Forum Magazine - Summer 2023

In

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4 Love your heart, protect your life

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for both men and women. Gleaner Medical Director Robyn Smith shares tips to improve your heart health.

6 Enjoy upcoming Gleaner events

Look for value and adventure at the annual Safari to Kalahari. Plan further ahead to 2024 and the Society’s Getaway Tour to Arizona: “Great Trains & Grand Canyons.”

14

Courage for adventure

The Gleaner life is a call to action, of turning mere wishes into memories of acts well done. Before the year slips away, consider these adventure ideas. The clearest view comes after the climb.

16

Gleaner history: binder twine battles

Helping farmers ght the binder twine monopolies ranks among the Society’s great battles of the early 20th century.

19 Evelyn Tredway: Passing along experience

For a quarter-century, Evelyn Tredway’s love of numbers has helped members with annuities and life insurance. She passes along her knowledge to future leaders at the Home O ce.

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 6 for the answer.

@GleanerLife

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.

Contents

FO R U M

Summer 2023 / V. 128 / No. 3

Senior Officers

Anthony Clark

President and CEO

Anthony D. Golden, CLU, ChFC, RICP, FIC Senior Vice President, National Sales Director

Barbara Janowski, RN, ALMI, AALU

Vice President, Insurance Operations and Chief Underwriter

Jaime Reynolds, FIC

Vice President, Communications and Engagement

Officers

Amy Hawken, FLMI, ACS

Assistant Vice President, Member Services

Protect business partners

If you are involved in a business part-

Judy Lawrence, FLMI, ACS

TEN may attempt to collect debts from the proceeds of your estate, which will reduce the value of the legacy you leave for your children. Life insurance will provide the funds for those you leave behind to settle any outstanding debts in your name. Pay for your funeral Even a simple funeral can cost thousands of dollars. If you have life insurance, the cost of your funeral will be covered, leaving one less thing for your family to worry about at a difficult time. You can also choose to prepay for your funeral. Getting life insurance means your family won’t have to fundraise for your funeral.

REASONS Cover estate and inheritance taxes The people who inherit your estate may face hefty inheritance and estate taxes. These taxes create added worry for the people who inherit the assets. Life insurance will help to cover the cost of tax bills your loved ones receive. Unlike those, life insurance proceeds generally are non-taxable. Provide care for dependent relatives It is not only

your spouse who will benefit from your life insurance. If you provide care for aging parents or young children, life insurance will ensure that the care continues after your death. Even if you are single, life insurance will help the people who rely on your financial support.

Pay for your children’s education

nership, life insurance will help ensure that the business can continue without you, ensuring what you have built is not lost. Life insurance that is

Assistant Vice President, IT Development and Processing

Dawn Osborn, AALU, ALMI, ACS

Assistant Vice President, Underwriting and New Business

David Pittman, MTAX, CPA, CGMA, CMA

Assistant Vice President, Special Operations and Financial Analysis

Michelle Zimmanck, FLMI, AAPA, ACS, BPMs, OCSA, OCWA

Assistant Vice President, IT Operations

Board of Directors

Terry L. Garner, Chair

Build a cash reserve

If you opt for whole life insurance, your policy will have a cash value. So, as well as providing for your family if you die, you will also build up a cash value.

Most whole life policies allow you to withdraw a limited amount of cash while retaining your life insurance. The cash reserve can be helpful if you find yourself faced with a financial emergency. Most cash-value policies, like whole life policies, can also be used as collateral against loans.

Mark A. Wills, Vice Chair

Stephanie R. Andresen | Russell E. Cunningham |

Margaret M.S. Noe | Je rey S. Price | Daniel R. Sutton

Supreme Arbor Officers

Norma Garner, Supreme Chief Gleaner

Linda Ruehrmund, Supreme Vice Chief Gleaner

Fernando Rivera, Supreme Chaplain

Cheryl Jones, Supreme Conductor

payable to your business partners will allow them to purchase your share of the business from your heirs. Peace of mind Being the primary breadwinner of a family is a big responsibility that can weigh heavily on your mind. Having adequate life coverage will give you the peace of mind that your loved ones will be taken care of after you have gone. Life insurance is affordable Life insurance premiums are affordable for most people. The premiums you pay for life insurance will depend on your age, health, and lifestyle choices like smoking. And, of course, the premium you pay will depend on the value of the coverage you need. A healthy, relatively young person could insure their life for as little as $1 a day. Contact your Gleaner agent listed on the back of this publication or visit www.gleanerlife.org to learn more about the benefits of life insurance. 8 31 28 News & reviews 3 Thoughts from the President 9 Convention and Board of Directors candidates 13 Financial Statements 28 Ten reasons to buy life insurance 33 50- and 75-year members Giving back 20 Arbors in Action Interests 8 Nashville Show Tour update 30 Sharing with Sheryl 31 Grilled salmon recipe 32 Benny’s page Corrections: In spring’s print edition, the last name of Reyna Matzke was misspelled in the story “Youths Dig In with Give and Grow.” Forum Magazine is produced quarterly at Gleaner’s Home O ce by Dustin Everden, Mark Lenz, Sarah Symington and Julie Tison. For questions regarding this publication, please email forum@gleanerlife.org National Headquarters 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 Hours Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. EST

Glen David Trabenkraut, Supreme Guard

oughts from the President

Dear valued Gleaner members:

Life is an adventure, and Gleaner Life has several exciting developments as we move through summer and into the second half of 2023.

e main pieces are in place for the 61st Biennial Convention coming up Oct. 20-22 in Rosemont, Illinois. e Society exists to serve and protect you, our members, so please become familiar with your Board of Directors. I would also like to welcome Je Price to the Board. He was appointed at the end of May to ll the remainder of a term that ends in October 2025, and is part of a well-known Gleaner family from West Lockport (IL) Arbor. We are grateful to Je for o ering what is truly service-based leadership.

Speaking of arbors, we are happy to welcome two new arbors. Eagle Arbor has begun serving the Julian, Pennsylvania, community while Miami Valley Arbor in the Dayton, Ohio, region was chartered in June.

Just as this summer edition of Forum Magazine wrapped up, we honored our top agents at the 2023 Conference of Excellence in Pennsylvania. I’d like to publicly congratulate Jerry Cvach as our overall top agent and Tara Gordon as the overall runnerup. Cvach was No. 1 in providing annuity solutions. Michael Drayton was our leader in life insurance, Daniel Zeiger added the most new members to our Society, Debi Tiell-Hershey was our “Fraternal Agent of the Year,” and Gary Sirak was our leading new agent. We will have photos and additional winners listed in the fall edition of Forum.

Premium growth continues upward. e Society is averaging $8 million in monthly premium for 2023 and, at the time of this writing, we are on pace to attain $11 million for June. Please refer to the chart below for perspective on this accomplishment:

suggest parents and grandparents of young adults, especially those transitioning from high school to college, take time to get closer to God. ere will be many new challenges and doctrines introduced and promoted as college life begins to take hold. Unfortunately, not all of these are good and there may be times when academia promotes a worldview inconsistent with our strong faith in God and his son Jesus Christ. As parents perhaps we can introduce a di erent type of academic thinking to our children. May I suggest you encourage your children to discover the deeper meaning of our faith by advocating a philosophical read over the summer?

ree books I recommend:

1. “ e Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief” by Francis S. Collins. (An atheist scientist turned Christian, Collins was head of the Human Genome Project that mapped the entire DNA code for human beings.)

