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The NFCA Proudly Recognizes "Fraternalists-in-Action"
Fraternal MVPs—Week of June 18, 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 18, 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.
Lucjan Rozwadowski
Polish Roman Catholic Union of America
District #8
Romeoville, Illinois
Lucjan has had a long and involved relationship not only with the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America (PRCUA), but also with Polonia in general. Soon after starting a family 40 years ago, Lucjan realized the importance of instilling the values and traditions of his native Poland in his daughters. He enrolled them in the Polish language school and dance program at St. Pancratius Church in Brighton Park. He and his wife, Alina, and a few friends co-founded the Maria Konopnicka Polish Language School at Five Holy Martyrs Parish. For two decades, Lucjan worked diligently to foster the new school, and as its president, worked tirelessly to make it grow into one of the largest of its kind and involving it with PRCUA. In addition to his regular duties as president, he organized countless dances and fundraisers, supplied hamburgers to students after the Polish Constitution Day parade, made props for the drama club, organized field trips to fun places such as Great America, and personally bought flowers for the teachers on Sweetest Day. As the school grew and the first 8th grade class graduated, he saw the need for these students to continue their education in the Polish tradition, and found a way for Maria Konopnicka Polish School to become one of the first to offer an accredited high school program.
Lucjan was instrumental in bringing PRCUA to another Polish school in Lemont, IL. He encouraged other adults to become insurance agents and start new societies for PRCUA. He and Alina became members of the Adult Culture Group in the early 1970's, which hosts the annual Cinderella-Prince Charming Scholarship Ball. Both of their daughters participated during their high school years, and Lucjan and Alina put on their own dance shoes and performed the Polonez, year after year, with the Adult Culture Group. In 1979, Lucjan suggested his daughter become a member of the Wesoly Lud Dancers. So involved was Lucjan with the dance group over the years that he was named an honorary member, and his daughter not only remained a member for 12 years, but became a teacher, a choreographer, and started her own dance program.
Lucjan has been active in PRCUA, taking leadership roles, and eventually becoming president of District #8. He has organized picnics, fundraisers and other outings for District #8. After 40 years of continuous service to the PRCUA and to Polonia, Lucjan continues in his quest to promote the Polish heritage and the PRCUA. Lucjan encouraged his sisters- and brothers-in-law to become part of the organization, and Lucjan and Alina can boast that their family includes a Cinderella and a first runner-up, three Prince Charmings and a first runner-up, poetry competition winners, scholarship recipients, a Miss Polonia, a translator for a news service during Pope John Paul II’s travels, and a Polish radio and television producer. Lucjan himself is still extremely active in PRCUA and Polonia by attending many sponsored activities and being a delegate to PRCUA conventions.
In essence, Lucjan remains “on-call” for the officers of PRCUA, donating his time and efforts whenever needed. He organizes trips for his residential association to Milwaukee’s Polish fests, and was instrumental in organizing Polish fests in his community. He takes part in the annual Constitution Day parade downtown, promoting PRCUA and Poland.
Lucjan’s family includes daughters Barbara and Renata, sons-in-law Thomas and Robert, and grandchildren Casey, Timothy, Paulie, Melissa and Matthew.
Elaine and Wyman Ketterling
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
Monterey-San Benito County Chapter
Salinas, California
Elaine and Wyman Ketterling utilize their special experience and knowledge to bring health, wellness and enthusiasm to people, young and old, both near and far. From serving locally within their congregation to their international ministry to children in Jamaica, the breadth and depth of this couple’s passionate volunteerism make them exceptional.
Elaine Ketterling has been a congregational coordinator at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Salinas, CA, for four years. She is recognized in her church as both a congregational leader and very active volunteer.
Wyman and Elaine teamed up to host multiple significant chapter events in 2006. They led the JOIN HANDS DAY effort of Soledad Street Cleanup and Beautification, teaming up Thrivent members with others to clean up the mission district in Salinas. 220 people took part in this activity—generating 890 volunteer hours, painting, tiling and planting shrubs and flowers. Additionally, the Ketterlings organized the “Pasta with the Pastors” event in August 2006, raising funds to support the I-HELP (Interdenominational Homeless Emergency Lodging Program) non-profit organization. This benefit dinner, attended by 340 people, raised $4,800 (including $1,600 from Thrivent’s Care Abounds in Communities program) to feed the homeless. Elaine and Wyman also volunteer with I-HELP, helping to feed homeless men in the community, and provide toiletries and other goods to support men in need. In addition, at a Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity signature fundraising event, Wyman and Elaine assisted by setting up, welcoming attendees, and supporting their local financial representatives and fraternal staff.
Elaine and Wyman Ketterling can be found throughout the congregation, community, and world sharing their volunteer services. At Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Elaine and Wyman greet congregational members, stock pews between services, and/or usher during the services. Elaine assists with meals and sells coffee or other items to raise money for Lutheran World Relief.
