Zarja Official Publication Slovenian Union of America Uradno Glasilo Slovenske Zveze v Ameriki Branch 93 - New York, New York making butarice for cvetna nedelja. $ 3.99 U.S./$ 8.99 International Volume 86 Issue 2 March/April 2014 The Dawn Zarja - The Dawn EDITOR: Debbie Pohar DIRECTOR OF DESIGN: Bonnie Pohar Prokup EDITORIAL OFFICE: 1696 Illinois St. LaSalle, IL 61301-1359 TELEPHONE: 815.223.9596 FAX: 815.224.1074 WEB SITE: slovenianunion.org PUBLISHER: Slovenian Union of America (Formerly Slovenian Women’s Union of America) TELEPHONE: 815.727.1926 SUA Branches Welcome Their New Members 1, Hengst, Barbara 3, Mihallick, Joan 5, Borders, Frances 5, Semenick, Ginger 13, Rode, Mia 20, Fossberg, Michaela 24, Zermeno, Karen 30, Sever, Courtney 30, Sever, Tessa 43, Cerar, Janet 43, Cerar, John 43, Floryance, Jerry 47, Kemmerling, Gabrielle 50, Busch, Patricia 50, Swain, Alexis 50, Swain, Hailey 71, Bjorkquist, Donna 99, Majcan, Joseph 100, Hillis, Charlotte 102, Brierton, Mike Vol. 86, No. 2, March/April 2014 Published bimonthly Periodicals Postage paid at Joliet, IL and additional mailing offices. ZARJA CALENDAR OF EVENTS (ISSN 0044-1848) Postmaster: Send all changes of address to: SLOVENIAN UNION OF AMERICA TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014 - BRANCH 20 of Joliet, Illinois to host St. Joseph’s Table at St. Joseph’s Park with dinner at 6:30 p.m. See Branch Report for further information. (Formerly Slovenian Women’s Union of America) 431 N. Chicago St., Joliet, IL 60432-1703 Communications for the next issue of publication Do you have something SUA-related you would like to share with readers, like an event you want to let people know about or an idea for an article? We would love to hear from you! Please e-mail the editor at pohar4@aol.com. We reserve the right to edit any article submitted. It is preferable that you submit your idea for discussion prior to writing an article. Articles must be related to SUA events or members. The deadline for articles is the 15th day of the month, 2 months preceding the issue. For example, articles for the May/June issue must be received by March 15th. Thank you. THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014 - BRANCH 24 of LaSalle, Illinois to host a private tour of the old, Slovenian church, St. Roch’s, now a private residence. Contact Branch for more information. SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014 - BRANCH 89 of Oglesby, Illinois to host Slovenian Heritage Day at Claudette’s from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Everyone welcome to attend. SATURDAY, APRIL 5 and SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 2014 - BRANCH 20 of Joliet, Illinois invites all to their annual Bakery Sale before and after all Masses at St. Joseph Church. Submission Guidelines WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014 - BRANCH 3 of Pueblo, Colorado to participate in the Slovenian/Croatian Heritage Day at the Pueblo Community College. Contact Branch for more information. Tell us how to reach you: Include your name, daytime phone number, e-mail address, and mailing address with each submission, including e-mailed submissions. THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2014 - BRANCH 24 of LaSalle, Illinois to host Butare making at 6:00 p.m. at Starved Rock Family Fun. Go Digital: We regret that we can no longer return submitted materials. It is best to e-mail your photos. Use a 3.2-megapixal (or better) camera set for the highest picture quality, and attach your photos as jpeg files. If you have an old photo that is irreplaceable, please make a good-quality copy to share with us. (Scanned copies must be a resolution of 300 or higher.) By submitting material for publication, you grant the Slovenian Union of America (formerly Slovenian Women’s Union of America) the use of the material, including your name, hometown, and state. We may modify, reproduce, and distribute it in any SUA authorized medium and in any manner or appropriate place. SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014 - BRANCH 43 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin to host Butare making at Triglav Park at 10:00 a.m. for the next day’s Palm Sunday observance. SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 2014 - BRANCH 43 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin invites everyone to bring their butare and wear their Narodna Nosa to Palm Sunday Mass at St. John The Evangelist Parish, followed by optional brunch. SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2014 - BRANCH 43 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin encourages everyone to attend the Navihanke (fivemember women’s musical group from Slovenia) performance at the Polish Center in Milwaukee at 2:00 p.m. e g a s s e M s ’ President Greetings: I am so excited to share with you the plans for SUA’s newest tour to Slovenia – @IVIO, ZARJA! We invite you to be a part of this special trip where we will celebrate 85 years of Zarja - The Dawn. Feel free to call me or write me with any questions you may have. I am confident this one is going to be spectacular! I encourage you to read all about it in this issue of Zarja. KEEPING OUR BRANCHES ALIVE is a challenge for each one of us. Don’t leave it up to one person (Branch President) so that it is a burden; instead treat this like an opportunity to breathe new life into a Branch. It can happen anywhere, anytime, and it’s so easy to do! The simple rule of a successful Branch is to keep it Slovenian-related. I encourage you to read reports from other Branches that make every meeting/event Slovenian-related. So much can be imitated, such as cooking classes, learning a song, words, sharing trips to Slovenia, trinkets, and so much more. Also consider when the meetings are hosted. If they are in the weekday afternoon, most likely you will not have anyone who works outside the home in attendance. Consider evening meetings or weekends. Consider taking advantage of the summer months where we don’t face snow or temperature cancellations. AN IDEA FOR YOU: Summer is around the corner and a great time to introduce a Slovenian picnic. This can be done with no expense to your Branch. Simply choose a date, location, and advise your members. Ask them to sign up and include what Slovenian dish they can bring to pass. Ask each guest to bring his or her own tableware and drinks. Have someone bring a Slovenian CD for music. As simple as that, your members will go home loving their heritage and no one will feel worn out from putting this on. Our Branch 24 – LaSalle, IL, has been doing this for years and it’s very well attended. We use the park next to the old St. Roch’s Slovenian Church. We have a shelter, picnic tables, bathroom, and electricity. It’s truly a great time. I look forward to the September/October issue to read how many Branches gave this idea a try. I guarantee it will be worth the small effort. Enjoy this issue of Zarja! Bonnie Pohar Prokup National President, Slovenian Union of America wprokup@aol.com 815.223.9596, 3119 Carrie Street, Peru, IL 61354-1495 Please join me with a round of applause and a nod of appreciation for CAROL RYBA! Carol has worked tirelessly for four years on both the Burial Insurance and took the lead on the 501 (c)(3) for SUA. She has put in hundreds of hours to make these decade-old goals come to life. These were not easy tasks. The work was beyond her National Board duties as SUA’s Vice President of Home Office (2007-2011) and Treasurer (20112015). Because of these accomplishments, Carol has opened our doors to endless possibilities. The future can be so bright! On behalf of myself, the National Board, and the entire membership of the Slovenian Union of America Thank you, Carol! March/April 2014 1 Ryba’s Reminders by Carol Ryba - National Treasurer Burial Insurance The long journey is finally over. Following is the letter, which we received from the Illinois Department of Insurance. Outstanding Checks Before we are completely finished with the insurance business, the following members need to contact me to reissue the actuarial insurance payment checks, which have not been cashed or possibly not received. Since most of these checks were issued in August, they are now void because the check issuing company, which we hired to send over 1,500 checks, requires that they be cashed within 90 days. As of December 31, 2013, the following checks are still outstanding: Name Conte, Elise Conte, Rocco Franze, Margaret Kautz, Theresa Kochevar, Adeline Koncar, Francis Koncar, Marie Kramzer, Stella Kuca, Frances Latronico, Glenn Mascarenas, Courtney Nicol, Kelsey Morris, Jennifer Mohr Pangrcic, Michelle Perko, Maria Kristina Satalich, Nina V. Singletary, Hayley Trautner, Frances Vavpotich, Josephine Wilson, Geraldine Check 19257 19255 19420 19286 18767 18778 19437 18801 18811 18819 19298 19474 18933 19449 18974 19044 19470 18355 19357 19463 No./Date 8/14/13 8/14/13 8/14/13 8/14/13 8/14/13 8/14/13 8/14/13 8/14/13 8/7/13 8/7/13 8/14/13 8/19/13 8/14/13 8/14/13 8/7/13 8/7/13 8/19/13 11/16/13 8/14/13 8/14/13 If we do not hear from the above individuals by April 30, 2014, the money will be sent to the Illinois State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division. As the person who had to do a very complicated 14-page insurance report every year, I am personally overjoyed because for the first time in six years I do not have to spend countless hours compiling this complicated report. The Rise and Fall of Fraternal Insurance Organizations If anyone is interested in reading an excellent historical article as to why we had to get out of the burial insurance business, I suggest you read this article on the worldwide web. Address is as follows: http://mason.gmu.edu/~ihs/ s92essay.html. The Slovenian Union of America believes that by obtaining the 501(c)(3), we are going in the right direction. 2 We also received deceased member notifications in 2013 prior to the members being sent letters and election forms. Therefore, the families of these members are entitled to the full benefit and they should submit a claim for insurance payment. Please send a copy of the death certificate and a copy of the policy if you have it to the following address: Slovenian Union of America 431 N. Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432-1703 The deceased members Mary Doles Margaret Healy Stephen Hozzian Dorothy Legan Mary R. Perko Nancy Sraj Betty Tezak are as follows: Branch 10 Branch 30 Branch 2 Branch 3 Branch 42 Branch 20 Branch 20 Zarja - The Dawn SUA Donations Thank You! $100 Donation Branch 89, Heritage Museum $75 Donation Boudreau, Jennifer, 100, +Anton, Frances, Martin, Edward, Ted, and August Dragar $25 Donation Darovic, Mary, 99 Data, Diane, 24 Kovacic, Jennie, 2 Morrissey, Janet, 100 Sovich, Josephine, 50 Varani, Georgina, 30 Weber, Nada, 93 Weber, Renata, 93 $20 Donation Hodgman, Vicki , 99 Your Invitation to Visit the Updated Library at the Slovenian Union of America Heritage Museum The Slovenian Union of America’s home office, 431 North Chicago Street, Joliet, Illinois, houses a museum filled with Slovenian educational exhibits and an excellent library. Georgene Agnich of Chicago, Illinois, has agreed, with great interest, to organize and catalog new books that have been kindly donated to this valuable collection. Many books are of Slovenian text but there are also a good number written in English. In the next six issues of Zarja, a short list of English books that are offered to Museum visitors will be listed: “Traditional Slovenian Wedding Unveiling Ceremony,” Slovenian Singing Society, 1983. Book contains unveiling ceremony, photos, history, and music. “Pepca’s Struggle,” Janezic, Josephine, 1989. $15 Donation Zakosek, Jerry, 20 $10 Donation Allen, Veronica, 30 Bokar, Margaret, 50 Habjan, Vida, 50 Jamnik, Deborah, 50 Jerneycic, Dorothy, 100, +Matthew & Mary Brence Turk Prince, Sophie, 109 $5 Donation Batic-Sciarrabba, Beverly, 50 Palcic, Mary, 93, +Mary Batic, mother Steller, Kristina, 100 Burial Insurance Donations Monica Selak Pauline Fidel March/April 2014 Josephine’s personal account as a young Slovenian girl determined to overcome the terror of war. “DreamVisions,” Cancar, Ivan, 1982. Slovenian Research Center of America. This book is a translation using imagination and hidden identities to cover and relate the truth of the enemy of Slovenia. “Foreign Festival Customs,” Schibsby, Marian. Foreign customs of Christmas and Easter through recipes and traditions in foreign lands. “Who’s Who of Slovene Descent in the United States,” Velikonja, Joseph, Lencek, Rado L., 1995. Compiled by the Society for Slovene Studies. Readers may try ordering some of these books through interlibrary loan. Check www.worldcat.org. 3 SWU Scholarship Foundation CELEBRATING 65 YEARS OF FINANCIALLY ASSISTING STUDENTS Mission: To generate funding to financially assist students with hope that they will promote and preserve Slovenian culture. Sixty-five years ago, the Slovenian Women’s Union Scholarship Fund began its charitable work for the Slovenian Women’s Union of America. In 1997 officers of the scholarship fund applied for and were granted a tax exempt status. Therefore its name was changed to Slovenian Women’s Union (SWU) Scholarship Foundation. The SWU Scholarship Foundation continues to thrive today due to the generous support and continued interest of Slovenian Union of America members and friends. It is the hard work of our donors and dedicated SWU Scholarship Program directors, including Marie Prisland, Hermine Dicke, Carita Girman, Marge Church, and currently Mary Turvey, that have kept the dream of those 1946 SWUA National Convention ladies alive. Not only does the mission of the SWU Scholarship Foundation state that the funds will be raised to financially assist deserving college students, but also it is the wish of the SWU Scholarship Foundation board members and trustees that our