Strength to move forward

W o o d m e n
o f
t h e
W o r l d
F r a t e r n a l
M a g a z i n e
Strength to move forward
Fraternal Spirit
p. 12
Olympic Aspirations
p. 28
Shining Star
p. 31
learn more at: woodmen.org
Photo by Bryan Redding
Winter 2012
in this issue
President’s Message
Keeping Promises
Woodmen of
the World has
been keeping
promises for
more than
120 years.
We have
insurance in
Danny E. Cummins
force that was
issued while World War I was still
being fought! When we say that we
help members protect their families,
we’re making a long-term promise
that we intend to keep.
What our lodges do in communities
is another way that Woodmen
of the World keeps its promise
to members and communities.
Everywhere I visit, I hear how local
lodges come together and make a
difference. Whether that’s by filling
and stacking sandbags, feeding
volunteers, painting houses, building
wheelchair ramps, or stocking food
pantries, our members are serving
others in their local communities.
I am proud to be part of an
organization whose members roll up
their sleeves and get to work when
they see a need.
They aren’t looking for praise. They
just know it’s the right thing to do.
In September, an independent panel
of judges representing Omaha’s
business and academic communities
selected Woodmen of the World to
receive the Omaha Better Business
Bureau’s Integrity Award for large
businesses. This award recognizes
Woodmen of the World’s ethical
business practices toward our
members, employees and the
community at large. I am honored
to be part of an organization whose
employees are known for their ethical
practices and integrity.
Winter 2012
Sections
4
Feedback
5Make A
Difference Day
Our Mission: Woodmen of
the World exists to benefit
our members through every
stage of life.
6
with you
through LIFE®
8
Newsworthy
10Member Spotlight
Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society and/or Omaha
Woodmen Life Insurance Society, founded in 1890, is a
fraternal benefit organization offering insurance protection
12Fraternal Spirit
with member benefits.
Again, they aren’t looking for praise.
They just know it’s the right thing to do.
You can help your family, friends and
neighbors do the right thing, too.
They have an obligation to provide
for their families in the event of their
death, and for themselves when they
retire. By encouraging them to look
at Woodmen of the World’s financial
products and fraternal opportunities,
you can also help Woodmen of the
World grow our membership and
remain strong. Financial strength
is the key to our ability to meet our
commitments now and generations
from now. Woodmen of the World
will be there when you need us.
That’s a promise.
Sincerely and fraternally,
Our nearly 725,000 members, who hold nearly one million
lodges throughout the United States. Lodges conduct fraternal
projects of benefit to people and their communities. These
projects include presenting U.S. flags to civic and community
27Member News
organizations; donating equipment to police, fire and rescue
units; providing assistance to senior citizens, the physically
Members of Lodge 60 Booneville, MS, presented a
flagpole and flag to Candlers Chapel Baptist Church.
impaired and orphans; and providing assistance through our
Fraternal Service Fund.
Life and health insurance and annuity products are issued
or Omaha Woodmen Life Insurance Society (Woodmen
of the World), a Nebraska corporation that is licensed as
Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society in all states
32Lodge Leader
36Fun Zone
by Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society and/
Feature Stories
38In Memoriam
and the District of Columbia, except CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, OR,
UT, WA, and WY. In those states, Woodmen of the World
is licensed as Omaha Woodmen Life Insurance Society. Not
all products are available in all states. Not all Woodmen of
the World Representatives are licensed to sell all products
offered through Woodmen of the World and its subsidiaries.
Securities are offered through Woodmen Financial Services,
Inc., 1700 Farnam Street, Omaha, NE 68102, 877-6643332, member FINRA/SIPC, a wholly owned subsidiary of
Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society and/or Omaha
Woodmen Life Insurance Society. Securities other than the
6 Steps for Smart
Retirement Planning
27 Brothers Mark 75 Years
of Membership
Pastor Joel Ward of Butler, PA, knows the
importance of planning for the later years in life,
but relies on Woodmen of the World for specific
advice on the steps needed to make sure he has
the security he’s looking for in his retirement.
They may be in their 90s, but brothers Walter
and Jack Harshbarger of Milton, WV, don’t let
that stop them. They’ve been active members for
75 years and show no signs of slowing down.
10 Strength Keeps Woman
Moving Forward
31 Shining Star
On the Cover
Woodmen Variable Annuity are issued by companies that
are not affiliated with Woodmen of the World Life Insurance
Society and/or Omaha Woodmen Life Insurance Society. Not
Danny E. Cummins
President & CEO
24In Honor and Remembrance
insurance and annuity certificates, belong to more than 1,500
all products are available in all states.
Products that are not issued by Woodmen of the World
or offered and processed through Woodmen Financial
Services, Inc., may be offered through Woodmen Insurance
Agency, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Woodmen of the
World Life Insurance Society and/or Omaha Woodmen Life
When Bethany Dean lost her parents as a
teenager, she could have lost hope. But this
Georgia peach stayed strong, remained positive
and kept looking to the future.
For his heroic actions in the Korean War, member
Bob VandeLinde was recently presented with the
Silver Star. The honor joins his other decorations
including the Purple Heart and Korean Service
Medal with four combat stars.
Bethany Dean began
receiving the Orphan’s
Care benefit in March
2002. That support
from Woodmen of the
World has helped with
her finances and helped
motivate her to pursue
a degree at Gainesville
State College.
Insurance Society. These products are issued by carriers that
are not affiliated with Woodmen of the World.
2 WOODMEN LIVING
Woodmen of the World Fraternal Magazine 3
Community Connection
feedback on the web
Search: WOWInsurance
Society to ‘like’ our page.
Follow us on Twitter at:
WOWInsurance
Correction
 Facebook
In the Fall 2011 issue, page 20, Lodge 566 Secretary's name
is Conrad Robertson, not Conrad Roberts as listed. Please
make this correction as soon as possible. Conrad and his wife
are dear friends of mine.
Check out Woodmen of the World’s new welcome page on Facebook at:
Also, my husband, Tony, and I took out a policy on our son,
Michael W. Herring, over 20 years ago. Michael enlisted in
the U.S. Army in 2007 and in August of this year returned
from his second tour in Iraq. He is stationed at Ft. Hood,
TX, and will soon transfer to Ft. Lewis, WA. We appreciate
Woodmen of the World!
Thank you,
Connie B. Herring
Abbeville, SC
Lodge 124
facebook.com/WOWInsurance. Show your support for Woodmen of the
World by clicking “Like,” and then share the page with your friends and
family. While you’re on our Facebook page, you can also check out the
new Fraternal page. You’ll find it in the sidebar to the left.
 Career Aspirations
Do you like helping people? Are you a natural at making friends
and building relationships? Then a career as a Woodmen of the
World Representative might be the path for you!
Next time you’re on woodmen.org, click on the Start Your Career link
on the home page. This will take you to a section that illustrates all of
the rewards a career with Woodmen of the World can give you.
 IRA 101
Editor’s note: Thank you for the note, Connie.
Any friend of yours is a friend of ours.
Looking for some helpful tips on planning for your
retirement? Scan this code with the QR code reader on your
smart phone to listen to podcasts about the basics of IRAs
and the difference between a Traditional and a Roth IRA.
If you don’t have a smart phone, you can access this and other podcasts
about retirement saving on woodmen.org. Just go to the About tab and
click on Media Center.
The Votes Are In
The expanded Fraternal
Spirit section is a hit!
Don't let your lodge be
left out. Take your best
photos of lodge and
fraternal activities, and
email them to photos@
woodmenmag.com.
