OAK BROOK, IL – The National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) recognized five Fraternal MVPs (Most Valuable Participants) in Washington, D.C., on September 19-20, 2006.  These fraternalists, honored for their outstanding fraternal service, met with members of Congress who represent the MVPs’ 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—July 2006

June Lenig
Gleaner Life Insurance Society
Rolling Prairie Arbor #557
LaPorte, Indiana

Violet (Vi) Bergum
National Mutual Benefit
Branch #400
Madison, Wisconsin

Ron Cornwell
SPJST
#246-Morgan's Point
Dale, Texas

Yvonne (Bonnie) Rutz
Catholic Fraternal Life
Grantfork Council #60
Pocahontas, Illinois

Randy C. Young
The Order of United Commercial Travelers of America (UCT)
Baton Rouge Council #499
Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The following legislators met with the honorees: Senators Russ Feingold (D-Wisconsin), Herbert Kohl (D-Wisconsin), David Vitter (R-Louisiana), and Senator Barack Obama’s (D-Illinois) staff member, who coordinates with faith based organizations.  Representatives Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), Richard Baker (R-Louisiana), John Shimkus (R-Illinois) and Chris Chocola (R-Indiana) also took time out of their schedules to meet their constituents.

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.  Further, the program reminds 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 from fraternal benefit societies, these good works would be greatly diminished or eliminated altogether.  In short, any revenue gained by taxing fraternals is dramatically 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 Janice U. Whipple.  “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 some 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 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 36,000 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 $324 billion of life insurance-in-force and, in 2005 alone, contributed almost $400 million to charitable and fraternal programs, and volunteered 93 million hours for community-service projects.  These statistics demonstrate the commitment that fraternals have to those in need and exemplify the true meaning of the NFCA signature phrase:  Joining Hands to Touch Lives.