Trachelle Fullmer, a Modern Woodmen member from Jerome, Idaho, is Modern Woodmen of America’s national Fraternalist of the Year.

This national award is given annually to one Modern Woodmen member who has provided outstanding volunteer service in the community and excellent leadership in his or her local area throughout the past year.

Modern Woodmen has more than 750,000 members nationwide. For this honor, Fullmer will receive a recognition award and a $500 donation to the charity of her choice, Jerome Recreational Center.

One of Fullmer’s most visible efforts was her work rallying other local Modern Woodmen leaders to convert a weedy patch of land into the newest city park in Jerome. With the support of fraternal dollars, local donations and volunteer hours, trees were planted, sod was laid and benches were installed. An area that began as an eyesore is now a beautiful, green park. The area was named Modern Woodmen Park, in recognition of the work of local members along with Fullmer’s leadership and vision.

She also plays an integral part in the execution of local Join Hands Day projects and worked with other local club leaders to put on a successful Money Makes a Difference financial carnival for area children. This program aims to improve financial literacy among young people and will be repeated on Make a Difference Day in October.

In addition to her leadership with Modern Woodmen, Fullmer finds additional time to give back in her community for causes near to her heart.

• She coordinates the efforts at a local soup kitchen, including organizing volunteers twice a month.
• She is active in her local house of worship.
• She promotes literacy through the Busy Bookends Book Club, a group connecting children with senior citizens in reading.
• She helped develop an educational co-op for her children’s charter school and is involved in school activities and service projects.

Modern Woodmen Financial Representative Terry Downs, Idaho Falls, nominated Fullmer for the Fraternalist of the Year honor.