Verhovayak Lapja, 1951 (34. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1951 / Verhovay Journal
PAGE 8 Verhovay Journal ______________________________________________________________________ February 21,1951 DID WE DO RIGHT BY THE MEMBERS? — Sick Benefit Requirement Makes Many Good Verhovavans Ineligible To Serve As Representatives. By CHARLES A. YOUNG, President of Branch 121. When the sick benefit provisions ■were revamped and voted upon at (the Last National Convention, one of! tthe changes made was that only members who held sick benefit riders with their membership certificates were eligible as delegates to the district sessions and to the National Convention. (According to the previously effective By-laws members who had no sick benefit, also were eligible to be delegates to the district sessions.) 1 It was thought at the time that there would be an influx of members in the sick benefit department so they would be able to qualify as delegates to represent their respective branches, and, as a result, the heavy drain on the sick benefit fund would be alleviated. But, almost four years later we tee that this has not come about. Instead, we have placed a barrier against members who are interested jin fraternal life, work hard at all social functions, try to keep all members interested in branch affairs, in fact, many of these loyal, hard working members are officers in their branches, but they cannot qiialify, in fact, they are being penalized for not carrying sick benefits with the Association. , Well, no doubt, the thought enters in the reader’s mind, “why don’t they take out sick benefit insurance if they are so interested in fraternalism and wish to represent their branches?” If this thought would " How many of you members take time to read the editorials in the Journal each month? Do you know tha*'. by reading these articles one can learn much about the operation of the Association and the attitudes and opinions of the men who carry out the administration of the Home Office? For example, the two principal articles in the January edition are very enlightening. They reveal the many obstacles and problems that are encountered in trying to fulfill the purpose of the organization. Although some of these problems seem to be unimportant the majority of them are quite real and serious. Don’t fail to read these editorials! * * * Members of' Branch 296 extend their deepest sympathies to the family of George Bauman, Sr. who passed away on January 9th at the age of 73. Up to the time he became ill eight years ago, Mr. Bauman was an active member in branch affairs. He served as president for a number of years, and he played an important role in the progress of Branch 296. The passing of Mr. Bauman is sincerely mourned by all Verhovayans. * 4» * The popular chicken-supper-anddance affairs will continue to be held in the future. On Saturday, February 24th, the supper will be served at 8:00 P.M. Dance music will be played by Arthur Nagy and his Orchestra. Another chicken supper and dance have occurred ten or fifteen years ago, the reader would be right, but today — it’s a different story. Let us review the facts. Fraternal societies have proved innumerable times and for a long time, that when a man is ill, sick benefit, indeed, is a friend in need. Taking this page from the fraternalists’ good book, labor unions in the past few years, demanded in their bargainings with managements sick benefits, hospitalization and similar insurance protection, in addition to the wages, pensions and vacations procured for their constituents. As a result, all this is now part of every union contract. In New York State a compulsory1 tax is paid by workmen into the N.Y. Group Disability Benefits plan which pays sick benefits while unemployed or if one should become sick before the qualifying period in any plant, before the employee becomes protected under the union’s and employer’s insurance plan, and in many cases the above protection plans pay more than the benefits received from fraternal or commercial insurance organizations. This accounts for the decline in fraternal sick benefit enrollments, since many of our members are of the working class and are union members of good standing in their locals. The main source of any insurance organization is.dues received on certificates or premiums on policies, and the fact is that the majority of Verhovay members are without sick benefit. will be held on Saturday, March 31st. At this time the awarding of the three U.S. Savings bonds will be made to the winners. The proceeds of this affair will be used to defray the expenses of a deep-freeze which has been purchased for the Ladies Auxiliary’s kitchen. For a very enjoyable evening don’t fail to attend these affairs. * ¥ * Surprise of the year took place when word was received from Chicago, Illinois that T/Sgt. Elwyn Mattie and Miss Nancy Lochrance of Springdale were married Thursday, February 1st. On Saturday, February 3, 1951, Stephen Üveges, Jr. of Kinloch and Miss Mary Powaser of New Kensington exchanged vows. Congratulations and best wishes for a long, prosperous and happy life go to the two couples from Br. 296. # * * Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Wächter had their daughter, Sheryl Lee baptized on Sunday, January 28th. Mr. and Mrs. James Phillips are the proud grandparents. # * ¥ It seems as though January was a bad month for the Sick Benefit Fund. Members that were hospitalized are Andrew Matyas, Mrs. Louis Pater, Elmer Charles, Jr., Mrs. Louis Nodge, Frank Szuch, and Daniel Borbély. Mrs. Joseph Magyar, William Blizraan, and Louis Antal, Sr. were ill at their homes. I Some accusations have been made j I that the reason the aforementioned