Back To The Basics . . .

Let’s start this month’s letter with a big ole – I’m sorry! Yes, I am apologizing because for the last few months I have failed to provide you a truly good article.

When I first learned that I would be responsible for writing a monthly article that hundreds would read, I quickly realized that this would be a great platform to convey my thoughts, feelings and ideas (no matter how twisted they might be). Well, I have failed you the last few months.

Due to my workload, I have taken the easy road and writing about the easy stuff. I have been preaching about how you need to make sure you have enough life insurance or that you need to be saving money – blah, blah, blah, blah. See – the fact of the matter is, if you haven’t figured out that you need to be saving for your retirement, child’s college, and/or rainy days, then you have got plenty to worry about!

So, where does that leave us? Fact being, I believe that all people are guilty of losing sight of what’s truly important. As we all feel the burden of $4 per gallon gas we must realize that times are tough and they are only going to get tougher. Look folks, major car manufacturers do not close three auto-manufacturing plants without doing their research. We have forgotten that in past generations when times got hard people embraced the thought of Fraternalism.

This past week I attended a meeting, which consisted of representatives from the various Fraternal Life Insurance carriers within the State of Texas. In this meeting someone uttered the phrase, “Fraternals do what the government will not, can not, and should not do”. Fraternal organizations were formed because times were tough and people needed certain benefits that they were not getting anywhere else.

Over the years I believe people learned the importance of fraternal organizations and decided to slowly replace their fraternal organization with the United States Government. In summary, it seems as if people are trying to convert the United States government into a fraternal organization.

Now that’s an idea – if you’re an American then you’re a member! Maybe some of the member benefits can be national health coverage, a national retirement program, and lower gas price . . . Oh – wait a minute, this sounds kind of like bits and pieces from two senators on the campaign trail . . .

I’m not saying that the KJT should develop a group health plan for its members or wage war with “Big Oil”, but as Americans we need to get back to what has gotten us to this point. We need to reinvest our time into our fraternal organizations, rather than wasting our time as an individual. We need to find what we all have lost and refocus on what has gotten our forefathers through the hard times.

This is why the KJT was formed to promote the general welfare of its members while giving financial support to a deceased member’s surviving spouse, children and/or grand children. Fraternal organizations allowed individuals to join together and achieve a common goal (whatever the goal might be).

In the KJT, you can have a voice and make a difference.

David Wagner
Marketing Director