Hungarian American Coalition News, 1996 (5. évfolyam, 2-3. szám)
1996 / 2. szám
William Köteles Sends Heart-Lung Machine to Pécs Since 1967 William Köteles has sent 21 heart-lung machines to Hungary, made by his company, PEMCO. The first unit was sent as the gift of the Calvin Synod to the Medical School in Debrecen; others were sent to Budapest, Szeged and Pécs. The latest gift was the result of successful fundraising by the congregation of Cleveland’s First Church, as well as the Cleveland Hungarian United Fund, which raised $5,000 under the leadership of Dr. Gábor Papp at an event held at the Cleveland West Side Reformed Church. As a result of the outstanding efforts of Mr. Köteles and others, thousands of lives have been saved during the last three decades in Hungary. Human Rights Conference Report to be Published in Fall The Potomac Foundation, a member of the Hungarian American Coalition, will publish the proceedings of the Human Rights Conference held last November in Washington, D.C., Promoting European Security and Integration: The Role of National Minorities, will be edited by Frank Koszorús and Peter Pastor. 25 ÉV Az ITT-OTT ÉS, A MAGYAR BARATI KÖZÖSSÉG JUBILEUMI ÉVÜNK TALÁLKOZÓJÁRA LAKE HOPE STATE PARK, ZALESKI, OHIO 1996. AUGUSZTUS 17-24. Jelentkezés: István Hargitai, 27643 Laurel Lane, North Olmsted, OH 44070 TeL: 216.779.7791 (este) Hungarian University Forms North American Alumni Association With help from the International Executive Service Corps, Debrecen Agricultural University of Hungary is braving the new world of government cutbacks to higher education in the post-Cold War era. As a volunteer with the International Executive Service Corps (IESC) of Stamford, Connecticut, Larry Beaulaurier, a retired college administrator from Portland, Oregon, traveled to Hungary to help the university adopt to these new challenges. He set up a University Relations Department, based on an American model used for fund-raising, public relations and alumni affairs. It is the first of its kind in Hungary and possibly the first in all of Central and Eastern Europe. Like other Hungarian institutions of higher learning, Debrecen Agricutural University, a successor to the Royal Hungarian Academy of Economics, Debrecen-Pallag, has been hard hit by cuts in government funding. The university has trained tens of thousands of Hungarian students since its proud founding in 1868. Because many students have immigrated to North America, Mr Beaulaurier has decided to form a North American alumni association. From his home in Oregon, he is putting out a call to Debrecen grads living in the United States and Canada to join the alumni association. For information, write Mr. Beaulaurier at 2309 S.W. First St. #842, Portland Oregon, 97201. Information on IESC can be obtained from Peter B. Korzenik, project officer for Hungary, IESC, P.O. Office Box 10005, Stamford, CT, 06904-2005. IESC is a private, non-profit volunteer organization that sends retired Americans to assist private enterprises in the new emerging democracies of Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and developing nations in Africa, Asia, the Near East and Latin America. IESC’s projects are supported by grants from the U.S. government, primarily the U.S. Agency for International Development, and by contributions from U.S. corporations, foundations, clients and individuals. Since it weis founded in 1964 by David Rockefeller, volunteers have served on more than 18,000 projects in 122 countries. HOPE GALA BALL A BIG SUCCESS The First Hope Gala Ball took place in New Jersey in mid-February under the leadership of Bona Somogyi and Paulette Layton, the new MBK generation. The Committee, whose members included Jutka Jokay, Zsuzsanna and Juci Somogyi, Panni Layton and Réka Ludányi stated their goal “to create an event at which participants can renew relationships and which can be enjoyed by several generations.” During the Gala Dinner Gábor Bodnár (Hungarian Scout Association) and Ágoston ill Reménység Bál Hope Gala Ball Fehrunry 10,1996 Molnár (Hungarian American Foundation) were honored for their many years of outstanding work in serving the Hungarian American community. It was decided that the proceeds of the Hope Gala Ball would be used to support Hungarian kindergartens in the Voivodina, Serbia. László Bojtos, President of the Magyar Baráti Közösség, expressed the deep appreciation and pride felt by the participants who that evening saw proof that the spirit and traditions of the MBK— ITT-OTT will continue to survive as long as outstanding young people are willing to nourish it. Membership and Activities Central Eastern European Coalition Frank Koszorús, Jr., hsis represented the Hungarian American Coalition at the weekly meetings and various activities of the CEEC. This group, which includes representatives from 18 U.S. ethnic communities has worked very successfully to identify and advocate issues of common interest to its members. The group has strongly urged Washington decision-makers to support NATO expansion to include those Eastern and Central European countries which fulfill necessaiy requirements. In addition, CEEC has consistently requested the inclusion of ethnic organizations in the delivery of U.S. assistance programs in the CEEC region. 6 • Hungarian American Coalition News • Summer 1996
