Verhovayak Lapja, 1945 (28. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)
1945 / Verhovay Journal
March 28, 1945 Verhov ay Journal Page 7 THE FERRET SEZ 011ll!llI!!lI0lill!!l!II!nnli:!niII]IIIIIIi!lllliniIllBMIIIIIIUI<]IIII!B!IIJIIl!llliIllllinillllllilll1III&i!iilllUilll!!iQ gy Thoughts of the Mrs. Jolán Lucas Branch Manager illBlIUBIHIIIIllllllllli When a VPIA member takes onto himself the responsibilities of branch managership, he does so with the thought in mind that not only will do the job required of him, to the best of his ability, but also, at times, offer ideas which will make his branch and his organization grow into a highly appealing fraternal group. Collecting dues is a magnificent way in which to contact the members . . . suggestions are offered which can be publicized for the mutual benefit of all; irritable matters are ironed out and from these we can learn to dispense with a recurrence of the same problem; and human interest stories teach one to take life as it comes without continually griping. Each branch has problems peculier to its own group, just as each branch has its own ideas as to what will constitute promotion of social activities. What would make a big hit in one part of the country, will become a colossal flop a few hundred miles away. Nevertheless, we all can learn from studying the workings of other branches. It isn’t always necessary to incorporate all the new ideas we learn from our neighboring branches. It is a well-proven fact that knowledge of some certain success, if changed slightly, will prove more beneficial than the original idea. The creative mind will work over old and stale customs and create a brand-new stunt which will leave an unusual impression. Naturally this branch manager is mainly interested in what appeals to the younger generations. That takes in a wide scope, from the fresh-born youngster, the teen-ager, the newly-weds to the married family with children, where the circle begins over again. Up until the present, the greater portion of our social and fraternal activities has been centered around the older generation who started and fostered the VFIA. Now, however, it seems the time has come when good suggestions from this newer group will aid the harassed branch manger to give them the kind of fraternal life which will satisfy the various groups. Your Ferret has concentrated a great deal on bowling, because howling at least in the middle-west states, has a wide-range appeal to both men and women. Bowling leagues throughout this part of the country are part and parcel of every business firm, manufacturing concern, stores, lodges, clubs and so on. City and state tournaments and match-games between cities and lodges foster friendliness and keen sportmanship. However, it isn’t too difficult to realize that other parts of our country, or even various groups in our own section have no interest whatever in bowling. This is where the individual VFIA member can promote new interests which would have universal appeal, and • their ideas should be sent in to be published in the Verhovay Journal. If the thought of writing an article is frightening, there is always some local “bright lad or lass” who would love the job of publicizing new angles, as nothing offers keener satisfaction to these potential writers than seeing the birth of an idea become REALITY, • A few ideas have been garnered by your Ferret from various branch managers which, with a little change or additions, can be applied to a good majority of our branches. In Chicago, Branch 164 is an older branch which nevertheless takes into consideration the fact that it is composed of members of all ages. They have set aside a fund for the use of their Sportsmen. They send cards to the mothers of servicemen on their birthdays; they send gifts to the boys and girls overseas by having social affairs which are enjoyed by young and old alike. In Detroit, Branch 500 » has a children’s dancing class, which has a wide reputation in Michigan. In South Bend, Indiana, the bowling teams have won city championships. At one' time, Vice-President Albert Ari had the idea of financing Boy Scout Troops throughout the country. This Boy Scout idea would still go over with a little pushing by branch managers, because that kid can hardly wait for the time he is 12 so that he can wear the magnificient uniform. Radio programs by VFIA branches have been talked about which would incorporate talent of all ages. Director Richard Phillips of Detroit has some very unusual ambitions to foster renewed interest in VFIA fraternalism, and your contributor feels that Mr. Phillips should put some of these ideas on paper to see how our membership would react. Not only in social activities is the good branch manager interested. He naturally wants to see his branch grow to satisfying proportions, because it takes more than a handful of people to put over successful affairs. This is where a good deal of understanding from the district manager would promote a greater zeal