State Fraternal Congresses Recognized in NFCA’s “Go for the Gold” Achievement Award
Final year for “Go for the Gold” Award; NFCA Announces New Award Program for 2010.
10/28/09
OAK BROOK, IL – The National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) recognized 17 state fraternal congresses in its annual “Go for the Gold” awards program. The awards were announced at the 123rd NFCA Annual Meeting, September 17-19, in San Antonio, Texas.
The NFCA State Fraternal Congress (SFC) “Go for the Gold” Achievement Awards Program honored state fraternal congresses for programs and activities that promoted fraternalism; educated member representatives on products, leadership and sales ethics; and involved 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 2, 2009.
State fraternal congresses were asked to prepare and submit an entry form for activities held August 1, 2008, through July 31, 2009.
The following 13 state fraternal congresses earned the Gold Award:
• California Fraternal Congress
• Chesapeake Fraternal Congress
• Florida Fraternal Congress
• Illinois Fraternal Congress
• Iowa Fraternal Congress
• Michigan Fraternal Congress
• Missouri Fraternal Congress
• New England Fraternal Congress
• New Jersey Fraternal Congress
• Ohio Fraternal Congress
• Pennsylvania Fraternal Congress
• Texas Fraternal Congress, and
• Wisconsin Fraternal Congress.
The following three state fraternal congresses earned the Silver Award:
• Arizona Fraternal Congress
• Louisiana Fraternal Congress, and
• West Virginia Fraternal Congress.
The following state fraternal congress earned the Bronze Award:
• Georgia 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 President and CEO Joseph J. Annotti, who presented the awards.
This was the final year for the “Go for the Gold” Awards. In 2010, NFCA’s State Fraternal Congress Section will launch the Advocacy in Motion or “AIM” Awards. This new award will annually honor state fraternal congresses for programs and activities that focus their efforts to promote the fraternal system in their state and target relationship-building with their legislators.
For the first year, all kinds of legislative activities are encouraged, but an event hosted at the state capitol would be the ultimate goal. Examples include hosting a legislative breakfast, a coffee break or creating a fraternal display to educate legislators and staff. Other activities could include representatives of a state fraternal congress visiting with state policymakers in the state capital or hosting an elected official at a state fraternal congress meeting. The guidelines are meant to act as a starting point for any advocacy efforts; but members are encouraged to be creative and to feel free to engage elected officials. For examples of Advocacy in Motion, or for any questions, please contact Elizabeth Snyder, NFCA Director of Advocacy and Public Policy.
About the NFCA
The 123-year-old NFCA unites 69 not-for-profit fraternal benefit societies operating in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. The association represents 9.3 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 $353 billion of life insurance-in-force and, in 2008 alone, contributed almost $424 million to charitable and fraternal programs, and volunteered nearly 94 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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