Elaine volunteers at Dorothy’s Kitchen, a local non-profit organization that feeds the homeless and hungry. She assists regularly by making sandwiches to serve 85 people that come in each day for breakfast and/or lunch. This organization, which started feeding the hungry in 1982, also offers free medical assistance and other free services (e.g., showers, laundry, computer lab). Additionally, Elaine is very involved with the “Women Alive” program, which specifically feeds and supports homeless women in need.
As a retired registered nurse (RN), Elaine volunteers twice a week in the neonatal intensive care unit at the Natividad Medical Center. This 172-bed acute care medical center is operated by Monterey County and is the only academic medical center on California’s Central Coast. Elaine also makes two baby quilts a week for the infants in the neonatal intensive care unit or given to new babies receiving baptism at Good Shepherd. She regularly helps collect and donate clothes and household items, disbursing them to women and children in need at Homeward Bound. She also disburses items to a local Confidential Pregnancy Center. With the Afghan Ministry, Elaine delivers Afghans to nursing home patients.
Via Mission Jamaica, the Ketterlings brought donated medical supplies to Jamaica to its needy population, and in particular, Jamaica’s disabled children. Often outcast and/or abandoned, these children ranging in age from three to twenty-seven, have often never received medical care, and some have never even been touched by the human hand. Elaine and Wyman provided medical service and more importantly, love, to these children.
Marianne Rauer
Greater Beneficial Union of Pittsburgh
District #630
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Marianne Rauer was born to help others. Thirty years ago, she started The Ladies of The Afternoon, and The Ladies of the Evening, who keep up the “fraternal spirit” by donating time and money to worthy causes on the local level. She makes and donates afghans to many organizations, such as Lexington Court Garden Club (14 years), Schwabenverein of Ann Arbor, GBU District #821 – Saxonia-Rheingold Chorus, and, of course, her own District #630, Ann Arbor.
Marianne co-chairs the Women’s Circle at her church, Zion Lutheran, and through her church, volunteers for SERRV—a group that acquires products from Third World countries, sells them and returns the proceeds to the country of origin. For 28 years, she has helped cook for the Peace Neighborhood Center—an after-school program for underprivileged students. She also cooks and bakes for the other groups that she belongs to. Marianne is involved with two Sister-City programs—Tuebingen, Germany, and Hikona, Japan. She and her husband, Hans, have taken groups to Tuebingen on three separate occasions. She was appointed by the court as a personal assistant for a non-English speaking person. During the Christmas Season Marianne hosts a two-hour Radio show on WNZK 690 AM in Detroit and also can be found ringing the bell for the Salvation Army. In her spare time, Marianne visits shut-ins and the sick members of her organizations.
Robert J. Hagen
SPJST
Lodge #246
Morgan's Point, Texas
Robert volunteered to serve as youth leader and reorganize the youth group for his lodge. He started with one member and through his dedication and determination, he built up the youth club to 17 active members in the first year. He coordinated and assisted with many events through the year to build attendance and membership. These include dinner socials, swim parties, barbecue fundraisers, clean up following the home-office awards banquet, participating in the State Bowl for the Cure that benefits the breast cancer research foundation, SPJST Community Easter Eggstravaganza, supports and promotes the 100 pennies scholarship drive which each year raises funds to award more than 50 - $1,000 scholarships to High School Seniors and college undergraduates, participated in District youth leaders' workshops and District Youth Achievement Day, volunteers as a summer camp chaperone and assisted with Core Challenge, an event organized by SPJST to promote physical fitness among youth.
Robert coordinated adult and youth volunteers from his lodge and the local community and soldiers from Fort Hood to clean and paint the exterior of the Belton Senior Center and constructed benches as a JOIN HANDS DAY project. For Make A Difference Day, he coordinated painting the interior of the center. He solicited individuals and businesses for donations of paint, paint supplies, hardware and wood. He actively promotes "Cell Phones for Soldiers," "Adopt-a-Unit" program, which benefits families of deployed soldiers, and his lodge has adopted Victory Corner in Fort Hood. This is a memorial to honor all soldiers being deployed and returning. Robert coordinates quarterly, "Adopt-a-Highway" program in his community picking up trash on a two-mile section of highway. He along with the youth participated in Lack's Trim-A-Tree for Charity project, decorating a Christmas tree and collecting canned food donations, which were donated to charity and assists with the Toys for Tots drive and Love of Christ Volunteer Day. Robert is a United States Army Veteran, is married and still finds time to devote to his family members.
Robert is a great asset to SPJST and to the community in which he lives. He believes in volunteerism and giving back to the community. With his encouragement and support, being a role model and mentor, Robert has made a positive difference in the lives of many adults and youth.
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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