2. “Faith, Science and Reason” by Christopher Baglow.

3. “Reason to Believe: Why Faith Makes Sense” by Richard Purtill (deep philosophy).

Due to an error in spring’s Forum Magazine’s nancial report, it is necessary to correct the 2022 balance sheet statement. I have decided to reprint the entire nancial Balance Sheet and Operations numbers and also print rst quarter 2023 numbers. (Please refer to page 13.) e quarterly comparison demonstrates considerable improvement in Net Income — end of March 2022 net income of negative ($1,010,213) compared to March of 2023 net income of positive $2,846,883. Please be advised that I do expect adjustments to future net income as Gleaner invests to overhaul and improve our legacy computer systems.

School is out for summer but will resume before we know it. In the spirit of our fraternal mission, I would like to

We hope all our Gleaner members nd new adventures for summer’s remaining days. A list of upcoming events is on pages 6-7. May we gratefully carry out the challenge of being a protector and a blessing to our families and communities, and look forward to Labor Day’s traditional pause to nish the season.

Kind regards and fraternally,

Anthony Clark President and CEO

Summer serves up images of grilling and vacation food, exploring the great outdoors, family get-togethers, and other scenes that make our hearts glad.

It also is a good season to make our hearts healthier, especially since heart disease remains America’s biggest killer.

“Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. in both men and women,” Gleaner Life Insurance Society Medical Director Robyn L. Smith noted. “ e most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD is when heart arteries become narrowed with blockage, a primary cause of heart attack.”

In 2020 (the most recent year for data), CAD caused 382,820 deaths, according to the American Heart Association. Heart disease and stroke claim more lives in the U.S. than all forms of cancer and chronic lower respiratory disease combined. e Heart Association added that the annual number of rst-time heart attacks was 605,000 between 2005 and 2014, with an additional 200,000 recurrent attacks.

ere is good news, however. Nationally, CAD’s annual death rate declined 19.2% from 2010 to 2020. As individuals, we can lower many of our cardiac risk factors by making lifestyle changes. In some cases, such as narrowing of the arteries, damage can even be reversed, potentially giving us additional years of active, high-quality living. is means more time to spend enjoying family activities, grandchildren, traveling, volunteering or any other interests.

Here are a few ways to reduce our cardiac risks in 2023:

1. Tobacco use

“STOP!” pleads Smith. Smoking is the leading risk factor for years of life lost to premature death. Dozens of studies also link second-hand smoke to mortality risk increases for heart disease (23% higher), total mortality (18%), and stroke (29%).

2. Move more

“Take walks or do whatever form of movement and exercise you’re able to do,” Smith advises. A total of 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise (over three or more days) may be ideal. “But even 5, 10 or 15 minutes of exercise a day is better than none!”

Gleaner Life Medical Director Robyn Smith shares daily heart-healthy living tips

3. Make dietary changes

Focus on colorful summer foods with vegetables and fruit, whole grains, ber, nuts, and legumes such as beans. e Mediterranean-style diet is supported by many years of study. Other heart-favorable diets are the DASH diet and vegetarian (or “pescatarian” or “ exitarian”) diets. Limit red meat, processed foods, added sugars and salt, as well as alcohol. Pay attention to portion sizes.

4. Reduce stress

Exercise is one of many ways to reduce stress. e Greek philosopher Diogenes is credited for treating problems with the prescription, “It is solved by walking.” omas Je erson, Henry oreau, and Ernest Hemingway expressed similar thoughts.

5. Improve sleep

Aim for seven to eight hours of sleep per night. Studies show shorter durations or poor sleep quality are associated with high blood pressure, increased cholesterol, in ammation, and atherosclerosis.

6. Know your numbers

Keeping track of your blood pressure, cholesterol, weight and your daily exercise amounts can help you move the dial in the right direction. Regular checkups are one way to track this.

As a bonus, lifestyle changes improve more than cardiac health. Taking these steps can decrease risks of cancer as well as other diseases and problems. Exercise, for example, also reduces fall/injury risks in older adults. Other means, such as medicine, may also be needed to help modify and lower risk.

Gleaner Life encourages members to take whatever steps they can to live an active life powered by a healthier heart. “Get regular checkups with your providers to help determine what will work best for you,” Smith encourages. “ e proverbial ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure!”

Gleaner Medical Director practices what she preaches

Whether skiing in winter or golf and gardening in warmer weather, Gleaner Life Medical Director Robyn L. Smith practices what she preaches about staying active. She became the Medical Director of Gleaner Life Insurance Society in June of 2020, but has been a PA for well over 30 years — specializing in the last 10-plus years in insurance medicine.

“My area is internal medicine and I practiced clinically in and around Detroit, where born and raised, and in Lansing, Michigan,” Robyn explained. Her experience ranged from outpatient primary care to extended care facility to hospital care. is included time spent in cardiology at Beaumont Hospital during the advent of stents, on an inpatient rehab unit caring for the medical problems of both simple and complex cases such as long-stay TBI (traumatic brain injury), and on hospitalist teams. “Since stepping away from full-time work in 2020, I am currently working with the wonderful folks at Gleaner Life and enjoying life!”

For fun, Robyn enjoys the Michigan outdoors as well as travel. She lists her activities as bad golf in nice weather, skiing (both cross country and downhill), gardening (“A contact sport at my house!”), yoga, and a great circle of friends and family.

Summer will soon slip away, but Gleaner members can look forward to more warm adventures ahead with Gleaner Life’s Safari to Kalahari and Getaway Tours.

Safari to Kalahari

For more than a decade, the Safari to Kalahari has been a popular and a ordable way for families to enjoy a discounted weekend at one of Ohio’s top resorts. is year’s opportunity is Nov. 10-12. Children enjoy the African-themed water park’s wild slides, play areas, Big Game Room Arcade, escape rooms and underwater virtual reality exploration. Parents and grandparents appreciate Kalahari’s variety of signature restaurants, shops, art, indoor pools, spas and other facilities. Gleaner also will provide and host a complimentary Saturday morning breakfast.

Members can choose either the Double Queen or Double Queen Sofa room options depending on availability. Both include four water park passes, two queen beds, a microwave, refrigerator, co ee maker, hair dryer, 32-inch at screen television, free high speed internet access and complimentary use of the tness center. e cost is $185 per night plus tax. Other room types may also be available. Registration and more information are available at www.gleanerlife.org/ kalahari or by contacting the Community Engagement Department at events@gleanerlife.org.

Getaway Tours

Gleaner Getaway Tours are a convenient way to enjoy travel to special destinations, and leave the planning and discounted tickets and transportation to us. For decades, members have been able to take cruises to such areas as Alaska and the Caribbean, and to ride motor coaches to di erent regions including New England and Cape Cod; the Great Smoky Mountains; Savannah, Georgia; Washington, D.C.; Pigeon Forge, Tennessee; New York City; and more.

