Zajedničar = Fraternalist. [volume], June 25, 1958, Image 9

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Matthew Braidech
Esther Kasunic
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JUNE 25,1958
E N I S
S E I O N
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PAGE 9
Mitzie Knaflic, Pres. \n\n Society's Scholarship Foundation A
Dream Come True For Younger Members
Tremendous Program Will Be Launched
To Make "Operation Education" Success
(Continued Prom Page 7)
rently with the application for
the Charter, and the granting
thereof, the application to the
District Director will be made.
This brings me to the sec
ond phase of this interim re
port. As I indicated to you
previously, thirty-four (34)
Honorary Directors and In
corporators have been chosen
to assist the activities of the
Scholarship Foundation.
This list is headed by the
internationally e n owned
sculptor and our most dis
tinguished Croatian, Pro
fessor Ivan Mestrovic, who
is now at the University of
Notre Dame at South Bend,
Indiana.
Elsewhere in today's Za
jedničar, the English Editor
is publishing the text of Pro
fessor Mestrovic's letter.
All of the active incorpora
tors and directors of the cor-
poration I am sure will be
pleased to know that our re
nowned Professor Mestrovic
has indicated his approval of
our aims and purposes.
Endorsements Pour In
The Directors and myself
feel that his genius should
provide the inspiration for all
of our young people through
out America and Canada to
seek whatever goal in life
they may wish to strive for.
It will be one of the more
pleasant duties of the Editors
of the Zajedničar to publish
the life and work of our Hon
orary Di e o r, Professor
Ivan Mestrovic.
You have already been
advised that the disting
uished Matthew Braidech
lias previously indicated his
acceptance.
Mr. Braidech is one of the
World's greatest living author
ities on the cause of natural
disasters, industrial explo
sions, and other similar prob
lems of mankind.
I have many letters in my
file from many other Honora
The incorporators and my
•elf would like to state pub
licly that it was a very diffi
cult task to select the Hon
orary Directors and lncorpor
ators from among the many
thousand worthy and disting
uished Croatians and Slavs in
North America.
The persons who appear as
Honorary Directors and In
corporators represent only a
few of the great-body of dis
tinguished Croatians or Slavs,
and by no means is exclusive
ly confined to the particular
grouping which will appear in
the Charter.
Time, space and limitations
prohibit a more thorough ap
praisal and selection.
I sincerely hope that by not
listing any particular person,
we do not offend any person
not so selected.
My task in this particu
lar enterprise will be diffi-
colt enough, let alone at
tempting to resolve the
very fine lines of distinction
regarding the selection of
the great or the near great.
Thus to all of you and to
all of my professional friends
and associates and to the dis
tinguished businessmen, lead
ers, artista, musicians, etc.,
and fellow fraternalists
throughout the United States
and Canada, please forgive
the oversight, if any, of not
being asked or requested to
appear in the Charter as an
Honorary Director.
I assure you that as long
as I am associated with this
movement, and this Founda
tion, I will constantly strive
to recognize our distinguished
citizens and members by mak
ing certain addition* to this
group.
Student Loan Provision
In future issues of the "Za
jedničar" and through the
mails you will receive further
details and information con
cerning the Scholarship Foun
dation.
It is hoped that we will be
able to maintain a large fund
by soliciting, and accepting,
small and large contributions,
however made.
The Directors have inclu
ded in the plan a Student
Loan provision in addition
to scholarship grants. We
have included the idea of a
self-perpetuating fund, the
possibilities of which are
enormous.
The Directors intend to fol
low a very strict and rigid
policy which will be thorough
ly audited by National Autho
rities in granting scholarship
aid based solely on merit and
need, without any other con
sideration whatsoever.
Investment Supremo
Too often, we think about
and worry about material in
vestments, in stocks, bonds
and real estate.
There are other invest
ments whicli feed and nour
ish the mind and the heart,
and actually contribute to the
bodily good health.
Make this cooperation with
the Scholarship Foundation
your investment in beauty
and kindness in the thousands
of others which should con
stantly enrich you.
Invest in the apprecia
tion of great art and mu
sic make this your own in
vestment in religious con
templation.
A small contribution or a
donation when sought and re
quested from you as applied
py Directors and Incorpora- to the purpose which we had
tors indicating their accep
tance and approval of the pro
gram and, if time and space
permit, I will be more than
pleased to request that the
Editors of our fraternal news
paper publish the same ftp
the edification of all of our
readers^
Very Difficult Task
in mind anent this Founda
tion will increase in value and
will never depreciate.
Charity Begins At ..
