2021 GLEANER SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
PROTECTING OUR HERITAGE, GROWING OUR CORE VALUES P. 19
BLUEPRINT WHOLE LIFE INTRODUCED P. 8 P. 17 P. 10
LEADING LIKE SANTA: FRATERNALIST OF THE YEAR NAMED
Cruise Gleaner Alaskan Adventure
Join our unforgettable 7-day, Aug. 14-21, 2022, Alaskan Getaway cruise.
Spectacular sights await Gleaner members who join our 2022 Getaway cruise to Alaska!
You’ll begin by sailing aboard the new Discovery Princess from Seattle to the colorful salmon shing capital of Ketchikan, the southern entrance to Alaska’s famed Inside Passage. From there members will cruise the calm waters north to the long ord of Endicott Arm, capped by the blue ice of Dawes Glacier, before spending the afternoon and evening at the state capital of Juneau. A day later brings the Princess cruise ship to the historic mining town of Skagway, gateway to the Klondike for gold miners. The return voyage features a stop at the beautiful British Columbian capital city of Victoria before docking again the following morning in Seattle.
Set your course for unforgettable and enriching experiences. Only a few cabins remain for this special voyage!
Blue print
6
Fraternal agents gather for awards
After a one-year hiatus due to COVID, the Society honored an outstanding group of agents in beautiful French Lick, Indiana.
8
Blueprint Whole Life: built for living
Gleaner Life introduces a new whole life insurance solution that gives families a carefully designed plan to protect them from the unexpected.
10 Fraternalist of the Year
Retired educator Tom Matuszewski moves easily from playing Santa Claus to crime ghting, blessing Bay City and leading the Mid Michigan Arbor in many ways.
12 Agent of the Year
William “Bill” O. Warner not only led nearly every sales category for Gleaner-a liated agents in 2020-21, he also carries on a legacy of family fraternalism.
17 2021 Scholarship recipients
Meet the 2021 Gleaner scholarship recipients, 91 students who received more than $200,000 from the Gleaner Scholarship Foundation. The assistance will help our best and brightest realize their full potential, bene ting both them and our society.
19 Protecting our heritage
Modern life can be chaotic if not rooted in time-tested ways. From the story of Ruth to the principles of our parents, Gleaner members protect our heritage.
Do you enjoy searching for Gleaner’s wheat stalk? It's hidden in every issue of Forum Magazine. Having di culty nding the wheat stalk in this issue? Look on Page 31 for the answer.
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.
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
Fall 2021 / V. 126 / No. 4
Senior Officers
Kevin A. Marti, FSA, CLU, ChFC President and CEO
D. Arell Chapman, CRISC, FLMI
Senior Vice President, Chief Operations and Technology O cer
Deborah K. Elliott, SHRM-SCP, SPHR Senior Vice President
Chief Human Resources O cer, and Secretary
Anthony D. Golden, CLU, ChFC, RICP, FIC Senior Vice President, Sales
Todd M. Warner
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial and Investment O cer
Kaylene S. Armstrong, FLMI
Vice President, Finance, Controller and Treasurer
Barbara Janowski, RN, ALMI, AALU Vice President, Insurance Operations and Chief Underwriter
Jaime Linden, FIC Vice President, Member and Community Engagement
Officers
Tadd J. Brooket
Assistant Vice President, IT Systems and Security Manager
Judy Lawrence, FLMI, ACS Assistant Vice President, IT Development and Processing
Chuck Monahan, ALMI
Assistant Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Dawn Osborn, ALMI, ACS
Assistant Vice President, Underwriting and New Business
Board of Directors
Terry L. Garner, Chair
Mark A. Wills, Vice Chair
Stephanie R. Andresen | Donna K. Baker |
Russell E. Cunningham | Margaret M.S. Noe | Daniel R. Sutton
Frank Dick, Chairman Emeritus
Supreme Arbor Officers
Norma Garner, Supreme Chief Gleaner
Linda Ruehrmund, Supreme Vice Chief Gleaner
Fernando Rivera, Supreme Chaplain
Cheryl Jones, Supreme Conductor
Glen David Trabenkraut, Supreme
oughts from the president
Dear valued Gleaner members:
Our 60th Biennial Convention will be Oct. 22-24 in Florence, Indiana, hopefully about the time you will be receiving this Forum Magazine.
In this issue, we are pleased to honor our 2021 scholarship recipients (see page 17), as well as our top producing agents for our Conference of Excellence (see page 6).
In addition, we are proud to present and honor our Fraternalist of the Year Tom Matuszewski (see page 10), and our Fraternal Agent of the Year. William (aka Bill Jr.) O. Warner (see page 12) was also recently recognized at our 2021 Agent Conference of Excellence celebration as our top agent for the past year. Congratulations to both of these ne gentlemen on their many accomplishments serving our membership and their communities!
We continue to execute on our 2021 plans. Our life insurance and annuity sales growth continue to be strong in 2021. Our strategic plans to revise and reintroduce our whole life series of solutions and bring an electronic application to our independent agents in 2021 are on track for introduction in October and December timeframes, respectively.
Gleaner’s Blueprint Whole Life Series™ series of solutions should be a winner for our members and agents, providing the kind of guaranteed premiums and guaranteed cash values highly desirable in the market, along with a strong dividend scale given the continued low-interest rate environment! Options to pay for coverage include a single premium, 10 Pay, 20 Pay, and Pay to 100.
We have been admitted to the great states of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. We will be introducing prospective agents to the Society and the fraternal di erence at meetings in the eld in November. We are excited for this additional opportunity to expand our geographic footprint and in uence!
We hope you enjoyed the summer of 2021, and your family and friends were able to steer clear of COVID-19 and its variants. We pray for the day when we can put the pandemic in our rearview mirror, once and for all!
Fraternally,
Kevin A. Marti President & CEO
2022 Family Days
This also is a good time to think about the 2022 Family Days. Registration will open November 1. The 2022 lineup includes some annual favorites, a few that members asked to make available again, plus one that was scratched from previous years due to pandemic safety and lockdowns:
Starship Yacht Cruise, Tampa, Florida
Saturday, March 5
Indianapolis Zoo, Indianapolis, Indiana
Saturday, June 11
Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio
Saturday, July 9
Chicago Riverboat, Chicago Saturday, July 23 (8 p.m.)
