Fox awarded for volunteer work

As a fraternal benefit, the National Slovak Society (NSS Life) mission calls to “reach out to touch lives” in concern for those in need around them through their families, churches and community. The purpose of the Fraternalist of the Year Award is to recognize members that have gone that extra “mile” in volunteer fraternalism. Through their tireless volunteer efforts, those around them have benefited significantly. These are people who rarely say “no” and are always willing to lend a hand. Nominations from local assemblies are accepted each year with judging by an independent panel from another fraternal benefit society.

Lauren Fox of Poland Township was chosen to receive the 2014 Fraternalist of the Year Award. The presentation of her award was made by NSS Vice-President, Dean Burns, at the National Slovak Society’s Quadrennial Convention this summer in Hershey, Pa.

Lauren has been actively involved with NSS Assembly 731 for more than 20 years as its president and she also serves the NSS Region 7 based in Struthers as the Recording Secretary/Treasurer. She plans, organizes and attends a variety of successful fraternal activities such as Christmas parties, Easter egg hunts, family dinners, scavenger hunts, fishing derbies, picnics, dances, hayrides, golf outings, bus trips and many projects for Join Hands Day. She keeps members updated about assembly events and NSS contests through a Facebook page dedicated to NSS activities and sends email reminders. Knowing that some members do not use the computer, she also sends newsletter and postcard reminders. Because of her encouragement, assembly members have volunteered many hours of hard work to help support the American Heart Association, the Rescue Mission, Sojourner House for Victims of Domestic Violence and the Beatitude House for women and children who are seeking help to better their lives. Lauren has been a delegate at the past five NSS Quadrennial Conventions. At the past four conventions, she served on the 2002 Election Committee, 2006 and 2014 Fraternal Committee and 2010 Financial Committee.

In addition to current NSS activities, Lauren is member of the Holy Family Roman Catholic Church in Poland where she is the Treasurer and the Bingo Caller for their Senior Club. She is the Vice President for the Poland Historical Society in charge of their public relations and membership.

While working full time as the Administrative Secretary to the Superintendent of Mahoning County Schools when her children were growing up, she always found extra time to be actively involved in youth programs that instilled responsibility and leadership skills in the children that would help develop moral values for them. During her daughters’ school years, she was a Girl Scout leader for their troop. In addition to her troop leadership, she worked on a variety of committees, events and camping experiences while she was Secretary and Chairperson for the Lake to River Girl Scout Council’s Boardman-Poland Service Unit. She was a 4-H advisor for the clubs her three children were involved with. Her involvement with Girl Scouts and 4-H led way for her to become an advisor to teenagers representing a collection of youth groups (Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4-H, Grange, FFA, Farm Bureau and Campfire) serving on Mahoning County’s Junior Fair Board. She coordinated high school band and cheerleading shows for sixteen school districts at Mahoning County’s Canfield Fair, and coordinated the Mahoning County public school districts’ displays and activities in Educational Hall at the fair. Fox is a firm believer that today’s youth must be prepared to meet the challenges for a successful adult life and they learn those skills at an early age.

Fox has been married to her husband, Michael, for 40 years and together they raised three children (Beth, Becky and Mike Jr.) and now have four grandchildren (Ashlynn, Cameron, Benjamin and Jackson). She is committed to family and is always working on ways to keep family members connected. She has organized numerous family reunions, maintains a family tree database that includes information and photos and has created DVDs of the information to share with family members.

A donation of $500 is made to the not-for-profit organization by NSS Life to an organization or benefit of the awardee’s choice. Fox chose to have the donation go to the Poland Christian Church, located on Struthers Road in Poland Township. Fox also had her name placed into nomination for the National Fraternal Congress of America “Fraternalist of the Year” program and her name has been added to the plaque that currently hangs in the lobby of the NSS Home Office in McMurray, Pa.