ZARJA
-THE DAWN
rears
URADNO GLASILO	OFFICIAL	PUBLICATION
______________SLOVENSKE	ŽENSKE	ZVEZE	V	AMERIKI___________________________SLOVENIAN	WOMEN’S	UNION	OF	AMERICA
NUMBER 1	JANUARY-FEBRUARY	2001	VOLUME	73
Slovenia’s greatest poet — Prešeren
<1 vi .V
HIS BIRTH 200 YEARS AGO CELEBRATED AMONG SLOVENIANS ALL OVER THE WORLD!
ZARJA - THE DAWN
(ISSN 0044-1848)
Postmaster: Send all changes of addreaa to: ZARJA - THE DAWN, 4851 S. Drexsl Blvd., Chicago, IL 6061S-1703
NUMBER 1 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2001 VOLUME 73
Member, Illinois Fraternal Congress
Official Publication of the Slovenian Women’s Union of America — Uradno glasilo Slovenske Ženske Zveze.
Published six times per year - šestkrat na leto.
Annual Subscription for non-members, $15.00 — naročnina $15.00 letno za ne-članice.
Publisher: SLOVENIAN WOMEN'S UNION OF AMERICA 431 No. Chicago St., Joliet, IL 60432 Telephone (815) 727-1926
Periodicals Postage Paid at Joliet, IL and at additional mailing offices All communications for the next issue of publication must be in the hands of the Editor by the first week of the month — vsi dopisi za naslednjo izdajo mesečnika morajo biti v rokah urednice do I. v mesecu.
Editor, COR1NNE LESKOVAR Editorial Office: 4851 S. Drexel Blvd., Chicago, IL 60615-1703 Telephone: (773) 548-8878 Facsimile: (773) 268-4899
>C
M
ission
St
atement
We, the National Officers of the Slovenian Women’s Union of America, will be guided by our Constitution, Bylaws, and Regulations, and with God’s help, pledge to:
* Unite American-Slovenian women and their families
* Enhance the presence of the Slovenian community in America
* Inspire our youth in spiritual and moral values
* Promote the legacy of our heritage
We ask the members to join us in the success of our mission.
Internet webpage: www.swua.org e-mail: swuhome@msn.com On line newsletter: lzalokar@yahoo.com
On the Cover:
FRANCE PREŠEREN remembered as Slovenia’s greatest poet, lived from 1800 to 1849. His native land, in his memory, erected a monument showing the “goodness of poetry” above his figure. Our cover page shows the “Prešernov Spomenik” as it stands in Ljubljana. Read about Prešeren in this issue
HAPPY BIRTHDAY IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY
National Officers:
Jan. 10 - Mary Turvey, Dir. Sch. Fund, Marquette, MI
Feb. 17 - Agnes Dobczyk, Women’s Activities Dir., Joliet, IL
Presidents:
Jan.	2	-	Kay Yuratovac, Br.	73, Warrensville, OH
Jan. 11	-	Frances Correll, Br.	93, Brooklyn, NY
Feb. 4 - Ruth Sheck, Br. 1, Sheboygan, WI
Feb. 16 - Mary Zales, Br. 8, Steelton, PA
Feb. 22 - Anne Marie Wangler, Br. 24, LaSalle, IL
Secretaries:
Jan.	5	-	Mary Jackovich, Br.	28, Calumet, MI
Feb.	1	-	Agatha Donges, Br.	40, Lorain, OH
Feb. 18 - Theresa Dagg, Br. 10, Cleveland, OH Feb. 27 - Diane Varney, Br. 14, Euclid, OH
MANY HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY!
6a6s r^\
TEZAK FUNERAL HOME "First In Service Since 1908”
Licensed Producer's; Richard K. Težak	(8I5)	722-0524
(Forethought Trust) American Slovenian Catholic Union (KSKJ)
459 No. Ottawa, Joliet, IL 60432 • Opening Westside Location, *
Plainfield Road, Joliet in 2000
American
Slovenian
Catholic
Union
Heritage Easy Life Simplified issue Life insurance plan
For those with Health Problems
For aces 30 to 80 Call For Details
A Financial Family That Feels Like Home Home Office: 2439 glenwood avenue ♦ joliet, il 60435 ♦ (800) 843-5755
E-mail: KSKJLhe@AOL.COM
11547 8 8 t ^ NATIONAL PRESIDENT
Kathleen Dorchak
Happy New Year! 2001 is here! I sincerely hope that everyone had a blessed, safe and happy holiday season with your family and friends. My family spent a wonderful holiday season. I was especially blessed to be able to attend a few branch Christmas parties in the Cleveland area. My special thanks to you, the members of local Cleveland branches. I enjoyed the opportunity to see many of my old friends and make new friendships. Our branches really know how to celebrate the season in style.
Members, thank you so much for your support of the Heritage Museum Magic Month Fundraiser. At the time of this writing I do not know how much profit we actually realized, but I feel confident this was a successful endeavor. All your contributions are greatly appreciated. Our museum will definitely benefit from the funds raised. Good luck to all that bought tickets. We’re in January and you could be a lucky winner.
2001 is an exciting year for the members of the Slovenian Women’s Union. It’s our 75th anniversary! It is truly amazing to think that Marie Prisland’s dream is now 75 years strong. I am sure she would be exceptionally pleased that all our members could share in this special time. What are the members of your branch planning to do to commemorate this special event? At your next meeting make this a topic of discussion. It would be absolutely wonderful if each branch could contribute something in its own way.
Check your mail for your annual dues statements. National Secretary, Bonnie Prokup will be sending our annual billing out by the end of the month. We really appreciate your prompt response in mailing your payments back to us on a timely basis. Bonnie is working hard at keeping our membership lists current. 1 hope you all understand and appreciate how difficult this can be.
Your National Board of Directors is planning a Board meeting in early March. Once again, I would like to encourage the members to share any of their ideas and suggestions for our agenda. We will be discussing the Heritage Tour to Slovenia as well as ways to celebrate our 75th Anniversary. Remember, the Board is here for you and we are working diligently to meet your needs. Your input is vital to the success of this great organization.
3088 Mi rkle Drive Silver Luke, Ohio 44224 Hn 0) 686-1336 Fax. (330) 688-6203
E-mail:
Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring happy bells, across the snow,
The year is going, let him go.
Ring out the false, ring in the true
-	Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Love to all!
Kathleen
RCHAK@NEO.RR.COM
SECRETARY BONNIE PROKUP
Happy New Year to all!
I hope you enjoyed your holidays. This is a favorite time of year for me. I like to decorate and celebrate the season with my family and friends. Unfortuantely it goes by too quickly. We started out season right by taking a quick trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. This was Barbi’s first time out of the country and she was very excited about it. Bekki thought it was cool to get another stamp on her passport.
We stayed at an “all-inclusive” which made it very easy with the girls. The weather and food were great as well as the company. Too bad it had to end so fast.
So now I have returned home back to this cold weather to wrap up year-end work for S.W.U. I’ve had many members pay their past due invoices however I am still missing payment from about 285 members., Of that over thirty-five 2nd requst invoices were returned to me for wrong address. Please check this issue of ZARJA to see if your name is on that list.
Other than that things are running smoothly. As I reflect on the past year I am proud of the work that has been accomplished in 2000. I can remember this time last year spending hours upon hours incorporating the seven membership lists into one. Over the course of the year 2000 almost all of those “situations” from those lists have ironed themselves out. The branch presidents have received three updated membership lists during the year which I hope to increase to a quarterly basis in 1001. Those lists help the branches and myself ensure that our information is correct. Thank you to all those presidents and secretaries who have helped me achieve this. We still have way to go - but remember Rome was not built in a day! It will take some further work but -WE CAN DO IT!
The new Heritage items have been selling like hotcakes. We are continuously refilling the orders on the new towels, adult and children aprons and hankies. In addition to those items we have T-shirts, drink kozies, measuring cups and spatulas. Also keep in mind our wonderful cookbooks. These items can be purchased through the Home Office at (815) 727-1926.
2001 Billing
You will start receiving invoices around the third week of January. The invoice will look similar to those sent last year. On the bottom there is an opportunity to send a donation for Scholarship, Heritage or ZARJA Funds in addition to your dues. This is optional, however, greatly appreciated. Last year our organization brought in $7,482.00 from our generous members. Remember even $1.00 helps.
Also on the invoice is a section to fill out if ZARJA should be going to another address other than the billing address. I encourage you to fill this out. This mainly relates to the members who are paying for other members.
Something new this year is a survey. It will be enclosed with your invoice. PLEASE fill this out and return with your invoice! We are trying to make this organization work for everyone of you. We need to know what you like about SWU and how you think we can make improvements. Your input is valuable to us!
Sincerely,
Bonnie
Congratulations all newly-elected officers!
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ itit
SWU New Member Report
December, 2000
103	68217	Collier, Ann
103	68212	Hezir, Alexandra
103	68214	Kirby, Diana
103	68213	Kotler, Milena
103	68216	Sheridan, Amy E.
13	68219	Zagar, Alexandra
14	68221	Koi, Lisa
2	68218	Novak, Judith
20	68210	Bletsch, Jean
20	68208	Cox, Dolly
20	68215	Hubler, Anne M
20	68222	Štritof, Bob
20	68220	Vasile, Ron
20	68211	Walsh, Marie
25	68206	Kuhar, Andrew
30	68223	Born, Gladys
30	68203	Massaia, Amelia
39	68205	Setnicker, Mary Ann
42	68207	Albers, Jackie
42	68209	Zimmer, Marie A
43	68226	Kolesari, Betty Ann
56	68224	Ottman, Barbara
89	68225	Argubright, Florence
SWU SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Awards in a number of categories will be dispersed during the year 2001 to high school seniors entering accredited colleges, universities and technical schools, along with four $500 scholarships which will be granted to two applicants in the education field, updating their credits, and to two other adults who want to update their skills, change careers, etc. after being out of high school or college for a number of years. Those who have already received a Continuing Education Awards will be eligible to apply once again this coming year.
Four $1000 Awards will be considered in the following categories:
1. SWU Activity and Slovene cultural promotion
2. Financial need
3. Vocational or Technical school applicant
4. General merit
Four $500 Awards will be considered in the following categories:
1. & 2. (two awards). Education classes to update teacher’s qualifications
3. & 4. (two awards). Classes at an accredited college technical school to update skills or career change
Eight Awards Totaling $6,000 in 2001
Students wishing to pursue these awards can write to me or send an e-mail request to MTurvey@aol.com., specifying either the Freshmen College application form or the Continuing Education application form. All data required must be submitted and postmarked no later than March 10, 2001. Students must have been actively involved in the SWU for the past three years as a requirement for a SWU award.
This new category system will make the evaluation process more time consuming for our dedicated scholarship committee but hopefully this new system will also encompass many more of our students. The SWU Program’s main purpose is to support those of Slovene culture in their educational pursuits, hoping at the same time that these students will continue to promote our heritage in generations to come.
Mary Turvey, Director
SCHOLARSHIP FUND DONATIONS October and November, 2000
$5.00 donation: William Slogar (tTony Papesh)
$10.00 donations: Pat Lammi (tTony Papesh), Theresa Rozman Lockwood (tFr. David Stalzer), Olga Feroni (tAnn Hutar)
$20.00 donation: Virginia Zajc (tFrank Kapel)
$25.00 donation: SWU Branch 55, Girard, Ohio (tFrances Lukz)
$40.00 donation: Wally and Jo Lustik (gift to SWU Scholarship Fund)
All Scholarship Fund donations mailed to the Scholarship Fund Director will be acknowledged by mail and listed in each Scholarship Program column of ZARJA. Donations sent to Bonnie Prokup, National Secretary of the Slovenian Women’s Union, will be acknowledged in her column which also appears in ZARJA. We are truly grateful for your continued support and interest in the educational investment of our future Slovene generation. Our award program is entering it’s fifty-second year.
As you have already read or heard at your regional conventions, Corinne Leskovar, Editor of ZARJA has requested that we begin preserving the past history of our Slovenian Women’s Union by preparing archival boxes of historical memorabilia from each of our branches. During the past several months I have been gathering and indexing old ZARJA articles and papers written by my Grandmother, Marie Prisland. Files beginning in 1926 which include newspaper articles, photos, copies of her writings in ZARJA will be indexed and stored in these archival boxes. This collection, along with her scrapbooks, covering a great variety of historical accounts, beginning in the mid 1920s, will be photocopies, scanned, indexed and placed on disks. All of this material will be available to anyone interested in her work. Eventually this collection will be housed in our SWU Heritage Museum in Joliet, Illinois and will serve as a source of reference to our Slovenian Women’s Union history and immigrant Slovene life in earlier times in our United States. If you have some material such as letters written by Marie Prisland, pictures, etc., that you would like to contribute to the “Marie Prisland History” please forward them to me. Your valuable contributions will add much and will be deeply appreciated.
Mary H. Turvey 52 Oakridge Drive Marquette, Michigan 49855 MT urvey@aol. com
75TH ANNIVERSARY SLOVENIA TOUR
September 13—27, 2001
We invite all our members, their families and friends to join Slovenian Women’s Union members and friends on the 75th Anniversary Heritage Tour to Slovenia. We especially encourage anyone who has not yet visited Slovenia to come along with us to learn of its beauties and significance of your ancestry!
In this issue we present the Itinerary for all 15 days and other information.
We will truly strive to bring you delightful experiences and the most magnificent scenery!
Please send inquiries to our National President. Address letter, call, fax or e-mail to Kathleen Dorchak, 3088 Markle Dr., Silver Lake, OH 44224; Phone: (330) 686-1336; Fax: (330) 688-6203; e-mail: kdorchak@neo.rr.com.
-~<C r	*w-v.	.<?•	'	i""‘
/V	*■>«	*	Duj)	lifiiti	^niiT41	t
I**...	«™ii>	i
N.IHlll	Ct	It*	.
7
/	Inin {,MH*	-„J
( *	"‘n.	*-l..
•Fran)*« S*u>f|*Uh,
Mor*vik«looli<*
. ‘Until M'l "
Rn*. Slatin*
Atomth* toplk*
Corn.ii*?	t'Kirt	-	...	—
«-»	£5.	•—■	».«. j
r ( ""«■	  —	.	...j«.,*;
V ftv 'v	Po»to(n»fc» |jma^ M .Itllnil	■**>.	Ko»t»oi»«k*	X/'*—	v
 '7"-
'	i.r	^	^
,»*. M. X. "•i-.----------------------- /-j	mm,
\ Mint*
. r V	*-
•».«.*** I	.Viwiii	C
•	•H(*t|»«lir	MiMitha	J	/
'fPortw*!	/	C->	^
■\ III«
\-A
SOURCE Northeast Ohio Data and Information Service at Cleveland State University
sAWNUa
Republic of Slovenia:
Parliamentary democracy
Area:
20,273 sq. km.
Population
1,990,272 (June, 2000)
Currency:
Slovenian Tolar/SIT
SIT 242.34 = USD I (Dec. 20(H))
Capital: Ljubljana pop.: 330,000
Tour Package Features:
• Round trip Airfare from New York (Call for price from any major U.S. or Canadian city) • Deluxe motor-coach throughout entire tour • First Class Hotel accommodations throughout • English speaking guides throughout the tour • All entrance fees/sightseeing, per itinerary • Breakfast daily, Lunch and Dinner as indicated • Enjoy traditional Slovenian restaurants and gostilnas throughout the tour • Grand SWU 75th Anniversary Celebration at Ljubljana Castle! • All Hotel service fees and taxes • Baggage handling & bellman’s gratuities at hotels • Comprehensive Travel Documentation prepared by Kollander World Travel.
Tour Package Cost (Based on a minimum of 30 passengers)
$2,698.00 per person from east coast departure city, based on double occupancy.
Group Airfare for your home departure cities: Chicago $85.00, Cleveland $65.00; for other cities fares according to distance.
Single room supplement $365.00; Triple room deduction $150.00.
Not included: Government tax, surcharges and security fees.
Note: If paying by credit card, 3% of total charge will be added to your final invoice. Your personal check is welcome.
Deposit of $300.00 per person upon reservation.
POLAND
1 CZECH vx REPUBLIC
GERMANY	*	SLOVAKIA
AUSTRIA
HUNGARY
LjubHana,
IU CROATIA
ROMANIA
SERBIA
Come with us to
Slc^enlfa
15-DAY ITINERARY
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13: Departure from our home cities and rendezvous in our gateway airport. Board our overnight trans-Atlantic flight and depart the United States bound for Europe. Complimentary meals and beverages will be served during the flight.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14: LAKE BLED. Upon arrival to Europe, transfer to Adria Airways and fly to Ljubljana. We quickly go through customs and meet our waiting guide and motor-coach for our journey north to Lake Bled, Slovenia. Accommodations at hotel Kompas in Lake Bled. Welcome dinner at our lakeside hotel and overnight.	D
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15: LAKE BLED. Walking sightseeing tour of Lake Bled including an enjoyable car-propelled ride to the center island. Enjoy lunch at the old Lake Bled castle overlooking the surrounding region. The afternoon free for independent exploration and shopping or enjoying the wonderful facilities of our hotel. Dinner on your own giving you a chance to meet with friends and relatives or enjoy one of Lake Bled’s excellent restaurants.	B, L
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16: LAKE BLED/KRANJSKA GORA. Free morning in Bled. Then we drive to Brezje for the 75th Anniversary Jubilee Mass at the Basilica of the Shrine of Marija Pomagaj. After Mass, journey north through the scenic Slovenian Alps to Kranjska Gora. See the Planica Olympic ski jumps. Continue the scenic drive to the top of Mt. Vršič for a view of the surrounding Julian Alps. Enjoy dinner with live musical entertainment at the famous musician Slavko Avsenik's gostilna. Then return to our hotel at Lake Bled.	B, D
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17: To MARIBOR. Today we journey east via Kamnik, a historical town with an attractive medieval core, across the Tuhinj valley to the scenic Logarska Dolina valley. On the way, we’ll stop in Radmirje at the St. Francis Xavier church, established as a pilgrimage site. The church’s rich treasury contains mass vestments of the French and Polish kings and the golden chalice of the Empress Maria Theresa. In Logarska Valley, an optional walk to the Rinka waterfall and then enjoy lunch at a local tourist farm. Continue to Maribor, capital of the Štajersko region. Overnight at Habakuk Spa hotel.	B, L
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18: MARIBOR/KAMNICA. Sightseeing of Slovenia’s second largest city will include the sights of Maribor castle, the cathedral with Bishop Slomšek’s tomb, the monuments erected by the Pope in his honor and the “old town” of Lent with the more than 400 year old grapevine. The tour of the surrounding area will also include a visit to Kamnica and it’s most interesting St. Martin’s Church. Lunch at a local tourist farm with wines of the Slovenske Gorice region. Afternoon free to enjoy the many spa activities that the Fontana swimming center offers. Overnight at Habakuk Spa hotel.	B, L
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19: PTUJ/ROGASKA/ NOVO MESTO. Sightseeing of Ptuj, the oldest Slovenian town, including a visit to Ptujska Gora Church, its castle and wine cellar. Light lunch. On to Rogaška Slatina crystal factory with time for shopping. Continue via the Bizeljsko wine district to Novo Mesto. Welcome dinner and overnight at Habakuk Spa hotel. B, L, D THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20: To LJUBLJANA. Following breakfast, we depart for a visit to the Pleterje Monastery and the open air museum of Dolenjsko region farm. Time permitting, we'll also visit the Kostanjevica castle and art gallery of Božidar Jakac. Lunch in Kostanjevica at a local gostilna. Continue to Ljubljana via Žužemberk. Accommodations at the Grand Hotel Union. Enjoy the evening out in Ljubljana. An optional restaurant and nightlife excursion will be organized. Dinner on own. B, L
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21: LJUBLJANA. This morning enjoy a walking sightseeing tour of “old Ljubljana.” We’ll see the open air market, the City Hall. Robba's Fountain, the Three Bridges and the Parliament and have some free time for lunch on our own and some independent shopping. Free time this afternoon in Ljubljana. Time permitting, we suggest a visit to a private pottery producing craft shop in Domžale and afterwards a dinner in a local gostilna with entertainment.	B,	D
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22: LJUBLJANA. Free mom ing for independent shopping, sightseeing, etc. You may choose an optional excursion today, or take more time to visit relatives and local friends.
