The NFCA Proudly Recognizes "Fraternalists-in-Action"
Fraternal MVPs-Week of January 29, 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 January 29, 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.
Lisa Lippitz
Modern Woodmen of America
Club #134-3
Kankakee, Illinois
Modern Woodmen of America Youth Service Club Leader Lisa Lippitz has organized many great activities for Club #134-3 during her 17 years of service, so much so, that former members now come to visit and bring their own children.
As she looks back over the years, Lisa recalls, "Our youth club initiated one program that took on a life of its own. For years, our club collected food in October through what we called 'Trick or Treat So Kids Can Eat.' Eventually we partnered with scouts and school groups to dress up and trick or treat for canned goods. One year, we literally collected thousands of cans of food. Now we feel proud when we see posters in October for 'Trick or Treat So Kids Can Eat' sponsored by scouts, church or school groups."
Lisa and her club members do all the activities Modern Woodmen offers, and she often puts her own spin on them. For Modern Woodmen's "Spruce Up," every year, they participate in the Kankakee River Clean Up. Youth and adult volunteers sporting gloves and life jackets clean the river, while Lisa cooks dozen of hot dogs for a lunchtime break.
Lisa's club has adopted a nursing home and visit usually four times a year to pot flowers, decorate Easter eggs, make a bird-feeder tree or do other crafts. With Lisa's leadership, the kids have gotten to know the residents and search out their friends on each visit.
Another tradition for the club is the community's "Pause for Patriotism," a celebration honoring the armed forces. In the program, Club #134-3 presents the flag just after the four mayors speak, and right before the parade begins. The club also reads a special patriotic poem at this point.
Lisa says, "I can't remember a time when I wasn't volunteering for something: helping with a brownie troop when I was a junior scout, candy-striping at the hospital, teaching arts and crafts at church camp. My parents were into giving back to the community."
As an adult, Lisa has spent many hours helping at local schools — teaching art, doing science lessons at Olivet University Kid's College, and tutoring after school several times a week at the library. She's also been instrumental in making costumes and props for local dance and theater productions, and helping with a benefit for the local women's shelter.
A former high school English teacher and local weekly newspaper reporter, Lisa and her husband of nearly 29 years have two grown daughters.
William (Bill) Kowalkowski
Polish Roman Catholic Union of America (PRCUA)
Franklin, Wisconsin
Fraternalism is a way of life for Bill. It is how he serves not only his fraternal organization, but also his local community in Wisconsin, his ancestral home in Poland, and most importantly, God, through his local parish.
Even though Bill wrote his first insurance certificate more than 60 years ago, he continues to encourage new members to become active participants of the Federation Life Insurance of America, a division of PRCUA. He also is Honorable President of the Pulaski Council of Milwaukee, an umbrella organization for Polish American organizations, and a Director of the Polish American Congress – Wisconsin Division. Bill also is an active participant of Southside Business Club of Milwaukee, the Polish Heritage Alliance, Inc., St. Joseph Foundation, St. Roman Parish and the International Mushroom Pickers Society (IMPS).
Bill's fraternalism and deep Christian commitment to those in need prompted a lifelong dedication to the land of his ancestors – Poland. He sponsored countless charitable relief efforts, which did not go unrecognized. In 1976, Bill was awarded the Gold Cross of Merit by the Polish Government in exile in London. Then in 1995, he received the Order of the Knight's Cross, Poland's highest civilian award from then-President Lech Walesa, for outstanding contributions in the field of cooperation between the United States and Poland. Bill remains tireless in promoting Polish culture.
Bill maintains that the success for fraternal organizations is in personal contacts. Whether it was during his years as National President of the Federation or now as a retired activist, Bill puts the best interests of people first. Because he earns their trust and respect, they in turn, have confidence in the insurance products he delivers. Bill also credits the loving support of his family, his wife of 63 years, Felicia, their three daughters and their families.
Bettie V. House
SPJST
Lodge #202
Jourdanton, Texas
Bettie has been a member of SPJST for 59 years. She has served on the SPJST State By-Law Committee and currently is secretary of Lodge #202 in Jourdanton, serves as District Seven Secretary and is actively involved in all Lodge #202 Youth Club activities.
