Verhovayak Lapja, 1955 (38. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1955 / Verhovay Journal
PAGE 12 Verhovay Journal October 19, 1955 Convention Leads Wav.,. (Continued from page 1» However, the Verhovay Convention delegates took the action described only after assurances were given by the Rákóczi delegation that they would not be opposed to the creation of the two offices, if the Board of Directors be given the right to appoint the two office heads, and also the Rákóczi delegation have no objection to the election of these two officers by the Verhovay Convention. Consequently, after the rescinding of the two previously approved resolutions, Aloysius C. Falussy moved that the two offices be created as of January 1, 1956, and that the office of the Field Manager be filled by Elmer Charles and the office of the Investment Manager be filled by Richard J. Phillips, that the Board of Directors prepare an appropriate contract with compensation comparable to that of the National Officers, This motion was approved unanimously by the delegates, thus ended some tense, anxious moments for all the delegates. Only the actual approval of the Merger Agreement, by a unanimous vote, was more significant that the action in the aforegoing paragraph. When it became known that the Merger Agreement was unanimously accepted, the Convention delegates cheered loudly and,( with smiles and Wars, sang the American National Anthem. The delegates did an excellent job, fully discussing all points of the Merger Agreement, stressing at all times the interests of all the members. Every delegate deserves his name recorded on a proper scroll, to be placed in the lobby of the new organization which will have its home office in Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania. One of the significant provisions in the approved Merger Agreement is the one which .will authorize the new association to pay a life time monthly' pension of $300.00 to its two retiring officers. John Bencze, National President, and John Szalanczy, National Treasurer, are the two retiring Officers of the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association. These two veteran leaders have given many years of faithful and unselfish service to the Association and well merited the credit which the Convention gave to each. The ovation they received was indicative of the good feeling the delegates had for these retiring National Officers. On the fifth day of the Convention the delegates examined the proposed new by-laws and made many changes which will be submitted to the branches for final approval. Noteworthy of the changes adopted was that one which would permit the election to National Office of even those members who are not of Hungarian parentage. Another change makes it mandatory that a Convention decision can be changed only by a unanimous approval of the Board of Directors. Also, to be elected a district delegate to the Convention, the member may have a membership certificate as low as $500.00. Still another change requires the election of the Secretary, Auditor, Treasurer and members of the Auditing Committee from the ranks of the members of the Convention. The Convention decided also to stay with 400 as the number constituting a Convention district, and not 500 as was approved by the branches at the December, 1954 branch meetings. There were other changes too, but the above represent the more important ones. On the sixth and last day of the Convention, a momentous and historic event took place. The Rákóczi Aid Association, having just finished its last convention, visited en masse, their officers and delegates, the Verhovay Convention - hall. There was a thunderous cheering ovation with spontaneous hand shaking as the delegates streamed into the meeting, as could happen only when brother meets brother after a grand accomplishment by both. Convention Chairman Frank Radvany called upon Albert Kocsis, Rákóczi Supreme President, Stephen Vasas, Rákóczi Supreme Secretary, National President John Bencze and Vice President Julius Macker, to speak. Each officer expressed extreme happiness and joy in. the successful conclusion of the merger proceedings and wished the new organization, born of the combination of Verhovay and Rákóczi, a triumphant future. Then followed the singing of the American and Hungarian national anthems by the united delegations. Late in the afternoon on Saturday, September 17, the Convention turned its attention to the election of its new National Officers, Directors, Auditing Committee members, Disciplinary and Appeals Committees’ members. On a motion made by Aloysius C. Falussy, the Convention unanimously cdected Coloman Revesz National President, and reelected John Sabo National Auditor. This unanimous approval was punctuated by cheers and hand clapping. It was clearly indicative of the faith and confidence the delegates expressed in these stalwart veteran leaders. The results of the Board of Directors election was as follows (the figure in parenthesis after each name shows the number of votes received): Aloysius C. Falussy (75) Alexander Gyulay (63) Julius Lenart (58) Dr. Andrew Kovács (57) Frank Radvany (57) Albert Ibos (55) Mike Korosy (54) Stephen Lang, Sr. (52) Louis Vizi (47) Louis Vassy (43) John Balia (42) Alternate Directors Coloman Kolozsvary (36) Joseph Taylor (36) John P. Kelemen (33) George Tokár (33) Mrs. John Pocsik (27) Henry Gross (26) Joseph Heck (25) Louis David (25) John Kostyo (20) John Vizzi (20) Michael Puskas (18) On a motion made by Andrew Fay Fisher, the Auditing Committee members, Gaspar Papp, Chairman, William C. Kohut, Secretary, and Andrew Bandy, were unanimously reelected. The Convention must have been highly pleased with their work of the past four years. The results of the Disciplinary Committee elections were as follows; John Zakopcsan (60) — President Joseph Drotos (53) The results of the Appeals Committee elections were: Bela Takacs (41) — President James Emody (40) John Usko (39) The newly elected officials were installed by National President John Bencze. Each officer repeated the official oath of the society. Coloman Revesz, National Secretary, and John Sabo, National Auditor, took the opportunity at this point to thank all the delegates for the confidence they placed in them and promised to do the utmost for the best interests of the society. The Convention set the annual salary of the four National Officers at $12,000 each. It also approved an annual honorarium for each Director and each member of the Auditing Committee at $600. The per diem fee was set at $30.00. The Chief Medical Advisor and the General Counsel each will receive $3,500 yearly. The required reserves for past service pension, credit for the regular employees pension fund was completely funded, as well as the additional required reserves for the two retiring Verhovay officers. Also approved were contributions to the regular employees pension fund for future pension credit. Dr. Andrew Kovács’ motion that we donate $500 to Elmhurst College was approved. Dr. Andrew Kovács moved that the present annual contribution of $1000 to the American Hungarian Federation be approved, and was passed with an amendment offered by John Sabo, National Auditor, that the $1000 annual contribution be continued only until such time that the combined Board of Directors sit together and have an opportunity to increase this amount. The Convention approved having two officials of the William Penn Fraternal Association represent the organization in the American Hungarian Federation. The Board of Directors was given the authority to name these members. Stephen Danko moved that the three members of the Merger Committee be awarded each with a $1000 honorarium. John P. Kelemen, however, moved that the amount be set at $500. Aloysius C. Falussy, Julius Macker and Stephen Lang, Sr., members of the Merger Committee, stated that if the Convention awarded them this honorarium they would turn over the amounts to the Association’s fund which is administered in behalf of old members. The Convention did approve an honorarium of $500 for each member of the Merger Committee, and they will divert it to the above mentioned fund. The Convention approved an honorary fee of $200 for Frank Radvany, Convention Chairman, and $25 for each Vice-Chairman, Joseph Miller, Jr. and John Kostyo. It also approved $100 for Julius J. Lenart, Convention Secretary. Joseph Miller, Jr. and John Kostyo donated their honorariums to the Old Members Welfare Fund, as did Julius J. Lenart. The Convention came to an end at 8:00 Saturday evening, September 17, 1955, shortly after Convention Chairman Frank Radvany extended his sincere thanks to the delegates for their understanding attitude and sincere cooperation, and the singing of the American National Anthem and the Hungarian National Anthem was an inspiring finis to, perhaps, Verhovay’s greatest Convention. The minutes of the XXIII Verhovay Convention will be published in the next issue, of the Verhovay Journal. Report of the Board of Directors of the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association to the XXIII Regular National Convention September 12, 1955 \ (Continued from page 11) Average return on investment before depreciation .............. 14.05 9t> Average return on investment after depreciation ............ 10.21% The last examination of our society by the Insurance Department took place during the summer of 1954. The results of this examination were very favorable. The audit of the last four years, which was authorized by the National Auditing Committee, as per the bylaws of our Association, was made by Komlyn & Company, Certified Public Accountants. A copy of the audit report accompanies our report. We respectfully solicit your consideration and judgement, together with your acknowledgement, as well as your approval of our actions, and your official release as the Directors and Officers of this society. We assure each and every delegate that every act on our part kept in mind the sound and progressive future of the organization. We respectfully submit this report to you. Fraternally yours, JOHN BENCZE National President, Board Chairman JULIUS MACKER Vice-President DR. ANDREW KOVÁCS, Vice-President ALOYSIUS C. FALUSSY, Director HENRY GROSS, Director ALEXANDER GYULAY, Directo*ALBERT IBOS, Director COLOMAN KOLOZSVARY, Director STEPHEN LANG, Director MTKE KOROSY, Director RICHARD J. PHILLIPS, Director, Board Secretary LOUIS VASSY, Director LOUIS VIZI, Director JOHN VIZZI, Director COLOMAN REVESZ, Nat. Secretary JOHN SZALANCZY, Nat. Treasurer JOHN SABO, National Auditor
