Zarja $ 3.99 U.S./$ 8.99 International Official Publication Slovenian Union of America Uradno Glasilo Slovenske Zveze v Ameriki Volume 84 Issue 2 March/April 2012 The Dawn Basilica of St. Vid Brezje Zarja - The Dawn EDITOR: Debbie Pohar DIRECTOR OF DESIGN: Bonnie Pohar Prokup EDITORIAL OFFICE: 1696 Illinois St. LaSalle, IL 61301 TELEPHONE: 815.223.9596 FAX: 815.224.1074 WEB SITE: slovenianunion.org PUBLISHER: Slovenian Union of America (Formerly Slovenian Women’s Union of America) TELEPHONE: 815.727.1926 Vol. 84, No 2, March/April 2012 Published bimonthly Periodicals Postage paid at Joliet, IL and additional mailing offices. (ISSN 0044-1848) Postmaster: Send all changes of address to: SLOVENIAN UNION OF AMERICA (Formerly Slovenian Women’s Union of America) 431 N. Chicago St., Joliet, IL 60432-1703 Communications for the next issue of publication Do you have something SUA-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 SUA events or members. The deadline for articles is the 15th day of the month, 2 months preceding the issue. For example, articles for the May/June issue must be received by March 15th. Thank you. Submission Guidelines Tell us how to reach you: Include your name, daytime phone number, e-mail address and mailing address with each submission, including e-mailed submissions. Go Digital: We regret that we can no longer return submitted materials. It is best to e-mail your photos. Use a 3.2-megapixal (or better) camera set for the highest picture quality, and attach your photos as jpeg files. If you have an old photo that is irreplaceable, please make a good-quality copy to share with us. (Scanned copies must be a resolution of 300 or higher.) By submitting material for publication, you grant the Slovenian Union of America (formerly the Slovenian Women’s Union of America) the use of the material, including your name, hometown and state. We may modify, reproduce, and distribute it in any SUA authorized medium and in any manner or appropriate place. The Holy Family - Brezje, Slovenia with Karavanke Alps in the background President’s Message National Board Goal is to Work Closer with the Branches Greetings: Many branches will start meeting again now that the cold months are behind us. This is a great opportunity to review your meeting structure. Ask yourself, is the time you are meeting good for those who are working during the day? Is there a better time that more members could attend? Are your meetings interesting, filled with our Slovenian heritage? If not, what attracts the members to attend? Do you host special events throughout the year to help increase attendance? Have you tried a Slovenian show and tell, a cooking demonstration, or learning a few Slovenian words? For the many branches that have been trying some of these options, it is easy to see they are building membership and attendance is pretty good. One thing your National Board has agreed to do is work closer with the branches in the coming years. This is one area that has been neglected far too long. We are presently working on a guideline for branches that will help you through the year with meetings and ideas for events. We look forward to getting it out to all of you. In the meantime just answering those questions can start you in the right direction. A good place to start with is membership recruitment for all the men in your town. Branch 89 - Oglesby and Branch 99 - Lemont have been doing a great job in getting the men to join now that the one word was dropped from our name. Can you do the same? This year will be a turning point for our 86-year-old organization. With the important amendments to the by-laws that were voted upon at the National Convention, many doors of opportunity are before us, if we open them. These items will all be discussed at the National Board of Director’s meeting March 1-4. I encourage you to write to me any time Welcome to Our New Members! Zore, Jacqueline, 1 Parsons, Jillian, 3 Parsons, Olivia, 3 Nasenbeny, Gerald, 20 Smolich, Charles, 20 Mengel, Sonya, 26 Leskovar, Christy, 30 Grayson, William, 40 Draper, Charlotte, 42 LaPierre, Susan, 42 Cable, Joanie, 50 MARCH/APRIL 2012 Markatos, Josephine, 50 Estoker, Shelby, 71 Ebner, James, 89 Landgraf, Ted, 89 Nave, Alexis, 89 Collins, Madeline, 99 Fanika, Fritz, 99 Martincic, Frank, 99 Mavec, Michael, 99 Mavec, Sue, 99 McGraw, Mary, 108 with your thoughts, ideas on improvement, struggles with your membership, etc. Our goal is to make this organization the best it can be! Bonnie Pohar Prokup National President, SUA wprokup@aol.com 1 Ryba’s Reminders Thank You The National Board thanks all members who purchased holiday gift products in 2011. We greatly appreciate your participation; our net profit for this fund-raiser was $1,100. The products are very nice and reasonably priced, and we hope that more of you purchase these beautiful live evergreen products next Christmas. In the future we need to find more ways to earn money through fund-raisers so that we can “Keep the Spirit Alive.” We also thank all members who paid their dues on time. It is very important that we collect money early in the year or we cannot pay our bills in a timely manner. Non-Profit 501(c) 3 Update Papers were filed with the State of Illinois and the Slovenian Union of America is officially incorporated as a non-profit corporation. Though we are now incorporated as a non-profit, we still must obtain approval from the Internal Revenue Service to reap all of the benefits and operate as SUA. The 1023 Application for Recognition of Exemption was filed by our attorney in late December. It has been a long, complicated journey but finally we are on our way. Hopefully the approval will be granted within the next six months. ou y k n a Th Insurance c)3 ates ( 1 50 Upd tion a rm o f n tI n a t or p m I submitting claims. Deaths should be reported to the Home Office in Joliet, Illinois at 815.727.1926. Carol Ryba at ryba4homeoffice@yahoo.com will also answer questions via e-mail. Claims cannot be paid until we receive a copy of the death certificate which should be sent to SUA/ SWUA, 431 N. Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432. Also a copy of the policy should be included if it can be found. Burial insurance is different than regular insurance. It has no cash value and it cannot prevent a person from obtaining financial assistance for nursing home care. Again, IT HAS NO CASH VALUE. Originally the insurance was only meant to help a family pay for burial expenses in the 1930’s. It surely does not pay for much in the year 2012 because the amounts are very small ($100-$350). Address Changes Burial Insurance Update We still must eventually get out of the insurance business and we will be working with the Illinois Department of Insurance within the next several months to get their advice on how we proceed. Eventually, every insured member will be receiving a letter with this important information. Burial Insurance Claims Currently we are still operating as a Burial Insurance Society so again we want to review the procedure for 2 Please be considerate and advise Jana Hlade immediately of address changes. Every year we have too many invoices and Zarjas returned because we have not been advised promptly of an address change. This results in needless work and expenses which can easily be eliminated. Jana’s e-mail address is swuamembers@live.com. If you do not use e-mail, please call Jonita Ruth at 815.727.1926. Do not advise the Newsletter or Zarja staff as they do not maintain the database. Thank you for your cooperation. - Carol Ryba, Treasurer ZARJA THE DAWN Thank You for the following donations! Donation $250 Branch 39, Biwabik, MN - a gift from members of Branch 39, present and deceased Donation $100 Misic, Josephine, 50, +Angela Misic, mother Bayuk, Edward, 102, +Josephine Bayuk Petrich, Joseph, 99, +Frank Petrich, father, Maria Brencic, staramama, and Francka Brencic, teta Miklich, Jim, 100, Zarja Donation $75 Stratton, Anne, 108, +Louise Tamse Hagan Semancik, Maryann, 100, +Louis and Mary Papes Donation $50 Newberg, Connie, 23, +Emily Rodich Hodnik, Margaret, 35, +Anna Lousie Hodnik Egly, Joan, 20, +Michael and Jen Juricic Zakrajsek, Mary, 30, +Frances Dusa Grahek Engers, Carolyn Tomazic, 20, Zarja Primozic, Ed, 108, Ed and Mary Primozic Louthan, Barbara, 93, +Francine Polainer Donation $35 Millman, Helena, 24, +Maria Knap family Augustine, Jill Caldwell, 103, +Molly Jerich Thomas Donation $30 Greenwood, Barbara, 3, +Stanley Gersick Drobnick, Julie, 50, +Ceil Znidar Lukancic-Valerugo, Helen, 20, +Louis and Paula Lukancic Donation $25 Zerial, William, 99, +Ann Zerial and family Goetz, Dana, 43, +Sophie Stampfen Goetz, Dana, 43, +Frances Peritz Emery, Catherine, 20, Zarja Reich, Barbara, 2, +Christine Pirman, aunt Quillman, Jan, 20, Zarja Weber, Renata, 93, Zarja Meglich, Patti, 25, Zarja Antich, Anne, 99, Zarja Tegel, John, 2, +Angela Tegel Lambert, Martin, 5, Zarja Kostansek, Rosemary, 50, +Rose Gerlica Zuzek Twers, Michele, 13, +Josephine Aiuto, mother Moren, Thomas, 109, Honor of Ella A. Moren, 100 years in March 2012 Kosi, Barbara, 2, +Mary Pacholski MARCH/APRIL 2012 Boles, Helen, 71, +John and Vera Boles, parents Muir, Vera, 20, +Edward and Olga Ancel Martinka, Jeff, 109, Honor of Barbara Martinka Fritz, Margaret, 20, Zarja Skrilec, Maria, 93, Zarja Pivik, Marie, 25, +Ann Tomsic Faas, Dolores, 103, +Julia Mavetz Weber, Nada, 93, +Deceased members of Slavec and Weber families Cummings, Sherrill, 20, +Helen Dufour, Josephine Goron, Ann Makovic Frisch, Marie, 3, +Frances Pauline Skulj Zupancic, Ann, 42, +Louis, Anna, Mary, and Margaret Zupancic Kapel, Anne, 100, +Frances Kinkopf Oswald, Shirley, 13, +Ivan Oswald Hansen, Arnold, 20, Zarja Hlade, John, 99, Zarja Judnick, Marcia, 20, +Louise Krameric Gruenke, Agnes, 1, +Grace and Ray Briggs, Debra, 30, +Dorothy Zahrajsek Bechtel Rustik, JoAnn, 99, +Frances Vessell and Jo Rustik Kovacic, Jennie, 2, Zarja Jensen, Mary Lou, 100, +Frances Kinkopf Maxin, Catherine, 50, +May Maxin, mom Klein, Vicki, 24, +Grandma Louise Salvanski Turnbull, Jean, 100, +Frank and Clarissa Costell Jacobson, Carol Marie, 33, +Mary Himmenkamp, Josephine Pizzi, Mae DeZotto, Honor of Dorothy Jacobson Zaida, Angela, 20, Zarja Goergen, Carol, 13, +Sophie Troya Hiltbrunner, Barbara, 23, Zarja Dorchak, Olga, 47, +Jennie Gerk, mother Blatnik, Rosa Marlene, 50, Zarja Davidson, Holly Blatnik, 50, Zarja Blatnik, Robert, 50, Zarja Janezic, Josef, 43, +Alex Janeziic Janezic, Karen, 43, Zarja Ficek, Frances, 24, Zarja Ficek, Bob, 24, Zarja Luoma, Marian, 13, +Joan Normandin Ovnik, Lorraine, 2, +Mary Ovnik, mother Bregar, Dominick, 3 Rumple, Carol, 20, Zarja Smith, Marcia Jean, 30, +Vern Zadel Taylor, Karen, 89, +Frances Assmossen, Honor of Valeria Taylor Ivancich, Virginia, 23, +Helen Strukel Mikatich, Kathleen, 3, +Nick Mikatich Anzelc, Mary Ellen, 20, +John and Mary Anzelc 3 Lovrin, Dorris, 13, +Jeannet Lovrin Copp, Mary, 13, +Jeanette Lovrin Burjes, Caterina, 25, Zarja Soltysinski, Jacqueline, 16, +William F Kompare Pajunen, Nancy, 109, +Josephine Koslucher Erickson, mother Pisa, Rick, 109, +Frances Prijatelj and Frank Vesel Zalar, Julia, 50, Zarja Illman, Paula Jean, 24, +Mary Krogulski Data, Diane, 24, +Anne Dusak Morowa Govednik, Diane, 20, +William Govednik Briese, Dale, 20, +Margaret Briese Marvic, Evelyn, 20, +Mary Marvic Terdic, Mary Rogel Marvic Eviston, Janyce, 24, +Margaret Laken Connell Eviston, Janyce, 24, Zarja Butts, Barbara, 20, +Ivan and Mary Zaversnik Arko, Josephine, 50, +Sisters Frances Champa and Jennie Arko Tompa, Jozica, 43, Honor of Ivan Omerzu Edgington, George, 100, Honor of Rose Scoff, John Petric, Anna, George, Julia Stepan Palmer, Mary Ann, 109, +Stephanie Vranesich Stropnik, Milena, 1, +Helena Dolenc, mother Pubentz, Margaret, 20, +Isabel Kodrick Donation $20 Hart, Linda, 33, +Helen J Mosack Germaine, Anne, 99, +Ursula Zupancic Ehnat, Mary Therese, 16, +Mary Matasick and Mary Brebrick Darovic, Mary, 99, +Mary Colnar Medved, Albina, 23, +Mom and Theresa Benedict, Nancy, 13, +Sophie Troya Henrickson, Karen, 20, +Ann Mihelich Zabak, Agnes, 47, +deceased Lausche-Zabak families Plankar, Jacqueline, 20, Zarja Taylor, Elaine, 99, +Edward Carroll Svete Kehoe-Judnick, Michele, 20, +Louise Krameric and Louise Riffel Watson, Stella, 5, +Lavena Wiegand and Jeanie Miley Brown, Dorothy, 20, +Marie H Jurcic, mother Brunner, MaryAnn, 24, +John Pohar family and Brekan family Becco, Norma, 3, +Pauline Pauchick Reich, Mary, 2, +Christine Pirman Ebner, Alice, 89, +Josephine Argubright Orrego, Helena, 108, Honor of Valentin Leskovsek Lorek, Carol, 50, +Kevin M Blakeley Toth, Rose Mary, 50, +Albina Mrsnik Dupont, Margaret, 30, +Margaret Kochevar Stofac, Mildred, 3, +Anna Grahek Sostakowski, Barbara, 47, + Novak Family Krasovec, Bernice, 3, +Mary Hiza 4 Menchak, Milka, 43, +Frank Menchak Bartholomew, Annie, 25, Zarja Donation $15 Zebrowski, Dianne, 43, +Victoria Kastelic Terselic, Mary Louise, 103, +Molly Thomas Kambic, Cyrilla, 20, +Marty Kambic Pakiz, Susan, 102, +Hedwig Bauer, mother and Rose Pakiz, mother-in-law Uher, Anna Marie, 99, Honor of Terezija Pristov Bodisch, Annamarie, 93, +Anna Bodisch Vett, Louise, 54, +Anne Savor Donation $10 Oberman, JoAnne, 50, Zarja Potter, Josephine, 35, +Josephine Putzel Barbarich, Mary, 5, +Josephine Zgonc Barbarich, Peter, 5, +Josephine Barbarich Ambrozich, Dolores, 20, +Edward (Spike) Ambrozich Lokar, Rose, 50, +Mary Noda Yack, Sharon, 20, Honor of Joan Lesnik, retirement Tercek, Barbara, 42, +Clarence Doles LaJoie, Julie, 99, +Frances Mildred Schultz Cargould, Lainie, 40, +Milo and Binnie Uehlein France, Beverly, 20, Zarja Holmes, Beatrice, 20, Zarja Udovich, JoAnn, 