scholarship winners who have inherited a rich, treasured culture, will preserve and promote it for generations to come. A most grateful thank you to each of you dear readers and donors for your support of the SWU Scholarship Foundation and for the preservation and promotion of our noble heritage. In today’s world, the need to belong has never become more apparent. Visit www.slovenianunion.org for applications and information. Contributions, questions, and suggestions can be sent to: Mary Turvey 4 Lawrence Drive, Marquette, Michigan 49855 mturvey@aol.com - or Marge Church 1028 Skyland Drive, Macedonia, Ohio 44056 yemec1@windstream.com. 4 May the Easter season bring a reminder that our Lord’s love for each of us is eternal. Zarja - The Dawn Back: Joseph Cannivino, Marge Church, Joseph Zab. Front: Stane Kuhar, Mary Turvey, Pat Figurowski. SWU Scholarship Board and Trustees (left to right): Scholarship Winner Update: ALYSSA SPINUZZI TATE On August 27, 2013, God Greetings from Colorado! I was blessed us with the birth of our a 2006 Slovenian Women’s Union beautiful baby daughter, Lillian college scholarship recipient. Kathleen Tate. Of all the Upon graduating from high blessings God has sent us from school, I began pursuing my above, most precious is our Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary baby to love! She has been a Education at Colorado State dream come true and a precious University (CSU) - Pueblo, addition to our family. Lillian transferred to the University of is a handful of happiness and Northern Colorado (UNC) in a heart full of love. I am Greeley, Colorado, and then enjoying every minute of being transferred back to CSU-Pueblo a stay-at-home mom. It is one where I fulfilled my degree Alyssa Spinuzzi Tate and daughter, Lillian of the most rewarding jobs in requirements. I completed my the world and there is never a student teaching at Fremont Kathleen, both members of Branch 3 dull moment. Needless to say, Elementary in Florence, Pueblo, Colorado. Lillian keeps me extremely busy. Colorado. I thoroughly enjoyed being an educator of small children, our future leaders, and had the wonderful opportunity to teach Knowing the importance of educating our young in a kindergarten classroom. I graduated from CSU- people, I look forward to teaching Lillian Kathleen Pueblo in December 2011 and worked as a substitute the same Slovenian traditions that were passed on to me from my grandmother, Kathleen Starcevich, and teacher and taught pre-school. my mother, Bernadette Starcevich-Spinuzzi. It is with On June 25, 2011, I married Kevin Tate. On great pleasure and an honor to say that Lillian Christmas Eve 2012, Kevin and I announced to our Kathleen is also a member of the Slovenian Union of families that we were expecting our first baby, due to America, Branch 3 - Pueblo, Colorado. arrive late September 2013. It was a joyous and Thank you for this opportunity! exciting occasion, and the perfect time of year to Alyssa Tate announce the upcoming birth of our first child. Our baby would be the first grandchild for my parents and the sixth grandchild for my husband’s parents. March/April 2014 5 Scholarship Donations $4,000 Donation Contribution from Rose Marie Princ to fund the 2014 Rose Marie Princ Scholarship for a Graduate Student Majoring in Education. $1,000 Donation Anonymous donor to fund the 2014 SWU Scholarship for a College Student majoring in Science and/or Mathematics. $250 Donation Benita Bjorgo, +grandmother, Theresa Rose Sevshek $200 Donation Dr. Donald Carek, +wife, Frances M. Carek $150 Donation Branch 99 - Lemont, IL $100 Donation Anthony Kambich, +Helen and Anton Kambich Edward and Maria Kompare, +Ed and Anne Kompare Mariana Burger, +Zalka Trpin and Srecko Belic Connie Newberg, +Emily Rodich Alisa F. Tugberk, honor of Danica Achin $50 Donation Kathleen Starcevich, +Christine Bradish, pioneer officer of Branch 3 - Pueblo, CO Corinne Leskovar, +mother, Albina Novak, on the 43rd anniversary of her death (Mrs. Novak was the editor of Zarja - The Dawn for 44 years.) WANT TO GET MORE INVOLVED? Looking for volunteers who love their heritage. We need help in our Museum in Joliet, Illinois, with scanning, sorting, cleaning, and creating exhibits. 6 $50 Donation continued Burkland Family Patricia Figurowski Ivanka Matic Barbara P. Nash, +mother, Anne F. Perhay Stephen and Phyllis Fon, all members of Branch 5 Indianapolis, IN $30 Donation Jean Herbst, +members Branch 20 - Joliet, IL $25 Donation Katherine A. Gorton Marlene Stjernholm, honor of Helen Skrabec Patricia Budzilek, +Monica Mikolic Carol Ryba, +Jim Ryba Jo Lustik, +Joseph and Mary Vidmar Breda Loncar Rose Mary Toth, +Albina Mrsnik Ronald Erjavec, +Erjavec Family $20 Donation Raymond Zabak, +Agnes Zabak Dorothy A. Jerneycic Marjorie Church, +brother, Jack Yemec $10 Donation Joseph Cannavino Vicki Hodgman Hvala! Hvala! Thank you kind donors for your support of our scholarship program. WANTED Heritage Museum Director Membership Director Heritage Museum Librarian Museum Window Dressers Heritage Museum Cleaners Zarja - The Dawn Writers Grant Writers Zarja - The Dawn Membership Application and Renewal Slovenian Union of America (Formerly known as Slovenian Women’s Union of America) slovenianunion.org sua@slovenianunion.org 815.727.1926 For RENEWALS use form at BOTTOM of this page Adult Dues $25.00 Adult Dues (International Address) $35.00 Junior Dues (Birth to 18) $5.00 If this is a gift and you agree to continue paying for this membership next year, please advise us of billing address: _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Dues are for January through December If you join after August 31 you will not be billed in January of the next calendar year Membership Renewal Notifications are sent annually in January Please print the requested information below and send this application form with a check payable to: Slovenian Union of America, 431 North Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432-1703 Last Name________________________________ First Name_______________________ M___ F_____ Street Address_____________________________ City/State/Zip________________________________ Phone____________________________________ E-Mail______________________________________ Date of Birth_________________ Branch Affiliation Number (if known)/Location_______/______________ Maiden Name______________________________ Do you speak Slovenian? _____________________ Please describe your Slovenian ancestry and provide SLOVENIAN SURNAMES ___________________________________________________________________________________ How did you hear about us? SUA Member___ Newspaper___ Website___ Other_____________________ I would like to volunteer for the SUA. My area of interest or expertise is______________________________ Applicant’s Signature__________________________________________ Date______________________ Tell a Friend! If you wish SUA to send information to a friend or relative, please provide us with their name and address: Name _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL Name ___________________________________________________ Member ID No.__________________ (located on back cover) Address ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone _________________ E-mail______________________________ Dues Amount______________ Donation_________________ Mail to: SUA/SWUA, 431 N. Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432-1703 March/April 2014 7 Death of a Surname By George Plautz, Zarja Staff Writer A Record of Immigration Slovenian Pioneers to America 1840-1879 This column covers the Weiss family from Kocejve, house number 9, moved to Jerneja Vas, house number 17, in Crnomelj Parish, that immigrated to America. Joseph Weiss, a brother of the Weiss’ listed below, also came to America, but he is lost in time, someday his journey may develop. A sister, Maria Weiss, born October 18, 1821, in Jerneja Vas, house number 13, Dragatus Parish, formerly Crnomelj Parish, married Jacob Vertin in Doblice, house number 56, on November 17, 1847, in Crnomelj Parish. Maria died on December 19, 1900, in Doblice, house number 56. Two of their children immigrated to the United States, one settling in Great Falls, Cascade County, Montana, and the other settling in Butte, Silver Bow County, Montana. Grandchildren of Jakob and Maria Vertin settled in Calumet, Houghton County, Michigan, and are included in my family line (Lamut and Puhek), one of them marrying a Plavec in Doblice. Thanks especially to Joanne Fix, a descendant of the Weiss and Plut family, and Larry Randall, a descendant of the Wertin family of Montana, and several cousins who contributed to my family tree. September 15, 1852 - On this date Anton Weiss arrived in New York, settling in Michigan. His parents were Joseph Weiss and Mary Lamut. He was born January 13, 1834, in Jernjea Vas, house number 17, Dragatus Parish, formerly Crnomelj Parish. He married Hannah Tressler, daughter of Henry and Lydia Tessler. She was born on May 7, 1838, place unknown, and died on November 3, 1897, in Centre County, Pennsylvania. Anton died on June 7, 1915, in Krumine Station, Centre County, Pennsylvania. He adopted the name Anthony Wise in the United States. The seven daughters of Anthony and Hannah Wise are: Mary Ann Wise, born September 29, 1863, in Michigan, died on June 25, 1913, in Bellefonte, Centre County, Pennsylvania. She married Joseph Craig Hunter on August 4, 1897, in Centre County. He was born in March 1861 and died May 21, 1924, in Centre County. Children of Joseph and Mary Ann Hunter are: Kathryn, Florence, William, and Rachel. Elizabeth Ida Wise (twin), born March 11, 1866, in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan, and died on October 17, 1950, in State College, Centre County, Pennsylvania. She married William H. Spotts on December 26, 1877, in Centre County. William was born in June 1866 and died in 1918. Lydia Theresa Wise (twin) was born on March 11, 1866, in Saginaw, and died on November 15, 1950, in Bellefonte. She married Phillip R. Resides on December 22, 1889, in Centre County. He was born June 23, 1851, and died 8 August 21, 1916, in Bellefonte. Phillip and Lydia had a son. His name was Paul Edward Resides, born July 16, 1890, in Bellefonte, died August 8, 1974, in Bellefonte, married Daisy Spicer on September 16, 1915, in Centre County. Paul and Daisy had two sons, Charles and Leonard. Margaret Lucy Wise was born September 6, 1868(9), in Patton Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. No death date available. She married John F. Garner on April 30, 1895, in Centre County. John was born in 1875 and died on August 5, 1935, in State College. John and Margaret had one daughter, Julia V. Garner, born about 1897 in Patton Township, Centre County. Amelia Catherine Wise was born in March of 1871 in Pennsylvania and married Garret Smith. Alice Manera Wise was born on June 5, 1874, in Pennsylvania and married Thomas Boyd. Laura Silena Wise was born on March 10, 1878, in Pennsylvania and married John Roan on August 22, 1899, in Centre County, later married Robert Kuhn after 1900. 1862 - During this year George and Maria Weiss arrived in Stearns County, Minnesota. George Weiss, born February 16, 1830, in Jerneja Vas, house number 17, Dragatus Parish, formerly Crnomelj Parish, to Joseph Weiss and Maria Lamut. He married Maria Majerle on July 4, 1860, in Crnomelj Parish. Maria Majerle, was born to George Majerle and Katharina Nik, on December 12, 1838, in Jelsevnik, house number 23, Crnomelj Parish. George died on February 2, 1894, in Eden Lake Township, Stearns County, and Maria died on August 12, 1921, in Roscoe, Stearns County. George and Maria had the following children: George Weiss, born October 5, 1862, in Richmond, Stearns County, died on March 31, 1946, in Eden Valley, Meeker County, Minnesota, married Anna Katharine Meyer, on November 11, 1889, then married Katharine Blomker, on August 24, 1893, in Eden Valley. Katharine was born on February 25, 1872, in Manannah Township, Meeker County, Minnesota, she died on December 21, 1964, in Paynesville, Stearns County; Joseph Weiss, born April 15, 1866, in Munson Township, Stearns County, died on February 13, 1937, in St. Cloud, Stearns County, Minnesota; Michael Weiss, born on December 7, 1868, in Munson Township, died on May 2, 1953, in Munson Township, married Margaret Mehr, on May 15, 1917, in St. Cloud, she was born August 9, 1890, in Richmond Stearns County, died on July 22, 1924, in Roscoe, Stearns County; John Weiss, born May 11, 1871, in Munson Township, died October 13, 1876, in Munson Township; Zarja - The Dawn Nickolas Weiss was born on January 11, 1874, in Munson Township, died on February 6, 1944, in Lake Traverse, Roberts County, South Dakota, married Elizabeth Hannasch, on September 1, 1902, in Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, she was born on September 22, 1877, in St. Martin, Stearns County, and died December 11, 1965, in Sisseton; Katharine Weiss, born August 4, 1876, in Munson Township, died on January 5, 1946, in Sisseton, married Joseph Plut on February 11, 1896, in Richmond, Stearns County, he was born on March 19, 1862, in Rucetna Vas, house number 2, Crnomelj Parish, the son of Johan Plut and Katharina Jerman, died June 19, 1946, in Sisseton; Anna Weiss born on May 13, 1880, in Munson Township, died on March 15, 1960, in St. Cloud, Stearns County; and, John Weiss, born April 16, 1884, in Munson Township, died on May 15, 1950, in Roscoe, Stearns County, married Anna Schaeffers on June 16, 1908, in Roscoe, she was born September 26, 1884, in Munson Township, died October 8, 1970, in Roscoe. 