Fraternity-Testvériség, 1987 (65. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1987-10-01 / 4. szám
FRATERNITY Page 3 FROM THE PRESIDENT’S CORNER CHRISTMAS. We often hear from the Christian pulpits that Christ should be put back into Christmas. Yet little is being done — even in the Christian church. The special message of the Advent season is lost, instead there is a four-week period of Christmas carolling and partying. Christmas day itself is the big let down. Most Protestant churches are closed. This was the bitter experience that the immigrants of our faith had to face when in 1887 in Mount Carmel, PA, they wanted to take communion on Christmas day and the American Reformed Church did not open its door, because no service was scheduled for that day. "How can it be that there is no singing and no communion on this most important day?" wondered the Hungarian and Slovak people. In a way that experience helped to kindle their desire and zeal to build their own church so that by the following Christmas they could practice their religion according to their traditions. Their dream became a reality. Today the doors of our churches are open and the people take communion with the same spiritual concentration that is so obvious on the front page of this issue, "Communion." On behalf of my fellow officers and board of directors, I wish each member of the Federation and the readers of our Fraternity a Christmas blessed with the presence of Christ. WASHINGTON VISIT. The Home Office extended a hearty welcome to those agents/branch managers that had written more than $1,000 annual premium income to NEW members, thus fulfilling the contract that they had signed in January 1987. The group arrived on Sunday evening, November 8, 1987, and stayed at the Holiday Inn Chevy Chase where the Federation had made arrangements for accommodation. It was with pleasure that we were also able to welcome the accompanying spouses, and last but not least Andrew, Joe & Maria Kovács' little boy. Monday morning they all came to the Home Office where they were eagerly awaited and greeted by the members of the staff. After a tour of the new Home Office and morning coffee, the group gathered in the Meeting Room for a seminar. Those that attended were: Jolán Abel of Br. 4, Ohio; Tibor Baksy & Margaret Bertalan of Br. 300, Washington, D.C.; Ed Bihary of Br. 3, 39 & 352, Ohio; Clara Csikesz of Br. 6 & 15, Pennsylvania; Arlene Csornán of Br. 151 & 235, Pennsylvania; Joseph Kovács of Br. 62, Indiana; Elvira Petry of Br. 50 & 149, New York; Suzanne S. Virgulák of Br. 52, Connecticut. Those who could not attend were: Ethel Teghze-Gerber of Br. 35, Michigan; Albert St. Miklosy of Br. 80, New Jersey; Julianna Tompa of Br. 302, New Jersey. As you can tell, it was an "across the country" representation! The National Officers gave brief reports and answered all questions that were raised. Interesting discussions followed when the agents brought specific problems and situations to the attention of the group. After lunch, a sight-seeing tour was arranged by the wives of the National Officers, and a pleasant evening was spent at the Csikós Hungarian Restaurant. Unfortunately, it rained the following day, and so it was unanimously decided that instead of sightseeing the seminar be continued until it was time to return home. 33RD CONVENTION. In accordance with our By- Laws, the next quadrennial conventionof the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America will be held inl988. The Board of Directors set the date of the Convention for September 19-23, 1988 to be held in Ligonier, PA. "CUT OFF DATE", to determine the membership of a branch is December 31, 1987. This means that the number of members will be counted on the basis of the dues paid by December 31st. It is in the interest of branch representation at the Convention to have all members pay their dues before this deadline which has been set by the Board of Directors. In the first issue of the Fraternity — March 1988 — the list of the branches that can send a delegate(s) and the grouped branches (those with membership of less than 300) will be published. The date, time, place and address of the "Branch Delegate Election Meeting" will also be announced then. The meetings for electing delegates will have to be scheduled for the months of April and/or May 1988. Delegates are not to be elected at the January meeting when the branch officers are elected, nor can they be elected at any meeting prior to April 1988. At the December/ January meeting, the time and place of the "Delegate Election Meeting" should be determined and the Home Office notified accordingly.
