In
Czech, ZCBJ is short for Zapadni Cesko Bratrske Jednota.
This translates to Western Bohemian Fraternal
Association in English. WFLA is short for Western
Fraternal Life Association
Download Full Size Brochure Here
Howard J. Wolfe
President of Western Fraternal Life Association
 
When an individual becomes a member of the
Association, they are eligible for insurance and
fraternal benefits. Fraternals are not-for-profit
charitable and benevolent institutions that have a
rich tradition of service to individuals,
communities and the nation. The Association is owned
and governed by its members. All fraternal insurance
companies are chartered and licensed in accordance
with state insurance laws, and are examined by state
insurance departments.
You are admitted to a lodge following a ritual. On
the local lodge level, members can become active
with monthly meetings, picnics, patriotic
presentations and community service projects. In
2005,
 members volunteered 124,957 hours in
their communities and donated $189,924 of financial
aid to community organizations and those in need.
Our members are a major force in their communities'
volunteer and charitable programs. Instead of one
person acting alone, the lodge members ban together
to help those in need, those less fortunate. Members
assemble at various times throughout the year in a
meeting format and at other times socially. Members
who take the time to get to know one another and
help each other become lifetime friends sharing
each other’s triumphs and helping each other through
tough times.
Whether you attend lodge meetings or not, there are
potential scholarships, contests, and other benefits
available to you. A list of some of the benefits is
just a click away.
Western Fraternal Life Association was established
in 1897 as a Czech fraternal benefit society,
providing its members burial insurance, social and
ethnic activities. In 1899, women were admitted as
insured members and in 1919, juveniles became
insurable.
In 1947, requirements for membership were opened to
all people, regardless of ethnic background,
supportive of the purpose of the Association. Lodges
have been formed through the years around the
country and members attend meetings and social
gatherings and provide a network of volunteers for
their communities. The products have also changed
with the times.
has come a long way from that
initial burial insurance and now offers a wide range
of insurance and annuity products to meet the needs
of a complex society.
Download Rates Here
When you think of a lodge system, do you envision an
exclusive club where people have special handshakes and
secret rituals? If you do, today’s societies would
certainly surprise you. Our members are a major force in
their communities’ volunteer and charitable programs.
Instead of one person acting alone, the lodge members
ban together to help those in need; those less
fortunate. When you purchase an annuity or life
insurance with western fraternal life association, you
are automatically put into a lodge located nearest to
you.
Community projects include donating to food banks,
participating in roadside cleanups, recycling, planting
trees, volunteering at hospitals and care centers,
participating in or sponsoring community festivals and
parades, and contributing funds and personal help when
natural disasters strike. Members are involved with
hundreds of projects and donate thousands of volunteer
hours, as well as financial contributions.
Tragedy can strike if both parents die while their
children are still young. Two forms of financial
help are available to the orphan if eligibility
requirements are met.
If both parents die, a monthly benefit of $150 will
be paid for each eligible orphan until age 19.
Orphaned children are eligible to receive up to
$2,000 at age nineteen toward their college or trade
school education.
Orphans who have completed trade school by the age
of nineteen can receive up to $2,000 by showing
proof of completion.
Qualifying members receive a lump sum payment of
$1,500 upon the death of a liveborn child if death
occurs prior to the 60th day following birth. If
applied for during this time, $5,000 of permanent
insurance will be issued, effective on day 60
regardless of the child’s insurability.
Western Fraternal Life Association supports a
national project called JOIN HANDS DAY. JOIN HANDS
DAY is the only national day of service that
specifically targets and develops relationships
between young people and adults through neighborhood
volunteering. It is sponsored by America’s Fraternal
Benefit Societies in partnership with the Points of
Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National
Network. Youth and adults work together, on an equal
basis, to plan, organize and implement the day’s
activities.
A medical emergency card is available to any member
requesting one. A medical emergency card contains
vital information that emergency medical personnel
need during the first few minutes of treatment.
Members complete information on the reverse side of
the card concerning blood type, allergies,
medications and medical conditions.
The Association has two matching funds programs: one
for members and the other for community charities.
