The Eighth Hungarian Tribe, 1986 (13. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1986-09-01 / 9-10. szám

Üimtgarian íEtgbtb Ürült? IFomtbatton

NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS: P.O. Box 637, Ligonier, PA 15658 - (Tel: 412-834-0169)

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1986

HUNGARIAN EIGHTH TRIBE FOUNDATION

in an abbreviated form, I would like to report on the Foundation. The idea for an organization like the Hungarian Eighth Tribe Foundation W8S proposed in the July, 1978 issue of the Eighth Hungarian Tribe magazine by 8 Hungarian American, who was born in the U.S. (now deceased), who faithfully served Hungarian Americans throughout his life time. At that time, the Bethlen Home Orphanage building was for sale, and many suggestions were made regarding turning the building into a Hungarian Cultural Institute, but the numerous suggestions could not be resolved into a solid proposition. The above-mentioned person thought that forming an independent organization might be the answer, but this effort failed. Nevertheless, the flame lit in 1978 did not die, but was kept alive, smoldering, until August, 1981 when a three-day Hungarian Heritage Conference was called for August 21,22, and 23, with great success. It was attended by three generations of Hungarian- Americans. The Conference officially organized the Hungarian Eighth Tribe Foundation. Officers and Board Members were elected, representing all of the abovementioned groups.

Application for a Charter was applied for and approved by the State of Pennsylvania in 1982.

A Second Heritage Conference was held on August 20, 21, and 22, 1982. Thirty-four of the forty-four attendees had been born in America and were either second or third generation.

A third Conference was called for May 26, 27, and 28, 1984. Although the Foundation had a few hundred members by this time, most were unable to attend because of the long distance to Ligonier. During the three days, 45 people participated in at least one segment of the Conference, but only 15 people attended all the sessions. Those present agreed that the HETF should continue in existence, and made two recommendations:

1) Concentrate efforts on the restructuring of the Foundation.

2) Appointment of a committee to initiate the reorganization and make recommendations. Committee members were Dr. Wass Albert, Sándor E. Chomos, Miklós Korponay, Louis L. Ambrose, William Kormos, Elizabeth Szabó and Paul Pulitzer, who became the chairman of the committee.

The Committee fell apart with the resignation of Dr. Wass and Elizabeth Szabó. Mr. Pulitzer continued his effort to reorganize the Foundation. He made several recommendations to the remaining members of the Committee. To make it more effective, he held an election of officers: S. E. Chomos, Chairman of the Board; Paul Pulitzer, President; Harry G. Ladanye, Vice President, and Roger E. Goodman as Secretary-Treasurer. After ten months, Mr. Pulitzer realized that despite his best efforts to enlarge the membership of the Foundation, he had been unsuccessful. As of March 19, 1985, Mr. Pulitzer and his slate of officers resigned. As Chairman of the Board of the Foundation, I accepted their resignations with the well-deserved gratitude of the Foundation for their efforts. Mr. Pulitzer organized the United Hungarian American Committee for the Restoration of the Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island Foundation. The Committee was organized in November, 1984, but, holding true to every united Hungarian effort, it fell apart, to the great disappointment of Mr. Pulitzer and the chairman of the committee, Mr. Louis Ruszkay. This meant that each Hungarian organization conti nr