Fraternity-Testvériség, 2006 (84. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
2006-04-01 / 2. szám
Page 6 Fraternity- Testvériség New Chairman Brings New Vision to HRFA The Board of Directors of HRFA and its President Jules Gyula Balogh are proud to welcome BOD member Jim Szuch as its new Chairman as voted upon at the spring meeting. The new Chairman was interviewed by Kathy Megyeri and excerpts from the interview material she sent ns follow. Jim Szuch, Chairman Jim s association with the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America goes back to his parents’ involvement. His father, Bill, was a Board member for 20 years and Vice-President for eight years. His mother, Helen, has been a Branch Manager (Branch 67) since 1953. Jim states, “I’m fortunate that I’ve grown up around people in this business for as long as I can remember. Some fraternalists who are now senior leaders in the insurance field patted me on the head when I was a small boy so I got to know them and I remember most. I’m one of the few who can recognize them in their pictures mounted on the Home Office’s walls.” Jim traveled to Board meetings with his parents as a youngster, usually spending the days at local golf courses playing the sport he loves so well. Later, he was invited to arrange a golf tournament during a summer meeting at Ligonier, PA. The first tournament, played seven years ago, began with only 30 people signed up at the Champion Lakes Golf Course in Ligonier, PA. Jim recalls, “We made $500 that summer and donated it to the scholarship fund, but I wasn’t happy with just that. I wanted to improve it because I’m goal-oriented, and 1 always want projects to become more successful. At last year’s outing, we hosted 140 people and raised $10,000 to furnish the Bethlen Home’s new rehabilitation room with needed equipment.” (Bethlen Home is a retirement facility supported by HRFA and located in Ligonier, PA.) Jim explains how he helped boost the golf tournament’s success: “Once we informed the participants as to the actual benefits of their playing in the tournament, involvement increased. Because of the tireless efforts and the time spent by the golf committee, especially Pat Armel and Lara Provance from the Bethlen Communities, HRFA Vice-Chair John Morey, Board Member Joe Fabri, and many others, we raised significant contributions for the tournament.” Since so many HRFA members had witnessed Jim’s fraternal accomplishments, they encouraged him to run for the BOD. Jim said, “After some soul searching, I decided to try to contribute to the organization in the same way my dad had for so many years. And even though I’m not a political animal, I decided to go for it.” It was a close election, but since then, Jim has convinced HRFA colleagues that his first priority is to move the organization forward. “We’ve got to pull together or we’ll be pulled apart,” he advises. “Too many are carrying baggage from the old days, but we can’t do business the old way anymore.” This past year, Jim, 60 years old, devoted even more time to HRFA’s fraternal activities and his Board position. In the fall, he gave a talk to Ligonier High School’s football team during Rivalry Week in an attempt to boost their competitive spirit. He said, “I practiced my coaching technique which helped me recall my own past career in sports and in sales. I decided I would volunteer there on an on-going basis and am currently working with the staff to give ‘player awards’ to those who are dedicated and talented Mountie high school football players.” Jim also served on the Board and Executive Committee of the Bethlen Communities in Ligonier, PA. This former orphanage and home has been converted into a complete health care entity comprised of downtown apartments, a unit for dementia patients, assisted living area, home health care services and a full-service nursing home. A Christian faith-based nursing facility, the installation is composed of Ligonier Gardens which has 71 beds and serves as a personal care home; the retirement village which contains 20 cottages, and the Home itself, which has 96 beds dedicated to elder care. Bethlen Communities is 85 years old, and Jim would like to see it become the premier health care facility for elders in PA. It recently concluded a $12 million building project, and now, the goal is to use the remainder of the property located on 110 acres even more efficiently. Rev. Imre A. Bertalan, Executive Director of Bethlen Communities, is working closely with Jim, who is now also Chairman of the Board of Bethlen Communities, to address the following issues: adopt a corporate compliance policy, license a program for all-inclusive care for elders, and develop residential and program options. It’s an awesome management task but it motivates Jim to use the same skills he honed at Bethlen Communities and bring them to the Chairmanship of HRFA. Rev. Bertalan praises Jim’s selection as Chairman of both institutions and states, “Our entire staff at Bethlen Communities is looking forward to working with him even closer now. His enthusiasm is contagious. We anticipate great program and facilities development in the years ahead.” Membership in organizations is also important to Jim. He says, “That’s why I opted to run for HRFA’s Board, that’s why I manage the golf tournament, that’s why I’m involved in coaching, that’s why I spend so much time at Bethlen Communities, and that’s why I’m now Chairman of HRFA. If we are to sell, people have to trust us, and when they see us active in fraternal activities,
