Verhovayak Lapja, 1944 (27. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)
1944 / Verhovay Journal
April 13, 1944 Verhovay Journal Page 3 The Ferret Sez ... I By Mrs. Jolán Lucas, The last big snow-fall of March dragged its way out of the clouds, to keep its promise to the Ferret — unfailing snow on March 26th for countless years. They tell me it snowed so hard the night I was born, a night before an Easter Sunday, that everyone was blockaded for days! * * t As for my Tale of Experiences as a Member of the Auditing Committee — here goes ... Don’t know exactly how to start — but supposing I give it to you just as it happened? Here it was — one of those dull Saturday evenings, just before a payday, with nothing exciting to look forward to. Was in one of those depressed moods, which folks, born in March, experience so often; even the insistent ring of the telephone didn’t promise the exciting two weeks which were just around the corner. Managed a surly “Hello” in as unfriendly a tone as only The Ferret can use at times, and was greeted by the voice of Mr. Stephen Lukacs, who was elected a Member of the Auditing Committee at the convention in September. Never gave the auditing angle a thought, as Mr. Lukacs is branch manager of the largest branch (Br. 36.) here in Detroit. I wondered what I’d done wrong now, or what was to be requested of me. Who’d have thought Mr. Lukacs was going to throw a bombshell at me — said to me, “Mrs. Lucas, can you be in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, February 8th, at nine o’clock” Gulped deeply, and said would he please repeat that statement. So he says that Miss Emma Phillips, who was elected Junior Auditor of the Committee at the same convention, had resigned, and therefore I, as alternate, was next in line. Miss Emma Phillips, by the way, has been made Deputy Auditor, a new position created by the Board of Directors at its most recent meeting. Her duties will be varied — besides bookkeeping, understand she will sign checks etc. in lieu of the absence of Supreme Auditor John Sabo, Jr., in the Marine Corps. Congratuations go to Miss Phillips, as First Woman Deputy Auditor! Well, golly, folks, I couldn’t breathe for a few hours; couldn’t believe my ears — things like that just don’t happen, I sez to myself! Called Director Richard Phillips about some branch business and told him what’d been said to me — and he calmly stated that he knew about it nearly a week before. Everyone knew but me — here it was Saturday about 6 bells, had to wash clothes immediately as Monday (National Wash Day in U. S. A.) would be much too late. Scrambled around like a chicken with its head cut off, getting clothes ready for my three men, getting the house in order, so they’d find towels etc., shopped for stuff to eat for the family. Sunday (usually designated as a Day of Rest) was spent ironing, packing, remembering last minute duties — boy, never let it be said that a person who has a reputation for PROCRASTINATION can’t work when there is a prize in view! Finally got things finished about two hours before train time — barely made the 5:20 Red Arrow out of Union Station Monday afternoon, and I was off . . . Of course, the excitement of the train trip, my first meal in the diner, the friendliness of the porters and conductors, the new sights out of my windows, and finally grasping the situation in my mind, would take pages and pages — however, take my word for it, that all sorts of thoughts and ideas and impressions whirled through my bean — the most important of which was the fact that my DREAM CAME TRUE. I was actually going to Pittsburgh on important business. Pulled in at 1:00 A .M. at the Keystone Hotel — which apparently is the abode of the Auditing Committee Members and the Board of Directors, when in Pittsburgh on business, and is the permanent home of Mr. Alexander Gyulay, Supreme Organizer, and is only two blocks from the Home Office on Fourth Avenue. Tried to sleep, but you ought to know that was impossible. Tuesday, A. M. dawns — not bright and sunshiny like in normal cities remember, this is the Smoky City! Mr.| Gyulay, called for me and showed me the way to the Home. Office from the hotel — a fella really needs a guide in Pittsburgh, as the SMOG, a combination of smoke and fog, is sometimes so thick, you walk with your hands in front of you so you don’t get lost. Was taken in to Supreme President John Bencze’s office and inknew each other, formalities are troduced — we but after all, formalities. Mr. Bencze Ferret as Auditing around and was welcomed a Member of Committee, took The the me introduced to Mr. C. Revesz, Mr. John Szalanczy, and the general office force. Mr. Stephen Lukacs came in about the same time, and he told me, from previous experience, that the auditors go around and pay their respects to the office force and get acquainted, so that when books and papers etc. are demanded by the committee, we would know the proper people to go to. Finally, Mr. Joseph Bumbulucz, from Dayton, pulls in, late, with the report that his train was delayed for army stuff to go through first. Since I’d met Mr. Bumbulucz before, and knew Mr. Lukacs from home, it looked like a congenial trio — which is almost necessary, as the three auditors work together all day long, and therefore, the need for Fratemalism and friend ship, is necessary requisite. The first official act on the program was a welcoming speech by our Supreme President. Told us what our duties would be, and that our work was of importance — that we were responsible to the Convention, and therefore friendships with Supreme Officers or office force was to be of secondary importance — our job was to audit the books in good faith for the entire membership of the Association. We were also to elect a President and a secretary of the committee. Then he bid his adieu and our work began. Our first duty, then, was to settle on a President and Secretary. but due, perhaps to the feminine influence, this wasn’t iHBiilllililllllMIIIIliHH settled until the last day. The result is, President, Joseph Bumbulucz, and Secretary Stephen Lukacs. The procedure used at this, my first audit, is not always the same one which is followed. Since Mr. Stephen Lukacs was on the committee the last four years, he was able to give me some very good advice about those matters I didn’t understand fully. And since Mr. Joseph Bumbulucz was also an auditor the previous four years, I felt I was in good hands; with two experienced members, how could I go wrong? There are all sorts of little traditions and customs, handed down from one committee to the next; some of these traditions I will mention later on. Was told by Mr. Bumbulucz, that I, as First Woman Auditor, was on the ground floor of laying down traditions and customs to those women auditore who’d follow me. But to go on to the serious business — naturally everyone who has ever