NFCA Honors “Shining Stars” for JOIN HANDS DAY Support
Fraternal Benefit Societies and State Fraternal Congresses Recognized for JOIN HANDS DAY Participation
09/28/07
OAK BROOK, IL – The National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) recognized 40 member-societies and six state fraternal congresses as “shining stars” that demonstrated strong support for JOIN HANDS DAY. The “2007 NFCA Shining Stars for JOIN HANDS DAY” awards were presented at the Celebration of Fraternalism Luncheon held during the 121st NFCA Annual Meeting, September 6-8, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
JOIN HANDS DAY, which promotes fraternalism and fraternal benefit societies, is the only day of service on America’s national calendar that seeks to build youth and adult relationships through planning and participating in a day of volunteering. This signature event provides fraternal benefit societies with an opportunity to connect with other volunteer organizations to make an important impact on their communities.
“The NFCA is proud of JOIN HANDS DAY’s success,” said Michael Stivoric, Chair of the Join Hands Corporation Board of Directors, who presented the awards. “Now in its ninth year, JOIN HANDS DAY provides fraternal benefit societies with a tremendous opportunity to re-energize its chapters, connect with outside organizations, involve young people from around the country and help present fraternals as dynamic, exciting and visible organizations. It’s no wonder that JOIN HANDS DAY has earned us praise from America’s volunteer community.”
This year’s JOIN HANDS DAY was Saturday, May 5, 2007. The 2007 NFCA Shining Stars for JOIN HANDS DAY awards offer four levels of recognition: Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze.
- Promoted JOIN HANDS DAY to chapters, either in society or state fraternal congress publications, through links on their Web site and/or by mailing the JOIN HANDS DAY materials to their members.
- Reported at least one JOIN HANDS DAY activity on May 5, 2007, sponsored by the society or state congress, including chapters, home office or grassroots members.
- Invited the media and/or local politicians, Members of Congress, other dignitaries, VIPs, etc., to a JOIN HANDS DAY event; and
- Organized a Model City project.
To obtain Platinum status, fraternal benefit societies are required to meet all four of the criteria. To obtain Gold status, they must meet three of the four criteria. To achieve Silver status, they must meet two of the four criteria and for Bronze status, societies must meet one of the four criteria. All winners were selected based on completion of a special member-society or state fraternal congress survey returned to NFCA prior to the 121st NFCA Annual Meeting.
These member-societies and state fraternal congresses received the following awards:
Platinum Awards — 15 Societies and One State Fraternal Congress
• Catholic Family Life Insurance
• Catholic Knights
• Equitable Reserve Association
• Employes’ Mutual Benefit Association
• First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association of the USA
• Greater Beneficial Union of Pittsburgh
• KSKJ Life, American Slovenian Catholic Union
• Modern Woodmen of America
• Order of the Sons of Hermann in the State of Texas
• Russian Brotherhood Organization of the USA
• Slovene National Benefit Society (SNPJ)
• SPJST
• Supreme Council of UPEC
• Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
• Wisconsin Fraternal Congress, and
• Woodmen of the World/Omaha Woodmen Life Insurance Society.
Gold Awards — 14 Societies and Four State Fraternal Congresses
• California Fraternal Congress
• The Catholic Aid Association
• Catholic Family Fraternal of Texas, KJZT
• Catholic Life Insurance
• Chesapeake Fraternal Congress
• Florida Fraternal Congress
• Gleaner Life Insurance Society
• Hungarian Reformed Federation of America
• Luso-American Life Insurance Society
• Michigan Fraternal Congress
• National Catholic Society of Foresters
• National Slovak Society of the USA
• Royal Neighbors of America
• Western Catholic Union
• Western Fraternal Life Association
• William Penn Association
• Woman's Life Insurance Society, and
• Woodmen of the World and/or Assured Life Association.
Silver Status — 10 Societies and One State Fraternal Congress
• Catholic Association of Foresters
• Catholic Fraternal Life
• Catholic Ladies of Columbia
• Catholic Order of Foresters
• Knights of Columbus
• Ladies Pennsylvania Slovak Catholic Union
• Loyal Christian Benefit Association
• National Mutual Benefit
• Nebraska Fraternal Congress
• Supreme Council of the Royal Arcanum, and
• The Order of United Commercial Travelers of America.
Bronze Status — One Society
• Association of the Sons of Poland.
“Congratulations to everyone involved in JOIN HANDS DAY 2007, and we’ll see you out in full force next year, on May 3, 2008. Until then, join us in celebrating fraternalism by JOINING HANDS 365 days a year,” said Stivoric.
Sponsored by America’s fraternal benefit societies, JOIN HANDS DAY is the fraternal national day of service when youths and adults work together to plan and implement projects that benefit their local communities. To learn more about JOIN HANDS DAY, visit the Web site at www.joinhandsday.org or e-mail actioncenter@joinhandsday.org.
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.
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