The NFCA Proudly Recognizes "Fraternalists-in-Action"
Fraternal MVPs—Week of November 26, 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 November 26, 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.
Jess W. Taylor
Modern Woodmen of America
Camp #536
Topeka, Kansas
Retired Modern Woodmen district representative and former agency manager Jess Taylor, a 57-year member, is retired in name only. The 77-year-old native Kansan still actively serves his members, his community and his country in a variety of ways.
A former Modern Woodmen Youth Service Club leader himself, Jess helped start a dozen clubs and still sponsors two. He supports and mentors club members, pitches in to clean parks and zoos on JOIN HANDS DAY, helps with fundraising and recycles pop cans and inkjet cartridges.
With wife Jean as camp secretary for 40 years, Jess has been very active in Camp #536 as well. Recently, he helped clean up and plant trees at local parks, donated books to community organizations, raised funds for playground equipment and supplies for local schools, and collected food donations for the annual Thanksgiving dinner in Topeka.
Due to his extensive community volunteering, Jess was named a Modern Woodmen Hometown Hero last year. Jess is a commercial artist who loves to draw caricatures, and he raises money for schools, churches and non-profits by drawing and selling them at events. He’s also an art gallery docent and a volunteer at the Topeka Performing Arts Center. A former Kansas National Guardsman and colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, Jess fundraises for Junior ROTC scholarships, and even encourages others to volunteer.
Jess teaches art classes for children and adults and illustrates the award-winning Military Officers Association of America newsletter. In his spare time, he plays the ukulele and harmonica and leads singing at a local nursing home. He and Jean live in Topeka and have two sons, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Edward J. Bosch, Sr.
Catholic Order of Foresters
St. Stephen Court #1380
Florence, Kentucky
Edward Bosch’s fraternal support encompasses not only his own court, St. Stephen #1380, but also courts in a tri-state area serviced by his general agency. As Bosch Financial’s CEO, Ed’s efforts, since joining COF in 2002, have added more than 2,200 new members to court rosters. Thanks to Ed, youth members from throughout the region are provided transportation and tickets to Florence Freedom minor league baseball outings. Catholic school scholarships are awarded each year in honor of Ed’s in-laws who provided Catholic education for their 10 children.
Recently, Ed spearheaded a Youth Ranger for Life Day that involved Bosch agents and several area youth courts. Young members volunteered time to collect free-will offerings at their home parishes. Donations exceeded expectations and with the $8,000 raised, Care Net Pregnancy Services of Northern Kentucky purchased an ultrasound machine to service clients and save babies lives.
Ed and his wife, Carolyn, have four children and 11 grandchildren. As members of St. Timothy Parish in Union, Kentucky, they are involved in the marriage preparation ministry.
Ed recently received the first-ever Fraternal FIC of the Year Award—a joint award program of the Fraternal Field Managers Association (FFMA), the National Association of Fraternal Insurance Counselors (NAFIC) and the NFCA. Ed selected Care Net Pregnancy Services to receive the $1,000 honorarium to be donated in his name.
Susan Miley
Gleaner Life Insurance Society
Bay Area Arbor
Hillsborough County, Florida
Susan Miley is an active behind-the-scenes volunteer for her arbor of Gleaner Life Insurance Society. She spends approximately 20-30 hours calling or e-mailing to obtain donations for arbor projects. She has found donations to fill the wish lists of 29 teachers at Gibsonton Elementary School for Christmas. She acquired 120 flags to pass out to children attending Arbor Day and Flag Day ceremonies at Apollo Beach Community Park.
She also organized help to clean up, build shelving and restock the food at the food pantry of Day Star Faith Outreach, a not-for-profit organization providing food, clothing, meals and support for the homeless and needy in Gibsonton and Riverview. She works eight hours a month on ongoing projects there.
On top of this, she spends 50 hours per week taking care of a senior citizen, feeding and bathing her and transporting her to the doctor.
Susan has inspired others in the arbor to work harder at making a commitment and to reach out more and discover the real needs are in the community.
James Jesok
Knights of Columbus
Council #9261
Rice, Minnesota
“His honesty and integrity have shown how good a man he is … never afraid to volunteer his time whether it was at the parochial school his children attended, at church, or elsewhere in the community.” This is what the local county commissioner has to say about James Jesok, and he is not alone in his statements. Many of his fellow Knights, neighbors and parishioners feel the same way about James, and it’s easy to see why. James constantly “gives back” to those around him through his involvement with the Knights, in his church, and in his community.
James has been a member of the Knights of Columbus since 1978. He first was a member of the Bishop Marty Council in Foley, but he was not very active. Then about 20 years ago, members from St. Peter and Paul Parish in Gilman, Minnesota, started their own council, and James joined as a charter member. He became much more active in the council, and in the past few years, his participation has increased. He became grand knight of this new council, and during both of his terms, the council received the Certificate of Excellence Award. James worked hard to get all his brother knights to come together. He increased attendance at meetings and motivated the council to work on numerous activities and charitable works. He leads by example. He has led the ATV raffle, worked at the food stand at “Gilman Days,” passed out Easter Eggs to children, and sung carols at local nursing homes for Christmas. On top of being a good knight, James also is active in his community and parish.
James has served as an usher at his church for years. He was on the parish building committee, a parish trustee, and was a past parish council member and president. James is also a member of the Rice (Minnesota) Sportsman Club and serves on the road committee for Benton County. He and his wife, Cathy, have owned an electrical contracting business for over 25 years. James has four grown children and is a proud grandfather.
James says that being a knight helped him come closer to God and be more connected to the community. He has stepped out and become more involved in the council, church and community. He gives more of himself and shows that he is a great man and knight.
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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