Verhovayak Lapja, 1947 (30. évfolyam, 1-24. szám)
1947 / Verhovay Journal
VOLUME XXX SEPTEMBER 24, 1947 51 NO. 18 THE CONVENTION STORY — A day-by-day account of Verhovay’s XXI. National Convention — Monday, September 8th! This is the day! The long awaited day of the opening of Verhovay’s XXI. National Convention! Who could describe the anticipation with which this great event is greeted by the officers, workers and employees of the Association?! Who could recount all the efforts that went into its preparation ?! How could anyone begin to tell of the endless studies, innumerable sessions, discussions, days and nights of intensive concentration, out of which the plans, recommendations and reports to be presented to this assembly have emerged ?! The 15 page report of the Board of Director's, the voluminous report of the Certified Public Accountant, the summary report by the Auditing Committee, the innumerable tables and schedules of the Actuary reveal only the results of the Association’s management, but little of the efforts of the directors, auditors, officers, employees and field-workers who since the middle of 1943 have brought forth such results as: Increase in assets §3,086,740.03 Yield on investments: over 3% Substantial improvement of the quality of securities, effected by transactions in excess of 12 million dollars The merger with the Workingmen’s Sick Benefit Federation A membership increase of 10,761, representing a net gain of 21.4% over that recorded at the last Convention The acquisition and completion of the Verhovay Building at the total cost of $136,584.49, an investment yielding 13.05% during the last three years and five months $1,424,343.14 paid in death benefits after 1569 adult and 78 juvenile members who had died during the last four years $512,801.13 paid in sick benefits during the same period $90,222.80 paid in dividends and $85,365.76 donated toward the support of needy members and various fraternal causes the opening of the field in California where the Verhovay today has 554 members in four branches (including one of the merged branches of the former Workingmen’s Sick Benefit Federation), and many other accomplishments. 148 representatives had been delegated to the National Convention by the 60,000 members of the Association. These delegates, the officers of the Association, the members of the Board of Directors and the Auditing Committee, the hostesses and the newspapermen made an impressive crowd in the lobby of Hotel Fort Pitt. All of them Americans of Hungarian descent, from 17 states of the Union, from all walks of life, united for this great event by the bond of Verhovay fraternalism! The opining session. At 9 o’clock in the morning the doors to the air-conditioned, huge English Room are opened. The delegates are seated in groups around large tables, filling the hall to capacity. A series of 12 portraits of hero dead Verhovayans, recently completed, beautifully decorated with streamers, had been placed alongside the walls, giving a solemn effect, hightened by indirect lighting, to the assembly room. Soon the supreme officers, directors and the members of the auditing committee enter and proceed to the speakers’ long table, placed in the length of the main wall facing the entrance. The assembly arises to sing the National Anthem and, then, Supreme President John Bencze addresses the delegates and guests. He recalls the last National Convention which was held in the second year of World War II . . . He remembers the 190 members of the Association, who had made the supreme sacrifice . . . the 1,647 members of the Association who had died during- the quadriennium . . . the two officers who had gone with them: Joseph Bumbulucz, member of the Auditing Committee, and Frank Brogley, director . . . The assembly arises in silent tribute to the“ me-' mory of the deceased Verhovayans, and, then, Mr. Bencze speaks of the disappointing peace that has followed the agonies of war, and the difficulties that the Association had to face during the last four years... Still, much has been accomplished, so much so, that this quadriennium has been one of the most successful periods in the history of our Association ... He concludes with announcing the merger of the Workingmen’s Sick Benefit Federation with the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association, and calls the XXI. National Convention of the Verhovay to order . . . Vice-President Albert B. Ari welcomes and introduces Deputy Insurance Commissioner Oscar Kottler who conveys the greetings and good wishes of Insurance Commissioner James Malone who planned to attend the opening session but, to his great regret, was detained. He comments on the progress made by the Association and endorses the recommendations to be presented to the assembly by the officers and the actuary of the Verhovay. Vice-President Ári thanks the Deputy Insurance Commissioner for the honor of his presence at the opening session and his friendly message to the delegates. Mr. Kottler leaves the floor and Mr. Bencze requests the delegates to present their credentials. The Committee of Attendance. Supreme Secretary Coloman Révész reads the roll of representatives while four directors on the floor collect the credentials of the delegates called. Mr. Bencze appoints a Committee of Attendance consisting of five representatives who are charged with the examination of the credentials. The