Summer Memories

The “Lazy Days of Summer” have already arrived here in Western Pennsylvania as temperatures feel like we are in mid-summer, with zero precipitation and none forecasted for the next week or so! The lawns are starting to look like we are in the month of August! As I often reminisce about several experiences over the course of life, I very much looked forward to summer as a youngster with no worries about schoolwork as my friends and I would play outdoors each and every day! The many activities that I never got tired of included:

• Playing baseball almost every day whether it was our own pick up game or Little League. We had to “try out” for making a Little League team and yes, some of the candidates trying out were not selected. I was!!
• Going to Mullen’s Field as school teachers were assigned to the various parks in my hometown of Dunmore. They would host crafts and other activities, using the playground equipment that would never pass inspection in today’s world.
• Stopping in neighborhood grocery stores for penny candy, sodas and ice cream.
• Playing board games.
• Finishing the day off with some “Hide and Seek” or “Kick the Can” and of course being sure to be home when the streetlights came on.
• Picking blueberries with my Uncle Charlie.
• Going fishing with my parents that latter morphed into playing golf with my Dad, Brother and my Uncle Bob.
• Visiting Lake Wallenpaupak and staying at my Aunt Millie and Uncle Joe’s cottage that was right on the lake, really fun and memorable times with family.
• Listening to New York Yankee games on the radio on the front porch as our home did not have air conditioning as fans were humming throughout the day and nighttime never complaining because that’s just the way it was!
• A huge treat every so often was a trip to Nay Aug Park that had a huge concrete pool. As a child it seemed like the size of a football field. I am not sure it would pass today’s stringent laws for swimming pools as I recall the water was pretty dirty, all kinds of paper products floating around from drinks and snow cones and even cigarette butts. We didn’t care, it was still refreshing. Story had it that the elephant at the Nay Aug Zoo named “Tilly” was actually bathed in the same pool as the pool was also called “Lake Lincoln.” Now I’m going back several years as the pool has since been replaced as I think it may have even been condemned.

In line with my last memory noted, the new Seven Oaks Pool and Recreation Complex is opening this month. This new facility will certainly complement the most recent overall improvements made to the Clubhouse and golf course and be reflective of the GCU as a $2.6 billion fraternal benefit society. It will continue to improve the financial position of the Club through increased membership and also have a positive impact upon the single family and multi-family real estate development. This facility will be second to none to any other private club in the tri-state area and rival many resort style swimming pool and racquet complexes you may have experienced providing many memorable moments for our entire GCU Family. We invite you to view the new facility that I personally plan on enjoying as well. I’ve come a long way from my days at “Lake Lincoln” to the new Seven Oaks Pool and Recreation Complex!

The GCU’s financial reports for the first quarter of 2023 are presented on page 4 in the June Magazine  by our Chief Financial Officer Tim Demetres. The GCU continues to tout financial strength as we navigate through very volatile financial markets under the current high interest rate environment. GCU continues to increase assets and surplus while generating a modest net income. Net income for the year is projected to be lower than prior years. This is due to increased interest rates on our annuity products—offered to remain competitive against our fraternal and commercial competitors in the fixed rate deferred annuity and fixed indexed annuity marketplace.

The GCU’s new Fraternal Metamorphosis Structure continues to unfold. We have been witnessing the first-time participation of members in each of the events that have been held thus far in 2023. We invite you to visit the GCU’s website – www.GCUusa.com – and “click on events” to view all the volunteer, fundraising and social events planned for 2023. I recently participated in the GCU’s Combined National Bowling Tournament held in Buffalo, New York in May. Everyone enjoyed the festivities especially fraternalizing with members of three other fraternal benefit societies from the Slovak Catholic Sokols, First Catholic Sokol Union and National Slovak Society. My thank you to my team members: Charles Howser, Greg Maranowski and Michael Manstch, that I really enjoyed bowling with!

Under the new Fraternal Metamorphosis Structure, the GCU is providing financial support to each of our Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Parishes within the United States. We have received numerous “thank you” notes and emails from several Pastors expressing their gratitude for much needed funding for their respective parishes. In addition to the $ 2,000.00 donation recently distributed, additional funding includes Matching Funds and an Event Stipend. The GCU has undergone a “metamorphosis” itself over the course of our history, but we will continue to support “Our Ethnic Roots” and “Our Byzantine Catholic Faith” that have played and extensive role in “Who We Are” and What We Stand For” as a Fraternal Benefit Society.

Again, our thank you to our members and our agents for the continued support you exhibit to the GCU and the business you have placed with us. We assure you that fiscally sound decisions will always be made in protecting our members’ interest!

As always, please contact me with any questions or concerns!
GOODNESS IS GREAT!
George N. Juba | GCU President/CEO