in securing new members. If there is no cooperation between district and branch managers, both parties loose and interest wanes in branch life. It has been said that all the members of a family should belong to one branch to simplify the payment of dues. This is not conductive to the interest in fraternalism, because how can a teen-ager be expected to attend a strictly older members’ meeting or any social affair, and have what is called a “good time?” I know that is was proven in Branch 429 that a handful of youngsters can put on a banquet for the enjoyment of our elders, but it was because we are given a free hand to use all facilities to the best of our knowledge, and if we didn’t make a colossal fortune, yet we learned the many difficulties which beset the successful completion of such a huge affair. On the other hand, teenagers want modern music, up-tothe-minute entertainment, and if we in the VFIA don’t give it to them, they’ll go where they will get it. Here is where the understanding district and branch managers can co-operate. Put Pop and Mom in the older branch and let the kids join the nearest English speaking branch. A live-wire branch manager will arouse interest in the youngsters, trying to give them WHAT’S THE MATTER WITH MY SICK BENEFIT ? ? WHO’S ANNOYED? Any member or branch-manager who thinks that he is on the receiving end of annoyance, should be invited to take the place of a Supreme Officer or that of one of the harassed employees of the various departments ... He would soon know better. Oh, of course, his face would glow with pride upon reading the many letters reflecting the genuine and unsolicited appreciation and gratitude of their writers who have found the service rendered by the Association to be better than their fondest expectations . . . For, you see, we receive letters of this kind by the dozen but, for some reason or other, we feel that it would not be in good taste to publish them. So they are received with appreciation and they serve to boost the despairing readers’ spirit, for, alas,,, letters of the other kind are received by them, too. Letters that complain about the red-tape,” the “undue” delay, letters the tone of which varies from that of a respectful inquiry to that of a downright threat hinting in no uncertain terms that unless the complaint of the writer is taken care of immediately he will not consider himself a member of the association any more. And reading this type of letters the temporarily elevated member or branch FPC. JULIUS ALEXA Pfc. Julius Alexa is the husband of the former Betty Varga of Harrison City, Pa., and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Alexa of McKeesport, Pa. Both Pfc. Alexa and his wife, are members of Br. 78, Irwin, Pa. — Pfc. Julius Alexa entered the services on February 4th, 1943 and received his basic training at Ft. Geo. G. Meade, Ind., and then was transferred to Camp Croft, So. Carolina, where he is stationed at present as a member of an Infantry Battalion. what they want. If they are satisfied with their first affair, they’ll talk about it to their friends, who in turn will also want to be members of the swell crowd. (Editor’s remark: this is how 395, McKeesport, was born.) I could go on and on, but suppose we hear from other branch managers to see how they manage to keep branch interest alive, yes even in times when the younger element iß off to war. Let’s get down to brass tacks and begin a program which will revive Fraternalism. As I’ve stated repeatedly, our government, big business firms and even individuals are making post-war plans—why not we in the VFIA? It takes time to lay the foundation—let’s begin nov manager would soon find out that the Home Office doesn’t sit on roses either. You understand, of course, that we are talking about Sick Benefits. You see, the Verhovay offers its members all-around protection, life insurance plus sick, accident and maiming benefits. It should be known that our Sick Benefit Department has a booming business, that is, as far as the claims coming in are concerned. There is a big batch received each day . . . sometimes there are only thirty, on “better” days fifty . . . all from members who have been sick for more than a week and claim the benefits to which they are entitled. Contrary opinions notwithstanding, we respectfully insist that sick benefits are paid promptly even though the rush is often overwhelming. However, a certain number of claims cannot be satisfied immediately, and so they are “pending,” an expression which causes the claimant as much annoyance as it does to the Home Office force which has much more work with the claims that have to he delayed than with those that can be satisfied immediately and, therefore, it stands to reason that the Sick Benefit Department would prefer to issue the claimed amount just as much as the claimant would like to receive it. Some managers and a great number of members just can’t understand what it is all about. They gripe about the “red-tape,” complain