Western Fraternal Life Association

FRATERNAL BENEFIT SOCIETY - AS A FRATERNAL BENEFIT INSURANCE SOCIETY, OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL FRATERNAL PROGRAMS AND BENEFITS FOR OUR MEMBERS AS WELL AS HIGH QUALITY INSURANCE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES. WE STRENGTHEN OUR MEMBERS FRATERNALLY THROUGH CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL AND VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS THAT ENCOURAGE FAMILY VALUES, HELP IMPROVE COMMUNITIES, SUPPORT PATRIOTISM FOR OUR COUNTRY AND HELP OTHERS IN NEED.

FRATERNAL ACTVITIES AND PROGRAMS - THE FOLLOWING IS A REPORT OF EXPENDITURES, ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS OF BETTERLIFE AND ITS BRANCHES COMPLETED IN 2021 IN FULFILLMENT OF THE SOCIETY'S FRATERNAL CHARACTER: 1. NATIONAL OFFICE BRANCH SUPPORT: SUBSIDIES ARE SENT TO FRATERNAL BRANCHES ON A QUARTERLY BASIS, BASED ON THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS IN A GEOGRAPHIC AREA. PAYMENTS RANGE FROM $100 - $1,250 PER QUARTER FOR 133 BRANCHES. INCENTIVE CASH AWARDS FOR VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY ARE PRESENTED IN ADDITION TO QUARTERLY PAYMENTS. TOTAL AMOUNT OF PAYMENTS: $151,289 2. THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT PROGRAM OFFERS ADDITIONAL GRANTS TO BRANCHES FOR SERVICE PROJECTS ORGANIZED BY BETTERLIFE MEMBERS TO HELP PEOPLE WITH BASIC NEEDS. BETTERLIFE MEMBERS ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN ORGANIZING ACTIVITIES THAT IMPACT: SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS, BLOOD DONATION DRIVES, FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS, CITY AND COUNTY PARKS, CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS, FOOD PANTRIES, SCHOOLS, HOMELESS SHELTERS, SENIOR CITIZENS, AND CHILDREN, ESSAY, PHOTO AND COLORING CONTESTS, BOOK AND SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVES, AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, I.E. POST-PROM PARTIES, AND SERVICE PROJECTS. IN ADDITION, THE SOCIETY MAKES ANNUAL DONATIONS TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ASSIST YOUTH AND FAMILIES. LOCAL BRANCH ACTIVITIES PROVIDE FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR LOCAL LIBRARIES, SCHOOL LITERACY PROGRAMS, AND SAFETY PROGRAMS. EVENTS: 799, VOLUNTEER HOURS: 22,209, TOTAL AMOUNT OF PAYMENTS: $29,050, DONATIONS: $139,803 3. THE FUNDRAISER AND MATCHING FUNDS PROGRAM OFFERS GRANTS TO BRANCHES WHEN SPONSORING A FUNDRAISER BENEFIT FOR A MEMBER OR NON-MEMBER IN DIRE FINANCIAL NEED DUE TO ILLNESS, ACCIDENT OR DISASTER. FUNDS RAISED LOCALLY BY BRANCHES ARE THEN MATCHED UP TO $2,500 PER RECIPIENT BY THE SOCIETY. EACH BRANCH CAN APPLY FOR UP TO $5,000 PER YEAR. HOURS AND EVENTS FOR MATCHING FUNDS BENEFIT FUNDRAISERS ARE INCLUDED HERE. EVENTS: 194, VOLUNTEER HOURS: 5,291, BRANCHES RAISED: $75,000, BETTERLIFE MATCHED: $30,910, TOTAL DISBURSED: $105,910 4. FAMILY ACTIVITIES THAT CREATE POSITIVE FAMILY LIFE AND STRENGTHEN