Catholic Aid Journey Nov/Dec 2010

Official Publication of the Catholic Aid Association

November/December 2010 Vol. 115 Issue 6

Journey

Merry Christmas! & Happy New Year from Catholic Aid

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Gather 4 Good Fraternalism in action Members on a Mission

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Company Name & Raffle Updates

From the President

“We have long recognized the importance and impact a good Catholic education has on the perpetuation of our Church...”

When the Catholic Aid Association was established in 1878, the members set as one of their primary goals the support of Catholic education. At this point someone might be saying to themselves, “I thought we had a different name when we started.”

You are correct, of course, but the old name was quite long and, as you can see from this edition of the Journey, the new name, Catholic United Financial, will not become official until January 1, 2011. So, for the sake of expediency we will stick with The Catholic Aid Association for this column. Ah yes, where were we? Catholic education was the topic…

If you were to read one or both of our history books, you would see whole chapters dedicated to our support of Catholic education. You cannot read about the history of our faith in America or the Midwest without gaining a deep appreciation for the importance of a true Catholic education to the growth and strength

we Catholics enjoy today. Of course, through the years there have been many attacks on our schools from all corners of society, not the least of which has been financial woes. Today, as in the past, the Catholic Aid Association has taken on a serious role in helping our schools survive. Since 1985 we have supported our local councils through the Matching Grant programs that have raised literally millions of dollars for Catholic education at the parish level. We have participated in many low-interest building loans for our schools. Over the past several years, we have adopted a program to support new schools and major remodel projects through grants of up to $25,000 where Catholic Aid has a strong presence. And who can forget our highly successful scholarship program?

We have long recognized the importance and impact a good Catholic education has on the perpetuation of our Church as well as our American society. Over the years, local priests have told me many times that without the support of the Catholic Aid Association and the direct involvement of our local councils, their Catholic school could not have survived. It makes you stop and realize the impact we have had and the foresight of our founders when they established Catholic education as an emphasis for our membership.

A true fraternal story.

This issue of the Journey chronicles our On the Cover next new venture into support of Catholic Journey education. Last year we On the Cover implemented a raffle Official Publication of the Catholic Aid Association

November/December Vol. 115 Issue 5

Catholic Aid Association President/Chairman Michael F. McGovern, Northfield Senior Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer Harald Dennis Borrmann, L. Olson, Vadnais St. PaulHeights Lead Director Frances M. Barten, Union Hill Board of Directors Bernard B. Bastian, North Mankato; George Gmach, Rogers; Joseph F. Kueppers, Mendota Heights; John W. Maile, Cold Spring; Deborah M. Pauly, Jordan; Gary E. Polaczyk, Woodbury Magazine Staff Publication No. 093500/Official Publication of the Catholic The Catholic Aid Association

Publisher Michael F. McGovern Editor Jared Roddy Marketing Director ofManager Marketing Steve Steve Wendorf Wendorf

Staff Susan Detlefsen, Rebecca Redlin

Office of Publication: Catholic Aid Association, 3499 Lexington Ave. N., St. Paul, MN 55126-8098; 651490-0170 or 1-800-568-6670. Postmaster: Send change of address notice to above. Periodicals postage paid at St. Paul, MN. Subscription price is 50 cents a year. Published bimonthly.

Merry Christmas! & Happy New Year from Catholic Aid

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Gather 4 Good Fraternalism in action Members on a Mission

Photo: istockphoto.com

Peace on Earth during this blessed season.

Photo: Kelsey Smith Merry Christmas Catholic John Nelson of Yankton, Aid, and Happy New Year S.D., and his aunt, Elsie, Catholic United Financial! organized a holiday food For unto you is born this day drive for a food shelf in in the city of David a Savior, November (see page 6). which is Christ the LORD.

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www.catholicaid.org

“You cannot read about the history of our faith in America or the Midwest without gaining a deep appreciation for the importance of a true Catholic education to the growth and strength we Catholics enjoy today.”

Michael F. McGovern program in selected Catholic schools. In many cases it became the major fundraiser for the school last year.

The results were impressive: 18 schools participated and earned more than $128,000. The schools that raised that money kept 100 percent of the proceeds.

The day of the drawing, Msgr. James Habiger, our spiritual director and a veteran of the Catholic Schools systems of Minnesota, told me that this was the most exciting event he had seen. Many years ago, the Monsignor was involved in the kickoff of the Catholic Schools Marathon, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. He told me that in their first year that event raised between $20,000 and $30,000 for Catholic schools. The Marathon is a classic example of a fundraising success that has grown substantially over the years. We hope the raffle will grow with similar success and longevity.

This winter we will be launching our second Catholic United Financial Catholic Schools Raffle, in what we hope will become an annual event. There are 46 schools committed to participate, and we are planning on some significant returns to those schools. If this program continues to grow as we anticipate, it could soon hit the $500,000 mark — and who knows, maybe a $1,000,000 a year could be the standard of the future.

Contents

from God

May the Lord bless you all in every way,

Sections

2010 Class of Field Reps

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Scrapbook

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Youth Leader

1619

Business as Usual

Meet the new Field Reps.

10 Association Update

14 Gather4Good This year, Catholic Aid celebrates two successful new fraternal events.

Read about the results of our Gather4Good activities.

news@catholicaid.org

I received some exciting news this week, regarding an old friend of ours and of the Catholic Church.

Archbishop Timothy Dolan, the current Archbishop of New York and former Archbishop of the Milwaukee Diocese, has just been named the new president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the leadership arm of the Catholic Church in the USA. Basically, the protectors of our Faith. Archbishop Dolan has been a close friend of the Catholic fraternal world for many years, and still serves as Spiritual Director of the Catholic Financial Life fraternal — formerly the Catholic Knights and Catholic Family, in Milwaukee.

I have met him many times and found him to be orthodox, energetic, and with a great sense of humor.

He will have a significant impact on our Church here in America. It’s nice to know that our industry, especially we Catholic fraternals, have friends in high places.

Features

12 On a Mission 8 Jake and Elwood aren’t the only ones who were called to serve.

CAA Members are working to help others wherever they are.

These are exciting times around here as we continue our support of Catholic Education in the areas we serve.

Progress on the name change and our plans for the 2010-2011 Catholic Schools Raffle

Member stories, CAA tidbits and news headlines.

Meet Nate Lamusga, CAA’s new Fraternal Youth Liaison.

Recipes, Announcements, Board Minutes, Memorials & more.

Catholic Aid’s new Fraternal Youth Liaison Nate Lamusga tries to blend in with a mob of wallabies.

Learn more about Nate on p. 20.

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Scrapbook

That Matching Grant was WACS! The Winona Area Catholic Schools and Catholic Aid partnered last spring for a “Fun Night” for St. Stan’s Elementary School grades K through 2.

The St. Stan’s student council planned the activities and Catholic Aid members chaperoned the event. All funds raised went to the WACS Scholarship Fund.

Fr. Rick Coletti and St. Stan’s Student Council President Olivia Flanagan accept the check from Field Representative Keith Jereczek.

Big turnout no small comfrey

The whole community of Comfrey, Minn., showed up to tell SS Paul & Mary council fraternal secretary Kurt Eischen that he is a pretty big deal. More than 750 donated pork cutlet sandwiches (with all the fixin’s) gave their lives to the cause.

And more than 100 items were auctioned.

Kurt was injured in a farm accident this summer. His fellow council officers pictured here are: Vice President Mary Ann Schumacher, member Carol Hayes, President Arlene Helget, Treasurer and wife JoAnn Eischen, and Secretary Bernetta Helget.

100 and counting

Community ServiCe AwArdS Peggy Wilson (above) was honored by the SS Theresa & Wendelinus council of Luxemburg, Minn., especially for her work writing and editing the Parish 150-year history book. She also recently gave a parish tour to descendents of the original parish founders from several other states. Below, Rick Christiansen (on left) received his Community Service Award for his commitment to the Youth Choir of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm, Minn. Congratulations, and keep up the good works!

Gobble Gobble Grant The annual Turkey Bingo hosted by the Annunciation council of Mayhew Lake, Minn., sends lucky winners home with Thanksgiving dinner. The event also raises money for the parish’s religious education. Here, Field Representative Gary Gall presents the check to Fraternal Treasurer Donna Poganski and Parish Pastor Fr. Tim Wenzel.

Volunteers! The Catholic Aid Association Foundation is looking for volunteers to lead teams of disaster respondents. Fill out the card inside this issue to be called upon when disaster strikes near you.

