretty fair, but when Mrs. R. came out she was so thirsty I thought she was going to drink all the water in the school. When Mrs. H. came out she was happy and red as a Bolshevik flag. Then Miss Keefe called me and my heart began to shake and I was looking for a basket so I could put it in. At last my heart settled in my shoe. In the evening we had a nice program and Mr. Doe gave us our Diploma and we had a good time Anton and Frances became naturalized citizens of the United States in 1925. Life in Sheboygan, Wisconsin In 1926, the St. James Mine closed. It had been stripped of the rich ore. The Tagel family packed up and made the move to Sheboygan, Wisconsin. They bought a 2-story home where they spent the rest of their lives. The family lived upstairs and the bottom flat was rented out. Throughout the years, Anton held a number of jobs, first with the Kohler Company, and later with the Asgrow Seed Company as a night watchman and boiler stoker. He was employed as a gardener for the local Kingsbury Brewery Company and also washed their beer delivery trucks. An added perk was a glass of beer after a days work. Anton was eventually let go when they realized how old he was! It had to do with insurance! At one time, Anton had managed to fit in achieving a barber’s license in Chicago and held the title of “family barber”. He also cut hair for many neighbors in the Tagel kitchen. During the Depression Anton and Frances were able to pay the interest on the bank loan. Their house could not be taken from them, they just paid a little longer. From 1929-1933 Frances worked with Mrs. Poderzaj, Mrs. Matitich and several other “Slovenian women” at the Northern Furniture Factory sanding furniture. This was the only time she was employed out of the home. Adjoining their back yard was a large piece of property owned by the Asgrow Seed Company. Anton was allowed to use this plot for a large garden. This garden and a smaller plot on one side of the house were a showplace and a provider of sustenance for the family. Out in the back yard the ‘old folks’ would play bocce ball. Anton was a prodigious reader of fiction paperbacks. Smoking his pipe and reading Westerns was his relaxation. Frances learned to bowl after SS. Cyril and Methodius Church built a bowling alley on church property. Considering she only had one good eye, Frances was a pretty good bowler! One eye had been damaged when she was a youngster. Frances found much enjoyment in socializing in local “Slovenian organizations”. She became a member of the SWUA on March 7, 1939 and was a faithful member for 36 years. Frances also was a member of the K.S.K.J. Queen of May #137, S.N.P.J and Christian Mothers’ Society. Traveling was certainly something she enjoyed. SS. Cyril and Methodius often sponsored bus tours around the states. This gave her the opportunity to rekindle friendships back in Aurora, Minnesota. In his later years Anton was treated at Rocky Knoll for tuberculosis. Possibly his many years in the mines made his lungs more susceptible to disease. During his stay he became friendly with a much younger man from the “old country”. Together they began a small but successful business of making wooden cradles for babies. On October 12, 1972, the story of the two men was written up in the Sheboygan Press. (Log onto www.swua.org to view newspaper article and the cradle.) Anton and Frances were married 64 years. Throughout the years they celebrated 3 special anniversaries together, 25,h Silver Anniversary in 1936 at Standard Hall, 50th Golden Anton,Frances,grandson Brad, Anniversary in George and Mickey Tagd KaPre,ian 1961 at the V.F.W. hall and 60 Years in 1971 at the Riverview Club. Daughter, Frances looked after Anton (DOD July 13, 1975), Frances (DOD October 1,1975) and brother, Frank (DOD June 13,1996) until their deaths. Anton and Frances are buried in the Greendale Cemetery, Sheboygan, WI. Son - Frank Tagel: Frank was the oldest in the family. He was 9 months old when he “accompanied his mother” to America. He worked for many years at Hayssen Manufacturing in Sheboygan. Frank also worked at Dilllingham Mfg., a furniture maker. Today, Tona still cherishes the chest that Frank made for her. He was active in his church and served as an usher. Frank had a daughter and son, Marilyn and Terry. Daughter - Frances Tagel Krolnik: On June 5, 1937, a “new generation” was about to unfold when daughter, Frances was married to Max Krolnik at SS. Cyril and Methodius Church in Sheboygan. Max and Frances set up housekeeping in the lower level of the Tagel home and Anton and Frances continued living in the upper level. With the birth of Maxine (Mickey) Frances Krolnik Kaprelian on March 31, 1939, Anthony (Tony) on March 3,1945 and Dorothy Elizabeth Krolnik Goelzer on November 28,1946, 3 generations were now under one roof. Frances’ life was full of family and heritage. She joined SWUA in 1948 and was a faithful member for 58 years. She along with her sister-in-law Marge Tagel could always be counted on when called upon by their branch. It was always the usual, 8 loaves of potica (made with love). Frances tended to her husband, Max (DOD December 29, 1959) in his final days and her son, Tony’s (DOD November 16, 1991) needs during his life as a hemophiliac. Frances’ daughter, Dorothy became her mother’s caregiver when her health began to fade. Mickey describes her sister, Dorothy as a “good, attentive and faithful daughter”. “She did EVERYTHING for her.” Frances died on December 31, 2006 rranees and Max Mickey’s Precious Memories of Everyday Life in this “3 The grounds and garden were lush. The backyard was “a fruit orchard” with trees bearing pears, apples and red currant bushes. There was fresh leaf lettuce the entire growing season as Grandma Frances sowed every few weeks. Green beans and tomatoes grew in abundance for eating and for the winter pantry. Horseradish sprouted up each year. There was the radish patch. Cabbages were meant for sauerkraut. Crocks in the basement stored this staple food. Herbs and flowers were dried on sheets in the hot summer attic for the off growing months. In the big garden behind the house were potatoes, corn, cucumbers and onions. Grandpa practiced organic gardening. That meant the kids had to pick off any pests by hand. He would in turn burn them in kerosene. Mickey refused to pick the cabbageworms. They were too gross. There is this story. Grandma Frances was working in the garden, when she began sinking. She managed to scramble out just in time. Come to find out, there was an old well that had been capped with a wooden cover. The cover had rotted away, exposing the well. In no time the well was covered over and she was able to feel safe in her garden once again. One could always count on a pot of hot chai on the stove. This she brewed from her own recipe using dried flowers and herbs. No one ever thought of writing down the recipe! Not only food was stored for the winter’s use. Each year an arnica* rub for medicinal use was put up in glass Mason jars and stored in the basement. This was the first remedy the family “went for” when the body needed some healing. Grandma Frances was a wonderful cook. Mickey fondly remembers the dandelion salad and the lettuce with the vinegar/oil dressing. Grandpa would get into the act on Friday’s when he would whip up his specialty, polenta made in a large cast iron frying pan and served with melted Swiss cheese. The aromas from the storage room half way up the stairs continues to linger. There hung the cured meats and other staples along with a case or two of soda pop for Easter and Christmas and special events. The icebox was at the top of the stairs. Fortunately Mr. Simon, the iceman lived next door. “Waste Not” was Grandma Frances’ motto. Rain from the run-off was caught in barrels and used to water the garden. The sandy water from washing the lettuce and vegetables was used to water the lawn. After each meal, she would use her hand to sweep the breadcrumbs off the table. These she fed to the birds from her upstairs porch. Grandpa had warned her not to use the porch one day as he was repairing the railing. No matter, she didn’t listen and landed on the driveway. She was quite bruised. Luckily she landed on a catcher’s mitt that young Tony had left Generation Household” 1943 Grandma Frances with cousin Marilyn (left) and Mickey (right). outside. It saved her from more serious injury and it saved Tony from being reprimanded. Their father Max was the coach of a Triple “A” baseball team sponsored by Kingsbury Brewery and the equipment was stored at their house. Tony was not supposed to touch that equipment! Again, the “Waste Not” motto rang true. Grandma Frances was a whiz with the crochet hook. One could recognize their old or outdated clothes, which had been crocheted into scatter rugs and placcd throughout the house. *Europeans and Native Americans have used arnica for medicinal purposes since the 1500s. It was used to soothe muscle aches, reduce inflammation and heal wounds. It is strictly for topical use. Today it is often used in homeopathy. Arnica is now seeing resurgence in the USA and can be found in health stores. Son - Anton Tagel Jr.: The youngest in the family, Tony has faithfully looked after his sisters Frances and Tona down through the years as neither of them drove. Today he and Tona attend Sunday Mass and the Friday fish fry at SS. Cyril and Methodius Church. During WW II Tony served in the Pacific Theater. He was one of the Merrill’s Marauders (For the story of Merrill s Marauders go to www.marauder.org/history.htm) in WW II and served in the Burma, China and India