ZARJA —THE DAWN
Uradno Glasilo Slovenske Ženske Zveze V Ameriki
Official Publication of the Slovenian Women’s Union of America
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January—February 2002 Vol # 74, Issue #1
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On the Cover: Commemorating SWU’s 75th Anniversary...
It is a most exciting time now - as we plan the final observance of our SWU 75th Anniversary. Many of our Board of Directors members were not even bom when Zveza was formed. Many of our mothers, aunts and other relatives were there, in the beginning, when groups met and decided that it was a good idea to be unified. They were all 100% Slovenian and realized that they were living in another world from that which they left. They were now Americans! Their children would be Americans! How were they to cope with this situation! It was a new life for all of them. But, they still gathered in their communities, organized their churches and lodges, and somehow, it worked out. Day by day! My grandmother, I remember, was one of the early immigrants and she lived a long, full life, having 7 children, supporting her husband as he made a living for the family in his meat market business. Of course, everyone worked. In every family, everyone worked.
So, when the Slovenian Women’s Union of America came along, their Slovenian honesty and perseverance aided them in making their new life worthwhile, and our old folks not only survived, they also worked for the future. “Zveza” was a place they put their extra energy and nurtured their cultural and domestic talents.
When we hear someone speak of “Mother Slovenia” they are referring to the symbolic “mother” in the stage painting at the Slovenian National Home in Cleveland, Ohio. She is depicted as the symbol from which our arts, music, literature and personal achievement flowed, from Slovenia to America. That is why we have special reverence for this picture, on the left lower part of our cover this month. The beauty of Slovenian lace-making, known throughout the world, along with lead crystal cutting, winemaking and other crafts, is noted in the top right picture of a “bobbin lace” cloth. Potica is, of course, a word recognizable as being Slovenian, but everyone, at any age, can relate to this delicacy, top left, and, just like singing our folksongs, it always brings us together. Our most recent accomplishment, the fourth SWU cookbook entitled More Pots and Pans attempts to concentrate much about our heritage and culinary arts in one book, for easy access to all ages. These are the things we all know as a part of SWU and which we are celebrating March 9th, 2002.
To our pioneers of Slovenian Women’s Union of America: Thank you for your love and guidance. We think your dream is a worthy one, and fulfilling in our present lives, as it was in yours.
CL
ZARJA - THE DAWN
(ISSN 0044-1848)
Postmaster: Send all changes of address to: ZARJA - THE DAWN, 4851 S. Drexel Blvd., Chicago, IL 60615-1703
NUMBER 1 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2002 VOLUME 74
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, CORINNE LESKOVAR Editorial Office: 4851 S. Drexel Blvd., Chicago, IL 60615-1703 Email: CORLESKOVAR@AOL.COM Telephone: (773) 548-8878 - Facsimile: (773) 268-4899
Internet webpage: www.swua.org e-mail: swuhome@msn.com C.: line newsletter: lzalokar@yahoo.com
— What You’ll Find in this Issue: -
President’s Message............................... 1
Nat’l. Secretary ................................. 3
Heritage Director Message......................... 4
Slovenian Jubilej Program ........................ 5
“New Neighborhood” ............................... 6
Quilt Raffle Tickets ............................. 7
Scholarship Director ............................. 8
Genealogy Search  ................................ 9
Heritage Tour Notes ............................. 11
Youth Director Message........................... 12
Ancestry Contest Entries ........................ 13
Travelogue, Slovenian/English ................ 14-15
Heritage Kitchen recipes ........................ 16
Stories of our Heritage ...................... 17-18
Articles from SWU Branches ................... 19-30
Birthdays/Calendar of Events......................30
Prešeren/Slomšek .................................31
Membership Application ...........................32
Gift Items for sale ..............Back	inside	cover
More, More, More Heritage!
“BRANCHING OUT”
A Big Thank You as We “Branch Out”
A few branches and individuals exemplify the standard we are now striving for and we must thank them for leading the way:
• Branch 2, Chicago, IL brought in 8 new members, held their annual Children’s Christmas party.
• Branch 5, Indianapolis, IN - Phyllis Fon sold 26 cookbooks at a Labor Day picnic (Branch 5 had a booth) and signed up several new members.
• Branch 20, Joliet, IL has brought in the most new members (40 as of 11 /30) and donated $500 to the ZARJ A.
• Branch 23, Ely, Minnesota has sold three boxes of cookbooks (78) and is working on a fourth box. They also held a successful Slovenian dessert social/bake sale this summer and brought in 7 new members.
• Branch 24, LaSalle, IL donated $1,000.00 to the S. W.U. A. Heritage museum for bookshelves. They recently held a very successful heritage show along with Branch 89, Oglesby, IL. Reza Rozman Lockwood, the S.W.U.A. Heritage Director, gave a lively lecture and brought items from the museum. There were many, many “thank yous” when the evening was over! They also brought in 7 new members.
• Branch 30, Home Office - Doris Jereb of Rock Springs, Wyoming has been working on a case of cookbooks this year and sending checks in steadily. She is a new member and we really appreciate her help and enthusiasm!
• Branch 103, Washington, D.C., brought in 13 new members.
The outreach many of these individuals and branches are making in their communities is sending a very positive message that our Slovenian-American heritage is alive and well! Thank you, thank you!
Please let us know what you or your branch is doing to support our mission, vision and purpose statements so you can be listed ihltuC^xt “branching out” feature. Forward ■/ your actttynplishments to National Secretary, BitfriHffe* Pohar Prokup.
NATIONAL PRESIDENT Kathleen Dorchak
tie Year 2001 concluded with a visit to Washington, D.C.
It was a very special weekend December 1st and 2nd, 2001 when we celebrated the third event of the SWU 75th Anniversary observance. It was at the Slovenian Chapel in Washington. D.C. and a visit to Br. 103 members.
The weekend began when Corinne Leskovar and 1 attended the Bishop Baraga Society of KSKJ’s annual “Miklavžev Večer” (an evening with St. Nicholas) on Saturday evening. The program consisted of various children’s talents: singing, reading poetry and playing musical instruments. Nothing is more precious than watching young people working through their fear of presenting in front of an audience. There are some very strong Slovenian stars in our future. What incredible performances! St. Nicholas distributed gifts to children of all ages. All enjoyed a great evening of good food and wonderful talk.
Corinne and I extend our special thanks to the hosts -officers of our brotherhood organization for such a warm welcome. We appreciated being a part of their annual event.
The Mass held at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in the Slovenian Chapel of our Lady of Brezje on Sunday* was well attended by Branch 103 members and guests. It was a fitting celebration for our 75th anniversary this year. To give you a little history on the chapel, it was at the SWU National Convention in Washington, D.C. in May 1967 that started the activity throughout the U.S. in support of the idea of having a Slovenian Chapel in our nation’s capital. After that a nation-wide campaign began to raise the necessary funds. SWU’s Supreme Secretary, Albina Novak (Corinne’s beloved mother) presented a resolution for the delegates’ approval. So we, as members, have a vested interest in this beautiful chapel from the onset. Through our efforts, a concept became a reality. Attending a mass in this chapel truly gives you the closest feeling possible to the Marija Pomagaj of Brezje. Perhaps the feeling is so wonderul as we are still reveling in the memory of the mass in Brezje on Oct. 5th during our trip to Slovenia. It is the same Marija Pomagaj that we saw there, so beloved of our mothers and grandmothers. Having her near us, in our own Slovenian Chapel in Washington, will always be important. It is a place we can come to, with our special petitions and thanksgiving, as we did on Oct. 5th in Slovenia and now on Dec. 2nd, for the members of the SWU.
Fr. Raymond Wadas, spiritual advisor to Branch 103
Before Marija Pomagaj at the National Shrine in Washington, D.C. President Kathleen, Editor Corinne and Youth Director Angela.
tor over 25 years gave an inspirational and uplifting service. We thank him for making this mass meaningful. We also thank Miro Pregelj who led the singing and Vojtko Stare, reader in Slovenian.
We truly enjoyed the opportunity to meet and get to know you. Branch 103! Thank you for your warm hospitality. This branch has been in existence for 37 years and member participation includes a huge geographic area of Maryland. Virginia, and Washington, D.C. It is wonderful to see how the SWU members interact with other Slovenian organizations in their area.
A special thank you extended to Nika Kovacic, our hostesses. It was pure Slovenian hospitality - with everything in abundance, food, drink and never-ending conversation at the “Kovacic Bed and Breakfast"!
National Convention 2003 - Duluth! Get ready...here we come!
Even though our next National Convention is 18 months away, the time will fly by quickly. It is already time to start planning for this big event. Here are a few items that should be addressed by each branch in the near future:
• Delegate(s) - who would represent your branch
• A fund raiser may help your delegate(s) have their travel expenses to Duluth paid.
• Bylaws and Regulations. Your proposal for bylaw amendments will soon be due. Please send them to Kathleen Dorchak, 3088 Markle Drive, Silver Lake, OH 44224 or kdorchak@neo.rr.com by Sunday, March 31, 2002. Any amendments received after that date may not be considered at this convention.
Thank you for "getting ready." If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone, e-mail or mail.
Kathleen Dorchak Ph.: (330) 6S6-I336
Cleveland Rocks!
At the social meeting with members of Br. 103, Washington
It was a fantastic weekend that I would recommend to everyone. Seeing the beauty of our National’s Capital, plus the Slovenian Chapel at the National Shrine should be and could be a destination for an annual SWU pilgrimage. At cherry blossom time in the spring would be a great time to plan it. The monthly Slovenian Mass is on the first Sunday. For those of you who are avid travelers, this area has a lot to offer in the way of sightseeing. 1 hope to go there again!
That’s what was happening in Cleveland over the Thanksgiving weekend. Polka crazed people from all parts of North America were at the Traditional Thanksgiving Cleveland Polka W'eekend. The Cleveland Marriott Downtown ballroom was filled with polka dancers and hands! One of the highlights was a salute to Tony Petkovšek "Polka Ambassador” for 40 years on Cleveland Radio since 1961. Ohio’s Governor Bob Taft attended the festivities on Thursday evening. Attending the event on Friday, November 23, 2001 was Magdalena Tovornik, Head of the Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Slovenes Abroad. Also, attending was August Pust, recently named by President Bush to the Commission on Multicultural Affairs and International Relations. Bishop Kdward Pevec officiated at the ‘"Polka Mass” on Saturday. This was one special fun-filled weekend 1 am sure many will remember for a long time.
Kathleen
Tony Petkovšek, Cleveland’s radioman, just celebrated 40 years! He's here with Kathleen at the annual polka bash.
National Secretary,
Bonnie Pohar:
2002 THE YEAR OUR DREAMS WILL COME TRUE
Welcome to 2002 - the year our dreams will come true for SWU! This is the year that is going to take us in a direction that many thought impossible. New programs will be introduced, a NEW BRANCH is in the works for online members, heritage opportunities, scholarships to be awarded, a new look for the museum including a library and genealogy research center and perhaps our most anticipated event will be the Slovenian Jubilej on March 9, 2002. This will be one of the largest events for SWU in recent history. (Be sure to read more about the Slovenian Jubilej in this issue of ZARJA.)
The year 2002 will not only offer more for our members but we hope it can be a better year financially too. Year after year we have struggled with money, never having enough to cover all of our expenses. The National Board is working hard to turn our financial situation around. This past year we voted not to receive daily stipends for attending National meetings, as was the case prior to 2001. Instead of receiving $50.00 a day plus all expenses we voted only to have the expenses paid which include food, transportation and hotels. We also cut down drastically on phone calls using the Internet for communication instead. On a daily basis your National Officers are communicating online with issues regarding SWU.
The cookbooks are almost paid off. We started off with a 578,000 debt. We hope to have this debt cleared in the coming months. This will then allow us to build up our fund for the upcoming and future National Conventions.
New members are coming in bigger numbers than ever. Years ago the average number of new members per year totaled around 75. The past two years we’ve seen anywhere from 100 - 200 new members. Next year we hope to see even more.
The ZARJA remains our largest expense at approximately $48,000 a year. This number represents printing and postage. Basically it comes out to $1.85 an issue. When you multiply that by 6 it is a little over $11.00 a year. Many or our members dues do not cover this annual expense. Here is the breakdown of the dues we bring in:
• 18.93 of our members are classified “A.” This means they joined at a certain time in the past where they were “grandfathered” in at the current rate back then. The “A” members are paying either $8.00 or $12.00 depending on their age. If they are over the age of 75, their dues are $8.00. Under 75, $12.00. This group represents $10,196.00 in dues income annually.
• 63.72% of our members are classified “B.” Depending on their age they are paying $10.00 per year if they are over 75 years of age and $ 15.(X) if they arc under 75. This group here accounts for $34,324.(X) in dues annually.
• 14.01% of our members are classified "social." They are members of all different ages not receiving the death benefit insur-nace that became obsolete at the end of 1999. This group accounts for $7.545.00 in dues annually.
• Our last group is our junior department. They do not receive the ZARJA until they are 18 years of age. The juniors make up 3.3% of our organization.
In total we expect to receive $52.065.00 in dues annually. As you can see. after we pay our ZARJA bill we don't have much left over to carry on the organization. It leaves us with a little over $4,000. And, this is providing that all invoices have been paid up!
The ZARJA is a large expense and the last thing we want to do is cut down on more issues. Our goal is to come up with a more practical plan that meets our budget and to keep the six issues a year. This is perhaps our greatest goal for 2002.
INVOICES:
All invoices will be mailed the third week of January. Included in your envelope will be an invitation to the Slovenian Jubilej. If you do not receive one - please send me an email or letter to the address below.
DONATIONS:
In 2000 we started the Invoice Donation. It is an opportunity to include a donation with your invoice, thus making it easier for you with one check and stamp. In our first year we received $7,482.00. In 2001 the numbers were increased to $10,772.00. WOW! The generosity of our members is outstanding! And the donations are greatly appreciated. In the past we let the members decide where they wanted to donate the money. Their choices were ZARJA, Heritage and Scholarship. Both years the majority chose the scholarship, which accumulated more money for this program. This year we are going to just leave it as a donation to SWU and the money will be divided where necessary. As of this time the Scholarship Foundation is doing rather well. With a recent donation of $l(X),000 due to our new tax exempt status and many more donations that followed, our Scholarship Foundation is set for many years down the road. It is other programs that need attention. Our recent survey told us that our members want more Heritage, Culture, and Activities to name a few. With donations from our generous members we can make these wishes come true. Please consider this when writing out your check for dues. We great appreciate anything.
I hope your New Year is off to a great start. At the time I am writing this I am in the Christmas mode. 1 have several trees decorated in my house along with my Department 56 village. I can’t believe I have room for all of this. We are anxiously awaiting the birth of my new niece or nephew. My sister Cathy Lcnkaitis (Branch 24 - Illinois/ Indiana State Vice President) is the expectant mother. We will have a lot to celebrate this Christmas.
Bonnie Pohar Prokup, 3119 Carrie Street, Peru, IL 61354 Wprokup@aol.com
Reza Rozman Lockwood, Heritage Director:
Looking Forward ... Remembering the Past
Wow! Time has flown since I last sat down to write to you... Since then, we have seen many changes happening at the Heritage Museum. If you’ve been here before - you won’t recognize us. If you have not visited us yet, you are in for a treat. Plan to come to visit us and your fellow members as we celebnrate our Slovenian Jubilej!
Library: Our library shelves have been installed and the books have been brought up from the basement. It is a wonderful sight! Our reading room is starting to take shape. If you have any books or periodicals that you would be interested in donating to the museum, please let us know or send them along. We will be happy to add them to the collection.
Museum: If you’ve seen us before, you haven’t seen us now. My crew of volunteers has been working diligently to help change the displays and layout of the museum and it looks wonderful! We have more room to display art pieces and, quite recently have found and have had donated “new" pieces for your enjoyment.
Donors: We have had some very generous donations as of the last few months. The museum would not be making the changes and the improvements that we have without your generosity. It is through your support that we are able to provide an ever-growing list of services and programs to you, our members.
Volunteers: Another important group dear to my heart and important to the life-blood of the museum is our volunteers. I am very thankful to all those who have helped in recent times as well as those who were diligent all these years. “Bog lonaj!” Thank you for your time and energies.
Over the last months, I offered the opportunity to the seventh and eighth grade Confirmation candidates from St. Joseph’s School and CCD to earn their hours helping at the museum. They have been wonderful!!! Willing to help, willing to work (and don’t tell them, but) willing to learn! Whenever we were in the museum basement, it would turn into a history lesson as we explained the artifacts and treasures we have stored.
SLOVENIAN JUBILEJ!
All of these changes will come to the spotlight on March 9th, 2002 when each and everyone of you is invited to share with us in our “Slovenian Jubilej!” We are celebrating the end of our 75th year with an event that shouldn’t be missed! We will have a ribbon cutting to officially open our new library, there will be craft and folk demonstrations, strolling musicians, and old-fashioned Slovenian foods. Activities start at 11:00 a.m. at the Museum and Home Office. At 4:00 o’clock; we will celebrate with a Slovenian Mass at St. Joseph’s Church (right across the street) that even the angels in heaven won’t want to miss! After Mass, we will finish out the day at 7:00 p.m. with a Reception and Dinner at the Slovenian Cultural Center in Lemont, Illinois.
