Verhovayak Lapja, 1944 (27. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)
1944 / Verhovay Journal
The Ferret Se* ■■MBtiiiwBiiiiiiiiiiriiir'iiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiT'iiir'iiiiiiiiiiT'iiiPhiiMiinirT'iifiiiiiir'Ti^T^iT***'".....ipitiii..rr......rnr July 13, 1944 Didn’t know exactly how to start this article; then something came up which gave me the necessary opening. Quite recently, a person who considers himself an intellectual, told me that if I had such sincere ambitions with a writing career, I should improve my English, and use less slang and idiomatic expressions in my stuff. It worried me slightly, for about ten minutes, so I talked it over with this Swell Guy I know. He informs me thus, * Slang is as much literature as is College- English, even more so, since it is the reflection of the living language. Damon Runyon and the others would never have achieved fame, had they not dared to write as the people talk, and not as they should have talked according to some schoolteacher. As time passes, the expressions of slang are always embodied into the language and finally the college professors accept it, too... but in writing, the spoken language is always ahead of the theoretical language which is not used by anyone, except those who make a living by deadening their language.” That settles THAT, once and forever! Even though the subject under my immediate consideration may be as serious as deciding the next presidential election; or whether it’s mere insignificant slinging of a Ray of Sunshine, little Jo is going to write as in the past. If slang, and the way the majority of Americans talk, is good enuf for Damon Runyon, it’s good enuf for the Ferret. Let’s get on to the Auditing Story! * * * The first thing under discussion is what my dear friend, Marge Stangret of Branch 164, wrote in the June 29 issue of the Journal. She writes, with reference to our new addition on the Auditing Committe, “I really believe that the “Ferret” and “Pop” Kunstadt will be a great team.” ... Well, little Margie, never forget our Auditing Committee’s President, Joseph Bumbulucz! “Bumbi”, as he is affectionately called by his two co-workers, and the entire Home Office Force in Pittsburgh, has been an auditor in the past. He was again elected at the 1939 Convention, but resigned due to his duties as a District Manager. Your ’’Pop” Kunstadt will agree with me that both of us owe a great deal of credit to our Bumbulucz; he is patient, understanding, and thoroughly familiar with the work of the Auditing Committee. By now you all know that Member Kunstadt is Manager of Branch 164 in Chicago works with a good many Second Generation members, and has the interests of the future leaders at heart. Both Kunstadt and Bumbulucz are sincere Verhovay members—with them the Association comes first! You all know where I stand—so suppose Margie corrects her remark to read, “Bumbulucz, Kunstadt and Lucas ARE making the Auditing Committee known as a most congenial and satisfactory TRIO.” Thanks loads for your good wishes. Will endeavor to do OUR very best at all times; and I’ll have a “wedge” in there for the English speaking branches. When I was down in February for my first audit, the work seemed quite simple and a lot of fun. Now I understand the work so much better; it’s more serious than I presumed, but EVER so FASCINATING. Keeping one’s fingers on the heai'tbeat of our swell organization is like an education which cannot be secured in a Hall of Learning. Gaining all sorts of knowledge and experience Which will be useful in my work as a Branch Manager—every now and then I’ll pass some useful bits on to you readers. Can sense vague undercurrents, which I can’t always analyze very logically as yet; however, I’ve arrived at certain deductions. What has been enormously impressed on my mind, at this second quarterly audit, is that it’s not the INDIVIDUAL who counts, but the VERHOVAY ASSOCIATION as a WHOLE. Even pet theories are relegated to the back of one’s mind in the eternal struggle to have the name of Verhovay achieve distinction. You continue fighting for what you believe is right, but always with the reservation in mind, “HOW will it benefit the membership as a WHOLE?” Personal friendships, and personal FAME, are of secondary importance— all personalities must be handled in such a manner that NO reflection must be cast on the good name of the organiza'ton. Here at the Home Office, the perspective is different; i. e. when out in the field as a member or branch manager, our little lives are wrapped around our own immediate branches—securing new members, instilling interest in social activities, trying to get along with our branches next-door! little things, as far as the H. O. is concerned, but big things, as far as branches go. At the H. O. all branches are treated alike—if individual difficulties come up, our Supreme Officers try to work out the problems—first via letters, and then if that is unsatisfactory, by personal contact. The majority of branches can be soothed via letters, which are instilled through human understanding of the numerous probems which come up. It takes all kinds of people to make a world, and by the same token, to make for a successful business. When letters do not settle matters, one of our Supreme Officers, more often Pres. Bencze, goes out to see what’s up. He listens to both sides of the question, gives every one an opportunity to speak his piece; and then through experience, gained by years of being an officer, he handles the situation delicately, with kid gloves on occasion, and practically makes the opposing parties “kiss and make up”, or shake hands. I noted that soothing at our last Convention—heated parties would rise and spout about things they knew little about, or less than little ... the department head in question would rise up, wait for the necessary peace and quiet to reign, and then he’d settle the issues with just a few words, spoken wisely. A little matter, which has no direct bearing on the committee’s work, but which has been bothering me for quite some time, should be injected about here. This problem, which has been like a cantankerous sore in my job as a branch manager, is being re-opened, like a raw wound, every time I visit with my coworkers on the committee. They tell me, now that I’m an auditor, and in the public eye, my branch Verhovay Journal should be set up as an example for other branches to follow. True enuf! I’m told I , should secure new members, make my branch grow, send in