Hungarian American Coalition News, 1999 (8. évfolyam, 1-3. szám)
1999 / 1. szám
Senate Foreign Relations Committee on NATO enlargement and the need to protect ethnic minorities to ensure stability and security. The CEEC also initiated a program to coordinate its NATO enlargement efforts with other non ethnic organizations, such as veteran groups and business leaders. This effort culminated in the establishment of the NATO Enlargement Working Group. The Coalition was appointed chair of the Steering Committee of the Working Group which added its name to those who strongly supported expansion. Following the overwhelming victory in the Senate in favor of expanding NATO, the CEEC, with the ongoing participation of the Coalition, has unequivocally resolved to advocate the continued expansion of the Alliance and U.S. engagement in Central and Eastern Europe. COALITION PROJECT UPDATE DUNA TV The Coalition continues to pursue its long-held objective of bringing DUNA TV, a Hungarian language cultural and news program, to the United States. The project has been endorsed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, and has a great potential for success. The Hungarian American Coalition is currently completing a market survey to determine the number and program preferences of potential viewers. As part of Hungary's constitutional mandate to establish a relationship with the millions of ethnic Hungarians living beyond its borders, DUNA TV began its operations in 1992. The corporation, based in Budapest, Hungary, is owned by the Hungarian Television Foundation established by the government. The main objectives of DUNA TV are the following:- to foster the relationship between Hungary and ethnic Hungarian communities living outside Hungary;- to provide these Hungarian minority communities with up-to-date information on economic, political and cultural topics; and to contribute to the strengthening of ties with the neighboring peoples; and to create an atmosphere of mutual esteem among them. The coordination of the US marketing efforts would be done through the Hungarian American Coalition, which would undertake the following tasks:- Mobilize the national organizations by implementing a system of “financial incentives to obtain subscribers, sponsors and underwriters.”- Assist with negotiations involving cable companies and satellite carriers in the resolution of technicalissues related to the broadcasting and distribution of DUNA TV programs.- Assist DUNA TV in preparing special programs to fulfill the particular needs of the Hungarian American communities. These needs are particularly acute in the area of Hungarian language instruction. USAID-funded Casemapping Education Project for Hungarian Hospitals An innovative Casemapping Project designed by two hospital management experts, Coalition Board member George Pogan and his colleague, Geoffrey Liss, was implemented In Hungary last November with the support of an USAID grant of $72,000. The project objective was to provide Hungarian hospitals with improved quality and financial management tools. Between November 10 and 24, 1998, Project Director George Pogan and Project Consultant, Geoffrey Liss successfully conducted a series of two-day seminars designed to teach methods of casemapping in Hungarian hospitals in Csorna, Vas County, Budapest, Debrecen and Karcag. More than 150 professionals from 17 Hungarian hospitals participated in the seminars. The Coalition served as administrator of the project. 2 • Hungarian American Coalition • Winter 1999