Member Matching Funds is a program designed to help
members who are in financial need because of
illness, accident, or natural disaster.
Community Matching Funds is a program designed to
encourage lodges to participate in a community
fund-raiser.
The Kids Care program benefits our young members.
Participation in lodge youth groups offers an
opportunity for young members to become leaders in
their community. Various activities include holiday
parties, lodge picnics, bicycle giveaway events, and
trips. Youth members can also participate in our
annual art contest. Lodge members distribute reading
bookmarks, educational coloring books and various
safety brochures to area schools and libraries. A
page of our magazine has youth games, stories and
information.
A kit is included with all new juvenile
certificates. Within the kit is a fingerprint chart,
an area for a recent photograph, and a place for
pertinent information.
Western Fraternal Life Association recognizes the
need for higher education and the increasing cost of
obtaining this goal.
offers ten national scholarships annually for up to
$1,000 to qualified members attending college or
vocational programs.
The applicant must be a
member in good standing for two years prior to the
application deadline. Applicants must also be
accepted as a full-time student at a
college/university or vocational/technical
institution. Individuals may apply each year for the
scholarship, however, they are eligible to win only
twice. Independent judges base their decisions on
ACT/SAT test scores, grades, activities, financial
need, and a short essay.
Oklahoma, Wisconsin, and Minnesota also offer state
scholarships and many of our individual lodges offer
scholarship opportunities.
licensed in CA, CO, IL, IA, KS, LA, MI, MN, NE, ND,
OH,
OK, OR, SD, TX, WA and WI.
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Board of Directors |
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District 1
(NE)
Terry Hynek
Board
Member since 2007
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District 2
(Upper MI, WI)
Joseph Kuzma
Board
Member since 1991
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District 3
(IA)
Donald Krall
Board
Member since 2003
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District 4
(MN)
Duane Jirik
Chairman
Board
Member since 1998
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District 5
(IL, OH, PA, Lower MI)
Thomas Bradley Sr.
Board
Member since 1999
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District 6
(CA, ID, MT, ND, OR, SD,
WA)
Alois Ruman
Board
Member since 1999
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District 7
(CO, KS, LA, OK, TX)
Elaine Benda
Board
Member since 2007
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President
Howard J. Wolfe
Board
Member since 2007
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Officers |
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Craig VanDyke
Senior Vice President
and Treasurer
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Donald Nieland
Vice President,
Information Technology
and Secretary
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Ann Day
Vice President and Chief
Underwriter
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The purpose of
this Association is to associate its members and thus enable them to aid
themselves and others in programs of:
Fraternal and benevolent activities through the lodge system,
ritualistic work, and otherwise.
Assistance to such other lawful, social, educational, intellectual,
patriotic, or civic undertakings as may be determined upon.
Insurance and other benefits permissible under the laws governing
fraternal beneficiary associations.
Encouragement, cultivations, and preservation of learning and study of
Czech and Slovak history, culture, language, and traditions - bearing in
grateful and appreciative memory the vision and pioneer sprit of the
many immigrants and their descendants who founded and maintained the
Association in its earlier years and generations.
Lodge No. 423, Cedar Rapids, IA, members joined hands with the youth
group from Olivet Mission to prepare garden beds, plant flowers, and
spruce up the lawn as their JOIN HANDS DAY project.
Licensed in the following states: California, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois,
Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio,
Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin.
See What WFLA Has
To Offer You Here
Gloria Kralicek (center) receiving The Wisconsin
Upper Michigan Fraternalist of the year. Presented
by Racine # 357 President MaryAnn Lorence &
former National
President Philip Torticill
Fraternalist of the Year
Joan Kotas
secretary and correspondent for Lodge No. 389,
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Therese Trojak a member of WFLA (ZCBJ)
Nadeje Slovanu Lodge # 236 Phillips, Wi.
presenting the No Knead Refrigerator Kolache from
THE PHILLIPS WISCONSIN CZECHOSLOVAKIAN COMMUNITY
FESTIVAL
The Wisconsin Upper Michigan State Convention 2006
See What WFLA Has To Offer You
Here
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