INCLUDED OPTIONS:
*Full day excursion to the Bela Krajina area. Guided visit of the small scenic villages of Bela Krajina close to the bordering Kolpa River with folk costumes of hand-produced flax linen products, etc. and taste some local food. Return to Ljubljana in time for the great evening event.
*Cooking school to learn preparation of famous Slovenian dishes.
This evening prepare for the grand celebration of the Slovenian Women’s Union of America 75th Anniversary at the Ljubljana castle overlooking the city. Enjoy an excellent and interesting dinner including a choral welcome, traditional Slovenian costumes on the wait staff and entertainment over dinner by “Prifarski muzikanti” folk group.	B,	D
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23: LJUBLJANA. Morning free. Mass this morning is at 11:00 a.m. at the Franciscan Church near our hotel. Afterwards we will enjoy a picnic at the quaint old city of Škofja Loka with traditional Slovenian harvest dishes and local wines. Back to Ljubljana and our hotel for dinner and overnight.	B,	L,	D
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24: PORTOROŽ. Leisurely morning after which we will journey through several small towns en route to the beautiful coastline of Slovenia. We will stop in Vrhnika, then on to Idrija for it’s well preserved lace making craft and the interesting “quick silver” or mercury mine. Lunch nearby in a mansion called Kendov dvorec. Check into the beautiful seaside Grand Hotel Emona in Portorož. Enjoy a seafood dinner at our hotel and a swim in their swimming pools or a visit to the Portorož Casino.	B,	L,	D
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25: PORTOROZ/LIPICA. This morning we’ll drive to the Karst region for a taste of famous Slovenian prsut, ham cured in the “burja" Karst wind. Drive to Lipica, the 400+ year-old stables of the world-famous Lipizzaner horses, and possibly see a performance. Upon return to the coast, stop in Hrastovlje to admire the well preserved frescoes of “dance macabre" in a tiny local medieval church and enjoy a regional dinner close by. Return to Portorož for dinner and overnight in Slovenia.	B, L, D
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26: PORTOROŽ/KOPER/ PIRAN. This morning the group will board a private boat for a seaside tour of Portorož. Piran and the bustling port of Koper. Though Slovenia has only a small stretch of coastline, it’s history has been significantly influenced by its access to the sea. We will end up in nearby Piran and enjoy a late lunch at the spectacular Pavel restaurant on the seaside. Return to Portorož with some free time before our farewell dinner with entertainment and final overnight in Slovenia.	B, L, D
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27: Early morning departure for the airport for our return flights home. Those extending their stay may disembark the coach in Ljubljana and enjoy additional time in Slovenia or elsewhere in Europe.	B
Early History of Slovenska Ženska Zveza, Branch 42 in Maple Heights, Ohio
She can be best described as a Slovenian lady, Marie Prisland, an emigre from Rečica, Slovenia. She recognized the need for an organization of Slovenian women to continue the traditions and values learned in her homeland and to contribute to the rich panoply of American culture awaiting to be developed in an industrial society as the United States.
There is a Slavic heart, tender and sometimes melancholy but usually joyful and merry, often seen in the twinkle of the sparkling eyes of a Slovene girl. The Slavic heart was confronted by a consumer-oriented society tempting the immigrant to reach only for material success and the immediate pleasures of the world. The great Russian writer Dostoevsky described the Slavic attached to “črna zemlja” as a fundamental part of the Slav character which in turn is related to the Christian heart. It is this Christian heart which Marie Prisland understood as her inheritance bequeathed by her own Slovenian society steeped in religious faith.
The feminism of this perceptive woman exists in stark contrast to the harsh tenets of feminism embodied in the present day girl of crass fulfillment. Her philosophy was to continue the feminism of the Slovene woman in a new industrial world and to continue the love of family and religious faith as articles of a self-evident truth, a truth revealed and taught by the first missionaries from Ireland and Germany and subsequently from the Greek missionaries, Cyril and Methodius. The emphasis must on the family and its attendant ally, religious faith.
Slovenska Zenska Zveza v Ameriki, the Slovenian Women’s Union of America was organized in 1926, about thirty-five years after the first wave of Slovenian immigrants poured into the industrial areas of the Midwest. The Grand Camiolian Slovenian Catholic Union was already established in the Chicago environs and rapidly spread branches all over the country. Its secular counterpart was the Slovenska Narodna Podpodna Jenota, organized in 1902 to serve all Slovenes including those with socialist and anticlerical attitude. Some felt the existence of the Ženska Zveza was to serve as a kind of auxiliary of the KSKJ, but the wisdom of the Zveza foundress, Marie Prisland, steered the organization into a national movement of sisterhood dedicated to the family and the traditions of the Slovene nation under the auspices of Mary, the Mother of God. The dignity of the woman, motherhood and the role of the wife as a full partner in the service of mankind were to be emphasized.
Theresa Godec from Laze, Slovenia, married Frank Glavic from Bakacu and the young couple arrived in Mogo-dore, Ohio in 1901. Gravitating to the Newburgh area of Cleveland, Ohio where most of their ten children were born, they settled down in the comfortable Slovenian parish of St. Lawrence. It was here that Theresa joined the new Ženska Zveza Lodge No. 15. Living so close to the smoke-stack industry of the steel mills, the threat of tuberculosis was ever present. This prompted the family to move to the new village of Maple Heights in 1928, building a house on Erwin Street, quite removed from the new and growing Slovenian community center around Raymond, Greenhurst, Miller and Stanley Streets. In fact, the family became Bohemian
oriented, the children attending St. Wenceslaus School which enrollment was made up of mostly Bohemian children living close to the church. The Slovenian ties remained strong however, the family continued to attend mass at St. Lawrence, the oldest son Frank, driving the 1926 Buick the seven miles to St. Lawrence Church.
Theresa Glavic epitomized the adage “give work to the busy person.” With a household of ten growing youngsters she nonetheless took time to organize Lodge No. 42 with the assistance of the sponsoring Lodge No. 15 in Newburgh. She and her niece, Josephine Hočevar (mother of our current recording secretary, Josephine Stoltz), canvassed the Maple Heights community and enrolled twenty-two chartered members for the installation on May 31, 1930. The canvassing and enrollment was done throughout the later six months of 1929. The start was a shaky one as ten members resigned prior to the charter, three new ones enrolled however and Mary Martinsek resigned as President prior to the charter (unknown circumstances) and young Cecilia Oblak became first President of the chartered chapter known as Branch 42. Theresa Glavic was elected Secretary, and Pauline Hribar, Treasurer. Records show that the income for 1930 was $62.50, mostly from the 25 cents per month dues forwarded to the “home office” in Chicago in the amount of $46.20 so that the balance at the end of 1930 was $16.30 which grew to $28.80 at the end of 1931!
The monthly meetings were held in Pauline (affectionately called “Pavla”) Hribar’s front room for which she was paid the handsome rental of $7.00 per year. Pauline’s house was small but with its accommodating front room and movable benches, it was perfect for Zveza meetings, and also for catechism classes conducted by Fr. Oman of St. Lawrence Parish, or one of his assistants, Fr. Virant, Fr. Baznik, and sometimes Fr. Slapsek, the amiable visiting priest from Slovenia who never got around to learning English. In good weather the youngsters played football and baseball on the adjacent field while awaiting the arrival of the priest-instruc-tor fo the religion classes. Inclement weather brought them into Pauline’s tiny but cozy kitchen where there was enjoyable conversation with Pauline and her family of four children. Sometimes she gave a taste of her supper which was being prepared on the black, wood-fed stove. It was a happy home and offered a lesson in family love and joyful spirit plus the overtones of religion as depicted by the painting of the bleeding heart of Jesus hanging on the front room wall. (Pauline Hribar was the grandmother to our current president, Jeanette Offutt.)
Having become established with some degree of confidence, Zveza began its well-respected tradition of “ves-elicas”, card parties, picnics, masked balls and drawings (srečke). There was enough profit from the first veselica to generate enthusiasm for continued veselicas. This first veselica was probably held in the basement of Joseph Legan’s house which harbored an oaken wine press and several barrels of wine called “cviček”, made in the Dolenjsko style of wine making.
Following is a list of the 1931 charter membership
whose names will recall fond memories: Antonija Cercek and her sister Theresa Glavic. Anna Baznik Fortune, Pauline Hribar, Mary Hočevar, Lucija Kern, Frances Kreso, Antonia Leean (mother of Branch 42’s ZARJA reporter, Lillian Legan Sadowski), Frances Legan, Tillie Legan who soon became Tillie Sterzoj after the death of her husband, John, Frances Lipoglavsek (Lipnos), Mary Jemec (mother of our current Secretary/Treasurer Marjorie Yemec Church - spelling changed to “Y” later in years due to continued mispronunciation), Cecelia Hočevar - nee Oblak, Pauline Perhavec who was married to Mr. Kovacic until he died a few years previous, Theresa Simončič, Anna Rogel who soon moved away from the neighborhood, the daughters of Frank and Antonia Legan, Antonia, Frances and Julia, and Jennie Perko who lived on Lee Road near Miles Avenue and had a box address from the Bedford Post Office, the village of Maple Heights not yet having its own post office.
The name Theresa was popular with the Slovenes since it was also the name of Queen Maria Theresa of Austria. Slovene girls were given beautiful, soft-sounding and melodious Latin-Slavic names with many vowels contrasting to the usually hard-sounding surnames. Cecelija, Lucija, Antonija, Johanna, and Pavla are such examples although Mary and Frances were popular, Frances being adapted from Franz Josef, the beloved Emperor of Austria of which Slovenia was a province at the turn of the 20th century.
There were a number of names in the list of membership which were conspicuous by their absence. Before installed
as a member of the Zveza the young lady or woman had to meet two requirements. One requisite was to be a Slovene and the other a practicing Catholic which meant reception of the Eucharist at lerast once a year. This Catholic requirement was an impediment for those women whose husbands harbored an anti-clerical attitude. Political beliefs were held as strongly as religious beliefs and sometimes the clash between the two beliefs resulted in the factionalism which became a characteristic of the Slovenian people. The politics of Socialism was deeply felt near the Italian border of Slovenia and influenced many men who subsequently refrained from supporting the church or even attending mass. For the wives who strived to impart a religious understanding of life to their children, it was a difficult situation. Many ladies did not join Zveza in deference to their husbands. In later years, the factionalism developed during WWII and even civil war in Slovenia when the Partisan movement defeated the Domobranci for control of the government. The banner of communism was raised in triumph.
(We’ll continue with Br. 42’s Early History in the next issue.)
The foregoing was written in February, 1990 by Robert Kastelic, with information from records ofproceedings of Branch 42, SŽZ, beginning in 1930 and information from Branch Officers Ludmilla (Millie) Lipnos and Marjorie (Jemec) Church on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of Branch 42. Hvala Lepa, Bob!	M.C.
My Introduction to Rome
by Alice Kuhar
As I began my vacation in early October, I couldn’t forget what a thrill it was for me to be making my first visit to Rome, the “Eternal City,” a city I had heard so much about both pro and con. Now I could see it for myself! Judy at Kollander World Travel had made excellent arrangements for my busy three week trip to Europe - Rome, Slovenia and Germany. Our plane arrived right on time at Rome airport on a bright sunny Tuesday in October and as we were driven to the Quality Hotel Regent we passed tall, stately palm trees and bright blooming tropical oleanders, as our driver informed us we had arrived at a pleasant time of year after a summer of oppressive heat.
We were scheduled to meet with the group led by Father Frank Godic who had left the day before. Tomorrow we would go to the Vatican where Pope John Paul II held audience every Wednesday morning when he was at the Vatican. As evening approached, we greeted the Kollander group who enthusiastically described their exciting day visiting the Colosseum, breathtaking palaces and even had the opportunity to toss a few coins in the Trevi Fountain. Soon we boarded the bus for an exciting Roman-style dinner at Tanagra Caffe Concerto. We were led to candle-lit tables and were soon feasting on appetizers as we were introduced to members of Cameo Opera who entertained us between courses with dramatic opera arias throughout our delicious meal and ended with the performers’ thrilling version of “Arrivaderci, Roma”.
The next day we arrived at the Vatican’s huge St. Peter’s Square which was milling with throngs of people from throughout the world in this Jubilee year 2000. As we took our designated seats the Holy Father circled the huge crowd of about 50,000, in his black limousine. People shouted and cheered waving ribbons and flowers as he passed by. This was the third time I had seen His Holiness and each time I was impressed by his sincere piety. As the Pope made his way under the canopy he seemed so frail and yet as he spoke addressing the huge crowd a spiritual aura seemed to pass over the pilgrims. Monitors were arranged so that everyone could view the Pope. After acknowledging groups and organizations from throughout the world in attendance, each in their own language, he addressed the audience with his holy message of peace. Soon he blessed us along with the religious items we had purchased. As the Pope left for his residence he once again was driven around the perimeter of the crowd so that we could get a closer look at him, and soon was gone.
As the crowd dispersed we were thrilled to see Dr. Karl Bonutti, Slovenian Ambassador to the Vatican, approaching us and welcoming us to the Vatican. He was kind enough to escort us into the private area and gardens where the Cardinals and Bishops reside, but which were unoccupied at that time. From there we were invited to the office of the Ambassador where his lovely wife, Hermina and his staff greeted us and served us refreshing drinks along with varieties of finger sandwiches and mouthwatering strudel which had been prepared by Mrs. Bonutti herself.
(To be continued)
Slovenian Women’s Union of America Board of Directors’ Meeting July 27,28,29,2000 - Home Office, Joliet, IL
Members in attendance: President Kathleen Dorchak, Vice President Marjorie Church, Secretary Bonnie Prokup, Treasurer Jonita Ruth, Auditors Beverly Menart, Beverly Jackson, ZARJA Editor Corinne Leskovar, Scholarship Director Mary Turvey, Women’s Activities Director Agnes Dobczyk, Junior Activities Director Angela Stare, Illinois-Indiana Regional President Genevieve Boul, Western States Director Ceta Zagar. Guests present were volunteers Lynn Zalokar, Marketing, Art Fox of Internet Site Dot Planet, and Linda Ford, web site developer.
Absent:	Auditor	Fran Morison, Ohio-Michigan
President/Eastern States President Fran Gazvoda, Minnesota Regional President Charlotte Laurich, and Wisconsin Regional President Josephine Janezic, Recording Secretary is Niki Blowers.
After opening prayer and comments by President Kathleen Dorchak, a representative from Dotplanet.com, was introduced. He presented a “home page” specifically for SWU of A and indicated that proceeds from any sales of the current merchant subscribers would benefit the SWU of A with a small profit percentage. The idea was tabled. This was followed by a discussion with a member who volunteered to follow up with the incomplete SWU web page who would continue its development with current information and history of SWU. Various information was supplied to Linda Ford, designated webmaster, to continue its progress.
The following day, July 28, 2000, President commenced with prayer and called the meeting to order. Those from the previous day were in attendance except tor guests Art Fox and Linda Ford.
Meeting started with discussing marketing strategy as presented by Lynn Zalokar, degreed marketing major. After reading several handouts, reviewing geographic, demographic, and membership statistics, several courses of action were to be taken to market our cook books, the sale of heritage items and to increase and involve the membership in SWU activities. Several plans were to be implemented as soon as possible, namely advertising, public relations and on-line newsletter, to stimulate interest in the younger generation. All Board Members were to share in this task of promoting the good will of SWU through the available and creative resources. The cook books will be sold through SWU, book stores or any available outlet interested in promoting Slovenian style cooking as well as contact be made to known chefs and various dignitaries throughout the U.S.
Vice President’s Report:	(Marjorie Church)
Completed Heritage Museum financial statements for auditors’ review and placement in the minute book. Completed Secretary’s Roster and Handbook for distribution to Branches as of June, 2000. Placement of ads in Slovenian newspapers for sale of the cook books, i.e. Ameriška
Domovina, Prosveta, and KSKJ Glasilo which produced excellent results. Further consideration and funding was made for advertising for the holiday season as well as trying local and national newspapers on a monthly basis. Fund raiser for renovation and refurbishing the Heritage Museum and Home Office building was established at the previous meeting and fund-raiser donation calendars were printed and made available to all Board members in attendance at this meeting. The “one-month” calendar is to be inserted in the September/October issue of ZARJA. The purpose is to reach the entire membership in an appeal for funds needed to do substantial renovation work on the building and update the Heritage Museum which is located on the first level of the building. (Note: The home office is located in downtown Joliet and the district including St. Joseph’s Church is known as “Slovenian Row,” a historical designation.) A letter was sent again to the Lausche foundation to re-apply for funds to assist in the Museum renovation. Included in the letter was a development plan to restore and update in phases. Brought up in discussion was the issue that the Heritage Museum establish itself as a tax-exempt corporation in order to receive funds from donors — tax free. Heritage gift item list was revised to include all available items for sale as of this writing. A “job description” was prepared for a Museum Director. Efforts will be made to replace Father Stalzer as director as he passed away in June. A Values Statement was written and will be reviewed to submit to all Board Members for the next meeting. The “capsulized” minutes of the previous meting were handed out for Board Members to read which was accepted as written and placed in the permanent minute book.
National Secretary’s Report: (Bonnie Prokup) The review to date of donations made from invoice submissions of January, 2000 to members were $7,246.00 as of the previous week of this meeting, designated as follows: ZARJA $2,521.50, Heritage $1,041.50, Scholarship $3,863.00.
Breakdown presented by the National Secretary by graphic charts showed that the greatest increase in membership was in 1999 for a total of 99 new members. A campaign was established to promote a quota increase from last year for the year 2001 by awarding the person who brings in the most new members a savings bond in the value of $ 100.(X). Additional charts prepared for this meeting indicated: Membership by Regions, Members by Regions by Age, and Membership by Average Age. The vast majority of membership age is over 60.
The financial report indicated outstanding dues owed were approximately $13,000. The carry over membership lists from the previous years were compressed and updated. Results: Membership 5,185; 1,087 delinquent as of July 25,
2000.	357 members have not paid for two years. A letter was sent to each secretary highlighting the unpaid dues for the branch requesting payment by August 30,2000. Members who owe for two years will be deleted from membership. After August 30, a final notice will be mailed to unpaid members. It is impossible to pay the bills and send ZARJA magazines to those who do not wish to reimburse for their subscriptions. Right now it seems, a number of people are receiving ZARJA issues for Iree.
