NFCA Legislative Update

Registration Now Open for the 121st NFCA Annual Meeting

New Annual Electronic Filing Requirement for Small Tax-Exempt Organizations

Balancing Today's Business Opportunities with the Risk of Errors and Omissions Claims

The NFCA Hires New Manager of Administrative Services

Pittsburgh Education/
Fraternal Seminar Attracts 98 Attendees

Member-Society News

Calendar of Upcoming Events

Question of the Month

NFCA Member-Society Question of the Month
This month's question:

How many elected public officials did you invite to your JOIN HANDS DAY and/or Flag Day events in May and June?

To answer, click here or visit the NFCA Web site at www.nfcanet.org and click on the link for the "Question of the Month." You also can send your answer to the NFCA Headquarters at nfca@nfcanet.org.

Calendar of Upcoming Events
(Dates subject to change.)

July
2	Fraternalist of the Year Nomination deadline*
4	Independence Day – NFCA HQ Closed
13	NFCA Committee Nomination Forms deadline*
13	NFCA Vice Chair and Director Nomination Forms deadline*
13	Memorial List deadline*
16-18	National Conference on Volunteering and Service (POLF) (Philadelphia, PA)
17	Law Committee Meeting (Oak Brook, IL)

August
1	"Go for the Gold" State Fraternal Congress Award Program Submission deadline*
2	Iowa Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Williamsburg, IA)
6	Annual Meeting Credential Forms Due to NFCA HQ*
21	NFCA Board of Directors Meeting (Oak Brook, IL)
24-25	Indiana Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Indianapolis, IN)

September
3	Labor Day – NFCA HQ Closed
6	NFCA Board of Directors Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA (Current Board)
6-8	121st NFCA Annual Meeting – Westin Convention Center (Pittsburgh, PA)
9	NFCA Board of Directors Meeting (New Board)
27-28	Wisconsin Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Wisconsin Dells, WI)
28-29	Chesapeake Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Ocean City, MD)
29- Oct 2	NAIC Fall Meeting (Washington, DC)

October
5-6	Texas Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Austin, TX)
5-7	Ohio Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Westlake, OH)
8	Columbus Day – NFCA HQ Closed
11-12	South Dakota Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Brookings, SD)
12	Michigan Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Mt. Pleasant, MI)
12-13	West Virginia Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Parkersburg, WV)
19-20	California Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Milpitas, CA)
19-20	Missouri Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Jefferson City, MO)
19-20	Virginia Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Lynchburg, VA)
26	Arizona Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Tempe, AZ)
28-29	Pennsylvania Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Farmington, PA)
29	Minnesota Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (TBD)
TBD	Law Committee Meeting (via conference call)
TBD	New Jersey Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting

November
2	Nebraska Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Ashland, NE)
3	New England Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Lexington, MA)
22	Thanksgiving Day – NFCA HQ Closed
23	NFCA HQ Closed
TBD	NFCA Board of Directors Meeting

December
1-4	NAIC Winter Meeting (Houston, TX)
3	Local Lodge/Chapter Report Forms Sent to Member-Societies*
25	Christmas – NFCA HQ Closed

*Denotes Deadline Date

Pittsburgh Education/
Fraternal Seminar Attracts 98 Attendees

The Fraternal Societies of Greater Pittsburgh (FSGP) held its annual seminar this year on May 17 and 18 at the Embassy Suites in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. FSGP President George Lopata, Manager of Marketing Services for Greek Catholic Union (GCU), welcomed 98 fraternal officers, society employees and associates to the seminar. Attendees came from five states, representing 32 fraternal benefit societies and related organizations.

The annual FSGP seminar has been conducted by Bruce and Bruce Company, Consulting Actuaries, Lake Bluff, Ill., since 1978. Edward U. DePersis of Bruce and DePersis Company, Pittsburgh, Penn., served as program chairman and moderator. This year’s theme was “Moving Forward.”

Robert Bruce, President of Bruce and Bruce Company, opened the program with a comprehensive industry overview of current regulatory and emerging issues. Various topics included: Principal Based Reserves, conversion to the 2001 CSO Mortality Table and annuity suitability. In his opening remarks, Bruce compared the financial performance of many FSGP fraternals with the ratio growth of the 11 largest fraternals. He observed the FSGP group outperformed the larger fraternals in life insurance issued, increase in premium income and net income. He noted interpretation of these results must be tempered with recognition that a significant improvement in a ratio of change is much more difficult to achieve on a large basis.

