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Western Catholic Union RECORD Vol. 112, No. 4 ~ Winter, 2016 ~ 139th Year of Service ~ PO Box 410, Quincy, IL A Time To Give For Apple Creek Branch "We're going to do something great here today" Following an early-morning prayer, nearly 70 members and friends of the Brush Hawks of Oak Ridge MO set out to help needy families in the Ste. Genevieve County area. Throughout the year the Brush Hawks raise money and gather some donated items to distribute to the most-needy families of the area. The Brush Hawks go back over 40 years, and after a brief inactive period, six years ago they realized how they could make a difference if "they put the band back together." Four years ago they caught the attention of Lawrence Buchheit, President of Apple Creek MO branch of West- ern Catholic Union. At the same time, WCU branches were encouraged to reach out in their communities to in- clude new people in their activities in an organization- wide campaign called "What's New at WCU?" WCU and the Brush Hawks: a match made in heaven. At the food basket packing event, Branch President Lawrence Buchheit and Secretary Toni Ponder present a $500 check to Andy Schumer. One table displayed all the items that each food basket would include, excluding the ham that was added just prior to delivery. On this early December Saturday morn- ing, they all gathered to help: the young and old, Brush Hawks and WCU members, and friends of both groups. But all shared the same goal of helping neighbors in need. It's how fraternal organizations help make a difference all over the country.

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Western Catholic Union

RECORDVol. 112, No. 4 ~ Winter, 2016 ~ 139th Year of Service ~ PO Box 410, Quincy, IL

A Time To Give For Apple Creek Branch"We're going to do something great here today"

Following an early-morning prayer, nearly 70 members and friends of the Brush Hawks of Oak Ridge MO

set out to help needy families in the Ste. Genevieve

County area.

Throughout the year the Brush Hawks raise money and

gather some donated items to distribute to the most-needy

families of the area.

The Brush Hawks go back over 40 years, and after a

brief inactive period, six years ago they realized how they

could make a difference if "they put the band back

together."

Four years ago they caught the attention of Lawrence

Buchheit, President of Apple Creek MO branch of West-

ern Catholic Union. At the same time, WCU branches

were encouraged to reach out in their communities to in-

clude new people in their activities in an organization-

wide campaign called "What's New at WCU?"

WCU and the Brush Hawks: a match

made in heaven. At the food basket packing

event, Branch President Lawrence Buchheit

and Secretary Toni Ponder present a $500

check to Andy Schumer.

One table displayed all the items that each

food basket would include, excluding the ham

that was added just prior to delivery.

On this early December Saturday morn-

ing, they all gathered to help: the young and

old, Brush Hawks and WCU members, and

friends of both groups.

But all shared the same goal of helping

neighbors in need.

It's how fraternal organizations help make

a difference all over the country.

Western Catholic Union

R e c o r dThe Record has been the official publication

of the Western Catholic Union since March,

1905. It is a periodical published quarterly for

$3 each year to WCU members and friends

(USPS 677-780). Periodical postage paid at

Springfield, IL and at additional mailing sites.

Postmaster: Send address changes

to:

Editor, PO Box 410,

Quincy, IL 62306-0410.

Western Catholic Union is a member

of the American Fraternal Alliance.

Jane Flachs - Managing Editor

Steven L. Looten - Contributing Editor

****WCU Officers and Directors

Chairman of the Board

Sherri L. Schaefer

President & CEO

Roger W. Player

Secretary/Treasurer & CFO

Kent D. Stegeman, FICF

National Sales Director

Robert J. Ley

Vice President-Fraternal

& Communications

Steven L. Looten

National Directors

Michael A. Bickhaus, Quincy, IL

August H. Boessen, III, Westphalia, MO

Joseph F. Grawe, Quincy, IL

Philip J. Hildebrand, Jr., Quincy, IL

David P. Hutt, Troy, IL

Linda K. Moore, Quincy, IL

James R. Obert, Quincy, IL

John R. Prangl, Chicago, IL

Corinn A. Puleo, St. Thomas, MO

Visit WCU’s web site at

www.wculife.org

WCU Mail Box Letters and stories from YOU!Dear WCU,

Thank you very much for award-ing me with the Western CatholicUnion’s G.A. Wiewel VocationScholarship once again this year. Ithas been a tremendous help in myformation and has helped me helpothers and be a better minister.