Theaters. The family still remembers the joyous day when he returned home. After the war he apprenticed as a tool and die maker and worked at Plastics Engineering until his retirement. He was a founding member of the neighborhood Riverview Club. His wife Marge worked for Prange Department Store in addition to her work as a color artist at Sill Photography Studio. Marge was multitalented; she was a wonderful cook, baker, seamstress, gardener and cake decorator. She and her sister-in-law Frances Krolnik would always team up when asked for a donation. It was their usual 8 loaves of potica. For years, Tony and his wife Marge delivered Meals on Wheels. Tony continues to be very active in his neighborhood Riverview Club. He has taken on many roles in the St. Vincent de Paul store in Sheboygan, most recently as the Managing Director of St. Vincent. He is almost 90! Daughter - Antoinette (Tona) Tagel Skeris: Antonia Tagel and Benjamin Skeris were married in Sheboygan Wisconsin on Feb 15, 1947 at SS. Cyril and Methodius Church. Ben and Tona bought a small old home at 1512 North 3rd Street in Sheboygan where Tona, age 91, still lives alone. Ben and Tona had two children, Michael born onFebruary 10,1948 and Stephanie bom inFebruary, 1953. Michael with his spouse, Carol have two children, Daniel bom September 30, 1978 and Andrew bom January 18, 1980. Stephanie with her spouse Herb Nischik have three children, Jessica bom August 10,1977 (151 in the family to travel to Slovenia), Nicholas bom April 26,1980 and Julie bom December 2, 1988 Ben was a survivor of Pearl Harbor. He served aboard the U.S.S. Honolulu that was bombed by the Japanese during World War II, December 8, 1941. Ben served in the Navy from June 10, 1940, to July 22, 1946. After the war he served in the Navel Reserve and was called up for the Korean War. He was gone for 20 months. Son Michael was 2 when Ben left. Michael has his father’s American flag and Boatswain Pipe. The Boatswain s Pipe or bosun whistle is one of the oldest and most distinctive pieces of nautical equipment. The boatswain s pipe, whistle, or flute was used in Greece and Rome to keep the stroke of galley slaves. The pipe was used in the Crusades to call English cross bowmen on deck for attack. Because its shrill tune could be heard above most of the activity on board it later was used to signal various happenings such as knock-off and the boarding of officials. This signaling device was so essential to the wellbeing of the ship, that it became a badge of office and honor in the British and American Navy. Tona learned to cut hair and was the barber for the family after her father “retired from the business”. Tona clearly remembers her mother’s favorite saying after she gave her nephew, Tony his haircuts. “Now you look like a gentleman again”. Not only was this a compliment to Tony but to Tona for doing such professional job. Tona has fond memories of holidays. After the Christmas Midnight Mass, there was the feast at “Grandma’s House”, the potica and ham! On Holy Saturday the church was filled with the aromas of food from the cloth covered “žegen baskets” laden with food. Frances, Tona and Tony have passed on potica baking techniques learned from their mother to their daughters. Stacy, great granddaughter to Frances and daughter of Dorothy has made a wonderful booklet with text and photos of the “potica experience”. Auntie Tona inherited the “Waste Not” motto. When Grandpa Tagel was confined to Rocky Knoll, Mickey had sent him a Hallmark Christmas card, which opened into a poster. Inspired by this card, Tona created a latch hook wall hanging from old wool garments including one of Mickey’s old winter coats. Mickey displays it every Christmas on a large easel in front of their living room fireplace. Tona was the family historian and research person. She became the “corresponding secretary” with relatives in Slovenia after her mother’s death in 1975. The following are pieces taken from a letter written by Mici to Frank, Tona, Frances and Tony: "For many years I have been wondering if your parents were really happy there, or they felt sick after Slovenia. I cannot tell you as interesting stories about Laze, as you did about Sheboygan. Besides two WW's the most important event happened this year when Slovenia became member of the European Union. Maybe I can tell you more about the distant past. When digging around the house where our mothers had came from, pieces of broken Roman earthenware were found. ” “We have lots of natural caves. Cavers come from all over the world to visit them. Each year new passages are found. Last year they discovered a corridor that ends only a few dozen meters from my house. My father too, was a caver. In a cave that he found himself nearly a hundred years ago, one can still see his signature on the wall. ” No member of family was ever to return to the homeland. But on October 28, 2005 Tona’s granddaughter Jessica “Broke the Barriers from America to Slovenia”. The 3rd generation’s met. It took 93 years for this meeting to happen. The following is Jessica’s condensed email to her family: “I am writing from an internet cafe in Ljubljana. I called Mojca and Simona. After some phone trouble, we decided that they would come to my hotel to pick me up. They plan to take me to the house where grandma’s mother was born and raised. They will also take me to the Tagel house. Grandma was right, everyone welcomed me with open arms and gave me tons of food to take on my one hour train ride to Bled” The following is a condensed letter from Mici to Tona, Frances and Tony after Jessica’s visit: “Dear Toncka, For me, the most important event was the visit of your granddaughter, Jessica. We accepted her as if she were someone of us. We talked about you and your family in the states. We really liked her and we are proud of her visit. When she entered the house I squeezed her tight as she were my own child. Tears got to my eyes, I’ve never believed I might once see a grand-grand-child of my aunt. Some time has elapsed but we are still talking about her. Dear Toncka, Jessica s visit made me so happy. She, or anybody from your family, is always welcome with us. Mici” Congratulations! This year Mickey Krolnik Kaprelian will celebrate 50 years as a member of the SWUA, Branch 1. Together 3 generations of the Tagel family have totaled 144 years of membership in the SWUA. Branch 1 extends their congratulations to Mickey! It is their hope that she will be able to attend the Wisconsin State Convention on September 14, 2008. A Bit of History: Northeastern Minnesota was nicknamed the Iron Range. It consisted of 3 areas, the Cuyuna, Mesabi and Vermillion Ranges. The St James Mine where Anton worked was located on the Mesabi Range. It was considered to be the mightiest amongst them all. When iron-rich ores were discovered on the Iron Range, an American labor movement began. This movement, “peopled by immigrants to this country” brought thousands of laborers into the area. Finnish, Italian and South Slavs laborers poured onto the Minnesota Iron Range in promise of a good job. Many immigrants found they had traveled half way around the world only to be used as strikebreakers. Such was the strike of 1907 on the Mesabi Range. Miners worked 6 days a week, with 10-hour shifts. Ore was moved almost entirely by hand. Candles on their helmets provided the only light. Accidents were frequent. Miners paid for their own equipment and supplies, and many times ended up owing the mining company money. While the miners lost the strike, agitation and growing unrest did not cease. Nine years later, many of the “1907 strikebreakers” now became the “strikers”. “On June 2, 1916, Joe Gruni, an Italian worker at the St. James underground mine opened his pay envelope and raged over his meager earnings under the corrupt contract system, whereby wages were based upon the load of ore dug and supplies used, not hours worked.” “To hell with the wages,” he cried, and he threw down his pick. By the time other miners arrived at the St. James for the night shift, production at the mine was halted.” All pits in Aurora were soon shut down as the strikers proclaimed, “We’ve been robbed long enough. It’s time to strike.” 40 striking workers from Aurora along with their families marched through other mining communities on the Iron Range. By month’s end, 10,000 miners were on strike. For more information on the labor movement: Google: 1916 strike/Mesabi Range History of the Labor Movement in the United States By Philip S Foner. The American Immigrant Wall of Honor is located at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty. The inscribed names are in honor of American immigration. 