Croatian Fraternal Union

The Croatian Fraternal Union (CFU; , HBZ), the oldest and largest Croatian organization in North America, is a fraternal benefit society of the Croatian diaspora based out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US.

History and activities

In the late fall of 1893, Croatian American journalist Zdravko V. Mužina issued a call for a convention to organize a fraternal benefit society for Americans of Croatian descent. Three hundred people met in response to the call on January 14, 1894, in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania. Only a handful of people signed up and paid dues to the new group. Mužina arranged for another meeting on September 2, 1894, which merged six Croatian societies into a new group, the Croatian Federation. This group changed its name to the National Croatian Society in 1897. In 1926, the National Croatian Society merged with the Croatian League of Illinois of Chicago, St. Joseph Society of Kansas City, Kansas, and the New Croatian Society of Whiting, Indiana, to form the Croatian Fraternal Union. About CFU History In 1939, the CFU absorbed the Slovanic Croatian Union.Schmidt, Alvin J. Fraternal Organizations Westport, CT; Greenwood Press p.76

The CFU built a new Home Office building in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh in 1928–29. The building featured ornate Flemish Gothic terra cotta ornamentation and was nominated as a Pittsburgh historic landmark in 2018. In 1961, the organization moved to a new headquarters in Wilkins Township.

A street in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, is called Street of the Croatian Fraternal Union. The National and University Library in Zagreb, one of Croatia's central cultural institutions, is located in that street. Josip Marohnić, founding father and first president of the CFU, also has a street named in his honor in Zagreb.

Benefits and activities

The CFU offers a wide variety of insurance plans. However, it has been an important group in preserving Croatian culture in North America by supporting Croatian roots and traditional tamburitza groups.Schmidt p.76 The Zajedničar, the CFU's newspaper, has been in circulation since 1904 and provides insurance information, as well as providing details about CFU cultural events from around the continent. The "Z", as it is called, began as a monthly and became a biweekly in 1909.About CFU History

Membership

Membership is open to anyone interested. Juvenile memberships are also available.Schmidt p.76

In the late 1960s, the CFU had 110,000 members. This declined to 100,000 members in 1979. That year, the CFU had 1,000 lodges in twenty-six states and several Canadian provinces.Schmidt p.77 The CFU had 90,000 members in 1988.Alan Axelrod International Encyclopedia of Secret Societies and Fraternal Orders New York; Facts on File, inc 1997 p.57

Current officers

National board

National president Edward W. Pazo Vice president/member services Franjo Bertovic National secretary/treasurer Bernadette Luketich-Sikaras Second vice president Michael Ricci President, board of trustees Daniel Kochis Secretary, board of trustees Ruth Sepich Member, board of trustees Robert Luketic John Miksich John Staresinic Jr. Edward Sambol Wayne Vlasic National president emeritus Bernard M. Luketich

High Trial Board

President Emil Boljkovac Secretary Stan Blaz Timothy Komara Robert D. Keber Steven Rukavina Mate Krpan Nikola Bilandzich

Junior Cultural Federation

President Mike Ricci 1st Vice-President Ted Sebetich Jr. 2nd Vice President Natalie Kosta Secretary Robert Keber Jr. Treasurer Linda Spudic Trustees Michelle Janicki Timothy Komera Rudy Pesut Joe Grman Michael Vucinic Janet CraigBoard of Advisors Donald Weakley Emil Ricio Derek Hohn Ivan Begg Virginia MichtichEx-Officio AdvisorEdward W. Pazo

