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UCT's 2008 Fraternalists in Action UCT's 2008 Fraternal MVP's (Most Valuable Participants) to the National Fraternal Congress of America's (NFCA) Fraternalists in Action program are: Stephen "Steve" Desselles, Robert "Bob" Gruszecki, Suzanne Rufiange, Carol Jane Shoope, Richard Sid Toleno and Bertha "Bert" Zovistoski. The program is a two-pronged initiative to recognize outstanding fraternalists and to educate public officials about the importance of fraternal benefit societies. Click here for details. 
Stephen R. "Steve" DessellesSteve is a 35-year member of Baton Rouge, La. Council 499. Having grown up with UCT as a part of his life - his father and mother have been members for nearly 50 years - Steve considers himself a UCT "brat." In fact, he claims he met his lifelong best friend in a playpen at a UCT meeting. And, he has continued the UCT tradition with his own family: his wife and two sons and daughters-in-law are all members. Steve has served through the line of offices of Baton Rouge Council 499, earning his Past Counselor honors in 1982. He has also served through the line of offices of the Mississippi-Louisiana Grand Council, earning his Past Grand Counselor honors in 1990, and has been on several Supreme committees. He currently serves as secretary-treasurer for UCT's Alexandria, La. Council 193 and is also secretary for the Mississippi-Louisiana Grand Council. His UCT involvement has allowed Steve to become an active member of his community. He loves working with young people and has given his time and financial assistance to such groups as the Boy Scouts of America, Court Appointed Special Advocates of Louisiana (CASA), the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA), Baton Rouge youth teams sports and the Catholic School Athletic League. Steve plays Santa Claus each Christmas for the CASA youth and serves as a scout master for a local Boy Scout troop and is an Eagle Scout Councilor. He was recently named a Vigil Member of the scout's service organization, the Order of the Arrow, for his excellence in helping youth. Through Council 499's youth committee, Steve has also had the opportunity to sponsor Easter egg hunts and coordinate Soap Box Derby events. In addition, Steve stays busy supporting the United Way, the Baton Rouge Arts Council, several local churches, the St. George and Baton Rouge Fire Departments, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Our Lady of the Lake Hospital, and Habitat for Humanity. His activities as part of his council's special events committee include planning parties, dinners and dances that promote fraternalism. While Steve has received public recognition for his work with youth, particularly the Boys Scouts, LHSAA and CASA, he stays involved with UCT because he considers it a part of his life that he can't replace. 
Robert J. "Bob" Gruszecki
Bob is a 35-year member of Alliance, Ohio Council 261. He originally joined the council because he was impressed with UCT's focus on helping people with intellectual disabilities and youth. Bob has served through the line of offices of Alliance Council 261, earning his Past Counselor honors in 1982. He has also served through the line of offices of the Ohio Grand Council, earning his Past Grand Counselor honors in 1991. Bob has been involved with numerous activities within Council 261 through the years including coordinating sponsorship of a local Hot Stove baseball team and placing Wishing Wells in local business establishments to collect money for programs for people with intellectual disabilities. He is also busy keeping council members active as well as recruiting new members. He was named the Alliance, Ohio Council 261 Man of the Year in 1982 and the Ohio Grand Council's Fraternalist of the Year in 1999. Since 1985, Bob has represented the Ohio Grand Council at the Ohio Fraternal Congress and served as its president during 2000-2001. In 2002 he was honored as the Congress's Fraternalist of the Year for service to community, church, family and fraternal insurance. He has represented the Ohio Fraternal Congress to the NFCA on several occasions. Bob is an active parishioner in his church, serving as an usher, lector, and a previous member of the church council for 10 years. He was a volunteer fireman with the Beloit Volunteer Fire Department for six years and served as its treasurer. In addition, he was a member of the Board of Directors for the First Ohio Community Federal Credit Union for 12 years and served as vice president. 
Suzanne Y. Rufiange
A member of Tri-City Council 823, Fitchburg, Mass., for 24 years, Suzanne has found membership in the organization to be a family affair. Her husband, Leo, and their children are active members, and Suzanne has come to regard her UCT friends as family as well. Suzanne has served through the line of offices of Tri-City Council 823, earning her Past Counselor honors, and has served as Grand Secretary of the New England Grand Council, earning her Past Grand Counselor honors. Suzanne says that becoming involved in UCT has helped her to grow and given her the confidence to become more active in her local community. Along with being a mentor and promoting others, Suzanne's involvement (along with the Tri-City Council 823 team) includes decorating the council's float for Fitchburg's annual Fourth of July parade, supporting the local American Cancer Society's Relay for Life event, volunteering for Special Olympics, supporting a local food pantry, coordinating can and coat drives to benefit scouts and underprivileged persons, supporting UCT's scholarship program for students seeking to teach people with intellectual disabilities, and serving as secretary for a local scholarship fund. In addition to all of this, Suzanne has found time to serve as her church's parish council secretary and finance committee chairperson - and to run a Bingo program. She has also served as secretary-treasurer and president of the New England Fraternal Congress. A community project that is especially close to Suzanne's heart is the support of Tri-City Council 823's sponsorship of a special needs (intellectual disabilities) Boy Scout troop. Funds are raised for scouting fees, projects, summer camps, etc. Suzanne facilitated a trip for the troops to partake in the New England Fraternal Congress Summer Meeting Flag Day Flag Raising Ceremony held at Pequot Museum at Foxwoods in Connecticut. The Rufiange family was honored as the New England Family of the Year by the New England Fraternal Congress. But such honors are not why Suzanne continues to be an active fraternalist. She remains involved because she knows personally how fraternalism can change people's lives and she wants to share that experience with others. Suzanne has already been recognized as an NFCA MVP for the week of March 10, 2008. 