Praise be to God, I was ordainedas a transitional Deacon in May. So,thank you for journeying with me.Know of my prayers for you and allthose who have made these scholar-ships possible.Best, Radley AlcantaraMundelein Seminary, Mundelein, IL

Dear WCU,From the school family at St.

Joseph Cathedral in Jefferson City,thank you to the Western CatholicUnion for a recent donation from theJefferson City, MO, Branch 263. Wereceived a $300 donation toward ourefforts to raise $1000 for the SpecialOlympics. On October 15, I will berappelling down the one of the office buildings in Jefferson City, insupport of Special Olympics, andthe $1000 is the donation that accompanies this event. We areproud to partner with you for thebenefit of these dedicated athletes!

Our school family will continue topray for your good work.Sincerely,Spencer Allen, PrincipalSt. Joseph Cathedral School

Dear WCU,Thank you for your gift of $200

received on Tuesday, October 25,2016 matching WCU Branch 15’s$200.00 donation to support the financial aid fund in memory of Lt. John Leonard ‘75.

Your support, along with the support of donors like you, enablesus to offer our students an “excellent

education,” “enthusiastic teachers,”“wonderful use of technology,” and“Shamrock Pride,” among otherthings, as nicely expressed by one of our parents in a recent letter toPrincipal Jon Baffico:

“My husband and I want to thank you

for a wonderful parent/teacher orientation

last night. We left the orientation knowing

that our son will receive an excellent

education from St. Patrick High School! We

were so impressed with the very enthusias-

tic teachers, the extra class period this year,

the wonderful use of technology in the

classrooms, and also the new ACT prep

testing that will be incorporated this year.

The teachers wear Shamrock Pride, and

want the boys to grow up to be successful

young men. With the new ACT prep testing,

(our son) and his classmates will become

confident test takers, and will be well pre-

pared to earn a great score for college.

Thank you again for your devotion and

passion to make St. Patrick High School the

excellent school it is today!”

We thank you again for makingpossible all of the good things available to our students at St. Pat’s.With Shamrock Pride,Gary D. Santella ‘72 JDSenior Director of Institutional

AdvancementSt. Patrick High SchoolChicago, IL

Dear WCU,Thank you so much for choosing

my grant application as worthyenough to be awarded the $250. Iam thrilled to introduce my studentsto even more useful and educationaltechnology that they may not haveotherwise had access to utilizing. Inaddition, thank you for your contin-ued support to the Catholic Schoolsystems. It is people like you thatfurther my convictions to stay at St.Francis and within the CatholicSchool communityJamie Marshall, 1st Grade TeacherSt. Francis Solanus School

Quincy, IL

2

Getting To Know YouRoger Player, President & CEO

In just a few weeks, I will have been President & CEO of WCU for one year. I have

spent that year getting better acquainted with my staff, more branch leaders, the operations

of WCU and other fraternal insurance industry leaders. I have spent this year “looking

behind the curtain” at our Home Office operations. In working with the staff over this past

year, I can assure that we can celebrate this Christmas season and look forward to 2017

knowing that the money we have all entrusted to WCU is safe and secure.

This December, I, along with my wife, Nancy, have been able to visit with some of you at your branch

Christmas parties. We saw first-hand the love you have for each other and your communities. It warmed our

hearts and made us proud to be a part of WCU. I want to take this opportunity to wish all the members of WCU

and your families a very Merry and Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!

David and Kathy Bohler present a $500 Matching

Fund check to the sisters at St. Agatha Food Pantry

in south St. Louis. The St. Louis branch of WCU

coordinated a fundraising campaign in November for

the food pantry that raised $4,130. This is the third

straight year for the WCU fund drive.

Western Catholic Union Secretary/Treasurer Kent

Stegeman presents a $500 Matching Fund check to

Lucas Frageman, President of Young People Club of

Quincy IL. The Quincy branch and YP hosted a lunch-

eon to raise money for the Good News of Christmas

campaign to help needy families.

