Bethlen Almanac 1997 (Ligonier)
Ausztrália
thus the youngest director on the board. At the Convention of 1957, he was elected the first Vice President of the Federation. In 1924, the City of Wandotte, Michigan, had organized Branch 156, whose manager Mr. Novotnik retired in 1957. Geza was called upon to take over the branch. Therefore, our family transferred from Branch 35 to 156. In 1964, the convention adopted a resolution whereby branches with less than 25 members should merge into other branches. It so happened that Branches 315 and 354 of Caro and Carsonville, Michigan, merged into Branch 156, bringing the membership of Branch 156 to more than 300.1 became treasurer of Branch 156. Since our family was getting larger, with more nieces and nephews, we increased the membership of the Federation by 30. At the 1964 Convention held in Washington, D.C., Geza was given the honor to place a wreath on the tomb of President John F. Kennedy. Branch 156 was progressing. Large picnics were held at Estral Beach. For events of that nature, my brother Samuel would pick up the ladies at 5:00 a.m. to start the goulash as early as possible. The profit from such events went to the Bethlen Home. Geza bought a room with his name at the Bethlen Home. I had the pleasure of being present when the new home was dedicated. In 1976, sad news came to the Vespremi family. Our parents passed away, two brothers passed away in the early seventies and also three sisters in West Virginia. Controller László Eszenyi from Washington, D.C. gave the eulogy at the Grace Reformed Church in Allen Park, Michigan. Later on in years, branch 156, as all other Detroit branches, merged into Branch 35. In 1984,1 went as a delegate of Branch 35 to the Convention held in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. At that Convention, President Rev. Imre Bertalan presented my brother Samuel, who was elected President of Branch 35, with a Heritage Preservation Appreciation award. I was elected to the Board. In 1985,1 resigned and Mr. Janos Toth from Canada became director. In 1988, my brother Samuel became a delegate of Branch 35 and was elected alternate director for Michigan and Canada. When director Toth resigned in 1991, Samuel became director, and I the Secretary-Treasurer of the Branch 35. Presently only two of us are left of the large family, and we are proud to be the son and daughter of a coal miner. Yes, the Federation is part of our lives because through it we met many Hungarian ministers, attended many Hungarian Reformed churches in America, and were honored to have received the plaque from President Bertalan. We traveled twice to Hungary, visiting and helping the College of Sárospatak with donations. 257
