Fraternity-Testvériség, 1956 (34. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1956-04-01 / 4-5. szám
FRATERNITY 15 The convention in Cleveland was held in commemoration of the Hungarian struggle for libery in 1848-49. A festive meeting and a special celebration was held in which the representatives of the already arrived refugees took part. As in the past, our Federation was again among the first in helping to keep alive the memory of those heroic times and promoting the Kossuth cult in order to gain the sympathy of the American public in favor of the Hungarians in Europe, suffering as a result of the new horrible war. Otherwise, the convention had not much to do. There was no need for changes in the administration, and the promotional results had furnished convincing proof of our persevering activity. Due to economic conditions, certain rate adjustments were made, but these have not affected our older members. The convention unanimously re-elected the entire staff of officers, being convinced that everything was in good order. In 1952, we had another convention in Ligonier. By this time our membership had grown to more than 30,000 and our assets to five millions. The most important subject was the establishment of a pension fund for our officers, employees and full-time organizers. The meeting accepted the pension plan with complete understanding, since throughout the nation it became a general practice for factories and organizations to establish such retirement funds for their workers. To this fund, contributions are made not only by the treasury of our Federation, but by the beneficiaries as well, in proportion to their salaries. This general meeting also made some modifications in the by-laws, and correspondingly fixed the rules concerning the rights of representation for the 1956 convention. THE PRESENT Because of the growth of our Federation, a few years ago we sold our first headquarters, and acquired another very valuable piece of property — the present “Kossuth House”. In this large, modern and more suitable home office, the four officers and nine employees are working full time to take care of our membership, which has increased to 35,412 by January 1956, and our assets, amounting to $7,374,630.68, which represents 32 million dollars’ worth of insurance in force. At the time these lines are being written, we have well passed the above figures, and at the close of the year we are certain to be able to report even more substantial figures. There is order and peace in our 204 active branches located in 21 states, and we can recall with praise the faithful work by which the branch managers attend to local needs. We look forward with confidence toward our 60th annivesary jubilee convention to be held in Ligonier, Pa., during May 1956, which will be, incidentally, the 25th in our history. We hope that this meeting will not only equal the honorable achievements of the past, but also enact such legislation which will point toward the hundredth anniversary jubilee. We do like to believe that the creative force of our Magyar heritage and the strength of our Calvinist faith will surmount all possible obstacles, and our Federation, American in spirit, Magyar in its origin and Christian in its character, will remain as such for many, many years to come, as it was intended to be, and for for which it was dedicated by its name: The Hungarian Reformed Federation of America.
