Forum Magazine - Fall 2020

FORU M

Fall 2020 | Protecting families through life insurance since 1894. | Gleaner Life Insurance Society

MAGAZINE

20/20 Vision:

Learn about the different streams that unite to form a river of p. 13 retirement income.

Gleaner history’s Memorial Home p. 8 Saluting 2020 scholarship recipients p. 17

Seeking divine calm amid 2020’s chaos with the Serenity Prayer “God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things that should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.”

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed in 2020. Even if fortunate enough to avoid personal problems such as health issues, unemployment and family crisis, we still face national issues including the COVID-19 pandemic, school dilemmas, homelessness, hunger and political tensions.

To help prioritize and cope with such challenges, generations of Americans have turned to the Serenity Prayer. It first gained prominence during the dark days of World War II. After the war, it was adopted by Alcoholics Anonymous and today is one of the most common prayers in the English language. The prayer is credited to Reinhold Niebuhr, an American theologian, pastor and professor. One of his students reportedly began sending it to newspapers in the 1930s. The full prayer has appeared with various wording and contains several petitions, although the first part is the best known. Niebuhr himself preferred the version of its beginning that is listed above.

The Serenity Prayer reflects biblical principles for handling chaos.

“God, give us grace to accept with serenity” First is acknowledging that God (or the term “Higher Power” used by Alcoholics Anonymous) wants us to pursue peace and divine direction. We’re also instructed to ask, especially for spiritual gifts such as faith and courage.

“The things that cannot be changed,” The prayer reminds us that we control less than we may think. Many concerns such as the economy, weather disasters, national politics and death itself are beyond any individual’s power to change. Accepting that saves us from futile restlessness.

“Courage to change the things that should be changed,” There are, however, steps we can take. We can’t control a virus, for example, but we can control our behavior. That might include steps to not carelessly pass the virus and cause it to reach people at high risk. Confronting our habits and behavior and changing them requires courage and faith.

“And the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other” The Bible’s Book of Proverbs tells us to seek divine wisdom and to not rely on our own understanding. God’s wisdom helps us recognize things we cannot change (a biological craving for alcohol, the death of a spouse, etc.) and what we should change (choosing at a particular moment to have a drink, a couple’s preparations for when one dies, etc.).

By helping turn our thoughts toward God, seeking guidance, and focusing productively, the Serenity Prayer has helped many in a chaotic world find hope. We at Gleaner Life Insurance Society extend our wishes for your serenity.

Contents

Continued success with annuity reinsurance In the Spring 2020 edition of Forum Magazine, we described our first annuity reinsurance treaty, which became effective Nov. 1, 2019. This treaty encompassed approximately $275 million worth of reserves on annuities with guaranteed interest rates of 3.5% and generated total benefit of $27.6 million.

As noted above, Gleaner Life Insurance Society surplus increased by $42 million as a result of the reinsurance agreement. This large increase in surplus provided management with additional opportunities to further strengthen our balance sheet. We will add additional life insurance reserves to our balance sheet totaling approximately $20 million. We also intend to eliminate future liabilities from the frozen defined benefit pension plan. These two items will offset the large increase in surplus by approximately $35 million.

In this historic period of prolonged low interest rates, your management team continued investigating the potential benefits of annuity reinsurance on approximately $400 million of annuities with guaranteed interest rates of 3.0%, and actively began to seek out reinsurers in early 2020. We again partnered with a reinsurance intermediary (Aon) to assist us in negotiating the best agreement for the Society and its members.

On Sept. 1, 2020, Gleaner Life Insurance Society entered into a second annuity reinsurance agreement with Heritage Life Insurance Company, an accredited reinsurer domiciled in Arizona with total adjusted capital of $1 billion.

Under the terms of this agreement, Gleaner liquidated approximately $400 million of investments and recognized capital gains of $42 million. It is important to understand that the Society is still responsible for the guarantees in each and every annuity certificate reinsured.

The benefit of making these strategic decisions reduces future liabilities, thereby allowing Gleaner to continue to be competitive from a product rate perspective in this historically low interest rate environment. Our financial foundation has never been stronger. Your management team continues to seek innovative ways to assure the financial strength of the Society for the continued benefit of all members.

This annuity reinsurance treaty simply adds another layer of protection for the Society on some of our older Gleaner annuities, many of which feature long-term guarantees well above the credited interest rates available on most of our currently issued annuity certificates.

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Fall 2020

Features 6

Highlighting the top Gleaner Life agents for their contributions during demanding times.

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Your membership in Gleaner remains unchanged.

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Gleaner Life Insurance Society staff will continue to administer your annuity.

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Annuity payments will continue to be paid by Gleaner.

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The terms of your annuity contract are unchanged.

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Gleaner remains ultimately responsible for your annuity’s performance.

Kaylene S. Armstrong, FLMI Vice President, Finance, Controller and Treasurer

This treaty will have a material favorable impact on our financial statements. We will provide detailed financial statements in the Winter 2021 issue of Forum Magazine.

“ 20/20

Vision "

Streams of retirement income

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20/20 Vision: Retirement income streams Funding for retirement comes from multiple sources.

Understanding them better helps plan for a more reliable flow.

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The benefit of making these strategic decisions reduces future liabilities, thereby allowing Gleaner to continue to be competitive from a product rate perspective in this historic low interest rate environment. Our financial foundation has never been stronger. Your management team continues to seek innovative ways to assure the financial strength of the Society for the continued benefit of all members.

Continued success with annuity reinsurance How Gleaner Life is protecting the Society from historic interest rate declines by reinsuring key annuities.

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Todd M. Warner Senior Vice President, Chief Financial and Investment Officer

Remembering the Memorial Home Ninety years ago, the Gleaner Society met the era’s needs by opening a home for elderly members.

We remain proud of our 126-year history of fiscal prudence, conservative investment policies and financial strength. Gleaner Life Insurance Society remains committed to our members and independent agents to uphold the promises in each member’s certificate.

Just like the previous reinsurance treaty, there is no impact to you as a member if you hold one of the annuities included in this treaty:

Meet our top producing agents

Saluting 2020 Gleaner scholarship recipients This marks the 40th year of the Gleaner scholarship program, and we salute all 100 members chosen this year.

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Preparing for the unexpected Planning often is the difference between a surprise and a disaster. Here are readiness tips worth putting into place.

Do you enjoy searching for Gleaner’s wheat stalk?

It's hidden in every issue of Forum

Americans often envision retiring near the water. Perhaps grandchildren will visit them by a lake, they’ll fish from a river, or even watch sunsets over some "golden pond." It may not even be a literal body of water but the same home in the same neighborhood they've always known. It could be any place and time in which years of work have created a safe shelter, provided ways to appreciate a new stage of life, and collected resources to share golden years with loved ones.

Magazine. Having difficulty finding the wheat stalk in this issue? Look on Page 16 for the answer.

@GleanerLife

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Forum Magazine is made from soy-based ink products and is recyclable.

Make a small impact on conservation by recycling this publication or passing it on to a friend.

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Forum Magazine \ Fall 2020 \

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FORUM

Contents

Fall 2020 / V. 125 / No. 4 Senior Officers Kevin A. Marti, FSA, CLU, ChFC

2021

Office

President and CEO

D. Arell Chapman, CRISC, FLMI

Senior Vice President, Chief Operations and Technology Officer

of Kevin’s as well as many friends that is decades old - Snickerdoodles.

r nt Dan lden ntless

Deborah K. Elliott, SHRM-SCP, SPHR Senior Vice President, Human Resources,

.

days

he

Community Engagement and Secretary

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Family Days, Getaways and the 60th Biennial Convention Harvest gleanings are planned for 2021

attitude or help r God’s one of ulfilling

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Todd M. Warner

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial and Investment Officer

AnthonyDetail D. Golden, CLU, ChFC, FIC Millet from “The Gleaners, byRICP, Jean-Francois Vice President, Sales and Gleaner Financial® Barbara Janowski, RN, ALMI still help to feed the less fortunate Vice President, Insurance Operations

Gleaner members and employees help bring a bountiful harvestand toChief theUnderwriter Salvation Army We’ve missed you! After what Gleaning in the fields at harvest time is rich with symbolism will be nearly a year for of seclusion, Gleaner Life Insurance Society. Through a project near we’re looking forward Gleaner theto Home Office, it also carries down-to-earth meaning. members being ableGleaning to enjoyisour as real as an August morning in a corn field, or as activities once again.empty Withstomachs due care, filled with fresh farm produce. we’ve scheduled some outstanding, outdoor Family Days.For The 2020 more than 10 years, farmer Jim Goetz of Blissfield, Michigan, has planted a field of corn and tomatoes Family Days that were canceled for volunteers to pick on behalf of the Salvation will be brought backespecially in 2021 for Army in Lenawee members to enjoy. We hope you’re County. The fresh food is given to people in need through the local Salvation Army’s weekly Fresh able to join us for family fun in 2021!

your ary ents valued

Kaylene S. Armstrong, FLMI

behind for strangers in need. Although a foreigner, Ruth Vice President, Finance, Controller also received special protection from Boaz, whose crops and Treasurer grew in the fields where Ruth gleaned, and who eventually married Ruth.