All branch secretaries will be notified of new members joining their branch. The home office manager will send out notices of advice. Branch reporters have been including death notices of members which will be continued in this form rather than listing by each period the names of those who have passed. Beneficiary forms are to be competed, updated and forwarded to the National Secretary (Bonnie). If not current, the proceeds from the certificates will automatically go to the “estate of..which can cause delays and unnecessary attorney fees.
Treasurer’s Report. (Jonita Ruth - Home Office Manager). E-Mail communication is still progressing. Funds collected for the Heritage Museum in memory of Fr. David Stalzer was $950.00, $500.00 of which was sent by Fr. David’s family. This was a most gracious gift and gratefully accepted by the Board.
Building renovation report including the following: roof resealed, bricks tuck-pointed in front, 2nd level walls plastered, repaired where broken, and repainted. Partial update of plumbing was completed. Cost to the General Fund, $12,370.00. The City of Joliet has created a Facade Incentive Grant Program. The Home Office requested participation of their funds and was granted 50% of any expenses to be incurred up to but not exceeding $4,500.00 to refurbish the exposed exterior of the building. This is part of the City of Joliet’s program to re-establish downtown Joliet and the area known as “Slovenian Row.” The details of the exterior refurbishing will be handled by National President, Kathleen Dorchak in communication with the City of Joliet and the selected contractor. No grants by the City are considered for interior renovations or improvements. An additional interior expense to be considered is the installation of an air conditioning unit on the second floor, and the bid submitted and accepted by the Board was $1,270.00 to complete the work.
Discussion ensued to determine if the 2nd level should be rented to recover some of the refurbishing expenses until such time as the 2nd level can be established as a heritage research center. All were in favor. Heritage Museum check book balance is $4,700.00.
Auditors’ Report: The audiors reviewed the National Secretary’s report through July 25, 2000; report was approved and set forth of record. The Heritage accounts were reviewed, approved and to be included in the Book of Minutes. (Account balance noted above.) The request was made for more detailed information in the Heritage account in the future to determine actual expenditures, i.e. Profit vs. Cost.
ZARJA Editor’s Report: (Corinne Leskovar). The concern expressed was for improved archival storage. The plan is to promote branches to save their historical documents (minute books, minute books, photos, etc.) in an acid free container to save these items. Storage boxes will be provided at State Conventions to distribute to branches for the preservation of their documents and when convenient or ready to relinquish, branches can forward them to the Museum (home office) for safekeeping, display and reference. The utmost priority is to save the historical records of all branches. All items need to be originals (no photocopies). It is hoped this process will be implemented by each and every branch. Acid free storage boxes are available
through the National President, Kathleen Dorchak, who graciously volunteered to purchase and donate them for each and every branch. The home office will have available boxes for those who were not able to attend their convention.
The immigrant History Research Center in Minneapolis has opened a new archival section. Corinne Leskovar suggested that people who are in the area go to the specialists there and find out how they are establishing this new section. Volunters to pursue and acquire information were Angela Stare (Youth Director) and Bev Menart (Auditor). The SWU of America feels this project deserves support with the genealogy aspect for the SWU members.
National Convention Report. The convention in 2003 is being held in Duluth, MN. Beverly Menart, with the assistance of her branch and other local branches are in the planning stages. Convention dates have been set for 6/12 through 6/16/03. Tentative agenda is as follows: Thursday evening, Vista Ship sightseeing dinner cruise. Friday, Convention Meetings. Friday evening Scenic Railroad or free night (gambling casino, cultural center, etc.) Saturday, Convention Meeetings. Saturday evening, Convention Banquet. Sunday: Mass and trip to Iron World. Monday, Mall of America, Hotels may be anyone of the following located on the lakeside, i.e. Canal Park Inn, Hampton Inn, Comfort Suites, Hawthorne Suites. This year, it was decided by the Board to have the Convention in June in order that members can bring their families. Children’s activities will be planned to entice the entire family to enjoy themselves while delegates are having their meetings. Suggestions for chidren’s plans are to display a Slovenian custom, or costume, to share with other children. A two day cultural plan was suggested for children (i.e. Camp Heritage) to teach a few words of the Slovene language, or a few dances, some baking ideas, or learn about a Slovenian craft. Activities Director, Angela Stare, will create a flyer for the children activities at Convention time and send to juniors prior to the convention.
A special fund raiser to offset some of the expenses of the delegates’ per diem will be held at least one year prior to the convention. Bev Menart will make a quilt of substantial size to offer for raffle. A video provided by the Chamber of Commerce of Duluth was shown to the Board, and the sightseeing, beauty, historical and cultural interests of the city of Duluth and environs are outstanding.
Scholarship Report. Slovenian Women’s Union Scholarship Foundation. Mary Turvey, Scholarship Director, submitted a document on the Slovenian Women’s Union Scholarship Foundation’s investments (from the donation by the Slovene Nursing Home, Fontana, CA and the Smolich Donation) to show progress of increase in income within a short period of time. This established nonprofit foundation • selected the Wells Fargo Bank of Marquette, MI (domicile of Scholarship Director) as approved by the Officers of the Corporation. Awards from this account for the year 2001/02 will be determined by the end of this year and published in the ZARJA magazine. As stipulated by the provisions of the acceptance of the $100,000 for the benefit of scholarship funds, one of the requisites is to also give scholarships to those choosing vocational education. It will be necessary to change the Scholarship article in the bylaws to reflect this inclusion.
Officers of the SWUSF expressed the concern to Mary Turvey that a point average system (grade), does not address the issue of the average, deserving, or need for financial assistance student. The request was made to establish a criteria for all students wanting to further their career, job or future goals regardless of grade points or age group. The criteria will be established and based on the review of the applications by the Scholarship Committee who serve for the Scholarship Foundation as well as the Scholarship Fund. All information will be published in ZARJA.
Slovenian Women’s Union Scholarship Fund. Current Assets: Checking account as of 7/25/00: $10,946.33, the CD account: $10,381.66. Awards for 2001/02 will be as in the past, approximately 4 scholarships at $1,000.00 each for a student entering college from high school. Notification to members will be printed in the ZARJA.
Women’s Activities Director Report. Agnes Dobczyk sent letters in May, 2000 to all Branch Presidents with ideas for activities to be included in branch meetings. Currently a trip is being organized to travel to Our Lady of the Snows (IL) including dinner and a possible side trip. A proposal was made by Bonnie Prokup to plan a tentative trip to Ellis Island, NYC including a trip to the Slovenian church in NYC for members from around the country to meet in New York for an exciting and educational heritage trip. The Board also encourages the membership in general to take part in all trips concerning Slovenian Heritage. Agnes will write an article regarding these trips to be included in the ZARJA magazine.
Junior Activities Director’s Report. (Angela Stare). A roster of all junior members has been provided to Angela which she then used for sending congratulatory birthday cards to all junior members: she introduced herself, and
requested their input for junior page articles. Angela will contact branch presidents to see how to reach our youth. A thought was to establish a pen pal network amongst the junior members which could only be promoted by the parents’ participation and notification to the Jr. Activities Director. Those juniors from age 8 to 18 will be contacted to establish a teen connection.
Other 1) A video production of the museum and the SWU heritage, history, etc. was discussed to be able to send to branches. Niki Blowers (recording), volunteered to take care of the technical aspects of the production and information regarding the video content would fall under a committee to decide upon what to include in the video. It was asked and branches are invited to send in photos of branch activities dealing with various Slovenian traditions. Intent of the video is to be educational and describing Slovene culture. It will be dedicated to the memory of Fr. David Stalzer.
2) President, Kathleen Dorchak, to write to the editors of the various newspapers throughout the country thanking them for publishing a wonderful article on “Slovenia and it’s attributes” in recent major newspapers.
3) Baraga Association is to receive a contribution from SWU of A for $100.00 to be presented at Baraga Days in Marquette, MI at the end of September, 2000.
4) Membership campaign: Ask a person to join, or buy them a one year subscription to ZARJA for the year
2001.	A statement will be sent to them the following year, asking them to continue membership.
5) Trip to Slovenia in 2001. Dates tentatively set for September, 2001. This will be a "Heritage” tour. Further information will be in the ZARJA. Kathy Dorchak will contact travel agencies who will formulate heritage type itineraries. Regions of individual’s heritage will be visited,
FROM OUR MAILBAG:
A word from Mary Muller, Former National President
Dear Friends,
On Labor Day I fell in my apartment and broke my right hip. After being hospitalized for 3 weeks, I am getting around with the help of a walker. It’s a long and tedious process and I guess I am not very patient!
Would love to hear from my sister-members. All my best for the New Year! Love,
Mary Muller
1801 35th St.. #1125 Oak Brook, IL 60523
Hello ZARJA Editor and Readers!
Altho I am unable to attend meetings, living some distance (in another city) from Br. 33, I keep up by eagerly
reading the ZARJA each time it comes. Through the years I have come to know so much of what is happening in all the branches, I feel I know many of the women I read about, especially those in northern Minnesota. SWU is truly a “sisterhood!”
Sincerely,
Marg Radosevich
Enclosed please find check for $18 for which please send a cookbook to my new friend. I met this wonderful lady when I went down to Florida to sell my condo. She was so dynamic that I was speechless when she told me she was Slovenian and loved to cook! I promised to teach her to make strudel. The next time I got back to Florida, saw her and mentioned belonging to Zveza, (No. 25 in Cleveland) and told her about your wonderful cookbook, she expressed a desire to have one. I decided to send my new “best friend” her own copy. I don’t want to part with my own book - altho I have 1,500
cookbooks in my collection! I come from way back in the olden days and remember Albina Novak, Corinne’s Mom.
Frances Kosch
Thanks for the mention of my mom, Mrs. Kosch. And Jonita tells me she already sent the cookbook off to your friend, with an application to join Zveza! It's so nice to hear from such wonderful people as you!	c.
I have the first Pots & Pans cookbook issue which would have been Woman’s Glory, 1963. My mother was a great cook and baker. It is with pleasure that I just read the old-time Slovenian recipes for žgance, strukle, etc., that my mom made. Am now anxious to go over the latest edition. My mother was a charter member of Br. 43 and I belong also. I enjoy reading ZARJA.
Olga Seehafer (43) Milwaukee, Wl
local museums, churches, lakes, mountains, gostilnas, and spas will be on the list; and plans will also be made to have travelers celebrate the 75th Anniversary (2001) of SWU at a place of esteem, hopefully a castle!
6) Membership/Subscription Applications are to be updated.
7) Lynn Zalokar, Volunteer Markeing Director, will create an online newsletter to stimulate and inform the younger generation who do not have time to go to meetings. The letter will include items of interest of Slovenia, Slovenian Heritage, Slovenian Activities, Slovenian Culture, Slovenian people of notoriety. The intent is to get as many branch members who are online to let the rest of the national members know what is happening in their areas. Other items for stimulating interest in SWU were: to bring friend or relative to meeting, daughter day, read Prisland book and discuss.
8) President Dorchak said that bylaws need to be reviewed by the Board and as early a notification as possible will be sent to branches to request their input.
9) Next Board meeting is scheduled for March 8 through 12, 2001, at the home office in Joliet.
10) State Convention: Minnesota, September 10, 2000; Wisconsin, September 10, 2000; Illinois-Indiana, October 1, 2000; Ohio-Michigan October 1, 2000. Board officers, who live close and are available, will attend one of the conventions in order to have National representation. Western States: Ceta Zagar, President of the Western region expressed concern that a convention is not feasible due to the wide expanse of the region. Ceta Zagar and Bev Jackson (CA branch) will try to make as many phone calls as possible to see if there is any interest for a state convention.
11) New items will be made available for sale in the
Museum. Sale of items are directed toward funding the updating of the Museum. New items are: (Most all in red and white lettering with SWU logo imprinted) Drink cozies, spatulas, measuring spoons, aprons with carnation, kitchen towels with carnation, T-shirts with original Slovene artwork design in silkscreen - words “Slovenia to America” across the front. Other items may be included depending on budget parameters.
Meeting ended with prayer, hugs and good wishes.
Respectfully submitted by Recording Secretary, Niki Blowers. Condensed by Marjorie Church
Personal note from Marge: Many items, issues concerns, ideas, plans were discussed during the three days of meetings. Minutes taken totaled 17 pages in length and had to be condensed. The daily itineraries were long and longer. Full attention was given by everyone; lunches and suppers were brought in to save time and keep us on track. It is totally impossible to convey the concern this Board has on behalf of its members and the earnest effort with which they intend to promote SWU's future, the recognition of its history, and its preservation. The Board’s primary concern is to create interest for younger people to learn and know they are a part of the Slovenian heritage. The Slovenian Woman has a prideful background and can join in with those from throughout the world as a sister Slovene by becoming a member of the Slovenian Women’s Union.
Thanks go to Lillian Cepon and Josephine Lustikfor providing the meals and traditional Slovenian desserts. Thanks, also to the Board Members who presented so many ideas; it was invaluable. Hvala lepa!
New Members are welcome - $15.00 per year - with ZARJA subscription
Western Regional Branches Alert!
Branch	3	Pueblo, Colorado
Branch	45	Portland, Oregon
Branch	46	St. Louis, Missouri
Branch	63	Denver, Colorado
Branch	66	Canon City, Colorado
Branch	79	Enumclaw, Washington
Branch	92	Canon City, Colorado
Branch	100	Fontana, California
The Annual Board Meeting of SWU is scheduled for March 8 thru ll, 2001 in Joliet. If you have questions, concerns, suggestions you would like brought up, please contact me at:
1033 Helm Lane Foster City, CA 94404-3819 and 1 shall see that such matters are brought to the attention of the Board.
Ceta Zagar
Western Regional Pres.
Member Branch 13, S.F.
NATIONAL TREASURER SAYS HELLO!
Dear Members,
Greetings from Joliet, Illinois. My thoughts go back to the beginning of the Slovenian Women’s Union of America in the year 1926. Now we are entering our 75th year - in 2001! A new century for the world has begun and for us members, we celebrate 3/4 of a Century!
Let’s work on with the same energy and enthusiasm that our pioneer officers had. Faith is needed to keep our heritage strong.
At this time, let us pray that Bishop Baraga will soon be named as a saint and that through him, we may be given blessings and increased faith.
Continued success to all our branches and Happy New Year to all!
Jonita Ruth
Branch 20, Joliet, IL National Treasurer
Slovenian Women's Union of America
Oraanuation
Membership
News Activities
Recipes
He.lo, readers!
This is an image of the new SWUA website. The website is only getting started, and the webmaster needs help from everyone!
As you can see, the plan is to feature articles and information on the following topics:
Organization
• Officers and Committee Chairs
• Projects and Plans
Membership
• USA Map Showing Branches
• Branch Contacts
• Maybe a Searchable Directory
Linda
• A History of Slovenia
• Geographical Features
• The Country Today
• Immigration to America
Museum
• A History of the Museum
• Catalog of Items for Sale
News & Activities
• Major Events Planned by SWUA
• Major Events Planned by Branches
• Items of Interest to Everyone
1 Recipes
• A Recipe-of-the-Month Contest
• Searchable Directory of Favorite Slovenian Recipes
Perhaps those categories should be modified, deleted, added to; perhaps additional subjects should be added to the categories. These are just the current ideas, and we really need to hear from you about what you’d like to see on the website.
More than anything else, we need data - actual writeups and photographs - for the subjects themselves. Will the budding historian with an urge to tell the story of her country please take pen in hand and capture those thoughts? And send them to us?
The website will be only as good as the contribution from the members. Help us make your website memorable.
Send your information, ideas, articles, and photographs to:
Linda Ford, 30861 Jasmine Ct., North Olmsted, OH 44070. She also accepts e-mail: LMF@oh.verio.com.
FROM THE EDITOR
THE YEAR 2001 - OUR 75TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR!
We are entering the new millennium with full energy and anticipation! My thanks to all of you who have contributed to ZARJA and will continue to do so in 2001. It’s a year planned for many wonderful events, both on a national level and in your branches! There will be much to write about and I sincerely welcome you to do so! Thank you, all our reporters who bring us branch and member news, and in this way, keep us unified! This is our ultimate goal and it’s a powerful way to bring success to the S.W.U.
Remember that ZARJA presents a great opportunity, but only for news and announcements, but for education and instruction. The newly-elected Board of Directors are striving to increase awareness among the membership, so we all know how great is our heritage and culture - and how unique we are as an organization of women. There is still a lot we can do - so let’s do it!
Your good will and good words will make our organization grow in membership and help make the branches stronger and more popular. And, after all, this is the goal of the Slovenian Women’s Union. “Good will among all” is more than a phrase - it is something we should all keep in mind. Our Mission Statement, that you can read in every ZARJA, is a sincere pledge that the SWU Board hopes every member will take to heart!
The year 2001 will have 6 issues of ZARJA as in the
past, with the reporters’ deadlines as follows:
December 1st for January-February February 1st for March-April April 1st for May-June (March 15th for Mother/ Woman of the Year stories)
June 1st for July-August
August 1st for September-October
October 1st for November-December.
Please anticipate the calendar, Reporters, and get your news in early.
Speaking of “goodwill”, I know that you exercise this at every opportunity but here’s another reminder. As we mourn our departed members, try to encourage a new membership in that family so that they stay in contact with us and ZARJA stays in their home. And, sending in news about our younger members is always the most uplifting reading matter. Your branches will benefit from these two ideas if you work on them.
We hope to hear many good things about your work, your members and your suggestions in the new year. Each time a new idea appears in ZARJA, there is some member, or some officer who sees it, reads it, and considers it for her own branch! Let’s keep up the spirit and share it, too!
Stay in touch and take an active part in Slovenian Women’s Union in our 75th Anniversary Year!
Corinne Leskovar
flCTIUITIES
NO. 2, CHICAGO, IL Meeting: 2nd Thurs.
St. Stephen’s lower hall
The year 2000 is over! What a speedy year! They all seem to go so fast, however this year there were so many things that happened: The Y2K (we were out buying many staples we thought we needed to survive); the fires out west which destroyed thousands of acres of forest, farms, homes and killed many animals; the drought of weeks without rain, and, of course, the Election - hope at this writing we will have a President, and he will remember he was voted by the people. Please remember him in your prayers.
The Slovenian Cultural Center celebrated their 5th year - dinners are still prepared the second Sunday of each month, try to attend but call in your reservations; you will enjoy being there.
Our Penny Social in November was a success; it was a fun event, the theme “Crows Nest” - matched the decoration. Over 100 members and friends attended. The profit from this party helps to buy gifts for our children’s Christmas party.
Children’s party; 74 children attended - 44 under 10 years of age. They decorated cookies for the tree, sang songs to Baby jesus, had hot dogs/milk/ cookies; played with each other and then Santa came and delivered toys -the children brought gifts for the poor (beanie babies that will be delivered to the Catholic orphanage). Even the adults had fun.
Good things come in bunches so we are happy to announce that we have a few precious new members:
Kati and Scott DeMuth - a little boy, Dylan; Stephen and Holly Hozzian -little girl, Nicole Marie, she joins her cousins and grandmother Anne Hozzian. Donna and Tom McNally welcomed Taylor Marie.
Joan and Roger Wroblewski - little Olivia Rose - she joins her sister Alexis. Grandma Agnes is very delighted.
We hope all mothers and fathers will bring them to the picnic in July - they will be old enough to enjoy the outing; we are really looking forward to see you all.
March 18 - Mark your calendar for the St. Stephen’s Alumni Reunion dinner. Mass at 11:00 a.m., dinner to follow at St. Stephen’s Hall.
