Verhovayak Lapja, 1945 (28. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)
1945 / Verhovay Journal
February 28, 1945 VERHOVAY SPORTSMEN of BRANCH 164 - CHICAGO. ILLINOIS — SHORT AND SNAPPY THE FERRET SEZ «illinit i Verhovay Journal_______ Page 3 Another deadline for my artic-1 le rolls around and catches me in one of my busiest times.. As soon as this article is finished, I must hurry and pack my clothes and be off on a well-earned vacation. I know many will envy me leaving Chicago in the middle of the winter for I’m heading out west to Phoenix, Arizona and warm sunshine. I’ll be back in Chicago in time for the next issue and will tell you all about my trip. Although bad weather kept many of our members away from our February meeting, there were important discussions. Branch 1G4 will wholeheartedly support the Hungarian Relief Committee activities by collecting money and used clothing. The drive was started with a $ 25 donation from our branch treasury. All donations, big or small, will be cheerfully accepted. Let’s all do our part for a worthy cause. • Th? severe winter we are having may be the cause but our sick list is' alarming. Beside Mike Zavatkay, members Mrs. Paul Szabó, Mrs Joseph Lengyel, Stephen Mate, J. Younker and Marge Korpanya are on the list. I sincerely hope, that a speedy recovery will be theirs and we may see them all among us again soon. A Chicago newspaper man started something by trying to smear our Home Office President, John Bencze in connection with our membership in the American Hungarian Federation. We put finish to that. Branch 1G4, at our February meeting, voted a voice of confidence to President Bencze and to our Branch Secretary, who publicly responded to the smear. Member M. D. Redlich, one of our foremost lawyers, was the floor leader condemning this eheap accusation. Tiie order of business at the meeting went along smoothly and reports were made. $ 236G monthly dues for January is a record in itself and add to that the big sum of $ 314 from our Juvenile order. The 35th year of Branch 164 has really started out with a bang. Branch 164 is noted for its extra ordinary achievements and this being our Jubilee year, we intend to better our successes. Our Jubilee Year Book is in the making and ail members will receive all,needed information early in March by way of a circular letter. Our book of course, will be different from any other lodge book. First, it will tie dedicated to our 60 Servicemen and women. The first page will be reserved for the names of our boys and girls who are doing so very much for us. The second page will also be reserved for names of Servicemen who may not be members but have very close relations with Branch 164. The feature page will have, the pictures of 14 of our youngest members. These 14 are members of Branch 164 whose dads are serving under the Stars and Stripes. There will be many pages of interesting reading material and the remainder of pages will be devoted to advertisements. Members Dr. Alex Friend, , Redlich the lawyer, Dr. John Hesser, Joseph Sebestyén Peter Fabis and the Peters Brothers’ Liquor Store have already reserved their spaces in the book. We have a long list of businessmen whom we have yet to contact in the near future. Our 35th Jubilee Year Book will really be top’s. You wait and see. Arthur Irocky, son of our esteemed president, was home on furlough this month from Camp Pinedale, California. I met him, at the Midget Musical Comedy Show (that really was some show) and -was very glad to hear how he enjoyed to be home. I’ve seen lots of G. I. haircuts but “on him it looks good”. Lt. Gilfoy, husband of “Little Mary Risko”, received a Medical Discharge from the Army. The Gilfoys will make their future home in Chicago. Welcome Home. While Paul and James Kantor are on the other side of the world fighting for Democracy, their dad is seriously sick in Chicago. We all hope that “Dad” Kantor will get well soon. He has Branch 164’s best wishes for a speedy recovery. In one of the future English or Hungarian copies of the Journal several pictures will be published of Branch 164’s members in the Services. I’m sure William Kodobocz will make a big hit. On D-Day i Bill made up his mind not to shave until Victory is ours. That was over eight months ago and this pic ture was taken recently, so look for it. (EDITOR’S REMARK: Just to please Margaret, we are insert- I ing here the picture of Kodohoczy :o which she refers in her report.) Piitsburgh, Pa., Feb. 21. Way back in December, 1944, Margaret Kalman exchanged wedding vows and if I were a good reporter I’d have more information for you but as it is I can only wish Marge and her Sailor husband tiie best of everything with lot^ of happiness in their married life. On January 20, 1945, Vilma Janik became Mrs. Russel E. Lowry. Sgt. Lowry is stationed in Santa, Fe, New Mexico. Vilma deserves all kinds of happiness and Branch 164 joins me in sending the newlyweds our sincerest best wishes for a long and happy life together. The Red Cross is doing a fine job in ways too numerous to mention. When the Red Cross Drive begins, which will b.e soon, Give and Give Generously. Give your donations to the Red Cross through our Senior Secretary just as you did last year. Let’.s show that our Branch 164 is doing their share. The war isn’t over yet, so invest all the money you can spare in War Bonds and Stamps. Our boys are counting on us. Don’t let them down. As usual, Ye Ed expects a story from the reporting member of the Auditing Committee. Let’s see what can be devised! The work of the Committee, and its contacts ..become increasingly intriguing. There are so many new angles that it’s difficult at times to present a story which will be informative, and at the same time sufficiently entertaining to entice you away from thaj. fascinating, new mystery thriller. I've given you a passing glance at- the Smoky City itself: have given you thumb-nail interviews with your Supreme Officers and Home Office employees: have even tried to paint interesting pictures of the Committee’s work. Then there were short sketches of the Members of the Board of Directors, and my impressions of the American-Hungarian Federation Convention. Suppose at this time, I try to paint a picture of what the H.O. represents in its relation to the branches and members. We can liken the H.O. to the ancestral home of a huge and scattered family... The various branches are the numerous children sent out into the world to take root, prosper and spread the family name around. Some of these children, or branches, acquire large groups of members and their individual wealth adds to the family fortune. Weaker branches are encouraged by their big brothers: their morale is bolstered by the Mother Office to double their efforts, and prizes are offered from time to time to add incentive to increase the family. Periodically, or