IN THIS ISSUE

Message from the President and CEO

NFCA Legislative Update

Fraternal Disaster Relief

A.M. Best Podcast Interview with NFCA President and CEO Joseph J. Annotti

Good Documentation: The Best Prevention & Defense

New NFCA Membership Categories Approved at Annual Meeting

Attendees “Focus on Fraternalism” at the 122nd NFCA Annual Meeting

"Thank You" to our NFCA Annual Meeting Sponsors

NFCA Annual Meeting Photos Available Online

Installation of the 2008-2009 NFCA Board of Directors

Awards presented at the 2008 NFCA Annual Meeting

Member-Society News

Calendar of Upcoming Events

Question of the Month

NFCA Member-Society Question of the Month

This month's question:

What has your society determined to be the best method of sending your printed newsletters? And are you satisfied with the time it takes to reach your most distant 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.

Calendar of Upcoming Events
(Dates subject to change.)

October 2008
9-10	New Jersey Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Atlantic City, NJ)
9-11	Chesapeake Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Ocean City, MD)
10-11	West Virginia Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Ansted, WV)
10-12	Ohio Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Elyria, OH)
13	Columbus Day - NFCA HQ Closed
17-18	California Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Ontario, CA)
17-18	Missouri Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Jefferson City, MO)
19-21	Pennsylvania Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Hershey, PA)
19-21	ACLI Annual Conference (Boston, MA)
TBD	Law Committee Meeting (via conference call)

November 2008
8	New England Fraternal Congress (Location TBD)
14	Arizona Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Tempe, AZ)
14	Georgia Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Dillard, GA)
14-16	South Carolina Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Myrtle Beach, SC)
17	NFCA Board Meeting (Oak Brook, IL - Tentative)
27	Thanksgiving Day - NFCA HQ Closed
28	Thanksgiving Holiday - NFCA HQ Closed
TBD	NFCA Board of Directors Meeting

December 2008
5-7	NAIC Winter National Meeting (Grapevine, TX)
25	Christmas – NFCA HQ Closed
26	Christmas Holiday - NFCA HQ Closed

NFCA 2009 CALENDAR
January 2009
31	Louisiana Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Houma, LA)

March 2009
2	NFCA Board Meeting (San Antonio, TX - Tentative)
14-16	NAIC Spring National Meeting (Nashville, TN)

May 2009
2	JOIN HANDS DAY
7-9	NAFIC Annual Convention (Nashville, TN)
12-14	South Dakota Fraternal Congress Annual Meeting (Sioux Falls, SD)
14-16	Canadian Fraternal Association Annual Meeting (Ottawa, ON)
18	NFCA Board Meeting (Washington, DC- Tentative)

June 2009
13-15	NAIC Summer National Meeting (Minneapolis, MN)

August 2009
10	NFCA Board Meeting (Oak Brook, IL - Tentative)

September 2009
17-19	123rd NFCA Annual Meeting (San Antonio, TX)
21-23	NAIC Fall National Meeting (Washington, DC)

December 2009
5-7	NAIC Winter National Meeting (Honolulu, HI)

*Denotes Deadline Date

September/October 2008

Message from the President and CEO

NFCA Meetings and Education Survey

An online survey was sent to all NFCA members in August, asking for feedback regarding our educational programs and meetings. Most members are satisfied with NFCA educational programs. But we don’t want to satisfy; we want to exceed your expectations. Some constructive criticism included comments on the topics being too broad, not relevant to you and your societies, repetitious of other NFCA meetings, and/or having poor-quality speakers. In response to your views, NFCA will take the following actions:

NFCA Legislative Update

Tax Legislation Update

The struggle to extend the expiring and expired tax provisions has become increasingly difficult in recent years as the package of provisions set to expire has grown in size, scope and cost. This year's effort to extend the now 50 or so provisions has been one of the most difficult on record. The events of the past two weeks involving the massive and costly federal bailout of the financial services sector have shifted the focus away from the extenders and put their future in doubt.

Fraternal Disaster Relief

In times of disaster, fraternal benefit societies have historically opened their hearts and wallets to provide disaster relief funds and "on-the-ground" volunteers to deliver relief services to victims. We thank you for your contributions and remind everyone that any effort, no matter the size, is important.

