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 26, 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.

Helen Mayer

Travelers Protective Association of America (TPA)

Williamsport Post

Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Helen has been a member of TPA for more than 13 years and has been active at the post, state and national levels. She currently is serving as secretary of TPA’s post in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Helen’s activities in the TPA began before she became a member, working on programs with her husband. She accepted the position of the secretary of her post in 2001 and is the contact person for many of the activities in the post and takes responsibility as editor of the post quarterly bulletin. Helen makes a point of contacting members who regularly attend their monthly meetings to be sure reservations are made by the deadline. She also steps in whenever a committee chair is late in submitting reports and helps officers whenever they are unable to attend a meeting. She also continues to help at the state level, selling cookbooks and tickets to raise funds for statewide activities.

Each year, she inventories needed supplies for the annual Labor Coffee Break at a local rest stop to be sure there is an ample supply of coffee, soft drinks, cookies or donuts to serve those who stop for a brief rest during their travels. This year Helen ordered safety materials that were placed in 720 Halloween trick-or-treat bags that were distributed to students and teachers at two area schools. She also makes sure that Children Have An iDentity (CHAD) stickers and DNA kits are available to the community. Helen also works as a volunteer at the annual blood drive for the Red Cross and has been a donor.

Helen supports the TPA Scholarship Trust for the Deaf and Near Deaf by collecting used working or non-working hearing aids that are refurbished and given to adults and children who are unable to purchase them. She designed the containers in which the used hearing aids are placed and also sent letters to area funeral homes and hearing aid businesses to help collect these hearing aids. She also oversees the collection of tabs from aluminum cans to benefit Dogs for the Deaf Program. Revenue this year was more than $250.00.

She is a member of the Allegheny Grange and serves as treasurer. In working with both the TPA and the Grange, stamps are collected and delivered to a local nursing home for preparation and distribution to buyers of stamps. Proceeds are used to purchase needed items at the home. In September, Helen volunteers time to sell Grange cookbooks at the Bloomsburg Fair. Soap, toothpaste, etc., are boxed for less fortunate children for “Christmas Child” giving, and Helen also helps make food baskets for families at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Helen’s volunteerism does not stop with the TPA and Grange, she also works with her husband to help make Christmas special for 65 to 75 school children by taking them to Wal-Mart for a complete set of clothing, to the Little League Museum for fun time, to the organization headquarters for lunch and to meet Santa, and then back to school.

Sherman (Sandy) Ginsberg

Sons of Norway

Garborg #3-265

Valley Stream, New York

Sandy Ginsberg has been a devoted member of Sons of Norway since he joined in 1971. Having served in multiple lodge and district positions, and later as an International Director, he currently holds the position of Vice President of his lodge, Garborg #3-265 Valley Stream, NY.

Among his many accomplishments, the most remarkable is his fundraising effort for the Sons of Norway District #3 Land of the Vikings property. Heading up the committee to find funding for this outstanding recreational and educational facility, Sandy guided a campaign yielding $120,000 for the project in just over a month’s time.

In addition to his work with Sons of Norway, Sandy participates in the New York City Syttende Mai parade committee as emcee and general chair, and serves on the Executive Board of the Norwegian Immigration Association (NIA). As part of the NIA, he has been invited to the United Nations. His volunteerism also extends to the Norwegian Seamen’s Church, where he is an active member, and to the Alumni Association at Clarkson University, where he mentors students. In 1995, Sandy received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for his work in promoting and preserving Norwegian culture and heritage.

A retired civil engineer, Sandy lives in New York City with his wife, Ruth. They have two grown children, Kari and Thor.

Sandra Wilson

Foresters

Patriot Branch

Natick, Massachusetts

Since 1980, Sandra has held many positions at the Foresters’ Patriot Branch, including Regional Council member, Orator, PCR Councilor, Chief Ranger, Past Chief Ranger, Treasurer, Promoter of Social Works, Financial Secretary, Senior Woodward, Court Deputy, and Trustee of the Finance Committee. In 1992, she was voted as the Fraternalist of the Year by the High Court of Liberty.

