Western Fraternal Life Association Lodge Zare Zapadu No. 44 held its annual Christmas potluck dinner and meeting on Dec. 5 at the Glenville Legion. Bags of treats were passed out to those present.

President Jim Benesh opened their meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. Marie Krikava gave the secretary’s report, and Jim Becker gave the treasurer’s report. Card chairwoman, Frances Kycek Swenson, sent cards to Sylvia Kycek and Alice Kycek in Good Samaritan Home and to Genevieve Krueger.

Krikava passed out the 2011 meeting and event calendar, which was discussed. The group is planning a Czech Festival Open House for June 25, 2011, to show off the tuck pointing done on the Brick Hall this fall, which was partially funded by a grant.

Lodge No. 44 had a granite monument made and installed on the former site of the Wooden Hall, to commemorate the Wooden Hall that used to be there. Anderson Memorial made the monument and donated half of the cost. This is a historic site.

The group held election of officers: President Jim Benesh; Vice President Georgia Jech; Secretary Marie Krikava; Treasurer Jim Becker; Trustees Emit Prantner, Sally Walker and Dennis Rayman.

Members turned in their hours of Fraternal and Community Service for the year, needed for the secretary’s year end reports.

The lodge will host its district meeting May 1, 2011, at the Brick Hall. Plans are already in progress for this event.

Frances Kycek Swenson delivered a box of WFLA rulers, with the American presidents on them, to a local school. It is a wonderful way to learn presidents and useful as a ruler.

Spencer Kral has agreed to keep the grounds mowed at the Brick Hall again next year. The group would like to thank him for a job well done. He is a member of the lodge and a student at Glenville-Emmons High School.

The members brought many pounds of food for the Salvation Army Food Shelf and boxes of items for the Ronald McDonald House Wish List in Rochester. Members also brought can tabs, which they save all year, for the Ronald McDonald House, and eye glasses and soup labels for various projects.

The group is happy to announce that its youth member, Elise Nyenhuis, won first place in the WFLA essay contest last month and was awarded $50. Her theme was the American flag. The group would like to congratulate Nyenhuis on her work.

Fruit plates were assembled and delivered to shut-ins by lodge members. The visiting that goes with the gift is most rewarding.

Frances Kycek Swenson and Darlene Rayman won the door prizes. Following the meeting, they played bingo.