1866 - During this year Michael and Katharina Weiss arrived in Stearns County. Michael was born on February 25, 1819, in Jerneja Vas, house number 17, Dragatus Parish, formerly Crnomelj Parish, to Joseph Weiss and Maria Lamut. He married Katharina Krakar on November 24, 1841, in Crnomelj Parish. Katharina was the child of Peter Krakar and Margaretha Gersitch, in Dragovanja Vas, house number 3, Dragatus Parish, formerly Crnomelj Parish. Michael died on November 20, 1895, in Munson Township, Stearns County, and Katharina died on April 23, 1897, in Munson Township. No children have been identified for this couple, but it is possible children were born to this couple in Slovenia. June 1866 - During this month Mathias Weiss arrived in New York, leaving the port of Hamburg on June 2, 1866. His son and wife accompanied him. Mathias was born August 14, 1826, in Jerneja Vas, house number 11, currently Dragatus Parish, formerly of Crnomelj Parish. His parents were Joseph Weiss and Mary Lamut. He married Katharina Derzaj on February 10, 1858, in Crnomelj Parish. Kate’s parents were Michael Derzaj and Anna Zunic and she was born on June 3, 1837, in Vojna Vas, house number 16, Crnomelj Parish. Mathias and Kate had three children born in Jerneja Vas, house number 15, Maria and Mathias died as children under the age of two, John, was born June 6, 1863, and immigrated with his father and mother to America. The elder Mathias died on April 2, 1892, in Eden Lake Township, Stearns County, Minnesota, and Katherine died on October 6, 1913, in Richmond, Stearns County. John Weis, born in 1863, married Mary Elizabeth Pechan, and died on April 25, 1929, in St. Cloud, Stearns County. Mary was born on November 5, 1863, in Iowa, and died on October 1, 1925, in St. Cloud. Children born in Eden March/April 2014 Lake Township, Stearns County were: Maria, born October 2, 1867, married Michael Butala (family included in the previous column); George, born June 1, 1869, married Anna Roeder on November 10, 1896, in Cold Springs, Stearns County, and died on January 30, 1943, in Litchfield, Meeker County, Minnesota. Anna Roeder was born on September 1, 1884, in Cold Springs, Stearns County, to John Roeder and Anna Bercroft, and died June 21, 1962, in Litchfield. Jacob, born March 4, 1871, married Katharine Roeder, on September 11, 1884, in Cold Springs, Stearns County, died on November 2, 1932, in Bemidji, Beltrami County, Minnesota. Katharine Roeder was born September 13, 1877, in Stearns County, the daughter of John Roeder and Anna Bercroft, and died on February 16, 1956, in Crookston, Polk County, Minnesota. Jacob and Katharine had a son, named Ben, born August 29, 1904, in Bemidji, died April 29, 1992, in Bemidji, married Dorothy Mae Sheffer, they had one daughter. Mathias, born October 27, 1873, married Agnes Melvina Flatau, died June 17, 1933, in St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota. Agnes was born about April 19, 1883, in Washtenaw County, Michigan, and died on January 29, 1962, in St. Paul. Mathias and Agnes had two sons, named Emmanuel Charles, born December 3, 1910, in St. Paul, died February 17, 1931, in St. Paul, and Lee Mathew, born March 25, 1919, in St. Paul, died November 15, 1994, in St. Paul, married about 1947 to Leona Mary Steichen, born January 29, 1924, in Minnesota, died October 13, 1979, in St. Paul. Lee and Leona had two children. Katharina, born July 24, 1878, died before 1884, in Eden Lake Township, Stearns County. UPDATE: Jacob Grahek, listed in Volume 85, Issue 6, of Zarja - The Dawn, married Ursula Hutter in 1874, in Gold Hill, Nevada. Their first son, Bernard (Barney) Grahek, was born May 1875, in Nevada, and Anna Grahek’s date of birth is August 31, 1879, not 1877. Frona Grahek is probably Anna. Barney must have moved to Minnesota and married; his son, George Grahek, is listed as a nephew of the brothers and sisters in the censuses. To contact me by mail: George Plautz 1307 Dragon Head Drive, Valrico, FL 33594 or by e-mail at doblice@gmail.com 9 Pieces to the Piltaver Puzzle by David G. Sodac, Branch 89 A n e-mail arrived from a distant Piltaver cousin, David Smukovi~, from the small village of Ra~ja vas, who currently lives in Bre`ice, Slovenia. David and I had “met” online a couple of years ago through a genealogy website, both of us searching for Piltaver relatives. We had been exchanging the American family names, dates, and information that he would add to his extensive family genealogy tree, that ultimately would be a part of a book that he was authoring. David is related through my paternal grandmother’s side of the family. Her maiden name was Marija Piltaver. This several-times removed cousin, excitedly shared that during his research on family records, he had discovered a newspaper article about the death of my grandmother’s younger brother, Janez Piltaver. Thankfully, this new information produced a missing piece to the family puzzle. Somewhere within my foggy collection of cobwebbed memories, this news article triggered the awareness that there were indeed extended branches of great-aunts, greatuncles, and second cousins on my father’s maternal side of the family. There was an Aunt Theresa who lived in the same La Salle, Illinois, community that my father grew up in. Her name was Theresa (Terezija Piltaver) Terseli~, and she was my grandmother Mary (Marija Piltaver) Sodac’s younger and only sister. There were just a handful of occasions when our side of aunts, uncles, and cousins would blend with Great-Aunt Theresa’s extended set of children and grandchildren to celebrate some special birthday of Theresa’s. Then I recall mention of Grandma having a younger brother, John (Janez) Piltaver, who also came to America. He would have been my “Great-Uncle,” but he apparently died young and we’d never heard any stories of him or of his life, other than he died young while living and working in Cleveland, Ohio. He seemed forgotten. 10 David attached a reprint of that news article from the Digital Library of Slovenia. The archived newspaper article was from the newspaper Glas Naroda and the article was on the many illnesses and deaths of members of the St. Vitus Parish in Cleveland, Ohio. The news article was written back on November 11, 1918, and published in Slovene, and the name of John Piltaver, formerly of Kr{ka vas, just leaped off the page. Through the discovery of this 1918 news article, I finally got acquainted with this mystery relative. With a flurry of intense online research, several pieces of his life’s puzzle fell into place. The church where John was a member was St. Vid [Vitus] Church. St. Vid’s is situated at E. 61st Street and Glass Avenue, and was the first Catholic church in Cleveland, Ohio, that served the Slovenian immigrant neighborhood that formed along St. Clair Avenue. The church still stands today and offers an active parish community. The church was first built in 1893 and is considered the largest Slovenian church in the United States. As documents were uncovered, we found that Great-Uncle John lived close to this church. Now having knowledge of the date and place of John’s death, miraculously, a digital copy of his Certificate of Death was accessed online. With that information it then led to a few fortunate phone calls and e-mails that uncovered a copy of his Burial Record at Calvary Cemetery in Cleveland. Correctly deciphering one of the misspelled surnames from the Ellis Island website, led to a copy of his ship manifest from 1907. The excitement of getting to “know” our Great-Uncle John through newly found records and information was quickly shared with extended relatives. The facts we’ve learned and the conjectured story crafted about his life from these records is presented in the following paragraphs. Zarja - The Dawn The Pieces GLAS NARODA [Voice of the Nation] was the oldest Slovenian journal of workers in the United States. It was published in New York from 1893-1963. A translation of this article reports: In the parish of St. Vitus are many patients on their way to recovery, however, there is also a long list of death incidences. Those who have died: Kristina @ele, 1 year and 2 months old; Viktor Pazeljnik, 4? years old; John Be~aj, 36 years old from Hrušice pri Cerknici; John Piltaver, 28 years old from Kr{ka vas in the parish Cerklje na Dolenjskem; Jo`ef Kastelic, 3 years old; John @nidar{i~, 38 years old, from Anzki, in the parish of St. Vid Cerknico; John Gervina, 42 years old from Polhovega Gradca; Frank Urenjak, 36 years old, from Du`eljne in the parish of Morav~e; John Praznik, 26 years old, from Zati~ne; John Gril, 9 days old; John Bereti~, 47 years old, from Maline in the parish of Trebelno; Stefan Gruden, 40 years old; Ga{per Dodi~, 28 years old, from Gradni{~e pri Lukovici in the parish Dob; Feliks Kineze, 43 years old, from Komra; Vincene @itnik, 25 years old, from Mali vrh, [marje upper Ljubljano; Frank Zakraj{ek, 32 years old, from Krkovega, of the parish Vel La{~e; August Budan, 47 years old, from @u`emberka; Jo`ef Zakrajsek, 42 years old, Bistrice, of the parish St. Rupert; Fran~i{ka Kukec, 30 years old, from Podcerkev, of the parish Stari trg; Karol Dragan, 36 years old, from Martinje , of the parish Mokronog; Marko Campa, 66 years old, from @imarice, in the parish of Sodra`ica. March/April 2014 John Bilthauver’s (Piltaver) Certificate of Death indicating the cause of death as influenza with complications of pneumonia. Postcard of the church that was mentioned in the news article on John Piltaver’s death, which the Piltaver family members attended in Kr{ka vas, Slovenia. The headline reads Cleveland News and the content of the article presents the death notices of the Slovenian parishioners belonging to St. Vitus Catholic Church in Cleveland, Ohio. The names of the deceased, along with their home village and parish church, were included in the article. One of the names listed was a John Piltauer (Piltaver), age of 28 years, of Kr{ka vas. It is believed that this John was the younger brother of Mary Sodac (nee Marija Piltaver) and Theresa Terselic (nee Terezjia Piltaver). Further online research uncovered a digital copy of a Death Certificate that corroborated the information that a John Biltauer (a common misspelling of Piltaver), who was born on 6 May 1890, had died of influenza on 28 Oct 1918. John had been living and working in Cleveland. 11 Seventeen year old Janez Piltaver, born May 9, 1890, was the fourth of five children born to Janez Piltaver and Ana Ra~i~ of the village of Kr{ka vas, Slovenia. He was born shortly after the death of an older brother, whom he was named after. In the Slovenian tradition, the next born male was given the same name to honor the deceased brother. As the oldest son at 17 years of age, he was expected to take on most of the hard labor around the family acreage. His father was not an easy man to be around and expected much out of his children. Two years previously, an older sister, Terezija, had immigrated to America, married, and was making a decent life for herself. Janez became equally as determined to leave as well. His oldest sister, Marija, was expected to remain at home and care for their dying mother, the difficult father, and an eight year old younger brother, Mihael. Janez decided to pack his bags and try his luck at finding fortune in the land of opportunity. He must have justified that it would be easier for her with him gone, having one less mouth to feed. He arrived in New York in June, 1907, and boarded the train heading for Chicago and then LaSalle, Illinois, to join his sister, and her husband, Franc Terseli~. In a few years, Janez would move to the state of Ohio and live in a boarding house in the Slovenian section of Cleveland. He most likely found employment opportunities working as a laborer in the nearby steel factories. We had heard through the years that there were other Piltaver relatives who had settled into Cleveland as well, but we haven’t made all the connections yet. Perhaps, Janez associated with them for emotional support. Janez Piltaver quickly succumbed to the influenza on October 28, 1918, and became one of the many death statistics. Word of this heartbreaking news reached Terezija and Marija; most likely neither sister would be in the position to attend his funeral at St. Vitus Church in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cleveland Press edition of October 24, 1918, included a front page article informing the public of the necessity to bury the dead in mass burial graves. There were so many requests for burials following the deaths due to influenza at Calvary Cemetery that officials were unable to cope with the demands for preparing graves. Morgues were forced to stack bodies like cordwood in the corridors. There weren’t enough coffins for all the bodies, nor was there enough manpower to dig all the needed individual graves. To avoid the horror of the masses of rotting corpses, mass graves were dug, wherein caskets (if available) would be laid side by side for burials. This dilemma wasn’t just at Cleveland’s Calvary Cemetery, but in many other states, towns, and across the world. At Calvary Cemetery, the largest number of burials in one day was 81 on November 4, 1918, during the height of the Influenza (Spanish Flu) Pandemic. As John Piltaver died during that peak period, being buried on November 2, 1918, we assume he was laid to rest in one of those mass graves. The total number of interments that month was reported at 985. Within weeks, the grieving Terseli~ and Sodac families were saddened with more heartbreaking news from their home village in Slovenia; yet another brother, 19 year old Mihael Piltaver, ironically died on November 4, 1918, one week after his brother, of the same worldwide influenza. Mihael had died just During the time Janez was in According to an Ohio Influenza archives website, the rapidly two days after Janez Cleveland, his mother spreading Influenza had exacted a heavy toll on the city of Cleveland, Ohio. Between late-September and the end of was laid to rest in eventually died in Slovenia, the year, 23,644 residents fell ill with the disease with over Calvary Cemetery in allowing his sister, Marija, to 3,600 people dying of either the influenza or pneumonia. Cleveland. Five leave Kr{ka vas and join her An additional 800 deaths occurred in January and February months later, Marija sister and brother in America. 