Officers

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At a glanceFood Initiative. Gleaner Life members are among the News & reviews 3

Jaime Linden, The concepts of protecting people atFIC risk, assisting families Assistant Vice President, Member founding in need and offering fraternal kinship became Community Engagement principles when the and Ancient Order of Gleaners was chartered in 1894. Local arbors continue to help thousands Chuck Monahan, ALMI of people with food needs every year. White Pine Arbor Assistant Vice President, Marketing (MI) hosted a food truck and helped box and hand out and Communications the items. Vulcaneer Arbor (MI) served 286 families in a project that distributed 26,187 pounds of food. Marion Board of Directors Arbor (MI) had members working at a Feed America food Terry L. Garner, site each time the trucks have been inChair town this summer and plans to continueMark through fall.Vice Legacy A. Wills, Chair (MI) Arbor donated back-to-school items.

Stephanie R.food Andresen | Donna K. Baker |

volunteers helping in gleaning and distributing produce left Interests by farmers.

Thoughts from the president 32 Capt.

Korinne’s Korner “This is extremely valuable,” Jacob Tripp of the

Salvation Army in Adrian, Michigan, said of the project, produce in its weekly 4 Family Days for 2021 one way it obtains fresh 34 Benny’s Page free food distribution. “This gives a lot of people an option to get corn.

We look forward to being able to give it and see the smiles 30 Letters from members on people’s faces because they’re excited to get the corn.”

31 50- and 75-year members “Gleaning” carries special significance in the biblical story

of Ruth, which influenced Gleaner Life founder Grant Slocum. In the Book of Ruth, harvesting the barley crop was about to begin when Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi, both¼widowed andand impoverished, returned to the sugar/cinnamon mixture (approximately c. Sugar 2 T cinnamon) Giving back land of Naomi’s people. To avoid starvation, Ruth went into the fields to follow the harvesters and glean some left n. behind.

10 Gleaning during harvest timeUnder the law of Moses, farmers were instructed not to remove everything from their fields but to leave some

22 Arbors in Action

Russell E. Cunningham | Margaret M.S. Noe |

At the Lenawee CountyDaniel Salvation Army, Maple City Arbor R. Sutton (MI) members Barbara and Paul Klanke and 96-year-old Frank Dick, Chairman Emeritus Dean Barricklow assist on Tuesday mornings as boxes of food are given at the Salvation Army distribution.

Supreme Arbor Officers Barricklow still shows up in his work boots and stacks bags of baked goods as vehicles pull into the Dick Hadden, Supreme Chiefparking Gleaner lot to load up. Corn fromNorma several farmsSupreme is partVice of the Garner, Chiefdistribution.

Gleaner Linda Ruehrmund, Supreme Chaplain

Gleaner members and Home Office employees Deborah Rydberg, Supreme Conductor also have helped pick in the fields CherylGoetz Jones, plants.

Supreme “When Guard talking with them they said that they were having a hard time getting volunteers to help because it is manual labor,” Home Office National Headquarters Insurance Operations and Underwriting Manager Dawn 5200 West U.S. Highway 223 P.O. Box 1894

Adrian, Michigan 49221-7894

p 517.263.2244 or 800.992.1894 f 517.265.7745

www.gleanerlife.org

forum@gleanerlife.org Forum Magazine is produced quarterly at Gleaner’s Home Office by Dustin Everden, Mark Lenz, Chuck Monahan, Julie Tison and Abigail Wright. For questions regarding this publication, please email forum@gleanerlife.org.

Hours Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. EST

Thoughts from the president Dear valued Gleaner members: As we watch the leaves change here in Michigan, 2020 also changes and continues to be a year of opportunity. We were excited to have all our employees back working safely at the Home Office from July 6 until Aug. 10, following all the requisite safety protocols and precautions. However, staying compliant with guidance from our county department of health and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has proved to be a moving target in the age of COVID-19. In accordance with Michigan Executive Order #161, most of our employees are once again working remotely from home, for the foreseeable future. To provide our Board of Directors with enough space for social distancing, we hosted their quarterly meeting on Aug. 3 in the Home Office’s Family Room (closed off from employees for the day) instead of the Board Room. Such is life in the topsyturvy world of COVID-19!

As if the pandemic weren’t enough to deal with, our daily news is riddled with other disconcerting events that make our lives even more unsettled. Perhaps it is a good thing then, as George Addair said: “Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear,” because there has been plenty of “opportunity” for fear in 2020!

In September, the Society took several more critically important steps in securing its financial strength and stability for the benefit of our members and agents for the long haul. We completed our second bulk annuity reinsurance cession, effective Sept. 1, via an amendment to our existing reinsurance treaty with Heritage Life. CFO Todd Warner provides the details and financial analysis on Page 12.

We then moved to further strengthen our balance sheet in two important ways: 1.

We increased our reserves on in-force life insurance certificates containing 4% to 6% long-term guarantees by some $20 million. We lowered the interest rate at which we reserve these certificates to 3 percent. Given that the yield of our conservative asset portfolio is now just below 4 percent overall, this change provides greater assurance to all our members, especially our life insurance certificate holders, of our long-term commitment and ability to meet the guarantees

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underlying these certificates. Other, less memberfocused life insurers have increased non-guaranteed certificate elements like cost of insurance rates to address the difficult interest rate environment — not appropriate in our view of the world.

2.

We began the process of terminating our frozen (since 2012) employee defined benefit pension plan. Most of the financial impact of this change will also be reflected in our 2020 financial statements. To be clear, no past or current employee will lose any of their accrued benefits — those benefits are protected by law under ERISA. We are merely moving the ongoing financial responsibility for providing future benefit obligations under the plan to another highly rated life insurer, relieving Gleaner of this ongoing obligation. Defined benefit pension plans have become increasingly problematic for employers to maintain and fund, as interest rates have declined significantly over the past 40 years. Current and past employees will be given the various options required under ERISA in this process.

We believe our employees and our members will be better served long-term by moving this defined benefit pension plan liability off our balance sheet as well.

Our 2020 results to date reflect continued growth in our life insurance and annuity new business premiums, for which we are extremely thankful, given the pandemicrelated challenges our agents and employees have had to overcome. We look forward to reporting our full year results and progress to you in the Spring 2021 issue of Forum Magazine.

(Continued on next page) Forum Magazine \ Fall 2020 \

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We congratulate our 2020 Gleaner Life Insurance Society Scholarship recipients, beginning on Page 17. The recipients each received an award of $2,250 toward their educational expenses. The funds for this program come from earnings on the Society’s Scholarship Foundation Endowment, established through generous donations from several members over the years. If you would like to make a contribution to help future Gleaner generations, or include the Scholarship Foundation in your estate planning, please contact our treasurer, Kaylene Armstrong, at karmstrong@gleanerlife.org or ext. 3165 at the Home Office for more information.

Thank you to our arbors and our members for your continued good works and community engagement during these difficult times. As one of our agents Dan Zeiger reminded Vice President of Sales Tony Golden and me recently when we thanked him for his countless efforts on the Society’s behalf: “Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone — especially to those in the family of faith.” (Galatians 6:10).

As you and your family continue to deal with the pandemic and its challenges, try to keep a positive attitude and outlook on life. Sometimes just a simple smile or offering a helping hand to a stranger or friend can help turn that person’s day around. Having gratitude for God’s many blessings on our Society and our families is one of the most important secrets to each of us living a fulfilling and happy life.

We hope you had a safe and blessed summer with your family and friends. As we pass our 126th anniversary as a fraternal benefit society, our employees and agents remain committed to answer the call to serve our valued membership.

Fraternally,

Kevin A. Marti

2021

days Family Days, Getaways and the 60th Biennial Convention are planned for 2021 We’ve missed you! After what will be nearly a year of seclusion, we’re looking forward to Gleaner members being able to enjoy our activities once again. With due care, we’ve scheduled some outstanding, outdoor Family Days. The 2020 Family Days that were canceled will be brought back in 2021 for members to enjoy. We hope you’re able to join us for family fun in 2021!

President & CEO

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March 6, Busch Gardens ........................................... TAMPA, FL $35 per ticket

July 10, Cedar Point ............................................. SANDUSKY, OH $25 per ticket

July 24, Chicago Shoreline ................................ CHICAGO, IL $25 per ticket

August 14, Fort Wayne Zoo ........................ FORT WAYNE, IN $15 per ticket

September 18, Fall Train ......................... COOPERSVILLE, MI $15 per ticket

In addition, the Society will have two Getaway Events in 2021 to start thinking about. More details will be announced soon.

June 11-13, Oakwood Resort ................................. SYRACUSE, IN August 27-29, Kalahari ........................................... SANDUSKY, OH GLEANER’S 60TH BIENNIAL CONVENTION October 22-24, Belterra Resort & Casino .......... FLORENCE, IN

The 60th Biennial Convention is scheduled for Oct. 22-24, 2021, at Belterra Resort and Casino in Florence, Indiana. The waterfront resort along the Ohio River includes a golf course, casino, swimming pool, spa, several restaurants and a sports bar, among other amenities. Start making your 2021 plans now!

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Qualifiers & Awards

Agents are an essential part of the Gleaner Life team.

In March, they were completing final qualifications for Gleaner Life’s annual Conference of Excellence (COE) when the COVID-19 pandemic reached full force. This caused 2020’s organized conference, planned at Sea Island, Georgia, to be canceled. Although many will eventually be able to enjoy their well-earned vacations, we all missed the annual presentation of awards. To share their accomplishments with Society members, here are Gleaner Life’s most outstanding agents for 2020!