NFCA Legislative Update

The Tax Legislative Outlook

The Democratic Leaders of Congress have laid out an aggressive and expensive tax agenda defined by a number of separate tax bills, each addressing a specific area of public policy, including: (1) small business tax relief to accompany a minimum wage increase ($5 billion); (2) an expansion of tax benefits for education for middle-class families ($25 billion); (3) creating incentives for the development of alternative energy sources ($15 - $30 billion); (4) expanding incentives for the development of low-income housing ($5 billion); (5) exempting middle-class taxpayers from the alternative minimum tax ($60 – $120 billion); and (6) extending popular tax breaks that expire at the end of 2007, such as the research credit ($15 – $20 billion).

Registration is Now Open for the 121st NFCA Annual Meeting

121st NFCA Annual Meeting
The Westin Convention Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
September 6-8, 2007

Join us in Pittsburgh for high-quality educational programs, designed specifically for fraternal benefit societies.

Click here to download the Registration Brochure, and take a look at this year's exciting line-up! Printed copies of the Registration Brochure will be mailed soon.

Mail or fax your registration today! Online registration is coming soon. Click here to download a copy of the Registration Form.

Be sure to make your hotel reservations by clicking here to get the NFCA discounted room rate. Or make your reservations by calling (800) 937-8461 or (412) 281-3700.

Be sure to mention the "National Fraternal Congress" or "NFCA" to obtain NFCA's discounted room rate.

For more information on this year's NFCA Annual Meeting, click here.

New Annual Electronic Filing Requirement for Small Tax-Exempt Organizations — e-Postcard (Form 990-N)

Beginning in 2008, small tax-exempt organizations that previously were not required to file returns may be required to file an annual electronic notice, Form 990-N, Electronic Notice (e-Postcard) for Tax-Exempt Organizations not Required To File Form 990 or 990-EZ. This filing requirement applies to tax periods beginning after December 31, 2006. Organizations that do not file the notice will lose their tax-exempt status.

Balancing Today's Business Opportunities with the Risk of Errors and Omissions Claims

In today's business world, opportunities for new business have slowed to a certain degree and agents have been pressed to work harder for each sale. Sometimes, in an effort to obtain a client or close a transaction, agents may be willing to take more of a risk than they would have several years ago. Greater risks will inevitably lead to an increased frequency of errors and omissions claims. Agents must, therefore, be more careful than ever in risk prevention.

The National Fraternal Congress of America Hires New Manager of Administrative Services

The National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) announced the hiring of Linda McLaughlin as its new Manager of Administrative Services.

In this position, McLaughlin will be responsible for day-to-day operations management, including maintaining financial operations of the association; developing and implementing personnel policies, benefits programs and maintenance of personnel records; and providing facility management support. McLaughlin will begin work at the NFCA on Monday, July 23.

"We're delighted to have Linda join the NFCA headquarters staff," said NFCA Interim President and CEO Bob Huxel. "She will assist the staff and membership by managing the headquarters office and its daily operations."

National Children's Alliance Honors Foresters for Group Leadership

Foresters™ Seaway branch from Duluth, MN, will be honored by Washington, D.C.-based National Children's Alliance (NCA) as the 2007 recipient of the Group Volunteer Leadership Award. Foresters provides life insurance and annuity products to its members and is an organization that, for more than 130 years, has dedicated itself to sharing its time, talent and financial strength with community organizations that support children. Andy Paszak, the Seaway Branch President and Steve Lafontaine, a Foresters Regional Council Officer, accepted the award at NCA's Annual Awards Luncheon on June 20, 2007, at the Renaissance Washington D.C. Hotel.

Foresters Partners with ADS to Develop Industry-leading Life Insurance Products
Lifefirst features first of its kind Family Health Benefit Rider.

Foresters™ and Actuarial Development Services (ADS) have entered into a product development partnership to serve the needs of its U.S. members and prospective members in the middle market with innovative life insurance products. As a result of this collaboration, Foresters has launched Lifefirst, a new level term life insurance product, with a suite of feature rich riders including a Common Carrier Accidental Death Rider and a first of its kind Family Health Benefit Rider as standard protection features.

320 Students Awarded Foresters Scholarships across North America
Foresters contributes $2.3 million towards brighter futures.