4 WOODMEN LIVING
Board of Directors
Thomas T. Gallion III,
Chairman, Montgomery, AL
Danny E. Cummins,
President & CEO, Omaha, NE
Larry R. King,
Executive Vice President, Fraternal, Omaha, NE
Pamela J. Hernandez,
Executive Vice President, Operations & Secretary,
Omaha, NE
Mark L. Schreier,
Executive Vice President, Finance & Treasurer,
Omaha, NE
William C. Owen, Tallahassee, FL
Daniel W. Rice III, Kinston, NC
Lucia G. Taylor-McCoy, Elkview, WV
Stephen W. Mellor, Omaha, NE
Dr. James W. Bosler III, Louisville, KY
Dr. James W. Shaver, Landis, NC
Roger B. Moore, Lynchburg,VA
James W. Bridges Jr., Las Vegas, NV
Michael C. Shealy, Lexington, SC
Wesley A. Dodd, Cornelia, GA
Magazine Staff
Managing Editor: Angie Schendt
Content Editor: Andy Oerman
Design Editor: Joe Bavaresco
Writers: Beverly Newsam, Carmen Steele
Designer: Sarah Richart
Contributors: Kathy Cardwell, Carli Cominoli,
Angel Stottle, Jerry Underwood
Marketing & Public Relations
Team Vice President: Steve Haack
If you have questions, comments or
suggestions for articles, please direct
them to [email protected].
visit us at: woodmen.org
email us at: [email protected]
Woodmen Living (ISSN 1069-1790) is published
quarterly for $2.00 per year by Woodmen of the World
Life Insurance Society and/or Omaha Woodmen Life
Insurance Society, 1700 Farnam St., Omaha, NE 68102.
Periodicals postage paid at Omaha, NE, and
additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address
changes to Woodmen Living, c/o Woodmen of
the World Life Insurance Society and/or Omaha
Woodmen Life Insurance Society, 1700 Farnam St.,
Omaha, NE 68102.
Equal Access Policy
Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society
and/or Omaha Woodmen Life Insurance Society
is an Equal Access fraternal benefit organization.
It is the policy of Woodmen of the World to seek
qualified members on a nondiscriminatory basis
and to provide all members with equal access to and
allow their participation in the organization’s lodge
system, lodge events, fraternal benefits, and all other
fraternal activities on a nondiscriminatory basis.
Members
Make A
Difference
in Martin
E
very October, Woodmen of
the World members across the
country come together to give
back in a special way on Make A
Difference Day. While the projects
may vary, the reason behind them
is the same – to help out in the
communities where the members
work, live, worship, and play.
This year, Lodge 291 in Martin,
TN, focused its efforts on helping
to restock the food bank for WE
CARE Ministries.
WE CARE is an ecumenical
ministry that provides assistance to
the citizens of Weakley County, TN,
who are in difficult circumstances.
Their purpose is to provide for
those in need of food, clothing
and housing, as well as assist them
financially to cover the cost of rent,
utilities and medical expenses.
“We knew they could use our help
because the shelves in the food
bank were almost completely bare,”
Representative David Spencer presents a check to Teresa Rowlett, director
of the food bank for WE CARE Ministries.
said Claudia Dowdell, Community
Outreach Manager for West
Tennessee. “They serve a diverse
group of people – from students
who attend the University of
Tennessee-Martin who are running
low on money, to senior citizens
living in the area. It’s a doublewhammy for them with the large
numbers they are asked to serve.”
To assist the ministry, Lodge 291
spent $1,000 on food and then
helped organize the shelves of the
food bank. They also asked lodge
members to bring canned goods to
meetings so they could be donated
to the cause.
“One of our members, Teresa
Rowlett, is the director of the food
bank for WE CARE. She gives
us a list of the items they need to
fill in the gaps, and that’s what
we purchase,” said Woodmen of
the World Representative David
Spencer. “We had 15 members
participate in the project this year,
but we also have members who
volunteer there year-round whenever
they need additional help.”
“We are very thankful for the
support of Lodge 291,” said Betty
Baker, Director for WE CARE.
“They very faithfully give their
time and financial resources to
make a difference, not only in the
lives of the people we serve, but by
their encouragement to the WE
CARE staff.”
When asked why she thinks
it’s important for lodges to
participate in Make A Difference
Day, Dowdell replied, “When it
comes to these special events,
it’s Woodmen of the World’s
opportunity to really step up and
shine. Across Tennessee, and
across the country, this is what
we do. This is the heart and soul
of Woodmen of the World – our
outreach and volunteerism in the
communities.” ::
Woodmen of the World Fraternal Magazine 5
Member Spotlight
with you through life
®
7 steps
to smart
retirement
planning
1. Start now.
6. Increase your contributions.2
History shows us that people who stay in over the long haul
weather any financial storm the nation goes through. There
are ups and downs, of course, but the trend over decades has
consistently been upward.
Ward says he plans to increase his, which is probably the
most important way to help fund your future – contribute
as much as possible. Putting the extra money away can be
hard, but every dollar makes a difference, particularly in a
tax-exempt account like a Roth IRA. 3
Ward started planning about 10 years ago. He had opted out
of Social Security when he graduated from the seminary, so
he realized he needed some sort of plan, since he couldn’t
rely on that safety net.
2. Contact a professional.
Ward’s Woodmen of the World Representative is also his
nephew-in-law, Zak Kile. With questions about Social
Security and companies failing, "people need to take
retirement planning into their own hands,” Kile says. “The
biggest thing is people should talk to a pro and lay out all
the options.”
3. Know your goals.
In Ward’s case, he has a very specific goal in mind: By age 70,
without touching the principle of his retirement, he and his
wife want be able to live off interest.
So ask yourself: Where do you see yourself at retirement?
What do you see yourself doing?
Photos by Napoletan Photography
4. Make a plan.
Pastor Joel Ward and his wife, Cara, started planning for their retirement 10 years ago. Theyʼve been working with their nephew-in-law, Zak Kile, a
Woodmen of the World Representative, on a plan for their future.
Pastor Joel Ward of Butler, PA, is the Senior Pastor at Calvary Baptist Church and has been in the ministry for
23 years. He’s married, has three children and a new grandchild. He teaches biology, chemistry, health, and
Bible classes at Calvary Academy, the K-12 school connected to the church. He also serves as its Principal.
He expects to be in the ministry about 20 more years. He doesn’t want to be dependent on the church or on a partial
salary as Pastor Emeritus in his “rusty years,” he jokes. So he knows the need to plan for the future.
CI0013 WOW 12/11
6 WOODMEN LIVING
For many people, Individual Retirement Annuities (IRAs)
may be ideal to set aside money to reach your retirement
goals. If you earn income through an employer, you can open
an IRA. Whether you can open a Roth IRA, like the Wards,
depends on your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI).
“Roths are great, because they offer tax-free income
whenever you’re going to retire,” Kile says. If you’re eligible
to make contributions to a Roth, you do so after paying
federal income taxes. This means you don’t pay taxes when
you withdraw your contributions.1 The interest gain is also
tax-free, as long as you meet certain conditions.
5. Review your allocation.
Twice a year should be good enough, but with current
market volatility, quarterly may be even better. Ward likes
the “constant communication” he has received from Kile
and his Area Manager David Sinz. “I appreciate the concern
shown for what my money is doing.”
7. Stick with it.
“Everybody’s worried about losing money in the stock
market,” Ward says. “You just have to ride it out. The
economy wobbling hasn’t bothered me all that much. I’m
not worried about today, I’m concerned with 20 years
down the road.”
So how much do you need to set aside? Start by plugging
numbers into a variety of simple financial calculators
found under the Learning & Tools tab on woodmen.org,
or contact your local Representative for more
information today.
Additional Be3 nefits
of Roth IRAs
th
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after-tax dollars, your
IR As are funded with
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withdrawals are tax-fre
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1. Woodmen of the Wo gs. If you are under age 59½ at the time of
contributions and earnint IRS penalty may apply.
withdrawal, a 10 percen
advisor.
t your professional tax
2. For tax advice, consul
Role of IRAs in U.S.
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Woodmen of the World Fraternal Magazine 7
Newsworthy
(continued from page 8)
“I witnessed the tremendous example
my father presented,” Dees said.
to the organization’s purpose and
“I also saw how the community
performance. He credits his father,
benefited from our products and
William Dees, a retired Texas
services. It made it easy to dedicate
Southeast State Manager, with
my life to the service of Woodmen of
sparking a desire in him to serve others.
the World.”
Dees is humbled by his latest call to
action and wants to ensure others
that he will do everything possible
to positively affect the organization.
“Representing the Home Office is an
honor and one I don’t take lightly,”
he said.
