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News
My Fraternal Viewby Steven M. Pogorelec, F.I.C.LET'S ALL WORK TOGETHER You might have listened to our President of the United States in his State of the Union message on January 24 emphasize the fact that we all need to work together to help improve our nation's economy and strengthen our resolve to emerge from the current crisis stronger and better than ever. He declared that "we've come too far to turn back now." This year, the Slovak Catholic Sokol will observe its 107th anniversary. For more than a century, generations of committed, hardworking Sokols and Sokolky have labored in order for our organization to grow. We've come a long way from those early days when we were just a few scattered lodges eager to help expand our organization so that today we can proudly say that we remain one of America's most admired fraternal benefit societies. Milestones in our history offer opportunities to look back and reflect on how we can improve our organization. This year, we commemorate the 100th anniversary of our organization's first National Slet. It was in the summer of 1912 when hundreds of young Sokols and Sokolky from various parts of the country traveled to Wilkes-Barre, Pa to compete in that first Slet. The Slet competitors didn't stay in hotels or school dormitories back then, they stayed in the homes of our Sokol families in the Wilkes- Barre area displaying true fraternalism. Group 7 was just about two years old and its members served as wonderful hosts. As our organization grew and expanded, later Slets saw the participants housed in campus facilities. When our organization expanded into Canada, our young people there began competing at our Slets which eventually were called "International Slets." I along with our Supreme President recently participated in the annual meeting of the Supreme Physical Fitness Board in Cleveland, Oh. At this meeting, we discussed the 46th International Slet to be held in 2013 as well as our other international sporting tournaments in 2012. At this meeting, we had the opportunity to express farewell to three dedicated members of the board, namely Susan L. Blosser, Julie M. Laury, and Roger J. Manyak. We thanked them for their many years of faithful service while on the S.P.F.B. and look forward to their continued interest in our Sokol activities. We also welcomed new board members, Jennifer A. Romine and Nancy Kropolinsky, along with Martin Degnan, who previously served and returns as a board member. Our Supreme Physical Fitness Board is enthused about our coming year's program and I assured them of our organization's continued strong support. Our youth are the future of our organization and we want to assure them of our commitment to serving their needs and interests in the long run. Our organization has endeavored to make every effort to become more professional in our insurance and annuity products. Last year's statistics indicate that improving our financial situation is possible. These results have shown that with an expanded agency system under our Director of Sales and Marketing along with the faithful lodge officers and recommenders, we can and will find ways to halt our membership decline, our organization's greatest problem. Increasing our new business has already begun and soon we hope to report even greater gains. The fact that we have doubled our premium income in just one year is certainly a wonderful indication that we are on the right road to growth and expansion. Again, working together with the cooperation of all our members we will see even greater success. In our last issue, we published a list of names of those members who took the time and had interest in 2011 to promote our various insurance and annuity products. I want to personally thank each of these 116 dedicated members for their willingness to promote our organization. Their efforts are very much appreciated and I hope that they, along with many more of our members, will promote new membership in 2012. The easiest way to start is for our parents and grandparents to look within their own families. Enrolling a newborn is a simple task. The child is young so the premium will be minimal yet the long-term benefit, the security of life insurance along with the many fraternal benefits offered our members will provide a wonderful return on the investment of a parent or grandparent. We advise parents and grandparents to think about it and see your local lodge officer or contact our Director of Sales and Marketing, Albert J. Suess, Jr., F.I.C. at 888-381- 5431 about an application and rate chart. In this issue a new benefit offering is extended to our Groups, Assemblies and Wreaths. They can invest their funds into our Sokol Secure Fund. It is an excellent investment vehicle whose current interest rate is earning more than what most banks offer in their CDs. Not only will our lodge and Group treasuries benefit with an attractive interest rate but these funds contribute to the overall strength and security of our organization in the long run. Complete details of this new benefit offered to our lodges and Groups may be found in this issue. If there are any questions, just give as a call at 800-886-7656 and we will gladly assist you. So, until next time, have a wonderful week and may God continue to bless you and your family with good health and happiness. Peace be with you and Zdar Boh! |
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