Verhovayak Lapja, 1944 (27. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)

1944 / Verhovay Journal

April 27, 1944

Verhovay Journal

The Ferret Se*

»itis ;s: ■ • rr'-^iii tiinrininnwiwwBii'

In the last issue of our Journal, relating my experiences as Member of the Auditing Committee, I promised to introduce the office force since I believe that there are many who have been wondering about them. In fact, the “Introductions” were part of my article, but since my tale took up a full page anyhow, the printing of that part had to be postponed. But, here it goes . . .

I don’t believe that the Supreme Officers need any in troduction, you all know them by nodr pretty well, but, I guess, it won’t hurt to say a few words about what they do. Here is, first of all, Mr. Bencze, our Supreme President . . . remembered him in tny auditing story too, because he was so helpful, together with the rest of them. He is the head of the Association, its official representative before all legal authorities and individuals, the chairman of the Board of Directors, the controlling factor of the Home Office, the superintendent of all departments who, in addition, also has to deal with all matters that do not come under the jurisdiction of any other department, and. believe me, there are plenty of them.

Then there is Mr. Révész, the Supreme Secretary, who answers most of the letters that come into the Home Office, prepares all subjects for the meeting of the poard of Directors as well as the Convention, deals with all matters pertainning to benefits, administration, supervises the edition of the Journal, keeps records of most everything and is kept busy from early to late with a million kinds of problems that arise in a six million dollar organization.

Mr. Szalánczy, the Supreme Treasurer, handles the finances of the Association, manages its (property, signs expense vouchers,

I keeps records of Branch-payments. His real job is the inj vestment of the funds, one of the most responsible jobs in the Association that requires immense experience, constant study, keeping in touch with the fluctation of the market. While Working with the auditing committee I was deeply impressed With the responsibilities of his Office; never before did I realize What a load our Supreme Treasurer must have on his mind.

1 Then there is the Supreme i Auditor, Pvt. John Sabo, whose office at present is represented by the Deputy Auditor, Miss Emma Phillips, whose statements Which are published regularly in the Hungarian Journal and semiannually in the English issue, give you an idea of the scope of her job.

Naturally no one person could handle all the work in either department. While all of the readers of the Journal are pretty Well acquainted with the Supreme Officers, very few know anything about the Home Office employees’ force, and I believe that all of us would like to know more about them.

We have Margaret Evans who handles all outgoing mail . . keeps a little black book of every cent spent for postage . . . runs a big meter-reader machine that automatically stamps letters withj postage.

Mary Mészáros, Ethel Chonka, and Margaret Waddell, affectionately known as either Midge or Mag, handle senior order policies; that is the department where all those application are filed . . . Midge also takes care of all changes in beneficaries, and other policy changes.

Sarah Masztics, better know as “Sári”, is the Hungarian stenographer . . . you ought to see her typewriter keyboard! Tried to write a letter home and was mixer up (Editor’s remark; You should have tried mine ... it is just as bad!) Sari has also work in the Junior Order.

Little Julia Eszlári is the lass whose work is received by all branch managers each month . . . she handles the addressograph, mailing lists for the Journal, makes monthly reports and change of addressess . . . big job for such a little girl. Mrs. Yolanda Diera, nee Érdeky and Anikó Ballay take care of the Junior Order applications, monthly statements, changes, transfers.

Miss Amelia Nyejs works with their department since the Board of Directors has merged the editorial work of the Hungarian and English Journal. Gizella Stefurovszky, Mrs. Ethel Simcho, nee Cincel, and Ethel Prekup handle senior order posting. Did you know that monthly dues are split up into different groups? I. e. “expense fund”, “mortuary fund”, “sick benefit fund”, “accident benefit fund”, “reserve fund” etc.?

Then there is Mrs. Ann Green... Ann can give you the translation of any Hungarian word into English quicker than you can wink an eyelash . . . well, Ann is the American stenographer and takes care of those important commission checks; Mary Köteles handles the sick benefits, and you ought to see the pile of them in her office, and last, but not least comes Betty Schwab, as jolly and cooperative and efficient secretary to the Supreme Treasurer, as I’ve met up with.

A new department has been created by the Convention: the Supreme Organizer’s Department. We of Detroit are especially proud of this department, since its head is no other than our one and only Alexander Gyulay, the well known and beloved former Manager of this District. He is the one who conducts the membership drives and looks after all promotional matters and is ably assisted in his work by his new secretary, Miss Mary Krizsan, who just recently joined the Home Office force.

Five Departments in all, with an office force of 18 women.

Now let us have a look at the men. There is Mr. Gábor, who takes care of the supplies, and those notices branch managers receive about “overpayments” or “shortages”, after the posting of the monthly reports; he is a congenial soul with a caustic sense of humor ... used to be Supreme Secretary at one time... in fact, he served in this capacity full 16 years from 1909 until 1926! There is Mr. Németh who handles the medical certificates that come with the applications, and Mr. Györffy, who handles policy loans, commissions, social security matters and payrolls. And last, but not least, Rev. F. W.

By

Mrs. Jolán Lucas

auuuiijuiiiiuiwtuuiututti: .nntuuiiuiwinm____

garian, and, since the meeting of the Board of Directors, the English Journal . . . All you contributors who may or may not, at times, have been slightly disssatisfied regarding the Journal, will find in Rev. Rettmann a person who will take care ot the smallest squawk, or the biggest problem, with equal interest and understanding.

