Verhovayak Lapja, 1947 (30. évfolyam, 1-24. szám)

1947 / Verhovay Journal

September 24, 1947__________________________VethoVCiy

THE CONVENTION STORY

(Continued from page 6)

have ample opportunity to plead their case.

Considering the tension and strain under which the opposing parties labor, the struggle is remarkably dignified. Plenty of temperament is displayed but none of the speakers forget themselves. The assembly follows closely all the arguments presented until the debate is closed.

Motion is made to have a secret ballot. It develops into one of the major issues. One party hopes to gain votes by securing a secret ballot while the other pins its hope for victory on an open vote. The matter of how to vote is put to a vote. The result is rather surprising. 71 vote in favor of the secret ballot while 70 stand againts it. Thus, by a majority of a single vote, the backers of the secret ballot win.

Now the votes are read and counted. It appears that everyone present took part in the ballotting. 97 ballots were cast in favor of continuing the support of the Federation while 64 voted with the opposition. The delegates have chosen. Support of the Federation by the Verhovay will be continued for the next four years. With this announcement the meeting adjourns for the rest period.

After lunch the chair recognizes local organizers Joseph Toma, Joseph Cibolya, Joseph M. Toth and Frank Wukovits who had arrived in the meantime in response to the summons of the assembly.

Then the discussion continues. It is decided, finally, that the Verhovay shall claim representation on the Board of Directors of the Federation in proportion to its share in the maintenance of this organization. The Federation shall employ a full-time secretary who is to be entrusted with the task of enlisting the support of Americans of Hungarian descent. In the event these conditions are not met by the Federation within a year, the Verhovay shall withdraw from the Federation. These resolutions are unanimously adopted.

Motion is made to reconstruct the Federation in accordance with democratic principles. The motion is carried by 107 .votes with the understanding that no criticism is implied by this resolution.

The Verhovay is to <be represented by the members of the Board of Directors, to be elected by the directors.

This closes the matter of the American Hungarian Federation.

New Promotional Plan Adopted by Convention.

Every delegate is aware of the importance of the plans for revamping the organizing system of our Association. In fact, even the representatives of the press asserted in their memorial that they were most interested in this issue.

The plan recommended by the Board of Directors is presented by the Supreme Secretary. Its main features are: there shall be four Field Supervisors instead of the present eight district managers. Branches having approximately 1,000 members shall be served by full-time local organizers, hereafter known as ‘‘District Managers” who are to be appointed, upon approval by the branch involved, by the Supreme President. In localities where there are several branches, the Board of Directors may create similar districts the branches of which are to be served jointly by a District Manager. Smaller branches, of course, shall be served, as heretofore, by branch-managers.

The Field Supervisors, whose main task consists of the training of the district managers and local managers, shall receive a fixed salary instead of commissions. The district and local managers will be paid, without exception, by the Home Office. Because of that, branches shall not receive the 80 cents per member annual allotment heretofore issued to them. The income of the branhees shall be limited to the 5 cents paid by the members toward management expenses, and, of course, to whatever they may raise by social activities.

The plan represents a radical, departure from our present promotional system. The cooperation of all parties involved is needed to prove whether or not it is practical. Still, the delegates realize that years of study and experience went into the making of this plan which is heartily endorsed by district managers Frank Cher and Michael Simo who are requested to express their opinion.

The provision that in the future the branches shall not be entitled to the 80 cents per member annual allotment proves the greatest stumbling block. The majority of the delegates, however, displays remarkable unselfishness. Most of the representatives seem to realize that . the funds needed to make the new plan work cannot be secured from any other source but the branch allotments. They appreciate, also, that these allotments will serve the advancement of the Association much , more effectively if used according to this new7 promotional set-up. Of course, especially the larger branches find it difficult to resign them'selves to the loss of these allotments. Their delegates raise objections but beyond that they are reluctant to go. Surprisingly, the proposal meets less opposition than expected.

Mr. Knodel, the actuary, renders detailed technical advise. After a lengthy discussion the plan is approved both in detail and as a whole. This is one of the most important actions taken by the XXI. National Convention. It puts every manager into an intimate yet business-like relationship with the Home Office ; without limiting in any way the , autonomy of the branches. At the same time, it enables the Home Office to control promotional activities while giving sufficient incentive i to every braneh-manager to make it , worthwhile for him to participate in the promotional program of the Association.