'c«cr Tccrlii George and Mickey Krolnik Kaprelian had the names of Anton and Frančiška Krmovnar Tegel and Frank Tegel engraved on the Immigrant Wall at Ellis Island. Mike and Carol Skeris at the Immigrant Wall TefTcnhart Katherine Tcfts Anton and Fraacitku Krm>ouncr Tegel Frank Tegel l«dwig Tejcrfcr Minna Tceclcr The Immigration Wall: Anton and Frances Tegel and son Frank Tegel The Slovenian Heritage Museum Change, Change, Change.... I am back, “out of retirement ”! The information that follows will bring you up to date on the projects and activities at the museum. Please read carefully and give thought to how you can share your talents with this organization. - Mary Lou Deyak Voelk The museum artifacts have been packed up, furniture moved and a new coat of paint has transformed the museum. The Board recognizes that museums are more than one of “collective memories” in a showcase. Today, technology allows us to be creative when “telling the story of our culture and heritage”. Technology has had a profound influence on our lives. It has also dated our museum. While our museum walls may have had a fresh coat of paint, our technology is ancient. The present TV is over 20+ years old. The picture quality is poor and the screen too small for group showings. We do not own a CD/DVD player. We need to come into the modem age! Our request: a large flat screen TV that can be hung on the wall so those sitting and those standing afar, can view a power point presentation, slideshow, video or computer generated program on a large screen. Our VHS tapes are now being transferred to “modem digital format” and will be available for museum visitors. Imagine watching “Golden Times” written and produced by Irene Odorizzi on big screen! If each member donated 150, a flat screen TV and DVD player would become a reality. I challenge our membership to “move us into the new age”. Please give to this project. When sending donations, please signify your donation: Flat Screen. Send donations to Slovenian Heritage Museum, 431 N. Chicago St., Joliet, IL 60432 An Urgent Appeal Copies of Zarja Needed The following issues of Zarja are needed for an upcoming scanning project. Please scour your attic or your favorite storage places in search of these issues. Once they are scanned, your copy will be returned. 1941: June and July, 1942: February and March, 1943: January and December, 1944: January, February, March, July, August, September, October and November, 1945: January, February, March, June, August, September, October and December. Requests from Nancy Henkel, Museum Director Nancy Henkel, Museum Director is now researching the use of floor space and innovative methods and approaches in the display of artifacts in the freshly painted museum. The Family Gallery has been a very successful exhibit. A request goes out for more family photos to be added to Gallery. Send only reprints, no originals, as they cannot be returned. Write a brief history of each photo. Mail to Nancy Henkel, 2534 East 150th Rd, Pern, IL 61354 “Mining in early Immigrant Time” is an upcoming theme for the museum. If you have any artifacts or photos that would portray the mining theme, please call Nancy Henkel 815.223.2453 Volunteer Needed: Mati Register Deceased member records from 1928-1952 are now stored in digital format for easy access. This was an awesome feat for 2 volunteers, Carol Novak and Carole Terlep, to have accomplished. Each scanned name in turn is added to our master listing, The Mati Register. Needed is a volunteer to input this data onto a spreadsheet. This is a project you can work on at home. Microsoft EXCEL or ACCESS is required. PLEASE come forward if you have this skill. You are needed! Contact Mary Lou Deyak Voelk Please call or email me with any questions you may have on the above items. I await your calls! - Mary Lou Deyak Voelk, 251.968.436 or 715.372.8578, marylou@swua.org Forget-me-nots/ Spomincice Books Forget-me-not announces two new books in their bilingual series for children. Due out in September2008 are: ''''Luisa From Outer Space” by Majda Koran and “Anton s Circus” by Peter Svetina. There will be a book signing at the Heritage Museum during Baraga Days, September 27-28. Mark this date! Come and meet the authors! Introducing WWII Battlefront Survey While paging through the 1940-1945 issues of Zarja, it was obvious to the eye that the world was at war: posters, photos of service men missing in action, Red Cross blood drives, etc. Then came an idea, to survey and document Slovenian Americans who served during WWII! Enter Melissa Netzer who volunteered to write the survey. Her opening words say it all: “We at the SWUA believe that it’s our duty and privilege to document the brave Slovenian-Americans who have been part of the war effort, whether on the battlefront or through their contributions at home.” It is our goal that the information we amass will come together and become a future publication of the SWUA. We all have a family member that served during WW II. In their memory, please document as much data as possible. Use extra paper and by all means send in this survey!!! “Do your part on the home front”. Let’s make this an outstanding success! Extra surveys can be downloaded from the website: www.swua.org. Look for this survey in other Slovenian publications. Please return questionnaires to: Mary Lou Voelk, 9157 Clubhouse Dr., Foley, AL 36535 Email: Marylou@swua.org Phone:251-968.4364 * Please scan and send additional information/letters/photos to Mary Lou Voelk. Thank you for taking the time to help us document and honor our brave Slovenian-American men and women Needed: Volunteers to tabulate survey data! World War II: Battlefront Survey War is a time of uncertainty and ugliness, a time of worry and fear. But war also stands as a fierce testament to the bravery, unity and undying spirit of humanity. We at the SWUA believe that it’s our duty and privilege to document the brave Slovenian-Americans who have been part of the war effort, whether on the battlefront or through their contributions at home. You are invited to help us pay tribute to the sacrifices and advancements these courageous and ambitious people have made for America through your completion and submittal of the questionnaire related to World War II. This data will be cataloged and published so future generations can learn about the legacy of strength, bravery, and ingenuity that Slovenian-Americans have paved the way with. World War II Military Service Name: Hometown: Branch of Service: Rank/Title:__________ Years served: Age during time of service: Division: Honors: Involvement in significant events: Method of Entry: (check appropriate box) Qjoined [] Drafted 0 Activated Region of Service: (check appropriate box) D Pacific D European Q Other__________________ Description of Soldier: (check appropriate box) D Wounded D Killed in ActionO Prisoner of War D Missing in Action Person completing survey: Phone: Relationship to soldier: E-mail: 'or rut Si ovcmam Won, Of America World War II Home Front: Contributions Survey War unites us in ways we could never imagine. During World War II Slovenian-Americans joined together to help our brave soldiers serving abroad. Children collected tinfoil, families planted Victory Gardens and women who once stayed at home began working in converted factories making uniforms and war equipment. We at the SWUA believe that it’s our duty and privilege ‘‘Every Citizen a Soldier” Name:_______________________________________________ Age at time of service:_____________________________ to document the contributions of our resourceful and ambitious Slovenian-Americans who made a difference not only for their country but for the world. This data will be cataloged and published so future generations can learn about the legacy of strength, bravery and ingenuity that Slovenian-Americans have paved the way with. Hometown: Activities Involved With: (check all appropriate boxes) DGas, Food, Clothing Rationing □ Posters Place in Wartime D War Stamps □ Knitted Soldiers Bandages, Socks, Etc. □Civil Defense Efforts □ Other D Victory Gardens [] Scrap and Salvage Drives 0 Internment Camps 0 Savings Bonds D Scouts D Junior Red Cross □ USO □ Red Cross D Worked in a Converted Factory Person completing survey: Phone: Relationship to soldier: E-mail: Heritage Donations $100 Donation For Flat Screen TV Branch 89 $50 Donation Mrs. Frances O’Connor Frances L. Ruggera, Branch 20 Branch 100 Branch 103, In Memory of Conrad P Mejac $30 Donation Mary Lustik, Branch 20 $25 Donation Susan Pakiz, Branch 102 $20 Donation Donald Kambič $10 Donation Branch 13, In Memory of Mary F. Yerman Other Donations Mary Mejac, Branch 103 - Narodna nosa/books Mary Palcic, Branch 93 - Wooden plate with carvings Escape From Despair ESCAPE FROM DESPAIR moves and inspires. Author Katarina Tepesh tells an inspiring story in her memoir, Escape from Despair. The book is a moving portrayal of her family’s struggle to survive poverty, sickness and an abusive father, under the dictatorship of former Communist Yugoslavia. Tepesh, one of six children bom in Rogatec, Slovenia, recalls the physical and emotional trauma she experienced before her family left her father and fled to America. Once in America, the family tries to put their life back together and cope with the trauma of their past. She currently lives in New York City, where she works for a non-profit company and does volunteer work. For additional information see www.katarinatepesh.com and www.tepeshbooks.com from the publisher web site, where you can read and print a chapter free of charge. To order Escape from Despair send a $15.00 check (includes postage) payable to Katarina Tepesh, Gracie Station, P.O. Box 486, New York, New York 10028 Branch Reports Poročila Podružnic BRANCH 1 - Sheboygan, Wisconsin Thanks to the SS Cyril and Methodius Men’s Club for allowing Branch 1 space for our “Slovenian Table” at their annual Brat Fry on March 2, 2008. The display was of interest to many and we had a good time with friends, acquaintances and newly interested people. We recruited a few new members, too! As always, our members “came through” to help at the Brat Fry, which is a major fundraiser for the Scholarship Fund. Our members worked at the order table, in the kitchen, sold raffles and kept the baked goods table stocked with goodies. So many members were involved they are too numerous to mention. Our thanks to all of you! At this time, all members have received a copy of our calendar events for 2008. We really tried to have a varied program to