I like to consider my own
efforts in the establishment
of this Foundation and its
purpose as my initial contri
bution to the success of this
venture.
With that spirit in mind,
and as I have repeatedly ad
vised the Supreme Board at
their last Session, the for
mation, incorporation and
all of the costs incurred in
connection with the estab
lishment of the Croatian
Fraternal Union Scholar
ship Foundation, Inc., were
met and will be paid by
your General Counsel.
Generosity like kindness be
gins at home. Let us resolve
to bring to bear the full
impact of all of our wealth,
and strength, and the might
of the members of the Croa
tian*Fraternal Union of Ame
rica, and friends and associ
ates, and the intelligent use
of the genius present in our
ranks as a means of bringing
an era of symbiosis within the
great cultural family known
as the Croatian Fraternal
.Union of Americi.
Esther Kasunic
in Cleveland Race
CLEVELAND, Ohio The
"Strivers" CFU Lodge 671
candidate in the Popularity
Queen Contest which will be
climaxed at the Fraternal
Day Celebration on August
31, at Puritas Springs Park
will be lovely Miss Esther Joy
Kasunic.
The daughter of Emil
and Faye Kasunic, Esther
lives at 21200 Lake Shore
Blvd.
Esther is 20 years of age
and a graduate of Euclid Sen
ior High, Class of '56. She
participated in many extra
curricular activities in school.
She is now employed by the
Euclid Board of Education.
INSURANCE COMPANY has a department along
the lines of the Croatian Fraternal Union's Sports-Ed
ucational Dep't. Such a department can exist only with
in the framework of a fraternal organization. We wish to
offer our younger members, our native-born young people,
something which they Cannot obtain anywhere else.
We are directing our efforts—which should be increased
—to preventing the estrangement of our young people, and
they will not be estranged if we can find a way to awaken
their interest for the organization of their fathers.
In the sports field, we are considerably active and
far ahead of some numerically stronger fraternal or
ganizations. In the first place come bowling tournaments,
followed by basketball and, in recent times, golf champ
ionships.
The Croatian Fraternal Union promotes junior tam
buritza orchestras, kolo dancing groups, choral and dra
matic groups, although not to a sufficient extent. This de
partment also disseminates books for learning the Croatian
language.
A Fine Start, But Far From What We Need
All of these undertakings, both sports and cultural, are
supported by the Society. We must continue with this work
among our membership, and especially among our young
people. Our cultural activities, in particular, wUl have to be
intensified and branched out.
Our last (1955) Convention gave its attention to the
question of Scholarship Awards and asked the Supreme
Board to take the necessary action, whereby the Society
could help our needy and brightest student-members.
We have already started this work and have distri
buted $8,000 in the last two years, $4,000 in 1956, and a
like sum in 1957. This amount was aivlded among 40
students, each receiving $200. This is not by far what
should be done, nor what is gradually intended to be
done.
Last year, the Supreme Board undertook a new way to
try to build up a permanent Scholarship Fund by entering
into a contract with a firm which manufactures and distri
butes Christmas cards.
Our Society was to receive one-half of the net profit
from the sale of these cards.
The Supreme Board's intentions were good, but what
proves successful with some people, is not with others. This
project did not prove profitable for our organization, so the
Christmas Card Program was dropped.
Society In Midst of Scholarship Fund Drive
We will by all means have to establish a strong Schol
arship Fund for our deserving and needy young members.
Of course, it is impossible to grant scholarship assistance
to all, but those needing such help most should be helped.
The Supreme Board agreed to conduct a campaign for
this purpose and do so on a voluntary basis. The Executive
Board has charge of the drive and a chairman and secre
tary have already been chosen.
The campaign has been started, and if our membership,
and especially our businessmen and well-to-do members re
sponds to the committee's proclamation, we believe the cam-i
paign can succeed.
The Scholarship Fund should be built up to such a de
gree that we will be enabled to offer greater amounts to a
greater number of students than is now possible.
Even that which is currently being done in this re
spect is more than is being done by insurance companies
for the hundreds of thousands of their policyholders.
In helping our young people attain a higher education,
we are helping our people in that we are increasing the es
teem in which they are held by others.
We are proud of our young people who have already
acquired a high level of education. We, their elders, must
encourage them to continue along that path and prove that
we stand behind them in deed as well ag word,
There was, for example,
a recent letter from a Nest
a n a e e a i n i n e
reason for a junior mem
ber's suspension.
