IN THIS ISSUE

Message from the President and CEO

NFCA Legislative Update

Free NFCA Webinar on New Grasstops Advocacy Through Executives Program

Fraternal Disaster Relief

Last Chance to Register for the 2008 NFCA Annual Meeting

USA WEEKEND President and CEO Marcia Bullard to Present at NFCA Annual Meeting

Join Us for the First-Ever NFCA Board Institute

Reaching Generations X, Y, & Z

Social Media for Fraternal Benefit Societies

2007 Annual Meeting Proceedings Now Available Online

Member-Society News

Calendar of Upcoming Events

Question of the Month

NFCA Member-Society Question of the Month

This month's question:

Are you registered to vote in this November's General Election? If not, why not?

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.

July/August 2008

Message from the President and CEO

NFCA Introduces New Online Advocacy System

The National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) is proud to introduce a new online advocacy system. This enhanced portion of the NFCA Web site will offer the same features that members have come to expect: legislator look-up capabilities, state legislation, and action alerts. These features are enhanced by new sections for news and links pertaining to legislative issues, current state insurance regulations, and a convenient web form for reporting relationships with public officials.

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NFCA Legislative Update

July 31 Tax Update

Congress appears certain to adjourn for the August recess without completing action on a package of tax extenders (including energy provisions) and a "patch" to remove millions of middle class taxpayers from the alternative minimum tax (AMT). The fourth and last vote taken prior to adjournment on this legislation garnered 52 votes in favor of proceeding, eight short of the required 60 votes.

Although Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Montana) added several provisions to the proposed legislation in order to attract more Republican votes, his negotiations with his Republican colleagues failed to resolve the central dispute in the legislation, whether the extensions of expired and expiring tax provisions should be offset. Chairman Baucus' last bill draft contained essentially the same $57 billion in offsets that were in his earlier drafts.

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Free NFCA Webinar on New Grasstops Advocacy Through Executives Program

NFCA Webinar: Introduction to NFCA's GATE Program
Speaker:
Elizabeth Snyder, NFCA Government Affairs Coordinator
Thursday, August 14, 2008
2:00 - 2:30 p.m. CST

Click here to register.

Attend this FREE NFCA webinar introducing Grasstops Advocacy Through Executives (GATE), the new NFCA political outreach program.

Why you? As a fraternal executive, you and your staff are the best people to represent your society to key legislators.

Why now? In 2009, we anticipate tax code overhaul hearings, increased legislative scrutiny of nonprofit organizations, and a tight federal budget. Attend the GATE webinar and learn how you can increase awareness of your society and the 501(c)(8) tax exemption issue among key policymakers.

Why GATE? If you've ever had trouble with elected officials not attending your events, played phone-tag with a district office, or wondered how to influence public policy, this program is for you ... open the GATE to effective advocacy.

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Fraternal Disaster Relief

Western Fraternal Life Association Provides Flood Relief Efforts

Western Fraternal Life Association (WFLA), headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, donated 800 personal hygiene bags filled with basic necessities to flood victims in Cedar Rapids. On Friday, June 20, members from local lodges 7, 13, 242, 400, 423 and 500 assembled the green plastic bags. The bags were delivered to Red Cross donation areas at Prairie High School, Westdale Mall and St. Matthew’s, St. Pius X and St. Ludmila churches for direct distribution to flood victims in the area.

Lodge 423 helped the Olivet Mission pull out drywall and insulation. Lodges 7, 13 and 500 assisted WFLA Director Don Krall at Krall Plumbing with flood cleanup. Lodges 13 and 262 helped the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library clean and save textiles and books.

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Thrivent Financial and its Members Aim to Generate $1.5 million for Midwest Flood Relief
Thrivent Financial members nationwide rally to organize local fundraisers.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and its nearly 3 million members nationwide are rallying to generate at least $1.5 million for communities in Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin devastated by recent Midwest flooding. The contribution is anticipated to include $1 million donated and raised by Thrivent Financial members, and an additional $500,000 provided by Thrivent Financial.

“When there is a need, Thrivent Financial and our members are eager to help,” said Brad Hewitt, senior vice president of charitable programs for Thrivent Financial. “Thanks to Thrivent Financial’s unique structure, our members in the Midwest and across the country can quickly organize volunteers in their community to raise funds and provide hope to the recent flood victims.”

