Western Fraternal Life Association (WFLA) has named Marjorie Bianco of Bothell winner of the its “Fraternalist of the Year” award. One member is chosen from all the lodge entries around the country in this WFLA tradition. Then, each fraternal society’s chosen fraternalist represents WFLA in the National Fraternal Congress of America’s competition for its “Fraternalist of the Year.”

WFLA is a not-for-profit fraternal benefit society with 130 lodges throughout the United States. Established in 1897, the association celebrates 113 years of fraternal and financial service to individuals and communities.

Bianco was chosen because of the many fraternal, community and youth activities in which she is involved.

Bianco has been a significant driving force in Seattle Lodge No. 181, since transferring to this lodge in 2002. She is a highly dedicated, productive and busy volunteer who has made a huge difference within this group. She volunteers more than 20 hours a week for community service and lodge activities.

She has infused the lodge with a fresh outlook on fraternalism, Czech heritage and community service. She proposed, planned and promoted all 18 of the 2009 lodge fraternal support events, hosted multiple dinners and prepared Czech pastries for lodge-sponsored events. With her leadership, this lodge started qualifying for lodge awards and has achieved the Level I Award since 2005, including a monetary award to help serve the local community.

In the community, she assists with several groups such as Northshore Performing Arts Center Theatre Guild, helping to raise funds for special mentoring programs to enrich high-school and college dramatic arts. Her youth work includes coordinating a children’s library book fair for the past two years. She also contacted all lodge youth personally to ensure their school and community endeavors were recognized. She initiated award certificate presentations to honor individual lodge contributions.

Active in a military support group, she helps supply items for care packages to deployed military personnel. She also helped organize Veterans Day program displays to honor past and present military service.