Cokie Roberts - Royal Neighbors of America

4 BELIEFS
that put holes
in your financial
safety net
5 exercise
time-wasters
to trim from
your routine
7 things that are
GOOD to KNOW
Women in Leadership:
Cokie Roberts
looks back in time for
leadership guidance
A Message from the President/CEO
I ran across this quote while preparing for a presentation to several hundred women at an
international conference – “Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order,
rhythm, and harmony.” It made me think about all the balancing acts we perform in our busy
lives. Although we have new, high-tech tools at our disposal to increase our efficiencies, quite
often we feel they just give us time to do more!
Like many of you, I’m balancing a wonderful family and a career I enjoy but there are days
when it’s not easy. Cokie Roberts, our cover story, has spent years on that “balance beam,”
too, while raising a family and traveling as a political correspondent. On pages 8 and 9, you’ll
read her thoughts about the need for businesses to address some of the issues of women in
the workplace.
Our 2014 scholarship recipients can also teach us all a thing or two about balance. They
balance schoolwork with jobs and extracurricular activities, and others are studying, working,
AND raising a family. You can meet a few of them on page 12. I wish them the best as they continue to fill
their days with endeavors that help them reach their dreams.
In this issue we’re also giving you tips about how to make the most of the time you’ve set aside for your
physical fitness regimen. It’s an important part of a healthy and happy life and needs its own space in our daily
schedules.
Lastly, September is Life Insurance Awareness Month, which is a great reminder for all of us that protecting
what’s important to us should be a number one priority. So as you’re trying to fit 26 hours in a day, 35 days in
a month, and 55 weeks in a year, take some time to review your life insurance with your agent. Go to pages
4 and 5 and read about some of the incorrect assumptions our Royal Neighbors sales agents have to address
when they’re meeting with potential members.
As you know, I am humbled and grateful to lead Royal Neighbors. As each year passes, I
find more and more of which to be proud. This year is no exception. I’m incredibly proud
to announce that Royal Neighbors has earned the designation of Great Rated! from the
Great Place to Work® Institute. The designation is based on the Trust Index© Employee
Survey which was completed by our employees. You can read more about this on page
14, but suffice it to say, we have an exceptional employee team which has found the right
balance in life and is truly engaged in serving our members.
Life is an amazing gift that should be appreciated every day. With a new season approaching, I encourage you
to take time to find your own balance, order, rhythm, and harmony and live life to the fullest.
Home Office: 230 Sixteenth Street, Rock Island, IL 61201-8645
Contact Us: Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Central Time
Toll-free:
(800) 627-4762
Local Quad Cities: (309) 788-4561
www.royalneighbors.org
Cynthia A. Tidwell
CONTENTS
Financial Solutions
4
Healthy Living
6
Family Life
7
On the Cover
8
Good to Know
10
Royal Neighbors Foundation
11
Scholarships
12
Board of Directors
14
4 life insurance misconceptions
8
Top 5 exercise time-wasters to trim
6
The art of balancing life
Cokie Roberts looks back in time
for leadership guidance
12
Board of Directors
Patricia Gibford, Chair
Estella Vallejo, Vice Chair
Cynthia Tidwell, President/CEO
Julie Bauer
Marla Glabe
Patricia Jones
Jodii Zimmerman, Editor
Rita Toalson, FLMI, ACS, Managing Editor
Linda Earnest, Graphic Designer
Dr. Veronica Jordan
Ruth McGregor
Suzanne Riesterer
Chris Seistrup, Executive VP & COO
Like us on facebook!
www.royalneighbors.org/facebook
A fraternal benefit since 1900, The Royal Neighbor magazine exemplifies the values of our Society by providing members useful,
stimulating information and a forum for connecting throughout the country.
The Royal Neighbor (ISSN 0035-905X), Issue 3, September 2014, is an official publication of Royal Neighbors of America. Published quarterly. Office of publication
at 230 Sixteenth Street, Rock Island, IL 61201-8645. Periodicals postage paid at Rock Island, IL, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address
changes to The Royal Neighbor, 230 Sixteenth Street, Rock Island, IL 61201-8645. Members: Send former and new address to Customer Support, 230 Sixteenth
Street, Rock Island, IL 61201-8645.
It is not necessarily intended that articles express views held by Royal Neighbors of America or its financial representatives, nor is it intended as legal or tax advice.