2023 Nashville Show Trip

is spring, members made the most of Gleaner’s Nashville Show Tour when they visited the home of country music. e Nashville trip was so popular and registration lled so quickly, a second trip was added in June. Some of the attractions included the Country Music Hall of Fame, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum and the Grand Ole Opry. Performing during the May trip were headliner Josh Turner, preceded by Ashley McBryde, William Clark Green in his debut, the Killer Beez, Sister Sadie and Bill Anderson. Another highlight was the Dinner eater at the Inn at Opryland, where guests enjoyed Dave and Daphne perform. Members on the June trip saw Carrie Underwood, Josh Turner, Lainey Wilson and the Oak Ridge Boys perform at the Grand Ole Opry. See photos on page 8.

2024 Great Trains & Grand Canyons

Enjoy Arizona with the Great Trains & Grand Canyons trip starting Oct. 13, 2024. Members will enjoy railroad tours to both the Grand Canyon and Verde Canyon. Other highlights include Chapel of e Holy Cross, Tlaquepaque, the Sedona Trolley Tour, Montezuma Castle National Monument, Jerome, and the Chuckwagon Supper & Show. e six-day trip includes airfare. With a booking discount, total prices are $3,375 per person (double occupancy). Watch for additional details coming soon.

Want to be the rst to know when registraiton opens? Email events@gleanerlife.org to be placed on the rst to know list!

2023 Nashville Show Trip

GLIS BOARD CANDIDATES + COMMITTEES

The Society gets ready for the business of the 61st Biennial Convention on Oct. 20-22

Delegates will be asked on Oct. 21 to ll three seats on the Society’s Board of Directors, which has three seats with terms that are expiring. In preparation, the 2023 Nominating Committee of Gleaner Life Insurance Society met on April 30, 2023. Present were:

• Sherri Thorp, Chair, USA Arbor, MI

• Brenda Cameron, Glen Arbor, MI

• Je Price, West Lockport Arbor, IL

• Marty Regan, Florida Arbor, OH

• Ivelisse Rivera, Gulf Coast Arbor, FL

Along with fun and friendly convention activities, diligent completion of Gleaner Life Insurance Society business is on delegates’ agendas at every convention. The 61st Biennial Convention planned Oct. 20-22 in Rosemont, Illinois, will be no exception. Preparations began even before the most recent convention in 2021 concluded. We are proud to update members on the progress as the Oct. 21, 2023, morning business meeting draws near. Delegates at this year’s convention will not have any proposed changes to the Constitution brought by the Law Committee of Gleaner Life Insurance Society. This follows just one minor amendment voted into e ect in 2021. The stability of Gleaner Life’s Constitution speaks to the foresight and strength of the Society’s current bylaws. The current Law Committee is facilitated by Board Member Russell E. Cunningham and comprised of:

• Vivian Quinones- Solano, Chair, Gulf Coast Arbor, FL

• Kevin Evans, Chester Arbor, OH

• Sheree Kozel-Laha, Homer Twp. Oak Arbor, IL

• Tom Matuszewski, Mid Michigan Arbor, MI

• Betty O’Neill, Hawthorne Arbor, IN

Vice President — Communications and Engagement, Jaime Reynolds helped facilitate the meeting. The committee reviewed seven prospective applicants for the three open positions on the Board of Directors to be elected at the upcoming biennial convention in Rosemont, Illinois. The committee carefully considered the following seven rating criteria for each candidate:

• Skills/expertise to bene t Gleaner Life Insurance Society

• Business experience to bene t Gleaner Life Insurance Society

• Corporate or nonpro t board experience

• Strategic planning/visioning

• Leadership experience

• Community volunteerism/arbor experience

• Personal values/attributes

After completing the rating and evaluation process, the Nominating Committee voted that the three incumbent board nominees were all very quali ed candidates, and recommended their names appear on the ballot to stand for election during the Saturday morning business meeting Oct. 21, 2023. The Board of Directors approved the report of the Nominating Committee. Pro les of the three candidates appear on the next three pages.

Terry L. Garner

OCCUPATION: Retired carpenter, business owner, county councilman

EXPERIENCE:

• Gleaner Life Insurance Society Board of Directors (four terms, Chair six years)

• Retired owner/president of Garner Construction and Garner Inc.

• LaPorte County Council (five terms, 20 years)

• Hanna Township Trustee/Assessor (20 years)

• Sixty-eight year Gleaner member (18 with South County Arbor)

• Hanna Township Volunteer Fire Department (25 years)

• LaPorte County Fair Board of Directors (16 years, eight as president)

• Treasurer of LaPorte County Republican Party

ABOUT TERRY L. GARNER:

Garner is Gleaner Life Insurance Society’s current Chair of the Board of Directors. A lifelong Gleaner member, he now serves with South County Arbor. His grandfather was an agent, along with an uncle and cousin. Garner acquired decades of experience owning Garner Construction and Garner Inc. before

My life started as a member of Gleaner at birth. My grandfather was a Gleaner agent and made sure that my father and mother insured us. I attended arbor and different state meetings throughout my life because of my family and friends in Gleaner. They instilled in me that if you are willing to give your time, you will receive it back in your life. I have had a wonderful life and still look forward to more.

turning it over to his son. Garner's experience extends beyond construction to organizations like the LaPorte County Fair Board, helping people in stressful situations as a volunteer firefighter for 25 years, and county political leadership. He also served as a local elected official in his community on the LaPorte County Council and as the Hanna Township Trustee/Assessor. Garner is committed to volunteering to help others who are less fortunate and to using his leadership positions to serve the community. Terry and his wife, Elisa, live in South Bend, Indiana.

GARNER GIVES THREE REASONS WHY HE WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT DIRECTOR FOR THE SOCIETY:

• “Leadership. I have learned from service to community and business.”

• “Driven and passionate by taking on projects and finishing to completion.”

• “Loyalty. Family and friends are the most important things in life. Succeed in this and your purpose is fulfilled. This is what the arbor system in Gleaner instills in you.”

Daniel R. Sutton

“I am proud to be the fifth generation of Sutton to farm the same land since the time when Abraham Lincoln was president. I feel I am simply the caretaker of the land during my time here on earth. I feel the same way about Gleaner. My goal is to make sure the Gleaner Life Insurance Society is sustainable for generations to come.”

OCCUPATION: Owner/operator of Sutton Farms Enterprises LLC

EXPERIENCE:

• Gleaner Life Insurance Society Board of Directors (two terms)

• Co-owner of several separate family businesses

• Lake County Farm Bureau board member for 33 years

• West Creek Township Farm Bureau representative

• The ARC of Northwest Indiana board member for 11 years

• Gleaner’s Good of the Order and Law Committees

• Gleaner’s Fraternal Advisory Council (formerly known as Fraternal Committee)

• President, Hawthorne Arbor

ABOUT DANIEL R. SUTTON:

Having grown up as the son of the longest serving Gleaner board member to date (Dave Sutton), Daniel Sutton has been involved with the Society since he was one year old. “I have seen many changes and the results of the changes. With this knowledge, I am able to share it with other members of the Society and the Board to make Gleaner even better.” He has

fond childhood memories of Gleaner picnics and gets great joy from helping others. This includes several terms as chairman of ARC of Northwest Indiana, which through its sister company Paladin, employs more than 200 individuals and serves more than 700 clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As a farmer, Sutton is constantly seeking ways to improve production practices using farm trials and research. He enjoys challenges, working alongside groups to complete tasks and finding solutions. Sutton resides in Lowell, Indiana, with his wife of 26 years, Deana.

