News

From the desk of the Supreme Secretary
by Scott T. Pogorelec, F.I.C.
BUSY TIMES

I hope that many of our members will take the time to celebrate Join Hands Day on Saturday, May 3rd. It is a National Day of Volunteering sponsored by America’s fraternal benefit societies. It is a day of community service that specifically targets and develops relationships between young people and adults through neighborhood volunteering. Many communities across the world use this day as a building block to start the communication process between the young and old. With the mix of our young adults and our “wise and experienced” members, the Slovak Catholic Sokol can be a shining example of this special day. I urge our local Assembly and Wreath leaders to schedule a community service event and let the rest of our membership know about it through our Falcon. Remember, Join Hands Day should not only be celebrated one day a year. This is what we do and who we are as fraternals.

Perhaps the most important day of the month of May will be Sunday, May 11th. That wonderful day is, of course, Mother’s Day. Anna Jarvis is recognized as the Founder of Mother’s Day in the United States. She developed the inspiration of celebrating Mother’s Day from her own mother, Mrs. Anna Marie Reeves Jarvis, in her childhood. As an activist and social worker, the elder Mrs. Jarvis used to express her desire that we should honor all mothers and pay tribute to the contributions made by them. Following her mother’s death, Anna wrote letters to people in positions of power lobbying for the official declaration of Mother’s Day. The hard work paid off and on May 8, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a Joint Resolution designating the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. I would like to wish all our Sokol Mothers out there a Happy Mother’s Day! And I would especially like to wish my mother, Annie, and my wife, Maggie, a Happy Mother’s Day! I remind everyone, once again, that celebrating our beautiful Mothers should not only be a one-day event, but an everyday occurrence.

Let us also not forget the national holidays, Memorial Day and Victoria Day, created to honor and remember those who have died performing their duties while serving in the Armed Services. They served and died so we can live freely, and their sacrifice helped other countries shed the chains of their oppressors. May we never forget what they did for many, and the loss felt by their families. May all their souls Rest in Peace.

In our next issue of the Falcon, our members will also have the opportunity to see the smiling faces of our 2024-2025 Scholarship Recipients. Our scholarship grants are awarded to those on the college, high school, and grade school levels. This year will mark the 51st Anniversary of our generous scholarship program and we are proud of the fact that we have supported over 2,500 students with over $2.2 million in scholarship grants. Our children are our future, and we need to continue to support them!

The month of May also brings about many wonderful celebrations such as First Holy Communions, Confirmations, and Graduations. I cannot think of a better gift to give your Child or Grandchild than a Slovak Catholic Sokol Life Insurance Policy. Think about all the future benefits your child can reap with a Sokol policy, such as the above-mentioned Scholarship Grants. If you have any questions, please contact the Home Office at (800) 886-7656, and we would be glad to assist you.

I hope that all our Sokol bowlers have a wonderful time at our 79th International Bowling Tournament in Pittsburgh, PA on May 16th and 17th. Enjoy the spirit of fraternalism and competition and pick up all those spares!

Please check out the activities for our Heritage Slet during the last weekend of June. Our Supreme Physical Fitness Board has put great effort into putting together this fraternal activity and we hope you can make it!

Until next time, good health to all!
Stay safe, stay strong,
and STAY POSITIVE!
Zdar Boh!