of being serviced with negligence and of many other things that are easy to write in a letter, but almost impossible to reproduce in print. WHY THE RED TAPE? The question of what “red tape” is, is open to discussion and seems to be a matter of opinion. To cite an example, one manager some time ago notified the Home Office of the death of a member. The Home Office immediately dispatched the necessary forms to be filled out and to be returrted to the Home Office, but, you see, the manager thought that was “red tape,” too. He wrote back in the most indignant tone of voice saying: “Look here, I knew this member since his childhood, I saw him every day, and I also saw him dead. Isn’t that enough for you?” Number 1 “red tape” is that the member has to report his sickness immediately to the branch-manager who, in turn, notifies the Home Office of the sickness of the member. What for? The By-laws are quite explicit about it and so is the Sick Benefit Dept, membership certificate which states that the Association pays sick benefits only for the time of sicknes AFTER the first week (excepting accident claims that are paid from the first day). A member who takes sick on April 2, will be entitled to sick benefits beginning April 9, but if he fails to report his sickness before the 7th of April, then his illness will be counted as having started on that day and, as a result, he will lose 5 days’ sick benefit. There are many resaons why the by-laws stipulate that sick benefits are to begin from the 8th day of illness and it is unnecessary to go into details on that account, for every member of the Sick Benefit Department KNOWS that this is one of the provisions of the Bylaws. It is also clear to everyone that the Supreme Officers cannot ’! chcange the By-laws, because on! the Convention has the legal right to do so and as long as the Bylaws are upheld by the Convention, the Home Ofice is bound to adhere to their provisions. We understand very well that a member may take sick one day and hoping to be better in a day or two, neglects to report his illness. But if a complication sets in, or the illness turns out to be one of a more serious nature than the member hastens to report the illness, BUT, he has lost several days' sick benefit nevertheless. “But don’t you understand .;.?’* —writes the enraged member, and his branch-manager seconds his complaint. But we DO understand. However, if the Home Office starts making exceptions, it will end up» in no time at all by making nothiny but exceptions. If the member’s sickness were not to be reported on the first day» but on any day when it occurs to him to do so, it would be immediately possible for a great number of unconscientious people to file sick-benefit claims on the very day they took ill stating that they have been bedridden already since seven full days. DOCTOR'S REPORT Now the member has to file his sick benefit claim the back part of which has to be filled out by thephysician attending the patient. Here again we are up aganist a difficulty which has increased a great deal lately. Doctors are very busy people and they don’t like tobe held up by such irrelevant things as the completing of a form. Sorry, it can’t be helped. What proof would the Association have of the member’s illness, if a Doctor’s certificate would not be required? After all, it just can’t be questioned that the Asociation must insist on getting some proof, for if it would pay benefits without requiring proof, it would make itself wide open to fraud which, in the long run, would lead to a condition which would make it impossible to satisfy even just claims. Let it be sufficient to say that all insurance organizations require satisfactory proof whenever a claim of any kind is submitted to them and “red tape” will start immediately if the proofs submitted are not satisfactory or not in accordance with the provisions set forth in the policies issued by these organizations. It is important that the Doctor be required to fill in carefully the dates of his visits to the patient. In the case of long illness it is sufficient that proof of continued disability be proved ONCE A MONTH with an M.D. physician’s certificate (By-laws, page 70, paragraph 5) but the weekly visits of the doctor have to be indicated according to the same provisions of the By-laws. There are exceptions to this rule. There are conditions by which the patient is totally disabled but weekly visits by the Doctor are not necessary. In such cases the Doctor himself must indicate on the claim that weekly visits are not necessary. Quite often the physician doesn’t do that but simply indicates the date of the last visit. Since the By-laws stipulate that weekly treatments by the physician are required to make the claim valid, nothing can be done but to issue the benefit for the one week “to which the one visit by the physicians entitles the claimant. Naturally the claimant returns the check with an indignant letter, that his illness caused total dis. ij (Continued on Page 8)
