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 2, 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.

Dianna Wells
Catholic Knights
Branch # 1035
St. Louis, Missouri
Dianna Wells, a local branch leader with Catholic Knights for eight years, encourages members and others to reach out to the local community by organizing baby showers for “Nurses for Newborns,” coordinating penny collections for the Angel Tree program that benefits children of incarcerated parents, and assembling Easter baskets for homebound seniors. She organizes the Branch’s “Lunch and Fun with Santa,” which is a program that brings Christmas joy to many inner-city children.

Dianna helped co-chair the branch’s JOIN HANDS DAY event, at which they served boxed lunches and played bingo with the residents of an assisted-living home. She also assists with the branch’s annual Spaghetti Dinner, Lenten Fish Fry, and Calendar Tea and Appreciation Luncheon.

Dianna has been recognized by the Archdiocese of St. Louis as an Outstanding Catholic Woman for her dedication to St. Augustine Parish where she volunteers regularly. She is a very active member of the Knights of Peter Claver, a fraternal society, where she served as Grand Lady for two years and is a current active member of St. Monica’s Court. She also served on Board of the Human Rights Commission for Minority Contractors. Dianna is a lifetime member of the Gamma Phi Delta professional women’s sorority.

Rita Schneider
National Catholic Society of Foresters
St. Joseph Court #513
St. John, Indiana
Rita has served in various capacities with the National Catholic Society of Foresters (NCSF). She has been a member of St. Joseph Court #513 for more than 55 years and has participated in court activities for more than 30 years. Presently, she is the court secretary, a position she has held for the past three years and previously was court treasurer. She also has served as president, treasurer and secretary of the Gary Diocesan Association. Rita attended two NCSF National Conventions, as a delegate, before being elected as a National Director for six years and then National Vice President for eight years. Rita was secretary/treasurer of the Indiana Fraternal Congress for three years, before going through the chairs and being elected President of the Indiana Fraternal Congress. She still is active in the IFC, serving as Publicity Chair.

Rita has been a member of St. John the Evangelist Parish, in St. John, IN, for 35 years. She has volunteered for numerous activities in her parish. She was a member of the Home and School Association and the Altar and Rosary Sodality. She has served as the Catholic Service Appeal bookkeeper and provides the leadership to get the church envelopes ready for all the parishioners annually. She volunteers for many office-related projects, as needed, and at the annual parish festival. She has volunteered for Eucharistic Devotion at the Adoration Chapel. She also takes part in the Rosary March each May, held at the Marian Shrine.

Rita works at the polls for the elections as a clerk. She always reminds people to vote, and promotes fraternalism and patriotism by encouraging everyone to display their flags. Rita arranged and assembled three different groups to take part in this year’s JOIN HANDS DAY. She also has participated in Habitat for Humanity and always is asking others to participate with her.

Adelpha (Dolly) Lampe
Catholic Fraternal Life
Council #82
Breese, Illinois
A member of Catholic Fraternal Life (CFL) for 54 years, Dolly has been an extremely involved and dedicated member of her council, helping in all fraternal activities when needed. She rarely, if ever, misses a council function or meeting. Dolly has served as an officer of Breese Council #82 for almost 10 years. Each year, she participates in JOIN HANDS DAY and Hearts and Hands projects. She helps with council fundraisers and functions and attends council socials. She probably is best known for her involvement in Habitat for Humanity. CFL participates in a Habitat for Humanity “blitz build” every year on Columbus Day, and Dolly has never missed a single build in 13 years. Most years, she has stayed for the entire three days to help with the project from start to finish. You will either find he with a hammer putting siding on the house, or cooking meals onsite for the 40 volunteers in attendance.

Dolly also is extremely active in her parish. She is past president of her Altar Sodality, and she has held many other offices in her parish organizations. She is currently President of the American Legion’s Auxiliary Unit 252. She is chairwoman of the parish rummage sale, and she has organized this church fundraiser for years. She also organizes the annual Poppy Days in May and has done so for the last five years. She serves on the Koffe Klotch committee and helps quilt at the church rectory. She is sunshine chairwoman for the auxiliary and sends cards to members when they are sick or when there is a death in the family. For the past 15 years, she has made 50 to 60 baptismal cloths per year, and also helps decorate the church for the holidays.

Margaret (Marge) Nicholas
Hungarian Reformed Federation of America (HRFA)
Branch #227
Warren, Ohio
Marge is a 65-year member of HRFA and currently serves as Branch Manager of Branch #227 in Warren, Ohio. She and her husband are planning for the Appalachian Project through the C.A.P. in Mission, West Virginia. They were instrumental in bringing this cause to the attention of HRFA, to help the needy families living in that area.

For many years, Marge has participated in numerous programs and activities:

• Collected food and clothes for the Rescue Mission in the Warren area for needy families;
• Visited the area nursing home for fellowship with the residents;
• Operation Christmas Child;
• Shoe Box Project for Third-World children;
• JOIN HANDS DAY (her branch took 2,000 homemade cookies to veterans at the VA hospital in Brecksville, Ohio—over the past three years, they’ve taken 4,440 cookies to the veterans);
• Golf outing each year to help the Bethlen Home in Ligonier, PA;
• Summer Vacation Bible School, consisting of three Presbyterian churches and one Catholic church;
• Sponsored her granddaughter and gave monetary gifts to the Timberwolf Camp Project to help the physically handicapped children;
• Helped her husband with a basketball program for boys and girls, grades 4th, 5th and 6th;
• Sent packages to troops serving in Iraq;
• Sent games, basketball and soccer uniforms to the children of Iraq;
• Helped to make Hungarian sausages at her church twice a year and sell them to the public (the money received goes to the missions);
• Cooked meals for shut-ins;
• Served on the P.T.A. as an officer at her community school;
• During the Vietnam War, sent many packages to the U.S. troops.

Marge has served her church as a deaconess and elder for many years. She also celebrated the 60th anniversary of the original Hungarian Presbyterian Church, welcoming some 80 people and serving as Chairman of the Anniversary Committee. She was the third generation of Hungarians to have this celebration.