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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, recommendations and guidelines from the president, CDC and Western Fraternal Life Home Office, Lodge 44 could not meet in April, and our members are practicing “stay at home” and social distancing. But that didn’t stop our members from doing projects to help others, and using their phones, mail, the internet and social media to stay in contact with and check on health and grocery needs for elderly and others in our lodge, neighborhoods and communities.

Here are some projects they have been doing: Mike and Martha Krikava made masks from cotton quilting fabric donated by Katherine Pacovsky. Mike cut material and prepared elastic, and Martha pleated and sewed. They made 75 masks for United Hospital in St. Paul, gave 25 to Thorne Crest in Albert Lea, and another 100 for church, family,and neighborhood, and they are still going strong. Jan Svoboda and Gail Rayman kept in touch by phone and internet and independently cut and sewed 45 masks for the Minnesota VA Health System and gave away more than 20 other masks to the older population and family in Albert Lea and Glenville. Some youth made and mailed Easter cards to Thorne Crest residents and other elderly folk. One member is using phone, internet and mail to help a local author do ongoing research for her book about three murders in the Bohemian community in 1889. Dr. Joan Krikava’s time is filled at her hospital with preparing to care for COVID-19 patients when they arrive in her area.

Lodge No. 44 officers have been able to keep in touch with one another because President Dan Rayman set up a group conversation he nicknamed “Group Hangout” on mobile phone email/text about needing to cancel meetings, our pancake breakfast, spring luncheon, our district meeting and other lodge business.

We received thank you letters for our monetary donations to the Myrtle Fire Department and Glenville American Legion.

We hope to see you when we can resume meetings, activities and events. Meanwhile, you can follow some of our projects and activities on Facebook under Bohemian Brick Hall.

Stay well and safe!

Bonnie Belshan

correspondent

Lodge No. 44