interest all members. If you missed your copy or would like additional copies, please contact Aggie at 452-8808. Branch 1 will host the Wisconsin Regional Convention on September 14, 2008. The officers are busy with basic and novel ideas to make this an interesting event for all. Members, to encourage and maintain our Slovenian heritage and culture, all input and ideas are necessary and most welcome. Contact any of the officers at any time with your thoughts and ideas. We love hearing from you and learning how your family keeps the Slovenian culture alive. ANGIE FRITZ BRANCH 3 - Pueblo, Colorado In February, if any village needed a “Pust” Day it was Pueblo, Colorado. Due to snow and cold, the Tuesday meeting was rescheduled for Thursday. Branch 3 celebrated “Pust” and members attended wearing handkerchiefs. Some hanky tales shared were from Bernice Krašovec, a wedding hanky and a gift from the groom, Steffie Barnett’s was a small scarf purchased in Switzerland, Margaret Cullen found her sheer brown hanky at the bottom of her cedar chest, Mrs. Rupar, mother of Helen Perse and Marie Mutz crocheted the lover’s knot lace around the hanky worn by Eileen Kaplan and Katherine Kochevar sported her hanky from France under her watchband. Highlight of the meeting was the receiving of the paper “Kurent” mask with a long tongue inscribed: “GO AWAY WINTER”. After hearing the story of Kurent, a cowbell clanged and clanged and everyone shouted, “Go Away Winter” and waved their hanky! Magnetic calendars were distributed and junior member Francesca DeGarbo joined the meeting after her classes. The Heritage Program at the March meeting focused on St. Gregor/St Gregorjevo’s Day. Those attending were given a scented candle to light on March 12th; were told to plant seeds on that day and look for robins and Spring birds. Later we all grouped together to have a Kurent picture taken. The MARY MERRY MAY Luncheon Party will be on May 13lh and will feature Marija Pomagaj and our special Member of the Year. BERNICE KRAŠOVEC BRANCH 5 - Indianapolis, Indiana Greetings from Branch 5 in Indy! Whew, what a winter we had! Too much snow, too much ice, too much wind and way too cold for me! 1 am looking forward to warm weather, sunshine and FLOWERS!! I think that is the Slovenian in me, because I love my gardens, both flower and vegetable. I can’t imagine a Slovenian household without fresh vegetables and flowers of all sizes, shapes and colors. My grandmothers took great pride in their gardens, growing everything. Roses and sweet pea climbing along the alley fence, combining their fragrances with the heady scent of lavender and garlic from the herbs and the beautiful color of ripening tomato and flowering potato plants. As children, we always had a saltshaker handy for a quick treat of a sun-warmed tomato, fresh picked (or stolen!) from the garden. May you have many warm memories this summer also! Congratulations to our Member of the Year, Sylvia Stanfield. She is a wonderful lady, and a past President of Branch 5 and very deserving of this recognition! Mark your Calendars!! This July, we will be having a concert by a group from our Sister City, Piran. TRAMONTANA will be here July 18th, at the Slovenian National Home. Watch for further information by mail! In closing, I am sad to report our winter has also had a toll on many of our Slovenian friends and members. Please keep the Konechnik, Lekse, Trauner, Schmitt, Albin and Dragan families in your thoughts and prayers. As always, keep our military families in your prayers, too. Hvala Lepa, PHYLLIS, KAREN and MARY BRANCH 13 - San Francisco, California It is with a heavy heart that I report the passing of Donald E. Spencer, husband of Branch 13 Financial Secretary Moreen Sustarich Spencer. Don had been ill for the past nine years and very much so in the last year. Don and Moreen’s son Kevin and his wife Alina had just moved to San Francisco from New York to be closer to his parents. They have moved into the Judnick/Sustarch family home with their aunt Doreen Suststrich and are the fourth generation to do so. Kevin and his twin brother Kenneth are both pilots for North American Airlines out of New York. Kenneth and his girlfriend Bernadette Marino both flew to San Francisco for the funeral. What a loving and close-knit family! Sometimes for every door God closes, he opens a window and in this case that is true. One of the last things Don did was to pick out a crib for Kevin and Alina’s baby due this summer, Moreen said Don was so happy about the baby. Dear Spencer Family, please know that our love, prayers and sympathy are with you. BARBARA CHIODO BRANCH 14 - Euclid, Ohio We are looking forward to seeing everyone again at our annual Mother’s Day dinner, the first Tuesday of May at the Slovenian Society Home, where most appropriately we will be honoring all our mothers. Our dinner will again feature a delicious Slovenian meal prepared by Sophie Mazi. You do not find too many cooks today who are able to prepare a traditional Slovenian meal starting with liver dumpling soup and ending with strudel. We invite everyone to attend. Many thanks go to Stana Grill who takes all the reservations and arranges the seating for about 80 people at this event. Call Stana for reservations at 440-944-0598 if she has not called you already. See you at our Mother’s Day dinner. We have some sad news to report. Our long time member, Vicki Lindic, passed away March 2. She was the sister of Josephine Stupica, Paul Yanchar and many others. Also, Josephine Kozlevčar, passed away February 14. Both of these ladies were nursing home residents. May they rest in peace. Condolences to their families. Good news: our junior member, Lisa Lorek, applied for a scholarship from the SWUA. Lisa is the daughter of Carol Lorek, and the granddaughter of Mary Louise (Mitzi) Globokar. Three generation of SWUA memberships in this family. How wonderful! PATRICIA A. BUDZILEK BRANCH 16 - South Chicago, Illinois We had our meeting last Saturday, March 8th, it was good to get together again; we celebrated St. Patrick’s with corned beef sandwiches and we had our Bunco games and had quite a bit of fun. We were happy to have Joe Skala, Regional President, sit in on the meeting. We invited him to participate in the Our Lady of Brezje devotion on May 25th, at 9 a.m. Mass, St. George Church. Anyone who wishes to join us is welcome. Rosemary Petrich gave a very interesting and informative presentation about early recognition for stroke victims. When a stroke is recognized early, the outcome improves significantly. Gladys read a card that she received from Veda Kumse; though construction and completion are moving a bit slower thank expected, Veda and her sister will be moving into their home in a short time. We are looking forward to the Member of the Year Dinner honoring Gen Marco to be held on May 8th at the Jovial Club. By the time you read this, we will have begun working on the historical project for the Zaija, which we are certain will be very interesting, pouring through these old documents. Happy Mother’s Day to all! DOROTHY ROSSI BRANCH 20 - Joliet, Illinois We are moving ahead with plans for our 80th Anniversary Celebration to be held on Sunday, October 19. It continues to look better and better. Keep checking the Zarja for updated information. We are sure you will not regret attending the event. The banquet hall itself is something you will talk about for a long time not to mention the great time you will have. Winners of the Slovenian doll raffled off from our branch fundraiser were Deanie and Ron Gudac of Florida. We are not able to give away the Progressive door prizes this year so far. January award winner not present was Shirley Dzurko, who lost $40 and February was Joseph Muren who lost $50. Member of the year, Nancy Horwath, will be honored at a banquet on May 20 at St. Joseph’s Park. A short meeting will be at 6:00 with dinner being served at 6:30. Dinner costs $12. There will be a cash bar and entertainment. Scholarships will be awarded at this event. Theresa Bums, chairperson in charge of keeping in touch with our shut-in members sent all a Valentine’s greeting. We like to let them know they are remembered. Condolences go to the family of member William Marsh and also to Anna, Gina and Mark Primiano on the loss of their grandmother. St. Joseph’s Table was well attended with plenty of delicious homemade food brought by members. Bingo was played following a short meeting. To all you mothers, “Happy Mother’s Day,” to all fathers, “Happy Father’s Day” and to all graduates, “Congratulations” and “Good Luck.” A little more input as to where the money goes that you donate to Branch 20. Another expense we need to cover is rental for use of St. Joseph’s Parish Park Hall. We have meetings there and various other events such as our Grape Festival Dance. Reminder, if you have any news you would like published in this column, call Pat at (815) 741 -1863 PAT FIGUROWSKI BRANCH 23 - Ely, Minnesota The February meeting was held at the Grahek apartments at 1:30 p.m. Pat is selling pens for $1 as a fundraiser for the Joliet Heritage Museum. We have 100 members of which 14 are over 90. It was decided to go to lunch on March 17 at Vertins. We had a business meeting at 11:30 and lunch at 12. We also did a bake less bake sale of $5 or more to raise funds. Slovenian women celebrating St. Patrick’s Day on a snowy day in Minnesota had a delightful time. Dolly Shober’s story of her family will be in a future issue of Zarja under the Path Taken. Gen Erchul is now in assisted living outside of Ely. It was decided that Geri Petrie will