Although he’s been with the
organization for 23 years, Dees
remains excited about the
opportunities his new role offers. “It’s
come full circle,” he said. “Woodmen
of the World has asked me to accept
different challenges throughout my
tenure, and it’s expanded my family
across the country. It’s wonderful to
have that kind of support.”
As he leads the Field, Dees said the
primary focal point is development,
retention and growing membership.
He also wants to expand the number
of full-time Representatives to 1,000.
“We are very fortunate to work with
leaders like Danny (Cummins) and
Larry (King), who set the stage and
encourage the organization to meet
its goals,” he said. ::
“Providing fraternal
benefits and
community support
impressed me just
as much as selling
insurance.” - Larry King
Larry King, Executive Vice President, Fraternal
Pat Dees, Senior Vice President, National Field Manager
King, Dees Expand
Leadership Roles
A shift in leadership took place Nov. 1
that will align initiatives in two
important areas – Fraternal Outreach
and sales – and help position the
organization for the future.
King is enthusiastic about his new
responsibilities, which include leading
the organization’s fraternal programs.
He fondly remembers attending fish
fries as a youngster and taking part in
a number of other lodge activities.
The Woodmen of the World Board
of Directors elected Executive Vice
“Fraternalism is an important part
President, Field Larry King as the new
of what Woodmen of the World
Executive Vice President, Fraternal.
stands for and a big reason why I
Additionally, Senior Vice President,
originally became a member,” King
Field Pat Dees was appointed to Senior said. “Providing fraternal benefits and
Vice President, National Field Manager. community support impressed me
8 WOODMEN LIVING
Hromadka Retires; McKern Promoted to VP
just as much as selling insurance.”
He said that fraternalism remains a
major factor today in attracting new
members to Woodmen of the World.
“We need Field Representatives
who recognize the value of fraternal
programs and how they can lead to
sales,” he said. “One leverages the other.”
Some items on King’s agenda include
getting lodges more involved via social
media, focusing on ways to boost
person-to-person giving and exploring
strategies that will further overall
fraternal efforts.
Dees also appreciates Woodmen of
the World’s emphasis on fraternal
values and knows that they are vital
Effective Jan. 1, 2012, Vice President of Administrative
Services Joe Hromadka retired after 38 years of service to
Woodmen of the World. Steve McKern was promoted to
his position.
Hromadka began his career with the organization as an
Underwriter in 1973. He joined Lodges 1 and 16, and has
held most lodge offices, including President of Lodge 16 and
Nebraska Jurisdictional President.
Starting his career with Woodmen of the World in 1989 as an
Internal Auditor, McKern was promoted to Senior Internal
Auditor in 1994, Senior I.T. Auditor in 2000 and then Chief
Internal Auditor in 2007.
Joe Hromadka
Steve McKern
A member of Lodge 16, McKern has held all lodge officer
positions and served on the Nebraska Jurisdiction. ::
Woodmen of the World Fraternal Magazine 9
Member Spotlight
Strength and
support keep Dean
moving forward
“Life may not get easier, but it gets better –
you just have to allow it to happen.”
T
hese words have motivated
Bethany Dean to make the
best out of any situation and
keep moving forward after losing
her parents, David and Terri Dean,
in August 2001, when she was just
14 years old.
Photo by Bryan Redding
“Even though I lost my parents a few
days before I started high school, I had
so many relatives who stepped up to
care for me and a group of amazing
friends,” she said. “Having their
support and being able to live a typical
teenage life really helped me to cope
and move forward. Those were some
of the best years of my life.”
10 WOODMEN LIVING
Originally from Thomson, GA, Dean
began receiving the Orphan’s Care
benefit from Woodmen of the World
in March 2002. It pays a monthly
benefit to the child of a qualified
member up to age 18, and then will
pay up to $20,400 for four years of
college – something that was truly a
blessing for Dean.
“I didn’t know anything about
Woodmen of the World, or any
insurance for that matter, until after
the death of my parents,” she said.
“They have helped me tremendously
with my finances and have definitely
motivated me to stay in school and
get good grades, even when I wanted
to quit. With Woodmen of the
World’s help, I’ve been able to do most
everything I’ve ever wanted to do,
including moving away from my small
hometown to a new city where I can
grow roots of my own while in college.”
Currently enrolled at Gainesville State
College, Dean is majoring in early child
care and education. She will graduate
in May 2012, and at this point, is not
exactly sure where her future may lead.
“My plans are unknown right now, but
that’s kind of exciting at this point in
my life,” she said. “All I know is that I’m
going to be working somewhere with
young children.”
This past August marked 10 years since
Dean lost her parents, but she doesn’t
look back on that date with sadness or
regret. “Through this situation, I gained
new lasting relationships with other
relatives,” she said. “And although I
miss my parents every day, I’m proud of
where I am today and so excited about
my future.” ::
Woodmen of the World Fraternal Magazine 11
fraternal spirit
S ubmit Photos to:
[email protected]
Lodge 889 Franklin, NC
Lodge members presented a set of flags to Community
Baptist Church in Franklin.
Lodge 945 Lawrenceburg, TN
Lodge 965 Hopkinsville, KY
Field associates Larry Hubbard, left, Anthony Milligan and Tim Beckham, right, along with member Mike Isbell, second
from right, participated in a memorial dedication along the Trail of Tears.
Lodge 298 Prattville, AL
Lodge 6018 Valdosta, GA
Lodge members organized a fingerprinting table at the City
of Prattville’s Law Day.
Lodge members collected, then delivered school supplies to
Westside Elementary School in Valdosta.
12 WOODMEN LIVING
Lydia Buzzard accepted Woodmen of the World’s American
History Award at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School.
Lodge 16 Omaha, NE
Area Manager Jeff Bridges, fourth from right, presented
a flag to Roncalli Catholic High School President Jeff
Dempsey and students at the school.
Lodge 33 Burlington, IA
Lodge President Bonnie Modrell presented a $1,000
scholarship check to Vernave Garcia.
Lodge 406 Panama City, FL
Buddy entertained attendees at Panama City Kid Fest.
Lodge members organized a booth that included a bean
bag toss game.
Woodmen of the World Fraternal Magazine 13
Fraternal Spirit
Lodge 7 Hamburg, AR
Lodge President Bill Moore, front left, presented a flagpole
and flag to Montrose Mayor Larry Coulter.
Lodge 100 Carrollton, GA
President James S. Upchurch, left, Escort Nell Eidson,
Sergeant-at-Arms Shirley Brimer, and member Billy G.
Eidson presented a Georgia state flag to the Mt. Zion City
Library and Senior Citizens Center.
Lodge 1145 Jena, LA
Member Laken Bryce Jones was crowned 2011
Homecoming Queen at Jena High School.
Lodge 49 Lexington, TN
Lodge 6 Waco, TX
Representatives J.V. Rosson, left, and Gayle Parrish, right,
along with Lodge President Joe Lewis, second from left,
presented the Lifesaver Award to Stony Bray, who saved two
lives by rescuing a mother and her son from a burning house.
Lodge 6 sponsored an outing to the Cameron Park Zoo for
the deaf ministry at The Church at Tree Lake. The lodge
covered the cost of admission for 32 adults and 24 children.
Lodge 269 Bristol, VA
Lodge 1188 Durant, OK
Representative Roger Williams presented the Mt. Empire
Chapter of the American Red Cross Volunteer of the Year
Award to Melisha Wynne. The lodge sponsors the award.
Lodge 458 Enterprise, AL
Lodge 300 Spencer, WV
Lodge 890 Tollesboro, KY
Lodge members Ronda Nelson, left, and Patricia
Nelson presented a check to Richard Pipkins, Director
of the YMCA.
Member Forrest Greenlee, a sophomore at Roane County
High School, won the 15- to 18-year-old division of the
West Virginia Junior Top Flite Tour Par Three Shootout at
Pipestem Resort in July.
Ninety lodge members held a 50- x 100- foot American flag
during the National Anthem at Woodmen of the World
Membership Appreciation Day at a Cincinnati Reds game.
14 WOODMEN LIVING
Youth members of the lodge learn how to properly fold the
American flag.