amendments were accepted was that j all those who voted in favor of the change at the last Convention, were members of the sick benefit depart- j ment and stood nothing to lose and by adopting the present set-up they eliminated any competetion by nonmembers of the* sick benefit department in their home branches. As to this accusation, it should be kept in mind that the same delegates, members who expected to benefit from the sick benefit fund, also drastically cut their own benefits in order to assure that money would be available to all if and when needed; therefore, we cannot avoid the conclusion that .all of them acted in the best interests of the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association. In the preceeding issues of the Journal there appeared ienghty articles on the elections of delegates' to the district sessions and to the Convention stressing the importance of electing members who take an Active interest in i'raternalism and the branch. Generally speaking, these candidates are the officers of the branches. At meetings held recently for the purpose of electing these delegates, it was found that although many attended, most of them were not eligible due to the restrictions of the amended By-Laws, and there is no doubt in my mind that these restrictions are stifling the incentive for active work in the branches and the Association. In the past, officers who. were not members of the sick benefit department, could at least attend the district sessions and have some voice in the affairs of the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association, And who knows the trials and tribulations of fraternal life better than those who work at it month after month and year after year? Now a non-working member with sick benefit offsets the member who is aggressive, works for the betterment of the branch and the organization, even though he has no rick benefit certificate. The nonworking member of the sick-benefit department gets elected as a delegate and not being acquainted with the functions of an insurance organization, he cannot advance ideas for the betterment of the organization. Consequently, as an inactive delegate, he is an expense and a draw-back to the rest of us. In this respect the amended by-laws of the sick benefit department have not improved the conditions that prevailed. We trust that at the coming district sessions the delegates will weigh this matter and bring it before the Convention body in order that the American and fraternal right of representation may be returned to I ALL members. CHICAGO IN 1951 So Chicago, 111., was selected for the 8th Annual Bowling Tournament. Well, that’s fine. We like windy cities, they afford the visiting firemen good, clean and inexpensive fun, like losing their hats, walking against the wind and watching the ladies do the same. We visited Chicago in 1933, viewing the World Fait;, and we hope to visit this great American city again, providing I’ll be able to make the team. Working nights was a handicap as far as bowling is concerned and I wasn’t able to get on a team in January when I came on days. I’d like this opportunity to appeal to the Bowling Committee not to throw any obstacles in the path of the rank and file of bowlers who have a great love for the game. Remember, they are the torch-bearers, the funsters of the Verhovay. We think that a review of this acitvity is due at the next Convention and the delegates should listen carefully because this is an important item which means eventually more business for the Verhovay. CHANGES AT THE BRANCH The old guard passed and Frank Pinter was elected President of Br. 14 for 1951. With him were elected the following officers: Joseph Hegedűs, Vice-President, Leslie J. Dus, Branch Manager, Nicholas Yuhasz, Recording Secretary, James Kovach, comptroller. Mrs. Betty Kadar was elected Chairman of the Entertainment Committee. New managers of the Verhovay Home are Mr .and Mrs. Joseph Bodnar who had managed the Home before but left because of a slight misunderstanding. We are glad to see them back and we know they will try their best and make Verhovay Hall a real home for its members and friends. Welcome back, Mr. and Mrs. Bodnar. To the officials of Branch 14: it’s about time the television set was changed to a 21” screen. Let’s step together in the modern manner. Also, in the same vein, let’s work together to have more teams on the bowling alley next season. Now is the time to create good will! We know the managers will be on the ball but a little assistance will be appreciated. SPORTS CLUB EVENTS Our Verhovay Sports Club here in Cleveland is going great guns. So far, on the agenda for 1951 are an April Fools’ Card Party on Sunday, April 1st; a speck fry in the back yard of the Verhovay Home; another card party; a picnic each month at one of our member’s farm, and many other entertainments. Any Verhovay member may join the Sports Club >f passed by the membership committee and approved by a % majority of the members present at the voting. New members must be recommended by members in good standing. Those who are not members of the Verhovay also may join but they must become members of the Verhovay Social Club. PERSONAL NOTES We were repeatedly bawled out because of our laziness in making up a column. Gosh! We didn’t chink St was important to anyone . . . Did anyone know that Mrs. Ann Pinter is a good paper hanger or: that Terry Moses may get married in the near future, or that Joseph Nagy’s wife, Irene, reads this stuff, or that Louie Balogh is a taxicab driver or that Paul Bolesic finally bought a house or that Carl Pertz’s boy is in the army? Or did anyone know that among the events to come (Continued on page 9)
