Megan Pettus

Modern Woodmen of America

Club # 15431-1

Enid, Oklahoma

Megan, a 5th grader from Taft Elementary in Enid, Okla., is a member of Modern Woodmen of America Youth Service Club #15431-1. Megan's Club Leader says, "Megan is always excited to participate in the youth activities." In fact, she attends them all; Megan has perfect attendance!

As a club member, Megan has helped make cards for U.S. veterans, helped deliver packages of stationery and stamps to shut-ins, assisted with planting a tree at the fire station, donated canned food, helped host a party for the residents at a local nursing home, and participated in JOIN HANDS DAY.

Beyond her participation with Modern Woodmen, Megan keeps busy with the school honor choir, academic challenge, church youth group, softball, basketball and helping at daycare.

Ron Seaman

Knights of Columbus

Little Flower Council #6605

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Ron joined the Knights of Columbus Little Flower Council #6605 in 1994, and has been active ever since. Ron is a Fourth Degree member, and has been as much of an asset to the Knights as he has to his church and community. Ron assists in nearly every Council activity, from roadside cleanups to serving pancake breakfasts. Ron bakes dozens of cinnamon rolls every month and sells them after Masses, donating the proceeds to the Knights. He has served as his Council’s Program Director and Lecturer. Ron is rarely without a leadership role in his Council and has given service in the leadership roles of Grand Knight, Deputy Grand Knight and all three Trustee positions. He currently is serving as the Council Treasurer. The Seaman Family has been the Council Family of the Year, and Ron has been the Council Knight of the Year several times.

Ron joined his wife and children in the Catholic faith in 1986. He began his service to the church by becoming a member of the Little Flower School Board. For the last four years, Ron has represented St. Therese parish on the Parent Advisory Board of O’Gorman High School. He actively serves on the Pax team, which provides adult leadership for the parish youth group. For several years, he ran the soundboard for the youth singers at the youth Mass on Sunday evening. Ron is a Lector and Eucharistic Minister, and has served in these ministries longer than anyone remembers. Ron has been instrumental in forming the next generation of Catholics as a Religious Education teacher at the sixth-grade level for six years. He recently has become a member of the St. Therese Parish Council, where he is working to keep the parish life strong and faithful. Ron also helped strengthen the faith life of his parish by co-organizing and co-teaching an adult education class called “Appreciating the Sacraments.”  He currently is co-leading a Catholic Book-of-the-Month Club, which he co-founded in 2001. He also is an active and influential member of a “Renew Group,” which still meets regularly. This spring, Ron also made shepherd’s staffs for use in the citywide All City Catholic Schools Mass.

Ron’s service is not limited to the Church. He coached youth softball for many years, once leading them to the Nationals held in Chicago. Ron has been an active member of the Sioux Falls Area Right-to-Life, and frequently prays in Life Chains. Ron’s service to the Boy Scouts of America has been invaluable. He joined Scouting in 1988 and has held many leadership roles, including Assistant Den Leader, Assistant Scoutmaster, Scoutmaster, Advancement Chair and District Cub Scout Leader Training Chair.

Ron and his wife, Nancy, have four grown children.

Sherry E. Polsgrove

Order of the United Commercial Travelers of America

Russellville Council #665

Russellville, Arkansas

Sherry has been a member of The Order of United Commercial Travelers of America (UCT)’s Russellville Council #665 for 14 years. She is a second generation member – her father was active with UCT for more than 30 years and brought her into the organization. Sherry believes in UCT’s motto of “People Helping People” and shows it by putting pride and commitment into every project she's involved with, focusing on positive results for both UCT and the community. In fact, Sherry has been known to drive more than 150 miles roundtrip in one day to visit hospital patients and to take food to the homes of the sick and bereaved in the vicinity. For Sherry, “People Helping People” is more than just a motto. It's a way of life.

A dedicated fraternalist, Sherry spearheads or is involved with nearly every project Council #665 takes on, including assisting with Thanksgiving meals for people with disabilities, volunteering for Special Olympics tournaments and fundraisers, participating in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, and coordinating programs for underprivileged youth. Other community activities she is involved with include an annual countywide cleanup, an annual food drive for a local mission, the local Veteran’s Day parade, a local Meth Project Awareness Day and holding a JOIN HANDS DAY event with local youth each year.

In addition, Sherry is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Merchants Association. She was on the list of the 1992 Outstanding Young Women of America and was named the 1998 Ambassador of the Year by the Bryant, Ark., Chamber of Commerce. In 2004, she was honored for her service to the Arkansas River Valley Baptist Association, and in 2006 was named UCT’s Fraternalist of the Year.

Sherry has served through the line of offices of Russellville Council #665, earning her Past Counselor honors, and she has served through the Arkansas Grand (regional) Council’s line of offices, earning her Past Grand Counselor honors.

While Sherry appreciates the recognition her efforts have brought, she finds the best thing about her UCT experience is that it is not about her but about helping others. Bringing joy to other people through her fraternal activities is what truly makes her happy.

Vicki Soule

Greater Beneficial Union of Pittsburgh

Lodge #276

Ormond Beach, Florida

Vicki demonstrates the spirit of fraternalism, which started showing its colors many years ago when she was Den Mother for her three boys.

She currently is the Director at Florida Memorial Cancer Center in Ormond Beach, Florida, and is heading up the Cancer Survivor March (Walk) in that Area. Vicki led the Cancer Survivor March for Life in Vero Beach, Florida, near her previous residence. On her days off and after work, she has volunteered at Habitat for Humanity, pounding nails and laying shingles.

The NFCA salutes these outstanding Fraternalists-in-Action for their dedication, kindness and generosity. They embody the heart of fraternalism through their volunteer efforts and commitment to their communities.


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