Henry Ford/Green eld Village, Dearborn, Michigan Saturday, Sept. 24
In addition, there are two 2022 Gleaner Getaway events that Society members are welcome to join. The response has been tremendous for the Aug. 14-21 Alaskan Cruise, a round-trip voyage from Seattle up Alaska’s Inside Passage to Skagway. Members can also look forward to next fall’s Safari to Kalahari planned for Nov. 11-12. Be on the lookout to register for that annual favorite starting next spring.
Start thinking about making more good memories in 2022 by visiting www.gleanerlife.org/member-events for more details as they become available!
LEADING AGENTS HONORED AT
CONFERENCE OF EXCELLENCE
Leading agents for 2021 had a chance to gather in person June 24-27 to mark their successes, learn from each other, and to enjoy the weekend Conference of Excellence at French Lick Resort, Indiana.
Quali ers and awards
From serving their clients while working remotely to implementing pandemic-related rule changes, agents found the 2020-21 sales year to be one of their most challenging. The majority adapted and persevered, however, and four dozen quali ed for the Gleaner Life Insurance Society’s Conference of Excellence (COE). To avoid long-distance travel, this year’s conference was changed to the regionally accessible French Lick Resort in Indiana. There, they had a chance to meet once again after the 2020 COE planned for Sea Island, Georgia, was canceled due to COVID-19. Attendees had a chance to participate in golf, trap shooting, country line dancing, horseshoe pitching and cornhole tossing as well as enjoying other amenities.
The top agent in four of the six major categories was William O. “Bill” Warner of Bliss eld, Michigan. (See a related story on Page 12.) He nished rst in overall conference credits, rst in annuities, rst in new membership, and was named the 2021 Fraternal Agent of the Year.
Russell Luce of southeastern Illinois and northern Indiana led all agents in life insurance, and also was runner-up for overall conference credit.
Kathryn King of southeastern Michigan was named 2021's Top New Agent.
William O. “Bill” Warner
1st in annuities
1st overall conference credit
1st new membership
Fraternal Agent of the Year
Russell Luce 1st in life insurance
Kathryn King 2021 Top New Agent
Alex Lebron 2nd in annuities
Martin Regan 2nd in life insurance
Daniel Zeiger 2nd in new members
It’s never too early to plan for your loved ones. No matter what phase of life you’re in, you’ll want to focus on spending time with your family or ful lling your retirement dreams — not worrying about your nancial security. Gleaner’s Blueprint Whole Life Series™ can help you establish a nancial foundation that lasts your entire life, so you can focus on the things that matter to you, like watching your children or grandchildren grow up or nally planning that big vacation trip across America.
In October, Gleaner introduced Blueprint Whole Life to o er the nancial security of life insurance with the added bene ts of permanent coverage, guaranteed premiums, guaranteed cash value and dividends.
Just as a well-planned design permits changes to meet new needs, life insurance should include exibility as well as strength. Gleaner’s Blueprint Whole Life Series™ is designed with your nancial future in mind. While you can’t put a price on the things you contribute to your loved ones, life insurance can pay o outstanding loans or mortgages or replace an income. Whether you select a lump sum solution with Blueprint Single-Premium Whole Life, or a traditional, recurring premium with Blueprint Level-Premium Whole Life, you can secure your loved ones’ nancial future now while providing more options for your future.
Want to learn more about Gleaner’s Blueprint Whole Life Series™? Visit www.gleanerlife.org or contact your Gleaner agent listed on the back of this publication.
Life insurance that grows with you
Gleaner understands that current needs may not last forever, and that’s why Gleaner’s Blueprint Whole Life Series™ provides long-term protection with built-in exibility to meet each family’s needs:
• Blueprint Level-Premium Whole Life: Our traditional, recurring premium whole life solution o ers three ways to pay: 10-year pay, 20-year pay, and paid-up at age 100.
• Blueprint Single-Premium Whole Life: A simple way to use a lump sum to provide permanent life insurance for a child, a grandchild, or to leave as a legacy for loved ones or charitable organizations.
• Guaranteed Insurability Option: Those who purchase a Blueprint certi cate before age 41 have an opportunity to add additional coverage in the future at di erent ages and optional life events such as marriage, childbirth, adoption, or primary home purchase.
• Waiver of Premium Rider: For an a ordable rate, purchasers can add this protection waiving future premiums if they become permanently disabled before age 60. It also o ers protection until age 65 for those permanently disabled between ages 60 and 65. Subject to underwriting approval, it is available for issue to ages 18-55.
Gleaner Life Insurance Society is domiciled in Adrian, Michigan, and licensed in AZ, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MI, MO, NC, NE, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, WI and WV.
Tom Matuszewski: Fraternalist of the Year
Among his many projects, the productive president of Mid Michigan Arbor has been changing lives for 52 years by imitating the fraternal spirit of Santa Claus.
Tom Matuszewski, the 2021 Fraternalist of the Year, would like to write a book. One possible title might be “Santa’s Leadership Secrets.” That’s because “Matu,” as he’s a ectionately known, has a familiar trajectory after he joins a group. Within months, the retired school principal and longtime Santa Claus is voted as the group’s new leader.
It happened with Knights of Columbus when he skipped straight to Grand Knight, with Bay County Crime Stoppers when he became not only the chapter’s president but the state’s president, with various other non-pro t groups, and again in 2016 when he joined Mid Michigan Arbor of Bay City. It might be his well-organized meeting agendas, knowledge of Robert’s Rules of Order, reliance on committees, outgoing personality, decades
of administration or, possibly, something else: “Somehow, when it came time to look for some dummy to lead the pack, I always got picked,” Matuszewski joked in 2015 when he was honored with the Bay County Bar Association’s Liberty Bell Award.
The same thing happened shortly after Mid Michigan Arbor gave Matuszewski its CVR award and invited him to join. At Matuszewski’s rst meeting, then-President Mike Stuart announced he was moving and that a new president would be needed. Ever since then, Matuszewski has been president of the arbor, delegating for an impressive list of activities. “Tom has been an integral participant in pretty much every event sponsored by the Mid Michigan Arbor,” Shirley Dubiel, the arbor's treasurer, reported.
