President's Page
February 2021
Joseph Stefka, Jr., FIC, President, CEO
jstefka@nsslife.org
Greetings from the Home Office on a sunny but cold winter day. The Pittsburgh area during the winter months rarely sees sunshine so we are taking advantage of it. We have had a string of days without snow which is a rarity for January, usually the month with the most snowfall in the Pittsburgh area.
The month of February includes the celebration of several holidays. February 2nd is Groundhog Day. On Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, groundhog Punxsutawney Phil annually makes his prediction as to the remaining length of winter. Hopefully, Phil will not see his shadow and prognosticate six more weeks of winter! The celebration on Gobbler’s Knob usually draws thousands of people from around the world to watch Phil’s prediction but because of the pandemic this year, no in person attendance at the event is permitted. Different events will be held virtually. Valentine’s Day is celebrated on Sunday, February 14th. Presidents’ Day is celebrated on February 15th to honor President George Washington and President Abraham Lincoln whose birthdays are in February.
On February 15th we also celebrate Founders Day at the National Slovak Society. The Home Office will be closed on February 15th in honor of Founders Day. The Society was founded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on February 16, 1890, and this year marks our 131st anniversary. The National Slovak Society, initially named The National Slavonic Society, was founded in Allegheny Township, currently the North- side area of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Delegates from five Slovak Societies attended: Stefan Oravec, representing Hazelton, Pennsylvania; Anton S. Ambrose, representing Plymouth, Pennsylvania; Jan Miller, representing Cleveland, Ohio; Ludvik Novomesky, representing Freeland, Pennsylvania; and Peter V. Rovnianek, representing Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Jan Rybar also attended the convention represent- ing the Slovak fraternal in Braddock, Pennsylvania, but was not permitted to merge until the information regard- ing the conditions of the merger was brought back to the Braddock fraternal. The four visiting delegates, Pittsburgh was excluded, each contributed $50 to provide a death benefit for the new Society. The Society has undergone many changes over the past 131 years but is still true to its mission of providing products to help ensure the financial security of its members and to support the members and their communities through charitable, cultural, social and educational opportunities. From its humble beginning with initial assets of $200 in 1890, the Society today has assets over $1.4 billion and approximately 35,000 members across the country.
In our 131 years of existence, the National Slovak Society has had seventeen Supreme/National Presidents. Four of the Society’s Presidents died while in office. The Society has been served by twenty-nine Vice-Presidents. Eight Vice-Presidents have ascended to the position of President. Nineteen different members have served the Society as Supreme/National Secretary and sixteen members have served as Supreme/National Treasurer with the offices being combined by the convention in 1978. Over the period of 131 years, 197 members have served the Society as Supreme Trustees/National Directors. Since its inception in 1913, the Young Folks Circle has had eight Elders. Fourteen different individuals have served as Editor of the National News during its 111-year history. Eleven medical advisors and eight legal counselors have served the Society over its 131-year history. A total of thirty- four members were conferred Honorary Officer status by conventions over the Society’s history.