Fraternity-Testvériség, 1999 (77. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1999-10-01 / 3. szám
FRATERNITY Page 3 THE PRESIDENT’S CORNER HRFA’s Commitment to Community Service Most fraternal benefit societies were founded more than a century ago to provide a sense of community to new Americans. These societies supported religious, educational and patriotic activities, with fraternal life insurance often providing the only means of support for a family following the death of the primary wage earner. In changing and often difficult times, fraternals kept pace with the financial needs of their members, while maintaining successful programs of service and fellowship. Although fraternals today represent a variety of backgrounds (ethnic, religious, trade or general), all support a volunteer system of local lodges or branches. Fraternal benefit societies offer financially sound insurance and annuity products along with new programs to tap volunteerism and involvement. College scholarships, church programs and disaster relief are among the fraternal benefits provided. Since 1886. the National Fraternal Congress in America (NFCA), a trade association for fraternal benefit societies throughout the United States and Canada, has been the voice of the fraternal insurance industry. Through its membership of 92 fraternal societies, NFCA represents more than 10 million people—making it one of the continent’s largest volunteer networks. In 1998, for example, 10,492,046 members from 43,067 lodges (or branches) held 7,393,986 fund-raising events and contributed 72,598,367 hours to raise $249,879,903 for community service. Contributions to fraternal support activities were even more generous. Fraternal societies organized and performed 1,109,654 events entailing 20,710,279 hours of service with an expenditure of $347,635,277. The Federation’s contribution to the $249,879,903 of community service was $48,050. This figure resulted from 1,971 events (and 10,402 service hours) held by the 81 branches of the Federation. HRFA fraternal support work comprised 2,093 events, 9,685 hours, and an expenditure of $ 112,818. I would like to encourage our local branches and our membership at large to volunteer for local activities. Please extend a helping hand wherever need arises. Help your church and the community where you live. Every little thing that we do with a good will and with love for our fellow neighbor will make a big difference in someone’s life. The Hungarian Reformed Federation of America joins hands with the NFCA and pledges in its Commitment Statement that: “By the year 2000, the NFCA will mobilize its youth members to provide two million hours of voluntary service to their communities, plus invest an additional $10 million to leadership development and life skills education for children, teens and young adults nationwide. ” “Keeping America’s Promise” The 13th Annual Meeting of the National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) was held in Arlington, Virginia, part of Washington, D.C.’s Greater Metropolitan area, on September 14-18, 1999. Throughout the meeting, special attention was paid to topics dealing with our youth. The general consensus of the participating member societies was that “youth can make a difference” in the lives of our societies. At the meeting, NFCA proudly announced that the fraternal system has made good on its promise to North America’s young people! This promise had been first voiced in April 1997, when the NFCA, on behalf of its societies, announced in The President’s Summit for America’s Future its intentions of mobilizing its members to build and strengthen the character and competence of our continent’s youth. In 1998, the NFCA carried this commitment over to America’s Promise—The Alliance for Youth. (The Alliance is a national not-for- profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of our nation’s more than 15 million at-risk youth.) At least half of all community service programs and disbursements by fraternals either benefit or involve young people. That means the fraternal system more than surpassed its promise by volunteering 13 million hours and contributing in excess of $10.8 million over the two-year period. These hours and dollars went to: Scholarships and leadership training; Programs to combat alcohol and drug use; Mentoring projects and youth clubs; and Activities for mental and physical well-being. Although the Federation has had only a limited program to support these youth initiatives, help is on its way. The NFCA’s new Fraternal Youth Ambassador Program was established with a full-time person hired by the NFCA’s headquarters to help societies like ours to develop programs for our youth. The Youth Ambassador program, in partnership with “Youth Engaged In Service” (YES) is also designed to help member societies integrate its youth involvement into every aspect of our society’s life. We will keep our membership informed of developments because in order to achieve this goal of helping our young people lead happy, healthy and productive lives, we will need your support and involvement in our efforts. George Dózsa, President
