Fraternal Benefit Society

CSA Fraternal Life is America's oldest fraternal benefit society, and was established to help those in need. Formerly the Czechoslovak Society of America, CSA was founded in 1854 on the principles of equality, harmony and fraternity. From our Home Office in Oak Brook, Illinois, we service our 24,000+ members spread throughout 64 lodges in 21 states.

When an individual buys an insurance or annuity product from CSA, they become a member, and are eligible for all the fraternal benefits we provide. In addition there are many programs and activities on the local, regional and national levels in which members can participate, many of which are described on this page. Members belong to lodges and are encouraged to involve themselves in that core unit’s organization and functions, including charitable opportunities.

CSA encourages participation in lodge functions but it is completely voluntary. Our purpose includes these intentions:

to Foster fraternity, charity, and patriotism among its members;

to Promote the social, recreational and spiritual welfare of its members and mankind in general;

to Encourage its members to practice physical fitness and to cooperate with and support organizations promoting such programs;

to Encourage and support every effort to perpetuate the Czech and Slovak heritage, language, and customs;

to Promote and support all activities and principles as befits a fraternal society.

Scholarship Program

Student-members are awarded scholarships based on class rank, grade point average, college placement test scores, extracurricular activities including CSA activities, and essay. Awards this year ranged from $250.00 to $1,250.00, with Allison Paddock receiving a Best of Class award of $1,500.00! Scholarships are renewable for a second year, providing the student maintains a 3.0 grade point average. To download scholarship application forms, click here.
Scholarships for students of Czech, Slovak or Rusyn descent are also available from the Council of Higher Education and can be applied for at www.cheonline.org.

Miss National CSA Contest

This pageant is held at the annual Get-Together.

 

 

 

 

Young women members between 18 and 23 years old, appear before an independent panel of judges and the winner receives a monetary award and the opportunity to represent CSA at events throughout the year. A Miss Activities and Miss Congeniality are also chosen, and all contestants participate in a community service project the day before the contest. Shown here is Amanda Laukant, the current Miss National CSA.

Fraternalist of the Year

The Fraternalist of the Year is our official entry to a nationwide State and National competition held in conjunction with the National Fraternal Congress (NFCA) each year. Lodges nominate outstanding candidates from among their members, and the winner is announced at the annual Get-Together. Shown here is Mary Lee, this year's Fraternalist of the Year. Mary is from Lodge R. T. Crane, Jr., in North Riverside Illinois. For a list of recent nominees, click here.

Annual Get-Together

The Get-Together is a social gathering of members from lodges across the United States, hosted by a lodge or district council usually in their hometown. The Get-Together begins with ethnic and regional foods served in a Hospitality Room where attendees have an opportunity to renew old friendships and meet new folks. The week-end also offers guest speakers, banquets with music and dancing, organized day trips for adults and children and the Miss National CSA Contest. See www.csagettogether.org.

Bowl-o-Rama

This youth activity is held on a Sunday morning in the spring, and run by local districts in areas of high member concentration. Bowling at the same time in several cities throughout the country, youth members, ages 5 to 17, compete against each other in several categories for prizes, though all bowlers receive a souvenir. To check the scores of those who participated in the last Bowl-o-Rama, click here.

Photo Contest

Members are encouraged to enter photos they've taken in the Photo Contest, where cash prizes are awarded in various categories. Chosen as Best of Contest this year (and appearing on the cover of our March, 2010 Journal) was this photo taken at Devil’s Lake, Wisconsin by Brian Pavuk, from Lodge Century of Progress/Bila Hora. To see all of the most recent Photo Contest winners, click here.

Lodge Recognition

A Gold, Silver or Bronze star, along with a monetary prize, is the reward for this lodge program, which recognizes lodge participation in a variety of categories, including ethnic, youth, volunteer, community and educational activities. For the current Lodge Recognition winners, click here.

National Project

This lodge activity encourages support for a local group or organization branch that fits the criterion of a common topic. This year's theme is Support Your Local Library! Last year our lodge members participated in over 30,000 hours of volunteer work in their communities, and donated over $150,000 to charitable organizations.

National Sports Tournaments

National adult member tournaments are held for bowling and golf in different cities each year. Local committees make all arrangements while District Sports committees handle registration. Prizes and souvenirs are awarded. For the current National Bowling Congress scores, click here

Join Hands Day

Members are encouraged to participate in this nationwide volunteer day, co-sponsored by the fraternal benefit society’s parent organization, the National Fraternal Congress of America.

50-Year Pin Program

Long-term membership is recognized and often awarded in lodge-sponsored pin ceremonies. Fifty and seventy-five year pins are available from the Home Office.

The Journal

The CSA Journal is a free monthly magazine that keeps members up to date on events within the Society. The Journal is also a forum to talk about new products and features seasonal articles on ethnic traditions and other activities. Many articles are submitted by lodge members. To see the current issue of the Journal, click here.

Sharing a common bond

CSA Fraternal Life (formerly known as Czechoslovak Society of America) is America’s oldest Fraternal Benefit Society. Fraternal societies are defined by elements of purpose, harmony and community. We add value to our products and services through membership in a lodge system that encourages member benefits and programs focused on family values and community involvement.

With sincere appreciation for the dedication of our founding Czech and Slovak ancestors, our obligation to fulfill this social responsibility and adhere to our business strategy includes a commitment to service excellence, courtesy, compassion and professionalism. Steady growth in a competitive insurance market is critical to our member benefits and programs – a loyalty that supports our fraternal heritage and sense of volunteerism throughout our communities.

The Czechoslovak Heritage Museum, which houses a library and archives, has become a valuable resource for information on language, customs, art, traditions and history. The museum, which is funded in part by CSA, includes a variety of historical items, books dated back to 1630 and beautiful artifacts such as colorful folk costumes, paintings and hand cut crystal that focus on the culture and heritage of what became the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Founded as an ‘Ethnic’ fraternal society, our membership is open to all individuals of good character that share a common value system and support our fraternal heritage. CSA Fraternal Life embraces the opportunity to share our Czech and Slovak heritage with members of all ethnic backgrounds to carry our message of equality, fraternity and harmony into the 21st century. Our roots are deep; our fraternalism should have no limits or borders.

CSA Fraternal Life is proud of our commitment to equality, fraternity and harmony. To learn more, please call us toll-free at 1-800-LIFE-CSA (543-3272) or contact a local CSA agent or representative.

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