The NFCA Proudly Recognizes "Fraternalists-in-Action"
Fraternal MVPs—Week of July 30, 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 July 30, 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.
Carol Prokosch
The Catholic Aid Association (CAA)
St. Mary's Council
New Ulm, Minnesota
Carol is a member of CAA’s St. Mary’s Council. She was born and raised in Sleepy Eye, Minn., where she attended St. Mary’s Catholic School. She said when she was a child, her family didn’t have much time for volunteering, but they attended benediction and Sunday Mass, and went to daily Mass through school.
After graduating high school, Carol was encouraged by her brother to attend the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, but transferred to the Minneapolis College of Art and Design a short while later. She got her first job in the Twin Cities working for the Metropolitan Transit Commission, but then moved to New Ulm when she was offered a job at a print shop there. She met her husband Jim and was married in 1983.
Carol began volunteering around the time she started needing daycare for her first son, Matt, born in 1990. It was her daycare provider, Kathy Grausam, who asked her to help out in some activities at St. Mary’s Church.
“She was very inviting and encouraging,” Carol said. “’Oh, you could do this!’, or ‘Ah! Could you do this?’ – she was always very supportive.”
Through the years, Carol began taking on tasks, and then keeping them.
“I asked her if she would help with the entertainment part of the fall festival,” Grausam said. “She just took it upon herself and ended up doing it for ten years or more. She’d get the high school band to perform by printing up coupons for pop and popcorn, so they performed for food.”
Throughout the years, Carol has been a part of many projects and created innumerable designs, posters, tickets and coupons for various CAA and church functions. As her children, Matt and Eric, worked their way through school, Carol found herself involved in many school projects as well. Art adventure, playground supervision, magazine drives, and setting up the accelerated reading auction each year. As Grausam said, “They always ask the people who do the most to do more.”
But what was possibly Carol’s most notable contribution was for the New Ulm Area Catholic Schools (NUACS). The executive officer of the board had begun a campaign to build up the schools’ endowment and needed a chair for the steering committee.
“I realized I could probably devote the most time to it. Everyone else was probably more qualified, but I had more time,” Carol joked.
The $3 million campaign has brought in about $2.6 million so far, and the donations are still coming in.
In February of 2006, in recognition of her many volunteer efforts, Carol was one of five recipients of the New Ulm Diocesan Distinguished Service Award. The award was presented during the annual Bishop Lucker Lecture in Hutchinson, Minn., by Bishop Nienstedt of New Ulm.
John J. Feldner
Catholic Knights
Branch # 54
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
John has been a member of Catholic Knights for 59 years. Although never officially elected as a branch officer, John has been a committed volunteer involved in all branch activities. According to branch secretary/treasurer, Violet Zweiger, “John has been a Rock of Gibraltar” and “a catalyst of energy for any project.” He serves as official photographer, documenting all branch activities in photo albums that have become a resource of ideas for future events. Last year, John volunteered to help his branch host a pizza party for young children at the Winnebago Mental Health Center. He also worked with other volunteers doing fall cleaning inside and outside of the Cerebral Palsy Respite House. He assisted at the family bowling party sponsored by his branch and worked with other branch members at a local parish fundraiser to benefit the youth mission group.
John is an active volunteer at St. Mary’s Parish in Omro, Wisconsin. Each month, he helps process Market Day food orders for the parish school. He also has been active in the local chapter of the St. Vincent de Paul Society since 1970, and now serves as president of the group. John’s group hosts monthly bingo parties for residents of two local nursing facilities. At the holidays, John even helps bake cookies as a special treat for the residents. On behalf of his local Parks and Recreation Department, John organizes weekly shuffleboard matches from September through April for the enjoyment of area citizens. Last year, John participated in a walk to raise money for Labor of Love, a home for unwed mothers. And always looking for ways to serve, he regularly donates blood.
Something John is particularly proud of is his volunteer work for the local Senior Center. For the last 14 years, John has been involved in planning and organizing the “Summer” and “Winter Games” for seniors. The Summer Games span more than a week and include opening ceremonies, a walk for fun, bottle bowling, shuffleboard, bocce ball and picnic lunch for participants. A local bank provides ribbons that are awarded as prizes for the games. The Winter Games span less time and are less structured. Originally just a volunteer for the games, John took over as chairman more than five years ago. He now spends many hours planning activities, training other volunteers and overseeing the events.
Catholic Knights is proud of John’s work on behalf of his branch and the community. Perhaps his branch secretary said it best: “You can be sure, if there is a need for volunteer help, John will be present. He is the epitome of caring and giving hands and heart.”
Alice Wright
Catholic Life Insurance
Edna-Ganado Branch #97
Ganado, Texas
For Edna-Ganado Branch Secretary-Treasurer Alice Wright, music is both her vocation and her avocation. The retired public school music teacher and her husband, Carl, also a retired music teacher, share their incredible talents in their parish, community and throughout the state.
For more than 40 years, she’s served as Choir Director and assistant organist at Assumption Parish in Ganado. During the past 10 years, Alice has directed the Czech Heritage Choir for the annual Czech-English Mass held at Our Lady of Victory Cathedral during Czech Heritage month. She’s also directed the Jackson Country Community Chorus and the Ganado Community Choruses.
For Catholic Life, she and Karl have directed the 2000, 2002, and 2004 Catholic Life convention choirs as well as served as music minister for the Catholic Family Fraternal of Texas (KJZT) 2001 and 2005 convention.
On the local branch level, she has been an officer since 1992. During her tenure as Edna-Ganado Branch Secretary-Treasurer, Alice has spearheaded the Make A Difference Day project that benefits the Jackson County Children’s Protective and Regulatory Services. Working with the Girl Scouts, the Branch collects socks, underwear and other clothing.
Alice and Carl have two children and seven grandchildren.
Kati Mischak
Hungarian Reformed Federation of America (HRFA)
Branch #176
Hobart, Indiana
Kati is the HRFA-branch fraternal coordinator for her area in Indiana. Last year, her efforts included the Operation Christmas Child project, the preparation of HRFA’s Kossuth Club meeting and New Year's party. The Kossuth Club embraces all the HRFA branches in the Indiana/Illinois area, as well as non-member Hungarian Americans and independent organizations.
The Kossuth Club’s largest project last year was to prepare presents for the needy children through Operation Christmas Child and locally as well. This is a recurring project for the HRFA branches, in which Kati selects and buys the contents and packages the shoeboxes.
Kati is a member of Holy Trinity Hungarian Church. She is the parish council vice president, Kossuth Club president, Hungarian Mass commentator, St. Elisabeth Circle secretary, former president of the parish council, former secretary of the parish council and former vice president of Kossuth Club.
Kati is the manager of HRFA Branch #176. She also helped coordinate the branch’s JOIN HANDS DAY project for the church's 100th Anniversary last year.
Kati and her husband, Steve, have three adult children and eight grandchildren.
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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