Hungarian American Coalition News, 1992 (1. évfolyam, 2. szám)
1992 / 2. szám
News from our Member Organizations On August 11th, five days before the Birmingham Hungarian Festival, a large fire struck the Hungarian Club of Toledo causing extensive damage to the inside. The interior of the Club is being redesigned by architects László Bojtos and Marton Sass, and members hope to finish rebuilding by early January. Consistent with its tradition of selecting relevant and timely scholarly projects, the Committee for Danubian Research, Inc. supported a book by historian Ignác Romsics Welcome to AHEA Welcome to our newest member organization, the American Hungarian Educators’ Association (AHEA)! This national organization is devoted to teaching, dissemination and research in Hungarian culture, including history, folklore, literature, language, fine arts, music and scientific achievements. The association is committed to bilingualism while using English as its primary language of communication. AHEA works with American and Canadian groups, as well as Hungarian and other European cultural and educational associations and groups. Its annual conferences, journals and publications have contributed much to the maintenance and teaching of Hungarian culture in the U.S. and Canada. Enikő Molnár Basa, Executive Director, will be AHEA’s representative to the Coalition. Future Members Three organizations which are applying for membership in the Coalition are: □ Pacific Northwest Hungarian American Chamber of Commerce □ Comprehensive Health Education Foundation □ Minnesota Hungarians, Inc. More on them in our next newsletter! If you are interested in getting information about the Coalition, or inviting someone to meet with your organization, please contact Sándor Taraszovics, chairman of the Membership Committee, or Edith Lauer. entitled “Wartime American Plans for a New Hungary: Documents from the U.S. Department of State, 1942-1944.” This exciting volume will contribute significantly to the scholarship of the Danubian region, particularly in light of the extraordinary events unfolding in Central Europe today. The Committee will donate copies of this book to various libraries. The volume is a joint publication with Atlantic Research and Publications, Inc. See article on page 6 for a more detailed description of the book. The Hungarian Scouts Association Abroad (HSAA), in cooperation with the scouts of Hungary, held its fifth successful leader training course last July in Gödöllő for leaders of Hungarian boy scout and girl scout troops in the neighboring countries. Of the fifty-two participants the largest number came from Transylvania, while Slovakia and Carpatho-Ukraina were represented about equally. The campsite was visited by several dignitaries, including Geza Jeszenszky, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary. The Cleveland Hungarian Development Panel invited Ambassador and Mrs. Pal Tar for a special dinner on the occasion of the Ambassador’s visit to address the famous Cleveland City Club Forum. The City Club, established in 1912, gives prominent leaders in politics, business and education an excellent opportunity to speak to a wide audience. Their weekly Friday Forum is carried live by 144 radio stations, and is broadcast the next day by local public television. The Panel continues to send large amounts of medicine to Hungary. It recently participated in Ohio’s first Overseas Medical Mission in which donated medical supplies, equipment—including an ambulance — and books were collected and shipped to Budapest, Pecs and Karcag. The Magyar Club of Cleveland held a cultural night on October 23, 1992 in honor of the Hungarian Revolution. A piano concert by Zoltán Marczi was enjoyed by the Hungarian and American community, followed by a warm reception. George Dózsa was elected President of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America at its 34th Quadrenniel Convention held in September. Endre Csornán and Suzanne Virgulák were elected Vice President and Treasurer. Former President Imre Bertalan was named Honorary President and will work with the new administration on special assignments in public relations. Calendar of Events of Member Organizations 1992 Opening December 6 — The American Hungarian Foundationannounces two new exhibits opening at the Hungarian Heritage Center in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The 4th Annual Festival of Trees will feature ten Christmas trees decorated in the traditions of various ethnic communities. A two week-long exhibit of paintings by Lajos Mark, commemorating his death fifty years ago, will be on display at the Center following two weeks at the Hungarian consulate in New York. Continuing exhibits: Zsolnai porcelain, and photography exhibit, “Budapest in 1900.” For more information contact the Foundation at (908) 846-5777. December 8 — American Hungarian Foundation’s 31th Annual George Washington Awards Dinner, New York Waldorf Astoria. This year’s honorees are Stefan Lorant, author of several books on past U.S. presidents and a book about the city of Pittsburgh, and Kati Marton, a former overseas correspondent for ABC and author of three books. December 12—Christmas Party hosted by the Magyar Club of Cleveland. 1993 February 13 — Heritage Night and dinner, by the Magyar Club of Cleveland. April 22-24 — The American Hungarian Educators’ Association 18th Annual Conference, at the University of Maryland Conference Center, University Park, MD. The title of the conference is “Hungary—and Hungarians — in the 1990’s.” The Hungarian Scouts Association Abroad announces the following events: April 24-25—Biennial General Meeting of the HSAA in Montreal, Canada. (Date tentative). May 29-31 — Annual North American Patrol Competition, Hungarian Scout Reservation, Fillmore, NY. July 3-31 — Summer School of the Hungarian Scouts Association in Fillmore, NY. Winter 1992 • Hungarian American Coalition News • 9