Lodge 262 Clarkton, NC
Representative Craig Walters, left, and Lodge
Treasurer Bobby Dennis presented an American flag
to the town of Clarkton.
Woodmen of the World Fraternal Magazine 15
Fraternal Spirit
Lodge 1190 Fulton, MS
Lodge 592 Murray, KY
Representative Jamie Basden presented a flag to Beth Gray
from Unity Broadcasting TV.
Lodge members presented a Kentucky state flag to the
American Legion.
Lodge 308 Houma, LA
The United States Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit held a Change of Command Ceremony at Lodge 308. The event was
hosted by Carol and Gerald Collins.
Lodge 18 Des Moines, IA
Member Jackson Garlock, a Boy Scout with Troop 178
in Waukee, IA, folded a flag at an American Legion flag
retirement ceremony.
16 WOODMEN LIVING
Lodge 1149 Gleason, TN
Representative Wendell Verdell, right, presented a flag set
to member Mitchell Parham, Director of Weakley County
Adult Education.
Lodge 940 Mamers, NC
Lodge 316 Bluefield, WV
Members Pat McKee, left, and Sue Horton, right, presented
50 classroom flags to Principal Brookie Ferguson, second
from left, and Assistant Principal Tracie Metz of Boone
Trail Elementary School.
Members David and Wanda Belcher, left, Community Outreach
Manager Russell Fox, right, and Representative Richard Hall
presented a flagpole and flags to the newly constructed Vietnam
Veterans Memorial at the Beckley Veterans Hospital.
Lodge 37 Georgetown, TX
Lodge 462 Chazy, NY
Member Tyler Ware holds the first-place plaque earned by
the Georgetown High School golf team.
Lodge 1218 Henryetta, OK
Representative Mike Doak presented a flag to Henryetta
Elementary School Principal Kelly Furer.
Lodge President Todd Castine presented the Fraternal
Spirit Award to DaleAnne Wolter at their awards banquet.
Lodge 6 Cumberland, MD
Lodge Trustee Darlene Jenkins, left, presented flags to Vice
Principal Kelly Haines and student Jessica Michaels from
Frankfort High School in Short Gap, WV.
Woodmen of the World Fraternal Magazine 17
Fraternal Spirit
Lodge 494 Vacherie, LA
Lodge members presented a flag set to the Southeast
Louisiana War Veterans Home.
Lodge 592 Murray, KY
Lodge members presented a flagpole and flag to the new
Veterans Memorial.
Lodge 4659 Bullard, TX
Lodge members presented a flag to the Bullard
Community Library.
18 WOODMEN LIVING
Lodge 709 Columbia, TN
Lodge members presented an American flag to the
Columbia Primary School.
Lodge 923 Wallace, NC
Lodges 961 & 879 Cookeville, TN
Representative Chuck Farrior, left, and Lodge President
Harvey Knowles, right, presented a flag to Horace James,
Commander of American Legion Post 156.
About 130 members attended the lodge’s picnic this summer.
Lodge 46 Princeton, WV
Representative Sam Conner, right, presented an American
flag and a Christian flag to Rick Mathena, manager of
Christian Acres Camp.
Lodge 976 Eunice, LA
Lodge members gave a box of tissue to each resident of their
two local nursing homes for Make A Difference Day.
Lodge 1937 Jackson, AL
Glenn and Katie Story enjoyed themselves at the North Alabama Senior Camp luau, where they were able to make friends
with 132 other campers.
Woodmen of the World Fraternal Magazine 19
Fraternal Spirit
Lodge 243 Ashburn, GA
Representative Trevin Tanner, left, presented an American
flag to Turner County Elementary School students
Demarcus Barnes and Imani Stafford. Principal Vickie A.
Brown also was on hand.
Lodge 373 Ackerman, MS
Faye Ivy presented a $250 check to Rev. Rodger Griffith of
the Choctaw Baptist Food Ministry.
Lodge 728 Murray, KY
Members Melva Hatcher, left, Dot Bazzell and President
Effie Kemp, right, presented the Outstanding Citizen
of the Year Award to Jerry Penner, CEO of Madigan
Healthcare System.
20 WOODMEN LIVING
Lodge 1 Alburg, VT
Lodge Secretary Tim Gonyo, left, hammed it up with
his nephew, Robert Gonyo, after Robert performed in
the Murder Mystery Dinner Theater fund-raiser for the
Enosburg Opera House.
Lodge 999 Harmony, NC
Lodge members attended a Flag Day ceremony at the
Harmony Cemetery.
Lodge 1 Columbus, OH
Member Tanya Culbertson, right, presented a flag to West
Jefferson Middle School Principal Debbie Omen.
Lodge 38 Bardwell, KY
Lodge Secretary Lyndall Furlong presented a flag to Lions
Club President Bill Wade.
Lodge 82 Milan, TN
Lodge 74 Arcadia, WI
Lodge President Chris Mitchell, left, Secretary Janette Jumper,
second from left, Treasurer Theresa Stephens, second from right,
and Vice President Starla Young, right, welcomed Myrna Phifer,
center, a government employee who works at the Pentagon.
Lodge members presented a flag to Pietrek County Park at
the lodge’s annual picnic and awards celebration.
Lodge 1094 Aiken, SC
Lodge members presented flags to Pastor Scott Saleeby
and April Moore Saleeby of New Covenant Church in
Surfside Beach.
Lodge 709 Columbia, MS
Lodge Secretary Lawrence Dowdy, left, and President
Dewitt Forbes, right, presented a flag to the Columbia
Wildcats football team.
Lodge 28 Brownsville, TN
Lodge members presented an American flag and a
Tennessee state flag to the West Tennessee Delta
Heritage Center.
Woodmen of the World Fraternal Magazine 21
Fraternal Spirit
Lodge 291 Martin, TN
Lodge members cleaned a Woodmen of the World stump
at a local cemetery for JOIN HANDS DAY.
Lodge 60 Troy, SC
Lodge members presented an American flag and a South
Carolina state flag to the Troy Town Hall.
Lodge 15 Bastrop, LA
Lodge 1075 Loris, SC
Lodge 1770 Bloomingdale, GA
Members honored two of their own, both distinguished
World War II veterans, at a recent meeting. Melvin Russell,
left, served in the Navy, and Earl Brown served with
General Patton’s 3rd Army and earned three Battle Stars.
Lodge President Dorothy Richardson, left, and Lodge
Secretary Clyde Richardson, presented 25 book bags filled
with school supplies to Loris Elementary School for Make
A Difference Day.
Lodge members created a float for the Effingham County
Fair Parade, and won first place in the Professional category.
Lodge 147 Aberdeen, MS
Member Earl Cowley, left, and Representative Jamie Basden,
right, presented an American flag and a Christian flag to Pastor
Bro. Wes White from the rebuilt Smithville Baptist Church. The
original church was destroyed by a tornado on April 27, 2011.
Lodge 3 Phoenix, AZ
Lodge 47 Opelousas, LA
Lodge members created teddy bears at the Stuffington Bear
Factory and then donated them to a local police station for their
JOIN HANDS DAY project. The bears will be given to children
who are removed from abusive and neglectful situations.
Lodge members presented an American flag and a
Louisiana state flag to the Port Barre Honor Guard, which
is comprised of members of VFW Post 8678 and American
Legion Post 334.
22 WOODMEN LIVING
Lodge 2 Tallahassee, FL
Longtime members Theresa and Jim Hollingsworth were honored with the dedication of a flagpole at the lodge’s new hall.
Lodge member Lt. Col. Cliff Palmer, right, conducted the In Honor and Remembrance and flagpole dedication ceremony.
Woodmen of the World Fraternal Magazine 23
Fraternal Spirit – In Honor and Remembrance
Gone But Not Forgotten
Ten years ago, the 9/11 terrorist attacks shattered thousands of lives. Since then, the tragedy has
sparked a renewed sense of American pride at Woodmen of the World and across the country.
9/11 Inspires Ceremonies, New Flag
Lodge 19 is committed to impacting locals and travelers
Woodmen of the World began its tradition of hosting In
Honor and Remembrance ceremonies in 2002. Since then,
members have conducted 4,975 ceremonies – including
452 this year – to honor 9/11 heroes and victims, along
with local heroes and volunteers.