Over the past 50 years St. Joseph

Church has held an annual parish

homecoming picnic. Union, MO,

Branch 253, has manned the roll

down and grab bag game during

the picnic as a Matching Fund

event to benefit St. Joseph Church.

3

WCU Christmas Contest Winners are AnnouncedWestern Catholic Union has sponsored their annual Christmas poster and essay contest since 1993. This year

there were 267 essays and 340 posters representing 14 schools in Illinois, Missouri and Iowa.

This year’s theme for the essay contest, grades 5-6 and grades 7-9, was “How We Can Celebrate Christmas

By Making Our World Better.” The theme for the poster contest in grades K-2 and grades 3-4 was “My

Favorite Christmas Song.”

First place winners each receive $50. Awards of 30 were sent to 2nd place winners and $20 was awarded to

third place winners.

Winners are: Poster Contest (K-2) - First place: Carter Schatz, grade 2, Our Lady of Lourdes School,

Washington, MO; Second place: Charlie Davis, grade 2, Our Lady of Lourdes School, Washington, MO; Third

place: Andrew Schumer, grade 2, St. Vincent Elementary, Perryville, MO.

Poster Contest (3-4) - First place: Allie Patrick, grade 4, St. Vincent Elementary, Perryville, MO; Second

place (tie): Elizabeth Sprenger, grade 3, St. George School, Linn, MO; Second place (tie): Reesa Kempker,

grade 4, St. Joseph School, Westphalia, MO; Third place: Kaitlyn Buerck, grade 4, St. Vincent Elementary,

Perryville, MO.

Essay Contest (5-6) - First place: Mariah Melland, grade 5, Our Lady of Lourdes School, Washington, MO;

Second place: Tate Marquart, grade 5, Our Lady of Lourdes School, Washington, MO; Third place: Matthew

Blomberg, grade 5, Our Lady of Lourdes School, Washington, MO.

Essay Contest (7-9) - First place: Troy Ludwig, grade 8, St. George School, Linn, MO; Second place: Lucy

Williams, grade 8, St. Joseph School, Westphalia, MO; Third place: Sarah Enkvetchakul, grade 7, Our Lady of

Lourdes School, Washington, MO.

How We Can Celebrate Christmas

By Making Our WorldTroy Ludwig, Grade 8, Son of Dale and Rhonda Ludwig, Linn, MO

Motivational speaker Dr. Norman Peale once said, “Christmas waves a magic wand over the world and

behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” I agree. Christmas is a holy time, a time for family, and a time

for peace. When we celebrate Christmas, we sew and reap generosity, tolerance, and spirituality, and that makes

the world a better place.

First, people are more kind and generous around Christmas. Everyone seems to care more about the well

being of others, and is willing to give more of their own time to help those in need. Eric Sevareid once wrote,

“Christmas is a necessity. There has to be one day of the year to remind us that we are here for something else

besides ourselves.” That is one of the true benefits of Christmas.

Next, through Christmas celebrations, tolerance spreads. People are more willing to accept differing opinion,

social habits, and even political views during the holidays. We go to Christmas church services with people we

do not know. We sing out praises to God and have no concern about who is worshipping next to us. We help

complete strangers through different charities. It is almost like Jesus opens our hearts and our minds, and tells

us to accept all His children. This, too, makes Christmas magical.

Finally, at Christmas I believe we are closer to God, even those who are non-believers. We are reminded of

how God sent his only Son to save us and how he came into our world. Charles Dickens once wrote, “It is good

to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas when its mighty Founder was a child himself.” We

feel a special closeness to God at Christmas. It renews our faith and perhaps it brings a few non-believers back

home to God.

I believe celebrating Christmas makes the world better by the affect it has on our generosity, tolerance

and spirituality. I know it makes my world better. It makes my life better, and it makes me a better person at

Christmas and throughout the year.

4

How We Can Celebrate Christmas

By Making our World BetterMariah Melland, Grade 5, Daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Melland, Washington, MO

“He will be our peace.” Micah 5:5 When I was younger and I was learning about Jesus, I heard a lot about

peace on Earth. I believe that Jesus is our peace. I knew that peace was important once I was a little bit older.

That’s why I like that bible verse. We can celebrate Christmas by making our world better and I hope to do this

by doing random acts of kindness, having peace on Earth, and teaching about Jesus.

