Wfm
F A L L
2008
Woodmen of the World Fraternal Magazine
The Power of Positive Thinking
What’s Your Story?
Uncommon Valor:
A Courageous Fight Against Cancer
What’s the only force strong enough to combat a natural disaster?
Human caring.
Tornadoes don’t avoid communities. Floods won’t bypass family homes. Fires don’t pay attention to all the precious
things they burn.
But Woodmen of the World has always united after disaster strikes, to step in where nature has left nothing but
destruction. Our members are living, working proof that caring isn’t just an emotion … it’s an unstoppable force.
Call 1-800-225-3108 to see how you can get involved.
President ’s Message
A NEW ERA
I
am honored to serve as Woodmen of the World’s
11th president. President Mounce has left our
organization in better shape than ever. I want to
thank him for his incredible leadership and dedicated
service – he is an exceptional fraternalist and we are
lucky to have been a part of his administration.
Kathy and I have met many of you throughout
our travels to Woodmen of the World events like
Jurisdictional and National Conventions, Field
meetings and fraternal projects. Before I worked for
Woodmen of the World, I was a member, just like
you, for eight years. I know what it’s like to start a
lodge and plan events. You are the face of Woodmen
of the World – in your community, you are who
prospective members may think of when they see
our name.
I feel it’s our privilege and responsibility to share
Woodmen of the World with others. Without
someone introducing my family to Woodmen of the
World, there’s no doubt our lives would have been
very different. I passionately believe in the difference
Woodmen of the World can make in a family’s future
– I’ve seen it again and again. The most fraternal
thing we can do is provide for families, and that’s
what we do every day. Our mission states we exist
to benefit our members through every stage of life,
and it’s our job to make sure we fulfill that promise
to your family.
Woodmen of the World is a member-owned
organization, meaning we work together. By working
together, we can make our “family fraternity” grow
by spreading the word that Woodmen of the World
will be with you through life.
Fraternally,
Danny Cummins
President and CEO
3
Wfm
this issue:
f ea t u re s
F A L L
2008
28
Surviving Cancer
Read how one member fought lung cancer with
the support of her family, friends, church, and
Woodmen of the World. Page 6
Cummins and Hernandez
Assume New Roles
As Danny Cummins becomes Woodmen of the
World’s 11th president and Pamela Hernandez
takes his former position, read their thoughts
President’s Message Page 3
Newsworthy Page 9
on achievement, leadership and the future of
our organization. Page 10
Community Connection Movies Yule Love
What makes certain holiday movies into
Member Spotlight
PageS 16, 20, 24
Page 18
“classics?” Why do certain movies bring us
even closer together at Christmastime? Enjoy
Fraternal Spirit Pages 22, 35
the memories of several members. Page 30
30
40
Our Mission
Woodmen of the World exists to benefit our members through
every stage of life.
We provide valued financial solutions.
We engage members in volunteer community service.
We enrich the lives of our members.
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 with member
benefits.
on the cover:
Our nearly 800,000 members, who hold nearly one million insurance
and annuity certificates, belong to 2,000 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 organizations; donating equipment to police, fire
and rescue units; providing assistance to senior citizens, the physically
impaired and orphans; and providing assistance through our disaster
relief program with the American Red Cross.
Lodge 64 member
Sue McNeil of Cairo,
MS, rests a little easier
knowing Woodmen of the
World was there for her
when she needed it the
most.
Article Photos By
FOTOKEW SOUTHERN ART
PHOTOGRAPHY
Member News Pages 26, 33
Money Talk Page 34
Chef’s Corner Page 29
In Memoriam Page 43
Fun Zone Page 44
Life and health insurance and annuity products are issued by
Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society and/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 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 and processed through Woodmen Financial
Services, Inc., 1700 Farnam Street, Omaha, NE 68102, 877-664-3332,
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 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.
** 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 Insurance Society. These products are issued
by carriers that are not affiliated with Woodmen of the World.
credits:
Chaiman of the Board
William C. Owen, Tallahassee, FL
Directors
Danny E. Cummins,
President and CEO, Omaha, NE
Pamela J. Hernandez,
Executive Vice President, Operations and Secretary, Omaha, NE
Mark L. Schreier,
Executive Vice President, Finance and Treasurer, Omaha, NE
Mark D. Theisen,
Executive Vice President, Fraternal, Omaha, NE
Thomas T. Gallion III, Montgomery, AL
Betty H. Brown, Shelbyville, TN
Daniel W. Rice III, Kinston, NC
Lucia G. Taylor-McCoy, Elkview, WV
Stephen W. Mellor, Memphis, TN
M. Lane Harvey, Mt. Vernon, IL
Dr. James W. Bosler III, Louisville, KY
Dr. James W. Shaver, Landis, NC
FALL 2008 VOL. 118, NO. 4
Roger B. Moore, Lynchburg,VA
James W. Bridges Jr., Las Vegas, NV
Executive Officer
Larry R. King,
Executive Vice President, Field, Omaha, NE
Magazine Staff
Managing Editor: Billie Jo Foust
Content Editor: Andy Oerman
Design Editor: Joe Bavaresco
Writers: Nicole Schmoll, Angie Schendt, Heather Bockert
Designers: Bret St. Amour, Mike Wilson, Sarah Richart
Contributors: Kathy Cardwell, Angel Stottle
Marketing & Public Relations
Team Vice President: Steve Haack
If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for
articles, please direct them to [email protected].
Magazine printed on recycled, recyclable paper.
www.woodmen.org
e-mail us at: [email protected]
Wfm (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 Wfm,
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
fratrenal 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.
Valor
One Member’s
Courageous Fight
Against Cancer
Many people use war terms when
talking about cancer.
Attack. Battle.
J
Survivor.
ust like a war, one diagnosis affects
many people. There are many scars:
physical, emotional and financial.
And it takes a Herculean effort, plus an
arsenal of weapons, to win.
But it can be done – people who have
beaten or are beating cancer are all
around us. One such survivor is Lodge 64
member Sue McNeil of Cairo, MS.
Sue McNeil is
winning her war
against lung cancer.
A503WOW
FOTOKEW Southern Art PHOTOGRAPHY
with you through life
Uncommon
Sue, 72, was diagnosed with
lung cancer in August 2007.
According to www.lungcancer.org,1
approximately 15 percent of all
cancer diagnoses and 29 percent
of all cancer deaths were due to
lung cancer in 2007.
Doctors detected Sue’s lung cancer
in its earliest stage, which made
her prognosis good. Sue had been
going to a lung specialist for several
years and had been getting chest
X-rays several times a year. She
suffers from emphysema brought
on by 38 years of smoking.
“My doctor kept a close eye on my
health,” she said.
She knew all too well the toll years
of smoking can take. She had three
brothers die within two years of
each other, all from cancer, and
all had smoked. Sue quit smoking
eight years ago.
“I made up my mind, and I did it.
I used the patch for three or four
months, and now I don’t even want
a cigarette,” she said.
Her willpower was another factor
in her favor following her lung
cancer diagnosis. According to
the American Society of Clinical
Oncology,2 people who stop
smoking after a diagnosis have an
easier time with treatments.
Immediately
following
her
diagnosis, Sue spent a week in the
hospital in Tupelo, about 50 miles
away from her home. She received
both radiation and chemotherapy,
and she also had to get platelet
transfusions. She has been declared
cancer free, although she does go
in for periodic tests.
“I’m feeling pretty good, although
some days I do feel terrible. But
then I think it could be a lot worse,”
she said.
A Tough Fight
Her family has been an important
part of her recovery. Her husband
passed away five years ago,
so her three daughters and six
grandchildren (and one greatgrandchild on the way) have
provided the joy and support she
needed to get through the difficult
times. One grandson lives nearby
and checks in on her every day.
“My girls helped me out – they
wouldn’t let me drive to treatment.
They really kept me going,” she said.
It is important to Sue to not impose
on her friends and family. She
specifically asked her church friends
to not make a big fuss over her
battle with cancer – no casseroles,
cookies or candy. She said others’
prayers and warm smiles have
meant the most, anyway.
“I turned everything over to the
Lord,” she said.
One side effect of treatment has
been somewhat hard for Sue. She
lost all her hair, and it hasn’t grown
back yet. For a retired beautician,
it was particularly hard. And in the
heat of Mississippi, wigs are not the
most comfortable option. Instead,
sometimes she wears hats.
Sue’s church family also gave her
peace of mind.
Sending in
Reinforcements
“I always went to church. Now
I go when I can. Being around
family and friends gives me such
encouragement. I love hearing
‘you’re looking good’ and seeing
friends there,” she said.
Sue had transportation expenses
to the treatment clinics, hospital
bills not covered by Medicare
and the supplemental insurance
she purchased, and regular
living expenses. It’s those kinds
FOTOKEW Southern Art PHOTOGRAPHY
A Brave Warrior
Sue McNeil holds her wedding photo close to her heart.
7
FOTOKEW Southern Art PHOTOGRAPHY
they do not have health insurance, or if they
are at certain income levels. On the other
hand, people should also avoid having too
much health coverage. A Woodmen of the
World Representative can help determine
where gaps exist in current coverage and
recommend appropriate insurance based on
individual situations.
Sue McNeil is smiling again.
of unexpected expenses that can cause additional
stress to an already stressful situation. She was
grateful she decided to purchase Woodmen
of the World First Source Cancer Insurance.
“It allows me to pay my own way and not be a burden
to others. I am able to keep up with everything I
need to do. I found the protection to be very
valuable,” she said.
For more information on
Woodmen of the World
First Source Cancer Insurance,
visit www.woodmen.org.
Woodmen of the World’s First Source Cancer Insurance
provides a one-time benefit following the first diagnosis
of cancer. There are no restrictions on how individuals
spend the benefit – the claim is paid directly to the
person designated on the certificate. Patients can use
the money to pay off mortgages, credit card debt or
hospital bills. Other members have chosen to keep
their businesses afloat while they are in recovery; still
others have invested the money for their children’s
college expenses.
