November 2014 Volume 109
HOW TIME FLIES!
Yes, it’s that time of the year again... HOW TIME DOES FLY! And as we have done since the 1980’s, we are in the midst of planning and preparing for our annual Sväty Mikulaš or St. Nicholas Party. Since we have already written about this Slovak (and European) tradition of welcoming St. Nick on the 6th Day of December of each year, we’ll not go into much detail this time. We’ll simply remind you that on this day children leave their SHOES on the window sill with hopes that St. Nick or Mikulaš will leave “goodies” in them by morning. It is the beginning of the Christmas season!
We at Sokol Farrell will be celebrating this tradition on SATURDAY DECEMBER 6, 2014. It is a sit down full course dinner with live music by JOE LIPINSKY ORCHESTRA for listening or dancing. Dinner includes a choice of salad or “kapustnica” a Slovak sauerkraut soup; the main course is the best homemade “holubky” (stuffed cabbage) you ever tasted; and the dessert is a European Tort, the likes of which will make you think you went to heaven; and of course there is coffee. SEE CENTERFOLD.
Dinner is served from 5:00 PM – Music is from 6:00 to 9:00.
Take advantage of this. Don’t be shy! We’ll also try to sing some Christmas songs... both English and Slovak and we’ll even provide the words. The profit we make is used to support our gymnastic program... so, the more people that come, the more we can do for our gymnastic program.
COME ON DOWN AND BRING YOUR FRIENDS!
SOKOL MERGER
NEWS
By now every member of Sokol Farrell should have received a large envelope from GBU Financial Life. It contains information concerning ADDITIONAL insurance you are receiving as a result of SOKOL USA merging our INSURANCE BUSINESS into GBU. Everyone who purchased Sokol insurance prior to 2013 will receive additional insurance from GBU. This new insurance is in the form of a single premium policy and THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU.
HERE IS WHAT YOU MUST DO:
This merger just concerns our insurance and will not affect anything else our club does. Purchasing insurance, though, will still be a condition of membership in Sokol; but the difference is that the insurance will be underwritten by GBU Financial Life.
We will still conduct monthly meetings, our gymnastic program, our scholarship program, our social events, our Golf Scramble, our Sokol Farrell Newsletter as well as our website and FACEBOOK page. The only change will be what is written on the top of new insurance policies we will sell in the future. Instead of Sokol USA, on the top of the policy will be GBU Financial Life.
Sokol USA (our national HQ) has kept some money in reserve, invested it and will operate our national Sokol gymnastic and fraternal programs with this money.
Should you wish to say“Thanks” to Sokol for the additional insurance you have received you can do this in a number of different ways:
You can send/deliver a check to Sokol USA Farrell and ask that the money be placed in either:
1) The Steve Banjak Memorial Scholarship
2) The Gymnastic Fund
3) The Lodge General Fund
Checks can be made out to Sokol USA Farrell and sent to 800 Spearman Avenue, Farrell, PA 16121
OR
You can send a “gift” to our national HQ, Sokol USA by:
1) informing GBU that you do not wish to accept the additional insurance and to give the money that would be used to purchaseyour new insurance to Sokol USA’s “reserve” fund.
2) you can send a check to Sokol USA
Checks can be sent to Sokol USA Box 189; East Orange, NJ 07019-0189 with instructions to place the money in the “reserve” fund.
INSTRUCTOR CLINIC
Our gym was full of activity on August 30 as Sister Charity Ruhl from Sokol Monessen conducted a Clinic for our TOTS instructors.
A TOTS class is a new initiative in our gym. For the first time we are offering a class for TOTS from 3 to 6 years of age and Beginners from 7 to 10 years of age on a Saturday morning.
The clinic lasted 3 hours and was full of information about what and how to teach young children about gymnastics. It was intense and very well worthwhile. Breakfast was served before the clinic and lunch afterward. We would like to “thank” Sister Charity Ruhl for giving of her Saturday from her busy schedule. Sokol Farrell did so by sending a check for $100 to be used toward Sokol Monessen’s loan repayment from Sokol USA HQ. THANKS CHARITY FOR A JOB WELL DONE AND TO ALL WHO ATTENDED.
We are happy to have added Brandi Evans and DawnnaGoller to our instruction staff. Both instructors are motivated to “grow” the TOTS class for Sokol by making the class not only a gymnastic class... but also a FUN class. Assisting them are our junior gymnasts Sadie Brandt and Lili Glover. It’s a great TEAM of instructors.
The TOTS class is intended to teach young children the basic concepts of gymnastics such as learning to move safely in self and general space with and without apparatus in various directions, with various speeds and intensity and in various body positons; learning to safely develop kinesthetic awareness, speed, balance, strength and aesthetic movement; and to allow them to experience success and learn to gain confidence in their abilities in overcoming obstacles
Hopefully all of our Sokol members will spread the word and encourage others to attend this class.
GYMNASTICS
Classes are in full swing. We have continuous registration, which means that new members may join at any time. Class schedules are as follows:
Thursday – 6:00 PMJrs./Srs. Competitive Gymnastics
Tuesday - 6:00 PM Jrs./ Srs. Competitive Gymnastics
Saturday – 11:00 AM TOTS (3 to 6 yrs.) & Children (7 to 10 years.)
