Fraternity-Testvériség, 2009 (87. évfolyam, 1-3. szám)
2009-04-01 / 2. szám
NEW MEMBER PROFILE Hugo Boss, Sainsbury’s, Armani, GUCCI and Best Buy. In 2003, Gabor moved to Retek’s European division in Hamburg, Germany where he worked as an expert retail IT system consultant. At the end of 2003, he founded Quickbom Consulting with expertise in retail IT. Today, he continues to work as founder-president leading Quickborn’s service practices. Gabor resides in Budapest, but his frequent travels to France necessitate a part-time residence there. A couple times a year, he travels to the U.S. as well, where I was able to interview him about his new membership in HRFA. Q. Gabe, tell our readers a little about yourself and how you came to purchase a policy from HRFA. A. I purchased a policy because of HRFA President Leslie Megyeri. I met Leslie through convoluted family ties that go all the way back to the fifties and sixties in Hungary where my parents met people who are friends with Leslie and they are still in touch with him to this day. My brother Attila (also an HRFA member) is also a good friend of Leslie’s and has now taken up residence in northern Virginia. Q. You are single without a family, so what is the value to you of the insurance policy you purchased? A. I do not have a wife or my own children, but I do have my parents and my brother as a family, not to mention my brother’s own family, who are all very important to me, so I wanted the security of a life insurance policy that would benefit them all. Q. What advice would you give to others who are considering purchasing a life insurance policy from HRFA? A. Get in touch with Leslie. HRFA is actually a surprisingly competitive insurance provider both in terms of cost and benefits. One hopes never to need such coverage; nevertheless, insurance is exactly about dealing with the unexpected. HRFA is a good way to plan for the future, not to mention that it values its ties with Hungary and its people and fosters active cultural programs between the US and Hungary. Q. How important is it to you to purchase from a company that supports the Hungarian language, culture, and religions of Hungarians in America? A. It is pretty important as are connections with any other culture because they provide one more point of view, further insight, and differing opinions about all things in the world that matter. America was built on the strength of diversity, and as part of that diversity, I feel it is important to represent and strengthen the cultural input of Hungary. Q. What is the impact of purchasing from a faith-based (religious) organization as opposed to a commercial company? A. Organizations like HRFA appear to be more focused on community, culture and people than purely profit-oriented corporations. Generating increasing returns on investment from their portfolio is not its single goal. Q. How important is it to you that the Kossuth House is located in the nation’s capital? What impressions do you have when you visit the Home Office and attend its cultural programs? A. It is a great place to visit and can be linked in with other cultural and informational activities. The Kossuth House is also a well-located place for political and logistics reasons. Most political links between Hungary and the US are played out in the countries’ respective capitals. Q. How were you impacted by the fact that HRFA has been around for over 100 years and its charter was signed by President Theodore Roosevelt? A. It is good to know that this company is not a dot com startup. I expect it to be around for another 100 years, unlike so many others that don’t address the concerns of a specific ethnic group. Q. Comment on the personnel and quality of service you receive from the Home Office of HRFA. A. Excellent, great people, and one even has the opportunity to practice a bit of Hungarian when calling for information or to update a beneficiary listing. Q. What do you recommend that HRFA do to increase the public’s awareness of its product line and value? A. Serious PR work on all fronts. Members need to get the word to others that this company fills a need, not only for insurance but in preserving the language, traditions, and culture of Hungary. I’m proud of my connection to HRFA, and I never pass up an opportunity in my travels to mention that HRFA offers good products and has an outstanding service staff in its home office. When I’m in Washington, 1 always make it a point to stop in, check up on my coverage, and reconnect with what’s going on in the U.S. Hungarian community. HRFA’s location across the street from the Dupont Circle Metro makes that stop easy, and I always feel welcome and like I’m at home in a Hungarian community, if only for a short time. Q. You personify the youth and vitality that our organization needs to flourish in the future. How can HRFA appeal to more new Hungarians that arrive here? A. Participate more actively in information exchanges concerning new immigrants. This can be facilitated via government avenues in both countries. It is also important to reach out to Hungarians already in the U.S. and let them know that they can find a sense of community and a place to belong in HRFA. I know that HRFA’s President encourages Hungarians who live in the U.S. to apply for their Hungarian passports because the advantages when one travels as I do are numerous. I’m also aware that HRFA has a social membership for those who simply want to reconnect with others in social activities. In other words, HRFA’s offerings are more than simply insurance, and that gives this company true value. FRATERNITY - TESTVÉRISÉG 9
