SLAVONIAN LODGE

SENATE RESOLUTION 8651

By Senator Regala 2001

WHEREAS, The Slavonian community has been a vital and

vibrant part of Tacoma and western Washington for more than a

century by providing leaders in fields of endeavor ranging from

salmon fishing to politics, business, the judiciary and higher

education; and

WHEREAS, Names such as Lieutenant Governor John Cherberg,

state senator and Court of Appeals Judge Jack Petrich, former

University of Washington President Henry Suzzallo, fisherman and

later airline founder Nick Bez, and shipbuilders Joe Martinac

and the Skansie Brothers were all of Slavonian descent; and

WHEREAS, The Slavonian American Benevolent Society was

founded in1901 in Tacoma by immigrants from the Dalmatian Coast

and islands in what is now Croatia; and

WHEREAS, The Society has maintained and nurtured ethnic

traditions by providing a place to share cultural activities

through plays, music and social events that bring people

together around food, dancing and the sharing of songs from

Dalmatia; and

WHEREAS, In 1906 the Slavonian American Benevolent Society

built a lodge on North 30th Street in Old Tacoma. In addition to

producing plays in the native Croatian language, the lodge

was home to the first productions of the Tacoma Little Theater;

and

WHEREAS, The lodge was designated as an historic building

by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1975 and is now listed

on the National Historic Register. The structure is one of the

longest standing buildings maintained by an ethnic-cultural

group in our state; and

WHEREAS, The Society, which originally was an all male

organization, changed the rules in the 1950s to allow women

members to expand the number of family activities available to

members; and

WHEREAS, The calendar of events includes the traditional

"Three Kings Dance" in January; Vela Gospa in August, and the

Daffodil Dinner in April; and

WHEREAS, members of the Slavonian American Benevolent

Society have chosen to celebrate its Centennial by

commissioning a sculpture by Larry Anderson commemorating the

life and work of early immigrants from Croatia.;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State

of Washington recognizes and congratulates the Slavonian

American Benevolent Society for 100 years of outstanding

accomplishments and service; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be

presented to the Slavonian American Benevolent Society and

President John Petrinovich.