24 Spring Symposium — American Fraternal Alliance

Re-connect with your colleagues over two days of
fantastic and fun educational sessions.

The Spring Symposium brings together fraternal colleagues for lively programming around key issues facing Alliance members. Two tracks - Fraternal & Communications and Governance – allow attendees to tailor content to meet their needs.

Spring Symposium Agenda

All times are listed in Central Time. The agenda is subject to change.

Tuesday, April 30

2:00 – 6:00 p.m. | Registration and Event Information Desk

6:00 – 7:00 p.m. | Welcome Reception

Wednesday, May 1

7:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Registration and Event Information Desk

8:00 – 9:00 a.m. | Coffee & Connecting

9:00 – 9:30 a.m. | Fraternal Pep Rally

FRATERNAL & COMMUNICATIONS TRACK:
Maximizing Member Engagement: Strategies for Success - Unlock the full potential of your society by delving into effective strategies for member engagement. Hear from experienced fraternal leaders who are moving the needle on member experience and participation.
- Stefanie Attard, Assistant Vice President, Member Engagement, Governance & Development, Foresters Financial
- Amy Jones, Senior Director of Social Impact, Royal Neighbors of America
GOVERNANCE TRACK:
Future-Proof Governance: Succession Planning, Leadership Excellence and Building a Value-Add Board – Anticipate and shape the future of good governance with this insightful workshop designed for fraternals seeking to strengthen their leadership structures. Dive into the essentials of succession planning, the cultivation of qualified leadership, and the construction of a board that adds significant value to your society.
- Steve Barth, Senior Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP
- Todd Martin, Partner, Pierson Ferdinand

10:30 a.m. | Break

FRATERNAL & COMMUNICATIONS TRACK:
Breaking Down Chapter Challenges: Navigating Volunteer Trends and Connecting With Younger Demographics - Uncover the keys to navigating the dynamic landscape of volunteerism. Explore effective communication and event strategies, engagement trends, and best practices for connecting with younger fraternally minded volunteers. Attendees will have the opportunity to share their experiences, which will be valuable in creating a fraternal chapter toolkit.
- Randa Zalman Ph.D., Marketing Consultant & Associate Professor, Bellevue University
GOVERNANCE TRACK:
Understanding Life Insurance Financials for Profitability – Unlock the complexities of life insurance financials and discover practical strategies to ensure profitability and long-term sustainability. This workshop is ideal for society board members and leaders seeking comprehensive understanding of the financial intricacies of the life insurance industry.
- Chris Conklin, Co-President and Consulting Actuary, Miller-Newberg
- Tom Faulconer, Clinical Professor, Risk Management and Insurance, Butler University

11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Lunch and Networking

FRATERNAL & COMMUNICATIONS TRACK:
Data-Driven Membership Growth: Leveraging the Power of Analytics – Harness the power of data to drive membership growth and engagement for your society. This workshop is designed to explore innovative ways to leverage data analytics for strategic decision-making and targeting membership expansion.
- Nirav Dagli, President & CEO, Spinnaker Analytics LLC
- Nate Lamusga, Director of Relationship Management, Catholic United Financial Life
- Amy Rey, Managing Director, Zeldis Research Associates
- Angel Thomas, Senior Vice President, Member Experience, BetterLife
GOVERNANCE TRACK:
Maximizing ROI: Strategic Planning for Conventions, Member Events, and Board and Committee Meetings – Optimizing your return on investment (ROI) for conventions, member events, and board and committee meetings takes effort and finesse. Explore strategies to ensure that these gatherings not only meet your society’s goals but deliver results.
- Christopher Belz, President & CEO, Catholic Life Insurance
- Todd Martin, Partner, Pierson Ferdinand
- Tony Mravle, President & CEO, KSKJ Life

2:00 p.m. | Break

FRATERNAL & COMMUNICATIONS TRACK:
Navigating Liability: Ensuring Comprehensive Coverage for Chapters & Youth Programs – Examine the complexity of liability management to safeguard your society, chapters, and youth programs. This workshop is essential for leaders and staffers seeking to understand, mitigate, and obtain critical coverage to protect against potential risks and liabilities.
- Brian Gedicks, Vice President & Associate General Counsel, Knights of Columbus
- Nikki Pealer, Senior Vice President, Program Executive, Lockton Affinity LLC
- Moderator: Todd Martin, Partner, Pierson Ferdinand
GOVERNANCE TRACK:
Fostering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Fraternal Sector – Ignite positive change in your society by cultivating a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This impactful discussion with experienced leaders will explore opportunities for embracing diversity, promoting equity, and ensuring inclusion for all in the fraternal sector.
- Christopher Gandy, President and Founder, Midwest Legacy Group
- Ashlee Peña, Senior Counsel, Director, Thrivent
- Moderator: Kaye DeMartino, Human Resources Business Partner, BetterLife
Come cheer on your common bond racecar during the Fraternal1 competition. This networking activity is designed to recognize each attending society’s unique common bond while also celebrating the spirit of fraternalism by raising money for an important cause.

