Fraternity-Testvériség, 1953 (31. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1953-06-01 / 6. szám
! Minding Our Own Business f & >* I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY of visiting our southern West Virginia field, the first time in my almost 40 years of American life. It was a very interesting and worthwhile visit, mainly for the reason that I met a number of our faithful co-workers and thus gained a wealth of new information about this field. The district conference was held in Beckley, a very neat and modern town, followed by a delightful lunch and a well attended divine service. The people mostly came from far-away places, after driving 15-100 miles, thus showing their appreciation for the rare occasion of being able to participate in a Hungarian divine service. They were mostly middle-aged or elderly people, the young ones are being lured away by the large industrial centers in the North. West Virginia still has coal in its mountains enough for the needs of the entire nation for at least 200 years, but coal is replaced by other- fuels in ever increasing measure. Coal mining as a trade is definitely on the decline, but thanks to the country’s laws and the miners’ own organization, no miner is worried about his old age. They are being taken care of very handsomely, so they have no regrets for having spent the best years of their lives underground. Our Federation has many faithful members among them. We can only wish that their number would increase. ★ ★ ★ EXfENDED INSURANCE MIGHT BE a good solution in case of financial difficulties, but it should be resorted to only at a very advanced age, when it is highly probable that the member will not outlive the final date of extension. We had a painful experience lately: a woman member of ours was placed on the extension list about 14 years ago, which means that she did not pay any dues since then, but her certificate was valid until the expiration date, which was fixed as of May 31, 1952. At that time the member was still living, but died in October of the same year. The branch secretary not being familiar with the rules, sent in the certificate, but naturally he received the answer that the certificate was worthless since the date of expiration. The children of the deceased woman became indignant, wrote angry letters, accusing the Federation with unfairness, etc. We tried to explain that we can not do anything else. If the responsible officers would knowingly pay death benefit for an expired certificate, they probably would land in jail. When these arguments proved equally futile, I wrote them that if they have any doubt about the correctness of our stand, they should file a complaint with the Insurance Department of their state. Shortly after this I received an official letter from the Insurance Department of that state, requesting information why we refuse to pay this claim. I gave the informa- — and that was the last I heard about the case. Our branch secretaries should be thoroughly familiar with the problems of extension. It should be resorted to only in extreme cases where an almost 100% certainty exists that it will serve the interests of the elderly member. ★ ★ ★ I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED and moved when a young Hungarian artist of Washington, D. C., Robert Troll, presented me with a wooden plaque on which he painted in oil, in beautiful colors, the picture of that little cemetery chapel in which my mother is buried in Hungary, besides a young woman, who was the wife of my great-grandfather and died in childbirth in 1827. Next year the bereaved husband built the chapel and endowed it in memory of the departed ones. The paintings will be one of my most cherished possessions and will remain in the family as an heirloom. It gave me the idea that there must be a number among us, American-Hungarians, who would be glad to have similar heirlooms: Pictures of their own church here or in the old country, cemetery views, of their own homes or any other pictures they cherish. They would be wonderful for presents also. Anyone who is interested, please contact me through the Federation’s office. The young artist is a graduate of the famous Corcoran Art School of Washington. His father, who also lives here, wanted to go back to Hungary when the first World War broke out, but was not allowed to leave the U. S. He then sneaked to Canada and from there he succeeded in reaching Hungary, and as a soldier in the Hungarian army, he fought through the entire war. ★ ★ * THE FRATERNAL MONITOR is an interesting publication dealing with statistical information and reports of the various fraternal societies operating primarily in the United States. From the published excerpts of the various annual statements of the Hungarian societies, it is gratifying to note that your Federation leads all other Hungarian fraternals in net membership increase for the year 1952 and in net increase of insurance in force. Being pleased with this advancement, however, should not be enough. The reason and the facts behind these figures are much more important. Any institution is just as virile as the interest shown by its membership, and, what is particularly important, the admission of “new blood.” All of us are interested in healthy progress and should partake in it. If each and every one of us would take just a few minutes out of the year to talk Federation with our friends who have similar interests in sound fraternal insurance, to seek out a friend or two to join membership with us in our progressive fraternal Federation, what further amazing results could be reported at the end of the year! It can be done. Try it; talk about it and watch us really grow!!
