A special event during this year’s Phillips, Wisconsin Czech-Slovak Community Festival was the presentation of the 2006 National Fraternalist of the Year award to town of Harmony resident Carole Zellinger. The award was presented by Phil Torticill, national president of Zapadni Ceske Bratrske Jednota/Western Fraternal Life Association (ZCBJ/WFLA).

Town of Harmony resident Carole Zellinger has been named the 2006 Zapadni Ceske Bratrske Jednota/Western Fraternalist of the Year.  She received the award recognizing her outstanding volunteer activities during a surprise ceremony held June 17 as part of this year’s Phillips Czech-Slovak Community Festival.

The award was presented by Phil Torticill, national president of the ZCBJ/WFLA, who stated the festival was a “top notch example of volunteerism.” He noted that everyone involved in the festival was a volunteer.

Carole Zellinger has been an active member and officer of Phillips Lodge 236 Nadeje Slovanu, former state ZCBJ/WFLA president, and 2003 Wisconsin State Fraternalist of the Year.

Zellinger earned the title of “Lupine Lady” for her efforts to promote the growing of lupines, which are considered by many to be the national flower of Czechoslovakia. As a fraternal project, she and members of her family harvest and sell lupine seeds with the proceeds going to a state scholarship fund..

Two other members of Phillips Lodge 236 Nadaje Slovanu have received the organization’s National Fraternalist of the Year Award. They are Therese Trojak, who received the award in 2003 and Laddie Zellinger (husband of Carole) who received the award in 1994.

(Story taken from the June 29, 2006 issue of THE BEE, Phillips, WI)