Life and health insurance and annuity products are issued by
The financial costs of cancer can be monumental.
Even for society as a whole, cancer continues to drain
resources. In 2007, the National Institute of Health3
estimated that the overall cost of cancer was $219.2
billion, including all health expenditures, and lost
productivity due to illness and death.
MN, NH, NJ and WY. Product benefits and features may vary by
The American Cancer Society3 estimates that more
than 1.4 million new cancer cases are expected to be
diagnosed in 2008. Lack of health insurance prevents
many Americans from receiving adequate cancer
treatment. Woodmen of the World’s First Source
Cancer Insurance is not a substitute for major medical
insurance – it is intended as a supplement to an
existing health insurance plan. It is not recommended
that people purchase supplemental cancer insurance if
8
A war with cancer is filled with many tough
battles, but having allies like friends, family,
faith and Woodmen of the World First Source
Cancer Insurance can help on the journey
to victory. zx
Wfm FAL L
2008
Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society and/or Omaha
Woodmen Life Insurance Society, a Nebraska corporation
that is licensed as Woodmen of the World Life Insurance
Society (Woodmen of the World) in all states 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 (Woodmen). Not all products
are available in all states. Not all Representatives are licensed to
sell all products.
Form 128-XX-0004. Not available in CA, CT, IA, KS, MD, MA,
state. This certificate has exclusions, limitations, and reductions of
benefits. For costs and complete details of coverage, call or write
your Representative or the Woodmen of the World Home Office,
1700 Farnam Street, Omaha, NE 68102, 1-800-225-3108.
THIS IS A SUPPLEMENTAL CANCER ONLY POLICY.
Sources:
1. CancerCare. 22 April 2008. http://www.lungcancer.org.
2. American Society of Clinical Oncology. 14 December 2007.
9 May 2008. http://www.cancer.net.
3. American Cancer Society & National Institute of Health.
Cancer Facts and Figures 2007. 12 March 2008.
http://www.cancer.org.
Newswort h y
Rice Receives Governor’s Award
D
aniel W. Rice III has been named the recipient of the 2008 Governor’s Award for Excellence
for public service in North Carolina, the highest honor a state employee may receive. Rice
is the Director of Specialized Services at Caswell Developmental Center and the Executive
Director for Caswell Center Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization serving individuals and
families with developmental disabilities in the eastern part of the state.
Rice’s passion for public service dates back to 1974, when he became a Woodmen of the World
member. In 1978, Rice received his first community service award for outstanding contributions
to our Youth Program; in 1981 he received the Mr. Woodman Award for Kinston Lodge #46;
in 1983, he was named one of Woodmen of the World’s Top 10 Outstanding Youth Leaders in
DANIEL W. RICE III
America; and he has twice received honors as North Carolina’s Fraternalist of the Year. Rice is
currently a member of Woodmen of the World’s national Board of Directors, as well as Chairman of North Carolina
Children’s Home Program, a volunteer leadership position he has held since 1995.
Rice has received numerous other awards for his public service, has held several leadership roles in Lenoir County’s
Chamber of Commerce, is a member of the founding committee for the Lenoir County Friends of the Homeless, Inc.
and has served as President of its Executive Committee for the past 10 years.
Rice received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in social work, with a specialty in family services, from East
Carolina University and the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, respectively. He and his wife, Johnnee, have
two sons, Carson and Jonathan. zx
Schreier Receives Jacobson-Rugland Award
M
ark L. Schreier, Executive Vice President, Finance and Treasurer of Woodmen of the
World, has been named the recipient of the 16th annual Luther College JacobsonRugland Award. Schreier received the award at the “Celebration of Fraternalism” lunch on Sept.
5, held during the 122nd annual conference of the National Fraternal Congress of America
(NFCA) in Washington, D.C.
Established by Luther College in 1993, the award honors an outstanding fraternal actuary for
contributions to the actuarial profession and for support of the fraternal benefit system. A committee
of the NFCA chooses the recipient. Nominations come from actuaries and fraternal organizations
across the country.
MARK L. SCHREIER
A native of Verdigre, NE, Schreier began his Woodmen of the World career in 1977 in the actuarial
department. Schreier was appointed Assistant Vice President in 1988 and Associate Actuary in August 1990. In 1994, he was
named Actuary. In 2000, he was appointed Vice President, Chief Actuary and Actuarial and Accounting Division Manager.
He was named Executive Vice President, Finance and Treasurer in 2008.
Schreier is a member of Lodges 1 and 16 in Omaha, and has held all lodge offices, including president.
Schreier graduated magna cum laude from Doane College in Crete, NE, with a Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in math
and business. He and his wife, Diana, have two sons, John and Michael. zx
9
NE WS WORT H Y
As 11th President,
Cummins is Focused
on
E
Improvement
ffective Oct. 1, 2008, Danny Cummins assumed
duties as Woodmen of the World’s 11th
President and CEO.
The former elementary school teacher and basketball
coach hasn’t let the success go to his head. Danny
Cummins is still the same diligent, motivated and
encouraging man that he was back in 1982, when he
joined Woodmen of the World as a part-time
Field Representative.
“I am so privileged to work for and be a member of
Woodmen of the World,” Cummins said. “I know that
my job as President of this great organization is to give
our members and associates a vision of what’s possible if
we strive for improvement every day.”
A native of Brooksville, KY, Cummins knows what’s
possible when you inspire others to improve daily.
Applying lessons he learned from his days as a coach,
Cummins says success hinges on getting others to believe
they can achieve more than they ever thought possible
through daily improvements.
A Message to Members
“Our focus is clear,” Cummins said. “We are going to
strive daily to provide our members with better service
and products, be more efficient in our daily work and
lower our operating costs.”
Cummins wants members to be a part of helping
Woodmen of the World grow. He encourages
involvement in local lodges and outreach to
communities.
“Imagine if every member brought in one new member
a year. Imagine what that would do for our friends,
families and our communities. There is no limit to the
good we can accomplish together.”
A Body of Work
In addition to a passion for improvement, Cummins
brings considerable Field and Home Office experience
10
Wfm FAL L
2008
with him to the President’s office. Three years after
coming to work for Woodmen of the World as a parttime Field Representative, Cummins was promoted to
Area Manager, and then in 1991, was appointed State
Manager of Northeast Texas.
Fifteen years of President’s Club and Cabinet
membership, as well as numerous other sales awards and
achievements, propelled Cummins to Omaha in 1997,
when he was recruited to work in the Home Office as
Vice President and National Field Manager. In 2000,
he was elected to the Board of Directors as Executive
Vice President, Operations and Secretary. Cummins
received his B.S. in Education from Eastern Kentucky
University and his master’s in Elementary Education
from Morehead State University.
Despite all his accomplishments and record of service
with Woodmen of the World, Cummins says that his
success as President won’t be about what he achieves.
“It’s not about what I do,” he says. “It’s about what I can
motivate our talented associates and members
to accomplish.” zx
W
Hernandez’s Strategy
hen Pamela Hernandez assumed her
duties as Executive Vice President,
Operations and Secretary for Woodmen
of the World on Oct. 1, one thing was on her mind.
It wasn’t the fact that she was the first woman to
be elected to the Executive Committee in Woodmen
of the World’s 118-year history. It wasn’t the big
shoes she had to fill, with her predecessor being
elected as the organization’s 11th President. It
wasn’t even the challenges facing the core
operational areas of Underwriting, Membership
Services and Claims, which she oversees. It was one
word: clarity.
“This is the year to clarify how we will accomplish
our goals of growing our membership, offering
members valued financial solutions and excellent
customer care and providing a relevant, meaningful
fraternal program,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez has an oversized, laminated strategy
map that she carries to various meetings. Strategy is
always on the tip of her tongue, the same way that
Woodmen of the World’s organizational goals are at
the forefront of her mind. “Our resources are finite
and we must be good stewards of our members’
resources,” she said. “Strategy helps us spend wisely.”
Before being elected to the Executive Committee,
Hernandez managed Woodmen of the World’s
Core Operational areas as Senior Vice President,
Operations and Strategy Management.
for
Success
New operations chief wants
to streamline processes
“The one salient detail, the one constant throughout
all my work settings is our people. Our people are our
edge and I want to create a place where people want
to contribute.”
While continuing to serve Field and Home Office
associates, Hernandez plans to spend more time
with members in her new role. “Our members set us
apart,” she said. “I look forward to meeting many of
them at the upcoming Jurisdictional and National
Conventions, and building relationships with them
over the coming years.”
Hernandez received her undergraduate and
graduate degrees from the University of Nebraska
at Lincoln, majoring in literature and education, and
planned on following the family legacy of teaching.
She continued that legacy as Field Instructor for
Woodmen of the World and later moved on to
become Field Communications Manager in 1988,
then Project Implementation Manager in 1993 and
Vice President, Human Resources in 2002, a position
she held until her promotion to Senior Vice President,
four years later. zx
Hernandez joined in 1984, around the same time
Danny Cummins began working for Woodmen of
the World as a part-time Field Representative.
The two have worked closely together over the past
few years, and Hernandez looks forward to serving
together on the Executive Committee. “Danny’s
passion for helping our associates and members is
contagious,” she said.
Hernandez plans to draw on her years of experience
working with Field and Home Office associates to
excel in her new position. “Working in so many areas
of the organization has given me the ability to see
things from multiple points of view.
11
Today’s
Today’s Family
Family
WHAT’S
YOUR
STORY?
Every family
has a story.
by Nicole Schmoll
M
ost of us have ancestors who came to America from other
lands: relatives who lived here, worked here, fought here
and died here. We have forefathers, and mothers, who tilled
fields, invented machines, wrote laws and advanced our society.