5:30 – 7:00 p.m. | Reception with Sponsors

Thursday, May 2

8:00 – 9:00 a.m. | Coffee & Connecting

9:00 – 9:30 a.m. | Fraternal Pep Rally & Final Common Bond Race

FRATERNAL & COMMUNICATIONS TRACK:
Embracing Digital Transformation – Digital transformation doesn’t have to be massive or complex – simple changes can lead to big results that elevate the fraternal experience for members and employees. Find out how fraternal leaders are leveraging digital strategies for products, marketing, and internal processes to create a modern and dynamic fraternal environment.
- Kayte Fredrickson, President & CEO, Teachers Life
- Katy Hylkema, Director – Customer Experience, GBU Life
GOVERNANCE TRACK:
Breaking Down Chapter Challenges: Strategic Assessments for Chapter Sustainability and Governance Excellence – Unlock the keys to improved chapter success through governance excellence, structural sustainability, operational efficiencies, and embracing younger generations. Explore practical strategies and success stories from the broader fraternal landscape that can empower society leaders to assess, modernize and advance their own chapter systems.
- Randa Zalman Ph.D., Marketing Consultant & Associate Professor, Bellevue University

10:30 a.m. | Break

The Fraternal Swap Shop!
The Fraternal Swap Shop is back for round 2 in 2024! Bring your society’s best or favorite swag to show off at the Spring Symposium. During this session, the Alliance will put all society items on display. Attendees will walk away with fresh ideas and possibly their favorite item to take home. The Fraternal Swap Shop is not just a session; it’s an experience in innovation and collaboration!

11:30 a.m. | Adjourn

Registration Rates

Fraternal Member Staff/Board: $699
Vendor (Associate Member) - Sponsor: $799
Vendor (Associate Member) - Non-Sponsor: $899
Complimentary Sponsor or VIP: $0

Meeting Stipends: Each society will receive the same number of $250 meeting stipends based on asset class as provided in 2023, one $250 stipend will be specifically designated for a society Board member to attend the 2024 Spring Symposium. The Alliance and Board would like to encourage participation of society board members in the newly developed governance track to address member-identified challenges and support continued fraternal strength. The stipend codes for staff members and board members were sent to society CEOs. Please click here for more information and contact info@fraternalalliance.org with any questions.

HOTEL INFORMATION

The hotel room block at the Hyatt Lodge has closed. Please email info@fraternalalliance.org for assistance or other hotel options.
**Hyatt Lodge**
2815 Jorie Blvd. Oak Brook, IL 60523

FRATERNAL 1 REMOTE CONTROL RACE & FUNDRAISER

Get ready to cheer for your common bond racecar during our Fraternal1 competition.

Remote control cars representing societies’ shared purposes will compete for bragging rights and raise money for a worthy cause. During this fun networking event which kicks off May 1 and crosses the finish line on May 2, attendees will have the chance to watch their favorite car race to victory. Catholics versus Christians, Polish versus Slovaks, Policemen versus Teachers and more – our competition won't leave anyone out!

In support of The Gift of Adoption - a charity with a mission to get parents to the financial finish line when adopting kids with special needs and sibling groups – societies and sponsors are encouraged to make donations in advance or on-site. Donors can buy a car for their society, purchase obstacles for the race, and much more. Get all the details on the race and how to get involved here!

FRATERNAL SWAP SHOP

The popular Fraternal Swap Shop is returning in 2024! Please bring up to three items that feature your society logo to include in our Swap Shop giveaway. Pick your most creative or eye-catching promotional products. Coolers, games, blankets, shirts – whatever rocks your brand! At the end of the event, be ready to swap and take home someone else’s product to spread fraternalism.

You can turn your items in at the registration desk upon arrival. If you need to ship your items, please email info@fraternalalliance.org and we will provide you the shipping address.

Please note that all items must be received by April 25, if you’re shipping them to the Alliance.

CANCELLATIONS & TRANSFERS

All cancellations must be submitted in writing to info@fraternalalliance.org.

The following cancellation rules apply to event registrations only. Please see sponsor agreements for applicable rules regarding these items.

Cancellations on or Before March 31, 2024
For cancellation requests received in writing on or before March 31, 2024, event registrations can be transferred to another individual at no cost or refunded less a $25 cancellation fee.

Cancellations After March 31, 2024
Cancellation requests received within 30 days of the first scheduled day of the event: the Alliance will not refund registration fees. Guest registration fees will be refunded less a $25 cancellation fee.

What happens to my registration if American Fraternal Alliance cancels the event?
Attendees will be notified in writing within 48 hours of formal decision of cancellation. If the Alliance cancels an in-person event, attendees can convert their registrations to virtual, if applicable, and receive a refund of the difference between registration fees. Attendees can also choose to receive a full refund of registration fees. Optional activity and guest registrations will be automatically refunded.

The Alliance will provide specific instructions for cancelling hotel rooms at the official event hotel. Additional travel arrangements must be cancelled by individuals.

If you have any questions, please email info@fraternalalliance.org or contact the office at (630) 522-6322.

DATES

April 30 – May 2, 2024

LOCATION

Hyatt Lodge in
Oak Brook, Illinois

REGISTRATION

REGISTRATION LIMITATION POLICIES:

Spring Symposium is limited to members of the American Fraternal Alliance.