Committee withdraws and, until their return, the meeting adjourns. The Committee of Attendance, headed by chairman Augustus Habodasz, returns an hour and a half later. The meeting is called to order and William Kohut, recording secretary of the committee, reads the report according to which the credentials of all of the delegates had been found in order. The Committee studied also, the appeals of those representatives whose election had been contested by the Home Office and invalidated by the Board of directors. The Committee upholds the Board of Directors in every instance. Obviously, the delegates are unwilling to adopt the findings of the Board without a challenge. Several speakers from the floor demand that a full report be rendered as to the reasons because of which some delegates were to be excluded from the body. Others demand that these challenged delegates be given an opportunity to present their appeals to the assembly. Supreme President Bencze points out that these matters had never been discussed by the entire body. The proper procedure is to elect a Committee of "Appeals to which all representatives, - dissatisfied with the decision of the Committee of Attendance, may appeal. Mr. Revesz explains that it is the duty of the Home Office to uphold the By-laws. The Home Office, and upon appeal, the Board of Directors, and upon second appeal, the Committee of Attendance were led solely by the By-laws when refusing to ratify the elections of the challenged representatives. The Supreme President, finally, announces that no further steps can be taken before the election of the officers of the National Convention. .This settles the issue — for the time being . . . Election of the President. The Supreme President calls for nominations from the floor. Rezső Geller, Stephen Lang, Moses Bokor, John Bozsvay and Coloman Kolozsvary are nominated in quick succession. The body having 186 votes, 84 votes would constitute a majority on the first ballot. None of the nominees receive the required number of votes. Moses Bokor is in the lead with 53 votes, followed by Coloman Kolozsvary who received 50 votes. (Incidentally, John Bozsvay resigned, before the casting of the first ballot, in favor of Mr. Kolozsvary.) Mr. Kolozsvary emerges with a great majority from the second ballot. He receives 92 votes against Bokor Moses who was given 67 votes. Coloman Kolozsvary, of Branch 14, Cleveland, Ohio, is declared the duly elected chairman of the XXI. National Convention. A tremendous ovation greets the popular gentleman and, then, the meeting adjourns for the lunch period. Election of Vice-che/rman. Chairman Coloman Kolozsvary calls the meeting to order after lunch and, thanking the delegates for their confidence, promises to impartially and firmly conduct the I Convention. He calls for nominations ! for the first vice-chairmanship. First the unanimous election of Moses Bokor is proposed by several delegates. Then the nominations of Emery Siket and Stephen Lang are entered. Both decline the nominations in favor of Mr. Bokor who is unanimously elected. Mr. Bokor is from Aliquippa where he had been manager of the local branch for many years. This Branch is now managed by Miss Olga Bokor who recently has joined the Home Office force, (a charming and efficient addition, indeed!) The second vice-chairman customarily is elected from among the second generation delegates. Bill Kohut, Charlie Young, Mike Korossy, Joe Taylor and Albert Ibos were no‘ minated. Charlie Y’oung, manager of Branch 383, Buffalo, N. Y., having received the majority, is declared duly elected second vice-chairman of the Convention. Both vice-chairmen assume their offices and extend their thanks to the delegates for their confidence. Election of the Recording Secretary. Chairman Kolozsvary calls for nominations for the most difficult job of the Convention, that of the recording secretary. Mrs. Stephen Paul, Bertram Kun, Andrew Tyukody and Charles Uray are nominated from the floor. Mesrrs. Kun and Tyukody decline their nominations and the election is held between Mrs. Paul and Mr. Uray. The latter receiving the highept number of votes is declared the duly elected recording secretary. Mr. Uray the representative of Branch 108, Youngstown, O., expresses his appreciation of the honor accorded to him and takes his place in front of the speaker’s table. The Representatives of the Hungarian Press. Before proceeding with the business of the Convention, chairman Kolozsvary introduces the representatives of the American Hungarian Press, attending the National Convention. A warm reception is accorded to the following editors and representatives: Izso Saekely and Paul Nadanyi of the Amerikai Magyar Népszava, Zoltán Gombos of the Szabadság, and Alexander Rákosi of the Magyar Jövő — the three Hungarian dailies of America —, Paul Acs, Newarki Hírlap, Albert Fiók, Magyarság, Pittsburgh, Pa., Edmund Bohner, Mi Lapunk1 and Szabad Sajtó, Andrew Fay Fisher, Hungarian Miners’ Journal, Szabadság and Toledo, Louis Tarcay and Mrs. Tarcay, az Újság, (Cleveland), Arpad Tarnoczy, Akroni Magyar Hirlap, Victor Kormos, New Brunswicki Magyar Hírnök, the Rev. Dr. John Kerekes, New Brunswicki Magyar Hirlap, Betlehemi Hiradó, László Dienes, Perth Amboyi Hiradó, Alexander Gondos, Detroiti Magyarság, Géza Perey and George Szecskay, Jó Pásztor, Mrs. Ernest Kunstadt, Otthon. (Ameincan Home, Continued on page 2
