The NFCA Proudly Recognizes "Fraternalists-in-Action"

Fraternal MVPs-Week of July 31, 2006

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 31, 2006. 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.

Dottie Frerich
Catholic Life Insurance
Branch #114
San Angelo, Texas
Dottie has been an active branch member for nearly 40 years. Because of her children’s involvement in 4-H, Dottie spent many years as a 4-H Adult Leader. She estimates that she taught 100 girls, ages 9-17, the fundamentals of food and nutrition, sewing, public speaking and soil judging. Her volunteer work earned her the Outstanding District 7 4-H Leader in 1976.

Additionally, she was the organist at Sacred Heart Cathedral for 30 years and currently plays at the Carmelite Convent at least three times a year. Dottie also gives thousands of volunteer hours to the Shannon Hospital Auxiliary and the West Texas Rehab.

Since 1990, she has served on the Board of Directors for the Hoelscher-Buxkemper family and chaired the 1992 and 2002 reunion. The Hoelscher-Buxkemper family is the largest family in Texas, although many members now live outside the state. Anton Hölscher, as the name was spelled in Germany, emigrated in 1846 from Olfen, Westfalen, then in Prussia, directly to Texas with his wife and five sons.

Dottie is married to San Angelo Branch Secretary-Treasurer and Agent Floyd Frerich. She and Floyd are the parents of eight grown children.

James A. Mayer
The Catholic Aid Association
St. Willibrord's Council #275
Winthrop, Minnesota
James attends and actively participates in his local council meetings. He currently serves on the Society Audit Committee for St. Willibrord’s. James is known as the “go-to” person for his efforts in helping coordinate the council’s matching-grant raffle, which is held in conjunction with their matching-grant breakfast. This year, with the efforts of James and others, the council was able to give the most money ever raised to its religious education program.

James also is active in his community. He currently is chairman of supervisors for the township where he lives. As township chairman, he participated in the FEMA emergency-management study course, which builds the awareness and skills needed to develop and implement policies, plans and procedures to protect life and property in his community. Also as chairman, James presently is reviewing his township’s population for possible candidates to help with the state’s elections. Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer has asked Sibley County cities and townships to hire students between the ages of 16-18 to help with the elections. It is hoped that by getting youths involved in the elections, it will not only be a valuable learning experience, but also will inspire and motivate them to become active citizens.

James also works to preserve the history of his community. He helped research the Yellowstone Trail (original trail) through Renville County for future marking. The Trail is being recorded from the east and west coasts. James also has photographed the Minnesota River in Redwood and Renville Counties to record, preserve and promote that area of the river. In addition, he has taken pictures of old farm sites, barns and unusual buildings to be added to his photographs in the Minnesota Machinery Museum.

Drew Wesnak
National Slovak Society of the USA
Assembly #L102
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Drew has been a fraternal member since birth, with his great-grandmother, grandmother and mother all involved with the founding and management of the First Slovak Wreath of the Free Eagle (FSWFE), which merged with the National Slovak Society (NSS) in 1997. His entire immediate family, without exception, and most of his extended family and friends, are all members of the NSS. Drew has served as President of Allentown, PA, Assembly #L102 for the past 14 years and President of Region #14 for the past seven years.

Drew was taught the importance of volunteerism by his parents. He gives his time and talents to church, community and, especially, charitable projects of his fraternal society. His experience in sports serves him well, as he volunteers to coach boys in both the junior baseball and football teams of the West End Youth Center and Alton Park.

For the past 20 years, Drew has played Santa Claus in his community. His wife, Sharon, accompanies him as Mrs. Claus, and recently his sister-in-law has joined them as one of Santa’s elves. Each year from the beginning of December, up to and including Russian Christmas on January 7, they visit schools and various nursing and senior citizen homes, as well as rehabilitation centers for the mentally and physically handicapped. Last Christmas, Drew’s home, with its many indoor Christmas trees and decorations, was part of a fundraising tour for Swain School in Allentown. His home also has been part of fundraiser Christmas tours for churches, other schools and youth organizations over the years.

George J. Kostelnik
Slovak Catholic Sokol
Assembly #78
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Currently an Honorary Supreme Officer, George has enjoyed a lifelong association with the Slovak Catholic Sokol. He continues to serve as president of Group 10 and president of his local lodge, Assembly #78 in Bethlehem, PA. He actively promotes all area and district sporting events of the organization, and as a past president of the Pennsylvania Fraternal Congress, continues his efforts on the area and local levels in promoting various fraternal projects. He is a model and mentor to the youth who seek his advice and encouragement.

All his life, George has been active in various Catholic and Slovak projects. In his home parish of SS. Cyril and Methodius in Bethlehem, he serves as president of the parish activities group and a member of the parish finance council. He recently served as parish chairman for the Diocese of Allentown’s recent capital campaign. Under his leadership, the parish successfully raised over twice its goal. George volunteers as a senior altar server at all parish funerals. He also has participated in several Habitat for Humanity projects over the years. He actively promotes various civic and cultural projects, which reflect the Slovak culture and heritage as a component of the rich cultural fabric of his community.

Since he became an officer of his lodge at the age of 15, George encourages youths to be active fraternalists. At the 42nd International Slet in Pittsburgh, he encouraged the youth of his lodge to participate. (A “Slet” is a gymnastic and athletic contest in the traditions of the Sokol movement.) In his JOIN HANDS DAY efforts, George has sought the cooperation and support of the young members of his home lodge. He has always been a believer in the adage that the youth are the future of any fraternal benefit society.

Anna Czaplinski-Mirek
Polish National Alliance of Brooklyn, USA
Lodge #264
Brooklyn, New York
Currently a second-year graduate student at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and program assistant at the East Central European Center, Anna Czaplinski-Mirek is a passionate Polish-American who has dedicated nearly a decade and a half to involvement in her community.

Observing a need for an outlet where students and faculty could come together to learn about Polish culture on Columbia University’s campus, Anna founded and was president of the Polish Club of Barnard College Columbia University from 2003 to 2006. Through Anna’s efforts, the Polish Club hosted a wide array of events, which cultivated awareness of pressing issues, as well as past accomplishments of Poles. Such events include: the Wigilia Christmas Gathering, at which more than 80 people participate annually; workshops in language, dance and Pisanki Easter-egg painting; tributes to Pope John Paul II, Solidarity, and Forgotten Victims of the Holocaust; and lectures on Poland by Columbia’s Polish Studies Program visiting professors, just to name a few.

Beyond Columbia’s campus, Anna has actively participated as Secretary and current Vice President of the Polish Student Organization (PSO), a not-for-profit group whose goal is “to integrate the Polish-American academic community” in the tri-state area, and to provide information about “higher-education opportunities in the USA to the Polish-American community.” Working towards this goal, Anna’s involvement at PSO has included: working at Studia4U and MiniStudia4U, which are workshops geared towards providing information about higher education for Polonia; organizing Polish Club conferences, which bring together leaders of Polish Clubs to discuss their activities and offer opportunities for networking; and co-chairing the PSO Bal Studencki, an annual ball which brings together the youth of Polonia and raises over $7,000 towards the PSO Scholarship Fund for members of PSO each year.

Throughout her various endeavors, which have ranged from her youth to her current studies at Columbia University, the Polish National Alliance of Brooklyn (PNA) has actively supported and encouraged Anna in her work. She is very grateful for all the help she has received from the organization, as well as all the members of the PNA, particularly President Christine McMullan.

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.