be Member of the Year for 2008. Pat Koski asked for a donation of $26 to purchase a book for a reading program in Ely elementary school. “Emil the Rabbit”, is a children’s book in Slovenian and in English. Pat showed us pictures of the reading event. (She was in Slovenian costume). Geri Petrie donated the money for the purchase. The book is now in the school library. JUDY SWENSON BRANCH 24 - LaSalle, Illinois Dober Dan! Twenty-Five members met at our March meeting, our first of the year, and welcomed Lois Hollerich as the new Secretary of our branch as Mary Ann Pieczynski retired from the position. We also welcomed Barb Pyszka who is becoming a member of SWUA. Our committee for the evening, Janice Mueller and her daughter, Wendy Lauer and Emily Marchiori did a great job. The ladies were excited to see Fr. Bernard Horzen’s book,’’Maybe Be Rain”, on display and ready for purchase. Sales have taken off and more copies are to be printed to keep up with the demand. We are all very proud of Father, who, by the way will be celebrating 55 years in the priesthood on May 3, the day after his sister Josephine, a beloved Branch 24 member, will turn 92! Congratulations and best wishes to both of them. We lost two beloved members this winter - Anne (Urbane) Mathews and Adele (Jakse) Gensler. They will surely be missed and our sympathies and prayers go out to their loving families. Anne and her twin sister Florence Smorkel always attended branch functions together and were a pleasure to be with as was Adele, who was our Member of the Year in 2007. May they rest in peace. I owe an apology to Frances Puetz - she is not in a nursing home. Due to my error, I made it sound as if she were and I put everyone in an “uproar”. She is home and taking it easy after a difficult winter. Remember in your prayers all of our members who are either homebound or in nursing homes and whose health may be failing. Welcome Spring! I think everyone is glad the long, snowy winter is over. I know we here in the Midwest certainly are and also anxious to get those gardens going. We’re happy to learn there will be another garden contest this year. Now, if I can only find a way to keep those rabbits from nibbling I’ll be sure to have a lovely flowerbed. Our Spring Luncheon will be hosted by Mary Mecum and Linda Struna this year and will be held at Mario’s Maples on Thursday, May 15 at noon. This is always a big event for our members and an opportunity to get together and visit. Enjoy the Spring and Happy Mother’s Day to all. Until next time, may your hearts be filled with peace and love. LORETTA STORY 91ives@insightbb.com BRANCH 33 - Duluth, Minnesota Our branch will honor all members at a dinner at the Buffalo House Restaurant along with a drawing for a fund raising raffle of $100, $50, $25, a hand hooked rug and an electric blanket donated by our Branch 33 Historian, Agnes Galleberg. The lucky winners will be announced in the next issue. We are passing the book, “The Legacy” by Mark Munger around. I hope many of you can read it because as soon as I can get enough people interested I will invite the author to one of our meetings for an informal discussion. For those who don’t know, Mark Munger is a District Court Judge who lives in the area. The book is available at the bookstores locally, the public libraries and the Museum in Joliet. All Branches are welcome to join us and outside individuals as well for this event with a date to be determined. Congratulations, all members of the year! Enjoy the summer and all the Slovenian events coming up. BEV MENART BRANCH 35 - Aurora, Minnesota Branch 35 met on March 9th, the weather was fairly decent but the flu bug along with colds have dropped our members to seven in attendance. This did not hamper our Dime Auction. For the few people attending we had many nice items to spend our dime on. I want to thank Phyllis Turk and Ann Mismash for their lovely contributions. We had a week of sadness in our membership. Marcy Koski lost her husband, Bill, and Francine Stellmach lost her husband, Ernest. We all felt the loss along with Marcy and Francine. We have started our Bake less Bake Sale and it is going so well. I want to take this time to say, Najlepsa hvala, a very nice thank you to each member who has generously responded. It is so greatly appreciated and it shows that even in your absence you are there, willing to back us up. Se enkrat, hvala lepa! Hostesses, Ann Orazem and Barb Urick treated us to the Valentine luncheon and treats that they would have served in February. It was great. Thank you! ANITA VOVK gospanita@yahoo.com BRANCH 39 - Biwabik, Minnesota HAPPY SPRING! Are all your flowers planted and veggie seeds in? Here in MN we may have to wait another month. At our February meeting we chose our historian, Phyllis Lamkin, as our Member of the Year. Read about Phyllis along with other branch members that have been chosen. We will celebrate with a dinner for Phyllis on May 4th at the Elroy Supper Club. A speaker podium was made for the SWUA and donated to St. John’s church by Dan Saarela. We thank him, along with his wife Marlene (Pucel) Saarela for this beautiful addition for use at all our church meetings. Plans are underway for the Slovenian exhibit at the Festival of Nations to be held at Riverside in St. Paul in May. Be sure to read about that in Branch 109 report. All the Iron Range branches are excited and many plan to attend. We will resume plans at the next meeting for the Camp Heritage presentation at Ironworld in Chisholm, MN that will coincide with All-Slav days in June. Mary Lou Voelk has been diligently working with the Ironworld staff as well as with the Slovenian World Congress for this weekend of Slovenian culture for the interested children. You must read about this event in Mary Lou’s article in both the New Neighborhood and this Zarja. It sounds like an informative and fun weekend for the kids. This is the first year that our young people will be included in the event. We are still looking for volunteers to help. Please call me at 218-865-6600 for details. Now, I need to say “HVALA LEPA THANK YOU” branches and members for all the cards and words of encouragement and especially the prayers you have sent my way as I face this medical challenge. By the time this appears in the May/June issue, I hope to be done with all my chemo treatments and raring to go! Our prayers to MARIJA POMAGAJ are always answered and our GOD is good. Zbogam ROSEMARY (SERTICH) RIBICH BRANCH 40 - Lorain, Ohio We had a productive luncheon/meeting and elected new officers to lead us. Aggie Serazin is our new president, Angeline [Babe] Grayson is sec’y/treasurer, and yours truly is our reporter and contact person. Agatha Donges, who has been our president for many years, declined. For all your work and dedication to our branch, Agatha, we thank you most sincerely. I know you will continue your active support. At the same time, we congratulate our new board and pledge our cooperation in their new task. Our meetings will remain luncheon/meetings on the second Wednesday of the month. You will be called as to the location. Please come. The war in Iraq has touched many of us, and the family who’s loved ones are there. Major Frank W. Pavlovčič III, D.O., son of Frank W. Pavlovčič and grandson of Frank W. and our own Francie Pavlovčič, all of Lorain, Ohio is currently serving with the US Army in Balad, Iraq. Dr. Pavlovčič received his medical degree from the Michigan State University, and served his internship and residency at the Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, DC. The Major’s previous assignment was a two-year tour at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Alaska. He married his high school sweetheart, Laenne, last spring in St Augustine, FL. Our prayers and best wishes for Frank and Laenne, and for all our servicemen wherever they may be. Here is some interesting trivia. The Easter we just celebrated is the earliest it has been since the year 1913, and will not come this early again until the year 2228 -that’s 220 years from now! What kind of a world will it be then!!?? That’s food for thought. Peace and Love. Enjoy a wonderful summer. STEPHANIE POLUTNIK BRANCH 42 - Maple Heights, Ohio As I write this column we are experiencing the worst snowstorm of this winter - welcome Spring, my favorite season. This issue’s theme is the “tea party”. I don’t recall this being a part of the traditional Slovenian household, but I do remember most little girls having a play tea set. Mine was a clear green grass set complete with 4 cups and saucers, a teapot, sugar bowl and creamer. It saw a lot of use in my childhood. After I was married and spent many a family vacation in Canada the real love of a tea party was born. The wife of my husband’s fishing guide entertained us with many delightful tea parties served on lovely English bone china and accompanied by tasty tea biscuits, cookies and various delicious cheeses. Even now these many years later when I gather with my children and grandchildren, they usually come up with “lets have a tea party”. How sweet it is. Our best wishes go out to many ailing members, some that can’t get out at all or may be confined to a nursing home. We wish to extend our deepest sympathy to our spiritual advisor, Sister Joan of Arc, on the passing of her sister, Rose Skorupski. May she and all the faithful departed rest in heavenly peace. This year we will join Garfield’s Branch 47 to celebrate our annual mass for living and deceased members on Sunday, May 4th at St. Lawrence’s 10:00 a.m. mass. Our next meeting on Saturday, May 10lh at 11:00 a.m. at