every fpur years in the VFIA, a delegation is selected from the family groups and sent to Pittsburgh to confer on mutual problems and to relate successes with original ideas. From this representative group, Supreme Officers are elected who will handle affairs at the H.O.: i. e. the j fair division of profits, the investing of the family fortune, benefit matters, fraternal interests, and numerous other details which will come up in the course of their term of office Just me, Margaret Stangret 1427 So. Sawyer Ave-, Chicago —.23, 111. A governing, board of twelve is also elected, for the purpose of seeing that the constitution is obeyed, and to make and enforce laws which will be required to promote a smooth-running organi zatiom A committee of three is also elecied at this convention, to check records and to see that all family assets are invested soundly and to make periodical reports to those “in the field” that all is well with the H.O. District managers are the “contact, men” between branches, members and the Home Office. They lielp smaller branches grow, pro mete understanding in the larger branches. Their main job however, is to advance business and enlarge the family by whatever means will be approved by the governing Board. District managers will see that branch managers will fulfill their duties to the best interests of the VFIA. They bring their problems “in the field”, and the problems of brandies and members Publicity Agent, to the Mother Office, which are By Mrs. Jolán Lucas settled to the ..satisfaction of all concerned. Somehow I vision the entire fraternal life as a Mother Hen with her baby chicks scattering to the four winds, only to run under the protective wing when danger or worry threatens. In fraternal insurance, all members are privileged to speak and bring suggestions to the attention of the governing board, and Supreme Officers. This Board, co-opera ting with the Home Office, prepares subjects for the convention delegates, thus proving that even the remotest and least known member can have a say in the affairs of the organization. In conjunction with the work of the Auditing Committee, I’ve arrived at a better understanding of the reasons behind some of the proposals which come .up on the Convention floor. Fraternal insurance organizations are governed by the Insurance Laws of. the State. This department makes unexpected ..calls, periodically at fraternal organizations for the same purpose as our VFIA Auditing Committee. They also check records and figures: they check bonds bought and sold and are empowered to lay down laws as to which stocks and bonds can be purchased by the fraternal groups. Our organization, the same as ALL fraternals, has to abide by the Fraternal Laws of the State, and the main duties of our Auditing Committee are to see that all Verhovay business is transacted within these bounds. A point which interests me is how very different the perspective is after viewing the workings of the organization from the con trolling center of our Home Office Branch matters which assume ci lossal dimensions in our tiny circ les at home, are somehow minimi zed when they are considered by the experienced heads of the vari ous departments, and who handle hundreds of like cases year after year. The tendency to blow up at each disappointment or to “make something of” (as the good old American saying goes) every irritable branch matter is lessened by trying, fairly to give the sore matter the benefit of the doubt. What must be remembered is that there are always two sides to a question.... yours and the other fellow’s, and if the misunderstanding can be talked over, a mutual compromise can be effected. So much at this time from the Auditing Committee. TO THE CONTRIBUTORS The next issue of the Journal will be published on Wednesday, March 14. Contributions for that issue should be in net later than March 7, Wednesday. Contributions should be typewritten, on cne side of the paper only, double-spaced, and not exceed 1200 words, oi 3,000 letters. Address contributions to VERHOVAY JOURNAL, ENGLISH SECTION, 343 Fourth Ave., Pittsburgh 22, Pa. ADVICE TO VETERANS * As time goes by and the war goes on, more of our young men are inducted but, at the same time, more and more of our fellow members who have served in the armed forces, return to civilian life. There is much uncertainty concerning the various ways and means for readjustment to civlian life and, therefore, we shall endeavour to offer some information, based on the official statements of authorities. DEMOBILIZATION. The question that is ever present in the heart of every soldier, sailor and marine as well as of the members of the WACS, WAVES, SPARS and MCWR, is: when will we be demobilized? This question cannot be answered with certainty chiefly because we don’t know when the war will end. It is assumed by various authorities that the Army will discharge approximately one million men when the European war ends, with priority for . overseas service and for men who have dependent children. With the Navy the situation is different, for the Navy plans no discharges until Japan is defeated. That stands to reason for the war with Japan is conducted chiefly by the Navy and the Marine Corps and as long as the war with Japan lasts, every available man will be needed on this vast front. DISCHARGE MONEY. All members of the armed forces — male and female —• are assured of discharge pay which will be $100.00 l'or soldiers who served less than GO days. $200 for soldiers who served more than 60 days but have not served overseas and $300 for members of the armed forces who served for more than 60 days and have foreign service to their credit. , In addition, the members of the armed forces are entitled to train-fare home, after their discharge. Finally, if they incurred disability in the course of their military service, a monthly pension is guaranted to ttiem the amount of which may not be less $11.50 and not more than $115 per month. Applications for pension may be submitted through the Veterans Administhation at the Deprocessing Center or at the nearest office. WHAT TO DO UPON RETURNING? First of all the discharged member of the armed forces must report to the Selective Service Beard. This qiust be done within five days after his arrival., Next, he — or she — should see that all records are in order: originals, photostats, legal copies, file number, discharge, insurance, marriage and birth certificates, registration cards and the Will, if any. It is best to keep these important documents in one package, or file, because the veteran will or may need most of these documents throughout his life. Then the Veteran should . see an insurance agent or the Veterans’ Administrator about converting his (or her) National I Service Insurance to Ordinary I Insurance. It will pay for him (Continued 'on Page 4)