Lodges

United States

Arizona 978 – Phoenix 1002 – Tucson California 121 – Oakland 177 – Los Angeles 352 – Watsonville 434 – Sacramento 581 – Fresno 588 – San Pedro 612 – San Jose 619 – Roseville 641 – San Diego 677 – Los Angeles 730 – Dinuba 900 – San Francisco 929 – Mountain View 959 – Fontana 1007 – San Francisco 1983 – Sunnyvale 1987 – San Pedro 1989 – Sunnyvale 1991 – San Mateo 1993 – Los Angeles Colorado 12 – Denver 402 – Pueblo Connecticut 616 – Stamford District of Columbia 1976 – Washington 1984 – Washington Florida 982 – Miami Georgia 1014 – Atlanta Idaho 693 – Boise Illinois 9 – Chicago 18 – Joliet 32 – Chicago 75 – Waukegan 175 – Joliet 201 – Dunfermline 202 – Chicago 217 – Benld 222 – Madison 229 – Chicago 367 – Canton 440 – Chicago 848 – Chicago 948 – Chicago 3055 – Chicago Indiana 57 – Whiting 154 – Chicago 170 – Merrillville 805 – Whiting Iowa 64 – Des Moines Kansas 35 – Kansas City Maryland 684 – Baltimore Michigan 69 – Caspian 259 – Hermansville 270 – Ahmeek 335 – Escanaba 351 – Detroit 533 – Battle Creek 561 – Flint 656 – Kipling 717 – Detroit 1015 – Grand Rapids Minnesota 94 – Eveleth 238 – Gilbert 316 – St. Paul 355 – Ely 513 – Keewatin 550 – New Duluth 635 – Virginia 664 – Nebish Missouri 50 – St. Louis Montana 84 – Anaconda 987 – Lewistown Nebraska 101 – Omaha Nevada 428 – McGill 1985 – Las Vegas New Jersey 362 – Hoboken 760 – Camden New Mexico 60 – Gallup New York 243 – Cementon 326 – Astoria 557 – Buffalo 789 – New York City 1981 – Astoria 1990 – New York City Ohio 47 – Cleveland 66 – Youngstown 136 – Lorain 182 – Warren 185 – Campbell 235 – Cleveland 310 – Columbus 337 – Euclid 403 – Cleveland 472 – Akron 514 – Canton 563 – Dayton 570 – Brewster 598 – McDonald 600 – Massillon 614 – Newton Falls 699 – Akron 859 – Cleveland 995 – Cleveland Oregon 130 – Portland Pennsylvania 1 – Pittsburgh 3 – McKeesport 4 – Etna 5 – Johnstown 6 – Rankin 10 – Export 13 – Steelton 19 – Pittsburgh 34 – Pittsburgh 72 – Uniontown 79 – Dysart 80 – Smoke Run 85 – Rochester 126 – Farrell 141 – Pittsburgh 146 – Versailles 194 – Monessen 234 – Pittsburgh 248 – Clairton 274 – Homer City 279 – Whitney 304 – Ambridge 307 – W. Brownsville 309 – Bessemer 314 – Steelton 320 – Duquesne 327 – Donora 345 – Greensburg 354 – Cokeburg 423 – Aliquippa 432 – Yukon 508 – Greenville 522 – West Pittsburg 528 – Republic 535 – Midland 540 – Conway 541 – Trafford 567 – Canonsburg 576 – Bethlehem 592 – Simpson 602 – Verona 669 – Coraopolis 716 – Tire Hill 718 – Rankin 720 – Aliquippa 740 – Rices Landing 776 – Monaca 992 – Fairless Hills Texas 1836 – Houston Utah 282 – Helper Washington 56 – Roslyn 246 – Tacoma 271 – Aberdeen 439 – Seattle 488 – Spokane 695 – Gig Harbor 867 – ESL Tacoma 1012 – Anacortes West Virginia 2 – Benwood 523 – Warwood 595 – Weirton 606 – Bluefield Wisconsin 392 – West Allis 599 – Sanborn 639 – Eagle River 680 – Ashland 692 – Kenosha 993 – Mukwonago 1959 – Milwaukee 1994 – Milwaukee 1995 – Sheboygan Wyoming 306 – Rock Springs 374 – Rock Springs

Canada

Alberta 503 – Calgary 520 – Edmonton 949 – Alberta British Columbia 268 – Nanaimo 787 – Vancouver Nova Scotia 786 – Stellarton 796 – Glace Bay Ontario 500 – Cambridge 501 – Ottawa 512 – Mississauga 515 – Toronto 525 – Mississauga 530 – St. Thomas 531 – Simcoe 545 – Etobicoke 617 – Welland 638 – Windsor 644 – Hamilton 648 – Kirkland Lake 650 – Toronto 679 – Thunder Bay 793 – Sudbury 874 – Huntsville 919 – Sault Ste Marie 930 – Schumacher 936 – Bothwell 954 – Hamilton 961 – West Toronto 975 – Toronto 977 – Toronto Quebec 739 – Montreal 814 – Val D'Or 866 – Montreal 990 – Montreal Saskatchewan 521 – Saskatoon

Croatia

Croatia 2000 – Zagreb 2001 – Ogulin 2004 – Koprivnica 2005 – Rijeka 2006 – Split 2007 – Županja

References

External links