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

1947 / Verhovay Journal

For the XXL Convention of the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association:

Coloman Kolozsvary Charles Uray

chairman recording secretary”

58. ) The Board discusses the request for a loan of the Verhovay Home of Branch 88, Yatesboro, Pa. Directors Macker and Korosfoy are entrusted with conducting an investigation in loco after which they shall submit their recommendations to the Board of Directors. .

59. ) The Board resolves that a special meeting be called by the National President for the last week of October or the first week of November, to which the directors-elect also shall be invited in order that the details and plans of the new promotional system, to be carried into effect in 1948, may be discussed.

60. ) It is unanimously resolved by the Board of Directors that, in view of the persistently rising costs of living, the employees of the Home Office be granted wage increases, effective October 1st, 1947, as follows:

a. ) the present temporary cost-of-living allowance of $10 monthly shall be included in the basic wages of each employee and, then,

b. ) the wages shall be increased by the following perPAGE 8 ________________________________

Verhovay

centages:

up to $150 ................................................ 12.5%

from $151 to $200 ..................................... 8 %

from $201 to $250 ....................................... 5 ',

from $251 to $310 ..................................... 3 %

from $311 up ............:............................... 2 r/„

61. ) The Board considers the petition of the Rev. Dr. John Szabó, Prelate of the Holy Sea, American representative of the Prince Primate of Hungary, on behalf of the St. Ladislaus orphanage in Buda, and instructs the Home Office to issue Two Hundred Fifty ($250) dollars to the St. Ladislaus orphanage, in care of the Rev. Dr. John Szabó.

62. ) Thanking the directors for their attention, the National President adjourns the meeting at 6:15 P.M.

Pittsburgh, Pa., September 19, 1947.

Journal

November 26, 1947

Fraternal Progress Via Public Relations

JOHN BENCZE, National President JOSEPH SZALAY, Vice-president JULIUS MACKER RICHARD PHILLIPS HENRY GROSS JOSEPH TURNER LOUTS VIZI JOHN P. KELEMEN

The Veterans of Foreign Wars .'5489 Hall in Nanty Glo, Pa., was the scene of impressive memorial ceremonies held jointly by branches 61, Vintondale, 347, Nettleton, and 380>. Nanty Glo, on Sunday, November 9th, when the portraits of five fallen heroes of the Verhovay were presented to the next of kin by the officers of the Association. Attended by a great many miners from the coal fields in western Pennsylvania the affair was a fine demonstration of the fraternal spirit prevailing in the mining communities. National President John Bencze, National Auditor John Sabo, district manaprer I.ouis Cincel, from Pittsburgh, Pa., and director Louis Vizi from Scalp Level, Pa., represented Verhovay’s membership on this solemn occasion.

The ceremonies opened with the posting of colors by the local unit of the VFW and the singing of My Country by the audience. John Kovács, President of Branch 386, extended a cordial welcome to the assembly and introduced district manager Cincel as the Master of Ceremonies.

Director Louis Vizi conveyed expressions of deep and lasting sympathy, in behalf of the 60,000 members of the Verhovay, to the be-COLOMAN RE VESZ, National Secretary ALBERT B. ARI, Vice-president JOSEPH PRINCE M D. JOHN KOROSFOY CHARLES SMITH ANDREW DOBOS ALOYSIUS C. FALUSSY Directors.

reared families. The Rev. Father McCarthy, pastor of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church offered the invocation and then, National Auditor John Sabo delivered the American keynote address. Burgess Gellott Dominic, Commander Mike Kresosky of chapter 3489 of the VFW, arid Lester Greene paid tribute to the memory of the men who had made the supreme sacrifice. A moving memorial address and prayer by the Rev. Stephen Papmeder, pastor of the Vintondale Hungarian Reformed Church, was followed by the presentation speech of National President John Bencze who unveiled the portraits of Frank Hegedűs, Joseph Lol.os, Nicholas Gyürke, Jr., Geza Molnár and Joseph George, presenting them as the gift of the Verhovay membership to the bei'eaved parents of these heroes.

The memorial committee consisting of Stephen Gulyas, president and Peter Szuprak, manager of Branch 61, Stephen Bihari, president, and John Olexa, manager of Branch 347, John Kovács, president, and Joseph George, manager of Branch 386, are credited with the arangements of this truly impressive affair.

The visitors from Pittsburgh enjoyed the hospitality of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph George before the eeremon— “is there any magic in winning public favor?” —

We have heard a great deal lately about the importance of improving Verhovay’s public relations. Some of our critics feel that we are not selling enough insurance through the Journal, while others assert that the Verhovay has failed to effectively advertise itself. Some even went so far as to suggest that the Association avail itself of the services of an advertising expert who should be made editor of the Journal and head of the promotional department. Of course, they never troubled to find out how much an advertising expert, (“top brains” at that) would cost, which is fortunate, for the inquirers would have fainted upon hearing the amount that would be involved.