Just a few include:
• Matuszewski chaired an activity to help a young family with two young children. Their mother was on a respirator at a local hospital and their father had to leave his job to care for the children.
• He chaired an event that brought students who use wheelchairs from the Intermediate School District's special education program to the Johnson Pumpkin Farm to tour the facilities. There, they saw all the farm animals, enjoyed cider and doughnuts, and picked out a pumpkin to take home. Gleaner Life paid for the special bus to bring the students to the event.
• He helped chair an activity in which a barbershop chorus visited the cancer ward at a local hospital along with the Gleaner members to bring goodies, a rose and a song to patients.
• Matuszewski chaired an activity to purchase two outdoor, weather-coated steel tables for the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum in Bay City.
• Matuszewski organized a project to purchase games and other gross motor activities for the Boys and Girls Club after-school program to help families who can't a ord daycare for their children.
• He chaired an event in which Santa Claus visited a group of 23 autistic students who attend a daily program at Covenant Hospital.
• He chaired a project in which he again put on his Santa suit and arrived by retruck to visit children with handicaps at the Bay Area Intermediate School District. Although all the children use wheelchairs and some are unable to speak, they could all ring Santa's set of seven bells. The children then opened the gifts that Santa brought for the classroom.
The last two activities highlight Matuszewski’s role as Santa — sometimes escorted by local re ghters and arriving on a re truck. His longtime service in Bay, Saginaw, Midland and Tuscola counties has helped him attract lots of help for various projects. Matuszewski began playing Santa while he was a student at Saginaw Valley State University, and later attended Santa schools including the Charles Howard Santa School in New York. Matuszewski includes music (he’s played the piano since second grade), recitation (he can recite from memory the poem that begins “’Twas the night before Christmas”) and a realistic Santa suit. For his charity, Matuszewski has chosen the Nathan Doan Santa House in Bay City.
The role also provides opportunities to help in other ways. Among his stories, Matuszewski tells of a little girl who came to a Lions Club show that featured a free meal. “She said, ‘Santa, all I want for Christmas is to get my tooth xed at the dentist because my mom doesn’t have enough money, and my tooth is really sore.’” After promising to see what he could do, he quietly told one of the Lions Club members to nd out the girl’s name. With the help of another school principal, Matuszewski was able to locate the mother’s phone number. “I said, ‘Yes, this is Santa Claus.’” He explained the girl’s request and that he could set up a dental appointment that wouldn’t cost any money. “And then she starts crying on the phone.”
Years before, a similar case occurred in Vassar when Matuszewski was able to facilitate braces for a fthgrade girl who had terrible buck teeth. He moved away but returned to perform as Santa at Vassar High School years later. “I didn’t look like their former principal. But this one girl comes walking up to me. She says, ‘Mr. Matuszewski, do you remember me?’ And it chokes me up to talk about it. I said, ‘You were at Central Elementary, and you’re all grown up now. You’ve changed so much.’ And she said, ‘Well this is who I am,’ and she says, ‘Look at my teeth.’ Perfect. Just perfect. And then she grabs me and gives me a great big hug. Thank goodness I had those whiskers on because I’m crying my eyes out. … But she couldn’t wait to thank me because her whole life changed. Kids wouldn’t sit by her. They teased her, they made fun of her. And now she’s a beautiful girl with perfect teeth, and I say ‘Thank you Lord…’”
Whether directing arbor activities, crime ghting tips or Santa's elves, "Matu" shows how we can deliver our gifts to cheer others.
Tom and Ruth Ann Matuszewski in Bay City, Michigan.
William O. Warner:
Fraternal Agent of the Year
Gleaner Home Front Part 4: World War II’s
Society members ‘did their part’ 75 years ago to help the U.S. and allies win World War II.
e approach of autumn 75 years ago found millions of Americans adjusting to peacetime after World War II. More than 70 million people — most of them civilians — had been killed. Among them were 130 Gleaner members who died in military service. In addition, other Gleaner members did their part. Whether in the military, raising children alone, enduring rationing, riveting planes as “Rosies” in war plants, or growing food in the Women’s Land Army, they endured hardships and sacri ces to help the Allies’ victory.
One of the most important ways the Society assisted was to waive the “war exclusion” clause attached to most life insurance policies, a tradition the Society had honored in the Spanish-American War and again during World War I. e decision was welcome news, especially for the widows and orphans:
Military duty also created a shortage of insurance agents, so the December 1942 Forum noted that arbor secretaries were being trained to help sell and service policies: “A large percent of these Secretaries have already enrolled and by so doing become part of the eld force.”
“Dear Society: Yours received and many thanks for same. I don’t know how to thank you as words can’t express my feelings. I am so glad my son thought of his parents — he must have known he could do no more — and that he might never come back. … anks again. — Dale’s Mother, Nellie Wolfrom” (Navy seaman 2nd class Dale A. Wolfrom, age 27, was lost aboard the cruiser USS Quincy when it was sunk by Japanese ships in the Battle of Savo Island. His death was especially hard because his father had also died less than a year before.)
Gleaner Life aided war e orts in other ways. By July of 1945, it had purchased more than $4.4 million in war bonds. To comply with wartime travel restrictions, two biennial conventions (1943 and 1945) were canceled. e wartime rationing of gasoline, food and even tires a ected Gleaner agents. Gleaner Life’s Illinois state manager, E.C. Fortin — in hope of “writing some new business faced the fact his tires were none too good” — rented a friend’s mule to attend a 1942 Gleaner picnic at Gilman Arbor (IL).
ousands of Gleaner members answered the call to military service including women. e Bowling Green Arbor (OH) alone had at least 57 members in service including two women serving bravely. Army Lt. Elizabeth A. “Betty” McKinnis of Bowling Green applied for foreign service after Pearl Harbor. Before enlisting, she had graduated at the top of her class in nursing school in Toledo and served for seven months as night supervisor of Community Hospital in Bowling Green. She served as an Army nurse in Australia, India and China and was promoted to captain. After the war, she and her husband, Dr. Halford Whitacre Sr., treated Bowling Green patients for decades. Also serving was Sgt. Lucy Newman of the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve, stationed at Camp Goleta in Santa Barbara, California.