Some of the delegates objected to the plan on the ground that it will

Journal

result in the complete cessation of fraternal activities in the field. Others found its main weakness in that it eliminates the branches and their members from active participation in the promotional program of the Association. It has been pointed out, however, that neither of these objections is well founded. It is a poor policy to expect the Home Office to pay for the fraternal activities of the branches which have every opportunity for developing their own sources of income for such purposes. Where such opportunities are neglected, fraternal activities have arrived at a complete standstill, anyhow. And, as far as participation of the members in promotional work is concerned, the development of this plan has become necessary for the very reason that such participation is non-existent in most of the branches. Promotion by volunteers has proven extremely costly and undependable as far as the ultimate results are concerned. Naturally, it would be more satisfactory to everyone concerned, if it would be possible to put the new plan into effect without depriving the branches of their allotment. However, the delegates understood, that "we can’t eat our cake and have it, too . . .”

The Sixth Day.

Another most important subject is to be discussed at this session, on Saturday, September 13th. Following the i-oll call and the reading of the minutes, Supreme Secretary Coloman Revesz presents the recommendations of the Board of Directors pertaining to the modifications of the provisions of the Sick Benefit Department.

These recommendations had been developed, upon explicit demand of the Insurance Department, by the Actuary of the Association. According to the plan the members of the Sick Benefit Department who have joined before January 1, 1944, Would be entitled to smaller weekly amounts of sick benefits, after attaining their 65 birthday, without, however, any change in the total amount of sicli benefits due to them. In other words, a member now entitled to $8 weekly sick benfits, would receive, after his 65th birthday, only $5 per week to which he would be entitled until he will have received the full amount of sick benefits, that is, $500. Thus, instead of receiving $8 for 621 weeks, Jie niay receive $5 for 100 weeks.

However, the recommendation proves extremely unpopular. A stormy scene develops. Many of the delegates, ignoring that the recommendations are made upon demand by the Insurance Department, criticize the officers and directors. Both the Supreme Secretary and the Supreme President indignantly protest against the accusations heard from the floor. Impartial observers are in full sympathy with the administration which has been put into a most awkward position through no fault of its own. At last the storm abates. The majority of the delegates seems to realize that they are in the same boat. Recriminations will not solve the issue. A compromise solution must be found.

The recommendation of the Board is almost unanimously rejected. The Actuary is requested to develop another plan maintaining the rights of the aged members of the Association. If the plan cannot be presented to the assembly, it is to be mailed out to the representatives for final action. It is possible, however, that a recommendation may be presented yet to this assembly before final adjournment.

District Managers to Stay.

Chairman Kolozsvary announces

PAGE 7

that the district managers had been summoned to attend the National Convention for the discussion of tho new promotional system. Final action has been, taken at the previous session. Now motion is made to decide whether or not they should stay until the end of the Convention.

This seems a small matter, yet, surprisingly, it develops into a major issue.

What is even more surprising, many of the delegates are reluctant to decide this matter by an open vot.e A secret ballot ie requested and the motion is carried by 74 against 38 votes.

The surprise is complete when the results are announced. It is a tie! 73 voted in favor of retaining the district managers while 73 voted with the opposition. Now the decision is up to the chairman.

Mr. Kolozsvary gives a brief resume of the issue before him. The National Convention decided by overwhelming majority, to summon the full-time local organizers. He feel» that these facts must determine his ruling. He announces that the Distinct Managers and local organizers shall stay. He extends his welcome to them and hopes that their stay will be a pleasant one. His ruling is followed by tremendous applause.

Amendments to the By-laws.

The assembly now7 proceeds to amend the By-laws. Delegate Bandre is requested to read the original text, while Mr. Revesz is to present the recommendations of tho Board of Directors. The recommendations of the districts will be pre sented from the floor.

This seems like tedious business. But only to the unexperienced observer. Actually, the future course of the Association and of its administration will be determined during this and the following sessions. Problems of crucial importance will be settled. Long contested issues will be debated. The matter on hand is anything but insignificant.

Representation at the National Convention.

Heretofore an electoral district consisted of 300 members who were entitled to elect one delegate to the National Convention. The Board of Directors recommend that this number be raised to 500. A few of the district meetings endorsed the recommendation. A. few others made a compromise proposal suggesting that the number of members constituting a district be increased to 400. But the majority of the districts rejected the recommendation of the Board of Directors, insisting that no changes be made in the present provision of the By-laws.

Now the arguments are presented. The Supreme Officers maintain that the limiting of representation by increasing the number of members constituting a district is necessary for reasons of economy and, also, because the membership of the Association haa substantially increased since the original provision was enacted. The backers of the original provision, however, stand pat. Delegates having been granted a free hand by their districts arise in increasing

(Continued on page 8)