FAMILIES BY BRINGING THEM TOGETHER FOR FREE OR SUBSIDIZED EVENTS, I.E. MOVIES, DINNERS, BOWLING, BIKE RIDES, SPORTING EVENTS, WATER PARK OUTINGS, ETC. THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE MEMBERS AND NONMEMBERS ALIKE. EVENTS: 573, VOLUNTEER HOURS: 16,362, PAYMENTS: $7,914 5. EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: REGIONAL FRATERNAL LEADERSHIP SEMINARS ARE HELD FOR TRAINING AND MOTIVATING MEMBER VOLUNTEERS AND REPRESENTATIVES TO ORGANIZE SUCCESSFUL OUTREACH PROGRAMS FOR FELLOW MEMBERS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. EVENTS: 3 REGIONAL, 18 EVENTS HOURS: 234, PAYMENTS: $86,523 6. PATRIOTIC PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES ARE ENCOURAGED NATIONALLY AND THROUGH THE BRANCHES, SUCH AS ORGANIZING ANNUAL FLAG DAY OBSERVANCES, AMERICAN FLAG DONATIONS TO LOCAL SCHOOLS, SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ACTIVE TROOPS AND VETERANS, AND CZECH HERITAGE EVENTS TO EMBRACE CZECH CULTURE EVENTS: 189, VOLUNTEER HOURS: 5,322, PAYMENTS: $221 7. FRATERNAL SUPPORT INCLUDES ACTIVITY BY MEMBERS THAT MAINTAINS THE BRANCH AS A UNIT; INCLUDES EVENTS THAT ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BRANCH SUCH AS BUSINESS MEETINGS, COMMITTEE WORK, RECORD KEEPING, AND THE ORGANIZATION OF ACTIVITIES FOR MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, ALONG WITH PRINTING AND MAILING OF FLYERS & POSTERS TO MEMBERSHIP FOR FUNDRAISERS, SERVICE PROJECTS, FAMILY & PATRIOTIC EVENTS. EVENTS: 315, HOURS: 33,794, PAYMENTS: $9,665 8. FRATERNAL SERVICES SUPPORT INCLUDES OTHER ACTIVITY AND RESOURCES TO IMPLEMENT AND OVERSEE ITS NATIONAL FRATERNAL MISSION. PAYMENTS: $39,280 9. STONY HILL SCHOOL, FREDONIA, WISCONSIN. BETTERLIFE HAS ADOPTED THIS ONE-ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE RECOGNIZED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AS THE BIRTHPLACE OF NATIONAL FLAG DAY. THE SOCIETY UNDERWRITES UPKEEP OF STONY HILL SCHOOL AND ITS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. HOWEVER, RELATED EVENTS WERE CANCELLED DUE TO COVID IN 2021. EVENTS: 0, VOLUNTEER HOURS: 0, PAYMENTS: $0 10. FRATERNAL BENEFIT PROGRAM: MEMBERS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THESE NON-CONTRACTUAL FRATERNAL BENEFITS, AT NO ADDITIONAL COST, OVER AND ABOVE THEIR INSURANCE COVERAGE. A. DISASTER BENEFIT: A GRANT OF UP TO $1,500 WILL BE PROVIDED TO MEMBERS FOR OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES, NOT REIMBURSED BY A RELIEF AGENCY OR INSURANCE, INCURRED BY LOSS FROM HURRICANE, TORNADO, EARTHQUAKE, OR LOSS OF ENTIRE HOUSE TO FIRE OR WIND. PAYMENTS: $11,901 B. DISEASE BENEFIT: A GRANT OF UP TO $1,500 WILL BE PROVIDED FOR OUT-OF-POCKET UNREIMBURSED EXPENSES INCURRED FROM A NUMBER OF SPECIFIC DISEASES. PAYMENTS: $4,500 C. FAMILY FRATERNAL BENEFIT -- NEWBORN DEATH BENEFIT: A $2,500 DEATH BENEFIT IS PROVIDED WHEN A LIVE-BORN INFANT DIES LESS THAN 60 DAYS AFTER BIRTH. PAYMENT: $2,500 -- NEWBORN GUARANTEED INSURANCE: A GUARANTEE THAT