In January 1901, nine Czech Americans met at the local General Store in the small farming community of Ocker, Texas. They emerged from that meeting with a plan to protect each other from the financial disaster that could result if a fire or storm damaged their property. Their vision was about neighbors helping neighbors with the availability of affordable insurance. They realized that they could pool their resources to provide themselves with mutual assistance. On February 22, 1901, they formed Rolnický Vzájemně Ochranný Spolek Statu Texas (RVOS), a non-profit farm mutual insurance association, and their vision of neighbors helping neighbors was born. Farmers Mutual Protective Association of Texas, as RVOS became commonly known, is the American translation of the original Czech name. Over a hundred years later Sedan-Weimar RVOS #64 is still reaching out to the community and helping their neighbors. Recently, the membership voted to donate $200 to Turtle Wing Foundation while at their annual meeting. Turtle Wing Foundation’s mission is helping individuals with learning challenges in rural areas achieve their full potential by providing access to a shared network of emotional, education, and therapeutic resources. Turtle Wing will utilize these funds to help support programming such as Early Intervention, Supplemental Services and Community Education & Advocacy. Turtle Wing supports individuals and families primarily from Colorado, Fayette, and Lavaca counties with academic, social-emotional, behavioral and/or developmental needs. To learn more about Turtle Wing Foundation follow them on Facebook @turtlewingfoundation, visit www.turtlewingfoundation.org or contact Executive Director, Destiny Psencik, at 979-505-5090.
Photo: (L-R) RVOS 64 Secretary-Treasurer/Allen Bellamy with Turtle Wing Foundation ED/Destiny Psencik