2014 was another strong year financially and fraternally for Rock Island-based Modern Woodmen of America. Life insurance in force grew by nearly $1 billion for the fourth straight year, and assets surpassed the $14 billion mark.  

"Modern Woodmen continues to demonstrate notable financial strength and stability, and our fraternal contributions remain an important part of our organization," said W. Kenny Massey, president and CEO of Modern Woodmen. "Our fraternal member benefits and programs have truly enriched the lives of our members, their families and their local communities, and I am proud to report that we contributed over $19 million in fraternal expenditures in 2014."  

Continued growth in life insurance in force  

Life insurance in force, the total amount of life insurance owned by members to protect their families in case of premature death, increased to over $37 billion.  

"Protection is key for the American family," said Massey. "Through the personalized, knowledgeable support of our financial representatives, members can gain the life insurance coverage they need to protect their loved ones."  

Assets exceed $14 billion  

Modern Woodmen's assets increased 5.5 percent over 2013, reaching over $14.1 billion. Assets are primarily invested in high-quality, low-risk corporate and government bonds.  

"Fiscal responsibility is essential to our continued success," said Massey. "It allows us to protect the promises made to our members nationwide. For that reason, it is our first obligation."  

Annuity assets under management equaled $8.1 billion.  

Total life insurance, annuity and other certificate reserves, which are funds held to guarantee future benefits to members, increased 5.6 percent to slightly over $11 billion.  

Strong operational results

Total premium income was $1.07 billion in 2014.

Compared to 2013, variable annuity certificate sales increased 17 percent, and variable annuity premiums increased by 28 percent.

Payments and benefits to members in 2014 increased 6.1 percent to $803.4 million. This includes death benefits, annuity payments and surrender benefits. An additional $14.8 million in dividend payments was refunded to life insurance and annuity certificates.

Net gain from operations after dividends was nearly $16.2 million with a total net income of $85.4 million.

Total surplus and special reserves were $1.48 billion in 2014. Surplus and special reserves provide additional safety for members and ensure Modern Woodmen's ability to meet unforeseen events, continue the organization's fraternal programs and provide funds for future growth. To protect and enhance the impact of these funds and strengthen the commitment to members, Modern Woodmen set aside additional reserves in 2014.

Modern Woodmen's solvency ratio of 111.69 percent means that for every $100 of liabilities (promises made to members), Modern Woodmen has $111.69 of assets to back up those promises.

Fraternal programs support communities nationwide

Modern Woodmen has a nationwide membership of nearly 770,000. Fraternal expenditures supporting Modern Woodmen's family-oriented member benefits and programs totaled over $19 million. These benefits and programs include disaster relief assistance, college scholarships, social and volunteer service programs by adult chapters and youth service clubs nationwide, and educational programs for schools and youth groups.

Key fraternal results included: 

- More than 1.5 million people attended social, educational and volunteer events sponsored by Modern Woodmen chapters.

- 173,205 hours of volunteer service were recorded by youth service club members and 263,548 hours of volunteer service were reported by adult chapter members.

- 2.3 million children were educated through free Modern Woodmen youth educational programs. 

- $10.8 million was contributed through Modern Woodmen's Matching Fund Program. The Matching Fund Program meets needs in member communities across the country. The fundraising projects, matched by Modern Woodmen, were conducted by the organization's 2,717 adult chapters, 263 Summit chapters (for members age 55 and older) and 790 youth service clubs.

Fear & Close-mindedness Are Arguably The Real Tragedy Of Death, Says Franciscan Renaissance Man

There are those who just know how they'll react if and when they have to confront their own mortality. They will freely admit that they'll be petrified, and others are confident that they won't be scared at all.

"Perhaps they're right, or perhaps they're projecting how they think they're supposed to feel; in my case, neither fear nor bravery were the dominant notes, but rather one of spiritual and intellectual curiosity and edification," says Ron Walter, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, successful businessman and advocate of ecumenical Franciscan spirituality.

"I recently  had to face my own mortality once again as I dealt with effects of multiple myeloma and ensuing chemotherapy treatment. The encounter led me to a spiritual trek through philosophy, theology and science. In our evolutionary world, I suggest a view of death for we humans as yet another transition into a new form of being."

How does someone become so circumspect when facing death? Walter, author of "Theory of Everything: Franciscan Faith and Reason," (RonaldWalter.com), offers guidance.