At our October monthly meeting Sister Mandy (Goda) Michaels was appointed our new Director of Women. Congratulations Mandy and welcome back to the gym. Mandy is quite a gymnast. She may be the only Sokol Farrell member that has won 3 different all around gymnastic National Sokol Championships:
XXI American Sokol Slet, Chicago, Girl’s Level 3 (Ages 10 to 12), 2005.
XXV Sokol USA Slet, Pittsburgh, Junior Girls Level 5, 2007.
XXII American Sokol Slet, Fort Worth, Texas, Junior Girls Level 6, 2009.
We are happy to have such an accomplished gymnast teaching our gymnasts.
AMANDA (GODA) MICHAEL
SOKOL FARRELL’S
DIRECTOR OF
WOMEN
3 TIME SOKOL
NATIONAL
CHAMPION
SCHOLARSHIPS
There are many benefits available by belonging to our Sokol Farrell club. Chief among these benefits are the great number of scholarships or grants available to members. Although they are available through different sources, being a Sokol member is a prerequisite and we recommend that our members explore all the possibilities:
The“Steve Banjak Memorial Scholarship” is annually offered to a qualified member of Sokol Farrell. This is a competitive scholarship worth $1000. Applicants who have received this award one time are eligible to apply only if no other applicants apply. The application form and requirements can be found on our club website at: Afully completed application and letters of reference must be sent by U.S. PostalDelivery by May 15 of each year.
The “Milan Getting Scholarship” is offered by our national Sokol USA office to members who are furthering their education in a four-year college or university. Applications for the $500 scholarship are due by March 1ofeachyear. Recipients are eligible to receive their
scholarship for up to four years providing they maintain their membership in Sokol USA and a specified grade point average.
To request a scholarship application contact Sokol USA Headquarters by sending a request to Sokol USA; P.O. Box 189; East Orange, NJ or you may send an e-mail request to
TheGBU Scholarship and Grant Awardsare offered by our new merger partner. As a member of Sokol USA, you are also a member of GBU and therefore eligible to apply for the various types of scholarships and grants offered by GBU Financial Life. The following are offered:
- Four Year Scholarship – $2,500 over 4 years.
- Undergraduate Scholarship – 1-3 years – $500 per year.
- Graduate Degree Scholarship – 1-2 years – $500 per year.
- Two-year Scholarship (Technical Schools, Nursing Schools and Community Colleges) – 1-2 years – $500 per year.
- GBU Grant – One-time $500.
- John P. Albright Grant – One-time $500.
- District 496 Gill Hall, PA Grant – One-time $500.
More information can be found on the GBU web-site at: Applications are Due Feb. 1 of each year.
As a SOKOL member you are eligible to apply from all three sources if you meet the criteria. There are 1,000’s of dollars that will be given to SOKOL members who are going to advance their education after high school. Receiving money from one source does NOT make you ineligible for money from the other sources. So get on that computer and get to work. Money is available!!!
STEVE BANJAK MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Committee Chairman, Bro. Mel Slezakreminds our members that money for this scholarship has primarily been collected from donations from members and friends of Sokol. Donations are continuously being accepted. Checks can be made payable to Sokol Farrell and designated for the “Steve Banjak Memorial Scholarship”. You can deliver this on our monthly meeting on the first Thursday of each month at 7:30 PM OR send it to Sokol USA Farrell; 800 Spearman Avenue; Farrell, PA 16121.
Previous Scholarship Winners:
2006 & 2007 Oleksandra Banjak 2008 Katie Shebeck
2009 Lucia Murcko 2010 Robin Platte
2011 BibianaMurcko2012 BibianaMurcko & Robin Platte
2013 Daniel Konopski 2014 Sarah Goda
A Final “Nazdar!”
Brother Cyril Wasko passed away on October 29. He was born in Farrell on July 30, 1926, the son of Frank and Anna Sepela Wasko. He was a graduate of Farrell High School. Cy served in WWII in Europe. Brother Wasko came from a long line of Sokol members, his father, his brother Edmund was a lodge officer in the 1960’s and his brother Albert, who all preceeded him in death and another brother Robert who was active in our gym. Even in his latter years Brother Wasko was often seen at the Slovak Home and always asked questions and showed a strong interest in the activities of our lodge. A donation of $25 was made in his name to our “Steve Banjak Memorial Scholarship Fund.WE THANK BRO. WASKO FOR MAKING OUR LODGE HIS BENEFICIARY!.
Brother David Goda passed away on September 17. Dave was born on Feb. 2, 1955, in Sharon to Edward and Anne Mallick Goda. David graduated from Sharpsville High School and Penn State University, State College. David served a number of years as our lodge recording secretary. Brother Goda’s two daughters are very active in Sokol; Sarah was the 2014 recipient of the “Steve Banjak Memorial Scholarship” and Amanda is currently our lodge Director of Women. Additionally Daves former wife, Debbie is active in our gymnastic program. A donation of $25 was made in his name to our “Steve Banjak Memorial Scholarship Fund.