Financial Solutions
Life Insurance Beliefs
September is Life Insurance Awareness Month
that Put Holes in Your Financial Safety Net
We get it. You’re busy with life, the family budget is tight.
You think you might need life insurance, or more of it, but
you don’t know much about it. Why, as a woman, do you
need coverage?
Here at Royal Neighbors, we challenge women to
Know Your Worth® but we find women often sell
themselves short and put their financial security at risk
without financial protection. Yet while women are the
sole or primary breadwinners in a record 40% of U.S.
households1, women’s life insurance coverage is only 69
percent of the average coverage on men.2
“We encourage every woman to stop, take a moment
and consider how important it is to protect her income
and the value of what she provides at home in the event
something would happen to her or her spouse,” says Royal
Neighbors President/CEO Cynthia Tidwell.
coverage for families without stretching the budget. Term
insurance provides coverage at a fixed premium amount
for a specific period of time. It is an affordable choice to
protect assets such as your home for 10, 20, or 30 years
and can provide funds until your family gets back on its
financial feet.
2: “Life insurance is too complicated. I have no idea
what to buy.”
“Women don’t need a life insurance salesman, they need
a mentor and friend who can walk them through options
that fit their lives,” says Kim Fultz, Huntington, IN.
“Many have not had the experience of an agent sitting
down with them to listen to their worries and challenges
We called upon the collective wisdom of a group of Royal
Neighbors’ female life insurance agents and asked them
to share their thoughts about how they handle their
own clients’ misconceptions, as well as explain why it’s
important all women are covered by the appropriate
amount of life insurance.
1: “I don’t work or earn as much money as my spouse,
so I don’t need life insurance.”
“I hear this one all the time,” says Michelle Hylton, Elk
Grove, CA. “Especially from stay-at-home moms who
don’t have the money and think their husband’s coverage
through work is enough. We tell them how important
it is to recognize what they provide for their family, and
how (if she died) her husband would suddenly need (or
become) the nanny, the housekeeper, the financier, the
errand runner, and sole parent.”
The fact is, there are cost-effective options, especially
with term insurance, that can provide economical
4
and help find economical solutions. Ask your agent to
walk you through a needs assessment for your next 10-20
years, and depending on your age, what products are
available from Royal Neighbors that can protect your
future. Options need to be priced reasonably, and Royal
Neighbors stands out due to its financial stability and
history.”
The fact is, women do need to get educated. But it’s
important to take the first step. Royal Neighbors offers
an online tool to help you calculate how much insurance
you would need to stay financially secure, depending on
your age, income, current expenses, and life stage. Go to
www.royalneighbors.org and learn more.
3: “Life insurance is just for paying for funerals, right?”
“I know a woman whose husband died when he was 40
years old leaving a wife and 6-year-old daughter,” recalls
Laura Schwartz, Rocklin, CA. “He had a life insurance
policy that allowed them to keep their lifestyle. In
addition to funeral expenses, the life insurance also
helped pay for their daughter’s college education, which
was the father’s main concern. That same wife and
mother is now 83 years old, still living comfortably,
thanks to the life insurance her husband purchased.”
The fact is, life insurance not only pays for funerals but
can also help offset daily expenses, protect your current
lifestyle, or ensure your children’s college dreams still
come true. According to life insurance industry figures,
one in three U.S. households have no life insurance
at all. For those that do, they only own enough on
average to replace household income for 3.5 years. The
recommended industry rule of thumb starts at twice that
from 7-10 years.3
4: “I’m too young for life insurance. It’s for older
people with kids.”
“Women need to be educated that purchasing life
insurance when they are young and their health is
good means the prices are lower,” advises Lovely
Johnson, Harvey, IL. “The problem is women wait until
they encounter health challenges, which makes them
uninsurable and they can’t get coverage.”
The fact is, purchasing life insurance for yourself or
your children at a younger age means you are buying
less expensive coverage because you are healthy – and
that coverage can financially protect you against future
illnesses that may make you ineligible for coverage
if you get sick or have a poor health history. Look for
economical term policies that can be converted to more
permanent (whole life) insurance that will remain in
force as long as you pay the premiums – no matter what
happens to your health.
Even if you currently have life insurance, it’s important
to review your coverage regularly to be sure it fits your
life stage needs.