Thanks to new technology and a renewed commitment by some
national organizations to connect young people with older generations,
many of our ancestors’ stories are now being told, cherished and
preserved for generations yet to come.
Maybe Thanksgiving is responsible for November being named Family
Stories Month. As families gather around cranberries and stuffing,
candied yams and gelatin molds, the holiday season is a perfect time
to ask our elder family members to share their family traditions and
memories of their ancestors.
Why wouldn’t we want to share our stories with each other? After all,
every family has a story.
Find Your Family’s Story Online
“The holiday season
is a perfect time
to ask our elder
family members to
share their family
traditions.”
The desire to delve into the details of elder family members’ lives drives
countless people to pursue genealogical research. Tracing your ancestry
is easier now than it has ever been. No more traveling to cemeteries
all over the country; no more countless hours of painstaking research
poring over paper records.
With the proliferation of information on the internet and an abundance
of Web sites dedicated to helping people trace their family lines, much
genealogical research can be done from the comfort of your own home.
For over a decade, www.ancestry.com has been helping people
research their roots. Among other things, the Web site boasts of:
• More than 850,000 subscribers
• More than 8 million uploaded photos
• Creating 6 million family trees
• The complete, digitized U.S. Federal Census, from 1790 to 1930
Paid subscribers can search www.ancestry.com’s exhaustive birth,
death, marriage, military, and immigration records, as well as family
facts, photographs, personal narratives and
newspaper articles, to fill out not only
the names and dates, but the details
of their family trees.
13
“We encourage families to incorporate activities
into their story-sharing times,” said Donna Butts,
Executive Director for Generations United. “Pick a
time that’s convenient for everyone and go walking
through the neighborhood and share about what the
neighborhood, downtown, school, and travel used
to look like; make an old family recipe together; or,
ask questions about meaningful family heirlooms.
All these things open up a new world to a young
person.”
Visit www.gu.org for helpful hints on how to share
your family stories and for other intergenerational
activity ideas. Generations United offers many
resources that you can download for free and use to
plan your lodge’s next Make a Difference Day or JOIN
HANDS DAY® events.
‘A Scrapbook Tells a Story.’
Woodmen of the World member Molly Coutts and
her granddaughter, Alex, just returned from an
invigorating trip to Stateline outside of Victorville,
CA, where they lounged at the pool, played in
the arcade and snapped some pictures with a pair
of amazing parrots. Coutts has already started
a scrapbook page to remember their fun time
together.
Oral History Unites Generations
Maybe you’re not interested as much in unearthing
your family lineage as you are listening to your
living relatives share what life was like when they
were young. Perhaps you’d like to find out how your
grandmother’s family celebrated the Fourth of July;
or how your great-grandfather spent his summers
growing up; or how your great-aunt learned to make
such good salsa.
Generations United (GU) is an organization
dedicated to supporting intergenerational
relationships. GU is America’s only membership
organization promoting intergenerational public
policies, programs and strategies.
Generations United helps support intergenerational
families in a variety of ways. One of these ways is by
encouraging children to learn their family stories in
an interactive way.
14
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2008
“Everyone likes to see their picture in a book, but a
scrapbook tells a story,” said Coutts.
Scrapbooking is another way of sharing family and
lodge memories. Coutts knows a thing or two about
scrapbooking. Her lodge is the reigning two-time
champion of Woodmen of the World’s National
Scrapbook Contest.
“Our scrapbook is a brag book for our members
to show others what we’ve done. We take it to our
Christmas parties, where we invite non-members
and use it to tell them what we are involved in. It’s
a visual documentation of what our lodge does
together.”
Coutts was introduced to scrapbooking through a
friend who was relentless in asking her to come to
a weekly scrapbooking workshop at the local pizza
parlor.
Six short years later, Coutts is a self-described
“pack rat of all things scrapbook.” With events like
campouts, mystery dinners and JOIN HANDS DAY®
projects with local Girl Scout troops, Coutts stays
busy making pages all year round. Whenever her
lodge or family does something, she brings along
her camera and tells everyone else to do the same.
“Then, I will title it, sometimes something silly, so
it’s fun. I use rubber stamps, because it’s more cost
effective and I always leave space for journaling to
describe what we were doing,” said Coutts. “That
way, when someone in the future reads it, they will
know more about us.”
More than a Lodge Affair
Coutts’ experience proves that scrapbooking is a
great way to share lodge memories with members
and non-members alike. But like her lodge’s
activities for neighboring communities, her love for
scrapbooking knows no bounds. As an Instructional
Associate for Pinon Hills Elementary School, Coutts
introduced a group of fifth graders she was tutoring
to scrapbooking last year.
“They had a ball. I brought in supplies for boys
and girls to make a memory book of their year. It
was such a hit that the first graders in the room
with me weren’t content until I promised that they
could scrapbook, too, once they finished their other
projects.”
It seems that all the children in Coutts’ life
appreciate her scrapbooking talent. It’s a way that
Coutts can share family memories and pass along
stories to the next generation. “I want them to have
something to remember me by when I’m gone.” zx
Questions Kids Can Ask
Woodmen of the World is committed to
strengthening relationships between youth and
adults. We do this through JOIN HANDS DAY®
activities and lodge events every year. Sharing
family stories is another way to build strong ties
between children and their older relatives.
With Family Stories Month approaching in
November, take your next family gathering as
an opportunity to help your children learn more
about their elder relatives’ lives. Encourage them
to ask grandparents or other relatives some
of the following questions from Generations
United:
• Where were you born?
• Where were your mom and dad born?
• Where did you grow up? What was it like?
• How many brothers and sisters did you have?
• Where did you go to school? What was it like?
• What was your favorite thing to do with your
family when you were my age?
• What kind of games did you play?
• What were holidays like in your family?
• What kind of chores did you do?
• Did you have pets?
• What was your first job?
• What is your earliest memory?
• What was your favorite possession/toy/gift
someone gave you?
• What is the bravest thing you ever did?
• Who do I remind you of in the family?
For additional information on intergenerational
activities, multigenerational families or
grandparents and other relatives who are
raising children, visit the Generations United
Website at www.gu.org.
15
C ommun i t y C o n n e c t ion
Waving Pride Proudly
Woodmen of the World members celebrate
Flags Across America
Y
ou can catch a glimpse of it everywhere;
waving high up in the air – the American
flag. As a symbol of our country’s freedom,
the red, white and blue is displayed proudly.
Woodmen of the World conducted a Flag Day program
with Play Mates of Selmer. Lodge 78 member Faye
McCormick gave a short talk about the holiday.
Members of Selmer Lodge 78 presented a new flag to the
Selmer County Courthouse.
Many holidays are represented with the nation’s
flag, but Woodmen of the World members take
pride in a holiday where American flags are
bountifully displayed. Before the night sky is
illuminated with fireworks and the smell of the
grill fills our nation’s noses, Flag Day is celebrated.
Woodmen of the World members celebrated the
June 14 holiday with Flags Across America.
Claudia Dowdell, the Fraternal Coordinator in
Tennessee West, is proud of the presentations that
Woodmen of the World members put together
for Flags Across America. “It’s sentimental and
allows citizens to reflect our patriotism toward
the flag.”
Members of Lodge 78 in Selmer, TN, planned
flag presentations throughout the community.
The lodge presented a new flag to the County
Courthouse. “The city was very excited to get
a new flag for their courthouse,” said Dowdell.
“It really showed everyone that Woodmen of the
World members have real pride.”
Along with the flag presentation for the
courthouse, Lodge 78 members conducted flag
presentations in local classrooms. After saying the
Pledge of Allegiance, students colored flags
and were given a small flag to keep.
Many classroom presentations
were accompanied by a
Woodmen of the World
Field Representative or lodge
member who talked about the
flag and its meaning.
16
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2008
FLORIDA
Alva Lodge 633 member
Eddie Long raises the
flag at the lodge’s dinner
and flag retiring.
ILLINOIS
Members of Lodge
6146 in Rosiclare joined
together at Rosiclare
Park to celebrate
Flag Day.
KENTUCKY
Lodge 38 members from
Arlington placed flags on
veterans’ graves at the
Arlington City Cemetery.
ARKANSAS
Magnolia Lodge 341
Vice President Carlos
Evers (left) and President
Ronnie Talley work
to replace the flag at
Magnolia Memorial
Gardens Cemetery.
TENNESSEE
Jackson Lodge 179
member and veteran
Robert Nolan helped
decorate Hollywood
Cemetery.
INDIANA
Betty and Frank Miller,
members of South Bend
Lodge 6001, place flags
on graves at Riverview
Cemetery.
“The Flag Day presentations demonstrate that
Woodmen of the World members take pride in their
families and their communities, by paying tribute
to the heroes and victims across our great nation,”
Dowdell said. “By presenting flags to different
schools, fire and police departments and other
organizations, Woodmen of the World carries the
patriotic spirit throughout our country.”
Lodge 78 isn’t the only lodge to get involved with Flags
Across America. Every year hundreds of Woodmen of
the World lodges, and thousands of members, plan flag
presentations around the country.
“Our country’s cities and towns can see what Woodmen
of the World is all about,” Dowdell said. zx
17
M E M B ER S P O TLIGHT
The
Real
Santa
Claus
Randy Smith of the North Pole
(by way of West Virginia) with
his grandson, Scott Smith
18
Wfm FAL L
2008
R
andy Smith is proud of
his white beard and grey
hair. In a stage of life when
many retirees choose to dye their
hair to cover their grey, Smith is
pouring on the silver so that he
can look the part.
With a full belly, real beard and
a million-dollar smile, Smith has
been the official Santa Claus for
the state of West Virginia for more
than 20 years.
“Fairmont, West Virginia, is known
for three things,” says Smith,
laughing. “We are the home of the
pepperoni pie, Mary Lou Retton
and me.”
Smith is a well-known, almost
iconic, figure in West Virginia.