•  Allow your spiritual intuitions to unfold. Most people have some kind of belief system on spiritual matters, which may remain untested for years and even decades. Whether you're a devout Catholic, Orthodox Jew, secular Buddhist or one of the growing numbers of "spiritual but not religious," facing death forces a renewed and often harsh look at one's true beliefs. As fallible as the mind can be, it is often attuned to signals emergent from deeper truth when faced with significant circumstances. Do not ignore those signals.

•  Appearances are often misleading. Are reason and faith at odds? How do we really know what will happen to us in death? We might find a clue in death as many of the faithful have in life. Many see the universe entailing a nearly infinite sequence of random events, leading to phenomena such as life on Earth. Most others, however, see a rhyme and reason beyond apparent chaos. Likewise, the apparent silence of death may be just that - apparent. For the spirit experiencing death, a new and unfathomable life may be emerging.

•  Obsessed with one religion, denomination or knowledge base? Death's proposition may have you looking elsewhere. "I find Franciscan theology and spirituality as well positioned to integrate other fields of knowledge and spirituality," Walter says. "While others prefer specific spiritual traditions, I hope they are not blind to the possibilities posed by other traditions. I believe every religion possesses only a  glimpse of God, and disciplines such as science and philosophy capture some of God's content and significance."

"When we hear 'death,' we're conditioned to tremble within," Walter says. "But when we see it for its deeper truth - involving the transformation of body, mind and spirit, recognizing the interchangeability of matter and energy - I think most of us can come away from the inevitable with greater equanimity."

About Ron Walter

Ron Walter (RonaldWalter.com) is an author, commentator and guest speaker with expertise in human spirituality, business management and military leadership. A retired corporate executive with more than 20 years active military service, Colonel Walter currently serves on Boards of Directors for the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Vesuvius Press Inc. in Phoenix. He is a Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM). "Theory of Everything: Franciscan Faith and Reason," recounts Walter's spiritual awakening following chemotherapy in the winter of 2012/2013. It explores the natures of God, humanity and the cosmos from the perspectives of noted philosophers, theologians and scientists. A major conclusion of the book is that finite beings emerge within Trinitarian relations of divine Love.

Governor Bruce Rauner issued the following statement:  

"I want to thank President Cullerton, Speaker Madigan, Leader Radogno and Leader Durkin for their leadership in fixing this year's fiscal crisis. With their help, a bipartisan group of legislators sent a strong message that the culture in Springfield is changing for the better.  

As promised, we are eliminating a $1.6 billion deficit without borrowing or increasing taxes on hard-working Illinois families. By choosing to make difficult decisions on a bipartisan basis, the General Assembly is helping set a new tone for what can be achieved in Springfield. 

While today's action is an important start, many more tough votes and challenging decisions must be made in the weeks ahead to complete the first steps of an Illinois turnaround. I look forward to continuing to partner with the legislature to enact policies that will create more jobs, increase local control and deliver value for taxpayers."

Governor Rauner plans to sign the legislation as soon as possible.   

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The sound of gunfire ripped through the fog as Soldiers ducked for cover while everything around them was pelted with bullets. Their commanding officer (CO) was injured and stranded out in the open. The Soldiers were ordered not to break ranks, but one Soldier could not leave his CO in harm's way. Under fire, Sgt. Paul Wehrenburg grabbed his CO by the collar and drug him to a foxhole. The CO recovered from his wounds, but put Wehrenburg on report for not following orders. Eventually, the CO dropped the charges and instead put Wehrenburg in for the Bronze Star.

Maj. Gen. Johnny Ray Miller of Tamms, Illinois, the Assistant Adjutant General-Army, is Wehrenburg's great nephew. It was stories Wehrenburg told that turned Miller toward a future in the military and gave the Illinois Army National Guard one of its storied leaders.

Miller retired Feb. 28 after more than 32 years of service to the Illinois Army National Guard and the Army.

Miller said Wehrenburg, who fought during D-Day and across the European theater earning two purple hearts and the bronze star for valor, inspired him to join the military.

"He had some unbelievable stories," said Miller. "He saw a lot of action during his military service."

Miller enlisted in the Missouri National Guard in 1982 where he attended Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri as a simultaneous membership program cadet. Miller joined the Illinois Army National Guard in 1984 after graduating the academy and earning an Associate's in Arts, Liberal Arts. He commissioned through the Early Commissioning Program at the age of 20.

From there Miller moved home to southern Illinois and attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois where he earned a Bachelor's of Arts degree in History, and served in the Illinois Army National Guard from 1984-86.¬¬

Miller served on active duty from 1986 to 1989 with 3rd Battalion, 63rd Armor in 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division in Kitzingen, Germany.