the Maple Heights Library is one you won’t want to miss. Dr. Joe Kastelic has accepted an invitation to be our guest speaker. He has made numerous trips to Honduras and Guatemala as a member of a voluntary medical team that offer their services to the underprivileged. We extend a warm welcome to neighboring branches to join us for his presentation. If you plan to attend please RSVP (phone # or email below) so we know approximately how many to accommodate. In closing, Happy Mother’s Day to all you Moms and a Happy Father’s Day to the Dads. Zbogom LILSADOWSKI 216-398-4367 LRSadow@aol.com BRANCH 43 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin I hope you all had a very Happy Easter and, like my family, enjoyed the beautiful traditions of butare, žegen, and family. The festivities enjoyed before Lent was our Branch’s Pustna Veselica. It was great to see many friends enjoy this event. A traditional meal of kranjske klobase, krvave klobase, žgance, krompir, in zelje was served and enjoyed by all in attendance. There was also an abundance of potica and strudels for those with a sweet tooth. This celebration could not have happened if it were not for the many hands that worked to make it a success. There were just too many to mention, but a few have to be named. To Terri Majcher, who did a great job in planning, cooking and putting all things together, to Jan Gehm for the beautiful table decorations and corsages, and to our president, Josephine Janezic a BIG THANK YOU. Plans are progressing for the National Convention, which, as you know, will be held in Milwaukee in July of 2011. We’ll keep you posted as information becomes available. Congratulations are extended to Denise Bartlett, who was selected as our Member of the Year. Denise is our treasurer and also the National Treasurer as well as a very hard worker for our branch and the entire SWUA family. We will celebrate with her on May 25,2008, from 12-3 p.m. at Meyers Restaurant on S. 76,h St, and W. Coldspring Rd. Please join us. You may contact Josephine Janezic for reservations. Remember there is no formal meeting in May due to our Member of the Year celebration. Note that our June meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at the West Allis Library. The reason for this meeting change, for June only, is to accommodate our members who are unable to attend a daytime meeting. A delicious lunch will be served prior to our meeting. There is a lot of room available so please join us. We’d love to see you. REMINDER: The Uspeh Slovenian Chorus will have its Spring Concert on Sunday, May 18, 2008, at St. John the Evangelist Church at 2 p.m. in the Church Hall. A reception will follow. All are invited to an afternoon of easy listening, Slovenian Style. Contact Mici Bregant or Mary Cay Freiberg for more information Special Greetings and a big hello to all of our sick members and to all shut ins. Happy Spring Time. MICI BREGANT BRANCH 47 - Garfield Heights, Ohio Hi everyone. Our Mass for Living and Deceased members will be on May 3rd, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Lawrence Church. Our celebration for Member of the Year will be on Saturday May 10th where we will be honoring Debbie Duris our Vice President. We will be having dinner at Piper’s 3 on Broadview Rd. in Broadview Hts. Flyers will be mailed out to all members. Best wishes and many happy returns of the day go out to all May and June birthday celebrants. Hope you all have a very blessed birthday. Contacts: Elsie Spellacy 1-330-699-0031; Olga Dorchak 1-330-468-7989 or email Katherine. KATHERINE WALLACE webblekatt@hotmail.com BRANCH 50 - Euclid, Ohio Our Cleveland winter was almost bearable until March, when the blizzards hit and most activities had to be rescheduled due to weather conditions. The Federation of Slovenian Homes’ annual banquet for the 2008 Man and Woman of the Year was postponed for a day. Each year an honoree is chosen from each of the Slovenian Homes in Greater Cleveland. The banquet, gala and dance took place at the St. Clair Avenue National Home. Our Branch 50 member since 1961, Angie Shine, was the special lady chosen for this honor. Our President, Rosemary Toth, Vice President, Cookie Maxin and newly named Member of the Year Josephine Arko were all in attendance to support Angie, and we are all very proud and delighted that she was chosen. On a sad note, our active charter member since 1932, Julia Sadar, passed away in February. We extend our deep sympathy to her husband, Frank, sons Jim and Ted, and the entire family. Julie was very active in our community and was always a tremendous asset to our various meetings. She loved Tamburitza music and she and Frank never missed a concert whenever Duquesne University’s Tamburitzan troupe visited Euclid. Our Cleveland-style polka bandleader Johnny Vadnal, passed away in February at age 84, after fifty years of entertaining, locally, nationally and internationally with the Vadnal Orchestra. Our sympathies are extended to his wife Alice and family. Our Member of the Year celebration honoring Josephine Arko, will be held on Wednesday May 21s1 at 1 p.m., at Kristy’s Restaurant (434 East 200 Street) in Euclid, Ohio. ANNE TOMSICK cjaynow@yahoo.com 216.531.2745 BRANCH 54 - Warren, Ohio Happy Spring time to all. Winter here in Northeast Ohio, the last few months has left us all eagerly awaiting warm weather, sun and spring flowers. Our Mother’s Day luncheon will be on Wednesday, May 21st, at one o’clock at the Cafe 422 on Youngstown Road. You will all be called for reservations. For our theme, I’m planning a Tea and Cookie, instead of our usual coffee and deserts. It will be an old time tea party. I can remember having tea parties with my Mom as a child or with my baby dolls and then with my daughter. In those days, you could buy miniature tea sets. It was such a grownup feeling. Our sympathy and prayers to Anne O’Block and family, on the loss of Victor, husband, father and grandfather. Anne was such a wonderful caregiver and we know that he will be deeply missed. He loved being a Slovenian and in his healthy days, to dance the polka. Prayers and sympathy also to Virginia Shine, on the loss of her sister, Pearl. Pray for world peace and God bless and keep you well! JOANNE BRANCH 89 - Oglesby, Illinois Greetings from Oglesby, especially to our members who can’t attend meetings. I wish you had all been with us for our strudel making demonstration. We had so much fun. President, Alice Ebner led us in assembling two jabolčni štrukelj. We made the dough, pulled, filled, rolled and blessed it and put them in pans to be won by Elizabeth Fox and Barbara Beer, two very lucky members. Alice gave some of us the confidence to make our first strudels at home. Seasoned strudel bakers added their tips. It was wonderful. Joe Skala, IL/IN Regional President came to our meeting. He is visiting all the branches and we were happy to have him come to such an interesting meeting. Joe also worked very hard at the museum clean up in February. Thanks for making the trip, Joe. Nancy Henkel, the new museum director, told us about the work days and all that was accomplished and about some of the goals for the museum. The white paint sure did brighten things up. We are happy to welcome a new member, Karen Senica Szott, and hope you enjoy our branch activities, fellowship and the cookbooks. Try the Sarma hot dish, it’s delicious. We extend our sympathy to the family of Frances Rolando, especially to her sister, Barbara Sitar, our branch’s oldest member. Our long time member passed away Dec. 18, 2007. Frances’ family donated her SWUA insurance policy benefit back to Branch 89. We thank them for their generosity and will use it in a thoughtful and appropriate manner. Bridget Gunderson won the 50/50 drawing and all had the Easter lily by Elizabeth Fox and a good time. Until next time. Barbara Bruch 815/339-2714 barbarabruch@yahoo.com BRANCH 93 - New York City, NY “Sample Slovenian Heritage” weekend at the Mohican Outdoor Center in Blairstown, NJ. This is an AMC (Appalachian Mountain Club) facility that is 90 minutes west of New York City and 90 minutes north of Philadelphia. Fri.-Sun., Nov. 7-9. Weekend Getaway at Mohican. “Sample Slovenian Heritage”-folk dance workshop, fun with proverbs, kifli demonstration (nut butterhom cookies) and more. Easier “Mount Triglav at Mohican” hike (a true Slovene has summited Slovenia’s highest mountain)! Fee S105/AMC members, $115/non-members includes activities, 2 nights lodging, 2 light breakfasts, Sat. Slovenian wine tasting/dinner. Hosts: Ria (Polajner) Whitmire and Lynn Zalokar. Alfonz Polajner (Ria’s brother) will teach the dances. He dances with Kulturno Društvo Prežihov Voranc in Ravne na Koroškem (Prežihov Voranc Association for Cultural Activity in Koroška or Carinthia). They are an amateur group, but perform a lot and have toured outside Slovenia as well. Space is limited. If you are interested in attending, please contact Lynn Zalokar, 201/947-6336, lzalokar@yahoo.com and save the date! What to bring: sleeping bag, sheets, or sleep sack (mattress and pillow provided), towels and toiletries. Check the Mohican Center website to view a slide show: www.outdoors.org/lodging/lodges/mohican/index.cfm Left to right: (front) Alice Ebner, Joe Skala, Barbara Bruch and Mifari Banich BRANCH 99 - Lemont, Illinois Branch 99 has changed its Member of the Year celebration to May 18th instead of the original date, the 25th. Please consider attending this event and honoring two very special ladies. Call Julie Partyka if you would like to RSVP. Have a happy and blessed summer! BRANCH 100 - Southern