The National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) is proud to recognize the following individuals as Fraternal MVPs (Most Valuable Participants) for the week of January 15, 2007.  Fraternal MVPs are “Fraternalists-in-Action” who volunteer their time, energy and compassion to strengthen their communities through participation in local lodge activities and other charitable endeavors.

Jill Endres

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

Niagara Falls Chapter

Grand Island, New York

Jill Endres heard how Thrivent Financial for Lutherans can increase the impact that people's kindness can make in her community. Now, she has first-hand experience in helping to make that difference happen.  Last year, as youth director for the Niagara Falls Chapter of Thrivent Financial, 18-year-old Jill worked side-by-side with adult members of her chapter, acting on activity requests and helping to make sure those approved met chapter program guidelines. Her "roll-up-the-sleeves" attitude toward helping others quickly gained her respect from chapter adults and youth.

"I volunteered as youth director because I wanted to give a youth perspective to the chapter," Jill said. "It helped to bring me down to earth in seeing the needs that people have, and how Thrivent Financial helps."

Her caring nature has spread across a variety of volunteer efforts. She participated in various JOIN HANDS DAY activities, including clean-up work at her church. She helped with a Relay for Life race to benefit the American Cancer Society.  She took part in Ride for Roswell and Loop for Lupus volunteer events, participated in an anti-drinking/driving campaign, and was a Students Against Drunk Driving volunteer.

Her success as a volunteer has been noticed by other organizations, as well. The local Rotary Club asked Jill to begin an auxiliary youth group, called Interact.  Through Interact, Jill organized a sleep-out to raise awareness for the Humanity for Homeless program. For her efforts, she received the Rotary Student Award last year for volunteerism, as well as a scholarship.

Jill is a member of Young Life, a non-denominational Christian youth group, the National Honor Society, and the Grand Island concert band and wind ensemble. She was a member of her high school's student council and served on the Grand Island Superintendent's Advisory Council.  She also volunteers at Camp TeBeCe, a summer camp run by the local Boys and Girls Club that helps children from the inner city.  Now attending the University of Rochester, Jill plans on joining the Peace Corps after graduation, followed by a career in the FBI.

Joseph Miklovic

First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association (FCSLA)

Branch #101

St. Louis, Missouri

As Branch Secretary, Joseph was instrumental in merging the Bonne Terre Missouri Branch with his St. Louis Branch to keep their Slovak heritage alive in southern Missouri for their Slovak friends and neighbors.  Joseph also has been a member of the Most Holy Trinity Men's Lodge/Union – St. Louis Branch #109KJ for more than 55 years, and has served as the President/Treasurer of his branch for the past six years.  He includes the #109KJ Union of men and women with any/all of the activities that his FCSLA Branch participates in.

Joseph is the Neighborhood Block Captain in his South St. Louis City/South Hampton region.  As block captain, he distributes vital information to his neighbors about safety, the community and its activities.  Also as captain, he acts as liaison to the city's Neighborhood Stabilization Officer, when reporting neighborhood problems such as graffiti, problem tenants, tree-trimming needs, etc.

Joseph has aided his South St. Louis City Catholic Parish Youth Center by securing various donations on its behalf.  He secured the donation of approximately two acres of abandoned property, while negotiating the lease/use of an additional acre; negotiated the zero-cost relocation of public utilities on the aforementioned property, saving the Youth Center approximately $20,000; negotiated a 10-year agreement with a national soft drink vendor, providing increased royalties on the purchase/sale of their product and a per-year stipend of $2,000; created a software tracking system that monitored the sale of grocery certificates, providing a donation royalty of approximately $360,000 a year; and provided clerical and volunteer support for the annual Youth Center golf tournament that netted $6,000.  As an officer of the St. Mary Magdalene Credit Union, Joseph also handled the merger of the credit union, negotiating a one-time donation of $20,000 to the Youth Center through the purchaser used by the Youth Center to provide much-needed roof repairs.

Joseph has participated in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) program for more than 15 years.  Each year, he has been a member of the BSA Troop #115 Scout Committee that addresses the “annual program” for the Boy Scout Troop that is sponsored by his neighborhood Catholic Parish.  As a member of the scout committee, he is the religious coordinator for the troop's Ad Altare Die and Pope Pius V Catholic religious awards issued annually by the Archbishop of the St. Louis Archdiocese.  Each award spans a period of almost 12 months worth of work to attain.  Joseph also is a BSA merit badge counselor for the St. Louis Area Council for Communications and Personal Management.  He meets with scouts in the district to aid them in attaining these merit badges that are required to secure their Eagle Scout rank—the highest rank in scouting.

Kimberly Lindsey
Order of the Sons of Hermann in the State of Texas

Austin Lodge #120-2

Leander, Texas

Jean Kearney

Holy Family Society

Springfield, Pennsylvania