1919. In those five months, 3.5% of the city’s population Sodac would give Within a year, Marija Piltaver came down with influenza or pneumonia; of those that birth to a son in married Matija Sodac of caught the dreaded disease, 16% passed away, including Springfield, Illinois, Chicago. They lived for a while our Janez. The total death rate, the highest in Ohio, was and named him in La Salle, but left after the worse than either New York City or Chicago. John, in honor of birth of their first child, Matthew, and re-settled their lives in Springfield, her deceased brother, Janez. Sadly, little month old Illinois. His two sisters were quite busy bearing children John succumbed to the same influenza pandemic that and raising their young families during the time Janez took the lives of his two uncles. In a span of under was working in Cleveland. Janez (John) became seven years, Marija and Terezija had mourned the violently ill with influenza during the pandemic that deaths of their beloved mother, Ana, their two younger spread rapidly throughout the world and had hit the brothers, and two of their own infant children. city of Cleveland exceptionally hard. 12 Zarja - The Dawn A current photo of the quaint village of Kr{ka vas, the Slovenian home of the Piltaver family. John M. Barry wrote an excellent book on the topic, first published by the Viking Penguin Press in 2004, entitled “The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History.” From Barry’s book and other published articles, it appears this scourge had its beginnings in Haskell County, Kansas, in early February of 1918. The flu symptoms spread to nearby military bases that were gathering record numbers of men, who were jammed into overcrowded barracks to ready them for America’s entry into World War I. The flu hit with unusual intensity, starting with violent headaches and body aches, then high fevers and coughs, finally developing into either a quick-acting viral pneumonia or a slow and painful bacterial pneumonia. By November of that year, the influenza became a pandemic and attacked millions across the world. Medical care and treatment in the States was greatly impaired by the commitment to ship tens of thousands of Red Cross nurses to military bases in the Allied countries. Thousands of skilled physicians were also skimmed out of hospitals to serve the military needs in the overseas medical bases, leaving American hospitals and clinics with skeletal staffs and the medicinal cupboards bare. found records and information was somewhat overshadowed by my stumbling upon this ravaging 1918 Influenza Pandemic that played out on a world-wide stage. The NationalArchives.gov reported that World War I claimed an estimated 16 million lives in comparison to this epic strain of Influenza, that killed over 100 million people worldwide. It also personalized the death total with the lives of our John, his younger brother, Mihael, and our infant cousin, Janez Sodac. However sad these newly discovered pieces of his life story were, his tragic connection to being one of the statistics associated with this global flu pandemic made an even more lasting impression. Printed, on page 11 of this article, is the translated newspaper article from Glas Naroda (The Voice of the Nation) that triggered the writing of this story. Glance through these names and see if any of these printed souls’ names leap up to be recognized and claimed by you. Despite the apparent beginnings in rural Kansas, this virulent strain of influenza became known as the “Spanish Flu.” It was so named because of the broadcasted spread of the influenza news throughout Spain. Spain seemed to be the only country that routinely published news of the disease and the consequent death tolls in their newspapers. The nations comprising the Allied Powers kept the death statistics hushed from the German forces, to maintain some secrecy about the depletion of the Allied troops. The excitement of finally getting to “know” my Great-Uncle John through all these newly March/April 2014 1918: Influenza patients crowd into an emergency hospital. 13 A Slovenian When our paths of Faith and Hope came across, God let us to recognize Love. Happy and grateful we decided to live his love together for the rest of our lives. - Sonja and Marjan a i n e v o l S , k i n lk d e l m Deyak Voe u o S L y r a -M Wedding “Marjan and I choose to be married in this special church, also my home parish...” - Sonja In my hand was an invitation to the wedding of Sonja Avgu{tin and Marjan Campa. They were to be married on April 20, 2013, at the Sv. Urh Parish Church in Smlednik, Slovenia. The location of Smlednik is described as idyllic, with Stari Grad (old castle) overlooking the village. Below the ruins of the old castle, stands the shrines of the Smlednik Kalvarija* (Calvary or the Stations of the Cross). *See separate article on the Stations of the Cross. The Church of St. Ulrich (Sv. Urh Parish Church) is located in the very heart of the village. Built in 1851, it is one of the largest and newest churches in the country. The church 14 is of modern, Neo-Romanesque style. A Baroque column of Sv. Urh stands in close proximity to the church; a groomed cemetery is located behind the church. Only civil marriages are valid under Slovene law, yet many couples chose to follow with a religious ceremony. All couples must register their forthcoming marriage with the Marriage Registry Office of the Administrative Unit, somewhat like a County Clerk’s office in the United States. Registration can take place anywhere from two weeks to six months prior to the civil marriage. Zarja - The Dawn The Wedding Album April 20, 2013 3:00 p.m. The organ awakens; the wedding march resonates throughout the cavernous church; two little girls (pun~ke) lead the procession, tossing flower petals; following are servers, priests, Marjan, Sonja, and witnesses; Marjan and Sonja and witnesses take their seats. The Mass begins; the readings are read; the marriage ceremony is read; each recites their personal vow. Testimonials and reflections by family and friends give pause. 2:00 - 2:50 p.m. Early arrival, great opportunity to view the church interior; entering through a side door, a raised niche housing the Risen Christ; for the next 30 minutes, a private audience in complete silence; images of paintings, spectacular architecture, and sculptures. Looking down the aisle, the apse; two red, velvet chairs and two red, velvet stools; Altars graced with flowing cascades; silence is broken when musicians begin arriving; time to step out. From a distance, the honking of horns; a smiling Marjan Campa, in suit and tie, steps from the car; male cohorts hoot the je je je hooo; several minutes pass, Sonja arrives; Marjan greets his bride, the crowd cheers; a longing embrace, a louder cheer and more je je je hooo and then the couple disappears. Families and guests of Marjan and Sonja file into the empty church. There are no ushers. March/April 2014 Throughout the service, choirs from two parishes, violins, organ, cello, and guest soloist, Joze Vidic, Slovenia’s tenor opera star, performs time-cherished Slovenian pieces; ears listen with rapture; Sonja turns toward the sounds; moments never to be forgotten. A booming organ, and smiling faces; the wedding party files down the aisle. A receiving line on the church steps; gifts presented at this time; a photo taken of all those attending prior to leaving for the formal reception. 15 Outside the church, white-draped tables laden with foods, wine, champagne, and fruit juices for the wedding guests. The Reception Wedding guests proceed to Jezer{ek Culinary House; wine and champagne served on the portico; a polka band, followed by the bride and groom and guests dancing up the spiral staircase. In the dining room round tables topped with large trays; delectable delicacies, wonderful steak tartare; wine and champagne bottles come and go; the first course, a bowl of soup; buffet for accompanying dishes. The stroke of midnight; the wedding cake has yet to be cut; singing and dancing; departing the building for the trip back to Ljubljana; down the spiral staircase, as the band played on... Kalvarija (Stations of the Cross) by MaryLou Deyak Voelk Wonder how the Stations of the Cross were begotten? In the year 313, Emperor Constantine granted Christians the right to worship in the Roman Empire, ending 250 years of persecution. In the year 335, Constantine erected the Church of the Holy Sepulcher at the site where Jesus’ tomb was believed to have been. Led by the Bishop of Jerusalem, a procession began during Holy Thursday night, beginning at the site of Jesus’ agony, “at the first cockcrow.” The procession would continue while prayers were recited, and did not stop until morning. Returning pilgrims were eager to recreate the scenes/shrines for those unable to visit the Holy Land. Made to replicate Jerusalem, the shrines were built along the approach to a church and would number between 7 and 30. In the beginning, the series of stations was in reverse, beginning with Calvary and ending at Pilate’s house. The number of stops varied from 5 to 42. A book written in 1584 lists 12 stations, identical to our first 12. One zealous friar, St. Leonard of Port Maurice, known as “the preacher of the way of the cross,” is thought to be most likely the person responsible for reversing the order of the stations, ending at Calvary. One popular German devotion that seems to have influenced the development of the Stations of the Cross was the Seven Falls of Christ. While Gospels do not mention any falls, tradition held that Christ fell seven times on the way to Calvary, incidents that correspond to the fourth, fifth, sixth, and eighth stations: when Jesus met his mother, when Simon of Cyrene carried the cross, when Veronica used her veil to wipe his 16 face, and when the women of Jerusalem began to weep. The falls corresponding to the third, seventh, and ninth stations are merely stated as falls. In 1686, Pope Innocent XI, gave the Franciscans the exclusive right to build the stations, receiving the same indulgence in the making of the stations as to visiting the sites in Jerusalem. At first, it was only those associated with the Franciscans who could obtain the indulgences. In 1726, Pope Benedict XIII opened the practice to the faithful. In 1731, Pope Clement XII opened the practice to non-Franciscan churches. Today, most American churches contain the stations, although many great basilicas and European churches do not. Because several of the incidents portrayed were not found in Scripture, Pope Paul VI, in 1975, approved a new “Gospel-based stations.” Pope John Paul II prayed this new scriptural meditation, which begins at the Last Supper and ends with the Resurrection, the Way of the Cross. Zarja - The Dawn Kalvarija of Smlednik by MaryLou Deyak Voelk Situated below the old castle of Smlednik stands the Kalvarija, built by Baron Franc of Smlednik in 1772. Not possessing the proper land to build the 14 stations, the baron needed to do a land trade with a local, Jakob Jerja. The contract documenting this agreement is preserved and is one of the first written contracts in the Slovenian language. In the 1930’s, Kavalrija was restored. Niches were painted with scenes of the Stations, replacing the obliterated metal pictures. After WWII, the statues of Christ and both thieves were safely stored in the Smlednik rectory. By 2001, the Kavalrija, now a cultural and historical monument, needed extensive restoration. Shrines were roofless, others were heaps of stone, and the area was overgrown with trees and heavy brush. Restoration began with the clearing of the land. Once cleared, it became obvious why Baron Smledniski had the Calvary built in a straight line. The end points were the Old Castle on the hill and the “blood shrine,” a medieval execution site in the valley. Most interesting, all 14 Stations of the Cross were March/April 2014 on Jerja’s land, as well as two of the crosses. Only the cross of the right-hand thief stood on the baron’s castle property. Today, Kalvarija is lit nightly and is one of the most beautiful Baroque works in Slovenia. The ruins of Smlednik Castle; the Calvary is going up the hill on the right side. 17 Ann Brinovec Tribute to a Long-Time Member Celebrated 100 Years of Life on November 12, 2013 written by Sister Mary Ellen Brinovec and edited by Patricia Budzilek Ann was born to Celia and Anton Vidmar in Cleveland; their third child and only girl in the family of four. Shortly after Ann’s birth the family moved to St. Vitus Parish, where Ann matured into a beautiful, young woman. Her life revolved around her three loves: her faith, her family, and her Slovenian heritage. She spent her early years in her parent’s home honing skills that would make her a wonderful wife, mother, homemaker, and Slovenian cook and baker. Ann’s early years were spent in the close community, in which she knew almost everyone and was even related to many in the neighborhood. She often said that there was never really any reason to leave the neighborhood. The stores provided all you needed by way of groceries, clothing, shoes, appliances, hardware, and good conversations in both English and Slovenian. The holidays were always blessings. Though the Slovenians were not wealthy and struggled to provide for their families, Ann felt that their riches were in attending the Slovenian Masses and services and holiday celebrations at the National Home - or helping with them. This is what holidays were all about for Ann and her family. The blessing of food on Holy Saturday was one of the high points of the Easter Season. Women brought their delicious, homemade food in baskets decorated by their own ingenuity and love for the remembrance of the Lord’s