Today, 2 September, marks the one hundred and thirtieth anniversary of the founding of the Croatian Fraternal Union of America, to which all the employees of the Matica wish every success in their future endeavours…
The Croatian Fraternal Union of America (HBZ/CFU) is a strong, supportive, insurance, non-profit association of the Croatian expatriate community in the United States and Canada, and an important humanitarian and patriotic organization of the Croatian people, whose diaspora of millions lives on the North American continent. It was founded on 2 September 1894 in Allegheny, which eventually became part of Pittsburgh. With fewer than 300 members in 1894, today it has around 60,000 volunteers. Its assets are estimated at more than 500 million dollars, with an upward trend. The community has been visited by prominent intellectuals: Zdravko V. Mužina, Ivan Ljubić, Petar Pavlinac, Franjo Zotti, Pavao Hajdić, Josip Marohnić, Vinko Vuk, Tomo Bešenić, Anton Gazdić, Ivan Butković, Vjekoslav I. Mandić, John Badovinac, and then for 35 years, at the turn of the 20th century, the Union was presided over by Bernard M. Luketich. The current Chief National President, Edward W. Pazo, assumed this honorary position exactly ten years ago, following the retirement of President Bernard M. Luketich on 1 July 2014 It can be, therefore, said that the Union has been most affirmed on a social and cultural level over the last 130 years by Bernard M. Luketich, the famous ethnic leader of the Croatian-Americans, who in his nine terms of office has elevated the CFU to a business giant that prides itself on its charity work in the local expatriate communities.
The American fraternities are one of the most powerful social movements in US history. Its programme covers personal and family insurance against illness or death. Social, cultural and sporting activities have developed within the fraternities. Through them, emigrants fought for the affirmation of their national rights in their home society. In addition, through them, they supported their people in the old homeland economically and politically in the national liberation struggle. The American fraternity developed mainly as a result of work. Coming to a foreign country where people spoke different languages and had different customs, immigrants built a sense of community and solidarity in two institutions: ethnic churches and fraternal organisations. These two organisations facilitated their transition to the new society − they provided a place to pray, a place to meet socially and a place where they learned to accept the values of the new American society. The origins of fraternal organisations date back 155 years to the early industrialisation of America, when railwayman John J. Upchurch organised the first such society, called The Ancient Order of United Workmen. However, times have changed and the insurance industry has evolved in different directions, especially in today’s high-tech and digital age. The American Fraternal Alliance currently has 54 charities across the USA, connecting more than 7 million individuals, making it one of the largest American networks of volunteers, including valuable members of the Croatian Fraternal Union since 1894. Our emigrants are descendants of miners, have progressed through hard work in their new homeland and, thanks to a good education, eventually occupy a much more favourable position in the social ladder of the most developed country in the world. Today, they are often found in elite professions such as programmers, engineers of various backgrounds, physicians, teachers, economists, artists, etc.
CFU has held 26 conventions to date, where the membership is typically represented by around 220 delegates from hundreds of lodges and nests. The largest number of lodges is in the USA, 92, with slightly fewer in Canada. Since the beginning of the 21st century, six lodges have been established in the Republic of Croatia: the 2000th lodge in Zagreb, the 2001st lodge in Ogulin, the 2004th lodge in Koprivnica, the 2005th lodge in Rijeka, the 2006th lodge in Split and the 2007th lodge in Županja.
CFU has traditionally had its largest membership in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, California, as well as throughout Ontario, Canada. Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Chicago, Los Angeles and Toronto in Canada can be considered as modern centres of fraternity in the Croatian diaspora of millions of people on the North American continent.
The Croatian Fraternal Union has demonstrated business stability over the past 130 years, having developed, in addition to its fraternal successes, excellent educational and cultural programmes through the Youth Cultural Alliance and the CFU Scholarship Foundation, which annually provides scholarships to an average of 200 students at prestigious American universities. Today, the Croatian Fraternal Union of America is a modern insurance organisation operating in 27 US states with a license to do business approved by the primary regulator – the Insurance Department of the State of Pennsylvania. The Union submits annual financial reports to the state insurance department in each state where it operates, including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). This organisation is similar to the Croatian HANFI. The successful operation of the Union is based on a competitive interest rate of 4,5 % for a rolling period of two years. “Operationally, CFU has experienced higher capital costs due to increased competition in the financial markets. This has reduced profitability; however, the net gaming profit remained positive at $1,662,561,” said Chief Executive Officer Edward W. Paza, who has demonstrated prudent and conservative investment management over the past decade. As a result, the Union achieved an increase in new value of $2,140,084 in the just completed financial year, despite the challenges in the financial markets (Fraternalist, 10 April 2024). Bonds represent 88.0% of the organization’s assets and maintain excellent quality, CFU proudly says. The success of this oldest Croatian expatriate organization is wholeheartedly supported by all its members across the North American continent, all its valuable councillors and especially the Edward W. Paz team, which includes the most prominent Vice President Franjo Bertović and Bernadette Luketich Sikaras, Secretary General and Treasurer.
Happy birthday, dear Fraternalists! We wish you continued successful business and the best possible educational and cultural programs to preserve and nurture Croatian cultural heritage in America.
Text: Vesna Kukavica; Photo: CHF Archive