ONE WOMAN’S CANCER SCARE:
The Personal Cost of Life Insurance
I started my insurance career in April 2007, and
soon became aware of what life insurance can
mean to women and their families. At the time,
I told my husband I thought it was a good idea for
me to purchase life insurance as well (he already
had a policy). So, I purchased a policy to cover
myself. September of the same year, I was diagnosed with
breast cancer, stage 2. My young children were
1- and 5-years old at the time. My husband had a
good job, but my income was needed as well. My
family would have suffered if I had died – it would
have hit them hard financially if I had not thought
to purchase life insurance on myself.
Thankfully, 7 years later I am still here and very
well. Now my only regret is that I should have
bought more coverage, since it is not very likely I
would get approved now due to my health history.
But I am very grateful that I had the opportunity
to get some coverage when I could. It gave me
comfort back then and does now knowing that I can
help my family even if I am not with them. We all need to think that we can be here today
and be gone tomorrow, and should plan our life
accordingly in every sense. Protecting those we love
and would leave behind is very important. Life can
change at any moment and having the
assurance that we can help our families, even
when we are gone, provides us a sense of future
accomplishment and peace of mind.
Dolores Harrist,
The agents here are licensed representatives of Royal Neighbors of America,
and as such, sell our financial products and receive a commission from Royal
Neighbors.
1
Pew Research Center Analysis and Social Trends, 2013 2LIMRA, Facts About
Life, 2013 3LIMRA, Trillion Dollar Baby – Growing Up: The Sales Potential of
the U.S. Underinsured Life Insurance Market, 2011
Royal Neighbors Life Insurance Agent,
El Paso, TX
5
Healthy Living
TOP 5 EXERCISE
TIME-WASTERS TO TRIM
We all know that fitting in a workout isn’t always easy. Between jobs, kids, spouses, friends, and downtime, it can be
tough to work up the motivation to get yourself moving. So when you do hit the gym, your number-one priority should
be taking full advantage of the time you have there.
While your fitness efforts may be paying off when you look in the mirror, chances are you could be getting the same – if
not better – results in a shorter amount of time if you cut out exercise time-wasters. Here are the top five to trim from
your routine.
1
Getting too much rest between exercises
It’s true that your muscles should get a bit of rest in
between intense workouts, but sitting idly on the machine or standing around the water fountain isn’t doing
you any favors. Instead Jennifer Beaton, vice president of
fitness for Bay Club, an operator of luxury athletic clubs
and sports resorts in California, recommends separating
your exercises into muscle-specific moves. That way, while
you do a set for one muscle group, your other groups are
resting. Or, do cardio in between to burn more calories
and promote muscle recovery.
2
Watching TV or reading while exercising
It might make working out more bearable, but watching
TV or reading while you sweat it out can make your workouts longer because you could lose intensity while you’re
focused on these activities. For example, 45 minutes spent
at a steady pace on the treadmill while you catch up on
the latest bestseller is ok, but you could spend half that
time if you focus on walking, jogging, or running and do
high-intensity intervals every couple of minutes.
3
Chatting with friends
The buddy system is a great way to stay motivated, but
it’s important to keep your socializing to a minimum
when you’re getting down to business. You might not
achieve your maximum cardio potential if you’re trying to
save enough breath to tell your pal about your latest life
happenings. Isolate the chitchat to warm-ups and cooldowns.
4
Using the wrong form
No matter how much time you spend doing exercises and
how much energy you exert while you’re at them, you’re
wasting your time if you’re doing the moves incorrectly.
If you don’t have the right form, you could be hurting or
straining your muscles, and you’re probably not getting
the benefits you think you are. Do some research online
and watch a few videos to learn the proper methods, or
ask a trainer at your gym for a demo.
5
Doing too many reps
It might seem like doing 20, 40, or 60 reps on a weight
machine is a good idea, but you can get better results
quicker if you just increase the weight you’re using. If
you’re using the proper amount of weight, you shouldn’t
be able to do that many reps. Anywhere from eight to 15
reps is standard for general muscle conditioning. If you
feel like you could do more, add weight.
© 2014 HealthyWomen. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission from HealthyWomen. 1 (877) 986-9472 (toll-free).
On the Web at: www.HealthyWomen.org.
6
The Art of
work
Family Life
life
Balancing L f e:
Can we do it ?
Most of us are balancing something –
career and family; work and hobbies;
family and leisure time; hobbies
and volunteerism; exercise and
housework; dreams and realities.
Balance is a feeling derived from
being whole and complete, so we
typically feel better if we can find
the time to do what is important to
us. But balance in the true sense of
the word is not always possible. Our
lives naturally ebb and flow as we go
about the business of living.
