Fraternalists Bridge Heritage with Innovation
at the 121st NFCA Annual Meeting

09/10/07

OAK BROOK, IL – More than 400 fraternalists from around the country gathered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for the 121st Annual Meeting of the National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA), held September 6-8, 2007. Themed “Bridging Heritage with Innovation,” the meeting addressed important questions, such as how to use our heritage as a foundation for innovation.

“We addressed a number of challenging issues, including how to approach mergers and strategic alliances,” said NFCA Immediate Past Chair Janice U. Whipple, who presided over this year’s meeting.  “In addition, fraternalists were able to attend quality programs and explore many other topics that will help their societies operate more efficiently.”

Several speakers enlightened and entertained the attendees, including the opening keynote presenter Todd Buchholz—former director of economic policy at the White House, a managing director of the $15 billion Tiger hedge fund, and an award-winning economics teacher at Harvard.  In his opening keynote presentation, Lessons from the Past for Our Present and Future, Buchholz explained that in order to maintain their fraternal difference, it is imperative for fraternals to find the relevance that made their society grow, and make sure their relevance is not only current, but is continuing to adapt to the ever-changing future.  He will make clear that in order to grow, societies must lead with their fraternal advantage and focus on their fraternal communities, creating opportunities for their members to come together for greater outreach, growth and success.

Other main platform speakers included Jim Carroll, a leading international futurist, and trends and innovation expert, who explained in his presentation, Why Educate Yourself When You Know It All, how rapid times require bold change and new levels of creativity and innovation within every fraternal benefit society.  Ira Blumenthal—the president of CO-OPPORTUNITIES, Inc., a consulting company that has counseled world-class clients such as Coca-Cola, Nestle, McDonald’s, American Airlines, Disney, Wal-Mart and others in branding, strategic alliances, marketing, change management, re-invention and success—gave the closing main platform presentation.  In his keynote, Strategic Alliances and Business Partnerships – Creating Synergistic Relationships for Success, Blumenthal educated and motivated fraternal benefit societies of all sizes on the importance, power and viability of alliances. 

One of the hot topics covered at the NFCA Annual Meeting was the NFCA’s new Accreditation Program.  On September 7, NFCA Membership Committee Chair Michael J. Wade discussed the new program – Your Key to Fraternal Success.  Wade explained that the program is comprised of meeting seven Key Standards - each designed to help societies reach an optimum level within the major disciplines of operating a relevant, sound fraternal benefit society.

In addition to the general sessions, interactive workshops were held for participants, namely Legislative Update: Federal and State Issues; Ethical Standards; Accreditation Programs That Work; Using Ratios to Interpret Financial Performance; Bringing Fraternal Underwriting into the 21st Century; Mergers and Strategic Alliances; Measuring and Optimizing Fraternal Performance; Integrating Insurance & Non-Insurance Fraternal Benefits; and Modernizing Your Lodge System.

"The NFCA Annual Meeting personified fraternalism at its best," said Cheryl York. Assistant to the Vice President Executive Offices for Catholic Order of Foresters.  "Program speakers and workshops complimented each other and, as always, the NFCA staff displayed the utmost courtesy and professionalism. The meeting provided a great opportunity to network and share ideas with other fraternalists."

Meeting delegates also tended to NFCA business during the meeting.  Janice U. Whipple, 2006-2007 NFCA Chair of the Board, delivered her final report to the Congress; new 2007-2008 NFCA Chair of the Board, Katharine E. Rounthwaite, was installed as Chair and gave her acceptance speech to attendees; and NFCA Interim President & CEO Bob Huxel reviewed the specific accomplishments of the trade association during the past year.  Other business included the appointment of the NFCA’s new officers and directors, and the adoption of resolutions from the Resolutions Committee.

In addition, attendees had the opportunity to visit with exhibitors and colleagues at the meeting, especially during the Welcome Reception with Exhibitors.  They also were able to connect with other fraternalists, while investigating the new products and services available to the fraternal benefit system.

"Exhibiting at the NFCA is an opportunity to make new friends and keep in touch with existing ones," said exhibitor Stacy Menditto from Marsh.  "Exhibiting also offers you the opportunity to support fraternalism and to help spread the message of family."

The various sections of the NFCA, including Communications, Fraternal, Human Resources, Presidents, Secretaries and State Fraternal Congresses, also held breakfast meetings—many of which had guest speakers.  Several meeting-related luncheons occurred during the Annual Meeting, including the Celebration of Fraternalism, the Fraternal 100 Section, Past Chairs of the Board and the Women Executives Luncheon.  The Annual Meeting concluded with the Grand Banquet, during which new officers and directors of the Board were sworn in.

About the NFCA
The 121-year-old NFCA unites 75 not-for-profit fraternal benefit societies operating in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Canada.  The association represents 10 million fraternalists in 37,000 local chapters, making it one of America’s largest member-volunteer 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 $329 billion of life insurance-in-force and, in 2006 alone, contributed almost $410 million to charitable and fraternal programs, and volunteered nearly 95 million hours for community-service projects.  These statistics demonstrate the commitment that fraternals make to those in need and exemplify the true meaning of the NFCA signature phrase:  Joining Hands to Touch Lives.