Ryan Salazar Leading New Agent

Years: 1 Region: Ohio

Quote: “It’s not your aptitude – but your attitude – that determines your altitude.”

—John F. Savage, founder of Savage and Associates

Matt Jehn 1st Life Insurance Years: 2 Region: Midwest Quote: “The United States endured two world wars and other traumatic and expensive military conflicts, the Depression, a dozen or so recessions and financial panics, oil shocks, a flu epidemic, and the resignation of a disgraced president. Yet the Dow rose from 66 to 11,497.”

— Warren Buffett

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Alex Lebron 1st Annuities

Years: 3 Region: Michigan

Quote: “Success isn't owned; it is rented, and the rent is due every day.” — Rory Vaden, author of the book “Take the Stairs”

Top Agent Award (Co-winners) Tom Taylor & Eric Wiedyk Leading New Agent Award Ryan Salazar

Top Life Insurance Agent Award Winner: Matt Jehn Runner-up: Russell Luce

Top Annuity Agent Award Winner: Alex Lebron Runner-up: (tie) Tom Taylor & Eric Wiedyk Top Agent in Life Certificates Issued Winner: Greg Myers Runner-up: Deb Tiell

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The 2020 Top Agent Award was shared by Tom Taylor and Eric Wiedyk.

Congratulations to all the award winners, and to the 44 agents who qualified for the COE and will be able to celebrate individually at a time of their choosing.

Eric Wiedyk Top Agent (tie), 2nd Annuities (tie) Years: 23 Region: S.E. Michigan Quote: “Be faithful, endure, and finish well.”

Russell Luce

2nd Life Insurance

Years: 2 Region: Illinois, Indiana

Tom Taylor Top Agent (tie), 2nd Annuities (tie) Years: 32 Region: Michigan Quote: “Early is on time and on time is late.” — Bo Schembechler

Quote: “There is no try.

There is do or not do.”

“You and you alone decide your future and your success.”

Debi Tiell 2nd Life Certificates Years: 10 Region: Bascom, Ohio Quote: “If it’s a good idea, go ahead and do it. It’s much easier to apologize than it is to get permission.” — Grace Hopper

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Greg Myers 1st Life Certificates Years: 10 Region: N.E. Ohio Quote: “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you in trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”

— Mark Twain Forum Magazine \ Fall 2020 \

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Remembering the Memorial Home Protecting Society members with an old-age home became a reality 90 years ago Caring for the Society’s older members took on tangible form with the opening of a senior home 90 years ago.

Today, the home that opened in 1930 is privately owned, but its sturdy rooms and welcoming lights remain a reminder of Gleaner ideals.

Early in the 20th century, before government assistance, many fraternal societies operated homes for elderly or disabled members. Gleaner officials cited studies showing “one in every five persons above the age of 65 is classed as a pauper, and that one in every three is dependent on public or private charity.” The future for seniors who outlived their savings and lacked helpful relatives was often a “poorhouse” or “poor farm,” usually run by counties. Conditions were austere if not downright miserable. A 1923 Gleaner Forum contained this assessment: “The poorhouse system is a composite of horrors, poverty, disgrace, misery and humiliation. It is a hotbed in which flourish all of the forces that destroy human pride, manhood and womanhood.”

By 1915, Gleaner society founder Grant Slocum was proposing a home for Gleaner members. One of his ideas — to locate a rest home in Florida — proved to be ahead of its time, but the concept of a home did receive enormous member support. After Slocum’s death in 1924, Gleaner members, at their 1925 convention, set up a memorial fund for such a facility. Plans to build east of Defiance, Ohio, were drawn up. After the 1929 stock market crash, however, that project failed to meet a Jan. 28, 1930, deadline for financial support.

At the same time, Gleaner’s Supreme Council was able to buy Alma’s former Lancashire family mansion and its 2.7 acres from Charles Rhodes of Chicago for $17,500.

The home had been built in 1894 — the same year the Ancient Order of Gleaners was founded — for Dr. J.H. Lancashire and his wife, Sara, the daughter of lumber baron Ammi Wright, who lived down the street.

Updating the 23-room mansion and grounds and providing furnishings cost the Society another $29,000 but made it both functional and beautiful. The Memorial Home had a ballroom, music room, a garage building that doubled as the caretaker family’s home, and a summer house. Arbors across the Society helped donate a variety of furnishings and supplies. Michigan’s Sanilac and Gratiot county arbor associations topped giving to the Memorial Home Fund as each provided over $400 (more than $6,200 in today’s money). The Ohio association furnished the large drawing room, while Indiana’s association furnished the dining room.

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The guest room was known as the Joliet Room since it was furnished by that region’s Foss and Maple Street Arbors.

A crowd of 1,500 attended the Sept. 13, 1930, dedication. Society President Ross Holloway spoke about how the Society was able to provide this example of protection, benevolence and fraternity largely because it had strengthened its life insurance business at a time when other fraternal societies were struggling.

"In connection with this work from time to time it was intimated that we were becoming a cold-blooded business corporation, that the spirit of benevolence of which we had talked so much and boasted so long was, as it were, oozing out of us,” Holloway told the crowd seated outdoors.

“Today, members and friends, you behold this Memorial Home, conceived, instituted, and today opened as the greatest evidence of practical benevolence that has marked the history of the Ancient Order of Gleaners.”

More than 2,000 people attended the weekend open house. Soon, 35 elderly members had signed up on a waiting list for the Ancient Order of Gleaners’ Grant Slocum Memorial Home.

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The mansion became the third fraternal home in Alma. The Knights of the Maccabees had a home for their elderly women next door. Also on the same street was a state Home of the Masonic Order. The Detroit Free Press proclaimed Alma the “Fraternal Center of Michigan.”

The Memorial Home’s staff at its opening in 1930 included Lila J. Stout, matron; Martha Baker, assistant matron, who soon assumed the primary job; and Kate Shook, second assistant.

Caretaker and gardener Russell Nummer and his wife lived in the garage building. The home’s beautiful gardens in 1933 included “at least 25,000 tulips in bloom” and 85 rose bushes in 1939, from which 2,270 roses were cut. Residents assisted with gardening and chores. “Uncle John” Francis from Fox Grove Arbor in St. Louis was the Memorial Home’s first resident and especially beloved. He assisted with chores nearly until his death at age 97. Benjamin Pritchett, whose daughter Elizabeth Gingrich lived in Alma, tended a vegetable garden for most of the Memorial Home’s years.

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When the Social Security Act finally did become law in 1935, however, members discovered the new law forced them to choose between living at the Society’s home or receiving a government payment. More and more, senior citizens took the government pension and lived with relatives.

Memorial Home resident numbers declined.

Between the start of 1938 and the start of 1940, for example, the home had seven members die and only one new member join. Costs of maintaining the large facility, including heat and lights as well as staff such as the nurse and cook, remained high. Two years later as World War II raged, rationing of meat, butter, sugar, gasoline and tires made it harder for arbors to send fresh food and canned preserves or jams and jellies to feed residents.

All of these changes and the Great Depression’s lingering financial effects caused the Society to sell the home in 1942 to Mary L. Kennelley of Cleveland and Karen Dorothy Bowman of Cincinnati. Nine remaining residents were moved to the Park Hotel in nearby St. Louis, Michigan, although six did return to the old Memorial Home in 1944 when it was converted by its new owners into a convalescent home.

The last reported member of the Memorial Home Family was John Edward Bislosky from Elkhart, Indiana. He had joined the Memorial Home after his wife died in 1933. Bislosky died in his early 90s in 1951 at a rest home in Beaverville, Illinois.

Today, the mansion on the north side of town is known as the Saravilla Bed & Breakfast. Gleaner members meet the enduring challenge of having income for their golden years with combinations of annuities, life insurance, personal savings, as well as Social Security income. Meanwhile, on Alma’s North State Street, the elegantly furnished rooms and beautiful fixtures of the old Memorial Home reflect a former era’s noble efforts to take care of Gleaner members.

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Detail from “The Gleaners, by Jean-Francois Millet

Harvest gleanings still help to feed the less fortunate Gleaner members and employees help bring a bountiful harvest to the Salvation Army Gleaning in the fields at harvest time is rich with symbolism for Gleaner Life Insurance Society. Through a project near the Home Office, it also carries down-to-earth meaning.

Gleaning is as real as an August morning in a corn field, or as empty stomachs filled with fresh farm produce.

For more than 10 years, farmer Jim Goetz of Blissfield, Michigan, has planted a field of corn and tomatoes especially for volunteers to pick on behalf of the Salvation Army in Lenawee County. The fresh food is given to people in need through the local Salvation Army’s weekly Fresh Food Initiative. Gleaner Life members are among the volunteers helping in gleaning and distributing produce left by farmers.

“This is extremely valuable,” Capt. Jacob Tripp of the Salvation Army in Adrian, Michigan, said of the project, one way it obtains fresh produce in its weekly free food distribution. “This gives a lot of people an option to get corn.

We look forward to being able to give it and see the smiles on people’s faces because they’re excited to get the corn.”