resurrection. One of Ann’s favorite childhood activities was skating around the neighborhood, an activity she continued well into adulthood. Ann could often be seen skating down the street with her young friends, laughing, and enjoying the safety of this Slovene enclave. Her family members were theatre goers, so every Sunday afternoon they would walk to either the Ezella or Norwood theatres to see the feature films of the week. “Gramps,” Ann still recalls, “was a bit disappointed if neither of the full-length movies was a cowboy story.” Another activity that was always great fun was travelling to the Slovenian picnics at the farms outside of the neighborhood. Ann went with her family and enjoyed cooking and serving relatives and friends and later, as an adult, she continued this activity well into her 80s. In the late 1930’s, Ann’s brother, Eddie, brought a baseball buddy, Frank (Frenchie) Brinovec, home for dinner. It was love at first sight and soon Ann began accompanying her brother to baseball games. Eddie was suspicious of her sudden interest in his games, since she had never attended even one game before that summer. However, it was fun having family watching him play. Both Eddie and Frenchie played semi-pro ball in Cleveland and were cheered by Ann and her friends. The romance developed quickly and on Sweetest Day in October of 1940 - Frank was such a romantic - Ann married Frank Brinovec in St. Vitus Church. Their love gave the world Mary Ellen, the joy of their lives. Mary Ellen is now an Ursuline Sister working in the Collinwood area of Cleveland. Ann and Frank spent most of their married life in the St. Vitus neighborhood where they both prospered, Frank as a successful business man, and Ann as a devoted homemaker. Both were lifelong members of St. Vitus (Frank ended his earthly membership in 1976) and were proud of their church and eager to support it in any way they could, either financially or through their service. Even after the loss of her husband and dad, Ann extended her service in the neighborhood through her work in tutoring for the Cleveland Public Schools. She loved the children and looked forward to her work with them, as well as joining them for field trips and fun excursions. In the summer months Ann could be seen working with her dear father, Anton, gardening and enjoying the Slovenian neighbors that they cultivated with as much care and tenderness as they did their precious gardens and fruit trees. One of Ann’s favorite times was late summer and fall, when she travelled to neighbors’ homes with fresh vegetables and fruit from “Grandpa’s garden.” 18 Zarja - The Dawn Ann loved all things Slovenian. She and her family travelled to Slovenia to explore their roots and to meet some of their relatives. Her ease with the Slovenian language made travelling and learning about their ancestry delightful. “I remember walking into the Church of St. Martin’s where my father’s parents were married and sitting in the last pew with my parents; all three of us overcome by emotion and the feeling of coming home to a place we had never been before!” says Sister Mary Ellen Brinovec. Back home Ann frequented Sterle’s Country House and loved to polka the night away while enjoying her favorite Slovenian dishes and desserts. Frank was a lodge secretary, so for years Ann was the secretary to the secretary. She helped with receipts, welcoming those who could not make it to the Slovenian National Home into her Bonna Avenue home to pay their dues, answering the more difficult Slovenian correspondence, and generally being Frenchie’s “gal friday.” On the 25th of each month Ann would have all the books, money box, receipts, and letters ready for Frank’s work at the National Home. Even Grandpa and Mary Ellen helped count and bundle money for the lodge. It was definitely a family event. Ann was also a member of the Slovenian Union of America (formerly Slovenian Women’s Union) Branch 25, now Branch 50 - Euclid, OH. She was proud to be a part of a woman’s organization. Ann is also a lifelong member of the American Mutual Life Association (AMLA), another Slovenian fraternal organization. Ann was active at the Slovenian National Home where she often helped cook and serve for events. This was a way for her to continue to be a part of her heritage and contribute to her friends’ celebrations. Her cooking skills were such that she was a wonderful addition to any group and her friendly personality, as well as her ease with the Slovenian language, really helped her to make everyone feel at home and cared for in what Ann always called “the Slovenian way.” Ann donated her services to St. Vitus School as nurse, tutor, cafeteria helper, and mother to all who needed an extra hug or just a little TLC. Her love of serving others also involved her in service at her beloved St. Vitus Church and Rectory. Once again her excellent Slovenian helped her make anyone at the rectory feel at home. She enjoyed discussing the “Old Country” with priests visiting from Slovenia and would share all that news with her dad when she returned home. Ann and her dear friend, Ann Winters, cleaned the rectory weekly. They could often be seen chatting and laughing together as they dusted, vacuumed, and made things look inviting and comfortable. Ann was always ready to respond to any request for service. During her lifetime membership at St. Vitus she served for the Altar and Rosary Society, the Mother’s Club, the cafeteria ladies, and the Carnival Committee, to mention a few. March/April 2014 To Ann, family was the top of her list. She cared for both of her dear parents until their deaths - Anton at 90! She showered her attention on Frenchie, Mary Ellen, and all her many nieces and nephews. Ann loved taking care of and providing her family with a warm home, delicious meals, and loving times together. Her arms and heart were always open to family and friends, welcoming all into the fun, food, and relaxation which were always present in the home that Ann created. The children and grandchildren of her niece, Carol, could often be seen in the Bonna Avenue yard with Teta, caring for the garden, trimming the lawn, picking fruit, or simply having fun with Ann. She showered her great love on them and still treasures all their visits! Ann was a devoted member of the Church. She volunteered in many activities and organizations. Her love of the Church was the support that carried her after the death of her dearest Frenchie in 1976. At that time Father Walsh, pastor of St. Jerome’s, hired Ann to take care of his home. Little did he know how excited and happy this would make Ann Brinovec for the next 17 years. She cared for her “boys” as she referred to the priests at the parish with the same love and concern that she showered on her own family. The challenges of attending to the rectory were opportunities to spread her warmth and her love and concern to everyone she met at St. Jerome’s. When it was time for retirement, Ann sadly left St. Jerome’s, but continued her work around St. Vitus until she was well into her 80s. As the century turned, Ann started a new life at Mount St. Joseph Rehab Center. She moved there in 2002, leaving her beloved home and Church, but finding new loves and new ways to grace the world with her presence. She now opens her heart and arms to those who extend to her the love and care that she gave to others all of her life. Happy Birthday Mom, Teta, Annie, and Friend. We love you. Tribute to Long-Time Members Note: Please notify me if you would like to suggest a SUA/SWUA member to be profiled in this feature. Remember - they must have been active for many years, and are probably in their 80s. My e-mail is pbudzilek@oh.rr.com. 19 Slovenian Conversation on the Internet A volunteer Project of Branch 93 - New York City In early 2013, the Office for Slovenians Abroad (Republic of Slovenia) gave the Slovenian Union of America, Branch 93 New York City, a grant of 1,200 euros as seed funding for its proposal to test a Slovene conversation class on the internet. Maria Polajner Whitmire (Ria), M.S.W., and Tanya Vajk, both members of Branch 93, who had designed the project together, reached out to Maria J. Rode (Mia), Senior Librarian Emerita at Stanford University, and to Joan Walker, M.A., to develop and implement the project. Mia has taught Slovene in the San Francisco Bay area for several years; she has participated in seminars in Slovenia for teachers of Slovene and audited classes at the Center for Slovene as a Second/Foreign Language at the University of Ljubljana. Joan has a master’s degree in teaching English as a Second Language and teaches over the internet through her own company, Live American English, using the “gotomeeting” internet platform. The grant monies were shared equally by Mia and Joan as an honorarium, and together they developed and implemented over two dozen original, one-hour lessons and practice sessions on the internet between April and December 2013. Ria provided the oversight of the virtual classroom experience and led all the practice sessions (both Mia and Ria are native Slovene speakers). The key volunteer members of the project, however, were the participants from across the United States – from Alaska to California, Florida, South Carolina, and New York – including, among others, Carol Ryba, Carole Ryavec, Dave Gomboc, Elena Dubas, Elizabeth Gross, Emily Harley, Jan King, Jean Koci, Kathy Clime, Maria Povsic, and Michael Bregar. The participants were learning Slovene while simultaneously mastering the technology of webcams, dial-in numbers, switching microphones on and off, and practicing the ballet of coming on and off camera to participate live with team members and with the instructors. Their persistence and fortitude in learning these skills, along with learning to read and speak in Slovene, were truly impressive. This project was an experiment to see if we could teach and learn Slovene in a virtual classroom, by developing a supportive and encouraging curriculum, which promoted live interaction and helped to overcome both the fear of speaking a foreign language and of learning a new technology. Mia and Joan developed each lesson based on 20 by Tanya Vajk the input, feedback, and results of the previous lesson, building on the content learned and on the growing strengths of the participants (the development of this original curriculum was also done using the “gotomeeting” live video conferencing platform for several meetings a week throughout the project). The lessons and practice sessions were based on established guidelines for teaching and learning Slovene, referring to “A,B,C... 1,2,3, gremo, Sloven{~ina v `ivo and Pre`ivetvena raven v sloven{~ini” as a framework for the curriculum. Our focus was conversation and interaction, versus academic and test-based learning, and we used the correct Slovenian vocabulary and pronunciation as opposed to regional dialects (though when appropriate we would discuss the different pronunciations in various regions of Slovenia). Many of the lessons focused on a cultural interest – the regions of Slovenia, a tour of Ljubljana, the family history of participants – while others focused on the fundamentals of the language, such as pronunciation and the alphabet, or basic conversational skills like learning how to give and understand directions. We prepared original, online presentation materials and also e-mailed materials as prework and homework to participants for every lesson. In order to become familiar with the technical aspects of “gotomeeting,” we had a pilot period of May through August, with two lessons and four practice sessions. The formal sessions were held September 14 through December 14, with ten lessons, ten practice sessions, and one finale where our participants presented a project – a photo essay, a letter, a website, a guided tour – in Slovene. Over the course of the project, participants experienced nearly 30 hours of live interaction with each other and with the instructors. Our participants ranged in age from early teens to retirees, and their previous experience ranged from “none,” to having studied Slovene previously, to exposure to Slovene at home and in Slovenia. All were speaking and interacting in Slovene at their own levels at the end of the project – an extraordinary accomplishment, both for the instructors and for the participants. We thank the Office for Slovenians Abroad and the Slovenian Union of America for their support of our project, and all our participants and instructors for their courage, good humor, determination, and perseverance in completing “Slovenian Conversation on the Internet.” Hvala! Zarja - The Dawn Slovenian Union of America ER P 0 $1 T E CK I T 27th National Convention 2015 in Lemont, Illinois “April’s Showers of Dollars” DRAWING April 2014 Fund-Raiser Top Seller Prizes: 1st Place - $130 2nd Place - $90 3rd Place - $50 CASH PRIZES TOTALING $2,790 26 Daily Drawings at $60 April 1st and 20th at $200 April 13th and 30th at $130 30 Daily Seller Prizes at $10 C U T H E R E You are eligible for all daily drawings in the month of April, 2014. Sellers of the winning entries will receive $10 as an award for their selling efforts. The daily drawing amount and the seller’s $10 prize will be mailed to the winners of record the next business day. Winners will be sent an e-mail and names posted on the SUA website. For information on how the Fund-Raiser works - see page 22. The following entry form should be printed clearly and accompany your $10 entry fee. Detach at perforation “April’s Showers of Dollars” Entry Form (Copies Accepted) - Good Luck! Entrant’s Information: Name:____________________________________ Address:______________________________ City:______________________________________ State:_____________ZipCode:_____________ Phone:____________________________________ E-mail:________________________________ Seller’s Information: Name:____________________________________ Address:______________________________ City:_____________________________________ State:_____________ Zip Code:____________ Phone:____________________________________ E-mail:________________________________ Branch Number and Location:________________________________________________________ Please send completed form (Print) and $10 check payable to SUA to: Denise P. Bartlett SUA Director of Special Projects 7902 West Howard Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53220-1612 Phone: 414.327.4990 or denisepbartlett@wi.rr.com March/April 2014 21 Slovenian Union of America Need additional entries? Copies accepted or contact Denise P. Bartlett at: Phone: 414.327.4990 or denisepbartlett@wi.rr.com 27th National Convention - 2015 - Lemont, Illinois “April’s Showers of Dollars” DRAWING April 2014 Fund-Raiser www.slovenianunion.org 2015 SUA/SWUA National Convention. SUA/SWUA holds its National Convention every four years in host cities around the country. These gatherings are important not only to conduct SUA/SWUA business but to have a forum for Branch Member Representatives to come together to give their reports, share their ideas, discuss concerns, and further cement their mutual love and respect for all things related to their Slovenian heritage. Our next SUA/SWUA National Convention will be held in Lemont, Illinois, in 2015. Plans are underway to make this another memorable event. The successful completion of this “April’s Showers of Dollars” Fund-Raiser will provide monies to help defray the costs of conducting SUA/SWUA’s National Convention. The Convention Committee strives to offer an affordable convention package to enable Member Representatives and members from every SUA/SWUA Branch to attend. The entries make excellent gifts for the holiday season, birthdays, and to say “Thank You.” How Does the Fund-Raiser Work? Everyone participating in the SUA/SWUA “April’s Showers of Dollars” Fund-Raiser has the chance to win cash prizes. Each day in the month of April, 2014, one winner will be chosen to win the listed cash prize for that day $60, $130, or $200. In addition, each day the person who sold that day’s winning ticket will win $10. The daily winner and seller can be one and the same and win both prizes. The month of April 2014 has much to celebrate - including April No Fool’s Day, Palm Sunday, Easter Sunday, and the last day before May’s flowers. The winners chosen on April 1st - April No Fool’s Day - and April 20th - Easter Sunday - will win $200 each. The winners chosen on April 13th - Palm Sunday - and April 30th - “Here Come May Flowers” - will win $130 each. In addition, the top sellers (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place) will win $130 and $90 and $50 respectively. It’s a WIN opportunity for everyone. “Larger Prize Amounts This Year!” 22 Your Participation is Appreciated! Good Luck! Zarja - The Dawn Slovenian Union of America Branch Reports BRANCH 1 - Sheboygan, Wisconsin Contact Information: Mary Ann Schellinger 920.457.7946/rhmas@yahoo.com On Tuesday, December 10th, members got together for their annual holiday dinner. President Mary Ann Schellinger gave a warm welcome. New members Sharon and Jim Schram and Barbara Hengst were introduced. Mary Ann shared an opening prayer. A “FANTASTIC” meal was prepared and served by caterer, Alvira Betsa, Mary Ann Schellinger and Katie Gorton. of Czech Please. Menu included American, Czech, and Slovenian dishes, and of course, pink tea. Katie Gorton, a granddaughter of SWUA founder, Marie Prisland, attended our event and gave each member a photo of her grandmother when she lived on Dillingham Avenue in Sheboygan. A short business meeting was held explaining some of the changes that will be made due to the new 501(c)(3) status of SUA. A Slovenian funeral candle was lit in memory of our deceased members from this past year, Joe Susha and Frank Kotnick. Frank’s daughters, Marilyn Hendricks and Cheryl Lopour, were presented a memory angel in his March/April 2014 “Santa’s Helper” (Treasurer Marilyn Hendricks) collecting payment for dinner. name. A short poem, “My Christmas in Heaven,” was read. It was also noted that Tom and Aggie Gruenke placed a holiday wreath at the gravesite of Marie Prisland. Members participated in a sing-along of Christmas carols. A few in the group are also members of the S.S. Cyril and 23 Methodius Church choir and they led the group in the singing of two songs in Slovenian, Sveta Noc and Angelsko Cescenje. Branch 1 members donated 111 scarves, mittens, and hats to the food pantry again this year; most were homemade. A big thank you to the members! BETTY REPENSHEK BRANCH 2 - Chicago, Illinois Contact Information: Judy Stoll judystoll@att.net The highlight of our holiday season was a wonderful party and luncheon at Ignotz’s restaurant in Chicago. Despite the terrible weather, 23 members and guests enjoyed a great meal. Thanks to owner, Roger Wroblewski, and his awesome staff for making this such a memorable event. Dessert was provided by Jane (Bogolin) Zefran, who made absolutely delicious apple and cheese strudel. Our condolences to the family of Marilyn Zefran. She was a lifelong member of Branch 2 and part of a family that has always been involved in the Slovenian community and the SUA. We urge all of our members to attend our next meeting, which will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 16, at the Cristo Rey High School Hall. Our wishes for a happy and healthy 2014 to everybody and remember to pray for our military service members. DAISY A special note: Daisy (Jean Zeleznikar), our President, long time Zaria reporter, tireless worker, and enthusiastic dancer has been under the weather this winter. Keep her in your thoughts and prayers. - Judy Stoll BRANCH 3 Pueblo, Colorado Descendants of Slovenian immigrants in Pueblo, Colorado, yearly celebrate the delectable cuisine of the home country at the Slovenian Heritage dinner at St. Mary’s. This year’s heritage dinner was held on Saturday, November 2. The Slovenian Pre{eren Glee Club sang at the 3:00 p.m. Mass before the dinner, which was a sell-out with over 300 individuals attending. Branch 3 members are active in the glee club and also participated with other parishioners in preparing food for the event. The weeks leading up to the dinner involved 24 cooking days, during which the stuffed cabbage rolls and strudels were made by groups of women, led by Trisha Tice Tatinski and Elaine Medonich Volk. The dinner was a joyful gathering of parishioners and visitors. Jay Skul and Gary Kleinheim provided the entertainment with their lively accordion music. Many volunteers helped set up, serve the food, and clear the tables throughout the evening. The menu included barley soup (Jespren), locally produced kolbasse and blood sausage, stuffed cabbage rolls, Slovenian potato salad, sauerkraut, and rolls. A variety of strudels and other baked specialties were offered for dessert. Regular Branch 3 monthly meetings began on October 1 in St. Mary’s church hall. The hostess was Linda Secora, and attendees enjoyed tasty Halloween cupcakes and snacks. In keeping with the Halloween theme of the meeting, Branch 3 Vice President, Eileen Kaplan, led a fun discussion of superstitions, and members shared their favorite scary stories. Norma Becco was unanimously elected as the Branch 3 Representative to national SUA meetings, and Mitzi Drobnick donated the door prize. The November monthly meeting was held on November 5. Branch 3 Chaplain, Marie Mutz, opened and ended the business part of the meeting with a prayer. Patty Gersick Derby was the hostess of the meeting and served delicious slices of pumpkin pie and carrot cake. Guests included Elaine Volk, Joan Mihalick, and Louise Burg. Louise won the door prize, which was donated by Annette Charron. Members unanimously approved Branch 3’s participation in the planning of Slovenian/Croatian Heritage Day, which will be held in April 2014 at Pueblo Community College. Slovenian Heritage Dinner in Pueblo. Clockwise from top right: Halcyon Mathis and Betty Skul making sarma; Beth Jesik Johnson and Jay Skul leading the music at Mass; strudels and pojanje; St. Mary’s; the buffet line; Annette Charron with accordionists Gary Kleinheim and Jay Skul; the Culig and Robeda families enjoying the Slovenian dinner. Zarja - The Dawn The annual Christmas luncheon was held on Tuesday, December 3, at the Mozart Restaurant. During the luncheon, Jay Skul strolled through the room playing Slovenian music on his accordion. Participants brought Santa gifts to share, and everyone went home with a present. Madeleine Khosla also provided goody bags filled with holiday treats at each place setting. Members attending the Christmas party also contributed to the SWU Scholarship Foundation. ANNETTE SABO CHARRON & BARBARA KARLINGER BRANCH 13 - San Francisco, California In your Easter bonnets with all the frills upon it.... we want to wish you a very holy and happy Easter. Vesele velikonocne praznike. Please save this date for our annual Member of the Year 2014 Luncheon - Sunday, May 4, 2014, 12:00 p.m. at Val’s Restaurant, 2468 Junipero Serra Blvd., Daly City, CA. Cost of the luncheon is $33 per person. Send check by April 25, to President, Doreen Sustarich, 575 Hamilton Street, San Francisco, CA 94134. Please join us. We always look forward to visiting with our members and friends each year. See you at Val’s. MOREEN SPENCER BRANCH 5 - Indianapolis, Indiana BRANCH 16 - South Chicago, Illinois Contact Information: Phyllis phyllisswu5@aol.com Greetings! Growing up, I can remember coming home Contact Information: Marjorie Mitchell from school to wonderful smells coming out of mom’s 773.646.4392/Dolores60617@yahoo.com kitchen. She would have a large, white sheet covering the Well, January came to us all wrapped in cold, white snow, kitchen table, with hundreds of golden yellow shreds of and ice. We weathered the storm and certainly hope that noodle goodness drying, while carrots, celery, and onions the worst is behind us. Victor Sebehar spent the Christmas simmered in a soup pot on the stove. A large bowl of holiday in Minnesota with his son and family, while Marjorie steaming, cooked chicken sat on the counter, waiting to be Mitchell avoided the extreme cold and enjoyed a much added back into the pot right before serving. The smells warmer climate in Texas, celebrating the New Year with were wonderful, but the temptation to walk through the her daughter. kitchen multiple times to grab a handful of the “scratch Vickie Putzell passed away on December 28th. She had noodles” was too hard to resist! The small noodles were been married to husband, Joe, for 60 years. Vickie had both crunchy and chewy, with a buttery quality that made been a long-time active member of Branch 16 until the your mouth happy! Mom always yelled at us for stealing effects of Alzheimer’s disease took its toll; she resided in her noodles, but why did she make so many? (Too many Spring Hill campus in Merrillville, IN. for the pot, that’s for sure!) Mom made the extra “scratch noodles” for her family, as I now make those same “scratch noodles” for my family; together, the noodles and the chicken soup make warm, loving memories of family times... make some soup today! Easter will soon be upon us, bringing springtime, sunshine, and warmer weather! We always have a great time on Good Friday evening, making dozens of boiled eggs, and coloring them every hue of the rainbow! Drawing designs, painting dots, taping faces on each egg makes for a fun evening of teasing, joking, and trying to out-do each other. I can remember my Grandma Loviscek making the Rose Tomasich, Mary Jane Strus, Judy Machak, beautiful, colored eggs from Slovenia, with the wax and Betty Krcmaric, Jane Sebaitis, and Gen Marco. multiple layers of colors...does anyone know how to do that now? How I wish I could have learned Hopefully, Helen this art from her! Nowicki is on the Watch your mail for info on our mend after a quite Member of the Year meeting. Last lengthy illness. year, we had a great time having Hope to see her at our meeting at the Friday night the meetings in the dinner at the Slovenian National upcoming months. Home; so watch your mail for a date As a matter of fact, and time! it would be nice to Have a Happy and Blessed Easter! Vic Sebahar, “Smiles” Jim Rossi, Dotsi Rossi, see some NEW KAREN, MARY & PHYLLIS George Griffin, and Fran Griffin. faces at the March/April 2014 25 Members and their guests are invited to attend. Also, our annual Bakery Sale will be held on April 5 and 6 at St. Joseph Church before and after all Masses. We appreciate everyone’s support, whether you donate baked goods or make a cash donation. Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, May 20, when we will honor our Member of the Year. Doors will open at 5:00 p.m. We want to thank Pat Schager for her wonderful Zarja reporting the last few years. I will do my best to fill her shoes! DIANE HOHENEATER meetings! Enjoy the pictures of our Christmas party in December. Just hope that the following months bring all of us an abundance of health and happiness. We can sure use some cheering up!! DOLORES KRAL FRANKO BRANCH 20 - Joliet, Illinois Contact Information: Diane Hohenwater dhohenwater@comcast.net In December, our Branch celebrated Christmas with an appetizer potluck. We enjoyed plenty of delicious food, Slovenian wine, and a gift exchange. Everyone in attendance enjoyed this new format, and we plan to continue the tradition. We were sad to learn of the death of member Judy Derlinga, a past President of Branch 20, and member Mary Lesnik. Congratulations to members Joseph and June Muren, who are celebrating 60 years of marriage! Jonita Ruth proudly announced the birth of her greatgranddaughter, Stella Elizabeth, daughter of member Kelsey Nicol, and granddaughter of member Janice Singletary. Stella was welcomed home by her big brother, Liam. Our 2014 Installation of Officers was held in January, conducted by our Spiritual Advisor, Father Tom Paul. This is always a fun afternoon, with a buffet dinner provided by our officers. Our popular St. Joseph Table event will be held on Tuesday, March 11, at St. Joseph Park, with dinner at 6:30 p.m. followed by a brief meeting. Everyone that attends is asked to bring a dish to pass. 26 BRANCH 24 - LaSalle, Illinois Contact Information: Bonnie Prokup wprokup@aol.com Branch 24 members - get ready for an exciting year of activities. At the last meeting we agreed our best turnouts are when we have Slovenian-related topics. A highlight for many will be on March 20 for a private tour of our old Slovenian Church, St. Roch’s, which is now a private residence. On April 10th at 6:00 p.m. we are making butare at Starved Rock Family Fun. There is a $5 cover charge. This is only the beginning; stay tuned. Welcome new member Karen Zermeno. A million thanks to Mary Ann Brunner for doing a wonderful job as our Branch President for two years. Thank you to Diane Data for accepting the new title. Just like MaryAnn, you will make us proud! BRANCH 35 - Aurora, Minnesota Contact Information: John Star johnks6@yahoo.com Greetings from cold and snowy northeastern Minnesota. 