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Last Chance to Register for the 2008 NFCA Annual Meeting

122nd NFCA Annual Meeting
Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill
Washington, D.C.
September 4-6, 2008

Join us in Washington, D.C.
Register now for the 122nd NFCA Annual Meeting, September 4-6, 2008, at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

HURRY! Last chance to register for the 2008 NFCA Annual Meeting. Register now - pay by check later!

Click here to register today!

Hotel reservation deadline is this Friday! Click here for details.

NFCA's discounted rate will no longer be available after 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on Friday, August 8th. To obtain the NFCA rate, call the hotel directly at 202-737-1234 between normal business hours, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Eastern time. Or click here to reserve your room online.

ATTENDEE INFORMATION:
Schedule of Events
Friday Featured Speaker
Saturday Featured Speaker
Workshops - NEW!
Board Institute - NEW!
Hotel Information/Reservations
Travel Information
Discover Washington, D.C.
Attendee Registration
      Registration Guidelines
      Full Program Registration Form
      Daily Registration Form
      Online Registration - NEW!
2007 Annual Meeting Proceedings
NFCA Section Meetings – NEW!

For EXHIBITOR AND SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION, please click here.

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USA WEEKEND President and CEO Marcia Bullard to Present at NFCA Annual Meeting

STATE FRATERNAL CONGRESSES SECTION MEETING
Saturday, September 6
7:45 - 8:45 a.m.

The Presenter:
Marcia L. Bullard
President and Chief Executive Officer, USA WEEKEND

Marcia Bullard is President and Chief Executive Officer of USA WEEKEND, the national weekly newspaper magazine. With 50 million readers, USA WEEKEND is distributed in more than 600 newspapers nationwide, including the New York Daily News, Newsday, Denver Post and Minneapolis Star Tribune. Under Bullard's direction, the magazine created and sponsors the nation's largest day of volunteer action, "Make A Difference Day."

Bullard has been with USA WEEKEND since 1985. She became President & CEO in 1996; prior to that she served as editor and managing editor. In 1982 she was one of the founding editors of USA TODAY, the national newspaper. She started in the business as a reporter in Rochester, NY.

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Join Us for the First-Ever NFCA Board Institute
Limited Space Available - So Act Now!

NFCA Board Member Institute
September 3 – 4, 2008
Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill
Preceding the NFCA Annual Meeting

Send your Board Chair or other Board Members to the NFCA Board Member Institute, designed to educate fraternal Board Members on what they can and should be doing to ensure the legal and financial health of their society, protect themselves from liability, and enhance the growth of their society and the fraternal system. Held just prior to the NFCA Annual Meeting, this program will provide Board Members with tailored programming at a fundamental and appropriate level from fraternal experts.

ATTENDEE INFORMATION
Tentative Schedule
Presenters
Registration Form
2008 NFCA Annual Meeting Information
Hotel Information/Reservations
Travel Information

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Reaching Generations X, Y, & Z

Learn how to reach Generations X, Y & Z in these two workshops, being held at the NFCA Annual Meeting on Friday, September 5. Click on the links below for details.

Session 1:
Rock Stars Incorporated: Managing, Motivating, and Marketing to Generations X & Y

Session 2:
The New Recruit: What You Need to Know About X, Y, & Z

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Social Media for Fraternal Benefit Societies

Blogs, podcasts, social networking. There are a lot of new technologies out there that can be overwhelming to many of us. What does it all mean? And should you be introducing some of this new "social media" at your society?

To help answer these questions, the NFCA is presenting a workshop at its 2008 Annual Meeting on Saturday, September 6:
Social Media: Getting Started – Fearlessly, presented by Bill Seaver, MicroExplosion Media. Bill will discuss how best to use several of the social media tools like blogs, podcasts, online video and social networks. He also will provide an overview of what to consider when developing your plan to initiate social media for your society. A “Part 2” on this topic is planned in the form of a follow-up NFCA Webinar, to address questions you encounter and help you keep on track and moving forward after the Annual Meeting.

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2007 Annual Meeting Proceedings Now Available Online

The official Report of the 121st Annual Meeting of the National Fraternal Congress of America, held September 6-8, 2007, in Pittsburgh, PA, is now available on the NFCA Web site. Please click here to review the proceedings.

