Scholarship Program

Student-members are awarded scholarships based on class rank, grade point average, college placement scores, extracurricular activities including CSA activities and essays. Awards for 2012 ranged from $1,250 to $750 with Courtney Johnson of Lodge Sionilli #170 receiving a Best of Class Award of $1,500. Grants are renewable for a second year provided student maintains a 3.0 grade point average. To download scholarship allocations forms, Click Here.

For the first time, CSA will be offering scholarships in 2012 to students seeking a Masters degree or post-graduate studies courtesy of the Blanche Dvorak Endowment Scholarship Fund. Awarded grants are not renewable. Applications will be available in April 2012 and can be down-loaded from this site (See Fraternal Tab).

Miss National CSA Contest

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 American Fraternal Alliance (AFA) each year. Lodges nominate outstanding candidates from among their members, and the winner is announced at the annual Get-Together. Shown here is Dorothy Ditch, this year's Fraternalist of the Year. Dorothy is from Lodge Prokop Velky, in Cedar Rapids Iowa.

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.

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.

Photo Contest

Members are encouraged to enter photos in the annual Photo Contest. The photos must be those they have taken themselves; no studio or professional photos are allowed. Cash Prizes are awarded in various categories: Best of Contest, and 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each of four additional categories. The photo at right is the 2011 Best of Contest and appeared on the cover of the March 2012 Journal. This photo was taken by Linda Burton of Lodge DuPage Pioneers No. 409. This lovely crane was photographed at Cardiff-by-the-Sea in San Diego County, California.

Lodge Recognition

A Gold, Silver or Bronze Star, along with a monetary prize, is the reward of this program which recognizes lodge participation in a variety of categories. Members can win this award by holding ethnic or youth activities, volunteering in various community programs and attending educational and social activities.

National Project

This lodge activity encourages support for a local group or organization that fits the criterion of a common topic. This year CSA’s National Project is “Support Our Troops and their Families.” Lodges will be volunteering at agencies whose purpose is to support troops either on active duty or returning home. CSA members can donate their time as well as foods and other goods to assist military members and their families. As always CSA will provide a 50% match to any monetary donations made by lodges supporting this effort.

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.

Join Hands Day

JOIN HANDS DAY is the only national volunteer day that specifically targets and develops relationships between young people and adults through neighborhood volunteering. Youths and adults work together on an equal basis to plan, organize and implement the day’s activities. Building relationships across generations restores confidence, trust and respect for each other and creates a sense of community.

JOIN HANDS DAY is a program of the American Fraternal Alliance. The 124-year-old organization unites 70 not-for-profit fraternal benefit societies that operate in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Canada.

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.