2014 started out the way 2013 ended - cold, cold, and cold. A lot of places have had more snow in a couple of months then they had in the 2013 winter! We hope everyone had a wonderful beginning to the New Year and that it will continue for the rest of the year. On January 12, our Branch had their Christmas Party with that favorite game, traveling Bunco. It makes for a few exciting moments! The March meeting will be our dime auction with proceeds going to our local rest home’s activity department. Our Member of the Year celebration is scheduled for May 2014. Preparations will begin soon. Anita Vovk is our honoree this year. She moved to the Twin Cities this summer, but is still our member and we hope to see her at the party. Belated Get Well wishes go to Francine Stellmach of Babbitt, Minnesota. Zarja - The Dawn We welcomed six new members to our branch last fall: Tina and Tom Bajda, Daniel Chad, Robert Fince, Donna Sadar, and John Snidarich. Happy to have you join us! Until the next Zarja issue, take care. FYI: If you happen to watch weather reports, and you see Embarrass, MN, has the coldest temperature in the nation, note that our Branch is about 12 miles away. Brrrrr! MARLYS RABB BRANCH 43 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin Contact Information: Jan Gehm 414.321.1413/ twogames@wi.rr.com I hope your holidays were joyous. Greetings for a Happy, Healthy, and Peace-filled 2014. Our first attempt at a New Year ’s Eve Party was Loretta and John Urh. successful and all had a great time. It was a snowy night, but over 50 people braved the elements and were glad that they did. The food was plentiful; thanks to the many members who volunteered to fill the tables and set them up. Five p.m. arrived (midnight in Slovenia) and all toasted the New Year with a glass of champagne, donned hats, and blew horns to welcome in 2014. We even had a rousing chorus of Kol’kor Kapljic. Glenn Schmidt (aka Lamarr) and Lenny Baraga provided Slovenian and American music. Many thanks to Jan Gehm for making sure that all went well and for making all the necessary arrangements, and to Helen Frohna and Denise Bartlett for all of their extra work. There were many great door prizes and a big thank you to all who donated them! The Po Bozicna Zabava held on Saturday, January 11, at Aliota’s Restaurant was well attended and enjoyed by all present. The dinner was excellent, the raffle prizes plentiful, and appreciated by all who won. Many thanks to the many members who donated them! Our 2014 Branch officers were installed after our luncheon. All 2013 officers agreed to serve for another year. Our thanks for your service! Interested Branch members will be meeting at the Triglav Park Dom in Wind Lake on Saturday, April 12, at 10:00 a.m. to again make our butare to carry in our procession into St. John The Evangelist Parish in Greenfield at 11:00 a.m. on Palm Sunday, April 13th. All are welcome and there will be plenty of helpers to teach the beautiful, Slovenian craft. After Mass all are invited to join us for lunch at the Open Flame Restaurant - 5081 S.108th Street. A reminder to mark your calendars for April 27 for a special program presented by the Slovenian Arts Program (SAP) of the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Navihanke (a ladies ensemble from Left to right: Jackie Smith, Ellen Shiflet, Connie Molbeck, and Ruth Bradford-Johnson. March/April 2014 27 Mary Cay and Ray Freiberg. Helen Frohna is leading us in a New Year’s Eve toast and prayer. Slovenia) will perform at 2:00 p.m. at the Polish Center, 6941 S. 68th St. in Franklin. The program will be cabaret style for your listening and dancing pleasure. Tickets will be $15 and $10 for students, seniors, and Friends of SAP. Congratulations to June Znidorka, a very deserving SUA member, for being selected as Branch 43’s Member of the Year. June has chosen Saturday, May 3rd, for her celebration and it will be held at Meyer’s Restaurant in Greenfield at noon. Branch members are encouraged to check our Branch 43 activities calendar often, so you don’t miss our great 2014 plans. MICI BREGANT 28 BRANCH 47 - Garfield Heights, Ohio Contact Information: Debbie Duris 330.467.2281 Greetings! Our Branch Christmas Celebration for 2013 was a deliciously catered affair by Maple Heights Catering with desserts by our members. Everyone that attended had a wonderful time. Our officers will remain the same as last year: President - Debbie Duris, Vice President Diane Fornaro, Recording Secretary - Debbie Duris, Treasurer - Olga Dorchak and auditors - Ginger Kemmerling and Katherine Wallace. Thank you for serving our Branch members. I would like to encourage members to attend our meetings in 2014: First meeting will be our luncheon on Saturday, May 3rd, at 1 p.m. at the Burntwood Tavern (formerly Max & Erma’s) on Kruse Drive in Solon; Saturday, September 6th, at 1 p.m. at Panera Bread in Solon; and our December Christmas Party at the Valley View Community Center on Saturday, December 6th, at 12:30 p.m. Once again this dinner will be catered by Maple Heights Catering. I encourage you to mark down these dates and times to come share in our sisterhood. It’s always special and memorable when we get together with as many of our members as possible, To get Branch information, contact Debbie at her home at 330.467.2281 or e-mail her at dcduris@gmail.com. Wishing everyone a Happy and Blessed Easter. I’d love to share any member stories, call me on my cell 330.730.8951 or e-mail me at kjferrante@gmail.com. KATHLEEN FERRANTE BRANCH 89 - Oglesby, Illinois Contact Information: Jim Ebner deadendbluff@yahoo.com 815.883.3268 Branch 89 gathered in large numbers to attend the annual “Christmas Party Meeting” held on Sunday, December 1, 2013. Hosted by Ona Rhen and daughter, Chris Sabotta, this year’s event was held in the private dining room of Mario’s Maples, Peru, IL. Delicious meals “from the menu” were enjoyed by all. After the meal, on a CD player, the Slovenian version of “Silent Night” (Sveta noc) was played. With our trusty song sheets in hand, we sang along in Slovenian! For a “first time” effort, it went quite well and we look forward to actually practicing before next Christmas! The White Elephant Gift Exchange proved to be an entertaining and fun-filled event as the various presents were chosen, “traded”, etc. President Barbara Bruch handed out the meeting schedule for the coming year, as well as committee chairpersons. Branch 89 “hibernates” from formal meetings in January and February! Branch 89 members gathered in force to bid a final farewell to our oldest member, Ann “Bones” Batty (96), who passed away Friday, January 10. Several years ago Zarja - The Dawn one of our members shortened and condensed the previous casket prayer into a very precise, meaningful message. This revised casket prayer was recited and the traditional red carnation was presented by Branch 89 members at the wake service in memory of Ann’s dedicated years to the SUA. We look forward to our Slovenian Heritage Day event to be held at Claudette’s on Saturday evening, March 29th, from 4 to 7 p.m. This is a “laid-back,” fun-filled, open house evening featuring tastings of potica, strudel, smoked sausage, and cheese and crackers, as well as a variety of raffles. Background polka music, pictures from the past, memories, and friends, new and old, round out the evening. There is a time to work, a time to play, and a time to share our heritage! Come join us at Claudettes! “Hello” to all of our out-of-state members! JIM EBNER BRANCH 93 - New York, New York Contact Information: Elizabeth Gross 718.335.8459/Lizg669@gmail.com A number of Branch members were invited to St Cyril’s Church in January for the Memorial Celebration of the Life of Bogdan Grom, organized by Nina Woodrow. Friends and associates spoke of how he had touched their lives and Sara Zigon added music with piano renditions of Grieg and Tchaikovsky. In February our Kulturni Dan event is at the expanded Café Marlene, newly named Marlene Tavern, which now serves an extensive number of Slovenian dishes (But still no Slovenian beer! What is wrong with the marketing department of Laško Pivo?) In addition, we are hoping to have a special musical treat imported from Slovenia via Boston for everyone’s enjoyment. In March, many of us will be travelling to Bethlehem, PA, for a special Mass in honor of St. Joseph’s Feast Day at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church. Both that church and St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem were built in the early 1900s by immigrants from the Prekmurje region of Slovenia, the area under the control of the Magyar nobles of Hungary. With so many Slovenians in the area, is it just wishful thinking that we will be able to find some gibanica? Once again, we will be making butarice for cvetna nedelja (Palm Sunday) on Saturday, April 5th and/or Sunday, April 6th. If you’re in New York at that time, and would like to participate, willing hands are always welcome! We do this at St. Cyril’s - for exact time, contact Tanya Vajk at vajkusa@aol.com. In the planning stages - a cookie and cake bake sale to raise money for a new stove and sink at St. Cyril’s kitchen, a welcome baby party for the newest additions to our members’ families, continuation of the Slovene language classes, a Bernarda Fink concert in May, and perhaps a Slovenian film. ELIZABETH GROSS BRANCH 99 - Lemont, Illinois Contact Information: Jana Hlade jmhlade@hotmail.com Hello fellow Branch members! Just a recap of the last few months. In November, our Branch voted to keep the same board members: Julie LaJoie as president; Paula Mavec as vice-president; Linda Schultz as secretary; Monica Morrissette as treasurer; Mary Mavec and Ann Nowak as auditors; and Jana Hlade as Zarja reporter. Our Branch has some new activities planned for this year. Be sure to check the schedule and mark your calendars. Also, remember to R.S.V.P. to those events when requested. This spring we have some fun events planned, so check the calendar for details. March/April 2014 29 Congratulations to Mara and Frank Martincic who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in November. As you may know, Mara and Frank were involved in a motor scooter accident on their honeymoon, which left Frank disabled since that time. They have one son, Paul, who is married to Christine, and have two grandchildren. Mara was also our Member of the Year in 2010. BRANCH 100 - Southern California Contact Information: Jean Koci ajkoci@cox.net Greetings! We are writing at a time when we are just getting back to normal after the Christmas and New Year holidays. We hope that those of you who have suffered the severe cold and stormy weather in the East have been able to get through it with as little discomfort as possible. It was wonderful to have our young people home for their winter breaks. Now they are back in school again and getting back into their busy schedules. The Branch 100 Christmas Party was a nice gathering. We thank Francine Phaller for making and donating the lovely scarves as a fund-raiser for the Branch. They were a real hit and were snapped up quicker than some of us had a chance to “shop.” Thanks, also, to Joanna Farrage who suggested this project. Mara and Frank Martincic We would again like to thank all our bakers for their contribution to our cookie sale in December. Our Branch collected over $400 which will be used for future activities. Our Branch also donated $150 to the SWU Scholarship Foundation. We also would like to give a big thank you to all our volunteers. From our board of directors who are dedicated to this Branch, and all our members and friends that help at so many of our events, we sincerely thank you! Wishing you all a very happy spring and a Blessed Easter! JANA HLADE 30 Looking bright and cheery at Branch 100 Christmas Party: Dorothy Jerneycic, Rosemary Mlakar, and Connie Swiderski. Bonney Zupan was elected as our Branch 100 “Member of the Year.” Invitations will go out for a special luncheon in Bonney’s honor to be held at Napoli’s Restaurant on May 10th at 11:30 a.m. Dorothy Jerneycic served as our Branch Representative for the recent National SUA conference. Thank you, Dorothy, for taking on that responsibility! Our family and some of our SUA members and friends were happy to have a visit from Fr. Peter Ro`i~, s.j., who was with us for a few days over the New Year holiday. It was a blessing to have him in our midst to welcome the New Year. We were honored that he chose to spend this important time here in Southern California. He was kind enough to visit the homes of several older Slovenians who truly appreciated his presence as he blessed them and their homes