1, +Theresa and Joseph Udovich Hocevar, Josephine, 33, Zarja Prokup, Barbara, 24, +Helen Swietek, Branch 24 Rigler, Marija, 2, +Vincent Rigler Sr. Zalokar, Lynn, 93, +Marilyn (Kovacic) Zalokar Roland, Virginia, 103, +Andy and Christine Susman Smaron, Mary Frances, 20, Zarja Mikec, Albina, 2, +Albin and Antonija Longar Polnaszek-Gray, Jane, 20, +Barbara R Kociuba, mom Eckert, Jeanette, 100, +Angela Steiner, mother Zorman, Estelle, 108, +Milka Pestar Hanzlik, Maria, 2, Zarja Glavich, Agnes, 3, Zarja Vidmar, Marilyn Frances, 50, +Julia Zak, mother Jernigan, Tina, 5, +Andrew Barlich Dragan, Angeline, 5, +of deceased members of Dragan family Novince, Anne, 50, +Sisters Angela Gerhard and Dorothy Edmiston Fields, Pat, 1, +Mary Kim Scheiser Tomsic, Elizabeth, 71, +Albert L Tomsic Habjan, Joseph, 42, +Terry Anzo and Anna D Habjan Sisto, Helen, 108, Zarja Pascente, Georgiana, 20, +Stonich family Branc, Mia, 93, +Nezka Novak Glowienka, Frances, 43, +Mary Kokalj Kuhar, Alice, 50, Zarja Rupar, Joan, 1, Zarja ZARJA THE DAWN Ivanich, Daniel, 20, +Mary Ivanich Pouchnik, Mary Jo, 23, +Rose Gornik Mutz, Marie, 3, +Theodore Mutz, husband Wilhelm, Marjorie, 1, Zarja Potocnik, Jennifer, 93, +Veronica (Gam) Potocnik King, Jan, 30, +Harold J Kovacic Mitchell, Marjorie, 16, +Albert and Margaret Salakar Williamson, Mary Jane Vidmar, 103, +my family Leben, Barbara, 20, +Marie Gende Leben Netzer, Patrice, 1, +Ann Louise Schlegel Motta, Frances, 103, +Angeline (Nellie) Verant, mother Farrell, Sandra, 13, +Edythe M Ansel Meyers, Rose, 20, Honor of Nancy Lou Meyers, +Horvat family Altieri, Shirley, 100, +Antonia Zehel Mento Kaprelian, Maxine, 1, +Frances Tagel Krolnik Stefanich, Lillian, 20, Zarja Minello, Josephine, 50, Zarja Pavlosky, Bonnie, 26, +Mary Rezek, George Rezek, Marija Nemanic Virant, Justin, 1, +Mrs. Carol M Vibrant Massaia, Amelia, 93, Honor of Katherine Prebilich Mlakar, Fredrick, 100, Honor of 20th Anniversary of Slovene Independence Kotnick, Frank, 1, +Martha Kotnick, wife Maxwell, Frances Ann, 99, +Frances Liposek Maxwell Nuteson, Cecelia, 43, +Kozleuchar family members Kurnick, Agnes, 13, +Mary, Joseph and Edythe Ansel Batich, Martha, 10, Honor of Martha Batich Novak, Carol, 20, +Kate Wedic Walter, Josie, 89, +Grandma Josie Argubright Love Glazer, Zory, 50, +Jennie Glazer Strupeck, Viola, 99, +Katherine Osterman Marquardt, Lydia, 20, +Mary Ann (Moka) Churnovic Marquardt, Darrell, 20, +Leroy H Marquardt Chronis, Sandra, 1, +Al and Stephanie Berse Hoppenyan, Shirley May, 33, Zarja Sebalj, Olga, 20, +Julia Sebalj Tiedmann, Marie, 2, +Mary Koscak Dale, Mary Louise, 54, Zarja Savol, Mary Jo, 20, +Ann M Savol Daniel Gergisch, Joan, 1, +Agnes Gergisch Lacasse, Melissa Tevsh, 1, +Mary and Joseph Tevsh Terlep, Carole, 20, Zarja Donation $5 Dragovan, Lucille, 20, +Mr. Louis Brulc Sr. Fassiotto, Betty, 20, +Junior Thomas Fassimotto Eckert, Marilyn, 50, +Mary Persin Wiley, Betty, 3, +George and Elizabeth Skube Silhanek, Mary, 30, Zarja Feroni, Olga, 23, Zarja MARCH/APRIL 2012 Steffy, Marion, 2, Zarja Laposa, Josef, 5, +Janex Laposa, grandfather Ferrante, Kathleen, 47, +Jennie Gerk Kobe, Charlene, 20, Zarja Kobe, William, 20, +William and Ann Kobe Ciszek, Elsie, 2, +Christine Pirman and Honor of Reich family Cooke, Mary, 50, Zarja Renning, Carol, 35, +Frances Petrich Stancar, Frances, 1, Zarja Kovic, Judy, 20, +Helen (Malesich) Darin Gillen, Andrew, 50, +Nancy Mramor Gillen, Elizabeth, 50, +Ann Tercek Benac, Helen, 20, Zarja Orazem, Anne, 35, +Anthony J Orazem, husband Jaros, Barbara, 54, Zarja Spehar, Suntina, 33, +Anna Podgorsek, grand-aunt and Honor of Suntina T Spehar, grandmother Zuponcic, Helen, 35, Honor of Herman Zuponcic Bubel, Bernice, 16, Zarja SCHOLARSHIP CONTRIBUTIONS Donation $250 Branch 39, Biwabik, MN - a gift from members of Branch 39, present and deceased Donation $200 Branch 99 Donation $125 Rose A. Arthmire, +Joseph &Antonia Ozanich, her parents Donation $100 Joseph Zab, Trustee of SWU Scholarship Foundation Donation $50 John & Margaret Addicott, +Anne Mylnar Cooper Donation $31 Branch 55, Girard, OH - Christmas raffle benefit Donation $25 Milena and Ed Gobetz Susan Farrell, +Edward Kurnick Donation $20 M. Marjorie Church, +Mary S. Lecy Dorothy Jerneycic Donation $10 Kathleen Starcevich 5 SWU Scholarship Foundation During the time frame of 957 to 1039 A.D. in the Carinthian province, part of what is now identified as the country of Slovenia, the Freising manuscript was written in the Slovenian language. It is preserved today in the Bavarian Library of Munich. In 1774 education was made compulsory for all of Carinthia’s inhabitants and has been in effect since that early time. Accordingly, Slovenian immigrants brought their firm need for formal learning with them to America. When in l947 at a Slovenian Women’s Union National Convention, Marie Prisland introduced a charitable scholarship program, the concept was readily accepted. Through their generous, charitable giving, Slovenian Women’s Union members of 1947 through today have had a profound effect on the lives of hundreds of students. The first SWUA Scholarships were awarded in l947 and have been provided to young Slovenian students annually for the past 62 years. Into the Year 2012 AWARD PROCEDURE: The SWU Scholarship Committee, comprised of members of various SUA branches, serve four year terms, and evaluate applications each spring. The Committee members are mailed application materials and ballots. Evaluation is based on a point system, using the following criteria: financial need, community, religious, and civic leadership, transcripts, letters of recommendation and essay. Those receiving the highest points receive awards, those with fewer points are sent Merit Awards of $100. The officers and trustees of the SWU Scholarship Foundation: (back row, left to right) Joseph Cannavino - Trustee, Marge Church - Vice President/ Treasurer, Joseph Zab - Trustee (front row, left to right) Stane Kuhar - Trustee, Mary Turvey - President, Pat Figurowski - Secretary Each year $1,000 and $2,000 SWU Scholarships are available to high school students entering an accredited higher institution and to college students attending an accredited college or university. The applicants must hold membership in the Slovenian Union of America three years prior to application. Application forms can be found at http://www.swua.org or sent via email to applicants. The application deadline each year is March 1. e-mail: Mary Turvey at mturvey@aol.com or Marge Church at yemec1@windstream.net Two new GRADUATE School awards are being offered for the first time this spring. They are funded by a generous, educator member of the SUA, Rose Marie Princ. The Josef Princ Scholarship of $2,000 is being offered to a graduate student of Slovenian ancestry who is majoring in science, mathematics, or engineering. The Rose Marie Princ Scholarship of $2,000 is being made available to a graduate student majoring in the field of education. Applicants do not have to hold membership in SUA to apply for these two awards only. 6 PROMOTION: As the Slovenian Union of America grows in size and reputation, the call for private gifts to its charity, the SWU Scholarship Foundation, has never been greater. Every gift contributes to a meaningful educational experience and helps the student manage the increasingly more difficult task of financing schooling. The SWU Scholarship Foundation is advertised in the Slovene Studies Society publications, Slovenian American Times, Zarja-The Dawn, SUA’s website at slovenianunion.org, New Neighborhood on-line newsletter, and in numerous college scholarship catalogs. Fund raisers have also been held. From an article on safe charity selection criteria, “GIVING WISELY”, a brochure published by the Michigan Nonprofit Association, the following questions are asked: Is the donation tax deductible? The SWU Scholarship Foundation became a tax exempt status corporation in 1999 and remains a source of tax relief to donors and estate planners. ZARJA THE DAWN Is the organization good at what it does? The SWU Scholarship Program Foundation, formerly SWU of America Scholarship Program, has been faithfully awarding scholarships annually for the past 62 years. It is the oldest Slovenian scholarship organization in the United States. What is the organization’s purpose? The SWU Scholarship’s mission is: “To generate funding to financially assist young students, with hope they will promote and preserve Slovenian culture.” How much of a donation goes to program rather than to administration? SWU Scholarships officers and trustees do not receive salaries. The president/director is recompensed for over head expenses. Some of the President/Director’s work is to promote the Scholarship Foundation, writing articles for various news resources, receive and acknowledge contributions, receive and organize student’s application forms and prepare them for evaluation by the SWU Scholarship Committee. The President/Director organizes annual board meetings. The Vice President/Secretary prepares annual financial reports, maintains scholarship winner and donor directories, creates updated brochures and other promotional material, and works on fund-raising activities. The Secretary promotes scholarship business and records minutes of annual board meetings. In April of 1999, the original SWUA Scholarship Program became a tax exempt corporation, which supplemented the Scholarship Program by providing tax deductible contributions for donors. This became an asset and integral part to the SUA education program. The current officers and trustees of the Scholarship Corporation 501 (c) (3) are regulated and monitored by the Internal Revenue Department. The Foundation treated a large donation as an endowment which was invested with the principal to remain intact in perpetuity or for a defined time period. This allows for the donation to have an impact over a longer period of time than if it were spent all at once. The Officers and Trustees oversee this activity as well as keeping expenditures to a bare minimum. Officers and Trustees serve on a volunteer basis. Scholarships can be funded also by personal donors and named in honor of or in memory of a loved one. During 2011, the name of the Slovenian Women’s Union of America was amended changing to a new name, “Slovenian Union of America.” The Slovenian Women’s Union Scholarship Foundation has not changed its name. It remains the same single charity of the new Slovenian Union of America organization. MARCH/APRIL 2012 Education throughout history has been of prime importance to those of Slovenian ancestry. The ladies attending the SWUA Convention back in l947 would be pleased with Slovenian American authors who have and continue to promote and educate readers on the achievement of Slovenian immigrants and their descendents. Milena Gobetz and her sister, Breda Loncar, wrote language manuals and taught Slovenian language classes that have been of immense help in preserving the ancient Slovenian language. Dr. Ed Gobetz has written prolifically for years, producing many books of American Slovenian histories of those of Slovenian ancestry who contributed vastly to the American arts and sciences. He recorded remarkable successes in biographies of many Slovenian immigrants and their descendents. A number of these detailed biographies have appeared in the Slovenian American Times, a new newspaper edited by Breda Loncar. Dr. Carole Rogel Poirier, retired history Professor of Ohio State University, has published a number of books on Slovenia’s political and economic struggles during the last century. Her most recent Slovenian directory, a great reference resource, is entitled The A to Z of Slovenia. Dr. Branka Lapajne has written an excellent, helpful genealogical resource book entitled Searching For Your Slovenian Ancestors. Irene Odorizzi, in her book Footsteps Through Time, records the experiences of immigrant women as they adapted to life in America: educational learning, not so much in a formal setting, but by learning the most difficult way, through life experiences. For years, Corinne Leskovar and her mother, Albina Novak, both former editors of Zarja-The Dawn, through their own life experiences and those of historically knowledgeable guest writers, provided much informative information in the Zarja, a Slovenian Women’s Union of America publication. Today Zarja continues to provide cultural information to its readers. Envision 1,100 years ago in Carinthia, when the author of the Freising manuscript, sat writing a most humble, devout prayer in his native tongue. Wouldn’t he be surprised to know that his prayer is still heartfelt worldwide, that the language in which he writes is still keeping those of Slovenian ancestry united and able to prove their identity? Wouldn’t he be amazed to know that his precious parchment, written in his intricate hand writing is being viewed by thousands of people each year in a Bavarian Library? Very early in time that ancient writer received a precious gift: EDUCATION! Contributions of any amount are sincerely appreciated. Checks should be written out to Slovenian Women’s Union Scholarship Foundation and mailed to: Mary Turvey-Director, 4 Lawrence Drive, Marquette, Michigan 49855. Thank you all for your generous gifts which will help fund SWU Scholarships. - Mary Turvey, Director 7 Men in a SUA World King’s Golf Course Bled Golf and Country Club Last summer I had the great thrill of playing one of the most incredibly beautiful golf courses in the world - the King’s Golf Course in Bled, Slovenia. The King’s Course is a par 73 that was redesigned by famed Donald Harradine in 1972. It