A LIVE-BORN INFANT CAN BE INSURED AT STANDARD RATES FOR UP TO $5,000 OF PERMANENT LIFE INSURANCE REGARDLESS OF THE INFANT'S HEALTH. THIS INSURANCE TAKES EFFECT ON THE INFANT'S 60TH DAY OF LIFE. TWO POLICIES ISSUED IN 2021 D. FAMILY BENEFIT: UP TO TEN $1,000 AWARDS PER YEAR TO BETTERLIFE MEMBERS FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SENIOR CARE, CHILD CARE, EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, FAMILY EMERGENCIES, OR UNEXPECTED LIVING COSTS. PAYMENTS: $10,0000 E. MEMBER MAGAZINE: THE SOCIETY PUBLISHES A MAGAZINE, THE BETTERLIFE MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED FOUR TIMES A YEAR. THE MAGAZINE HIGHLIGHTS FRATERNAL ACTIVITY, INSURANCE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, THE FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE SOCIETY, AND ITEMS OF GENERAL INTEREST TO THE MEMBERSHIP. PAYMENTS: $82,011 F. ORPHAN INCOME BENEFIT: OFFERS AN ELIGIBLE ORPHAN A MONTHLY ALLOWANCE FOR THEIR CARE, MAINTENANCE AND EDUCATION THROUGH AGE 18. PAYMENTS: $14,000 G. ORPHAN SCHOLARSHIP BENEFIT: A FRATERNAL GRANT IS OFFERED UP TO $3,000 PER YEAR FOR TUITION OR MAINTENANCE PROVIDED THE ORPHANED CHILD ENROLLS FULL TIME IN AN ACCREDITED TECHNICAL OR VOCATIONAL SCHOOL, COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY. PAYMENTS: $0 H. NATIONAL VOLUNTEER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: ALL BETTERLIFE MEMBERS, AGE 25 AND UNDER, ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY. UP TO 60 SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED TO YOUNG ADULTS INVOLVED IN CIVIC AND VOLUNTEER ACTION IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES, WHO ARE PURSUING UNDERGRADUATE OR TECHNICAL DEGREES. PAYMENTS: $68,000 I. SIGNATURE EVENT: HELD 10 WALKS AROUND THE MIDWEST TO EARN MONEY FOR FOOD PANTRIES IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES. RAISED: $27,267 REPRESENTATIVE FORM OF GOVERNMENT. THE ENTIRE ADULT VOTING MEMBERSHIP IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE BY CASTING A BALLOT. EVERY FOUR YEARS BALLOTS ARE SENT TO ADULT MEMBERS, AGE 16 AND OVER, TO ELECT OUTSIDE MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE SOCIETY. NO ELECTION IN 2021. LODGE SYSTEM. BETTERLIFE HAS LOCAL FRATERNAL LODGES (CALLED BRANCHES AND LODGES). THEY ARE ORGANIZED THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. EVERY MEMBER OF BETTERLIFE IS ASSIGNED TO THE BRANCH/LODGE CLOSEST TO THEIR RESIDENCE. EACH BRANCH/LODGE HOLDS PLANNING MEETINGS, ELECTS ITS OWN GOVERNING BODY (BIENNIALLY), CARRIES ON ITS BUSINESS IN AN ASSIGNED GEOGRAPHIC AREA AND ORGANIZES BENEVOLENT, CHARITABLE, COMMUNITY, EDUCATIONAL, FAMILY, AND PATRIOTIC ACTIVITIES ACCORDING TO THE SOCIETY BYLAWS.

INSURANCE ACTIVITIES: THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE INSURANCE ACTIVITIES OF BETTERLIFE IS TO ACCOMPLISH THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE FRATERNAL BENEFIT SOCIETY RATHER THAN TO PRODUCE INCOME. NUMBER OF MEMBERS: 62,807