Interview Excerpt: VCK's Close Calls

Click play arrow below to hear VCK share his closest calls!

DVDs of complete interview will be available at next month's gathering.

Interview Excerpt: VCK's Driving Record

Click play arrow below to view a clip from VCK's interview on the topic of his early years of driving horse & buggy, farm equipment, and JVK's 1916 Buick.

DVD's of the complete 40-minute interview will be available at the party.

Your Questions for VCK

If you haven't already, please take a minute to submit your questions for VCK's StoryCorps interview (click on "comments" at the bottom of this post and type in your questions).

The interview will take place at his home this Sunday, November 16th.

JVP Baptism 12/6/08

The newest Kallal descendant, Joseph Victor Payne, son of Kate & Matthew, will (hopefully, if he arrives on time!) be baptized after the 5:30 p.m. Mass on Dec. 6 at St. Lawrence in Greenville. Jacob and Ashley Kallal have graciously agreed to serve as Godparents, and we are excited to share this special event with all the family gathered for Grandpa's birthday. We hope everyone will join us for Mass and/or the baptism before heading to the family dinner at the Posch Center. Looking forward to seeing everyone soon!

ps If the ultrasound tech was wrong, we'll be welcoming Josephine Therese--either way, please join us!

Judy Kallal's Photos from 99th Birthday Celebration (click image for slide show)

VCK Celebrates 99th Bday with (a few) Great and Grand Kids

*Special thanks to Judy Kallal for these great pics from VCK's 99th birthday celebration*

Do you have photos from last year's party that you'd like to share? Please send them and we'll get them up!

Benediction Papalis

This week, VCK received a papal blessing in celebration of his 100th year of life.

The Genographic Project

* GUEST POST BY JIM KALLAL *

• Victor is a Bohemian!


• Even though his first immigrant ancestors arrived in America over 160 years ago, everyone of his parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents were Bohemians.
  
• In other words, if Victor's longevity is influenced by ancestry, then being Bohemian is good.


• We have submitted Victor's DNA sample to the National Geographic international study called "The Genographic Project".


• The analysis will have nothing to do with genealogy. But Victor's DNA will contribute scientific evidence to his forebears and to the journey of humans across the globe.


• Stay tuned: we will post the DNA results as they become available.

* UPDATE * As of 10/20/08, Victor's DNA has been analyzed; after Quality Assurance certification by alternate scientists the results will be made available. Stay tuned!

StoryCorps Interview - Your Questions Needed!

The American Folklife Center, housed in the Library of Congress, is home to the StoryCorps Collection. Established in 2003, the collection currently holds more than 35,000 recordings of life stories. (NPR listeners may have caught excerpts from this project on Morning Edition.)

Next month, VCK will be interviewed for submission to this collection! While a recording of the interview will not be available online, we will have recordings available at the party. TK - do you have any tech insight as to how I might include the recording here?

If all else fails, we can all swing by the Library of Congress Folklife Reading Room (Jefferson Building, room G53) and look up VCK. I smile when I imagine CMK's possible response...I think I'm not too far off when guessing she would charter a bus!

Below are a few of the questions provided by StoryCorps in their interview guide, but I'm curious what questions YOU may have for VCK. Please post your suggested questions here and I'll be sure to include them in my conversation with him. I plan to share the questions with VCK well before we meet to record the conversation so that he can add/subtract from our list.

What is your earliest memory?

Who has been the biggest influence on your life?

What lessons did they teach you?

Who has been the kindest to you in your life?

What are the most important lessons you've learned in life?

If you could hold on to one memory from your life for eternity, what would that be?

Are there any words of wisdom you'd like to pass along to those you love?

What are you proudest of in your life?

How has your life been different than what you'd imagined?

What was your childhood like?

How did you and CMK meet?

When did you know that she was the one?

What were your parents like? What were your grandparents like?

What lessons have you learned from your relationships?

Have you experienced any miracles?

Memory Quilt Photos by Stephany Kallal (click image to view slideshow)

Memory Quilt Made by Marie Kallal

NOTE: Special thanks to Stephany Kallal for sharing these great photographs and to KKS for providing the narrative below which details the presentation of the quilt to VCK in Jerseyville, IL.

Photos incorporated into the quilt were selected and printed onto fabric swatches by Jim Kallal.

Quilt color theme and fabric patterns coordinated by KKS.

VCK's quilt will be on display at the birthday party.

______________________________________

Marie spread the quilt out on their king size bed, which allowed all the blocks to show. Dad was called back to the room. It was fun to watch Uncle Val's reaction to Dad as Val really treasures his 90th birthday quilt also made by Marie. Dad seemed pleased.

I told Marie he was not one to say much to let one know he liked/appreciated a gift. Marie said, "Vic went up to the quilt and started touching it right away. He looked carefully at the picture blocks and asked questions about how the blocks and quilt were made. When I saw that, I knew he liked it."

