The NFCA Proudly Recognizes "Fraternalists-in-Action"
Fraternal MVPs—Week of February 4, 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 4, 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.
Stephen J. Powell
Modern Woodmen
Camp #12581
Vincennes, Indiana
“People helping people … it doesn’t get any better than that!” says Stephen Powell, a lifelong member of Modern Woodmen. Despite severe health problems that forced him into retirement 10 years ago, Steve has made volunteering a priority.
In March 2001, the Self Help and Resource Exchange (SHARE) food program was launched in Vincennes. Steve has been the SHARE host site coordinator since that time. Each month, he organizes an intergenerational team of 30-35 workers from three local organizations to transport, set up and distribute the food, which is received in bulk. These workers include minimum-risk youth offenders and adults in work release, employees of the Knox County Association of Retarded Citizens and volunteers with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program.
Steve became county coordinator of the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) for seniors in 2004 and served two years before resigning for health reasons. Determined to continue providing food to those in need, he volunteered with the local “Loaves and Fishes” program. Last August, he resumed his activities with CSFP, but has an assistant to perform the physical labor for him.
When the widow of the late comedian and Vincennes-native Richard “Red” Skelton donated a large number of his personal effects to the Vincennes University Foundation, Steve co-managed a group of volunteers that inventoried and categorized more than 40,000 items. They devoted nearly 3,500 hours to the project. He ushers and volunteers at the Red Skelton Performing Arts Center and raises funds for Harbor House, a local shelter for victims of domestic violence.
Working through the local Disabled American Veterans chapter, Steve drives veterans to their appointments at three VA hospitals in Indiana and one in Illinois. He volunteers at the Indiana Military Museum, sits on the advisory councils for Generations United and RSVP, and was appointed to the Vincennes City Board of Zoning Appeals by the mayor two years ago.
Steve served nearly five years in the Army, worked for the Social Security Administration and retired in 1998 from the U.S. Postal Service. He and his wife, Vicki, enjoy the camaraderie at Modern Woodmen Camp #12581’s dinners and activities, and they attend regularly. They have two children, Alissa and Megan.
Bessie Pobuda
CSA Fraternal Life
Paramount Lodge #372
Maple Heights, Ohio
Bessie has been an active fraternalist for many years. Her formative years were spent at the Clark Ceska Sin Sokol Hall, going to Bohemian School, Omladina and gymning. Her family was and still is 100 percent CSA members and she speaks Czech fluently.
Bessie had served as president of Clark Lodge #371 before it merged with Cleveland Chapter #219 to form Paramount Lodge #372, of which she currently is president. She has been a member of Sokol Greater Cleveland for 70 years, participating as a “gymner” for 34 years and as a member of the DTJ Gymnastic Organization for 45 years, where she still works on the newsletter in production and as treasurer.
Though her years won’t let her participate in athletics anymore, she puts younger people to shame with her level of activity. She volunteers in the clubhouse office of her residence. She has served as a scribe for District Council #10 and volunteered at the Harvest Festival, lodge picnics, the lodge’s Trash and Treasure event and the USO project, serving the recruits. She attends all Sokol doings, dinners and fundraisers and bowls with the CSA senior bowling league. She participated in the JOIN HANDS DAY project that involved cleaning the DTJ gymnasts’ barracks and hall, and pulling weeds and cleaning up debris outside around the farm.
Richard M. Schultz
Catholic Order of Foresters
Stillwater Court #821
Stillwater, Minnesota
Richard's fraternal focus targets ways to rejuvenate and keep local courts active and involved. As Minnesota State Court vice chief ranger, Richard headed a committee that created a handbook that provides specific suggestions for revitalizing a court and boosting member involvement. As a state officer, Richard's responsibilities include visiting ten local courts each year. He takes this opportunity to act as a conduit of information between the local and high court, reviewing forms and procedures, answering officers' concerns and encouraging participation in social and fraternal activities. His state duties also include planning a regional conference between the state's quadrennial conventions. The gathering keeps members motivated and enthusiastic while providing a forum for state and High Court officers to share pertinent information.