“Gleaning” carries special significance in the biblical story of Ruth, which influenced Gleaner Life founder Grant Slocum. In the Book of Ruth, harvesting the barley crop was about to begin when Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi, both widowed and impoverished, returned to the land of Naomi’s people. To avoid starvation, Ruth went into the fields to follow the harvesters and glean some left behind. Under the law of Moses, farmers were instructed not to remove everything from their fields but to leave some 10

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behind for strangers in need. Although a foreigner, Ruth also received special protection from Boaz, whose crops grew in the fields where Ruth gleaned, and who eventually married Ruth.

The concepts of protecting people at risk, assisting families in need and offering fraternal kinship became founding principles when the Ancient Order of Gleaners was chartered in 1894. Local arbors continue to help thousands of people with food needs every year. White Pine Arbor (MI) hosted a food truck and helped box and hand out the items. Vulcaneer Arbor (MI) served 286 families in a project that distributed 26,187 pounds of food. Marion Arbor (MI) had members working at a Feed America food site each time the trucks have been in town this summer and plans to continue through fall. Legacy (MI) Arbor donated back-to-school food items.

At the Lenawee County Salvation Army, Maple City Arbor (MI) members Barbara and Paul Klanke and 96-year-old Dean Barricklow assist on Tuesday mornings as boxes of food are given at the Salvation Army distribution.

Barricklow still shows up in his work boots and stacks bags of baked goods as vehicles pull into the parking lot to load up. Corn from several farms is part of the distribution.

Gleaner members and Home Office employees also have helped pick in the fields Goetz plants. “When talking with them they said that they were having a hard time getting volunteers to help because it is manual labor,” Home Office Insurance Operations and Underwriting Manager Dawn www.gleanerlife.org

Osborn reported after she and several others picked corn in 2019. “It wasn’t that bad. So, if any other groups want to go out they will be welcomed.” Another group from the same department led by Vice President Barbara Janowski picked in fields a few days later. They were caught in a rainstorm but didn’t let that stop them.

Other groups that have helped provide field volunteers in the past included Adrian College and Lenawee Christian School. Individuals also are welcome. In Lenawee County, groups or individuals willing to help can sign up by calling the Salvation Army at 517.265.2038.

“I used to have multiple things in the garden. I used to have pumpkins and cucumbers, but I can’t do that because of my health,” Goetz said of his planting efforts. “I’m hoping we get volunteers to help Salvation Army. … It’s all free. I don’t want to see it go to waste. I put a lot of effort into it.”

Nationally, food that is never harvested accounts for more than 10 million tons of the 63 million tons that Americans waste every year. Farmers in many communities donate excess produce to food pantries, but Capt. Tripp said he is not aware of any others where a field is intentionally planted for community volunteers to do the harvesting.

The program in Lenawee County also stocks the Salvation Army’s food pantry. If there is excess, it would be shared with other local food pantries.

Volunteers from groups as well as individuals are always needed to pick the corn.

Several Home Office employees helped in 2019.

“Anytime we’ve picked we’d get anywhere from half a ton to three-quarters of a ton of corn, and whatever tomatoes we could pick,” said now-retired Salvation Army Envoy Terry Gaster, who previously led the Adrian unit. “We gave away quite a bit of corn.”

“We were blessed with volunteers,” Gaster added, although he said that the program could always use more helpers.

“We were worried that the corn would go bad before we could get it all picked.”

Blissfield, Michigan, farmer Jim Goetz plants one or two fields of corn as well as tomatoes for volunteers to pick for free. Most helps a Salvation Army program to provide free produce to anyone in need. www.gleanerlife.org

Gleaner Life members Paul, left, and Barbara Klanke of Maple City Arbor (MI) bag corn with Capt. Jacob Tripp while others load food into vehicles at the Adrian Salvation Army’s Fresh Food Initiative. The weekly event loads food into about 160 vehicles each Tuesday.

In a different food program, Vulcaneer Arbor (MI) helped give boxes of food to 286 families Aug. 22. More than 26,187 pounds of food was distributed.

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Continued success with annuity reinsurance In the Spring 2020 edition of Forum Magazine, we described our first annuity reinsurance treaty, which became effective Nov. 1, 2019. This treaty encompassed approximately $275 million worth of reserves on annuities with guaranteed interest rates of 3.5% and generated total benefit of $27.6 million.

As noted above, Gleaner Life Insurance Society surplus increased by $42 million as a result of the reinsurance agreement. This large increase in surplus provided management with additional opportunities to further strengthen our balance sheet. We will add additional life insurance reserves to our balance sheet totaling approximately $20 million. We also intend to eliminate future liabilities from the frozen defined benefit pension plan. These two items will offset the large increase in surplus by approximately $35 million.

In this historic period of prolonged low interest rates, your management team continued investigating the potential benefits of annuity reinsurance on approximately $400 million of annuities with guaranteed interest rates of 3.0%, and actively began to seek out reinsurers in early 2020. We again partnered with a reinsurance intermediary (Aon) to assist us in negotiating the best agreement for the Society and its members.

On Sept. 1, 2020, Gleaner Life Insurance Society entered into a second annuity reinsurance agreement with Heritage Life Insurance Company, an accredited reinsurer domiciled in Arizona with total adjusted capital of $1 billion.

Under the terms of this agreement, Gleaner liquidated approximately $400 million of investments and recognized capital gains of $42 million. It is important to understand that the Society is still responsible for the guarantees in each and every annuity certificate reinsured.

This annuity reinsurance treaty simply adds another layer of protection for the Society on some of our older Gleaner annuities, many of which feature long-term guarantees well above the credited interest rates available on most of our currently issued annuity certificates.

We remain proud of our 126-year history of fiscal prudence, conservative investment policies and financial strength. Gleaner Life Insurance Society remains committed to our members and independent agents to uphold the promises in each member’s certificate.

Just like the previous reinsurance treaty, there is no impact to you as a member if you hold one of the annuities included in this treaty: •

Your membership in Gleaner remains unchanged.

•

Gleaner Life Insurance Society staff will continue to administer your annuity.

•

Annuity payments will continue to be paid by Gleaner.

•

The terms of your annuity contract are unchanged.

•

Gleaner remains ultimately responsible for your annuity’s performance.

This treaty will have a material favorable impact on our financial statements. We will provide detailed financial statements in the Winter 2021 issue of Forum Magazine.

The benefit of making these strategic decisions reduces future liabilities, thereby allowing Gleaner to continue to be competitive from a product rate perspective in this historically low interest rate environment. Our financial foundation has never been stronger. Your management team continues to seek innovative ways to assure the financial strength of the Society for the continued benefit of all members.

Todd M. Warner Senior Vice President, Chief Financial and Investment Officer Kaylene S. Armstrong, FLMI Vice President, Finance, Controller and Treasurer

“

The benefit of making these strategic decisions reduces future liabilities, thereby allowing Gleaner to continue to be competitive from a product rate perspective in this historic low interest rate environment. Our financial foundation has never been stronger. Your management team continues to seek innovative ways to assure the financial strength of the Society for the continued benefit of all members.

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"

www.gleanerlife.org

20/20 Vision Streams of retirement income

Americans often envision retiring near the water. Perhaps grandchildren will visit them by a lake, they’ll fish from a river, or even watch sunsets over some "golden pond." It may not even be a literal body of water but the same home in the same neighborhood they've always known. It could be any place and time in which years of work have created a safe shelter, provided ways to appreciate a new stage of life, and collected resources to share golden years with loved ones.

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The illustration of how streams feed rivers — and rivers flow into larger bodies of water — helps illustrate how we can trace the different streams of revenue that form retirement income. Here are some of the major streams people might hope to find flowing into their retirement income pool: Social Security This may be the first stream of income that comes to mind. Workers have steadily watched it since they received their first paycheck and puzzled over what the "FICA" deduction meant. Social Security typically accounts for 40 percent of the average monthly income that a worker made if they retire at age 65, so Social Security alone represents a massive budget cut for people transitioning from work to retirement.

Another thing couples should remember about relying on Social Security is that the death of one spouse will leave the survivor with little more than half of that income. The survivor's retirement living expenses (housing, utilities, transportation, etc.) may not change but their income stream will, potentially leaving them "high and dry."

Cash-value life insurance One way to overcome the aforementioned loss of Social Security income is through cash-value or "permanent" life insurance. A life insurance death benefit paid in a lump sum can in turn be invested in an annuity to provide the surviving spouse with a steady stream of

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income. Before that, the life insurance offers a pool from which to borrow if needed. It also can enable owners to access policy benefits for such conditions as dire illness, terminal conditions or long-term care prior to death.

Of course, life insurance becomes more costly to purchase later in life. Obtaining coverage early and maintaining it will not cost as much as waiting or, worse, being put in a high-risk pool or turned down altogether due to high-risk medical conditions.

Pensions For much of the 20th century, company pensions were viewed as a comfortable waterway to last throughout a worker's golden years. Workers often stayed with the same employer for their entire career, and the company rewarded them with a pension. In 1983, more than 60 percent of workers had some sort of "defined benefit" plan.

However, the changing American work landscape with mergers, outsourcing and concerns about meeting future obligations has dried up nearly all private pension plans. Although many government workers

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are still relying on pensions, only about 4% of privately employed workers can count on this stream of income in their retirement years.

401(k) and other workplace accounts In place of traditional pensions, many companies have begun 401(k) savings plans to provide employees a tax-deferred way to save a portion of their pay, some of which may be matched by the company. Very similar are 403(b) or 457 accounts for teachers, ministers and a few other categories. Rather than being a "defined benefit" like a traditional pension, the 401(k) is a type of "defined contribution" plan. In theory, workers take out what they and their employer put in.