is said that he designed it so that a golfer will have to use every club in their bag, I did, and wished I had a few more. The 18-hole course measures in at an impressive 6,406 yards and features five par-5s, three par-3s, and eleven par-4s, all of which are challenging. The scenery is breathtaking on most of the course. The course was originally built in 1937 at the urging of Yugoslavian King Aleksander Karadjordjevic and became a place where the Royal Family entertained the wealthy and noble people, but during World War II the course was abandoned until 1972 when the King’s course was once again reborn to its current status. I was honored to play with a third generation golf course member by the name of Janez, Debbie Pohar (Zarja Editor) Bekki Prokup (Branch 24) and a couple of our Slovenian friends - another Janez and Mojca. Since there were six of us, we decided that the three men would tee off first and the three women to follow. This made it easy for me, playing with two men named Janez; I just had to say “nice shot, Janez” or “you’re up, Janez.” Before we teed it up, the three Americans needed to get some equipment and the clubs we rented were Callaway’s; a much better club than I usually play with, which should have given me a clue as to how nice the coarse I was about to play on would be. Golfing at the King’s Course in Bled presents direct contact with nature. Stepping out of the gorgeous clubhouse, on the way to the first tee, the view was a breathtaking look at the Julian Alps and the green countryside. God smiled on us with weather that was simply made to order. The course was challenging, not just in hazards and length, but also because the incredible scenery at times made it difficult to concentrate as well. As we advanced on our round, some of the more challenging holes allowed me to pick up some of the Slovenian language from my two partners; but I don’t think they had much to do with golf, so I won’t pass them on at this time! The highlight of my round came after nervously finishing the first hole with my two new friends and turning the corner to the second tee box. There I was greeted with the most spectacular panoramic view of the mountains I 8 Bekki Prokup on hole number two fairway on the King’s Course have ever witnessed; it was simply breathtaking. As you approach the tee box, the mountain pours over you and you feel like you have become part of the landscape; nothing else exists and for a moment you forget you are on a golf course. I didn’t care where my next shot went as I just couldn’t wait to see what was around the next corner and on the next postcard perfect hole. Oddly enough this had a side effect on me, I started to relax and play much, much better; which made my score somewhat respectable by the end of the round. Of course they have a nineteenth hole in Slovenia as well, where we had a pivo and continued to enjoy the view and remember only the good shots. We chatted and relaxed as we all agreed this was a very enjoyable round in many ways. I highly recommend playing this masterpiece course to anyone who has the opportunity, no matter what your skill level as the scenery will make it worth the money. Bled Golf and Country Club is the only Slovenian golf course on the Golf World Magazine list of Top 100 Golf Courses in Continental Europe; they ranked 51st. The Club has hosted many tournaments, including the PGA European Ladies’ Tour, PGA European Challenge Tour, and is the regular venue for the Men’s and Women’s Slovenian Open. That’s all from me this time and I look forward to sharing some more stories from our trip in the coming issues. As always - “may good luck be yours!” - Don Baldin 18-Hole King’s Golf Course Visitors are welcome every day. Advance booking is essential. A valid handicap certificate from player’s home club is required. Handicap limit: 54 ZARJA THE DAWN Membership Application Slovenian Union of America (Formerly known as Slovenian Women’s Union of America) slovenianunion.org swuhome@sbcglobal.net 815.727.1926 For RENEWALS use form at BOTTOM of this page Adult Dues $25.00 Adult Dues (International Address) $30.00 Junior Dues (Birth to 18) $5.00 If this is a gift and you agree to continue paying for this membership next year, please advise us of billing address: _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Dues are for January through December If you join after August 31 you will not be billed in January of the next calendar year Invoices are sent annually in January Please print the requested information below and send this application form with a check payable to: Slovenian Union of America, 431 North Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432-1703 Last Name________________________________ First Name_______________________ M___ F_____ Street Address_____________________________ City/State/Zip________________________________ Phone____________________________________ E-Mail______________________________________ Date of Birth_________________ Branch Affiliation Number (if known)/Location_______/______________ Maiden Name______________________________ Do you speak Slovenian? _____________________ Please describe your Slovenian ancestry and provide SLOVENIAN SURNAMES ___________________________________________________________________________________ How did you hear about us? SUA member ___newspaper___ website___ other_______________________ I would like to volunteer for the SUA. My area of interest or expertise is______________________________ Applicant’s signature__________________________________________ Date______________________ Tell a Friend! If you wish SUA to send information to a friend or relative, please provide us with their name and address Name _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL Name ___________________________________________________ Member ID No.__________________ ( located on back cover) Address ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone _________________ E-mail______________________________ Dues Amount______________ Donation_________________ Mail to: SUA/SWUA, 431 N. Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432-1703 MARCH/APRIL 2012 9 Basilica of St. Vid at Brezje A Place of Peace, Love, and Hope The Basilica of St. Vid, in the small village of Brezje, is best known as the largest pilgrimage church in Slovenia. It is also known as a place of peace, love, and hope. The Basilica receives worshipers from around the world. Brezje is a village near Radovljica under the Karavanke Alps in the Gorenjska region of Slovenia. The village chapel has existed in one form or another for centuries. A side chapel was built in the late 18th century by Father A`be. While studying in Innsbruck, Father A`be obtained a painting of Mary with the Christ-Child. He placed this picture in the chapel and set up a shrine to Marija Pomagaj (Mary, Help Me). Soon the people of the neighboring villages began coming to the shrine. In the early 1800’s, when the area was occupied by the French under Napoleon, a Slovenian artist named Leopold Layer was jailed for producing counterfeit money and sentenced to death. While he was languishing in prison, he promised to paint the chapel in Brezje if he could regain his freedom. After a peace treaty was signed with Austria, the French left and Layer was released. In 1814 he fulfilled his vow, not only painting and decorating the chapel walls with frescoes, but also painting a new version of the Madonna with the Christ-Child. The painting has also been referred to as “The Slovenian Queen.” Starting in 1863 miracles began to happen in front of the painting and reports of healings began to circulate in Slovenia. The painting quickly became the center of more than local devotion; pilgrims started coming from around the world to Brezje and many prayers have been answered. By the late 1800’s, this popular destination became too small and the building was remodeled to its present appearance. The picture of the Virgin Mary was solemnly crowned in the presence of 30,000 believers on September 1, 1907, by Dr. Anton Bonaventura Jegli~, the Bishop of Ljubljana, with the permission of Pope Pius X. In 1988, Pope John Paul II conferred the honorary title of 10 basilica upon the Church. In 1996, Pope John Paul II visited Brezje and addressed the people of Slovenia and blessed them with these words: “May the Blessed Virgin Mary watch over you and all your thoughts, Mother Mary the Queen of Slovenia, whom your people honor with the name Marija Pomagaj (Mary Help Us). I assure you, beloved Church that abides in Slovenia, I assure every branch and part of you, as well as all the Slovene people, my prayer, and from my heart I bless each and every one of you.” The local bishop subsequently passed the church to Franciscan priests, who built a monastery next to it. They are responsible for maintaining the church and well being of the pilgrims. Today this shrine in Brezje is one of the major pilgrimage centers in the world. The main annual pilgrimage events are the Feast of the Virgin Mary (May 24), the Feast of the Assumption (August 15), Angels’ Sunday, the anniversary of the coronation of the painting (the first Sunday in September), the day of prayer for spiritual vocations (the second Saturday in September) and the anniversary of the consecration of the Basilica (the first Sunday in October). ZARJA THE DAWN World Youth Day Report By Veronika Stare, Branch 103-Washington D.C. World Youth Day is a gathering of youth from around the world. During the Summer of 2011, Pope Benedict XVI met with 2 million youth in Madrid, Spain. Among the numerous activities during the four-day program,, the Pope spoke about how the youth in today’s society have to be firm in the faith, despite what the world is telling them about how to live. He encouraged attendees to continue to pray, especially for this generation of young people. I attended the event, and the group with which I was traveling made several stops at shrines in Spain, including the Shrine of Our Lady of the Pillar, the patroness of the country. This shrine, similar to the shrine of Our Lady of Brezje, is a popular pilgrimage site. I brought petitions of Branch 103-Washington D.C. members and presented them to Our Lady at the Pillar Shrine. I was greatly impressed by the number of young people who expressed their pride as Catholics. The streets were packed, and wherever you went you could hear people cheering and singing in different languages. We met many youth from all over the world, including a group of Slovenians from Kranj. They were excited to meet a Slovenian from America, as I was excited to meet them! Over 800 Slovenians were in Spain for the festivities, and some groups displayed the Slovenian flag . Being at World Youth Day was a spiritual experience that I will never forget. It was a time to grow deeper in my faith, and to experience the power of young Catholics who are proud and excited about their faith. The next World Youth Day will be in Rio de Janeiro in the summer of 2013. MARCH/APRIL 2012 Zarja Looks Back 20 Years - March 1992 NEW SLOVENIAN FLAG PRESENTED TO ST. JOSEPH’S, JOLIET, ILLINOIS Branch 20 of Joliet donated a new flag of the Republic of Slovenia to St. Joseph Parish. Deanie Gudac, the organization’s new president, presented the flag to Franciscan Father Athanasius Lovrencic. Although the United States has not acknowledged Slovenia as an independent nation, many in the Joliet area are supporters of Slovenian independence. There are some 20,000 Will County residents of Slovenian descent, Gudac said, “one of the largest concentrated U.S. Slovenian populations.” 40 Years - March 1972 SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDED TO MRS. PRISLAND Mayor Schneider of Sheboygan, Wisconsin awarded Marie Prisland with two awards among the 40 citizens honored. The first category was for those individuals who have not only served their community but also brought national acclaim to the city of Sheboygan. The second award was the Certificate of Merit conferred by the Slovenian Research Center of America. This is a group of scholars who are tracing the emigration of the Slovenians throughout the world and compiling a history of their fortunes in the various lands. The headquarters are in Cleveland, Ohio. 60 Years - March 1952 SWUA NEEDLEWORK CLUBS Trustee Ella Starin, needlework club’s director, reports that great interest is being displayed in the Cleveland hand-work exhibition held this month. Several other branches are likewise interested in needlework clubs. She also displayed the 12 pairs of pillowcases which were entered in the Union’s contest. Honorary president, Marie Prisland, was chosen as judge. Awards are as follows: 1st to Mrs. Frances Kog, branch no. 14, Cleveland, 2nd to Mrs. Jennie Kosir, branch no. 10, Cleveland, and 3rd to Mrs. Angela Krizman, branch no. 25, Cleveland. The nine remaining contestants were awarded $5.00 each. Next year a similar contest will be held. 11 12 ZARJA THE DAWN Tour Includes Professional Slovenian Tour Manager with Excellent English Accompanies the Group Throughout the Tour Excellent Hotels in City Center Locations Buffet Breakfast Daily, 4 Lunches, 5 Snacks, 4 Wine Tastings, 6 Dinners Churches, Olive and Pumpkin Oil Demonstrations, Adriatic Sea Boat Ride, Museums Local Guides for In-depth Sightseeing Musical Entertainment Deluxe Air-Conditioned Motor Coach Travel Log Memory Book and T-Shirt Escorted throughout by Bonnie Prokup, President SUA and Debbie Pohar, Editor Zarja - The Dawn Zarja Celebration Party Tour Cost: $2,485.00 per person Single Room Supplement $350.00 Prices is based on a minimum of 25 paying passengers Air Fare: Flights will be offered when we have enough people under deposit to operate the tour. Reservations are first come, first served - maximum 33 travelers and a minimum of 25 passengers. Send your deposit today to confirm your reservation and avoid disappointment. *Not included: Meals and beverages not shown on the brochure (see above) and the customary tip to the local guides and drivers at the end of their services. Travel Insurance will be offered; you can view details on Kollander.com/MHRoss Insurance. Please Call for Details: 1.800.800.5981 MARCH/APRIL 2012 DAY 1 – Friday, October 19, 2012 Board your overnight flight to Ljubljana. DAY 2 – Saturday, October 20, 2012 Dobrodolsi! Our English speaking tour guide and our luxurious coach bus will be there to welcome us and help with our luggage as we arrive in the beautiful country of Slovenia. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the beauty as our driver takes us to our hotel in Radenci. Tonight we gather as a group for a little “Get to Know You” game in a charming gostilna for a delightful “Welcome to Slovenia Dinner Party” featuring local cuisine and music as we celebrate our first evening in Slovenia. B, D DAY 3 – Sunday, October 21, 2012 Following a late breakfast we board our coach bus as our guide takes us on a tour of the region. Today we experience the charms of nature, local foods, the Mura River, and the local people. Our first stop takes us to a local ham producer in Markišavci where we will taste typical ham of this region. Our tour continues to the town of Ižakovci for a visit to the Island of Love. This island is embraced by an arm of the Mura River and famous for its operating floating mill. After we tour the mill we will cross the river on a ford and enjoy the delights of a homemade culinary specialty; a brown bread roasted over a fire with homemade brandy. The a d v e n t u r e continues as we head to Velika Nedelja to visit the Kogl Wine Cellar for a tasting. Our evening is complete with a feast at a gostilna with musical entertainment in the beautiful Jerezulem area with its exquisite viewpoints. B, S x 2, D, W, M DAY 4 – Monday, October 22, 2012 Enjoy your breakfast and morning at leisure in Radenci free to enjoy the many spa treatment choices at our hotel. In the afternoon our travel adventure continues to Filovci to visit a pottery museum. Later we experience more local cuisine and taste goulash “Bogra” and dessert “Prekmurska gibanica.” The tasting continues with a stop to Gornja Radgona for a visit to the unique wine and champagne 13 cellar of Radgonske Gorice featuring a Roman wheel and a waterfall that gently pours down from a castle hill rock, creating a magical atmosphere. This evening we return to our hotel for dinner. B, L, W, D DAY 5 – Tuesday, October 23, 2012 Following breakfast we depart the eastern side of Slovenia and journey through the peaceful countryside as we head west towards the Slovenian coast with stops along the way. Prepare to be captivated in the open air museum of Rogatec. This museum preserves the folk, architectural heritage, and cultural tradition of the region between the 18th and 20th centuries. Here we participate in bread making, weaving baskets, and many more crafts and customs. Following the excellent reminder of the Slovenia of our ancestors, our coach bus leads us to a tourist farm for lunch before we continue to Piran, Slovenia’s coastal jewel. Tonight we enjoy an unforgettable dinner with stunning views of the Adriatic in this old seaport village. B, L, D DAY 6 – Wednesday, October 24, 2012 The morning is yours to decide! Spend it roaming this ancient, coastal town with a picturesque, old town core with seven, mighty towers and its town wall. Or join our tour guide for a walking tour. Around noon we will travel to the town of Dekani and visit the Bordon family for a wine and olive oil demonstration and tasting along with other homemade foods. Then we continue to the peaceful village of ‘marje in the heart of Slovenian Istria to visit Santomas Wine Cellar. Tonight we indulge on dinner from this coastal region in the beautifully preserved city of Portorož. B, D, W x 2, S x 2 DAY 7 – Thursday, October 25, 2012 A perfect morning for you to enjoy the coast. Take a relaxing walk along the beach or explore Tartini Square, the morning is yours! DAY 8 – Friday, October 26, 2012 This morning we say goodbye to the Slovenian coast as we head towards the Karst region for a visit to the town of Lokev to see how Karst prosciutto is made. We will enjoy a tasting of prosciutto and teran, a local favorite wine. Later in the afternoon we will arrive in Ljubljana, the capital city of Slovenia. Here you will have time to roam the streets before we gather for dinner. B, D, S, W DAY 9 – Saturday, October 27, 2012 Today we travel to the fairytale town of Bled with its unbelievable scenery. Along the way we will stop at the important pilgrimage church in Brezje. You will have time to spend at your leisure in Bled. Whether you visit the castle, take a pletnica to the church, or sit and enjoy a famous Bled cream cake known as kremsnita the choice is yours! The evening is free in Ljubljana. B DAY 10 – Sunday, October 28, 2012 Today is a day to celebrate Zarja - The Dawn, one of the oldest ethnic magazines in the world! Our bus will whisk us to a surprise location specifically chosen for this occasion. Not only will you experience laughter and fun but you will learn more about Slovenia as we play some competitive games, enjoy a sing-a-long and dance at this exceptional location. This day is going to be a memory of a lifetime! B, L, W DAY 11 – Monday, October 29, 2012 Enjoy your last breakfast in Slovenia, say good-bye to your new friends as we board our coach bus for our transfer to Ljubljana Airport. B Hop aboard our private boat as we enjoy the breathtaking landscapes of the Slovenian coast from the Adriatic Sea. Be captivated by the unforgettable views while we cruise the coast and enjoy our specially prepared meal. The evening is yours to decide! Our tour guide will be happy to make recommendations for your last night in Piran. B, L 14 B-Breakfast L-Lunch D-Dinner S-Snack W-Wine Tasting M-Music ZARJA THE DAWN MARCH/APRIL 2012 15 Slovenian Row: Reminiscences of an Ethnic Community ©By Joseph D. Kubal Joseph D. Kubal is a Naperville, IL-based geographer, data analyst, and amateur historian. The information in this article has been excerpted in part from the upcoming book, “The Curious Traveler’s Guide: Route 66 in Metro Chicago”, by Maria R. Traska, Joseph D. Kubal and Keith Yearman. A s you travel down Historic Route 66 from Chicago to Joliet, you’ll go through neighborhood after neighborhood that was settled – if not founded – by immigrants during the 19th and early 20th century. One such community is Slovenian Row, just off Chicago Street where Route 66 leads south toward downtown Joliet. Between 1918-1929, Slovenia was part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. Prior to World War I, the Slovene lands were under Austro-Hungarian rule. From 1929 -1991, Slovenia was part of the country of Yugoslavia. Today, Slovenia is an independent, parliamentary republic. It shares borders with Austria, Hungary, Croatia, and Italy and is inhabited by Slovenes, a Slavic people, many of whom are Catholic. 1 The country is slightly smaller than the state of New Jersey. The majority of Slovenians migrated to the U.S. between the 1880s and the post-WW II years. Most immigrated through New York and moved to and were concentrated in the Chicago-Joliet region, around greater Cleveland, Ohio; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, northern Minnesota, Michigan and Colorado. Smaller pockets of Slovenes are scattered elsewhere throughout the U.S. including southern California, Arizona, and throughout Florida. The newcomers typically settled in areas where bellwether immigrants first homesteaded, creating ethnic communities and enclaves. As the Slovenes assimilated and moved away from Slovenian Row, they left few traces of the once larger community, assimilating into the city but keeping their institutions. St. Joseph’s Catholic Church presides over what used to be Slovenian Row. Photo © 2011 by Maria R. Traska; all rights reserved 16 Driving toward Joliet’s central business district, you can see a hint of the most prominent of these remnants, the magnificent twin 152-foot spires of St. Joseph Catholic Church at 416 N. Chicago St. Established in 1891, St. Joseph Parish was founded to serve the burgeoning community of local Slovene Catholic immigrants. It thus became one of the many ‘national’ churches in the area, a phenomenon that exists within the Catholic church only in the greater Chicago metropolis. In time, the parish commissioned Chicago-based German-American architect William J. Brinkmann to design a church building, which was completed and dedicated in 1905. This grand 600seat structure, built in the neo-Gothic style, is still in use today. The parish school next door educated Slovene youth, and classes were held in the Slovene language (a new school not associated with the church is now in use a block west). The parish also founded and still operates St. Joseph Cemetery on Raynor Street, near the border of suburban Crest Hill, as well as the popular St. Joseph Park and picnic grove next to the cemetery. Once almost exclusively Slovenian, the cemetery now serves parishioners of various nationalities. Across the street from the church at 431 N. Chicago St. is the Slovenian Women’s Union of America (SWUA) national office and the Slovenian Heritage Museum. SWUA was founded as the Slovenska @enska Zveza Amerike by Marie Prisland on December 19, 1926 in Chicago. Originally founded as an ethnic fraternal organization dedicated to promoting women’s rights in America, SWUA now focuses on preserving Slovenian culture, customs, traditions, and folklore. Various cultural programs are also offered through the SWUA. The free museum has exhibits devoted to Slovene heritage and houses an excellent library, as well as a small gift shop that Slovenian Women’s Union Building, sells Slovenian Photo © 2011 by Keith Yearman ZARJA THE DAWN cookbooks and other ethnic items. The museum is open Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. One block south at 351 N. Chicago St. is the former headquarters building of the present KSKJ Life. It was designed in 1938 by local architect and Joliet resident Charles L. Wallace and built by local contractor Adam Groh, who also built Joliet Union Station and other buildings of note in the area. It was the second such office for KSKJ on Chicago Street; the original head office, in a less impressive building, was two blocks up the street and one block north of the church. Founded as the Kranjsko Slovenska K a t o l i s k a KSKJ (American Slovenian Catholic Union) Jednota or Building, circa 1938, Joliet, IL C a r n i o l i a n Photo © 2011 by Maria R. Traska Slovenian Catholic Union in 1894, KSKJ offered burial insurance to Slovenian immigrants. As the history on its website explains, “There were no unions, Social Security [payments], or welfare agencies for the needy. When sickness beset an immigrant he, and often his entire family, became the burden of friends and relatives. Public collections to pay for burials and to assist widows and orphans were commonplace.” 2 As a fraternal organization, KSKJ offered the Slovene community coverage to forestall these problems, in that manner operating similarly to other ethnic service organizations such as the Polish Roman Catholic Union in Chicago. KSKJ headquarters remained on Chicago Street from 1909 until 1980, when the organization moved west to its current location across town. Today, the group is known as KSKJ Life – American Slovenian Catholic Union. It offers permanent and term insurance to the general public as well as annuities. Its former headquarters building is now occupied by Vilaseca, a Hispanic day care center operated by the Josephine Sisters, a Spanish Roman Catholic order. A plaque on a chain-link fence near the original St. Joseph’s School commemorates the old Slovenian Row, where once stood a plethora of Eastern European restaurants, food and meat markets, florists, funeral parlors and other businesses vital to the Slovenian community. Over the years, the neighborhood has been progressively swallowed up by a burgeoning business district, and few residential buildings remain. The Slovenes, meanwhile, have been replaced with new immigrants, and local restaurants now cater to a mostly Mexican-American clientele. MARCH/APRIL 2012 The official plaque commemorating the Slovenian Row neighborhood in Joliet, IL Photo © 2011 by Joseph D. Kubal; all rights reserved. Sadly, there are no Slovenian restaurants left in Joliet. Merichka’s (“Mary” in Slovene) was an ethnic eatery when it opened in 1933; the restaurant, at 604 Theodore St., now offers a more contemporary American menu. However, if you have an urge to sample Slovenian pastry, you can call ahead to Elaine’s Specialties in nearby Plainfield at (815) 436-7491 to order potica (poh-TEE-tsa), a traditional thin-layered honey-walnut cake roll. Elaine’s version was voted the best in the U.S. by members of the SWUA. Besides, your local Slovenian experience would be incomplete without it. So try a sample, visit the neighborhood, and remember the Slovenes who helped to build Joliet. Links: St. Joseph Catholic Church, 416 N. Chicago St., Joliet (815) 727-9378 http://www.stjosephjoliet.org/church/index.html Slovenian Women’s Union of America, 431 N. Chicago St., Joliet (815) 727-1926 