In very pithy language
"I hate to suspend this certi
ficate because I know the fa
ther couldn't afford to bury
a dead mouse let alone a child
should, heaven forbid, disas
ter strike!" our conscientious
field worker aptly describes
the fallacy of lapsing a CFU
certificate.
And, it would seem that
those who can least afford to
be without the benefit of pro
tection are the first to avail
themselves of this false econ-
Another Great Step Forward For The Croatian Fraternal Union Part III
Life's Like That When Parents Donft Think
PITTSBURGH In our
day to day routine receipt of
correspondence we find many
i n e e s i n a n e v e a i n
items which can be utilized to
good advantage in pointing
up the value of insurance, and
particularly CFU insurance.
Facing The Future With Training Schools
Southern California Membership
In "Accent On Youth" Program
I Know The Father Couldn't Afford To Bury A Dead Mouse...
By Michael Grasha
Junior Order Director
omy.
Great Waiver Record
Some thirty thousand CFU
Junior Term members are,
right now. enjoying the ben
efit of full coverage "on the
house", yes, at CFU expense.
As for the past full quar
ter of a century the Junior
Order Department has, this
year again, waived five full
months of Term dues for all
those who were on our books
last December.
April, May, June, July
and August are your Term
bonus months the period
when you reap a benefit
that no other organization,
commercial or fraternal,
can even begin to copy.
There is no one else who
can give you a full year's pro
tection for a payment of but
By MARTIN KRASICH, Supreme Treasurer, Croatian Fraternal Union of America
AERIAL VIEW of CFU Children's Home, Des Plaines, 111., for
years one of the finest such institutions in the United States
and
long the pride of every member of the Society.
So, all of us together must see to it that our Scholar
ship Fund Campaign is successful.
The Children's Home Has Fulfilled Mission
We have no intention of going into a detailed history of
our Children's Home, for that subject alone would fill an
entire volume.
However, since this is a vital, humanitarian phase of
the work of the Croatian Fraternal Union, we think it ne
cessary to bring out certain important happenings and to
bring into the order of business the question of the future
of the Children's Home.
The Children's Home was really started in 1915, in
Chicago, Illinois, with the founding of a new organiza
tion with the title "Association for the Maintenance of
Croatian Orphans in America."
In 1957 we marked the 30th Anniversary of the date
when the first children were received into our Children's
Home. The largest number of children resident in the Home
was in 1937 and 1938, when the total reached 144. From
that time, the number of children has been dropping stead
ily until, at present, there are about 30 children in the Home.
A Question For 1959 Convention To Solve
In all these years, our Children's Home has been ful
filling a great function. Approximately 500 children en
tered and left its portals.
Many of them are now prominent professional people,
tradesmen, businessmen, respectable fathers and mothers.
And who can say what they would be, if they had not been
sheltered and brought up by the Croatian Fraternal Union?
To them our Society is truly a mother, and there is not
one member who has ever regretted having contributed his
or her small share to this noble institution.
It is proper here to give deserving tribute to the pio
neers of this undertaking, and to the pioneers of the Cro
atian Fraternal Union.
The Children's Home, the property of the members
of the Croatian Fraternal Union, at present has a higher
financial value than was ever anticipated. But its hu
manitarian value far exceeds its financial value.
True, there is no longer the urgent need for the Chil
dren's Home as existed at the time of its founding.
It is difficult to foresee the future of the Children's
Home as it iexists today. Its future should be considered
carefully, without prejudice, and a solution to this problem
should be sought with an open mind, in which the coming
1959 Convention will certainly have the deciding word.
{Next: Trne Meaning of Your Membership^
seven months dues. Only your
CFU can boast of such a rec
ord of true fraternalism.
Learn And Profit
Many of our members take
this incomparable liberality
for granted.
I But many others are aware
of its uniqueness and fully ap
[preciate it. This appreciation
is characteristic of a broad
cross-section of our member
i ship, young and old, male and
I female.
To use but one concrete ex
ample—just a few days ago
we received a request for
membership from a youthful
applicant out in our strong
Chicago colony.
The proposer, the one
who convinced this young
girl to apply for affiliation
with our great CFU, was
Sally Hutehings, 13 year
old member of Nest 102.
(Junior Jottings P. 10)
Southern California Junior Talent
To Be Judged July 20 In Advance Of
Central Committee's Aug. 24th Fete
Proceeds of Late Summer Festivities
To Be Earmarked For Future Promotion
Of Youth Program In Lower California
LOS ANGELES The Annual Picnic of the Central
Committee of Southern California Lodges, which will be
staged August 24 at the Croatian Recreational Center, 11625
So. Budlong Ave., is beginning to move into high gear.
