Hungarian American Coalition News, 1993 (2. évfolyam, 1. szám)
1993 / 1. szám
NEWS FROM OUR MEMBERS Outstanding Lectures at Rutgers University Our Rutgers University, New Brunswick (NJ) based member organization, the Hungarian Alumni Association (Magyar Öregdiák Szövetség - Bessenyei György Kör) hosted outstanding lecturers during the first four months of 1993. On January 25, John Lukacs, the famous historian, spoke on the social, economic and cultural developments of Budapest during our century's beginning decades. His program was jointly organized by the American Hungarian Heritage Center, Rutgers University’s Institute of Hungarian Studies and the Hungarian Alumni Association. On February 27, Ambassador Andre Erdos, Hungary’s representative to the United Nations, was the Alumni Association’s guest at Rutgers University. His lecture was titled: “Hungary and the New World Order.” During the program Dr. Karoly Nagy, President of the Association, also introduced Balazs László, Hungary’s new Consul General in New York. On March 12, two young members of Rumania’s and Slovakia’s Hungarian minority population were invited by the Alumni to talk on the present situation and future prospects for Hungarian youth in those countries. Robert Branea (Cluj-Kolozsvar) and Ivan Gyurcsik (Bratislava-Pozsony) were introduced by László Hamos, Presidentof the Hungarian Human Rights Foundation. Gabor Zupko, the Deputy Mayor of Kispest and a Visiting Fellow at the Washington-based National Forum Foundation this spring, was also a March guest. His talk on March 29 was cosponsored by Rutgers’ International Programs, its Hungarian Studies Institute and its Local Democracy in Poland program. On April 3, Hungary’s economic prospects were the topic of the Association’s program at Rutgers. László Urban (Budapest), economist, is currently doing research at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson Institute. Scouts Elect Imre Lendvay-Lintner The Hungarian Scouts Association Abroad at its biennial general meeting in Montreal, Canada, on April 17-18, elected Imre Lendvay- Lintner asExecutive President and István Vajtay as Chief Commissioner. Backing up these two young leaders will be Gabor Bodnar, who was elected Secretary General of the Association. In July, the Association ran a training course in Adyliget, Hungary for leaders of boy scout and girl scout troops from the neighboring countries. Theparticipants, coming from Carpatho-Ukraine, Slovakia, Transylvania, and Vojvodina, were selected on a competitive basis and received financial aid to attend the course. One hundred Hungarian boy scouts and girl scouts coming from Australia, Brazil, Canada, the United States, and Venezuela will attend the Jubilee Camp in Gödöllff, Hungary in August, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the 4th World Jamboree. The “Szent László cserkészcsapat" and tire “Szent Margit leány cserkészcsapat" will hold their summer camp in Tiszafüred, Hungary, together with three local troops. This is a FIRST in the history of HSAA. Hungarian Scouts Association Abroad announces the following events: August 12-22 — Leader Training Courses (Tisztitábor) for patrol leaders, assistant scoutmasters, scoutmasters/troopleaders. Sik Sándor Hungarian Scout Reservation, Fillmore, New York. September 5 - Scout Day. Cleveland, Ohio. October 9-11 — “Regöstábor.” Fillmore, NY. November 6-7 — North American Leaders’ Conference (Eszakamerikai cserkésztiszti konferencia). Buffalo, NY. For information about these events call (201) 772-8810. Frank Koszorús, Jr. Speaks at IMF On May 27, 1993, board member Frank Koszorús, Jr. gave a presentation at the International Monetary Fund Visitors Center, entitled “The Future of Democracy in Central Europe: The Protection of National, Linguistic and Ethnic Minorities.” The essence of Mr. Koszorús’ lecture can be summarized from his written presentation as follows: It is clear that the cause of tension which leads to the denial of true democracy is not the legitimate aspirations of national minorities to preserve their culture, but the undemocratic suppression of those aspirations. Democracy, therefore, can only flourish in Central and Eastern Europe if the national minority question is fully and satisfacto rily re sol ved and minority rights —a form of self-determination — is fully implemented. It is imperative that this issue be squarely addressed and reexamined so that a comprehensive new arrangement in the relations between states, nations and national minorities in Central Europe be established. Now that the Cold War is over, perhaps a “peace conference” could be assembled to focus on this critical question. In 4 • Hungarian-American Coalition News • Summer 1993 any event, a failure to recognize the inextricable link between democracy, ontheonehand. and the protection of national minorities, on the other hand, will keep history on a treadmill and only lead to repetitive tragedy. Copies of die speech are available upon request from die Coalition office. Calvin Synod Elects Bishop The yearly meeting of die Calvin Synod of the United Church of Christ was heldinLigonier in May. The Right Reverend Francis Vitéz, Ph.D., of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, was elected Bishop of the Calvin Synod. The Reverend Lajos Medgyesi of Fairport Harbor, Ohio, will serve as Deputy Bishop. AHEA Holds Annual Conference The American Hungarian Educators’ Association held its annual meeting on April 22-24, 1993 in College Park, Maryland and the University of Maryland’s Conference Center. Approximately sixty of die Association's 100 plus members from the U.S. and Canada participated in the three day conference. Some twenty lectures were held on the teaching of Hungarian language, literature and history, topics in Hungarian literature, and the situation of Transylvania’s and Slovakia’s Hungarian minorities. The participants were informed about die growing cooperation and exchange arrangements between the U.S. and Hungary. There was also a discussion about die American Journalism Center in Budapest. The working language of the conference was English, to accommodate the numerous non-Hungarian participants who, nonetheless, take great interest in Hungarian language and culture. The general meeting of AHEA passed a resolution condemning die limitation of Hungarian language education in Rumania, Slovakia and Serbia. The resolution pointed out that education in the mother tongue is a basic human right and calls on the U.S. and Canada to pressure diose countries to guarantee that right. The Educators’ Association also decided it will take steps to inform minority Hungarians about scholarship opportunities in the West. Anyone with information about scholarships in the U.S. or Canada for which minority Hungarian students, professors and researchers are eligible to apply is asked to send the details to the American Hungarian Educators’ Association, PO Box 4103, Silver Spring, MD. 20914.