http://slovenianunion.org/ KSKJ Life Building, 351 N. Chicago St., Joliet Current business address: 2439 Glenwood Ave., Joliet (800) THE-KSKJ http://www.kskjlife.com/ Merichka’s Restaurant, 604 Theodore St., Crest Hill (815) 723-9371 http://www.merichkas.com/ Elaine’s Specialties J. Elaine Bice, 2571 Golfview, Joliet (815) 436-7491 (Footnotes) 1 The CIA World Fact Book, https://www.cia.gov/library/ publications/the-world-factbook/geos/si.html See http://www.kskjlife.net/ index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=69&Itemid=43 2 17 Climbing The Triglav By Norm Setnicker, Branch 109-Twin Cities, Minnesota Ever since the inception of Slovenia becoming independent in 1991, I have been intrigued by the symbolism of the Slovenian flag. Prominently featured are three peaks symbolically representing, to early Slavs, “a three headed deity who ruled the sky, the earth and the underworld.” We know it simply as Triglav. Triglav means three heads (tri glave) a 2,864 meter high limestone mountain. As one faces south, on the left is Rjavec (2,568), in the middle is the main summit Triglav (2,864), and on the right is Mali Triglav (2,725). According to one source, Triglav’s summit was first reached, in 1778, from Lake Bohinj by an Austrian climber and his three Slovenian associates. Under the Habsburgs in the 19th century, the “pilgrimage” to Triglav became, in effect, a “confirmation of Slovenian identity.” The tradition continues today. It is rare to meet a young Slovene who hasn’t attempted the trek. It has been 18 reported that the first President of The Republic of Slovenia, Milan Kucan, said, “that it is the obligation of every Slovenian to climb Triglav once, at least.” Triglav’s summit has one of the widest views in the entire Alps and offers a panoramic view of three great regions: The Alps, Adriatic Sea, and central European lowlands. There are roughly twenty different ways to reach the top of Triglav with the main approaches being from the south (Bohinj, Pokljuka) and the north (Vrata, Kot ). It is inaccessible from late October to almost May. According to the experts, September and early October are the best times to make the climb. It is one thing to read about Triglav, but another to actually “JUST DO IT.” This was the daunting task that we faced. At our ages: Norm Setnicker (70), Mary Ann Setnicker (68), and David Setnicker (65) - Norm’s “brata”, could ZARJA THE DAWN we climb to the top and descend in two days? Our guide was Marjan Bradesko, a distant cousin and a proven climber. He is also on the editorial board of the Planinski Vestnik, a mountaineering periodical. Marjan had made the trek up Triglav many times and was familiar with the different routes leading up Triglav. rest before we would reach Vodnikov Dom. An apple, granola, and some refreshing, cold, mountain water would sustain us as we prepared to shift direction to the southwest where we would zigzag over the Studor Saddle (1,892 meters) and cross the southern flank of Mt. Tosc (2,275 meters). The day before, while visiting friends in Krvavec, my wife was bitten on the inside of her lip by a wild bee. She was able to remove the stinger but her lip ballooned making her very uncomfortable and in noticeable pain. Lacking sleep, along with her bruised “vanity”, Mary Ann started to have doubts about climbing Triglav the next morning. She decided to try, but the ascent for her was going to be short lived. As we picked up the pace following Marjan’s direction, we were concerned about Mary Ann being able to continue our ascent to Vodnikov Dom. With the temperature unseasonably hot we plodded up the increasingly steep trail, our legs starting to feel “rubbery.” We were all getting tired and looking forward to a relaxing lunch and perhaps a cold “pivo” like impatient children going on a long car ride, ….. “Are we there yet?” “How much longer?” According to the signposts and the diaries of experienced hikers we should arrive at Vodnikov Dom within three hours of our starting point at Rudno Polje. For us, it would be over four hours. Most treks require two overnight stops in the mountains with each route offering varying degrees of difficulty. Being that we only had two days, we chose to climb Triglav from Pokljuka, considered the shortest route, but hardly the most enjoyable. The two-day limitation turned out to be our biggest mistake. Time was against us. On Tuesday, September 27th, the four of us left Kamnik and drove to Bled by passing the iconic lake and driving to Rudno Polje (1,345 meters) on the Pokljuka Plateau, 18 km southwest of the lake. It was 7:30 a.m. when we donned our backpacks, adjusted our hiking poles, and started up the well marked path - Marjan leading the way. We went roughly 100 yards up a steep incline with the three of us noticeably out of breath and asking for a minute rest. Mary Ann was noticeably distressed from the lack of sleep and the sudden steepness. She was already resigned to the reality of staying at the first hut, Vodnikov Dom, which was about 3-4 hours away, depending upon how fast we hiked and how many rest stops we took. We proceeded up the trail which led west below Mt. Visevnik (2,050 meters) to the Jezerce Valley. Here we encountered a flock of sheep leaving the higher altitudes for greener pastures in the valley, before the winter snows would be setting in. This gave us a longer opportunity to MARCH/APRIL 2012 Vodnikov Dom has 53 beds and after a light lunch and a cold pivo, Mary Ann wished us well and jokingly said, “Make sure you pick me up on the way down on Wednesday.” Aside from some teenage day hikers getting ready to go back, Mary Ann was to be the only guest. She knew some Slovenian and was reassured by two Slovenian female cooks that everything would be fine. Except for a small bowl of ricet (barley gruel) - we called it “jesprenj” on the Iron Range of Minnesota - Mary Ann slept over twelve hours. In her waking hours she tried to reduce the swelling of her lip knowing full well that it would be over three days before the swelling would be gone. The three of us pressed on knowing that we should reach Kredarica before dark. As we picked up the pace and as the climb became steeper, we realized that Mary Ann had made the right decision. She would have had a difficult time reaching Kredarica, let alone trying to reach the summit. Instead of proceeding northwest and resting at 19 Dom Planika, we proceeded almost straight north through the Konjskiga sedlo (saddle). We could spot Kredarica hut just east of Triglav and mali Triglav and that view was the incentive to continue even though we began to have doubts as to reaching the summit in one day. Our sustained hiking up the even steeper trail had drained a lot of our physical energy along with a diminished confidence level of ever hiking beyond Kredarica. Triglavski Dom na Kredarici is the main hut serving the northern routes, and at 2,515 meters the highest accommodation in the land. Even though Triglavski Dom has 126 beds, it is often full. Thankfully, Marjan had made reservations for one night because both David and I were exhausted and hungry. We were “spent!” We each had a bowl of jesprenj and a krajnska klobasa, washed down with two bottles of Lasko. Marjan, sensing another hour of daylight, made the decision to go it alone to the summit. Given our exhausted state and knowing full well that Marjan was a very experienced climber, we gave him our blessings with a “Just Do It” command. David and I were resigned to the fact that we probably would not make the final ascent. Marjan was the first to suggest it and David had already made up his mind that we would not go the final distance. I was also thinking that we would have to pick up Mary Ann on the descent; this would not allow her to spend another night by herself. If she was with us we would have stayed another night at Kredarica (2 nights) and then descend on the third day - which we found out later, is the best way to conquer the Triglav. While Marjan was climbing to the top of Triglav, David and I went outside to view the summit as well as the surroundings of Kredarica. In addition to being the highest accommodation in Slovenia, it also serves as a weather station with numerous gauges and instruments documenting wind direction and speed, temperature, and barometric pressure. Also, I was surprised to see an A-Frame chapel which provided a quiet refuge from nature’s challenges and a prayerful atmosphere to view the “face of God.” The panoramic view from this vantage point was awesome. Never before have I viewed nature’s beauty from this skyreaching altitude. It certainly is one of the most desired and climbed mountains of the whole Alps! After roughly an hour and a half, Marjan returned and with his usual confident smile, showed us the picture of himself proudly standing next to Aljazev Stolp (Aljaz Tower) or Triglav Tower. This represents the summit of Triglav, a landmark of Slovenia and a symbol of Slovenehood. For us “wanna-be” Slovenians, David and I 20 were proud that we made the climb up Triglav even though we did not reach the summit as did our cousin, M a r j a n Bradesko. We still felt that we were part of the Slovenehood. The next morning we were greeted by a thick bank of fog completely encircling Kredarica and Triglav’s summit. Even if we had changed our minds and attempted the hike to the summit - Marjan quickly dismissed those thoughts. Marjan knew that both David and I had some knee issues and that descending from that elevation was going to be more difficult than ascending. My orthopedist had also given me similar warnings. Given that we did not want Mary Ann to be stranded for another day, we started the slow descent retracing our path from the previous day. As usual, Marjan led the way with his sure footed stride. I followed using my hiking poles to help cushion the stress on both my knees (bone on bone) and David brought up the rear noticeably limping on his left leg and telling us “I’ll catch up”. The descent did go slowly and aside from some brief “Kodak” moments we managed to reach the Vodnikov Dom in less than three hours. With Mary Ann well rested and happy to see us, and with the swelling of her lip noticeably smaller, we all proceeded for the final descent. David’s trek along the narrow path seemed more painful. It was his left knee that was causing the pain and so we stopped with more regularity until he was able to “catch-up.” With Triglav in the background and a feeling that this “pilgrimage” confirmed our Slovenian identify, we were excited to see the end at Rudno Polje. Marjan suggested we stop at a well known gostilna outside of Bled. We celebrated our journey over krajnska klobasa and a couple of “St. Bernard’s” beers. We could all laugh (except Mary Ann, she still had a little of that crooked smile) and joke about the journey. There was a lot of self congratulating knowing that at our ages we had almost reached the summit of Triglav- not bad for some wanna-be Slovenians. ZARJA THE DAWN Emilee Jenko Tribute to Long Time Members Emilee Jenko is a most remarkable woman who is seen at many Slovenian events gathering information for a column she has written for almost 50 years for both the “Ameriska Domovina” and the “Slovenian American Times.” This petite, gentle lady has a goal of promoting and publicizing what is happening in the area and encouraging more people to participate. Her unique style of writing conveys the feeling that she is talking with you personally. Emilee was born on February 11, 1925, in Cleveland, Ohio, the daughter of Leopold Jenko, a tailor from Ljubljana, and Julie Volk, a cook from Novo Mesto. She had one brother, Milan, ten years older than her, who became a CPA. Her parents were both custodians of the LaSalle Theater Building on East 185th St. in Cleveland where she worked as a cashier during the era when the theater also had stage shows giving her the opportunity to meet Tom Mix and Ken Maynard. For a time the family lived in the theater building, but soon a home was built nearby on Kildeer Ave. where her parents lived out their lives. She remarked that her parents wanted to call her Valerie, but due to insistence of her brother, she became Emilee. Emilee attended O.H. Perry Elementary School and John Hay High School in Cleveland where she majored in Business. Deciding to become a beautician, she attended the American Beauty College after which her career began at Marie Azman’s beauty shop. She soon opened her own shop at 6412 St. Clair Ave. near the Slovenian National Home, committed to enhancing the natural beauty of the Slovenian ladies of Cleveland. The shop closed after 42 years, but she still is making the Slovenian ladies beautiful by volunteering to fix the hair of the residents of the Slovene Old Age Home and St. Vitus Village, and also by doing the hair of shut-ins in their own homes. Chosen by hair stylist Joe Portaro to be a model for his creations, Emilee often appeared on Portaro’s TV shows in the 1950s. Her family loved to sing and they all became members of “Jadran.” Emilee was also a member of “Skrjanski”, a children’s singing group at Recher Hall, and of “Adria” led by Anton Shubel. Her mother was especially fond of poetry and wanted to perfect her English, so Emilee never really learned to speak Slovenian well and today understands little. One of the interesting aspects of Emilee’s life is her association with the Irish mobster, Danny Green, in whose MARCH/APRIL 2012 office she worked as a secretary and aide for many years. (The life of the late Danny Green was recently featured in both a book and a movie.) Living in the Waterloo Slovenian community, across the