Helping us celebrate this day will be a group from Slovenia headed up by Matjaž Klemenčič, Vice President of Slovenska izseljenska matica. He has graciously offered to arrange a group of musicians, and actors to come help us celebrate by performing for us. We are so excited to have them involved in our celebration!
On 7:00 p.m. on Friday evening, March 8th, we will be having a presentation on Slovene history by Professor Klemenčič which would include a history of Slovenes in the Slovene ethnic territories as well as Slovenes in the US followed by a social hour at St. Joseph’s Park Hall. This will “start” our celebration and will give everyone a chance to see and talk to people they might not have seen in “too long.” Even if this is a travel Jay for you, you won’t want to miss this evening.
I	wish everyone safe travels (especially if you are coming for the Jubilej!) and that winter is kind to us all!
Peace, love and all good things,
Friday, March 8, 2002
HOTEL INFORMATION
7:00 p.m. St. Joseph’s Park Hall, Joliet, Illinois
ADDRESS BY DR. MATJAŽ KLEMENČIČ OF SLOVENIJA
•	Historical significance of Slovene history to include history of Slovenes in the Slovene ethnic territories as well as Slovenes in the U.S.
SOCIAL TO FOLLOW WITH REFRESHMENTS AND MUSIC. In addition, chances for the 75th Anniversary quilt will be available and the entries for the Ancestry Contest will be on display.
Saturday, March 9, 2002
11:00 a.m.
4:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
OPEN HOUSE AT THE SWU HERITAGE MUSEUM.
HOME OFFICE AND TEMPORARY “ANNEX”
SWU Heritage Museum
11:00 a.m. Open for browsing and shopping, strolling button box musicians
2:00 p.m. Library Unveiling & Dedication - honoring our library benefactors, Mr. & Mrs. Donald Dvornik, Clearwater, Florida and Br. 24, LaSalle, Illinois
Annex
11:00 a.m.
11-4 p.m.
Open for browsing and socializing, strolling, button box musicians
Demonstrations: Bobbin Lace & Tatting Slovenian Easter Egg Designing Refreshments will be available Presentations on genealogy, cooking, history, art and more.
St. Joseph’s Church, Joliet, Illinois MASS IN THE SLOVENIAN VERNACULAR PROCESSION OF SLOVENIAN NATIONAL COSTUMES AND GUESTS
Slovenian and English Readings at Mass; Choir - Družina Markun - all music and Mass parts will be sung in Slovenian. Choir Concert 15 minutes before Mass
Slovenian Cultural Center, Lemont, Illinois
DINNER-RECEPTION: Cost: $35 members, $40 non-members
Cocktail Hour - Cash Bar
Dinner
Program: Mistress of Ceremonies, Reza Rozman Lockwood Družina Markun - songs
“Veselje” - Slovenian Cultural Center Folk Dancers Andrej Kurent - poetry readings Lesna Oktet	/	j
Dancing After Dinner
All four hotels listed below are near Louis Joliet Mall at 1-55 and Route 30. In addition to the easy highway access, there are many stores, shops and restaurants close by.
When calling the hotel, please notify the clerk that you are with the SLOVENIAN WOMEN’S UNION or SWU for special rates.
Super 8	3401 Mall Loop Drive
Joliet, IL 60435 (815) 439-3838 $50.00/night +tax
RamadaLimited 3231 Norman	Ave.
Joliet, IL 60435 (815) 439-4200 52.00/night -t-tax
Comfort Inn	3235 Norman	Ave.
Joliet, IL 60435 (815) 436-5141 54.00/night + tax
Fairfield Inn	3239 Norman	Ave.
Joliet, IL 60435 ^	(815) 436-6577
54.95/night +tax
GROUPS ALREADY ANNOUNCED:
ILLINOIS (LaSalle, Peru area)
Contact Anne Wrangler Phone:(815) 223-5556
OHIO
Contact Kathleen Dorchak for information (330) 686-1336
Depart Cleveland/return Cleveland 3/8 to 3/10/02 (Bus $60.00 round trip)
MINNESOTA
WASHINGTON D.C.
Contact Kathleen Dorchak for information
Lynn Zalokar
It’s a New Year - Make a Resolution to Learn Something New!
Why not start out the new year by learning how to use e-mail and surf the internet? Libraries all over the country oiler free or inexpensive classes. A child, grandchild or neighbor can be a great teacher too! Then you could subscribe to the S.W.U. online newwlctter and surl' our website www.swua.org.
It's a whole new world. You will be surprised at how many doors will open to you once you get the hang ol it. that is pointing and clicking with the computer mouse. Does it all sound strange and unfamiliar? Imagine what our ancestors thought when they arrived in America to a strange land, the English language and differences in clothes, food, etc. Learning to use the computer is nothing at all by comparison.
Communication w ith our members is greatly enhanced with the online newsletter (in addition to the bi-monthly ZARJA). Anyone on the newsletter is in touch with the S.W.U. on a monthly basis. What is everybody writing about? Here are some of the things people ask or tell.
Kids/Teens
"My granddaughter. Cate, plans to participate in her school's "Wax Museum" program (February 2002), dressed in a native Slovernian dress. Therefore, her mother, Cathy Wetzel, would like to borrow or purchase, in this order: (I) a dress pattern, girl’s size 12-14, or (2) a dress pattern, any size, or (3) a photo or sketch illustrating a Slovenian girl's costume."
"My father-in-law has a Slovenian "button box" (an accord ion-1 ike instrument) and Sabina (nine years old) has expressed an interest in playing it. Does anyone know ol anyone in the Chicago-area who teaches this instrument?"
Slovenian Tradition & Myths
This is absolutely amazing!!! I can't believe it...the young ones could do a school report on this one...check out http://www.glirarium.de/demouse/cult-slovenian-per-sic.html"
"...I am 16 years old and really want to be able to speak Slovenian. My grandmother has been trying to teach me. but since she is almost 90, she does not remember much. Does anyone know of any way I could possibly buy any Slovenian books or tapes to help me out? Also. I have some letters from my great grandparents, is there anyway
I	could somehow get them translated? Thank you very much for your time. I really appreciate your help."
"Wanted Foreign Exchange student from Slovenia. Does anyone know ol an organization that specializes in exchange students from Slovenia? So far I've only been
able to find the larger countries of Europe. Please let me know as I am very interested."
"Does anyone know how I can get a University of Ljubljana sweatshirt? The internet didn’t offer much help."
Recipes
"I’m looking for a recipe my mother called "Warm Cucumbers." The main ingredients are cucumbers and mashed potatoes. I’m sure it has a Slovenian name I would recognize if I heard it. Thanks!”
"I am looking for a recipe for GIBANICA. I have a Slovenian version, but the measurements are European and the directions are sketchy - like there is no pan size, baking time, or baking temperature."
“There is a recipe for potica on the Red Star Yeast website: http://www.redstaryeast.net/recipeindex.htm".
We are looking for a Slovenian Potica Mold. Any idea where we could buy one?"
Genealogy/Heritage
"Can someone help me with translating a very small certificate from a church with information on my grandparents? I scanned it and can send it to anyone willing to help."
"I would like to know if anyone might have information on the Slovenian home town of Anton VODISEKO or Franz ZUPAN. These two men came from Slovenia on May 17. 1905 with my grandfather Josef Mliner or Mlinar. (I am searching for my grandfather’s home town and the passenger manifest says they were all from the same town in Slovenia.) Two of the men, my grandfather and Anton Vodiseko went on to Pueblo. Colorado. Thanks."
"If anyone is interested in genealogy. 1 thought I would pass this along http://www2.ames.si/krsrdi/general.htm" "Immigrant Woman" by Mary Molek (a book I borrowed from the S.W.U. Heritage Museum).
.. .This book is a fictionalized biography, but everything is true. The story is told in a diary-like fashion, out of sequence but pieced together by subject matter. 1 found it difficult to put down, and not wanting it to end... I recommend this book be read as a family or with as many people as you can gather. Read it orally. I guarantee there will not be a dry eye... this is a book you will never forget." *****
Is there a common thread in what you have just read? Yes... everything is Slovenian-related! Our Slovenian heritage is what binds us together and the reason we all joined the S.W.U.A. By focusing on the S.W.U. vision, mission and purpose the online newsletter delivers on what members overwhelmingly said they want in our recent survey - more, more, more heritage!
Vision: To preserve the living spirit of the founders and past membership by promoting and nourishing the legacy left to us for future generatins.
Mission: To reach individuals by uniting them through their common interest in Slovenian culture and traditions.
Purpose: To provide resources, communication, and foster friendships in honor of our cultural heritage.
Let us know if you are developing your computer skills. To subscribe to the online newsletter, just send an e-mail to lzalokar(n yahoo.com.
Kathleen Dorchak:
Another Exciting Event from our Heritage Tour
Our visit to the “Slovenija” magazine office was warmly welcomed by the office staff seen here with members of our group.
When we all think about our Heritage Tour to Slovenia, there are many memorable moments. We remember the food, the scenery, the music, and most of all the people. All the people we met were so nice and kind. But one group stands out from the rest and they are the employees of Slovenska Izseljenska Matica. These special people headed by Dr. Matjaž Klemenčič gave us a welcoming reception on October 5, 2001 in honor of our 75th Anniversary, it was great to be able to chat and get to know these wonderful people. Not only did they furnish us with this great opportunity, but they also have committed to us musicians and
poetry readers for our Slovenian Jubilej on Saturday, March 9th, 2002 in Joliet. And Dr. Klemenčič will also honor us with his presence and presentation on the "History of Slovenia.” It is wonderful to be able to connect the Slovene Emigrant Association which kindly offered to attend this event, so a great way to bring the Slovenian traditions to us directly through its people. The entertainers will make our event fantastic and memorable. We are truly thankful to Dr. Klemenčič for personally arranging to make our event so special.
Slovenian Women’s Union 75th Anniversary Raffle
Win a beautiful, hand-made, queen-size QUILT, crafted by SWU National Auditor, Beverly Menart
Tickets, $1.00 each
We will fill out your tickets, and place them into the Raffle for you.
You will not receive any tickets.
Send to SWU National President, Kathleen Dorchak,
3088 Markle Drive	Make	your	checks	to	S.W.U.
Silver Lake, Ohio 44224	-------------------------------
Telephone (330) 686-1336 Email: KDORCHAK@NEO.RR.COM
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Eight Slovenian Women’s Union Scholarships in 2002!
ATTENTION! High school seniors and adults returning to school: The Slovenian Women’s Union is offering four $1,000 Awards for freshmen year of college and four $500.00 Awards for adults returning full or part time for continued education. Applicants must have been members of the Slovenian Women’s Union for the past three years or have been active participants in branch activities during this length of time. Please contact Mary Turvey at MTur-vey(5aol.com or write to 52 Oakridge Drive, Marquette, Michigan 49855 for application forms. The deadline for applications is March 10, 2002.
A TRIBUTE TO OUR CURRENT SCHOLARSHIP DONORS
FRANCES COLNAR BARMAN - Frances was born in 1889 Trzin, Slovenia and immigranted as a young widow with her son, Tony. She began her new life in Cleveland, Ohio, working as a seamstress, continuing to promote the Slovenian culture among Americans until her death in 1999. Seven $1,000.00 scholarships have been awarded in Frances Barman’s name.
ANNA ROSE SMOLICH - Anna Rose was bom in Aurora, Minnesota to Eli and Mary (Skraba) Smolich. Her mother was founder of Branch 35 and Anna Rose followed her mother’s ways of supporting and caring for the welfare of others, through her career as a teacher in the Biwabik Schools for 31 years. Anna Rose has touched many lives during her life time and through her generous gift of $5,000 has funded five $1,000.00 scholarships.
JOSEF PRINC - Josef, a native of Velika, Bukovica, near Ilirska Bistrica, Slovenia, graduated with an Engineering Degree from the University of Ljubljana and continued his studies in Germany. After immigrating to the United States in 1957, he continued his engineering studies and began working in the field of aluminum products. He worked for Nichols Homeshield for twenty plus years as their chief designer, during which time he acquired a number of patents for his company. He also designed for Anderson Window Company. He was married for thirty six years to Rose Marie and died eleven months after moving from Glen Ellyn, Illinois to Las Vegas, Nevada. He loved being an American, and was proud of his many accomplishments here, but he also was proud of his heritage; went back to Slovenia every other year, and was a strong supporter of the Slovenian Cultural Center in Lemont, Illinois. Two $1,000.00 awards have been given in his memory.
ROSE MARIE PRINC - Rose Marie Moline Princ, a native of the Chicago area is a life long member Branch 2 at St. Stephen’s. She graduated from St. Mary’s High School and Rosary College with a degree in History and English. She continued her studies at Loyola. DePaul, Northwestern and earned advanced degrees at the Univesity of Chicago and Northern Illinois University. She taught at Nazareth Academy for seven years and at J. Sterling Morton High
School in Cicero-Berwyn for twenty seven years, where she also served as an administrator for fourteen years. Upon retiring she joined the Illinois Retired Teachers Association and served on the executive board as well as treasurer and president of her local chapter. She now resides in Las Vegas, Nevada where she is active in numerous organizations. Rose Marie has provided two $1,000.00 scholarships.
FONTANA SLOVENE REST HOME BOARD - The Slovene Rest Home was formed as a corporation on June 25, 1959, serving as a refirement home for seniors in the Fontana, California area. Support was funded by SNPJ Lodges, SWU Branches of Fontana and Los Angeles and many other individuals and organizations. In 1980 the state laws became strict requiring much repair and renovation work to be done on the building. It was a great financial burden. In 1990 the Slovene Rest Home was sold to a private company with the Association holding the mortgage until November 1996 when the note was paid off. The Board of Directors then wished to disseminate these monies received from the sale of the Retirement Home to charitable organizations which would have made the founders of the Fontana Slovene Rest Home proud. Frank Videgar, President of the Board stated, “In other words we tried to put ourselves into their shoes and see to it that since the rest home could no longer exist as a Slovene entity, the proceeds from it might be far reaching and used for several humanitarian causes.” (news-article: “Fontana Rest Home Legacy Alive in Humanitarian Support"). On 11 April 2000, a check for $100,000.00 written to the Slovenian Women's Union Scholarship Foundation was received at 52 Oakridge Drive, Marquette, MI. What rejoicing occurred that day! Students for years and years to come will be receiving financial assistance due to the kind generosity of the Fontana Slovene Rest Home Board.
Mary Turvey
SWU SCHOLARSHIP DONATIONS September, October, and November 2001
$5.00 donation: Anna L. Hodnik (+Mary Boben Repp).
$10.00 donations: SWU Branch 47, Bedford Hts., OH (tEleanore Stražišar) Marge Church (+Mary Fink), Marge Church (tCindy Piechowski, Marge Church (tAngie Zupanc) John & Kathleen Starcevich (tChristine Bradish).
$15.00 donation: Cyrilla Kambič (thusband Martin Kambic’s first anniversary of death 10 Oct. 2000 - he was a member of SWU)
$25.00 donation: SWU Branch 55, Girard, OH (+Anna Kalan).
$100.00 donation: Hermine and Robert Dicke - to the Scholarship Program; Professor Max Schuster (this sister, Frances Payton).
$150.00 donation: Reno & Dorothy Sartori in honor of Lucille M. Jevitz.
Ask Tončka!
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Dear Tončka:
I’m enclosing $6.00 for a genealogy packet. Maybe that way I can organize what I do have!!
My paternal grandfather was Anton Kočevar, bom May 2, 1886. I have two birth places on him - Maloliste and Metlika, Slovenia. I’m thinking he immigrated to the United States around 1910.
My grandmother was Anna Stubjler Kočevar bom May 13, 1889. I’m not sure of her birth place, but according to the Ellis Island website, her residence was Male Lašče. She, my dad and uncle are listed as Croatian. Immigration date 1913. My grandparents first settled in Pueblo, Colorado then moved to Interlochen, Michigan in 1929 - I think!
If there is anyone with more information, I’d be glad to hear from them!!
Shirley Kočevar Fergarn, 234 Taylor Lane, Pt. Charlotte, Florida 33952
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Sylvia Spretnjak, 10727 South Avenue O, Chicago, Illinois 60617 writes:
We more or less knew a lot about our family but got interested again when we found information on the Ellis Island website (www.ellisisland.com) on the ones that came here. - aunts, uncles, my dad - not my mother. She had to go through Boston because of the influenza epidemic in New York.” (This may be of help to others)
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Dear Tončka:
This summer I visited some cemeteries, trying to find names of family members and their dates of death but found many tombstones were covered with moss and the engraving was difficult to read. Do you have some suggestions?
Frančka
Dear Frančka:
Cemeteries are a great source for historians. One family lot will most likely hold members of a family, including in-laws, infants that no one knew of, and sometimes places of birth and death are also included on memorial stones. Usually relatives are buried in lots close by. Many genealogical societies, including mine, transcribe cemetery stones, especially in cemeteries where records are no longer available. We include not only information from each stone, but position of stones on the lot, types of flag holders, such as DAR, American Legion, Fire Department, etc. which give clues on loved ones. All of the information is then compiled and put on a computer disc and also printed up into a spiral ringed notebook which we sell for a small fee.