“We’re such a patriotic organization and felt like we needed
to do something to recognize 9/11,” said Barb Courtier,
Director of Fraternal Outreach. “The ceremonies will likely
continue as long as there’s interest.”
For the 10th anniversary this year, Home Office associates
created a special display in the Woodmen Tower lobby.
Items included a poster that recognized first responders
and Armed Forces members, and a special commemorative
Flag of Honor made by Annin Flagmakers.
Courtier said the Flag of Honor, which incorporates the
names of those who perished in the terrorist attacks within
the flag’s red and blue stripes, has been extremely popular.
Woodmen of the World initially distributed about 1,400
of the special flags and received orders for 2,175 more.
Proceeds from the flag sales go to several 9/11 charities.
en route to the Flight 93 memorial. The strategy:
Display a 30-foot by 60-foot flag on a flagpole near the
Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Lodge 38 Bardwell, KY
Lodge President Bill Wade, left, Representatives Hamilton
Courtney Ashley and Shelia Baker, right, presented the Flag
of Honor to Carlisle County Judge Executive Greg Terry. The
flag is on display at the Carlisle County Courthouse.
Lodge 1115 Gallatin and Lodge 945 Lawrenceburg, TN
Lodge members presented a Flag of Honor and an American
flag to the Summertown Community Club, where a new
monument was also dedicated.
On Aug. 22, Representative Kevin Mathias presented a new
flag to the Somerset County Flag Committee on behalf of
Lodge 19. Mathias said he likes the flag’s location, because it
greets visitors who enter Somerset County.
“We want to let everyone know that Woodmen of the World
cares and that we want to offer support any way we can,”
Mathias said. “The flag honors 9/11 victims and veterans –
past and present – of Somerset County.”
The lodge gave its first flag to Somerset County in 2009, and
Mathias predicts that Woodmen of the World will keep a
new flag atop the Somerset flagpole for years to come. “It’s
pretty much a perpetual project,” he said. “Flags get tattered,
and we want to keep the area looking as sharp as possible.” ::
Lodge 130 Cerro Gordo, NC
Lodge 7 Hamburg, AR
Lodge members recognized former Sheriff Jimmy Ferguson
for his service to their community. Lodge President Harold
Fipps presented a Flag of Honor to Ferguson’s wife, Ann,
and daughters, Angela Smith and Susan Ferguson.
Monticello Veterans Post 4515 and lodge members
presented a flagpole and flag to the Second Baptist Church
in Monticello.
Lodge 6018 Valdosta, GA
Lodge 3871 Littlefield, TX
Lodge members Charles Mock, left, and Susan Kent present
a flag to Valdosta Fire Chief J.D. Rice, second from right, and
Lt. William Buford of the Valdosta Police Department.
Lodge Vice President Mary McCanlies, right, and
Representative Jessie Sanders, left, present a Flag of Honor to
Lamb County Judge James Mike DeLoach. The lodge later had
the flag framed for display in the Lamb County Courthouse.
“In Honor and Remembrance is a great opportunity to
remember the 9/11 victims, veterans and those who’ve died
fighting for our freedom, as well as thank first responders
who answer the call every day to protect our local
communities,” Courtier said.
Lodge Honors Flight 93, Local Heroes
In Honor and Remembrance ceremonies are especially
meaningful for members of Lodge 19 in Somerset, PA. The
town is located just 15 miles from the Pennsylvania field
where Flight 93 crashed, killing the plane’s 40 passengers
and the terrorists who hijacked it.
24 WOODMEN LIVING
Representative Kevin Mathias, third from right, presents a
flag to Somerset County. Travelers can spot the flag from the
Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Woodmen of the World Fraternal Magazine 25
member news
75-year Members Going Strong
Lodge 6429 Powder Springs, GA
Lodge members presented a flagpole and flag to the City of
Powder Springs at a ceremony where members of the military,
police department and Boy Scouts, and the mayor, were present.
Lodge 462 Chazy, NY
Lodge 1137 Sylacauga, AL
Lodge members presented a Flag of Honor to first responders
and city officials at the B.B. Comer Memorial Library.
Lodge 356 Glenwood, IA
Lodge Vice President Linda Gonyo-Horne presents a
Flag of Honor to the Port Director and a representative of
Customs and Border Protection at the Champlain, NY,
border crossing. The flag will be displayed in the passenger
building at the port.
Lodge members presented a Flag of Honor to the Mineola
American Legion.
Lodge 1 Parkersburg, WV, and Lodge 314 Marietta, OH
Lodge 54 Shreveport, LA
Lodge members conducted an In Honor and
Remembrance ceremony with the Flag of Honor.
26 WOODMEN LIVING
Area Manager Mike Brown presents the flag to the
Barksdale Air Force Base Color Guard.
They may be in their 90s,
but Jack and Walter (Bill)
Harshbarger show no signs
of slowing down. The pair,
members of Lodge 223 in
Milton, WV, recently marked
75 years with Woodmen of
the World.
“In 1936 when I was 17 years
old, a Representative came
to the house and my mother
bought certificates for me
and my brother,” said Jack.
“I’ve had it ever since and I
haven’t changed it.”
locomotive engineer with
CSX, this 90-year-old has
always been very involved in
his community.
“He has held many offices in
the lodge, gone to the state
jurisdictional conventions,
and even traveled to Omaha
for Woodmen of the World’s
100-year celebration,” said
Imogene Harshbarger,
Walter’s wife.
In addition to his lodge
activities, Walter has been
Milton, WV
a member of the Milton
One thing that has changed Walter and Jack Harshbarger continue to be active Park Board, the Town
Council, the Cabell County
slightly is the lodge. “Back
members of their community and meet up with
Community Service
then, we had the best drill
others every day at the Senior Center for lunch.
Organization, the Lions Club,
team. We went around to
the West Virginia Silverother lodges and put on
don’t want to go to any of those places
Haired Legislature, and he also
demonstrations to help bring in new
without her.”
helped start the Neighborhood Watch
members,” said Jack. “And then we
program in Milton.
had to quit because we got drafted
One thing he does want to do is play
into service for World War II.”
golf. Even at age 92, Jack plays two
“I’ve known them my entire life and
Unfortunately, when Jack and Walter
to three times a week during the
they’ve always been active in the
returned from the war, the drill team
summer. “I walked and carried my
community,” said Tony Lundsford, a
had disbanded.
own clubs until age 83, and then I got
fellow member of Lodge 223. “They
a two-wheel cart for my bag,” he said.
have participated in many flagpole
After a 40-year career with CSX
“At 87, I finally gave in and started
projects and have presented a lot of
Transportation as a chief clerk, Jack
riding in the cart.”
flags over the years.”
has filled much of his retirement with
travel and golf. “Me and my late wife,
Walter, who has been a Woodmen of
Jack and Walter officially received their
Jennie, used to travel all over. We’d go
the World member since age 15, has
75-year member pins at the lodge’s
to Myrtle Beach, SC, at least twice a
also stayed active in his retirement.
annual Christmas party in December. ::
year,” he said. “Since she passed away, I
On top of a 35-year career as a
Woodmen of the World Fraternal Magazine 27
Member News
Member News
Olympic Aspirations
Faith, Community Provide
Strength for Family
Alabama athlete training for 2012 Summer Games
In the fall of 2008, things were
going well for the Browns. Wade
and Lee Anna had a new cabinet
shop in Allen, OK, and their
children – Kinsey, Kathryn and
Sam – were happy and healthy,
or so they thought. Shortly
before Thanksgiving, the family
was devastated when 8-yearold Sam was diagnosed with a
neuromuscular disease called
Friedrich’s Ataxia (FA).
S
After graduating from high school in Northport, AL,
Gray received a scholarship to swim at the University of
Alabama (UA). When she started at UA, Gray had two
goals: to become an All-American and to get her name
on the school record board overlooking the pool. She
accomplished both and currently holds school records in
the 200- and 400-meter individual medley.
“People really close to me know that when I started college
I was a ‘good’ swimmer, but not a ‘great’ swimmer,” Gray
said. “When I attended college, I realized God had given
me a talent and I was going to do all I could to reach my
full potential. It was through countless hours of hard work,
dedication and His strength that I was able to have the
success I did.”
