Magyar Herald, 2000 (1. szám)
2000 / 1. szám
PAGE 2 William Köteles Given Order of Merit by Mária Friedrich On Saturday, March 11, 2000 the visit of his excellency, Mr. Zoltán Pokomi, the Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs of The Republic of Hungary to The Cleveland Hungarian Heritage Museum was the most recent one in a series of visits by Hungarian government officials. These visits demonstrate the efforts of the government to forge closer ties with Hungarians living outside the borders of Hungary. This change in policy is welcomed by Hungarians through-out the world; after all, we have many goals and concerns in common with our brethren in Hungary and there are many ways in which we can be of help to each other. Mr. Pokomi received a warm welcome from the crowd of over 200 people assembled to greet him. His visit had a two-fold purpose. First, he had the pleasant task of presenting the Order of Merit award of the Republic of Hungary to Mr. William Köteles on behalf of the Hungarian government. This is the highest award a person living outside of Hungary can receive. It was presented to Mr. Köteles in recognition of his generous support of Hungarian health care through his many gifts of heart lung machines to various Hungarian hospitals. Mr. Köteles, a past President of The Magyar Club received a standing ovation from his many friends on this well deserved honor. Following the award ceremony, Mr. Pokorni presented a lecture on “Hungary in 2000: Ten Years After The Restoration of Democracy” After a short commemoration of the Freedom Fight of 1848. Mr. Pokorni explained the challenges facing education in Hungary. The audience was justly impressed by his clear presentation of the problems and of the well-thoughtout solutions. During a question and answer session Mr. Pokomi exchanged answers and comments informally with guests. A reception followed the program where attendees felt that even in this short visit, it was obvious that Mr. Pokorni is trying to solve problems facing the education system in Hungary and, at the same time, to form a closer relationship with Hungarians abroad. OFFICERS PRESIDENT Zoltán Mestrits VICE-PRESI DENT Louis Horváth SECRETARY Anne M. Robinson TREASURER Ruth Tóth DIRECTORS Gustav Enyedy, Jr. Mária Friedrich Otto Friedrich Ildikó Korossy John Korossy Lewis Robinson Kori Smith Ernest J. Tóth Esther Verbovsky HISTORIAN Dr. Dezső J.Ladányi AUDITOR William Köteles The Magyar ©eralii is a PUBLICATION OF THE Magyar Club Of Cleveland It is published periodically for MEMBERS AND PATRONS. Editor Theodore Tóth 8501 Countryside Drive Sagamore Hills, Ohio 44067 Mr. Köteles receives the Order of Merit from Minister Porkorni