Before transcribing tombstones be certain to get permission from the sexton and advise him that you may have to use some kind of cleaning device: a brush to remove lichen, a small dab of shaving cream to form inside unreadable engravings, and a car windshield wiper blade to scrape the cream into the indentations so that the information can be read. After this is done, the information is recorded on paper, then a spray water bottle is used to completely clean the stone, removing all signs of shaving cream. The stone is then towel dried.
An old head stone (rubbed with shaving cream and later cleaned).
A grave marker at the Slovenian cemetery in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Writing is no longer visible.
Information that is uncovered through this procedure is truly amazing. Stones with raised letters can be read more easily by applying some chalk on the surface or by placing pape'r over the stone and doing a rubbing.
We find that we become so engrossed in learning about these people of the past, we begin to feel that we know them and have some understanding of what their lives were like many years earlier.
Good luck!
Tončka
A good website for cemetery userdb. rootsweb. com/cemeteries.
research:	http://
Our first Biographical Record was returned and will be placed in a vertical file at the Slovenian Women’s Union Heritage Museum in Joliet, IL along with files of many other early promoters of our Slovenian culture.
MARGARET MARIE (OSTERMAN) HEALY was bom 11 November 1926 at Cottage Hospital, Grosse Point, MI and was raised on a farm in Chesterfield Township, MI. Her father was George Osterman, bom 17 May 1881 Austria, and worked at the Sanitation Department, City of Grosse Point Park. He died 27 April 1962 in Detroit and was buried St. Peter’s Cemetery.
Her mother, Mary Katherine Lovrenčič was born 16 September 1888 in Austria. She died 28 Oct. 1984 in Mt.
FRIENDS REUNITE!
Pictured are two old friends, Margaret Munley (left) and Josephine Valenčič, at their church’s volunteer dinner a few years ago when Josephine was recognized as “Volunteer of the Year." They found each other in the same parish and town in Florida after 60 years!
A few years ago two friends met in a happy reunion in Florida. When Margaret Munley and Josephine Valenčič saw each other, they happily recalled a childhood spent in Cleveland (Newburgh), Ohio when as children and school girls at St. Lawrence parish, they did all the things kids do together! That was in 1939.
Now it was 1999, Margaret and her husband were retired in the town of Venice, Florida. Margaret began to enjoy volunteer work at their church, the Epiphany Cathedral, and it was then that Margaret noticed the name “Valenčič” in the list of parishioners. Of course, she wondered if it might be a Valenčič from Newburgh, where, in the old days, there were many families by that name. A telephone call from Margaret was answered by Josephine who verified her maiden name was Hrvatin and she was indeed her friend of 60 years ago! Margaret says: “I couldn’t believe my ears when she told me this and added that she was busy as the church sacristan and doing other volunteer work - right here in our church! I am sure the good Dominican nuns of Adrian, Michigan would be happy to know what we were “up to” in our senior years!
Margaret Munley (Br. 73)
GENEALOGY CONT’D:
Clemens and is also buried at St. Peter’s Cemetery.
Husband, Robert Joseph Healy, Sr., the son of Lyman and Tillie Maier Healy was bom 22 July 1925 at Beltenville, WI and was a pattern maker at a foundry. They were married
11	September 1948 at St. Louis Church, Mt. Clemens, MI. Margaret worked as a clerk-typist. Robert died 10 May 1993 in St. Clemens, MI and is buried in St. Peter’s Cemetery. They have seven children:
Stephen Joseph Healy bom 1952 died 1988, married Christian Manore; Diane Marie - bom 1953, married William Thomas; Joanne Lee - bom 1957, married Brian Miller; Robert - bom 1958, married Lesley Rocheleau; Mary Anne - bom 1960, married James Sparks, Jr.; Suzanne - bom 1962, married James Jackson; and John Michael - bom 1966.
A favorite story about my youth is the time that I went
with my Mother, Mary Osterman, to the Slovenian Women’s Union meeting. My mother was a member the SWUA from September 15, 1928 until she passed away on October 28, 1984. I believe the meeting was held in Highland Park, MI near Detroit. Also in attendance were some of my mother’s friends, Mrs. Maierle, Mrs. Catherine Schutte and Mrs. Caesar.
When we arrived every one was given a ticket which had a number on it. I did not know what this ticket was for but my mother told me to hang on to it because my number might be drawn and I could win a prize. It was about 1935 and I would’ve been about 9 years old. At the end of the meeting they finally got around to drawing the lucky number and I think you know what happened. Yes, I won the drawing and I received a ham. I was so pleased and proud and my mother and all of her friends made such a fuss over my winning. This is only one of the fond memories I have of the SWUA.
Margaret Healy
TONČKA, 904 Margaret Street, Iron Mountain, Michigan 49801
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SLOVENIAN HERITAGE TOUR HIGHLIGHTS!
“We watched, learned...and then, enjoyed the lunch!”
Photo, Nika Kovacic
Sister Nikolina joyfully shared her many cooking secrets with our SWU travelers - and they responded enthusiastically! On the photo with Sister (center) are some of our travelers, Rosemary Mlakar (100), Molly Thomas (103), Gladys Buck (16), Dorothy Swintosky (30) and Mara Chokel (103), all in action!
The original Slovenian recipes on this page are in both, original Slovenian, as given by Sr. Nikolina, and the English translation which was carefully done by Nika Kovacic (103) and Tillie Ausich (103) who prepared the text for printing. More bilingual recipes will be forthcoming in the next ZARJAs.
The following recipes are furnished by Sister Nikolina, from the Franciscan Convent at Repnje, Slovenia. Sister is a well-known author of cookbooks and teaches cooking at their home economics school. Fifteen of our passengers on the Slovenia Tour attended a special class there.
BUCKWHEAT ŠTRUKELJ1 WITH NUTS (AJDOVI ŠTRUKELJI z OREHI)
2 cups buckwheat flour
3 cups boiling water, salted
Pour boiling water over flour. Mix well until dough is smooth. Cover with inverted bowl, and let rest for 20 minutes. Roll dough (16” x 9”) on floured board.
Filling:
11;2 cups ground walnuts
1 egg
1 tablespoon dry bread crumbs Pinch salt
Cinnamon
4 tablespoons sour cream
METHOD: In large cooking pan (approximate size 9” x 12”) add approximately 2” water, bring to boil. Place a rack over water to be used as a steamer. When water boils, place a wet cooking cloth over steamer rack. Place two rolls of štrukelji (8” long, each) on top; cover with a lid. Steam for one-half hour. Remove from pan. Cut into pieces. To serve sprinkle melted butter or sugar to top, if desired.
STEWED APPLES (DUŠENA JABOLKA)
8 medium-sized cooking apples 10 plums (pits removed)
(or use peaches or pears)
2 tablespoons sugar Cinnamon
METHOD: Wash, peel, and slice apples (or other fruit). Combine with sugar and cinnamon, cover, steam on low heat only to soften fruit. (Superb when served with buckwheat štrukelji.)
JEDILNIK-5.10.2001
AJDOV ŠTRUKELJ Z OREHI
2 cups ajdove moke,
3 cups slanega kropa
Ajdovo moko poparimo in umesimo gladko testo.
Pokrijemo in naj počiva 20 minut.
Na pomokani deski razvaljamo testo za nožev rob debelo. (16 x 9 inches)
Namažemo z nadevom, zvijemo in štrukelj kuhamo v sopari (na rešetki) 1/2 ure.
Kuhan štrukelj narežemo in zabelimo z maslom ter po želji oslad-kamo.
NADEV: 1-1/2 cup zmletih orehov, 1 jajce, 2 žlici drobtin, ščep soli, cimet in 4 žlice (za juho) kisle smetane. Vse sestavine zmešamo.
V	pojasnilo: Sestra Nikolina za
kuhanje štrukljev uporablja podobno posodo kot tu pečemo manjšega purana. Najprvo da vodo v posodo za dobra 2 prsta, čez to pa pride mrežica. Ko voda zavre se da mokro cunjo na to mrežico nato pa štrukelj eno ali dve štručke. Posoda se nato pokrije. Vre naj pol ure. Delo je veliko bolj enostavno, ker štrukljev ni treba nič zavijati se v kakšne druge “kuhinjske cunje”, kot je stara slovenska navada.
DUŠENA JABOLKA (Izvrstno z Ajdovimi štruklji)
8 srednje velikih jabolk, 10 sliv ali breskva, hruška, 2 žlici sladkorja in nožev vrh cimeta.
Oprana, olupljena, na krhlje narezana jabolka damo v kozico, pridamo še kakšno drugo sadje, potresemo s sladkorjem in cimetom ter pokrito dušimo na ne prevelikem ognju, da se sadje žmehča.
From the Youth Director Angela Stare:
Dear Branches and Members!
I hpe that we all experienced the joy, peace and many blessings of this past Christmas! “JESUS is the Reason for the Season.” I hope that HE made a difference in your life! So often we forget the real meaning of JESUS’ coming into our world and into our lives. May this coming, HIS coming to us during HIS birthday have lasting joy, peace in our hearts, our homes, our community and in our world! We pray that we will continue to live by HIS message in the new year 2002. My wish and prayer for all of you - and as we begin a new year will be that we will be real witnesses to our faith and to follow JESUS more intimately each day God gives us.
I hope that the branches are beginning to invite their junior members to their meetings getting them involved and excited to be a part of their group. Let us start the new year with that goal and to seek dialogue with them, as we prepare them to inherit this wonderful organization to which they belong. I would like to ask the branches to report back to me so that we can work together to meet the needs of our juniors.
I	ask for your help to work together involving our juniors so that we can prepare them to ‘lead’ and inspire others to become actively involved in the SWU!!
ANGELA STARE, 7601 Elmore Ln., Bethesda, MD 20817, tel. (301) 229-7587, Fax (301) 229-8149, email bartstare@wans.net
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BELE SNEŽINKE1
Zvedice bele, bele snežinke, padajo, padajo tiho z neba.
beli metuljčki, bele snežinke, iščejo, iščejo pot do sveta.
Zvezdice bele čuvajo zemljo, čuvajo v zemlji skriti zaklad.
Beli metuljčki ji nosijo sanje, sanje in misel na zlato pomlad.
Anica Cernejeva
This poem was recited by Matthew (Matjaž) Fitzsimmons, age 6 (member of Br. 103) for the annual KSKJ St. Nicholas program on December 1, 2001. His mommy, Bernadette, taught him!
wfmmiia/ m 2004
Part 1
Slovenia in 2001 was just as inviting as it has been in the past. It was mid-August and I had left Cleveland with temperatures soaring in the 90s and discovered that weather in Stuttgart, Germany where I arrived, was just as hot but somewhat less humid. Judy and Danijela at Kollander Travel had made arrangements for my trip with excellent connections.
Driving south to Slovenia, I was delighted to see that the Smart cars which were introduced in 1999, were very much in evidence on the roads of Germany, Austria and somewhat less in Slovenia. This car has really intrigued me. It’s produced by Mercedes and the Swatch watch companies and to me almost looks like it came from outer space. This tiny two-door two-passenger car which sells for about $7,000 now comes in vivid variegated colors, still in shocking two colors. I’ve only heard of one being imported to the States by Sally Jessy Raphael who had to have extensive changes made to conform to our standards and specifications.
Sound barriers along the highways are quite imaginative. Many are constructed with a basket weave effect, others shaped to resemble pyramids of different sizes and I was really surprised to see the barrier along the highway to
Begunje designed to look like one long “kozolec”, Slovenia’s hay rack!
Slovenia is one of the few countries in Europe in which motorists must have their lights turned on while driving, but many other countries do turn them on while driving on highways as a courtesy to other drivers. Gas is still very expensive. Eurosuper sold at 172.00 tolars a liter which is about $2.77 a gallon. Cars are getting larger and larger each year with many imports along with several models of station wagons and even Jeep Cherokees.
Once again I found the American dollar quite strong with an exchange rate between 230 and 237 tolars to one U.S. dollar. Made my annual stop in Ljubljana’s MacDonald’s and found it so crowded with students that lines extended to the doors. So my cousin and I made a quick exit and stopped in a similar Slovenian enterprise eatery across from Sion Hotel called Kwik. Here we had 2 double cheeseburgers, 2 fries, and 2 cokes for 1230 tolars or $5.00.
The main topic of conversation with friends and relatives was the ‘suša’ (drought), in which farmers in many areas expected to lose between 50 to 80 percent of their crops, especially com. Farmers and their families were busily harvesting their potatoes during the second last week of August. School age children were starting school the next week so the entire family pitched in to help out with the work. Even toddlers could be seen picking up any loose potatoes which the tractor might have missed.
Alice Kuhar
StffMUHWlCft ONION at 4MCRICL
CELEBRATION OF OUR ANCESTRY CONTEST
Pictured above are Drew Beasley, Breanna Strauss and Kayla Beasley.
Our Br. 20 members manned a decorated “float” track for Joliet’s War Memorial Parade on November 11th. The truck was donated by John (Jake) Jakovich and at the driver’s wheel was Ron Erjavec accompanied by Bob Figurowski. On the float was music-music-music for everyone as Ray Koncar played his button box accordion and his family, dressed in Slovenian costumes, waved to the by-standers! Here we see the Koncar family, Amy, Margaret, John and Francis with dad, Ray!
JOLIETANS ARE PATRIOTIC!
We started a new tradition this year. Two of my daughters, 3 of my 13 great grandchildren and myself, dressed in traditional Slovenian clothing and marched with Tony’s Polka Village in the Euclid parade. This was to show everyone watching that we are generations of family proud to be Slovenian.
Pictured top right are Joanne Bowman, Breanna Strauss, Kayla Beasley, Drew Beasley and Fran Prijatel. Not pictured - Marilyn Beasley.
It is important for our grandchildren to know and understand their Slovenian heritage. One way we do this is traditional Slovenian dinners, another was to dress them in traditional clothing, let them march in a parade to show others.
Fran Prijatel
Cleveland, Ohio
All Entries received as of Dec. 1,2001 will be displayed at the
Slovenian Heritage Museum:
The Slovenian person I admire most is my mom, Fran Prijatel. She will soon be 82 years old and doesn’t seem to grow old. Mom plays the button box in a band called the But-toniares, works at least 3-5 blood mobiles a week for the Red Cross and takes care of her beautiful yard herself. She is admired and loved by all her family and friends.
Marilyn Beasley
NIKA KOVAČIČ:
OB 75. OBLETNICI USTANOVITVE SLOVENSKE ŽENSKE ZVEZE...
smo posebno tiste, ki smo se odločile, da se
pridružimo skupinskemu izletu s SŽZ v Slovenijo pripravljale skoro leto popreje. Napovedano potovanje je bilo vsled Talibanskega terorizma v New Yorku in Washingtonu (11 Sept. mednarodni dan miru) preloženo za deset dni. Tudi naše skupinsko število se je zmanjšalo na 37 potovalcev in potovalk. Odpotovali smo 23. sept. iz različnih delov širne Amerike. (CA, CO, CT, IL, KY, MD, MN, NJ, OH, VA, VT in WI)
Iz naše podružnice v Washingtonu št. 103 smo potovale štiri in sicer iz Baltimora - BWI letališča. Vsled zgoraj navedenih sprememb je vzelo eno uro in pol, da smo vse štiri prišle skozi prvi vstop v letalo. Najprvo smo potovale na jug v Charlotte, naše središčno mesto. Od tu pa s preostalo skupino preko Oceana v Frankfurt in nato s slovensko linijo Adrijo do Ljubljanskega letališča Bmiki 24. sept.
Predno nadaljujem, bi samo rada povedala, da vsi, ki so bili kakorkoli udeleženi pri organizaciji tega celotnega potovanja, pred vsem Corinne Leskovar in Kathleen Dor-chak ter Kollander World Travel zaslužijo vse priznanje. Od samega potovanja, ki je bilo spremenjeno z lokacijami letališč in časovno, pa do vseh podrobnostih v hotelih, izletih in pri prihranjevanju, vse je bilo 100% izvrstno organizirano. Povsod, kjer koli smo bili in kar smo videli je bilo več kot smo pričakovali. Iskrena hvala vsem organizatorjem za to!
Na letališču so nas naši rojaki v narodnih nošah pozdravili s slovensko pesmijo in godbo. Po stari slovenski navadi smo za dobrodošlico pomočili kruh v sol in tudi nageljček pripet na obleki ni izostal. Predno smo prestopili na avtobus se nas je nekaj iz skupine še pozdravilo s svojimi domačimi. Vodič na našem celotnem potovanju Brane Vidmar nam je predstavil šoferja Walterja. Brane je govoril brezhibno angleško (na Twin Towers, v N.Y. je bil 34 krat s skupinami, katere je vodil v ZDA). Oba sta bila prvovrstna, požrtvovalna in vsak je svoje delo dobro poznal.
Odpeljali smo se skozi majhne in večje kraje ob slovenski obali do Portoroža. Nastanjeni smo bili v hotelu Emona s krasnim pogledom z balkona na morje. Kako naj pozabim pogled po Jadranskem morju ob mesečini in jasnem nebu polnem zvezd?
Drugi dan smo se z ladjo peljali do najjužnejšega slovenskega kraja Punta. Tu smo zaobrnili nazaj in se peljali do Pirana. Če pomislim nazaj smo ravno tu na ladji, na morju občutili naj večji mraz in veter na celotnem potovanju.