Our sympathy to the family of Anton Gaber, Sr. who was a long-time resident of the Slovenian community of St. Stephen’s. He spent his remaining years in Slovenia and was laid to rest there.
Sincere condolences to the family of Elsie Melissa; to her family: Charles, Robert, Sister Gertrude and Shirley. Elsie just passed her 97th birthday then was called to rest by our Lord. May her soul rest in peace.
Congratulations to Mihaela and Stan Simrayh on the marriage of their daughter, Bernardka to Max Petrovich on Dec. 2. They will be making their home in Toronto, Canada. We wish them happiness in the years ahead.
Please remember our sick, and also those who are nursing homes and homebound and cannot attend Mass or get out. A card or phone call would certainly be appreciated, especially for Jean Hrastar, Frances Kremesec and Bill Fabian.
Our meetings of the New Year: 2nd Thursday - 7:00 o’clock.
January - New Year Celebration; February - St. Valentine Day. Lets hope the weather holds on our meeting dates.
“Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart. ”
Love,
DAISY
NO. 3, PUEBLO, CO Meeting: 1st Tues.
St. Mary’s Church Hall
Happy New Year to all!
It seems like only yesterday we were planning on welcoming the new millennium and here we are a year later.
We have had fair attendance at our (Continued on page 14)
Congratulations 70th Anniversary in 2001!
Br. 47, Garfield Hts., OH Br. 50, Euclid, OH
ATTENTION!
Will the following members please send your new address to:
Slovenian Women’s Union % Bonnie Prokup 3119 Carrie Street Peru,IL 61354
Anderson, Rebecca Bobence, Kristen Bowley, Frances M Cepemich, Katherine Chrzanowski, Kathryn Dudek, Barbara Ebzery, Diane Goga, Sophia Gyure, Mary Hiller, Christina Hollis, Frances Hornsby, Alesa Jackson, Julie Kastello, Lisa Knuth, April Lambright, Ronald Maloney, Ashley Milanovich, Helen Mladic, Emiliana Murilla, Mallory Nemeth, Virginia Olles, Joan Popovich, Katie Sanker, Josephine Helen Sepic, Mary Skoda, Frances Srsa, Sandra Stuck, Mary Voyatzis, Dorthea Welser, Jennie Wnek, Lena Wohhllaib, Christopher Železnik, Stefanie Zielinski, Daniel Zortz, Frances
No. 3 Continued:
meetings. We would like to have more of our ladies attend. At our December meeting we made plans for the Christmas party which was held December 6 at Patti’s Restaurant; we also raffled off an Adobe Hacienda donated by Bernice Krašovec and Eileen Perez.
Our Soup Festival and Bake Sale held in October was a huge success thanks to Dixie Sandoval who chaired it, Mary Ann Papish who was in charge of the bake sale and all of the wonderful volunteers, many of whom are members of our lodge; thanks also to the ladies who brought delicious baked goods.
Another successful project for our ladies was “Operation Christmas Child” which consisted of a spaghetti dinner and bake sale, a raffle along with the shoe boxes that were filled with useful items to be distributed to children in Bosnia and war-torn areas. This was a matching fund project participated by KSKJ Lodges - St. Joseph’s and Immaculate Conception.
Belatedly, Anthony Perko deserves recognition and congratulations for being one of three winners of a $ 1,000 Scholarship in an essay contest for the Medal of Honor Convention held in Pueblo. The theme of the essay contest was “What Freedom Means to me.” Anthony is the son of Charles and Ursula Perko and grandson of Josephine and Charles Perko and Anna Knific. He is a student at Pitts Middle School.
Worthy of mention and commendation is Patty Krasovic Martin. She has been employed by Minnequa Bank for 29 years having worked up to the position of Executive Assistant. She is the daughter of Josephine and Raymond Krasovic.
Let’s remember the homebound, the sick, grieving, nursing home residents and caregivers in our prayers.
PAULINE PAUCHICK
NO. 5, INDIANAPOLIS, IN Meeting: 1st Thurs. SND, from May to Dec.
Several Branch 5 members gathered for the annual communion-breakfast at Holy Trinity Church on November 5, 2000. Everyone enjoyed the coffee and krofe. This is a great event. A special thank you to Frances Yovanovich for
having the Mass said for Br. 5 members and for her bouquet to the Blessed Mother. Thanks to Norma Stefanciosa for providing the organ rendition of a favorite Slovenian Hymn.
Thank you to Sue Ann Yovanovich for her help and assistance. She was on top of things especially helping us to find needed supplies at the last minute. (We don’t need to tell you we had forgotten a few things.) Phyllis Fon and Mary Frances Mohr deserve a word (or two) of thanks for all of their time and organization of this event. (What great officers we have!) Also, thanks go to their husbands Steve Fon and Bob Mohr as well as Anna and Sara Fon, both members, for helping with the setup and clean up.
Debby Williams brought along the Christmas angel that she was giving to the raffle. It was quite unusual, an angel made out of an old church hymnal.
Congratulations to Sylvia and Joe Stevens on the occasion of their 60th wedding anniversary. Branch 5 wishes you the best.
The news for this issue is due before our Christmas party, so we will let you know all about it in the next issue.
Love from Texas,
BARBARA MOHR FRIESENHAHN
NO. 10, CLEVELAND, OH Meeting: 4th Wed. 1 p.m. SND Holmes Ave.
Our Christmas party was held in November, as in past years. We thank all the ladies and guests who attended, especially Faye Moro’s and Ann Augustine’s daughters. It was a pleasure to have them as our guests. After our meal a raffle was held with many prizes. Thanks to all who donated them.
We send get well wishes to our dear members who are ill, in nursing homes, and shut-in at home. We wish them a healthy New Year.
Condolences to our fomrer president, Marie Gombach on the loss of her brother, Joseph Penko. To our president, Steffie Segulin, who had a November birthday, wishes for many more blessed and healthy ones.
Thanks to Bea Zimmerman for her generous donation to Br. 10 which she makes annually. Our treasury is low so
we appreciate any donation. Again, thanks, Bea!
As we enter the year 2001 keep in mind that you will be getting notices for payment of dues - keep your memberships and addresses up to date and change beneficiaries if necessary.
Next meeting is Wed. March 28th at 1 p.m.
Keep healthy and have a blessed New Year.
ANN STEFANČIČ
ZflRJfl donations!
The members of Br. 24, LaSalle, IL wish to make a donation to ZARJA’s publishing Fund in memory of Betty Stack, our financial secretary for the past 12 years.
Betty passed away suddenly Oct. 27,
2000.
Our check for $25 is enclosed.
Ann Marie Wangler
President
Enclosed is a check for ZARJA in memory of two great SWU ladies: Rose Skoff and Marion Marolt, $10.00each. Truly sorry to read about their passing in ZARJA. Rose was our great member of Br. 13 and Marion was truly a “fun” lady.
Beverly Jackson
Enclosed is a check on the amount of $40 for the ZARJA Fund, donation from my husband, Wally and me. I am delighted to say that ZARJA keeps getting better all the time and as always, continues to be entertaining and informative reading. We look forward to all the issues.
Jo Lustik
Donations:
$40: Jo and Wally Lustik, Br. 20, Joliet, IL
$25: In Memory of Betty Stack from Br. 24, LaSalle, IL
$10: In Memory Rose Skoff and $10 in Memory Marion Marolt from Beverly Jackson, Br. 13, San Francisco, CA
$10: Br. 101, Bedford, OH
NO. 12, MILWAUKEE, WI Meeting: 3rd Thurs.
St. Peter’s Church Hall except July & Aug.
October meeting was well-attended. The weather was gorgeous and we thought that people would be busy with outdoor work - but, no, we have dedicated members and they came to our meeting! Our tables were decorated with pumpkins and dried com, courtesy of Leona Zigman. We were treated to big pumpkin cookies from Dolores Kodrich, her annual surprise! Thanks to her and Anna Noretti, who every month treats us to pizelle cookies (an Italian recipe).
Ann Pauline had some knee surgery and Theresa Fedran had eye surgery. I’m sure a call or card would brighten their days.
The Christmas dinner was held at Tanner Paul Post - the committee really tried to find a central location due to the possibility of inclement weather in December.
We donated $50 to the Slovenian Cultural Radio hour. They keep us informed or all doings in our community.
We were honored with the presence of Josephine Imperl and her relatives who are our members. Josephine was honored at the UWM Fine Arts Council for 58 years as organist and choirmaster at St. Mary Help of Christians church. She brought her beautiful award-plaque to our meeting so everyone could see it. Congratulations to her!
At the September meeting we were waiting for Tony Starich to show up with his monthly treat - wine - but he never showed! It seems that he got thirsty while driving and since he lives pretty far out, he pulled over and took a “shluk!” several times. After the third time he decided he was too tired, so he turned around and went home to bed. But, we got our treat in October anyway! Tony wouldn’t miss it. He’d rather dance than drink, he says. You have to know this fine gentleman to appreciate this story!
Our November meeting surprised us with snow and rain, but 30 members came. We had election of officers for
2001.	They are as follows:
President Stavia Dobersek, Vice
President Nell Zietlow, Recording Secretary Dolores Kodrich, Financial Secretary Fran Remshak, Auditors Ann Grambow, Albert Jelinik, Molly Macht, USPEH representative Fran Pi-woni, Reporter Mary Kiel.
We will remember our nursing home members with a card and money.
Looking for a pattern for Slovenian costumes for dolls, man and lady. This will be our project as the USPEH organization will donate a doll every year which is then to be auctioned off and all proceeds go to the “Make a Wish” foundation. Every year a different charity will benefit. We will gladly pay for the pattern and postage. Help, help, help, please! Send information to the undersigned.
After a delicious luncheon we settled down to our favorite game. The kitchen crew deserves a big hand:
Happy Valentine’s Day to all and stay warm.
MARY KIEL
4117 So. 1st St., Milwaukee, WI 53207
NO. 13, SAN FRANCISCO, CA Meeting: 1st Thurs. Slovenian Hall on Mariposa St.
We’re sending good wishes to all our sister branches for a happy and healthy New Year!
I look forward to 2001 with great enthusiasm when I see the wonderful strides SWU has made in the past year.
Slovenian Women’s Union and Br.
13 has lost a true pioneer with the passing of Rose Skoff on Oct. 8, 2000. Rose was an exceptional lady. She was a loving wife to the late, Joseph Skoff, mother of Rose Marie Gallagher and the late Joseph V. Skoff, grandmother of John Gallagher and Kathleen O’Conner, great grandmother of Kelly, Holly, Charleen and Tori O’Connor and Kristal Weaks. She was a member of Br. 13 for 52 active years and served as Western States President for 25 years. She was a lively person and enjoyed her hobby of square dancing - attending the dances several days a week until she was 95 years old. To say she was full of energy and enthusiasm is an understatement. We are grateful that we had such a great lady in our branch for so many years. Rose will truly be missed, but never forgotten. Our
prayers and sympathy to the family.
And, very happy news is the welcoming of a beautiful daughter to Jozica and Frank Plut. Viktoria Ann has a “big brother,” Martin. Grandparents are Louise and Joe Jaksa. Congratulations *0 this wonderful family.
There is also exciting news from our Western States President, Ceta Zagar. Daughter, Alexandra now wears a beautiful diamond ring on her left hand! She is engaged to be married to Salvador Prieto and this gorgeous wedding will take place next year.
Remember, our meetings are the first Thursday of the month at the Slovenian Hall. Bring a bag lunch and a smile and we’ll provide the dessert. Our February meeting will be a Valentine Party. Call Josephine (862-8623) and join us.
Kind heart are the garden;
Kind thoughts are the roots;
Kind words are the flowers;
Kind deeds are the fruits!
God bless and Happy New Year!
BEVERLY JACKSON
NO. 14, EUCLID, OH Meeting: 1st Tues., 6 p.m. Slov. Society Home
Winter descended upon us with a bang in mid-November but tapered off early enough for thousands of folks to be able to attend and enjoy Tony Pet-kovsek’s Thanksgiving weekend at the downtown Marriott Hotel. And at the Polka Hall of Fame Awards Show XIII we were honored to have as presentors the Slovenian Ambassador to the United States Dr. Davorin Kračun and Slovenian Consul Tone Gogala. A tremendously happy weekend and as someone stated, “You can’t do a polka without a smile on your face.”
We send along best wishes to Sunshine Lady Rose Rodgers who was under the weather for a bit but is now doing quite well.
A short reminder that our next meeting is Tuesday, April 3 at 6:30 and our well-attended Mother’s Day Dinner will be held on Tuesday, May 1 at 6:00. Call in reservations for yourself and friends to Jennie Fitzthum at (216) 261— 1196.
Sending along hearts and flowers for a Happy Valentine’s Day!
ALICE KUHAR
NO. 16, SO. CHICAGO, IL Meeting: 2nd Saturday, 1 p.m. monthly except Jan.-July-Aug. St. George’s Hall
Greetings of the new year! May all of you enjoy good health, good friends and much good luck in the year 2001!
Our chaplain, Fr. Jozef Timmers, O.F.M. Cap. attended our November meeting; he is the associate pastor at St. George Church, replacing Fr. David Zywiec, O.F.M. Cap. who is now in Ecuador. We introduced Father to bunco and he really enjoyed it, so much so that he got the highest score. He came to our Christmas party and enjoyed the afternoon with us. For the benefit of our members who didn’t know about it, we had our party at Tom’s on Burnham Ave. Thirty-three of us enjoyed the company and the food. Sylvia made a crystal snowflake ornament for each one present. We also received a bag of chocolates. Yummy!
Therese, thanks for arranging for the party, to Mary Jane, Vida and Gladys for your help and to Tina and Lena for doing the 50-50, a big thanks to Sylvia, too. Manda Maggio really surprised us by coming to our meetings and Christmas parties. She wants to thank everyone for cards, visits, calls but most especially for your prayers. These are a big factor in her recovery. Beside all that she had super TLC from her daughters, Kathy and Denise. They give their mom the best care, and she deserves it.
Our Andrea Krai and her lifemate Ed, flew out to Las Vegas to celebrate her birthday in Oct. We had a few more birthdays to revel about: my No. 2 daughter, Kathy Monahan had a candle lighting on Nov. 12th, Mary Gorenz’s day was Nov. 25th (she brought a huge cake to our meeting), Sylvia Spretnjak blew out the candles on Dec. 22. Oops! I forgot Therese - her big day was Dec. 1.
Our Elsie Starcevich will reach her 95th birthday on January 23rd. God love her! What a gal! She has lived a full and beautiful life. We love you dearly, Elsie. We have two sweet sixteen agers - my granddaughter Megan Monahan and Lindsay Puterko, granddaughter of Mary Puterko. Oh, to be that young again!
Stephanie Golob is so proud of her grandson, 22 year old Joseph Recen-dez. Joe is #80, a tight end for Notre Dame. Joe had surgery for testicular cancer - and has made a good recovery and is back playing again. He is looking forward to the Fiesta Bowl - His big dream as a young boy was to play football for Notre Dame. As a kid he even used Irish Spring soap thinking that would help. His parents, Sandy and Joe and his sister, Vicky are equally proud of this fine young man.
Julie Vrlich did some celebrating on Nov. 18 at daughter Julie and son-in-law Bob Nickovich’s 25th wedding anniversary. Congratulations to the happy couple and their family.
Mary Gorenz visited her daughter and granddaughter in Vegas. She had a great time. Her granddaughter is a super student at the University in Las Vegas. Grandma is so proud of her.
By the way, John and Helen Batista enjoyed our Christmas party, they are lookin’ good. Congratulations on your win.
Clara Saviano is home bound, but she has excellent cure and wants to thank everyone for their calls, cards, and prayers. We love you, Clara.
Guess who became a sightseer in Branson, MO? If the initials are G.B. you are right! Our girl really gets around.
Olga Kowolkowski had successful cataract surgery. She had both eyes done and now she sees every little speck. We’re happy for you, Olga.
My grandson, Dan Monahan and his betrothed, Christine Johnson are being wed on May 5 in the chapel at Holy Cross College in Worchester, MA. This is their Alma Mater. Congratulations Danny and Chris. Best wishes and congratulations to my #2 grandson, T.J., and his fiance, Sue Tresselt who were recently engaged. The wedding date is August 4 - I love you kids, and wish you all the best for a happy future.
Great grandmother, Stephanie Golob called to inform me of the birth of her great grandson, Garrett Joseph Golob; his mom and dad are David and Tracy Golob. Congratulations.
We lost our dear member, Marie Vidovich who passed away on Oct. 20. May she rest in the peace of the Lord.
We extend our condolences to
Matilda Voss on the death of her brother, John Dominkovich; our sympathies to his children, nieces and nephews. May he rest in peace.
May you have a blessed and most happy new year - best wishes for a happy Valentine’s Day.
Love,
MARGE PREBIL
NO. 20, JOLIET, IL Meeting: 3rd Tues. except June to Sept. St. Joe’s Park Hall
Dear Members, as I am writing items for our ZARJA, 1 am listening to a record of Slovenian Christmas songs recorded in Slovenia and it takes me back to when our church and parish was in full bloom with our wonderful Slovenian choir with the church packed with people at Midnite Mass to hear them. The school children, of which I was one, were brought into church to view the crib up close before our Christmas vacation started which consisted of ice skating, sledding and throwing snowballs. (Just a little nostalgia from the past!)
On Jan. 21st, Sun. 1:00 p.m. St. Joseph Park, our Spiritual Advisor, Fr. Tom Paul will conduct the installation of officers. The search is now on for our 2001 Woman of the Year. If you know of anyone deserving of this honor, accompany your nomination with a resume and turn it in at the February meeting. If you wish, you can mail it directly to Char Kobe, 25228 Black Rd., Joliet, IL 69435. A buffet dinner provided by the officers will follow the meeting. As an added attraction, we will have READINGS BY PAM at $1.00 per minute. Readings start at 12:00 noon. Come and find out what the future has in store for you.
Feb. 13, Tuesday - 7:00 p.m. St. Joseph Park. Tonight after the regular meeting, our guest speaker is Nancy Fleming CNM, Ph.D., a certified nurse, specializing in Healthcare for women.
On October 14 and 15, our members went on a 2-day trip to Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, IL. There they attended Mass and on the way home, they stopped in Peoria and tried their luck at the Para Dice casino.
A fall vacation was enjoyed by Pat
rtJ
m
&p>.
Another Reason to Subscribe to the Online Newsletter, “The New Neighborhood”
Mary Turvey, granddaughter of the S. W.U. founder, Marie Prisland, will be contributing a series of articles to the online newsletter as we lead up to the 75th anniversary of the
S.W.U. in December, 2001. Here’s the first installment that appeared in the November newsletter.
Grandmother Marie Ceme Prisland was bom 21 June 1890 in Rečica ob Savinji, a picturesque village at the foothills of the Savinja Alps. Her parents were Franz Ceme of Slovenj	Gradec	and Marija	Rosenstein	of	Rečica ob Savinji. The couple met while Marija
was cooking in a Slovenj Gradec hotel	and	later were married in Rečica. Marie’s grandfather	Lynn Zalokar
(Joseph Rosenstein) hoped to develop shoemaking skills in his new son-in-law Franz but
Franz was not interested. He decided to become a customs inspector for the city of Trieste. Marija accompanied him soon after, again working in food preparation, a skill that daughter Marie inherited. When Marie was four years of age she joined her parents in Trieste and	one of her earliest memories	is
of looking out of a third floor apartment into a courtyard where a rag collector would call in a high pitched Italian voice “Stracajoli!” (rags), “Conce pinate!” (broken dishes). These were happy memories but a tremendous upheaval occurred in this little family that would forever change Marie’s life and would cause her some unrest for years to come...
