News from the NFCA Board of Directors

New NFCA Mission and Vision Statements Adopted

NFCA Legislative Update

Fraternal Benefit Societies Lend Assistance to Fire Victims

Your Directors & Officers - Are They Adequately Protected?

Renew Your Society's Membership in State Fraternal Congresses

Save the Dates for the 2008 NFCA Section Mid-Year Meetings

Member-Society News

Calendar of Upcoming Events

Question of the Month

NFCA Member-Society Question of the Month

This month's question:

What topic(s) would you like the NFCA to address in its future educational webinars?

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.)

December
1-4 NAIC Winter Meeting (Houston, TX)
3 Local Lodge/Chapter Report Forms Sent to Member-Societies*
25 Christmas – NFCA HQ Closed
   
January 2008
1 New Year's Day Holiday - NFCA HQ Closed
29 Law Committee Meeting (via conference call)
   
February 2008
19 NFCA Board of Directors' Meeting (Washington, DC)
   
March 2008
6-7 Illinois Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Moline, IL)
14-15 Secretaries & Human Resources Sections Mid-Year Meeting (Miami Lakes, FL)
16 Golf Outing, (Miami Lakes, FL)
17-18 Presidents Section Mid-Year Meeting (Miami Lakes, FL)
21 Good Friday– NFCA HQ Closed
28-Apr 1 NAIC Spring Meeting (Orlando, FL)
   
April 2008
8 Law Committee Meeting (via conference call)
17-19 Communications, Fraternal Section & SFC Board Mid-Year Meetings (Nashville, TN)
   
May 2008
1-3 Canadian Fraternal Association Annual Meeting (Manior Victoria, Quebec)
3 JOIN HANDS DAY
6 NFCA Board of Directors' Meeting (Oak Book, IL)
TBD Investment Section Mid-Year Meeting (TBD)
14-15 South Dakota Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Rapid City, SD)
26 Memorial Day - NFCA HQ Closed
29-31 NAFIC 58th National Convention (Orlando, FL)
31-June 3 NAIC Summer Meeting (San Francisco, CA)
   
June 2008
1-3 National Conference on Volunteering and Service (Atlanta, GA)
6-8 Washington Fraternal Congress (Location TBD)
11-13 AFBC Annual Meeting (Charleston, SC)
12 Law Committee Meeting (Charleston, SC)
TBD Actuaries Section Mid-Year Meeting (TBD)
   
July 2008
1 Fraternalist of the Year Nomination deadline*
3 Independence Day Holiday - NFCA HQ Closes at noon
4 Independence Day Holiday - NFCA HQ Closed
11 NFCA Committe Nomination Forms deadline*
11 NFCA Vice Chair and Director Nomination Forms deadline*
11 NFCA Memorial List deadline*
11 Jacobson Rugland Award Nomination deadline*
21-Aug 1 Iowa Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Marshalltown, IA)
   
August 2008
1 Go for the Gold State Fraternal Congress Award Program Submission deadline*
6 Annual Meeting Credential Forms deadline*
18 NFCA Board of Directors' Meeting (Oak Brook, IL)
   
September 2008
1 Labor Day - NFCA HQ Closed
4 NFCA Board of Directors' Meeting (Washington, DC)
4-6 122nd NFCA Annual Meeting, Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill (Washington, DC)
7 NFCA Board of Directors' Meeting (Washington, DC)
20-23 NAIC Fall Meeting (Washington, DC)
   
October 2008
10-11 West Virginia Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Ansted, WV)
10-12 Ohio Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Elyria, OH)
TBD New Jersey Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Atlantic City, NJ)
13 Columbus Day - NFCA HQ Closed
17-18 California Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Ontario, CA)
TBD Law Committee Meeting (via conference call)
   
November 2008
8 New England Fraternal Congress (Location TBD)
27 Thanksgiving Day - NFCA HQ Closed
28 Thanksgiving Holiday - NFCA HQ Closed
TBD NFCA Board of Directors Meeting
   
December 2008
6-9 NAIC Winter Meeting (Grapevine, TX)
25 Christmas – NFCA HQ Closed
26 Christmas Holiday - NFCA HQ Closed

*Denotes Deadline Date

2008 NFCA Section Mid-Year Meetings

SAVE THE DATES!

