Verhovayak Lapja, 1947 (30. évfolyam, 1-24. szám)
1947 / Verhovay Journal
VOL. XXX. AUGUST 13, 1947 51 NO. 15 AUGUST PROCLAIMED MONTH OF VERHOV AY'S BRANCH MANAGERS — A Message From The Supreme President. — The annual observance of the Month of Verhovay’s Branch-Managers in August is one of the fittest traditions of our Association, for it expresses a well deserved appreciation of the loyal and unselfish services rendered by the hundreds of Verhovay branch-managers to this great institution and its membership. By the observance of the Month of Verhovay Branch-Managers the 60,000 members of our Association are reminded of how faithfully these managers are guarding their insurance estates the combined total of which today exceeds Fifty Million Dollars. Ever since the birthday of the Verhovay, when the first $6.50 was placed in its treasury, up to this day, when the ever increasing assets of our Association are nearing the Nine Million Dollar mark, the Branch-Managers have been the builders, promoters and defenders of this great organization. It is only fitting that at least once a year their deeds be remembered with gratitude by the membership to whose protection these Verhovay branch-officers have devoted the best years of their lives. On the other hand, our Branch-Managers, too, have found a way for fittingly observing the month set aside in their honor. Every year in August they have served new' proofs of their great concern for the progress of the Association. Every year, August was the month of the Verhovay harvest in the field. And the many hundreds of new members secured each year during this month by our loyal branch-managers served additional proof that without their efforts the Verhovay could never have attained its present strength. It is, therefore, a great pleasure for me to again proclaim August the Month of Verhovay Branch-Managers. I am urging all members of the Verhovay to remember the deeds and services of their faithful branch-managers and to pay tribute to their devotion to the cause of fraternal protection. I do so in the hope that our managers, too, will lend me their cooperation by so increasing the membership of the Association during this month as to demonstrate the inestimable value and indispensability of their sérvices to the Association and its membership. By observing the Month of Verhovay’s Branch-Managers in the spirit of devotion, mutual appreciation and fraternal service, we will most fittingly prepare ourselves for the approaching National Convention. Fraternally, JOHN BENCZE, Supreme President. Proceedings of the District Meetings DISTRICT 22 COLUMBUS, O. The meeting of District 22 was held at the Verhovay Home of Columbus, O., on June 9th, 1947. Desiderius George President opened the meeting announcing that Branch 129 having attained district status is entitled to elect its own delegate to the National Convention. 2.) Anthony Tankovich was unanimously elected Recording Secretary of the District. 3. ) Manager Mrs. Stephen Paul presents the proposed amendments submitted to the districts by the Board of Directors. President George reads the text of the present By-laws while Mrs. Paul reads the text of the amendments. The recommendations of the Board of Directors are adopted by the district, with the exception of two items. 4. ) The district rejects the recommendation that representation of the membership at the National Convention be limited to one delegate for every 500 members. The district feels that this limitation would discourage participation in the promotional activities of the Association because several districts would be deprived of the results of their labors. The recommended limitation of representation at the district meetings to branches having at least 25 (instead of 15) members also is objected to on the ground that the smaller branches would be deprived, thereby, of their privileges. 5.) Mrs. Stephen Paul was elected delegate to the National Convention and Desiderius George alternate delegate. The expenses of the meeting totalled $12. — Signed by: ANTHONY TANKOVICH, Recorder. DISTRICT 10 YATESBORO, PÄ. The meeting was held at the Verhovay Home of Branch 88 in Yatesboro, Pa., on June 15th, 1947. The meeting was called to order by Charles Lukacs of Branch 247, who was elected District President. Alexander Chobody of Branch 88 was elected recording secretary. The following presented their credentials: Charles Lukacs and Frank Gaydos of Br. 247. Clune, Pa.; Joseph Kantor and Julius Grajczar of Branch 172, Leechburg, Pa.; Samuel Naypayer and Alexander Chobody of Br. 88, Yatesboro, Pa.; Stephen Csernai of Branch 196, Sagamore, Pa.; Emery Prokay of Br. 143, Punxsutawney, Pa.; John Szenyő of Br. 218, Luzerne Mines, Pa.; John A. Kovach of Br. M.54, Yatesboro, Pa.; Julius Sipos of Br. M.86, Homer City, Pa.; John Galo of Br. M.142 and Paul Obuszt of Br. M.84, Homer City, Pa. Branches 128 and 182 were not represented. The reading and approval of the Minutes of the last meeting was followed by the discussion of the proposed amendments of the Bylaws. The following actions were taken: §3 (Representation) shall remain unchanged. — The proposed insertion of the text; “Members of the Board of Directors and the Auditing Committee are not eligible as delegates to the National Convention” is approved. — Paragraphs 6 and 7 shall remain unchanged. — Paragraph 8 shall be amended to read: “All active branches are entitled to representation at the district meetings,” — The provision that new branches may be organized upon request by 15 members shall remain unchanged. The circular letter of Branch 14 was read and adopted by the