Random acts of kindness are some things we should do especially around Christmas time. For example you

could donate clothes to the less fortunate. In addition you could volunteer at a food pantry. Also you could visit

the sick or lonely. Even though they’re not big acts they could be big in people’s hearts.

Having peace on Earth would make the world way better. A good reason that peace is so important is there

wouldn’t be any more crime. If there was peace, there would be no more judging no matter who you are. As you

can see if there was peace on Earth we could all live in peace and harmony.

Teaching about Jesus is super important because not all people know about him. If we teach about Jesus

people would know more about why we have Christmas. For this reason if we do teach about Jesus people will

care more about Christmas day and Him. Teaching about Him will make people want to know more. That’s

why we say Jesus is the reason for the season and it’s true. The next time you celebrate Christmas think more

about Jesus.

We can celebrate Christmas by making the world better and I hope to do this by doing random acts of

kindness, having peace on Earth, and teaching about Jesus. I feel like those are some good ways to celebrate

Christmas by making the world better. They may be small but they’re big to others. If you want to make a

difference try one of these. Finally that’s how you can celebrate Christmas by making our world better.

“Hark the Herald Angels Sing” from A Charlie Brown Christmas is Allie Patrick’s favorite

Christmas song. She is a 4th grade student at St. Vincent Elementary, Perryville, MO, and is the

daughter of Bob and Michelle Patrick, Perryville, MO.

5

Reach Out To The Under Privileged Kids

Western Catholic Union Chicago Branch 15,

La Salle, IL, sponsors a golf outing at Tam O’Shanter

Golf Course in Niles, IL, to benefit Reach 618 activi-

ties for the under privileged kids in Carbondale, IL.

“This is our 4th year and again we keep increasing

our donation,” said John Prangl, Treasurer of the

branch and National Trustee. They raised $2,235.

The 4-H Teen Exchange group along with members of the Western Catholic Union WestphaliaBranch 314, picked grapes at the Neuner Farm as aMatching Fund event. Proceeds went to benefit the4-H Teen Exchange.

Villa Ridge, Branch 268 sponsored a quilt bingo

bake sale to benefit St. John’s Ladies Sodality for

quilting supplies.

Ste. Genevieve, MO, Branch 262 paid for the Veterans

Day meal held at the American Legion Hall on 11/11/2016

where 75+ veterans attended..

Jefferson City, MO, Branch 263 sponsored

a chili supper as a Matching Fund event to

benefit St. Francis Xavier School in Jefferson

City, MO.

6

Racine, WI, Branch 400, held a Matching Fund atthe Farmer’s Market of Racine selling baked goodsThe proceeds went to benefit the Lutheran Churchof the Resurrection Women.

St. Joseph Zell, MO, sponsored the Ladies of

St. Joseph Parish Raffle in conjunction with bingo as a

Matching Fund event to benefit the Ladies of St. Joseph,

Ste. Genevieve, MO.

Krakow, MO, Branch 209 sponsored a Pro-life Break-fast at St. Gertrude School Parish Center to help supportthe Pro-Life trip for St. Gertrude and St. Ann GradeSchool and PSR.

Villa Ridge, MO, Branch 268 co-sponsored a Fall-themed

scrapbook extravaganza to benefit St. John the Baptist School.

Davenport, IA, Branch 95 sponsored the

ILLOWA Council Boy Scouts of America 19th

annual Scouting Clays Classic held at the

Bi-State Sportsman’s Club in Colona, IL, as a

Matching Fund event to benefit ILLOWA

Council Boy Scouts.

Doris Frazier is shown presenting the check

to Karen and Loyal Tullius.

7

Dear brothers and sisters,

The older I get, the more I dislike winter. I have never enjoyed the cold temperatures, or the ice and

snow, but what I dislike the most is the weeks and months of darkness, which feels more oppressive

with the passage of years. As the darkness grows, I find myself yearning for the return of the sun.

Perhaps you know what I mean.

Sadly, the sense of an encroaching darkness is not only to be found in the natural world, but also in

the hearts of men and women. We sing in our carols that this is “the most wonderful time of the year,”

but how did many seek to enter into the joy of the season with greed, self-absorption, and violence?

