The NFCA Proudly Recognizes "Fraternalists-in-Action"

Fraternal MVPs—Week of October 1, 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 October 1, 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.

Lillian Kallus

Catholic Family Fraternal of Texas – KJZT

Holy Rosary #23

LaGrange, Texas

Lillian is a member of KJZT Society #23, and currently serves as its president. She has served in many volunteer positions for the society. She plans the activities with other officers to implement them and puts information in the parish bulletin and the local newspaper. Lillian attends the state coronation, as well as most district meetings and socials. She attends flag ceremonies several times during the year on the courthouse lawn. She leads the rosary at mass and funerals for deceased members, and helps serve luncheons after the ceremonies. She initiated two food drives for the needy, brought food to AMEN Food Pantry, and helped package grocery bags of food for the needy in the area. She donates blood and bakes cookies for the blood donors.

Lillian is the regent in the Catholic Daughters, president of the Christian Mothers, and a member of the Living Rosary Society. She is a core leader and facilitator in Generations of Faith (GOF). She heads a “Disciples on a Journey” group, attends extra ministry sessions, attends the Victoria Diocese Conference each year, leads rosary in nursing homes, helps a nursing home with masses, distributes Eucharist to homebound persons and in the nursing centers, drives people to doctors locally and to other cities, and helps the youth group and Young Neighbors in Action with projects and fundraisers. She helps out the elderly by cleaning their houses, cooking for them, and driving them to and from church. Lillian visits and helps with parties at the nursing center, recently worked with the elderly on JOIN HANDS DAY at the Senior Olympics, helps at the Czech Heritage Center, and plans activities for GOF sessions. She helps serve at parish functions, Knights of Columbus dinners, bike-a-thons, funerals, and youth parties. Lillian chaperones youth trips, attends district meetings and conventions in other organizations, picks up trash around roads, serves on various committees in the community, and welcomes visiting parish guests. She works at a food pantry and the Second Chance resale shop as a volunteer. She collects articles, clothes, cards, rosaries, meals, pictures, toys and paper goods and while doing all this, manages to send care packages to overseas military. Lillian serves her parish community as a Eucharistic Minister, greeter, usher and rosary leader.

Lillian has helped the youth in filling Easter eggs for an Easter egg hunt, and assisted them in making crafts for nursing home residents. She reads to small children, and performs skits with adults to act out Bible stories and stations of the cross. She has helped the youth with the reenactment at GOF sessions-baptisms, helped make noodles for the soup and bake sale project, strudel making, and youth group pizza parties. She is always baking cookies and cakes for any organization or community event. At church feasts or organizations, Lillian will tend to her duties and then lend a hand to others if help is needed. She also has attended the ACTS (Adoration, Community, Theology, Service) Retreat. Lillian is a cheerful person to be around and is always ready to take on any age group as a project with a helping hand.

Elaine Trentman

Catholic Ladies of Columbia

Council #134

Kalida, Ohio

Elaine has been the president of the Kalida Council for three years, and as such, is responsible for coordinating the various fraternal activities of the council. Elaine has been involved in organizing such events as the Pioneer Weekend and the Right to Life fundraisers for the council.

Elaine is active in her community with local Girl Scout Chapter #210, acting as a Service Team Coordinator for the council. She also is an administrative volunteer for the Appleseed Ridge Girl Scout Council. She also organizes a monthly “senior supper” for 40 people, in which the Girl Scouts serve soup, sandwiches and dessert to local senior citizens.

Elaine was instrumental in participating in a fundraiser for Andy Horstman—a local fifth grader who was diagnosed with medulloblastoma of the brain (the most common malignant brain tumor found in children). Elaine and other volunteers baked more than 1,000 pies which were sold to local businesses to benefit Andy and his family.

Elaine also serves as a chair for her local 4-H chapter called “Holy Hounds,” which is a dog obedience club.

Dennis L. Povondra
First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association

Tabor #W093

Tabor, South Dakota

For the First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association in Tabor, Dennis has been volunteering for the organization whenever he can. He has volunteered by working at the lunch counter during dances and portrayed St. Nicholas for the children during Christmas.

Dennis has been the Business Manager for the Bon Homme School District #04-2 in Tyndall, South Dakota, for 32 years. He has written and applied for the America’s Promise – The Alliance for Youth 100 Best Communities for Young People Grant for the Tabor Elementary School. He also is serving as treasurer for the Bon Homme Schools Foundation. He has chaperoned the high-school band’s bus trip to Brookings to perform at the South Dakota Bandmasters Association state meeting. He was co-chairman of the Bon Homme High School’s music department spaghetti-supper fundraiser, which served more than 500 people. He helped decorate for the Bon Homme High School prom banquet and worked all night at the after-prom party for the students. For all of his hard work and efforts, Dennis received the 2007 South Dakota Outstanding School Business Official Award.

For the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Dennis has worked for the annual parish bazaar in the kitchen area and during Czech Days as a cashier in the food-serving line. He also assists his wife in preparing for Czech Days, since she serves as president of the Altar Society—an organization that is in charge of serving sandwiches and dinners to hundreds of people. Dennis currently is updating the pictorial history book of the many symbols and historical significance of artifacts in the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church of Tabor, which he first compiled and published in 1990. He is serving as a lector and greeter in the church, including lecturing for the “polka mass” during Czech Days and printing the programs for the polka mass. Dennis also helped decorate the church for Christmas and was involved in the daylong clean-up of the church and cemetery this past spring.

Dennis also volunteers for the Czech Heritage Preservation Society, the Kortan-Hatwan American Legion Post, the Tabor Area Chamber of Commerce, the Tabor Town Library and the Tabor Development Corporation.

Vera M. Tornabene

Loyal Christian Benefit Association (LCBA)

Branch #892 – Sacred Heart Church

New Philadelphia, Ohio

Vera has been a member of LCBA for 13 years. She is in charge of the welcoming committee, contacting and welcoming new parishioners and offering them assistance. She serves on the Parish Council, acting as a liaison between the LCBA parish organizations and reporting via the Sunday bulletin after council meetings. Vera visits the hospital and nursing home when parish members are ill and has provided transportation for members to their doctor appointments, when necessary.

Vera was responsible for getting the observation of Divine Mercy Sunday started in her parish and worked diligently to increase its attendance from neighboring parishes. She has served as a funeral greeter at her church, and helps prepare food for the funeral luncheons. She is active in her parish Altar Society and also has attended Vicariate Meetings of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women.

Vera also assists her husband, who is president of the Sacred Heart Senior Citizens, by serving as one of the members on the program committee for senior citizens. Vera also helps at the Knights of Columbus Pancake/Sausage Breakfast, working alongside her husband.

Vera serves as treasurer, and thus represents Sacred Heart Parish, for Church Women United – an organization of churches of all faiths in the community. Vera was responsible for getting representation of her parish for the World Day of Prayer, which was held in New Philadelphia, allowing many LCBA members to participate.

Vera established the “Capello Rossa” Chapter of the Red Hat Society and is known as “The Queen Mother.”  She also is a member of the Lady Elks Organization.

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.