Fraternity-Testvériség, 1972 (50. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1972-01-01 / 1-3. szám
and better promotional material. Hungarian is the mother tongue of more than 700,000 American citizens—- according to the 1970 census report — but hardly 10 percent of these people belong to the two large Hungarian fraternal associations: a huge and almost untouched reservoir of prospects. Better communication of our aims and purposes to our people and employment of more advanced promotional technic could produce miracles on the line of production. COMPUTERIZATION OF OUR ADMINISTRA- TION AND OUR PREMIUM BILLING IS A PROBLEM DRAGGED ON FOR A LONG TIME. The Computer is the most ingenious prodigy of the new technology if it is employed on the right place and in the right way but it might become a nightmare for the management if it is improperly programmed and established for the sake of computerizing alone. We therefore carefully studied the feasibility of installing an Electronic Data Processing System of record keeping and premium billing years ago. According to the concurrent opinion of data processing companies the new system would not cut our expenses because of the relatively few employees — if any at all — replaced by the computer. This, however, should not be the sole determining factor as to whether the Federation should pursue this more modern method. Increased efficiency is the other goal which should be seriously considered. There are quite a few tasks — such as calculating compensations on the premium dollar basis, or computing dues refund (dividend) to the members — which simply cannot he accomplished in the present manual system. The computer also simplifies year-end closing work, gives instant statistical service and eliminates the dangerous bottleneck of having hut one throughly trained machine operator. It should be clearly understood also that the new system of premium billing will not and cannot eliminate the important role of the branch managers, merely free them from burdensome detailed work and thereby give them more time for organizing activities and fraternal services. Our next Convention shall carefully weigh this problem together with its far-reaching consequences and pass an unswerving resolution. Many fraternals are on the crossroad. Those which qualify as tax-exempt organizations, have imaginative leadership and keep pace with the constantly changing needs of membership, will survive. Others will disappear from the fraternal field through mergers and consolidations. Our leadership repeatedly demonstrated outstanding ability to adjust itself to the changing world around us. We will meet the challenges of the seventies also because we have important aims and goals to accomplish in the service of our people. Aims and goals assigned to us by the Almighty God Himself. SPECIAL BOARD MEETING WAS HELD IN LIGONIER Upon the request of the Executive Committee and several members of the Board President Beky called a special meeting to Ligonier, Pennsylvania on January 29, 1972. Two important issues had to be urgently discussed and clarified: a. The election grouping of the branches has to he approved by the full meeting of the Board; and b. The Directors requested detailed information about the plans, financing and the future management of the new Old Peoples’ Home. Director Joseph Molnár (Passaic, N. J.) extended warm greetings in behalf of the Board to President Beky who returned to his office after a long and serious illness. Dr. Beky — visibly moved — expressed his heartfelt appreciation for the kindness and the many manifestations of brotherly love demonstrated by his fellow- officers and members of the Board during the hours of his trial. After a short prayer offered by Dr. Stephen Szabó, Vice-President, the President opened the meeting. The Secretary reported on the election grouping of the branches and the few changes made since the grouping was approved by ballot. The members carefuUy studied the new grouping and gave final approval by unanimous vote. The President called upon László Bojtos, architect, who presented his plans for a new Home for the Aged to be built beside the existing Home in Ligonier in compliance with the resolution of the Board of Directors of the Bethlen Home. The 100 bed capacity, one story construction having) four guestroom wings around the central service and entertainment area gained the liking of those present. Superintendent Louis Nagy informed the Board that we can accommodate only 72 guests in our existing building while twice as many people are on the evergrowing waiting list. In his opinion the expansion of the present facilities is not only long overdue but we also owe this to our old folks who so geneerously contributed to the Bethlen Home and the Federation. It was the consensus of the Directors that the new construction will fill a genuine need but details of the financing, cost of new management must be carefully studied to avoid possible embarrassments in the future. This will be the duty of the Board of Directors of the Home. After discussing several other matters of lesser importance the President closed the meeting with a blessing. László L. Eszenyi, Recording Secretary 17
