Hungarian Heritage Review, 1988 (17. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1988-06-01 / 6. szám
1 fronting them. One of the most difficult of these is the sad state of the Hungarian economy in general and the lack of hard currency in particular. So, having received a congratulatory telegram from President Reagan and aware that there is no sense in going to Moscow for “foreign aid” because Gorby needs some of it himself, the new Prime Minister and Party Chief of Hungary will be visiting Washington in the very near future. Perhaps, even before this “news nugget” gets read. It is going to be real interesting to see how well Reagan and Grosz cuddle up. Incidentally, TV anchorman Peter Jennings, whose wife is Hungarian-born Kati Marton, was the first to interview Grosz. “Ousted Up”: Janos Kadar. “Voted In”: Karoly Grosz PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - The American-Hungarian Educators’ Association, which is affiliated with the Hungarian-American Librarians’ Association and the American- Hungarian Folklore Centrum, recently held their 13th Annual Conference here at the University of Pittsburgh. Co-sponsored by the William Penn Association, the 3-day meeting was held in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Ethnic Heritage Studies Center, the Language Acquisition Institute, the Russian and East European Studies Center, and the University Center for International Studies. The theme of the conference was: “Contributions of Hungarians and Those of Hungarian Descent to World Civilizations: Past, Present, and Future Perspectives”. Many prominent Hungarian educators from all over the United States presented papers in connection with the directional theme of the conference. SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS — The San Antonio Hungarian Association has a newly elected Board of Officers with Stephen Johannes as President. What he said in his “Inaugeral Address” to the members of the Association contained such “words of wisdom” that they should be heeded by other Hungarian clubs around the nation. For this reason, the HUNGARIAN HERITAGE REVIEW decided to publish it in its entirety. It reads as follows: ‘ ‘As your new president, I have taken on a very difficult job. I am trying to follow mighty great footsteps. I will need all the help that I can get from you, the members. This is your club and I, as the president, merely will attempt to guide the club along with the six other members on the Board. This has to be done by our BYLAWS and, at times, it will seem to you as slow in response to your wishes. This is a democratic organization, where the majority’s wishes rule. As the president, along with the Board, we are open to all concrete suggestions or wishes. This is a Hungarian cultural organization, where we should foster our heritage. We are diverse people as Hungarians through history. The original Bessenyos, the Tartars, Turks, Germans, Austrians, Jews, Armenians... and I could name some more who intermingled with us during history. In this room, we have some of you who were bom in this country, who came here before the Great War, some who came right after the war, some who arrived in 1956, and some recent arrivals, some whose grandparents were Hungarians. Our religions are as diverse as our origins. Our politics, present and past, also are very different from each other. This is a cultural club and I would like to ask you to put aside whatever political or religious differences we may have, because this is the only way we can enjoy fellowship at these meetings. These meetings should be fun, fun, fun for everyone. We have several serious projects which we should follow with tenacity. The annual Folklife Festival, where we can show ourselves to Texans and San Antonio; also the “Hungarians in Texas” book project is very important. We also have a newspaper, which is the best Hungarian club paper in the United States! By the next meeting, you should have the rest of the year’s programs finalized, so you all can mark your calendars! We would like as many members in attendance as possible at each event. We do need volunteers, who would be willing to help set up the parties. Also need talented people to come forward and volunteer to entertain us! This has to be an effort from each one of you! This is your club! I have heard that some of you would like to have a permanent clubhouse. If so, I need you to give me a show of hands and I will appoint a committee to research the issue. The Board already had two meetings, unfortunately I had a serious illness during the Holiday Season and it delayed our efforts. Also, it is difficult to take over and learn the “Ropes” in a short time. You have a hard working Board and they will do your bidding. I have to go back into SAHA history and pull out a chapter. This involves a great, persevering lady, our past president, Rose Safran. She practically singlehandedly saved SAHA from extinction. Most of you know better than I what we can thank the Lady for! One thing that stands out and needs to be mentioned one more time for the record. I have mentioned that we have the best Hungarian clubpaper in the United States, the “Paprika”. This is her invention, she developed and singlehandedly published it every month, along with her duties of president and various projects involving SAHA. The “PAPRIKA” got great comments from Mr. Paul Pulitzer, the : ^Neius ^Nuggete ' — editor of THE “HUNGARIAN HERITAGE REVIEW”. She will continue as editor of “Paprika” and she needs all kind of news from you, the members. I personally feel lucky to have her help. She is an extremely talented lady in more than one way. This is for the record, one more time. Rose, we very much appreciate your gift to us, the “Paprika”, and along with “Paprika”, your great leadership, organizational skill, and perseverance.” EDITOR’S NOTE: Holding Hungarian clubs on even-keel, carrying out important cultural projects, and keeping them “in business” today is a tough job, indeed, without having to cope with the lethal fallout from members afflicted with “motor-mouth” disease. For this reason, and because this appears to be an affliction which is widespread, we decided to supplement Stephen Johannes's speech with some additional words of wisdom and as follows: NOBODY’S FRIEND My name is gossip. I have no respect for justice I maim without killing. I break hearts and ruin lives. I am cunning and malicious and gather strength with age. The more 1 am quoted the more I am believed. I flourish at every level of society. My victims are helpless. They cannot protect themselves against me because I have no name and no face. To track me down is impossible. The harder you try, the more elusive 1 become. I am nobody’s friend. Once I tarnish a reputation, it is never the same. I topple governments and wreck marriages. 1 ruin careers and cause sleepless nights, heartache and indigestion. I spawn suspicion and generate grief. 1 make innocent people cry in their pillows. Even my name hisses. I am called Gossip. Office Gossip. Shop gossip. Party gossip. Telephone gossip. I make headlines and headaches. Before you repeat a story ask yourself, is it true? Is it fair? Is it necessary? If not — SHUT UP. 6 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE REVIEW JUNE 1988
