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| 5/12/2011 |
Lithuanians in Arizona:Lithuanian American Club |
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After a series of four get-acquainted Lithuanian picnics in Phoenix, starting in December, 1953, a meeting was held on May 10, 1955, at the Painters Union Hall, which launched the formation of the first Lithuanian organization in Arizona, later incorporated as Lithuanian American Club, Inc.
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Adason, Ana Andrik, Anton Baltronas, Joseph Baranauski, Brone Bartkus, Anton and Agnes Bejmowicz, Ronald and Ada Bell, Julius and Antoinette Bellum, John Bertasius, Fr. Anthony Blazok, Thomas and Stella Bonvie, Stephanie Brazis, John and Constance Buyvid, Margaret Catomio, John and Bernice Crochunas, F. J. and Margaret Dambrauskas, George and Ada Daniels, Dr. Jacob and Antoinette Davidson, Julius Dooley, Edward and Xavera Duff, Lowell and Alice Edwards, Catherine Faber, William and Angeline Green, Walter and Helen Herbert, John and Helen |
House, James and Mary Juravich, Frank Kelly, Albert and Eva Kezes, Daniel and Felicia Krukonis, Raymond and Eva Malin, Vincenta Mench, Peter O'Neill, Albert and Josephine Pepper, Barbara Raudonis, Izadore and Anna Runowicz, Vince Sandarg, Beatrice Sanders, Charles and Rose Smith, Michael Stackus, Anthony and Stella Ataken, John Stanevich, Teena Stasiunas, Romoldas and Cecilia Sutterlin, George and Helen Svelnis, Frank and Bessie Valantas, Alex Valantas, John and Mary Winkes, Joseph and Mary Whyster, Stanley and Sophie |
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Club presidents: |
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1955-1956 Daniel T. Kezes 1957-1958 Peter Mench 1959 Frank Svelnis 1960 Tony Tabick 1961-1963 Daniel T. Kezes 1964-1967 Vytas Mozart 1968-1969 Tony Ignotas 1970-1971 Daniel T. Kezes 1972-1974 Tony Ignotas 1975 Bill Racine 1976-1977 Tony Ignotas 1978-1980 Stanley Pudinas 1981-1982 Sally Pudinas 1983 Anne Stedwell |
1984-1985 Jean Pike 1986 Felicia Kezes 1987-1988 Richard Chernauskas 1989 Irene Ryder 1990-1991 Richard Dixon 1992 Mike Balchus 1993 Mike Balchus/Belle Crooker 1994 Hank Shudinis 1995 Irene Kuniski 1996-q998 Alex Kuratczyk 1999-2000Dr. Ophelia Baker 2001-2002 2003 Alex Kuratczyk 2004-2005 Jean Pike |
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Because not all Club members were fluent in Lithuanian, the official language for all Club activities was English.
By the will of the Club members, Club bylaws disallowed political and religious activity. Thus, Club activities were social in nature. There were monthly meetings to conduct the official Club business and to socialize. Official business was usualy followed by Lithuanian food, songs dancing, exhibits of interesting items related to Lithuanian culture, etc. The Club also made a point of commemorating important Lithuanian historical dates and organized picnics and other outings. In September of 1961, classes were started to teach Lithuanian language and Lithuanian dances. The Club also helped its members to gain U.S. citizenship. In the begining, members met in private homes and city parks, but soon it was decided to build a clubhouse. A building fund was established in May of 1956 and a search for a site, which would suit the building plans and the financial limitations of the fund, was begun. The search for the site took a long time. Finally, in November of 1965, a 5 acre parcel of land was purchased and construction started. Club members lent money to the building fund and donated their labor. The new clubhouse was opened with great ceremony on April 26, 1969. In 1972 the city started demanding that a paved parking area be created on the property, that the property be fenced, and so on. It also became obvious that the profits from Club events were too small to repay member loans to the building fund. Not seeing another way out, the clubhouse was sold to the Postal Workers Social Club for $82,350.56 on February 1, 1973. The promissory notes were repaid, members were compensated for their labor, and some money was left for the operating costs of the Club. In 1985 the Club celebrated its own 30-year anniversary. The same year restoration work began on the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor. The Club began to collect materials on Lithuanian immigration. In 1986 the Club invited the head of the Department of Lithuanian Studies of University of Illinois and collected donations for the department. Club members also donated money to Lithuanian orphans and the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture in Chicago. In 2005 the Club celebrated its 50th anniversary. For the occasion a booklet about the Club (Lithuanian-American Club of Arizona, Fifty Years 1955-2005) was published and copies were distributed to all members. Soon after, unable to find a new Club president among its aging members, the Club voted itself out of existence.
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