and wished them well. As we begin the New Year of 2014, we are grateful for our blessings of family and friends. And we send thoughts and prayers to those among us who are struggling with ill health or other burdens that they may have. A Joyous Easter to all! JEAN KOCI Zarja - The Dawn BRANCH 108 - Olney, Maryland Contact Information: Bernadette Fitzsimmons bettekfitz@verizon.net On December 23, 2013, several members attended the Slovenian Independence and Unity Day reception at the Embassy of Slovenia in Washington, D.C. It was a festive evening, including a warm welcome by Dr. Bo`o Cerar and his family, and his interesting address to the guests in commemoration of the proclamation of the results of the independence plebiscite in 1990. We were delighted to meet prospective members again that we had hoped to recruit at the Branch anniversary celebration in October. Branch 108 is always open to new members, initiating new projects, and ideas for the future. This past January and February, three of our members celebrated special birthday milestones. Congratulations and best wishes, vse najbolj{e za rojstni dan, to Helen Sisto and Stasha Seaton on 90 years, and May Kokal on 80 years. These ladies have been instrumental in our Branch activities, as well as inviting their families to participate in Branch endeavors. It is always a pleasure to have dedicated members present at Branch meetings and events. Slovenian sayings for March and April - “Kadar slive marca in aprila cveto, ne obrodijo.” (When plum trees bloom in March and April, they do not bear fruit.) “^e na veliki petek de`uje, dobro se leto napoveduje.” (If it rains on Good Friday, the forecast for the remainder of the year is good.) Vesele velikono~ne praznike in veliko pirhov! BERNADETTE K. FITZSIMMONS BRANCH 109 - Twin Cities (TC) of Minnesota Contact Information: Norm Setnicker normas188@msn.com/651.777.6106 The 2013-14 holiday season began on a sad note - the death of Kristine Medved Nelson. Her infectious smile, youthful exuberance, and enduring love for her family and siblings - Frank, Albin, Miro, John, and Bernadette - will be sadly missed. For the TC Slovenians her enthusiasm for her native Slovenian culture was prominently displayed at the Festival of Nations exhibits, Slovenian language classes, membership meetings, and at the many Medved family gatherings. Our December membership meeting opened with Mary Ann Palmer and Rich Samec (on the accordion) leading the members in singing Slovenian Christmas carols. Sue Rademacher and Liz Miller helped pass on the tradition of the Slovenian Christmas to the half dozen children who came to learn about Slovenian Christmas customs. Liz Miller had designed and sewed the “sv. Miklavz” costume (see picture) and Sue passed out some traditional Slovenian gifts to the children. Other members recalled some of their Christmas memories when they were growing up. Needless to say there were enough Slovenian Christmas “goodies” to share. In addition to our Christmas theme, Father Tegeder, a catholic priest from the St. Francis Cabrini church, gave a brief talk on the accomplishments of the “snowshoe priest,” Bishop Baraga. He also spoke about March/April 2014 his relationship with the American Indian Community in Minneapolis. Traditionally, January has been the month where we celebrate the anniversary of the Branch 109 - Twin Cities Slovenian’s inception into the family of the SUA. This year Bob Grahek organized a luncheon at the Heartland Café in St. Paul. Lenny Russo, chef/co-owner of Heartland Restaurant & Farm Direct Market, was the first Minnesotan to be named to the elite American Chef Corps, a culinary partnership with the U.S. State Department and the James Beard Foundation. The threetime James Beard award nominee, traveling with bags of wild rice, spent two weeks in Slovenia this past April; a journey chronicled in an eight-episode Slovenia television series called “Seasoned by Americans.” Lenny shared his Slovenian experiences with some 20 members. Mike Koski, chairperson for the 2014 Festival of Nation’s Slovenian exhibit, held its first organizational meeting in December. This year’s theme is: “World Peace Among People.” The brainstorming session seemed to coalesce around two prominent Slovenians - one a poet, France Pre{eren, whose 7th stanza of the “TOAST” became the Slovenian National anthem, and Peter Opeka, a Slovenian priest and a 2013 Nobel Peace Prize candidate, who helped over 300,000 of the poorest of the poor in the island country of Madagascar, off the coast of Africa. We hope to incorporate the Slovenian peace pole with its slogan, “Naj Mir Zavlada Svetu” - May Peace Prevail on Earth. We also hope to incorporate the peace endeavors of Karl Grahek. Karl passed away in 2013 and will be remembered for his strong beliefs for world peace, along with his love of the Slovenian culture. Two major projects will be on the “docket” for 2014, in addition to the Festival of Nations. Tea Rozman, director of Green Card Voices, will record and film oral histories of immigrant families and individuals in Branch 109 and Mary Ann Palmer and Norm Setnicker will begin writing the history of Branch 109 since its inception in 2005. Norm recently interviewed Mary Vidas, our first president, and one of the original founders. “Drzi smehlaj se” Keep smiling, NORM SETNICKER “Born in USA with Slovenian Parts” 31 @ivio, Zarja! Come experience firsthand the people and culture from the land of our ancestors. Let us pamper you like a VIP, with surprises and unique, local opportunities each day as we travel through the unspoiled back roads of Slovenia. This tour offers much more than sightseeing; we invite you to come see why! Let us take you to this magnificent country and introduce you to locals where you will hear and taste the Slovenian language, music, and food. Let us take you back in time as we board a steam train along the picturesque Bohinj railway, or descend on a 120 year old elevator to the Velenje Coal Mine, or as we visit a beekeeper to learn of honey and tasting. Let us show you the beautiful cities of Slovenia, such as Bled, Portoro`, Piran, Izola, Ljubljana, and Kamnik. Let us explore the little villages as we stroll their narrow streets; partake in the various culinary chores, as we sing, dance, and eat together. Let us feast on fresh fish from the Adriatic Sea while onboard our private cruise boat with stops at the medieval coastal towns. Above are just a few reasons that this tour is, quite simply, an “opportunity of a lifetime.” Let us be your guide! Space is limited. Tour Highlights: Professional Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout the tour Local expert guides for in-depth sightseeing, including many unique sites planned by your Hosts Excellent hotels chosen personally for this group Deluxe, air-conditioned, private motorcoach Buffet breakfast daily, seven lunches, and five dinners included Wine-Tasting, Honey-Tasting, and Olive Oil-Tasting Musical entertainment throughout the tour Comprehensive sightseeing tours at all major sites Escorted throughout by Hosts Debbie Pohar & Bonnie Prokup @IVIO, ZARJA! commemorative shirt Travel Log Memory Book Tour Cost (Land Package Only): $2,595.00 per person Single supplement $390.00 Tour based on a minimum of 25 travelers. Send your deposit today to confirm your reservation and avoid disappointment! 32 Zarja - The Dawn DAY 1 WED, SEP 17 - Transatlantic Flight DAY 2 THU, SEP 18 - Bled Dobrodosli! After clearing customs, Kompas Tour Director Manja Lilek will greet us as our luggage is loaded into a deluxe motorcoach. Relax as we head north with a short stop at the important pilgrimage, the Basilica of St. Mary’s in Brezje. Upon arrival at the hotel, spend the afternoon resting or begin exploring fairytale Bled. This evening, toast the beginning of an unforgettable trip at a reception with music to kick off the tour @IVIO, ZARJA! Overnight in Bled hotel. Dinner DAY 3 FRI, SEP 19 - Bled ~ Bohinj ~ Radovljica Discover firsthand why Bled is ranked among the most beautiful alpine resorts. Cross the blue-green alpine lake in a Pletna, an oldfashioned, covered boat, to the island. From this viewpoint we are surrounded by the Julian Alps and the dramatic setting of Bled Castle. The view will be enjoyed just as much when we tour the castle and look down upon this romantic, dreamlike, 1,000 year old town. Next we journey to the unspoiled Bohinj Lake, where a cable car will lift us to the top of Mt. Vogel to enjoy a mountain lunch. The day continues as we travel to the medieval village of Radovljica, with a stop at the Beehive Museum and the Lectar Museum to see how red hearts are made. Get ready to polka as a special feast is prepared at Gostilna Lectar. Overnight in Bled hotel. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner DAY 4 SAT, SEP 20 - Primorsko Region Step back in time onboard the 100 year, old-fashioned steam train as we travel on this picturesque route through the Primorsko region. Our motorcoach will be at the other end to take us to Goriska Brda. We will stop at Stekar vineyard where the lady of the house, Anuska, accompanied by her friends from nearby homesteads, will show us the art of soap-making and how they prepare their house specialties and serve lunch. Tonight we taste the dishes created in front of us and enjoy live music to make the evening complete. Overnight at a Tourist Farm. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner DAY 5 SUN, SEP 21 - Vipava Valley, Village of Goce Embrace a simpler way of life as we travel to the Vipava Valley to the picturesque village of Goce on the southwest hills, under heritage protection. Mass will be held in the village church, rich with history. In the afternoon, stroll the narrow streets of this enchanted village with locals as our guides. Visit the cemetery, and one of 75 wine cellars for a wine-tasting. The adventure continues with a local beekeeper for a honey-tasting. At the Cejkotova homestead, the owner will delight us with entertainment and a typical lunch of the region. We say farewell to this extraordinary day and depart for the Adriatic Sea and the coastal town of Portoro`. Tonight enjoy a dinner on your own at one of the many local restaurants by the sea. Overnight in Portoro` hotel. Breakfast & Lunch DAY 6 MON, SEP 22 - Piran ~ Izola ~ Portoro` Today is an adventure not to be missed as we board our private cruise boat taking us to the medieval coastal towns of Piran and Izola. While we disembark to shop and explore, the Chef will prepare a special fish dinner. The remainder of the day is your choice. Your Tour Hosts will be on hand for recommendations. Overnight in Portoro` hotel. Breakfast & Lunch DAY 7 TUE, SEP 23 - Slovenian Istra ~ Portoro` Journey inland to the Slovenian Istria countryside. Along the way, take an excursion to a small church in Hrastovlje, reknown for their famous frescoes. Visit a local olive oil producer for a tasting. The afternoon is complete as we savor the excellent cuisine at a gostilna in a village above Izola. Return to Portoro` and enjoy a free evening where the choice is yours. Visit Portoro` Casino or discover a restaurant of your choice along the sea. Overnight in Portoro` hotel. Breakfast & Lunch DAY 8 WED, SEP 24 - Lipica ~ Karst Region Say goodbye to the Adriatic Sea as we head towards Ljubljana with a stop at the Lipica (white horse) stud farm. Enjoy a distinctive lunch of the Karst region, followed by a visit to Prejdama Castle before we continue to Ljubljana and check into our hotel. Overnight Ljubljana hotel. Breakfast & Lunch DAY 9 THU, SEP 25 - Ljubljana Explore the capital city of Ljubljana, beginning with a reception at the Ethnographic Museum. Our tour continues with a short visit to Zale Cemetery, known for its entrance and the chapels made by famous architect, Joze Plecnik. After a city tour, enjoy a boat ride on the Ljubljanica river. Dinner will be at a local restaurant. Overnight Ljubljana hotel. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner DAY 10 FRI, SEP 26 - Velenje ~ Ljubljana Imagine what it is like to be a coal miner when we don our hat and descend in the 120 year old elevator. Taste a coal miner’s snack to complete the experience. Rest up for a moment on the ride to the Logarska Valley Regional Park. Together we will stroll along the valley that Slovenians call our »jewel valley« for its surrounding green mountains and the Rinka waterfall at the end. This evening we are treated to an exclusive feast with typical dishes of the region. A short detour on the way home will take us to Radmirje to visit the church of St.Francis Xavier and its treasury. Overnight in Ljubljana hotel. Breakfast, Snack, & Dinner DAY 11 SAT, SEP 27 - Ljubljana ~ Kamnik Spend the morning as you wish. Visit with friends or relatives or take in the sights and sounds of Ljubljana. In the afternoon travel by motorcoach to Kamnik, a historical town, established in the 12th century. After a tour of the town, partake in a culinary experience. In the evening, celebrate the end of an extraordinary vacation with new friends at a farewell dinner party as we toast one another and the adventures we shared while we enjoy a cultural evening with a folklore show. Overnight in Ljubljana hotel. Breakfast & Dinner DAY 12 SUN, SEP 28 - Transatlantic Flight Following breakfast we board the motorcoach one last time for our transfer to the Ljubljana Airport. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID LASALLE, IL September 17-28, 2014 Join Us for the @IVIO, ZARJA! Tour as We celebrate 85 Years of Zarja - The Dawn See details inside, or e-mail Bonnie Prokup wprokup@aol.com for more information. A full brochure can be obtained from the SUA website at www.slovenianunion.org or by calling Kollander World Travel. 90 Celebrating 90 Years 1923-2013 KOLLANDER WORLD TRAVEL 761 East 200th Street / Euclid, Ohio 44119 (800) 800-5981 / (216) 692-1000 Ext #3 for Judy www.kollander.com