Fraternity-Testvériség, 2004 (82. évfolyam, 2-4. szám)
2004-04-01 / 2. szám
Page 6 Fraternity- Testvériség AN HISTORICAL MEETING HRFA Area Director and Area Fraternal Coordinator Mr. and Mrs. Joe and Maria Kovács (Branch Manager) organized and hosted members of the Home Office at their East Chicago meeting on March 5th and 6th at the Holy Trinity Hungarian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Steve and Katherine Mischak (Branch Manager) of Gary, Ind., Mr. and Mrs. László and Magdolna Hunyadi (Branch Manager) of South Bend, IN along with Branch Manager Ibolya Balogh from East Chicago and Father Alphonse Skerl of Holy Trinity. Ft. Joseph Vámos and Ft. László Vas from the Catholic churches welcomed Board Chairman George Dózsa, HRFA President Rev. Stefan M. Torok, Executive Director of the Bethlen Home, Rev. Imre A. Bertalan, Branch Coordinator Teri Pflum, and CFO Leslie László Megyeri and his wife Kathy to the day’s meeting, the church service, and the luncheon that raised over $2,500 for the Bethlen Home in Ligonier, PA. Rev. Peter L. Toth from the Norridge Hungarian Reformed Church, Rev. András Balogh from the Chicago Free Hungarian Reformed Church, and Rev. András Demeter from the Chicago Hungarian Baptist Church also attended. Mr. and Mrs. Sándor Kristóf of East Chicago drove the van that ferried HRFA national officers and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of HRFA from place to place and helped cook and serve Sunday’s luncheon. Mr. Joe Kovács reported that attendance at the affair was at an all- time high. Branch members and attendees were delighted to hear updates from Mr. Dózsa, a financial report from Mr. Megyeri, a coordinator’s report from Mrs. Pflum, a Bethlen building update from Rev. Bertalan, and home office news from President Torok. Rev. Bertalan and Rev. Torok each addressed Sunday’s church services, held in both English and Hungarian, and congregants were pleased that they spoke of the missions of HRFA and the Bethlen Home and of the contributions being made by members. Branch Manager Katherine Mischak was the chair of the raffle and arranged for a Hungarian dance group from Chicago that entertained prior to lunch. An elaborately decorated Hungarian hope chest made and contributed by Father Skerl and his sister was raffled off and won by the leader of the dance group. Branch Manager Mrs. Maria Kovács cooked a roast pork dinner with potatoes, red cabbage, and her famous pastries for over 120 people, and Branch Manager Mrs. Magdolna Hunyadi helped serve people the entire day. Mr. Kovács concluded the meetings by saying, “This is an historical day because of the record attendance, and this is the first time that the Chairman, the National Officers, the Fraternal Coordinator of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America as well as the Executive Director of the Bethlen Home attended the Chicago District Meeting. This district gathering should be continued by being held each year because it keeps everyone in harmony and betters the goals of the HRFA.” The Chairman of the Board and the National Officers are especially grateful for the hospitality offered them and the chance to personally meet so many Hungarian-Americans. DISTRICT MEETING SHOWCASES HRFA’s ANNUITY PROGRAM The District Meeting for the states of New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut was held on March 13th, 2003 at the Magyar Reformed Church in New Brunswick, NJ. Six Board members, National Officers, and the Fraternal Coordinator met with Branch Managers. In attendance were Chairman of the Board George Dózsa and his wife Matilda, Vice-Chair Rev. Leslie E. Martin, Board Member Fred N. Erdei, his wife Margaret and their granddaughter, Kelly, Board member László Hamos and his father Otto Hamos, Board Member Michael Pauli, Jr. and his wife Margaret, Branch Manager, Board Member Priscilla Hunyady, Branch 300 Manager and former HRFA President Rev. Imre Bertalan, Sr., President Rev. Stefan M. Torok and his wife, Cindy, CFO László Megyeri and his wife, Kathy, Fraternal Coordinator Teri Pflum, Branch Manager Deneice Oroszvary, Rev. Attila Kocsis from Perth Amboy, Branch Manager Jerry Wyttenbach, Branch Manager Theodore Harsaghy, Rev. Arpad Drotos, Branch Manager, and his wife, Stefánia. Following an address by the Chairman of the Board, George Dózsa, President Torok introduced the home office staff, all attendees present, and spoke of staff changes. CFO László Megyeri introduced himself and gave a financial report. Unfortunately, HRFA suffered a net income loss for the year 2003. HRFA needs to sell more mortgages, annuities and insurance policies. After years of membership losses, however, HRFA was able to gain 5 new members this last year. Eighty percent of the policies are paid-up, especially by those in the 60-70 year
