Fraternity-Testvériség, 1974 (52. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1974-01-01 / 1-3. szám
ÁRPÁD GEORGE: STATISTICS — FRATERNALISM — INSURANCE STATISTICS Almost one half of the families in 1972 received incomes of $10,000-$24,999 compared with a third ten years ago. 26.9% of the families received $7,000, or less in 1972, compared with 39% in 1962. In the $7,000, or lower income families only 4.1% of the “heads” were college graduates; among the $10,000-$14,999 — 12.5%; in the category of $25,000 and over 45.9%. In 1900 the life expectancy of a male was 46.6 years and a female 48.7; in 1971 for male it was 68.3 and for female 75.7. FRATERNALISM Our immigrant parents, grandparents and great grand parents had the wisdom and foresight when they emphasized the importance of education in the XXth century. The children had to go to school. The teachers were highly respected in the community. There were no “dropouts.” Our Federation also endeavors to give a helping hand to our youth by making special substantial amounts of funds available in its budget for student aid, scholarship contest and student aid loans with very low interest rate. We urge our members, branches and friends to contribute in 1974 and during the future years toward our student aid fund to enable the Federation to help our students to continue and complete their higher education as their parents struggle to pay for the ever increasing amounts of tuition, room and board. The founding fathers of the Federation recognizing the low average of mortality age of males and females planned to open an orphanage home for our members’ children. The demand became more acute when many of our members working in the coal mines died in the coal mine explosions. Many of the heart broken and grief-stricken wives followed their husbands to the grave. It was the task of our Orphanage Home to take care of the orphan children; to give them food, shelter, clothing and education. It was done without welfare aid or social security on purely humanitarian, charitable and fraternal basis. We acknowledge with thanks the financial help we received from the congregations. As the mortality rate and social conditions improved we adjusted our services of our institution: Childrens’ Home. As the average age of men and women increased the leaders of the Federation recognized a new area of serving our aged members. The Old Age People’s Home was founded in Ligonier. Now, we call it Convalescent Home. The average age of the admitted persons in 1973 was 78 and the average age of the deceased was 86. When we build the new modern wing to our present building raising its capacity to become a 100 bed institution, most likely we will call it the Nursing Home of the Bethlen Home. It will have a beautiful architectual appearance; built in an idealistic environment; and will have the most modern equipment and furnishing. The cost of the project will be between $250,000 - $350,000. Again we appeal to our members, branches, friends and to the congregations to respond to the national drive conducted by Superintendent Louis Nagy to contribute toward the building of the new wing expanding our services to 100 persons. All contributions are tax deductable. NEW INSURANCE PLANS The Hungarian Reformed Federation of America was organized in 1896 as a fraternal organization to give life and health protection to its members. As the earnings and the average life span of a person increased during the past eight decades, the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America made adjustments from time to time to the changing needs. In 1974 we will serve our constituency with new modern plans and lower membership dues. The actuary worked out the plans in 1973 on the hasis of the Commissioners 1958 Standard Mortality table experience. In spite of the inflationary higher cost of practically all goods and services, the Federation will issue its new plans with a lower premium rate. In 1974 we submitted the plans to the Insurance Departments in the states we operate for approval. The great commercial and mutual companies sell 25 to 35% term, 55 to 65 life and 5 to 10% endowment and family protection insurance. We realigned our new plans to what the public is buying TODAY and in the forseeable future. We will have a variety of term insurance plans selling as independent certificates or as riders attached to basic insurance certificates. The age for adults has the variety of plans from 5 to 35 years. One of our popular plan we hope will be our MORTGAGE term insurance. All our members may take out their mortgage insurance in the future from the Federation at a low rate. (continued on page 16) 14