Nearly everywhere he goes, even
when he’s not in costume, he is
recognized with whispered cries
of “Santa!” from children, wideeyed with gleeful disbelief. Smith’s
Santa status is a family tradition; he
can still remember his grandfather
stealing away for a couple of hours
every Christmas Eve to bring food
and toys to children in poorer
parts of town.
Better All the Time
“The children react to me because
I truly do love them,” says Smith.
“Christmas is better for me now
than it was when I was a child.”
Smith has a real passion for
helping children. Before coming to
work with Woodmen of the World
as a Field Representative, Smith
spent 10 years as a janitor on the
pediatric floor of a local hospital.
He’d finish his work quickly so that
Smith is a wellknown, almost
iconic, figure in
West Virginia.
Nearly everywhere
he goes, even
when he’s not in
costume, he is
recognized with
whispered cries
of “Santa!” from
children,
wide-eyed with
gleeful disbelief.
remember me from the hospital,”
says Smith. “Here they were as
adults, remembering me from
their childhood and I was helping
them protect their children with
the best fraternal life insurance
organization in the world.”
No Time Off
Now retired from Field work,
Smith is an active member of
Lodge 20 in Fairmont, WV, and
enjoys playing Santa Claus all year
round. December is his busiest
time of year, but West Virginians
can catch a glimpse of him, in his
Santa casual wear, every summer
at local ‘Christmas in July’ events.
A book titled Yes, West Virginia
There is a Santa Claus!, chronicling
Smith’s inspirational life, is due
out this Christmas from Limestone
Books. zx
he could spend time cheering up
the children on his floor.
“I knew what it was like to be
in a hospital as a child – it feels
terrifying and lonely,” Smith says.
“Anytime there was a scared child,
the nurses would page me and I
would calm the child down and try
to get their mind off of their fears
and pain.”
When he did become a Field
Representative, the Woodmen of
the World Ranger Youth Program
was Smith’s favorite part of the job.
“About once or twice a month,
I’d be on an appointment and
the person would say, ‘Do I know
you from somewhere?’ There’d
be a pause and then they’d
Smith practices being a right
jolly old elf.
19
C ommun i t y C o n n e c t ion
Ruby Carsone:
A Gem of a
Fraternalist
R
uby Carsone, President of Lodge 5 in
Hopkinsville, KY, has been named Woodmen
of the World’s Fraternalist of the Year.
She was chosen out of the pool of the jurisdictional
Fraternalists of the Year. Her nomination form was
sent to the National Fraternal Congress of America for
its Fraternalist of the Year contest, and at their annual
meeting, she was chosen as the first runner-up.
“I was surprised to even be chosen for my state,”
she said of being first chosen as Kentucky West’s
Fraternalist of the Year. “There are so many people
worthy of that, even right here in this lodge.”
Carsone and the rest of the lodge officers keep
members hopping. The lodge meets on the third
Thursday of each month, and about 35 to 50 people
attend each time. Each month has a theme and a
costume contest, and she has been known to dress
up as the Easter bunny or wear Mardi Gras hats to
liven up the meetings. Lodge members always serve
a pot-luck or catered meal, and they also advertise
the meetings in the local newspaper and on radio
stations. Carsone not only presides over the meetings,
but she’s very involved in all of the lodge’s activities,
from scrapbooking to visiting local nursing homes to
decorating the lodge hall.
“Woodmen of the World is very, very important.
My motto has always been: God, family, church, and
Woodmen,” she said.
In December, her two-year presidency will be over, but
her fraternal work is far from finished. “My passion
right now is to help build a children’s memorial park
for parents who have lost a child. Many parents find
it hard to go to the cemetery, so this will be a place
where they can have some quiet time,” she said. “In
another couple of years when we’ve raised the money
for it, we’ll have one in Hopkinsville.”
Carsone keeps a journal each day of everything she
has done, and quite often, that journal is filled with
Woodmen of the World activities.
20
Wfm FAL L
2008
Ruby Carsone has been involved with Woodmen of the
World for more than 30 years.
“Fraternalism is all about working together. We do
so much good in the community, I always want to
stay involved,” she said. zx
About the Fraternalist of the Year Award
Each of our jurisdictions/marketing areas selects a
Fraternalist of the Year from the nominees sent by the
lodges in the area. A national winner is chosen from those,
and is sent as Woodmen of the World’s representative to
the National Fraternal Congress of America’s (NFCA)
Fraternalist of the Year contest.
The national award is given annually to recognize the
nation’s top volunteer among the almost 10 million
members affiliated with the NFCA’s member-societies.
The award goes to a fraternal benefit society member
who has provided outstanding volunteer service in his/
her community and excellent leadership in his/her local
chapter throughout the past year. The NFCA unites
75 not-for-profit fraternal benefit societies operating
in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Canada.
The association represents 10 million fraternalists in
37,000 local chapters, making it one of America’s largest
member-volunteer networks.
Nominations from lodges will be due to State Service
Centers in May 2009 for the 2009 Fraternalist of the
Year contest.
Jurisdictional/Marketing Area winners are:
Erick “Tom” W. Brown – North Alabama
Arlene R. Vester – South Alabama
Richard “Dick” Sherman – Arizona
Luther V. Jones – Arkansas
William E. “Mitch” Mitchum Jr. – North
California
L.J. “Randy” Randolph – South California
Barney H. Browning Jr. – North California
Jean C. Harley – South Florida
Loudean J. Seabolt – North Georgia
Carol M. Bertolone – Central Georgia
Betty R. Wilson – South Georgia
Charles R. “Chuck” Mabry – Illinois
Elizabeth J. Miller – Indiana
M. LaVonne Thompson – Iowa
Ruby M. Carsone – West Kentucky
Rebecca A. Woosley – East Kentucky
John Nocito – Louisiana
Carolyn A. Humberson – Maryland
Helen M. Geer – New Mexico
Charles N. Felker – North Mississippi
Larry A. Strohm Sr. – South Mississippi
Mary Hardy Benton – Missouri-Kansas
Paul A. Childers Jr. – Nebraska
Jack G. Koontz – West North Carolina
Susan Thompson Davis – East North
Carolina
Robert W. “Wes” Culbertson – Ohio
Martha A. Hughes – Oklahoma
Mary L. Beckey – Pennsylvania
Carroll Dale Eargle – South Carolina
Donna S. Young – West Tennessee
Geraldine C. “Jerrie” Tallman – East
Tennessee
Mary “Bobbie” Tucker – Northeast Texas
Jane D. Yoakum – Southeast Texas
Lena M. Jasso – Southwest Texas
Clarence E. Sadler – Northwest Texas
Davis R. Francisco – Virginia
Willie M. Earley Jr. - East Virginia
Edith C. Brown – Northwest Territory
Charles C. “Clayton” Graham – West
Virginia
Joshua C. Axness – Wisconsin
Natural Disaster Fraternal Benefit
Natural disasters include, but are not limited to:
• Tornadoes
• Wildfires • Hurricanes
•
Forest fires
•
Earthquakes
•
Floods
The following qualifications apply:
• A member may receive only one benefit per household per year;
• Damage to the member’s primary residence (or contents if member is renting) must be at least $10,000, with the
benefit being one percent of said damage;
• Minimum benefit is $100 and maximum is $500;
• The benefit application (Form 61), along with the estimate of the damage or loss, must be received in the Home
Office within 180 days for the date of loss;
• Estimate of damage must be on a homeowner’s insurance adjuster form or equivalent document;
• Member (also the homeowner or renter) must be in good standing;
• Woodmen of the World will have sole discretion in determining the payee of the fraternal benefit;
How to Apply
To apply for this special Disaster Relief Fraternal Benefit, simply complete a benefit application (Form 61) and mail or
fax the completed application along with documentation of your loss to: Woodmen of the World, Fraternal Services, 1700
Farnam Street, Omaha, NE 68102, Fax (402) 449-7733
For More Information
If you have questions or need more information about this benefit, please call Kathy Anderson in Fraternal Services at
(402) 449-7790, ext. 7378, or the Woodmen of the World Customer Contact Center, toll-free, at 1-800-225-3108.
Lodge Officer Election Reminder
This fall, Woodmen of the World members will be casting their votes for more than just the President of the United States.
Lodges will also be electing officers for next year.
The election of the 2009 officers should be held during the November or December meetings at the latest. Many lodges elected
officers earlier this fall to meet the early Nov. 14 Lodge Calendar deadline to receive the $1,500 Matching Funds incentive.
Installation should occur before the first meeting in January, as outlined in Woodmen of the World’s Lodge By-Laws, which
are attached to the Constitution and Laws. Every lodge must have the following officers: President, Vice President, Secretary,
Treasurer, three Trustees, Escort, Sergeant at Arms, and Greeter. Most lodges elect officers to serve one year, except the Secretary,
who is appointed by the President of Woodmen of the World and serves until removed by the President.
21
f r at e r n a l s p i r i t
Georgia
Clarksville Lodge 143
Field Representative
Ricky Pruitt assists
Georgia Mountain
Christian Academy
student Holly Howard
with her DNA &
Fingerprint Identification
Program kit.
West Virginia
F
ield Representatives David Schreffler and Garry Harring presented American
History Awards to Pitman Lodge 433 members. Pictured from left to right are
Schreffler, Kellsie Davis, Juliana Smeltz, Laura Misiewizz, Chase Miller Jr., Daniel
Romberger and Harring.
22
Wfm FAL L
2008
Nebraska
Lincoln Lodge 264
members Frank Jordan
(left), Neil Standley
(center) and Monte
Moser grilled hamburgers
and Polish dogs for
their lodge’s 100-year
anniversary celebration
and social.
Kentucky
Hopkinsville Lodge 5
members Lois Stricklin,
Ruby Carsone, Patricia
Thomas, Anna Mosby,
Grace Arvin, and Alma
Wade posed for a photo
at a lodge meeting.