monthly reports ON TIME (just a casual word on this subject—never before realized how inconvenient it is for our office force to have monthly reports come in late— why, it even makes me feel ashamed to think I never made a greater effort—watch my smoke in the future!), and the one thing I’m truly proud of in 429, is the branch should set an example in TRUE BRANCH FRATERNALISM. Quite a lineup, you say. Not that the majority of branches don’t do that—but in the event a branch manager, or member, gets elected to represent the membership as a whole, his fraternal life must be like an open book—or better still, it’s like living in a glass gold-fish bowl. OK, so fraternally, the branch is tops; the monthly report l’bizness” is easily corrected; BUT, and here’s the rub, when it comes to making the branch grow, I’ll present you with my No. 1 problem—and two-bits any number of you smaller branches come up against the same difficulties. In words of one syllable, it’s called by the harsh name of PIRATING! Yes, stealing members from the smaller branches to make the large branches grow. A manager at a small branch has trouble enuf keeping those few members contented, and securing a new one now and again, without the VULTURES coming and taking them away. OK, so some of our older members say the youngsters aren’t ready to take over the business end of our organization. They point out small sizes of branches, little activity with securing new members, and other bones of contention. But some of these big-headed leaders should stop and analyze—“Have I ever helped that little branch in the suburbs? Have I ever given any co-operation to that youthful branch manager?” I heard a remark to the effect that it’s a “survival of the fittest’,, the branch manager who is strong enuf to keep his members from being pirated is the guy who comes out on top. But when under-handed methods are used, count me out. I like a fair fight as well as the next guy, but I haven't yet learned to do things in a small way. This little gal would certainly like to hear from other branch managers about this problem—what do we do to combat this eternal PIRATING of members from one branch to another? So much for that—all of which doesn’t mean I’ve quit fighting. Oh no, it’s a spur to work all the harder, just for the fun of it, to see if this particular branch manager will be one of the “fittest” to survive! Back to the Auditing Angle. I don’t believe there is a book, or check, or paper, which isn’t thoroughly gone over. You begin to get an idea of the way the organization is run—they tell me now, that it takes two years to learn all the tricks of the trade. I’ve found out, too, that those younger members who really and truly take an interest in the Page 1 association as a whole, certainly get plenty of co-operation from our Supreme Officers and older leaders. We always belly-ache about giving the English speaking branches more representation; but we forget to give those older guys the necessary credit. The organization wouldn’t be where it is today, if it hadn’t been for their sincere interest, their thankless duties as members and officers. If, now and then, you run across a domineering old gray-head, don’t be too hard on him—he is thinking of Verhovay first, wondering if you are good enuf to step into his boots. When he senses that you are REALLY SINCERE, he bends over backwards giving you the benefit of his years of experience —he takes time out and teaches you everything he has learned— he even has enuf confidence in you, that if you find a better way of doing the job, to go ahead and try it. So much for this now—could write on and on, but there is always the next issue to fill. * * * RE BRANCH NEWS: Have loads and loads of personalities to publicize—will try to make it next issue. Weddings, vacation notes, army news and general branch news will have to go in next time. However, don’t forget, January, 1945 is THE BIG MONTH— Tenth Anniversary Jubilee coming up! Have loads of swell ideas, need lots and lots of cooperation from all you guys and gals. How about rejuvenating that Mock Wedding which made such a big hit in 1936? Or do you want to put on that Old Fashioned Melodrama we have been discussing for years? Could write a new one with the help of you amateurs, or we could look through the books at the library and dig a hot one out. Got me an idea, which is too hot to handle alone; so how about a weiner roast, or some outing, (maybe that “small cruiser” idea again on the Detroit River) and we can get together to work it out! Have put Entertainment Committee to work tQ dope something out for the month of July. So long, kids.---------------V--------------Why should the Golden Rule be so difficult in business and foreign relations? The happily married treat each other as they wish to be treated. They treat their children better than they wish to be treated themselves. Unless we do unto a friend as we do unto ourselves, we lose a friend. In an emergency we rush to the aid of our neighbor. Is it so great a step to realize that all people everywhere are neighbors? —Arthur Dunn, •----------v-----------DAD SHOULD HEAR THIS Two modern little girls, on their way home from Sunday school, were solemnly discus• sing the lesson. “Do you believe there is a devil?” asked one. “No,” replied the other promptly. “It’s like Santa Claus; ii’$ your father.” —v— *4 The three bears were taking a walk on the desert, so Goldilocks could eat the little bear’s porridge. Papa Bear sat on a cactus and said, “Ouch!” Mama bear sat on a cactus and said, “Ouch!” The little bear sat on a cactus and didn’t say anything—just sat. Mama Bear turned to Papa Bear. “Paw,” she said, “I hope we’rO not raising one of those Dead End Kids.” ^ If a girl doesn’t watch her figure, the boys won’t. Í Pori Clinton' BEKBEia borain Sandusky Vermilion torfleur Allies' initial invasion beachheads established here Carteret. II Care irton ai. Lessay S Cobourg Usieux Coutonces TOLEDO CHERBOURG NORMANDY—IN OHIO Maps above show the 90-air-mile stretch of the Normandy coast involved in initial Allied invasion operations, translated, on top map, into Ohio geography, with Toledo and Cleveland approximate* ily the same distance apart as Cherbourg and Le Havre. Another interesting parallel is that huge tankers like those that ply on [Lake Erie, cross the English Channel to bring millions of gallons ol ■the vita) 100-octane gas that Allied airmen need to maintain tholg present overwhelming suneriority over the enemy. Courtesy THE STANDARD OIL CO. (OHIO)—29 ►1