“First you have to know who you are
before you know where you want
to go,” said Ginny Wilson Peters,
president of Integrity Integrated, Inc.,
Davenport, IA.
She suggests we get to know
ourselves by asking some pointed
questions. Who am I? What is my
purpose? What do I want my legacy
to be? Am I spending time on the
things that are really important to
me? “When you have the answers,
you can then make the appropriate
choices,” Ginny advises.
Here are some thoughts about
finding, and keeping, balance in your
life.
Do what you love. Determine what
it is you love doing. Is it your job,
gardening, spending time with family,
volunteering? Create your short list
so you know what you want to fit into
your schedule.
Prioritize. You know what you
love to do and you know what you
have to do, so concentrate on your
professional and personal activities
first and begin to prioritize.
Focus on the activities that only you
can do. If your teenager can handle
the laundry, let her. If you’re a parent,
you’re the one who needs to attend
the parent-teacher conference.
If your partner can make dinner
without burning it, let him. If you’re
the only one who can make the sales
presentation at work after 5:00,
that’s where you need to be.
Be flexible. Acknowledge that
there will be times when you need
to readjust your schedule and
something might not get done. No
one is perfect.
Learn to say no, gracefully. Just
because you can doesn’t mean you
have to. At some point you may have
to say no to another committee so
you can focus on your exercise/health
regimen. There may be people in your
life who are negative influencers. You
are allowed to say, “No, sorry I can’t
meet you for lunch” to those “mental
detractors” and spend time doing
something you enjoy.
Leave work stress where it belongs…
at work. Whether your job takes you
to an office building or to an office
in your basement, try to leave your
work and its stresses outside your
personal space. Give your complete
focus to your family, your hobby, or
your friends when it’s their time.
De-clutter your space. If your living
space or workplace is cluttered with
too much “stuff,” you may find it
difficult to concentrate. If you have
to spend an hour looking for a report
on your desk, you’ve just lost an hour
of family time at the end of the day.
If your car keys are lost in the maze
of kids’ homework, bills, and laundry,
you won’t make it to work on time
and you’re behind before you’ve
started.
Establish network supports. Be willing
to ask for help and accept it. You’ll be
there for your family and friends, so
let them be there for you.
Review your life regularly. Make
time for some self-reflection. Think
about how your life is going. Is your
current “balancing act” making you
happy? Are you in a rut? Have your
priorities shifted? Remember, life is
in a constant state of change and you
have choices.
7
On the Cover
Cokie Roberts
looks back in time
for leadership guidance
Coming from a family of
politicians, Cokie Roberts
does her part by helping us all
become better informed citizens.
Long-time national political
commentator, former congressional
correspondent, and best-selling
author of several books including
“Founding Mothers” and “Ladies
of Liberty,” she has won three
Emmys, has been inducted into
the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of
Fame, and was recognized as one
of the 50 greatest women in the
history of broadcasting. She also
was named a “Living Legend” by the
Library of Congress, one of the few
Americans to attain this honor.
8
What is your greatest
accomplishment? My greatest
accomplishment was raising my
family. Nothing else comes close.
Who has been your biggest
influence? My mother, Lindy
Boggs. She was a very special
person, always incredibly busy
taking care of the world, but also
always putting her children first.
(Mrs. Boggs was the first woman
from Louisiana to be elected to the
House of Representatives and to
preside over a Democratic National
Convention.)
What is the best piece of advice
you’ve received? The best piece I’ve
received, and continue to give, is
listen to your mother!
How did you become interested in
America’s founding mothers? I’ve
covered politics for many years,
and to do it right, I needed to go
back and read what the founding
fathers had to say about all kinds
of issues, like religion in the public
square, the right to bear arms, etc.
Because I grew up in a political
family and saw how influential
the women of my childhood era
were, I’ve made a specialty of
covering women in politics. So as
I was researching the men who
started our country, I became very
curious about the women of that
same period. I quickly realized I
knew hardly anything about our
founding mothers and if I knew so
little about them, considering this
was a specialty of mine, I figured no
one else knew anything about them
either. But when I began to research,
I discovered that nothing had been
written. So I did it myself and it’s
been very inspirational.