Gray graduated from UA in May 2011 with a degree
in marketing, and is now enrolled in UA’s nationally
ranked MBA program. In addition, she’s continuing to
swim with the goal of competing in the 2012 Summer
Olympics in London.
“A lot of people don’t realize how time-intensive and
rigorous the training is for swimming,” she said. “We
swim between four and five hours a day, plus we do an
hour of weight training – so swimming and school take up
practically all of my free time. But I still do my best to stay
active in my church and with a few other organizations.”
28 WOODMEN LIVING
Tuscaloosa, AL
The pool at the University of Alabama is like a second
home to All-American Kate Shannon Gray.
The final step in Gray’s quest to compete in London will be
qualifying for the Olympic team at the U.S. Swim Trials in
Omaha, NE, June 25 – July 2, 2012. “I have to swim well in
Omaha for it all to happen,” she said.
The daughter of Woodmen of the World members Alan
and Shannon Gray, Gray has always had the support of her
family, which also includes three brothers and a sister. “I
grew up in an athletic and competitive family,” she said. “My
parents did a wonderful job of always being there for us and
being proud of what we accomplished. They taught us all to
believe in ourselves and work hard to achieve our goals.” ::
Photo by Alex Gilbert/UA Athletics
ince the age of 10, Kate Shannon Gray has been
jumping into the pool with a purpose. “I instantly fell
in love with swimming and the competitive nature of
the sport,” Gray said. “And on top of thoroughly enjoying it,
I was actually good at it!”
“We first suspected something
in kindergarten because he was
a little clumsy,” said Lee Anna.
“However, we thought it was
something he’d outgrow.”
FA afflicts one in every 50,000
people and it slowly cripples the
body and affects motor function,
balance, coordination, and speech,
and often causes heart disease and
diabetes in its latter stages.
“Even though we have a diagnosis,
it’s been difficult to adjust our lives
to everything it’s brought with it,”
said Lee Anna. Sam now spends 95
percent of his time in a wheelchair,
and recently had back surgery to
correct scoliosis caused by the
disease. In addition, Sam has been
approved for a service dog, so they
will travel to California to train
with the animal.
“We also found out that while
we’re there, Sam is eligible to
participate in a UCLA study
for FA with one of the leading
neurologists in the field,” said
Lee Anna. “This will get his
name in the ‘pipeline’ in case
one of the drugs in current trials
becomes available.”
Throughout their struggles in
dealing with Sam’s disease, the
Browns have never lost faith.
“Even at times when we’ve felt
alone and completely broken,
the Lord has been faithful in
working through others to bring
encouragement into our lives,”
said Lee Anna.
One of those “others” is Area
Manager Stephen Priest of Ada,
OK. Priest and Wade have been
there for each other, through
good times and bad, for more
than 20 years. So when Priest
found out about Sam’s diagnosis,
he responded.
“Wade had helped me before I
started my career with Woodmen
of the World,” said Priest. “They
are good people, so I knew I had
to help them.”
The Browns have been Woodmen
of the World members since 2006,
Sam Brown
with a thera
p y d og
during a reh
ab session
and Priest shared their story with
Lodge 68 in Shawnee, OK, and
Lodge 1228 in Allen, OK. So far,
the lodges have donated more
than $750 to help the family with
costs related to Sam’s care, but they
know more will be needed.
Although they’ve faced many
struggles in raising Sam, the
Browns still feel blessed. “We’ve
been blown away by the support,
love and generosity from our family,
friends and community,” said Lee
Anna. “We wouldn’t think of raising
our family anywhere else.” ::
If your lodge would like to help
the Brown family by making a
donation to assist with travel
expenses or medical costs,
please contact Area Manager
Stephen Priest at 580-436-9998
or [email protected].
Woodmen of the World Fraternal Magazine 29
Member News
Member News
2012 Refunds
Refunds paid to members holding
life and accident and health
certificates during 2012 are expected
to be approximately $89.8 million,
Woodmen of the World’s Board of
Directors recently announced.
The Board also announced that
beginning Jan. 1, 2012, Woodmen
of the World will pay 4.40 percent
interest on refunds left on deposit with
the organization. The 4.40 percent rate
will also apply to monies being held
while an Adjustable Life or Flexible
Life certificate is waiting to be issued.
The maximum interest rates used
to calculate refunds on Adjustable
Life unloaned cash values will range
from 4.05 percent to 4.95 percent,
depending on the certificate year,
issue age, sex, face amount, and other
classifications. The maximum interest
rates used to calculate refunds on
Flexible Life unloaned cash values
will range from 4.20 percent to 5.25
percent, depending on the certificate
year, issue age, sex, face amount, and
other classifications.
The interest rate applied to monies
received as advanced premium will
be 4.40 percent on fixed premium life
insurance plans and 4.00 percent on
new flexible premium life insurance
plans. Woodmen of the World’s
Executive Committee, taking into
account investment market yields, will
set annuity rates monthly. Current
interest rates for No Lapse Guarantee
Universal Life will be set quarterly by
the Executive Committee. ::
30 WOODMEN LIVING
Landrum, Barr
Receive President’s
Integrity Award
VandeLinde Shines in Silver
the unit successfully repelled the enemy.
Moments like the surprise attack helped bond VandeLinde
and the other soldiers for life. “We keep in touch all the
time and like to get together,” he said. “We’re truly a band
of brothers.”
VandeLinde paid tribute to his comrades by mentioning
them in his Silver Star acceptance speech on July 22, 2011,
at a National D-Day Memorial ceremony in Bedford, VA.
“We have a lot of respect for each other,” he said. “Your life
really depends on one another out there.”
Moneta, VA
T
Jerry Landrum
he 2011 recipients of the
Woodmen of the World
President’s Integrity Award are
Representative Jerry Landrum and
Home Office associate Lynne Barr.
Landrum’s colleagues in Tennessee
said that he embodies all the award
stands for and often makes time
to assist others, despite his busy
schedule. One nominator wrote that
Landrum “always treats other people
like he is dealing with his own
money,” and that, for him, “Truth is
not an option, it’s a way of life.”
Barr, Supervisor of Contract
Services, operates with a high level
of professionalism and provides
motivation to associates. “She
helps others solve problems and
has a passion for doing things right
Lynne Barr
the first time,” said Lee Janecek,
Senior Director of Certificate
Administration. “Her high standards
inspire all of us to be better people.”
President Danny Cummins
appreciates all that the award
recipients do for Woodmen
of the World. “I commend the
outstanding efforts of Jerry and
Lynne,” Cummins said. “They show
their passion and dedication to the
organization every day, and I urge
others to follow their lead.”
For more information about
the President’s Integrity Award,
including how to nominate
someone for the 2012 award,
visit woodmen.org and click the
President’s Award icon near the
bottom of the page. ::
Bob VandeLinde’s latest military honor is the Silver Star.
G
old stars shimmer and shine, but retired Woodmen
of the World State Manager Bob VandeLinde
prefers his in silver.
The Korean War veteran recently received the Silver Star
for protecting his company 61 years ago in the U.S. Army.
He adds it to a collection of other decorations, including the
Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge and Korean Service
Medal with four combat stars.
VandeLinde’s new honor recognizes his actions on
Oct. 22, 1950, in the 187th Infantry Regiment (Airborne)
near Sukchon, Korea. A surprise attack by more than
200 enemy soldiers left the former Sergeant First Class
wounded in his right leg and chin, but he continued to
fight from the ground with his rifle and grenades.
“Circumstances come up, and you just react automatically,”
VandeLinde said. “You do what you’re trained to do.”
Though injured, VandeLinde managed to hobble far
enough to notify his commanding officer about the attack.
His warning helped the group prepare for the assault, and
One of the soldiers, retired Col. Sherman Weisinger,
attended the D-Day Memorial ceremony and had the
unique opportunity of presenting the Silver Star to his
friend. VandeLinde said that he was honored to share the
moment with Weisinger.
For the past eight years, VandeLinde has volunteered as
a tour guide at the National D-Day Memorial. He enjoys
meeting people from all over the world and likes to share
his Korean War experiences with them.