SUTTON GIVES THREE REASONS WHY HE WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT DIRECTOR FOR THE SOCIETY:

• “As owner and manager of the family farm, I am responsible for handling all the finances (and) for the success and longevity of the operation. I have to produce a product and sell it at a profit in order to remain in business. The same is true for Gleaner.”

• “I believe that integrity is a fundamental value that a person must have in order to always do what is in the best interest of those they represent. The decisions being made may not always be popular or clear at the time but doing what is in the best interest of the members always has been and always will be my first priority.”

• “I like a challenge and I am good at finding a solution to the challenge. I am able to organize groups and not just lead them but prefer to work beside and with them to complete the task. I believe that our fraternal principles are a cornerstone of our Society, and I will always do my best to keep it that way.”

Mark A. Wills

OCCUPATION: Owner of Mark Wills Farm

EXPERIENCE:

• Gleaner Life Insurance Society Board of Directors (six terms, Vice Chair six years)

• Sterling Energy Group Board of Directors

• President, Sulphur Springs Arbor

• Maine Township Drainage Board of Directors

• Braceville Township Board Trustee

• Past President Coal City Lions Club and active member

• Grundy County 4-H Livestock Committee

• Auction chairman for the Friends of 4-H Committee

• Past chairman of Grundy County Extension Council

• Past chairman and member of the Farmers Elect Committee (U.S. Department of Agriculture)

ABOUT MARK A. WILLS

Wills is the current Vice Chair of Gleaner Life’s Board of Directors. He has served on a number of boards and manages four full-time employees on his 2,500-acre grain farm and hog and cattle operation

I am proud to be a lifelong Gleaner. My father, Elvin Wills, also served as a board director for Gleaner. You could say it is in my blood. Gleaner is a society that has helped families with financial needs for more than 100 years. Gleaners’ generosity has benefited 4-H programs, given scholarships and provided Arbors with funds to give back to their community. I cannot think of a better way to build solid and lasting relationships between people and business. I am proud to be a member and to serve on the Board of Directors.

which consists of 40 head purebred angus herd, selling feeder calves and bulls and breeding heifers. He also has managed eleven properties for Wills Rentals LLC. Previously, Wills ran a successful Pioneer Seed agency for 30 years with two employees and a customer base of 150. He holds an Associate’s Degree in Agriculture from Joliet Junior College. He also has been especially active working with youth through both the Grundy County 4-H and the live auctions in both Grundy and Kankakee counties. Wills describes himself as a caring, financially stable person who pledges to make the best decisions for Gleaner, placing members first and foremost. Wills resides in Coal City, Illinois, with his wife, Penny.

WILLS GIVES THREE REASONS WHY HE WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT DIRECTOR FOR THE SOCIETY:

• “Leadership. Owning my own businesses and the responsibility that comes with them builds my confidence as a leader. You lead by example and I strive to be an excellent example, especially to the 4-H youth.”

• “Trustworthy.”

• “Integrity, respect and accountability. While serving on numerous boards, my goal is to maintain respect for the people and community I serve.”

e nancial statements are being presented to you again because of mistakes made in the Spring 2023 Forum issue. e 2022 amounts previously reported have since been updated and are presented below for your information. Also, we are taking this opportunity to present the 1st Quarter 2023 and 2022 nancial statement comparative to you. ank you for your patience and understanding.

— American author and teacher

John A. Shedd

Adventure is all around us. In one light it might present itself as an inconvenience, a stranger, an expense, or even a danger — all good reasons to stay in harbor.

From another angle, however, the same challenges could be gateways to new experiences and new friends, places we’ve never seen, and memories made with family or others while able. We don’t know how many remaining sailing days are allotted to us, and it would be a tragedy to rust away our lives chained to the safety of an anchor.

Gleaner protection and peace of mind free us to live life as it was intended, with exhilaration rather than timidity, and to share that. The adventures of youth taught us much about ourselves and helped us form our priorities. In the same way, researchers have found that trying new things improves our brain health, mental wellness, and ability to re-prioritize our daily lives. It can also make us a little more aware and grateful for each moment.

A SHIP IN HARBOR IS SAFE, BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT SHIPS ARE BUILT FOR.

Summer and fall provide an abundance of adventure opportunities because so much is accessible, but exploration can be found anywhere and anytime. Here are a few ideas:

1. TAKE A FAMILY TRIP

Late summer and early fall excursions o er their own charms and challenges. Look for day trips to county fairs and festivals. As some schools resume, less crowded state parks, forests or beaches provide precious weekend memories stored up before winter arrives.

2. TRY A CHALLENGING ACTIVITY

Enjoy the bene ts of being outdoors and testing your endurance. You might want to hike a long trail, swim or kayak in a lake, or bicycle one of the nation’s innumerable routes, possibly even on a mountain bike or tandem bicycle. Remember to wear a helmet!

3. CONNECT WITH GOD

ere’s no greater adventure than listening to — and then walking with — God. While focusing on our physical and mental adventures, remember the spiritual adventure we’re called to join. Seek the courage to go deeper in your relationship. Fight the good ght, nish the race, keep the faith.

4. FIND A NEW GROUP THAT ALIGNS WITH YOUR PURPOSES

Helping strangers often feels intimidating but when done with a group it becomes a manageable way to help “our neighbors,” whether inside our

local community or beyond. Whether it’s an animal shelter, a youth organization, or a group that builds housing to help the homeless, nding others who need your time and talents improves your own well-being.

5. EXPAND YOUR SKILLS

Pick up a new hobby or add to an existing one. Geocaching, photography or outdoor sketching are great for summer. Or try something completely di erent like learning to prepare a series of new meals (check out Sheryl Clark’s recipe for grilled salmon and avocado salsa on page 31).

6. TACKLE THE GARAGE (OR SOME OTHER PROJECT)

Improvement projects can be a di erent type of scary adventure, especially if we’ve never tried one before. But take it one step at a time, make your corner of the world a bit better, and earn a sense of accomplishment.

7. STEP INTO ANOTHER WORLD

Grab a good book, nd some new music, or start an audiobook, and take your mind on a journey. Travel through time. Take on a ctional masterpiece, or maybe learn about a real-life adventurer and become inspired.

8. TRAVEL TO THE UNKNOWN

Visit a town, region or nation you’ve never been to. New experiences stimulate our brains, give us new ideas, and teach us about our own strengths and weaknesses. Traveling is a great way to experience our interconnectedness. It might even make us mindful of our own blessings. Explore!

9. CHASE YOUR ROOTS

Discover adventures within your own family history by tracing your ancestry. Find surprises and connect with distant relatives. It might involve all sorts of activities including calling family members, visiting libraries to research old newspapers, travels to other states, and online sleuthing.

10. ONCE-IN-ALIFETIME THRILLS

Spice up your wish list with something you’ll never forget. Imagine hot air ballooning in Egypt, bending backward to kiss the Blarney Stone in Ireland, or skydiving over Niagara Falls! (With the help of an instructor, anyone can try the last one.)

Climb that mountain!

Whatever our adventure, it begins with a brave first act to explore beyond our safe harbors.

History:

HOW GLEANER HELPED UNTIE FARMERS from binder twine cartels

One of the Society’s early projects — supplying farmers with binder twine — showed the promise as well as the pitfalls of progressive cooperation.

Before modern combine harvesters were developed, binder twine was an essential farm material. e McCormick twine-tying “reaper-binder” for harvesting grain was among several patented in the late-1800s when the Gleaner Society formed. Farmers needed about nine pounds of twine per acre to tie stalks into sheaves when harvesting wheat and other small grains. Michigan alone used 12 million pounds of twine per year. It was no exaggeration when a 1920s International Harvester booklet proclaimed that, “ e world’s supply of bread literally ‘hangs by a thread’ — a thread of binder twine.”

Farmers felt tied up, however, by twine costs. Binder twine used in the Midwest usually was made with sisal bers from a plant grown in the Yucatan area of Mexico. e industry was known to be controlled by a cartel, or “trust,” of both U.S. businesses and Mexican government o cials. Suspecting that farmers were victims of price xing, the Michigan Legislature appointed a committee in 1903 to investigate the issue. One of its visits was to Minnesota’s state prison where a new binder twine factory employed inmates to produce twine at lower costs. Similar prison twine facilities were set up in North Dakota and Illinois. Gleaner founder Grant Slocum wrote in e Gleaner that Michigan should follow.

A 1917 item showed a wagon from Keene Arbor (MI) loaded with 3,500 pounds of binder twine purchased through Gleaner from the Jackson, Michigan, prison at a $50 savings (about $1,200 savings today adjusted for in ation).

“Year by year the trust, which now controls nine-tenths of the output of binder twine, has been reaching out its slimy ngers to grasp the sources of raw material, and it is now an acknowledged fact that the supply is pretty well under their control,” Slocum wrote in e Gleaner in January 1907. “Let the prisoners of Jackson state prison make binder twine for the farmers, and bad luck to the hirelings of the Trust who dare to sidetrack the bill which will be presented to the coming Legislature for that purpose.”

Other reasons Slocum listed to support a binder twine facility included giving inmates productive activity and skills, and he noted that Minnesota’s prison industry generated a net pro t of $90,000 in 1904 (roughly $3.2 million in 2023 dollars). Critics in the state Senate pointed at the initial cost and wondered whether prison labor should compete with private enterprise. Slocum answered that there was more than enough demand for new suppliers.

In July of 1907, Gleaner farmers helped convince state lawmakers to create a prison factory. “ e Michigan State Legislature appropriated $125,000 for a binder twine factory at the Michigan State Prison,” a Gleaner Forum story reported. “On the morning the Bill was placed in the Lower House, opposition raged on all sides and every means was used to prevent passage of the Bill. Had it not been for the united action of 60,000 Gleaner Farmers, who had signed the Gleaner petition asking that prisoners be allowed to make binder twine, the measure would have been smothered in the Committee. us, single handed and alone the organized Gleaners won a victory in bringing splendid results to this day.”

Michigan’s prison factory added dozens of machines to turn bales of sisal ber into nished twine balls, as well as other machines to test samples of twine. Inmates recorded the results and even handled the factory’s accounting. e factory began production in 1909. A February 1910 story described a visit to the

operation — including an unsuccessful escape by two inmates found hiding in a railcar full of nished twine.

Michigan Gov. Fred M. Warner was a strong supporter of the project. e venture also was praised by three consecutive prison wardens: Nathan F. Simpson, who stepped down and joined Gleaner leadership in 1918; acting warden Edward Frensdorf; and his successor, Harry L. Hulbert. In an interview with the Gleaner Forum, Hulbert expressed admiration for the Gleaners.

Rivals, however, continued their e orts to shut down the prison factory. Corporations began ooding the Michigan market with cheaper twine costing less than the prison twine. Gleaner responded by agreeing to distribute at cost all the prison’s twine production to farmers who ordered it through Gleaner, ensuring the factory could continue. Gleaner o cials noted that, by 1914, the factory was self-supporting. Farmers appreciated the guaranteed supply and prices, especially during World War I when governmentimposed price controls limited farmers’ wheat prices to $2 per bushel.

en, in 1918, the Union Trust Company of Detroit alleged corruption by prison o cials, claiming more than $300,000 could not be found in prison factory accounts. It pushed politicians to investigate, and a grand jury was empaneled. e Gleaner Forum speculated the issue involved record-keeping by inexperienced inmates. It disputed the allegations

e prison’s binder twine factory appeared in a 1910 Gleaner photo.

as merely the latest attempt by “big business corporations” to shut down a successful, selfsupporting enterprise. “For more than seven years the combinations fought the management of the prison every inch of the road,” a 1919 Gleaner Forum editorial stated. “When they found that the farmers could not be bought o , when they found that they would buy Jackson prison twine regardless of cost, they sought the next plan of destroying the splendid industry, and found the peanut politicians, ready and willing, to join them.” Two months later, Gleaner and all prison o cials were cleared of any wrongdoing “and the Detroit Trust Company was given a ‘black eye’ by Judge Benjamin Williams of the circuit court,” the Detroit Free Press reported.

Gleaner continued to sell binder twine to farmers throughout the 1920s and the early 1930s until a variety of changes ended the practice. Congress grew more sensitive to complaints from private businesses as well as concerns about inmate labor conditions in other parts of the nation, especially the South. It passed several federal laws limiting prison labor projects and restricting transportation of their goods across state lines. Perhaps because of this, when Gleaner advertised Jackson prison binder twine for sale in 1931 at a price of 8 ½ cents per pound, it speci ed the twine was for Michigan farmers. In 1937, according to the Michigan Department of Corrections, Michigan passed a law requiring prison-made goods be available only to state agencies, e ectively closing Michigan’s prison binder twine factory. Eventually, farmers purchasing combines replaced most sisal twine binders. Binder twine still plays a role, along with man-made bers, for baling hay and straw.

Today, state prisons are known for producing government items including license plates. Inmates who work on these projects and learn factory skills are less likely to return to prison after their release, just as the Society pointed out a century ago. Yet Gleaner leaders also discovered issues such as unfair trade, prisoner rehabilitation, foreign imports, political power, and technological change defy easy solutions.

e era when 60,000 Gleaner farmers fought for a binder twine factory at the state prison seems quaint today. Yet its example of Society members working together with government o cials to address everyday problems is a memory worth preserving.

A machine to test twine strength was shown in a 1910 Gleaner photo.

is 1919 cartoon lampooned politicians and corporations trying to break up the binder twine factory located inside the prison in Jackson, Michigan.

Evelyn Tredway: Passing along experience

Evelyn Tredway, Gleaner Life’s Member Services Manager, truly enjoys working with numbers:

is for her anniversary next March at Gleaner Life’s Home O ce, where much of her time has involved overseeing members’ annuities.

is how many children she and her husband Matt have raised.

is their number of grandchildren.