E.C. Fortin, the Illinois state manager for Gleaner Life, borrowed a mule to attend a 1942 arbor picnic because of wartime tire rationing.
Many Home O ce workers and agents served. Dr. Bernhard T. Alm, who had assisted with Home O ce medical duties, served as the Army Air Force’s Surgeon for the Antisubmarine Command and, later in North Africa, was promoted to colonel. He was appointed as the Society’s new Medical Director after his discharge from the military in 1946. Michigan Gleaner agent George Bell, who had nished second in Gleaner sales production in 1941, enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Among other Home O ce sta , General Counsel (and future Society President) R.G. Ransford was an air raid warden, as was Virginia Lyons. Lyons and Bertha Holst would later serve in the U.S. Naval Reserves program commonly known as WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). Several “mail boys” were drafted, prompting Forum to note, “No sooner do we get a boy than the Army or a war industry reaches out and grabs him.” Solutions included giving traditionally male jobs to women: “Our (new) Inter O ce ‘Information Boy’ is charming Dorothy De May who shoulders the mail sack and smiles at one and all as she makes the rounds.”
Women were part of a national work phenomenon as they took up jobs left by men o ghting the war. In addition to women working in factories, made famous by Rosie the Riveter, there were more than 3 million non-farm U.S. women mobilized to work on farms.
e Women’s Land Army was headed by Florence Hall, a Port Austin, Michigan, native and graduate of the Michigan State College of Agriculture. Forum magazine in January 1943 noted the importance of everyone growing vegetable gardens:
Gleaners Will Grow Victory Gardens
e needs of the Army will create a demand for ve times more fresh vegetables from the commercial growers as were provided in 1942. In addition, the Lend-Lease Program calls for the commercial growers which includes our farmers as well as truck gardeners, to ll the bread baskets of practically the world from our land of plenty. …"
By Mabel Clare Ladd e call has gone forth: “Grow Victory Gardens.”
To thousands of our readers this admonition is not necessary. However, thousands who have never gardened before are going to get a thrill out of planting and then watching “the green things growing,” while we literally “earn our bread by the sweat of our brow.”
Food rationing also led Americans to seek numerous substitutes, as this item reprinted in Forum from Forbes magazine noted:
Synthetic Co ee
“Synthetic co ee will soon be on the market. One new blend: Rolled wheat our, corn oil, molasses. Called ‘Jeep,’ it will sell for 15¢ per pound. No ration coupon is required.” — Forbes Pass the Jeep — the sooner the better. We are willing to be guinea pigs and try it.
Arbors, especially those that met in rented halls, were encouraged to meet in members’ homes and save money for the war e ort. Several arbors saved hundreds of dollars and purchased war bonds. Some helped pay for policies for the sons of members who were in military service. Arbors also assisted with the scrap metal, newspaper, rubber, cooking grease and other collection drives that Americans were asked to organize.
Mrs. William Wood managed a 120-acre farm in Coloma, Michigan, in 1942. She also attended a rst aid class and collected 1,600 pounds of scrap metal and rubber. National Archives photo.
From April 1943’s Forum:
Saleable Salvage Is Ticket of Admission
Grass Lake Arbor (MI) tuned its program to the times, as is proven by the very successful Defense Party to which Chief Gleaner and Mrs. Olin McCurdy were hosts on Saturday evening, April 18. Admission to the party was granted only after the guests had deposited an article (or more) of saleable salvage in Companion Eric Plummer’s trailer, parked by the rear door. is salvage material will be sold to swell the Arbor treasury, and to buy war savings stamps which are used by the Arbor in lieu of prizes. (submitted by Enid McCurdy, Lecturer)
Over the course of the war, Gleaner Life paid out $109,692 (about $1.6 million in today’s dollars) for military servicemen killed.
Protecting their heritage
e e ects of World War II continued long after nal surrender documents were signed. Prisoners were repatriated, food shipped to starving populaces of bombed out nations, bodies of the fallen identi ed and, in many cases, transported home for burial. On a happier note, several Gleaner members in service returned home with war brides. Forum reported that two servicemen from Ober Arbor (IN), Jack Hopkins Jr. and Floyd omas, had both brought back brides from England and both were new Society members, “thus helping both brides to become acquainted with their new-found families and friends. Both brides like America and both express appreciation of the warm welcome accorded them.”
A longtime Gleaner member, Roger T. Durbin of Berkey, Ohio, is credited with the idea for the National World War II monument in Washington, D.C. e Army tank veteran had fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He became a mail carrier, Rich eld Township trustee and Little League coach. Described as a “gentleman with a square jaw, twinkling eyes, and churlish grin,” he questioned U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur at a 1987 sh fry about why the U.S. capital had no national memorial. It took six years for legislation to pass, followed by another decade to plan, fund and build the $140 million monument. U.S. Sen. Bob Dole called Durbin “the public persona — the beacon — of the drive.” Durbin’s granddaughter, Melissa Growden, served on the advisory board. Durbin died of cancer in 2000, nine months before groundbreaking. His e orts, however, were commemorated in 2010 at Berkey’s Ford Cemetery with an Ohio State Historic Marker. South Fair eld Arbor co-sponsored the marker.
When the October 1947 convention nally took place in Fort Wayne, Indiana, names of the 130 gold star servicemen were read aloud, along with 3,143 other Gleaner members who had died since the last Gleaner Life convention in 1941. e ceremony helped close one of the most challenging eras experienced by Gleaner Life Insurance Society’s members.
Acknowledgements: We are indebted to the thousands of researchers who have made World War II resources publicly available, including several who speci cally helped locate materials used in this year’s project. Among them are Scott Gerych and Mike Coppernoll of Grass Lake’s Michigan Military Heritage Museum; Lenawee County Historical Society; former Stateline Observer publisher David Green and Colleen Leddy of Stair District Library in Morenci, Michigan; and Charmaine Wawrzyniec of Ellis Library and Reference Center in Monroe, Michigan. We are grateful for their help.