We submit that the products of some famous advertising experts are more annoying then effective. It is a fact that we have banned from our household several nationally ad- j vertised products just because the j way thew were advertised annoyed us. For instance, as a protest against the insulting “L.S.M.F.T.” routine we’ll “Walk a mile” to avoid Lucky Strikes. We can’t think much of an “expert” who thinks too little of the intelligence of the public.

Now, we are no “experts” and that, perhaps, is one of the reasons why we have retained our faith in the mental competence of the general public. On the other hand, we are not entirely green on the subject of advertising. Promotion being our department, it stands to reason that we found it obligatory to make a study of the theories and techniques of advertising with a view of acquiring a working' knowledge of this pretentious ‘science’, it is unnecessary to describe our findings at this time. It is sufficient to assert that intelligent advertisers prefer the “indirect approach” to the antagonizing technique of direct advertising. The difference between the two is easily recognized if one compares the “L.S.M.F.T.” routine with j the Burma Shave jingles, or one of ; the more obnoxious breakfast cereal j programs with the Ford Symphony j Hour.

Obviously, those clamoring for advertising experts consider it a loss that we do not resort to the direct approach. Yet, if we were to comply with their demands making the Journal a sales-sheet, nobody would read it, regardless of how convincingly we would present the benefits of the Verhovay.

The direct approach may be ef•- fective with some products appealing to the naivete of juvenile minds. Life insurance, however, cannot be sold by advertising. This particular commodity cannot be advertised except by making the public conscious of a company or association. Even that is a wasted effort if there is no follow-up. People may “walk a mile” for a Camel, but they won’t take a single step to buy life- insurance. The agent, the manager, the organizer is the one to do all the walking. Advertising is only his herald.

In the September issue of THE FRATERNAL AGE, under "This, is America — Ruminations of the Editor” we find an excellent analysis of this problem by editor and pubies, and of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Lokos, afterwards.

May the bereaved survivors of our hero dead find some measure of comfort in the assurance of the deep sympathy of all Verhovay members.

iisher Malter ftasye. We feel it j presents the answer tó the question Í on hand. He writes:

“Is there any magic in winning ! public favor? Advertising, of course. But is there any slight-of-hand or hypnotism that will do it?

I have advocated many times Hiat the fraternal system may become ! tremendously popular again by carrying on its regular services efficiently, conscientiously and idealistically, with able leadership. I j referred to the day-by-day work.

I can report at this time that the fraternal system is gaining in public esteem. The big volume of new applications is statistical proof.

Rarely do you hear any urfkind words about any society: usually there is praise. ,

The “fraternity in action” movement started by Farrar Newberry is getting results. My idea of that movement is that in itself it is not a selling scheme; it is for the purpose of making fraternal members more conscious of their place in their home communities.

"Fraternity in action” has resulted in thousands of local lodges actually becoming part in civic projects. In some places they assumed leadership. The trouble with many lodges I was that they were exclusive; their j secret meetings resulting in hiding j their good works; the “fraternity in action” program gives them recognized work to do.

“Fraternity in action” has improved our public relations. Also: intelligent selling, prompt and satisfactory payment of claims, better j programs in lodge halls, more ‘cooperation in Fraternal Week meetings and less criticism of each other.” “One reason the fraternal system is making progress and improving its standing with the pub- i lie is that we have many executives j who take their jobs seriously. They have ambition, and that ambition is tó make their societies and the fraternal system great. They work hard at it; they do not consider thenjobs as “a warm place to read the paper in the morning.”

This, we feel, is a competent answer to the demand for aggressive, direct advertising. If there is anything to be added, it is this: there is no short-cut to promotional success. Advertising cannot dó the work of enthusiastic organizers. But enthusiastic, capable organizers and a satisfied membership are our best advertisement . No matter how grandious claims the Association would advertise, if the branches,

; their members and officers, dó riot j live up to those claims, there will be no progress.

This does not mean that we don’t believe in advertising. We do. And we do advertise. We use the direct irlethod when it is not contrary to good taste. As a rule, however, we apply the indirect method. And the advancement of the Association proves that it is the right method.

TO THE CONTRIBUTORS

The next issue of the Journal) will be published on Wednesday, December 10th. Contributions for that issue should be in not later than December 3rd, Wednesday.

Contributions should be typewritten, on one side of the paper only, double spaced, and not exceed 1,200 words, or 6,000 letters. Address contributions to VÉR! HOVAY JOURNAL, ENGLISH SECTION, 436 Fourth Aye., Pittsburgh 19, Pa.

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FIVE PORTRAITS PRESENTED IN NANTY GLO CEREMONIES

Verhovay Miners In Pennsylvania Pay Tribute To Hero Dead.