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How to Contact your Field Representative: Look on the back cover of this magazine. Your Field Representative’s name and contact information should be listed with yours. Otherwise, visit www.catholicaid.org, or call 1-800-568-6670.

In His Plan

Foundation Executive Director Paul Naumann (left) and Field Representative Dawn Walker (right) deliver a Chastity & Abstinence Education Grant for the “All in God’s Plan” education series administered by St. Croix Valley Faith Formation. Accepting the donation are Annie Foctman, Jennifer Samec and Fr. Michael Miller from St. Michael’s and St. Mary’s of Stillwater, Minn.

Second Distinguished Service Award For Springfield Member

Thanks to Hilary and Elizabeth Mohr of Springfield, Minn., the catechists of the Diocese of New Ulm should find their education more affordable. They were honored this year with a Diocesan Distinguished Service Award for creating the Hilary and Elizabeth Mohr Scholarship Fund to educate catechists in their diocese. The scholarship has separate components for parishioners of the Mohr’s own parish, St. Raphael in Springfield, and for those of the Diocese of New Ulm at large.

Dr. (Theodore) Hilary Mohr and his wife, Elizabeth, pictured here, also received the Diocesan Distinguished Service Award in 1990.

Welcome to the Family, Sacred Heart Murdock, Minn.

Web Link: www.catholicworkout.com

All you need is a rosary, set of dumbbells and 30 minutes three times a week to build your body, and your faith.

The Catholic Aid family just got a little bit bigger. On October 3, 2010, Sacred Heart Council #362 was chartered in Murdock, Minn. A total of five new councils will have been chartered by year end! At left, President McGovern speaks during the Holy Mass at Sacred Heart Parish. Below, McGovern with Senior Vice President Harald Borrmann (far right), presents the official Charter to Fr. Bill Sprigler, Kevin Lundberg, Gerald Swenson, Judy Hoffer, Elaine Wentzel, Gina Kelly-Wiltz and Harmon Wiltz.

Turn to page 23 to see your Field Rep

Contact the Fraternal Department at 651-490-0170 to have your event listed in an upcoming issue of CA Journey. news@catholicaid.org

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Credit Union membership approves name change A name change, a logo upgrade, and terrific benefits for members are all in store for the Catholic Aid Association Credit Union.

On Nov. 9, 2010, the membership of the Credit Union voted to change the institution’s name to Catholic United Financial Credit Union to reflect the name change of the parent organization, Catholic United Financial. The name change will be official starting on Jan. 1, 2011.

What does this name change mean to our members? President Terri Maloney gives some answers to frequently asked questions about their business and transactions that could be affected.

Question: Are my loans, certificates and accounts going to change because of this name change?

Maloney: No, the name change will not affect the status of your loans, certificates and accounts.

The name change will not affect the way you do business with us. You might see the new name and logo

CREDIT UNION

othon statements, our website and oth er materials, but the change will be visual and not procedural.

Question: Can I still use checks that have the old name on them?

Maloney: Yes, your checks will be valid. Our members can wait until they use up the checks they have on hand. When a member reorders new checks, they will receive checks with the new name printed on them. CUFCU will retain the rights to our old name, and will still honor valid checks that have the old name.

Question: Is the website going to change?

Maloney: Yes. Our website address, known as a URL, will change to www.catholicunitedcu.org, but our old address, www.caacu.org, will still work for the near future. Update your bookmarks and web browsers accordingly. Other than swapping out the new logo and name on the site, there are no plans to change the site either visually or structurally. You will still receive the

convenient all-hours access to your accounts that you have always had through ItsMe247 Online Banking.

Question: Are membership fees changing along with the name?

Maloney: No, our fees are not changing. See the most recent issue of the Values newsletter for a current fee schedule, or view our website, www.caacu.org.

Question: My loan payment coupons still have the old name on them.

Will they be accepted?

Maloney: Yes, we will accept payment coupons with the old name on them.

Question: My debit and/or check card has the old logo printed on it.

Will it be accepted?

Maloney: Yes, your card will continue to be valid. When your card expires, a new card with the new logo and name will be issued to you.

Send any other questions you have on this subject to info@caacu.org.

Low auto loan rates are here!

Shopping for a new or used car?

Or, want to lower your current car payment?

CAACU is offering low rates on new auto loans and auto loan refinancing. Do you currently have a car loan at another credit union or bank? Refinance that loan with CAACU for a possible better rate and a lower payment. as low as

*Rates subject to change at any time.

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November/December 2010

as low as

2.89% used 2.79% new*

*

www.catholicaid.org

Sales News

Give a gift that Industry Down, Catholic Aid Up won’t get old An unexpected gift for Catholic Catholic Aid has also increased Next spring, when you’re cleaning the basement and dragging the GymnasifunOctibrainulator out to the curb — the very same Octibrainulator your children or grandchildren could not live without for Christmas — consider how much more use a term life insurance policy would get. And how much better your back would feel.

Life insurance for kids. It’s something a lot of parents don’t want to think about. But why not?

“The biggest thing is people think it’s morbid, or don’t want to have the feeling like they’re going to profit from a child’s death,” Sales Director Tom Schisler says. “Nothing could be further from the truth.”

Term Life insurance’s greatest gift (besides that to your lumbar region) is the gift of peace of mind. Most Catholic Aid policies have conversion privileges, which means while the policy is in-force, it can be converted to permanent insurance like Whole or Universal Life without having to re-qualify.

“No one knows how their kids are going to turn out,” Schisler reminds. “They could get sick and become uninsurable, they may make some bad decisions and become uninsurable, they could even have a bad driving record and become uninsurable. Whatever the case, an inexpensive juvenile term policy can protect against that.”

Setting up a term policy for a child or grandchild also makes them a member of Catholic Aid, making many fraternal benefits available to them throughout their life. From volunteer

news@catholicaid.org

Aid this holiday season has been an exceptionally strong year in sales, despite a depressed life insurance market.

The Life Insurance Marketing and Research Association (LIMRA) reported in its Global Update, April 2010 that the U.S. market has shown a precipitous decline in life insurance sales since 2007. The Catholic Aid Association, however, has shown a remarkable increase in Life sales over that same time.

According to the LIMRA Report, there has been a small uptick in Whole Life sales in the U.S., but Term, Universal and Variable Life have all taken significant hits. This time frame correlates strongly to the recession and with the trend in Catholic Aid sales statistics that show between October 2008 and October 2010, year to date Net Life Premium has increased an incredible 61%.

“I think the biggest reason for what we’re seeing is that like in economic downturns of the past, people turn to Catholic Aid because our track record is consistency, safety and security,” Sales Director Tom Schisler says. “I would say the second thing is that we have added some very qualified new Field Reps.”

its training regimen substantially.

“We do a lot more training than when I was a rep,” Schisler says.

Other factors include “direction from the top” and an increased focus on marketing.

“Mike [McGovern] and the board have been emphasizing our core mission, which is enrolling members and providing financial security for their families. Life insurance is at the heart of what we do and we’ve focused on that the past few years,” Schisler continues.

New marketing has also contributed in spreading the message and making Catholic Aid more visible throughout its territory.

As for members and how they’ve participated in the CAA life insurance boom, Schisler says that’s simple. In the 132 years of CAA’s existence there’s been one marketing technique that has sustained it and provided members throughout the generations: referrals.

“If you like what we do, if you feel like we’re taking care of you or if your Rep did something special for you, let someone else know. There’s nothing in business more effective than a referral.”

opportunities, to travel grants, to college scholarships.

Deciding what your kids or grandkids can really benefit from for Christmas isn’t easy with the 24-hour Christmas marketing machine out to turn every living room into a toyland town on Christmas day. But as the father of two teenaged daughters, Schisler

offers his last bit of advice.

“When my kids were young, I put a little money into some insurance policies for them. Now they’re getting older, there is no doubt in my mind it was the best gift I ever gave them,” he says.

“Far better than some of the toys I spent every spring carrying from the basement to the curb.”

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Mary Holm, F ICF Hometown: Wausau, Wis.

Parish: St. Matthew Parish, Wausau, Wis. Serving: Wausau, Schofield, Wisconsin Rapids, Stevens

Point, Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, Cadott, Thorp, Augusta, Marathon Family: Married to Henry, daughter, son and two grandkids Hobbies: Crocheting, reading, spending time with my grandchildren What is your best financial advice right now? Keep your thoughts positive; things will change. Save for your future and protect your family so that when the worst happens, they will be able to continue on the way they are accustomed to.

NewAddition

David Stang

Hometown: Watkins, Minn.