We have already submitted articles in the pages of the
Zajedničar about our efforts to stimulate interest among
the CFU lodges on behalf oft
our junior members.
As we indicated previously,
the Central Committee is de
voting its timje and energy for
the purpose of raising funds
to sponsor junior activities
that will bring to the people
of Los Angeles the culture of
the Slav people.
We know that If we
probe deeply into the lod
ges we will discover much
talent that is not being pro
perly utilized or apprecia
ted.
Our aim is,to uncover this
talent, encourage new talent,
help coordinate it and bring
it before the people of Los
Angeles to help fulfill their
esthetic needs in the field of
Slav culture.
We hope to do this by rais
ing money to assist in the for
mation of dance groups, tam
u i z a e n s e e s a a
groups, chorus, and other
such exciting cultural activi
ties.
July 20 To Be "T Day"
A letter has gone out to our
nest managers asking them to
help us seek out the talent
that already exists in tho
nests.
We have selected Jt^Jy 20,
1 p.m., at St. Anthony's
Church as the date for all
juniors to gather and exhibit
their talent.
A panel of judges will be on
hand to select the most talen
ted members who will per
form at the August picnic, at
which time the committee will
give 4 prizes to the best and
most original participants.
First prize consists of
$50.00, second and third
$25.00 each, and fourth a
Yugoslav Folk Dance Al
bum.
Since July 20 is the regular
Lodge 177 meeting day, we
have obtained the first floor
hall so that parents, while at
tending the meeting, can leave
their children to participate
in the program contest.
As was pointed out in the
letter the contestant must
perform something that will
uphold the Slav culture. It
can be a poem, dramatic reci
tation, song, dance, instru
mental number anything that
represents the culture of our
people.
Seek Help of Parents
It was also pointed out in
the previous articles, written
by our former publicity chair
man, that this will bring a
bout increased activity in our
lodges and better understand
ing among the youth and
their parents of Slav descent.
It will give the youth pride
in their heritage and better
understanding of the culture
of all peoples.
We ask all parents who
have talented children to
contact the nest managers,
to that their children's
names can be submitted to
the Talent Committee of
the Central Committee.
Jot down this date in your
calendar, July 20, 1:00 p.m.,
at St. Anthony's for the run
off of finalists in the talent
contest and remember Sun
day, August 24, the Central
Committee picnic to raise
funds for our junior activi
ties.
Distance Means Nothing
Lani Papadol is working
feverishly every Thursday at
the Croatian Hall, 330 So.
Ford Blvd., with some 30 jun
ior members, teaching them
many native Yugoslav kolos
and songs.
We invite parents to take
their children to these re
hearsals. From what we hear,
parents are just as eager to
join in for some fun and re
laxation.
With your participation
and the committee's enthusi
asm, let's knit our many tal
ents together and bring joy,
love and brotherhood to our
young nest members.
At our last committee
meeting, 5 delegates of
Lodge 959 in Fontana tra
velled over 60 miles to par
ticipate in our great work.
We invite you to be on the
lookout for further news of
our work in the Croatian and
English Sections of the Zee.
Agnes Daniels, Pub.
Mi'lwaukee Moms
Prep For Funfest
Youngsters Urged
To Rise And Shine
MILWAUKEE The CFU
Mothers Club will sponsor a
Picnic on Sunday, June 29,
at Elm Point Grove on South
27th and West Grange Ave.
Those who do not have cars
can come to the Picnic by
taking the College Ave. bus
on South 27th St.
There will be plenty of re
freshments, including the de
licious home-made sausage
which is prepared by our. Club
members.
Our club and tamburit
za youngsters will also re
ceive a free treat of hot
dogs and pop.
For the entertainment of
our guests there will be mu
sic for dancing and card
games.
Our many friends of the
area are invited to attend.
Remember, there will be no
meetings held during the
months of July and August.
See you at the Picnic on June
29th.
Three Pitt Groups In
High Time June 29th At
Croat Center, Milivale
PITTSBURGH "Slobo
da" CFU Lodge 34, KSKJ
Lodge 163, and "Bratska Slo
ga" wall sponsor their third
United Picnic on Sunday,
June 29, at the Croatian Cen
ter, Milivale.
Music will be provided hy
the well known Greyko
Tamburitza Orchestra, un
der the direction of Mr.
John Gregurich.
Transportation to the picnic
and return will be furnished
free of charge throughout the
day. The service will be from
the Bratska Sloga Hall, 146—
44th St., Pittsburgh.
John Xaglich, Sec'y.
CFU Lodge 34