As Americans, we have willfully allowed the national holy day of Black Friday to become the highlight of the year and

rob families of their loved ones at the very time we are supposed to be giving thanks for our common gifts. If we are

honest, this is a natural progression stemming from the day when we, as a society, decided Sunday was no longer to be a

day dedicated to God and to family.

Beginning in 1994, I worked at KB Toys in Quincy as the Parental Video Game Adviser and I continued working in

that toy store for seven years, though as a sales associate after that first Christmas. It was a time when the Friday after

Thanksgiving was known as Green Friday because many stores took in more than half of their annual income on that one

day. Now that day is known as Black Friday, supposedly because stores now begin to operate in the black instead of the

red. Still, I cannot help but wonder if this change in name is not somehow related to – or indicative of - a change in our

hearts, a change not for the better.

The hearts of many Americans have become so dark that it almost no longer surprises us to hear of the violence and

even the deaths associated with Black Friday shopping from San Antonio to Chattanooga, from Atlantic City to Reno. The

violence spans the country and this year even involved a fight over washcloths selling for $1.60 in Bainbridge, Georgia, a

fight that broke out into a brawl. Is this the joy of the season? Is this what it is all about? Is this really the most wonderful

time of the year? Does this not show a darkening of our hearts?

In the midst of the darkness of these days, I find myself repeating a line J.R.R. Tolkien gave to Aragorn at Helm’s Deep:

“Yet dawn is ever the hope of men.” The ancient Christians prayed looking toward the east; even in their homes they

would look out an eastward facing window when making the sign of the Cross and saying their prayers. They did so in the

confidence of the return of the Lord Jesus who, as we sing at Easter, is “the one Morning Star who never sets.” They

looked not simply for the dawning of a new day, but for the dawning of the coming of the Lord; they lived in eager

expectation of his coming and sought not to be caught unawares. Can the same be said of us?

The temptation today is to anticipate too early Christmas Day at the expense of our spiritual growth. In many families,

the Christmas tree and the Nativity set have already been raised and will be taken down shortly after Christmas dinner, in

stark contrast to the liturgical year, which celebrates Christmas beginning not until Christmas Day and continues through

the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, this year the ninth of January. It seems we have forgotten this rich season of Advent

that calls us to wait, to be still, to ponder, and to hope for the dawn.

Our communal neglect of Advent in favor of the maddening greed of Black Friday “seems especially disturbing – for

it’s injured even the secular Christmas season: opening a hole, from Thanksgiving on, that can be filled only with fiercer,

madder, and wilder attempts to anticipate Christmas.” We find ourselves surrounded by what Joseph Bottum has rightly

described as “more Christmas trees. More Christmas lights. More tinsel, more tassels, more glitter, more glee – until the

glut of candles and carols, ornaments and trimmings, has left almost nothing for Christmas Day. For much of America,

Christmas itself arrives nearly as an afterthought: not the fulfillment, but only the end, of the long Yule season that has

burned without stop since the stores began their Christmas sales.” Is this not what the Lord Jesus warns against when he

tells us that we also “must be prepared, for at an hour [we] do not expect, the Son of Man will come” (Matthew 24:44)?It is too easy for us to give in to the temptations that surround us, to focus on the commercialism and materialism of the

culture in which we find ourselves, and ignore this season of grace in which we should be stirring ourselves from ourfaithlessness and from our sluggish spiritual sleep. We must instead focus on Jesus, on keeping his commands by lovingGod and neighbor in every circumstance, and prepare to meet him when at last he comes to judge the living and thedead. So long as there is yet another dawn, there is time for us to “throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor oflight” (Romans 13:12).

Let us, then, keep these days of Advent well, not in the anticipation of the gifts we will exchange on Christmas Day, but

in gratitude for the gift of the Lord’s mercy given us in his Birth at Bethlehem and in expectation of his return in glory.

May God bless each of you and your families with a reflective Advent and a merry Christmas!

Peace and Joy,Reverend Daren J. Zehnle, K.H.S.WCU National Spiritual Director

8

Jerome Pelster Memorial Tuition Assistance Award

The St. Louis branch of Western Catholic Union is

supporting six seminarians in their studies. Branch officer

Henry Schaper presents checks.