Yet Evelyn also is thinking about another number — 2. In about two years, Evelyn plans to retire from a job she has loved for a quarter of a century. She wants to make a good hando to others on her team, a process that comes naturally to her.

“I still learn something new every day,” said Evelyn, who last year added life insurance duties to her annuities oversight. “‘ ere’re always learning opportunities all around here, and we try to do our best for the members.’ I say that to the team whenever the opportunity comes up. One of my roles as I transition into retirement, probably about two years from now, is that I would like to step back from the day-to-day a little more and focus on really training more.”

Strategic succession helps the Society ensure services continue to meet members’ needs. Gleaner has developed many talented leaders throughout its 128-year history. Evelyn is part of that tradition by sharing her knowledge.

She came to Gleaner in 1999 with a degree in nance yet took an opening in Annuity Services. “I loved working with the annuities and the people,” she said, “so that was where I stayed.” e work included sending members automatic payments such as for required minimum distributions (RMDs), overseeing tax projects, and annual tax forms. “Numbers work is right up my alley,” she added.

In 2006 Evelyn became coordinator of the Annuities Department. In 2017 she was promoted to Annuities Supervisor, and last year became Member Services Manager to help oversee both annuities and life insurance services. Over the years, she achieved annuity and life insurance FLMI, ACS, AAPA and ASRI service certi cations. One of her biggest joys is when a co-worker is promoted. For years Evelyn worked in the Operations Department alongside Judy Lawrence, now Assistant Vice President of IT Development and Processing. “I learned so much listening to Judy explain things,” Evelyn said. Another is Amy Hawken, who last year was named Assistant Vice President of Member Services. “I was thrilled,” Evelyn said. “It was like a ‘proud mom moment.’”

Evelyn anticipates further family adventures — including camping — after she transitions to retirement. Yet she will remain close to the Home O ce, both in spirit and also in proximity. “In the winter, you can see my house from here,” Evelyn pointed out.

“I’ve truly loved working here, from the people here to talking with the members and agents,” Evelyn added. “I have really liked coming to work.”

Ronda Bill Kristin Butchart Abby DeLine Evelyn Tredway

Christine Zeller Morgan Roberson

Kayla Watters Jen Goris

Arbors IN ACTION

Arbors put plans into action as winter turned to spring, nding fresh ways to grow where they live. ey helped homeless people in their communities, provided nancial literacy assistance, cleaned up parks and trails, supported re ghters and other rst responders, organized free bowling events, hosted parties at senior centers and schools, and much more.

Harmony Arbor (MI) members tell the tale of who founded Arbor Day.

Caro Arbor (MI) organized a three-day activity to celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day. On April 20 members bagged and tagged 340 pine tree seedlings. e following day they delivered trees to the Schall Elementary School with instructions on how to plant the trees and an opportunity for students to win an award by submitting photos to the arbor’s Facebook page. On April 22, members participated in a spring cleanup at the community fairgrounds.

Champion Arbor (MI) hosted a six-hour personal nance workshop conducted by local agent and arbor president Mel Rutkoske. e arbor served co ee, tea and treats to start, followed by delicious boxed lunches. e arbor also handed out Gleaner Life’s new booklet, “Final Wishes Planning Guide.” A total of 10 members and 20 guests participated in the successful April 15 event.

Florida Arbor (OH) put together 60 food bags for its Food for the Community project March 25. Arbor members noti ed people using yers around town and on Facebook. e event took place from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Liberty Center Library. Residents were very thankful.

Entrican Arbor (MI) assisted a pair of re-related needs in March. e arbor donated $500 to help the Falsetta family of six (plus two animals) recover from a re at their house in Sheridan, which was not insured. e arbor also donated $500 to the Sheridan Fire Department as it prepared for a fundraising dinner to help purchase equipment.

Good Deeds Arbor (OH) hosted the second annual Girl Power Glow Dance on March 18. e event included a music service, a caricature artist, balloons and owers, light refreshments, and a gift card ra e. Girls in kindergarten through fth grades were Continued on page 22.

invited, and encouraged to wear glow-in-the-dark gear. Members reported 234 attendees, plus 12 athlete volunteers who did not sign in. Eight Gleaner members assisted. e event raised $1,650 for the John Glenn High School track and cross country program.

candy treat bags (which included Gleaner lip balm) were distributed. On March 8, arbor members delivered items for their third annual O cer Appreciation event.

Grand Blanc Arbor (MI) sponsored a community bowling impact event March 12 at Grand Blanc Lanes. Members placed signs, banners, pamphlets, and promotional items for participants. A total of 85 people attended including seven members. Pizza, bread sticks, French fries and soda were handed out along with Gleaner bracelets, ink pens and pamphlets. Photos were taken and shared with the facility owner to promote Gleaner’s Grand Blanc Arbor. e event ended at 3 p.m. and cleanup was nished by 4.

Gulf Coast Arbor (FL) was busy. It hosted the rst post-COVID blood drive at St. Jude Church on Feb. 5 despite uncertainty about turnout. It also had 12 members and four guests enjoying the Florida Family Day at Circus Sarasota on March 4. ey reported the circus was fantastic. At halftime, members met with GLIS Vice President Jaime Reynolds, and after the show they had photos taken with some of the performers.

Greater Flint Area Arbor (MI) members met at Swank Home Assisted Living on Feb. 14 to host their annual Valentine’s party. Daniel Bryson entertained in person. Valentine cards were created by Sarah Hogan’s students. A oral arrangement was sent to decorate the dining table. Boxes of chocolates, silk roses and

Harmony Arbor (MI) celebrated Earth Day and Arbor Day by distributing 100 White Pine seedlings and planting a Sugar Maple tree for the Shepherd School. e seedlings arrived at the Alma Fairgrounds on April 14, were packaged at a member’s home on April 20 and the presentation took place at the school on April 21. Arbor members also presented a new script with two members playing the roles of J. Sterling Morton and his wife, Carrie, the founders of Arbor Day. See photo on page 20.

Hawthorne Arbor (IN) rented 24 lanes of the Lowell Plaza Lanes on Saturday, April 1, for an impact activity bowling event. Everyone who attended received free shoe rental, two games of bowling, pizza and pop. A table was set up with literature, pens, and letter openers. Gleaner literature was at each table along with hand sanitizer. It was a busy Saturday in the area with three Easter egg hunts also taking place, but the bowling event managed to attract nine members and 77 guests for a total of 86 participants.

Holland Arbor (OH) provided a catered Italian luncheon Feb. 16 to teachers and sta at Whittier Elementary School in Toledo. More than 60 people attended the luncheon, which was divided into four sessions so everyone could enjoy the spaghetti, fresh tossed salad, bottled water plus many desserts provided by teacher Rene Atanacio-Adler. ere were many rounds of “thank you” from appreciative sta .

Ithaca Arbor (MI) has been active with several projects including helping house a veteran. e project, called Door of Hope, was described at a March 14 arbor meeting by sponsors Cynthia and Richard Merling from Renewed Wholesale. e arbor made a $500 donation to assist, in addition to a $1,000 donation to help a community member with medical expenses.