V	Piranu smo ogledali baročno cerkev Sv. Jurija s katere je prelep pogled na starodavno' mesto Piran. Videli smo tudi največje obmorsko mesto Koper. V daljavi se vidi mesto Trst in grad Miramar, katerega je Avstrijski cesar Maksimiljan zgradil v 13. stoletju. Grad je bil vse do leta 1919 v Habzburških rokah. Kako škoda, da Trst ne pripada Sloveniji, saj je bilo in najbrže številka še danes drži 63% Slovencev v tem mestu. V Tržaški luki sem se leta 1958.
vkrcala na prekooceanko polno ljudi tudi sama in se podala v sirni svet. Sedaj je Trst največje pomorsko mesto Italije, Reka na Hrvaškem in Koper na Slovenskem.
Ko smo bili na Primorskem smo si ogledali Kobjeglave, to je majhen kraj, 114 km oddaljen iz Ljubljane. Tu je ena največjih pršutam v tem okolju. Zadnje štiri mesece so prašičja stegna pod posebnimi oskrbami v notranjih prostorih. Cela sušilna procedura pa traja eno leto, predno se lahko da dober pršut na mizo. Skrivnost je v kraški burji kako sušijo to meso. Iz morja piha burja, da suši to meso. Brez hlajenih naprav. Po komaj dobrem zajtrgu v hotelu Emona, smo bili tu zopet postreženi. S polnim krožnikom pršuta, izvrstnim doma pečenim kruhom in rubinsko rdečim teranom.
Kjerkoli se vozimo po Krasu, katerega je 35% v Sloveniji so hribčki vsi polni vinske trte. To je nekaj tako lepega! da je treba videti. Cele rahlo hribovite planjave v natančnem vijugastem zaporedju samih trt.
V	casu našega skupinskega potovanja po Sloveniji sem bila prijetno presenečena nad kmečkim turizmom. To je za mene, čeprav sem rojena v Sloveniji nekaj novega. Veliko starih gospodarskih poslopij je moderniziranih ali pa prizidanih. Nadvse lične jedilnice so opremljene po starem slovenskem načinu in slovenskem vzdušju. Npr.: na steni se vidi veliko sito s klasjem, na kmečkih krušnih pečeh so stare petrolejke, različni stari lončeni modeli, tu se vidi velbane zidove, na zavesah se opazi narodna vezenina itd. Hrana je čisto in skrbno pripravljena. V Gabrovici pri Komnu sem vprašala, kdo vse tako lepo uredi in namesti vse predmete tako prikupno in so mi povedali, da vse sami naredijo. Oče, da se je ravno upokojil kot višji ekonomist, mama pa je pustila odvetniško službo, hčerka Mateja končuje turistično šolo v Kopru in sin oz. brat hodi na fakulteto v Ljubljano. Cela družina z veseljem trdo dela, le na ta način mi je gospa, gospodinja povedala, dobimo Slovenci, ki živimo iz matične Slovenije pravi vtis, kako je bilo včasih v Sloveniji in kakšna je naša domača hrana in življenje izven mest.
Navedla bom samo en jedilnik, ker drugače si je težko predstavljati slovenskega gostoljubja. Aperativ: borovničev liker, 2 vrsti juhe po izbiri na mizi; goveja s knedeljčki, telečja z rezanci. Govej zrezek v vinski omaki (po želji), dve vrsti naribanega hrena: eden mešan z jabolki, drugi's smetano. Riž in pečen krompir, pohane in pečene piške, dunajski zrezki, prašičja pečenka, vse dekorirano z limoninimi koščki, zelena solata s papriko, paradižnikom in vedno rdečim radičem. Vino belo in rdeče s sladico ribanice in skodelico kave.
Pri večih kosilih in večerjah pa smo poslušali različne slovenske ansamble kot npr.: Alfi Nipič in njegovi muzikantje, od njih mi je posebno ostala v spominu pesem: “Slovenija, okod lepote tvoje”, Prifarski muzikantje so se nam predstavili z različnimi vižami iz raznih krajev Slovenije. Obe skupini sta folklorni, zato glasbeno zvrt ne samo poznajo, ampak tudi pri igranju občutijo. Še dolgo ne bom pozabila mlade Slovenke, ki nam je igral ana citre v Radovljici na Gorenjskem. Celo njena kaseta ima naslov: “Ne pozabi me”. Ti so mi ostali v spominu, bilo pa je še več drugih skupin muzikantarjev, ki so igrali za našo skupino.
NADALJEVANJE
Observing the SWU’s 75th Anniversary with a great Heritage Tour to Slovenia
seemed a good idea to many of us who enjoy group travel. AFter the year long plans were made we accumulated quite a nice group of travelers from all over the USA. Some of us met on the east coast and the entire group finally got together in Frankfurt for the last leg of the journey on Slovenian Airline Adrija, a very enjoyable experience. At the international airport Bmik near Ljubljana we were given a happy reception, complete with accordion music, the traditional salt and bread, and red carnations for everyone. Our guide for the 2 week motorcoach tour of Slovenia, Brane Vidmar gave us a warm welcome and Water, our driver took care of all the luggage. We had heard that Brane was the best guide in Slovenia and he really was! Walter mnust also be the best driver, too! Brane told us that he was still reeling from the attack on the US - particularly because he had visited the Twin Towers in NY more than 30 times as the escort for Slovenian travelers. Because of all the disruption of air travel after 9/11, our original tour date of Sept. 13th had been postponed and we finally left on the 23rd with 37 passengers, down from the 60 plus who had reserved. We were all determined to show ourselves as proud Americans while traveling in Europe and many people con curred.
Friends and companions. Brane and Walter
We were headed for the Adriatic coastal towns of Portorož and Piran for the first part of our tour. Comfortable lodging at Hotel Bernardin, right on the beach, was fabulous. We enjoyed good seafood at the hotel and on the boat ride arranged for us the next day. It was the only cool and windy day of all our trip. In the distance from our largest maritime center of Slovenia. We then began our feasting with a visit to Kobjeglava, famous for the curing of hams we know as “pršu”, a specialty of the Karst region of Slovenia. There the strong wind that they call “burja” sweets over the area often and that natural act, needed for the air drying of the hams, produces these delicious and expensive morsels. Our hosts served us heaping plates of pušut along with the perfect red wine that goes with it, Teran.
Piran, coastal town on the Adriatic Sea
Wherever we rode along the rocky ledges of vineyards and villages we could see this geologic wonder that is also known for its ancient architecture.
We soon learned that a variety and abundance of food was going to strain our diets! Just as an example, we had such authentic Slovenian food as follows: soup (almost every meal), with dumplings and/or noodles, stew such as primorska jota and ajmoht. beet steak in wine sauce accompanied-by two kinds of horseradich, in grated apples or in cream sauce, rice with flavorings, fried or roasted potatoes, roasted and/or baked chicken, veal “šnitzel", juicy pork served in all forms and swimming in gravy, dumplings with all kinds of fillings, salads of green lettuce and red radiccio, etc. White and red wine accompanied every meal. Desserts ran the gamut from sweet baked cakes to delicate pastries. There was nothing we oculd think of that wasn’t somewhere on the menu. In the first days we ate treshly caught lish that was boned right in front of you to make it easier to eat!
At every restaurant we enjoyed local musicians who played for us to dance or just listen. We listened to the Avseniks, Otavio Brajko, and Alfi Nipič and heard our favorite Slovenian songs. ONe of our passengers. Bill Lah of Minnesota directed the singing of old-time folksongs and followed the words in the SWU songbook, Let's Sing!
(To be continued)
(Translation,
Corinne Leskovar) Whole pršut looks like this
Photo Jean Herbst
Veda Tonikvar:	^	r
‘Front Our1Heritage ‘Kitchens
As I write the food page column for the next edition of the ZARJA, I’m surrounded by a winter wonderland.
Mounds of brilliant white snow cling like mountains of whipped cream on the branches of the pines. The pine and evening grosbeaks, the yellow finches and the woodpeckers are having a feast at the bird feeders. It is all so peaceful and beautiful, and I wish it could be like this all over the world.
Our magnificent unvierse is so fragile. Would that people everywhere could see the greatness of God’s hand at work, and live in harmony.
To all, the most heartfelt wishes for a New Year filled with understanding, patience, and productivity. The philosophies of the SWU are a role model, and the officers and members deserve commendation.
Roasted Beef Tenderloin
2	tablespoons Dijon mustard
1	clove garlic minced
3	4	teaspoon coarsely
ground pepper 1/i	teaspoon garlic salt
1/i	teaspoon onion salt
1	whole tenderloin
(about 31;2 lbs. trimmed
1	cup beef broth
In a small bowl combine mustard, garlic, pepper, garlic salt and onion salt and brush over tenderloin. Place in a shallow roasting pan. Bake uncovered, at 425 degrees F. for 45 minutes or until meat reaches desired doneness (for rare, a meat thermometer should read 140 degrees; medium, 160 degrees; well done, 170 degrees).
Remove tenderloin from pan. Let stand for 10-15 minutes before slicing. Meanwhile, add broth to pan drippings, stirring to loosen browned bits; heat through. Serve with sliced meat.
Stuffed Mushrooms
12 large fresh mushrooms
2	tablespoons finely chopped
green onions
2	tablespoons finely chopped
green pepper 1	tablespoons butter
or margarine 1	slice bread toasted and
cut into small cubes ll* teaspoon onion salt !/4 teaspoon garlic salt !/»	teaspoon pepper
I;8 teaspoon dried thyme Dash of paprika Grated Parmesan cheese
Remove stems from mushrooms. Set caps aside. Finely chop stems; measure l,2 cup (Discard remaining stems or save for another use.) In a skillet saute chopped mushrooms, onion and green pepper in butter until vegetables are tender and mushroom liquid has evaporated.
Mix well toasted bread cubes, onion salt, garlic salt, pepper, thyme and paprika. Stuff into mushroom caps. Place on a greased baking sheet. Bake uncovered at 425 degrees F. for 10 minutes, or until heated through. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Yield: 1 dozen appetizers.
Mexican Wedding Cakes
2	cups butter softened
(no substitutes)
1	cup confectioners’ sugar
4	cups all purpose flour
1	teaspoon vanilla extract
1	cup finely chopped pecans
Additional confectioners’ sugar
In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Gradually add flour; mix well. Beat in vanilla. Stir in pecans. Shape tablespoonfuls into crescents or round balls. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Toss warm cookies in confectioners’ sugar; cool on wire racks. Yield: about 6 dozen.
Special Twice-Baked Potatoes
12	large baking potatoes 1	cup butter or margarine,
melted, divided 1 to 11;4 cups milk warmed 8	bacon strips cooked
and crumbled
1	cup (4 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese
lU cup grated Parmesan cheese
2	tablespoons minced fresh parsley
1	teaspoon seasoned salt
Bake potatoes at 375 F. for 1 hour or until tender. Cool. Cut a thin slice off the top of each potatoe and discard. Scoop out pulp, leaving a thin shell.
In a bowl mash the pulp with 3/4 cup butter. Stir in milk, bacon, cheese, parsley and seasoned salt. Spoon or pipe into potato shells. Place on a baking sheet. Drizzle with remaining butter. Bake at 425 degrees for 25 minutes or until heated through. Yield 12 servings.
Popular MORE POTS AND PANS cookbooks are still only $18 per copy postpaid. An order form is on page
26.	Or write the SWU Home Office, 431 No. Chicago St., 60432. Your mail orders will receive immediate attention.
SLOVENIAN - AMERICAN COOKBOOK
STORIES OF OUR HERITAGE
Until Death Do Us Part
Author: Mary Baldwin
It wasn’t unusual for me to go inside his dresser to put clothes away. I can’t explain why I never saw it before. Grandpa’s top drawer contained his white t-shirts, checkered shorts, and a shoebox that seemed to fit just right in the comer where his rolled-up socks were kept. That’s where I found it. Tucked behind that old shoebox. It was neatly wrapped in a thin-yellowed plastic cover. I picked it up to get a closer look. A mixture of emotions overcame me. The greatest being fear. Frightened that I had done something wrong. I immediately replaced the plastic wrap back into its proper place, and ran out of grandpa’s room.
What should I do, was racing through my mind: do I dare ask grandpa, perhaps one of my five older brothers and sisters, or should I tell my mom? The most important question of all: will I get in big trouble for this!
Every time I saw my mom I wanted to tell her, and whenever I was near grandpa I felt uneasy. Did he murder somebody? This man I adored and have known all my life. Was he capable of being so evil? I was eleven, but grandpa lived with us from the day my parents were married, until he died at 84.
I knew my grandfather to be a kind and gentle person. Whenever any one of us would get hurt, grandpa would come to the rescue. He would sew a bandage from his foot-peddled sewing machine. Nothing cured that pain like grandpa’s homemade bandages. He kept us amused by smoking his fat cigar backwards. Grandpa would take his well-lit cigar; flame forward into his open mouth. He would close his lips tightly around the burning cigar and blow straight streams of rich smoke through the hole of the cigar. We loved showing him off to our neighborhood friends.
That was the grandfather everyone appreciated, but’ there were a lot of unanswered questions, I was determined to discover the truth.
I finally approached my mom and she told me that in 1918 her father; Frank Vercek, left their small farm village south of the city, Novo Mesto, in Slovenia. Grandpa’s five older brothers each sent money for the next boat to arrive. At 19, Frank was the last. Grandpa worked in his tailor shop, and at 35 years old he married Agnes. It was hers.
The plastic wrap in grandpa’s top drawer was not a victim’s, but housed a preserved memory of her mother. Agnes died of tuberculosis when my mom was only 3 years old.
I went back into grandpa’s room, and carefully removed the plastic wrap. I knew that I indeed was not doing anything wrong, after all this belonged to my grandmother. I sat on the edge of the bed, and meticulously revealed a long beautiful braid of thick brown hair. I felt its stiff fibers, and caressed the length upon the palm of my hand. I brought the braid to my face to smell her presence, to experience my gradmother’s life with me at that moment. I have never even seen a picture of my grandma, and yet I was holding her in my arms. It became clear to me how passionately grandpa loved her. He saved her hair all these years like a priceless treasure. I envisioned grandpa brushing her hair like he did to all us girls. He loved long hair, and hated when we would get it cut short. Now I understand why.
For the first time I was so sad that my grandmkother died, and I missed her deeply. That was 32 years ago. I never thanked grandpa, or asked anything about grandma, or even told him about finding her hair. There was no need to.
Where is the braid now? Together with the tailor’s thimble, united eternally with Frank and Agnes.
Thank you grandpa.
I miss you Putzinca.
(Slovenian endearment)
THE CROSSING
Mike and Tony came home from America just in time to see my mother, then help me to bury her. For a few days upon their return she seemed to be even getting better, but then one night a few days later she closed her eyes and slipped away. We buried her the next week.
JK	*	*	5jc	*
It was the spring of 1907. Slovenia was broiling in unrest. Nothing in Slovenia would ever be the same. This was the year of a mass exodus of Slovenia’s finest young to America in search of a life worth living. America was bekoning workers to its shores, promising full employment to all who would come to work. Workers were needed to develop this young country as it was emerging from an agrarian into an industrial nation. The good part about it was that the worker could keep every penny he earned; not like in Slovenia where first the Kaiser took his big chunk,
then the church with its mandatory tithing laws took its part; the tiny bit left was the peasant’s take, leaving him barely enough to subsist. Each year the peasant got poorer. So bitter and unbearable became the life for the peasant under Austrian rule that in the mind of the Slovenian there was no alternative for those who could leave but to make passage and go to America. This is what they did by the thousands and embarked on a chance for a better life.
I,	too, would be leaving my homeland, my culture, to take my chance in a foreign land. What else? My mother was gone now. Mike nad Tony would be going back to America. I, twenty years old, was unmarried. No way could I stay here alone. It was settled. I would go with Mike and Tony to America.
Life had been hard, toiling in the fields from sunrise to sunset every day, taking care of my ailing mother in the morning before going off to the fields and then again upon returning. Sunday was our day of rest. After mass we’d get together with our family and friends. In the summertime
under the lipica we’d sip cool fruit drinks and listen to brother Tony on his harmonica and me playing my guitar. In the winter we’d cluster around our peč, the Slovenian tile stove that took up a whole comer of the kitchen. Here we’d play and sing our folk songs and listen to family stories told and retold to keep our ancestors fresh in our minds - to know from whence we came.
My mother was a Cuznar. She’d tell her story about how many, many generations ago Cuznar was of the nobility, Cuznar von Cusnered. A series of catastrophic events brought the nobility to absolute ruin, abolished all its assets, and plunged future generations of Cuznars into abject peasant poverty. This legacy empowered my mother to better cope with the poor and mean situation that was her life. She longed that her children, too, would bear what she saw as a cross. Future generations were called upon to bear with patience instead of running off to America and a new life. Mike didn’t agree. He said that what was of long ago belonged to the long ago. This is now and we would have to make our own way. I guessed he was right.
Mike sold our house, and the few possessions we had and bought three tickets for us on the Italian Liner, the Carmina, which was to sail within two weeks. It was a rush to get everything ready; Mike was careful that every detail was considered. He was that kind of a guy, trying to think ahead on possible problems that might come up so he’d be prepared to make the right choices for us. We worked quickly with our packing. As I packed my guitar I wondered who would sing to the cows when they’d come home to be milked when I’d be gone. Mike said that the ship’s captain recommended that we bring supplemental food, so I packed our food basket with brown bread, poticas, home made klobase, smoked ham and a couple tins of our own dried apples for snacks.
