Western Fraternal Life Association

JOIN HANDS DAY

A national day of service, JOIN HANDS DAY, has been created and sponsored by America’s Fraternal Benefit Societies in partnership with the Points of Light Foundation in May. It is intended to be more than performing acts of service. It is designed to bring young people and adults together to plan and implement a project that will benefit their neighborhoods/community. It is designed to bridge the generation gap. Any project may be chosen, however, the key is co-planning. Check out the JOIN HANDS DAY website for more information and to see what other groups did.

What are the Real Benefits?

Fraternals will get credit each year as sponsors of a huge, national day that benefits communities and positively impacts people’s lives.
Our Association will be able to take credit for the effort and results.
Millions of people will learn about fraternal societies in a positive way.
Relationships with legislators will be enhanced.
Volunteers will feel a sense of pride in their accomplishments and happiness about their newly formed relationships.

Why Participate?

Be part of an effort to build youth/adult relationships in a volunteer setting.
Solve a neighborhood problem.
Give the gift of volunteer time.
Get in on the ground floor of a new national service day.
Support the fraternal lodge and society.
Make new friends across generations.
Get to know legislators and civic leaders.
Gain a feeling of satisfaction when the job is done.

Steps to have a successful JOIN HANDS DAY event

Start a Committee

No single person can organize, plan, and carry out a truly successful project.
Include members from your lodge, other adult volunteer groups, and youth groups (boy or girl scouts, school leadership groups, sororities or fraternities, church youth groups, 4-H, FFA, etc).
Designate a project leader and key coordinators from each group.
Set up a date to meet by conference call or in person.

Brainstorm project ideas

Do not dictate what the entire group should do, be democratic, be creative.
Involve all groups so everyone feels ownership in the project.
Start out with broad projects to explore.
List the positive and negative of each idea.
Choose a project that is big enough to be worthwhile, yet can fit everyone’s talents.
Keep in mind family-friendly projects increase overall participation and attendance. Consider projects that encourage family participation and include tasks for all skill levels.
Take into account the time available (Rome was not built in a day).

Spread the word

Start posting fliers at churches, restaurants, or grocery stores announcing JOIN HANDS DAY and asking for volunteers.
Contact the community and school newspaper, local radio stations, etc.
Increase visibility: invite local, regional and state politicians, and legislators.
Post your event on: joinhandsday.org.

Create a plan, organize volunteers, nail down the details

Delegate - assign leaders for different aspects of the project (do not try to do it alone).
Match volunteers to tasks that utilize their knowledge, experience, and special skills.
Determine logistics–locations, supplies, and transportation.
Develop an orientation or information session for volunteers (make sure you have enough work for all volunteers). Give clear instructions.
Prepare for risks and accidents.
Identify volunteers with medical training and make sure they have an emergency phone available.

JOIN HANDS DAY 2009

Lodges Pilgrim No. 330, Brookfield and Hvezda Vychodu No. 385, Stickney, IL Our members joined CSA Lodge No. 99, and National Mutual Benefit Branch 1145 to beautify the outside of the Czech Mission Church. The group raked debris from the lawn, dug out weeds, trimmed bushes, and generally spruced up the outside.
	Lodges 7, 13, 86, 262, 423, & 599, Iowa Over 100 youth and adults from a variety of groups helped clean the Czech National Cemetery on May 2. The group raked leaves and picked up sticks and debris. Several overflowing truckloads of debris were taken away. Outside water faucets were brightly painted, plants were planted, and an inside building was also cleaned. Lodge 7 members went on to help with landscaping at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.
Lodge Iowa No. 85, Protivin, IA Our lodge, Cub Scouts Pack No. 58, and the Howard County Historical Society joined together to clean the One Room School. The Howard County Historical Society has an original “One Room School” building located on the county’s fairgrounds. It is open during the Howard County Fair and also by appointment. They hold an official spelling bee in this “One Room School” during the fair. The old school desks were washed and the wrought iron was washed with an appropriate cleaner. Then they were polished with wood protector to help preserve them. Books were taken off the shelves, wiped off, and the shelves cleaned. Pictures were taken down from the walls and dusted. The big old “School Bell” was scrubbed down and we made sure it still worked. The windows were washed also. With so many hands, the “One Room School House” looked and smelled so nice and clean and ready to be open for tourism.
	Lodge Four Hundred No. 400, Swisher, IA Members joined with youth at Tanager Place in Cedar Rapids to put together materials for their annual fundraiser.
Lodge Novy Tabor No. 19, Munden, KS Lodge members joined with the Munden 4-H club to remove and discard old silk flowers from the Tabor Cemetery box. We replaced them with new flowers to make a decorative display at the entrance to the cemetery.
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