The National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) is proud to recognize the following individuals as Fraternal MVPs (Most Valuable Participants) for the week of August 14, 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.

Roger Keller
Catholic Order of Foresters
St. Joseph Court #2094
Cold Spring, Kentucky
Roger is the current Catholic Order of Foresters (COF) Chief Ranger for the St. Joseph Court # 2094 in Cold Spring, Kentucky, and has been a member for 10 years. He also serves as the court’s Youth Director and a State Court Trustee. During his term as Chief Ranger, he has increased the focus of the court on fundraisers for scholarships for Catholic grade and high school students. He also has organized combined events with the local Diocesan High School that has benefited both the school and the COF. This past year, more than $12,000 of scholarship money was given to Youth Foresters, and Roger and his family have distributed more than $6,000 from their family endowment funds.

Roger was local co-chairperson of the National Catholic Order of Foresters Convention held in August of 2004 in Kentucky. The three-day convention, of more than 700 Foresters, earned him recognition from the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the Convention for his dedication and involvement.

For more than 25 years, Roger has demonstrated interest and dedication to his Parish and Catholic Education. He has been a member or chairperson of Parish Council, Diocesan School Board, Finance and Development Committees, Festival and Parish Revitalization Committees, Development and Fundraising Committees for his parish elementary school, Diocesan High School and the urban/inner-city schools. He also is a Eucharistic Minister and Lector.

Santa Claus, a.k.a. Roger, has been sighted for years at retirement homes, schools for handicapped children, boys’ homes, convents and pancake breakfasts in his local area. Additionally, Roger has used his expertise and leadership role in the elevator industry to help his parish elementary school, Diocesan High School, and an urban/inner-city junior-high school to efficiently install—at no cost—the elevator equipment necessary to help their special-need students.

Sue Vlasnik
National Mutual Benefit (NMB)
Indianhead Branch #828
Milltown, Wisconsin
Sue is a charter member of Branch #828. She helped form the branch and has held the office of President for the past 18 years. In 2001, she led her branch to the highest honor an NMB branch can earn, the Gold Medal Achievement Award. Sue leads the monthly branch meetings and writes all of the branch newsletters. She corresponds with local elected public officials on behalf of the branch, inviting them to attend branch events. In 2002, Sue and her husband met with their Wisconsin State Representative, Mark Pettis, to educate him on what a fraternal chapter does, in addition to the goals and accomplishments of their local chapter.

Sue was instrumental in organizing a benefit for a young member in the community who was in a car accident and left mentally challenged. By holding a spaghetti dinner, dance and raffle, the branch raised more than $5,000 as part of an NMB Matching Funds project. The branch also sponsored a second matching-funds benefit, under Sue’s leadership, to help the local shelter for domestic abuse victims build a new facility to accommodate more victims. They worked with students from the Amery Middle School in a “Pennies War” and raised roughly $1,150 in pennies. They also helped the Community Referral agency (CRA) with a “Beans and Jeans” Day, which included a lunch, raffle and music. The total raised from both events and donated by the branch was $7,000.

Sue and her branch also have helped in times of natural disasters. In 2001, a severe tornado hit a small community in Siren, Wisconsin. Sue organized a small group of volunteers who helped with the clean-up efforts. In addition, her branch donated $100 to the Siren (WI) Tornado Relief Fund. This past year, her branch held a Hurricane Katrina Fundraiser, where 18 volunteers served 117 pancake breakfasts totaling 87 volunteer hours and $1,060 raised.

Michael J. (Mike) Humanic
Loyal Christian Benefit Association (LCBA)
Branch #1538
Espyville, Pennsylvania
Mike has participated in his branch’s “Feed My People” Program, LCBA’s nationwide fundraiser to feed the hungry. Each year, LCBA members and agents adopt a local food charity. Fish-shaped crackers are sold to raise funds for the charity of their choice, with 100% of the proceeds donated directly to the charity. In just one year, Mike helped his branch sell more than three thousand bags of crackers in the Lakeland area alone.

Upon retirement, Mike became affiliated with the Pymatuning Lake Association for the sole purpose of promoting fishing, his favorite pastime. While with the association, Mike became the co-director of the Kids Free Fishing Derby—an event that brings 200-300 kids to the area each year to learn the sportsmanship of fishing. During his nine years as co-director, Mike helped initiate a Kids Fishing Derby for the mentally challenged children in the community. Mike is still involved with this tournament, which is still a favorite with these special children and is held every year in May.

Mike also is involved in his community by participating in the PENNDOT “Adopt-A-Highway” Program, the Pioneer Days Festival at Pymatuning State Park, Pymatuning Park Clean-Up Days, and the annual Pennsylvania Fish Commission Open House.

Joseph John Puleo
Supreme Council of the Royal Arcanum
Claremont Council #1655
The Bronx, New York
Joseph has been a member of Claremont Council since he was 2 years old, having been enrolled by his grandfather. Now 28 years old, Joseph has attended meetings of the New York Grand Council and has, on several occasions, attended Supreme Council Sessions.

Joseph’s greatest ambition was to become a firefighter. When his family moved to Lake Carmel, NY, Joe became a volunteer firefighter with the Lake Carmel Fire Department. He continued his volunteer efforts with the Lake Carmel Fire Department as an Emergency Medical Technician, volunteer training instructor with the Lake Carmel Fire Department Explorer Post (Boy Scouts), training volunteer at the Westchester Fire Academy for the annual Putnam/Westchester Explorer Day, and a volunteer at the Putnam Fire Training Center for the Annual Explorer Camp-out Weekend.

Joe is a speaker at local schools in Putnam County during Fire Prevention Week. He also is a volunteer at Putnam Hospital and with the Explorer Post, visiting the elderly and delivering care packages. He volunteers at the New York Firemen’s Home and at the blood drives with the New York Blood Center, including being a blood donor himself. Joe is an active member of the FDNY Columbia Association and has marched in the New York City Columbus Day Parade for the past three years.

Joseph worked for six years as a New York State Emergency Technician (“EMT”). He then worked as an FDNY EMT for one-and-a-half years, and he has been a New York Firefighter for the past three-and-a-half years. Joseph received a commendation from F.V. Villani, Division Commander, EMSO Division 2, for rescuing a woman from a partially submerged vehicle in the Hutchinson River on December 17, 2002. In the aftermath of 9/11, Joseph spent three weeks at Ground Zero in rescue and recovery efforts. He also spent two-and-a-half weeks in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina suppressing fires, rescue and recovery and rebuilding.

Cynthia Kveton
Czech Catholic Union
St. Ludmilla #7
St. Louis, Missouri
Cynthia donates her time at St. John Nepomuk Church in St. Louis and works with the local youth. At present, she is in charge of coordinating the upcoming convention of the Czech Catholic Union, which is being held in St. Louis in October 2006.