The NFCA Proudly Recognizes "Fraternalists-in-Action"
Fraternal MVPs—Week of April 9, 2007
The National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) is proud to recognize the following individuals as Fraternal MVPs (Most Valuable Participants) for the week of April 9, 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.
Jean Schaefer
Catholic Fraternal Life
Freeburg Council #10
Freeburg, Illinois
Jean has been called “the hardest working member of Catholic Fraternal Life” by her peers. Since 1999, she has been a council officer every year. Jean’s husband is Fraternal Secretary of their council this year. Her husband and two kids are very involved in Freeburg Council #10, because of Jean’s encouragement. Jean motivates everyone in her council. Every fundraiser, project or breakfast—whatever the event—Jean is the organizer. She sets up for the event, promotes it in the community, works the entire day and helps clean-up and put everything back in its place after it’s over.
Every year, Freeburg Council #10 hosts a Sweetheart Breakfast the Sunday before Valentine’s Day. This year on the Friday before the event, the church hall and cafeteria were damaged in a fire. That didn’t stop Jean. She and her council moved the breakfast to the local high school and made more money than they had any other year before that. Jean also was instrumental in helping her council win an Excellence Award for JOIN HANDS DAY in 2001. She is the driving force behind every single project.
Jean is just one of those genuine people who everyone likes. She is extremely humble and is, quite frankly, embarrassed by recognition. She isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty, and there isn’t any task too big or small for her to tackle. She has worked on houses for Habitat for Humanity, and has been a driver that picks up clients at SAVE (a residential facility for the physically and mentally handicapped) and takes them to Saturday church services. Jean has been a leader in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) team at St. Joseph’s church. She has been a Eucharistic Minister and has provided transportation to church for women in the nursing home. She is a member of the Turkey Hill 4-H club and has always coordinated the Helping Hands Projects with her council and the 4 H-er’s. Jean organizes the kiddie games at St. Joseph’s Summer Picnic. She gets the prizes, calls workers and stores the equipment at her house from year to year.
Jean is a principal in her own computer-support company, helping companies trouble-shoot software glitches. She also has provided technical support for the installation of St. Joseph’s computer lab.
Jean and her husband, Rich, have three children, Dan, Lauren and Michael.
Jeraldine Socha
Catholic Family Fraternal of Texas (KJZT)
Queen of the Holy Rosary, Society #72
El Campo, Texas
Jeraldine, Treasurer to Queen of the Holy Rosary, Society #72, has been a member of the Catholic Family Fraternal of Texas (KJZT) for 49 years. She has centered her involvement in the past years specifically with her local society and at the District level. Jeraldine not only volunteers her time but her talents as well. Along with assisting in the Country Store at the Parish picnic, she provides numerous homemade food items, as well as craft items to sell for the KJZT annual fundraiser.
Jeraldine is instrumental in Society #72 by supporting the Czech Heritage Society Wharton County Chapter, as well as the State Czech Heritage Society. She works at fundraisers to provide funds for local scholarships, as well as funds for the Cultural Center in La Grange, Texas. She supports the Right for Life and attends to the coordination of Clerical Endowment Fund donations.
Jeraldine is active with the Catholic Daughters of America and has been for the past 25 years. She participates in the Catholic Daughters’ garage sales for the specific support of the colonias in South Texas. She strongly supports youth groups through Fair Fund contributions, 4-H and St. Philip School fundraisers. Jeraldine will continue her involvement with the youth, elderly and community as a whole, for she is loyal to her Catholic faith and the church organizations to which she devotes her time and effort.
Jim Syvertsen
Foresters
Branch Stanislaus
Modesto, California
Jim’s Foresters involvement started in 1982 in the San Jose Observatory branch where he held a number of positions. He transferred to Branch Stanislaus in Modesto, California, 10 years ago and has served multiple terms as Treasurer, Vice President and President. He has chaired numerous committees over the years for social and fundraising events. He has worked at establishing community partners for the branch and has been appointed to team advisor for branches in the District. He has mentored new branch officers in the branch with a focus on increasing involvement of our members in events, partnerships and branch meetings.
Jim is heavily involved in several other organizations in the Modesto community including:
- Children’s Crisis Center, Board Trustee.
- Modesto 500 Lions, Immediate Past President.
- Vision Impaired Persons Support (VIPS), President/Founder. Jim formed VIPS as a 501(c)(3) to provide a place of compassion, understanding, education and personal growth for any person that is vision impaired. His passion was developed from having both his father and son become legally blind.
- Jim established and funds an annual $3,500 scholarship to Modesto Junior College for high-school seniors who are recovering from hardship situations. This is in memory of a close friend, Sandra Fletcher.
- Jim also supports his organization’s—California Mortgage Associates’ (CMA)—charity, Habitat for Humanity. CMA currently is raising funds to build its fourth house.
Jim served in the U.S. Navy from 1965-1969. He worked in the Life Insurance business from 1969-1971. He was the national sales manager for a private label products franchise from 1971-1975. He worked in the automotive industry from 1976-1991 working his way up from salesman to General Manager. He has been in the Mortgage industry since 1991, joining California Mortgage in 1994. He currently is Executive Vice President and shares in the daily responsibility of a 40-person-plus corporation and continues to originate loans building his business by referrals.
Jim has 40 years of experience in sales and management. Integrity, honesty and a commitment to our community are basic values that Jim lives by in business and his personal life. His mission in life and definition of personal success is:
“Success is enjoying the experience of life’s journey while touching people’s lives with a positive impact along the way … and in the end knowing that I leave my part of the world a little better than when I entered.”
Jim and his wife, Pat, were married in 1967 and have two grown children and three grandsons.
Alvena Whitwell
Royal Neighbors of America
Camp #146
Jerseyville, Illinois
Alvena has served as Oracle for Camp #146 for two years and as Vice-Oracle three years ago. She gives much of her time and energy to Royal Neighbors and her community, in addition to financial donations and other goods. Overall, she volunteers 20 hours per week, 80 hours per month, helping others in her neighborhood.
Alvena helps coordinate bingo games with the handicapped residents at three nursing homes and supplies the prizes. She also serves as an ombudsman for one of the nursing homes. For her volunteer services, Alvena received a certificate of award from Jerseyville Healthcare.
Alvena takes two people from her community and helps them shop for their groceries every week. She belongs to the Homemakers Extension Garden Club. She also volunteers as a caregiver and as a Salvation Army bell ringer.
“It is rewarding to know I have done something for others who are less fortunate than I am,” said Alvena.
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.
To view previous week's MVPs, click here.
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