KiiS - Keep it in Shiner

02/29/2020

Keep it in Shiner (KiiS) Year in Review, 2019

One year ago, our community learned that the historic Shiner Brethren Church (SBC) was donated free to Texas Czech Heritage Center (TCHC) with no public notice. Immediately, descendants Shirley Machacek Chumchal, Julie Heiman Machart, Erin Leach Klekar, Faith Chumchal Darilek and Paula Berkenhoff Pekar along with guest, Doug Kubicek, gathered to formulate a plan to stop the church from being separated from the adjacent cemetery where many of our ancestors rest eternally. This group later became known as KiiS – Keep it in Shiner.

Dr. Steelman was elected as SBC president, a nonmember, who lives about 250 miles away, at a meeting he was not in attendance, and who has stated that he is too busy to care for the church due to his job and farm.
Bylaws were requested many times so that we could know the founder’s wishes of what should happen to the building if the church dissolved but Dr. Steelman still has not provided them after one year. A letter was written to each church committee member stating our vision and requesting a meeting but no responses were received.
Numerous requests to enter the building with our contractors were denied by Dr. Steelman. He once allowed KiiS into the building at the spur of the moment. Unfortunately, no contractors were present. We were amazed how beautiful and solid the structure is for 115 years. Yes, the bell tower is in need of repair but the insurance, donations from individuals and family trusts, and oil/gas royalties and leases should have been used to repair damage to prevent further deterioration.
Now, $8,000 is being requested for an engineering study from an Austin firm while access was denied to our contractors. We have several excellent firms in Lavaca County. Were they considered?
Kiis has been welcomed with community support of pledges of finances, labor and supplies to restore the church. Lavaca County and the descendants are determined that the church remains in Shiner and is restored to once again function as a house of worship. KiiS wants to make sure the church stays in Shiner before investing community resources.
TCHC approved a motion to rescind “the agreement signed on April 9, 2019 between the Shiner Brethren Church and Cemetery Committee and the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center Board of Directors.” SBC should enter into a similar agreement to KiiS.

Anyone interested in supporting KiiS in Keeping SBC in Shiner is encouraged to urge Dr. Steelman to immediately enter into an agreement with KiiS. He can be contacted at: [email protected].
For KiiS updates, follow us on Facebook at “KiiS – Keep it in Shiner” or contact Carroll Brincefield at 361-798-4280 (home) or 361-798-6588 (mobile).

02/29/2020

In case you missed it in the February 27 2020 Gazette. . .

02/20/2020

"KiiS (Keep it in Shiner) is trying to work with the SBCCC (Shiner Brethren Church and Cemetery Committee) to provide a transparent and accountable process for donations to restore, reconstruct, rehabilitate and maintain the Shiner Brethren Church. Mr. Steelman has not been forthcoming with the inner workings and bylaws of the SBCCC. We wish to partner with them in this venture, but we are dedicated to being good stewards of donations and public funds.

Anyone who is interested in supporting KiiS in Keeping SBC in Shiner, please contact Mr. Steelman and ask him to work with KiiS in providing requested information and a long-term plan for SBC. He can be contacted at: [email protected]."

02/20/2020

Following this letter to the editor in the February 13, 2020 Shiner Gazette, KiiS (Keep it in Shiner) has received many inquiries about the status of Shiner Brethren Church. Your support to keep Shiner Brethren Church in Shiner is overwhelming but we still have not been assured that this piece of Shiner history will remain where our ancestors built it next to the cemetery in which many of them are buried. KiiS is actively working toward making this goal a reality. Please stay tuned for further updates or contact Carroll Brincefield at 361-798-6578 or 361-798-4280 for further information.

12/31/2019

Praying that 2020 is the year that Mr. Steelman finally starts working with KiiS to protect the historic Shiner Brethren Church

12/24/2019

11/09/2019

The flag waving in the wind, in honor of the sacrifices all our Veterans have made in the name of freedom and democracy, at the Shiner Brethren Church and Cemetery!

11/05/2019

Thanks for everyone's inquiries about updates on Shiner Brethren Church. We are still waiting on Clyde Steelman...

As before, descendants of founders and families buried in Shiner Brethren Church (SBC) Cemetary and KiiS-supporters proudly cleaned the cemetary grounds.
KiiS continues to wait for assurance from Clyde Steelman, self-proclaimed president of Shiner Brethren Church and Cemetery Committee, that the SBC will remain in Shiner. Despite numerous requests over many months, he has yet to provide any written proof regarding the bylaws, and organizational documents from the church records and any plans for the building and cemetery should the church dissolve. Meanwhile, the church sits deteriorating as KiiS waits on Mr. Steelman. KiiS will not commit community resources without assurance of permanence.
For more information, contact Carroll at 361/798-6588 or 361/798-4380.

10/16/2019

In case you missed these articles in the Shiner Gazette ...

**KiiS is committed to a working relationship with all to keep Shiner Brethren Church in Shiner and wants to assure that the community's support resources are invested wisely.
**If you wish to join KiiS's mission
email: [email protected]
call: 361/798-6588

10/16/2019

KEEP VLASTINEC GROWING!
Update on Shiner Brethren Church:
1. KiiS continues to wait on Mr. Steelman for word that the church will remain in Shiner before investing the community's resources on restoration. Multiple requests over several months have gone unanswered.
2. KiiS has requested the church's bylaws to determine what is to happen to the church if the church dissolved. KiiS is also still waiting for the bylaws.
**KiiS is committed to a working relationship with all to keep Shiner Brethren Church in Shiner and wants to assure that the community's support resources are invested wisely.
**If you wish to join KiiS's mission
email: [email protected]
call: 361/798-6588

08/03/2019

Shirley was instrumental in starting KiiS to Keep Shiner Brethren Church in Shiner. May you rest in peace, dearest Shirley.

SHINER: Shirley Chumchal, 53, joined her heavenly family, Friday, August 2, 2019. She was born November 4, 1965 to the late Joe and Monica (Morisak) Machacek.