The Independent Order of Foresters Announces over 260 Scholarship Recipients across America - More than $20 million awarded over 25 years.

Foresters™ announced the more than 260 U.S. recipients of its annual Competitive Scholarship program today. This program recognizes those individuals who demonstrate solid academic performance combined with a commitment to making a difference in their community. Foresters Competitive Scholarships are available to 350 eligible members and their dependent children in the U.S. and Canada each year.

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Foresters Impact on the Community: One Child at a Time

Foresters™ was recently recognized as the 2008 Jefferson County Volunteer Connection Business Partner Award for its contributions to Lost & Found, Inc., an organization dedicated to helping and healing over 100 kids each year. Representative Emilio Valdez accepted the award on behalf of Foresters. Valdez has personally contributed over 300 personal hours to Lost & Found, as well as serving on the Board of Directors. The local Foresters branch is also a major supporter of the organization by providing volunteers and much-needed sponsorship funds.

For more information about Foresters, visit www.foresters.com.

Cummins Named Woodmen of the World President

Woodmen of the World/Omaha Woodmen Life Insurance Society has announced that Danny E. Cummins will become the organization's 11th president on October 1. He will succeed James Mounce, who recently announced his plans to retire, after 26 years with the organization and eight years as president.

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Woodmen of the World/Omaha Names McCauley Vice President

Denise McCauley has been named Vice President, Core Operations at Woodmen of the World/Omaha Woodmen Life Insurance Society, where she will oversee Underwriting, Membership Services and Claims. McCauley was previously Senior Vice President and General Manager, Network Services at Alliance Data Systems in Dallas.

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Royal Neighbors of America Awards $100,000 through Scholarship Programs

Royal Neighbors of America (RNA) awarded 52 scholarships valued at more than $100,000 to qualified members through its annual scholarship program.

For almost 50 years, the Royal Neighbors Scholarship Program has made the dream of higher education a reality for many of its members by awarding more than $3 million in scholarships to nearly 1,500 students.

Royal Neighbors of America Helps At-risk Youth with Donation to Arrowhead Round Up

Royal Neighbors of America is donating a large supply of office furniture to the Arrowhead Ranch Round Up. Students from Arrowhead Ranch accepted the donation on Friday, August 1, at the Royal Neighbors of America Home Office, 230 16th St., Rock Island, Illinois.

Watseka Residents Receive Fraternalist of the Year Awards and Cash Donations from Royal Neighbors of America

Angie Hagan and Sarah McDaniel, both of Watseka, Ill., received national recognition for their volunteer spirit on Monday, August 4. In addition, Royal Neighbors provided a cash donation of $1,000 to Hagan’s charity of choice, the Association for the Betterment of Retarded Adults (ABRA), and $500 to McDaniel’s charity of choice, Sheldon Church of the Nazarene. Darcy Smith, fraternal specialist from Royal Neighbors of America, presented the Fraternalist of the Year Award to Hagan and the First Runner-Up to McDaniel.

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PWA President Virginia Sikora Visits Poland as Head of PAC Charitable Foundation

National President of Polish Women’s Alliance of America Virginia Sikora is currently serving a term as President of the Polish American Congress Charitable Foundation. In that capacity, she recently traveled to Poland, together with Legal Counsel and Vice President for Financial Affairs Chris Nowotarski, to visit institutions and charities that will be beneficiaries of the Foundation in the coming year.

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Polish Falcons District Director Passed Away

Polish Falcons of America District II Director Ronald R. Merzweiler, Sr., died July 14, 2008, after sustaining injuries as a result of a car accident. Merzweiler and his wife, Janice, had been traveling to the Polish Falcons 2008 National Convention in Troy, Michigan, at the time of the accident.

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New York State Assemblyman Joe Morelle Assists with Thrivent Builds Project

New York State Assemblyman Joseph D. Morelle and his staff helped build a house in Rochester, N.Y., as part of a Thrivent Builds project. In 2005, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) joined together to create the “Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity” alliance, a four-year, $125 million alliance designed to help address the complex issue of poverty housing. The relationship is helping Habitat for Humanity to increase its annual house production by hundreds of homes per year in the United States and around the world.

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