Parish: St. Nicholas Church, St. Nicholas, Minn.

Serving: St. Nicholas, Watkins, Marty, Kimball,

Family

Paynesville, Roscoe, Lake Henry Belgrade Family: Married to Annette, two daughters Hobbies: Woodworking, hunting, fishing, sports Professional training? In Stage 3 of my Fraternal Insurance Counsellor training.

What does the ‘Catholic Aid difference’ mean to you? I like the fact that Catholic Aid is faith-orientated. My faith and the faith of my members is our common bond. That bond helps us trust each other and unite to help our Catholic communities.

Sara Bartosh

Hometown: Heron Lake, Minn.

Parish: Sacred Heart Church in Heron Lake, Minn.

Serving: Luverne, Adrian, Edgerton, Lismore, Worthing-

ton, Lakefield, Jackson, Heron Lake, Windom, and Brewster Family: Married to Jeremy, three children Hobbies: Spending time with family, scrapbooking, popcorn and movie nights What do you hope to accomplish in the next year? I hope to bring the Catholic Aid story to as many as I can in my area. We are a wonderful company with a lot of benefits for so many people. We can change peoples lives and give them a true peace of mind, both financially and spiritually.

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Kevin Chaffee

Hometown: Watkins, Minn.

Parish: St. Casimir, Wells, Minn.

Serving: Clarks Grove, Ellendale and surrounding area Family: Married to Marjorie, son, daughter Hobbies: Fishing, archery, hunting What does the ‘Catholic Aid difference’ mean to you? It means

building relationships with families and not just selling products.

What is your best financial advice right now? Like all hard times we must remember that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Also, in hard times, we must remember that God will never abandon us and will watch over and keep us and our families.

tions

to Our

Tom Eggert

lyTree

Hometown: Deerwood, Minn.

Parish: St. James in Aitkin, Minn.

Serving: Aitkin, Brainerd, Baxter, Crosby, Ironton Family: Married to Joy, two children, seven grandkids Hobbies: Amateur radio, computers, geocaching, sand

carving and engraving What led you to join Catholic Aid’s field force? I liked being able to help fellow Catholics with their finincial and estate planning, and I wanted to work in an environment that requires a ‘win-win’ outcome.

What does the ‘Catholic Aid difference’ mean to you? Being able to sleep at night knowing that your finances are safe and aligned with your faith.

Maggie Schlauderaff

Hometown: Litchfield, Minn.

Parish: Church of St. Philip, Litchfield, Minn.

Serving: Eden Valley, Manannah, Grove City, Darwin,

Forest City, and Litchfield Family: Married to Ben, one son Hobbies: Playtime with my son, bike rides with Ben, weekends with my girlfriends, and being outdoors with my family What was your previous position? I worked for Hanratty & Associates, Inc., an insurance broker in Plymouth What does the ‘Catholic Aid difference’ mean to you? Being part of a faith-based community that is willing to go the extra mile for its members. news@catholicaid.org

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New name, same values Have you heard? The Catholic Aid Association is in the midst of a name change. Approved by the delegates at the 2010 Annual Convention, we are updating the company name to Catholic United Financial.

Now, the process that took years to get rolling now has eight weeks to complete. Let us fill you in on just what Catholic Aid is doing and what you can expect from us in the near future.

“Before we can legally use our new name,” Catholic Aid Compliance Specialist Paul Lindemann says, “it must be approved by the insurance departments of all the states in which we’re licensed to do business.”

Insurance is regulated at the state level, and Catholic United Financial was approved by the Minnesota Department of Commerce in September. We currently await approval from other states.

Name Update Cheat sheet Official Name: Was: Catholic Aid Association Will be: Catholic United Financial Website: Was: www.catholicaid .org Will be: www.catholicunitedfinancial.org Emails: Were: jdoe@catholicaid.org Will be: jdoe@catholicunited.org Address: Catholic United Financial 3499 N. Lexington Ave, St. Paul, MN 55126 Envelopes, communications, etc.: New! Look for our logo and open them up.

Logos: Available on website for councils early December.

Council Banners: All councils will receive new banners Questions: Call your field rep! Name and number on 10 November/December 2010 the back cover of this magazine.

“We’re also doing the necessary filings to change the names of the Credit Union, Foundation and Catholic Aid Association General Agency, LLC,” Lindemann says.

[The LLC allows Catholic Aid Field Representatives to sell members products that are not in Catholic Aid’s portfolio, such as long-term care and disability coverage.]

“As far as the State of Minnesota is concerned,” Lindemann adds, “we are now Catholic United Financial.

However, we felt it best to wait to use our new name until January 1.

By then, we should have all the necessary approvals in place.”

The attitudes and mission of the Association are not changing. So many of the changes to come are cosmetic, involving illustration work, graphic design and page layout, tasks that most appropriately fall to the Marketing Department directed by Steve Wendorf.

“Deciding to wait until January first gives us a little time to get ready, but it’s also like putting together a big event,” Wendorf says.

“There are so many little things that are getting added to the task list that it seems we’ll run out of time before we even get started.”

The first thing necessary to update the name was a new logo.

The officers and board of Catholic Aid have directed Wendorf to

retain the ring and cross emblem of the old Catholic Aid logo. It has been, but with the adjustment to the words within it saying now, “United since 1878.”

The new typeface on the name has been updated to a fresher font, while still maintaining strong lines evocative of strength and stability. The logo on this page is one variation. It has been generally embraced with the hope that the more descriptive company name combined with the modern typeface will have a positive impact on our brand identity.

That identity takes its shape in all of our communications, and you should expect to start seeing different materials as early as January.

Letterhead, envelopes, business cards and forms all need to be updated. To streamline the process and maximize savings, Wendorf brought in Catholic Aid department heads and presented them with a wall of every communication piece currently in circulation.

“What do you need? What do you want? What can we get rid of?”

Wendorf asked.

Some materials will have the logos swapped out and be left mostly alone, but many will be updated, improved or eliminated. Some entirely new projects are already getting off the ground after these www.catholicaid.org

brainstorming sessions.

Councils should not fear that the name change costs will affect their budgets. We are also minimizing waste. Having anticipated the change for the past year, we have purposely bought less of items we knew we’d be replacing.

As value-added components of the Catholic United Financial Family, the Credit Union, Foundation and LLC are also undergoing name updates. Expect the Foundation to maintain its colors and appearance in The Catholic Aid Association is proud to general. The board of trustees meets to vote on the announce that the planning for the 2010-2011 proposed name of Catholic United Financial Foundation Catholic Schools Raffle is in full swing! later this month.

Readers may recall that in 2009, we The Credit Union, on the other hand, has approved the began a new fraternal program designed to new name Catholic United Financial Credit Union and an stuff the coffers of our Catholic schools, at no entirely new logo and color scheme, one more in keeping expense to the schools themselves. Catholic with Catholic United Financial’s new appearance. See Aid (by the time the raffle kicks-off the name page six for more details and a look at the new Credit Union logo. will be Catholic United Financial) will Our website is also one of our primary forms of purchase all the prizes. We will print all the communication. This will be updated and reorganized tickets, advertising and informational again. This update will include content and design, materials. Our Field Reps will collect the leading to a more enjoyable browsing experience. To see tickets and deliver them to the Home Office. the new web address and email domain names, see the And in mid-March, we will draw the winners. sidebar of this story.

Schools should have their materials before The magazine you’re reading is also a major part Christmas. of Catholic Aid’s communications plan, and it too This year’s raffle is already more than twice could see some changes. However, those meetings are the size of the 2009 version, with 46 schools scheduled for late November and the results were not participating (last year there were 18). Entries are available at press time. Expect, however, that you will closed for this year, but as we report the results, continue to receive this magazine in a very similar shape and format. we’re sure more will want to sign up in the future.

Finally, we want to celebrate…just not quite yet.

Last year, the raffle raised more than $128,000 for After this year is over and the change is official, the schools. And the schools kept every penny! look for more details. Some sort of Home Office Raffle tickets will be available from a school homecoming may be in the cards. The 30-year-old probably near you beginning around Catholic Home Office was beginning to show signs of her Schools Week at the end of January. Keep an eye age, so some remodeling has been done this fall. out for opportunities to buy tickets and support With the newly remodeled office and the new your local Catholic school. name, we’ll have plenty to be happy about in the New Year.

As Senior Vice President and Secretary/ Treasurer Harald Borrmann explains, we are part of a 132-year-old company that just changed its name. We recognize and anticipate some publicity from it. We embrace it. Our goal is to reach more people and attract new members. Publicity and brand identity can bring about those ends as long as our message is clear.

