New Bern Resident Honored for Her Volunteer Service
Kimberly Williams honored as second runner-up Fraternalist of the Year by the National Fraternal Congress of America.

10/23/07

OAK BROOK, IL – The National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) recognized Kimberly H. Williams—a member of Woodmen of the World/Omaha Woodmen Life Insurance Society, Lodge #449, Merritt, North Carolina—for her outstanding volunteer efforts.  Williams was recently named second runner-up for the NFCA’s 2007 Fraternalist of the Year award, recognizing the nation’s top volunteers among the 10 million members affiliated with NFCA’s member-societies.  She was recognized at the “Celebration of Fraternalism” luncheon held at the 121st NFCA Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

“Kimberly Williams is a shining example of what it means to be a fraternalist,” said NFCA Chair of the Board Katharine E. Rounthwaite.  “We are pleased to honor Kimberly for selflessly giving her time to serve her community in so many ways.”

Williams is a wonderful example of fraternalism in her community.  A dedicated member of Woodmen of the World Lodge #449 in Merritt, N.C., Williams actively served on several planning committees including the new member outreach, community service, youth lock-in, zoo/camping trip, pool party, lodge clean-up, calendar planning, Famous Games Day, adult and youth Christmas parties, and the National Fraternal Challenge.  As co-chair of many of these committees, she displayed excellent leadership and organizational skills.  In addition, she served as a youth leader for the lodge and avidly participated in flag, honor-plaque and history-award presentations.

Over the course of a year, Williams, along with other lodge members, was instrumental in recruiting 86 new members, which raised the lodge’s membership to more than 1,000 adults and 270 youths.  Thanks to this solid membership growth, the lodge has seen a resurgence of involvement in community activities and other fun events.

Williams’ outstanding volunteer efforts shined brightly on the lodge’s Community Service Committee.  She participated in Woodmen of the World’s four national fraternal programs including JOIN HANDS DAY – painting playground equipment at the Silver Hill youth area; Flags Across America – attending a ceremony at Pamlico Senior Center; In Honor and Remembrance – presenting a flag set to the Minnesott Cub Scout Troop; and Make A Difference Day – reaching out to widows in the community.  In addition, Williams participated in other fraternal programs that have had great impact on the local, state and national level:
• Grant-A-Wish Day – program that allows children to make four wishes a month for food, clothing and miscellaneous items that their families cannot afford to buy.
• Adopt-A-Child Month – program that provides children in need with a box of fun things to brighten their day.
• Adopt-An-Adult – program that supports adults who are ridden with cancer, leukemia or a terminal illness by providing them with books, magazines, puzzles, socks and hospital credits to purchase food and drinks.
• Adopt-A-Child at Christmas – program that provides children in need with special gifts.

Williams is an avid supporter of family-friendly activities.  She was instrumental in helping to coordinate several fun lodge activities for the whole family, including bowling, roller skating, camping and swimming.  She also invited guests to attend activities and encouraged other lodge members to do the same, stating that this was an opportunity to share information about Woodmen of the World.  For a lodge that just eight years ago was little more than a block building with a worn-out roof and a broken stove, this action proved to be monumental.  Today, the lodge is enjoying solid membership growth and a resurgence of involvement in community activities and other fun events.  Ninety percent of its members are between 25 and 45 years old, and lodge officers range in age from 17 to 70.

About Woodmen of the World/Omaha
Woodmen of the World/Omaha Woodmen Life Insurance Society, founded in 1890, is a fraternal benefit society that offers insurance protection with member benefits.  Woodmen members, who belong to more than 2,000 lodges throughout the United States, conduct volunteer, charitable and patriotic projects that benefit individuals, families and communities.  For more information, visit www.woodmen.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.