State Fraternal Congresses Recognized in NFCA’s Annual
“Go for the Gold” Achievement Awards

09/28/07

OAK BROOK, IL – The National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) recognized 20 state fraternal congresses in its annual “Go for the Gold” awards program. The awards were presented at the Celebration of Fraternalism Luncheon held during the 121st NFCA Annual Meeting, September 6-8, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The NFCA State Fraternal Congress (SFC) “Go for the Gold” Achievement Awards Program annually honors state fraternal congresses for programs and activities that promote fraternalism; educate member representatives on products, leadership and sales ethics; and involve members in volunteerism.

As part of the award guidelines, state fraternal congresses received points for activities, including volunteer projects, a fundraiser or donation to a charitable organization, the planning and execution of an annual meeting of the state fraternal congress, the production of a newsletter, or a social or networking outing for member-representatives. Additional bonus points were awarded for having an elected public official present at a state fraternal congress event or participating in a JOIN HANDS DAY activity on May 5, 2007.

State fraternal congresses were asked to prepare and submit an entry form for activities held August 1, 2006, through July 31, 2007.

The following 18 state fraternal congresses earned the Gold Award:
• California Fraternal Congress
• Chesapeake Fraternal Congress
• Florida Fraternal Congress
• Illinois Fraternal Congress
• Indiana Fraternal Congress
• Iowa Fraternal Congress
• Louisiana Fraternal Congress
• Michigan Fraternal Congress
• Missouri Fraternal Congress
• Nebraska Fraternal Congress
• New England Fraternal Congress
• New Jersey Fraternal Congress
• Ohio Fraternal Congress
• Oregon Fraternal Congress
• Pennsylvania Fraternal Congress
• Texas Fraternal Congress
• Washington Fraternal Congress, and
• Wisconsin Fraternal Congress.

The following two state fraternal congresses earned the Silver Award:
• Arizona Fraternal Congress, and
• South Dakota Fraternal Congress.

“Congratulations to all of these state fraternal congresses for their efforts over the past year. These awards represent countless volunteer hours, social and community events and contributions to the cause of fraternalism,” said NFCA State Fraternal Congresses Section President Barbara Cheaney, Catholic Life Insurance, who presented the awards.  “Thank you, all, for the commitments each of your state fraternal congresses made and for the societies that support them.”

Material on the 2008 NFCA State Fraternal Congress “Go for the Gold” Achievement Awards will be sent to all state fraternal congresses before the end of 2007.

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.