“The fact that we will try to focus on in our message,” Borrmann says, “is that we have acted from a position of strength rather than re-acting from a position of weakness. While many in our industry struggled over the past years, Catholic Aid has enjoyed some of the best revenue in its history.

And we have a large and growing base of active members. That’s the story we want to tell.” news@catholicaid.org

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of My

Out Catholic Aid member Maricela Radke and her husband Armand turned their Mexican vacations into opportunities to serve. Each year, the couple leads a team to sites in Mexico where they conduct eye clinics for local people. (Editor’s note: Thanks to Field Representative Becky King) he Radkes’s mission began eight yea rs ago; the couple was investigating the purchase of a timeshare property in Mazatlan, Mexico. The y shared with the property manager their desire to serve the needy in the community. He connected the m to some local contacts. After visiting and connecting with more local people, including a local member of the Lions Club, the Radkes set up a temporary clin ic in the La Familia Community Center in a neighborho od on the edge of the city. Word of mouth spread thro ugh the community about the clinic, and within a few hours the line of people waiting for an exam was out the door.

Inside the clinic, Armand conduc ts an exam with an individual, then selects and fits him or her with a pair of glasses that matches the prescri ption. The glasses come from donations given by the Lions Club in the U.S. Maricela said they’ve been able to fit people with complex prescriptions, while others simply need reading glasses that can be purchased in the U.S. at dollar stores.

Maricela says the average patient the y serve is 20-years-old, and the majority of the ir eyesight problems can be solved with pairs of read ing glasses. For most of the patients, the clinic run by the Radkes is the

T

Maricela Radke (center)

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Catholic Aid members aren’t afraid to step outside their comfort zones and serve in the name of Jesus Christ. Here are two stories of Catholic Aid members helping themselves and others get out of their comfort zones.

only access they have to vision care.

On one trip to a neighboring town, a malfunctioning bus and a missing box of glasses delayed the Radkes and their volunteers for two and a half hours. When they arrived on site at 11:30 a.m., they found a line of patients waiting for them; some had been in line since 5 a.m.

“Their life is so much tougher. There’s more dirt, the sun is so bright. There are so many little things to take into consideration,” says Maricela of their patients. “Sometimes if a prescription is really, really bad my husband will bring it home and we’ll try to find something here and we’ll send it back.”

Back in Minnesota, word of the Radkes’ mission work has been circulated around Detroit Lakes, and people often request to come along on the trips. Groups as large as 30 have traveled with the Radkes each March and served patients at the clinics. For the last couple of years, high school seniors from the Radkes’ home parish of Holy Rosary have served on the trip, performing cleaning, painting and clinic services.

Maricela estimates that over the eight years that they’ve been making the trip to Mexico, they’ve been able to assist over 10,000 people with eye exams and glasses fittings.

“We’ve been going to the same church for the last seven or eight years and you do see one or two people that you’ve seen before. Mostly, they’re all new people. There’s a lot of people to help, still.”

November/December 2010

www.catholicaid.org

Armand Radke (left)

stories compiled by Susan

F. Detlefsen

t r o f m Co Zone

nah, Minn., helped a group of 13 Our Lady of Grace Council of Manan Church of Our Lady parish to step young Catholics and three adults from of service at Catholic Heart Work out of their comfort zones and into a week cil provided the group with a $300 Camp in Billings, Montana. The coun ribes the trip below in her own words. donation. Team leader Judy Haag desc ntative Maggie Schlauderaff) shared that night of how much the (Editor’s note: Thanks to Field Represe y appreciated what was done for them. Over and ove r the y marveled at p Cam rk Wo rt the “wonderful teens” who came ornings at Catholic Hea d to owe help foll them and asts akf bre rty even to pray with them.

(CHWC) began with hea spir hly hig -gym the in by a morning program On the work site, the adult leaders guided the e time. Everysam the at all ve acti ly eme extr you and th to a beginning prayer and then itual into off the work beak bre to gym gan. It was amazing how everyone one was “pumped” as we left the idwor div e ked together wer ups gro th and used their talents to get the job our work groups. Our larger you to don off t e. There were sen e wer food breaks and discussions that ed into 22, six-member teams who wer of e out gui us s ded by the take lly rea adult leaders. We found that there their work sites. We found this us. was for d som goo y ething ver was ver y powerful about working togeth our comfort zone, but in the end with er s to tact help con e those mad in need. It is ver y bonding and we We came together as a team and bec The am ” e ver. ver y fore good s end friends with those in our work gro new people who will be our “fri be ups and . out go to ply sim Our 18 par ticipants were sent off main purpose of the week was with different ody in need, and ryb eve to ist Chr of feet and ds gro ups and had ver y different experie the han nces. We did dry wall, painting, yard work and to let our youth serve others. ldlan bui dsc aping, nursteam in t par k ing home visits, day care and fixi In the evenings, the youth too ng the up in play s ground talk and s equipment, tornado damage rep ing, praise and worship, and skit air of pro g hom nin es, eve food and ng kitchens, food banks, and the list school’s gym. Both the morni goe ced s on. dan ody ryb Eve .

Steve Schmitt, a ninth-grade religio grams were highly interactive n teacher from impossible to just was It sic. mu y erg h-en hig our the parish, who was on his second CH with way a had WC mission team WC CH trip, said he saw a change in the you sit and not interact; the young ng volunteers. e. pat “Many of the kids from last years of getting everyone to par tici we ple CH peo WC came back “the n whe ht with a deeper faith and wanted to They hosted one special nig go WC aga CH in, us. and they join and e talked others into coming. CH WC work for” were invited to com rgive inte e s you tim a better nd spe to s perception of why we’re here on ear encourages us at our work site to get th. lly The rea re’s we so a bigfor, k ger perspective than just your per acting with the people we wor son love al and stuf us w f.” kno to know these people and they get children and us. We discovered we are all God’s need help, and so ers sist sometimes our brothers and nies were imo test l we help them. Many powerfu

M

h of O u r The Churc p from Ladyg rou , h Minn.

Mananna .

WC camp at the CH

news@catholicaid.org

November/December 2010

13

Celebrating community, country and family.

There was no question this past year that something was shining down on the Catholic Aid Association’s Gather4Good events, be it a glowing sun, community cheer or maybe even the Lord’s good graces.

During two separate events held in New Ulm, Minn., and Sauk Rapids, Minn., Catholic Aid members, local Catholics and CAA Field staff worked together to build hundreds of care packages for American soldiers serving overseas.

The events, dubbed Gather4Good, were the culmination of months of planning by the Fraternal Department. The goal was to bring together the Catholic community through a large-scale service project, and for the two events there was only one result: Mission Accomplished.

Preparation and Planning

The real seed of the idea began at the 2009 Catholic Aid Convention, when it was announced that instead of a full two-day convention in 2010, the Association would experiment with the new format of a day-long business meeting.

“The shorter convention gave us the time and resources to plan events for members and nonmembers closer to home,” says Fraternal Director Kathleen Moriarty. “We wanted to do something that involved more members, but also showed non-

14

November/December 2010

members what we are about.”

By April, a theme was solidifying. A service project where everyone could participate, centered around something most everyone could appreciate.

After deciding on a care package drive, Moriarty worked with her

team and the local field force to narrow down locations and plan the campaign to raise awareness for the event. It was decided that two events could be held in 2010. One at German Park in New Ulm on July 12, and one at Molitor’s Quarry in Sauk Rapids on September 26.

A modest goal of 200 participants and 100 care packages at each was set, and an awareness campaign began.

As the event approached, and the online signup

www.catholicaid.org

began to fill, there was still some trepidation about the outcome.

“We had no idea what to expect,” Moriarty says. “We received RSVPs from more than 100 people, but it was a summer Sunday afternoon and we know people are very busy.”

German Park, New Ulm

Upon arrival at German Park, the first thing to hit an observer, besides the mid-nineties heat, was the milling mass of participants.

People swarmed under several tents. The pile of empty boxes was quickly depleted as Catholic volunteers — some members and some not — filed through the sundry lines and picked up their supplies.

Research had been done to determine what soldiers liked best in their care packages. The list looked something like: gum, coffee, mints, lip balm, jerky, socks, and powdered drink mixes for canteens.

Adult volunteers added a personal touch by writing letters, while children drew pictures to thank the servicemen and women for their sacrifice.

Marlys Wenier received a postcard and decided to attend with her granddaughter. “I think its great,” she said. “I wish there were more like it, so that everyone would get the feeling. My daughter is over serving in Afghanistan – her mother,” Marlys said.

