The National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) recognized Ora Jean Gunnin—a member of Travelers Protective Association of America, Post B, Atlanta, Georgia—as a Fraternal MVP (Most Valuable Participant) for the week of September 24, 2007. Fraternal MVPs are “Fraternalists-in-Action” who volunteer their time and energy to strengthen their communities through participation in local lodge activities and other charitable endeavors.

“The NFCA wishes to salute those individuals as true fraternalists,” said NFCA Chair of the Board Katharine E. Rounthwaite. “As a Fraternal MVP, Ora Jean Gunnin embodies the heart of fraternalism through her hard work, dedication and generosity.”

Gunnin has been a member of the Travelers Protective Association of America (TPA) for 10 years and is active at the post and state levels, currently serving as president of the Georgia Division and on the board of directors of Post B in Atlanta.

Members of Post B know Gunnin well because of her efforts to bring TPA’s programs to her fellow members and the community. During her tenure as state president, she has become involved with members throughout the State of Georgia. She encourages all posts in Georgia to keep a scrapbook or photo album of activities to preserve a history for future generations of members to see how TPA impacted their community. She encouraged membership drives to keep the posts growing, and believes strongly in TPA and its many community programs, telling everyone she meets about TPA programs and how they benefit the community and children.

Post B members benefited from her involvement in post activities. She planned and organized a fall picnic for members and helped plan their Christmas party. She lets other local members know of activities through articles and photos in the newspapers. She also submits articles about Post B activities to TPA’s magazine.

In the Atlanta area, she visited members who live in nursing homes, provided transportation for a member’s doctor appointments, assisted another member living in a remote area get his weekly cancer treatments, and regularly visited any TPA member who was hospitalized.

Safety and the well-being of children are a concern of Gunnin’s and she promotes child safety through talks to groups at churches and a State Women’s Club. TPA’s CHAD sticker (Children Have An iDentity) is one of the tools used to promote child safety. She has distributed them to the Georgia State Women’s Club, two area hospitals, to a new maternity section to be included in “new mother’s packets” and has organized groups asking them to give out the CHAD stickers. She carries them with her wherever she goes and gives them to mothers of small children in shopping malls, restaurants, schools, church and club meetings. She also promotes the use of DNA kits and has presented information about them in local schools.

She also shares information about TPA’s Scholarship Trust for the Deaf and Near Deaf in the community and supports the fund that provides assistance to the hearing impaired.

TPA is not the only organization that benefits from her energy. She has served as treasurer of the East Point Historical Society and is editor of the monthly newsletter. She serves as vice president of two political clubs, is public affairs chair for the East Point Women’s Club, and chair of her high school reunion group.

In serving these organizations and others, she has given a talk on the history of the American Flag and how to properly display it. She collects food and supplies for the pregnancy crises center and the community food bank. As a cancer survivor, she participates in activities promoting cancer awareness/prevention. She has participated in the neighborhood collection for the American Heart Association, she works with Christian Care, which is a hospice for adults and short term care for children with special needs, and supports two children at the Christian City Home.

Gunnin’s faith is guided by her church and she gives back freely as a member of the choir and assistant teacher of the Sunday school class. She has organized socials for the class, volunteers in the kitchen for Wednesday night dinners sponsored by the Women’s Club and organized a 24-hour prayer vigil.

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