The Independent Order of Foresters, commonly known as Foresters™, has announced the 320 winners of its annual scholarship program including the first two recipients of its Ken Peterson Award for Community Leadership. Foresters scholarships, available to eligible Foresters members in the United States and Canada, recognize those who have demonstrated solid academic performance with contributions to the community.

Thrivent Financial Names New Board Member
Alice M. Richter brings 26 years of accounting and auditing experience to board.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has appointed Alice M. Richter, a community leader with 26 years of accounting and auditing experience, to its board of directors.

Richter, a retired certified public accountant who resides in Eden Prairie, Minn., spent her entire career with KPMG LLP, a global financial and accounting services firm. A partner with the firm until her retirement in 2001, Richter last held the position of national industry director of KPMG's food and beverage practice. In that role, she provided overall leadership of auditing, tax and consulting services for major food and beverage clients.

Knights Set New Record for Charitable Giving

The Knights of Columbus announced June 8 that it set new records for charitable giving and volunteer service in 2006.

The results of the Order's annual Survey of Fraternal Activity for the year ending Dec. 31, 2006, show that total contributions to charity at all levels reached $143,816,004—exceeding the previous year's total by more than $4 million.

Royal Neighbors' Leader Visits with Anne Roosevelt

Anne Roosevelt, granddaughter of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, was the keynote speaker at a luncheon held at the Radisson Hotel in Davenport, IA. The event was sponsored by The Women's Connection (TWC), the largest women's organization in the Iowa/Illinois Quad Cities area.

Royal Neighbors of America is Ready with Disaster Cash Aid to Assist its Members Affected by Recent Flooding

Royal Neighbors of America is providing financial aid to its members affected by recent flooding.

The organization and its local chapters are making an extensive effort to reach its members in the affected areas, so they know Royal Neighbors is standing by to support them with disaster cash aid.

"Our hearts go out to these residents," said Cynthia Tidwell, Royal Neighbors President/CEO. "We began helping victims of disasters back in 1906 following the San Francisco earthquake. Today, we continue to fulfill our legacy of neighbor-helping-neighbor."

For more information about Royal Neighbors of America, call (800) 627-4762, or visit the Web site at www.royalneighbors.org.

Woodmen of the World Shows Support for Flags Across America

Flags Across America is a nationwide event designed to instill a greater sense of patriotism in all Americans and bring communities together to celebrate our freedom and liberty. The day is sponsored by the National Flag Foundation in hopes that citizens will create a "Sea of Flags" across the nation.

Woodmen of the World Names Director

Woodmen of the World/Omaha Woodmen Life Insurance Society has named Paula Gilmore Kirkpatrick Director of Research and Implementation.

Kirkpatrick will manage research initiatives to identify new market and product opportunities and manage the delivery of those products and programs to the Woodmen of the World sales force.

Modern Woodmen Offers New Term Life Insurance Products for Young Families

Modern Woodmen of America recently introduced Step One, a term life insurance product that insures the life of a child or young adult to age 30. The Step One product features a low premium rate.

"This product makes it possible for young families to start a life insurance plan that can grow with them," says Patrick J. Barnes, chief marketing officer at Modern Woodmen. "Consider a young family of three * Mom and Dad are under age 25, and they have a daughter. Each member of this family can own $25,000 of Step One life insurance for a total premium amount of $12.50 per month.* That premium amount is often less than the cost of pizza and soft drinks, two tickets to the movie theater or a monthly cell phone bill."

The information in Member-Society News does not necessarily reflect the views of the National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) and is submitted by the authors or originators who are responsible for its content.

Fraternal Advantage is published 12 times a year for member-societies of the National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA). The NFCA publishes and mails Fraternal Advantage to its member-societies quarterly and sends it electronically the remaining eight months of the year. Fraternal Advantage is unrelated to the Fraternal Monitor, an independent publication not affiliated with or supported by the NFCA in any way.

Please send comments or story ideas to Rose Riccetti, NFCA director, communications and marketing, at
rriccetti@nfcanet.org.

Copyright © 2007 NFCA

ABOUT THIS MESSAGE
You are receiving this e-mail because you are a member of the National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) or previously contacted the NFCA for information or products. If you no longer wish to receive e-mails from the NFCA, please reply to this message and type "REMOVE" in the subject line.

This e-mail message complies with all CAN-SPAM 2004 regulations. It was sent to you by the National Fraternal Congress of America, 1315 West 22nd Street, Suite 400, Oak Brook, IL 60523.