Activities like a jumping house, face painting, giant checkers and child ID kits kept the younger participants like Marlys’s granddaughter from realizing that work was being done.

Catholic Aid also brought in a band to entertain from the raised pavilion, and provided lemonade, locally brewed root beer and popcorn to placate the participants prior to the catered lunch of sandwiches with all the trimmings.

Despite the heat, more than 225 people arrived to support the military, and put

news@catholicaid.org

together 125 care packages.

Michael Webster brought his entire family for the opportunity to do a volunteer activity together.

“We think it’s great. It very much shows the people serving our country that we do care, and we are thinking about them,” he said.

“Yes,” his wife, Bonnie, added, “we’re keeping them in our thoughts, all the time.”

Molitor’s Quarry, Sauk Rapids

Any fear that New Ulm’s blessed weather (almost too blessed, according to some) would not be visited upon the fall event was quickly dispelled, as September 26 dawned bright and beautiful.

Molitor’s Quarry is a sprawling complex complete with trout pond, hay rides and miniature golf.

Catholic Aid added face painting, pictures with the pope and all the materials for the care packages.

After the success of the New Ulm event, sights were set higher at 175 care packages and 300 participants, and again, the Catholics of Sauk Rapids (and many surrounding communities) did not disappoint.

National Guard Fox Company 134th Brigade Support Battalion Sgt. 1st Class Ryan Wensmann, a Catholic Aid member out of St. Joseph, Minn., heard about the event from his Field Representative Greg Gall. He said he decided to come in uniform and bring an Army Humvee to say thank you from the men and women receiving the gifts.

“They mean the world to a lot

of the folks over there,” he said.

Dozens of young families poured out for the activities, particularly enjoying the hayrides.

Among the events, however, nothing proved as fulfilling as putting together the packages themselves.

“We received the postcard and sat down and talked about

Gather4Good, continued on back cover

Photos, left top: a child’s drawing is packed on top of the contents of a care package in Sauk Rapids, Minn. Left page cluster: New Ulm, Minn. Stacking the care packages after prepping them for delivery; face painting for the little ones; two youngsters draw pictures for the soldiers. This page: Sauk Rapids, Minn. Top: In the sundries line, volunteers grab the items to go into the care packages. Bottom: Sauk Rapids Mayor Mark Campbell, Catholic Aid Field Representative Gregory Gall, CAA Sales Director Tom Schisler, Former Mayor of St. Cloud (And CAA member) Chuck Winkelman, Kay Halverson of St. Paul, Minn., Joyce Griebel of Searles, Minn., CAA Field Representative Gary Gall, CAA Regional Manager Peter Spaniol.

November/December 2010

15

CAA Cookbook

From our kitchen to yours!

About These Recipes: Here are a few recipes to help you through your holiday parties or just try out for family dinners. The Cheesy Hash Browns make a large dish and go over well. You’ll rarely have leftovers. The Buffalo Chicken Dip is a great recipe to use as an appetizer; it is spicy so look out! This new recipe, Walleye on the Grill is fantastic, you do not need tartar sauce for this one!

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Cheesy Hash Browns Ingredients:

Preparation:

3 1/2 cups hash browns 1 can cream of chicken soup 2 cups shredded cheese 3/4 cup sour cream 1/4 cup onion 1/4 cup melted butter

Mix together hash browns, cream of chicken soup, shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped onions and melted butter in a bowl. Grease your 9x13 pan and spread mixture in baking dish. Then sprinkle crushed corn flakes and top with melted butter. Bake at 350o for 45 minutes.

topping: 1 1/2 cups crushed corn flakes 2 Tbsp melted butter

Prep Time: 1 hour Servings: 8

Ingredients:

Preparation:

12 walleye fillets 12 oz jar of mayonnaise 4 small tomatoes 1 onion, sliced 2 Tbsp Italian Seasoning 2 aluminum foil sheets

Lay down one sheet of foil. Put a thin layer of mayo down and then fillets of fish. On top of the fish put the rest of the mayo. Then slices of onion, diced tomatoes and Italian Seasoning. Close the foil and place on the grill with the thin layer of mayo side down. Open the foil occasionally to check if fish is done.

You can bake this recipe in the oven as well at 350o and open foil to check when done.

If your family has a recipe that you or your friends rave about, send it to us to share with the whole CAA neighborhood: news@catholicaid.org

16

November/December 2010

2 8 oz. bricks of cream cheese 3 lbs. chicken cooked & cubed 16 oz. Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing 23 oz. Frank’s Red Hot Sauce 8 oz. brick of pepper jack cheese, shredded

Preparation:

Cube cream cheese and melt in microwave. Add chicken, hot sauce and dressing. Put it in a crock pot. Stir occasionally. Stir in pepper jack cheese.

Serve with chips or celery.

Prep Time: 15 minutes Servings: 5

Walleye on the Grill

Prep Time: 30 minutes Servings: 4

Ingredients:

This year work on your holiday cooking and party-planning skills.

Instead of relying on grocery store prepared foods or catering companies to supplement your holiday meal, consider saving money this year by cooking some traditional family meals or take a look through the cookbooks in your cupboard. Be ambitious with your holiday cooking, this year make it healthy and save money! www.catholicaid.org

Announcements

Julius and Alice Friedges

Send us your announcements!

Julius and Alice Friedges, of Prior Lake, Minn., recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

They were married on May 3, 1950, at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in New Market, Minn. They have 6 children, 10 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.

Their family enjoyed a dinner together at Julius and Alice’s home. Julius and Alice are parishioners of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Prior Lake, Minn.

If you have an anniversary, jubilee or announcement that you want to share with your Catholic Aid family, mail it to Catholic Aid Journey, 3499 Lexington Avenue N., St. Paul, MN 55126, or email it to news@catholicaid.org.

A special thank you to all who have served and are serving!

Veterans Day, observed on November 11th, is a special day in America. We recognize and thank all the individuals who served in the military for their gift of service in defending our freedom in this great country. We are very proud to have so many of our employees and members among this distinguished group of Americans.

In loving memory of our deceased members

September 2010

Olive Haggerty, 99

Theodore Silvers, 85

Margaret Denn, 93

Lucy Hughes, 97

Laverne Scheeler, 91

Madelia, MN St. Joseph

John Heinen, 99

Edward Stacken, 84

Bernieda Domeier, 84

Everett Huiras, 92

Gerald Schiminski, 78

Bernice Kalkhoff, 87

George Vonderharr, 91

Esther Domeier, 92

Genevieve Jelen, 95

Steven Schmidt, 59

Marjorie Kieffer, 77

George Weinhandl, 81

William Drexler, 78

Stephen Kalenberg, 86

Judith Schmitt, 72

Glencoe, MN Holy Family

Stillwater, MN St. Joseph

Michael Lamatsch Jr., 69

Cletus Wendinger, 82

Dorothy Ebert, 91

Melinda Kappel, 88

Charles Schneider, 89

Donald Lambrecht, 78

October 2010

Richard Ernste, 70

Delores Kimmes, 90

Severin Schwieters, 85

Wabeno, WI St. Ambrose

Joseph Geers, 94

Ricky Klingelhutz, 52

Rachel Simon, 18

Stanley Goblirsch, 85

Joseph Landsteiner, 91 New Ulm, MN St. Joseph

Marie Sperl, 90

St. George, MN St. George

Delores Haas, 89

Harriet Leifeld, 96

Isabelle Barthel, 86

Hastings, MN St. Eliz Ann Seton

Anna Tauer, 89

New Ulm, MN St. Elizabeth

Magdalen Maciej, 91

Marjorie Thomas, 69

Lavern Biebl, 82

Bernard Hackenmueller, 87 St. Michael, MN St. Michael

Cyril Hartung, 80

John Mack, 90 Belta, ND St. John Nep.