California Branch 100, has always been a vital organization with close friendships that is unsurpassed. We treasure this relationship and as our group has grown this past year, our goal is to bring that spirit to all of our members, new and old alike. We welcome those who have joined us during this past year and we hope to continue to grow during 2008-2009 and beyond. While celebrating the “Pust” in San Francisco on February 2,1 was inspired by members of the San Francisco Branch asking about Branch 100 members who were attending the dinner dance celebration in the Bay Area. We gathered for a photo featuring members of both groups. Members of Branches 13 and 100 at a Pust celebration Many of the travelers from Southern California and the Sacramento area who attended the event are members of Branch 100. We thoroughly enjoyed this event and the wonderful food, music and good cheer. Thank you, Branch 13, for reaching out to us! By the time you read this, our Member of the Year Luncheon will be over, and we expect that it will also be a memorable day for our honoree, Frances Ambrozich, and her family. We hope to see some of our new members at this luncheon and have the opportunity to make plans for a cooking class or summer outing sometime this year. This branch covers a large area so it is difficult to plan a lot of events because of the distance. It seems to be a blessing, in some ways, because when we do meet, the gatherings are very special. We sent our prayers to last year’s Member of the Year, Marge Ostrowski, who has been ill as well as to all of our sisters and brothers who have experienced ill health during the recent months. Thank you to the Zarja staff for the beautiful issues that we have been receiving this past year. I know you have worked very hard to give us a magazine that we can share proudly, if we dare to give them up! Congratulations! Enjoy the beautiful months of May and June. Congratulations to our graduates and our mothers and fathers on their special days! We hope to see some of you at the Keyways Winery for the Wine Tasting Party on June 1, in Temecula, sponsored by Orange Coast SNPJ Lodge. That is the same event where many of our new members took the opportunity to sign up for SWUA through the efforts of our own Mary Lou Jensen last year! Nasvidenje! JEAN KOCI 949-495-0097 ajkoci@cox.net BRANCH 102 - Willard, Wisconsin Greetings from Willard! We truly enjoyed seeing our friends and fellow Branch members at our winter meetings. Plans were made for our fundraising activities for 2008 beginning with a bake sale on Palm Sunday, which was very successful. Our fellow parishioners at Holy Family Church always are glad for our Slovenian delicacies. Best wishes go to Rose Pekol and Betty Fraid who suffered falls this winter and to Bob Trunkel who had surgery. We hope you have regained your strength. Members Frank Govek and Mary Djubenski moved this winter. It is so hard to move, everyone belonging to Branch 102 hopes you are happy with your new surroundings. Ed Bayuk, our Member of the Year, recently enrolled his five daughters and one granddaughter in Branch 102. We were very happy to hear the news and welcome all the Bayuk girl’s into our branch. Birthday greetings from all of us go out to Ed Bayuk on May 7th, Vicky Krultz on May 21st and Geraldine Ruzic on May 28th. Sue and Larry Pakiz proudly announce the engagement of their son Troy to Jennifer Partezanna. Jon Spires, son of Karen and Larry Spires graduates in May from Columbia College in Chicago. A thought about summer and tea. Our parents and grandparents worked very hard to build their farms and homes creating beautiful places in and around Willard. In spite of all the work with cows, in the fields, cooking and baking, and in the garden, tales of summer days on the farm would not be complete without thinking about the children’s com crib playhouse and tea parties with weeds brewed up for make-believe tea. Even the dog was an acceptable guest and an occasional quart of peaches, stolen from the cellar, made for a perfect afternoon. Summer is the perfect time to take a drive around Willard, enjoy the scenery and remember those simpler days. Come visit us and see what you think! Until next time... Karen Hribar-Spires kleespires@comcast.net Slovenian Women's Union 5 Branch 108. Olncy " Women's Union h 108, Olncy " BRANCH 103 - Washington D.C. Branch 103 lost a loyal member, the husband of branch secretary Mary (Mimi) Mejac, and the Slovenian community in the Washington Metropolitan area lost a leader and tireless worker. On February 4, 2008, Conrad P. Mejac died after an extended stay at the Collinswood Nursing Home, Rockville, MD. Conrad was born in Savna pec, Slovenia, in 1922. His undergraduate studies in Ljubljana were interrupted by the outbreak of WWI1, and he was imprisoned at Gonars, Italy, for more than a year. In 1950 he immigrated to New York City. After earning his degrees from St. John’s University in Brooklyn, New York, and marrying Mimi, he accepted a position with the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C. He transferred to the Voice of America, Slovenian Radio Service, and until his retirement in 1992 served as its chief. Many thousands of Slovenians heard his voice daily during his time at VOA. By broadcasting honest coverage of American and world news to them, he probably contributed to the independence movement there. Although men did not join SWUA until recently, for more than thirty years Conrad supported Branch 103 events. When men eventually were admitted, he became a member. Also members are his children Helen Mangold, Maria Thomas, and Peter Mejac, his daughter-in-law Sarah Mejac, as well as his eight grandchildren Kevin, Tony, Christy, Nicholas, Andrea, Andrew, Matthew and Meghan. He will be sorely missed. MARY L TERSELIC BRANCH 108 - Olney, Maryland In Maryland, the month of March was full of Slovenian activities. We had a Slovenian Easter egg dyeing demonstration presented by Marjeta Cedilnik at her home that brought out many members and friends to decorate with herbs, leaves and natural dyes made from onion peels and red cabbage. Learning Slovenian egg dying was a first experience for some of our members who were very grateful for this new opportunity. Thanks to Tereza Bevec who brought potica to share and for demonstrating how to braid dough for a Slovenian holiday bread. This was a real treat for a few of us who stayed to sample it. We welcomed a beautiful warm day for the St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 15. SWUA got lots of publicity and cheers at the review stand and all had a good time. The junior members, and especially Zala Weyker held Slovenian flags high and waving with a big smile. The parade spectators included school friends, scouts and neighbors who are familiar with Juliana Fitzsimmons Slovenian costume they recently saw at Laytonsville’s International Night fashion show. Slovenia was represented along with 35 other countries in the school program with a display table of Easter eggs, brochures and delicious krofi. Bernadette Fitzsimmons donated a large platter of her homemade krofi for the international food tasting; her children were delighted to observe how much people enjoyed them. They seemed to be gone in a flash! During the Easter season this past April, our spiritual advisor, Fr. Peter Rozic gave a lecture on the path to Catholicism in Slovenia. We especially thank him for his spiritual insights, presence and regular participation in branch events. BKF BRANCH 109 - Twin Cities, Minnesota Branch 109 ushered in the new year with its 3rd Anniversary party at the Nectary Restaurant. Slovenians from Duluth, St. Cloud, and the Twin Cities warmed up (-18 actual -32 wind chill) to some great imported Slovenian wine served by our local “sommelier” Jimmy Bernard and our host, Andrew Percic. The 50+ attendees -new faces, new members; older faces and member faces listened to our resident “button box” players: Shelby Eshiti-Setniker and Karen Medved as they entertained us with traditional Slovenian polkas. We were also entertained by the playing of two slide shows: Frank Medved showed us highlights of the family reunion held in 2005 in Slovenia and on another screen Carol Ryba’s slide show of her recent trip to Slovenia. Both were excellent. We hope to use some of the pictures and music for our Festival of Nations exhibit in May. After summarizing our accomplishments during this past year (attending first national and regional convention, fund raising for Land Mines project of Almbassador Zbogar, joining the Immigration History Research Center (UM), involving children and grandchildren into our holiday activities, living the legacy of Slovenian culture, increasing our membership (local and national), we briefly discussed the significance of the book Slovenia 1945. John Zakelj, whose father wrote a diary account of this tumultuous period in Slovenian history, drew the door prize winner of the book (Shelby Eshiti-Setniker). As the last bottle of wine was consumed along with the remaining hors d’ oeuvre, the membership was reminded of the Feb. 16 meeting that was devoted to Slovenian art and architecture which is the theme for the Festival of Nations in May. In addition we heard about Dr. Seth Hawkins’s annual Slovenian Cultural Day at the Julian H. Sleeper House in St. Paul. The “lively lecture” will deal with Dr. Preseren’s place in 19th Century Culture. Jk Congratulations Branch 109 ncial solutions h8me 4§f First Midwest Bank Joliet, Crest Hill, Lockport & New Lenox 800.322.3623 • firstmidwest.com m«*.