Please click here to report your society’s recent contributions to the NFCA so that we may share accurate information about our collective community-service efforts. (Please submit a separate response for each disaster program.)

A.M. Best Podcast Interview with NFCA President and CEO Joseph J. Annotti

Good Documentation: The Best Prevention & Defense

When insurance agents are sued, the leading cause of their being unsuccessfully defended is their lack of proper documentation.

In a credibility dispute between you and another party, your position is stronger if you have a written record of the transaction. Without it, cases boil down to a "credibility match," in which the insurance agent usually loses because jury sympathy runs to the consumer. Poor documentation is just as bad; in litigation, the plaintiff's attorney will have full access to all documents relating to the transaction.

New NFCA Membership Categories Approved at Annual Meeting

By unanimous acclimation, the delegates at the 122nd NFCA Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., approved a constitutional change that adds new associate membership categories proposed to the organization’s structure by the Membership Committee.

The creation of associate membership categories (which include Affiliates, Foreign Societies, Fraternal Friends and Non-Profit Partners, as defined below) is a pivotal step in helping the NFCA reach several of its long term goals for 2009. The benefits of adding new types of members include helping the NFCA generate revenue, broaden its political base, expand its grassroots and grasstops efforts and increase the pool of individuals with which to network.

Attendees “Focus on Fraternalism” at the 122nd NFCA Annual Meeting

More than 350 fraternalists from around the country gathered in Washington, D.C., for the 122nd Annual Meeting of the National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA), held September 4-6, 2008. Themed “Focus on Fraternalism,” the meeting addressed improving member-societies and how to strengthen and enhance the perception of fraternal benefit societies in the 21st Century.

“We took advantage of the Washington location to emphasize to our member-societies the benefits of developing and maintaining good relations with our elected public officials,” said NFCA Immediate Past Chair Katharine E. Rounthwaite, who presided over this year’s meeting.

More...

"Thank You" to our NFCA Annual Meeting Sponsors

On behalf of our member-societies and state fraternal congresses, the NFCA would like to thank our sponsors for their support and contributions to the 2008 NFCA Annual Meeting.

Their generosity enhances the experience of all fraternalists who attend the Annual Meeting. Contributing to the NFCA is a direct contribution to the future of fraternalism and to excellence within the fraternal benefit system.

NFCA Annual Meeting Photos Available Online

Click here to view and/or purchase photographs taken during the 122nd NFCA Annual Meeting.

Whether you attended the meeting—or simply wish that you had—you'll enjoy seeing your fraternal friends and colleagues who gathered in Washington, D.C.

Installation of the 2008-2009 NFCA Board of Directors:

Barbara Cheaney Installed as Chair of the Board of Directors of the NFCA

Vice President of Marketing-Communications of Catholic Life Insurance elected chair of the board.

Teresa Rasmussen Elected Vice Chair of the NFCA Board

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Senior V.P. to serve as Vice Chair of the Board.

Katharine E. Rounthwaite Advances to Immediate Past Chair of the NFCA Board

Foresters™ Vice President, General Counsel & Executive Secretary advances to Past Chair of the Board.

NFCA Board Welcomes Three New and Three Returning Directors

The National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) welcomed five fraternalists to the NFCA Board of Directors at the 122nd NFCA Annual Meeting, September 4-6, in Washington, including three new directors. Elected to a three-year term each were new directors Stuart B. Buchanan, Corporate Secretary/Treasurer, Catholic Order of Foresters, and Mark D. Theisen, Executive Vice President, Fraternal, Woodmen of the World/Omaha Woodmen Life Insurance Society. Appointed to a one-year term was new director Darcy Callas, Director and General Counsel, Modern Woodmen of America.

Awards presented at the 2008 NFCA Annual Meeting:

Supreme Council of the Royal Arcanum’s Marjorie Meirzejewski Named NFCA Fraternalist of the Year

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Ruby Carsone Honored as First Runner-up Fraternalist of the Year by the NFCA

    Ronald Pflughaupt Honored as Second Runner-up Fraternalist of the Year by the NFCA

    Marian Crow Honored as Third Runner-up Fraternalist of the Year by the NFCA

    Violet Zweiger Honored as Fourth Runner-up Fraternalist of the Year by the NFCA

Western Fraternal Life Association’s Randall Kolarik Named Fraternal FIC of the Year

Denmark resident receives award for recognizing the fraternal activities of full-time FICs.