Patricia Tillman, 55

Holdingford, MN St. Joseph

Walter Heltemes, 89

Avita McWhorter, 99 Alexandria, MN Our Lady/Runestone

Alfred Volkenant, 95

Wadena, MN St. Joseph

Vernon Hinderscheit, 87

Naomi Nimis, 91

Cletus Wendinger, 82

Catherine Hoen, 89

James Rachel, 90

Roman Zangel, 100

Leslie Hollingsworth, 88

Elvera Sanftner, 83

Frank Ziegler, 87

Mary Andruzzi, 79

CordeliaBecker, 98

Richmond, MN SS. Catherine/Joseph

John Bickett, 82 Wilmont, MN St. Kilian

Antoinette Bork, 86

Winona, MN SS. Joseph/Elizabeth

Harold Brotherton, 82 Duluth, MN

Barbara Buckner, 91

Pine City, MN Immaculate Conception

Eleanor Chanaka, 81 St. Cloud, MN St. Augustine

Donald Decann, 79

Osakis, MN Immaculate Conception

Chad Dehmer, 37 St. Michael, MN St. Michael

Susan Dickhausen, 43 St. Bonifacius, MN St. Boniface

Paul Ebert, 65

St. Bonifacius, MN St. Boniface

Bernard Fischer, 79 Parkston, SD Holy Cross/St. Mary

Waite Park, MN St. Joseph

Spring Hill, MN St. Michael Morgan, MN St. Michael

Hastings, MN St. Eliz Ann Seton

New Brighton, MN St. John the Baptist Jordan, MN St. John the Baptist

Mary Mayer, 68 West Union, MN Holy Family

Harry McCartney,86 Whitehall, WI St. John & St. Ansgar

Herman Meyers, 74 Hampton, MN St. Mathias

Gordon Rieke, 86 Fairfax, MN SS. Mary & Joseph

Viola Rooney, 89

Alexandria, MN Our Lady/Runestone

Richard Schaefer, 57 Searles, MN St. John the Baptist

Evelyn Schons, 92

Joanne Foley, 82

Mankato, MN Holy Family

Mildred Foss, 80

Marie Schutz, 92 Eden Valley, MN SS. Joseph & Mary

Rogers, MN Mary Queen of Peace Hampton, MN St. Mathias

Willibalda Seifert, 84 New Ulm, MN St. Elizabeth

news@catholicaid.org

Farming, MN St. Catherine

Waconia, MN St. Joseph

Madison, MN St. Michael

Hampton, MN St. Mathias

St. George, MN St. George

Edmund Adamczak, 84 Agnes Baillon, 95

St. Paul, MN SS. Matthew/Cecelia

Caroline Baltes, 78 West Union, MN Holy Family St. Michael, MN St. Michael St. George, MN St. George

Natalie Borzych, 87 Wabeno, WI St. Ambrose

Barbara Brickner, 90 Hoven, SD St. Anthony of Padua

Sylvester Brown, 79 Madison Lake, MN All Saints

Donald Bungert, 71

Bloomington, MN SS. Ann & Wendelinus

Hastings, MN St. Eliz Ann Seton New Ulm, MN St. Elizabeth New Ulm, MN St. Elizabeth

St. Paul, MN S. Anthony-Maria Hilf Mankato, MN Holy Family

Faribault, MN SS. Lawrence & Anna Richmond, MN SS. Catherine/Joseph

Union Hill, MN St. John Waconia, MN St. Joseph

Skyeston, ND SS. Joseph/Elizabeth

Mankato, MN Holy Family

Leavenworth, MN Holy Family St. Leo, MN St. Leo

Winsted, MN Holy Family

New Trier, MN SS. Nicholas/Theresa Victoria, MN St. Victoria

Minneapolis, MN St. Ann’s

Minneapolis, MN St. Boniface Morgan, MN St. Michael

Minneapolis, MN St. Boniface St. Cloud, MN St. Michael

Bloomington, MN SS. Ann & Wendelinus New Ulm, MN St. Elizabeth New Ulm, MN St. Elizabeth

St. Cloud, MN St. Augustine

Little Falls, MN Tri Parish

St. Paul, MN SS. Peter/Clemens Maple Lake, MN St. Francis Xavier Mankato, MN Holy Family

Luxemburg, MN SS. Theresa/Wendelin

Rosen, MN SS. Anthony/Monica Litomysl, MN Holy Trinity

New Ulm, MN St. Mary

Fairfax, MN SS. Mary & Joseph

November/December 2010

17

Minutes of the

CAA Board of Directors The 2010 Board of Directors: President & Chairman Michael McGovern, Senior Vice President & Secretary/Treasurer Harald Borrmann, Lead Director Frances Barten, Bernard Bastian, George Gmach, Joseph Kueppers, Deborah Pauly, Gary Polaczyk and John Maile.

August 6, 2010

The August Board meeting was held at the Northland Inn in Brooklyn Park, Minn., in conjunction with the Catholic Aid Association’s Annual Delegate Convention. The meeting started at 3:10 p.m. with Director George Gmach leading the Directors in the Opening Prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. All directors were present.

Approval of the agenda, subject to a minor reordering of two items, was moved by Director Bernie Bastian, seconded by Director Joseph Kueppers and passed unanimously. Mr. Kueppers moved and Mr. Bastian seconded that the minutes for the June Board meeting be approved subject to a friendly Amendment regarding the discussion of the Pension Plan; this motion was approved unanimously.

The Investment Reports for June and July were discussed by Mr. McGovern and Secretary/ Treasurer Harald Borrmann. The Catholic Aid Association follows its policies strictly and its investments remain sound. CAA’s cash position continues to decrease as more cash is being put into low-yielding but relatively short-term investments.

This approach has allowed the overall investment yield to increase slightly due to the very low yields on cash/money market investments. We will continue to maintain adequate cash positions to afford appropriate liquidity. The number of securities on the “watch list” continues to decline, and the loan portfolio remains stable. A motion to remove CAA’s “sterile” CD from being on deposit with the CAA Credit Union was made by Mr. Kueppers, seconded by Mr. Gmach and passed unanimously. Approval of the June Report was moved by Director Fran Barten, seconded by Mr. Bastian, and the motion was passed unanimously.

Approval of the July report was moved by Mr. Bastian, seconded by Mr. Kueppers and also passed unanimously.

Secretary Harald Borrmann discussed briefly the By-laws for the new St. John Bosco Council in Pipestone, Minn. A motion to approve them was made by Mr. Bastian, seconded by Mr. Kueppers and passed unanimously. During the discussion of this item, Director John Maile mentioned that he has been asked about servicing councils in

18 November/December 2010

the Battle Lake/ Fergus Falls areas; Chairman McGovern pointed out that we have recently changed Field Representatives in that area in hopes of providing better

service.

CAA’s General Counsel, Peter Thrane, provided an update of the Securities Lending situation.

The Board continues to follow and approve of management’s direction in addressing this issue.

Mr. Borrmann led a review of the second quarter financial report. CAA continues to grow its assets and surplus. Premium levels remain strong, and management is closely watching annuity premium growth to make certain it remains at optimal levels.

Profitability and building surplus continue to be principal goals for CAA. Mr. Borrmann then presented a report, tabled from the June meeting, showing how CAA compares to its peers in several important categories. As the number of similarly sized fraternals shrinks, Mr. Gmach noted that we may want to include some like-sized mutual life insurers in future peer studies to provide a larger and perhaps more relevant comparison. Mr. Borrmann will do some research into this matter.

Mr. McGovern and Mr. Borrmann led a discussion of a new business opportunity. After an in-depth discussion, Mr. Kueppers moved and Director Deb Pauly seconded that CAA management purse a due diligence process to move forward with this process. It was agreed that a special Board meeting may be called for late August in which to further discuss this matter to avoid waiting until the September Board Meeting (which is delayed a week due to the NFCA Annual Meeting). The date for such a meeting will be arranged in due course.

In the interests of time, a new donation request was tabled until the September Board Meeting.

Mr. McGovern provided an update of the Annual Delegate Convention. Attendance is expected to approximately match the attendance from last year’s Convention.

The Board was shown a video about the Name Update; the same video will be shown to all Convention delegates. The Board expressed its view that the video is accurate, compelling and very relevant to the issue.

Again in the interests of time, the Risk Management update was tabled until the September Board Meeting.

Mr. McGovern and Mr. Borrmann provided a brief review, and Board members were provided minutes, of the first meeting of the Ad Hoc Succession Committee President’s remarks are as follows: • 2010 NFCA handbooks were distributed to all Board members • Board members were briefed on the status of a member complaint; CAA is reviewing strategies with Legal Counsel to obtain the fairest possible outcome • Status reports on two commercial loans were provided with no material changes since the last update • The merged Catholic Knights and Catholic Family Life entities have a new name, Catholic Financial Life • We will contact Mr. Hank Shea, professor at the University of St. Thomas, to address the Board on Succession Planning and certain governance issues • The baseball outings over the summer for members and prospective members were very popular and successful • The priests’ golf outings have also had good attendance and are very much appreciated by all who attend • The remodeling project continues relatively on schedule • The next Gather4Good event will be in Sauk Rapids on September 26 • Net membership is up by 98 members, year-todate • Both life and annuity sales remain strong, with management vigorously pushing life sales It was suggested by Mr. Kueppers and agreed that the September Board Meeting be held at Mr. Kueppers’ home in Wisconsin.