North Carolina
Merritt Lodge 1345
members enjoyed
the swimming pool
and slide at the boys’
Woodmen of the World
Summer Camp in Fort
Barnwell.
Missouri
Helen Thomas (left) of
Lodge 880 in Columbia
presented a 25-year
service pin to Beth
McIntyre.
Texas
Members of Garland
Lodge 978 visited the
Dallas Veterans Hospital
and thanked the
veterans for their service
and sacrifice.
Tennessee
Columbia Lodge
18 members Ryan
Crumley (left), Field
Representative Neal
Pulley, FICF (center), and
Ken Jones participated
in “Turn the Tide Ride,” a
benefit for inner city kids.
Arkansas
Vice President Carlos
Evers (left), Jayme
Wilson (center) and
President Ronnie Talley
(right) of Magnolia
Lodges 341 and 1410
presented 10 boxed
fans to the Area
Agency on Aging.
Georgia
Cairo Lodge 580 Field
Representative Frank
Jones (left) presented an
American flag to Cairo
High School Principal
Tim Helms.
23
C ommun i t y C o n n e c t ion
A Somber Celebration of Life
In Honor and Remembrance Ceremonies Pay Tribute to Heroes
E
veryone can recall where they were and what they were doing on Sept. 11, 2001. That innocent
morning was clear and bright, until terrorists filled the sky and our hearts with clouds. Seven years
later, all across the nation, the clouds once again hung heavy.
Despite the overcast weather, including rain brought on by hurricanes, thousands of Woodmen of the World
members and community leaders gathered at community focal points to express their grief and gratitude on
the anniversary of the terrorist attacks. They honored the victims who perished at the World Trade Center,
the Pentagon and on Flight 93. They honored the heroes who risked, and sometimes sacrificed, their own lives
to rescue them. They honored the volunteers who worked to restore the communities. They honored military
members who protect our country, both stateside and abroad. And finally, they honored local heroes – the
police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and others who serve to protect citizens every day.
“It’s so important for young people to have traditions, and to see us honoring the flag. We need to instill
patriotism so we always have the freedom our ancestors fought so hard for us to have,” said Florida South
Fraternal Coordinator Joan Garrett.
The Florida South area conducted
31 In Honor and Remembrance
ceremonies, including two large ones
organized by Lakeland Lodge 78
and Tampa Lodge 37. The first that
morning was at Florida Academy, a
grammar school in Tampa. About
100 students gathered in the cafeteria
where they sang patriotic songs and
State Manager Max Aines presented
flags to the school.
“Afterward, the teachers took the
students back to the classrooms to
teach them what the words in the
songs mean,” Garrett said.
Later that day, Aines made another
flag presentation at Florida College,
also in Tampa. Garrett estimated
that 400 to 500 people attended the
ceremony in the college’s chapel.
“It was an impressive, inspirational
day,” she said. zx
Florida South State Manager Max Aines (center) presents
a flag to Florida College President Dr. C. G. Caldwell
(right) and David Curry, Director of Current Giving.
24
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2008
25
M E M B ER NE W S
Managing Risk at Lodges
Funding Lodge Events
Woodmen of the World’s Risk Management Team would like to
remind lodge officers of the importance of safety at lodge events.
Slips, trips and falls at lodges are among the most common
causes of injury to members and guests, and they are also the
most costly.
Many of these incidents can be prevented by properly addressing
and proactively promoting a good, safe environment and using
common sense at activities.
Often, money is required to turn ideas into
realities that impact others. Knowing how
lodges receive funds can help ensure that
project plans become successful events.
The first source of revenue lodges receive
comes from ‘fraternal dues’ paid by every
member to his or her lodge. The Home Office
collects those dues with premium payments,
and routes them back to the lodges. Lodge
Treasurers keep a record of all payments made
into lodges’ accounts and withdrawals taken
from them.
Trustees are responsible for auditing lodge
books to ensure that all funds are properly
accounted for but they are not responsible for
the funds themselves – only Lodge Treasurers
can access lodge funds. All lodge expenses are
then approved by lodge vote.
Take Responsibility for Safety
The person who first notices a problem or a hazard is in the best
position to prevent an accident. It’s important to both empower
members to correct a potentially dangerous situation, and to
put someone in charge of lodge safety. Here are some common
hazards to look out for:
• Slick surfaces
• Inadequate lighting, both inside and outside
• Obstacles in high-traffic areas, including outside walkways
• Wet, icy or oily surfaces
• Objects left on stairways
• Newly waxed floors
• Spilled substances
• Frayed carpeting
If an Accident Happens
It is of utmost importance to immediately report lodge hall
damages or injuries to guests or members in a timely manner.
Following a storm, be sure to inspect your lodge hall for damage.
Broken windows or holes in the roof may allow rain to cause
additional damage, especially if water seepage creates mold
conditions. Failure to report damage within the first few days
after an occurrence might also adversely affect
insurance payment.
If lodge guests or members are injured during lodge-sponsored
events, whether they’re on lodge property or not, a lodge
officer must report such injuries to Woodmen of the World’s Risk
Management Department at 402-271-7888, who will submit
insurance claims on your lodge’s behalf. The Risk Management
Team is available to answer any questions you might have.
Matching Funds – How Much Can
Your Lodge Make?
A second source of revenue that helps fund
lodge projects is matching funds. The amount
of matching funds lodges are eligible for is
based on the amount of new members written
into adult and youth lodges (if applicable) as of
Dec. 31 of the previous calendar year. Lodges
will use their new membership counts as of Dec.
31, 2008, to determine the amount of matching
funds they are eligible to receive in 2009.
This year, lodges will be advanced $1,500 in
matching funds if their officers submit their
2009 Lodge Calendars to the Home Office by
Nov. 14, 2008. Calendars must include at least
three new member outreach events and at least
four social activities. Lodges which receive the
$1,500 in advanced matching funds will not
receive any additional matching funds for
the year.
Make sure your lodge maximizes its
funding opportunities so that your plans
become realities.
Annual Lodge Audits Due December 31
Lodge members quite literally put their trust in their lodge’s Trustees.
Every year, the three Trustees of every lodge are required to conduct an audit of the lodge’s reports,
books and accounts, and make a report to the lodge’s members at the January meeting.
Consult Woodmen of the World’s Lodge By-Laws, which are attached to the Constitution and Laws, for
more detailed information.
26
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2008
Home Office Tests Disaster Recovery
M
ore than 80 Home Office associates and building
personnel recently took part in a disaster
simulation in the Woodmen Tower. The drill was
performed on July 25 to test Woodmen of the World’s
readiness to respond to and recover from an event that
interrupts business functions.
This is Only a Test
Only a few associates knew the details of the simulation,
which involved a small explosion, a fire and flooding
of several upper floors. This secrecy enabled auditors
to better gauge our organization’s ability for Business
Resumption.
During the exercise, associates were divided into
six teams and sequestered in what was called the
“Command Center,” located across the street. These
teams, each with their own duties, had to respond
according to a pre-determined timeline, just as if the
disaster was occurring in real time.
Neil Willer of Tower Management wears makeup
to add a level of realism to the scenario.
Real Time … Simulated Disaster
Security Architect Allen Curtis believes the test was
a success, and says the next steps in the evaluation
are under way. These include a test of Woodmen of
the World’s “hot site,” a facility with the necessary
infrastructure in place to recover critical business
functions and information systems.
A disaster such as the one described above might
never happen … but it’s possible. And to assure
Woodmen of the World can continue to give you,
our members, the service you expect, such tests are
necessary. z
Full Meal Jacket
It’s not really possible to repay wounded soldiers for their sacrifice on our behalf. But several Woodmen of the World
Representatives, in conjunction with members of Jacksonville, NC, Lodge 564, recently came close.
On Sept. 1, Stacey, Bianca and Joey Anderson helped nearly 60 members of Lodge 564 serve a meal to “wounded warriors”
at the local USO Building. More than 40 soldiers attended the event, which was held to honor their service to our country.
In addition, some of the Lodge 564 members who helped with the event were also veterans.
According to Area Manager Stacey Anderson, the concept of recognizing wounded warriors in this way is becoming more
popular, and he believes it’s well-deserved. “These soldiers just returned. Most are still undergoing treatment, and some are
trying to get back in the fight,” he said. “They’re still in the battle over there, and we wanted them to be recognized.”
Woodmen of the World paid for a barbeque chicken dinner for all the attendees, and more than $1,000 in door prizes,
such as Woodmen of the World coolers and shirts, were given away. Lodge 564 donated a flag to one of the recently
wounded, as well. The Andersons also offered no-obligation information on Woodmen of the World products, fraternal
benefits and patriotic programs.
The event was publicized beforehand by local television stations, and received coverage in two newspapers, both with articles
and pictures. But, of course, publicity for the event itself was not as important as seeing the soldiers receive acclaim.
“They were really excited,” says Anderson. “It seemed to cheer them up. One in the crowd said it meant a lot to know
we were doing what we were doing.”
27
M E M B ER NE W S
A Lytle Star Makes It BIG
One member competes for the title of “Nashville Star”
O
n July 23, 2008, more than 10,000 fans
gathered for a concert in Lytle, TX, a town
with a population of about 3,000. They came to
see upcoming country artist Gabe Garcia, NBC’s
“Nashville Star” runner-up, and Woodmen of the
World member.
make it big in country music, he needed to move to
Nashville, TN.”
Garcia, 28, has been an active member of Lodge
406 in Lytle his whole life – he’s sung at many
lodge events and at the Texas Jurisdictional
Convention in Dallas in 2003. Dan Pitts, Woodmen
of the World Representative, has worked with the
Garcias for 12 years, and has been a family friend
for 36 years. Pitts says the Garcias are a wonderful
family, and that Gabe is a “very well-respected
young man with a great talent.”