I don’t believe I missed anyone, but the elevator operators there in the Standard Life building, who are going to be mighty lonesome after the Verhovay F. I. A. office force leaves to make its permanent home in our very own new building, just up the street.

Mr. I Révész pointed out our new building; said it was just above flood level. Couldn’t quite grasp the importance of that . . . but walked up the two blocks one noon hour, and there is just enough upgrade to take care of flood-level, which is quite an important consideration in the city of the three Rivers. Looks like a neat three story building, with a vast parking lot in the rear of the building. Just three blocks or so from one of the rivers, and in the midst of the downtown section. Well, will give you more dope on the new Verhovay building (sounds great, doesn’t it?), after we move our Home Office there ...------------------v-----------------YOU HAVE TO DIG TO GET OUT OF A HOLE

Every man faces some periods of doubt and discouragement. This is necessarily true; if it were not, life would be too monotonous ti endure.

Without day, there could be no night. Unless men taste the ashes of discouragement, they cannot relish the wine of success. So if we can understand that a certain amount of discouragement is normal to every man, such periods will never overwhelm us.

The real danger in discouragement and doubt comes when such periods stay with us too long or befall us too often.

Misery feeds on misery. The good agent, temporarily in a slumps of production and morale, must not linger long in this frame of mind, or he may be overwhelmed by it.

The trick in whipping periods of doubt and discouragement lies in continuing to drive on, to keep on working and thinking.

This is the old, old story of digging to get out of a hole.

(Nortwestern National News.)

The Red Cross never has failed the American soldier. It has helped him in his hour of danger, it has sustained him in his hour of pain, and it has comforted him in his hour of death.

Gen. Douglas MacArthur---------------v--------------GOOD WIFE

WOMAN: “I want some nice, big apples for my sick husband. Do you know whether they have been sprayed with poison?”

CLERK: “No, ma’am, you’ll have to get that at the drug-Rettmann, editor of the Hun- store.'

I AM NOW A PRISONER OF WAR''

Page 3

In the March 30th, 1944, issue of the “Verhovay Journal” we wrote about Sgt. WALTER GETSEY who was reported “missing in action” by the War Department. Assuming that he participated in the big raid on Frankfort, Germany, on February 4th, 1944, we expressed hope that he has not lost his life but was able to escape from the I wrecked Flying Fortress on which he served as a radio operator and gunner. We closed our report by writing: “We hope that Sgt. Getsey’s parents will soon be notified that their boy is not lost but is alive as a prisoner of war in Germany.”

We are happy to report that our prayer has been granted.

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Getsey, of 616 Harbor St., Conneaut, O., (Branch 220) received first an unconfirmed report that Sgt. Getsey has been taken prisoner by the Germans from a Pennsylvania woman who notified them that she had heard of his capture onj a short wave radio program from Germany. Shortly afterwards a telegram was sent to them by the International Red Cross through the U. S. Provost Marshall General to the same effect.

These two notices served to allay the deep anxiety Mr. and Mrs. Getsey had felt, through those long weeks of uncertainty, for their only son, Walter. But real happiness came to the Getsey home when at last a letter arrived from Walter himself. He writes as follows:

“DEAR MOTHER*

I am now a Priconer of War. I am not injured in any way. I am feeling good and I am only hoping that you are not worrying about me too much. The Red Cross is sure doing a lot for us boys over here, more than words can tell. You will be able to get any news about me from the local Red Cross. I ask you again to be patient and don’t worry! This is not my permanent address. I will give you my permanent address as soon as I able. Tell the neighbors hello.

Your son

Walter.”

We are happy to share our joy over this bit of good news with the membership of our Association. Though life in a prison camp is not exactly what Sgt. Walter Getsey would desire, we still

cannot help but feel deep satisfaction over the fact that he is safe at last. We conclude from reports received that the Germans do not treat their prisoners badly now, and, therefore, we can look hopefully towards the hour when Sgt. Getsey will be permitted to return home, after the successful termination of the war.

We are sure that he, a recipient of the Air Medal, would prefer to be among the active flyers, however, we also feel, that he has already done more than his share for the final victory of our armed forces. He has displayed great heroism in the performance of his duties and now, as a prisoner of war, he can surely find satisfaction in the knowledge that he has rendered substantial assistance to his country, and to his comrades by helping clear the path to the approaching invasion of the European fortress.

We wish to call the attention of our readers to th§ sentence in his letters whicli we purposely had set in heavy type. That sentence refers to the great service the Red Cross is rendering to our boys in the prison camps. It is worth more to them than words can describe! While we are happily acknowledging the good news in regards to the safety of our good friend, Walter, we should, at the same time, fully realize our great obligation towards the Red Cross, which comforts and assists our homesick boys in the prison camps. “Hand across the Sea” . . . that is the Red Cross which carries to those boys the messages of love and the gifts of comfort.

Let us faithfully support the Red Cross until the time

arrives, when we may again shake hands with Seregeant Getsey and his heroic pals.

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii»

BUY

UNITED STATE£

AND

STAMPS

umiimiiimiimimumimiuuuiiiiuii