Ms. Barten led the closing prayer and the meeting was adjourned at 6:30 pm.

September 16, 2010

The September Board meeting was held at the Home Office in St. Paul, Minn. The meeting started at 9:30 a.m. with Director Deb Pauly leading the Directors in the Opening Prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. All directors were present.

Approval of the agenda, subject to the addition of the Audit Committee report, was agreed by all present. Director Bernie Bastian moved, Director Gary Polaczyk seconded and that the minutes for the August Board meeting be approved with two minor editorial corrections; this motion was approved unanimously.

The Investment Report for August was discussed

by Chairman Mike McGovern and Secretary/ Treasurer Harald Borrmann. The Catholic Aid Association follows its policies strictly and its news@catholicaid.org

Board of Directors Minutes investments remain sound. CAA’s cash position continues to decrease as more cash is being put into low-yielding but relatively short-term investments. CAA’s cash position is now closely approaching a level viewed as optimal for managing cash flow and operating expenses. CAA will continue to maintain adequate cash positions to afford appropriate liquidity. The number of securities on the “watch list” has reduced to a level commensurate with historical norms and the loan portfolio remains stable, with management providing an update of the two commercial loans under close scrutiny. Management reported on its recent regular quarterly meeting with 21st Century Bank, where their financial condition continues to strengthen. Approval of the report was moved

by Director George Gmach, seconded by Director Fran Barten and passed unanimously.

With regard to Policy Governance, Mr. McGovern led a discussion on the following items: • Compensation and Benefits • Participation on Governing Boards • Board Job Description, and • CEO/Board Linkage; (see President’s Remarks) Mr. Borrmann reviewed the revisions to the Investment Policy that has been adopted and agreed to at an earlier meeting. Mr. Bastian moved, Mr. Polaczyk seconded and the Board unanimously agreed to accept this document as presented.

Director Joe Kueppers presented the report of the Audit Committee. They had met September 14 and the report of the Committee is attached to these Minutes. Of particular note is that both Mr. Bastian and Mr. Polaczyk will be leaving the Audit Committee due to their Board retirements, and Mr. Gruenes will have to step down due to the new requirement of each Audit Committee member having to be a Board member. Mr. Gmach is considering joining the Audit Committee in 2011 and there is a possibility that new Board member Mr. Robert Krattenmaker may have an interest as well.

Mr. McGovern led a discussion of the NFCA Annual Meeting held the previous week in

Chicago. Along with Mr. McGovern and Mr. Borrmann, several Board members also attended.

Following is a summary of the comments: • Overall attendance was quite good and the sessions were well attended.

• There was a strong panel of expert speakers with generally good relevance.

• Harald Borrmann has joined the NFCA Board of Directors for a three-year term.

• The NFCA membership voted unanimously to change their name to American Fraternal Alliance effective January 1, 2011.

• The Presidents’ and Secretaries’ section breakfast meetings were led by Mr. McGovern and Mr. Borrmann, respectively.

Mr. McGovern presented to the Board a new donation request from St. James Basilica (Jamestown, N.D.) and the Board voted to support this worthy cause.

Mr. McGovern and Mr. Borrmann led a discussion of a new business opportunity. There continues to be progress made in the information gathering process, and there will be another update provided at the October Board meeting.

Mr. Borrmann provided the Risk Management report. Notable efforts being made include the following: • CAA is testing and refurbishing our backup DR site in Blaine as soon as the virtualization server project is complete; this should occur shortly.

• CAA is participating in a small ad-hoc NFCA Secretaries’ group putting together a best practices archive of ERM issues and considerations • CAA will be re-charging its Risk Management Committee upon completion of the remodeling project; as a part of the remodeling, management will be reviewing design options for replacing the concrete pad entrance to the Home Office building.

• Long necessary roofing and tuckpointing repairs will begin shortly.

The Board Christmas dinner will be held December 8, prior to the December 9 Board meeting, at the Lilydale Pool and Yacht Club.

Mary Froberg will arrange details.

A sales career with meaning, purpose, community, and faith New Field Representatives needed in these areas: Duluth, Minn.

Red Wing, Minn.

Eau Claire, Wis. Sioux Falls, S.D. Owatonna, Minn. Winona, Minn. news@catholicaid.org

President’s remarks are as follows: • 2010 NFCA Board membership has shown a strengthening with more operating and executive officers of member societies.

• The Old-Timers luncheon will again be at Dellwood on October 13.

• The status of any pending/potential litigation was discussed.

• Pete Thrane and Doug Boettge will update the Board on Securities Lending matters at the October meeting.

• MIFSC continues to try to maintain visibility with both Minnesota House and Senate members.

• Hank Shea will present to the Board at the October Board meeting on the topic of CEO/Board linkage in preparation for further discussion at the January Board retreat.

• CAA chartered a new council in Marshall, Minn.; former House minority leader Marty Seifert is an officer.

• Annuity and Life sales remain strong and membership continues to slowly increase.

• The building remodeling remains on track despite a few minor delays.

• We have had no further requests from any Board candidates about the August 2010 election.

• Mr. McGovern and Mr. Borrmann are meeting with representatives of Catholic Financial Life and Catholic Life about the possibility of formalizing a relationship with Wellington Investment Management; more information to be discussed in October.

• The last two Priests’ Outings were a big success and they continue to benefit both the priests and CAA (and our membership) a great deal.

Mr. Bastian led the closing prayer and the meeting was adjourned at 1:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Harald E. Borrmann

Join Catholic Aid’s Field Force More than just selling a product, Catholic Aid Field Representatives support the Catholic faith in our communities! We’re looking for connected Catholics with good sales skills.

Advantages: • No cold calling • Great home-based business • Flexible hours and scheduling • One person per territory means no competition with other Catholic Aid Field Reps • Employment (not contracts) and benefits • Starting compensation up to two years • One of the fastest growing careers for women in the U.S. November/December 2010

19

Call 651-490-0710 ext. 154 for more information. Fax resumes to 651-765-4153.

Youth

Youth Liaison joins Fraternal Department Nate Lamusga brings experience in youth outreach, ministry and music

T

he newest member of the Fraternal Department was on tour last year with an Americana band playing to English and Scottish audiences.

To Nate Lamusga, “hobby” doesn’t do justice to what music is to him, but after spending weeks on the road in dilapidated motels and seedy pubs, he says it was an awesome experience, and one he’s ready to put behind him.

Lamusga, 29, will have his hands full as it is, as he takes over the role of Fraternal Youth Liaison vacated in September by Heather Vargo.

Nate was hired on November 4, and has spent the first few weeks of his new job trying to get his arms around the multi-faceted role.

“It’s been a brain dump,” Lamusga says. “It’s been lots of meetings, staying close to Kathleen [Moriarty, fraternal director] and trying to get to know the programs. And I’ve already got dates on my calendar to go out to the councils and start meeting the people I’ll be working with there.”

Nate comes to Catholic Aid from Twin Cities Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) where he was an

20

November/December 2010

executive director. TEC is a local division of a regional youth outreach program, a nonprofit that Lamusga had managed since 2007.

TEC and Catholic Aid’s fraternal programs have a lot of crossover, he says, which is how he knew Heather Vargo and how he found out about the available position.

“Nate has a lot of unique skills that fit extremely well with the requirements of the Fraternal Youth Liaison position, and that aren’t readily available in the talent pool out there,” Moriarty says. “We think he’s an excellent fit and will do a lot of good here.”

That skill set includes experience as a youth minister for several years at the Church of St. Michael in Prior Lake, Minn.; as an adjunct guitar professor at Crown College in Waconia, Minn.; and as a student campus minister at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn.

Since 2004 he’s been a member of SONAR, a Catholic band that leads worship for churches and events throughout the Midwest.

It’s his experience on stage and in organizing youth and volunteers at TEC that he believes will be of great value at CAA. “I was in front of people

a lot in both those roles. A lot of relationships and relationship building,” he says. “My main job at TEC was to build community, and I think to a certain extent, that’s what the job of the Fraternal department is too.”

The change from a one-man organization as at Twin Cities TEC to a 130-year-old company with almost $2 billion of life insurance in-force is a big one.

But Lamusga, for his part, is excited at all the possibilities Catholic Aid has to offer.