“Gabe’s father, Juan Garcia Sr., bought him his first
guitar while he was still in elementary school and
he’s been singing ever since,” said Pitts. “He and
his father had an understanding that if Gabe was to
After Juan Sr. passed away last October, Garcia
quit his job of 10 years as an electrician, packed
his bag, said goodbye to his mother, Nora, and the
rest of his family, and headed to Nashville. “His
mom has played such an outstanding role in Gabe’s
life. At our Lodge 406 Family Night Banquet on
August 21, she was awarded the “Mother of the
Year” award,” Pitts said.
Garcia heard about “Nashville Star” and joined
the competition. Only 12 spots were open and he
was among 45,000 other hopefuls trying out, but he
earned a spot on the show. Viewers voted each week
for their favorites via Internet, telephone or text.
Toward the end of the competition, the final four
contestants visited their hometowns for a reception
and free concert. “‘Phenomenal’ is an excellent
word to describe the town’s reaction to Gabe’s
homecoming,” said Pitts.
Lodge 406 helped sponsor a parade held in the
early evening, followed by a festival and concert at
Lytle’s John Lott Park. Garcia and his closest friend
and lead guitarist, Donnie Geyer, performed at the
concert, which was determined to have the best
turnout of any of the finalists. He closed the concert
with his favorite song, “Hotel California” by
The Eagles.
Garcia ended up in the final two, and after the
final votes were in, he was named “Nashville
Star’s” sixth season runner-up. He is now
spending his time in Tennessee writing
songs and performing locally in Nashville.
All 12 “Nashville Star” contestants began a
nationwide tour Sept. 12, 2008. zx
Gabe Garcia spends his time
performing to locals.
ch ef’s corn er
RECIPE
Herb Roasted
Cauliflower
Serves 6
The perfect side dish
for your fall dinners
and an inventive
way to use this
underappreciated
vegetable.
Ingredients
3 Tablespoons olive oil
2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 Tablespoons thyme, chopped
2 Tablespoons rosemary, stems
removed and chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground
black pepper
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon garlic powder
1 head cauliflower, cored and
cut into bite-sized florets
2 Tablespoons Italian-style
breadcrumbs
2 Tablespoons Parmesan
cheese, grated
Preparation
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk oil, vinegar, herbs, salt, pepper, mustard and garlic.
Add cauliflower, bread crumbs and cheese. Toss to coat. In a lipped baking pan, spread cauliflower in a
single layer and roast, turning occasionally, for 15-20 minutes, until tender and browned. Serve hot or at
room temperature.
© Junior League of Omaha. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission from the Junior League of Omaha’s Toast to Omaha
cookbook. To order, visit www.juniorleagueomaha.org or call 402-493-8818.
29
American Mosaic
Merry Movies:
Family films full of ‘fa la la’
by Andrew Oerman
The holidays are a time of togetherness.
But along with the sacred traditions and the
hustle and bustle of the season, many families
find time to pause around a television and
watch these Christmas classics.
A Green Christmas?
W
oodmen of the World member Mary
Sue Malone lives in Lafayette, LA, so she
knows what Bing Crosby is going through
as he earnestly croons his desire to see snow in “White
Christmas,” the 1954 classic. “We don’t get snow here,”
she says. “You have to watch movies to see that.”
The musical stars Crosby and Danny Kaye as army
buddies who have formed a song-and-dance team
and try to help their former army commander stir up
business for his Vermont resort, which is nearly empty,
due to a distinct lack of snow. Complications – and
some great singing and dancing – ensue.
Is there fluffy precipitation to match the title? Can they
save the business? You’ll have to watch to find out, but
Malone could tell you.
For her family, the classic film is as comfortable as old
stockings hung by the chimney with care. “You can be
in another room and still know what’s going on in the
scene, just by the songs,” she explains. “We’ve seen it
so often we just know.”
or you can wait until it’s inevitably on television later
this year.
But Malone will give you a small hint, as she summarizes
what she finds so moving about the movie’s lasting
message to young and old alike. “If you start to believe,
it will happen.”
The Greatest Gift
That’s a sentiment that would no doubt warm Ralphie
Parker’s heart.
He’s a young boy struggling through December in the
bitter cold of northern Indiana in the late 1940s, and all
little Ralphie wants for Christmas is a BB gun. More
specifically, he wants an “Official Red Ryder CarbineAction Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle.”
But most adults he knows don’t seem to agree, believing
he will “shoot his eye out.”
Malone also likes “White Christmas,” because, despite
its name, it’s in full color. Many other movies of the
era were still shot in black and white, including her
favorite holiday movie: the original, 1947 version of
Miracle on 34th Street.
A Miracle on Every Street
Malone recalls seeing it for the first time in the early
’50s, and when her children were little, they would
all sit around and watch it. “It was part of Christmas;
when it was on, you watched,” she says.
In the film, a cynical Macy’s department store executive
must find a new Santa Claus for the store. She finds
an especially convincing one, who even insists on
calling himself Kris Kringle. Eventually the jolly old
elf winds up trying to prove his sanity in court.
Is Kringle able to convince the judge – and most
importantly, the executive’s young daughter – that he’s
real? The answer is as close as your nearest video store,
31
It’s a Wonderful Movie
It is probable that no one believed “It’s a Wonderful
Life” would become the classic it is now, either. At the
time of its release in 1946, it was a critical flop and a
commercial failure, yet it has become one of the most
treasured holiday movies of all time.
In the film, severe business trouble on Christmas Eve
leads Bailey to contemplate suicide, wondering if his
life’s efforts have mattered, but Clarence intervenes at
the last moment. The angel shows him what the town
would have been like without him … and it’s not a
pretty picture.
The preceding outlines the basic plot of “A Christmas
Story,” the 1983 movie developed from Jean Shepherd’s
story, In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash. Many
people identify strongly with the colorful picture of
growing up that the movie portrays. According to Rick
Hayden, a Woodmen of the World member who lives
near Houston, “When I watch that movie, it’s like a
picture of my childhood.”
Hayden says the boys in the movie are of about the
same age difference as he and his brother, and the father
(played by Darren McGavin) reminds him exactly
of his own father. He adds that a BB gun was on his
brother’s list for three years. Did their mother have the
same objections to BB guns as in the movie? “Maybe
not exactly,” Hayden says with a laugh, “but close.”
32
Does Bailey go through with it? Can he save the family
business? And does Clarence earn his wings? Watch
and see. No matter how many times you’ve seen it,
the movie’s closing scene may still make your eyes
mist up.
Malone finds “It’s a Wonderful Life” moving because
Bailey had big dreams of leaving his small town, dreams
he was never able to fulfill, “but then he realized he had
everything he wanted right where he was all along.”
The True Meaning
None of the members which were interviewed said
that seeing a movie can add anything to or subtract
anything from the holiday; even if watching a movie is
tradition, it merely reinforces what’s already important:
ideals like family, friends, togetherness, and hope.
Mike Greenwood, a Woodmen of the World member
from Fayetteville, NC, saw “A Christmas Story” in the
theater with his wife, Ava, and three children. Having
grown up in Omaha, he identifies with the locale
portrayed; it was snowy and cold just like every year
of his own childhood. “I remember trudging through
drifts two or three feet high,” he recalls. “We didn’t get
a lot of snow days back then.”
These movies, each in their own way, all tell a
timeless story about hope. For the characters in White
Christmas, the hope is to see “treetops glisten” with
snow at Christmas. For the little girl on 34th Street, it’s
allowing her heart to hope for something her head tells
her shouldn’t exist. For Ralphie, it’s the simple hope for
the perfect toy. And for George Bailey, it’s daring to
hope that he truly has made a difference.
When Greenwood’s kids were small, Christmas was a
much more traditional event than it now is for him, but
he still catches his favorite holiday movie at least once
every December. Looking back, he says he figured
it would be popular, but he “never thought it would
become a classic. But I think it really is.”
For much of the year in our bottom-line world, a
quality like hope is forgotten. But around the holidays
that changes. It’s okay to believe in miracles, and life
really can be wonderful. These movies help the people
who watch them remember that, even if just for a
little while. zx
Wfm FAL L
2008
Member new s
Perfect Stranger
A
lot of people would hesitate to give a stranger $10. So consider the caring it would take to donate a
kidney to someone you’ve never met. Yet that’s exactly what Jennifer Haddock, a member of Lodge
18 in Columbia, TN, did for Sandy Melton.
Although Haddock worked weekends with Melton’s husband, Gordon, she didn’t know Sandy personally.
She still decided to undergo the procedure, because “It seemed awful that someone in (her) young 40s was
having such a terrible time or other factors.
Haddock says she was never nervous, and that there have been no ill effects. For her part, Melton is also
doing okay, says Haddock, and is off her medicines, aside from the annual rejection medicine she will need
to take for the rest of her life.
Haddock and Melton keep in touch, and recently had a Labor Day cookout together. The experience of
donating a part of herself has brought them very close. “It definitely connects you,” says Haddock.
Haddock would tell anyone considering being a donor to get checked out. “It doesn’t take a lot, but you can
change someone’s life ... and (the donor) can lead a perfectly healthy life with just one kidney. It’s so worth it
to give someone their life back.” zx
Enhancements to 800 Number
E
ffective October 1, 2008, Woodmen of the World members began
noticing improvements when they dialed 1-800-225-3108.
Previously, a separate 800 number was necessary to reach
the Claims Department, but in order to streamline
processes and deliver more efficient service, that
number and the overall member 800 number have
now been consolidated.
Prompts are also easier to navigate and understand
than ever before, and our members can
reach Customer Service Specialists in the
appropriate areas much faster.
The Woodmen of the World 800 number
offers service to callers in English, Spanish
and Korean, and provides access to
information about Woodmen of the World
and Woodmen Financial Services.
33
mo n e y ta l k
Spend the
HOLIDAYS
Green
in
R
ed and green are the traditional colors of
Christmas. Green wreaths, trees and ivy
adorn many households this time of year.