March 14-15*, 2008 - Secretaries Section
Shula's Hotel and Golf Club
Miami Lakes, Florida

March 14-15*, 2008 - Human Resources Section
Shula's Hotel and Golf Club
Miami Lakes, Florida

March 17-18*, 2008 - Presidents Section
Shula's Hotel and Golf Club
Miami Lakes, Florida

*March 16, 2008 - Golf Outing (optional, open to all registrants, their guests and sponsors)

Click here to download a fact sheet for Shula's Hotel and Golf Club.

April 17-19, 2008 - Communications, Fraternal &
State Fraternal Congresses Sections
Hotel Preston
Nashville, Tennessee

Click here to download a fact sheet for the Hotel Preston.

More...

News from the NFCA Board of Directors

The National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) Board of Directors, led by Chair of the Board Katharine E. Rounthwaite, held a meeting, November 6th at the NFCA Headquarters office in Oak Brook, Illinois.

The Board reviewed and adopted:

Please note that the next meeting of the Board of Directors is February 19, 2008, in Washington, D.C. All members are encouraged to review approved Board minutes. (Minutes from the November 6th Board meeting will be approved and available after February 19, 2008.)

New NFCA Mission and Vision Statements Adopted

The NFCA Board of Directors unanimously adopted the revised Mission Statement and Vision Statement listed below, on November 6, 2007.

NFCA Mission Statement

The National Fraternal Congress of America is
the voice of its member fraternal benefit societies.

The Vision of the National Fraternal Congress of America

As we live our Mission, we:

Alert and support our members about regulatory and legislative changes that could impact our fraternal uniqueness;

Boldly and proudly proclaim the powerful contributions our member-societies make to improve the quality of life for individuals and communities through the effective use of volunteers and financial resources;

Educate, provide guidance, set standards and provide information on best practices and governance; and

Lead the evolution of the fraternal benefit system.


NFCA Legislative Update

Despite earlier predictions that Congress would complete its work prior to Thanksgiving on legislation that extends the so-called "AMT patch" and other popular tax breaks, indications are that these items are not likely to be completed until sometime in December. Major disagreements between House and Senate Democrats over whether and how to offset the cost of these tax benefits has delayed action. Congress is in session until November 17, but then will adjourn for the rest of November.

More...


Fraternal Benefit Societies Lend Assistance to Fire Victims

The National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) announced that its member-societies have provided financial aid to victims of fire in California and Illinois.

"Once again, fraternal benefit societies did not disappoint," said NFCA Chair of the Board Katharine E. Rounthwaite. "For more than 100 years, member-societies of the NFCA have provided immediate relief, in times of crisis, to their individual members, their local communities and their country."

More...


Your Directors & Officers - Are They Adequately Protected?

In today's ever-changing business landscape, regulations and litigious activity have heightened awareness and redefined the concept of accountability. This dynamic has had many trickle-down effects and one of the most noteworthy has been the changes it has brought to the roles of directors and officers (D&O). These individuals, at organizations large and small, public or private, whether for-profit or non-profit, need to be aware that they can be held personally liable for their actions. Directors and officers of fraternal benefit societies are no exception, and they put their personal assets at risk by being a director or officer.

More...


Renew Your Society's Membership in State Fraternal Congresses

As part of National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA)'s continual efforts to assist state fraternal congresses (SFCs), the NFCA is pleased to continue its SFC dues collection program. This program is designed to free congresses from having to invoice NFCA member-societies for their membership.

More...

Catholic Aid Association Executives Recognized for Leadership

Catholic Aid Association President Michael F. McGovern and Director Joseph Kueppers were recently awarded the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis' 2007 Leading With Faith Award.

More...


Catholic Order of Foresters' Employees Participate in National Denim Day Fundraiser

Catholic Order of Foresters (COF), headquartered in Naperville, Illinois, raised more than $680 while participating in Lee National Denim Day. This is the eleventh year employees have supported Denim Day, which raises money for breast cancer research, education, treatment and screening.

