Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/74535
National President's Message Dear Members of the National Catholic Society of Foresters, AMERICA, HOW PROUD ARE YOU OF YOUR COUNTRY? This 4th of July we celebrated the 236th birthday of our country. The signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 was a big step for being liberated and free from foreign powers. Men and women lost their lives so we could be free. There is always a price to pay for freedom, take the time to thank the Veterans and the service men and women for their effort, so that we can continue to live in these free United States of America. COURT 870 REACTIVATED! National Secretary Patricia DeNys, National Director Loretta Nelson and I had the opportunity on June 6th to travel to Fort Wayne, Indiana to reactivate St. Antoinette Court 870. It was wonderful meeting them! I presided over the ceremony for installing the new court officers, and handed over the gavel to the new president of St. Antoinette Court 870, John Becker. The court may encourage Love, Benevolence, and Charity with their activities in and around the Fort Wayne area. See pictures of the event on page 23. LIFE INSURANCE SALES The sales department ran a spring contest on life insurance products. The top producer for the contest was John Hill. John, his wife Cara and I had supper in Platteville, Wisconsin where I presented him a lap top computer as his winning prize (shown on page 19). MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY Make A Difference Day is celebrated each year on the 4th Saturday in October. This year it will be on October 27, 2012. Created by USA WEEKEND Magazine, it is the nation's largest day of volunteering, thanks 2 to the passion of millions of people like you. Together with their long-standing partner Hands On Network, the generosity of Newman's Own and hundreds of carrier newspapers, USA WEEKEND rallies millions in a single day to help change the world. NCSF's St. Mary Junior Court 998 participates in Make a Difference Day; they rake leaves for elderly neighbors. However … Make a Difference Day is not just for kids, it is for any and every age! How will your court make a difference in 2012? Visit www.daytabank. handsonnetwork.org and click on 'PROJECT SEARCH' to get ideas for your court. JOIN HANDS DAY Our courts also made a difference in their communities this past May by participating in Join Hands Day. Join Hands Day is a national program of the American Fraternal Alliance, formerly the National Fraternal Congress of America (www.fraternalalliance.org/join-hands- day/what-is-join-hands-day). Our members "join hands" year-round with projects like our matching funds Hearts and Hands. Join Hands Day is fun because it provides all fraternalists and non-fraternalists alike with the opportunity to make a difference in their neighborhoods through helpful projects that connect youths and adults. It is easy to participate through NCSF; simply hold your event and complete a summary form from the Home Office. Read about our courts and their inspiring projects on page 5 — and remember Join Hands Day for your court next year in May! UPDATE: JUNIOR ACTIVITY FORM The junior activity form has been updated, please look at pages 6 and 7 to learn more. continued on page 4 National Catholic Forester ... We are on this earth only for a short time, make some memories with your family and friends.