Mark Schreier Honored with Prestigious Actuaries’ Award

Woodmen of the World/Omaha Executive Receives 2008 Jacobson-Rugland Award.

Lee Berg Honored with Prestigious Communications Award

Catholic Knights Executive Receives 2008 Marcia D. Heywood Award.

NFCA Honors JOIN HANDS DAY Excellence Award Winners

Ninth annual JOIN HANDS DAY awards announced.

The National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) recognized this year’s ten JOIN HANDS DAY Excellence Award winners and nine honorable mention projects. The 2008 JOIN HANDS DAY Excellence Awards were presented at the Celebration of Fraternalism Luncheon held during the 122nd NFCA Annual Meeting, September 4-6, in Washington, D.C.

State Fraternal Congresses Recognized in NFCA’s Annual “Go for the Gold” Achievement Award

The National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) recognized 18 state fraternal congresses in its annual “Go for the Gold” awards program. The awards were announced at the Celebration of Fraternalism Luncheon held during the 122nd NFCA Annual Meeting, September 4-6, in Washington, D.C.

Woodmen Executive Receives Governors Award for Excellence

Daniel W. Rice, III of Kinston, North Carolina, and a director of Woodmen of the World/Omaha Woodmen Life Insurance Society (WOW), is the recipient of the 2008 Governors Award for Excellence for his contributions in public service.

Considered the highest honor a state employee may receive, the award will be presented to Rice during a ceremony in Raleigh on Oct. 20. Rice is the Director of Specialized Services at Caswell Developmental Center and the Executive Director for Caswell Center Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization serving individuals and families with developmental disabilities in eastern North Carolina.

PNA’s General Counsel Les Kuczynski Passes Away

Leszek (Les) S. Kuczynski, General Counsel of the Polish National Alliance of the United States of North America (PNA) died August 19, 2008, at age 61. He is survived by his wife, Alice, and his son, Andrew.

Kuczynski received his B. A. Degree in Political Science from the College of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota; his J. D. Degree from the University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, and his M. B. A. Degree (January, 1982) from the Keller Graduate School of Management in Chicago. He became General Counsel of PNA in 1985. In 1991, he became the National Executive Director of the Polish American Congress and the Polish American Congress Charitable Foundation.

Cynthia Tidwell, Royal Neighbors’ CEO, Shares Insights on Selling to Women at National Conference

Cynthia Tidwell, President/CEO of Royal Neighbors of America, recently shared her expertise at the Senior Market Advisor Expo in Orlando, FL. Women are making most of the financial decisions for families today, and as head of a company with a long history of focusing on women, Mrs. Tidwell discussed how best to sell to them.

Speaking about “Women and Their Money,” she explained the different ways women and men think about money and the differences between how they approach the purchasing process. She also provided valuable insights and training tools for successfully reaching the female market.

Royal Neighbors Chapter Donates Thousands to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Royal Neighbors of America Chapter 20003, Rock Island, donated more than $3,000 to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation on Friday, October 3, at Putters Pub and Grill in Rock Island.

A member of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation accepted the donation at the event meeting. Chapter 20003 held several fund-raising events this summer to drive donations. In August, the chapter held a car wash in the Royal Neighbors parking lot and in September, the chapter hosted a trivia night to raise funds.

For more information about Royal Neighbors of America, visit http://www.royalneighbors.org/.

Catholic Order of Foresters Elects Officers and Trustees

Catholic Order of Foresters (COF), headquartered in Naperville, Illinois, held its 48th National Convention in Green Bay, Wisconsin. During the August 17-19 quadrennial session, 246 delegates met to elect three executive officers and 12 trustees, make Constitution and Bylaws’ revisions, and set the tone for the Order’s progress for the next four years.

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

Catholic Order of Foresters (COF) raised more than $810 while participating in Lee National Denim Day. This marks the twelfth year employees have supported Denim Day, which raises money for breast cancer research, education, treatment and screening.

Fraternal Advantage is published monthly for member-societies of the National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA).

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

Copyright © 2008 NFCA

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