Verhovayak Lapja, 1954 (37. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1954 / Verhovay Journal
900 New Members in Two Months Contributed to Macker-Vizi Membership Campaign 2_____________________j______ Verhovay EMPIRE STATE BUILDING Will Be Visited By Verhovay Thousands Journal March 17,' 1954 Verhovay Members to See Empire State Building FMStlUfc. Thousands of Verhovay members will see New York in all its splendor from the top of this magnificent building. The Empire State is the tallest structure in the world, 1,472 feet high or 102 stories tall. From the observatory on the 86th floor can be seen a diameter of 60 to 80 miles, an area in which one of every ten Americans lives and works. The glass enclosed upper observatory on the 102d floor offers another and different view of New York City and its environs. Geza Bruger, One Time Supreme Officer, Passes Away To New Yorkers the 104-storyhigh Empire State Building is one of the leading symbols of Manhattan’s greatness. To thousands and thousands of tourists and visitors the world’s tallest structure, which pokes its way 1,472 feet above New York, is the No. 1 vacation must. There are two things that every New York visitor likes to do. One is to stand outside of the fabulous building and look upward at this imposing giant. The other is to visit the observatories on the 86th and 102nd floors. The observatories are open daily from 9:30 a.m. to midnight and every •day thousands of visitors take the 1,000-foot ride in a noiseless elevator that whisks them skyward in 60 Seconds. From the 86th floor observatory, the visitors can see spread before \ them, like an animated map, a diameter of 60 to 80 miles, an area in which 15,000,000 people — one of every ten Americans — live and work. On the 102nd floor, the glass enclosed Upper Observatory offers another and different view of the city and its environs. Lectures are given every hour on the hour. This year more than 1,000,000 persons from every state in the union and many foreign countries will go to the top of the structure to see the view. Seven million man hours after the excavation began, the Empire State Building was opened to the public on May 1, 1931. Twenty-one years later, it is still the world’s tallest building, with 20,000 occupants and numerous engineers to testify to the fact that far from foppling over it is one of the most stable structures ever built with a life expectancy of 500 to, 1,000 years. Rooted in the J bed-rock of Manhattan, the 104-story building weighs less than the 55 feet of rock and dirt excavated to build it. It also puts the lie to those who predicted that it would “sway” m any breeze. The Empire State’s “sway” in normal winds is so small as to be almost non-existent. Name almost any world celebrity — and it’s an even bet he’s been a visitor to the Empire State Observatories. Movie stars, governors, presidents, kings, queens, cardinals^ clergymen — and just plain people from a little town out West — they have all been there. In fact, in a single month last year, visitors from 86 countries signed the register in the observatory. The Empire State observatories have been the subject of numerous movies and countless television and radio shows. Frank Powell, Manager of the Observatories, says he’s answered just about every question one could ask. However, Mr. Powell’s favorite visitor was a small, thin man who asked how far he could see on this particular day 10 years ago. “There’s a slight haze but you can see about 18 miles,” said Mr. Powell. “Where’s the Wrigley Building, son?” the visitor asked. “It’s a little out of range,” answered Mr. Powell, “it’s in Chicago.” The man walked away without a word. Honeymoonevs often come back to the observatories as a means of recapturing- the romance of those first marital days. One couple always orders a bottle of champagne and Powell keeps one on hand especially for them. The thrill of standing at the highest point ever reached by man is not reserved alone for those who can see. Strangely enough the blind enjoy the visit as much or even more. The observatories’ most famous blind visitor, Helen Keller, wrote an essay about her trip in which she said: “Let cynics and super-sensitive souls say what they will about American materialism and machine civilization. Beneath the surface are poetry, mysticism and inspiration that the Empire State Building somehow symbolizes.” We are certain that of the thousands Of Verhovay members who invade New York City for the big Memorial Day Week End events, the majority will take the time and effort to view New York in all its magic glory from the very top of the Empire State Building. THIS IS IT! EVERY MEMBER SHOULD MAKE PREPARATIONS TO HAVE FUN IN NEW YORK CITY May 29—30, 1954. PLEASE SEE YOUR BRANCH MANAGER TODAY FOR THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS! Or please write to »Tournament and Fellowship Days’ Administrator, John Sabo, 436 Fourth Avenue, Pittsburgh 19, Pennsylvania. All inquiries will receive immediate attention. Veteran Leader Held Geza Bruger, truly one of the best minds and finest characters in the more than half century of Verhovay existence, died February 7, 1954. To the great majority of American born English speaking Verhovay members the name Geza Bruger strikes no familiarity or perhaps just slight acquaintance. But to the foreign born older members Geza Bruger was a gentleman who did very much for the organization he fervently loved, a man who dared fight for and defend vigorously all his Verhovay principles and ideas. It would take a long story to cover the rich Verhovay career of Geza Bruger, but the high lights of his unexcelled service to Verhovay will give adequate reasons for his splendid reputation and wide popularity. At the November 2, 1917 Verhovay Convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Geza Bruger was elected Supreme Treasurer, which very responsible position he conscientiously exercised for the next three years. During this period he obtained his degree in law.. The following Verhovay Convention, May 17, 1920, saw Geza Bruger again nominated as Supreme Treasurer, but he declined. However, the almost ; two hundred delegates then clamored unanimously for his Other Verhovay Posts acceptance of membership on the Auditing Committe. Again he declined. But the delegates persevered in their attempts to get this key man to stay on in some important capacity.. Their hopes were realized when Geza Bruger, bowing in a spirit of humility to the near demands of the Convention, then accepted the post of legal adviser to Verhovay, a position he ably held until the removal of the Home Office from Hazleton to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. But even hereafter, Geza Bruger continued to serve his beloved Verhovay. He became secretary (later called manager) of Branch 1, Freeland, Pennsylvania, his home town, and remained its leader until the branch was merged in 1948 with Parent Branch. Geza Bruger it was who led the movement to put Verhovay on a sound insurance foundation, a change which meant adoption of the Legal Reserve Basis. This was the step that led to the strong and sound organization that Verhovay is today, and to Geza Bruger goes a large share of the credit. Geza Bruger, 72, born in Kurima, Sáros county, is dead. He leaves his good wife and loyal children. Geza Bruger shall be x-emembered as a MAN! ATTENTION CHICAGO AREA The Verhovay branch officers of this area have been sounding out the sentiments of the members toward the \ erhovay bowling tournament and grand rally in New York Qity on May 29—30, 1954. ‘ ...r' So many have expressed their intentions of going to the New York event that the Chicago area leaders believe that the reservation of railroad coaches would be of utmost convenience, appreciable savings and an abundance of fun to the members and their guests. Members and Verhovay friends wishing to join the funfest are urged to contact their nearest branch managers to let them know how many are interested in traveling to New York City via reserved railroad coach. This bid applies to the neighboringbranches in the State of Indiana. Members are also requested to aid their respective branch managers in the MACKER-VIZI NEW MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN. This help can be given largely in the way of forwarding the names and addresses of prospects.