worked knows that the auditors examine everything from “soup to nuts”, so to speak. The office force never knows just what the auditors will examine next, hence, all books must be in order at all times. I can truthfully say, from previous bookkeeping experience and also “run-ins” with auditors, that our auditing committee does a very thorough job. The office force handles all transactions in a very businesslike manner. However, before I go on, I must confess that the general feeling of the Home Office employees is slightly different than any I experienced in my years of office work. They are a congenial, friendly group — that Hungarian language which they casually sling around is, to me (who speak Hungarian in the usual “broken” way) nothing short of amazing. That good old Hungarian sense of humor works overtime in our Home Office — everyone from the least to the greatest has a joke now and then — everything they do and say reminds one of a Big Family — including all the little arguments and pet loves and peeves Big Families have. No one is Miss or Mr. — it’s Sari, or Anikó, of Yolie, or Betty — Mr. Gabor isn’t called “Mr.”, but rather good old “Gábor Bácsi”. Gee, it’s fun — they’re a swell bunch. Later on in this epistle will give you the low-down, in one-word biog’s, of the entire office force. I believe they should be introduced to you folks out there, who may, or may not, have been wondering about them. Back to work — that’s the impression I’m trying to give you — that even when the folks in our Home Office are working the hardest, with reports piled nearly to the ceiling, that undercurrent of humor keeps their equilibrium. So we start checking—General Income. First — adult treasurer’s receipts against General Income Ledger, against deposit slips, and Bank statements, Same way with Juvenile Order treasurer’s receipts, and then the trust fund. One member of the committee reads the figures while the other two check. All close work, and the heavy SMOG dosen’t help the throat of the reader, as it tends to clog up the vocal passages. So we stop for a few minutes and get a drink, or 3 learn some more Hungarian humor. Back to work — this time on Disbursements. All checks are checked against the books and adding machine tape. Each bill and statement is cafefully gone over. This is the interesting Port — every dollar is accurately accounted for, where it goes, what it was for. There are dividends, commissions, doctor’s fees, salaries, sick benefits, general office expense and running expenses. One has no idea of the magnitude of our organization until those little items of expense are all added together for that appalling total. Then comes the highlight of the audit — the BOND examination in the bank vault. The two male members of the committeee had me going about that colored porter and the examination new auditors had to go through — but that’s another story. There is a resolution drawn up which is signed by all Supreme Officers, Foard of Directors, and Member.’ of the Auditing Committee. No one person can go in the bank vault to examine the assets of the association — it takes three members’ signatures before entry can be effected. It also takes two keys, one in Mr. John Szalanczy’s possession and one in the possession of bank officials. I was quite thrilled to see that both keys had to be used before the safety deposit boxes could be opened — wondered what would happen if Mr. Szalanczy ever lost his key. Was informed that in the case of a lost key, blasting the safety deposit boxes would be the result. Down we go to a small room, locked tightly by armored guards, who wheel the assets of the organization on a little fourwheeled buggy-like affair to this wee room. There again, cooperation is required by the auditors — two count the bonds, one checks a list. Betty Schwab, who is Mr. Szalanczy’s secretary, takes the bonds out of the boxes and files them back in their proper places. It took five of us, several hours, to go through the long list of valuable bonds owned by our association—it’s all there. Got the biggest thrill out of that first batch of U. S. Treasury Bonds, in the amount of $10,000 each — my fingers shook, my heart was in my mouth — couldn’t count very well, knowing I was handling so much valuable paper, but you get used to it after the first million dollars’ worth! Back they all go in their snug little steel boxes, onto the wheeled cart, back come the armed guards, and up to the vault, where the assets are put to rest again, until the next coupon clipping period. Betty tells me it always reminds her of a burial — the way all eyes are on these steel boxes, and eyes closely watching the “interment” in the vault. Boy, after that close work, a good dinner was called for. So back to the office to check over some more assets — examined bank books where some of our cold cash is put away. Understand that the cash must be deposited in several banks in several cities and states for protection —■ in that way, if one bank gees on the rocks, all the assets are not lost. Sort of makes one think of “not having all our eggs in one basket”. Real estate and first mortgage papers are gone over — petty cash box is carefully checked. There is always a certain amount of cash for incidental expenses, and each penny spent *from the petty cash box has a corresponding receipt. Speaking of petty cash — here comes one of our traditions. At one time, auditors counted the number of “Postage Due” stamps to see if the stamps checked with the balance of money remaining in the box, which is in the care of the one who handles incoming mail. Apparently this is not done any more, but I was informed that I’d have to go down, and count all those “postage due” stamps. Nearly did, and then was told it wasn’t necessary. Looked through the files where applications are carefully stored — golly, we’ll need a bigger room soon to keep all those files. Spot-checked monthly reports — imagine nearly 400 branches every month for three of four months — adds up to a huge pile of papers, so all we do is spot-checked sick benefit claims, as there are a good many each month. There is nothing that I could see which wasn’t examined very carefully — a thorough job is the best I can say regarding the work of the Auditing Committee Members. * * * I know I left out much more than I’have written here, but that should give you a fairly good picture of the job. When I go down again, may be the SMOG will dwindle down sufficiently so that I can pick out the beauty spots and interesting views of Pittsburgh. There are plenty, you know, just that February seems to be one of the murky months and the smoke didn’t raise enough to be able to see more than across the street. Anyway, take it from me, Pittsburgh is a good city to visit, but I’m glad, Detroit is HOME. INSURANCE is a crop which will not fail when the time comes for the harvest to be garnered.
