Lucy, Yes that is a convention badge. The Red, White and Blue, while they are the colors of our US flag, were used on that badge because they are the colors of the Croatian flag. There are no titles used in Social Security records ie DR, MR, MRS, Miss and David STARCEVICH records gives no indication whether or not he was a DR. Anyway as Tatjana mentioned Dr. STARCEVIC is a historical figure, a patriot. While your family may or may not be related to this DR., Keep in mind that STARCEVIC is a common surname. Perhaps it was kept by your family due to the fact that the surnames were the same. It would in anycase be a very nice keepsake or collectable. Don't discard this item! The National Croatian Society was the predecesor to the Croatian Fraternal Union of the USA and Canada (aka CFU). The CFU, the world's largest Croatian organization with over 90,000 members, is based in Pittsburgh PA. The CFU was formed as a means to provide security for families when a member of that family passed on. Most policies were small amounts at an affordable cost, often times just enough to bury that member. Local Lodges were formed across the US and Canada (after the fall of communisim several Lodges were formed in Croatia) which built buildings called Lodges or Doms. These local Lodges served as a gather place where members could speak in their mother tongue and enjoy many of the cultural activities of their old homeland. Nowadays the CFU operates much in the same manner, but now preserving that culture and perpetuating it amongst descendents of those early immigrants. The CFU weekly newspaper, The Zajednicar, publishes Lodge activities, articles about Cro! atia, Croatian history and Croatian people, as well as announcing cultural events. IMHO every Croatian-American should belong to the CFU! Today CFU Lodges in Montana are located at: Anaconda, MT Lodge 84 "St Peter and Paul" Butte, MT Lodge 89, "Hrvatska" Lewistown, MT, Lodge 987, "Tomislav" Odsjek Broj 56 = Lodge Number 56 is still active at Roslyn, WA As well there is a Dr Starcevic Cemetery in Roslyn http://www.mrail.net/data/cemete/wash/kittitas/drstark/starcevic.htm By the way Wyoming has 2 CFU Lodges, both in Rock Springs. Robert Jerin Lucy Simpson <[email protected]> wrote: There was a series of e-mails on the National Croatian Society on this listserve, and because I did not have any connection to this society, I did not read them and deleted all of them. Then my aunt died in Montana, and I went to her funeral. While there I visited with cousins from the Croatian lines and found a connection to this Society. My cousin showed me a badge that was red, white and blue with gold fringes. I made a copy of both sides of the badge? or name tag? that was pinned on the wearer. This badge came from my grandmother's things. None of us know how the person named on the badge is related and why she had it. The name was the same as our grandfather's. Any ideas or thoughts on how I can find out about this. Please give me a summary of the purpose, etc. of this society. I am sorry I didn't read and save this discussion, but I sure didn't know I would have a connection to it all. Would this society have any genealogical information? This is a description of the badge, which is 16 inches long and abt. 3 inches wide Pin on top left says National Croatian Society of the USA, the top right has 3 lines of Croatian words. Then a 1 inch ribbon followed by a gold flower sequined. Two tassels on each side. Blue folded over fringe top says ODSJ BR 56 N.H.Z Red, white and blue ribbon goes to V shape with fringes and a tassel in the middle. says HRV RAD.POD DRUZTVO DR. DAVID STARCEVIC ODSJ BR 56 N.H.Z ROSLYN, WASH. Was this a convention badge. I looked in the Soc. Security index and found Dr. David Starcevic in Montana and the dates would fit the person owning this badge. But I sure don't know how he was related to my Grandfather Blaz Starcevich or why it was with my Grandmother's things? Hope to hear from you all about this. Lucy Interested in visting Croatia? Click on the link below to find out about a wonderful tour of Croatia! http://www.kollander-travel.com/