Send an e-mail to lzalokar-
@yahoo.com to subscribe. If you are interested in the newsletter, but you are not on e-mail - ask a son/daughter, niece/nephew or grandchild to be the recpient for you!
Butterbach, her daughter, Judy and Helen Minnick. They visited their parent’s village in Likvica, Metlika and Krašnji. Picking grapes at harvest time was the highlight of their visit, along with visiting relatives. We highly recommend SWU 75th Anniversary Tour to Slovenia 2001 next fall.
Congratulations to my nephew, Lt. Duane Stonich on his selection as 2000 Firefighter of the Year by the Exchange Club of Joliet. He is in the K-9 Division.
Also, congrats to Rhonda Polican-driotes on the birth of her baby boy and to the grandparents, Jim and Pat Poli and also to our new member, Joyce Stacy on the birth of her 1st Great Grand child, a girl.
Congratulations to our 50th Anniversary Celebrants as follows: Mr. & Mrs. Charles Štiglic, Mr. & Mrs. Perry Picco and to Mr. & Mrs. William Stel-low. May you all have many more years together.
Sympathy to friends and relatives of our deceased members, Martin J. Kambič, August Hotuyec, “Herb”, Janet A. Fisher, Gordon R. Corp., “Gordie” and Mary Russ. May they all rest in peace.
Our meeting was held on Nov. 21 at 7:00 p.m., St. Joe’s Park and we had election of officers. All of them decided to stay a little longer! We welcome another new member, Michelle Papesh. Hope to see more of you, Michelle. Our 50-50 drawing was won by Char Kobe and other prizes were won by Alice Valek, Bob Judnik and Jo Lustik. The attendance award for Oct. was won by Delores Suhadolc -$20.00 and for Nov. - Barb Potochnic
-	$30.00, but they were not present, so the prize will be $40 at our next meeting. Be sure to attend!!! Well, that’s all folks! Hope you all had a nice holiday. Remember to call me at (815) 727-3177 for all of your news.
KATHY STONICH
NO. 23, ELY, MN Meeting: 1st Monday St. Anthony’s Church Hall Sept. thru May
October Meeting
The meeting on Oct. 2nd was a nice gathering. We received a thank you card from Anita Vovk of Aurora for the drawing prize she won during her visit with us - a walnut potica. She said she felt like the “Millionaire” on TV.
Mary Ann Pulis presented the slate of officers nominated for the coming year: President Gloria Smuk, Vice President Gerry Petrich, Recording Secretary Marcy Zupec, Treasurer Pat Lammi. Installation of offices was planned for November.
Get well cards were sent to Rosemarie Buchner, Julie Russ and Rosalyn Perko. We wish them speedy recoveries.
It was suggested we have our Christmas dinner on Dec. 3rd. The secretary was asked to have Sally check on last year’s committee and select ten names for this year’s committee.
We hope to be selling cookbooks and planned to contact Piragis about selling them as well as at the Interpretative Center.
Gerry spoke on the Iron Range Genealogy Society. Marcy mentioned that Judy Swenson, the Manager at the
A******************************************'1***
SPECIAL EVENTS IN Y2001
FEBRUARY
11 Br.35 Aurora, MN, Dime Social and Installation of Officers
MARCH
g-| 1	BOARDOF	DIRECTOR’S	ANNUAL	MEETING
Joliet, Illinois
Vermilion Intepretative Center will be teaching a couple of classes on genealogy at the College.
Gloria won the door prize.
November Meeting
The meeting was presided by Gloria Smuk in the absence of president Bebe Lobe. Reports were made and approved. We received a nice note from Roselyn Perko thanking us for remembering her and that she is in for a slow recovery. A card was sent also by Br. 34 in Soudan for a most memorable Minnesota Day. Special thanks to Pat Lammi for all her help and understanding. We hoped to participate in the calendar drawing for the SWU Heritage Fund. For only $10 you might be a winner at drawings all this month of January, up to $500. Jane also told us the Interpretative Center will be selling our cookbooks; and at the Bazaar coming up we also hope to have them on sale.
Pat Lammi asked that members not receiving ZARJA should notify her.
Christmas Dinner committee consisted of Sally Davidson, Angie Godec, Lillian Hren, Helen Champa, Polly Polyner, Pat Lammi, Jane Yadlosky, Gert Mosnik, Dodi High and Joan Skansgard.
We send get well wishes to Angela Mobilia and Julie Russ. Rosemarie Buchner thanked the members for the card she had received.
With twenty-one members present it was Gen Erchul who was the lucky door prize winner.
Installation of officers followed the old-business portion of the meeting. We congratulate our 2001 staff who were installed by Jane Yadlosky. “Three cheers” by the jolly assembly greeted Gloria, Gerry, Marcy and Pat! Angie then won the 50-50 drawing!
MARCY ZUPEC Secretary
NO. 24, LA SALLE, IL Meeting: 3rd Thurs. Catholic School Library Mar.-Apr.-May-June Sept.-Oct.-Nov.
Our October and November meetings were poorly attended but in spite of that we accomplished much. The baskets which are always presented to
our members in Nursing Homes and shut-ins will be prepared and delivered by Adele Gensler and Minnie Carter. Adele volunteered to purchase the Christmas gift for a child from the Catholic Social Service Giving Tree in Church. Mass cards will be sent to members in Nursing Homes out of our area. We sent a check to ZARJA in Betty Stack’s memory, as we do when an officer dies while in office. Members were urged to buy the “chance” calendar which appeared in the September/October issue of ZARJA.
All delinquent members have been contacted and urged to send their 2000 dues in at once before the 2001 statements are mailed out. Mary Mecum and Linda Struna hosted the Christmas Brunch at John’s Place on December
3.	We expected this to be a fun party with Mary’s favors and centerpieces which she does so well and Linda helping her on such short notice.20 members planned to attend. I thank them for their cooperation.
Our members were shocked to learn of Financial Secretary Betty Stack’s unexpected death. She had been in and out of the hospital since March but was at home and quite improved-even looking forward to our November meeting. She passed away at home on October 27th. Her funeral Mass was held at St. Joseph’s Church in Peru on Tuesday, October 31. We offer our sincere sympathy to her husband, Leroy, a resident at La Salle Healthcare Nursing Home, and her son, Tom. 1 thank all of our members who came to pray and recite the SWU Burial Ritual at the funeral home and also to Tom Stack for his cooperation in getting Betty’s files and books, etc. to me. We hope to find a member to take over this position shortly.
Our deepest sympathy to Josephine Foley whose daughter, Patricia Goldin, 59, of Peoria died unexpectedly on November 19th. Her uncle, Rev. Bernard Horzen, officiated at her funeral Mass at St. Vincent dePaul Church in Peoria on November 22. Pat is survived by her husband, Kenneth, two daughters, two grandsons,	two
brothers, James of Houston and John of Chicago as well as her mother. She was preceded in death by her father, John Foley. Remember Betty and Pat in your prayers. May our Heavenly Father Grant them heavenly peace.
Barb Krogulski injured her ankle in a fall and is now on crutches and Jo Savnik also experienced a fall and this put her in the hospital for awhile. Helen Swietek spent several days in the hospital in early November. We hope that all are on the road to recovery.
Our members celebrating birthdays in January are: Claire Wangler, Janice Mueller, Cathy Jo Lenkaitis, and Linda Struna, and in February Irene Mauser, Sharon Brady and Anne Wangler will celebrate. Happy Birthday to all and may you all have many more birthday celebrations.
We plan to have an attendance prize starting with our March 2001 meeting. We will start with five dollars and if the name called isn’t present at the meeting we will add five dollars at each subsequent meeting. We hope this will encourage more members to attend— just a little incentive. We talk about adding new members to our Branch but we would to have the present members more active. We always enjoy our meetings. Those attending are very friendly and we have light refreshments after the meetings.
We won’t meet in January and February because of the threat of bad weather and cold but plan to join us on March 15, 2001. Help us make this a Happy New Year for our Branch and the Slovenian Woman’s Union.
ANNE WANGLER, Reporter
NO. 33, DULUTH, MN Meeting: 1st Wed.
St. Elizabeth’s Church
Our 2001 officers are: Beverly Menart, Pres.; Mary White, Vice Pres.; Jackie Rukavina, Sec.; and Rosemary Donald, Treas.
Pauline Stojevich was chosen Mother of the Year.
At our Chirstmas Party in December we had dinner. Dime Social, and members brought: caps, scarves, and mittens for students at Stowe School.
Due to cold weather, it was decided not to have a meeting in January.
Congratulations to Delores and Elmer Dincau on their 60th anniversary.
Congratulations on new babies: Cheryl Foldesi, mother, and Althea Tverberg, grandmother. Jackie
Rukavina also has a new grandchild.
Prayers, as always, for any sick members, home bound, nursing or care homes.
LOIS M. PELANDER, Reporter
NO. 34, SOUDAN, MN Meeting: 1st Wed.
St. Elizabeth’s Church
Branch #34 met on October 18th at St. Martin’s Church. Hostesses were Adeline Mustonen and Emma Be-toume. Game prizes were won by Agnes Tekautz, Theresa Berg and Marcella Rooney. Jeannie’s Card Shop in Tower has agreed to merchandize our Slovenian cookbooks. A committee is working on the criteria for presenting a Slovenian cookbook to each bride of our parish in the New Year. Kay Dean generously paid for the children’s song and dance video-tape, which was made on Minnesota Day in Ely under the direction of Frank and Fran Shepel and Frank’s sister, Frank Tomes at piano. It will be the beginning of our own heritage library.
We presented the merchandizing of our Slovenian Cookbook on the “POLKA DON SHOW” on Saturday mornings (www.wELY.com; click to wELY) to our National Office. Since Polka Don went global recently, we share our member (his wife) Adrienne’s excitement at the concept of going “on line”. Adrienne’s mother was a charter member of the Ely, Branch 23.
Our meeting on November 15th was Founder’s Day. Father Pakiz said Mass for us and we met for breakfast afterward at the Tower Cafe. All members were invited and special invitation was made to every daughter of Slovenian heritage in our community to join us. It was truly a “joytime” remembrance.
THERESA M. BERG President
NO. 35, AURORA, MN Meeting: 6 per year Community Sr. Center
Greetings from our Winter Wonderland (as of November 27th!). Mother Nature has painted all the bare branches on the trees with frost, a beautiful picture for us to enjoy.
God bless and reward our beloved departed sisters!
Olga Zimmerman (14) Angela Raine (66) Louise Rose Majercik Marie Kramer (50) Frances Lukz (55) Josephine Grande (63) Anne Stupca (31) Marija Pozek (5) Frances Vidergar (100)
We had an interesting meeting on Sunday, Oct. 15th. We needed new officers for the year 2001 if we were to continue to be an active branch. Treasurer, Dorothy Jamnick and I did a lot of talking, as we didn’t want to lose our active branch and so we told the members that our last meeting would be on Dec. 3rd. Finally, I said, if only our members will volunteer to take an office, others would follow and they did! The quiet meeting turned to pure joy! Thank you to all our new officers! They are as follows!:
President Janice Grebenc, Vice President Anita Vovk, Secretary Gabriella Gorichan, Secretary-treasurer Bernice Ceglar and Sargeant-at-arms Betty Turk.
Now it was a time to get on with our meeting. Plans were made for the Christmas dinner on Dec. 3rd. Plans included giving a monetary gift to the activities department at our local nursing home.
Get well wishes to Martha Gunderson and to all our members and their families who are ill.
Sympathy and prayers are with Anna Hodnik who lost her sister-in-law, Mary Hodnik. May she rest in peace.
Congratulations to Youth Choir who sang for the first time on Nov. 26th. It was beautiful! And, to our youth who were the greeters. A job well done.
Another special thanks to our members for all the support given me while I was your president these past three years. A time comes when one must step back and this was the time for me. Dorothy, Anita and Alice made my job easy - thank you! A special thanks to Dorothy Jamnick who has been our branch treasurer for seventeen years and did so much more for our branch. To vice president, Anita Vovk, who is so generous with special prizes, some she has brought from Slovenia, thank you.
We will have the installation of the new officers and dime social on Feb. 11th, 1:30 p.m. at the Community Center.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
ANNE M. ORAZEM
NO. 39, BIWABIK, MN 1st Sunday St. John’s Church Hall
The November meeting was attended by sixteen members. A discussion was held concerning our declining attendance and the election of officers for the coming year. Br. 39 will host the State Convention next September, but a chairman and her committee has not been decided on. Two members volunteered to serve as the President and Secretary, but no action was taken. Secretary Lanari was instructed to order 10 cookbooks.
A Christmas party was planned for December 10 in St. John’s Hall. Because we were unable to hire a caterer we voted to make our own dinner. Vida Lanari volunteered to roast a turkey and others were to bring all the “fixings” for a festive party. A decorated sheet-cake will commemorate the 70th Anniversary. Father Perkovich and Tom Sullivan, St. John’s resident lecturer, were invited guests. After cleanup, we planned our favorite Dice Game, with a table full of wrapped gifts to be won and stolen from each other.
Carol Sherek and Millie Mestnik had decorated the tables in a fall theme and served the group coffee and a delicious bundt spice cake. Maria Ferkul was the winner of the attendance prize.
JEAN KORSMAN, Reporter
A First for SWU!
Spiritual Director, Sr. Joan of Arc, SSJ, TOSF
Branch 42, Maple Heights, OH
On January 1, 2000, Branch 42 installed a new Spiritual Director. The previous director was Msgr. Heruday from St. Wenceslas Parish in Maple Heights. With his retirement, thoughts were given to who would/could best serve our group. The thought “struck” and the Branch called upon a good friend who would know how to serve with interest, understanding, and spiritual direction, and who would genuinely instill Christian living. Sr. Joan of Arc, Sisters of St. Joseph, Third Order of St. Francis, was asked if she would give the Branch guidance. Though being of Polish descent, Sr. Joan had accepted this Slovenian group of ladies and in the most gracious way. THIS IS A FIRST! No where in the SWU has there been a nun as Spiritual Director. Since accepting this position, Sr. Joan has attended every meeting, started with prayer and related thoughts to carry on for the day, the week or the month.
Sister Joan of Arc Majkrzak, is the youngest in a family of twelve children, three of which are in a religious community. She attended St. Hyacinth grade school in Cleveland and Marymount High School in Garfield Heights. In 1954, she entered the Religious community of the SSJ, TOSF in Garfield Heights. Her educational background includes a BSE degree from St. John College in Cleveland and an M.A. degree from the University of Detroit. Sister Joan of Arc spent 42 years in education as teacher and principal. She taught in schools located in Ohio, Michigan, and California. At the present time she is the Attendance Officer and Receptionist at Trinity High School in Garfield Heights, Ohio. She is also very involved in various activities within her religious community and currently serving as Co-Director of the Lay Associates affiliated with the community.
Sr. Joan will serve SWU Branch 42 again the year 2001. Already she has become a friend to all with her involvement and caring talks. We are blessed to have her and thank her for being our Spiritual Director.
Respectfully submitted,
Marjorie Church, SWU Branch 42 Secretary-Treasurer
NO. 42, MAPLE HTS., OH Meeting: Quarterly, 2nd month of the quarter, 2nd Saturday Maple Hts., Library
With all that has gone on in Florida these many weeks regarding the national election, I can’t help but wonder what some of our old neighborhood Slovenes would have said about all of the controversy. Our Ward was a staunchly Democratic strong-hold and the Slovenian National Home was the site of many a Democratic rally. I recall a time when several Maple Hts. Democrats came from City Hall and asked our dad to act as “Toastmaster” for the rally to be held at the hall. His startling response was, “Go talk to my brother, Joe Legan - he is much handier in the
kitchen than I am!” I thought my mother was going to kill him (verbally, not physically). He was absolutely devastated after she explained to him what a toastmaster was! The embarrassment was all the greater because he was such a fervent voter. After he was gone I sorely missed his keen input on the candidates and issues which he persued diligently in the newspapers and on television. We went to a specific early Mass on Sunday mornings so that he would be home in time for “Meet the Press.”
Our November meeting produced the following slate of officers for 2001:
Pres., Jean Offutt; V. Pres., Ann Marie Buehner; Rec. Sec., Jo Stoltz; Sec./Treas., Marge Church; Sgt. at Arms, Kimberly Balach; Auditors, Diane Balach, Joyce Scott and Dorti Zidar.
Sr. Joan of Arc
Mary Prhne celebrated her 90th birthday in September with a surprise birthday party at Light of Hearts Villa, her new home, hosted by nephew, David Lipnos and wife, Eleanor. Also in attendance was our member, Mary Lou Prhne and from Br. 14, Justine Prhne and husband, Johnny.
Belated get well wishes to: Theresa Gorup who underwent knee replacement surgery in the Fall; Vida Verček who was in and out of the hospital and continbues her residence at Walton Manor; and to Joyce Scott who underwent major surgery in October.
November saw the passing of longtime member, Margaret Roznik. We extend deepest sympathy to her family.
Congrats to: Mary Perko whose grandson, Mark Leyser was married to Kathy McHugh in October; Ann Marie Buehner, whose son, Michael was married to Sheri Lauderbach in September.
Daniel Offutt, son of Jean and Joe Offutt, completed fire fighter studies at Cuyahoga Valley Joint Vocational School and has recently graduated from the Parma Hospital Para-Medic Program.
Happy January Birthdays to: Nancy Kish, Kelly Ann Gaines, Mary Perko,
Karen Lockard, David Lipnos and Kelly Lipnos.
Happy February Birthdays to: Diane Balach, Edna Scotten and Allison Gruden.
We welcome 2 new members to our branch: Jackie Albers and Marie Zimmer. Jackie is the daughter of Tillie Cook and the niece of Imelda Blazy and Mary and Lou Fink. Marie is the daughter of my sister, Antonia Matis.
Regards to all our shut-ins. See you at the next meeting on Saturday, Feb. 1 Oth at 11:00 a. m. at the Phoenicia Restaurant in Mapletown.
Zbogom,
LIL SADOWSKI
NO. 43, MILWAUKEE, WI Meeting: 4th Wed.
St. John Evangelist Rectory
We got our first blanket of white today (11/29/00) and we thought of the song: “It’s getting to look more like Christmas.” And if you were good “Girls and Boys” Santa might have put something besides coal in your stockings! Did he?
Our November meeting was well attended including our new member, Betty Ann Kolesari. We wished Angie Johnstone a Happy Birthday, hoping she will have many more birthdays to come.
We were looking forward to our Christmas Party on December 6th at Lemke’s. Arlene expected 31 members and friends to attend and we hoped for reasonable weather so everyone could come.
We have a new member on our Board. Joan Yaklich is our New Vice President. All other members were voted into office for another year.
We are planning to make our meetings more interesting by having a speaker or some type of entertainment, which the members at the meeting thought it was a good idea.
We at #43 wish all of our S.W.U. Sisters and families a very happy and healthy new year! Let’s keep our sick and deceased members in our prayers.
ANNE E. KONCZAL, Reporter
NO. 50, EUCLID, OH Meeting: 3rd Wed. Euclid Public Library except July & Aug.
