Croatian Fraternal Union


The Croatian Fraternal Union , 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. In 1939 the CFU absorbed the Slovanic Croatian Union.
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, 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. 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.

Membership

Membership is open to people of Croatian descent or those married to the same. Juvenile memberships are also available.
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. The CFU had 90,000 members in 1988.

Current officers

National board

National presidentEdward W. Pazo
Vice president/member servicesFranjo Bertovic
National secretary/treasurerBernadette Luketich Sikaras
Second vice presidentMichael Ricci
President, board of trusteesMichael Loncarich
Secretary, board of trusteesGeorge Pavlecic
Member, board of trusteesAndrew Sepich
Scott Kuren
Ladislav Meze
Robert Novosel
Robert Luketic
National president emeritusBernard M. Luketich

High Trial Board

PresidentDaniel Kochis
SecretaryEmil Boljkovac
Donald Weakley
Virginia Michtich
John Miksich
Nikola Bilandzich
Sonja Schroder

Junior Cultural Federation

PresidentDonald Weakley
1ST Vice-PresidentBernadette Luketich-Sikaras
2ND Vice-PresidentGoldie Malone
SecretaryIvan Begg
TreasurerTed Sebetich Jr
TrusteesDon Bowman
Mike Ricci
Michelle Janicki
Joe Grman
Antun Belan
Board of AdvisorsJoan Kutz, Festival Coordinator
Virginia Michtich
Carol Sees
Janet Craig
Emil Riccio
Ex OfficioBernard M. Luketich

Lodges

United States

Arizona978 – Phoenix1002 – Tucson
California121 – Oakland177 – Los Angeles352 – Watsonville434 – Sacramento581 – Fresno588 – San Pedro612 – San Jose619 – Roseville
641 – San Diego677 – Los Angeles730 – Dinuba900 – San Francisco929 – Mountain View959 – Fontana1007 – San Francisco1983 – Sunnyvale
1987 – San Pedro1989 – Sunnyvale1991 – San Mateo1993 – Los Angeles
Colorado12 – Denver402 – Pueblo
Connecticut616 – Stamford
District of Columbia1976 – Washington1984 – Washington
Florida 982 – Miami
Georgia1014 – Atlanta
Idaho693 – Boise
Illinois9 – Chicago18 – Joliet32 – Chicago75 – Waukegan175 – Joliet201 – Dunfermline202 – Chicago217 – Benld
222 – Madison229 – Chicago367 – Canton440 – Chicago848 – Chicago948 – Chicago3055 – Chicago
Indiana57 – Whiting154 – Chicago170 – Merrillville805 – Whiting
Iowa64 – Des Moines
Kansas35 – Kansas City
Maryland684 – Baltimore
Michigan69 – Caspian259 – Hermansville270 – Ahmeek335 – Escanaba533 – Battle Creek561 – Flint656 – Kipling
717 – Detroit1015 – Grand Rapids
Minnesota94 – Eveleth238 – Gilbert316 – St. Paul355 – Ely513 – Keewatin550 – New Duluth635 – Virginia664 – Nebish
Missouri50 – St. Louis
Montana84 – Anaconda987 – Lewistown
Nebraska101 – Omaha
Nevada428 – McGill1985 – Las Vegas
New Jersey362 – Hoboken760 – Camden
New Mexico60 – Gallup
New York243 – Cementon326 – Astoria557 – Buffalo789 – New York City1981 – Astoria1990 – New York City
Ohio47 – Cleveland66 – Youngstown136 – Lorain182 – Warren185 – Campbell235 – Cleveland310 – Columbus337 – Euclid
403 – Cleveland472 – Akron514 – Canton563 – Dayton570 – Brewster598 – McDonald600 – Massillon614 – Newton Falls
699 – Akron859 – Cleveland995 – Cleveland
Oregon130 – Portland
Pennsylvania1 – Pittsburgh3 – McKeesport4 – Etna5 – Johnstown6 – Rankin10 – Export19 – Pittsburgh
34 – Pittsburgh72 – Uniontown79 – Dysart80 – Smoke Run85 – Rochester126 – Farrell141 – Pittsburgh146 – Versailles
194 – Monessen234 – Pittsburgh248 – Clairton274 – Homer City279 – Whitney304 – Ambridge307 – W. Brownsville309 – Bessemer
314 – Steelton320 – Duquesne327 – Donora345 – Greensburg354 – Cokeburg423 – Aliquippa432 – Yukon508 – Greenville
522 – West Pittsburg528 – Republic535 – Midland540 – Conway541 – Trafford567 – Canonsburg576 – Bethlehem592 – Simpson
602 – Verona669 – Coraopolis716 – Tire Hill718 – Rankin720 – Aliquippa740 – Rices Landing776 – Monaca992 – Fairless Hills
Texas1836 – Houston
Utah282 – Helper
Washington56 – Roslyn246 – Tacoma271 – Aberdeen439 – Seattle488 – Spokane695 – Gig Harbor867 – ESL Tacoma1012 – Anacortes
West Virginia2 – Benwood523 – Warwood595 – Weirton606 – Bluefield
Wisconsin392 – West Allis599 – Sanborn639 – Eagle River680 – Ashland692 – Kenosha993 – Mukwonago1959 – Milwaukee1994 – Milwaukee
1995 – Sheboygan
Wyoming306 – Rock Springs374 – Rock Springs

Canada

Alberta503 – Calgary520 – Edmonton949 – Alberta
British Columbia268 – Nanaimo787 – Vancouver
Nova Scotia786 – Stellarton796 – Glace Bay
Ontario500 – Cambridge501 – Ottawa512 – Mississauga515 – Toronto525 – Mississauga530 – St. Thomas531 – Simcoe545 – Etobicoke
617 – Welland638 – Windsor644 – Hamilton648 – Kirkland Lake650 – Toronto679 – Thunder Bay793 – Sudbury874 – Huntsville
919 – Sault Ste Marie930 – Schumacher936 – Bothwell954 – Hamilton961 – West Toronto977 – Toronto
Quebec739 – Montreal814 – Val D'Or866 – Montreal990 – Montreal
Saskatchewan521 – Saskatoon

Croatia

Croatia2000 – Zagreb2004 – Koprivnica2005 – Rijeka2006 – Split2007 – Županja