The NFCA Proudly Recognizes "Fraternalists-in-Action"
Fraternal MVPs—Week of February 18, 2008
The National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) is proud to recognize the following individuals as Fraternal MVPs (Most Valuable Participants) for the week of February 18, 2008. 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.
Dana Bertelsman
Catholic Holy Family Society
Trenton Council #8
Trenton, Illinois
At 39 years old, Dana Bertelsman has been a member of Catholic Holy Family Society (formerly Holy Family Society of the USA) for approximately 38 years. When Dana turned 16, she became an officer of her council and has held every officer position and has been an elected officer every year since. She is an integral part of her local council and rarely, if ever, misses council meetings or functions. Dana is very humble and does not like to be in the spotlight or recognized for her efforts. She was the 2000 Fraternalist of the Year recipient and also has served on the Fraternal Committee, a sub-committee of the Board of Directors. Dana’s involvement in her council has greatly benefited her parish and community through fundraising efforts, Hearts and Hands Projects, Matching Funds and JOIN HANDS DAY.
Dana works full-time at U.S. Bank in St. Louis. She is extremely involved in her community and parish; however, family is Dana’s number-one priority. She is extremely close to her family, especially her parents, grandparents, brother, sister-in-law and niece. Dana also has had her share of heartache, when in 2000 her husband of only two years was killed in a car accident on his way to work.
Dana’s parents also have been extremely active in Trenton Council #8. This year, Dana and her parents participated in a weekend Habitat for Humanity build in Mount Vernon, Ill. Dana has a godson who has been battling cancer for the past couple of years and she has been a very devoted godmother in terms of visiting him in the hospital and at home, calling him and taking him to the St. Louis Cardinals games, making it a priority to spend a lot of time with him.
Phyllis Jean Bidlack
Gleaner Life Insurance Society
Oakwood Arbor #759
Oakwood, Ohio
Phyllis Jean Bidlack has been volunteering since she was in the seventh grade, when she worked in her school cafeteria and library. She continues to be active in her community. She volunteers at least 35 hours a month at the John Paulding Historical Society Office and represents the society on the Maumee Valley Heritage Corridor Board in Toledo. She works 12 hours at the Oakwood United Methodist Church’s food pantry, which she also chairs. She finds time to also work many hours with her arbor, Gideons International and the Eastern Star. She also was a charter member and has served in several offices of the Buckeye Poll-Ettes, the women’s auxiliary to the Buckeye Polled Hereford Association. She serves the Ohio Farm Bureau Advisory council as its public affairs representative and for many years was a youth advisor.
Her greatest accomplishment was establishing the Oakwood Library Association, a non-profit organized to find a site, build shelving and secure donations of materials. After three years work, the library opened, only to be destroyed by fire. Phyllis Jean’s group cleaned up the mess and started all over, remodeling a house purchased with the insurance money. The new, larger library was run by an all-volunteer staff, which Phyllis Jean organized.
In her church, she also sings in the choir, teaches vacation Bible school and is co-chairman of the Funeral Dinner Committee. An important job she has held has been Chairman of the Mission Team, which has led three trips to the Midwest Distribution Center in Chatham, Illinois, and she has been on five week-long trips to the Henderson Settlement. She has also served as a delegate to the annual church conference.
Phyllis Jean says, “The accomplishments that are achieved when you give of yourself are limitless. You help make yourself feel better when you know you’re making a difference in improving life.”
Shirley Lester
Royal Neighbors of America
Chapter #1570
Tampico, Illinois
Shirley has been very active in "Giving Tree" for the past 12 years. Giving Tree raises money to help needy families at Christmas time. Shirley was instrumental in starting a Festival of Trees to help raise funds for this worthwhile organization. Trees were decorated by local businesses and auctioned off. This past year, they raised $4,000 and were able to help 50-60 children.
Shirley started Tampico Area Revitalization Project (TARP) in her community. This project has been instrumental in the beautification of Reagan Park. To raise money to start this program, they held a kick-off fundraiser for which everything was donated by the community. They had more than 100 people in attendance and raised more than $3,000. This past year, they were able to add a wooden gazebo in the middle of the park and put in sidewalks and old-fashioned lights. Shirley has involved the rest of the community in this project by assigning a different family each week to weed the flowers. She also was responsible for contacting a local nursery outside of town to donate wild flowers for the park. Shirley planted the flowers and watered them for the entire summer.
Shirley also is very involved in her church's Children's Outreach Program. This past year, they have held an ice cream social, helped the children decorate gingerbread houses, and had a Mardi Gras project where the children decorated shoe boxes and then paraded them around for the parents during one of the church services. Shirley thinks it's important to get the kids involved and feels this is a good starting point.
Shirley takes a couple elderly ladies each week to get their medicine. She said she helps out wherever she is needed in the community. She said if she can help out - she feels like she's accomplishing her mission in life.
Rita Trisko
The Catholic Aid Association
St. Paul Catholic Aid Council #108
Sauk Center, Minnesota
Rita has been Fraternal Secretary for three years and “loves the job.” Currently, she is a “Befriender,” visiting a shut-in twice a month, a Eucharistic Minister at St. Michael’s Nursing Home and Hospital and the Nursing Home and Getty Street Apartments once a month. She is a member of the New Life Singers for which she plays piano. The group has played a mass twice a month and now performs at nursing homes and retirement centers. Rita also volunteers at the Sister Faustina Adoration Chapel, at the Senior Dining site once a week doing paper work and, of course, for Catholic Aid.
She and her husband, Clarence, have been married 44 years. They have three children and seven grandchildren. In her spare time, Rita loves to read and do puzzles like Sudoku. She also has sewn many quilts for the mission and will continue to do so in the future.
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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