Is it for real? It is 2001, a new beginning! Not only a new century but a new millennium. Let’s hope it will progress as it should and not take on the tail-end disgusting presidential election that just took place.
November 11 th last year was celebrated again as Veterans’ Day and also my dad’s birthday (105), but much more than that. It was our member Mary Ann Skebe’s wedding day. Mary Ann is the daughter of Anne Skebe, one of our Auditors. The lucky bridegroom is Tim Rohwer. There were ten attendants and a lovely little flower girl, niece Katharyn. The ceremony took place at St. Pascal’s Church in Highland Hts., and the reception was held at Casa De Borelli in nearby Willoughby Hills in a near-as-possible traditional Slovenian manner including the meaningful “Slovenska Dekle.” A honeymoon to Hawaii followed. We certainly wish the happy couple a long lasting happy life together.
On November 15th we had our election meeting. The result was as follows:
Ann Tercek - President, Ann Cem
-	Vice President, Mary Maxin - Recording Secretary, Mary Miller-Membership Secretary and Treasurer, Rose Arco - Sentina,, Frances Kaifez and Anne Skebe - Auditors, and me, Vi Moravchek - ZARJA Reporter.
Best of luck to all - including me -I’ll need it.
At the meeting, the latest 55 year members were announced. They were: Antoinette Gatta, Frances Hribar, Carole Traven and Pauline Seifert. Please continue to be with us for the next 55 years!
We also became benevolent to the following important participant organizations to our Lodge: The Heritage Museum, Scholarships, ZARJA, and the American Home newspaper.
The Woman of the year 2001 will be the surprise of the March 14th meeting. We decided not to hold meetings in January or February due to the uncertainty of weather during that period. Therefore our Valentine Queen also will be selected a month after Valentine
Day. It will be an important meeting so be there if at all possible.
We did check on our sick list as of November. It consisted of Helen Rap-lanovic, Ella Skoda, Mary Blatnik and Mary Kerschner. We hope you will be able to begin this new year in better health, and join us in March.
Our Christmas Party meeting was held on December 3rd - on the 1 st floor of the Slovenian Home on Holmes Avenue in Collinwood. It was great seeing so many of our members. The usual gaiety was experienced and a delicious meal with all the trimmings was served by Julie Zaller and her staff.
It is with regret that at least two of our members have recently departed from our midst, Ann Kristoff and Lillian Goryance. Lillian was Josephine Sovich’s beloved sister who is also our member. This is a real heartbreaker for Josie. We will miss them very much, and they will be patient to wait for us and beg us not to shed too many tears for them in the meantime.
Please welcome the new year, the new century, and the new millennium. There will be many exciting times ahead.
Na svidenje,
VI MORAVCHEK
NO. 54, WARREN, OH Meeting: Several times per year Secretary’s Home
Happy New Year 2001 to all! The year 2000 Millennium went by so quickly! May you all have good health and God’s blessings.
At our last meeting our charter member, Vic Zuga demonstrated the making of apple strudel. She is a whiz at it and all members (8 of us) thoroughly enjoyed the whole afternoon. Naturally, for dessert, we had her delicious freshly baked strudel with ice cream! We can’t thank her enough for her kindness in making the strudel and being such a gracious hostess. She also told us that her daughter, Karen Zuga of Columbus, Ohio will become a new member. We welcome her into our branch and even though she won’t be able to attend our meetings, we know that she will enjoy reading ZARJA, which, thanks to our editor, Corinne is an informative and interesting magazine.
Our officers remain the same for the new year and we have a small group that are very faithfully coming to our meetings. In February, which will be at my home, bring a sack lunch and we’ll plan some type of program. We did visit our shut-ins at the nursing homes for Christmas and presented them with poinsettia plants. We try to do good deeds and know that it is appreciated.
Visiting during Christmas at our home was our daughter and son-in-law from South Carolina and her siblings from Ohio. From Augusta, Georgia was Elsie Shine’s son and family; Virginia Shine’s daughter and son-in-law came from Colorado and Louise Vett’s son and daughter-in-law from Florida. All in all, I know that you all had wonderful and blessed holidays.
Sincere simpathy to Anne O’Block and Mary Diana whose brother passed away. The Gladd family was a well known family and a beautiful polka mass was played during his calling hours. Our sympathy and prayers to the entire Gladd family.
Remember, Feb. 21st, Wednesday and 12 noon at my home. Then meetings are on April 18th and May 16th, which will be our spring luncheon day. And, a Happy St. Valentine’s Day to all.
JOANNE PONIKVAR Secretary
NO. 73, WARRENSVILLE, OH Membership to be advised when meetings are scheduled
It has been a hard journey for our branch, as we suffered the loss of three members. Unfortunately, it seems to be the direction that not only Branch No. 73 is heading, but articles from other locations indicate the same situations.
Marge Kozelka, a longtime member, a vibrant person, who was easily recognized by her reddish colored hair, passed away in early October. If you remember, several years ago when we were celebrating a branch anniversary at Karlin Hall, and we were waiting for Marge to arrive, we were told that her husband had been killed in an accident on a nearby freeway. Although we had all heard the news of an accident
on the TV/radio prior to our gathering at the hall, we were stunned to find that Marge’s husband was the fatality. To the Kozelka Family, we extend our deepest sympathy.
Louise Majercik, another longtime member, died at the Little Sisters of the Poor Nursing Home in October. I have known Louise all my lifetime, bom and raised in the same neighbor-h ood, and it was at her wedding to Joe Majercik that I met my husband (Steve), as I waited on table with other neighborhood girls. Weddings were not “catered” as they are now. Mothers hired the cooks and friends became bartenders, and the younger ones waited table. Joe and Steve left for the service two weeks after the wedding, Louise traveled with Joe while Steve and I began a strong correspondence relationship (I still have all his letters). Louise was widowed many years ago, and although the couple never had children, they were surrounded by numerous nieces and nephews. Louise was the last member of the Chesnik Family remaining; she had been in the nursing home 15-17 years. I was privileged to be a lector at her funeral mass. May she rest in peace.
Ann Yoger died in early November. She had not been feeling well, her sister-in-law (our president, Kay Yuratovac) kept me updated on her condition after she was admitted to the hospital with heart problems. Ann was 89 years old. She had rather recently moved into an apartment after the death of her husband (Frank) a few years before. Ann attended many meetings and went to many functions with us. She will be missed at the table when we meet, and to her family we do extend our condolences.
Please remember these members, Marge, Louise and Ann in your prayers.
On Sunday, November 26th, I spoke with Frank Stepic, husband of Frances (Ozimek), noticing that she had not been at mass with him for two weeks. He told me that Frances had been ill, and that the next day she was to go into the hospital. It seems that about a year ago Frances bumped her head on the car door and sustained a laceration. She had had the area checked and it was determined that the possibility of skin cancer was present. She was being admitted to the hospital for further tests.
etc... Please add Frances to your prayer list and read on. News is not good from the Epley Residence. Alouise does continue to get around with the use of her walker. However, just down the street/ driveway from her, her daughter, Leona Mandich, an MS patient, spends time between her home and the hospital, as she awaits a liver transplant. We will pray for Frances, Alouise and Leona, and we will be waiting to hear some good news from each of them.
We understand that Betty Dmach is in Washington with her daughter (see Betty, I told you the election wouldn’t run right without you), and we do hope that she is recuperating and will be able to return to her Solon home. Word also has it that Rose Repasky has done some traveling to the Carolinas. How does that song go, “Doesn’t anyone stay in one place anymore?”
I was privileged to be invited to a luncheon honoring Abbott Roger Gries as the K of C Man of the Year. He was presented his award by Bishop Pevec, the honoree from the year before. It was a delightful afternoon, and it was nice to see and speak with both of these terrific clergymen.
With the holidays (almost) tucked away, next item on the list is travels. Going to spend a few days in Florida early March. Have tentative plans for Las Vegas and a remote chance of revisiting Mt. Rushmore. In between, the year will be filled with many other things, and we look forward to it all.
Happy St. Valentine’s Day.
Respectfully,
EVELYN A. MAJERCIK
NO. 89, OGLESBY, IL Meeting: 2nd Monday Hardee’s Restaurant
November meeting turned out to be quite a change from years past. No one seemed to want an office, so here we go again, for the year 2001 with the same officers. The only change is Mitzi Banich replacing Emma Folty as Financial Treasurer and the office of Financial Secretary has been discontinued. Auditors are Darlene Wasielewski Nancy Henkel and Florence Argub-right.
Our Christmas party was held at Delaney’s. We decided on no change in
Picking a Winner?!?
the meeting schedule for 2001.
Anne Batty went to Branson, MO for a 5-day bus tour with the AARP organization. Hope they enjoyed it.
Rose Ann Prey heard from her granddaughter, Vanessa Morrison. Between studies at Glasgow, Scotland, she has been able to see the sights in Paris, France during a little time off.
We are sorry to hear of the death of another one of our dear members, Josephine Morrison, 93 years old. We will miss her very much. Her wit and candor were her trade mark. May she rest in peace. During 1999 we lost 4 members and in 2000 we lost one member.
One of the nicest pleasures of old age is becoming more aware of our mercies and blessings!
All of our love, dear hearts.
Sincerely,
EUNICE
NO. 95, SO. CHICAGO, IL Meeting: 2nd Wed. Apr.-May-june Sep.-Oct.-Nov.-Dec. 12:30 p.m. Sacred Heart Church Hall
Hello, Everyone! How’re you all doing? We have 8 to 10 ladies coming to the meetings and it’s always nice to see you! Our beloved reporter-member, Millie James is fine, trying to get adjusted to having new teeth! She’s not as active as she would like to be! Thank you, Millie for all you have done through the years. I talked to her recently and it was nice to hear her voice.
Ann Josue, Helen Santy and Rose Smoljan moved to California. Thank you for all the help you have done. Evelyn Driscoll has been a great help to me and all of us. Thank you.
I	have taken over the president’s job for the new year. You can still reach me as secretary, too. Please let me know if you need a change of address or change of beneficiary form. My address is: Dolores Hennelly, 16000 Forest Ave., Oak Forest, IL 60452, Telephone (708) 687-6331. I will be in Florida until April and my address there is 923 Cassandra Ln., Lakeland, FL 33809.
Members, pray for our sick members: Mary A. Perkovich, Helen Alb, Sophie Barbich, Helen Golich, Marge O’Connor and Julia Hansen.
Also heard from Marge Krmpotic.
She is fine and sends greetings to all, as does Hannah Stance. I miss all those nice notes I used to get from out-of-state members. I miss seeing all you members from nearby, too, if you don’t come to the meetings! The next one is April, 2001.
Bonnie Prokup will be sending you a bill for your dues in the beginning of this year. Members, please pay up your dues - mail it to her.
Greetings to all for the next year!
Love,
DOLORES HENNELLY
NO. 101, BEDFORD, OH Meeting: 1st Thursday except July & August Bedford Hts. City Hall
Branch 101, Bedford, Ohio chose as our “Mother of the Year" festivity a trip to Thistledown Race Track. The Sunday brunch buffet was held at the Clubhouse Level in the Silks Dining Terrace. The members in attendance had two hours to enjoy the enormous and delicious buffet before post time.
Thistledown dedicated the Trifecta 4th Race to the Slovenian Women’s Union Branch 101 and as a tribute to the branch took a picture of the mem-
Thistledown Race Track brings out the racers, the bettors and winners! We’re sure our members of Br. 101 who made a fun trip there this summer, are the winners over all! They are seen here with jocky Scott Spieth who rode “Top Grape.” Looks like the girls had fun that day!
bers present with the winning jockey in the Winner’s Circle.
Shown in the top photo: #5 “Top Grape” came in 1st, #7 “Golden Holiday” came in 2nd, and #4 “Count Streak” came in 3rd. I played l-A-2. If only “Top Grape” had been knocked out early in the race, I had a chance to win a bundle. Lots of fun and the day was enjoyed by all!
FLORENCE MIRTEL
NO. 102, WILLARD, WI Meeting: When convenient Parish Center
Even though it’s only November as
I	write, winter is definitely here with cold weather and snow.
Kay Hazuga and her mother, Marie Amundson were gone for two weeks
THISTLEDOWN	6/4/00	TOP	GRAPE	JACQUES POLITI	Owner
GOl DEN HO* iDAV	Second	Purse	S5	700	Claiming One Miie & Seventy Yards n t 45 33	TIM GiRTEN	Trainer
r*. „	m	* it r-,	.	scon SPiETH	Up
Sl o veni a n Women s Union Bra nch 101	^>
in September touring the Holy Land. Lee Klancher had the opportunity to spend three weeks in Australia. It was a business trip and very educational, she says. Frank and Jean Govek left for Arizona in early October where they will spend the winter. They will return to Willard in early spring.
A special deer gun hunt was held for people with disabilities near Willard the weekends of Nov. 7 and 14th.
Roland and Joyce Budnar and Victor and Mira Staut announced the engagement of their children, Rebecca Budnar and Aaron Staut. The bride to be is a Spanich teacher in Rice Lake and her fiance, Aaron also taught there. He is now working toward a master’s degree in school counseling at the University of Wisconsin at Stout in Menomonee. Their wedding just took place in December.
Vitko and Mary Staut donated a new crucifix for the main altar at Holy Family Church. David Volovsek provided the oak lumber and Ed Yurkovich planned it. Bill Snedic completed the project of mounting the crucifix. Our thanks to David, Ed and Bill for donating their time and talents. The statue was made of basswood by a super craftsman, a farmer named Radman from Šoštanj in Slovenia. Our sincere thanks to Vitko and Mary. It was blessed on Nov. 17th with Msgr. Malnar officiating.
The Stauts celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Oct. 19th. Our best wishes to them.
Marian Lesar, wife of Bernard of England, died of an apparent heart attack in early November. Our sympathy to the Lesar family.
The following deaths occurred in
Mass Schedule at the Slovenian Chapel Washington, D.C.
Evey First Sunday of the Month 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Brezje Chapel at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Michigan Ave. and 4th St. N.E., Phone (202)	526-8300,	Website:
ww w. nationalshrine .com.
Nika
Sept. and Oct.; Pauline Prebil Winken-werdu, Mary Jeras Ceferin, Frank Peroshek and Fr. William Nikolai, formerly of Holy Family Church.
Thoughts and prayers to those in nursing homes, in hospitals or ill at home. We wish you all good health in the new year.
Sincerely,
FRIEDA KLANCHER
NO. 103, WASHINGTON, D.C. Meeting: 1st Sun. except July & Aug. St. Columba’s Ch. Albermarle St.
On October 1, 2000, Branch 103 convened for a meeting discussing details for the upcoming social event scheduled for October 22. The attendance was great and much was accomplished with the enthusiastic help of all present. Hostesses for this meeting were Nika Kovacic and Tillie Au-sich.
As in the past, we again urged more cultural activities at our meetings and, hopefully, this can be accomplished. It’s a real pleasure to report several new members to Branch 103; viz., Amy Sheridan, Christine Pryately, Emily Echols, Marija Kotler, Alexandra Hezir, Wendy Kancher, and Ann Collier. A warm welcome ladies, from all of us.
As always, we offered our prayers for all the deceased members and those who are ill and unable to join us.
*****
On October 22, we celebrated the annual social event which was a very successful evening. The attendance was excellent. We were honored by the attendance of the Slovenian Ambassador and Mrs. Davorin Kračun and other members of the Embassy staff; the Reverend John Vidmar, Professor of Theology at Catholic University; and members of the Slovenian community. All the members are to be commended for their expertise in preparing a fantastic meal, including all the preparations necessary for this event. The meal was superb! A special treat was the music by Frank Vidergar who played Slovenian tunes on his button box accordion! It really was a rare treat. Thank you, Frank, for a great job. The dancers had a great time, many thanks to all who worked so diligently to prepare for this event. Special thanks to Mary Lou Ter-
selic, Mary Mejac, Molly Thomas, Ana Sonc-Tevtič, Ana Skopec, Nika Kovačič, Iča Zebot, Terezia Bevec, Mara Chokel, Angela Daly, Angela Stare, Valerie Bohince, Amy Sheridan, and Tillie Ausich. A special thanks to Ana Skopec who hand-made all the lovely boxes, filled with candy, that were arranged as favors on all the tables; this was a super job, Ana! *****
On December 3, 2000, Branch 103 convened for the final meeting in the year “2000.” Don’t know where the time has gone, but perhaps our rapid pace of life is partially responsible. As previously reported, our annual social event in October was a huge success. Many thoughts were discussed at this meeting for future consideration of events for the Branch.
We are indeed fortunate to be enjoying beautiful weather here in the D.C. area; we are getting some cold weather, but the roads are clear so far. I’m sure the children would disagree with me, and would welcome a big snow-fall.
As in the past, we reviewed and elected officers for Branch 103 for the year 2001. The slate of officers remains the same, with two exceptions; the new Vice President is Ana Sonc-Tevtič, a truly deserving member.
Valerie Bohince will take over as reporter for the ZARJA for Branch 103. Valerie also is a very capable and deserving member. Congratulations, ladies, from all of us.
A big thanks to our hostesses Angela Daly and Mara Chokel, the refreshments were great. Branch 103 extends their best wishes to all for a belated Merry Christmas message, and hope you all have a very Happy New Year.
MATILDA AUSICH
Advertisement
Ste Slovenec(a) in telite starost preiiveti v prijetnem okolju v domovini Sloveniji? Usposobljena medicinska sestra z velikim posluhom za sočloveka poskrbi za Vašo vrnitev, bivanje in nego v Sloveniji. Za informacije pišite: Strovs Nada Agrokomhinatska 60 Zalog
Ljubljana HMM)
Slovenija
ali kicite: GSM + 386-41-413-664
Veda Tonikvar:	-
'From Our ‘Heritage ‘Kticnens
The whistling winds of November have brought winter to the Northland of Minnesota. The frost has performed its secret ministry shrouding the fields and trees with beards of icicles and snow. Silent snow has possessed the man-made canyons of the mining horizons.
Under the snowrifts the blossoms are sleeping, dreaming their dreams of sunshine and June, and the overburden of iron ore dumps are covered with pillars of pearl crystals. Everywhere, weary travelers, hurried shoppers and moms and grandmothers are busy recovering from the holiday season. We remember the sweet, tempting and pungent aromas and fragrances that filled the kitchens during holidaytime. And, it’s time to share some recipes for 2001!
Oatmeal Gems
(Makes about 48 cookies)
1	cup butter or margarine
1 cupsugar
1	cup dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla I1'! cups flour
1	teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1	teaspoon ground cinnamon 'i teaspoon mace >72 teaspoon nutmeg x'i	teaspoon ground cloves
3	cups uncooked oatmeal
1	cup walnuts or pecans, chopped
1	cup yellow raisins,
finely chopped
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream butter, sugar and brown sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, mix thoroughly. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, soda, salt and spices. With mixer runnning, gradually add dry ingredients to butter/sugar mixture. Continue mixing until thoroughly com-
bined. Fold in oatmeal, nuts and raisins by hand. Drop by tablespoons, 2 inches apart, onto a lightly greased cookie sheet, flattening each mound slightly. Bake 8 to 10 minutes for a soft cookie;
12	minutes for a crunchy cookie. Cool on racks.