Legacy Arbor (MI) marked Earth Day (and Celebrate Trails Day) April 22 by cleaning up eight portions of the 12-mile Kiwanis Trail around Adrian. Starting at 9 a.m. from a church pavilion next to the trail, teams of volunteers received water from the arbor plus trash bags and trash pick-up sticks from Adrian Parks and Forestry, then went out to di erent locations. More than two dozen large bags of trash plus a chair, a rusted shopping cart and more were collected. About 30 participants met back at the pavilion around 11:30 to receive free lunch from a taco truck and Gleaner ower pots, both provided by the arbor.

Maple City Arbor (MI) had volunteers helping at e Daily Bread of Lenawee as part of a two-day event. Members served lunch and cleaned up at the Adrian soup kitchen, which is reliant on volunteers to assist with serving, chores and food pickup. ey also served desserts and talked with the patrons. In addition, the arbor presented a $200 check because the facility relies on community support and donations and receives no government funding.

Mid Michigan Arbor (MI) celebrated Valentine’s Day Feb. 14 by gathering for cookie decorating at the BayArenc Living Learning Center in Hampton Township. Twenty John Glenn High School students, six teachers and 16 special needs students joined seven arbor members. e goal was to connect “non-traditional” students with “traditional” students. Members had baked 144 cookies and provided various colors of frosting, edible decorations, and white and chocolate milk. e arbor provided transportation to bus over the high school students, who gained volunteer experience in the lifelong lesson of helping others. e arbor also donated $250 to each of the two Special Needs classrooms for supplies.

North Baltimore Arbor (OH) hosted its annual bingo for the residents at Briar Hill Health Campus Assisted Living and Care Center in North Baltimore. is was the rst time the event was held since the COVID pandemic. Residents spent the afternoon playing bingo for an assortment of prizes that were provided by the arbor. Later, residents and arbor members enjoyed cookies and fellowship.

Plank Road Arbor (MI) served a teacher appreciation luncheon during a teacher professional development day at Breckenridge Community School. e pasta bar meal was purchased at Anschultz cafe. Members delivered and served it in the high school cafeteria. ey also gave a brief description of who the Gleaners are and what we do in the community. Seven door prizes were given away. e 40 teachers and sta really enjoyed the meal.

Portage Center Arbor (OH) members presented $151 worth of new books to the Elmwood Elementary School. Members looked over books purchased by the librarian and placed Gleaner labels in each book to acknowledge the gifts. Eight classes of students each received a presentation from the arbor president about Gleaner, and were read a passage from a book appropriate for their age. Younger students received Benny bookmarks, and older students also received a mood pencil. e school treated members to lunch after the enjoyable event.

Rivertown Arbor (MI) combined its March meeting with a St. Patrick’s Day party at David’s House in Wyoming. After the meeting — at which new member Sue Damuth joined the arbor and the arbor presented a $500 check to Zoe Newman of David’s House — the party with residents began. ey were able to suggest names for the large leprechaun (“Lucky Charm” was drawn), received a removable tattoo, played bingo, received chocolate coins when they won, and had a snack. ere were 40 guests in addition to seven arbor members.

South Fair eld Arbor (MI) waited through two rain dates to make the community Easter Egg Hunt nally happen on a beautiful, sunny Sunday afternoon. ousands of plastic eggs were lled, with 16 of the eggs containing numbers that matched prizes of toys or Easter baskets full of goodies. e Easter bunny appeared for pictures and to start the hunt for each of the three age groups — 0-3, 5-7, and 8-12. In addition to putting out Easter eggs in the three areas of the park, our arbor members distributing prizes enjoyed the wide eyes and big smiles. It was fun to see so many children and their parents having a great time!

Tri County Arbor (MI) held its CVR event March 3 at Junction of Hope in Chesaning. e arbor honored eight local organizations that help the community and recognized three local volunteers. Individuals were Lori Martin of Luppert’s Food Pantry, Marcia Rice of the Stitching Post, and Fred Busziak and his horse ranch. Recipients received $500 donations.

USA Arbor (MI) assisted the Sebewaing Township ambulance crew in March by providing a $1,000 check to help them purchase automatic external de brillators. After the presentation, the crew gave arbor members a tour of their o ces and vehicle bays. “ e crew was very happy to receive such a generous donation and are excited about replacing their outdated equipment,” the arbor reported.

West Lockport Arbor (IL) helped homeless people in Joliet, Illinois, by distributing clothes, blankets, shoes, trial-size hygiene products and gift cards collected by seven members of the arbor. Working with four women who provide food ve or more days per week, the members distributed their items to more than 25 unhoused people March 11 “where they were living, under a bridge.” Some had a re and “they lost everything,” the arbor reported. “We enjoyed helping these women bring some comfort to these people.”

Vulcaneer Arbor (MI) helped the city of Vassar purchase equipment for its new dog park. e $875 donation was used for a piece of 3-ring dog equipment at the park. e check was presented at a Feb. 6 meeting at City Hall.

White Pine Arbor (MI) hosted a St. Patrick’s party at the Ogemaw County Senior Center. More than 120 guests attended plus 200 shut-ins. Ten arbor members were there, and the arbor paid for prizes, a dinner of hot roast beef sandwiches, mashed potatoes, carrots and pistachio pudding. e arbor provided two full size sheet cakes and ice cream for dessert.

Life insurance is one of those things that everyone hopes they won’t need. When you are young, t, and healthy, life insurance is probably the last thing on your mind. But the unexpected can happen to anyone. Life insurance is one way that you can take care of those you leave behind. But providing your loved ones with nancial security is only one of the reasons why you need to consider buying life insurance. Here are the 10 main reasons why people purchase life insurance.

1. Security for your loved ones

e main reason for buying life insurance is to provide security for your loved ones. If you are the primary income earner and you die suddenly, then the loss of your income would be disastrous for your family. A life insurance policy will help ensure that your partner and children have money to pay the bills and continue living in the family home.

2. Repay debts

Unfortunately, when you die, your debts will not be written o . Your spouse will be left with the responsibility of making payments on mortgages or loans that you co-signed. Your creditors

may attempt to collect debts from the proceeds of your estate, which will reduce the value of the legacy you leave for your children. Life insurance will provide the funds for those you leave behind to settle any outstanding debts in your name.

3. Pay for your funeral

Even a simple funeral can cost thousands of dollars. If you have life insurance, the cost of your funeral will be covered, leaving one less thing for your family to worry about at a di cult time. You can also choose to prepay for your funeral. Getting life insurance means your family won’t have to fundraise for your funeral.

TEN REASONS TO BUY

LIFE INSURANCE

4. Cover estate and inheritance taxes

e people who inherit your estate may face hefty inheritance and estate taxes. ese taxes create added worry for the people who inherit the assets. Life insurance will help to cover the cost of tax bills your loved ones receive. Unlike other income, life insurance proceeds generally are non-taxable.

5.

Provide care for dependent relatives

It is not only your spouse who will bene t from your life insurance. If you provide care for aging parents or young children, life insurance will ensure that the care continues after your death. Even if you are single, life insurance will help the people who rely on your nancial support.

6. Pay for your children’s education

Most parents save to pay for their children’s education. But if the worst happens, you may not have saved enough. A life insurance policy will help ensure that your children can have a quality college education, even if you are not around.