“I’m coming from TEC, where it was me and one other employee and we had to do everything…we were so lean that I knew about every copy that we made,” he says. “So coming to an environment where there are so many resources, a marketing department, a five-state field staff, and all the council volunteers — just being part of something bigger is exciting to me.”

Nate Lamusga, 29, is a 2003 graduate of St. John’s University and a native of Prior Lake, Minn. He and his wife, Hilary, were married this year and are expecting their first child.

www.catholicaid.org

Catholic Aid Kids Cool Kid

Name: Blake Minke Age: 11 Hometown: Harris, Minn.

School: C.E. Jacobson Elementary, 6th grade The Brouhaha on Blake: Blake is a small-business entrepreneur. With his little brother Hunter, he collects and sells eggs from their two dozen chickens. They also take care of their goat, Eddie, and two dogs, Cade and Tundra. Blake loves the outdoors, hunting, fishing and playing hockey with Hunter. He’s an altar server at church and plays clarinet.

Even though he loves Catholic camp and summers on the houseboat, he says he’s looking forward to ice fishing, sledding and snowball fights! Congratulations, Blake!

Be the January/February 2011 Cool Kid! Fill out the puzzles on this page as best you can and submit them to the Catholic Aid Journey. One winner will get a Catholic Aid T-shirt and a special prize! Include your name, age and phone number and send to: Catholic Aid Association, 3499 Lexington Ave. N., St. Paul, MN 55126.

Catholic Aid Kids

news@catholicaid.org

Amazing Saints artwork and games ©2010 Mario D. Macari. All rights reserved. mario@incrediblesaints.com

November/December 2010

21

ye on the Industry Your sneak peek into current trends of the fraternal life insurance industry

Study: “Fraternals return billions to society” At a time when growing numbers of Americans are in acute need of economic help, a new Georgetown University study finds that fraternal benefit societies are providing billions of dollars in direct and indirect economic support to allay community needs and support social structures. Not-for-profit mutual aid organizations like Catholic Aid Association, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, and others were created more than a century ago to serve the financial and social needs of U.S. communities. Today, these fraternal benefit societies give back $68 to society for every dollar that the federal government invests to help support their operations, concludes the study’s author, Phillip Swagel, a Georgetown professor and former Assistant Secretary of Economic Policy for the U.S. Treasury Department.

The study’s economic analysis shows that fraternal benefit societies are a highly effective private sector economic and community support system that could not be easily replicated by government. From assisting families struggling with medical bills to providing financial literacy initiatives to acting as a first response network in the face of natural disasters, the Georgetown study finds that fraternal benefit societies and their extensive networks of members generate $3.4 billion of economic value annually through charitable contributions, volunteerism and generated social capital by meeting growing community needs that might otherwise go unmet if fraternal benefit organizations did not exist.

“In the face of an enormous fiscal

22

November/December 2010

challenge, fraternal benefit societies work to strengthen families and communities across the country” said Swagel. “These unique communitybased networks provide a structure

“...Fraternal benefit societies and their extensive networks of members generate $3.4 billion of economic value annually...” that supports volunteerism and builds social capital. This gives immense benefits to communities and a huge return to American taxpayers.”

According to the study, for public sector agencies to fill the needs that are currently being met by fraternal

benefit societies, the cost to government would far exceed the current government investment in sustaining fraternal benefit societies.

“This study quantifies the services and extraordinary volunteerism that fraternal benefit societies and their members provide each day across America,” said Joe Annotti, president and CEO of the National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA).

“While there is no numerical value that can be placed on service to one’s neighbors, this study demonstrates that fraternal benefit societies deliver tangible results by combining local energy and knowledge with national infrastructure and resources.

The original social network, the fraternal model provides relevant value in meeting community needs today as it did well over 100 years ago.”

Source: NFCA

LIMRA questions WSJ life insurance article Most life insurance policies sold in the U.S. benefit average Americans, not solely the wealthy. So says, LIMRA, an insurance industry trade organization of which Catholic Aid Association is a member, in response to an article published on Oct. 3, 2010 in the Wall Street Journal.

Using sales data from a LIMRA research report, the authors of the article “Shift to Wealthier Clientele Puts Life Insurers in a Bind” asserted that life insurance companies “gradually have shifted away from their broad historical base of middle-class households” and give “the tax benefits of life insurance goes to the well-off, not to the middle class that once was the industry’s backbone.” The authors stated their support for proposed federal taxes on life insurance death benefits because life insurance was no longer serving its primary purpose of “protecting widows and orphans.”

LIMRA President Robert A. Kerzner stated that data from the same study shows that the majority (72 percent) of life insurance policies sold in the U.S. are purchased by consumers who earn less than $100,000 per year.

“This is not the time to make buying life insurance less attractive,” wrote Kerzner in a Letter to the Editor published by the Journal on Oct. 11, 2010.

“Collectively, we should be finding more ways to encourage consumers to get the coverage they need.” www.catholicaid.org

North/Northeast

Field Representatives in Your Area Luke Bauman, FIC

320-763-4835 lbauman@catholicaid.org Alexandria, Glenwood, Brandon, Osakis

Candee Cloos, FIC 605-862-6134 ccloos@catholicaid.org Milbank, Ortonville, Watertown

Donna Cushman, FIC

Becky King, FIC

Maggie Schlauderaff

John Klocke, FIC

Lyle Turbes, FIC

218-841-4600 bking@catholicaid.org Detroit Lakes, New York Mills, Perham

888-274-0459 jklocke@catholicaid.org Fargo, Moorhead, Grand Forks

218-739-1617 dcushman@catholicaid.org Fergus Falls, Breckenridge, Elbow Lake, Pelican Rapids

Dan Markell

Denise Degerstrom, FIC

Victor Friesz

320-384-0339 ddegerstrom@catholicaid.org Braham, Cambridge, Isanti, Mora

Directory

507-530-6433 dmarkell@catholicaid.org Pipestone, Marshall, Ivanhoe

701-471-6576 vfriesz@catholicaid.org Bismarck, Minot, and surrounding areas

612-240-2303 mschlauderaff@catholicaid.org Litchfield, Eden Valley, Darwin, Grove City

320-222-6422 lturbes@catholicaid.org Hutchinson, Willmar, Kandiyohi

Mike Kirchhoff, FICF

218-391-9444 mkirchhoff@catholicaid.org Grand Rapids, Hibbing, Cloquet Regional Manager, Northeast

Mike Bredeck, FICF

612-910-0731 mbredeck@catholicaid.org Regional Manager, North

From our homes to yours, have a blessed Christmas and a prosperous New Year!

From: Your Catholic Aid Field Representatives and Independent Agents news@catholicaid.org

November/December 2010

23

3499 Lexington Ave. N., St. Paul, MN 55126-8098

Gather4Good, continued from page 15 it as a family,” Julie Reberg said, standing with her husband and two daughters. “The girls were very excited to be able to participate because for some volunteer positions, you have to be a certain age to volunteer.”

Like the previous event, it began after Sunday Mass and ended around 3 p.m., with several volunteers staying late to help clean up, then throwing a line in at the trout pond.

From the number of packages created and sent out, to the sheer strength of the volunteer force and the sense of community that pervaded the atmosphere, the event was an unmitigated success.

Sgt. Wensmann explained the significance of the effort.

“The amount of community support that I see is just overwhelming,” he said. “Each unit has an FRG, a family readiness

unit, and they do kind of the same thing you’re doing here today but not nearly the turnout.

Those FRGs you’re seeing ten to twenty people at each event. they’re only building a handful of shoeboxes. So what you’re doing here, the volume is supporting an entire company, so it’s great.”

Afterwards

All packages were sent to a military chaplain, who distributed them to the units with the most need. Volunteers who had family members or friends serving could also address packages directly to their loved ones.

In all, more than 300 packages were made and at nearly 600 members of the community participated in the event.

Moriarty says she’s hoping that Gather4Good becomes a fixture in Catholic Aid’s stable of Fraternal activities.

CAA 2010 FRATERNAL TRACKER

Events like this one are a part of our future,” she says, “not only because they’re a celebration, but because they speak to the common bond we have as a fraternal organization. Our bond is our family, our faith, and doing good from within our community so they’re very much a part of our core values for the association.”

Sgt. Wensmann’s Humvee was a popular attraction for kids and adults alike, who were able to check out the view from behind the wheel.

$ 4 9 0 ,4 0 3.9 3 Matched By CAA: $ 0 8 7 ,3 7 5.1 3

Raised By Councils: Councils:

Hours Volunteered: 2 1 ,2 0 9