More...


Woodmen of the World Names R.B. Moore Director

Woodmen of the World/Omaha Woodmen Life Insurance Society has announced that R.B. Moore of Lynchburg, Va., has been elected to the Board of Directors, effective November 1, 2007.

More...


Day to Head New Department at Woodmen of the World

Woodmen of the World/Omaha Woodmen Life Insurance Society has announced that Jim Day has been named Vice President, Customer Relations. Day will oversee programs that impact customer satisfaction and retention, and act as a liaison between Operations and other areas of the company. He will also oversee the integration of several key programs to a portal system.

More...


Woodmen of the World Promotes Two

Woodmen of the World/Omaha Woodmen Life Insurance Society has named Matt Ellis Director and Assistant General Counsel and Mandy Horrocks Director of Field Development.

More...


William Hegeman Appointed Lead Director of Catholic Knights Board of Directors

William Hegeman, of Conway, Ark., has been appointed to the newly created position of lead director of Catholic Knights 15-member board of directors.

More...


Catholic Knights Make Lorge and Stivoric Senior Vice Presidents

Allan G. Lorge, Cedarburg, Wis., and Michael Stivoric, Pewaukee, Wis., have been promoted to senior vice presidents of Catholic Knights.

More...


Foresters Continues to Expand U.S. Sales Channels
Partnership with Imeriti, Inc. provides greater access to Foresters products.

Foresters™ is continuing to expand its independent distribution channels with the addition of another leading national marketing organization, Imeriti, Inc., to offer Americans innovative life insurance products. Imeriti, Inc. will sell Foresters Lifefirst level term life insurance and Forester Passport universal life insurance products.

More...


Gleaner President and CEO Michael J. Wade Receives Maple Leaf Award

The Lenawee Chamber of Economic Development named Gleaner Life Insurance Society President and CEO Michael J. Wade recipient of the 2007 Maple Leaf Award. The Chamber presents the prestigious award to individuals who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the people, communities and organizations in Lenawee County.

More...


Three Gleaner Board Members Elected

Three individuals were elected to a four-year term to the Board of Directors of Gleaner Life Insurance Society during the Society's 53rd Biennial Convention in Bloomingdale, Illinois, on October 20, 2007.

More...


Royal Neighbors of America Makes a Difference with Home Improvement Project in Rock Island's Historic Broadway District

Royal Neighbors of America employees and its local chapters orchestrated home improvement efforts on St. Joseph the Worker House in Rock Island's historic Broadway District to help create a comfortable living environment for women and children in transition.

More...


Insurance Veteran Assumes Executive Leadership Role at Royal Neighbors of America

Chris Seistrup has been appointed National Sales Executive of Royal Neighbors of America, effective October 29, 2007. A 25-year veteran of the insurance industry, he has extensive experience in business development and field sales. Most recently he has been with Fireman's Fund Insurance Company in California. Prior to that, he had held positions with Vik Brothers Insurance and Crum and Forster Insurance.

More...


Modern Woodmen Offers New Return of Premium Rider
New option fills the gap between term and permanent life insurance.

Many Americans grapple with the decision of choosing life insurance. Term life insurance is less expensive, but if you outlive the term, you receive nothing from the premiums paid. Permanent life insurance can be more expensive, but ensures a valuable death benefit.

More...


Daughter of UCT Supreme Counselor Passed Away

Rene Ringler, 33, daughter of United Commercial Travelers of America (UCT) Supreme Counselor Dianna Loafman, passed away on Tuesday, October 30, 2007.

More...


Polish National Alliance Sponsors Third Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

The Executive Officers and Directors of the Polish National Alliance (PNA) extend an invitation to Polonia and our neighbors to our Third Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. The theme for this year is: "Lighting the Way to the Holiday Season."

More...


PNA National Secretary Z. John Ordon Passes Away

The Polish National Alliance (PNA) was saddened of the news that PNA National Secretary Zdzislaw John Ordon passed away on October 26, 2007, in his hometown of Buffalo, New York. He was 66 years old.

More...


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.

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