Croatia, Tucson Clubs, European Multi-ethnic Alliance of Tucson, Tapestry Project, Croatia

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The Croatian Fraternal Union (CFU) Lodge 1002, known as
�The Arizona Star,� was founded on June 16, 1964 in the presence
of 16 out of 36 CFU members in Tucson at that time. The first elected
officers were: Joseph Tonkovic (President), Frank Zornjak (Vice-President),
Stephen Orach (Secretary), Donna Gotcher (Sick Benefit Secretary), John Chesnik
(Chairman of Audit Committee) and Dr. E.J. Nagoda (Lodge Doctor). Other pioneers of
the Tucson�s Lodge, as recorded in the minutes of the first meeting, were: Dennis Chesnik,
James Chesnik, Diana Gotcher, Mark Gotcher, Lou Ocvirek, Jeffry Scott Orach, John Orach, Lucy Orach, Robert Orach, Louis Parac, Alois Pavlovic, Anna Pavlovic, Joseph Pryzbyl, Violet Tonkovic Pryzbyl, Sophia Rebic, Helen Stanich, Lucy Stanich, Mikel Stanich, Stanley Stanich, Stanley Stanich Jr., Ivka Tonkovic, Josephine Zornjak and Evelyn Zornjak Whiteside.

Tucson-based CFU Lodge was founded at the time when CFU celebrated its 70th anniversary. Established in 1894 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as a fraternal benefit society for thousands of immigrants and their families, CFU has become one of the largest organizations in the United States with close to 100,000 members. Although Croatian immigrants and their descendents represent the majority among CFU membership, the organization is open to other Slavs, their families and relatives regardless of national origin. CFU provides financial security through comprehensive insurance program, including life insurance, annuities, IRA, hospitalization and surgical plans. The bi-monthly newspaper, �Zajedni?ar� (Fraternalist), reports on various issues of interest to CFU members, informs about upcoming activities and also brings news from and about Croatia. It is published in English and Croatian. www.croatianfraternalunion.org

In the 1990s, Tucson�s CFU Lodge members joined the rest of CFU in humanitarian activities in support of children who became war orphans living in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina (Dora Foundation), and collection of cash donations, food, clothing and medicine through Croatian Humanitarian Aid Fund and Croatian-American Goodwill Society.

Tucson�s CFU Lodge members organize and enjoy these social activities: lodge picnics, lodge dinners, participation in ethnic festivals such as the annual Tucson-Meet-Yourself festival (in October), and European ethnic fairs organized by the European Multi-Ethnic Alliance of Tucson in Fall (November) and Spring (March) every year, as well as other get-togethers. For more information and upcoming events check the Lodge�s website: cfu.hrlv.com

The Croatian Cultural Club (CCC) of Tucson was formed in 1991 of CFU- and non-CFU members. The main purpose is nurturing and promotion of Croatian culture. The primary activities include but are not limited to an instrumental group, a dance group �Kolo,� and a choir group. The Club regularly participates in the annual Tucson-Meet-Yourself festival and EMAT�s European ethnic fairs. It also performs at schools and other ethnic events. The �Kolo� group meets weekly and welcomes all who are interested in Croatian folk dancing regardless of the ethnic origin. Picnic (jointly with CFU Lodge), potlucks and monthly meetings are other activities. For more information contact: www.geocities.com/ematoftucson/ClubDirectoryCroatianCulturalClub.html

The first President of CCC was Ivan Pavlakovic who came to Tucson in 1986 from Zagreb via Kent, Ohio. Other founding members include Vesna Ergovic-Zalusky, Carolyn Fabian, Dr. Vera Pavlakovich-Kochi, �tefan Polgar, Annette Samac-Grejtak, Zoran Stilin, Vic (Vjeko) and Katie Svorinic, and Dr. Nancy Vuckovich.

Useful links :
Embassy of Croatia: www.croatiaemb.org
Croatian National Tourist Board: www.croatia.hr
U.S. Embassy in Zagreb: www.usembasy.hr

by: Vera Pavlokavich-Koch

Prepared by Dr. Vera Pavlakovich-Kochi with contributions from Violet Tonkovic Przybyl, Ivan Pavlakovic, Terry Peynovic, Vesna Ergovic-Zalusky, Bruce and Gail Grossetta, and Kay Hart.

The following individuals and businesses provided generous financial support for the project:
Dominko Brnjic
Gordon Grossetta
Kay & Howard Hart
Carolyn Fabian
Joseph G. Kadjan
Dubravka & Victor V. Menayan
Orach Mashine Shop
Ivan Pavlakovic

Vera Pavlakovich-Kochi
Mary Pavlich Roby &Fred Roby
Violet (Tonkovic) Przybyl
Pete Raguzin
Annette Samac-Grejtak
Josephine Svetnicka
Nickolas Zaninovich
Rosalie (Kadjan) Zollman

C r o a t i a

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