Santa’s suit, sleigh and even Rudolph all look great in
red. Unfortunately, it’s also where most checkbooks
end up after the last cork pops off on New Year’s Eve
– in the red.
Like a dieter who eats ice cream for a midnight snack,
many consumers wake up from the holidays with a
sense of regret. We spent too much, the bills are piling
up and now we have to figure out how to pay for all of
what we bought, wrapped, shipped, and ripped open.
You can have an entirely different spending experience
this holiday season. By planning ahead of time, taking
34
Wfm FAL L
2008
How to give without
going broke this season
advantage of deals and practicing wise spending habits,
you can finish the holidays in green, not red.
Cut the Credit
If you’re like many consumers, you charge your way
through the holiday season, buying gifts on credit,
without a clear plan for paying off your purchases; you
follow a simple motto of ‘buy now, pay later.’
Your lenders love this philosophy; often times they
get to charge upwards of 18 percent interest on
revolving debt – balances you carry over month
to month. But it would be better for you to follow
famed financial counselor Dave Ramsey’s advice and
perform a ‘plasectomy.’
retail associations, and one in five U.S. workers. Their
consumer holiday spending forecasts usually make
front page news upon release.
According to the NRF, consumers spent $470 billion
on groceries, presents and entertainment during the
2007 winter holiday season. The NRF also reports
a 10-year average spending increase of 4.8 percent
each holiday season. With spending as well as daily
expenses such as gas and groceries trending upwards,
even the NRF has tips to help you stay within your
budget this holiday season:
The best thing for you to do is to pay off your credit
card balances in full each month. Use your credit
cards to your advantage this holiday season; don’t let
them use you. If you can’t discipline yourself to charge
only what you know you can pay off, then cut up your
cards, or leave them at home when you go shopping.
Use your debit card or pay with cash. That way you’ll
spend only what you have.
1. Avoid last-minute shopping.
Make a List, Check it Twice
everyone you need to buy for and how much you
plan to spend before you start shopping. This is
something you can do with your family. Make one
big list, conspire on individual gifts and then break
up the shopping so that it doesn’t all fall on you.
Before children come knocking at your door for candy
on Halloween; before supermarkets begin to bask in
Butterballs; before you even set foot in a store, make a
list of who you need to shop for and what you need to
buy this holiday season.
Then, make a budget. Budgets sound scary but they are
very simple. Visit www.creditalk.com to learn budgeting
basics and download a sample budget worksheet.
When you’re finished with your budget, you’ll know
exactly how much money you can afford to spend on
the holidays this year.
Now, go back to your list. Knowing from your budget
what you can afford to spend on each person, assign
an amount by each name. You’ll enter Black Friday
armed and ready to enjoy your shopping experience
and you’ll enter the new year without an overspendinginduced holiday hangover.
Shopping Tips from the
National Retail Federation
The National Retail Federation (NRF) represents
an industry with more than 1.6 million U.S. retail
establishments, 100 state, national and international
When you’re frenzied, you don’t think clearly.
Spread out holiday purchases throughout the year
or even the holiday season. When you travel on
vacation, bring home an item or two that you can
give during the holidays. It will be unique and
shorten your shopping list.
2. Stick to your list. Make a list of
3. Watch for deals. Be on the look out
daily for holiday ad specials in your local paper, on
television and on retailer Web sites. Check the inserts
mailed with your credit card statements; they often
contain coupon codes for 10-30 percent off some
popular stores and Web sites. The NRF also suggests
shopping at a store after 6 p.m. the night before
an advertised sale is to begin. Registers are often
programmed early, so you can get the deals without
dealing with a crowd.
4. Use the Internet. Compare prices and
products online before buying in a store. You’ll know
where the best deal is without driving all over town
to find it and you will use less gas.
5. Give gift certificates. Every family
has those hard-to-shop-for members. Rather than
buying something you’re not sure they’ll like, give a
gift card that fits your budget and let them decide. zx
35
f rat e r n a l s p i r i t
Georgia
Lawrenceville Lodge 7
member Delaney Pate
drove her patriotic John
Deere in a neighborhood
Fourth of July Parade.
Washington
M
embers of Renton Lodge 35 and University Place Lodge 84 teamed
up with Need-A-Break Services to fix an elderly couple’s home for
“Good Neighbor Day.”
36
Wfm FAL L
2008
Arkansas
Stuttgart Lodge 1402
member and Field
Representative Charles
Neighbors (right)
presented a flag to Pat
Peacock (left) and Jim
Gingerich from the
Museum of the Arkansas
Grand Prairie.
West Virginia
Members of Charleston
Lodges 254 and 265
participated in the
American Cancer
Society’s 2008 Relay for
Life events.
Kentucky
Members of Lexington
Lodge 49 assisted with and
presented at the “Teach A
Child to Save Day.”
Pennsylvania
Area Manager David
Sinz (left) and Butler
Lodge 8 President
Jerry Sepich presented
Chester Warburton
(center) with a 25-year
service pin at a lodge
meeting.
Iowa
Burlington Lodge 33
Secretary Bettie Raines
(left) and President
Bonnie Modrell (right)
presented Captain Allen
J. Otto of the Salvation
Army with a $100 check
to go toward the 2008
flood disaster fund.
South Carolina
Members of West
Columbia Lodge 1276
joined together for
their Annual Meeting of
Women of Woodcraft
and Fraternal Spirit
Dinner.
Georgia
Americus Lodge 202
members Angela
Meadows and Lisa
Langston picked up
trash in the business
district at the 2nd Annual
Americus Clean Up.
North Carolina
While on a mission trip to
Wyoming, Wadesboro,
NC, Lodge 4 President
Bill Bowers (not pictured)
presented a set of flags
to Rev. John Herrington
(center) of Risen Son
Baptist Church in
Thermopolis, WY.
37
North Carolina
Hertford Lodge 463
member and Field
Representative Jon
Waters (top left)
made a Flag Day
presentation at Camp
Cale in Edenton.
Pennsylvania
R
angers from Lodge 789 Samantha Alden (left), Ranae Truesdale and Seraphina
Alden (right) presented flowers to their moms for Mother’s Day at a lodge
meeting.
38
Wfm FAL L
2008
Georgia
Members of
Cornelia Lodge
553 presented a
check to go toward
Woodmen of the
World book bags
for the Kiwanis Club
to present to area
schools.
Kentucky
School bus drivers
were honored by
Arlington Lodge 38 with
certificates and pins for
their safe driving records
in 2007 and 2008.
Texas
San Angelo Lodge
66 Vice President and
Area Manager Mike
Harper presented a
$600 donation to Kelly
Edwards from the
American Junior Rodeo
Association, Inc.
New Mexico
Albuquerque Lodge
1 and Youth Lodge
367 conducted DNA
fingerprinting at the
MacArthur Elementary
Health Fair.
South Carolina
Myrtle Beach Lodge
1111 member and
Special Events
Coordinator Julie
Brannock (right)
accepted a special
certificate from Frecia
Ammons of the
American Red Cross
at a special sponsor
recognition luncheon.
Tennessee
Lodge 179 member
Sherman Hearn was
presented with an
Outstanding Volunteer
Award and Citation from
the Jackson Chapter of
the American Red Cross.
Interest Rates
Deferred Annuities Inforce Rate*
August 2008
Tier 1 Tier 2
4.00% 4.25%
September 2008
Tier 1 Tier 2
4.00% 4.25%
October 2008
Tier 1 Tier 2
4.00% 4.25%
Oklahoma
Buddy rides along
with Durant Lodge
558 members during a
Homecoming Parade.
Tier 1: Values under $25,000
Tier 2: Values $25,000 and above
*Current in-force interest rates apply when a certificate’s
initial rate guarantee period has expired or when an initial
rate guarantee period has not been chosen. Current
inforce interest rates are subject to change monthly.
The above rates are for existing annuities that are out of their
initial guarantee period. You may be able to earn a higher rate
with a new annuity with a locked-in interest rate. Contact your
Woodmen of the World Representative if you are interested in
receiving more information. You can also call 1-800-225-3108 or
go to www.woodmen.org.
39
Healthy Living
THiNKPOSiTiVE
by Carolyn Maille-Petersen
A
happy person is not a
person in a certain set of
circumstances, but rather a
person with a certain set of attitudes. ~Hugh Downs
W
ant to improve your health? Be a better
leader? If so, then what you need is a
positive attitude. Though it may not cure
all your ills or make you the perfect manager, it does
help and it certainly makes for a better quality of life,
according to Kathy Eubanks, author of When It’s You
Against Them: Keeping a Positive Attitude Despite It All.
“Life’s a lot more pleasant if we have a good attitude,”
she says, and Barbara Becker Holstein, Ed.D., a positive
psychologist and happiness coach, concurs.
Having a positive attitude has benefits beyond making
a person more pleasant to be around. “There is a
tremendous amount of information available about
how attitude affects your health,” says Eubanks. It also
makes people more effective leaders and helps them
cope more effectively with tragedies.
Attitude & Health
When it comes to good health, a positive attitude really
can make a difference. Eubanks says studies show
having a positive attitude helps people fight off colds
as well as heal more quickly after injuries or surgery.
The survival rates for severe illnesses like cancer are
greatly improved by a positive attitude. In addition,
individuals with positive attitudes also tend to be more
proactive about their health.
more successfully than negative thinkers. Eubanks
knows from personal experience, having lost a son
15 years ago. Her interest in the power of a positive
attitude actually came out of her loss. “The loss of
our son almost cost me our marriage (and) my career,
because I wasn’t dealing very well with grief,” she says.
It was her sister-in-law who finally broke through
to Eubanks. “It was a matter of calling me on it and
saying, ‘There are other people out here. We can help
you. We can listen. We’re here for support. You’re
going down a path you don’t want to go down.’ And
through prayer, conversation and the support of my
family, I turned it around.”
