Verhovayak Lapja, 1943. július-december (26. évfolyam, 26-53. szám)

1943-08-26 / 35. szám

Verhovayak Lapja FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE By JOHN SABO Branch 395 McKeesport, Pennsylvania i THE VERHOVAYAK LAPJA AND THE } VERHOVAY JOURNAL i One of the more important issues of the coming Convention centers around our Verhovayak Lapja and our Verhovay Journal. Suggestions have been advanced by several qf the Districts that major changes are necessary foi our Journals. The proponents of this suggestion favor the issue of a monthly, magazine-like publication in place of our weekly and semi­monthly issues. This, they claim, would be a better-arranged publication; it would be limited strictly to branch meeting items; it would eliminate newsy columns; it would curtail ex­penses, and in general, place before the mem­bers of the Association a high-class insurance-informative pub­lication. Well, dear readers, there it is. Just like a hot potato. Nr>\ that the case is before you, I want to inform you that such a radical change would not be beneficial for the Association. That it would not be beneficial was sufficient to prompt me to come immediately to the aid of my fellow members and con­tributors. If there is one thing I believe in, it is the general welfare of all the Verhovay members. This welfare, as I know it, Is no other than true fraternalism. Therefore, when ideas are advanced, which, I believe, would set back if not aside, the benefits which each Verhovay Journal reader has had till now, then, I believe it is time for someone to analyze the situation and give the members an untainted picture. I would like to ask why we should discontinue our present Hungarian and English set-up? The older members of our As­sociation are receiving the Verhovayak Lapja each week. The younger members receive the English edition of the Verhovay Journal twice a month. Both the older members and the younger members have become accustomed to receiving regularly, weekly or semi-monthly, their Verhovay paper. To* these members, and When I say members, I refer to the majority, that weekly and semi-monthly paper means more than many of us realize. I know that many families each week-end eagerly await the mailman’s del-very of the Verhovayak Lapja. To these older members that Verhovayak Lapja means news, not only branch news, but news tn general. In many of these homes this paper is the only in­formative piece of newsprint. These older members read every bit of news contained in the paper. They like to read the articles written by our Supreme Officers. They like to read, “Mit Szöl Hozzá Józan János”. They like to read the fine editorials dealing with the war and the problems of our day. They like to lead the serial. They like to read the news which concerns ether Verhovay members, and they like to be informed of our membership standing and our financial status. All in all, to these older members, this paper is more than a paper of cold in­surance facts and figures; it is rather a sort of community in­stitution. For them the Journal is symbolic of the warm-blooded baud which is extended to them to clasp each week and reaffirm the true fraternalism upon which our great Association was founded. As for the younger members, let me say that our Association could not have done more had it distributed gold pieces. Four years ago the Association granted the younger members a semi­monthly publication. In those times we were a nation at peace. Our members had plenty of time on their hands. That idle time was put into the form of literary work. Our Journal rose from a gossipy side-show affair to a very goed fraternal publication. We had many contributors, contributors who received their first chance at journalism through our paper. The opportunity which these young contributors received could only be had at our Verhovay Frafernal Insurance Association. Why? Because we were unlike other fraternal organizations. We always have been a little different — that’s why we’re at the top! We always believed in giving our youth a helping hand And these contributors have repaid us a thousand times. They labored many hours over articles which gave the younger members, as well as the older ones, many hours of interesting reading. That some of these articles were a bit amateurish, no one can deny. However, every one of these articles represented a fine, sincere effort on the part of the . contributor to do a little in advancing the principles of true fraternalism. Then came the War. Our Journal suffered immensely. Many of the fine contributors, including the Assistant Editor, were taken into the Service of our Country. We lost their contributions. Olher contributors were put to work at war plants and with­­most of their time devoted to the production of war implements, we lost their contributions also. With this loss of contributors our Journal came down several pegs. But not because the contri­butors lost interest in our paper, but because their present duties are so much more important than literary work. Now, While they are away fighting for us, why should any of us dare to take away the very thing they are fighting for — the freedom to express thoughts in writing? FRATERNALISM! If it means taking away from these young members such a splendid oppor­tunity which they have had till now, then I don’t want any part ef it! Would a monthly, magazine-like publication be the proper thing to supplant our Hungarian and English Journals? Would it mean a cut in expenses? NO! I just looked over one of these magazine-like publications, published by another fraternal organization, and truthfully must say that it does not, and in its present form, will never rival our Hungarian or English Journal. As for the financial angle - let me say that on paper the figures probably would show a reduction of expenses. Actually, however, that reduction in expenses would be a definite loss. A loss in the point of membership, a loss in the true fraternal spirit, a loss in the faith the members have in our Association. The English Journal, as well as the Hungarian Journal has served as excellent membership-procuring