In 2021 Gleaner awarded 91 scholarships, providing over $200,000 to tomorrow’s best and brightest students.
Gleaner scholarships are one of the many bene ts available to our members. e Society values the importance of ongoing education and recognizes those members who seek to take their education to the next level. As the cost of higher education increases, we are proud to o er our members a helping hand by providing scholarships.
e 2021 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. Applications for 2022 scholarships, which are completed entirely online, will be available at www.gleanerlife.org/scholarships beginning Dec. 1, 2021.
Elaynna Central Michigan
Monique University
Carmella Bradley
Elaynna Alvarez Central Michigan University
Ma�hew Aude Olivet Nazarene University
Ella Badorek University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Alexandria Bailey The University of TennesseeMartin
Victoria Bailey Kent State University Kent Campus
Monique Bailhe University of Detroit Mercy Addison Baker Appalachian State University
MacKenna Baker Appalachian State University
Sydney Baker Saint Francis University
Spencer Balcerzak University of Toledo
Carmella Barkley Bradley University
Grace Bea�y Olivet Nazarene University
Cole Bechstein Bowling Green State University-Main Campus
Hayden Belleville Ohio State University-Main Campus
Brooke Bolerjack Lake Forest College
Carson Rokos Northern Michigan University
Adrianna Rubino University of Akron Main Campus
Tess Ruehrmund Morehead State University
Emelia Sargent University of PittsburghPittsburgh Campus
Elizabeth Sgro University of Oregon
Jaya Singh Arizona State University
Landon Strzelewicz Northern Michigan University
Isabelle Su�on Moody Bible Institute
Samuel Swartz Florida State University
Eric Vandefifer Central Michigan University
Lia Ward University of South Florida
Ma�hew Warner The University of Findlay
Andrew Wa�s Ohio State University-Main Campus
Kailey Wendling Rochester College
Bernade�e Wonderly Kent State University Kent Campus
Lauren Wya� Kent State University Kent Campus
Molly Breitenbach Concordia University-Ann Arbor
Alec Brooking Ball State University
Nicholas Burden University of CincinnatiMain Campus
Nicholas Castelluccio Indiana State University
Lillian Chamberlain Owens Community College
Jaycee Clark Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Morgan Cleveland Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Insti
Alora Cobb Wheaton College
Erica Dauterman University of Toledo
Dalton Drees Miami University-Oxford
Leila Drumm East Tennessee State University
Jonathan Dziwanowski Michigan State University
Caitlyn Elisech Saginaw Valley State University
Mia Enriquez Arizona State University
Brooke Evans Clemson University
Emily Everest Eastern Michigan University
Manda Fisher Washtenaw Community College
John Fox University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Luke Freeman Murray State University
Emerson Gaines Bradley University
Sadie Garner The Ohio State University
Alivia Giles Alma College
Rylie Gorby Grand Valley State University
Paige Grossheim Jackson College
Corban Hall Indiana Wesleyan University
Megan Hines Purdue University-Main Campus
Grace Hoffman University of Toledo
Hutson Hohlbein Taylor University
Lauryn Hoover University of MichiganDearborn
Aarika Hozeska Saginaw Valley State University Madison University
Elijah Ohio
Jeremiah Carleton
Madison Huck University of Findlay
Abigail Huff Ball State University
Sco� Jackson Michigan State University
Mallory Jarre� Indiana University-South Bend
Nathaniel Keene Purdue University-Main Campus
Elijah Kendrick Ohio Northern University
Rian Klein University of CincinnatiMain Campus
Chris�ne Korejwo Western Michigan University
Caleb Korthals Nashua Community College
Anthony Lanzillo Vassar College
Jeremiah Lanzillo Carleton College
Knickolas Laux Michigan State University
Hannah Lee Grand Valley State University
Cole Luck Michigan State University
Caleb Manz Purdue University Fort Wayne
Mason Ma�ste Duquesne University
Caden Medina Grand Canyon University
Megan Mertes Ohio State University-Main Campus
Konnor Mickelsen Colorado School of Mines
Caleb Miller Cedarville University
Philip Moldovanu George Washington University
Kelly Murray SUNY College at Cortland
Aidan Nelson Michigan State University
Aus�n Nesbi� Delta College
Makenzie O’Connell Ball State University
Violet Orr Ashland University
Malachi Oser North Greenville University
Brady Price Ripon College
Sarah Price Indiana UniversityBloomington
Kelsey Roach Miami University-Oxford
With life insurance, I’ve got you ... and your future.
You would do anything to protect your family and ensure they have a bright future. But have you considered how your loved ones would continue on financially if you were no longer here?
Life insurance is a simple and affordable way to answer that question. It allows you to say to your loved ones, “I’ve got you” … and mean it.
Best wishes
to all our 2021 scholarship recipients as they continue their growth as part of the Gleaner Life family!
Protecting our heritage
When we talk about protecting our heritage we might think of preserving our parents’ values, our children's future and maybe the family homestead. How would we protect these if key members of the family died? Could our extended family assist us? Would they be willing?
Gleaner Society founder Grant Slocum pondered these problems as he considered his own childhood on a family farm. Later, as a newspaper editor, he saw many examples of families destroyed by the death of a parent. Slocum found inspiration in the biblical story of Ruth, sometimes known as Ruth the Gleaner. Her story also gave him a practical template for assisting, protecting, and building fraternal relationships.
The story tells how Naomi and her husband Elimelech left famine-plagued Judea with their two sons and settled in Moab. Naomi's sons married Moabite women — Ruth and Orpah. Naomi's husband dies, however, and within about 10 years both of her sons also die. With no men or heirs, Naomi begins her return to Judah and urges her daughters-in-law to return to their mothers and find new husbands. Ruth refuses, however, vowing, "... where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God."
Ruth and Naomi’s loyalty and kindness to each other eased their pain but not their poverty. Back in Judea, Naomi instructs Ruth to join the gleaners who follow harvesters, picking up leftovers in the barley fields. The leftovers, or “gleanings,” were part of God's benevolence expressed in Leviticus 19:10 and Deuteronomy 24:20-21 (“Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow.”) Ruth’s hard work is noticed by Boaz, a distant
relative of Naomi who oversees the field's reapers. He kindly encourages Ruth to drink the water gathered by his workers. He instructs them to leave extra barley for Ruth and to not reproach her for taking it.