street from Jenko’s Tavern, which was owned by her brother, Danny became good friends with the Jenko family, and grew up with Emilee. He later hired her to work for him because he trusted her implicitly. When she relocated to California for a short time, the FBI interrogated her for two days about her knowledge of Danny and his work with the ILA, but she knew little about his criminal activities. She did meet some of Danny’s “friends” as she had the job of meeting his visitors at the airport, arranging their accommodations, and planning their dinners, often at Kiefer’s or the Theatrical. Emilee was married for a short time and in 1964 gave birth to a son, Rick, who is most devoted to his mother. She lives in Euclid in one on his houses, and he calls her more than once a day to make sure that she is doing well. Over the years, Emilee has been very active in the Slovenian community, being a long time member of SUA Branch 25 and now a member of Branch 50. She faithfully attends meetings and serves by publicizing branch activities in her column. Her other interests include membership in the SlovenianAmerican Art Guild and the Waterloo Slovenian Home, being Vice President of the American Slovene Club, President of St. Ann Branch 4 AMLA, Vice President of the Slovenian Pensioners Club of the Slovenian National Home, and St. Vitus Church where she had been on the board of the Mother’s Club. She was honored as Woman of the Year from the Slovenian National Home in 1999. Emilee Jenko has proven that the child of Slovenian immigrants can have an interesting life, but still remain true to her Slovenian heritage. She hopes that by her articles she can keep alive the spirit of being a Slovenian in Cleveland. - Patricia A.Budzilek 21 Branch Reports Poro~~ila Podru``nic BRANCH 1 - Sheboygan, Wisconsin Our December meeting was held at Al and Al’s Restaurant. The elections of officers was held, and we said good-bye to our long-time President, Aggie Gruenke. Aggie has been an officer for the last 28 years, a feat we all appreciated and congratulated! We will miss Aggie at the helm, but we must realize it’s time for a well-deserved rest! Thank you, Aggie, for the wonderful job you did being our President! Our new President is MaryAnn Schellinger, who has been our Vice President for several years. Stepping in as VP is Denise Schueffner, Marilyn Hendricks continues as Treasurer, and Cheryl Lopour remains Recording Secretary. Welcome aboard Denise, and congratulations to everyone! We are looking forward to our Member of the Year meeting in April and hope all can attend! Until next time, Na Svidenje! CHERYL KOTNICK LOPOUR BRANCH 2 - Chicago, Illinois Contact Information: 630.325.3965 Route 66 from Chicago to LA (aka - “The Mother Road”): If you read the history of Illinois, after the railroads arrived in Chicago and the canal opened to the Mississippi River, Route 66 came to Chicago. This was in 1926, the same year as the establishment of SWUA. We are sorry to report the loss of the following three members: Elsie Borsnik Gottlieb, whose grandmother was the first editor of Zarja, Mary Kozar, sister of Tina Stanek, and Dorothy Foral, mother/grandmother of Sharon, Johnnie, and Paulie Naudziunas. Please remember them in your prayers. On March 18, we will celebrate Saint Joseph’s Table and Saint Patrick’s Day. DAISY BRANCH 3 - Pueblo, Colorado Contact Information: amtcharron@yahoo.com 719.696.8583 Branch 3 members gathered for their annual Christmas luncheon on December 6, the feast day of St. Nicholas. The luncheon was well attended, and all attendees made individual contributions to the SWU Scholarship Fund. Guests included Judy Yengich, who accompanied her mother, Ann, and Gertrude Pachek, who was a guest of Eileen Kaplan. Mary Ann Dalton was the guest of her daughter, Cheryl Dalton Holland. Mary Ann and Cheryl both live in Denver. Three generations from the Mutz family attended the event, including Marie Mutz, her daughters Madeline Khosla and Andrea DeGarbo, and granddaughters Jerica Khosla and Francesca DeGarbo. Jerica is a student at Denver University, and Francesca is a student at Colorado State University – Pueblo. President Marge Cullen shared traditional Slovenian St. Nicholas Day customs with members. The theme of the Christmas luncheon was angels, and Vice President Eileen Kaplan gave an interesting presentation on the choir of angels. After a delicious lunch and a game involving proverbs, Eileen Kaplan circulated around the room and had members pick names at random so that they could choose a gift from the door prize table which contained a variety of wrapped treasures. Madeline Khosla and Toni Carter each brought goody bags for all attendees. In addition to the St. Nicholas Day luncheon, many Branch 3 members celebrated the feast day of St. Nicholas at St. Mary Help of Christian’s parish’s annual St. Nicholas Day Mass and dinner held on Saturday, December 3. Father Michael Chrisman celebrated the Mass. Father Michael dressed up as Saint Nicholas at the dinner and talked to the parish children. Dinner included klobase, sauerkraut, bread, and a variety of Slovenian and American desserts. ANNETTE SABO CHARRON and BARBARA KARLINGER Tribute to Long Time Members Note: Please notify me if you would like to suggest a SUA/ SWUA member to be profiled in this feature. Remember - they must have been active for many years, and are probably in their 80s. My e-mail is pbudzilek@oh.rr.com. 22 (Left to right) Toni Carter, Francesca DeGarbo, Jerica Khosla, and Marie Mutz at the Branch 3 Christmas Luncheon ZARJA THE DAWN BRANCH 16 - South Chicago, Illinois Contact information: Dolores60617@yahoo.com or Marjorie Mitchell: 773.646.4392 Best wishes for a blessed new year, 2012. I attended “Christmas Around the World” at the Museum of Science and Industry on Slovenia Day. The performance was most enjoyable and the decorated tree was prominently displayed. Our Christmas party on December 8th was a big success with 30 members and guests attending, including 4 men. Thanks to all who brought guests to the luncheon. Who knows – maybe they will become new members, even the men!! After our meeting concluded, the Center Lounge in Whiting served a delicious meal. Prayers and get-well wishes are sent to Rose Tomasich, Helen Battista, and Mitzi Klobucar. Mary Jane Strus, looking great after undergoing surgery in November, also attended the party. Good luck to Alberta Corey who retired from St. Margaret’s/Our Lady of Mercy Hospital after 37 years of service. Welcome to the club. A reminder to all members with computer access! SUA has a website: slovenianunion.org. Log on for information. The first meeting of the year will be on March 10, at 1:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Parish school hall, 96th & Exchange Ave. A strudel-making demonstration is scheduled. Come and have a nice afternoon. DOLORES KRAL FRANKO BRANCH 20 - Joliet, Illinois Contact Information: patricia.schager@att.net On December 10, we honored our Nation’s Veterans by participating in “Wreaths Across America.” The branch donated seven wreaths that were part of 4,700 wreaths donated and placed on the graves of veterans at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery near Joliet. Member Jean Herbst, branch treasurer, said it was the wish of members to be part of such an overwhelming response locally in honoring veterans buried at the National Cemetery. Looking ahead to May, the hunt is on for Member of the Year and Branch Scholarship award recipients. The May Member of the Year Banquet is our final gathering of the year and a highlight when scholarships are announced. Names are now being forwarded to the selection committees. All proceeds from our annual bake sale at St. Joseph Church before and after Masses on March 17 and 18 go directly to benefit the Branch Scholarships. Chairpersons Jo Lustik and Bernice Nemanich are top-notch fund-raisers for this sale. And as always – donations to the fund are welcome. It is with sadness that we must announce so many of our members and relatives of members who have passed: the mother of member Sharon Planinsek; the father of member MARCH/APRIL 2012 Branch 20 Scholarships Applicants must be SUA member for at least 3 years. Adult Continuing Education Scholarship: Member 21 years of age or over who is pursuing advanced or continuing education. High School Scholarship: Graduating eighth grader accepted to one of the Catholic high schools and is enrolled for the fall 2012 semester. High School Scholarship: Current high school student who wishes to continue in a Catholic high school or is planning to transfer from a public high school to a Catholic high school. Scholastic ability must be shown as well as an evaluation of the applicant’s character and code of behavior. For eligibility information and application forms, contact: Branch 20 Scholarship Program, %Geri Pope 3820 Hennepin Drive, Joliet, IL 60431 Applications must be received prior to April 1, 2012 Nancy Schultz Vootz and husband of member Frances Schultz; member Theresa Gerencher; the mother of members Mary Fran and Margaret (Muggs) Mali; member Margaret Grayhack, the sister of member Bernadine Rutkowski; member Olga Erjavec; member Evelyn Lustick, mother of member David Lustick; and brotherin-law of members Dolores M. Ambrozich and Dolores L. Ambrozich. PATRICIA SCHAGER BRANCH 23 - Ely, Minnesota Contact Information: dollyrose@frontiernet.net 630.325.3965 Branch 23 in Ely, Minnesota ‘at the end of the road’ held their Christmas luncheon at the Grand Ely Lodge on December 18. Members were especially festive in their colorful Christmas attire and the beauty of the December day. Our meeting began with some fun social time, which included the members exchanging Slovenian family histories and recipes during their conversations, followed by prayer and the roll call of officers. President Gerry Petrich asked for any suggestions for new officers for the upcoming year, but the motion was made and seconded that all officers remain in their current positions if so desired. All officers agreed to remain for another year. The members discussed supporting the Leap Year FundRaiser and the increase in dues to $25, well worth it for the beautiful magazine, ZARJA. What a treasure! In a prior meeting, Tina Blatnik, a student from the University of Ljubljana working on her master’s degree in 23 American Studies, discussed her thesis project. She is conducting a survey of Slovenian language use in Minnesota. The members were given a several page survey to complete about the language spoken at home, within Slovenian traditions and organizations. After our discussions, we enjoyed a delicious lunch followed by some game playing and Christmas songs. One of our members, a very young ninety-year old, Julie Puzel, gave us a short lesson on some of the words and pronunciations of the Slovenian language. She had visited relatives in Slovenia this fall and had some very interesting stories to tell about her exciting travels. Branch 23 is going to work a little harder this year to bring more of our Slovenian heritage into our lives and the lives of others. ROSE MARIE “DOLLY” KASTELIC SHOBER BRANCH 24 - LaSalle, Illinois Debbie Pohar opened her home for our November meeting where 27 members showed up to learn more about chestnuts and how to prepare them. The chestnuts were prepared two ways; boiling and baking. Debbie had a map of Slovenia hanging where members were encouraged to mark where their family came from. This will be discussed further at an upcoming meeting. That evening was hosted by: Debbie Pohar, Cathy Lenkaitis, Barb Pohar, Josephine Grabowski, MaryAnn Brunner, Sally Strohmaier and Arlene Borys. Our Christmas Party was held at Amici’s Ristorante with 33 members in attendance. We had a wonderful time visiting and a fantastic gift exchange. Hosts for this evening were Debbie Pohar, Barb Pohar and Bonnie Prokup. The Slovenian community lost a very important member, Father Horzen. Many Slovenians from all over attended his funeral at Saint Bede Abbey. Branch 24 will sorely miss him as he always livened up our meetings with his singing and Slovenian enthusiasm. Our next meeting will be on Thursday, March 15th at 7:00 p.m. at Eureka Savings Bank. We will have our election of officers. Members are encouraged to bring their @egen Basket for a “show and tell.” We will discuss plans for some exciting upcoming events such as a “plant swap” at Debbie’s house, our summer picnic and ways to build our membership. ZIMMER FUNERAL HOMES Mark Zimmer, Funeral Director mark@zimmerfuneralhome.com 805 North 6th Street, Sheboygan, WI 53081 Tel: 920.457.7012 Fax: 920.457.7013 W 2132 Ganton Rd., Sheboygan, WI 53083 920.565.2331 www.Zimmerfuneralhome.com 24 BRANCH 33 - Duluth, Minnesota Contact Information: 218.626.1305 Christmas has come and gone, but the spirit of it still lingers on. Our Christmas dinner was at the Upper Deck Restaurant where Christmas joy flowed through the members’ hearts and reached out in prayer to those not being able to attend. It was a very pleasant togetherness. Congratulations to Winifred Ellena on becoming a greatgrandmother. Our branch asks for the blessings of God for all our members and his people and that peace and faith will be born in all hearts. ANN MENART BRANCH 35 - Aurora, Minnesota Contact Information: anitam1@frontier.com Our branch met on Sunday, December 4. We remembered our sick and deceased members and the troops with prayers. We continue to pray for a healing for Julie Pirnat and for the souls of Ann Royer and Dorothy Jamnick who passed away this year. Anita Vovk was host and Tuna Bumsteads provided