What are your thoughts on
leadership? I tend to revert to our
founding mothers when I think
of this because they exhibited
tremendous leadership. They set
examples, like Martha Washington
taking the smallpox vaccine when
it was very dangerous. They made
sacrifices. Abigail Adams made
tremendous sacrifices in terms of
comforts and financial wherewithal
and being without her husband
for many years. And they revolted. They were willing
to say things that people might laugh at like “Declare
independence!” and “Remember the
ladies!”
“
The most important thing is to
actually be in the trenches with
anyone you want to be coming
along with you. I think people will do
almost anything for you if they think
you’re right there with them, that
you’re doing at least as much work
as they are, that you appreciate the
work they’re doing, and that you’re all in it together.
How difficult is it for women to balance family
and work? I’ve done it, so now I have the joy of my
grandchildren!
Balancing work and family is the most important
workplace and economic issue of our time. We have a
world, the U. S. particularly, where more than half our
college graduates are female and more than two-thirds
of our graduate school graduates are female. We
then have to have a workplace where women feel like
they can fulfill all their obligations. That means their
obligations as caretakers as well as their obligations as
workers.
Caretaking goes on forever. It’s not just raising children.
It’s taking care of friends, siblings, and our parents, but
also the community. The library, the arts center, the
day care center, all of that needs our caretaking. So the
idea that here we are in 2014 with workplaces acting
like we’re in the 1950s is absurd. The effect of it is to
drive out the best and the brightest, the highly educated
women.
to do that. Some community banks have roving tellers,
the equivalent of substitute teachers, so that if someone
has an emergency, there is someone else
available to be there. But half of women
who are in a blue- or pink-collar job can’t
call in to say their child is sick because
they’ll get fired. And that still happens.
It’s not some boogey man thing from the
19th century. It’s scary because that’s the
”
moment you leave the child alone in the
apartment because you can’t afford to be
fired and the apartment building burns
down. It’s just terrible. Every survey of women in the
workplace shows they need time. We’ll take time over
money any day of the week.
How do you give back? I do a huge amount of non-profit
work with many kinds of organizations. It’s important to
make it a part of my life. For example, I work with Save
the Children and that involves going to some really scary
places under very unpleasant circumstances. But I come
back and bear witness to what I’ve seen and try to get
support for helping the children involved.
What message would you like to share with our
members? The farsightedness of the women who
founded Royal Neighbors is amazing. Think how hard it
was to do what they did because they had no political or
legal rights. In most places, married women couldn’t own
property, and anything they tried to do like establishing
an organization, required their husband’s approval and
signature. Doing something like starting Royal Neighbors
was incredibly difficult. You come from such a fabulous
heritage, so carry on!
How do we change this? The best way is for businesses
that have done the smart things to talk to the rest
because all the testimony is the same…it works! For
example, if there is a daycare on site or if you offer
flexible work schedules and telecommuting, there is far
less absenteeism, far greater loyalty, and recruitment
and training costs go down.
And today, it’s now so possible, at least for people at
a certain economic level. When we are talking about
women on the factory floor, women in the coffee shop,
women in the beauty parlor, it becomes a much harder
thing. It’s more difficult to cover for each other when
every soul is needed. Businesses have to figure out ways
Go to www.royalneighbors.org/Cokie to learn more about Cokie’s most challenging interview.
9
Visit us on Facebook
How do you find balance in your life?
If you have any good tips, visit us at
www.royalneighbors.org/facebook
and let us know!
MAKE A
DIFFERENCE!
Household HINT
Make A Difference Day is Oct. 25. Join
with other Royal Neighbors members
across the country to create Baskets of Hope
for women who are moving forward to a
better life. Call (309) 732-8260 to
learn more about this national
day of volunteerism and how
you can help.
When you are finished
painting for the day and you
don’t want to take time to clean the
brush before you use it again, wrap the
paint brush in aluminum foil and put it in the
refrigerator. It will be ready to use the next day.
~Member Nancy Kling
Swedona, IL
If you have a helpful
household hint, please send it to
Rita.Toalson@royalneighbors.org.
Volunteers are
paid in six figures...
S-M-I-L-E-S. ~Gayla LeMaire
Bagel Dip
2 pkgs. cream cheese, softened
1 ½ cups sour cream
¼ cup diced onion
Garlic salt to taste
2 tsps. dill
1 ½-2 cups corned beef
AFFECTED BY SUMMER STORMS?
If you are a
beneficial member
of Royal Neighbors and have
been affected by recent weather-related
events, call (800) 627-4762. We can help if you
have difficulty making your insurance payments
or need additional time to complete a
reinstatement. And, you may qualify for
our Fraternal Aid Program that grants
financial assistance for illness,
accident, or natural disaster.