Not all employers offer these accounts, however, and some have reduced or eliminated matching contributions. Also, as many Americans discovered during the 2008 recession, funds in a 401(k) can lose a significant percentage in a market downturn. Some people who were preparing to retire in 2010 and whose 401(k) funds were

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invested in equities reported losing nearly half of their 401(k) balance. Saving a portion of a person's workplace income is important, but that anticipated stream of income may turn out to be a trickle if subject to stock market ups and downs.

IRA accounts Another potential income stream for retirement is an IRA. Unlike a 401(k), which is managed by the employer, an IRA is managed by the individual.

This means it can include many more types of assets such as CDs, bonds, and even real estate.

The two basic types of IRAs – traditional and Roth – also give workers a choice between paying taxes while retired (when their income bracket will likely be lower) or while contributing (so that the proceeds in retirement are tax-free). One IRA drawback includes taxes and penalties for early withdrawals, so a sudden need before retirement could drain retirement income later.

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Annuities Like life insurance, an annuity is a contract that promises to pay under terms set with its owner. However, while life insurance provides a wave of income when someone dies prematurely, annuities can be structured to deliver a stream of income for life — helping ease a retiree's risk of outliving their streams of income.

Different types of annuities present a variety of flow patterns. Most build over extended periods called the "accumulation phase," although others skip that phase and are funded with a lump sum. More often, annuities grow with premium contributions by the owner. The second phase, the "distribution phase," is when the owner annuitizes the account. This provides a stream of income with the same security as a life insurance contract. Individuals can also place retirement funds into separate annuities, each annuitized at different stages of their retirement. This ensures new streams of income to meet age-specific challenges such as fixed expenses at retirement, providing extra income to offset inflation and, finally, to cover costs of aging care and other expenses tied to restricted abilities.

Personal Savings Personal savings in a bank or CD is important, especially for a rainy day.

However, cash stashed away or savings in bank accounts can turn into a stream that mysteriously disappears. Bank accounts pay nearly no interest, and even low levels of inflation will slowly eat away at a dollar's purchasing power. If in doubt, just remember how in 1971 a Dodge Charger cost about

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$4,700. Today, a new Dodge Charger can cost more than $40,000 depending on options. In practical terms, that means the buying power of $1,000 saved and put away has been mostly wiped out by inflation.

Part-time employment For individuals whose health and other circumstances enable it, part-time work in retirement may bring in another flow of extra income. This will help, although it depends on employment opportunities.

Financial planning considerations include a possible offsetting loss of some Social Security income if you retired prior to your "full retirement age," usually 66 or 67 for people born in 1943 or after. There are many benefits to working in retirement but be sure to consider offsetting daily costs (work clothes, transportation, meals, etc.) as well as the time.

A large percentage of Americans — 59 percent — say that saving for retirement is their main financial concern. Yet roughly two-thirds of Americans have less than $100,000 saved, and a quarter of them have less than $1,000 set aside. Whether finances in our retirement years are more like a cool lake or a dry basin depends largely on our flow of retirement income. Just as large lakes are fed by diverse sources — rivers, streams, snow and rainfall, groundwater springs — strong retirement finances rely on multiple sources of income.

Did you find the wheat stalk?

In this issue of Forum Magazine, the wheat stalk is hidden on Page 32 in Korinne's Korner.

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Hale

Univ

The Gleaner Life Insurance Society Scholarship Foundation marks its 40th year by awarding 100 scholarships to members.

Congratulations to the 100 members receiving scholarships awarded by the Gleaner Life Insurance Society Scholarship Foundation, which this year honors its 40th class of recipients. Helping members and families improve their lives has always been a goal of the Society. We presented our first scholarship in 1897. After a long absence, the Gleaner scholarship program was revived in 1980. It presented five scholarships that year.

Aar

Sagin State

Forty years later, the scholarship program is an important benefit for members seeking to improve themselves through full-time education. The 2020 scholarships provide $2,250 to attend an accredited vocational/technical school, college, university or graduate school within the United States. Recipients are chosen each year on a competitive basis. Both traditional and non-traditional students are welcome to apply, and there is no age restriction.

Dec. 1, 2020, marks the start of the 2021 scholarship application window. The application is entirely online. Visit www.gleanerlife.org/scholarships to view the full list of requirements and apply online.

John

Defia

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Haleigh Adams

University of Michigan

Michael Ashley

Joliet Junior College

Jayna Badgero

University of Indianapolis

Theadora BakerWallerstein

Rachel Bakker

Ohio State University

Alma College

Aaron Bartels

Natalie Beaverson

Emma Belles

Elizabeth Bird

Elexa Bisignano

John Brancel

Delaney Burkeďż˝

Cole�e Castelluccio

Joseph Cetnar

Ryan Chema

Saginaw Valley State University

Defiance College

Bowling Green State University

Monroe County Community College

Spring Arbor University

Trine University

John A. Logan College

Kettering University

University of Dayton

Kent State University

Chelsea Cora

Abigail Cox

Elizabeth Cox

Lindsay Deisher

Brett Demaris

Sarah Gillen

Griffin Goodchild

Emily Graves

Anthony Greenman

William Hall

Olivia Kent

Deaven Kirn

Jenna Kroll

Taegan Long

Elizabeth Marden

Clinton Moles

Ernesto Mondragon

Sydney Moody

Braden Moriarty

Amanda Moss

Cassie Demlow

Brielle DeNooyer

Abigail Ellerbrock

Sophia Errico

Lily Essad

Ethan Harsh

Lauren Henning

Theodore Hernandez

Luke Holewa

Peyton Hoover

Olivia Mayle

Michael Maynard

David Mays

Alicia McElwee

Joy McIntosh

Christian Murphy

Lincoln Murray

Abigail Nelson

Austen Nissen

Jessica Ohlman

Elizabeth Foesch

Grace Francoeur

Abigail Gardner

Chloe Garkey

Taylor Garrett

Teresa Hoving

Carlynn Jenkins

Julia Jones

Meredith Kaiser

Delany Kaphing

Tyler McLaren

Shawn Meyer

Mason Meyer

Teagan Michalek

Braelyn Moes

Caleb Oser

Daniel Packard

Allison Peless

Ryan Peless

Peter Ragan

Illinois State University

Calvin College

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Bowling Green State University

Calvin College

Adrian College

Bowling Green State University

Northwest State Community College

University of Cincinnati

Miami University-Oxford

Joliet Junior College

Liberty University

Macomb Community College

Ohio State University

Indiana UniversitySouth Bend

Bowling Green State University

Lawrence Technological University

Michigan Technological University

Oakland University

University of Kentucky

Central Michigan University

Valparaiso University

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Notre Dame

Trine University

Olivet Nazarene University

Grand Canyon University

Northwestern University

University of Toledo

Northern Arizona University

University of Mary HardinBaylor

Central Michigan University

Saginaw Valley State University

Michigan State University

University of Michigan

University of Dayton

University of Toledo

University of Central Florida

Ohio Northern University

University of Michigan

College of Wooster

Florida Southern College

Indiana University

Penn View

Bowling Green State University

Ball State University

Tennessee Technological University

Hillsdale College

University of South Florida

Kent State University

Hendrix College

Purdue University

Kalamazoo College

Western Michigan University

University of Cincinnati

Owens Community College

Grand Valley State University

Kent State University

University of NebraskaLincoln

Hillsdale College

Hannah Reckner

Elijah Rex

Cecilia Robeson

Chloe Rogowski

Ashlyn Rohr

Kendal Rooze

Hannah Rowe

Audrey Salenbien

Jack Schafer

Erin Scoďż˝

David Sellas

Alaina Shu�leworth

Shelby Slade

Brandon Sommerfeld

Sidney Swanson

University of Toledo

Indiana Wesleyan University

University of Central Florida

Ohio State University

University of Michigan

Saginaw Valley State University

The University of Findlay

Adrian College

Wright State University

Bowling Green State University

Central Michigan University

Carnegie Mellon University

Delta College

University of Toledo

Purdue University

Adam Tisch

Ryan Truchan

Jacob Varner

Chase Walker

Chris�an Williams

Ashtyn Wolph

Audry Wright

Cole Yoebstl

Mark Zappia

Brady Ze�le

University of Michigan

Heidelberg University

Mott Community College

Purdue University

University of Toledo

Three Rivers Community College

Central Michigan University

Xavier University

Indiana UniversitySouth Bend

Michigan State University

Best wishes to all our 2020 scholarship recipients as they continue their growth as part of the Gleaner Life family!

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www.gleanerlife.org

Whether a hurricane or a pandemic, disasters are more likely to overtake you and loved ones if you’re not prepared. What would you do in the event of an emergency? If you lost electricity for a week, were ordered to evacuate your home, or saw stores closed by a pandemiclike shutdown, would you and your loved ones be prepared?

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Every autumn, America observes National Preparedness Month in September. In case you missed it this year, or want to get a start toward next year, here are some of the federal government recommendations to follow (see more at ready.gov/september):

1. MAKE A PLAN Each family has specific emergency needs: how members receive alerts and warnings; medication or dietary needs; special responsibilities for other people; languages spoken; pets or service animals. Develop a plan before disaster strikes. Discuss these issues with your family and personal network.

