OPENING PLENARY SCRIPT - American Fraternal Alliance

Along with that, we’ve also made important gains in our federal advocacy efforts. Hiring McBee
Strategic as our new Washington, D.C.-based counsel has proven to be an excellent move for the
association. McBee’s ability to help us leverage our local lodge presence through grassroots elected
official engagement is exactly what we need right now. Moreover, their ability to collaborate with
counsel hired by some of the individual societies is already paying dividends for the system. Those of
you who have had the opportunity to work with Jen and Gabe know what I mean. McBee can’t do it
alone – they need societies of all sizes to do our parts – but with McBee’s help, relevance in
Washington is now more attainable than it has been in the past.
This year has brought some important changes within individual societies as well. The Catholic
Financial Life merger and name change stands out as a noteworthy development for the system, and
an example for others to follow. Through governance reforms at Equitable Reserve, National Slovak
Society and Luso–American, it’s clear that societies are beginning to recognize that attracting and
protecting members today takes a different governance model than it may have a century ago. Their
stories and their successes should inspire other societies to take steps to modernize governance
structures as well.
And finally, I hope this meeting will mark the successful culmination of a year’s worth of work to
analyze, research and ultimately choose a new name for our association. By convening a task force of
branding experts from member societies to assess the problem and guide the work of outside
consultants, we’ve invested wisely in an unbiased and very professional process. I hope the result, and
the new American Fraternal Alliance name, has earned your support as it has mine and the Board of
Directors.
Last year, I said that while leveraging the “coolest charter on the planet” was each of our individual
societies’ responsibilities, our trade association plays an important role uniting us to work together to
create an environment conducive to success. Over the course of this year, I’ve come to appreciate
even more that “sweet spot,” if you will, where the collective trade association interests and individual
society interests intersect.
And it’s all about preserving that “coolest charter on the face of the planet” and the unique opportunities
and responsibilities that come along with it.
You know, for many years, it seems we’ve thought in terms of preserving our tax exemptions. And
those exemptions are critically important, always worth fighting for and an essential element of our
charter.
In fact, we fully expect to have to vigorously defend those exemptions at the state level in 2011. The
association staff is currently tracking 18 states where the rhetoric over exemptions is heating up,
meaning we could be drawn into the debate. And each and every one of our societies has a role to play
in relationship-building and threat response activities, so I urge you to do your part to engage those
coming battles.
But, truth be told, preserving the charter is about more than protecting exemptions. It’s about our
reputation, our business model and our relevance. It requires diligent efforts to build relationships in the
U.S. Congress, yes, but in state insurance departments, as well. It manifests itself in the death benefits
we pay to a grieving family, and also in the funds our members raise through their local lodges to help
feed hungry people.
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