Verhovayak Lapja, 1946 (29. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)
1946 / Verhovay Journal
Page 6 The Verhovay Album of Branch Managers JOHN OROSZ - BRANCH 152 - EAST PITTSBURGH, PA. East Pittsburgh, approximately 12 miles east of Pittsburgh, is a 100% industrial town whose population depends for its livelihood on the local mammoth plant of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation, employing more than 50,000. * The membership of Branch 152, consisting mostly of Westinghouse employees and their dependents, is served by manager John Orosz, a Westinghouse foreman, employed by the Corporation since 1923. Born in Debrecen, Hungary, ön February 1, 1901, he was brought to the United States at the age of 2, in 1903. He joined the Verhovay at Branch 213, Red Jacket, West Virginia, in 1919, and was branch-comptroller from 1920 to 1921 and recording secretary from 1922 to 1923. Mr. Orosz was elected manager by the membership of Branch 152 in 1932 and has been retained in this position up to this day. He is one of the ever active promoters of Verhovay fraternalism and figuring prominently in several membership contests he won a $25 War Bond in the Founders’ Month Membership Contest in 1945, a typewriter in the Managers’ Contest in the same year and has approximately 200 new members to his credit. In recognition of his outstanding achievements he was elected Convention Delegate by his district and attended the 1943 National Convention. Manager Orosz, a Borough Councilman for the last eight years and comptroller of the East Pittsburgh Hungarian Singing Society, is one of the leading personalities of the community. On November 1, 1930, he married the former Mary Sztojka. They and their 14 year old son, Stephen, reside at 243 Highland Avenue. Branch 152 is bound to develop under the able leadership of Mr. Orosz. The Ferret Sez . . . MiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimmiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiimiimimiiiiijimimiiii (Continued from Page 5) angle (always a happy thought) we have increased our assets by $1,738,887.23 from September 1, 1943 to April 30, 1946, which is the closing month of the current audit. This shows a steady and consistent growth whereby, nonetheless, we haven’t had to stint ourselves in our far-reaching fraternal expenditures. We purchased and dedicated a hospital ship and train to aid our wounded war veterans. To show our sober gratitude to those who gave their lives that we might live in a democratic America, we will have painted and publicly dedicated at great expense one hundred ninety portraits of our beloved heroes. We contributed freely to ease the suffering of our fellow Hungarians in the Mother Country . . . we are giving new life and hope to counties orphans who would other-« Wise perish from this war-torn earth of ours. This year we held a 60th anniversary celebration and building dedication and a bowling tournament was planned and executed to enable our youth to become better acquainted and taste the fruits of that fraternalism which kept our parents from lonely years in their adopted country. We are financing a V. Journal -Which is rapidly attracting nation-wide attention and approval. And last but not least, we have finally realized the dreams of those sincere V. members who have dedicated their valuable time to the purchasing and remodeling of our own office building which today stands as a tribute to sound business management. Many smaller items could be mentioned which has not only aided but given a new lease on life to the less fortunate of our 55,000 members. To accomplish all this was no easy task. There are daily routines which keep the HO at fever-pitch to enable the workers in the field to carry out their duties. Let me give you a few examples of the magnitude of work which these heroic workers have to accomplish daily by answering the many requests which pour in and swamp them like an avalanche rushing down a mountainside. For instance, in the four month period beginning January 1, 1946 and ending April 30, over four thousand checks were issued from the General Disbursement Fund. In addition over fifteen hundred checks were issued from the Sick Benefit Fund taking even more time to figure and execute. Then there are loan checks, Junior Order general disbursements and premium reserves, and checks issued from the Trust Fund, which brings the grand total to nearly seven thousand checks in a four month period. To top this work, there are cash surrenders to figure and changes in certificate rates to be computed. All of these checks have to be typed, signed, posted and mailed. There is a heap of correspondence and statements to answer and approve with more than half of them. Verhovay Journal July 10, 1946 Let’s Found an American Institute in Hungary The story of Emery Csenki, Professor of Music at the College and the University of Debrecen, Hungary, was published in the April 24th issue of the Journal, under the title: “Art, Science Advance Even Amongst Ruins and Death.” It was pointed out in the introduction to the story that notwihstanding the horrible conditions in Hungary, ! there still are men and women • who think and plan beyond their 1 daily needs. Today we are privi! leged to present another story ■ proving that the cultural ambitions of the Hungarian people had not been extinguished by the I horrors of war and the long I period of starvation that follow\ ed. As in Prof. Csenki’s case, the correspondence revealing this story, was sent to us for publication by our esteemed fellow-member, Stephen Huzianyi, Branch 5 03, 2136 North Avers Ave., Chicago, 47, III. Incidentally, the writer of the letters, quoted in the following, is a college-professor, too, whose letters deal with a question that should be of great interest to Americans of Hungarian descent. We certainly hope that the topic of these documents will be given serious con-, sideration by the Verhovay membership. The letters of PROF. EUGENE DÉVAI, however, are highly interesting from more than one point of view. One of them having been written in 1939, and the other two in 1946, they portray conditions in Hungary during both the pre and post war period. At the same time, they reveal the resiliency of the Hungarian spirit persisting in the pursuit of noble endeavours notwithstanding the horrors of the recent past and the seemingly insurmountable difficulties of the present that would tax to the limit the resources of even the most courageous individuals. Then, too, a particularly interesting revelation is found in the letters of Prof. Révai where he writes of his role in the Hungarian army while Hungary was at war with the United Nations. These parts of his letters prove that most of the Hungarians did not willingly fight under the Nazi flag and, even though they wore the enemy’s uniform, they did their utmost, at the risk of their very lives, to counteract the atrocites