What are fraternal benefit societies? Fraternal benefit societies are not-for-profit, common-bond, mutual aid organizations with a representative form of governance that provide almost 10 million Americans with fraternal benefits, such as scholarships, educational publications and discount programs, along with insurance and other financial products. Members gather in local chapters and receive financial and material support from their home offices and raise local funds, which are used to enhance their communities through charitable and benevolent activities and volunteerism. Operating in America for more than 150 years, fraternal benefit societies are a major force for good in our nation. What makes these organizations fraternal? The fraternal benefit system constitutes one of the most powerful forces for altruistic good in the United States, a fact demonstrated throughout the years. For example, two large fraternals were awarded the President’s Volunteer Action Award by President Reagan in 1985 and 1986 for mobilization of volunteers. Additionally, one fraternal has sponsored the “Daily Point of Light” award, through the Points of Light Foundation, since the mid-90s. In response to the 9/11 tragedy, fraternal benefit societies nationwide raised and contributed more than $16.8 million. More recently, they have raised upwards of $8 million in tsunami relief and more than $17 million in monetary donations and materials for victims of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. And, since 2000, the fraternal benefit system has presented JOIN HANDS DAY, a day of national service that celebrates modern fraternalism by bringing together youths and adults across the country for local projects that build bridges of understanding, trust and respect between generations, while improving the lives, neighborhoods and communities of millions of Americans. The mutual aid concept encompasses both the insuring of members and their families, as well as the volunteer, social, religious, patriotic, educational, charitable and benevolent activities of the 36,000 lodges throughout the country. Frequently, lodge members reach out to help other people in their communities who are in need, a hallmark of fraternalism since its inception more than a century ago. To this day, fraternal benefit societies provide community services for those in need. They give material and financial assistance to the stricken and homeless in times of disaster. They provide volunteer support to help many community charitable projects succeed. They work directly with the mentally challenged, the blind and the handicapped. During 2005, fraternals expended a remarkable $399,673,250 to support many volunteer, charitable, educational, patriotic and religious activities, a 65% increase over the amount expended in 1985, when fraternal expenditures totaled $242,438,746. How are fraternal benefit societies dedicated to service? Year Hours Disbursements 1998 72,598,367 $249,879,903 1999 78,481,501 $345,986,243 2000 79,960,273 $367,551,114 2001 83,704,006 $372,267,182 2002 83,644,817 $377,625,815 2003 82,940,336 $345,248,417 2004 91,494,993 $389,780,140 2005 93,016,310 $399,673,250 Almost 10 million fraternalists proudly represent one of the world’s largest forces for charitable and community service activities. In 2005, society members volunteered more than 93 million hours toward community service projects. That’s the equivalent of more than $1.6 billion in hourly wages. (Based on Independent Sector’s 2005 estimated wage of $18.04 per volunteer hour.) The National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) is the association of America’s Fraternal Benefit Societies. The NFCA provides its member-societies with resources to enhance leadership, educational, spiritual, patriotic, volunteer and social opportunities for their almost 10 million members in 36,000 local chapters. By working collectively to harness the resources of member-societies and state fraternal congresses, the NFCA works to ensure the continued viability of the entire fraternal benefit system. A system of 32 state affiliates, known as state fraternal congresses, allows representatives of fraternal benefit societies operating in a specific state to connect directly with individual members and participate in a variety of statewide grassroots and charitable projects. National Fraternal Congress of America 1315 West 22nd Street, Suite 400 Oak Brook, IL 60523 Phone: 630/522-NFCA Fax: 630/522-6326 E-mail: nfca@nfcanet.org Web site: www.nfcanet.org |
| THE CHESAPEAKE FRATERNAL CONGRESS |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |