IN THIS ISSUE

Message from the President and CEO

NFCA Legislative Update

Fraternal Disaster Relief

Registration Now Open for the 2008 NFCA Annual Meeting

Call for Nominations to the NFCA Board of Directors

Volunteers Needed for 2008-2009 NFCA Committees

Memorial Tribute at Upcoming NFCA Annual Meeting

Reminder - Call for 2008 NFCA Award Nominations

2008 Fraternal FIC of the Year Announced

Member-Society News

Calendar of Upcoming Events

Question of the Month

NFCA Member-Society Question of the Month

This month's question:

What has been your most successful method of gaining new members?

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.

June 2008

Message from the President and CEO

Head to the Hill with the NFCA

The NFCA Annual Meeting is the most important networking opportunity of the year for fraternal executives. It is the one time when you and your peers from societies across the U.S. can gather to share ideas that can help your organization grow and prosper. I hope you will join the nearly 400 leaders of America’s most dynamic societies for the 122nd NFCA Annual Meeting, September 4-6, in Washington, D.C.

This year’s meeting comes just two months before one of the most important elections in American history. The results of that election will have a dramatic impact on the future of fraternals in this nation. And we’ve put together a program that will provide you uncommon insight into how the elections will be decided and how they will affect your society.

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NFCA Legislative Update

June 24 Tax Legislative Update

Absent an unexpected turn of events, the Senate is likely to adjourn for the Independence Day recess June 27, without taking action on a pending package of proposals to extend forty popular expired and expiring tax provisions, such as the research credit and some energy incentive provisions, which have already been adopted by the House of Representatives. This outcome is likely despite two prior but failed attempts in the Senate to limit debate and proceed to consideration of the legislation, some intense negotiations between Democratic and Republican Leaders over a possible compromise on the bill, and an aggressive campaign by many trade associations and affected companies to bring the two sides together.

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Fraternal Disaster Relief

WESTERN CATHOLIC UNION
“Whatever, Whenever, Wherever”

“This is an example of America at its best.”

U.S. Senator Barack Obama said this to hundreds of volunteers in Quincy, Illinois, who were gathered to fight the flood of 2008.

Just a few feet away as Obama made that statement, Steve Looten was one of many Western Catholic Union members joining the sandbagging effort. Every hour, hundreds of volunteers responded to the call for help. As many as three million sandbags might be needed, and it takes an entire community to get the job done.

They all came to help, the old and young, rich and poor. “When people come together from all walks of life, every age, every background, pitching in together to deal with challenges, there is no problem we can’t solve when we work together,” Obama said.

Royal Neighbors’ Bucket Brigade is Ready to Deliver Help to Flood Victims

Royal Neighbors of America is sending a caravan to Keithsburg and Gladstone, Illinois, on Friday, June 27, to distribute critical supplies to flood victims and volunteers. This Bucket Brigade is being led by members of area Royal Neighbors chapters, as well as Home Office employees.

Royal Neighbors’ Bucket Brigade is delivering ready help to victims of the recent floods by filling buckets with cleaning supplies, gloves, hand sanitizer, batteries, etc. Royal Neighbors of America members across the country are joining the Bucket Brigade by sponsoring buckets. Anyone interested in sponsoring clean-up and donation efforts can send a tax-deductible donation to The RNA Foundation, 230 16th St., Rock Island, IL 61201. Each $25 donation fills a Bucket Brigade bucket with the needed supplies.

Registration Now Open 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.

Click here to register today!

ATTENDEE INFORMATION:
Schedule of Events
Hotel Information/Reservations
Travel Information
Discover Washington, D.C.
Attendee Registration
      Registration Guidelines
      Full Program Registration Form
      Daily Registration Form
      Online Registration - NEW!


For EXHIBITOR AND SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION,
please click here.

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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 July 15. 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.

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Volunteers Needed for 2008-2009 NFCA Committees

Throughout the course of the year, the National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) may appoint ad hoc committees that address a variety of issues. NFCA member-societies have many talented individuals who can significantly assist the fraternal benefit system. Involvement in NFCA committees benefits the individual, your society and the entire system.

