The NFCA Proudly Recognizes "Fraternalists-in-Action"
Fraternal MVPs—Week of January 28, 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 January 28, 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.
Linda Pilarski
The Catholic Aid Association
Tri-Parish Catholic Aid Council #197
Little Falls, Minnesota
Linda is the president of her Catholic Aid Council. Among her current volunteer activities, she is active with Oasis Share-A-Meal, plays bingo with the elderly and is in charge of a three-mile stretch for the Adopt-A-Highway program. She is involved with her parish and helps with the church bazaar, funerals, cleaning the church and wherever else needed. She also helped make pizzas for her parish fundraiser and assists with the annual Polish and Italian dinners.
Linda is the Director of Religious Education and Parish Secretary of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Little Falls. She recently completed her certification and accreditation as a Catechetical Leader.
Linda and her husband have six grown children. Together they enjoy camping, biking, getting together with family and friends, and card and board games – especially cribbage.
Dorothy Ellerbrock
Catholic Ladies of Columbia
Council #179
Glandorf, Ohio
Dorothy has been a very active member of Council #179 for years and has attended many conventions. She has served as an officer of her council many times over the years, and at present, is serving her third term as President. She also has encouraged many of her family members to join Catholic Ladies of Columbia.
Dorothy is a very talented seamstress, but also is known for her angel food cakes. She started baking angel food cakes for her co-workers and word soon got out as to how good they were. Dorothy bakes and donates 24 angel food cakes for Council #179's yearly Good Friday bake sale.
Dorothy is active in St. Johns' Church. She is a Eucharistic Minister during services and takes the Eucharistic to the local nursing home on a regular basis. She also belongs to the Garden Club, whose members spend countless hours in Glandorf Park tending the many flower beds, hoeing and pulling weeds and transplanting flowers.
Dorothy truly is a fraternalist, always giving of herself to help others.
Joseph "Joe" Laubert
Catholic Life Insurance
Tours-West Branch #4
West, Texas
Joe Laubert is not a man who likes to blow his own horn. Instead, he likes to promote the good deeds of others. However, you will find few people in the Tours-West Catholic Life Branch who don’t love and admire Joe.
Joe has served as Branch President of the Tours-West Branch for nearly 40 years. In 1992, he got branch members together to adopt a two-mile section of highway near town to clean on a quarterly basis. In 2002, the branch was recognized by the Texas Highway Department for 10 years of dedicated service. The project continues today nearly 25 years after its inception. Joe also has been instrumental in organizing JOIN HANDS DAY and Make A Difference Day events, which have included beautification projects around St. Martin’s Church in Tours.
Joe is a major force at St. Martin’s. He serves as Lector, Rosary Leader and has been the president of St. Martin’s Cemetery Association for more than 20 years. Additionally, he’s taught religious education, been a Eucharistic Minister and served on the Parish Council.
A member of the VFW Post #4819, Joe is part of the Honor Guard Rifle Squad that conducts military graveside rites at veteran’s funerals all over the Central Texas area.
He and his wife, Veronica, can be found lending a hand at most Catholic Life events in the area.
Suzanne Besco
Royal Neighbors of America
Chapter #2908
Longview, Washington
Suzanne has been a chapter officer for many years. As the event planner for Royal Neighbors Chapter #2908, she has organized many projects, including a matching-funds project in which her chapter raised more than $1,000. Chapter #2908 has served at a local highway’s coffee-break stop. They donated the tips to the Mark Morris High School wrestling team, so they could purchase new team uniforms and gym mats. In addition to raising the funds, the chapter hosted a Back-to-School Barbeque for the students to present the check.
Suzanne also organized an event for the chapter to make school packages for the students at Columbia Heights Elementary. The chapter gave the students gift bags with pencils, stickers, erasers and much more. These are just a couple of the great community service projects that Suzanne and her chapter do for their community.
In addition to being a Royal Neighbors chapter officer, Suzanne also volunteers four days a week at the Columbia Heights Elementary School. She assists the students with reading and math. These tasks are fulfilling to her because she believes, “You can learn anything if you learn reading and math.” She also takes pictures for the class field trips and other events. When commended on all of her great deeds for the children in her community, Suzanne replied: “They give back more than I could ever give them.”
Suzanne and her husband have been married for 46 years. They have two children and four grandchildren all who are members of Royal Neighbors of America.
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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