News from the NFCA Board of Directors

NFCA Legislative Update

NFCA Announces Its Three Keynote Speakers for the 121st Annual Meeting

Call for Nominations to the NFCA Board of Directors

NFCA Releases 2006 Annual Report

Call for NFCA Award Nominations

NFCA Announces New Legislative Program

A Fraternal MVP's Trip to Washington, D.C.

Apply for the "Make It Your Own" Awards

Mark Your Calendars for Life Insurance Awareness Month

Member-Society News

Calendar of Upcoming Events

Question of the Month

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

Did your society plan and/or host a Flag Day event this year?

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.)

June
1-3	Washington Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Tacoma, WA)
2-5	NAIC Summer Meeting (San Francisco, CA)
5	NFCA Board of Directors' Meeting (Pittsburgh, PA)
7-8	Actuaries Section Mid-Year Meeting (Cedar Rapids, IA)

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)
17	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

*Denotes Deadline Date

News from the NFCA Board of Directors

The National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) Board of Directors, led by Chair of the Board Janice U. Whipple, held its quarterly meeting, June 5, 2007, at the Westin Convention Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, site of the 121st NFCA Annual Meeting.

The Board adopted the following motions or approved the following actions:

Consent Agenda which included the March 17, 2007 minutes; April 26, 2007 conference call minutes; Secretary-Treasurer's Report; Interim President and CEO's Report; Join Hands Corporation's Report; Audit, Executive and Governance Committee's Reports; and the Law and Risk Management Committee Reports) had been distributed to the Board prior to the meeting. Each Board member received a copy of the NFCA's Audit Report.
Met in Executive Session on employment issues.

NFCA Legislative Update

When the 110th Congress convened in January, the new Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, Charles Rangel (D-New York), decided to dedicate the first few months of the new session to committee organization matters. As a result of the November elections, Democrats were in control of the Committee for the first time in 12 years, and there were nine new Democratic members of the Committee and two new Republicans. In addition, there was general agreement that under the tenure of his predecessor, Chairman Bill Thomas (R-California), the atmosphere within the Committee had deteriorated and that a greater degree of politeness and collegiality needed to be established. As a result, Chairman Rangel was reluctant to work on significant legislation in the first few months of the new Congress, only agreeing to work on a small business tax relief bill to accompany the recently enacted minimum-wage increase.

The NFCA Announces Its Three Keynote Speakers for the 121st Annual Meeting

The National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) is pleased to present the following keynote speakers at its 121st Annual Meeting, September 6-8, 2007, at the Westin Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Call for Nominations to the NFCA Board of Directors

Nominate qualified members of your society to the NFCA Board of Directors. Your nomination must be received at National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) Headquarters by Friday, July 13. Please include a detailed statement describing the person's qualifications for the office. To understand what kind of a commitment is required to serve on the NFCA Board, click here to view a document entitled Guidelines and Responsibilities to Consider for NFCA Board Vice Chair and Director Candidates.

NFCA Releases 2006 Annual Report

The National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) released its 2006 Annual Report of activities and accomplishments.

Click here to download in PDF format.

Call for NFCA Award Nominations

Do you know an exceptional fraternalist? Has your State Fraternal Congress been active in many fraternal activities this year? Get the recognition you and your members deserve. Submit your entries for the following NFCA Awards!

NFCA Announces New Legislative Program

The National Fraternal Congress of America's (NFCA) Government Affairs Department is committed to protecting the 501(c)(8) tax-exempt status for fraternal benefit societies. The NFCA's primary objective is to educate and engage policymakers whose decisions may affect fraternal benefit societies, a task that is even more important considering the many freshman legislators in the 110th Congress.

A Fraternal MVP's Trip to Washington, D.C.
Catholic Order of Foresters Member Christine Czerwinski gives a firsthand account of her visit to Capitol Hill.

The National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) recognized Christine M. Czerwinski—a member of Catholic Order of Foresters (COF), St. Procopius Court #443, Cicero, Illinois—as a Fraternal MVP (Most Valuable Participant) in Washington, D.C., on April 19, 2007. Czerwinski, honored for her outstanding fraternal service, met with members of Congress representing her home state and Congressional district, as part of the NFCA's Fraternalists-in-Action Program. During her Capitol Hill visit, Czerwinski met with Senators Richard Durbin (D-Illinois) and Barack Obama (D-Illinois).

Apply for the "Make It Your Own" Awards

The "Make It Your Own" Awards, sponsored by the Case Foundation, were created to fund programs to improve communities and make the world a better place to live.

September is Life Insurance Awareness Month: Time to Tell Americans to Stop Gambling with Their Families' Financial Futures

Gambling has become a popular pastime in America. Consider the craze over the multi-state "Mega Millions" lottery. Every time the jackpot rises to eight or nine figures, millions of Americans run to their local convenience store for a chance to become the next mega millionaire. Their chance of winning? Not so good. About 1 in 175 million. The good news is that the consequences of losing aren't that bad. A few dollars blown.

Thrivent Magazine Wins International Gold Quill Award
Award continues magazine's recognition of excellence by global communication organizations.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans' member magazine, Thrivent, is winner of a prestigious 2007 Gold Quill Award of Merit in the publications category, presented by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).

Royal Neighbors of America Continues Its Legacy of Neighbor-Helping-Neighbor

Royal Neighbors of America, dedicated to insuring lives, supporting women, and serving communities, strives to better its community.

On the last Saturday in October, 2006, Royal Neighbors participated in Make A Difference Day, a nationwide day of doing good, sponsored by USA Weekend Magazine. For its efforts, Royal Neighbors received the Local Honoree designation from the Points of Light Foundation and was mentioned in USA Weekend's national coverage.

Woodmen of the World Celebrates 60 Summers of Camping

Woodmen of the World/Omaha Woodmen Life Insurance Society is celebrating 60 summers of camping in 2007. Youth camps, known individually as Camp Woodmen, are places where kids can have fun, make new friends, enjoy new experiences and learn about themselves and the great outdoors. Activities include swimming, arts and crafts, hiking, sports, sitting around a campfire, singing songs, holding a talent show and other group activities.

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

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