Please click here to download a Committee Candidates form on which you may list individuals from your society whose time, talent and expertise would benefit the fraternal benefit system in the listed areas. Listed here are descriptions of the responsibilities of the potential 2008-2009 ad hoc committees, as well as a description of the responsibilities of the Law Committee, which is a Member Committee.

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Memorial Tribute

During the 122nd Annual Meeting, September 4-6, 2008, in Washington, D.C., the National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) will acknowledge those fraternalists who have passed on since last summer.

This Memorial Tribute serves to recognize deceased national officers and senior staff members, and the significant contributions they made to their societies, communities and the NFCA. It also recognizes deceased state fraternal officers, and the significant contributions they made to their state fraternal congresses. It is important to us that we include all recent and former national officers and senior staff of your society and/or state fraternal congress, who died between July 11, 2007, and July 10, 2008. We are not seeking the names of any officers who died before July 2007.

Reminder - Call for 2008 NFCA Award Nominations

Don't forget to submit your entries for the following NFCA Awards!

Deadlines for these NFCA awards programs are fast approaching! Remember, information on all current award programs can always be found on the NFCA Web site at “Awards” under the “Programs” tab.

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2008 Fraternal FIC of the Year Announced

Randall W. Kolarik, FIC, LUTCF, of the Western Fraternal Life Association (WFLI) has been named this year’s Fraternal FIC. Kolarik, of Denmark, Wisconsin, was selected by the judges for both his fraternal support and community service. This joint award is sponsored by the Fraternal Field Managers Association (FFMA), the National Association of Fraternal Insurance Counsellors (NAFIC) and the NFCA, recognizing that to many individuals, a fraternal benefit society’s local fraternal insurance counselor is the “face of fraternalism.”

Catholic Order of Foresters Celebrates 125th Anniversary

Catholic Order of Foresters, headquartered in Naperville, Illinois, celebrated its 125th anniversary during a June 1 dinner at Cress Creek Country Club. The event was attended by U. S. Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL), Naperville Mayor A. George Pradel, and Catholic Order of Foresters’ (COF) past and present officers, trustees and home office employees. Other guests included NFCA President and CEO Joseph Annotti and officers from local fraternal organizations. The dinner capped monthly anniversary activities at COF’s home office that included a March volunteer opportunity at Feed My Starving Children meal-packing facility in Naperville.

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COF High Chief Ranger Emeritus and Former NFCA Chair of the Board Dies

Surrounded by loving family members, High Chief Ranger Emeritus John Alexander Gorski passed away on June 8, 2008.

Born January 16, 1924, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Gorski served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. Following his 1945 discharge, Gorski returned home to Milwaukee, married his sweetheart, Deloris, and raised three sons.

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Knights of Columbus Sets Record for Charitable Giving, Volunteer Service

The Knights of Columbus announced that it set new all-time records for charitable giving and volunteer service hours in 2007. Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson released the results of the survey in a speech to state deputies and members of the board of directors in New Haven on June 6, 2008.

The results of the Order's Annual Survey of Fraternal Activity for the year ending December 31, 2007, show that total contributions to charity at all levels reached $144,911,781 - exceeding the previous year's total by more than $1 million. The figure includes $31,235,220 donated by the Supreme Council, and $113,676,561 in charitable donations from state and local councils, Fourth Degree assemblies and squire circles.

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Polish National Alliance Holds Flag Day Ceremony

The Polish National Alliance celebrated the traditional event of Flag Day on Friday, June 13, 2008. The event was attended by PNA leaders and officers, the PNA Employees, community leaders and guests.

The program began with a welcome from PNA Vice President Paul C. Odrobina. He recalled that June 14th will mark the 231st Anniversary of our national symbol. He called upon PNA President Frank J. Spula, who spoke of the importance of Flag Day. Odrobina then asked Peter Motolko, John Wojciechowski and Anna Bucon to raise the American, Polish and PNA logo flags.

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