7.

Build a cash reserve

If you opt for whole life insurance, your policy will have a cash value. So, as well as providing for your family if you die, you will also build up a cash value. Most whole life policies allow you to withdraw a limited amount of cash while retaining your life insurance. e cash reserve can be helpful if you nd yourself faced with a nancial emergency. Most cash-value policies, like whole life policies, can also be used as collateral against loans.

8.

Protect business partners

If you are involved in a business partnership, life insurance will help ensure that the business can continue without you, ensuring what you have built is not lost. Life insurance that is payable to your business partners will allow them to purchase your share of the business from your heirs.

9.

Peace of mind

Being the primary breadwinner of a family is a big responsibility that can weigh heavily on your mind. Having adequate life coverage will give you the peace of mind that your loved ones will be taken care of after you have gone.

10.

Life insurance is a ordable

Life insurance premiums are a ordable for most people. e premiums you pay for life insurance will depend on your age, health, and lifestyle choices like smoking. And, of course, the premium you pay will depend on the value of the coverage you need. A healthy, relatively young person could insure their life for as little as $1 a day.

Sheryl haring with

Ihope you’re all enjoying this summer season when the days are longer, and the sunshine helps boost your mood and health. One thing I like about summer is the increased access to fresh vegetables and fruits. I nd they pair perfectly with some of my favorite dishes.

I try to plan meals by starting with a lean protein like salmon or chicken. ese foods are lower in fat, contain essential nutrients and help boost metabolism. ese meats are also easy to prepare on the grill, which makes them perfect for summer because no one wants to spend a lot of time cooking over a hot stove when the weather outside is warm and sunny.

I recently tried a new recipe I want to share with you. It’s high in protein, pairs well with fresh

produce and can be cooked on the grill. Add some fresh vegetables or a salad of your choice for the perfect summertime meal.

I hope you enjoy this recipe and the rest of summer! I look forward to meeting many of you at Gleaner’s Convention in October!

Sincerely,

Sheryl Clark, Wife of President and CEO Anthony Clark

GRILLED SALMON WITH AVOCADO SALSA

Ingredients:

2 lbs salmon cut into four portions

1 tbs light olive oil

1 tsp salt

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp paprika powder

1 tsp onion powder

½ tsp ancho chili powder

1 tsp black pepper

Directions

1. Mix the salt, chili powder, cumin, paprika, onion and black pepper together. Rub the salmon llets with olive oil and this seasoning mix.

2. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

3. Pre-heat the grill.

Avocado salsa

1 avocado cubed

½ red onion diced

2 limes juiced

1 tbs fresh cilantro chopped

4. Combine the avocado, onion, cilantro and lime juice in a bowl and mix well. Chill until ready to use.

5. Grill the salmon for about ve minutes.

6. Top with avocado salsa.

BENNY’s PAGE

Hi, Kids!

Happy summer! I love the long days that allow me to spend countless hours outside rolling in the grass and swimming in my favorite water hole. Every so often I want to do something di erent from my usual favorites. Maybe you know how I feel? at’s why I want to share a fun way to enjoy summer outside having fun!

I love playing with water balloons, but I don’t love picking up the small balloon pieces afterward. When I heard of reusable water balloons made from sponges, I knew I had to try them! ese are easy to make and so fun to play with on hot summer days.

Spongy water balloons1

Supplies needed: sponges (plan for two per sponge ball), scissors, rubber bands

Directions:

Each sponge ball requires two rectangle sponges. Cut each sponge into six long strips. en stack the strips on top of each other.

Next, place a rubber band tightly around the center. Move the pieces so they are spaced out.

Finally, ll a bucket with water, soak the sponge ball, and enjoy!

Take care! BENNY e Benevolent Lion

1https://thekrazycouponlady.com/tips/diy/10-summer-backyard-entertaining-hacks-that-actually-work

BENNY

Illinois

Kathleen A. Henriksen, New Lenox

Laura M. Seimetz, Bon eld

Michigan

Donald F. Deal Sr., Sheridan

George Edward Dunn, Gladwin

Judith Katie Emmons, Sheridan

Karen L. Frakes, Merrill

Arizona

Ray Kent Smith, Glendale

Connecticut

Florida

Signe D. Steen, Venice

Georgia

Illinois

Marvin O. Gerlach, Carney

Edithe S. Martin, Litch eld

Doris E. Patmon, Ithaca

Barbara L. Spencer, Albion

50 yr.

William R. Swartz, Standish

Paula E. Switala, Midland

Mississippi

Duane L. Gale, Gulfport

50-YEAR MEMBERS 75-YEAR MEMBERS

Nebraska

Marlene R. Gavin, Omaha

South Carolina

Alan Hinchman, Rock Hill

Texas

Carol Segura Moreno, Live Oak

Marla B. Bodznick, S. Glastonbury

Michigan

Arthur W. Fruchey, Beaverton

Norma J. Hecht, Sanford

Patricia A. Kaufman, East China

Norma I. Johnson, Beaverton

Gary C. Lipscomb, Dowling

Judith Kay Marsh, Owosso

Vivian Marie Bishop, Hamilton

Alan L. Buck, Hillsboro

Susan Kay Butler, Sheldon

Michael L. Giguere, Bradley

Marvin L. Johnson Jr., Bourbonnais

Verna M. Tompkins, Kankakee

Wayne L. Tuntland, Seneca

John W. Wise, Ottawa

Frank E. Wolfe Jr., Orland Park

Indiana

Lloyd Bunton Jr., Wanatah

Linda R. Christensen, Indianapolis

Linda L. Hantz, Angola

Gary Joe Manahan, Angola

Larry G. Murray, Rochester

Barbara Smith, La Porte

John P. Sutton, Lowell

Beverly A. Mellendorf, Fairgrove

Earl L. Miller, Lowell

Barbara A. Moore, Hopkins

Judith O’Rourke, White Pigeon

Michael E. Richardson, Allegan

Gretchen M. Smith, Elsie

Margaret Weller, Traverse City

Minnesota

Karen L. Luedtke, Bloomington

Ohio

Gweneth K. Erman, Napoleon

Linda H. Fish, Delaware

Barbara J. Grimm, Cardington

Janas C. Scantlen, De ance

James A. Stedke, Wapakoneta

Texas

Patsy M. Williams, Pipecreek

Plan for your child’s future with Just For Kids ®

In the coming weeks, you’ll likely see an in ux of back-to-school photos on social media. As you celebrate a fresh academic start for the children in your life, take a few moments to learn how easy it is to secure their insurability with Gleaner’s Just For Kids®.

Gleaner’s Just For Kids® life insurance plan provides more than life insurance coverage. It also provides a future of opportunities for your child or grandchild. For a one-time premium payment of $125, you can provide $10,000 of immediate term life insurance coverage with options for future nancial security and stability.

Later in life, your child or grandchild can convert their Just For Kids® certi cate to up to $50,000 of permanent, cash-value life insurance, without underwriting. That means that if his or her health should change between learning the ABCs and solving for a+b=c, they will still be eligible for a ordable life insurance coverage.

Learn more and apply online at www.gleanerlife.org/justforkids.