The NFCA Proudly Recognizes "Fraternalists-in-Action"

Fraternal MVPs-Week of June 12, 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 June 12, 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.

Susan (Susie) Honea
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
North Central Tennessee Chapter
Gallatin, Tennessee
A lifelong Lutheran, Susie is comfortable as a member volunteer with Thrivent Financial. “The whole idea behind Thrivent Financial is to give back, and that works well for me as a volunteer,” she said. In 2005, she led teams of volunteers in chapter activities that raised money for food programs in Haiti. She also organized local Thrivent Feeds the Hungry initiatives, distributing turkeys to 500 Tennessee families in need, and orchestrating delivery of food to 70 elderly and homebound persons. For the support given to Thrivent Financial hurricane-relief efforts, Susie sent personal “thank-you” cards to donors across the U.S.

Her volunteer work with Trinity/HOPE, Inc., which raises money to feed children attending Lutheran schools in Haiti, has made a powerful difference in the lives of people needing life’s basics. Susie serves as the organization’s secretary/treasurer, is a member of its board of directors, helps with fund-raising, and administers the feeding programs operated in the Arachaie District of Haiti. Last year, those programs provided more than 150,000 meals to 1,050 children, teachers and cooks in eight schools. Through her promotion of the GivingPlus® Program from Thrivent Financial, more than $6,000 was provided to help Trinity/HOPE with its feeding programs.

She is a Stephen Ministry Leader in her church, a ministry that, with Susie’s help, doubled the number of people it served in 2005. Active in the local Women of the ELCA (WELCA), Susie expanded its programs to help improve women’s quality of life. She also served as chairperson for St. Timothy’s Mission Committee.

Delbert (Dell) Schuller
The Catholic Aid Association
St. Mary Council #379
Willmar, Minnesota
Dell is a man who exhibits the fraternal spirit every day. Through the donation of his time and talent, he displays the unique devotion to his parish, community and Catholic Aid Council that makes him stand out as a “fraternalist in action.”

One of Dell’s greatest talents is musical, and he uses this gift by playing his trumpet and entertaining patients and guests at nursing homes and adult daycare centers regularly.
Assisting with the ministry of his Church is another of Dell’s passions. Since “the beginning of time,” he says, he has been an usher at St. Mary’s in Willmar, MN. At least once a month, Dell also can be found at the hospital, offering communion to patients who are unable to attend mass. For several years he has also been a Mass Server for funerals, and, for special services like Easter and Christmas, he joins the church band with his trumpet.

For several years Dell was a Catholic Aid Association Field Representative, but even after his retirement, he’s still active in his council. Today, he heads up the annual “Polka Mass” (he also plays in the band, of course) and ensuing Sausage Supper to earn a Catholic Aid Matching Grant for St. Mary’s Religious Education Program. For many Catholic Aid Association Annual Conventions, he and his band, Ancient Age, entertain delegates from all over the Upper Midwest. He also is the director of his local Elks “Hoop Shoot” program, which gives children a chance to play basketball and have their talents recognized.

Thomas F. House
William Penn Association
Branch #18
Brownstown, Michigan
Tom is always eager and ready to help the less fortunate and improve his community. As an officer of Branch #18, in Lincoln Park, MI, Tom helps coordinate all the fraternal activities of the branch, select which causes the branch will support, and assists in planning events to aid those selected causes.

A member and usher at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Tom volunteers his time and service to Christ Net, which houses the homeless in the area. He is a 40-year member of his local Moose lodge and a 25-year member of the Knights of Columbus Council #3078, taking an active role in many areas of the council’s activities.

Doris Andel
Catholic Family Fraternal of Texas, KJZT
Society #111 – St. Agnes
Edna, Texas
Doris has worked tirelessly in the Edna Society #111 to reactivate the membership and bring the Society under her leadership into a strong and viable parish and community group. Doris serves as a local KJZT Society sales representative, encouraging membership growth and assistance with financial security for Catholics and their families. In addition to her fraternal benefit activities, Doris shares a deep love and respect for young people through judging spelling bees, serving as the director of Vacation Bible School, setting up a parish scholarship fund, co-chairing Catholic Daughter dinners to fund scholarships, serving as the coordinator of K-5 CCE program, and attending generations of faith workshops to become more knowledgeable in teaching and sharing the Catholic faith with all ages.

Zygmunt and Mary Bielski
Polish National Alliance of Brooklyn, USA
Lodge #264
Brooklyn, New York
Married for more than 37 years, Zygmunt and Maria Bielski are a dynamic couple who dedicate much of their time to serving the community. Both Zygmunt and Maria, after joining the Polish Scouting Organization, ZHP, came up through the ranks attaining the highest rank of Scoutmaster. As scoutmasters, they specialize in training young men and women in citizenship, service and leadership. They organized Brotherhood Celebrations and weekend overnight camps attended by more than 300 Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. They coordinated and managed two weeklong summer scout camps in Vermont and Pennsylvania for inner-city immigrant children. These camps provide young men and women with character development, teaching them self-discipline, skills and the love of nature. They also organized and participated in leadership training camps and various international scout events, such as Jamborees and Pilgrimages in the United States, England, Poland and Canada.

In 1999, Zygmunt was elected to the position of Council Director of the Polish Boy Scout Council “Hufiec Warmia.” Under his direction, the “Warmia” Council took part in Scout jamborees in Ohio and Toronto, Canada. Maria is the Assistant Council Director in the Girl Scout Council “Podhale.” Under her leadership, in the summer of 2006, the Council will be holding the 40th consecutive Children’s Camp at the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa.
Both Zygmunt and Maria also are involved in promoting patriotic events, such as Veteran’s Day for WW I and WW II Polish fallen heroes, May 3rd and November 11th Memorial celebrations, and Polish Festivals.

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.