Such benevolence became the first key principle of the Gleaner Society when Slocum founded it in 1894. Early arbors practiced it by pulling stumps or shucking corn when fellow farmers became ill. “Benevolence dwells in the hearts of all who are true and noble,” Gleaner founders wrote. “It knocks on the doors of the rich, but oftener crosses the threshold of the poorest hut to administer to the wants of the poor and needy.” This kindness is still reflected in arbor projects to feed the hungry or to give children with autism a Santa Claus party. It's shown in Gleaner scholarships, or individual projects to help wash laundry at laundromats or to care for shelter animals.
Kindness is complemented by protection, both in Ruth's story and Gleaner ideals. Naomi notes that Boaz' oversight in his field protects Ruth from assault. Soon, Boaz also provides lasting protection for Naomi, whose rights to her husband's fields is useless without workers or resources to grow crops and without heirs to maintain ownership. Boaz protects the women's heritage when, as a "kinsman redeemer," he buys Naomi's property and marries Ruth — in accordance with the Law of Moses — after a closer relative refuses to do so.
Today, we rely on life insurance and other solutions to protect our families and to spare them the necessity of selling their land, home, car, or other goods when tragedy strikes. Slocum saw in the 1800s how fraternal life insurance saved widows from losing their homes and enabled children to receive educations instead of being sent off to factories or orphanages.
Ruth's story is as biblically significant as it is beautiful. Ruth and Boaz' son, Obed, would become father to Jesse, who in turn became father of the future King David. Later in David's line — and born in the same town of Bethlehem as Boaz — would be the Bible's ultimate kinsman redeemer, Jesus Christ. Ruth's lineage includes not just one king, but also the King of Kings. It points toward the future even as it honors the past.
God's blessings for Ruth and Naomi extended beyond compassion and protection. Even when Naomi labeled herself "bitter" and "empty," and when Ruth labored as an impoverished foreigner, God's plan soon provided new family and friends. Ruth and Boaz married, Ruth gave birth to a son whom Naomi would help raise, and the women of the region praised God and esteemed Naomi in a classic example of restorative justice. The Gleaner Society emulated this model of fraternalism by welcoming farm families of many denominations and giving each member equal rights. The Society grew quickly. Arbors provided members with fellowship and mutual support as well as cooperation for community improvement.
That is why it was no paradox that Gleaner Life’s 2020s began with both major modernizations as well as reaffirmations of the Society’s 19th century roots. The Board of Directors in June 2021 changed the Common Bond — the shared beliefs all members affirm — to specifically mention the biblical story of Ruth and the model of helping one’s neighbors.
The Book of Ruth shows
God's own benevolence, protection, and fraternity at work, preserving the heritage of Naomi and welcoming Ruth and all others into His plan of redemption. It became a model for the Society as members met the needs of broken families, and it remains a template and a challenge for us to protect our heritage today.
Adrian Arbor (MI) gathered outside May 26 with residents of the Share the Warmth shelter to plant ve raised garden beds and two new owerpots. With the assistance of Abby from Carpenter Farms, residents learned how to plant and care for the tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, zucchini, lettuce, squash, kale and broccoli as well as a strawberry bed planted in 2020. e arbor supplied labor, a variety of gloves and gardening tools. It also made a donation to Share the Warmth to help with other outdoor projects at the homeless shelter.
Good Deeds Arbor (OH) jumped into action as our newest arbor. Residents around Zanesville, Ohio, will bene t from its volunteer e orts. Good Deeds Arbor received its charter in August, held its rst meeting Aug. 11, and already is planning activities for the fourth quarter. Established with support from Matson Retirement Planning, the arbor will host a free document shredding event for the community on Oct. 30. It also plans to accept donations for Christmas boxes for troops, which will be sent out through the Northside Church of the Nazarene. O cers pictured from left are Steve Matson, President/ Chaplain; Stacie Deavers, Vice President; Traci Bell, Treasurer; and Tracy Rector, Secretary/
Reporter. Congratulations to our newest arbor! If you would like to join an arbor near you, see an interactive map at www.gleanerlife.org/arbors. If you would like to learn more about forming a new arbor, please contact Community Engagement at communityengagement@gleanerlife.org.
Buckeye City Arbor (OH) hosted a farmers’ market in the Linden area, located on Cleveland Avenue near downtown Columbus, Ohio. A food truck was unloaded at 10:30 a.m. and residents were able to ll bags. “We had a great day and we talked to quite a few people,” the arbor reported. “We heard a lot of hard luck stories and we gave encouragement. People were exceedingly grateful and thanked us immensely for what we were doing.”
Bay Area Arbor (FL) was nally allowed in June to hold its rst in-person meeting in 15 months due to COVID regulations. A total of 40 members and ve guests attended a special meeting and meal catered by Wimauma restaurant Anna’s, one of those hit hard by COVID restrictions. A baby shower also was held to assist the Newborns in Need organization. It helps underprivileged pregnant women in hospitals by supplying them with a large bag of baby items including blankets, clothing, bibs, formula, diapers and more. It also received a wedding dress. ese are converted into burial gowns for babies who die, providing some closure for the women during a sad time.
Champion Arbor (MI) purchased new raised-bed garden boxes to update a local community garden. Over the course of four days, several Gleaner members joined several other local volunteers to take apart and dispose of the old, rotting wooden garden boxes, then replaced them with the new boxes. Champion Arbor members then had lunch together to celebrate all the hard work.
Capital Arbor (MI) sponsored a Mother’s Day appreciation for 10 mothers at Hannah’s House, a faith-based shelter for homeless mothers located in downtown Lansing. Residents and house mothers received a necklace, Fabiano candies, Avon hand cream and handmade knit caps for new mothers that were lovingly knit by Marla Lambert. Steve Lowder delivered a ower arrangement as a gift from the men of Capital Arbor. All members helped select the gifts, gift bags and wrote a handwritten card. A donation also was made. After members enjoyed a lengthy visit with the mothers, they enjoyed a late lunch to recount the event and fellowship.