committed by the Nazis and their satellites. Last, but not least, these letters render some pertinent information as to what happened during the occupation by the liberating armies ... a question, much discussed and beclouded by many rumors among Americans of Hungarian descent. PROF. REVAI’S YOUTH Born at Pecs, he came to America at the age of three, following his father who emigrated nine months before his arrival. He attended P. S. 74 and Stuyvesant High School in New York City, where he was awarded a certificate of merit in English. In 1922 the Révai family returned to Pecs, Hungary. Eugene’s high school credits, however, were not accepted there and he had to start the eight year grammar school'course from the beginning. This was a bitter blow to the highly intelligent and ambitious young man but, undounted, he launched himself upon his task and passed the first four years in a single year. (Continued on Page 7) There are 351 adult and nearly that many junior order branch monthly statements to be made out, arrears written in, and then mailed. Addresses for approximately 20.000 weekly Hungarian issues and 14,000 bi-monthly English issues to Journal readers have to be run off on the addressograph and mailed to the publisher every other week. Changes in address corrections in every mail necessitate making new address plates daily. More than 600 monthly reports pour in at the end of the month along with checks and treasury slips. Sick benefit claims, statements from medical examiners, new applications, and miscellaneous sundry mail oftentimes assume the proportions of gigantic snow-drifts. All of these pieces of mail have to be opened, datestamped and sorted for the various departments. A rough estimate brings the figure close to 12.000 pieces of mail handled three times a day per month. There are many more items which could be mentioned but this should give you some idea of why your many requests aren’t rushed to you the day you expect them. From the income and investment angle we can view still another kaleiodoscopic picture of the mammoth job of our Supreme Office. There are bond interest coupons which have to be clipped and deposited at the banks for collection. Three persons have to be present whenever the vault is opened and this important task concluded. The time spent at the bank on these periodical visits could be spent with other necessary work, but it’s important that interest-bearing coupons reach their destination in time. Our Supreme Treasurer spends many hours pouring over reports from brokers and investment firms. Juggling the various bonds called, and bonds sold at favorable market prices, and then reinvested, involves more of a headache than I’d care to experience. Our bond investments are increasing and the added revenues from these periodical interests build up the assets of the organization, but great care has to be exercised to make the necessary investigations which will assure the organization of successful investing. All this takes hours of time and deep concentration. It is interesting to note that the assets have increased more in the last ten years of business than in the previous fifty odd years. This shows good management and sound investing which after all is the most important of any business concern. In building up the assets of the VFIA, let’s not forget the organizing department. The more than four hundred branch managers, local organizers and district managers faithfully and unselfishly devote untold hours to secure new members, and capably handle the duties of dues’ collections, prepare monthly reports and mail them to the HO. Without their constant eye on promotion of new business, we wouldn’t have sufficient funds to invest and keep up the many thousands of expenditures to maintain a smooth-running office. Let’s pause a moment and let the feel of this tremendous volume of work seep into our brains. The undying appreciation and gratitude of the Supreme Officers and office force would be ours if each and every one of us would co-operate to the fullest extent. Let’s not gripe if we do not get our requests taken care of immediately. Our cooperation in following rules and regulations with relation to our varied demands would ease the work of these worthy anr harrassed toilers who faithfully and unceasingly execute them day in and day out . . . yes, come hot blistering summer heat, frigid winter temperatures, through strikes, food shortages, raging floods and tempestuous tornadoes, and let’s not forget the ever present throat-constricting SMOG of the Smoky City. Our estimable Editor Henry Rettmann periodically begs, pleads, and urgently demands (sometimes with satirical humor) that we read and follow a few important rules which would lighten the load of a group of pretty swell people, who, way down deep, are like the rest of us, demanding and needing the same relaxation and fun we enjoy. Let’s give them a break, they’ll appreciate it! Since this is the first article I am submitting since the current audit, I feel I should mention one of the pleasant happenings which made this particular examination particularly interesting. This is the fact that Supreme Auditor, John Sabo, recently returned from active service in the Pacific, has taken up his duties, which up to this time had been capably administered by Deputy Auditor Emma Phillips Lawrence. Friend Sabo is tackling the job with a pronounced perseverance and seriousness. I mention this fact, since on the rare occasions when he took time from his overburdened tasks, we found him pleasant and co-operatiye and a fine example of what we can expect from those sincere second generation members who are born leaders. Good luck and a great deal of success to you, John. We’ll co-operate as much as possible, here in the field, to enable you to ease up on the sudden strain which has been put *upon you as the first Supreme Officer representing the coming generations. At the same time, let us congratulate the Deputy Auditor for the fine work she has performed in the last two years. With two such fine examples of . what the youngsters can do, we are assured of still greater glory for the Verhovay. . Somehow I can’t close this article without a strong recommendation from your lowly Ferret. Working in the new Home Office is grand, except for one thing on these boiling summer days . . . too much hot and humid air, which can slow down the most ambitious worker. I may be speaking out of turn, but I’d like to go on record and urgently request some form of aircooling system. This would not only be gratifying, but a good investment, as employees who are working under satisfactory conditions always perform their duties with greater agreeableness. I know that everything is being done to rush the completion of remodeling and installation, but this matter is urgent! Thank you all for putting up with the length of this article, but some of these things have been aching to be said.