10
Quote of the Quarter:
Mix ingredients together and serve
with cut-up bagels. Can be made
ahead of serving time.
Insurance
Speak
Definition: Death Benefit.
The amount payable to the
beneficiary upon the death of the
insured.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
A top
stressor
for
college
students:
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
According to a 2012 survey by Inceptia, a non-profit financial education advocate, four of
the top five areas causing stress among college students were money-related. The top five
reasons for stress were the need to repay loans, the cost of education, borrowing money for
college, the need to find a job after school, and the academic challenge of course work.
If you’re a prospective or current college student or the parent of children with higher
education goals, the Royal Neighbors Foundation has a FREE webinar just for you. Lauren
Lyons Cole, Certified Financial Planner, will host “Understanding Student Loans: Before,
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ During, and After College.” The live webinar will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 9, from 6-7 p.m.
CT, or you can view it at your convenience after Sept. 9 by going to www.royalneighborsfoundation.org.
money
There are several other helpful webinars available on the website that will give you tips about investing, combining finances
with your partner, organizing your finances, negotiating, and raising financially savvy kids.
The mission of the Foundation is Building Women’s Futures Through Financial EducationSM.
Whether you’re planning for college expenses, a new home, or retirement, the more you
understand your finances, the more successful you will be.
You can help the Foundation help women with their finances by sending a
tax-deductible donation to Royal Neighbors Foundation, 230 16th Street,
Rock Island, IL, 61201, or to www.royalneighborsfoundation.org using a credit
card or PayPal.
Visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/royalneighborsfoundation.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATIONS TO THE ROYAL NEIGHBORS FOUNDATION!
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In memory of Dorothy Johnson
Mary Staver, Rock Island, IL - $35
In memory of Joann Nozicka
Chapter 8753, Hillsboro, OR - $100
Chapter 1373, Atlantic, IA - $50
Chapter 3000, Exline, IA - $68.12
In memory of Mirie Huston
Chapter 1228, Rexford, KS - $50
Chapter 378, Effingham, IL - $100
In memory of Ruthy Myers
*Chapter 8118, Harvey, IL - $50
February 1, 2014 - August 12, 2014
Chapter 20066, Viola, IL - $100
In memory of Mary Lou Wherry
Chapter 8753, Hillsboro, OR - $10
In memory of Margerey Olson
Chapter 669, Chatsworth, IL - $80
Chapter 270, Bagley, WI - $50
In memory of Patrick Lucy
Chapter 1228, Rexford, KS - $50
Chapter 8753, Hillsboro, OR - $100
Park City Day School 7th Graders, Park
City, UT - $35.37
Royal Neighbors Board of Directors - $850
In honor of Nancy Hanna’s dedicated service
Royal Neighbors Board of Directors - $850
In honor of Joyce Elam’s dedicated service
Chapter 2845, Sioux Falls, SD - $50
Chapter 572, Yankton, SD - $160.70
Chapter 3190, Winchester, IL - $50
Chapter 1132, Kennard, NE - $50
In honor of our deceased members
Chapter 5062, Grand Rapids, OH - $52.84
Chapter 553, Monticello, IA - $75
Chapter 10761, Pine Haven, WY - $100
In memory of Linda Clark
*Youth Chapter
11
RECEIVE GRANTS
58 MEMBERS
in the 2014 Scholarship Program
For more than half a century, Royal Neighbors has awarded scholarships to its members who have goals and aspirations
that require additional education. In that time, we’ve given more than $4 million and enhanced the program to reach a
broader spectrum of the membership. In addition to increasing the award amounts, we now offer grants for non-traditionalaged students who may want to change careers or get back into the work force. We congratulate our 58 new recipients
and wish them well as they work toward new goals and opportunities.
2014 Scholarship Winners
Lea Hudson received the Making A Difference Leadership scholarship worth $20,000.
Also shown here are winners of ten 4-year Making A Difference scholarships valued at
$8,000 each.
Visit www.royalneighbors.org/scholarshipwinners for a list of the remaining 2014
scholarship recipients, which include winners of one New Horizons Leader scholarship
valued at up to $20,000; ten non-renewable New Horizons scholarships valued at $5,000
each; 32 non-renewable Royal Neighbors Foundation awards of $500 and $2,000; and four
Life Enrichment grants of $500 each.