The time came for us to say our goodbyes and make our way to the Italian border where we got a bus to Naples. We were allowed to embark the Carmina right away since we had our tickets. The steward directed us to the steerage deck and then down to our compartment in the hold of the ship. It was very big and fitted with three tiers of wire mesh hammocks for beds. Blankets were used to separate them for privacy. We got each two blankets, one to sleep on, the other to cover with. Fans were whirring overhead but the air was still stale. I looked at my brothers and tears welled in my eyes. How can we joumey like this, three deep for sleeping, and the air so close?
“It’s only for a few days,” said Mike.” The three of us are together and we’ll pray for a smooth crossing; time will pass in a hurry.”
It’s true, many people traveled like this to save money. Our compartment was jam-packed full. And it really wasn’t bad traveling like this once I got used to having no privacy. It was even fun much of the time. The deck was usually full of music, singing and dancing. We socialized, making friends, sharing our hopes and dreams about our new country. We were, all of us, the future citizens of America!
I guess God didn’t hear us, praying on deck every night under His stars and the last thing at night before we closed our eyes to sleep, for here came the storm we dreaded and it lasted for almost four days. The hatches were closed
immediately for the waves bound over the ship tossing it about like some toy and the poor humanity huddled inside with it. The air now was thick with smells, smoke, body odors of the hundreds stacked in the compartment. We could hardly breathe. The sick babies and children were crying; and the incessant moaning of the sick... I lay wishing that a wave would pull the ship down under and put an end to this misery. Just when I knew that I could stand not another minute of this hell, the storm abated, the hatches flew open and we thanked the blessed Lord for the breath of fresh air.
How resilient, rebounding is the human spirit. We were all grateful that the ship and we had survived the storm and having survived it we felt we could survive whatever came along. Mike opened a bottle of wine from home and the three of us had a cup of wine and potica. It tasted of home. It was good.
We were coming to the end of our joumey and the deck was again full of joy and in eager anticipation as we prepared to welcome and be welcomed into our new country. What a thrill it was when the ship arrived in New York Harbor and we passed the Statue of Liberty. We were almost there! We still had the inspection to pass, physical examinations etc., I passed everything except my eye examination, and so I was held back in detention for a week to clear up a little infection I had incurred. It wasn’t bad there, the food was nice, much better than the meals on the ship, and here, for the first time in my life, I tasted ice cream! Never had I tasted anything so good in my life!
My brothers were waiting for me when I was released, and so happily, we three, arm in arm, trotted off to the railway station to get a train to St. Louis. There I had a job waiting for me as a trainee-house-maid for an American lady. *****
This was her start. She was now in a land where she could dare to dream, and with application and perseverance to make them come true in America.
On the photo, mom in 1967 at the age of 88
$ $ $ * *
The writer of the piece above was Agnes Marian Habian Pogačnik Frye, my mother. She led a full and productive life. She died at the home of her daughter and care giver, Mrs. Eleanore F. Bradshaw at the age of 94.
Pat Hagemeier
Activities of our Branches
Reports due first of month preceding publication.
NO. 1, SHEBOYGAN, WI Meetings: 5 per year Fr. Cherne Hall
Our 75th Anniversry celebration opened with prayer by President Ruth Sheck. The luncheon meeting was held at a local restaurant.
Each member was presented with a corsage. A 3-piece Christmas centerpiece, designed by a member’s daughter, was the door prize.
By vote, future meetings will be held during the day in hopes of increasing attendance because many members do not or cannot drive at night.
By vote, all memorials will be contributed to the Slovenian Women’s Union Scholarship Fund instead of the memorial mass. This is due to the fact that we now share a priest with another parish, which has greatly reduced our mass schedule.
By vote, as a fund raiser, each member will contribute $5 dollars to the fund in the month of her birthday.
Election of officers was held as follows:
Ruth Sheck, President; Barb Hengst, Vice President; Dorothy Brezonik, Secretary-Treasurer and Angeline Fritz, Recording Secretary.
Christmas visits, with monetary gifts, were planned to be made to the shut-ins by the branch officers.
Best Wishes to all!
ANGELINE FRITZ
NO. 2, CHICAGO, IL Meetings: 2nd Thurs. St. Stephen’s lower hall
It is only fitting to begin with words of Mother Theresa: “Every act of love is a work of peace, no matter how small.”
As we start with our New Year -2002 - let’s keep remembering in our prayers all those who perished 9/11/01. We are all suffering from the things that America has gone through. Prayer is our salvation. Be kinder to one •another and keep a smile on your faces.
Jean, Hrastar, Queen Bumble Bee
It will make everyone feel better.
At our Penny Social in November -our theme being “Bamabee’s Bumble Bees” - many workers wore colors of black/yellow, however; Genevieve Cerjak and Connie Taylor were dressed in Bumble Bee costumes, Jean Hrastar also dressed up as the Queen Bee! That evening, the worker bees were buzzing, aware that the Queen was there to keep the work going. Her crew was busy at the Christmas Comer, the Teddy Bear Stand, selling chances and busily baking and arranging delicious tarts, cakes, poticas, strudels, pies and pretty cup cakes in the shape of bumble bees! (Connie and Jean Cerjak are very talented with their baking, we are very lucky to have them.) Later we played bingo winning many nice prizes. This affair supports our children ’ s Christmas party. We all had a fun evening.
Connie Taylor and Genevieve Cerjak dressed like bumble bees and made little bumble bee cupcakes
In November, we said farewell to Father David in Lemont and his dog “Rex” who both returned to Slovenia. We thank him for all he accomplished at St. Mary’s/Lemont. We will miss him and wish him much luck with his new position. Now, we welcome the new pastor, Father Metod, who came to us from Australia. When you are at Lemont, be sure to stop by to meet him.
Our condolences to Fran Morison and her family, Mike, Susan and Terry on the loss of her brother and their uncle, Charles Buckreiter of Duluth, MN. Fran underwent surgery and was unable to visit with Charles before his death. Please remember him in your prayers that he will rest in peace and keep Fran in your prayers that she will be well soon. We really need her at Br. 2.
We are sorry to report that “Our Ladys’ Guild” and St. Stephen’s Sr. Women’s Club have dissolved, the last meeting and Christmas party was December. There were no takers to replace Irene Kalina as president. Irene and family moved to Wisconsin. We hope they will be very happy there; she did so much for St. Stephen’s Church. Thank you, Irene, from all of us.
There were 44 children and 46 adults attending the “Clown’s Christmas Party.” The children each received a happy clown as they entered the beautifully decorated hall (by Ray Nusko) and were very busy coloring before it was announced that Santa was on his way. Each sat on Santa’s lap and had their pictures taken as they each received a gift from Santa. The kids lunch was enjoyed, especially the many cookies which were baked by their mothers. Everyone had fun and thanks to all those who came from a distance to attend the party; it was nice to see everyone. There were little babies whc came for the first time.
Here’s to the Blessings of the Year. Here’s to the friends we hold so dear, To Peace on Earth, both far and near. (American Toast)
Be safe and Love One Another. Keep our sick members in your prayers.
Love,
DAISY
NO. 3, PUEBLO, CO Meetings: 1st Tues. St. Mary’s Church Hall
When you receive this issue, celebrating the Holidays will be a thing of the past, but let’s hope and pray all the days of the new year will be peaceful ones.
We didn’t have many at our meeting in November as some of our regulars had other commitments but those who came had a good time. A beautiful tribute was held for recently deceased members - Ann Zaletel, Lorraine Pechnik, Faye Babich and Mamie Pugel. The regular order of business was conducted and then our hostesses, Lillian Galich and Elsie Kocman with the help of Agnes Glavich and Josephine Krasovic, served delicious Cheese Strudel. The tables were decorated beautifully. We then played Bingo.
Our Christmas party was held at Patti’s Restaurant on December 5. As always, thanks to Eileen Kaplan and Margaret Cullen, we had an enjoyable time.
There was a Mass of Anointing on Sunday, Nov. 18 after which refreshments were served in ^he Parish Hall. On Saturday, Nov. 17 and 18 an Open House was held at the Parish Rectory to see the St. Mary’s Genealogy Center and the Gomick Slovenian Library and Museum. Some of our members helped with these functions.
We extend our condolences to families who have lost loved ones recently - John Pauchek, Joe Tezak, Cecelia Kocman, Dorothy Predolich and Felix Juliano; May they rest in peace.
As always, let’s remember in our prayers those who have lost loved ones, the sick, the homebound, their caretakers and residents of nursing homes.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
PAULINE PAUCHICK
IT’S IN ^FVERY s(U)VOMIAI\l
NO. 5, INDIANAPOLIS, IN Meeting: 1st Thurs. SND, from May to Dec.
Branch 5 celebrated our Holiday meeting in November. We honored two “50 Year” members who were not at our May meeting: Karen Lambert Zarich and Ludmilla Albin. Karen could not make the May meeting saying it was because she was only 49 and 10 months, so how could she be a 50-year member! We had a good turn out with some great food and too many excellent desserts especially Betty Dragan’s Lady Baltimore Cake. It was almost too pretty to cut...but we did!!
The annual elections were held at the meeting and this time the board could not be reelected in full. Mary Frances Mohr, our Secretary/Treasurer, is stepping down from her post. For over ten years, she has kept things organized for Branch 5, especially during the major changes at the Home Office. She even had to keep the meetings moving ahead since the latest President tends
to talk too much!! (Hey, Phyllis said it herself, not me!) Due to health problems, Mary Frances was not at the meeting. But, Phyllis struggled on. In fact, she did very well, that is, until she realized we left the Nash without paying our bar tab! Thanks to Delores Konechnik for paying it.
We will miss Mary Frances very much, and hope she continues to get better so she can make our next meeting in the Spring.
So with the need for a new Secretary/ Treasurer, Phyllis went out and recruited a very willing “volunteer.” We welcome Karen Lambert Zarich to the board. Her grandmother, Anna Lambert , one of our founding members, and her mother, Theresa Bayt Lambert, were both very active in our branch.
We would also like to remember all members of Branch 5 who have loved ones who are in the military and are away from home. Some are overseas, but many are being sent around the country and world as relief units. Pat Poole, Katie Fon Poole’s husband, was called back to full time duty with the Air Force and is in South Dakota until February. Please keep all military personnel in your prayers.
MARY FRANCES MOHR writes: Dear members of Branch 5,
It doesn’t seen possible that I have been your secretary for 10 years. As they say time flies when you’re having fun. It is with much regret that I have resigned as your secretary. Due to health reasons, I find it difficult to continue in this capacity. I want to thank you for the chance to work with all of you. It has been a very pleasant experience for me. I plan to stay as active as I can and look forward to seeing you at our meetings and luncheons. God be with each and every one of you. Thank you,
Mary Frances Mohr In case you need to contact Karen Zarich in regards her Secretary/Treasurer duties, she may be reached at: 6533 Timber Trace Brownsburg, IN 46112-8643 (317) 852-3212 May God bless you all and keep you by his side.
Love from Texas,
BARBARA MOHR FRIESENHAHN
NO. 10, CLEVELAND, OH Meeting: 4th Wed. alternate months SND Holmes Ave.
I hope all the ladies had a wonderful holiday and that Santa Claus brought each one what they asked for. I received many gifts and I thank God for having good health.
We had a wonderful Christmas party at Fannie’s. Everyone was happy because every lady present received a gift. The weather was nice (no snow.) We did miss our ailing members, especially our recording secretary, Ann Stefančič. Hurry and get well. We all miss you. Sending a bouquet of get-well wishes to all.
We have the same officers. One of our sunshine ladies, Joyce LeNassi is in the Slovenian Home for the Aged on Neff Road, Cleveland, Ohio.
We had a mass on November 23, 2001 at “Our Lady of Perpetual Help” Church for the people who were hurt and the ones who lost their life on September 11, 2001. May God bless and keep them in his care; help the ones that are grieving, to overcome their fears.
We wish good luck to the SWU celebrating 75 years. Did you know that number 10 is also celebrating 75 years! Will let you know what we are planning. Members, think about this and give me a call at (216) 451-1876. Hope you have some ideas.
Our next meeting will be February
27,	2002. Please try to attend. Thanks again to all the ladies.
STEPHANIE SEGULIN
NO. 12, MILWAUKEE, WI Meeting: 3rd Thurs.
St. Peter’s Church Hall
We are having wonderful weather for this time of the year. Our October meeting was well-attended and we had a good lunch prepared by Virginia Strukel.
Being Halloween we had our tables set with orange place-mats and napkins and also center pieces. Theresa Fedran came to our meeting after a long absence; she was busy taking care of her sick husband who passed away recently, now she found time to come to the meetings.
Also, another long-time member, Antonia Vodnik was able to come to our meeting after losing her husband in June. We hope to be seeing them more often at our meetings. Julia Schnick is at “Mary Jude” Nursing Home.
At our November meeting we had a good turnout. We celebrated Thanksgiving and had a turkey dinner!
We are fortunate to have our members attending our meetings and keeping the Branch going. Thanks to all for their loyalty. It’s so nice having so many great workers helping.
Virginia presented Leona Zigmund a floral piece in thanks for always giving and donating. She made pot holders and also brings apples.
Elections were held; all officers stayed the same. Some of our members went to the “Fireside” in November. Connie Lewandowski has taken over Mary Kiel’s duties.
Tony Starich, our social member, was 90 years old on Dec. 18th. He loves to dance and goes dancing once a week. Happy birthday, Tony.
To all my members a “Happy and Good Year 2002.”
ST A VIA DOBERSEK
NO. 13, SAN FRANCISCO, CA Meeting: 1st Thurs. Slovenian Hall on Mariposa St.
I haven’t much news this month from Br. 13 so I am wishing everyone in S.W.U. a New Year of good health and happiness. I hope the Blessed Christmas Season brought much joy and peace after such a turbulent year.
I have talked to so many people who are having a difficult time adjusting to all the new emotions they feel. Just take time to share. Share your thoughts, your comfort, your love, and your smile.
“Whatever we possess becomes of double value when we have the opportunity of sharing it with others.”
Bouilly
I hope to see some of you at our Valentine Luncheon.
Very happy birthday to: Shirley Ster-benk Cooper, Donna Frick, Carol Georgen, Mary Yerman. In February, Bemadine Madbonich, Stanka Pecavar, Louise Petrusich, Michele Twers, and a special Happy Birthday to Junior member, Jessica Lehane.
A yearly events calendar will be sent to each member. Please try to join us; we do have fun and good desserts.
God bless and keep a smile!
BEVERLY JACKSON
NO. 14, EUCLID, OH Meeting: 1st Tues., 6 p.m. Slov. Society Home
It’s hard to believe that we’ll have to remember to write the year 2002 after I just became accustomed to writing 2001! Winter has been good to us so far with quite mild temperatures. Predictions promise us a warm winter... we’ll see...
Elections were held in November and members voted “vse po starem” the entire slate was re-elected for another year.
President, Jennie Fitzthum; Vice President, Patricia Habat; Recording Secretary, Addie Humphreys; Secretary/Treasurer, Diane Varney; Sunshine Person, Rose Rodgers; Auditors, Stana Grill, Antoinette Zabukovec; Banner Lady, Josephine Kastigar and Reporter, Alice Kuhar.
O, HAPPY DAY!
On Saturday, October 6, 2001, Alexandra Zagar, daughter of Western Regional President, Ceta Zagar and the late Josef Zagar, was married to Salvador Prieto. The wedding took place in the beautiful Napa Valley Wine Country at St. Joan of Arc in Yountville. Alex is a member of Br.
13	in S.F. and 4 members of her bridal party are also members, namely, Mary, Jessica, and Isabel Lehane as well as Diana Fir who many will remember as our soloist at the Nat’l. Convention in
S.F. We wish the newlyweds much love and happiness. It was a glorious
We’ve seen another successful Thanksgiving weekend for Tony Pet-kovsek’s festival celebrating forty years of continuous broadcasting at Cleveland’s Marriott Hotel. The Cleveland Slovenian Radio Club invited Lojze Slak as a special guest from Slovenia. He appeared in jam sessions at the dance. The Polka Hall of Fame Awards Show was held on that Saturday with another fantastic show. It also featured guest artist Lojze Slak as they saluted the “button box accordion” in the show.
We send along speedy recovery wishes to Josephine Stupica who is hobbling around with a broken leg. Get well soon, Pep!
Sending happy Valentine’s Day greetings to everyone with wishes for hearts and flowers.
ALICE KUHAR
*****
Our Christmas party was on Dec. 4th, a sit down dinner was served cooked by Sophia Mazi and her girls. Thanks to Jennie Fitzthum, president, for making al 1 the calls for reservations. We had a good turnout of members and their families. Frances Prijatel and Kristina Blatnick had their families in attendance. (See page 13 Feature.)
On our sick list is member, Josephine Stupica. Our get well wishes go out to her.
Deepest sympathy goes to the families of Josephine Zorko, Carolina Stanonik, Anna Ogrin.
Next meeting will be Tuesday, April 2, 2002 at 6:30.
Happy New Year to all!