He also likes to tell others’ stories. VandeLinde’s two books
– A Tribute to Lincoln County Veterans and Respect: Forgotten
Heroes – highlight military veterans and serve as a reminder
that freedom is not free.
VandeLinde entered the Army in August 1948 and served
until May 1952. He began his career with Woodmen of
the World in 1953 during college. After serving in several
capacities, he retired in 1991 with 38 years of service.
A member of Lodge 175 in Bedford, VA, he appreciates the
organization’s patriotism and fraternal endeavors and has
enjoyed taking part in many activities. One of his favorites
was constructing two youth camps.
He occasionally runs into some of the young men who
attended those camps and is glad to have made an impact.
“Children are the future of our nation,” VandeLinde said.
“It’s been fun to see them all grown up.” ::
Woodmen of the World Fraternal Magazine 31
National Fraternal Committee Member Profile
lodge leader
Happy to
Serve
Fraternally Speaking
Fraternalism Into the Future
Larry King
From planning lodge holiday
parties to serving in a
jurisdiction, there are many
opportunities for members to
make an impact at Woodmen of
the World. I’ve been fortunate to
do this by serving in a number
of capacities since I joined the
organization years ago.
This fall, I received a new challenge when I was elected
Executive Vice President, Fraternal. I officially began these
duties on Nov. 1 and look forward to leading and expanding
our fraternal efforts.
My predecessor, Mark Theisen, did a great job of building
the fraternal program during his tenure at Woodmen of
the World. His efforts made our lodges stronger, and he
worked hard to benefit our members. I want to thank him
for laying significant groundwork and plan to build on his
impressive accomplishments.
As we move forward into the future, it’s important to
discuss what we’ve done and where we’re headed. The
National Fraternal Committee met Nov. 4-5 in Atlanta. It
was an exciting gathering that brought together a variety
of Woodmen of the World members from across the
country. The meeting carried the theme “Fraternal 2.0” and
expanded on the “Woodmen 2.0” retreat held at the Home
Office in September.
Dates to
Remember
32 WOODMEN LIVING
Meeting discussions highlighted several relevant topics:
•
•
•
•
Technology supporting our fraternal strategy
The future of our youth program
Social media
Recruiting new Field
Representatives through
Win Additional
Matching Funds
our lodges
• Microphilanthropy (person-toI am excited to offer a New
person giving)
Member Challenge to all our
• Community partnerships
The National Fraternal Committee
meeting generated many valuable
ideas and produced feedback that I
plan to consider carefully as we work
toward our goals. I’m excited about
increasing our fraternal presence and
creating even more opportunities in
the future.
Sincerely and fraternally,
Larry King Executive Vice President, Fraternal
lodges. At the end of each
of the first three quarters of
2012, the 25 lodges with the
most new members issued
during that quarter will be
recognized in the Lodge
Leader section of Woodmen
Living. The exciting news is
that each of these lodges will
receive additional Matching
Funds to be used toward
projects conducted in 2012!
More detailed information
about this challenge will be
sent in the near future to the
State Service Centers and
Lodge Secretaries.
Jan. 31, 2012
Feb. 1, 2012
Feb. 15, 2012
Post-event reporting
for 2011 lodge events/
activities due
Annual Lodge Financial
Reports due in State
Service Centers
Jurisdictional Annual
Financial Reports
(Form 7988) due in the
Home Office, Fraternal
Outreach Department
Christine Lee enjoys everything
being a member of Woodmen
of the World has to offer. As
a member of Lodge 47 in
Los Angeles, CA, she actively
participates in the lodge’s many
activities, including JOIN
HANDS DAY, family picnics,
Christine Lee
youth camps and holiday parties.
One organization the lodge reaches out to regularly
is Precious People – an organization that runs a street
mission for the homeless in downtown L.A.
“Our lodge distributes gift bags to everyone that are
filled with the daily necessities they might need,” said
Lee. “Caring love is not just words, but actions that
demonstrate it. This is a great way to start your day!”
Born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, Lee moved to
the United States when she was 16 and has lived in
New Jersey and California. She became a Woodmen
of the World member in 1999 and has met many other
members through her involvement with her lodge and
the National Fraternal Committee (NFC).
“I’ve made many friends over the years through
Woodmen of the World and I like getting ideas from
what others do so we can use them for our lodge
meetings and outreach,” she said. “I was honored to
be asked to serve on the NFC, and I am blessed and
thankful for my involvement with this organization.”
Fraternal Outreach Profile
Making a
Difference
Jennifer Kreifels
When Jennifer Kreifels joined
Woodmen of the World in 2005,
she had a lot to learn about the
organization. “When I started
as the Fraternal Coordinator for
NE/IA, that was really my first
introduction to Woodmen of the
World,” she said. “I didn’t know a
lot about them before then.”
Originally from Nebraska City, NE, Kreifels quickly
learned about the organization, and she liked what she
discovered. “Initially, it was the camps that appealed to me,
but after getting to know the lodge members and learning
more about the fraternal aspect – it was the outreach in
the communities that really appealed to me,” she said.
“Seeing the difference we’re able to make for individuals is
one reason I enjoy being part of this organization.”
Kreifels was promoted to Manager, Community
Outreach, in 2009 and she’s been working with lodges
in the area to help them get more people involved. “I’m
encouraging them to try at least one new activity a
year,” she said. “People need to know we’re a group who
genuinely want to make our communities better, and
we have fun while we do that.”
Kreifels’ involvement with Woodmen of the World
has also inspired her mother, Vicki, to become more
involved. “She’s been a member since 2001, but she was
never active in her lodge until I joined,” said Kreifels.
“Now she organizes the Christmas party and she’s going
to be the next President of Lodge 29 in Nebraska City.”
Woodmen of the World Fraternal Magazine 33
Lodge Leader
Ten Financial
New Year’s Resolutions
Post-Event
Reporting
Lodge
Centennials
Lodge 0553
Cornelia, GA
1/6/1912
Lodge 0455
Scott, LA
2/20/1912
Lodge 0508
Glen, MS
3/15/1912
Lodge 0449
Merritt, NC
3/1/1912
Lodge 0127
Lamar, SC
2/27/1912
Lodge 0037
Tullahoma, TN
3/13/1912
Lodge 0445
Huntingdon, TN
3/26/1912
Lodge 1922
Baytown, TX
2/27/1912
34 WOODMEN LIVING
If your lodge entered 2011 events onto MyFraternalWeb.org, you need
to complete post-event reporting. This needs to include how many
members attended, the number of non-members, how long the event
lasted, details on other groups involved, information about recipient
organizations, etc.
Be sure that you categorize the event correctly; the details of the event
directly relate to how it is categorized. Also, if the event has a primary
category and an additional event category, you will need to make a
report on both. If it was only one event, only select a primary category.
Since every event entered must have a primary event category, select the
description that best describes your event.
Remember, there are two major categories of events: those described as
Fraternal Support and those described as Community/Charitable Service:
»» Fraternal Support: These include local lodge members’
activities that support or are sponsored by the local lodge for
the social, educational, recreational, or fraternal purposes of
members. Generally speaking, fraternal support involves member
participation in activities necessary to maintain the local lodge as an
organizational unit, those undertaken for the personal development
of members, or those that build fellowship among members.
»» Community/Charitable Service: These include lodge
members’ activities on behalf of their Woodmen of the World
lodge, such as patriotic presentations and recognition of individuals
in the community, or activities that assisted needy individuals or
improved the community-at-large.
Accurate reporting of your fraternal activities is important because
it helps maintain our status as a 501(c)8 fraternal benefit society,
helps protect Woodmen of the World’s tax exemption, and provides
documentation to State Managers, the Field Force, and Fraternal
Coordinators and Managers of Community Outreach concerning
your activities and events. ::
1
It’s good to eat better and exercise more. It’s great to spend more time with the kids. It’s admirable to go back
to school. But it’s equally important to see the new year as an opportunity to get your financial house in order.
These resolutions are a starting point toward long-term wealth.
1.
4.
Have a goal – It may seem obvious, but this is the first step.
