Hungarian American Coalition News, 1999 (8. évfolyam, 1-3. szám)
1999 / 1. szám
COALITION PROJECT UPDATES continued US Ambassador to Romania, Jim Rosapepe Meets with Hungarian American Leaders Last September and October Ambassador Rosapepe visited Cleveland, Chicago and Detroit. At his request the Coalition facilitated meetings with Hungarian community leaders in all three locations. In Cleveland Coalition President Edith Lauer organized the meeting, in Detroit Dr. Peter Kovalszki, and in Chicago, Coalition Board Member Sándor Kremer. In January, 1999, the Ambassador visited Western cities and again expressed his interest in meeting with and discussing issues of interest to Hungarian American community leaders. Meeting organizers and facilitators included Ms. Sue Hegyvary and Mrs. Helen Szablya in Seattle, Mrs. Eva Voisin and Otto Awakumovits in San Francisco and Dr. Lajos Éltető in Oregon. Each of these meetings is a part of a continuing dialogue between the US Administration and Hungarian American communities. Topics discussed included the restitution of confiscated church properties, change of laws which restrict Hungarian-language education, the question of establishing a Hungarian university, the need for the US Mission to reach out to the ethnic Hungarian community, through hiring of Hungarian speakers at the Mission and the American Consulate in Cluj, and through regularly scheduled visits to ethnic-Hungarian inhabited areas by Ambassador Rosapepe. Traditional Coalition Weekend Held in Washington DC White House Briefing, Mikulás Dinner, Annual and Board Meetings Held For the sixth year the Hungarian American Coalition held its annual activities for members in Washington, DC on the weekend of December 4-5,1998. Events included the traditional White House Briefing by US government officials on issues of interest to Coalition Members. The Mikulás Dinner held at the Hungarian Embassy featured special guest Zsolt Nemeth, Political State Secretary of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At its December 5 Annual and Board Meetings, the Coalition's leadership reported on last year's accomplishments and discussed goals for the coming year. The group thanked Rev. Imre Bertalan, Chairman for his leadership and contributions to the Coalition and elected him Honorary President. Edith Lauer was elected as the new Chairman of the Board and the Hon. Peter Ujvagi was elected President. Newly elected Board Members include István Füzesi and Dr. Agnes Huszar Vardy. The Coalition welcomed two new organizational members: the Geauga Magyar Cultural Society of Ohio and the Hungarian American Club of New Mexico. Coalition Begins Membership Drive: Matching grant offered The Coalition seeks new members to widen the base and grow the programs of the organization. Because a generous supporter has pledged to match each new or increased contribution made to the Coalition by March 31st, this is the time to join! With your help we can build a strong and viable organization to pass on to the next generation of Hungarian-Americans after 2000! You will find the application for membership on the last page of this Newsletter. Won't you tear it off, send it in with your Membership, join our group today? Coalition Files Special Report for 1998 OSCE Meeting on Human Dimension The 1998 OSCE Meeting on the Human Dimensions was held in Warsaw in October. Under the direction of Chairman Frank Koszorús, Jr., the Coalition's Information Committee filed a memorandum with the US 4 • Hungarian American Coalition • Winter 1999