DIANE VARNEY
NO. 16, SO. CHICAGO Meetings: 2nd Saturday, 1 p.m. monthly except Jan.-July-Aug. St. George’s Hall
Greetings! Did we get any snow for Christmas? At this writing in December it is springlike - my geraniums are still blooming and I am enjoying them.
Our Christmas party was attended by about forty members and friends, Dolores O’Brien was able to join us through the courtesy of Olga Kowal-kowski, who picked her up at the Holland House where she resides. Elsie Siener was also one of Olga’s passen-ers. It was nice to meet Olga and John Krmpotic of Crown Point, IN. John is a brother to our frieiid M&rge Krmpotic. Best wishes to her. Olga and Marge are members of Branch 95.
A huge thank you to you, Therese, for a really nice party.
Congratulations are in order! “A child was bom unto them.” Kevin Michael Monahan came into this world on Oct. 9. His loving parents are Sean and Julie, his proud grandparents are Kathy and Tim (they are first timers). Then there is the very proud first time great grandmother - me!
And some more congratulations to Dolores Franko on the birth of her sixth grandchild. This new bundle of joy was named Gabriella Cristine. Her hapy parents are John and Sandy Franko her birthdateasOct. 23. Our best wishes.
Our Mary Brozovich of Springfield, MO had a very enjoyable visit with her
son and his family in Dallas, TX.
Brian Zupančič also had a fun time visiting her son and crew in San Antonio, TX.
Belated birthday wishes to our dear member, Katy Ricevic who now belongs to the Gay 90’s. Sure would like to see you, Katy.
There is a senior out there who found out that you are never too old to ride a “hog”, especially on one’s birthday
- now she is known as “Biker Mama.” One hint — her name is Dorothy.
Our travelers are back home after their trip to Slovenia. Dolores, Gladys, Sylvia and Vida all enjoyed it immensely and would like to return some day. They were very impressed with the beauty of the country, the warmth and hospitality of the people. I could go on, but read the entire ZARJA -look for pictures.
We can’t let Sylvia go on a trip alone. She took one and it was dissas-trous. Just a few blocks from her home, she tripped, fell, broke her glasses, got a hairline knee fracture and she was a mess.
No more trips like that, Sylvia.
Our traveler is on the road again. You do know who I mean! She is somewhere in the vicinity of Tennessee. One of these days we really will mail her shoes down.
Just received a card from Dorothy Perak. She visited her son and his wife in California. No fear of flying for this gal!
Our November treats were Super supplied by Helen Battista, Clara Saviano, Julie Vrlich, Vida Kumse! Oh, those calories, but who cares? Fr. Josip really enjoys our meetings, especially playing bunco.
Our dear Manda is not up to par. Please remember her in your prayers.
We lost a very dear member on October 16 - Elaine “Buns” Strubel passed away in Rochester, MN. She is survived by her husband Joe, son Jay (Susan) and four loving grandchildren
- ages 1 to 7.
A large group of friends prayed the wake and the mass at St. Georjge’s Church was very well attended. Her daughter-in-law gave a beautiful eulogy, a lovely tribute to a lovely lady. Her grandchildren took up the gifts. They were so reverent, even the one year old helped. That was a tear jerking scene. Rest in peace, dear friend.
We lost another member, Marjorie Price. Although she was not an active member those who knew her will miss her. Our condolences to the Strubel and Price families.
“May the Eternal, Light shine upon them May they rest in peace"
No meeting in January. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Be with God,
MARGE PREBIL
NO. 20, JOLIET, IL Meeting: 3rd Tues. except June to Sept. St. Joe’s Park hall
Dear members,
First, let me congratulate our own 60 year member, Olga Erjavec Ancel who received an Outstanding Service Award recently and was honored for her many services for the Joliet Catholic Academy and other organizations too numerous to mention. She has been an outstanding citizen and we are all very proud of her. THANK YOU, OLGA!
Marianne Wolf-Astraukas, the daughter of Joe and Cele Wolf recently wrote a very unusual description for her “Creative Writing” class. She used the description of making of Apple Strudel as her subject and it was mouthwatering. I hope she got an “A.” It’s so nice to know that our young people are carrying on our cooking traditions. I’m waiting for a sample from her!
A busful of members attended the 75th Anniversary, Illinois-Indiana Convention October 7th. It was, as usual, a very enjoyable and inspiring occasion with food for the gods, especially all those fattening but delicious desserts. Thank you, Br. 2!
On Nov. 11th, Armistice Day, our Br. 20 was represented in the Joliet parade with a beautiful decorated truck by Mary Jane Raugeau and others. Ray Koncar played the button box while his
3	children, dressed in Slovenian costumes, sat in the back of the truck and waved to all the people watching the parade. Ronnie Erjavec volunteered to drive the truck with some arm-twisting from Jonita. (Just kidding! Ronnie jumped at the chance to drive!)
(See page 13.)
Wedding bells rang for Emily Ukovich and Brian Petronio on July 28th at St. Joe’s. Also, George and Carrie Santiago were married August 31st in Lemont. Congratulations to Emil and Bernice Ramsak celebrating their 45th Anniversary of wedded bliss!
A new granddaughter was bom on October 26th to a very proud gramma, Marge Louch.
Sympathy to the family and friends of Jack Hotuyec who died on Oct. 7th; also to the family and friends of Andrew Yuvan. May they both rest in peace.
Our meeting was attended by 30 4-members and the 50/50 drawing was won by Theresa Lockwood! Our attendance award was won by Elizabeth Vineyard who was not in attendance so the $40.00 stays in the “Koofer.”
I am resigning as your reporter and the new reporter will be sister Marlene Ambrose, 520 Plainfield Rd., Joliet, IL 60435. Please write or call her at 727-3686. I enjoyed writing all 'your articles for 3 years, but it’s time to put me out to pasture!
Please don’t forget to pray for all our elected officials, especially our President.
Thank you and goodbye.
KATHY STONICH
NO. 24, LA SALLE, IL Meeting: 3rd Thurs. Catholic School Library Mar.-Apr.-may-June Sept.-Oct.-Nov.
Eighteen members attended the October meeting and enjoyed listening to the State Convention reports. Branch
2,	Chicago, did a wonderful job and those of us who attended certainly had a great time. We planned to invite Br. 89, Oglesby and Br. 85, DePue to join us at our next meeting (November) but hesitated as our meeting place at La Salle Catholic School is a classroom (when the gym is used for games) and we aren’t all that comfortable sitting at the students’ desks. Bonnie said she’d talk to Roseanne Prey, Br. 89 President and perhaps Oglesby would provide the meeting place and Br. 24 would provide refreshments. How’s that for ingenuity?
Bonnie invited Reza Rozman
S WU New Member Report
January-July, 2001
Narrse	Branch
Senney, Erica	10
Urban, Mary	102
Roland, Virginia	103
Allendorf, Mary Ann	105
Nosal, Katherine	105
Papesh, Antoinette Ann	14
Blue, Karen	2
Bronder, Joyce	2
Cummings, Leslie	2
Koren, Dolores	2
Pasderetz, Megan B	2
Taylor, Marie McNally	2
Stonich, Schyler	20
Yuvan, Jean	20
Zakosek, Thomas	20
Grahek, Janet	23
Musich, Julia	23
Shober, Rose Marie	23
Thoren, Margaret M	23
Fiocchi, Julie	24
Janko-Wilke, Lori	24
Marchiori, Emily	24
Spelich, Delores	24
Anghel, Christine	25
Anghel, Lou Ann	25
Nieman, Judy	25
Phelan, Sue	3
Colonna, Jana	30
Cornish, Rose Ann	30
Edson, Nancy	30
Suran, Mary	30
Bradish, Mary	40
Kaczorek, Lucy	43
Majerle-Klug, Rita	43
Kic, Rose	47
Enroll a Friend!
Lockwood, Heritage Director, to present a program that night. There were many guests present as well as a nice-turnout of members. Reza presented a wonderful program on our Slovenian heritage. She displayed a variety of items that can be found in the Museum and gave a very interesting explanation of each. We were very impressed with Reza. Her enthusiasm kept the program very entertaining. All present were impressed with this young lady who is so knowledgeable about our heritage. The
refreshments were delicious. We visited awhile and several guests expressed an interest in joining our Slovenian Women’s Union. We hated to see the evening end. Thank you, Bonnie for suggesting this get together and to Reza and her mom for visiting us in Oglesby.
Our Vice President, Minnie Carter and also, Antonia Hoefferle were reported as being ill. We hope they will be feeling better soon. Adele Gensler and Minnie Carter will take care of the Christmas basket to our shut-ins and Michelle Pangrcic will purchase a gift for a needy child, selected from the names on the Giving Tree in Resurrection Church.
Our Christmas Party was to be held at the Red Door in Peru on December
6.	Mary Mecum and Linda Struna made the arrangements. I’m sure it was a grand party with a large attendance.
We don’t meet in January or February but our members still have birthdays and those celebrating in January are: Claire Wangler, Janice Mueller, Cathy Jo Lenkaitis, and Linda Struna. The February celebrants will be: Irene Mauser, Sharon prady and Anne Wangler. Best wishes to all.
We look forward to seeing all of you at our March meeting in 2002 and maybe one of you will win the attendance award — Josephine Savnik won the last one in October. You must be present to receive it. Early wishes for a Happy Easter, this year on March 31st. Pray for Peace and safe return of our Service men and women.
ANNE WANGLER, Reporter
NO. 25, CLEVELAND, OH Meeting: 2nd Sunday, 1:30. p.m. St. Vitus Social Room
To all the Zveza members, all lodges and all their many friends, a Blessed Holiday Season and a prosperous New Year!!
Our members attended the Hall of Fame affair at St. Vitus. The honorees were our own Gene Drobnič, also Ed Pike and a Rudy Sterk, the manager of the new St. Vitus Village. Congrats to all and God Bless.
Slovenian National Home Brunch was a gala affair with good food and much congeniality. A1 Battastellie,
winner of the award at The Polka Hall of Fame, did the entertaining and it was very enjoyable. Lojze Slak was guest speaker and signed many CD’s.
Our meetings have been few and far between due to illness, or weather or conflict of dates, but at the different affairs we do get-together and it’s always nice to greet good friends.
Let’s hope that the New Year will bring peace to all and let us keep the victims of all the sadness in our thoughts and prayers during this special time of the year. Be filled with hope and love for all.
Let us all be grateful for whatever we have and dear Lord keep us all safe.
We had our Christmas party at Sterle’s Country House on Dec. 16.
EMILEE JENKO
NO. 32, EUCLID, OH Meeting: 3rd Wed. 7 p.m.
Euclid Library E. 222nd and Euclid Ave.
Members and officers extend a very Happy New Year to all of you. In March we will know exactly who the officers are and any changes that may take place for the year 2002. No meetings in Jan. or Feb., then in March we meet, same time and place. See you then.
We lost two members, Jennie Gustinčič, age 95, a lovely lady and also Mary Golobic, 93 years old who gave of herself and sent us many donations and many poticas, strudels, etc. Also was ready to help when called on. I personally knew Mary well. A truly great lady. At the wake I saw Mary Ster looking just grand at 93 years. She and Mary were the best cooks here for many years. She will miss her buddy and I can say, WE ALL WILL! May our departed sisters rest in peace.
My granddaughter, Ashley Hegedius, a member of the Dublin Coffman Girls soccer team took Ohio State Champs! Good luck to the Dublin girls and of course, my Ashley.
To Stephanie Kneisley at KY University, good luck. She too, received three scholarships! Great going, girls. Am I proud! I guess!
If in need or if you have any questions, call our secretary, Charlotte Perdan, 1-216-289-6316.
In closing, this quote: “For the first
time in a long time people don’t think of themselves anymore as Democrats or Republicans. The national crisis has made us all Americans - united!” God Bless the U.S.A. God bless all of us!
DOROTHY LAMM
NO. 33, DULUTH, MN Meeting: 1st Wed.
St. Elizabeth Church Hall
Report was given of $550.41 made on the stew dinner.
Officers for 2002 will remain the same.
Prayers of sympathy for Emily Skull, 78, who died Oct. 22. She was a 56-year member of Branch 33. Her daughter, Susan, is also a member. Jean Popovich recently lost her brother.
Congratulations to Margaret Radosevich on the marriage of her son.
Greetings to all - especially those hospitalized and homebound.
LOIS PELANDER
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NO. 35, AURORA, MN Meeting: 6 per year Community Sr. Center
We have enjoyed a beautiful Indian Summer but now it’s winter isn’t it? On Nov. 26th snow came and it’s here to stay! Needless to say, the skier and snowmobilers are happy!
The Oct. 14th meeting was opened by our president, Anita Vovk to a disappointing crowd. Ladies, please remember our meeting times and attend! It’s our duty to support the officers and remember, we have a busy year ahead as we will be hosting the State Convention this year in September.
The 2002 Calendar is as follows:
Feb. 10th, meeting at 1:30 p.m. Dime Social, CC; April 7th, meeting at 1:30 p.m., CC; May 5th, Luncheon and Mother of the Year Party, at noon, Legion; Aug. 14th, Luncheon-Meeting, at noon, Legion; Sept. 8th, Minnesota State Convention; Oct. 13th, meeting at 1:30 p.m., CC; Dec. 8th, meeting and Advent Party at 3 p.m., Legion.
If enough people are interested, a bus will be ordered to attend the SWU 75th Anniversary celebration in Joliet on March 9th. According to the newsletter we received, many nice plans have been made for this special day and we should not miss it!
Did you take a chance in the Magic Museum Calendar fund-raiser? Maybe some of us will be lucky!
Congratulations to James Wheeler, junior at the U. of Minn, who was accepted into the School of Architecture. Good luck, James!
Get well wishes to Ria Bradach and hope she is feeling much better now.
Our sympathy and prayers are with Linda Orazem and family. She lost her dad, Eino Kajala in November. May he rest in peace.
Thanks to hostesses at the November meeting: Anita and Dorothy, fr the delicious lunch.
Let us pray that this war will be over soon.
ANNE M. ORAZEM
NO. 42, MAPLE HTS., OH Meetings: Quarterly, 2nd month of the quarter, 2nd Saturday Maple Hts., Library
Greetings of the New Year to everyone near and far. No sooner was the ink dry on my last column when word reached me of the unexpected passing of long-time member, Mary Lou Prhne. She had been a hard-working, dedicated officer of Br. 42 for many years then moved to Florida with husband Louis in retirement. After his death she eventually returned to Cleveland and took up residence at The Little Sisters Home. To her niece, Ann Marie Buehner, to David Lipnos and the entire Prhne family we extend our deepest sympathy. May she rest in peace.
Mici Champa and husband, Lou have taken up residence at the Light of Hearts Villa in Bedford. Rose and Tony Meljac are now calling home The Emerald Ridge Senior Community in Solon having moved there recently. Incidentally, the Meljacs celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary Oct. 8th and the Champas chalked up No. 67 on Nov. 3rd. What a shining example for today’s society! God bless two wonderful couples.
Betty Kosak Gawor is recovering from a recent hip fracture. We send her our best wishes for a complete recovery and additional congratulations on the newest arrival to their clan. Betty’s granddaughter, Beth Ann Carroll, daughter of Betty Ann Kosak Harr, presented the family with a beautiful baby boy named David, after uncle David Kosak.
Happy January birthdays to: Nancy Kish, Kelly Ann Gaines, Mary Perko, Karen Lockard, David and Kelly Lipnos.
Happy February birthdays to: Diane Balach, Edna Scotton and Allison Gruden.
Election of officers was held for the new year as follows: Pres., Jackie Albers; V. Pres., Jeanne Offutt; Sec. Marge Church; Rec. Sec. Lil Sadowski; Treas. Jo Stoltz; Sarg-at-Arms, Kim Balach, Auditors, Dolores Lipnos, Dorothy Mehosky and Karen Lockard. Spiritual Director, Sr. St. Joan of Arc. To our outgoing President, Jeanne Offutt, thank-you for a job well done and to Jo Stoltz, thank-you for
keeping the records for such a long time. The spirit of SWU lives on because of people like both of you.
Our next meeting is Saturday, Feb. 9th at 2:30 p.m. at Maple Hts. Library during which John Sraka, popular Maple Hts. historian, will speak. Br. 42’s memorial mass for the Sept. 11th victims, their families and all rescue and recovery workers will take place Sunday, Feb. 17th at 10:00 a.m. at St. Lawrence Church with a Slovenian choir providing the music. Members, please make an effort to attend this mass. We are also extending an open invitation to all neighboring branches to join us. Till then, best wishes to all our distant members, those “under the weather” and our many shut-ins.
Zbogom!
LIL SADOWSKI
NO. 43, MILWAUKEE, WI Meeting: 4th Wed.
St. John Evangelist Rectory
We had a very good attendance at our October and November meetings. The minutes were read and the financial reports was given. We had wonderful lunches brought in by our Birthday girls.
At our October meeting we had John T. Kolesari, RPh, Assistant Director of Froedtert Outpatient Pharmacy. He spoke about different types of medication and answered many of our questions on “Over the counter medication.” He also gave us a folder titled Managing Your Medications, with some humorous cartoons.
Our Christmas party was on December 5th with a family style dinner.
Denise Bartlett will see about a Bus for a trip to Joliet for the 75th Anniversary of the establishment of S.W.U. on March 9th.