Apple Creek, MO, Branch 148 sponsored St.

Joseph Parish annual picnic to benefit Apple

Creek Men’s Organization.

Money is raised throughout the year to help

support Catholic education in the Franklin-Warren

District in Missouri.

A covered dish dinner was held in October

inviting WCU members, families, and friends. The

branch also had a 50/50 raffle drawing to benefit the

Jerome Pelster Memorial Tuition Assistance Fund.

This year they were able to award eight $250

awards at the dinner. Winners were Kara Lause,

Ryan Pelster, Joseph Lause, Justin Miesner, Aaron

Dobsch, Alexis Wilson, Benjamin Lause and Nicole

Frankenberg.

The cooks are preparing a chicken & dumplingdinner sponsored by Ozora, MO, Branch 287. TheMatching Fund proceeds from the dinner went tobenefit Immaculate Conception Church.

New WCU sales agent Karen Weible presents a$500 Matching Fund check to Brussels, IL branchpresident Nancy Kulp and Doris Tepen. The moneywill support St. Mary School in Brussels.

9

The Life-Changing Life Insurance

Career That’s Often OverlookedWarren S. Hersch, January, 2016 Article of LifeHealth Pro

Edited by Bob Ley, National Sales Director

Do well by doing “good.”

For life insurance and financial services professionals, this adage finds perhaps its

fullest expression in an often-overlooked industry niche: fraternal benefit societies, such as

Western Catholic Union. Agents and advisors seeking more rewarding and successful careers might do well by

taking a closer look at them.

Why? The societies offer producers unique opportunities to weave charitable community-building initiatives

into their careers. And in so doing, many among them find their lives transformed.

According to a July 2014 study of the Maryland School of Public Policy, fraternal insurers generated nearly

$19 billion in member benefits between 2007 and 2011. Counting only direct contributions, the societies

chalked up $2.4 billion in charitable and community assistance, an average of $478.3 million per year. Members

also volunteered nearly 400 million hours of their time during the five-year period, which averages out to $1.6

billion annually.

(Note: In the past eight years, members of the Western Catholic Union branches raised in excess

of $4.2 million for charities in their local communities; WCU provided matching funds of more than

$530,000. In terms of volunteerism, WCU members and employees logged over 200,000 man-hours

for charity.)

Generating these eye-popping numbers are the fraternal insurers’ field producers. The volunteer efforts, say

top executives, are yielding tangible benefits not only for the members and communities served, but also for

agents and advisors spearheading them. That’s particularly true of 20-somethings entering the profession. Says

one Fraternal executive, “Young people are very motivated by the fraternal model. They’re attracted to the

caring, giving and camaraderie developed in a fraternal type of environment.”

“We always say we’re looking for the racehorse with a big heart, or the tiger that’s benevolent,” says one

Fraternal executive. “Many are in this business for the money, which is not always bad,” he adds. “But

salespeople who don’t want to be involved in community service or participate in volunteer activities won’t be

happy here.”

Many fraternal-affiliated advisors form lasting personal and professional relationships not only with

members, but also parents, children and grandchildren. That can add up to a lot of people — and a huge impact

on a small community.

(Note: Western Catholic Union has an agent who personally has over 700 clients insured through

the Society.)

The philanthropic focus of the fraternals is one tie that binds advisors to their members and

communities; another is the products they offer. Many of the fraternal societies, such as WCU, return earnings

to policyholders as dividends (typically for participating whole life policies.) The monies may be received as

interest or cash; or be used to purchase additional death benefit or reduce premiums. Also to consider: The

fraternal insurers’ primary mission is to serve their members/policyholders — not distant stockholders.

Here at Western Catholic Union, we are constantly seeking to find agents who want to experience success

while charitably serving their communities. If you know someone for whom “do well by doing good” rings

true, we would like to visit with them. Please refer any contacts to me personally at 877-928-1877 or email me

at [email protected].

God Bless you and may you and your family have a Blessed and Merry Christmas!

10

Just Say “NO” To DrugsCara Lause’s award winning essay from the Elks 2016 National Drug Awareness Essay Contest. Cara

read her essay to the 700 attendees at a banquet. Cara is a member of Clover Bottom, MO, Branch 269.

