Verhovayak Lapja, 1945 (28. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)
1945 / Verhovay Journal
Pag« 2 Verhovay Journal November 28, 1945 Success Indicated by Mounting Interest In 60th Anniversary Contest (Continued from Page 1) awarded to fellow-members who write 20,000 to 50,00 new insurance. In other words, the maximum award, $50 in cash (or a portable typewriter) and the trip to Pittsburgh, including all expenses incidental to travel and stay, goes to contestants whose production reaches the top with writing $50,000, or more, new insurance. RESULTS AS OF NOVEMBER 15, 1945 240 membership certificates had been issued during the month of October. (The report on new members lists 271... this includes October issues approved in the first week of November.) Up to November 15 a total of 394 membership certificates were issued. The first half of November, therefore, shows a definite improvement in comparison with the October production. Since then the volume of applications received by the Home Office has steadily increased. DURING THE LAST FOUR DAYS WE RECEIVED 100 APPLICATIONS! This explains the title of our report: “Success indicated by mounting interest in 60th Anniversary Contest.” MORE BRANCHES HEED APPEAL FOR PARTICIPATION In the last issue of the Journal 96 branches were reported as having entered the Contest during the month of October. Saddened by the fact that only one-fourth of all branches joined the campaign, a circular letter was sent to all branch-managers with a fervent appeal for greater cooperation. An instantaneous response brought great encouragement to the Home Office. By November 15 the number of participating branches increased to 130 and. judging from the applications that had been received since that date, we can safely write that by now 150 branches entered the contest. More than 50 branches have joined the drive since the end of November so that now more than one-third of our branches are cooperating with this movement. In other words, 38% of the branches are represented up to this time as against 25% by the end of October. BUT WE STILL HAVEN’T HEARD FROM 62% OF OUR BRANCHES! Again we appeal to the officers and members of all branches to take this matter up at the December meeting. In most branches, this is going to be the annual meeting which will be attended by more than the average number of members. The anniversary contest should be scheduled for the order of that meeting. The manager should make a report on his efforts. And if the manager could not participate in the contest, one or more members should be elected by the meeting. These members should receive the wholehearted cooperation of the membership of the branch appointing them contestants. Every member should be willing to introduce these contestants to his family, to his friends and acquaintances and assist him in securing new members for the Verhovay! After the conclusion of the Contest a full report will be published, including the list of all winners, their production, hut also the number and location of each and every branch regardless of whether or not any new members were secured by its ex-officio or not ex-officio contestants. As far as public reaction is concerned, such branches will be taken as inactive branches and their list will be considered a BLACK-LIST regardless of whether or not their inactivity was justified. LET’S MAKE SURE THAT WE WON’T HAVE TO PUBLISH A BLACK LIST AT ALL . . . THERE SHOULDN’T BE ONE BRANCH WHICH WOULDN’T SECURE AT LEAST A FEW NEW MEMBERS! Howling Teams, Attention! CHALLENGES INVITED BY TEAMS OF BRANCH 366, CLEVELAND, OHIO Now that the war is over and travel restrictions are relaxed, Branch 366 of Cleveland, Ohio, would like to arrange a bowling match with another branch. We have about twelve male members now who maintain averages in other leagues. We have, also, six ladies in the same category. Several of our male members have served our country With distinction. The Verhovay in Cleveland does not maintain a Verhovay league—to our eternal shame . , . and so, we who aspire to bowl, must go elsewhere. To be frank about it, I’ll say this much: our first teams should average about 800 per game, our second 750 per game and our ladies’ team 600. I believe, the last time we bowled an inter-city match, we met the team of Beaver Falls, Pa., here in Cleveland and if I am not mistaken, they won the match. So, I should think, they owe us a return engagement. All communications pertaining to a bowling match should be addressed to Joseph Horvath, c/o Verhovay Home, 8637 Buckeye Road, Cleveland, Ohio. Time and date of any match that may be arranged for, will be presented to our bowling team first and then, letter of acceptance or challenge will be issued. Trusting that this meets with the approval of our future opponents, I remain Fraternally Jos. J. Horvath, member of Branch 366, 2920 East 116th St., Cleveland, O. HISTORY OF BRANCH 443 PRESENTED AT TENTH ANNIVERSARY MEETING DETROIT, MICH. NOV. 5, 1945. The tenth anniversary of the founding of Branch 443, Detroit, Mich., was observed at the last monthly meeting of this branch when a responsive group of members gathered to hear the story of the founding and progress of 443. Branch-president Nicholas Toth opened the meeting and requested Branch-manager Joseph Szabó to read the history of the 10 year old lodge. A translation of the story, as presented by manager Joseph Szabó, follows: “Branch 443 was organized on November 7th, 1935, as a result of the efforts of fellow-member Nicholas Letenyei. The first meeting was held in the hall of the New Hungarian Reformed Church and Branch 443 was organized with 30 adult and 15 Juvenile members. Thus a new shoot liHth 45 members sprang from the mightly three of the Verhovay which grew and developed for ten years until it became itself like a mighty oak.... a strong branch of the great Association. The first meeting was attended by Joseph Darago, then Supreme President of the Verhovay F. I. Association, Joseph Letenyei, then President of Branch 36, Alexander Gyulay, former manager of the Detroit District, and fellow-member Alexander Marcis. The following officers were elected: Coloman Toth, branchpresident, Desiderius Kozma, branch-secretary and Michael Andre, recording secretary. Due to differences that arose between the membership of the new branch and its manager, Desiderius Kozma, the latter was obliged to resign in June 1936, and District Manager A. Gyulay appointed fellow-member Joseph Laczo his successor. The appointment was confirmed by the members of Branch 443, when he