meeting. District 10 requests the increasing of childbirth benefits from $15 to $25. Suh action would prove effective advertisement and encourage the solicitation of applications in behalf of infants. Julius Sipos, delegate of Branch M. 86, moves that a “get-acquainted” picnic be held by district 10. The motion is carried. The following were eleted ijelegates to the National Convention: Joseph Kantor of Branch 172 and Alexander Chobody of Branch 88. Alternate delegates: Stephen Continued on page 2 Frankly Speaking . . . — A delegate appeals to the Convention. — Only a few weeks separate us from September 8th, the day on which the Verhovay National Convention is to commence in Pittsburgh. All of us who are sincerely interested in the welfare of our Association, read the Proceedings of the District Meetings appearing in the Journal with the greatest concern and attention. Frankly speaking, I cannot find much pleasure in reading these minutes, because most of them contain hardly anything else but the report that the circular letter of Cleveland Branch 14 had been discussed and adopted. Only a few of these minutes reveal the traces of original thinking and constructive proposals developed by delegates intent upon assuring the future progress and expansion of our Association. Most of the minutes contain hardly any practical suggestions as to how savings could be effected without obstructing the advancement of our organization. I will probably be stoned for speaking my mind, yet I feel that these things must be said. If there is to be any talk about cutting expenses, it is up to us, the delegates of the National Convention, to make a beginning by completing our task in one week instead of spending the customary two weeks in Pittsburgh. And if we are sincere in our good will and concern for the welfare of the Association, we can do it — easily. Our American fellow-fraternalists are unable to comprehend why we, Americans of Hungarian descent, need two weeks for a task which is completed in 3-4 days, or at most in a week, by organizations ten times as large as the Verhovay. Truthfully, I blushed when I overheard the remark of an employer who said: “These Hungarians must have very little intelligence that they need two weeks for their Convention . . .” I want to be very frank when relating my own experiences. I was present at the Convention in 1939 when a great deal of gibbering was done. That, however, was nothing compared to what happened in 1943. That Convention, too, was planned to last one week only, but we could thank our lucky stars that it wasn’t dragged into the third week. Those of us who had been there are still saddened by remembering the pandemonium into which the Convention developed toward the end, and how the fellow-delegates threw the money around without ever stopping to ask whether or not there was any justification for some of the appropriations ... I am still saddened by those memories . . . I know very well that the Convention can be shortened only if the delegates will be paid a flat fee instead of per diem fees. I also know that in such case the Convention would be over within a week. Hundred dollars, or, at the most, Hundred Fifty, would be sufficient to make sure that the greater part of the Convention’s time will not be wasted with useless jabbering. What necessity is there for the appointment of various committees? If I remember correctly, some 150 delegates will attend this Convention. If ten committees are appointed, there will be 15 delegates in each of them. How can 15 delegates examine or settle anything? And even if they could do it, will the Convention not have to go all over the entire procedure? Let’s recall what they did at the last Convention. The Financial Committee occupied itself with trying to find out how much the organizers had earned. The Organizing Committee’s task consisted in trying to squeeze as much money as possible from the treasury for the branches. The Committee of Amendments debated matters which shouldn’t have been brought up, because regardless of the merits of any recomendation it could not be adopted if it was contrary to the statutes and laws. In my opinion, there is no need for any committees. But if we must persist in our old customs, then let us appoint these committees for a definitely limited time in order that the Convention may not be held up because of one committee. We may even decide that the Committees shall meet Monday evening and on Tuesday, when they may debate and examine all through the night if they feel lik it, but the plenary meeting" must commence on Wednesday morning. Because: if the Committees insist on conducting extensive investigations, what need is there for the Board of Directors, the Auditing Committee, the Certified Public Accountant and the auditors of the Insurance Department? If we will not recognize the findings of the Auditing Committee, the Certified Public Accountant and the Insurance Department, then why do we recognize the findings of a Committee of delegates? After all, who will supervise and investigate their work ? Let us frankly admit that there always have been and always will be so-called “old fighters” among our delegates who would be happy to meet for even four or five weeks. This, however, does not mean that the majority of the delegates must yield to the very insignificant minority. We, too, will have to grow up once, and prove our ability to settle the business of our Association within a week, lest we will be rightfully suspected of lacking intelligence, experience and the ability to govern our Association. And if we again insist (Continued on page 2.)
