The NFCA Proudly Recognizes "Fraternalists-in-Action"
Fraternal MVPs—Week of June 11, 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 June 11, 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.
Geraldine (Gerri) Martinez
Catholic Life Insurance
Rockne-String-Prairie Branch #12
Rockne, Texas
When you want something done in the Rockne area, the busy person to turn to is Gerri Martinez. Gerri, who currently serves as President of the Rockne-String-Prairie Branch, is a go-getter who is actively involved in her parish and community.
Gerri first became involved in Catholic Life during the 1980s when she worked in nearby Austin. In fact, she served as President of the Austin Branch until she and her husband decided to turn their focus to her hometown of Rockne.
Under her leadership, the Rockne Branch has changed from an inactive branch to an organization that is at the center of many parish activities. Much of the branch’s focus is working with youth. To encourage education, the branch annually awards two scholarships to local students. They also underwrite a Little League team.
Gerri, who serves as Vice President of the Rockne Historical Association, has spearheaded an annual Flag Day celebration each year. She also has been the catalyst behind the branch’s JOIN HANDS DAY and Make A Difference Day projects. This year, branch members joined with the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) to beautify Hilbig Park. The park is home to the Rockne Museum and Pioneer Log Cabin. Workers moved soil, gravel, stepping stones, and parking barriers and planted shrubs and trees. They also trimmed trees and removed debris from the park.
More recently, she has become a Story Time Reader with the Bastrop Elementary school. This program lets her be involved with children during the school days. She also is the Family Concerns Chairperson for the Austin Diocesan Council of Catholic Women and a member of the Bastrop County Extension Education Club.
The Central Texas native and her husband, Cecil, have two children and four grandchildren.
Betty Orsak Hubenak
Catholic Family Fraternal of Texas (KJZT)
Our Lady of Lourdes, Society #27
Caldwell, Texas
Betty serves as Treasurer to Our Lady of Lourdes, Society #27, in Caldwell, Texas, and has been a member of KJZT since 1949. Her involvement is with all local society chapter levels and events.
Betty is a member of the St. Mary’s Altar Society and also contributes more of her time by working at St. Mary’s Gift Shop after mass on Sundays. She is active with the Burleson County Historical Society and is a Council Officer of the Burleson County Extension Educational Association (EEA). She is a tour guide for an out-of-state trip that takes place once a year for the Snook, Texas, Extension Association Club. She has participated in Relay for Life, her local Kolache Festival, and has been a judge at various County Fairs.
Betty encourages the youth of her community to work at the Snook EEA bake sales and garage sales and the Kolache Festival for the opportunity to meet people from other areas. She also has a high-school student helping her in the St. Mary’s Gift Shop every Sunday. Betty is a strong supporter of the young people going to college, and encourages them to apply for the college scholarships available in the parish.
Reverend Jeff Pedersen
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
Grant County Chapter #20926
Platteville, Wisconsin
Pastor Jeff is senior pastor with Lutheran Church of Peace and currently serves as the Chapter President for the Grant County Chapter. He feels that his Thrivent Financial Chapter is an important ministry that helps so many people in need and continues to make an impact in Grant County. In his second year as president, Pastor Jeff has helped to fill all 10 chapter leadership positions on the board, as well as a Thrivent Builds Chapter Specialist.
Pastor Jeff helped start and organize the Manna Meals for the Platteville community. This is an opportunity for the homeless and poor to meet once a month at Lutheran Church of Peace. He also is very involved with the respite program at his church, which gives caregivers of handicapped individuals some time away. Pastor Jeff helps prepare and serve the meal, play games, movies and other activities that make for a special evening for guests.
The church has opened its doors for many important ministries within the community, including Toys for Tots, Coats for Kids and Hospice training. The community also came together to start a food pantry within Grant County, which Pastor Jeff arranged to have at his church. He also volunteers his services to help with this program and feels it has truly been “a blessing.” As President of Habitat for Humanity, Pastor Jeff also has worked to help get a Thrivent Build’s home for his community in 2007, assisting people who would otherwise be living in substandard housing.
Pastor Jeff currently serves as a police Chaplain in which he takes ride-a-longs with police officers, makes death notifications and is called on to assist in times of crisis. He also has had the opportunity to provide jail ministry when needed. As a Hospice Chaplain, he performs pastoral care for patients who do have not a spiritual giver such as a pastor, priest or rabbi, or have any type of church affiliation. He also helps families in the community through their bereavement after their loved one has passed way.
Pastor Jeff has taken groups on mission trips to the inner city of New York—working in a soup kitchen and food pantry that serves 250 homeless and low-income people everyday. He also has taken a group to Florida for Hurricane clean-up and to Colorado to work at a mission that served homeless people.
“I feel it is important to expose the youth to many different experiences in life and to give them the gift of service to others,” Pastor Jeff said.
Pastor Jeff, his wife, Andrea, and daughters, Eleanor and Maria, live in Platteville, Wisconsin.
Henrietta Milan
SPJST
Lodge #154
Fort Worth, Texas
Henrietta is a 49-year member of SPJST. Over the years, she has given many hours to her lodge assisting with socials, weddings, the youth club, telephone committee, as well as volunteering for building clean-up and baking for birthdays, funerals and lodge events.
To preserve the Czech heritage, Henrietta maintains close ties to her Czech relatives in Chicago, in addition to the Czech Republic and Croatia. She attended Czech heritage events in both Texas and Illinois. As an acclaimed artist, Henrietta continued to share her talents and give of her time to support many worthy causes throughout the year. As a testament to her devotion to community service, Henrietta was recognized for her generous support each year of more than 30 local charities by the Mayor of Fort Worth (and former U.S. Senator) Michael Moncrief. In January, she received the 2006 "Great Woman of Texas Award," presented by the Fort Worth Business Press, in recognition of her outstanding efforts to rally others and make good things happen.
An Active Sokol member and instructor for more than 50 years, Henrietta continues to volunteer by teaching both a youth group, as well as an adult class, in marching and calisthenics. As a member of Saint Thomas Catholic Church, she helps fund the church's youth programs. She also assisted children in a “save-the-lake” clean-up project in North Fort Worth, in addition to trash pick-ups in her neighborhood.
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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