Following her experience, Eubanks began
interviewing people to see how they coped
with tragedy and challenging circumstances.
What she found was that people who had a
consistently positive attitude and who responded to
challenges and overcame them in a positive way had a
source of faith. “They all defined it differently and they
all came from different backgrounds but they all had
faith in something
that was bigger
than them,”
she says.
Effective Leadership
Studies also cite a positive attitude as one of the most
important qualities in good leaders, says Eubanks. If
you’ve ever worked with someone who has a negative
attitude, you know what it’s like, says Eubanks:
“Oh, we can’t possibly accomplish this, how do they
expect us to get this done? We don’t have enough
time or enough money.” It’s these types of comments
that bog down a project and demoralize employees,
says Eubanks.
On the other hand, a manager with a positive attitude
makes the difference between good and bad employee
morale, says Holstein. Managers who speak positively to
employees and who spend more time pointing out what’s
right than what’s wrong have employees with higher
levels of productivity. “You have to fill the person’s
bucket with what they’re doing right,” she says.
Overcoming Tragedy
It is also a well-known phenomenon that positive
thinkers are able to overcome life’s tragedies far
41
“On the other hand, a manager with a positive attitude makes the
difference between good and bad employee morale.”
Holstein also found this to be true. “I’d say a positive
attitude is absolutely critical from birth to the grave.”
People who believe there is a God or who believe in
a “divine positive spirit” and who pray, whether “to
the goodness of the universe” or to a higher spiritual
presence, live an average of seven years longer, she says.
Of course, having a good attitude also means possessing
a willingness to make changes that promote positive
thinking. When working with a group, Eubanks says,
“We talk about the concrete things we can do every
day, like (asking) who are the people you associate
with every day? Are you associating with positive, lifegiving people? What television shows do you watch?
What radio shows do you listen to? What kind of
music? Is it more positive and solution-oriented or is it
all hype and negativity and doomsday?”
Eubanks recommends making one change, after
assessing your everyday routine, and sticking with it
for 21 days. At the end of three weeks, evaluate the
change and tweak it if necessary. Keep it up and then
re-evaluate in six months. “You aren’t really going to
notice changes until time has passed,” she says.
Getting Outside Ourselves
She also recommends doing something for someone
else. “Getting outside ourselves and doing something
for somebody else – mentoring, a random act of
kindness – that goes a long way toward improving
our attitude,” says Eubanks.
She points out that doing something nice for someone
else puts our own problems into perspective, shows us
that our actions do have an impact – either positive
or negative – on other people, and it forces us to take
ourselves out of our own situation and concentrate
on somebody else, even if it is for a short period of
time. “You tend to become much more proactive, and
much less reactive, when you have a positive attitude,”
says Eubanks.
Start at Home
Holstein suggests starting with your own family.
Instead of being critical or negative toward family
42
Wfm FAL L
2008
members, boost them up; help them make changes or
work on weak areas. Parents who see their children
in a positive light and tell them so help their children
flourish. “It gives them the energy to do what they
need to do,” she says. They’re willing to work hard
to improve if they think someone believes in them,
whether it’s a parent or teacher. It’s what’s called the
“halo effect,” says Holstein, meaning that people live
up to the expectations of others. If someone has high
expectations of you, you’ll do what you have to do to
show that individual his or her impression was correct.
Similarly, if you have low expectations of people and
you tell them so, they won’t have the motivation to
prove you wrong.
In the end, a good attitude can make all the difference.
Not only could it improve your physical health, but it
may improve your mental and spiritual health as well,
and teach you to appreciate what you have rather than
wishing for what you don’t. “Life’s a lot more pleasant
and fun if we have a positive attitude,” says Eubanks.
To paraphrase Hugh Downs, it’s not the circumstances,
but the attitude that counts.
Eubanks is a speaker, author and former
college professor. For more
information, you can visit her Web
site, www.KathyEubanks.com.
Holstein is the author of “Recipes
for Enchantment: The Secret
Ingredient is YOU!” For more
information, go to her Web site,
www.enchantedself.com. zx
Carolyn Maille-Petersen is a
freelance writer
in Champaign, IL.
I n M e mor i a m
Vivian Cummins
Vivian Irene Cummins, 91, passed
away Sunday, June 8, 2008, in
Brooksville, KY. She is the mother of
Danny Cummins, Woodmen of the World President
and CEO.
Cummins was preceded in death by her husband,
Wilbur Earl Cummins; a baby daughter, Janet Irene;
and two sisters, Macie Dean and Dana Cummins.
She is survived by a daughter, Connie, and husband
Lanny Jett; son, Russell Dale “Butch” and wife Lois
Cummins, Jerry Wayne Cummins, and Danny Earl
and wife Kathy Cummins; six grandchildren; twelve
grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.
Cummins was a member of Woodmen of the World
Lodge 871 in Germantown, KY, a member of Concord
Methodist Church and a Kentucky Colonel.
Rebecca R. Burford
Age: 85
Lodge 6035, Wichita, KS
Albert “Bud” E. King
Age: 84
Lodge 6035, Wichita, KS
Fay Moser Hawley
Age: 78
Camden, AR
Charles J. Kruse
Age: 78
Lodge 264, Lincoln, NE
John David Moser
Age: 61
Harrison, AR
Summary of Operations
June 30, 2008
Income
Premiums
Net Investment Income
Other Income
Total Income
$287,170,930
202,880,911
7,814,825
$497,866,666
Expenses
Certificate Expenses
Annnuity
Surrenders
Death
Reserve Increases
Interest on Certificates
Disability and Health
Supplementary Contract
Endowment
$88,204,046
68,800,144
77,634,192
60,557,896
14,230,005
4,507,964
4,575,691
1,211,042
Society Expenses
General Expenses
Field Compensation
Variable Annuity Transfers
Fraternal Expenses
Taxes
Other Expenses
$49,050,431
20,654,991
5,302,179
9,214,026
3,004,950
163,107
Total Benefits and Expenses
$407,110,664
Net Gain Before Refunds
Refunds to Members
$90,756,002
66,010,856
Net Gain After Refunds
Net Realized Capital Gains
$24,745,146
(656,465)
Net Income
$24,088,681
Fraternally Submitted,
Mark Schreier
Executive Vice President
Finance and Treasurer
Wilbur Ritter
Age: 87
Falmouth, KY
In the last issue of Wfm, a telephone number was
listed incorrectly in the article entitled “Cemetery
Man.” To contact Fraternal and Lodge Services,
dial (402) 342-1890, or toll-free at 1-800-225-3108.
43
Fun Zone
Out of this world humor
How do you know that Saturn has been married
more than once?
Because he has lots of rings.
Start
When do astronauts have lunch?
At launch time.
How did the astronaut serve dinner in outer space?
On flying saucers.
How does the Solar System hold up its pants?
With an Asteroid Belt.
What did the astronaut eat for lunch?
An unidentified frying object.
Maze Days
After eating his first meal on
the moon, the astronaut
reported, “The food was
great, but the place
lacked atmosphere.”
Find your way through
the maze on top of the
space rocket.
Finish
44
Wfm FAL L
2008
Solar System
Even though the sun is the Solar System’s principal component, there
are many other words related to it. See if you can find all 42 words by
looking up, down, forward, backward, or diagonally. Circle each as
you find it and check it off the list below.
S O X
Y G E N
S
A
A C
O F
T
F
O Z
E R
T
U R N M E R C U R
H
P
L
A N
E
T
V
V
E N U
C O N
S
T
E
L
A
T
I
O N U R
T
R H
L
B N
I
T
R O G E N
L
B Q P
P
L
U
T
O C Q P
J
U
L
I
I
N
T
E R
P
L
I
T
C
E R
T
R
A
T
M O S
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Answers to the puzzle can be found on our Web site, www.woodmen.org,
by clicking on the Wfm link on the Home Page.
45
A494 7/08
The Journey
to Survival
First Step: Recovery
The journey to surviving cancer is taken one step at a time, with the first priority being one’s
health. With the loving support of friends and family, the thoughtful care of doctors and
nurses, and the strength and resiliency found within, recovery is that much closer.
Woodmen of the World First Source Cancer Insurance can also help along the way.
Second Step: Renewal
The side effects of cancer can be devastating. Even the financial consequences can add stress
to an already stressful situation. Woodmen of the World First Source Cancer Insurance,
which provides a one-time cash benefit upon a first diagnosis with cancer, can help
patients focus their energies on fighting the disease.
Call your Woodmen of the World Representative today for a free consultation on First
Source Cancer Insurance options.
Life and health insurance and annuity products are issued by Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society and/or Omaha Woodmen Life
Insurance Society, a Nebraska corporation that is licensed as Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society (Woodmen of the World) in all
states 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 (Woodmen). Not all products are available in all states. Not all Representatives are licensed to sell
all products.
Form 128-XX-0004. Not available in CA, CT, IA, KS, MD, MA, MN, NH, NJ and WY. Product benefits and features may vary by state.
This certificate has exclusions, limitations, and reductions of benefits. For costs and complete details of coverage, call or write your
Representative or the Woodmen of the World Home Office, 1700 Farnam Street, Omaha, NE 68102, 1-800-225-3108.
THIS IS A SUPPLEMENTAL CANCER ONLY POLICY.
Be Demanding.
Demand more of yourself. Give your time and energy to make a difference in someone else’s life.
Paint a house. Bake treats for fire fighters.Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Landscape a senior apartment complex.
Help out at a homeless shelter. The possibilities are endless when you connect with your local lodge this
October 25 to revitalize your community on Make a Difference Day.
Visit www.woodmen.org and click on the ‘Community’ tab, then on ‘Make a Difference Day’ to find a local
project near you.
A550WOW 9/08
Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society
Home Office: Omaha, Nebraska
1-800-225-3108
www.woodmen.org
An Equal Opportunity Organization
Insurance Protection • Financial Security
PERIODICALS