was elected secretary which position he retained until December 31, 1938. Outstanding event of that year was the merger of the First Hungarian Young Peoples Society of Detroit with Branch 443, which took place in July, after the conclusion of negotiations ivith the Home Office. Frank Ritecz was elected branch-secretary for the year 1939. He served until the end of the year and later transferred to Branch 36. , At the end of that year Joseph Szabó was elected branch-secretary. Since then he was reelected every year by the membership of the branch. From the very beginning the branch showed good progress. By the end of 1939 it had 279 members, 169 in the Senior and 110 in the Juvenile Order. Then began a new era of rarely paralleled advancement. The membership increased by leaps and bounds. In 1943 the branch attained District-status which means that it had more than 300 adult members arid at the present time Branch 443 consists of 504 adult and 174 juvenile members, or a total of 678 members. (EDITOR’S NOTE: This means a net increase of 66 members per annum! Branch-managers, please copy!) The financial status of the branch improved in similar manner. On December 31, 1939, the assets of the■ branch amounted to $169.83. At the present the branch has $1,177.02 in cash while more than $600 were spent since 1940 for the up-keep of the branch. During these ten years the branch made itself an excellent record in the field of fraternal benevolence. BRANCH 443 WAS THE FIRST TO START A RELIEF CAMPAIGN FOR THE IMPOVERISHED PEOPLE OF HUNGARY, WAY BEFORE THE AMERICAN HUNGARIAN RELIEF, INC. WAS ORGANIZED. $250 had been contributed by the membership of this branch up to the present time. A Veteran’s Fund was set up by the Branch with a capital of $100 issued from the branchtreasury, to which Joseph Szabó, manager, contributed $10. The high-light of this year’s activities was the organizing of the bowling teams of Branch 443 prides itself on 2 men’s and 2 ladies’ teams. In conclusion I want to express my appreciation to all fellow-membérs who have assisted the managers of this branch during the ten years of its "existence. Their cooperation was instrumental in the progress attained by this branch. And now permit me to call your attention to the Anniversary Contest which is conducted by the Home Office of our Association. Everybody needs life-insurance. Nowadays, life insurance is as important as our daily bread, and you can’t buy insurance on more favorable terms than offered by the Verhovay. Let me also express by appreciation of the greetings extended by the Home Office of the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association and the greetings sent by Branch 429, the Lutheran Society and the Detroit News.” The report was warmly received by the members of the branch and congratulations were extended to Joseph Szabó, manager of Blanch 443, whose leadership and untiring efforts resulted in such marvellous advancement and success. After president Toth concluded the meeting, refreshments were served and the members spent an enjoyable social afternoon. Congratulations to Branch 443 ' and its able officers! .. Frank Ringhoffer Honored by Board of Directors Frank Ringhoffer, former manager, and for more than 15 years officer, of Branch 176, Roebling, N. J., was awarded the Verhovay Medal, the Acknowledged title and the Verhovay citation by the Board of Directors. Presentation was made by Vice-President Albert B. Ari at the last meeting of the branch which was attended by an unusually great number of members. The meeting was scheduled to start at two o’clock, however, due to the funeral of a former fellow-member having been scheduled for that time, the members were somewhat late. Nevertheless, at 3 PM branch-president Mr. Nemeth called the meeting to order and extended his greetings, in behalf of - the membership of the branch, to Vice-president Albert B. Ari who, in turn, delivered a stirring address. “Dear Officers and fellowmembers—said Mr. Ari—we all know how great advances our Association has made during the last ten years. In 1935 the Verhovay had 27,000 members and its assets amounted to less than three million dollars. Now we have cause to rejoice over the fact that our membership has grown to 53,000 and our assets increased to more than seven million dollars. For this progress credit is due to those fellowmembers who dedicated their free time to the promotion of the Association. They are the pillars of our society. We also owe recognition to the branch officers who took active part in the life of their branches, directing, planning and supervising all the branch-activities, always determined to keep their branches on the road of progress. Their services are invaluable for we all realize that a branch-officer can successfully discharge his duties only if he has endless courage and unlimited persistence. During the last ten years more new members had been received into the Verhovay family than during the 49 years that preceded this immensely successful decade. Thus, new blood was injected into the body of our organization yet, we must admit, that there are few who are willing to join the ranks of the co-workers and do their share for the further growth of the Association. That is regrettable for in working for the further advance of our society, great opportunities for social service are offered which anyone could take advantage of as no special abilities, not even the qualities of leadership, are required in this particular field. Frank Ringhoffer is one of those co-workers who had worked loyally for many years, serving the membership of his branch as well as his Association. While others enjoyed the happiness of their homes, he was willing to forego the serene peace of evenings spent with his family and devoted his time to the service of his fellow-men. There came a time when Branch 176 was obliged to suspend activities but Frank Ringhoffer always remained on duty. He went after the members, travelled the countryside to visit them and, by his untiring efforts, served them with such efficiency that none of them was lost to the Verhovay, nor did anyone ever lose any of the benefits to which he was entitled as a member of our Association. It is a great pleasure, therefore, to express to you, fellowmember Frank Ringhoffer, the sincere gratitude of the Association, its officers and the members of the Board of Directors. As a token of their appreciation I present you with this Medal and the Citation by which you are made x an “Acknowledged” member of the Verhovay whose (Continued on Page 3)