propaganda. If we would take away these fine editions, and give to our members a cold insurance-fact publication we will cause the members to lose faith in us and will show them that we place a few dollars and cents above that priceless intangible asset, TRUE FRATER­NALISM! Let us be certain to keep our Hungarian and English Journals in its present publication forms. If we want to better them let us make improvements within the Journals, but let us under no circumstances do away with them. The Journal in its present form gives off the essence of TRUE FRATERNALISM, but I doubt if any magazine-like substitute, published once a month, would do the same. Let us remember that the Verhovayak Lapja and the English Verhovay Journal has served the entire membership splendidly. Let us beware, therefore, when radical changes are suggested. Keeping the faith of our members is certainly worth more than any amount of money we could save. The Verhovayak Lapja and the Verhovay Journal belong to all the members and not just a few. We must please the majority by keeping both papers intact. * —— ------------------------———————--------------------* j LET TRUTH BE UNCONFINED j i ----------------------........................................ . - ......... -CHICAGO BRANCH 503. Ah me! the world is full of meetings such as this — a thrill, a voiceless challenge and reply, and sudden partings after! —N. P. WILLIS. / A NOTE CONCERNING BROTHERS AL BAKOS AND JOSEPH NAGY, JR. We were pleased to read in the last issue the news of Branch 479, from Madison, Illinois, sent in by its very able Secretary, A1 Bakos. We hope the picnic this year will be a success, too. Incidentally, from what we hear of you and your untiring efforts in behalf of the younger Verhovayans, your capability, A1 Bakos, should place you rightfully among the representatives ot the young generation to the Verhovay National Convention. And we further understand that' you were an. alternate delegate from District 35 (meeting held in Indiana Harbor, Indiana), but your name is omitted from the list published in the last issue. How come, Mr. Joseph Nagy, Jr.? * * * Learned John Sabo, in his column “For Better or for Worse,” mentions the vital importance of the National Convention, at which time a number of younger members wiU participate as delegates. We know it for a fact that there are good leaders in tills group and can only hope that the others will give as good an account of themselves as those whom we personally know for years past have been championing the cause of the younger Ver­hovayans. * * * Secretary Frank Balogh is one of District 35’s delegates to the National Convention next month. We are happy for that, be­cause he is one of the few who is willing to concede that it is an undeniable right for the younger generation to arrive at its goal — to ultimate leadership in the Verhovay. What Delegate Balogh will have to say, and what he has said on several oc­casions, will make constructive thought for the future betterment of the organization. * * * Mrs. Anton Kovács says that her soldier husband, Sgt. Kovács, has already left the country and is probably somewhere in Alaska. A recent group photo of soldiers embarking for Alaska appeared in the Chicago Daiy Times and Mrs. Kovács insists that her husband was in that group. We hope you hear from him real soon, Mrs. Kovács. * * * Young Feri Balogh has been and is vacationing in Michigan; first at Paw Paw, and now at Muskegon, Michigan, at the home of Mrs. Raykovatz, sister of Frank Balogh, Sr. The young Balogh ought to get a real sun tan, being out on vacation all summer long. * * * Helen Csontos seems to crave the wild and wooly West almost every year. The first card received from her is from New Orleans, Louisiana, where Helen is visiting with friends. She goes on to say: “I’m out for a good time and enjoyed my trip so far.” You certainly deserve a good rest, what with all that respon­sibility at your place of employment, Helen. More recently we received a card from Houston, Texas, where Helen is “getting a good suntan. Wish you all could be here to enjoy this ‘Southern Comfort.’ ” THE SCRIBE OF KŐSZEG. Tuesday, August 17, 1943. John Sabo August 26, 1943 Lt. Joseph Zoltán, M. D., was physician for Chicago Branch 503, until he volunteered his services to the armed forces of his adopted country. Lt. Zoltán has been here in America several years, but is now its proud citizen, and loves his adopted land as any good American. For a while he was at the 30th Officers Training Battalion, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, but is now stationed somewhere in the South,* A---------------------------V_________________ \ Through Another's Eyes (Continued from 1st Page) frailties and are afraid Some­one might reproach them fo* ; their short-comings. They quiet their conscience. I am fortunate in that I d« have a few friends Who are different. But they are so fa* I away that when they come tc town, time is so short we haven’t \ the opportunity to do the tilings and discuss the subjects so dear j to us. Events always happen that interfere with our visits and j­­the many things we planned; on accomplishing together are i uever done. It seems as though j poor luck in everything hounds me — or is it because I was like the common herd in a former life — that I have all this unhappiness and yearning now? — this longing for ideals that are just beyond my grasp? ' Sometimes, I feel like the others, I beliéve in NOTHING — and that’s how I feel right now. But why cry for myself? I know _ this mood will pass and then 1 shall hear the sweet music again, see the perfect portrait oi the universe within my soul, and inhale the fragrant perfumes of the pretty flowers growing in my garden. I often think of them as people — for they give me the companionship that human beings do not give me. If they had the power of locomotion, would they create the chaos men and women have created in the world? But they are rooted to the earth in my garden and grow to create beauty to satisfy the deep yearning for the beautiful within my soul. BUY WAR BONDS

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