At the regional level, Richard chairs the St. Paul Joint Committee, an informal group of area courts that meets monthly, sponsors social activities, and awards scholarships. He organized a successful St. Croix Riverboat Cruise that draws more than 120 enthusiastic members and guests from the immediate and surrounding areas.
In his local court, Stillwater #821, Richard serves as youth director, audit committee chair and a volunteer at the court-sponsored carnival. Richard proudly reports that the fundraiser not only supports St. Mary and St. Michael Churches' religious education programs, but has also proven a vehicle for membership growth.
Richard's pride in being a Forester often elicits impromptu presentations on the benefits of belonging. More formally, he created a bulletin board touting Catholic Order of Foresters' activities, products and fraternal benefits. Other courts also have used the board to recruit new members.
A Bayport American Legion member, Richard supervises the application and selection process for the Legionville and Boys State programs. Selected grade school students attend a Legionville weeklong school patrol safety and fun summer camp; while Boys State high school honorees experience creating government from the ground up. After program winners are announced, Richard provides publicity and pictures to local newspapers. Richard also lends support to the Forty & Eight, an American Legion fraternal honor society named after the French boxcars that transported either forty soldiers or eight horses to the battle front during World War I. He helps organize the annual appreciation picnic recognizing young school patrol participants. To raise money for nursing scholarships, another Forty & Eight outreach, Richard joins other members working at American Legion fish fries.
Richard and his wife, LaVerne, volunteer time delivering Meals on Wheels, and tend a quarter-acre garden that provides produce donated to the local senior citizens center and St. Mary Church fall festival produce booth. Festival proceeds support the parish and Richard pitches in by helping setup and teardown, and assisting his wife in the book booth. He also serves as an usher at Sunday masses.
Marjeanne Jungjohann
Western Fraternal Life Association
Lodge #500
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Marjeanne has served as the president of WFLA Lodge #500 for the past two years. As President, she has empowered others within the lodge to take an active roll in various committees and the decisions that have moved the lodge forward. She organized lodge volunteers to call inactive members, increasing attendance at meetings and activities. Marjeanne coordinated the lodge volunteers in 2007 to host the State Meeting, assigning everyone duties so the event ran smoothly and efficiently. Successful lodge activities include JOIN HANDS DAY, boxing groceries for food banks, bagging personal hygiene items for shelters, wrapping Christmas presents for the children’s homeless group and creating Easter baskets for children who are in shelters.
From 1998 through 2006, Marjeanne served as secretary and treasurer of the Cedar Rapids Chapter of the Alliance for Retired Americans. She is a member and past president, vice president and secretary of the A.N. Palmer Chapter of the National Secretaries Association (now the International Association of Administrative Professionals). Marjeanne is a member of the Elk’s Club Events Committee and has served as Secretary. She currently is on the social committee and the annual rummage sale committee, a weeklong fundraising event. Through the Elk’s club she volunteers to prepare and serve dinner to veterans at the Veteran’s Home twice a year.
She has volunteered in the office at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library on a weekly basis since 2002, where she assists the Director of Membership and Special Events.
Marjeanne also is a member of Post 788 of the Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW, where she serves as chaplain. She also has served as a volunteer in getting out the vote in various political campaigns and has participated as a delegate to the presidential, county and state conventions.
Marjeanne plans and promotes social functions for seniors in her church and serves on the Kitchen Team. She has served as a church clerk, directed the children’s choir, taught Sunday school classes and was a member of the choir for 40 years.
Marjeanne, and her husband, Carl, have been married for 51 years. They have one daughter and two grandchildren.
Marjeanne has been active in groups and organizations all her life and indicated: “My long standing association with this fraternal organization has shown me their steadfastness in leadership and opportunity for its members to serve the community.”
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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