chips, relishes, and ice cream for dessert. Prizes were awarded. Anne Orazem volunteered to make calls to our members to give our Christmas greetings. If you did not get a call it was because we do not have a phone number for you. We held our election of officers and the current officers will take their position for another year with the exception of Sgt. at Arms. Sharon Starkovich agreed to take that position since Julie Pirnat is recovering from surgery. We received an invitation from Branch 39 of Biwabik to join them for their Anniversary celebration and a farewell due to their disbandment of their branch. We congratulate Branch 39 on their Anniversary and we share their sadness in the disbanding of the branch. On behalf of the members of Branch 35, I would like to invite those members who wish to join our branch; the door is open, we welcome you! ANITA M VOVK BRANCH 39 - Biwabik, Minnesota Contact Information: rribich@northlc.com 218.865.6600 Thirty-four members of SUA/SWUA from Branch 39, Biwabik and Branch 35, Aurora united for the annual Christmas/Epiphany dinner on January 8th at the Rustic Rock Chop House in Eveleth. This combined gathering was also to celebrate eighty-one (81) years of existence of Branch 39, Biwabik. We also used this opportunity to unite with another local branch, in which most of our Biwabik Branch members will continue and to make the transition a little easier. ZARJA THE DAWN We enjoyed a plated dinner of turkey or pork loin roast and Jean Korsman donated and served apple strudel for dessert. A few announcements were made regarding our new invoices and a letter from our National President Bonnie Prokup was read. Several notes from various others were read congratulating us on our eighty-one (81) years and also expressing sadness with word that this viable branch has dissolved. Norman Setnicker of Twin Cities Branch 109 and his wife Mary Ann also attended and Norm expressed the importance of continuing our memberships to keep our ethnic identity alive and maintain our Slovenian traditions. We proudly take credit for the third and fourth generation of members in this newer Branch 109. Many of them are offspring of members from Iron Range branches. They continue to KEEP THE SPIRIT ALIVE by LIVING THE LEGACY. Carol Sherek played music on the accordion and we enjoyed our dice game, as always. Anita Vovk, President of Branch 35, welcomed us to future meetings. We hope to see all our members there. We hope that 2012 will be a prosperous year for SUA and that we can meet all our challenges. MARIJA POMAGJI PROSI ZA NAS. Zbogam ROSEMARY (SERTICH) RIBICH BRANCH 40 - Lorain, Ohio First of all, I want to wish everyone a belated happy and healthy New Year. Where does the time go? The months and years slip by so quickly! We had a lovely luncheon in January where we celebrated our president Agnes Serazin’s birthday. Happy 80th, Aggie. Many happy returns!! Member Francine Pavlovcic, and her husband, Frank, celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. What a great milestone! There are not many who reach that. Francine was reminiscing and told that Fritz (Frank) was drafted into the army on March 26, 1941. It was to have been for one year, but when war was declared after Pearl Harbor, everything changed, and he remained for 4 years. He came home on furlough and they were married on January 8, 1942. They are parents of Cathy and Frank, grandparents of five, and they are also blessed with two greatgranddaughters; a beautiful family! There was a family dinner in honor of the occasion. To you dear friends, Fritz and Francie, we send congratulations with our wish that you enjoy many more healthy and happy years together. After all this joyful news, I don’t like to report that our Angeline MARCH/APRIL 2012 “Babe” Grayson had a nasty fall, broke her leg, and after a stay at the hospital, is now recuperating at Anchor Lodge. What a bummer! Get back up on your feet, Babe, and return home soon. We missed you at our luncheon. We also missed Mary Gradisek, who has been ill. Please get well, Mary. Don’t forget our luncheon-meetings are on the second Wednesday of each month. See you!! STEPHANIE POLUTNIK BRANCH 43 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin Contact Information: Jan Gehm 414.321.1413 twogames@wi.rr.com I cannot believe that the holidays were here and gone. It seems you look forward to them so much and before you can blink an eye they are gone. On behalf of all of our Branch 43 officers and members, may 2012 be filled with love, hope, and happiness. Sre~no Novo Leto. Our Po Bozicna Zabava was a fun-filled afternoon. The food was delicous, the gifts plentiful, and the raffle prizes were great. Many thanks to all members who donated these gifts. It seemed that no one wanted the afternoon to end, so all of a sudden one table began to sing. Each table thereafter was encouraged to start a song and all joined in. Congratulations to our 2012 officers re-elected last year. Jack Kolesari gave the oath of office at installation. Jack Kolesari giving the oath of office to the new Branch 43 officers 2012 Branch 43 Officers 25 Many fun-filled and interesting events are being planned for 2012. One of our meetings will be the sharing of our own heritage. Where were your parents born in Slovenia, what kinds of customs remain in your family home, how are you connected to the Slovenian community, etc? Many other items of interest will be discussed. Another meeting, possibly in November, will be a wine-making demonstration. Members were mailed a calendar of events. Have them handy to remind you of meeting dates and other plans. Remember to join us at Triglav Park to make your own butara on Saturday, March 31, 2012. Then join us for 8:00 a.m. Mass at St. John the Evangelist Church on Palm Sunday and at the Open Flame for breakfast immediately following Mass. April 3, 2012, is Election Day and we will have a bake sale at the S. 88th St. School. Our past bake sales have been very successful and you can help make this one successful too, by baking, and helping out on that day. You can also help by purchasing baking supplies or by a monetary contribution. Please help! Enjoy the rest of the winter. We in Milwaukee have been lucky. One day the temps were in the 50’s and the next day it got cold and we had our first measurable snow fall. I guess that’s what happens when you live in Wisconsin. MICI BREGANT BRANCH 50 - Euclid, Ohio Contact Information: 440.655.6735 ricktomsick@gmail.com Greetings from the “FIVE-O” on America’s North Coast! The officers want to wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year. We at Branch 50 are so pleased to count former Branch 14 members among our family. Our Christmas party in December was an overwhelming success with over 80 people present. Many thanks go out to Pat Budzilek (formerly a Branch 14 member) for her suggestion to have the party at Recher Hall in Euclid! 26 As a reminder, the officers want to let all Branch 14 members know that they are welcome and encouraged to attend our events. President Rose Mary Toth tells me about the following events coming up that I would especially want to let you know about: Our next branch meeting is at 1:00 p.m. on April 18th at Euclid Public Library. We will be having a Mother’s Day dinner on May 1st to be held at the Slovenian Society Home (Recher Hall) at 6:00 p.m. in the Lower Hall. (Tavcar’s Catering will be cooking!) The new price is $15.00 and will be a family style dinner as before. There will be NO exchange of gifts but there will be door prizes. You may call before the meeting for reservations: Maureen Podlogar (Treasurer) at 440.946.1833, Cookie Maxin (V.P.) at 440.946.9349, or Ivanka Matic at 216.481.1514.You need to send your check to: Maureen Podlogar, 6214 Maplewood Road, Mentor, OH 44060. The deadline for dinner reservations is April 23rd. Please e-mail me at ricktomsick@gmail.com with any news, updates, accolades, upcoming events, and the like, but keep in mind that we have about a two-month lag in reporting upcoming events. RICK TOMSICK BRANCH 89 - Oglesby, Illinois Contact Information: 815.339.2714 barbarabruch@yahoo.com Branch 89’s Christmas dinner was held at the Village Café in Peru on December 4. There were 31 members and three guests present including Anna Lukach (who was born on the border of Croatia and Slovenia), Will Lukach, and Jerry Fox. Annalise Sabotta, Doris Ambrose, and Darlene Wasielewski won door prizes. All enjoyed a delicious buffet meal and apple strudel. Many thanks to chairpersons Heidi and Hannah Huber. Officers for 2012 were installed: Mary Jane Gunderson - President, Margie Walter - Vice President, Barbara Bruch Secretary, and Terry Kamnikar Treasurer. We have seven new male members. They are Bill Henkel, Doug Henkel, Tymothie Willis, Jim Ebner, and junior members Ted Landgraf, Cole Duffin and Alexis Nave. We welcome all of you. We are planning an open house in March to welcome our new members. At our March meeting we will have a food demonstration. It’s goulash-making time; bring a guest to enjoy the fun. We also would like ZARJA THE DAWN to invite Branch 24 to this meeting; the more the merrier. I would like to thank everyone for his or her thoughts and prayers since I broke my ankle in November. Thank you especially to Alice for the food and hugs. It meant a lot and was deeply appreciated. This is my last Zarja branch report; we will have a new reporter next time. It has been a pleasure. Best regards and Zivijo. BARBARA BRUCH BRANCH 93 - New York, New York Contact Information: lgross@tstnyc.org Our branch is in the process of re-inventing ourselves and our customary programs are “on hold” at present. Members getting Ka`ipot from the Slovenian consulate have attended a variety of art and literary events, and a number of us visited the Lincoln Center Film Festival’s showing of Lea and Darija , a Croatian film telling the story of two talented 13 year olds, who were great dancing stars in Zagreb on the eve of World War II. The film was produced in co-operation with Art Rebel 9 from Slovenia and has been shown in Israel and Australia. Visitors to New York City are reminded to take the opportunity to attend mass at St. Cyril’s Church on St. Mark’s Place, with a special collation following the Mass the 3rd Sunday of the month. ELIZABETH GROSS BRANCH 99 - Lemont, Illinois Contact Information: jmhlade@hotmail.com Greetings fellow members! Wishing you warm wishes for spring! Last November our branch raffled a Slovenian Cooking basket, which included a copy of The Food and Cooking of Slovenia cookbook. We were able to donate $200 to the SUA National Scholarship Foundation. Congratulations to Stan Kastelic for winning the basket! Also thank you to Sonja DePratt and Margie Cepon for selling the tickets, and to all who supported the raffle. In January, we held a branch meeting at Olive Garden Restaurant in Bolingbrook. Branch officers were elected MARCH/APRIL 2012 at this time. Also, everyone should have received a new calendar of events for 2012. If you did not, please let us know. In February, we held a Krofe culinary class. Thank you to Paula Mavec and Mary Mavec for organizing this event, and Lillian Cepon for teaching us how to make these delicious Slovenian donuts. New this March, our branch is hosting a butara-making class. A butara is a bouquet of spring greenery to be brought to church on Palm Sunday – a Slovenian tradition. This class is intended for children with an adult chaperone. The class will be held on Saturday, March 24th, at 1:00 p.m. at the home of Paula Mavec, 903 Cassie Dr. in Joliet. Cost is $5.00 per child and includes materials and lunch. Contact Paula Mavec to register at pmavec@live.com or 815.729.9787. A great activity for the kids! On April 29th at 1 p.m., we will hold our Member Celebration party at the home of Sonja DePratt, 520 Rollingwood Dr. in Shorewood. There will be Slovenian food, games, songs, and fun. The branch will supply the main dish and non-alcoholic drinks. Bring a dish to pass. RSVP to Paula Mavec. Come join us as we celebrate all the members of our branch! Wishing you a very Happy Easter and spring season! JANA HLADE BRANCH 100 - Southern California Contact Information: ajkoci@cox.net At our Christmas Party it was great having 40 members and guests from all over Southern California, including places in the San Fernando Valley (north of Los Angeles), San Diego, the coastal communities, the high desert, and the Inland Empire. Mary Lou Vidergar even made a special trip down from her new home in the Bay Area to be with us. It is a joy to have such an effort made by our members and friends to attend our gatherings. After enjoying a delicious meal at Napoli’s Restaurant we continued with our visiting and holiday cheer, catching up on family activities and plans for the next months. We had our election of our Member of the Year. Jean Turnbull was nominated for this honor. You will hear more of her background in Zarja when she will be featured as our special person of 2012. We are sorry to report the illness of Pauline Buzan. She so much misses getting out among her many friends. Her children and grandchildren are looking after her well-being, so when she gets settled in a new home, I will report that so that you might send a card to cheer her up. Mary Lou Jensen conducted our meeting and our election of officers for 2012. Officers remained the same for another year. Mary Lou and Dorothy Jerneycic gave a report on the National Convention in Milwaukee which was 27 (Left to right) Martha Nagy, Mary Lou Vidergar, and Rosemarie Black. Good friends gather at the Branch 100 Christmas