Fill out a family emergency plan and practice it.

2. BUILD A KIT Collect supplies to enable everyone in your household to survive for several days. For items beyond food and water, consult a checklist for what to set aside. Remember special needs such as medications, equipment and supplies for seniors or pets. Also have copies of important documents including identification, bank account records and copies of your insurance policies either saved electronically or in a waterproof, portable container.

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www.gleanerlife.org

3. PREPARE FOR DISASTERS Identify types of disasters you are most likely to encounter where you live. Check your insurance coverage for these risks. Know evacuation routes, identify your transportation needs and make sure you can respond quickly if a warning or alert is issued where you live. In case of tornadoes or other sudden storms, learn tips for home safety and quick sheltering.

4. TEACH YOUTH ABOUT PREPAREDNESS Depending on their age, your children may be able to assist you and others in an emergency – if you take time to explain what to do. Even basic knowledge of what to do will empower them and ease feelings of helplessness. At a minimum, make sure they know the family's plans in the event members become separated.

AS THE 2020 NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH THEME PROCLAIMS, "DISASTERS DON'T WAIT. MAKE YOUR PLAN TODAY."

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Arbors became familiar with digital meeting apps and texting as they found ways to overcome COVID-19 during the summer of 2020. Zoom meetings and outdoor activities became regular features, and Gleaner Life members continued finding ways to do good.

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Adrian Arbor (MI) worked to assist the Adrian homeless shelter, Share the Warmth, where homeless people began staying all day during springtime's COVID-19 statewide "stay at home" orders. Instead of just needing dinners, the homeless shelter also needed lunches plus a way for guests to do more outdoors. In May, the arbor worked with volunteer chairperson Linda Progler to donate more than $800 in gift certificates from Lenawee County- owned restaurants to assist with the food needs.

The arbor also donated a picnic table for the shelter's outdoor recreation area.

While becoming accustomed to online meetings, Bay Area Arbor (FL) conducted a monthlong book drive for Apollo Beach Elementary School. To comply with COVID-19 rules, arbor members and citizens of Sun City Center were notified by online meetings, email, social media and local news releases. Members and citizens of Sun City Center purchased and donated more than 200 books, with a total value greater than $2,000. Many donors contributed cash to help buy books.

As an added benefit, the arbor made the purchases through Elmira's Wildlife Sanctuary's Amazon Smiles account, providing an additional 1.25 percent of the sale amount as a donation to the sanctuary. An Aug. 4 meeting to support the books' delivery attracted 102 members and eight guests.

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Alma Arbor (MI) held several meetings by phone and completed two projects during May. Members made more than 500 cloth masks. Members and nonmembers sewed, ironed and applied Gleaner Life stickers to bags used for porch pickup of the masks, which then were given free of charge. Later, on May 20, Marla Coon and Dorothy Kelly volunteered at the cemetery in Shepherd. They placed 500 flags on the graves of veterans and helped beautify the cemetery.

Bavarian Arbor (MI) practiced social distancing in accordance with state guidelines. Although some activities were postponed by closings, several activities took place.

One in May was to send packages to Marines deployed in military service but quarantined. This was in answer to a chaplain's request. (photo of Elijah and Ann Wenburg and Marie Koch and some of the packages they sent to Marines.) Bavarian member Susan Traubenkraut purchased plants for the Frankenmuth Hero's Museum and a Frankenmuth Farmers Market herb planter.

Renee Schoenknecht will be caring for the herb planter.

Black Swamp Arbor (OH) helped numerous groups in the Paulding County area including partnering with the Apostolic Church to make several meals for residents at The Path Center in Defiance, Ohio, which lost its regular cook due to the pandemic; plus financially aiding the Paulding Economic Development, Scott EMS, Scott Fire Department and Community Health Professionals/Hospice.

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Blissfield Arbor (MI) responded to the pandemic by partnering all spring with local restaurants to provide gift certificates for first responders including police officers, firefighters and nurses.

Buckeye City Arbor (OH) managed to work with a charity organization called Miracle on Long Street, connected with the large and established St. Paul AME Church in Columbus, Ohio.

The charity's work on Long Street regularly connects with the disadvantaged. In addition to financial contributions, the Buckeye Arbor worked to donate underwear, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, toilet paper and similar items that were delivered directly to the charity and distributed to the poor.

Center Township Arbor (IN) noted several events were canceled

by COVID-19, and community needs are also dire. Activities at St. Margaret's House were canceled. "They are serving packed lunches only, at noon with staff only helping as no volunteers are allowed at this time," President Cindy Streich told members, adding that 25% of the women are without jobs and 75% are homeless.

The arbor donated $500 each to St. Joseph Hospital and Memorial Hospital staff members for meals. Another $500 was donated to the Bashor Home charity and St. Margaret's House, and another $1,000 to the virtual walk for Alzheimer's.

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Capital Arbor (MI) members met several times online and decided at their July 27 meeting to help several charities in the Lansing area. "Many non-profits are losing revenue due to canceling their fundraising events," the arbor's secretary wrote. "Thanks to a wonderful Gleaner Life, Capital Arbor is functioning at full speed!" The arbor voted to give $500 each to Endeavor House, a faith-based home for men recovering from alcohol addiction; Helping Hands, a center for disabled adults and children; the American Legion Patriot Fund of Michigan; and Hospice House of Michigan.

Two highlights for Champion Arbor (MI) included an April 12 drive-through and pick up event for Easter and Mother's Day that drew seven members and 120 guests. People drove through five stations: greeters, gift bags from the arbor, individually wrapped communion, flowers, and prayers with the Bethel Christian Church pastor.

Another event March 27 was a book drive to benefit Anchor Bay school's library. Hundreds of books were purchased at a local homeschool book fair, which also benefited homeschool families with sales.

Storage bins and stools for children to sit on also were purchased. The arbor also donated to relief for those in Midland affected by the dam collapse.

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Chester Arbor (OH) completed several projects. One was honoring health care workers at the Marion and Morrow County hospitals during Nurses Week by giving each a roll of Lifesavers to recognize their commitment. It also assisted the four local libraries' summer reading programs. The staff at all four libraries have worked with the arbor so, in appreciation of their efforts, engraved paperweights and lots of "hugs" in the form of chocolate kisses were presented to each.

Fallen Timbers Arbor (OH) was able to help the non-profit group The Right Direction, a youth development program. The arbor contributed $2,000 in May to the group, which has been unable to hold its usual fundraising events.

Entrican Arbor (MI) complied with social isolation rules while carrying out a impact event to benefit the Alpha Family Center. Ordinarily, the arbor assists with healthy snacks and giving diapers at the family center's annual Walk, Run, Ride fundraiser. Since that was canceled, arbor members purchased 1,664 diapers and 248 packs of baby wipes, which were then delivered to the family center. Arbor members also placed thank you signs around town to honor those on the COVID-19 front line.

Florida Arbor (OH) had to cancel its 5K benefit event, but still voted to provide meals through Hills Restaurant for the Henry County Sheriff to show appreciation. The group also supported local groups and individuals including Fridge of Love, the Sunshine Project and the Liberty Center Historical Society.

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Persevering after one COVID-related postponement, Community Arbor (IN) worked with scouts from Boy Scout Troop 2 of Logansport for its annual clean-up project June 22 at Dunwoody Park in Logansport, Indiana. Six members and 14 guests trimmed overgrowth in the park and along the Eel River. The arbor purchased tools and pizza.

Findlay Flag City Arbor (OH) was able to have 18 members and two guests meet at a local McDonald's restaurant to complete a "Stuff the Bus" event. The arbor purchased 25 book bags for the project.

The books were needed by a daycare facility that had given the arbor a list of books for students by their age group, as well as for the daycare center's library.

Glen Arbor (MI) had most of its events canceled

by COVID-19, but it did hold a meeting via text messaging.

Members agreed to donate $500 to the Marine Corps League Auxiliary to help purchase and pack items for Marines deployed overseas and quarantined by COVID-19 restrictions. The check was delivered

by Ann and Ted Leclair.

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Grand Arbor (MI) continued its support of FFA, a great youth organization that Gleaner Life has partnered with for more than half a century. Nathan Schoen, a Grand Arbor member and an FFA alumni, presented a $1,000 check to Brent Willet, the FFA advisor and a teacher at Cedar Springs High School. The arbor also financially supported Cedar Springs City Impact, a community center that hosts monthly blood drives and has volunteers delivering meals to about 150 families who need them.

Greater Flint Arbor (MI) held a rescheduled meeting in person to pick up trash at the Boys and Girls Club of Flint. The arbor's help had been requested by the club's grounds manager. Members also were able to hire a specialist get rid of bamboo growing around the club's hoop house.

Among its projects and plans, Harmony Arbor (MI) fulfilled a request from sta at the Masonic Home in Alma to provide masks for the residents. Six ladies were commissioned to make 225 masks at a cost of $5 each, for a total cost of $1,125. The arbor also chose a local resident to update the memorial bench and garden at Carrie Knause Elementary School in St. Louis, and it also purchased lunch from two local businesses for the sta at the Alma dialysis center.

Gulf Coast Arbor (FL) learned of a woman who, with her husband, had been in a motorcycle accident more than year ago. Her husband had been unable to work since the crash and the couple had lost their apartment.

