Verhovayak Lapja, 1945 (28. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)

1945 / Verhovay Journal

Page 6

Verhovay Journal

October 10, 1945

Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting

MINUTES, taken at the regular semi-annual meeting of the Board of Directors of the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association, held on Monday, September 17th, 1945, and the following days, at the Hotel Pittsburgher, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Present are: John Bencze, Supreme President, Joseph Szalay and Albert B. Ari, Vice-presidents, Frank Brogley, Andrew Dobos, Aloysius Falussy, John P. Kelemen, John Korosfoy, Julius Macker, Joseph H. Prince, M. D., Joseph Turner, Louis Vizi, Directors, and Ernest Kunstadt, chairman, Jolán Lucas, secretary and Alexander Nyirati, members of the Auditing Committee.

1. ) Supreme President. John Bencze extends his warm greetings to the Board of Directors and the members of the Auditing Committee. He expresses his deep joy over the fact that this meeting is being held after the war ended, thanks to the glorious military Victories of the United Nations, We, Americans, were spared the horrors of war which we could realize only by witnessing the sorrow of those who had given up their most precious possessions, their sons and daughters, for the defense of our country. Deep anxiety fills our hearts, however, for our folks in Hungary whose tragic fate demands that we do everything in our power for the success of the Relief-movement. Our people in Hungary’s uplands face the horrors of despair —we must come to their aid.

The Supreme President calls the Board’s attention to the approaching sixtieth anniversary of the Association and reports that we will be able to celebrate the occasion in our own Home Office Building.

He pays tribute to the late Joseph Bumbulucz, former chairman of the Auditing Committee whose sudden death was a great shock to all. The Board of Directors reverently rise in memory of this loyal officer of the Association.

The Supreme President announces that the vacancy in the Auditing Committee was filled by alternate Alexander Nyirati who was summoned to the Home Office as the new member of the Committee. He also states that, since the Committee is conducting the regular audit, an invitation was extended to its members to attend the opening session of the Board-meeting.

fie requests that the members of the Board of Directors lend their full attention and cooperation to the various matters to be presented in the course of the meeting.

2. ) The Supreme Secretary reports that director Richard Phillips informed him of being unable to attend the meeting, due to his pressing duties. Vice- President Joseph Szalay wired that he could arrive only in the afternoon. The excuses of both were accepted.

3. ) The Board discusses the statements made by the Supreme President in his opening address, in reference to the fate of the Hungarians in Czechoslovakia, the former uplands of Hungary, and passes and orders the publication of the following resolution:

4. ) ‘ WHEREAS the Board of Directors of the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association is* deeply shocked and provoked upon hearing of the decision of Czechoslovakia’s provisional government, and its President, concerning the planned ejection of the Hungarian population inhabiting the territory along the borderline fixed by the Trianon Treaty, and

“WHEREAS such decision violates the provisions of international law, and involves the complete repudiation of the most sacred human rights and the unreserved renunciation of the principle of self-determination, and

“WHEREAS, in view of these facts, duty compels the Board to protest in behalf of the 53,000 members of the Association and in the interest of more than half a million Hungarians in Czechoslovakia,

“THEREFORE, The Board of Directors of the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association unanimously adopts the following Resolution:

“We, the Verhovay Fraternal Association, representing 53,000 American citizens of Hungarian origin, solemnly protest against the barbaric treatment of our Hungarian kin by the government of Czechoslovakia.

That government proposes to eject hundredthousands of Hungarians, born there, whose ancestors have inhabited the Uplands for a thousand years. They have committed no crime except that of having been born as Hungarians, yet the Government of Czechoslovakia plans to disposses and transfer them from their Godgiven home-land to impoverished Hungary where nothing but destitution awaits them. This plan is an insult to democracy for which millions have given their lives during the war just concluded.

Such procedure, being contrary to the principle of self-determination and to the war-aims of the United States, will cause rightful embitterment and, Ultimately, lead to world-wide upheaval. In the interest of a lasting peace, we respectfully appeal to the President of the United States to prevent, by making full use of the authority of our government, the execution of this plan which, in its brutal disregard for all human rights, reveals the minds of those who conceived it as being fully obsessed of the ideology of Nazism.

Six thousand soldiers from our Association have fought and, among them, onehundredeightyone had died not only in order to defend and preserve our liberties, but also to secure for all people, including the more than half a million Hungarians in Czechoslovakia, the undisturbed enjoyment of all the blessings of human freedom.

5. ) The Board of Directors orders that a copy of this Resolution be sent to each of the following:

The President of the United States,

The Secretary of State.

All Senators and Congressmen of the United States

and

All editors of well known daily newspapers published in the United States of America.”

6. ) The Board adopts the schedule for the meeting as prepared by the Supreme Officers.

7. ) The Board hears the report of the Supreme Officers and adopts same for detailed discussion.

8. ) The Board acknowledges with sincere appreciation the greetings and best wishes of the following:

Ernest Palos, Steven Lukacs and Nicholas Takacs, of Detroit, Mich., whose greetings were conveyed by director Julius Macker;

the Officers of Branch 129, Columbus, Ö., whose regards were conveyed by director Andrew Dobos;

Frank Molnár, of Branch 417, Trenton, N. J., as conveyed by Vice-president Albert B. Ari;

Izsó Székely, Director of the “Amerikai Magyar Népszava”, who personally expresses his best wishes;

William Fejfar, of Branch 164, Chicago, 111., George Modok, manager of Branch 33, Windber, Pa., and Joseph Subits, former District Manager, who sent their regards by letters.