On Wednesday Dad asked for help getting the "100 year quilt" on his bed. He uses it as a spread, says it is warm to sleep under and enjoys being able to see it often.

-KKS

Airport, Transportation & Area Maps

* Lambert St. Louis International Airport
* Transportation Options
* Driving Directions from Airport
* Area Map of Greenville
* VCK's Home
* St. Lawrence Catholic Church/Posch Center
* Birthday Celebration Venue

Invitations!

Invitations will be sent via US Mail for receipt by no later than October 15. If by that date you have not received an invite, please let us know. RSVP date and contact information will be included in your invitation.

Restaurants

Complete listing of area restaurants may be found here.

"Kallal-approved" spots are listed below:

Blue Springs Cafe

home of "foot-high" pies
3505 George St
Highland, IL 62249
(618) 654-5788

Breities Again

111 N 3rd St

Greenville, IL 62246
(618) 664-4742‎

Dairy Queen

219 N 3rd St
Greenville, IL 62246

618-664-4007

Mario's Pizza

111 W College Ave

Greenville, IL 62246

(618) 664-2290

Hotel Information

Super 8 Motel
A small number of rooms have been held for the nights of Thurs Dec 4 - Sat Dec 6 under "Kallal Birthday". Block reservation will expire on 11/21/08.

Other Hotel Options -
Budget Host
Econo Lodge Hotel & Suites

VCK Honored Guest at SWECI 70th Annual Meeting of Members

VCK and CMK at 1948 SWECI Annual Meeting in Springfield, Illinois.

On Saturday, September 6, Southwestern Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SWECI) recognized VCK for his leadership of the organization (1939-1957) at their 70th Annual Meeting of Members, held in Greenville, IL.

VCK addressed the 2,000 member audience, opening with a big grin and the comment - "You know you're getting old when you need to lean on your 73yr-old son to stand up..." He spoke briefly to the membership saying that in recent meetings with the current SWECI Board of Directors, he has been very impressed with their dedication to continuing to explore progressive solutions. He added that this commitment from Directors, coupled with advances in technology, is reason to remain hopeful in addressing the energy crisis.

Following his remarks, VCK received a standing ovation from the packed gymnasium and responded with a cheerful two-handed wave to the crowd.

* UPDATE: Below are remarks as recalled by VCK and captured by KKS *
________________________

About half way through the meeting, the present manager introduced Dad by saying “I am about to do something I have never done before and you most likely will not see again. I want to introduce Vic Kallal who was your very first Southwestern manager and will be 100 years old this year.”

By the time he said 100 years…. the crowd of about 1300 people were on their feet giving Dad a standing ovation so loud I did not think they could hear the last part of the introduction. Dad was standing and Jim prompted him to wave to the crowd, which was good.

Dad was quite shaky, but his voice remained strong and clear. He took the microphone and said: “You know you are getting old when you must lean on the arm of your 73 year old son.”, which got a laugh. Dad did need to hold on to Jim as he spoke. Dad said: “I continue to live on my own. I am able to walk behind a lawn mower for as long as an hour. I wash and hang my laundry outside. I do much of my own cooking, so I am doing quite well.” The he started his speech from short notes he held in his hand.

Churchill said: “It takes courage to give a speech and also takes courage to listen to a speech.”

A man was asked to give a speech. He immediately asked, how long do you want me to talk? If you want me to speak for an hour I can start right now. If you want me to speak for 5 minutes, I will need one month to prepare.

A good speech should have a good beginning, a good ending and a few words in between.

Recently I had the opportunity to visit the co-op office. I was impressed to find the employees so proud of their work and so dedicated.

As in the past there will be many challenges but the technology and talent is there to solve them.

I find it encouraging that the Directors are conscious of their responsibilities and are using the tools available to improve their skills.

In the past 70 years, besides being your manager for 18 years, I was also a sales engineer. I sold to all the co-ops in Illinois. I sold all items necessary for the construction of transmission lines, substations and distribution lines including the meters. So I have always had a soft-spot in my heart for this work.

I gave the manager’s report 52 years ago. May the next 70 years be as interesting and fruitful as the past 70 years.

After the speech there was another standing ovation. Jim held the microphone so Dad could wave again. Jim did not speak. Peggy said Grandpa did a two-hand wave like the politicians.

Note: I respect Dad for stepping outside his comfort zone by making the speech. He was really determined to say a few words if asked to do so. I believe he was pleased with how the day went. His name badge read Vic Kallal - Manager 1939 to 1957. It was a special day for Dad.

- KKS
______________________________________________

SWECI has also featured VCK in the August 2008 issue of their monthly publication The Southwestern. An archived copy of the magazine is viewable online at http://www.sweci.com/thesouthwestern.html.

VCK appears on pages 14-15.