Here he was assigned as a M1/A1 tank platoon leader around the time the Berlin Wall came down during the Cold War.

"We did a lot of partnership with 224th Panzer Battalion of the West German Army," said Miller. "I really gained a lot of respect for our allies, many had families in East and West Germany and it was not unusual for them to relate their family's story about how they made it to the West."

Miller said he valued all he experienced while on active duty, but said he struggled with the everyday lifestyle of the active duty Army.

"I really learned an appreciation for what it is to be a citizen-Soldier," said Miller. "I grew up, and still live, in a small town. I guess I was a little homesick and the thought of moving every few years was something I was not interested in."

Miller returned to the Illinois National Guard in 1994 and commanded Delta Company, 3d Battalion 130th Infantry based in Marion, Illinois.

After his time as a company Commander, Miller said he, along with every American, unknowingly faced the biggest challenge of this generation on Sept. 11, 2001.

"The 9-11 attacks changed how I felt about my service to the National Guard," said Miller. "It changed for me that day and I'm sure others that were in at the time would say the same about their service."

Miller deployed in 2003 as Commander of 3rd Battalion, 123rd Field Artillery Regiment based in Marion, Illinois, in support of operation Noble Eagle. His battalion guarded Active Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard bases in Illinois and his staff had administrative control of more than 500 Soldiers in five states.

A few years later, in the summer of 2008, Illinois experienced the most significant flooding since 1993.

"I was mobilized for state active duty with 100 Soldiers from various units including the band," said Miller. "One of my fondest memories was seeing the band sandbagging and still finding time to practice their instruments. This experience was an eye opener in how we approached these type of events and led us to streamline how we, as the Illinois National Guard, respond to incidents using a more scalable and cost effective approach."

Miller has been many places and impacted many Soldiers during his career.

"He is a Soldier's commander. He is someone who leads from the front and understands the importance of what we as Soldiers do," said Command Sgt. Maj. Mark W. Bowman of Naperville, State Command Sergeant Major of the Illinois National Guard. "He has always supported Soldiers and non-commissioned officers whole-heartily, for as long as I have known him, and he will be missed in this organization."

Lt. Col. Michael Hough of Petersburg, Illinois, Labor Relations Specialist for the Illinois Army National Guard said Miller's impact didn't stop with Soldiers and NCOs.

"I have learned a lot from him over the years and the things I have learned have changed how I looked at the Army," said Hough. "He is very professional and approachable, and he is a wealth of knowledge."

Hough said he saw how much Miller respected the rank he earned through his willingness to take on more responsibilities.

"Generals in today's Army are very busy, but Miller always made a point to brief us officers when he returned from his trips, deployments or meetings," said Hough. "He always cared enough about us to tell us about the things he learned to make us better officers."

Miller said he has been blessed throughout his years of service and is honored to have reached the rank of major general and position as the Assistant Adjutant General - Army. Miller said he attributes a lot of his knowledge over the years to the noncommissioned officers he has met along the way.

"The NCO is the backbone of the U.S. Army. It makes us the best Army on the planet," said Miller. "I would urge officers and noncommissioned officers to be professional, but to be personable as well. Rapport is a must."

Though Miller credits other servicemembers as being a big part of his career, he said the steadfast support of his family is what got him through tough times.

"My mother has always been my biggest supporter. She has always been there for me," said Miller.

Gloria Miller, Miller's mother said she is proud of how Miller advanced through the ranks.

"As I watched Johnny grow up from a child to a man he has always put his heart and soul into everything he has done and has always achieved his goals," said Gloria. "He always loved the military since he was a child and played Army with his brother and friends."

Despite retirement, Miller said he will be just as busy.

Miller was recently promoted to Site Manager for Dyno Nobel's Wolf Lake, Illinois facility.

"I have been there for 25 years and have worked my way through the ranks within that organization as well," he said. "I won't be completely retired, but will have more time to focus on my role and hopefully get some time to enjoy weekends and hobbies."

Miller said he plans to stay connected with those he has met throughout his career including those from his old battalion in Germany.

"I have reconnected with several members of my old battalion via social media, especially my platoon sergeant Bob Sheetz, who is retired and lives in Germany," said Miller. "I plan on visiting him in the near future."

Miller said his time with the International Security Assistance Forces A3 Team in 2009 was amazing, and he kept a diary of the team's accomplishments in Afghanistan and wants to publish it and talk about everything his team did.

"I have certainly faced challenges during my career, but when I look at this career as a whole I have no regrets," said Miller. "I wouldn't give up one minute of it."