Lea Hudson
Chapter 1440
Portland, OR
Alyssa Foster
Chapter 40028
Springfield, MO
No picture
available.
Kaylie Barnett
Hannah Devane
Elle LeClaire
Ryan Mather
Justine Blumenstock
Elisabeth Corley
Blake Peterson
Hannah Baker-Boyd
Chapter 20055
Davenport, IA
Megan Birgy
Chapter 7826
Rosenberg, TX
12
Chapter 44
Lincoln, NE
Chapter 50002
Midwest Region
Chapter 40021
Sacramento, CA
Chapter 1129
Bradley, IL
Chapter 1074
Crotty, KS
Chapter 1329
Oakland, MN
Chapter 20032
Moline, IL
Royal Neighbors Scholarship Program
a member benefit that can last a lifetime
In addition to excellent life insurance and annuity products, one of the many
advantages of being a part of the Royal Neighbors family is its unique package of
member benefits. Our scholarship program has been one of those benefits since
1961. With the cost of higher education rising each year, these grants can make a
difference when planning for the financial portion of college.
If you are an adult beneficial member of Royal Neighbors, you are encouraged to
apply for one of several types of scholarships that will ease the
financial burden of rising education costs. Complete the Request
for Scholarship Application form located at the bottom of this
page, and return it to Royal Neighbors, 230 16th
Street, Rock Island, IL 61201, by Jan. 31, 2015.
Visit www.royalneighbors.org/scholarships for complete
details of the program and to apply online.
All applicants MUST be beneficial members of Royal Neighbors (which
means they must be insured or own an annuity with Royal Neighbors).
Request for Royal Neighbors of America
Scholarship Application and Information
(Scholarship applicants must be insured or own an annuity with Royal Neighbors.)
An application packet will be sent to all members who complete this request.
1. Scholarship request for:
2. Name (Please type or print)
3. Mailing address
q Making A Difference
Last
Complete address
Chapter no. and location
q New Horizons
First
q Life Enrichment
Middle
city
State
Certificate no.
Zip
Date joined Royal Neighbors
4. Royal Neighbors data
5. Personal data
Daytime telephone (
Home telephone (
) ________-____________________
) ________-_________________
Date of birth _________ /_________ /_________
q Male
q Female
Email ____________________________________
Social Security no. (Last four digits) _____________________
Date of graduation from high school ___________________________(month) /_____________________(year)
If already graduated, date of graduation and/or GED _________________________________________________
Signature
Date
Mail to: Royal Neighbors of America, 230 Sixteenth Street, Rock Island, IL 61201-8645, ATTN: Fraternal Department
Form 1457; Rev. 7-2012
13
ROYAL NEIGHBORS Earns Prestigious Great Rated! Designation
from Great Place to Work® Institute
Royal Neighbors has earned the designation of Great Rated! from the Great Place to Work
Institute. The designation is based on the Trust Index© Employee Survey which was completed by
Royal Neighbors employees as well as a review of the organization’s employee programs.
The survey results are reviewed by the Institute for key strengths, culture fit, management involvement, career
development, benefits, and actual employee comments. Other companies awarded this prestigious designation
include Google, Microsoft, American Express, Nordstrom, and Hyatt Hotels.
The Great Rated! Review describes Royal Neighbors’ unique culture and reflects responses to the survey according to
the five dimensions of the Great Place to Work® Trust Index©: Credibility, Respect, Fairness, Pride, and Camaraderie.
Organizations that build trust and create a rewarding cycle of personal contribution and appreciation create
workplace cultures that deliver outstanding business performance, improved retention, successful recruitment, and
engaged employees.
SALLY MURPHY AND JODII ZIMMERMAN JOIN ROYAL NEIGHBORS EXECUTIVE TEAM
Royal Neighbors has announced the appointments of Sally Murphy as General Counsel and Secretary, and
Jodii Zimmerman as Chief Marketing Officer.
Sally joined the Royal Neighbors team in June 2014. She brings over 20 years of Corporate
Secretary and General Counsel experience in the insurance industry with particular strengths in
insurance contracture, reinsurance, and employment law. Beginning her career at Mass Mutual,
she became the Associate Secretary to its board of directors. She also has held corporate
attorney positions at AIG and Life and Specialty Ventures, a subsidiary owned by multiple-state
Blue Cross Blue Shield corporations.