9. ) The Board of Directors sincerely appreciates the letter of Supreme Auditor, Pfc. John 'Sabo, Jr., U.S.M.C., which brought his greetings to the Board from an island somewhere in the Pacific. The Board hopes that he, having fulfilled his patriotic duty, may return soon, and assume the responsibilities of his office.

10. ) The Supreme Secretary reports that the lease of the Home Office terminates as of December 31st, 1945 and that immediate action must be taken to renew the contract.

The Board authorizes the Home Office to arrange for the renewal of the lease, if necessary, up to April ’30, 1946.

11. ) John Korosfoy personally conveys to the Board the invitation of the Branches 189 and 369, Alliance,

O., to a celebration which will be held on Thursday, September 20. The Verhovay Home of Alliance, O., has satisfied its mortgage and desires the presence of the Board at the mortgage-burning ceremonies.

The Board appreciates the invitation and decides to attend the celebration in a body. It also decides to make up for the loss of time, caused by this trip, by prolonging the sessions of the Board.

12. ) The Board, upon requests—which fully comply with the rules pertaining to these matters—awards the “Acknowledged” title, the Verhovay Silver Medal and the Verhovay citation to the following members who had earned this recognition by having secured many new members for the Association:

Emery Sera of Branch 189,

Mike Buzogány of Branch 369,

John Korosfoy of Branch 369.

The Board requests the Supreme Secretary to have the citations and medals made immediately, as the Board of Directors desires to present these awards when visiting Alliance.

13. ) The Board gladly complies with the request of Branch 278, Omaha, Nebr., awarding the “Acknowledged” title, the Verhovay Medal and citation to Frank Boros, treasurer of Branch 278 for more than 15 consecutive years,

and to Andrew Kovalik, who served the interests of the same Branch, and its membership, in various offices for more than 25 years.

14. ) Upon recommendation by director Louis Vizi the Board awards the ‘'Acknowledged” title, the Verhovay Silver Medal and Citation to Louis Szabó, officer of Branch 8, Johnstown, Pa., for more than 15 consecutive years.

15.) The “Acknowledged” title, the Silver Medal and the Citation is awarded by the Board to Frank Ringhoffer, former manager of Branch 176, Roebling, N. J„ in appreciation of his valuable services as branchmanager for 15 years and as officer of his branch for more than a quarter of a century.

16. ) The Board amends the rules pertaining to the conditions of awarding the “Verhovay Acknowledged” title as follows: “Hereafter all branch-officers shall be eligible to receive this award, who have served in one branch for 15 consecutive years, or, intermittently, in various capacities, for 25 years in any number of branches.

17. ) The Board, commencing the customary examination of the Home Office, divides into the following Committees:

a. ) House Committee: Ari, Brogley, Macker.

b. ) Committee examining the Investments: Kelemen, Falussy.

c. ) Committee examining the books and issues: Dobos, Vizi, Szalay.

d. ) Organizing Committee: Dr. Prince, Turner, Korosfoy.

Until the completion of the examinations the meeting is adjourned by the Supreme President.

The examinations having been completed the meeting is called to order.

✓ y

18. ) The Committee examining the books and issues—Szalay, Dobos and Vizi—report that the following issues had been checked and found correct:

Senior Department: 120026 —471—486—599—600— 693—762—795—954 121014—015—373—387—393—518—

548—825—827—860 122280—295—361—384—851—878—

K. 5693, K. 5709, B. 809011—971.

Juvenile Department: 15069—205—202—276—378—*

429.

Trust Fund: 3255—271—280—286—293—296 3300— 307—3317.

The documents of the following lapsed members have also been reviewed: 128828, 130959, 131509, 131992, 132575. It was established that the Home Office acted in accordance with the By-Laws in lapsing these certificates.

The Committee also examined the individual bills pertaining to the Organizing Department and found them in order.

The report is approved and adopted by the Board.

19. ) The members of the Investment Committee, Falussy and Kelemen, report that the investments had been handled with discernment, expertly and circumspectly, in accordance with the rules and the instructions given by the Board of Directors.

The report is approved and adopted by the Board.

20. ) The members of the Organizing Committee, Dr. Prince, Turner, Korosfoy, report that the results of the organizing activities had been studied and that it was found that the instructions of the Board of Directors pertaining to these matters had been executed.

The report is approved and adopted by the Board.

Upon recommendation by the Organizing Committe the Board orders that the educational-loan privilege be given greater publicity in the official Journal and that the list of those fellow-members who enjoyed these benefits, also be published.

21. ) The Board hears the detailed report and the recommendations of the members of the House Committee—Ari, Brogley and Macker—pertaining to the remodeling of the new Home Office building, now in progress, and approves the recommended alterations.

In accordance with the recommendations submitted by the House Committee the Board empowers the Supreme Officers to effect changes pertaining to the building-contractors’ estimates on their own authority, if necessary.

22. ) Director Macker reports on the matter of fhe Detroit Home and Vice-President Szalay on the Home in Cleveland.

Both reports are acknowledged and approved by the Board.

23. ) The Board considers the matter of the House- Committee of the Verhovay Home owned by Branch 34, Pittsburgh, Pa. The House-Committee did not adhere to the Board’s decision according to which the Home was to be managed by a joint Committee elected resp. by, the meeting of Branch 34 and that of the social members. The Supreme President, therefore, started disciplinary procedure against the House-Committee elected by the meeting of the social members. At the investigation, preceding the disciplinary procedure, some members of the House-Committee refused to testify. The testimonies taken at these hearings are laid before the Board for further action.

On the basis of the minutes and testimonies taken at the investigation, the Board of Directors, as tribunal of original jurisdiction, makes the following decision:

“The present House-Committee is suspended by the Board, effective immediately. The management of the Home shall be taken over by the House-Committee elected by the meeting of Branch 34. In the event the (Continued on Page 7)