Eggnog Muffins
(Makes 12 muffins)
2	cups flour 2/j cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder x'i teaspoon salt 3/4 cup prepared eggnog 1/i cup rum 5 tablespoon butter or margarine, melted
1 large egg, beaten
f/2 teaspon nutmeg, grated
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Stir in eggnog, rum, melted butter, egg and nutmeg. Spoon into 12 paper-lined muffin cups.
Bake on middle rack in preheated oven for 20 minutes until toothpick inserted in center of muffin comes out clean. Cool on rack for 10 minutes before removing from pan.
Baked Polenta with Cheese
(Serves six)
2	cups chicken stock
11/2	cups water
1	teaspoon salt
1	cup yellow cornmeal
2	tablespoons butter or margarine
1	cup Monterey Jack or
Swiss cheese, shredded l;4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Bring chicken stock, water and salt to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat to simmer and add cornmeal in a slow stream, stirring constantly. Cook,
stirring often, 7 to 10 minutes over medium-low heat. Polenta will become thick.
Pour polenta into a shallow baking pan and smooth to an even layer. Cool 15 to 20 minutes in refrigerator. Cut cooled polenta into 2 inch squares and arrange squares like fallen dominos in a shallow broiler-proof baking dish. Dot with butter and sprinkle cheeses evenly over the top. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until polenta is heated through. If polenta is not browned on top, it can be run quickly under the broiler until golden. Serve immediately. Dress up the polenta with a topping of wild mushrooms sauteed in butter or your favorite tomato sauce.
Snowy Day Beef and Barley Soup
(Serves eight)
1 l/i pounds beef round steak,
trimmed of excess fat and cut into l,i cubes 3/* teaspoon salt x'i teaspoon pepper
2	tablespoon vegetable oil divided
2	cups onions, finely chopped 1 cup carrots diced
l/2 cup celery chopped 1 pound mushrooms sliced 1 teaspoon garlic, minced XU teaspoon dried thyme 1-14 x,2 ounce can beef broth 1-14 x'i ounce can chicken broth X/2 cup pearl barley
3 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Sprinkle beef with salt and pepper. Put 1 tablespoon oil in Dutch oven and brown beef. Transfer to a bowl. Ha remaining oil in same pot, add onion, carrot and celery. Cook, strring until vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in mushrooms, garlic and thyme; cook five minutes more. Combine beef and chicken broths with enough water to equal 6 cups. Add to pot along with barley and beef. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer until beef is tender, about 1*'j hours. Add more water if necessary during this cooking time. Sprinkle with chopped parsley just before serving.
A Happy and Blessed New Year to all of our SWU members across America!
RECOGNIZING OUR SLOVENIAN CULTURE
FRANCE PREŠEREN, his life and his work, is presented briefly in this series. Among the best writers of Slovenia, he is revered by Slovenians who learn his poems in early childhood. When the U.S. became the new homeland, our people brought their respect and love for Prešeren with them. It is now the 200th years since his birth and it is appropriate that we re-awaken in the younger generations some knowledge of Slovenia’s greatest poet. - Editor
France Prešeren
i
1STotes about the great Slovene poet France Prešeren and his work, may seem hardly credible to the English reader. People who are acquainted with the rise and growth of literatures will probably find it difficult to understand how in a small, remote country like Slovenia, situated between the Alps and the Adriatic, poetry of more than local interest and significance could have arisen. Yet if we consider for a moment the geographical position and the history of that country, many things will become clearer. The Slovenes inhabit the valleys of the Soča, Sava, Drava and Mura rivers in the eastern Alps and the westernmost portion of the Carso which stretches between Rijeka (Fiume) and Trieste to the Adriatic. Over this territory there once passed the Roman roads to Noricum, Pannonia and Moesia. These roads were used also during the time of the migration of peoples and later by nations and hordes who wished to reach Italy or penetrate into Central and Eastern Europe.
The present territory of Slovenia, however, is only one third of that once occupied by the ancestors of the present-day Slovenes. It comprises the westernmost part of the great South Slav migration in the fifth and sixth centuries A.D. At that time Slovene tribes reached contemporary Tyrol as well as the territory of Salzburg, and having approached the Danube, they probably even crossed it in certain places. There was a time when the whole of the originally Celtic-Ro-mance Alpine region as far as the Inn could have become Slovene. But towards the middle of the eighth century the wave of Franks turned south-east, while in the Pannonian plain the Avar rule had spread its tentacles and had begun to threaten even the Alpine Slovenes. In this crisis the Slovenes appealed to the Bavarians for help, which was readily granted. But when the Bavarians themselves were swamped by the wave of Franks, they brought with them under Frankish rule their Slovene proteges. From 748 till 1918 the Slovenes were a component part of the political heritage of the one-time Frankish Empire. They suffered the fate of the weaker party in the colonizing process carried out by the Bavarians and other Germanic tribes with the object of occupying the whole of the Eastern Alpine region as far as the Pannonian plain and thus ensuring themselves against new surprises from the menacing East.
Their common religion (the Slovenes were converted to Christianity in the eighth and ninth centuries) saved the Alpine Slavs from complete annihilation. It also gave them some liturgical texts in their native language, even though
Author’s Notes
A. Slodnjak, Ljubljana University (Translated by R. DeBray)
from the "Selection of Poems by France Prešeren") Slodnjak-Matthews, Editors Basil Blackwell, Oxford, 1954
the pressure of Germanic feudal administration did not allow them to form their own culture. The systematic penetration of Slovene territory by means of Teutonic castles, monasteries and rural settlements pushed the language frontier further and further back. This weakened the resistance of the Slovenes, who were devoid of political, ecclesiastical or cultural centres of their own. Yet their language survived, and the Slovene national spirit had not been broken. It was only looking for new ways of asserting itself - above all by means of humanistic culture and at times even by armed resistance. About 1500 a relatively large number of scholars of Slovene descent, who were paving the way of humanism, were active at the University of Vienna and in the entourage of the Austrian Emperor Maximilian I (1459-1519). Only a few years later however (in 1515) the Slovene peasants offered their first resistance to the increased feudal pressure, with the significant cry: “The old rights!” (Stara pravda!)
During the Reformation period the Slovene language attained, at least for a time, considerable cultural and political significance. When in the first half of the sixteenth century the Turkish hordes reached the eastern boundary of Slovenia, they were actually on the border of the former Frankish marches facing the East. Spreading in isolated thrusts over the Slovene lands, the Turks at that period, for the first time, penetrated as far as Vienna (1528). The descendants of the old Bavarian feudal colonists, seized with terror and despair, thought that the Turkish arms (being an instrument of God’s wrath) could not be repulsed by physical force, but by a moral and political regeneration of both Christian and Turk alike. This could be done only by God’s word. Hence it was imperative to give the Christians as well as the Turks the Bible and especially the Gospels in a medium they could understand. The Slovene language, despite its decay, was at that time an auxiliary diplomatic language in Austria, not only in her relations with the Eastern Slav states (Poland and Russia) but also with Turkey, where after the occupation of the Balkans the Serbo-Croatian language was similarly used in relations with Austria. And so the strange idea was conceived by certain German Protestant feudal lords from the Slovene territory, and even by the Emperor Maximilian II himself, of pacifying the Turks by converting them to Christianity. This they hoped to achieve by means
France Prešeren:
To Music
The main event marking France Prešeren (1800-1849) Cultural Year was held in Ljubljana Dec. 3, the 200th anniversary of his birth, as the Slovene National Museum opened an exhibition titled “Prešeren - Poet, Neither Rich Nor Famous.”
To celebrate the birth of Slovenia’s most important literary figure, more than 50 academic, literary, theatrical and musical events in honor of Prešeren were organized by the Slovene Fund for Amateur Cultural Activities and presented in November and December.
On the recommendation of the Slovenian Ministry of Culture, 2000 was named the “Year of Prešeren,” and at the same time the “Year of Culture” by the Slovenian government.
Slovenian Press Agency, Ljubljana
Strunam
Strune, milo se glasite, milo, pesmica, žaluj;
srca bolečine skrite trdosrčni oznanuj:
kak bledi mi moje lice, kak umira luč oči,
kak teko iz njih solzice, ki ljubezen jih rodi;
od želja kako zdihuje, po nji hrepeni srce,
kak mu je veselje tuje, kak od sreče nič ne ve;
kak s seboj me vedno vleče, koder hodi, njen obraz,
kak obličje nje cveteče v srcu nosim vsaki čas;
in kak ve, ki bi nje hvalo rade pele zanaprej,
ak se ne usmili kmalo, mor’te vtihnit vekomej.
Strings, give forth your mournful music,
Song give forth your saddest moan;
Pour your balm upon my grieving,
To her cruel heart make known;
How my cheeks are growing pallid, How my eyes are growing dim,
How my bitter tears are flowing,
Bom of Love’s relentless whim;
How my heart knows only yearning Knows but passionate distress,
How unknown to it is gladness,
How unknown is happiness;
How her face is e’er before me, Haunting me where’er I go,
How her lovely, blooming features Ever taunt, torment me so;
And how ye, that gladly loved one Would continue to adore.
Must, if soon her heart relent not. Silence keep forevermore.
Translated by Ivan Zorman
of the Bible translated into Slovene and Serbo-Croatian, which they thought would be comprehensible to the majority of the Turks.
Such an idea helped to further the growth of Slovene Protestant literature (1550-1600) and made possible a brief, but fruitful period of collaboration between Slovene, Croatian and Serbian Protestant writers. But as this literature could not produce the desired effect on the Turks, it began to die out after a brief period of luxuriant growth. During that time it gave the Slovenes the basis for a national organization of the Protestant Church and the schools. It also unified their literary language and fostered their national feeling. All this came to an end at the close of the sixteenth century owing to the inaction of the German feudal supporters on the one hand and the rise of the Counter-Reformation on the other. The former refused to understand that the idea of the Reformation appealed to the Slovene peasant mainly in so far as it awakened his hopes of easing the feudal burden. As the people had already lost their belief that the feudal authorities really intended to settle social relations in accordance with the Gospels, they rose again in 1573 - this time in league with the neighboring Croats. No longer interested in defending the Protestant cause, they for the most part passively submitted to triumphant Catholicism. The
Catholics first made promises that they would continue the tradition of Slovene Protestant literature on a Catholic basis, but they did not follow up their first efforts. Catholic univer-salism, as defined at the Council of Trent, was incapable of understanding either the social or the cultural aspirations of the Slovenes. While the educated classes were being brought up in the Jesuit schools and at the Italian universities, where they absorbed the elements of the Baroque culture, the Slovene populace (exhausted by its abortive struggles and cheated of its hopes of justice) was waiting impatiently in an attitude of distrust and of unyielding determination. In spite of all this, one can notice at the end of the seventeenth century a renewal of Slovene literature mainly under the influence of the Italian Baroque culture. Pious meditations, hymn-books and collections of sermons prevailed. Since the Protestant Bible had been spared by the Counter-Reforma-tion, it continued to serve as a basis for a literary language at a time when Slovenia abounded in rapidly changing local dialects.
To be continued
Katarina Kompan Erzar:
UTRINKI
IZ OTROŠKEGA
SVETA
Kako lahko cerkev pripomore k toplini doma
Se vam je že zgodilo, da ste se v spanju smejali in vas je lastni smeh prebudil iz spanja. Da ste se zalotili, da ste srečni? Ali zjutraj ob sebi zagledali svojo ženo, moža, ki se v spanju smehlja. Taki trenutki so praznik za vso družino, življenju dajejo svetost, lepoto, polnost in spominjajo na nek drugačen čas, obredja, milosti, večnosti.
In kaj je lepšega kot ob sebi zagledati človeka, ki si ga osrečil. Že sam spomin na tak trenutek družino poveže, zakonca pomiri in otroke sprosti. Kaj je srečanje?
Predstavljajmo si otroka, ko po pošti nepričakovano dobi igračko. Nekdo ga je želel razveseliti, nekdo misli nanj, tudi takrat ko on ne misli na to osebo, nekdo se ga spominja, ga nosi v svojem spominu. To pa za otroka pomeni, da je vreden spomina, da obstaja. Veliki teolog Tomaš Spidlik rad spomni na to, da: “življenje ni čas, ampak srečanje s prijatelji." V trenutku v katerem začutiš da nekdo ve zate, da te ima rad tudi ko se nisi trudil za to, se čas za hip zares ustavi. In to je trenutek srečanja, presenečenje nad tem, da nekdo sočustvuje s teboj, ne da bi ga v to prisilil, da nekdo pozna tvojo stisko čeprav nima istih izkušenj kot ti. Družina je prav kraj te zastonjske ljubezni, kraj kjer ljudje prebijemo večino svojega življenja in večino svojega časa prav zato, ker hočemo tukaj doživeti srečanje. Vprašanje pa je kolikokrat se med seboj zares srečamo kot pravi prijatelji, kolikokrat se čas zares ustavi. Kaj lahko družini pomaga k toplini stika, k pravim srečanjem stran od preobilice časa, ko samo prijetno so-bivamo. Prav vera v brezpogojnost Božje ljubezni. Srečanja namreč ne moreš v naprej zrežirati, ne moreš se nanj pripraviti, ne moreš ga povzročiti, lahko se le pustiš srečati, lahko ohranjaš vero, da se tudi tebi lahko tako srečanje zgodi. Ta vera pa sega v sam temelj osebe, tja, kjer sami sebe nočemo srečati, kjer sami pred seboj zanikamo svoja neprimerna čutenja, svojo majhnost, zavist, jezo, zamero, nemoč. Zato v drugih vedno iščemo njihovo zavist, da bi se pomirili glede naše zavisti, njihovo jezo, da bi se pomirili glede naše jeze, da bi lahko rekli, tudi drugi ni nič boljši od mene. Na zunaj pa se trudimo kazati neprizadet in prijazen obraz. In kako blago zveni takrat tihi glas, ki pravi: "Mir z vami, ne trudite se uganiti kdo sem, pokazal vam bom, kaj bi bil, če bi bil človek. Nekaj majhnega, navadnega, dojenček, dete,
ki bo moralo 30 let ostati odvisno od svojih staršev, od njune vzgoje, ki bo do konca verjelo, da si vsak človek želi samo to, da bi bil srečan, da bi ga nekdo srečal takrat, ko svojega sovraštva ne more več prenašati in ga zlije na drugega." In spomin na to gotovost je ritem cerkvenega leta, ko se iz tedna v teden srečujemo ne zato, ker bi si bili všeč, ampak ker vsi hočemo verjeti, da nas Bog želi srečati in da bo toliko časa čakal in vztrajal z nami v tem ritmu obredja, zakramentov, maše in praznikov, dokler se srečanja ne bodo začela utelešati med nami.
Marko me je nekoč, ko sva se vračala iz obiska pri znanki vprašal: "Mami, zakaj so vsi odrasli tako prijazni z mano?" Odgovorila sem mu, da so odrasli veseli, ko vidijo otroka, ker so otroci nekaj tako lepega.” Marko je nadaljeval: “Ampak mami, kaj pa če bi bil jaz recimo smrkav, a veš, tako zares, pa skuštran, zelo skuštran, kaj bi pa potem naredili?" “Veš Marko”, sem mu odvrnila, vsa pretresena: “ti si dosti bol) pomemben, kot en smrkelj, ali kot skuštrani lasje, tisto, kar imam jaz rada si ti cel, tudi ko si skuštran si to še vedno ti, je tukaj tvoj srček. Rada te imam ko je ta srček žalosten, ko je jezen, ko je nagajiv, ko je vesel." "Lepo je, sicer če si urejen in prijazen, najlepše pa je, da si tukaj, da si otrok, da živiš ob nas.”
Srečanje, odnos, stik, brezpogojna in zastonjska ljubezen je najmočnejši vzgib človekovega delovanja, čutenja in mišljenja. Človek je lahko srečen samo, če v svoji najgloblji intimi ve, da je vreden, da se ga nekdo spominja takega kot je, "smrkavega in skuštranega”. Da on ko oseba ni “šel v nič". To pa je izkustvo vere, občestva, spomina, ki ostane.
Cerkveno obredje, zakramenti in prazniki nas s svojim ritmom spominjajo na čas srečanja. Kako dolgo je obdoje “navadnega" dela leta, ko se nič velikega ne zgodi, kako hitro se odvijeta Božič in Velika noč in potem, konec. Zakaj so prazniki tako neenakomerno razporejeni? Prav zato, da nas najprej v polnosti pritegnejo v logiko srečanja in nam potem omogočijo, da iz tega srečanja živimo, da to srečanje v nas odzvanja, da iz semena izjemnih čutenj vzklije nežna bilka hrepenenja, ki nas spodbuja k bolj navadnim, drobnim in vsakdanjim srečanjem. Srečanju s seboj, z možem, ženo, sodelavci, priajtelji, da nas opogumi, da je vsak trenutek namenjen srečanju, samo poskusiti je treba, tvegati, se odločiti. Srečanje je drobni trenutek odločitve, da bom slišal svojo utrujenost in si ne bom nalagal obveznosti, zaradi katerih si bom potem lastil zasluge in premoč nad drugim, namesto katerega sem to naredil. Odločitve, da bom prosil za pomoč, da bom zmogel reči oprosti, da bom pred teboj ranljiv. Srečanje se začne v odločitvi, da bom potrpel s seboj, s svojo šibkostjo, ker bo prav ta pokazala, kje lahko drugim omogočim, da me srečajo, da mi ne bi bilo treba od drugih terjati davkov za vse tisto, kar sem zanje naredili s stisnjenimi zobmi. Kako drugače je preseči sebe, ko te drugi za to prosi, ko veš, da je ta odpoved, žrtev, napor znamenje srečanja, kakor presegati sebe po lastni izbiri in volji in potem ostati sam, zagrenjen in daleč od sebe in drugih. In Cerkev je znamenje tega
spomina na srečanje, na neminljiv stik, na temeljno gotovost, zaupanje in sprejemanje prav s ponavljanjem "navadnega" obredja, vsakodnevnega obhajanja spomina na veliko noč, vsakodnevne molitve, take, ki postane del tvojega dihanja, del utripa srca, postane del ritma doživljanja, čustvovanja in razmišljanja, dokler se ne spomin na srečanje in hrepenenje po srečanju ne utelesi v drobnih srečanjih.
Happy - Happy
Did you ever awaken from sleep with the feeling that you were laughing in your dreams? And, even more disquieting, you find that your husband (or wife) sleeping next to you has had the same sensation? This happens sometimes and it seems to be a mystery with moments unexplainable and yet, spiritual! This is a special surprise “encounter” that brings you and your family to the awareness that you have shared an ethereal moment that can’t be explained, but seems to bond parents and give children a learning experience.
Picture this as another example of an “encounter”: Your happy child receives a package in the mail - totally unexpected - not anticipated in any way. The mailman simply leaves this package for Marko, and when he opens it, he finds it is a present from someone. He feels so good and loves the surprise. He feels quite important - someone thought of him - someone likes him - he is special!
In his surprise he asks me, “Mommy, why did I get this present today?” And I answer that he is a child well-loved because he is so sweet and beautiful. Another question: “What if I were dirty and bad - would they like me than?” And, I reply, “You know, Marko, it doesn’t matter how you look because what matters is what you have here, in your heart, not how you look. I love you as you are, even when you are disobedient, or if you are sad and grumpy, or have a dirty face. It’s nice when you are clean and good, but I will love you always, just as you are. You are a part of us and will always belong to us, just as you are!”
These are the words that Marko needs to hear. They will make him aware of the place where he is loved and he wants to be. This encounter with something new and unknown was answered in a way that will form the basis for his lifetime when he will have many emotional experiences.