Earning her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Massachusetts and her Juris Doctor
at Western New England College School of Law, Sally has a unique combination of skills
with strong experience in corporate governance, litigation oversight, compliance, product
development, and legislative tracking. She also has an extensive background working with the independent agent
distribution channel. A former member of the Arkansas Chamber of Commerce Leadership Group, she also was elected
commissioner of the Wilbraham, MA, Housing Authority; was a volunteer at the Houston, TX, Food Bank and Women’s
Shelter; and was a member of the Massachusetts National Guard.
Jodii joined Royal Neighbors in July of 2014 and brings expertise in strategic planning,
marketing plans and business development strategies, marketing materials, corporate
branding/communications, public relations, and special events.
In her new role, Jodii will lead the marketing efforts of the organization, articulating the vision
and mission to key constituencies by identifying affinity organizations and opportunities for
partnership relationships. She also will direct and execute marketing plans and expand the
membership of Royal Neighbors.
Prior to joining the Royal Neighbors team, Jodii was the Chief Marketing Officer for CogniTek,
an energy product solutions company, and was the owner of Zimm Inc., where she provided
a suite of marketing and project management solutions to small- and medium-sized companies. In addition, she was
the vice president of new product development and marketing for HSBC, one of the largest banking and financial
services institutions worldwide. Earning her bachelor’s degree in International Relations, Political Science, and Spanish
at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Jodii also holds a Master’s of Business Administration from DePaul University,
Chicago, IL.
14
MEMBERSHIP PARTICIPATES
in 2014 election of Board of Directors
Adult beneficial members of Royal Neighbors of America have the opportunity to have a direct voice in the governance
of the organization through the election process for the board of directors.
Each year an election is held for those members of the board whose terms are expiring. As a result of the 2014 election,
each of the women below will serve as director for her new respective term.
Visit www.royalneighbors.org/aboutus/Leadership for complete biographies of these board members.
Julie Bauer has extensive
experience in developing
online marketing strategies
and overseeing technology and
operations management for
global retail enterprises. She
is the President of Panasonic’s
consumer business of North
America. Panasonic Corporation
is one of the largest electronic
JULIE BAUER
product
manufacturers in
West Orange, NJ
the world, comprised of over
Three-year term
634 companies. Previously
she had served as the Senior Vice President of Digital
and Global Commerce for Guthy/Renker, where she
was instrumental in creating seamless experiences for
customers. Ms. Bauer received her Bachelor of Science
degree in business/marketing at the University of
Wisconsin, and her Masters in Business Administration
from the University of St. Thomas. A member of the
Royal Neighbors Board of Directors since 2013, she
serves on its audit and investment committees.
Congratulations to Jolene Smith!
Jolene Smith, secretary/treasurer
of Chapter 1373, Atlantic, IA,
has been selected as Royal
Neighbors’ 2014 Fraternalist
of the Year for her outstanding
volunteer efforts. She has been a
member of Royal Neighbors since
1942, and is a great example of
our neighbor-helping-neighbor
philosophy.
Patricia Gibford retired as
President/CEO of Clear
Choice Health Plans, Inc.
(now Clear One Health Plans,
Inc.), in 2010. Involved in
the health care industry for
over 35 years, she has held
executive positions at Medical
Care International and Blue
Cross Blue Shield of Oregon.
PATRICIA GIBFORD
She is a registered nurse and
Bend, OR
holds a degree in Business
One-year term
Administration and Health
Care Administration from Concordia College, Portland,
OR. Ms. Gibford also has been a member of the
Strategic Planning and Finance Committee of Cascade
Healthcare Community and is committed to numerous
health care promotions and activities that support
seniors and children. She has been a member of the
Royal Neighbors Board of Directors since September
2004, and currently serves as its chair; has chaired the
governance committee for the past three years; and is
a member of the compensation committee.
AND THE
WINNER
IS...
…Donald Chapman of Niles, MI! Donald’s
certificate number was chosen at random from the
members who voted in the 2014 board of directors
election. Royal Neighbors donated $500 to his
favorite charity in his honor.
15
Are you prepared for the unexpected?
Good or bad, Life HappensTM. That’s why you buy life insurance.
Royal Neighbors of America® can help you preserve what you have
and protect those you love regardless of what happens tomorrow.
WE ARE INSURANCE WITH A DIFFERENCESM
September is Life Insurance Awareness Month.
Call (866) 845-6665 to review your life insurance needs...
because life is full of surprises.
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www.lifehappens.org
RNA 0814A