In the early 1980’s, Sandra and the Patriot Branch were involved in raising funds and building the first phase of the Doreen Grace Brain Research Center on Cape Cod. This center is still doing the work that was the dream many years ago. The center added a room for the Foresters in tribute for their efforts, in addition to building condos so that scientists from around the word can stay at the center and be close to their work.

While a member of the benevolence committee, Sandy “did it all,” from delivering vouchers to members in need because of illness, injuries and a fire, to helping construct a ramp for a handicapped member. At Thanksgiving, Sandy delivered baskets throughout her community to families in need.

In 2000, Sandra was appointed as a Sessional Officer of the Regional Council and then elected as a Councilor. She served on the Benevolence Committee, as well as other projects assigned to her. She currently is a director and secretary of the Louis and Pauline Cestari Scholarship Fund, driving almost 500 miles roundtrip four times per year to attend the meetings.

Sandra also is the liaison for the branch's community partners, such as the Cystic Fibrosis Great Stride Walk, in which she helped coordinate participation from all three local branches. This year, she dressed as a clown and gave balloons to all the children who attended. She organized the Boston Children’s Hospital Change Bandit, which was the first one done on the East Coast, and just completed her third year with this project. One of the fun things her branch did to raise money for this cause was to hold a toll booth collection in one of its local cities. Again, she was able to bring another local branch on board with us for this event. There are many local community partners that Sandra works with, such as the Autism Alliance and Cymry’s Christmas Wish, which is a nonprofit organization started by a young disabled girl, raising money to buy gifts for other challenged children, as well as many small local charities that are too numerous to mention. “While all this might be challenging through out the year, it gives me a warm sense of well-being in being able to volunteer myself for all these worthwhile partners,” Sandra said.

At the beginning of the school year, Sandra contacts her local service council to find out how many backpacks they need for the low-income children attending school. Then she buys the Foresters bags, fills them with supplies and delivers them to the service council. Sandra also buys gifts for the children at Christmas.

In 2004, Sandra was appointed as the Area Service Team Chairperson for the Liberty Region, and with her team, was very successful in teaching, advising and helping other local branches. “This has been a very rewarding part of my life with the Foresters, as it has let me meet not only more people in my own Liberty Region, but throughout the other regions as well,” Sandra said. “I learned that the Foresters are actually one large family all working toward the same goal—helping one another.”

Sandra and her husband, Bob, have been married for 17 years. Bob has worked by her side as an officer in all phases of all events. He has been an officer/or active in the Foresters since 1970. Sandra also has three daughters, two stepdaughters and a granddaughter.

Sarah McDaniel

Royal Neighbors of America

Camp #179
Watseka, Illinois

Sarah currently holds the office of Vice Oracle of Camp #179. She also is a member of the Illinois Activity Professionals Association and the Corn Belt Activity Directors Association in which she is Past Program Chairman and served as its Past President in the 1980’s.

Sarah is very involved with her local church. She volunteers at Sheldon Nazarene Church by assisting with cleaning and with its fundraisers. She also serves as Secretary of the church board and the Missionary Society, and received a certificate from her church for her dedication to the Sunday school as a Sunday school teacher for the preschoolers, kindergartners and 1^st through 3^rd graders. She also helped plan teen programs throughout the year at the church.

Sarah works as the Activity Director for the Watseka Rehab and Health Care Center, and has been an “Employee of the Month.” To help the Senior Center stay open for the city of Watseka, she went to the city board with the Senior Center Director to ask for funding. The city did see the need to keep the center open and gave the necessary funding. Since that time, another group also has donated money to the center to keep it going. In addition, Sarah assisted in a big fundraiser for the center’s daily needs.
 

Active in her community, Sarah gave a personal monetary donation to two families in need, as well as clothing and other items. She helps neighbors by taking them shopping. Sarah helped raise money for the National Alzheimer’s Association, local food pantries, the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and her local museum. She also donated and planted flowers at the local nursing home, where she works.

Sarah and her husband, Terry, have three children and reside in Watseka, Illinois.

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 weeks' MVPs, click here.