We again had a very good speaker at our November meeting, Dr. Ronald G. O’Connor from the Chiropractic Wellness Center. He explained just what a Chiropractor can do in the healing process. He answered many of our questions.
We paid for a Mass at St. John Evangelist Church for all those who have died, those who were injured, and those who lost their jobs, during the September 11th disaster. It will be read on January 20th at 11:30 a.m. and we
hope many of you will attend.
This Christmas will not be a very joyous one for me. On October 1st my daughter, Mary Hoffarth went to her Heavenly Home. Please keep her in your prayers.
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, January 23rd, same place, same time.
Wishing everybody a Happy New Year!
ANNE E. KONCZAL
NO. 47, GARFIELD HTS., OH Meetings: 2nd Sunday in March, Sept., & Nov. Maple Hts. Public Library
Our November meeting opened with prayer for all members. Election of officers took place and are the same: President Olga Dorchak; Vice President Ann Harsh; Recording Secretary/Treasurer Elsie Spellacy; Auditors Ginger Kemmerling and Kathleen Dorchak; and Branch Reporter, Katherine Wallace. I’ve been a member for 31 years. (Was one of the first Slovenian Debutantes in 1970. I have three children and have been married 28 years.)
Our March meeting for 2002 will be held on the third Sunday, March 17th instead of the second Sunday March 10th, due to the 75th Anniversary celebration to be held in Joliet which some of us will be attending on March 9th. Please make a note of this and plan on joining our bus to Joliet.
Also a Mass in Honor of the Survivors of September 11, 2001 will be held at St. Lawrence Church at 10:00 a.m. February 3, 2002.
Birthday greetings go out to all our January and February members. January members: Laura Bossard, Antonia Davies, Diane Fornaro, Mary Hrovat, Jo Lea, Tyler Mundson, Helen Yerman and Agnes Zabak. February members: Ludmilla Bolek, Jessie Pigat and Dorothy Squire.
Our Christmas Party was held December 1, 2001. Everyone brought a covered dish or a dessert. We had 25 members and guests attend and raffled off Christmas presents and poinsettias. Elsie Spellacy made American Flag refrigerator magnets for all who attended. Everyone went home with something.
KATHERINE WALLACE
Email: WEBBLEKATT@HOTMAIL.COM
NO. 50, EUCLID, OH Meeting: 3rd Wed. Euclid Public Library Except July & Aug.
Although this is being written in the previous, devastating old year, we hope the new one, 2002, will bring more hope for the multitude.
We did accomplish having two branch meetings during this period. The first consisted of the nomination for officers and the second was the election resulting in the officers remaining the same. Why change a good thing?
Our get well wishes go to Millie Pike who has been having a rough time. We are rooting for you, Millie, so give us a better health winner.
The life of Anne M. Glavic was given up in November right after our November 13th meeting. Many of us said our last good-bye at her wake. We also send our condolences to Stella Kaporc and family due to the final departure of dear Robert. In the year 2001 we have lost eleven members. Let's hope we get a reprieve on this score for the new year.
Going to lighter subjects, we wish to congratulate Jean Križman for being selected as “Women of the Year" of all the Slovenian Halls in our area. It is a well-deserving honor.
Our own Auditor, Frances Kajfez has been nominated "Mother of the Year” for the new year’s great start.
Our President, Ann Tercek has become a great grandmother again. Craig and Nicole Clapacs presented Ann with dear little Kayla. That’s wonderful work if you can get it!
There was a very exciting happening shortly after Thanksgiving Day. It was held November 24th at Alexander’s Restaurant in Euclid, Ohio. When one celebrates a 25th Silver Wedding An-
niversary at the age of 85, it becomes an outstanding occurrence. Our member, Josephine Smith was our celebrant along with her husband, John, of course. We all had a wonderful time along with the celebrants concerned.
On December 2, 2001, Branch 50 had our Christmas Party and we celebrated our 70th anniversary. Branch 50 was founded on Tuesday, September 23, 1931 in Cleveland, Ohio, at the St. Clair Bath House. In 1971 the meetings were moved to Euclid. The membership has grown from 225 to over 400. Annual activities in addition to the regular meetings are the Mother of the Year Celebration in May, Anne's Day in July, a branch picnic in September and a Christmas Party in December.
We have a specified group of 8 Cadets who attend funerals for our deceased.
Currently regular meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month except during the first two months of each year.
As a reminder, our next meeting will be March 13, 2002. Don’t forget to send in your membership dues, and if possible a donation to the Annual Fund Drive.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Na svidenje,
VI MORAVCHEK
NO. 54, WARREN, OH Meeting: 3rd Wed. Feb. thru May Sep., Nov., Dec.
Happy New Year All! We pray the year 2002 will be better than this past year and no more turmoils! Even tho life will never be the same, we continue to pray for the kind of life that assures peace in the world.
In the fall I had written about Martin and Ann Savor celebrating their 74th
wedding anniversary and Mr. Savor had his 100th birthday in August. Sadly, in October, he passed away. He will be missed by his loving family and all who knew him. He was laid to rest in Jamestown, PA. We all extend our sympathy to the family. It is ironic that when he first came to America he applied for membership in one of the Slovenian organizations and was turned down because of high blood pressure
- that was in the 1920’s.
Our Christmas luncheon was in December and our election of officers also
- resulting in everything the same for the new year. Yours truly is now your secretary for the 40th year (since 1962). That’s a long time!
We hope to have a meeting in February, weather permitting, and I will be calling you about the time. It will be at my home.
Belated birthday wishes to our charter member, Vic Zuga, age 87! She’s a wonderful person - still makes delicious strudel, jams, potica and her condo is always immaculate! Our love to her!
Happy St. Valentine’s Day, too. Good health and God’s blessing to all. I know I speak for all our members saying the ZARJA is superb! Thanks to Corinne and the SWU officers for maintaining it just as we like it!
JOANNE PONIKVAR
NO. 56, HIBBING, MN
Hello Everyone! We finally got together to let you know what's going on with our Branch in Hibbing.
On August 15, 2001, Br. 56 became 68 years old! We shall begin this report during October 2nd meeting held at the First Avenue Community Club Room. Present were: Pres. Anne B. Satovich (90 years young), Jen Obert, (all-around Sunshine Lady), Past Pres. Valeria Carlson and me. We recalled the
New Members are welcome - $15.00 per year - with ZARJA subscription
KEEP THE SPIRIT ALIVE Membership Campaign is on now! There will he a prize for everyone who enrolls ten new members: a sourvenir plate, or other wooden-ware item FROM SLOVENIA! These are beautiful and hand-painted items! Get involved now to bring in the new members you are thinking about asking to join! See Application from on back page.
SWU STATEMENT OF OUR VISION, MISSION AND PURPOSE
VISION - To preserve the living spirit of the founders and past membership by promoting and nourishing the legacy left to us for future generations.
MISSION - To reach individuals by uniting them through their common interest in Slovenian culture and traditions.
PURPOSE - To provide resources, communication, and foster friendships in honor of our cultural heritage.
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fun and good time we had at Minnesota Day in Gilbert on September 9th. Plans were being made for a Memorial Mass. A significant change has taken place. Our three Catholic churches, the Immaculate Conception, Blessed Sacrament and St. Leo’s became one: namely, HIBBING CATHOLIC COMMUNITY.
Our former Treasurer, Mary Micheletti, is doing well after a series of serious illnesses, and at present is staying with her daughter, Jean Norris in Duluth. Veronica Marter is recovering from a broken shoulder and is receiving necessary physical therapy. She is fortunate to have her husband, sis-in-law Milena Koehler and many friends. “PEP" Erickson and Margaret Matosich are residents at Leisure Hills. Katherine Marino is still recovering from set-backs and surgeries and is doing okay. Ann P. Voiovichand Mary Starcevic are residents of the Golden Crest Nursing Home. We also send best wishes to Mary Sporer who resides at Hillcrest Adams. Our oldest, 67 year member, Mary Puhek, resides near her son John (and family) in a New Hope, MN nursing home. Then there is our Rose Vukich (age 91) still a great baker, cook and noodle maker. She cannot attend meetings because of painful knee problems.
We must comment on our trip to Gilbert for Minnesota Day, September 9th. Ten signed up, only six members attended. Transportation was provided by Milena Koehler and Fran Tobey. Many Branches were represented. It was great to see such a good turnout. We were greeted and welcomed by Vice Pres, of Br. 39, Angeline Hietala and Sec.-Treas. Vida Lanari with their warm and beautiful smiles and received lovely name tags.
We had a very interesting and fruitful meeting. Jean Korsman, State Vice Pres, and President of Br. 39. Biwabik, introduced the Nat’I. Auditor, Beverly Menart and State President, Charlotte Laurich, and State Secretary Dorothy Jamnick. A member of each Branch gave a short report on the activities and the festivitis during the year. The meeting was adjourned; we then attended 10:30 a.m. Mass at St. Joseph’s Church officiated by Fr. Perkovich. He gave a beautiful sermon and tribute to the Slovenian Heritage.
After mass, we enjoyed a delicious banquet at St. Joseph's Church Hall. We not only enjoyed the food, but the interesting speakers as well. Thanks to Br. 39, our hostesses.
* * *
President Anne Satovich made reservations for our Christmas Party to be held at the Hibbing Community College on December 4th. We hoped for good weather and attendance.
In November, eight members attended masses as requested by SWU president Kathleen Dorchak. We were all affected by the tragedies of September 11, 2001. Now when we close our meetings with prayer we remember all those in need of His mercy.
We’ve been notified that Mary Micheletti is a patient at St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth. We shall continue to pray for her complete recovery.
Since our next meeting won’t take place til March or April, I will take this opportunity to wish EVERYONE, including National and State Officers and Branch members, good health and a Blessed, Happy and Successful New Year.
“KEEP THE SPIRIT ALIVE.”...
Respectfully submitted by,
LIZ SPOLAR
NO. 73, WARRENSVILLE HTS., OH Meeting: Mar.-Apr.-May-June Aug.-Oct.-Nov.-Dec.
Sec’y. Epley’s Home 20294 Emery Rd., No Randall
As of January 1, 2002, our membership has been transferred to the Home Office, with members given an option to join other local branches. The decision was made by four officers on October 10th, 2001 after much deliberation and deep consideration; our petty cash funds were sent to the National President with the request that the monies be equally divided between ZARJA, Heritage and Scholarship Funds.
Thank you to our president and our recording secretary; each served from thirty-five to forty years. We owe a debt of gratitude to Kay Yuratovac and Gloria Dusek for remaining faithful to their offices. When the collection of dues changed from being the duty of the secretary to that of the Home Office, our then Secretary Alouise Epley remainined as an Honorary Secretary, and she served for probably over forty years, after she took over from her mother, Alouise Turk who held the office for the previous umpteen years. Alouise also opened her home to us year after year for a meeting place. An immense Thank You is in order for her. Our treasurer, Angie Musil, in office the shortest length of time, assumed the responsibilities from Frances Travnik, (deceased) who kept our books for several years. We thank Angie for taking on the job when we most needed her.
As for myself I am well over a 50-year member, and reporting for most of that time, save for the period when Mildred Edwards filled the position until her death.
We wish the organization success in any future endeavors, we wish all the members a Happy and safe New Year.
GOD BLESS AMERICA.
GOD SPEED JUSTICE.
Respectfully submitted,
EVELYN A. MAJERC1K
NO. 85, DEPUE, IL Meeting: at Members’ Homes
I	was just reading my last ZARJA again and I marvel every time at how interesting it is. Corinne, you are really to be commended for an excellent job! (Thank you, C.)
Our president. Gen Grilc recently had a birthday and her daughter, Beverly and daughter-in-law Robin had a wonderful birthday party for her. They served a delicious luncheon and Gen’s sister, Bert make a delicious potica! There were a lot of relatives and friends present. It was well deserved as Gen is always so helpful and does a lot for the church and for families having funerals. She also delivers NOA meals and bakes every time that something is doing. We wish you the best of health and many more happy birthdays. God bless you, Gen!
Speaking of birthdays, Muriel Jermene will have one in January and Millie Lavrin and Mary Oberch will celebrate in February. Many happy returns to them.
Millie and Mary Suarz were in the hospital recently. Hope they are both feeling better.
Ann De Bord’s daughter and family from Conyers, GA spent the Thanksgiving week with Ann. Her grandson, Jordan was going to Disneyland afterward to sing with his high school chorus. Granddaughter, Emily is going there after Christmas with the band of Bloomington high school.
Take care everyone and stay warm
-	God bless.
MARY JERMENC
NO. 89, OGLESBY, IL Meetings: Feb.-Apr.-May-Sept. Oct.-Nov.-Dec. Dickinson House 2nd Monday at 6:30 p.m.
Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a day. As we grow older, one of the many pleasures is to become more sharply aware of the many mercies and blessings God showers on us.” Br. 89 gives thanks:
To Corinne Leskovar for her many years of being editor of our beloved ZARJA. We are blessed knowing her and no tribute is too great!
To Bonnie Prokup, National Secret-
ary, who was instrumental in getting our local Illinois branches of 24,85 and 89 together so we could meet our new SWU Heritage Director, Teresa “Reza” Lockwood. Reza showed the many ways we can be proud Slovenians. We saw her heritage presentation at the recent meeting when she showed us the many clothes made by hand - it was unbelievable. Let’s not forget a special thanks for the little gifts Reza gave us
-	(a spatula that really came in handy when I made a pumpkin roll for Thanksgiving). Thanks, Reza.
How often have you heard “thank you, Angie Nico”! She’s our liaison officer who can be counted on to be our representative to State Conventions and always ready to attend the different functions. What a good supporter she is!
Rose Ann Prey works so diligently to keep us on an even keel - being positive about everything. Many thanks, Rose Ann.
Our thoughts turn to the holidays. Our Christmas Dinner was on Dec. 4th at Big Joe’s Italian Grill. We hope everyone had a very blessed Christmas and we would like to extend to you and your loved ones a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.
We were happy to enroll two new members in 2001, Alice Jean Ebner and Nancy Bialek. Welcome aboard, ladies!
Our roster still reads as it did in 2001. There are no changes in the officers. But, the only change will be the time change for the meetings. It is now 6:30 p.m. Time to say goodbye for now. We’ll be back in the March-April issue. Sincere wishes to all!
EUNICE KOMATER
NO. 95, SO. CHICAGO, IL Meeting: 2nd Wed. Apr.-May-June Sep.-Oct.-Nov.-Dec. 12:30 p.m.
Sacred Heart Church Hall
Thanks for your INVOICE DONATIONS!
This Invoice Donations report is for October-November 2001. It shows the wonderful loyalty of many members. We thank them for the free-will donations sent with dues for the year 2001.
Sincere thanks to each and everyone!
Donor
Golobich, Jennifer Lynn (103) 'mem of Louis Zgonc Tverberg, Althea Nosal (105)
Phelan, A.M. Sue (23)
Zarja
($)
Heri- Schol-tage arship
($) ($)
10
5
10
when the weather is good - in May, after I get back to Illinois.
We lost a lovely member, Emma Yergovich on Sept. 26th. She was ill for a while. Emma was such a nice person. Her daughter Beverly Krapenc is also a member and will take her mom’s place. Our condolences to the family.
At the IL-IN State Convention we had a chance to see a lot of members from the different branches. Congratulations to Br. 2 on their 75th Anniversary.
Hope everyone is fine - would love to hear from you. Send me a note so can report in the next ZARJA about all that is happening with you!
Bonnie Prokup will be mailing out the bills in January. Don’t forget to watch for it and send in your dues.
Happy birthday to all in Jan. and Feb. Have a Happy and Blessed Year 2002!
DOLORES HENNELLY NO. 100, FONTANA, CA
Greetings from Florida! Dan and I arrived here on the 10th of November and are enjoying the warmer weather. We spent Thanksgiving at our son’s house at Ft. Lauderdale.
Our branch members met in October and it was nice to see the ladies. Evelyn Driscoll brought the cakes. Very good! Thank you, Evelyn. The ladies didn’t want to have a Christmas luncheon in December because, they said, they would miss me! Thanks for such a nice thought! But, we will have a luncheon
Branch 100 covers most of Southern California, so when we get together it is always a special occasion. Our members and their families are looking forward to another Christmas Luncheon on December 15th. We started out at Napoli’s Italian Restaurant in Loma Linda and then continued the party at Frank and Mary Lou Vidergar’s home. They graciously offer their home whenever they can for this event. By the time you read this, we will have enjoyed our party and celebrated the
Two young Golden Agers!
Bill and Pak (Kniskem) Vidergar of Fontana, California just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on October 13th, 2001. A nuptial blessing was given them at Resurrection Catholic Church in Fontana by Fr. Henry Licznerski, at a special 5:30 p.m. mass on Oct. 13th, the very day of their wedding fifty years ago.
The couple was honored at a dinner and dance that evening at the Plantation House in Riverside hosted by their daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren.
They were married at St. Joseph's Church in Fontana in 1951 and have lived in Fontana all these years. Their children are Marie Stewart of Riverside and Linda Bates of Corona. Three grandchildren and three step-greadchildren complete the family.
Congratulations and all the best!
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holidays with friends and family. We hope that all of our sisters in Branches around the U.S. will have had a lovely holiday season also.