«*: & @@@©0^ Qmd] KM^ MMjQGDQ[?3eB /\dnatic (^oast and ^Slovenia A 9 day - First Class escorted tour of Croatia, and Slovenia Featuring: Dubrovnik, Split, Plitvice Lakes, Ljubljana, Postojna Caves, Lake Bled, Zagreb Departs most Saturdays: April 19 - November 8,2008 “K 802’ - Tour Cost: from SI548 per person H if; It lights of Slovenia Enjoy this 6 night fully escorted tour Visiting: Piran, Postojna, Lipica, Goriška Brda, Lakes Bled & Bohinj, and Ljubljana 4* hotels - Breakfast, Dinner and sightseeing daily, Music, wine tasting, great local foods - all included! 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Great Local Music and traditional meals 1st Class Hotels, expert tour director Venice - Ljubljana - Portorož Kitzbuhl - Oberumergau - Munich and llte Gottschee Region of Slovenia Join the Fun - call for Ihe complete brochure! !! Please call, write, or email for a complete brochure !! discount airfare available from most cities for any tour Group Leaders? - Call to plan your next adventure! Lillian's Catering All Occasion Parties, Wedding Cakes, Potica, Strudels Joliet, Illinois 815-726-3521 Sloveniar About the Youthcamp Slovenian World Congress organizes 12'n youthcamp for teenagers of Slovenian origin from abroad aged from 10 to 15. The main purpose of the Youthcamp is to bring Slovenia closer to minds and hearts of youngsters who live abroad. Participants discover Slovenian natural and cultural heritage of the land where their forefathers used to live. Friendships among the participants are quickly made and some last for years after the youthcamp. Most of the participants gladly come back next year and some of them have been with us even for nine years in a row! Activities: lessons of Slovenian language workshops discovering natural and cultural heriatage musical evenings disscusions about youth problems Slovenian movies sports and games materials used for workshops) PLEASE, SUBMIT APPLICATION FORMS TILL IS™ OF MAV 2008 TO: Slovenska konferenca SSK Phone: 00386 1 24-28-552 Cankarjeva cesta 1 /IV Email: ssk@siol.ftet Sl -1000 Ljubljana www.slokongrcs.com Giving You The World Since 1923 Kollandcr World Travel 971 E. IS5tli St - Cleveland Oil -44119 (8(10) 800-5981 - (216) 692-1000 \\ w w.kollundiT.com Entertaining... With a Touch of Slovenia by Jenka A Slovenian Tea Party Spiked Sweet Tea 3 V2 quarts plus 2 cups water, divided 3 family size tea bags 1 cup sugar % cup lemon flavored vodka Garnish: lemon slices In a small pan, boil 2 cups water over high heat. Remove from heat, add tea bags, cover and steep 5 minutes; remove tea bags. In a large pitcher, combine tea, sugar, and remaining 31/2 quarts water and stir until dissolved. Add vodka and stir to mix well. Chill until ready to serve. Garnish with lemon slices if desired. Note: For non drinkers, simply leave out the vodka. Yields about 1 gallon Blackberry Lemon Iced Tea 31/2 quarts water, divided 3 family size tea bags 1 cup sugar 3A cup Blackberry Simple Syrup (recipe below) 1 (12-ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed Garnish: lemon slices or wedges In a small pan, boil 2 cups of water over high heat. Remove from heat add tea bags, cover and steep 5 minutes; remove tea bags. In a large pitcher, combine tea, sugar and Blackberry Simple Syrup until sugar is dissolved. Add lemonade concentrate and stir to mix well. Add remaining water, stirring to combine. Chill until ready to serve. Place over ice and garnish with lemon slices or wedges, if desired. Yields about 1 gallon Blackberry Simple Syrup 1 cup sugar 1 1/3 cups water '/2 pint blackberries In a medium pan over medium heat bring sugar and water to simmer 5 minutes (sugar should be dissolved). Add berries and turn off. Cool to room temperature. Strain out berries and pour into airtight bottle or jar. Note: Simple syrup can be made up to two weeks ahead of use. If you prefer raspberries may be substituted. Yields about I cup f Vodnik’s Pie (Vodnikova Pogača) Pastry Ingredients: 3 'A cups flour PA sticks butter '/2 cup hot water '/2 cup sour cream Salt Make a pastry out of the flour, butter, water, sour cream and salt. Let it rest for half an hour. Roll the pastry out thickly, use it to line an earthenware or ceramic dish with low sides (up to 2" high), and put it in the oven. Bake for 30 minutes at 390° F. Filling Ingredients: 3A cup powdered sugar 1 '/2 cups sour cream 1/3 cup raisins 5 eggs (separated) '/2 cup milk /2 cup flour 2/3 cup English walnuts Lemon zest (chopped) While the pastry is baking, stiffly whip the egg whites. Mix them with the egg yolks, sugar, milk, sour cream, lemon zest and flour. Pour into the baked pastry. Put the pie in the oven and let it brown slightly for 15 minutes. Scatter with raisins and walnuts. Bake for an additional 15 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar and serve while hot. Chocolate Torte (Čokolada Torta) Cake Ingredients: Grated rind of 1 lemon 1 cup of sugar 8 eggs 1 Vi cups of all-purpose flour To make the cake, combine the lemon peel, sugar and eggs. Beat with an electric mixer for 10 to 15 minutes, until the batter is thick and smooth. Slowly add the flour to the batter, beating continuously with an electric mixer. St. Joseph’s Cream Puffs Puff Ingredients: 'A pound butter (1 stick) 1 tablespoon sugar 1 cup of water 1 tablespoon grated orange rind 'A teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind 1 cup all purpose flour 4 eggs Garnish: Maraschino cherries Grease the bottom of two or three 8-inch round cake pans. (Traditionally, beeswax is used to coat the bottom of the pan.) You may use butter or oil. Fill the cake pans with 1/6 of the batter. (You will be baking 6 layers of cake.) Bake the cakes at 325°F for about 20 minutes, or until the cake is done when tested with a toothpick. Remove the cakes from the pans and allow to cool. Continue baking the cake layers until the batter is gone, and you have 6 layers of cake. frosting Ingredients: 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate (chocolate chips or squares) /j pound butter (2 sticks) ^ cups confectioners’ sugar legg tablespoons vanilla extract * cup finely ground hazelnuts or pecans To make the frosting, heat the chocolate over a double broiler, or 0ver low heat. When the chocolate is soft, add butter to the pan. Continue to heat until the chocolate and butter are soft. In a bowl, c°nibine the chocolate and butter with the sugar, egg and vanilla. Spread the frosting on each layer of cake, saving enough frosting for the top and the sides. Stack the cake layers on top of each other. Frost the top of the cake and the sides. Sprinkle with the groundnuts. Bring water and butter to the boiling point in a small, deep saucepan. Add flour and salt, and stirring constantly, cook until the mixture leaves the sides of the pan and forms a ball in the center. Remove from heat and cool. When cool add eggs, one at a time, and beat thoroughly after each addition. Add sugar and rinds. Mix well. Drop by a tablespoon on to a greased cookie sheet. Bake in a hot oven at 400°F for 10 minutes then reduce heat to 350°F and bake about 30-40 minutes longer, until the puffs are a nice brown and are firm to touch. Cut a slit in the top of each puff immediately; to keep them crisp. Filling Ingredients: 1 pound ricotta cheese 2 tablespoons grated chocolate 1 tablespoon grated orange rind 1/3 to 1/2 cup sugar (to taste) milk, if necessary 2 teaspoons almond extract Mix together, adding milk only if it is too stiff. Fill each puff with the ricotta filling, and top with a Maraschino cherry or two and a couple of slices of glazed orange. These are made by dropping thin half slices of fresh orange into a thick syrup, twice as much as sugar as water, and boiling for a few minutes, remove and drain. Makes 18 puffs. Show us your SLOVENIAN Garden A contest for all SWUA members! Sponsored by: Zarja the Dawn - your bi-monthly magazine that is “Keeping the Spirit Alive” Grand Prize winner will receive $50.00 - gift prizes for 2nd and 3rd place Send in a photo and 200 words or less that describes why your garden is the best. Winner’s photographs will be featured in Zarja the Datvn September/October issue and on our web site: www.swua.org. Start planning or should we say planting! The Show us your And if this is not incentive enough to enter, perhaps you will Slovenian Garden is back by popular demand. Remember reconsider after you read the July/August issue where we will gardens come in all shapes and sizes. Just look at the winners feature Gardening and how important it is to our heritage, from the September/October 2006 issue of Zarja the Dawn. Be creative! We want to hear about it! Get rewarded for your hard work - tell us and you could win a fabulous prize! “Keeping the Spirit Alive” We know Phyllis from Branch 5 is looking forward to working in her garden, look what she wrote in their branch report: “I think that is the Slovenian in me, because I love my gardens, both flower and vegetable. I can't imagine a Slovenian household without fresh vegetables and flowers of all sizes, shapes and colors. My grandmothers took great pride in their gardens, growing everything. Roses and sweet pea climbing along the alley fence, combining their fragrances with the heady scent of lavender and garlic from the herbs and the beautiful color of ripening tomato and flowering potato plants. ” How many of you can relate to that? Send entries by July 10,2008 Email: wprokup@aol.com Mail: Debbie Pohar 1696 Illinois Street LaSalle, IL 61301 NARODNA IN UNIVERZITETNA KNJIŽNICA DS II 54 /882008 ***********AUTO»*3-OKjIT 4 SLOVENIAN CONSULATE GE 55 PUBLIC SQ STE 945 CLEVELAND OH 44113-1923 USA 920103987,3 C0BISS