Talk to your Woodmen of the World
Representative to find out how much
you need to save, then break it down
into monthly or even weekly goals.
Be more specific than “I want more
money in the bank.” A better goal
would be, “Have six months’ salary set
away in savings.”
Save more – One way to save
is with an IRA. Nearly 50
million American households own
an IRA, but many more overlook
them as viable parts of their financial
strategies. In fact, over the past two
years, only 15 percent of households
that were eligible to contribute to an
IRA did so.2 See page 6 for the story of
one family that did. (See also #1.)
2.
5.
Spend less – Where can you
trim your monthly expenses?
Do you really need the HD cable
channels? Can you get by with
generics at the grocery store?
3.
Pay down your debt – Make a
list and pay off the liabilities with
the highest interest rate first. It makes
no sense to invest money at 3 percent
while you’re paying 20 percent interest
on your credit cards. You will actually
save money by paying off the debt.
Save automatically – Talk
to your employer about
automatically depositing a certain
amount of money from every
paycheck directly into savings or into
some other savings vehicle.
6.
Avoid plastic – There’s a reason
they call it “drastic.” Use cash
or checks to pay for things whenever
possible to avoid a lasting cycle of
debt. (See also #3.)
7.
Close unnecessary accounts –
Many banks charge fees just for
having an account. If you have several
checking accounts, for example,
consider closing a couple of them.
8.
Collect your change – When
you make purchases, bring
your change home and put it in a
piggy bank or even just an old can.
You could save a couple hundred
dollars a year.
Then use that
money to
splurge.
Of course,
saving it
would be
even better.
9.
Give more – One of the best
ways to learn the value of money
is to give some away. You can do so by
tithing to your church, giving a certain
amount to charity, or simply through
random acts of kindness like paying for
the next person in line in the drive-thru.
10.
Use personal finance
software to track purchases –
All those movie rentals, candy bars and
lattes are cheap individually, but they
add up. You may be shocked to track
your purchases for a month and see
how much you spend on “extras.” ::
Sources:
1.“10 Financial Resolutions for the New Year: A Practical Guide to Putting Your Life on Track for Success.”
Joshua Kennon. Accessed 11/29/11 at http://beginnersinvest.about.com/cs/21jumpstreet/a/010303a.htm
2.Investment Company Institute, The Role of IRAs in U.S. Households’ Saving for Retirement, December 2010 (http://www.ici.org/pdf/fm-v19n8.pdf).
Woodmen of the World Fraternal Magazine 35
fun zone
Have a good joke? Make your fellow fraternalists laugh.
Please send contributions to [email protected].
Walking in a Winter Wonderland
Can you locate the wintry words hidden in the puzzle? Search up, down, forward, backward, or diagonally.
Find the answers to this puzzle on our website, woodmen.org, by clicking on the Woodmen Living link on
the home page. Enjoy!
Frosty Funnies
Flying Home
J
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A student was heading home for the holidays. When
she got to the airline counter, she presented her ticket
to New York. As she gave the agent her luggage, she
made the remark, “I’d like you to send my green
suitcase to Hawaii, and my red suitcase to London.”
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The winter break was over, and the teacher was asking
the class about their vacations. She turned to little
Johnny and asked what he did over the break.
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Word List
Blanket
Blizzard
Boots
Bundle Up
Coat
Cold
Fireplace
Flurries
36 WOODMEN LIVING
Frosty
Frozen
Hat
Hot Cocoa
Hibernate
Hills
Hunting
Ice Hockey
R
Ice Skating
Icicle
Igloo
Mittens
Mountains
North Pole
Outdoors
Pond
Scarf
Skiing
Ski Lift
Sledding
Snowball
Snowboarding
Snowflake
Snowman
I
“Really? I am so relieved to hear you say that, because
that’s exactly what you did to my luggage last year!” ::
“That sounds like an excellent vocabulary word,” the
teacher said. “Can you tell the class how you spell
‘Punxsutawney’?”
Little Johnny thought about it and said, “You know,
come to think of it, we went to Ohio.” ::
The Harmonica
“Thanks for the harmonica you gave me for Christmas,” little
Joshua said to his uncle the first time he saw him after the
holidays. “It’s the best present I ever got.”
“That’s great,” said his uncle. “Do you know how to play it?”
“Oh, I don’t play it,” the little fellow said. “My mom gives me
a dollar a day not to play it during the day, and my dad gives
me five dollars a week not to play it at night.” ::
“We visited my grandmother in Punxsutawney,
Pennsylvania,” he replied.
Snowmobile
Snow Day
Sweater
Toboggan
White
Winter
Woodmen of the World Fraternal Magazine 37
in memoriam
Thomas (Tommy)
Howard Atkins Jr.
Age: 66
Lodge 2053
Waller, TX
Nathan Dwight Duke
Age: 64
Lodge 1862
Rosalie, AL
Joe Bennett
Coble Jr.
Age: 74
Lodge 966
Wallace, SC
John “Tommy” Elmore
Age: 65
Lodge 0007
Hamburg, AR
Alabama Jurisdictional
Past President
In Memoriam Submission Guidelines: The editors of Woodmen
Living want to give your departed loved ones the most respectful and
complete recognition possible. To aid us in doing this, please include the
following minimum information and send it to [email protected]:
your loved one’s full name as you would like it printed, age, lodge number,
and hometown. Also let us know if he or she served as a Jurisdictional
David Knox
McLean
Age: 91
Lodge 125
Lumberton, NC
Jimmy Lynn Parker
Age: 74
Lodge 54
Shreveport, LA
Now this is living.
Mildred Louise
Blevins Smith
Age: 82
Lodge 303
Jacksonville, TX
Officer, was a National Committee member, a State Manager or a National
Representative. In addition, when including photos, please submit photos
Make sure that your golden years are all you’ve dreamed of with a little help from Woodmen of the
World. Our Roth and Traditional Individual Retirement Annuities (IRAs) can help you save for the exciting
adventures that lie ahead.
You’ll like these helpful IRA features:
• Tax treatment - With a Traditional IRA, your investment earnings grow tax deferred until they’re
withdrawn. With a Roth, your earnings are tax-exempt.
of the highest possible quality to assure adequate printing. Thank you.
• Investment flexibility - IRAs offer more options than you typically receive with workplace-sponsored
plans like a 401(k). Depending on your risk tolerance, you can allocate money conservatively or
more aggressively.
For current annuity interest rates, please contact your Woodmen of
the World Representative or visit our website, woodmen.org. You
may also call Woodmen of the World’s Customer Service Center at
1-800-225-3108 for assistance.
D0904WOW 11/11
38 WOODMEN LIVING
Forms: ICC10 87 4-10, 87 4-10 (XX), O-87 4-10 (XX), ICC10 180 4-10, 180 4-10 (XX), O-180 4-10 (XX)
PERIODICALS
120 minutes
In 120 minutes, you can:
»» Change your oil four times
»» See a movie
»» Watch half a football game
»» Or make a difference with your Woodmen of the World lodge
If each of our 725,000 members would donate just 120
minutes a year, that’s 87 million minutes!
So, get involved … Together, we can do so much in two hours!
fun zone
Have a good joke? Make your fellow fraternalists laugh.
Please send contributions to [email protected].
Walking in a Winter Wonderland
Can you locate the wintry words hidden in the puzzle? Search up, down, forward, backward, or diagonally.
Find the answers to this puzzle on our website, woodmen.org, by clicking on the Woodmen Living link on
the home page. Enjoy!
J
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Word List
Blanket
Blizzard
Boots
Bundle Up
Coat
Cold
Fireplace
Flurries
36 WOODMEN LIVING ANSWER KEY
Frosty
Frozen
Hat
Hot Cocoa
Hibernate
Hills
Hunting
Ice Hockey
E
R
Ice Skating
Icicle
Igloo
Mittens
Mountains
North Pole
Outdoors
Pond
J
W
J
O O
B
N
G W O
I
D
J
V
Z
N
T
E
R
W
Scarf
Skiing
Ski Lift
Sledding
Snowball
Snowboarding
Snowflake
Snowman
I
Snowmobile
Snow Day
Sweater
Toboggan
White
Winter