Do you have things in your life that you couldn’t live without? I do: my family, friends, education, and the

extracurricular activities I participate in. Would I still be able to have or do those things with drugs in my life?

The answer is no.

Why would you want to do drugs? Imagine a wall of pictures. There’s a

picture of your family, friends, school, and your extracurricular activities.

There’s also one of the college you want to go to.

You start doing drugs and don’t tell anyone. The next couple days you and

your family notice that you get mad really fast. You start to yell at your parents,

and you aren’t nice to your siblings. One day, while you are at school, your

mom goes into your room and finds some drugs. When you return, she con-

fronts you about her findings. You get really mad, and because of the drugs

you’ve been taking you yell at her. You and your family are drifting apart. Drugs

rip your family apart. Get rid of the picture of you and your family.

During the next couple of days, word gets around that you are using drugs.

Your friends tell you that they don’t want to be friends anymore. They don’t feel

safe around you because you get mad and act out at anything that bothers you. You lose people you were really

close to because of drugs. Take down the picture of you and your friends.

The next day you have basketball practice. This was really important to you, but the coach heard you got into

drugs. He went over to you, and you thought he was going to help you like he always does. Instead, he kicked

you off the team. You have a tantrum and you almost hurt one of your teammates. Drugs are ruining everything.

You can say bye to the picture of you and your team.

The next couple weeks you feel

miserable, and you can’t focus. You’re

skipping class just to use drugs. School is

pointless to you. You can tell everyone is

judging you and it doesn’t feel good, so

you drop out. There goes the picture of

your school.

Now the only picture is your future.

You don’t realize how important this is

because you’re so focused on getting

drugs. You’re just glad you have some-

thing left. Well, you don’t so take it

down. You probably should tear it into

pieces because it won’t be easy to get

back. Now you’re staring at a plain wall,

wondering how you lost everything, but

you know the answer. It was when you

started using drugs. You thought drugs

would solve your problems, but instead

they distracted you as everything got worse. Life as you remembered is gone forever.

Now that you know what your life would be like with drugs, would you still use them? I would never risk

that much, maybe even my life, for drugs. My message to you is: just don’t do it.

11

Help Us!The U.S. Post Office is continuing to

update addresses in its delivery system

to coincide with the 911 address listing.

If your address has changed, please notify:

WCU Certificate Service Desk

510 Maine St., PO Box 410

Quincy, IL 62306; call 800-223-4928 or visit

our web page at www.wculife.org

It’s a Warm Racine FriendshipBecause of their support since 2012,

the Racine WI branch of WCU was

recognized as a "2016 Community Partner

Award" winner by the Racine Friendship

Clubhouse. Branch Vice-President Gary

Swiden, Recording Secretary Sheryl

Jacoby, Financial Secretary/Treasurer Carol

Swiden, and President Harold

Jacoby continue to promote WCU's

support of the RFC's annual "Movin' 4

Mental Health 4K Walk" and the

"Wine, Food & All That Jazz" Matching

Fund events.

The Racine Friendship Clubhouse

provides a "strengths based" approach to

help rebuild lives affected by mental

illness. Through daily participation in the Clubhouse operations, groups and activities, members strengthen

their soft skills including: communication, reliability and ability to follow direction. They also learn strategies

to cope with their illness and move forward in their recovery.

To obtain information on WCU products or fraternal benefits, please check those items of

interest listed below and return it to Fraternal/Editorial Department, Western Catholic Union,

PO Box 410, Quincy, IL 62306. To make a charitable donation or recommend a new member,

call 1-800-223-4928.

Name _______________________ ______________________ Address  ___________________________________

City ____________________________ State __________ ZIP ______________ Day Telephone ________________

Please send me information concerning:

Annuities

Annuities (IRA, 403B, HR10)

Single Premium Whole Life

10-year Level Term

20-year Term

20-Pay Life/10-Pay Life

Dividend-paying Whole Life

Final Expense Plan

Guardian Angel Plan

WCU Hotel Discount Savings

Catholic High School Scholarships

Catholic Grade School Grants

ScriptSave Discount Program

Simply Rewards

Vocation Scholarships

Recreational Programs

Community Activities

Other - Please list

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