The theologian Thomas Spidlik remembers that “life is a series of encounters”. In the moment you feel someone’s presence, or someone’s concern for you, or love for you, your life changes and that moment becomes a part of your life. Even if you forget who, where, what was the encounter, you have immediately developed feelings that will last throughout your life. They will build you as a person.
Within the family we find the perfect circumstances for encounters with the purest form of love that can be given by parents. There will be many such encounters. Will they be accepted or ignored, appreciated or refused? Whatever they are, it will ultimately influence a life until the greatest encounter of all, with God. To expect goodness is to give goodness. To love others is to be loved by others. To trust is to be trustworthy.
On the contrary, when you refuse life’s good encounters and either ignore them or reject them, you are, in fact, projecting your own misery and failure, your anger or deprecation, possibly built in you since childhood. Your emotional growth was formed by the encounters that began when you sought love and appreciation.
Can you imagine that your relationship with your own child can have such impact? You have the chance to give him the strongest emotional tools and give him the kind of uncompromising love he needs and wants.
And now, we come to the Church in this time of holidays and the new year. The Church has just made an encounter with the faithful in a powerful event in the liturgical calendar. Before Christmas we prepared for it by prayer and meditation that keeps us in tune with our daily aspirations, holy communion that reminds us of the coming resurrection of the Child bom in a stable, and by fasting and penance that help us remember our destiny as children of God. Above all, the Church wants us to be ready for eternal life, the greatest encounter of all.
Katarina Kompan Erzar is a psychologist at the Franciscan Family Counseling Center in Ljubljana, Slovenia. This is the 5th in a series of articles on family life. The original in Slovenian is followed by English translation by the Editor.
THINK HERITAGE
Donations to the Heritage Museum
Otillia J. Kurnick, Napa, CA for the Museum Fund Raiser, $90
Branch 73, Warrensville Heights, OH in memory of Louise Majercik, $20; In memory of Margaret Kozelka, $10 Branch 13, San Francisco, CA, in memory of Rose Scoff, $10
Theodore Prisland, for the Museum Fund Raiser, $90 Marie Zimmer, $10 Marilea Zajec, Br. 20, $15
Ernestine Jevec, Br. 50, in memory of husband Leo,
$20
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Massucci, Br. 20, $200 Bill & Margaret Rose, in memory of Frank Kapel, $50 Jean & Arnie Koci, in memory of Frank Kapel, $25 Milka Zupančič, in memory of Frank Kapel, $20 Anne Kapel, Br. 100, in memory of husband Frank,
$50
Donations in memory of Father David Stalzer:
$20 - Mr. & Mrs. Alfred Papesh, Br. 20; Sophia Dirker, Br. 20
$50 - Br. 24, LaSalle
$100 - Mr. & Mrs. Walter Lustik, Br. 20.
SREČANJE MED POETOM IN SVETNIKOM
P
in
s,
RESEREN vLOMSEK
— Frank Žebot —
Pogledi
Odnosi
Srečanja
NARODNI PROGRAM: DUHOVNO ZEDINJENJE
O literarnih zadevah, posebej še o nujno potrebni utemeljitvi skupnega knjižnega jezika, je Slomšek razpravljal, bodi ustno bodi pismeno, s številnimi prosvetnimi delavci svoje dobe. Metelko, Jarnik, Prešeren, Čop, Murko, Muršec, Dajnko, Bleiweis, Vraz, Janežič in Einspieler so bili pomembnejši Slomškovi sobesedniki v zadevah jezika in književnosti. Franc Kosar, prvi Slomškov življenjepisec pravi o njem: "Kdorkoli je kaj slovenskega pisal, vprašal ga je rad za svet, ki ga je tudi vedno rad dajal." Slomškovo delo za utemeljitev knjižne slovenščine sta povdarila Fran Erjavec in Pavel Flere v knjigi "A.M. Slomšek" (Ljubljana 1924):
“Strnil je Slomšek štajersko pokrajinsko književnost z osrednjo slovensko (kranjsko) zlasti v ‘Drobtinicah’, ki jih je jezikovno izkušal vedno naslanjati na jezik, ki so ga pisali Kranjci. Ker so se okrog 'Drobtinic’ zbirali skoraj vsi tedanji štajerski pisatelji, je z njimi dosegel, da so se ravnali tudi ti po Kranjcih, in tako je razmeroma zgodaj splošno zavladal pri vseh Slovencih enoten knjižni jezik."
Ker je Slomšek polagal toliko važnost na čimprejšnjo upostavitev knjižne slovenščine, lahko z gotovostjo sklepamo, da je bil to tudi prvi predmet njegovih razgovorov s Prešernom leta 1832 v Celovcu.
Slomškovo narodnobudilno delovanje je tako široko razsežno, da nudi zajetno snov za posebno razpravo. Tu naj bo omenjeno, da je Slomšek kot pisatelj, pesnik, skladatelj, govornik, pridigar, šolnik, dopisnik, urednik in dušni pastir vedno imel pred očmi narodno dobrobit; nadel si je nalogo popeljati svoje ljudstvo iz mračnega brezna grozečega propada na solnčno ravan novega življenja.
Največjo zaslugo za slovenski narod pa si je Slomšek pridobil s prestavitvijo sedeža lavantinske škofije od Sv. Andraža v Maribor in priključitvijo slovenskega dela sekavske (graške) škofije. To je bil zgodovinsko rešilni korak. Obvaroval je 200.000 obmejnih Slovencev gotovega potujčenja. Ko je leta 1918 general Rudolf Maister z orožjem v roki rešil Sloveniji Maribor in štajersko obmejno ozemlje, je baje dejal enemu svojih oficirjev: "Jaz ne bi imel ničesar reševati, če ne bi te meje 60 let pred menoj začrtal Anton Martin Slomšek".
Nakopal pa si je Slomšek radi svojega dela za narod gnev in sovraštvo nemških šovinistov. Napadali so ga v časopisju, zahtevali njegov odstop, prirejali proti njemu hrupne demonstracije in razbijali okna na škofijski palači. Pri vsakem njegovem koraku so mu sledili ovaduhi. Bil je edini ^vstrijski škof, ki mu cesar nikoli ni podelil odlikovanja. Mnoge veljake tiste dobe je podobno nasprotovanje zlomilo, umaknili so se v zatišje, poedini pa celo odpadli. Ne tako Slomšek! Sovraštvo in preganjanje ga je utrdilo v veri, da je na pravi poti. Ko ga je solnograški kardinal opozoril, da je zaradi svojega narodnega delovanja padel v nemilost pri vladnih krogih, je Slomšek 27. decembra 1845 o tem pisal svojemu prijatelju Josipu Poklukarju:
"Ravno te dni so mi višji škof in kardinal Schwarzenberg pomenili, da se mi slovenstvo očita. Pa mene to očitanje kar nič ne moti; mislim, da vsak naj dela po svojih okoliščinah, ali že svetu ugaja ali ne. Tisti pa, ki me sodi, je Gospod. Slovenka me je rodila, Slovenka me je dojila; naj me slovenščina tudi hvaležnega sina ima. Zemljo materno obdelovati želim, dokler nekdaj v materni zemlji počivam, ako bo volja božja tako."
—	Nadaljevanje —
Hey!
It’s me, Julie!
Hi everyone!! Happy New Year!! Can you believe it is already 2001???? It comes so fast every time! I am excited about this upcoming year. I graduate, begin college in the fall, and start a whole new page in my life. The only thing that I am not looking forward to is my boyfriend, Tom leaving for the Marines in March. (Oh well! Life moves on!)
Did you all choose a new years resolution?!? I would really like if I were able to stick to one, but that is just like trying to stick to a diet and that NEVER works!!
There are new mind games that I will begin giving to you - they are little mind teasers that I learned in Psychology class. Here is an example: 26 - L of the A. The answer is 26 letters of the Alphabet. The letters after the equal sign represent words that correspond with the number. I like these games. I find them very challenging, and most of all ... fun! (But they are only fun when you get the answer!!)
1 began taking piano lessons again, 1 started back in November. I did it for my grandma, Frances Zibert/Schultz. She really enjoyed me playing when I was younger, and I liked it myself as well, but I didn’t hve the time. Surprisingly with work, and tons of school work, I was able to find the time to take a lesson once a week. (That was for you Grandma - love ya!) I like playing the piano. Sometimes I don’t play the right notes, I just play whatever I want, and usually that sounds better than a song! (Not too often though!) Do any of you play instruments? Piano is the only one I ever played, I never had interest in any of the other sorts of instruments? Strings are too slow for me, and the other ones that are in bands are too loud. I went for the in between; I figured I was safe!!
I apologize that I was unable to attend the Christmas Party for Branch 2 in Chicago held on December 2, 2000.
1 usually try to go, but homework interferes a lot with my plans, and that just happened to be one of them. So 1 apologize for not being a good "sport” and show up! I really must be going now, I have a ton of projects, with no
THE KONCAR CHILDREN OF JOLIET, ILLINOIS
celebrate Christmas with a Slovenian touch! Here they are seen dressed up in their Slovenian national costumes, standing in front of the nativity scene, a focal point of Christmas in their home. John Margaret, Amy, Robby and Frank are members of Br. 20.
idea of where to begin!?! You can all look forward to reading an updated biography of me, before the end of this school year. Good luck with all you do. Take care!
Mind game for this month:
54 — C in a D with the J
Answer: 54 cards in a deck with the jokers.
Love ya lots and always,
Julie
To write to Julie...
Please use the ZARJA address 4851 S. Drexel Blvd., Chicago, IL 60615.
I
%
For the people who attend the Chicago Bulls basketball games, you have probably seen these young gals cheering! They are SWU Br. 2 members, Megan (11) and Maria (8) Bunetta. Having the most fun watching them is grandma, Ann Bunetta! They are all members of Br. 2.
ST. VITUS NEWS
Parishioners from St. Vitus parish, the first American Slovenian Roman Catholic parish in the state of Ohio along with students in the Student Community Involvement Program from St. Ignatius High School, the Jesuit college preparatory high school in Cleveland, Ohio, and members of St. Anne Lodge
4,	a local fraternal lodge affiliated with American Mutual Life Association (AMLA) are requesting support from our readers for donations of dry and canned goods along with basic winter clothing items of caps, gloves, and scarves and hygiene, products such as toilet paper, soap bars, baby powder, etc., for during the weekend of January
13	and 14, 2001.
Items may be dropped off at St. Vitus Church, 6019 Glass Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44103, before and after the 4:00 p.m. Mass on January 13th.
After you drop off the items stop in and enjoy a home-style dinner. Cost is only $12 (adult) or $6 (child, 12 years-old or younger). The St. Ignatius High School Jazz Band will perform for your listening entertainment.
Intererested individuals, companies, corporations, or other fraternal organizations/lodges seeking additional information on the Feed The Need food and clothing drive should contact Stane or Mark Kuhar (440) 585-1360. Nicholas Kuhar, member of Br. 25, SWU-SŽZ, is assisting in this endeavor.
REUTERS
It’s All Downhill From Here!
Slovenian Skis Down Mount Everest
Davo Karničar, 38, from Jezersko, Slovenia, is the first man on Earth to have accomplished a complete top-to-bottom descent on skis from Mount Everent (8,848 m).
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia, Oct. 7-A 38-year old Slovenian today became the first person ever to ski nonstop down the world’s higest mountain, Mount Everest.
“I feel only absolute happiness and absolute fatigue,” Davo Karničar told Reuters by satellite phone after the descent from the 29,035-feet peak.
He said it took nearly five hours of skiing on his custom-made skis to complete his run, which happened without any major problems.
“At some sections I had to ski very fast to escape from the breaking ice,” the exhausted skj instructor said immediately after arrival at the base camp at 5,340 meters.
Karničar said he came across a frozen body of a dead climber during his descent. The identity of the dead climber was not known.
“This mountain is always full of surprises, seeing a dead man out there was a really shocking experience for me,” he said.
SLOVENIA SUFFERS NATURAL CASTROPHE!
One of the worst natural disasters ever has occurred in Slovenia. In October and November a combination of earthquake and flood resulted in land failure and landslides. The region most affected is around the mountain range of Mangart, and the valley of the Soča River. We are asked to help the people of Slovenia recover from this extraordinary natural occurrence by sending donations directly to the affected area. Below are two addresses that can be used.
• Slovenian Red Cross
Foreign currency account at NLB d.d. Ljubljana, Trg republike 2, Slovenia:
50100-620- 133
900- 7160 -...- 3251/4
with the note: “za prizadete pod Mangartom"
or swift code: UBASI2X
• Škofijski Karitas Koper
Foreign currency account at Krekova banka Maribor, Slovenia:
51800- 620 - 336
Reference number: 767200 - 1119613 with the note: “Posočje 2000” or swift code: KREK SI 22
Kamicar’s descent was captured on video by cameras set up along the route and on his helmet and was broadcast on the Internet.
“At an altitude of 8,000 meters [26,000 feet], you encounter a lack of oxygen, changing snow conditions, very strong winds and extreme cold. Your ability to move is very limited. It should be really fun,” Karničar told the Times of London before his run.
Karničar had spent a month climbing the world’s highest mountain, the Times reported.
“I feel I am bom for this type of skiing. I learned to ski [at] age three. When I was eight, I joined our national team. Today, I’m a ski instructor, but [Mount] Everest is the greatest challenge,” Karničar said in the Times.
The father of three has already skied down Mont Blanc and Annapurna in the Himalayas, but lost two fingers to frostbite when skiing down Everest in a failed attempt in 1996.
LATEST NEWS from Karničar is that he has plans to teach children in Nepal how to ski! The Elan Ski manufacturer of Slovenia, one of the largest ski and sports manufacturers, has donated 50 pairs of new skiis to Karničar who will be going back there this spring. It’s his way of thanking the people for courtesies received on his history-making venture last October. Isn’t that typical of our Slovenians?
Memories of my Maternal Slovenian Grandparents
My maternal Slovenian grandparents had quite a large influence on my life as they lived on the next street over from us. They didn’t drive and my younger brother and I spent many an hour running errands for them when they needed bread and the like. Of course, these trips were well-rewarded. On our return we always got a little juice glass with Seven-up mixed with a few splashes of wine. We’d sip it slowly and felt very grown-up!!! If we were really good we got some Lorna Doons to go with it. My grandparents were also founding members of the Slovenian National Home located in the same neighborhood. Many a good time was had there with the neighborhood Slovenes dancing polkas, attending Slovenian choral concerts and eating all that good Slovenian food. I can feel my mouth watering now just thinking of the good klobase sandwiches and krofe. If only we could go back to those happy joy-filled times. As a child I took it all for granted. Now it’s only a much treasured memory.
Lynn
	jiiik 4k	
	First Midwest Bank	
	Joliet • (815) 727-5222	fat
Haberman — Zimmer
Funeral Homes
Traditional to Contemporary Funaral Services - Cremator Services ___ ^ l	Pre-Arranged Funerals -Tula 19 Funaral Trusts
805 N. 6th	E&jcabonal Programs - Serving AH Faiths 117 N. Wisconsin Dr.
Sheboygan	utwm	a»«*o»	Howards	Grove
457-7012 Mark S. Zimmer c« 1111
-»•J /	/	-Serving	Sheboygan	&	Sheboygan	County	Smce	1373’*
SHELIGA DRUG INC.
6025 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland, OH 44103 (216) 431-1035
Serving our neighborhoods’ daily needs
TRAVEL EXPERTS since 1923!
Kollander World Travel
All Airlines ♦ Cruise Lines ♦ Destinations Worldwide
77 years of Experience Polka Tours Calendar
Internet Airline Booking on website
Hollander World Travel
971 E. 185th Street • Cleveland. OH 44119 1-800-800-5981 www.kollandcr-travel.com
SWU GIFT SHOP FOR MAIL ORDERS CAN ACCOMMODATE YOUR ORDERS AT ONCE!
Make your choices from the Heritage Gift List in the last issue of ZARJA (November-December, 2000) and send with remittance to
SWU Heritage Museum 431 N. Chicago Street Joliet, IL 60432
COLDWELL BANKER_____________
HONIG-BELL Realty
2300 Glenwood Ave. Joliet, IL 60435 Office: (815) 744-1000 Home: (815) 726-4129 FAX: (815) 467-3146
“Call me when you are buying or selling!"
R0SANNE RUTH
REALTOR
Member of Branch 20, S. W. U.
Heritage Annuity Traditional IRA	Agtofea	Competitive	Rates
Roth IRA	\r^T|io7	Long-Term	Growth
Tax-Deferred Savings	Fraternal	Benefits
Guaranteed Income	low	Minimum
A Financial Family That Feels Like Home Home Office: 2439 Glenwood Avenue ♦ Joliet, IL 60435 ♦ (800) 843-5755
E-Mail: KSKJLife@AOL.COM
PERIODICALS
POSTAGE
PAID
JOLIET
ILLINOIS
MEMBERS, When you move, please let us know!
In order to improve our mailing system for ZARJA, any changes in your postal address must be made in advance to our National Secretary, Bonnie Prokup, 3119 Carrie St., Peru, IL 61354. Your ZARJA delivery will be delayed if you send your address change in any other way.
Change of address form may be obtained from the Secretary of your Branch. Or just mail in letter form to Bonnie.
We are anxious to eliminate heavy postal costs for changes channeled through the U.S. Postal Service, plus, the delays that are caused.
Thank you very much!
At Your Service During Life’s Most Difficult Moments
Louis “Ron" Zefran	Connie	Rodriguez
Frank J. Zefran	Lois	M. Zefran Debbie Zefran Jerry
1-800-249-9150 (773) 847-6688
<\3xxn£.'ux£ aJ-foniči,
1941 West Cermak Road, Chioago, IL 60608
SWU COOKBOOK A PERFECT GIFT!
Our new SWU Cookbook, MORE POTS AND PANS, is a great addition to your cooking library! The book gives your instructions, tells you how to make the dishes that your mom and grandmom made, gives you the skills and knowledge to make you an expert in Slovenian cooking, plus... lots of wonderful and simple recipes for every day.
Recipes of the most delectable pastries are featured. Wouldn’t it be easier to follow a detailed recipe for Potica instead of begging grandmom to spell it out for you when she makes it with “a little of this and a little of that?” You can become your own expert at Krofi (donuts) using the MORE POTS AND PANS cookbook. Pictures also help if you need to see how strudel dough looks when its stretched.
TO ORDER YOUR COOKBOOK send $18 by mail to the Slovenian Women’s Union, 431 No. Chicago St., Joliet, IL 60432 and your copy will be sent right out! You can call for more information, (815) 727-1926.
SLOVENIJA MAGAZINE
Quarterly issue/$30 USD per year.
Personal checks accepted. Send your subscription to: Slovenia Magazine, Cankarjeva 1,
P.O. Box 169,1001 Ljubljana, SLOVENIA, Europe It’s truly beautiful magazine!
ZELE FUNERAL HOMES, INC.
452 East 152nd St., Cleveland, Ohio (216) 481-3118
A LONELY PLANET TRAVEL BOOK BY STEVE FALLON
SLOVENIA
Cost is $16.00 ($13.95 plus $2.05 postage and handling)
Slovenian Women’s Union is proud to bring our members and friends the availability of SLOVENIA at nominal cost and convenience. Please send your orders to
Slovenian Women’s Union 431 No. Chicago Street .
Joliet, IL 60432