We are grateful for the safe return of our members Anne Kapel, Rosemary Mlakar, Pauline Buzan and Elvie Blasick who traveled to Slovenia and Italy in September and October. Anne and Rosemary were with the S.W.U. tour and were joined in Ljubljana by Rosemary’s granddaughter, Angie Mlakar. Angie was on a study tour in Italy along with other classmates and was able to find her way to Slovenia, much to her grandmother’s delight. Angie, by the way, is also a member of our society and a scholarship recipient. Pauline and Elvie traveled with family and friends. They all had a marvelous time. Earlier in the summer Pauline and John Petrie and Peggy Vie-ncek also traveled to Slovenia. I’m sure there must have been others, and I trust they all had safe and rewarding trips.
Anne Kapel is arranging a Mass for the victims of the September 1 Ith disaster. It will more than likely be held in Fontana. We hope to have a good turnout. Keep in touch with Anne for details, just in case she is not able to contact everyone personally.
At this holy time of the year, we especially want to remember our friends who are housebound or ill...or those who just don’t get out as often as they used to. Fran Kinkopf who lives
in Sun Lakes, AZ just celebrated a birthday and is anticipating surgery soon. We haven’t seen Jean Kurilich much lately. We miss you, Jean! We send our prayers to Florence Stmad, who lovingly taught so many of the Fontana Slovenian children at St. Joseph’s School. She also played the organ for many weddings and our Slovenian Masses year after year. Thank you for all of your years of dedication, Florence. And to your husband, John, who so carefully looks after you, our best wishes. To any others whose names we do not know, we send prayers also and wish you well.
May this New Year 2002 bring Peace on Earth.
JEAN KOCI
NO. 102, WILLARD, WI Meeting: When convenient Parish Center
Our 26 days of beautiful fall weather this November ended with snow, rain and a school closing!
Our meeting and Christmas Party was held December 6th at the Parish Center with pot luck dinner.
Frank and Rose Pakiz entertained at the Black River apartments’ Thanksgiving Party. Frank played his accordian, everyone sang the old-time songs and a lunch was served.
November 11 th our CYO kids served a pot luck lunch to the Veterans and the anointed parishioners and their families. A great job was done by all of them. Slovenian Družba held on artifacts and craft display also. Coffee and apple strudel was served.
Our 4H kid’s Christmas Party was
held December 2nd with Pot Luck lunch, exchange of gifts and games.
Proceeds from a Christmas party for the kids sponsored by the KSKJ and PCCW went to the “Hope Lodge” in Marshfield, a place for people from out-of-town to stay when they are getting cancer treatments.
Our prayers go out to Fannie (Djubenski) La Flex who is gravely ill.
Happy New Year to all!
AGNES DEBEVEC Your reporter
NO. 103, WASHINGTON, D.C. Meeting: 1st Sun. except July & Aug. St. Columba’s Ch. Albermarle St.
Our Fall Social Evening on Sunday, October 21, 2001 was a grand success. We celebrated the 36th anniversary of Branch 103 and the 75th anniversary of SWU and paid homage to our branch’s Woman of the Year, Ana Sonc Jevtič. We were honored by the attendance of His Excellency Dr. Davorin Kračun, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to the United States, Mrs. Kračun, and members of the Embassy staff.
The program organized by Angela Stare, the mistress of ceremonies, commenced with a children’s procession and crowning of the Blessed Virgin. These were followed by musical performances by Kristina Bevec (daughter of Terezija Bevec), Veronica Stare (daughter Angela Stare), and Thomas, Matthew and Julia Fitzsimmons (children of Bernadette Kovacic Fitzsimmons). The highlight of the program was the recognition of our Woman of the Year, Ana Sonc Jevtič. Her sons,
Damjan and Matija completely surprised Ana with a very touching and heartfelt tribute in Slovenian.
The bake sale table was overflowing with cookies and Slovenian pastries, including poticas made by Terezija Bevec and Angela Daly and strudel made by Angela Stare. Various bottled fruit syrups from Slovenia obtained by Ana Sonc Jevtič were also on sale. The table also included beautiful Slovenian greeting cards made by Bernadette Fitzsimmons (these are available through the national office as well). The dinner was delicious and received many compliments.
After the meal, Frank Vidergar entertained everyone with his playing of Slovenian music on his button box accordion. The dancers had a great time, especially the children, who literally burst onto the dance floor immediately upon hearing Frank’s first notes!
The many raffle prizes were donated by members.
At this event we participated in the Service Program for Students which we hope to inaugurate at our branch. Many schools mandate that children perform community service. They require a certain number of hours of participation in service activities and projects per year. We started to give credit for any work performed that could be translated into service hours. The first member availing himself of this program was Nicholas Mejac.
The event was enjoyed by all, especially the children.
Meeting, November 11, 2001
On November 11, 2001, members convened for a meeting to review the October Social Evening and to elect officers for 2002. Angela Daly and Mara Chokel hosted the meeting. Thank you Angela and Mara for baking the delicious cookies and cake«;
The planning by Mimi Mejac and »advance preparations guaranteed a successful event. Thanks to everyone who pitched in! The sauerkraut was cooked by Mara Chokel, Nika Kovačič, Ana Sonc Jevtič and Iča Žebot. The rižota was prepared according to the instructions of Mimi Mejac, Iča Zebot, Valerie Bohince, and her sister and new member, Mary Joan Bohince Brideweser. Several ladies gathered on the Friday before the event to pre-cook the main ingredients for the rižota: Matilda Ausich, Mara Chokel, Nika Kovačič, Mimi Mejac, Ana Skopec, Molly Thomas, and Iča Zebot. Prior to that, Mimi did the main grocery shopping, an element that is extremely crucial, although often overlooked. Mary Lou Terselic picked up the salad and various other items. Angela Daly obtained the Italian bread. Valerie and her brother Bemie took the long trip down Route 66 to Catlett, VA on Saturday to pick up the 100 pounds of klobase at the Wilson Meat Market. The butcher makes the klobase for our Slovenian events to our specifications of a smaller size and extra garlic. That 100 lbs. included klobase that were offered for sale. The miške had been
made and frozen several weeks earlier by Mimi and Iča.
We elected the officers and committee chair for 2002. The results are: President Mary Lou Terselic; Vice President Ana Sonc Jevtič; Secretary Mimi Mejač; Treasurer Molly Thomas; Recording Secretary Matilda Ausich; ZARJA reporter Valerie Bohince; Program and Special Events Committee Chair Nika Kovačič; Auditors Mara Chokel, Jana Bevec and Ana Skopec; Greetings Angela Daly; and Spiritual Advisor Fr. Ray Wadas.
We discussed the program schedule for meetings in 2002.
We also discussed plans for the luncheon to follow the 75th Anniversary mass that took place on December 2, 2001 at the Our Lady of Brezje Chapel at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.
One of our new members, Skye Chokel, daughter-in-law of Mara Chokel, was the first featured cook for the inaugural fundraising PBS television show, “West Virginia Cooks.”
If anyone is interested in obtaining a label pin with the American and Slovenian flags, please contact Angela Stare.
Greetings for a belated Happy and Joyous Christmas to all. Branch 103, in our beloved nation’s capitol, wishes all a Happy New Year and a safe and blessed Year 2002.
VALERIE BOHINCE
HAPPY BIRTHDAY IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY
National Officer:
Jan. 10 - Mary Turvey, Dir. Sch. Fund, Marquette, MI
Feb. 17 - Agnes Dobczyk, Women’s Activities Dir., Joliet, IL
Presidents:
Feb. 2 - Molly McIntyre, Br. 22, Bradley, IL Feb. 4 - Ruth Sheck, Br. 1, Sheboygan, WI Feb. 22 - Ann Marie Wangler, Br. 24, LaSalle, IL
Secretaries:
Feb. 1 - Agatha Donges, Br. 40, Lorain, OH Feb. 18 - Theresa Dagg, Br. 10, Cleveland, OH Feb. 27 - Diane Varney, Br. 14, Euclid, OH
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
JANUARY
20 Br. 43, Milwaukee, WI, 9/11 Memorial Mass, 11:30 a.m.,
St. John Evangelist Church
FEBRUARY
3 Br. 47, Garfield Hts., OH, 9/11 Memorial Mass. 10a.m.
St. Lawrence Church 7	Br. 13, San Francisco, CA. Valentine Lunch
10	Br. 35, Aurora, MN, Dime Social, 1:30 p.m. CC
17	Br. 42, Maple Hts., OH, 9/11 Memorial Mass, 10 a.m.
St. Lawrence Church
MARCH
8-9 SLOVENIAN JUBILEJ, SWU Home Office and Museum, Joliet, IL
Dates undecided for 9/11 Memorial Masses. Br. 56, Hibbing, MN and Br. 100, Fontana, CA
MANY HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY!
SREČANJE MED POETOM IN SVETNIKOM
P
in
§i
RESEREN uLOMSEK
Frank Zebot —
Pogledi
Odnosi
Srečanja
— Nadaljevanje —
Celovški razgovori
Slomšku sta elegija "Slovo od mladosti” in balada “Povodni mož” tako ugajali, da ju je bral pri slovenskih urah svojim bogoslovcem. Ponatis obeh pesmi in posebej njih ocena v Murkovi slovnici, ki jih je Prešeren našel pri Slomšku, je dala njunim razgovorom prijetno uvodno noto.
Vkljub pomanjkanju konkretnejših dokazov v ohranjenih virih, moremo z dokajšnjo verjetnostjo sklepati, da sta v razgovorih obravnavala poleg prav tedaj aktualnega vprašanja abecednih pismenk, tudi o načelnem problemu knjižnega jezika. Na svečnico 2. februarja sta se napotila na kratek izlet k Urbanu Jarniku na Možberk. Tako so se sestali literarni predstavniki treh največjih slovenskih pokrajin: Kranjske, Štajerske in Koroške. Ker je Prešeren prišel v Celovec le nekaj kratkih dni pred tem izletom, se poraja vprašanje, čemu taka nuja za takojšnji sestanek? Slomšek, ki je pomagal Jarniku pri zbiranju gradiva za njegov slovar, je vedel, da je rokopis že bil poslan v tisk. Jarnik je vkljub pomislekom odločil, da bodi slovar tiskan v metelčici. Po Prešernovem pojasnilu, da metelčica na Kranjskem ni tako splošno sprejeta, kot sta domnevala Slomšek in Jarnik, je Slomšek bil mnenja, da je treba o tem takoj obvestiti Jarnika. To je bil razlog Prešernovega in Slomškovega obiska v Možberku. Jarnik je potem res takoj umaknil motolčice in naročil tiskarju Kleinmayru, da slovar tiska v bohoričici.
Da so razpravljali tudi o knjižnem jeziku in odločili, da bodi kranjsko narečje njega široka osnova, je razvidno iz omembe v že večkrat omenjenem Prešernovem pismu Čopu. Ko poroča o Jarnikovem
slovarju, dostavlja:
“Der Mann hat das Gute redlich gewollt, ist ohne Dunkel, Fuhrer der karantanischen Partei, und bereit, sich vollkommen an uns anzuschlussen.”
Ker je bila unifikacija knjižnega jezika že stara Slomškova zamisel, je Jarnik skoraj gotovo o tem že pred Prešernovim prihodom razpravljal s Slomškom. Tokrat je, ob Prešernovi navzočnosti, le potrdil oz. obnovil poprejšnje zaključke. Prešeren je seveda brez ugovora sprejel konstruktivno zamisel štajersko-koroške jezikovne priključitve govoru osrednje slovenske pokrajine.
Kako resno je Prešeren jemal možberški sklep o osnovi in okviru knjižnega jezika, je izpričal dve leti pozneje, ko ga je obiskal v Ljubljani Stanko Vraz. Ta je v jeseni leta 1834 prišel preko Zagreba v Ljubljano s namero “prepričati Čopa in zlasti Prešerna, da je treba sprejeti v knjižni jezik nekatere glasoslovne in slovniške posebnosti vzhodnoštajerskega govora”. Čop je bil pripravljen Vrazu vsaj deloma ugoditi. Prešeren pa je njegov predlog odločno odklonil in mu priporočal, da se tudi on v svojih pesnitvah jezikovno približa kranjskemu govoru. Leta 1837 je Vraz ob ponovnem obisku v Ljubljani skušal nagovoriti Prešerna in Kastelica, da se pridružita ilirskemu gibanju. Ko sta ga v tem zavrnila, je obnovil svoj prvotni predlog iz leta 1834. Prešeren pa tudi tokrat ni popustil. Ob tej priliki ga je tudi poučil, če tega ni storil že leta 1834, da je zamisel, da se za knjižni jezik sprejme kranjsko narečje, sprožil Štajerec Slomšek. Vraz je namreč nekaj mesecev pozneje z istim namenom obiskal Slomška v Vuzenici.
NADALJEVANJE
Slovenian Women’s Union of America Slovenska Ženska Zveza v Ameriki
Membership Application
Yes!
want to join the S.W.U. I want to preserve and promote the legacy of our Slovenian-American heritage. As a member I will receive the publication, ZARJA-The Dawn; I can affiliate with branches and events across the country and best of all, I will come in contact with fellow Slovenes.
Please type or print legibly. Choose type of membership:
□	Junior (Birth to 18),	Annual Dues $5.00	□	Adult, Annual	Dues $15.00
Name ________________________________________________________ Street	Address ____________________________________________
City/State/Zip ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Phone/Fax ___________________________________________________ E-Mail	____________________________________________________
Date of Birth _____________________________________________________ Do	you	speak	Slovenian?
Please describe your Slovenian ancestry _______________________________________________________
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Applicant’s signature: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Date:
Branch Affiliation No. (if known) _______________________________________________ Location:	________________________________________
Please make checks payable to the Slovenian Women’s Union of America and mail to:
SLOVENIAN WOMEN’S UNION OF AMERICA, 431 North Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432 - (815) 727-1926 e-mail: swuhome@msn.com — Internet webpage: www.swus.org
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  Heritage Fund _____________ Scholarship Fund _______ Zarja	Fund	Date	Received:	___________________________
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Slovenian Heritage Gifts
Merchandise___________Qty	Size(s)	REG	Price	(ea)	discount	price	Total
Cookbook: "More Pots & Pans"					$ 18.00	$ 16.00	
"Slovenians Love to Cook" white or blue denim apron					$ 20.00	$ 18.00	
Ladies' White Lace Apron w/ carnation embroidery					$ 25.00	$ 22.50	
"Princess of Potica” child’s apron					$ 12.00	$ 10.00	
"From Slovenia to America" T-Shirts (S, M, L, XL, 2XL)					$ 15.00	$ 13.50	
Carnation Embroidered Hankies					$ 7.00	$ 6.00	
Lonely Planet: SLOVENIA 3rd Edition					$ 16.00	$ 14.50	
Tapes & CD’s (Ask! We might have it		)			Tapes $10.00 CD’s $15.00	Tapes $8.00 CD’s $13.50	
	Shipping: Under $10-add $2.50 $10 to $26 - add $4 50 $25 to $50 - add $6.50 $50 to $100 -add $8.50	Mdse. Total: Shipping: Total:					
These are only a few of the items for sale in the Heritage Museum. We have a variety of books, tapes, and CD’s; shirts, totes and aprons as well as greeting cards and artwork. For a complete listing of products available, check out our website at www.swua.org.
For a limited time only, all members receive a 10% discount on all merchandise orders.
All items are high quality with satisfaction guaranteed. We accept check or money order. Please allow two weeks for delivery.
Send your orders to:
SWU HERITAGE MUSEUM 431 N. Chicago Street Joliet, IL 60432
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PERIODICALS
POSTAGE
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JOLIET
ILLINOIS
SHEUGA DRUG INC.
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6025 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland, OH 44103 (216) 431-1035
Serving our neighborhoods’ daily needs
TEZAK FUNERAL HOME “First in Service Since 1908”
Licensed Producer's; Richard K. Tezak	(815)	722-0524
(Forethought Trust) American Slovenian Catholic Union (KSKJ)
459 No. Ottawa, Joliet, IL 60432 ' Opening Westside Location, •
Plainfield Road, Joliet in 2000
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!
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	First Midwest Bank	
m	Joliet • (815) 727-5222	•St
ZELE FUNERAL HOMES, INC.
452 East 152nd St., Cleveland, Ohio (216) 481-3118
Haberman — Zimmer Funeral Homes
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805 N. 6th	EducJor* Pmgmmi - s*vrii AJ	117 N. Wisconsin Or.
Shaboygan	  fn.n	■»..».	Howards	Grove
457-71112 Mark S. Zimmer
'	Stony	Shtxygtn	l	Shtboyyn	Counly	Sim	1173'
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
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1941 West Cermak Road, Chioago, IL 60608
Marie T. Stelow, MS, LCPC
Individual, Couple, Family Therapy
370 Houbolt Road	nCC
Suite 201	Phone:	(815)	773-2303
Joliet, IL 60431	Fax:	(815)	744-1623
American	Need A
Slovenian	Final	Expense
Catholic	Plan?
Union	Call	For	A	Quote
A Financial Family That Feels Like Home HOME OFFICE: 2439 Glen wood Avenue ♦ Joliet, IL 60435 ♦ (800) 843-5755
E-Mail: KSKJ@Kskjlife.COM