Chester Arbor (OH) worked to thank local re departments, law enforcement and EMS groups in Morrow County. Each group was given a laminated certi cate to hang as a reminder of the arbor’s appreciation, and each individual rst responder received a paperweight engraved with a handshake and “Chester Arbor thanks you.” In addition, each one received bagged cookies.
Homer Twp Oak Arbor (IL) hired Beaver Shredding to conduct a successful shredding event at the township o ce parking lot. e May 1 event drew a total of 70 cars. e eight members — all wearing Gleaner T-shirts — borrowed eight safety cones from the township highway department and directed tra c ow in the lot. Arbor information and Gleaner seed packets were passed out to each car.
Huron Shores Arbor (MI) held several activities including a thank you for all teachers and sta at six Croswell-Lexington Community Schools facilities (212 teachers total). e arbor purchased candy bars and thank you notes, assembled them, and delivered them to the six schools. e arbor followed up on June 8 by replacing its annual Family Fun Run Dinner — which was prevented by local COVID restrictions — and instead holding a walking eld trip to Frostick Freeze Ice Cream Parlor. All 329 elementary school students who participated in the Heart Smart Mileage Program were rewarded with a bowl of ice cream.
Maple City Arbor (MI) treated 179 people to a free order at the Frosty Boy ice cream stand in Adrian, Michigan, as a “random act of kindness” event June 24. A total of 10 arbor members held a short planning meeting before the event began. After the meeting, arbor members spoke with patrons and distributed Gleaner toys to the children. “We received so many thank you’s and smiles,” the arbor reported.
Legacy Arbor (MI) members spent most of an afternoon helping two senior citizens through recommendations provided by the Department of Aging. e rst resident needed yard help including weed cutting, ower bed cleaning, lawn leveling, and yard debris cleanup. e second senior citizen lived in an upstairs apartment and had been unable to carry out accumlated garbage for more than 2 ½ months. e garbage was disposed of, and two members returned May 17 to bring her a free box of commodity food. Both senior citizens were thrilled with the help they received.
Sulphur Springs Arbor (IL) met on a rainy May 15 morning to plant 10 trees around Coal City in place of those damaged by a tornado a few years ago. Holes had been dug in advance. Nine arbor members plus 10 Coal City Community 4-H Club members and city maintenance workers planted the trees and back lled with soil and mulch. e arbor also donated $750 to the village of Coal City for the trees and $250 to the 4-H club. When planting was completed, participants went to Rachetti’s for pizza and beverages for lunch, which was paid for by a Coal City village representative.
North Baltimore Arbor (OH) sponsored 4-H camp scholarships for the Klassy Kids 4-H Club with funding and also paid for their Youth Action Day service project. e 4-H members planted ower planters for 24 local businesses in North Baltimore while in the process learning how to beautify their neighborhood, proper pot planting and re-use of house materials.
Oakwood Arbor (OH) presented three Community Volunteer Recognition awards and welcomed the recipients into the arbor on June 28. Ron and Darlene Vorlicky work with the security and greeters at the Van Wert Performing Arts Center, and Ron is commander of the Oakwood American Legion post and Paulding VFW post. Jeanne Calvert is a retired school teacher serving on the library board,
Tecumseh Arbor (MI) helped bring a sensory garden to fruition at the Tecumseh Learning Center South with a workday and a $500 donation to the PTO. Volunteers placed large tires in the ground and painted them a variety of colors. Children can crawl through them as well as play with various games and educational objects. e arbor also purchased a dogwood shrub that will show seasonal changes. It was purchased in honor of member Darlene Pentrics, who had taught this age group in Tecumseh for more than 30 years before passing in April due to COVID. Volunteers were treated to a refreshment break.
her church, EMS, and author of a book, “Oakwood Past and Present.” e arbor also performed roadside trash pick-up and approved assistance for a member battling leukemia without health insurance.
Ober Arbor (IN) celebrated Arbor Day by planting a scarlet oak tree at the Knox Community School’s outdoor learning lab. Nine arbor members and Jamie Shireman’s second-grade class planted the tree and
added mulch to several trees that had been planted in previous years. Paul Sellers dug the hole for the planting and Habo Runkle brought extra water and a special mixture to add to the soil. Students read reports on the scarlet oak. Videos of the reports were shared with ve other classes of second graders. In all, 145 students received a tree seedling — all placed in individual bags and labeled by Cindy and Arlene Sellers — to take home and plant.
Orchard Arbor (MI) coordinated its annual park/ community clean up. is year’s event May 22 cleaned up a park, painted parking markers, placed mulch around trees, weeded and planted a hosta garden while also removing debris. e arbor had the community participate in a scavenger hunt with prizes for all who took part. e hunt drew six teams. Gloves, bags, sanitizer, paint and food for lunch was provided by the arbor for all volunteers.
Vulcaneer Arbor (MI) has become a supporter of bicycling including the Tuesday “slow rolls” in Vassar. On July 13, Laura Walker brought the Covenant van and tted three teens with helmets, a bell or light, and everyone was given water and snacks. Guest Robin Fabbro, a family nurse practitioner, gave everyone safety tips on bicycle awareness and defensive riding. A total of 14 bicyclists showed up to ride the 5-mile course on the rail trail and side roads. e e ort was a prelude for a much bigger bike-a-thon planned late in August.
TriCounty Arbor (MI) hosted its annual Veterans Appreciation Dinner on June 24 for local veterans. Rain during the outdoor event reduced the turnout from 120 anticipated to 80. ose who attended, however, enjoyed smoked ribs and chicken with all the traditional barbecue items to go along. State Rep. David Martin was the event’s guest speaker along with the undersheri for Genesee County.
White Pine Arbor (MI) supported northern Michigan history and literature by hosting a book signing and presentation by noted Michigan author Robert Knapp. His new book, “Gangsters Up North,” explores the legends and myths of Al Capone, the Purple Gang and others as they participated in both holidays and mayhem in Michigan’s vacationlands. e arbor invited Knapp to visit, took
him to dinner, and then hosted an event attended by more than 80 people. Many people asked questions and the community greatly enjoyed the evening.