Party. interesting and informative. They truly enjoyed their time with the other members who attended from around the country and appreciated the opportunity to meet with them. Best wishes to all from Southern California. Have a happy Spring. JEAN KOCI BRANCH 102 - Willard, Wisconsin Contact: kleespires@comcast.net Greetings from Willard. We welcome you to bring a picnic lunch and stop by Settlers Park in Willard to take in the authentic kozolec and all the beautifully carved buildings. Check out the family names of our Slovenian ancestors on the brick path and visit Holy Family Cemetery. If you are looking for a place to cool off, check out Rock Dam or Mead Lake for fishing, beaches, and refreshments. Yes it’s true; our country roads are top notch! We re-elected for another term: Bonnie Brierton as President, Aggie Debevec as Vice President and Sue Pakiz as Secretary/Treasurer. Thank you, ladies, for your service to Branch 102 and the Willard community. Families in the news include Megan Johnson who traveled to New Zealand for a photography class. Theresa Zorman spent two weeks trekking through Slovenia and Croatia. Rose and Frank Pakiz, along with Sue and Larry Pakiz, welcomed another girl into the family. Amelia Louise was born to Jen and Troy (son of Sue and Larry). That makes seven great-grandsons and four great-granddaughters for 28 Rose and Frank. Congratulations! Aggie Debevec is still recovering from a fall last year. We miss you Aggie, hurry back. Cole Hinker, grandson of Hedwig “Dickie” Bauer was on the Greenwood High School football State Champion Team. Jennifer Krultz graduated Summa Cum Laude from UW-River Falls. Please keep Pat Sixel in your prayers as she continues to have health problems and also the family of Michael Plautz, who passed away in January. Our branch will be meeting next on March 31st. This meeting will coincide with the annual Palm Sunday Bake Sale. All members are asked to bring baked goods. KAREN HRIBAR SPIRES BRANCH 103 - Washington D.C. The Branch lost its long-time treasurer, Amelia (Molly) Thomas. A military honors service was held for her at Arlington National Cemetery. Molly was born in the Iron Range of Minnesota and came to Washington, D.C. during World War II to work in the government. She married and raised her family in Northern Virginia. Molly worked to raise awareness of the needs of developmentally disabled persons, as well as to obtain services for them. She also worked as a volunteer in programs feeding the homeless. SUA scholarship awardee, Veronika Stare, who attends Gettysburg College, majoring in nursing and music, will be Amelia (Molly) Thomas spending a semester studying in Copenhagen, Denmark. Veronika participated in the World Youth Day program in Madrid, Spain and her report is on page 11 in this issue of Zarja. Another scholarship awardee, Tabitha Eckert, completed her nursing training at Olivet Nazarene University and received her nursing pin at a “pinning” ceremony held in December. She plans to take the nursing licensing exam in Illinois and seek employment in the eastern part of the country. At the first meeting of the year, the Branch elected officers for 2012 and agreed on a program of activities for the year. Mary Lou Terselic, Angela Stare, Mimi Mejac, ZARJA THE DAWN Do you want to receive the monthly SUA Online Newsletter? Please e-mail: listoperator@swua.org to be on our list. and Rich Terselic were elected respectively as president, vice president, treasurer and secretary. Among the activities planned for the year are: providing filled Easter candy eggs for all attending the annual blessing of baskets held at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception; providing a basket for the branch spiritual director, Fr. Ray Wadas, and a Fall Communion breakfast. Fr. Ray recently reminded the attendees at the monthly Slovenian Mass that he had been ministering to the Washington area American-Slovenian community for more than 30 years. BRANCH 108 - Olney, Maryland Contact Information: Bettekfitz@verizon.net For our 8th anniversary in November, members enjoyed receiving red carnations and sharing their memories of how friends and relatives left their legacies. Each of us had something to tell about that special someone, a grandparent, aunt, uncle, spouse, or friend that influenced us to learn more about our Slovenian heritage. In January we met for our branch election and installation of officers. We were honored to have as our guest speaker, Blaza Cedilnik, a native Slovenian to lecture on the topic of Nova Zaveza. For more information, go to www.zaveza.si, and click on “translate” to view the website in English. We look forward to meeting again in March to create onion skin-colored Easter eggs with herbs and greens the Slovenian way, and how to make potica, demonstrated by a group of our members who are native Slovenians. All are welcome to join us, as their schedule permits at meetings and events to enjoy sharing our Slovenian traditions. BERNADETTE K. FITZSIMMONS BRANCH 109 - Twin Cities of Minnesota Congratulations to our new officers as they lead Branch 109 into its seventh year as part of the SUA/SWUA. They are: President - John Zakelj; Vice President - Bob Grahek; Recording Secretary - Jamie Monson; Corresponding Secretary - Jean Rolstad; Treasurer - Mary Ann Setnicker. A special “hvala lepa” to our continuing chairpersons: Karl Grahek (membership) and Mary Alice Schwanke (website). Our holiday months of November and December were highlighted by presentations from Sue Rademacher and Norm Setnicker on their recent trip to Slovenia. Their joint presentation was the first in a series of future PowerPoint programs. Featured was the “Old Vine” Festival “Stara Trte” held in Maribor (Stajerska province). The ceremonious grape gathering of the old vine is the main event of the Festival. Buds from the old vine are presented to various dignitaries world wide. Pope John Paul, former President Bill Clinton, and former President of Slovenia, Milan Kucan, were past recipients. This year’s graft was planted on the terrace of Bled Castle. Liz Miller, and her mother, Doris Skull, gave a strudelmaking demonstration at our holiday, Christmas meeting in December. It was Branch 109’s first live demonstration. Additional Christmas treats were shared by the membership. Moreover, children/grandchildren in attendance were encouraged to try the recipe in their own homes. We need more Slovenian bakers (pec). NORMAN SETNICKER Slovenian Union of America “Keeping the Spirit Alive” Branch 108 installation of new officers. (Left to right): Marjeta Cedilnik, Blazza Cedilnik, Anne Stratton, Bernadette Fitzsimmons, Nika Kovacic, Lynn Koiner, Fran Hrastar, Carol Lloyd, Marie Robinson, and John Klansek MARCH/APRIL 2012 29 Elizabeth Kambic Doherty Our Oldest SUA Member Turns 102 Calendar of Events MARCH 8, 2012 Branch 2 of Chicago, Illinois to celebrate St. Joseph and St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon at 1:00 p.m. Call Daisy or Fran for further information. MARCH 10, 2012 Branch 16 of South Chicago, Illinois to host a strudel-making demonstration at 1:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Parish School Hall, 96th and Exchange Avenue. MARCH 17-18, 2012 Branch 20 of Joliet, Illinois to host Annual Bake Sale at St. Joseph Church before and after masses. Betty on the day before Christmas, which was her 102nd Christmas Elizabeth (Betty) Kambic was born in San Francisco, California in 1910 of Slovenian immigrants. She was featured in an article in the November/December 2010 issue of Zarja - The Dawn on page 19 when she had just celebrated her 100th birthday. Today we are pleased to wish Betty a happy 102nd birthday. Betty’s advice is to be proud to be Slovenian, smile, laugh, and be happy. Congratulations Betty! The Information Exchange This new feature is a way for members to help one another. Do you have a Slovenian related question that has you stumped? Send it to “The Information Exchange” at wprokup@aol.com. Please provide your name, e-mail address, and complete mailing address along with your question. Photos are welcome if it pertains to the question. 30 MARCH 24, 2012 Branch 99 of Lemont, Illinois to host a butaramaking session at the home of Paula Mavec. (see Branch 99 report on how to register). MARCH 31, 2012 Branch 102 of Willard, Wisconsin to host Annual Palm Sunday Bake Sale. Branch 43 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin to host butaramaking session at Triglav Park. Contact Information: Jan Gehm 414.321.1413 or twogames@wi.rr.com. APRIL 3, 2012 Branch 43 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin to host Annual Bake Sale at the S. 88th Street School. Contact Information: Jan Gehm 414.321.1413 or twogames@wi.rr.com. APRIL 29, 2012 Branch 99 of Lemont, Illinois to host Member Celebration party at the home of Sonja DePratt. (see branch 99 report on how to register). MAY 1, 2012 Branch 50 of Euclid, Ohio and the former Branch 14 will host a Mother’s Day Dinner at the Slovenian Society Home (Recher Hall) at 6:00 p.m. in the Lower Hall (see branch 50 report on how to register). ZARJA THE DAWN Pala~~inke (Pancakes) Pancakes are Greatly Cherished in Slovenia They are Made Into Many Sweet and Savory Dishes Sometimes you don’t always find the source of a great Slovenian dish to be prepared by a woman who has mastered the kitchen, or someone trying to learn and preserve their heritage. No, sometimes you just find it in a guy who likes to eat and enjoys it when other people like his food too; Art Strohmier is a man like that. He learned to cook at a young age from his mother (a Slovenian immigrant, who’s maiden name was Pirz) and has been cooking and baking ever since. His early years of being interested in food may have led Art to his profession as “The Pie Man.” For years, Art delivered fresh, delicious pies to the local restaurants; this may have contributed to his famous sweet tooth and may be part of why many of his recipes lean toward the dessert area. We were lucky enough to go into Art’s kitchen for this issue and learn how to make some incredible crepes from scratch and the result was mouth-watering. (Art’s family are all members of Branch 24.) Ingredients 5 eggs ¼ cup sugar Dash of salt ¼ cup extra light virgin olive oil 2 cups milk 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 cups flour Your choice of fillings and toppings Preparing the Batter Whip the eggs in a large bowl. Once thoroughly whipped, add sugar and salt and stir. Add olive oil, milk, and vanilla, whipping thoroughly. Slowly mix in flour and whip until the flour is completely mixed in. (Note: The batter is very thin.) Making the Crepes Preheat a nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat, brush pan with olive oil. With a ladle, fill bottom of pan with a thin layer of batter (about ¼ cup) and move the pan in a circular motion to spread the batter completely over the bottom of the pan. Place pan with batter back over the hot burner. Let cook for about 60 seconds or when the edges begin to brown and curl. Flip the crepe over in the pan and cook for about 45 seconds on the other side. MARCH/APRIL 2012 31 Transfer the pancake to a plate. Repeat with the rest of the batter, stacking the cooked pancakes as you finish making them. This will keep them warm until you are finished cooking all of them. Note: as you go along and the pan gets hotter the cook time will become shorter. This recipe should make approximately 15 crepes. Filling the Crepes Lay crepe flat on a plate. Place a straight row of filling about ¼ of the way from the edge. Start rolling the crepe into a cylinder shape from the side closest to the filling. Plate it with fruit garnishing, almonds, and powdered sugar over the top for a beautiful Slovenian dish. Filling recommendations: Fruit jellies, jams or preserves, fresh fruit, apple sauce, cream cheese, ham; anything you would like will work. Editor’s Note For a sugar free version: substitute Splenda in an equal amount for the sugar and use sugar free strawberry preserves for the filling. The taste is just as fantastic. 32 ZARJA THE DAWN Making crepes is not only a rewarding activity, when you see the smiles on everyone’s face as they devour them, but it can also be a fun way for the family to enjoy time together and learn a little bit about how their ancestors cooked in a time when homemade was something to be proud of. As we all know, Slovenians are renowned for their cooking and the pride they take in doing the job themselves; this is a great way to show the younger generations both. It would make for a fun night of everyone taking their turn at the pan and making their own crepe and then devising a filling of their choice, because literally anything can be used as filling. So give it a try and let us know what fillings you liked the best so we can pass them on to your fellow Slovenian cooks. Dober tek! SUA New Website PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID LASALLE, IL http://slovenianunion.org About SUA Events Zarja Photo Gallery Store Contact Please visit our new website. Take a moment to browse around. You can now upload your personal photos and art. You can also leave a comment on site content. We hope you find the site useful, and we look forward to hearing your feedback. Tell us your Slovenian story. Every family has a journey… Every heritage has a journey… Every country has a journey. These three comprise the human need for our roots… and we can only find them by LIVING OUR LEGACY. The Slovenian Union of America’s goal is to lead, educate, promote, and instill in our membership to Live Their Legacy!