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 27, 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.

Karen Janz
Catholic Knights
#11 Wisconsin Rapids/Stevens Point, WI
Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin
Karen Janz, a local branch leader with Catholic Knights for 28 years, is the spark that ignites activities in her branch. Her leadership has fostered a commitment to charity within her branch. Karen has developed a signature fundraising activity—her branch sponsors grocery drives as part of its attendance fee for socials. The branch purchases a ham and other items to supplement the donated food. Then the food is gathered into baskets and either donated to individuals in need, or raffled off with proceeds going to charitable causes, such as Hurricane Katrina relief, our troops in Iraq, and a family resource center for battered families.

Karen also organizes a group of volunteers who sort clothing at a family resource center for battered families and sponsor an annual JOIN HANDS DAY bingo event, providing needed companionship for seniors. Karen also organizes Halloween parties for Community Friends Handicapped Group in Plover, Wisconsin.

In her community, Karen has been actively involved with the Rudolph High School Picnic Reunion committee, serving as event chair since 1994. The event brings alumni from 25 classes together every three years. Karen also has chaired the last four reunions for her graduating class.

Karen has been a childcare leader for 16 years with the Snyder 4-H Group and has faithfully worked at the group’s food stand at the Marshfield Fair. She also volunteers at fundraising dinners sponsored by the local Lions Club and Farm Bureau and supports the fundraising activities at her church, St. James Parish in Vesper, Wis.

Anne Prelipp
Equitable Reserve Association (ERA)
Wausau Assembly #20
Mosinee, Wisconsin
Anne has been an active member of ERA since birth. She has served as Secretary of Wausau Assembly #20 since 2001. Her responsibilities include planning monthly activities, fundraisers, holiday parties and the annual picnic. She has especially enjoyed the annual Christmas Party, seeing the kids get the same stockings that she received as a child.

It’s been Anne’s joy and passion to care for her community’s elderly. She first became a caregiver at the age of 14, volunteering at the local nursing home for two years. She continued to do in-home care at the age of 17 until present day. Over the years, Anne has cared for numerous ailing and elderly in her home.

Recently, Anne returned to school and joined the workforce, caring for individuals with Alzheimer’s to help her gain further knowledge and education. This will enable her to one day open her own facility, focusing on the needs of dementia patients.

Richard J. Churnovic, Jr.
American Slovenian Catholic Union (KSKJ)
St. Joseph’s Lodge #2
Joliet, Illinois
Richard has served as President of St. Joseph’s Lodge #2 for the past 13 years, and served as Treasurer for eight years prior to becoming President. He has been the Youth & Athletic Director of the combined Joliet Lodges for four years. He also served as a delegate to the last six KSKJ National Conventions and served on various convention committees as a delegate.

As President of Lodge #2, Richard has tried to increase the lodge’s activities to include more youth and family events. He initiated matching-fund events over the past five years that raised more than $15,000 for various community causes including the St. Joseph’s Church restoration fund, the Holy Name Parish building fund, the Joliet Area Historical Society Museum, Joliet Area Hospice, the National Organization for Rare Disorders, the Illinois Children’s burn camp, and the Rialto Square School of the Arts and Children’s Choir.

Richard has served as Secretary of the KSKJ Men’s bowling league since 1984. The league is the longest-running league in the Joliet Bowling Association, and Richard’s family is the only one with three generations still actively bowling. As Secretary of the KSKJ Midwest Bowling Association and Tournament Director of the KSKJ National and Regional Bowling Tournaments, Richard also has organized and ran National Tournaments for KSKJ since 1987.

Richard was appointed one of the first Eucharistic Ministers in his parish in 1984, and he is still active. He also occasionally fills in as lector, when needed.

Caroline E. Turner
Catholic Association of Foresters
Cardinal Cushing Court #326
Winchester, Massachusetts
At just 18 years old, Caroline is a young lady who is very active in many activities. Caroline became involved in the St. Mary’s Church youth group in Winchester. She is now in her second year of teaching weekly CCD (religious studies classes) to an eighth-grade class at St. Mary’s Church. Through the St. Mary’s youth group, she also volunteered for community service with Encounter the Gospel of Life, Inc. She spent a week in July of 2006 at the Encounter Summer Camp in Washington, D.C., caring for children at an inner-city daycare center.

Caroline joined the PALS program, an organization of Winchester High School upperclassmen who served as mentors to the freshman class. In recognition of her dedication and commitment, she was elected as one of three senior leaders of the high-school program. She also joined Connect and Commit, a community-service organization at her high school that staffs soup kitchens and food pantries. One of her typical service projects is working most of Thanksgiving Day at a church-sponsored banquet for the underprivileged in nearby Malden, Massachusetts. Another example of her community service is her volunteer work with an annual fundraiser for mentally challenged citizens in which their art work is sold at a fair to raise money for their programs. Currently, Caroline is organizing a blood drive at Winchester High School.

Caroline also participates in many extracurricular activities at her school. During her freshman year, she had played freshman soccer, varsity basketball, varsity track, and served as a staff writer for The Red and Black, the Winchester High School newspaper. Last year, she was chosen as captain of the track team, and this year, she is Editor-in-Chief of her student newspaper.