President Jim Benesh welcomed members of Western Fraternal Life Association Lodge Zare Zapadu 44 and called its recent meeting to order.

He thanked Jim and Judy Becker for staining and varnishing the windows in the balcony and Emil Prantner for the work he did installing millwork. He thanked Emil, Bev and Barb Prantner for painting and cleaning, as well as all others who helped with this project.

Six new members — Dorothy Passer, Emmett Knutson, Rylan Nelson, Marcheta Alien, Connor Stein, and Frances Kycek Swenson — were welcomed.

Can tabs and canceled stamps were brought for various projects.

Letters of invitation were sent for this meeting. Guests from Lodge 38 attended.

Sylvia Kycek gave two humorous readings. Director Duane Jirik and his son, Izak, were present at the meeting. Izak passed out WFLA rulers, sewing kits and key chains. Director Jirik presented pins to new 50- and 75-year members who were present: 50-year member is Jean Jech and 75- year members: Violet L. Kycek and Casper Leland Kycek. He congratulated them on their many years of membership. Each honored pin recipient received a corsage.

Steve Wend, Czech historian and genealogist from Owatonna Lodge 127, was the featured speaker. He spoke on Czech immigration to America. Many of the Czech families in this area came from the Rokycany area in Bohemia. Following Wend’s presentation, lodge members were entertained with accordion music by Frances Kycek Swenson.

A special cake was baked for this occasion with the lodge emblem on it, which was served following our program. This year of 2009 marks the 100th year of the construction of the “Brick Hall” lodge hall, which was built in 1909 by J.R. Lukes.