OAK BROOK, IL – The National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) recognized the following Fraternal MVPs (Most Valuable Participants) in Washington, D.C., on June 20-21, 2006.  These five fraternalists, honored for their outstanding fraternal service, met with Members of Congress representing their home states and Congressional districts.  Fraternal MVPs are “Fraternalists-in-Action” who volunteer their time and energy to strengthen their communities through participation in local lodge activities and other charitable endeavors.

Fraternal MVPs of the Month—May 2006

Gerald J. Collins
Woodmen of the World/Omaha Woodmen Life Insurance Society
Woodmen of the World Lodge 308
Houma, Louisiana

Coral Grout
Catholic Family Life Insurance
Pelletier Chapter MA-84
Gardner, Massachusetts

Rose Marie Ruth
National Catholic Society of Foresters
St. Anne’s Court 1161
Iowa City, Iowa

Mark Albin
Polish Falcons of America
Nest #564
La Porte, Indiana

Margaret (Peggy) Fabri
Hungarian Reformed Federation
Branch #151
Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania

The following legislators met with the honorees: Senator Richard Lugar (R-Indiana), Representative Chris Chocola (R-Indiana), Senator David Vitter (R-Louisiana), Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-Louisiana), Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Rep. Jim Leach (R-Iowa), Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pennsylvania), Rep. Melissa Hart (R-Pennsylvania), and Rep. John Olver (D-Massachusetts).

The purpose of the “Fraternalists-in-Action” program is to recognize and honor individual fraternalists from around the country, while creating fraternal awareness in Congress, as well as reminding Members of Congress that fraternal benefit societies and the volunteer efforts of their members contribute in countless ways to their states and Congressional districts.  Implicit in this message is the reality that if the federal tax-exemption were taken away, these good works would be greatly diminished or eliminated altogether.  In fact, any revenue gained by taxing fraternals is seriously outweighed by what fraternals put back into society.

“Fraternals have a great story to tell, and no one can tell it better than these individuals who devote their time to making their communities a better place by helping their neighbors and friends,” said NFCA Chair of the Board Michael J. Wade.  “The five Fraternal MVPs who traveled to Washington were excellent goodwill ambassadors for the fraternal benefit system and, through their stories, demonstrated to Members of Congress the good works performed by fraternalists.”

While most of the Congressional visits were brief, in all cases the Members of Congress were very interested in learning what fraternals are accomplishing in their states and districts and expressed support for fraternal contributions to local communities.  In addition, the honorees raised the tax-exemption issue and urged their elected representatives to help preserve the exemption.

“The NFCA would like to congratulate and thank all who were involved in making this happen,” said NFCA President and CEO Frederick H. Grubbe.  “In particular, I want to express our gratitude to the five Fraternal MVPs who represented well their societies, their states and the fraternal benefit system.”

Fraternal MVPs are part of the NFCA’s Fraternalists-in-Action program, which recognizes individuals whose unique stories best represent 21st Century fraternalism.  These fraternalists demonstrate exceptional compassion and fraternal pride through their volunteer activities. 

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 10 million people in 36,000 local chapters, making it one of America’s largest member networks. Fraternal benefit societies provide their members with leadership, social, educational, spiritual, patriotic, scholarship, financial and volunteer-service opportunities.  Combined, the 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.