Carol Jane Shoope
Jane has been a member of Bluegrass Council 89, Lexington, Ky., for 18 years. She is a second generation member – her father was a member for more than 50 years and her mother joined the organization when the Ladies Auxiliary dissolved. Jane, as she is known within UCT, became of member of Harlan, Ky. Council 700 when her mother signed her up. She was active within the council for 13 years before joining Council 89, where for the past five years she has found fraternalism, friendship and a new sense of involvement. Jane has served through the line of offices of Bluegrass Council 89, earning her Past Counselor honors. In addition she has served two terms as promotional chairperson for UCT's Ky.-Va.-W.Va.-Md.-D.C. Grand Council and she spent two consecutive years as a member of the Supreme Press Committee. Jane is dedicated to her local community and demonstrates this commitment through her active involvement. Celebrate Recovery, a Christ-centered and Biblical-based alcohol and drug awareness program that meets for fellowship and instructional teachings once a week is one of her top priorities. She also helps to coordinate an annual picnic for people with intellectual disabilities and, along with her husband, has been involved for many years with Harlan Little League. In addition, she is the organist and pianist for her local church. Jane has already been recognized as an NFCA MVP for the week of March 24, 2008. 
Richard Sid Toleno
A member of Roseburg-Umpqua Council 887, Roseburg, Ore., for 24 years, Sid originally joined the organization because Council 887 helped to sponsor his men's softball team and he felt a sense of obligation. Through the years that obligation has turned to respect for both UCT and its members. Sid has served through the line of offices of Council 887, earning his Past Counselor honors in 1991, and has served through the line of offices of the Oregon-Washington-British Columbia Grand Council, earning his Past Grand Counselor honors in 2001. He is currently making his way through the Grand Council line of offices for a second time and serves on numerous committees on the local, Grand and Supreme levels. Becoming a UCT leader has been beneficial for Sid, helping him to develop the skills that have made an effective community leader as well. Some of his projects include volunteering at a local dog park, serving as assistant coach for a high school lacrosse team and as coach for a junior high school team, assisting with making Braille books, restoring a local park, and participating in walk-a-thons for the American Cancer Society and the Diabetes Association. Sid and his wife, Dianna, who is also an active UCT member, also sponsor an annual high school scholarship in memory of their late son. Sid has been a longtime supporter of the local Boys and Girls Club and recently worked with Council 887 to provide the club with a new portable electric scoreboard as well as a new pitching machine. In addition, Sid is past president of the Lions Club and a past Board member of T.R.E.E.S. (Tree Resources Equal Economic Stability. He currently serves on the Board of S.O.D. (Sane Orderly Development), working for better community planning; sits on the steering committee for the designation of the Rogue-Umpqua National Scenic Byway; and has joined an ad hoc committee to help Roseburg on its buildable lands inventory and urban growth boundaries. Sid has already been recognized as an NFCA MVP for the week of March 3, 2008. 
Bertha "Bert" Zovistoski
Bert has been a member of Troy, N.Y. Council 403 for 25 years. Her husband, Frank, also a longtime member, encouraged her to join the organization so they could work together on community projects. During her 25 years of membership, Bert has found that being part of UCT has allowed her to overcome her natural shyness to expand her circle of friends and develop her leadership abilities. Bert has served through the line of offices of Troy Council 403, earning her Past Counselor honors in 1994. In addition she has served through the line of offices of the New York Grand Council, earning her Past Grand Counselor honors in 2001. She is currently serving as president of the Grand Counselors' Association. Bert is dedicated to her local council, focusing on charitable service, increasing membership and member support. She has functioned as Council 403's cancer committee chairperson for the past five years and is committed to raising and donating funds for cancer patients and their families. When it comes to increasing council membership, she believes in encouraging young people to join the organization, participate in council activities, and grow within the council as she did. She has a knack for making new members feel welcome by sharing her UCT stories with them and by providing social mixers for them after council meetings. An active member of her community, Bert has received public recognition for her work with youth. She has for many years volunteered as a liaison for Kid's Care, supplying various needed items to high school seniors in the Brittonkill School District. She also chairs a semi-annual baby clothing drive for unwed mothers. In addition to these activities she joins other Council 403 members in serving meals to athletes and their families at three Colonie School Wrestling Competitions, where 13-15 schools attend each tournament. |
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