The NFCA Proudly Recognizes "Fraternalists-in-Action"
Fraternal MVPs—Week of May 21, 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 May 21, 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.
Walter Lewandowski
Knights of Columbus
Council #9261
Foley, Minnesota
Walter has been a member of the Knights of Columbus since 1962. In 1979, he joined the 4th Degree, the Father Pierz Assembly. He has been a Grand Knight, Deputy Grand Knight and Chancellor of Council #9261 and Captain of the Assembly. In 2004, he was inducted into the Minnesota Knights of Columbus Hall of Fame. He has been personally responsible for recruiting 26 new members and starting three new councils. He also has been an honor guard member of the Father Pierz Assembly for 20 years.
Walter was raised in a very strong Polish-Catholic family, in which the rosary was prayed with the whole family. There was a public school two blocks from home, but Walter and his sister walked to the parochial school three miles away. Later, his dad got a pony and buggy for them. Walter is active with his church, regularly attending Sunday Mass. He also served on his parish council and was an usher for 20 years.
Walter served as a tank commander for three and a half years of WWII and was in the horrific, Christmas-Eve Battle of the Bulge. For all the action he lived through in that war, he received three battle stars.
He has been a township supervisor for six years, a county commissioner for 20 years and served as chair of the commission for eight years. He also has been a Benton Cooperative Telephone member and director for 44 years.
Walter and his wife of 59 years, Darlene, have nine children, 22 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Donna J. Hayes
Order of United Commercial Travelers (UCT)
Council #493
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Donna "unofficially" became involved in UCT's Council #493 as a partner to her husband, Tom, when he served as the council's senior counselor (local president). Since women were not admitted as organization members at the time, Donna functioned unofficially as the council's secretary-treasurer until 1982 when UCT admitted women as full members. She then became Council #493's official secretary-treasurer. She was the second woman in Arkansas to become a UCT member and the first to become a local council secretary-treasurer.
Whether it is participating in the annual Tootsie Roll Drive, ringing bells for the Salvation Army, purchasing Christmas gifts for underprivileged children, sponsoring a local youth programs or building a float for the local Christmas parade, Donna has been at the forefront of UCT's activities within her local community. She has served for 30 years on the board of directors of the First Step School, a local daycare center for people with disabilities, and has been fundamental in helping the school to grow. She also serves on the board of On Our Own, an independent housing program for people with disabilities, and considers her involvement with both projects to be her proudest volunteer achievement.
Donna has earned her Past Counselor honors as secretary-treasurer of Council #493 and her Past Grand Counselor honors, after serving six years on the Grand Executive Committee for the Arkansas Grand (regional) Council. She currently is serving as Grand Secretary for the Arkansas Grand Council and was recently elected secretary for the International Secretary-Treasurers' Association (ISTA).
Her volunteer efforts have led Donna to be recognized with the Arkansas Volunteer Award and nominated for the Hot Springs “Works with Charities” award, but she considers being a UCT member – part of something that affects so many people in a positive way – a way of life and the best reward of all.
Robert Lee Leshikar
SPJST
Lodge #48
Beyersville, Texas
Robert has been an SPJST member for 57 years. He has devoted many hours to his lodge, the youth group and his community, assisting with maintenance, improvements, additions and cosmetic touches to make the lodge appear more inviting and homey for members and visitors. He purchased shrubs and plants to improve the landscape at the lodge hall. He is actively involved with all events hosted by the lodge. Robert volunteered to host The Czech Chorus Group by setting up for the event, preparing a meal for the guests and cleaning up following the event. He always is there to help with the fundraisers, by assisting in the purchase and donating of prizes, to make these events successful. Robert involves the youth of the organization in all projects he undertakes to teach them leadership and responsibility. To draw more interest among members, he coordinated matching T-shirts for workers to wear to heighten customer service.
Robert was an elder and chair of the long-range committee for his church. He served on the evangelism committee, visiting members and serving on an outreach program. He also volunteered his time in the youth's Vacation Bible School. He provided water for all participants of a walk-a-thon, raising money for the local community. Robert believes that the youth should be a high priority for the lodge and the community. He promotes all youth activities in his lodge and solicits support from the adults. Robert believes the youth will be able to take this knowledge and become the future of the local lodge and community. To show his appreciation to the youth for their participation in numerous events, he prepared a formal meal for the youth club’s Christmas party.
Nancy Cox
Modern Woodmen of America
Camp #17502
Browning, Illinois
Nancy, a lifelong member of Modern Woodmen, has served as leader of several youth service clubs since 1991 and now leads a new junior club. She regularly helps out with Camp #17502 activities. Her mother, Elsie, is camp secretary and fellow club leader. Nancy jokingly blames Elsie for her extensive volunteering, saying her years as a club member instilled a love for community service, which she, in turn, has passed on to her own children. She even picks up trash around town as a part of her daily exercise routine.
A former Volunteer of the Year, Nancy spearheads many community projects. She was chiefly responsible for the renovation of the Virginia Community Center, fundraising through Matching Fund activities with her youth clubs, painting, and even sanding and refinishing floors herself to save money. Once in disrepair, the community center now hosts receptions and other events.
Nancy has served on the Little League board for five years and was elected Little League president in 2006. She handles the league’s paperwork, and manages its concessions stand, scheduling volunteers and stocking food. She also oversees the local high school’s stand, its baseball team’s main source of fundraising.
In addition to managing the community pool full-time and helping when needed at the local grain elevator, Nancy runs a catering service and does custom embroidery designs. She resides in Rushville with her husband, Dan, and two sons, Zach and Nick.
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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