An arbor member reported the woman was now pregnant, so the arbor voted to purchase maternity clothes that would also be presentable at work. The arbor also worked to find them a new place to stay in anticipation of the husband being able to return to work in June.

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Grand Blanc Arbor (MI) members went July 12 to the American House assisted living center where they donated and assembled a gazebo and chairs so the residents could again enjoy much-needed time outdoors.

The shelter that the facility had been using required replacement after it was damaged by high winds during a storm.

The new gazebo should be able to withstand inclement weather.

Heart of Florida Arbor (FL) held its Mulberry Back to School Bash as a drive-through event this year due to COVID-19. The arbor was again able to partner with various community organizations to create a bash-like vibe. This included churches giving out prepackaged snacks, hand sanitizer and books. The local health clinic gave masks, rulers and pencils.

The arbor itself provided about 275 backpacks filled with supplies for elementary-aged students. The remaining backpacks were donated to local migrant families in the community and the Mulberry Community Service Center. www.gleanerlife.org

Harrison Arbor (OH) provided meals for the sheriff 's office and the Napoleon Police Department for one day to let them know that members appreciate all that they do for the community. A local pizza restaurant was used to provide the meals.

Holland Arbor (OH) provided and distributed meals for an outdoor medical clinic conducted by Helping Hands of St. Louis, a Catholic charity.

The meals were ordered from a local restaurant. Eleven arbor members took care of the pickup and distribution, feeding 45 clinic participants.

Previously, the Holland Arbor had organized a scavenger hunt June 20 at a local church that drew nearly 50 children, with the arbor supplying prizes, cookies, masks and a $350 donation to the church's food pantry.

Marion Arbor (MI) found several ways to help during the pandemic. Six members traveled in July to OASIS, a domestic shelter and family resource center located in Cadillac, to deliver a $1,000 donation. The center's staff said the donation was greatly needed due to increased call numbers resulting from COVID-19. Earlier, in May, arbor members worked at the Feed America Site to help pack food boxes for distribution to those in need. Gift certificates from local restaurants also were purchased to provide carryout food to local fire department personnel.

www.gleanerlife.org

Legacy Arbor (MI) and Gleaner Home Office co-workers chipped in to make Legacy Arbor’s August Food Drive a big success. With several schools starting before Labor Day, the food drive’s deadline was moved up to accommodate Associated Charities’ timeline to arrange distributions before schools started. Despite a short collection period, the amount brought in exceeded expectations. Legacy Arbor was able to furnish enough food for 103 families and approximately 250 children. Donated food focused on nonperishable breakfast and lunch items such as single-serving fruit, pudding or jello, cereal, granola bars, soups, small cans or bags of potato chips, peanut butter and jelly, single-serving macaroni and cheese, and similar items. The Gleaner van was filled to overflowing when the items were delivered.

Homer Twp. Oak Arbor (IL) saw virtually all its planned activities canceled. However, the group did pay for meals in appreciation of police and planned another meal in appreciation of nurses.

The group met July 15 at the Homer Township Hall due to occupancy restrictions imposed on restaurants, and members expressed how glad they were just to be able to finally meet together again.

Madison Arbor (MI) adjusted to conduct its annual Ice Cream Social on July 16 for the Adrian Senior Center. This year had a different look and feel, but everyone was very thankful a way could be found to continue the tradition. Ice cream from Adrian ice cream restaurant The Spotted Cow was given out to seniors who attended a picnic at the park.

Another arbor member gave out ice cream curbside outside the senior center to seniors who picked up their lunches but chose not to go to the park. In this way, a total of 48 seniors were served along with seven senior center kitchen members, a center employee and the center's director.

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Mid Michigan Arbor (MI) helped to sponsor the Bay County Library's summer reading program.

The arbor sponsored a free book club with a $500 donation. The library program had been scheduled to be an outdoor activity, and the arbor was to have a booth, but the library changed it to an online event because of COVID-19. The program is for children 8 to 12 years of age.

Oakwood Arbor (OH) remained extremely active despite pandemic restrictions. The arbor teamed with youth to clear weeds in May at the Junction Canal Memorial, worked with Boy Scouts in June to clear brush and fill in holes on the Buckeye Trail and a few days later cleaned up two miles of roadside north of Oakwood on Route 66. It supported numerous groups and projects, including a "roaming stage" proposed by Paulding County Economic Development Inc. On July 27, it hosted its CVR awards. Awards went to Cinda Horstman, Diane Sherry and Suzanne Williams. The arbor also made numerous donations including one to the senior center for an arbor ad and postage for their newsletter; and a person who had two brain surgeries and needed aid with living expenses and hospital bills.

Plank Road Arbor (MI) saw a variety of its projects canceled due to COVID-19 but made several key donations. In May, it donated $1,000 to aid the Midland Area Community Foundation with its flood relief project fund following flooding caused by a nearby dam collapse. Plank Road Arbor also donated $500 in June for the Breckenridge fireworks display.

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Mt. Pleasant Arbor (MI) conducted an outdoor meeting at the park and, among other things, honored their two scholarship recipients, Josh Camp and Molly Yonker. President Lyle Olger presented their scholarships, a card of congratulations and their check. Pamphlets about Gleaner Life and the arbor also were provided. After the presentation, those in attendance enjoyed decorated cupcakes and conversations with the winners and their parents. Earlier in the spring, another one of the arbor's projects was helping to pay for food for victims of the Midland flood.

Ober Arbor (IN) improvised to complete a tree-planting project put in motion when the arbor ordered 200 trees last October. The trees were intended for students but, with school canceled due to the pandemic, the arbor had 200 trees without a home. Working with a teacher and 14 bus drivers, the arbor was able to arrange to have 198 sweetgum seedlings delivered April 27 by bus drivers who also were dropping o lunches to the families.

One tree was given to each family on the 14 bus routes. Members helping this project were Priscilla Falk, Jamie Shireman, Habo Runkle, Cindy Sellers, and Arlene and Paul Sellers. Students also began planting the seedlings which, with care, can grow into a 60- to 100-foot tree. www.gleanerlife.org

Sulphur Springs Arbor (IL) saw all its activities canceled for the year due to COVID-19. Because the 4-H Fair and arbor pie social was canceled, it was agreed that the arbor donate $1,000 to the 4-H Federation since that is what the arbor typically donates to them with proceeds from the pie social.

South County Arbor (IN) helped support its county's Freedom Ride for Veterans that was held in conjunction with Memorial Day. Participants ride horses across Starke County to each cemetery honoring the past, and raise money through a silent auction.

Proceeds help veterans with expenses that are not covered by other organizations.

South County Arbor helped pay for the food for the riders for two days (May 23-24) of their three days, and eight members prepared the food, served it and cleaned up. This year's Freedom Ride had 52 participants and raised more than $4,000 in just three days.

On May 28, the arbor also planted an artificial tree and flowers at an uptown memorial. The site had real plants but a vine kept killing them, so the artificial plants are being substituted. Six members and two guests also removed the mulch, replaced the ground cover and then placed rocks on top of it.

Vulcaneer Arbor (MI) completed a clean-up project on the rail trail in Vassar. The arbor obtained written city permission, arranged to have an ATV on the trail to pick up and dump garbage, arranged for local business Means Industries to provide gloves, bags and wipes, and dropped o volunteers along the trail. The event was so successful, it also resulted in cleaning the kayak launch along the Cass River and three additional parks. Due to occupancy rules, instead of ice cream at a pizza restaurant after the activity, volunteers were given gift cards but several celebrated with ice cream at the Richville gas station. "Had such a great time visiting, and will definitely need to repeat this activity," the arbor reported.

www.gleanerlife.org

USA Arbor (MI) hosted an ice cream social on June 27 that created opportunities with 221 residents to share about the arbor: "We purchased 300 Magnum Ice Cream bars and put them on dry ice," the arbor's secretary reported. "We then set up at the park, with our sail flag, and handed out the bars.

Our activity was published in the Huron County View as well.

We had a blast handing out the bars.

People walked up, and stayed to visit as well as drove up and took the bars home.

We hollered at people as they drove by and they turned around. We also took some bars to the local assisted living center for the residents.

It was funny to watch people try to bite into the ice cream only to realize they were frozen solid from the dry ice. After the event, we still had some bars left so we delivered to some homebound people and then went to the ball diamond in Unionville and handed out the rest to the kids and parents there. The activity was a success. We had some great conversations about Gleaner and what we do in our community." In May, the arbor had given out coloring books for both adults and children at the park, and donated $500 to the USA Elementary School garden.

Prevail Arbor (OH) provided lunches to various nursing and rehabilitation centers in its local area to help recognize nurses during National Nurses Week May 6-12. "We wanted to honor all the nurses, LPNs, custodial sta, etc. who have been hard at work during the COVID-19 event," the arbor's secretary noted.

The arbor checked with several facilities and, due to guests not being permitted inside the facilities, had Jimmy John's deliver a variety of individual sandwiches to each. This fed approximately 100 at Canton Regency, about 70 at The Laurels of Massillon and another 45 at Altercare Nobles Pond. Signs created with Prevail Arbor and Gleaner Life logos announcing the lunch were posted in the building, along with contact information for the arbor and its meetings.

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Dear Gleaner Life and Black Swamp Arbor, Thank you for your donation to the Elementary PTO. We love our shirts. Due to your generosity, every student received a Be Kind shirt.