Georgia
Sylvia Allen, Carrollton
Illinois
Bella Ann Gamboa, Steger
Sandra L. Hutter, Joliet
Dawn L. Yarno, Kankakee
Kansas
Barbara Ann Widmer, Wichita
Michigan
Louella J. Adams, Litch eld
Diane Marie Bartlett, Sterling
Nancy L. Jenks, Harrison
Bonnie Jean McTaggart, Imlay City
Kenneth J. Schmidt, Fair Haven
Ohio
Carolyn J. Radich, Warren
Richard L. Radich, Warren
Michael C. Schmaus, Millbury
Florida
Sharon Lee Helms, Sarasota
Gladys M. Ray, Se ner
Illinois
Raymond L. Berard, Crest Hill
Thomas Blanchette, Bourbonnais
Leon J. Malone, Kempton
Donna Varboncoeur, Bourbonnais
Richard F. Yates, Watseka
Indiana
Robert Budgin, Crown Point
Emogene S. Grant, Crown Point
Beatrice Mertens, Muncie
Neil A. Singleton, Knox
Richard K. Strahm, Valparaiso
Michigan
Lynn Carol Barbera, Holt
Thomas O. Beach, Stanton
Marilyn E. Beaver, Fife Lake
Virginia Davis Brown, Ypsilanti
Jerry D. Hawkins, Cadillac
Kenneth W. Johnson, Metamora
Harold M. Tate, Pontiac
Maralita S. Thomas, Galesburg
Missouri
Robert A. Yahl, Kirksville
Ohio
Karen Lou Dress, Waterville
Paulette Fetter, Lima
Carol J. Noggle, Delaware
Did you nd the wheat stalk?
In this issue of Forum Magazine , the wheat stalk is hidden on Page 10 in the Santa photo.
Korinne's Korner
“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how will it become salty again? It’s good for nothing except to be thrown away and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city on top of a hill can’t be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on top of a lamp stand, and it shines on all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 5:13-16
What a beautiful, uplifting Scripture!
Our days continue to be lled with uncertainties including the pandemic (that never seems to end), adverse weather conditions, our jobs, various family demands and many health challenges. The list can, and does, go on and on for us all. It is so easy to slip down into the rabbit hole of negativity.
We can each shine our light before others in the workplace, our community, church life and family. By lifting up others, we in turn lift up ourselves.
Our youngest son and family were spending the weekend with us in June. While we were playing cards Friday evening, he received a phone call from his next-door neighbor telling him not to worry, “their house was OK.” As the conversation continued, he learned that the neighbor's home had unfortunately caught re and was destroyed in a matter of minutes before the re department could get there to save it. By the grace of God, the entire family got out safely, including his dog that was rescued from the burning home by one of their other neighbors. It is so di cult to wrap your head around such a tragedy, especially one so close to home. High winds and an errant, smoldering cigarette ash a
guest dropped in their mulch were the apparent causes of their loss. Brien o ered his neighbors their home for the weekend, prayers, and o ered to do anything his family could to help them from our home. Their local community rallied around the displaced family with an outpouring of clothing, furniture, food, as well as setting up a GoFundMe page to help them out while their home is being rebuilt. Empathy, prayers, and o ering our gifts to others shines God’s light through us.
Small gestures as well in our daily lives are appreciated. I am always amazed when I make a very simple baby quilt for friends of ours or our children who are becoming new parents. From my perspective, it’s a gift I am happy to give. The recipients are often over the moon with gratitude. Two of our neighbors are dealing with serious health issues. For the past two summers, Kevin has been mowing their lawns to help them out. Now, I should add their lawns aren’t an acre. We do live at the lake so both lawns are a modest size. Having said that, his kind gesture brings smiles to their faces and gratitude from their hearts for one less thing on their to-do list to manage while at the lake.
May we all try to lift up others daily.
Poppyseed Bread is my recipe to share this time. I found this in the spring and have tweaked it to my liking. Family and friends have given it a lot of “thumbs up” – so enjoy and share with others.
It freezes well, and I store it in the refrigerator It’s a new Marti Family favorite!
Fraternally yours,
Korinne Marti, Wife of President & CEO Kevin Marti
Hi Kids!
What you need:
PAPER, PENCIL, CRAYONS OR COLORED PENCILS
I hope you are all enjoying fall and the return of school. As the weather turns cold and the wind starts to blow, sometimes it’s hard to play outside. That’s why I have a fun indoor activity for you to try! I love to draw — especially when I can learn how to draw a new animal or cartoon. Below is a step-by-step for how to draw, well, me! Follow the steps below and have fun!
Start by drawing my face. Start at the chin and work your way around. Be sure to give me wide cheeks (for my big grin). Then add ears on top of my head.
Next, give me a large, beautiful mane. It’s my best feature! Draw jagged edges all the way around my face.
Have fun with my facial details. Draw my eyes rst, then my nose and mouth. Don’t forget to add my eyebrows and whiskers.
Draw my body. Start with the torso. Draw two straight-ish lines until you get to my waist. Then adjust the lines so jut outward to create my legs. Finish the legs by adding an upside-down V shape in the middle.
BENNY
Step 4:
Step 2:
Draw my toes. I have three! Be sure to make my big toe a little larger than the other two.
Please don’t forget my vest! Make a V-shape under my chin and add a line at my waist. Add a circle with a B (for Benny) to the right side.
Grab your crayons or colored pencils and color in the details!
Now I need arms and ngers. For my right arm, draw two lines and then add my ngers. For my left arm, draw two curved lines that span across my chest and add my ngers. After you have drawn my arms, you can go back and erase the lines.
Don’t forget my tail! Draw two thin lines below my waist on the left side. Then add my bushiness to the end of my tail.
If you want to share your masterpiece, have your parent or guardian take a picture and email it to us at marketing@gleanerlife.org. Be sure to include your rst name and age. We’ll pick one lucky artist to receive a gift from Benny’s goodie bag!
Take care,
Benny
The Benevolent Lion
Step 5:
Step 6:
Step 7:
Step 8:
Step 9:
BOLINGBROOK, IL PERMIT NO. 594
5200 West U.S. Highway 223, P.O. Box 1894
Adrian, Michigan 49221-7894
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For Kids® form number ICC14-JFK-APP with state-specific