Bettie is active in many organizations in her community. She assists regularly with the local community blood drive in assisting with publicity and donating her blood. She serves as secretary for the local Farmers Mutual Protective Association, Lodge #127. As secretary, she plans, sets up meetings, composes and handles the minutes, handles correspondence, sets up appointments with local newspapers for news items and keeps twelve other organizations informed of activities. She also provides transportation to meetings for an elderly member who would not be able to attend.
Bettie is very active in the local county fair. She enters and promotes the food show contest. Sales of these food items go toward the local scholarship fund to assist local high school graduates. Each year she is an active promoter of "Stuff the Bus" project to collect school supplies for needy families.
In addition, Bettie is an active member of Texas Farm Bureau and the County Farm Bureau. She attends conventions where delegates vote on resolutions, express views on issues to legislative members and develop and study district policies. Bettie spends many hours assisting with the County Agricultural Fair, which includes set up and clean up. This fair benefits elementary students in the local community.
Assisting those in need, Bettie does the grocery shopping for elderly members of the community who are not able to drive and get around. She also provides transportation to the beauty shop, the bank, etc. for elderly members of the community.
Bettie mobilizes youth and adults by encouraging them to work together. She sets the example by getting involved herself. She has made monetary contributions to fundraisers to benefit FFA and 4-H youth with animal projects and encourages others to do likewise.
Bettie is a part-time bookkeeper for Brauchle Farm, Inc. She is a member of St. John Lutheran Church where she serves as financial secretary, card ministry chairman, prayer chain chairman and meals on wheels chairman.
Reverend Imre A. Bertalan
William Penn Association
Branch #8
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
The Reverend Imre Bertalan is a lifelong fraternalist, who grew up in the Hungarian American neighborhoods of Passaic and New Brunswick, NJ. In both of these communities, the William Penn Association (WPA) and the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America (HRFA) have active branches, and Rev. Bertalan, from the time he was in grade school, helped with church clean-up projects, attended picnics and took part in annual observances of important Hungarian and American events, all of which took place through the involvement of these two fraternal organizations.
After graduating from Princeton Theological Seminary, Rev. Bertalan pastored Hungarian Reformed congregations in Toledo, Ohio, and Allen Park, Michigan. In both of these locations, the WPA and the HRFA held their branch meetings in the church buildings or in the neighborhoods where the congregations were located. Rev. Bertalan worked to increase membership and involvement in both fraternals. In Toledo, as a pastor and fraternalist, Rev. Bertalan co-chaired for many years the Birmingham Ethnic Festival, which brought thousands of visitors to the old Hungarian neighborhood each year, and which also raised thousands of dollars for neighborhood improvements. Rev. Bertalan also encouraged, on the national level, both the WPA and the HRFA to become major sponsors of the Annual Festival. Last year, the WPA and the HRFA were honored at the Festival for their faithful support of the Festival and the Birmingham Community.
Since moving to Ligonier, Pennsylvania in 2000, Rev. Bertalan has worked to promote fraternal activity in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The Bethlen Cultural Center, in Ligonier, was established by Rev. Bertalan, under the auspices of Bethlen Communities, a faith-based retirement community and conference center, of which Rev. Bertalan is Executive Director. The Cultural Center seeks to promote and share the Hungarian cultural identity. The Cultural Center is supported by both the WPA and the HRFA. Rev. Bertalan is currently co-chairing an effort, which will organize the 100th Anniversary Commemoration of the Darr Mine disaster, in which many miners of Hungarian descent were killed. The commemoration will take place in October of this year and will honor the sacrifice of early Hungarian immigrants and miners of other nationalities, and will pay tribute to the fraternals, the William Penn Association and the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America, for the strong support they gave the families of the miners killed and injured on that tragic day.
Rev. Bertalan is married to Magdalene J. Ujvagi, and together, they have five children. The entire Bertalan-Ujvagi family is active in fraternal affairs.
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.
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