Thanks!

Tobias, Third Grader Paulding Elementary School Paulding, Ohio

Dear Gleaner Life, Sherri and Karen (USA Arbor), Thank you so much for the donation to Cass River Pet Friendz. We will help many animals be spayed and neutered and have vet care.

Dear Larry and Prevail Arbor #804 Gleaner Life, We wanted to take a moment to drop you all a note to say thanks for lunch on Friday! The staff were elated to have Jimmy John’s delivered to them in honor of National Nursing Home Week and Nurses’ Week!

We are so grateful!

Sandy Bassett, Cass River Pet Friendz Caro, Michigan

Thanks again for thinking of us!

Mara Stewart, Activity Director Altercare Nobles Pond To Gleaner Life Insurance Society, I was honored to be selected as a recipient of the 2020 Gleaner Life Insurance Society Scholarship! I will be using this scholarship to pay for college tuition, books, transportation, and all the other fees associated with college.

This scholarship will allow me to worry less about the financial burdens of college and more about my studies and the college experience.

I am extremely grateful to have received this award!

Thanks again, Delaney Burkett, Scholarship recipient planning to attend Monroe County Community College and major in nursing

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To Beverly Hiller (Gleaner Life Insurance Society), Thank you for your gift of $200, which is especially timely given the challenges we’re all facing together.

Our generous donors and incredible volunteers have always stood by our side, and we are grateful for your friendship.

Looking ahead, we remain hopeful. We continue to train our dogs, process applications and support our nearly 600 alumni across the U.S. Meanwhile, nearly 300 applicants are hoping for one of our dogs. When the time comes, we will be ready to resume placing our guide and service dogs into the hands of people who need them. We are determined to emerge from this stronger than ever, and that’s made possible thanks to you.

Warm regards, Titus Herman, Southeastern Guide Dogs Chief Executive Officer Palmetto, Florida

www.gleanerlife.org

California Jacob F. Rems, Irvine Illinois Janet D. Davis, Island Lake Linda M. Gray, Crystal Lake Rodney Gene Hummel, Pontiac Christine Vaughn, Bradley Indiana Jennifer R. Archer, Portage Dawn Marie Bolen, Whiteland Nicholas Mager, Cedar Lake Michigan Robin Butcher, Mt. Pleasant Victor B. Clark, Gaylord Robert D. Finkbeiner, Fostoria Violet R. Grell, Midland Albert S. Hall, Merrill William G. Harmon, St. Johns Lawayne Hirschy, Colon Kathryn Light, Bay City Jennifer L. Redmond, Burlington Kathy Jean Rogers, Cadillac Nellie Kathern Rogers, Cadillac Gail L. Schwandt, Chesaning Clifford M. Seybert, Holt Kathryn Tyler, Elsie Mary Tyler, Owosso Sharon Lee Warner, Blissfield Lori Wilkins, Midland Frederick J. Will, Yale Charles B. Woodard, Sumner Mark James Young, Olivet Montana William F. Dixon, Darby Nebraska Renee Sullivan, Omaha www.gleanerlife.org

North Carolina John R. Compton, Newport

Dennis Ray Schermerhorn, Burr

Ohio Michael Scott Brubaker, Defiance James Eldon Mohr Jr., Metamora Mary Anne Payne, Springboro Christopher L. Gagne, Waterville

Daniel T. Shepherd, Minooka

Pennsylvania Theresa M. Jurczyk, Pittsburgh Utah Ramona K. Swapp, Springville Washington David J. Kulick, Everett

Ridge Peggy Weybright, Grant Park Indiana Larry P. Gick, Fowler Aaron L. Kessler, LaPorte William R. Yates, Fair Oaks Louisiana Edith A. Whyte, Gonzales Michigan Jo Ann Beardslee, St. Joseph Marie Bigney, Sparta Arlon P. Coble, Kalamazoo Carol L. Copenhaver, Mattawan Dorothy Hemenway, Decatur Eunice M. Kreger, Sandusky

California Paul D. Curtis, Corona del Mar Wayne A. Munyon, Morgan Hill Lois I. Stoughton, Fullerton

Allen D. Peterson, Sparta Doreen K. Schummer, Swartz Creek Wanda C. Sheeley, Galien

Kaylenne Throne, Occidental

Karalyn A. Simon, Stanton

Colorado Thomas J. Power, Aurora

Mildred J. Watson, Dowagiac

Florida Patricia J. Hoatson, Seminole Karen S. Kendall, Hobesound Illinois Wayne Arseneau, Beaverville Loren L. Kohler, Watseka Curtis G. Larsen, Marseilles Jerry M. Larsen, Marseilles Carol F. Manners, E. Chicago Heights Betty J. Mettille, Minooka

Marlene K. Tiedeman, Clarkston

North Carolina David L. Tucker, Southport Ohio Janis Fischer, Defiance Dixie Garverick, Fredericktown James E. Nunn, Saint Paris Werden H. Smith, Marion Pennsylvania Thomas A. Kerr, Biglerville Washington Nelma Jean Gebhardt, Bremerton

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Korinne’s Korner I recently read that the more difficult the obstacle, the stronger one becomes after hurdling it. So very true!

As we come to the end of 2020, there’s little doubt these past months dealing with the pandemic will not soon be forgotten. Sacrifices have been made by all of us, both personally and professionally, to do our best to keep our own worlds safe and healthy. In the midst of all our challenges, our daughter and younger of two sons had planned 2020 weddings complete with wonderful receptions and honeymoon celebrations whose dates had to be changed due to COVID-19 “opportunities.” Undoubtedly, many of you had family events that had to be postponed or canceled completely, as with the annual Gleaner Family Days.

I have always believed: Life is all about how you handle PLAN B, and PLAN B is exactly where we ended up in 2020! In addition to the wedding dates having to be shuffled, the number of guests had to be reduced, the venues had to be changed, some of the bridesmaids were unable to travel in the end, and the list goes on. Needless to say, we are very proud of how our children and their fiancés have weathered the ups and downs of planning their special day in this environment. As our daughter reminded me recently, it’s an important ceremony, but even more importantly, it’s the beginning of a wonderful lifetime of marriage.

For those of us in loving relationships, the anniversary of our weddings reminds us in this uncertain world we live in, with all of its challenges, how grateful we feel to have a loving partner by our side. Enjoy!

It’s with a grateful heart, as the Martis close 2020 with two new wonderful additions to our growing family, that we wish you all of God’s blessings.

Fraternally, yours

Korinne Marti, Wife of Gleaner President and CEO Kevin Marti

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www.gleanerlife.org

I share a favorite cookie recipe of Kevin’s as well as many friends that is decades old - Snickerdoodles.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Mix: ½ c. Margarine ½ c. Crisco 1 ½ c. Sugar 2 eggs Add:

3 c. Flour 2 t. Cream of tarter 1 t. Baking soda ¼ t. Salt

Shape into balls and roll in a sugar/cinnamon mixture (approximately ¼ c. Sugar and 2 T cinnamon) Bake 8-10 minutes till golden.

www.gleanerlife.org

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Hi, kids I love fall! Summer is fun, but there’s something special about our autumn season. Leaves fall, nights cool off, and farmers harvest fall crops. One of my favorite fall crops is the bright orange pumpkins. You may have made a Halloween jack o’lantern before, but have you ever picked out a pumpkin yourself? It can a great way to spend time with family or friends. Here are three of my favorite pumpkin activities:

Choose a pumpkin I like the different ways of picking a pumpkin each year.

Sometimes we buy one at the store, and sometimes at a roadside stand. My favorite way is at a farm. Seeing all the pumpkins together in a field, still on the vine, shows how they grow. Which type is your favorite?

Skinny Fat Bumpy

Smooth Tall Short

STUDY A PUMPKIN Have you ever drawn a picture of a pumpkin to show its different parts? See if you can find where it was attached to its vine. Did you ever see if a pumpkin will float in a bucket of water?

Have you counted the number of lines on its outside?

Carve a pumpkin Making a funny pumpkin face and putting a light inside the pumpkin is a good project if you have some help. First, draw a face on your pumpkin. Have someone help you cut a hole on the top of your pumpkin, and you can scoop out the seeds into a bowl. Cut out the outlines of your drawing and, when you’re finished, put a light inside the pumpkin for a cheery jack o’lantern. Also, remember to help clean up. Pumpkins are fun, but they can be messy!

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www.gleanerlife.org

REALITY CHECK

The time for life insurance is now.

Life changes and priorities shift. But one thing stays the same — how important family is and our desire to protect them. That’s why having life insurance is key. It means your loved ones would be OK financially if something happened to you.

You don’t need to wait for a big life moment to put this important protection in place.

The time for life insurance is now. Get it today.

This piece has been reproduced with the permission of Life Happens, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping consumers make smart insurance decisions to safeguard their families’ financial futures. Life Happens does not endorse any insurance company, product or advisor. © Life Happens 2020. All rights reserved.

Nonprofit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID BOLINGBROOK, IL PERMIT NO. 594 5200 West U.S. Highway 223, P.O. Box 1894 Adrian, Michigan 49221-7894

Our Society celebrates 126 years October 12 marks 126 years since a group of rural farm families formed the Society for protection, benevolence and fraternity. Times were difficult but they knew that, working together, they could build up their communities and Gleaner members. Thank you for 126 years of supporting that vision!