The NFCA Announces Its Three Keynote Speakers for the 120th Annual Meeting

03/20/06

OAK BROOK, IL – The National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) is pleased to present the following keynote speakers at its 120th Annual Meeting, September 7-9, 2006, at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Thursday, September 7—Dr. Carl Hammerschlag
Dr. Carl A. Hammerschlag is a master storyteller and internationally recognized author, physician, speaker and healer. A Yale-trained psychiatrist; he has spent more than twenty years working with Native Americans. He is an expert on how to survive in rapidly changing cultures. Now one of the world’s leading proponents of psychoneuroimmunology (mind-body-spirit medicine), he is a faculty member at the University of Arizona Medical School.

Dr. Hammerschlag's life work has been chronicled in three critically acclaimed books: The Dancing Healers, The Theft of the Spirit and Healing Ceremonies, plus two children's books. He holds the highest honor given in the speaking profession, the CPAE Speakers Hall of Fame Award and is a recipient of the National Caring Award. Selected by the Caring Institute of Washington D.C. from more than a quarter million nominations, the award honors "the ten most caring adults in America." In his presentations, Dr. Carl Hammerschlag brings his gift of storytelling, a wealth of legends, and unique insights which bridge the worlds of science, spirit and culture. With poignancy and humor, he leads his audiences on a joyful journey that will stimulate and renew their creative potential.

Friday, September 8—Dr. Robert Kriegel
One of the most in-demand business speakers, Dr. Robert Kriegel teaches bold, innovative, “out of the box” strategies for keeping ahead of the changes, challenges and competition in today’s dynamic marketplace.

Author of the national bestseller: If It Ain’t Broke...BREAK IT!, Dr. Kriegel has been called by U.S. News & World Report one of this country’s leading authorities in the field of change and human performance. His latest book is How to Succeed in Business Without Working so Damn Hard. His last book, Sacred Cows Make The Best Burgers, made Business Week’s bestseller list in its first month! A commentator on National Public Radio’s “Marketplace” program, Kriegel recently made two specials for PBS.

An All-American athlete and pioneer in the field of sports psychology, Kriegel has coached both Olympic and pro athletes. The New York Times said his work “spurred a revolution in performance practices.” He is the co-author of Inner Skiing and has done color commentary for the US Professional Ski Tour on ESPN.

A former advertising executive for Young and Rubicam in New York, Kriegel taught at Stanford University’s Executive Management Program and was a member of the California Governor’s Council.

Dr. Kriegel’s customized speeches and programs entertain, inform and inspire. He teaches how to develop and lead Change-Ready© people and organizations. Audiences learn how to round up sacred cows that cost money and inhibit change and new opportunities. He also outlines strategies for gaining the competitive edge by not competing but changing the game, leading customers—not following them—and rethinking rules, redefining roles and reinventing the game.

Saturday, September 9—Dr. Barry Asmus
Dr. Barry Asmus is an effective advocate of free market economics. He is a recognized thinker who delivers his ideas in an enthusiastic and energy-filled presentation. As a professor of economics, he was twice voted University Professor of the Year and was honored with the Freedom Foundation Award at Valley Forge for Private Enterprise Education.

As Senior Economist of the National Center for Policy Analysis, Asmus writes, speaks , testifies and consults with presidents of countries and companies, with Congress and Parliament. He has testified before the House Ways and Means Committee on switching from an income tax to a consumption tax; was a featured speaker in a privatization of Social Security Conference for Western European leaders held in France; has met with former Czech Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus; and in May 2005 will be meeting with the new President of Romania, the honorable Traian Basescu.

Named by USA Today as one of the five most-requested speakers in America, Asmus speaks to diverse audiences including 7,000 members of the Million Dollar Round Table at Radio City Music Hall, 3,000 farmers in Des Moines and 30 world bankers at the home of Harvard University's president.

Asmus was heard on 220 radio stations in a weekly syndicated show called Perspectives on the Economy; every Friday on station KMNY, a Los Angeles business and money talk show; and was featured by Nightingale-Conant in a six-part series entitled Making It: A Guide to Entrepreneurship. He is a regular guest of Louis Rukeyser on the Investment Advisor.

His book, Bulls Don't Blush, Demographics Don't Lie, is soon to be released. Other books written by Asmus include: The Best Is Yet To Come; When Riding A Dead Horse, For Heaven's Sake . . . Dismount; Apollo; It's Tea Time Again; and ClintonCare, Putting Government in Charge of Your Health.

Save the Dates
It’s never too early to start planning! Mark your calendars now for the 120th NFCA Annual Meeting, being held September 7-9, 2006, at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale at Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona. As one of the most acclaimed tourist areas in Arizona, Scottsdale provides an eclectic mix of natural beauty and Southwestern culture.

Further details and a “Schedule of Events” for the 120th NFCA Annual Meeting are coming soon.

About the NFCA
The 120-year-old NFCA unites 76 not-for-profit fraternal benefit societies operating in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. The association represents almost 10 million people in 36,000 local chapters, making it one of the continent’s largest member networks. Fraternal benefit societies provide their members with leadership, social, educational, spiritual, patriotic, scholarship, financial and volunteer-service opportunities. Combined, NFCA’s member-societies maintain more than $315 billion of life insurance in force and, in 2004 alone, contributed almost $390 million to charitable and fraternal programs. In addition, fraternalists volunteered approximately 91.5 million hours toward community-service projects during that same period.