Fraternity-Testvériség, 1997 (75. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1997-01-01 / 1. szám
Page 4 TESTVÉRISÉG PRESIDENT continued with new portfolio which made the Federation competitive with other insurance companies. Or, just like many other financial institutions in 1931, the Federation had to deal with its financial difficulties. During the Depression, the Federation lost about 15 percent of its total assets deposited in defunct banks. In spite of the losses, the Federation began a vigorous program to revitalize the organization. It reestablished its full-time district manager program in five districts: Chicago; California; Ohio; West Pennsylvania-West Virginia; New Jersey-New York-Connecticut. However, with new pressures from fraternal societies and commercial companies, regulators, consumerists and rating agencies like A.M. Best, small societies cannot afford either the luxury of time or the financial ability to withstand these real threats to our very existence. Hence, more and more time, money and energy are being devoted to nonproductive endeavors, creating a situation that is totally intangible for a small society like ours. Statistical data released by LIMRA (research arm of the life insurance industry) for 1996 shows that, even with large commercial insurance companies, over the past six years, expense control was one of their major concerns. Much of the company downsizing that has taken place over the past few years has been expense-driven. Unfortunately, the plurality (50% + 1) of the delegates to the 1996 Convention did not sense the urgency that the insurance industry faces when marching on to the new millennium. Therefore, the golden opportunity of setting the Federation on a more secure financial ground was postponed till the next convention. I hope that with the new Board at the helm for the next four years, the Federation will feel the urgency that the march on to the new millennium calls for change in operation and outlook. At this point, I would like to extend my best wishes and heartfelt appreciation to my fellow directors who will no longer be serving on the board: Rev. Nicholas Novak, V.P., J. Edward Bihary, Rev. Alexander Jalso, Joseph Kovács, Elvira Petry and Samuel Vespremi. I look forward with much anticipation to working closely together with my fellow officers Endre Csornán, Secretary, and Suzanne S. Virgulák, Treasurer, and the newly elected board members: Priscilla Hunyady, V.P., László Lipoczky, V.P., John K. Morey, V.P., Richard E. Aros, Rev. Imre A. Bertalan, Clara V. Csikesz, Joseph Fabri, László Hamos, Michael Pauli, Jr., Julius Simon, Albert St. Miklosy, Rt. Rev. Zoltán D. Szucs and Rev. Stefan M. Torok. George Dózsa, President 1996-CONVENTION AMENDS HRFA BY-LAWS The Convention of the HRFA held September 16-19, 1 996 amended the 1 992-edition of the By-Laws. Article IV, Section 50, Office of the President, paragraph h) reading: "He [the President] initiates the appointment, employment, supervision, and/or dismissal of the field force members, in consultation with the Board of Directors and with the concurrence of the Executive Committee" was deleted from that Section and inserted in Section 5 1, Office of the Secretary, as new paragraph e). Any questions concerning this change, please call the Home Office at (202) 328-2630. DOKUS MEMORIAL OBSERVANCE The Federation has received word that a memorial observance in honor of the late Rev. Gabriel Dokus, Sr. will take place in Fony, Hungary. The Dokus Memorial and Dokus Festival is set for May 23-25, 1997 as part of a pastor’s conference for Hungarian Reformed clergy. Participants will attend from Hungary, neighboring countries and the United States. The conference is sponsored by the Fony Mission House of which Rev. István Bojtor is director. Bishop István Mészáros of Miskolc and Bishop László Tokes of Romania will also participate. The late Rev. Dokus was the village schoolmaster in Fony until he was called, in 1893, to be pastor of the Hungarian Reformed Church in South Norwalk, Connecticut. In his missionary endeavors, Rev. Dokus assisted in the establishment of several Hungarian Reformed churches in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. Reverend Dokus was one of the founders of the HRFA, having attended the historic meeting in Trenton, New Jersey, on July 5, 1896. Rev. Theodore S. Horvath, a grandson of Rev. Dokus, may be contacted for additional information at (610) 688-3458. Reverend Horvath and his three brothers are members of the HRFA, Branch 52, South Norwalk, Connecticut. SuzanneS. Virgulák, Treasurer
