William Penn Life, 1987 (22. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1987-05-01 / 5. szám
Page 2, William Penn Life, May 1987----m WILLLlm Wpenn life U.8. Pottage Paid Pittsburgh, PA Permit No. 2724 Editor-in-chief................ Associate Editor.......... Managing Editor.......... 709 Brighton Rd. Editing Office Pittsburgh, PA 16233 Area Code 1412) 231-2979 Office of Publication 709 Brighton Rd.. Plttaburgh. PA 16233 Print production by Gateway Preaa, Inc., Monroeville, PA Published Monthly Postmaster: it undelivered. pleats tend form 3579 to: WILLIAM PENN ASSOCIATION 709 Brighton Rd., Pittsburgh. PA 16233 President’s Message By Gay B. Banes National President Spring brings new life to the William Penn In our second century of service to our members, we have renewed our commitment with unshakeable faith to restore and support branch fraternal activities and alert and orient our Home Office Staff to render prompt and efficient service. Activities generate a "new life” During the past few months, your National Officers, Fraternal and Sales Directors have been criss-crossing the country visiting branch officers and attending local activities. We have received leaders from many parts of the country and Canada at the Home Office and toured Mount St. George and Scenic View with them. We are planning with them participation in our activities and organizing new branches. We are beginning to communicate, reassert and reestablish the William Penn’s preeminent position as the recognized leader in American-Hungarian life. We shall continue to do so. The new budding of activity at some of our branches is beginning to show that Spring is also coming to the William Penn, that there is a "new life” at our Society. Response to the Egg Decorating Workshops has been gratifying. The summer programs planned for Mount St. George and Scenic View including arts and crafts, dance, camping, sports, languages and music are generating much interest and taking root. Branch leaders are scheduling bus and van groups to participate. Response grows to new programs There are other emerging signs of spring and this "new life” at the William Penn. The stream of letters to the Home Office from members and non-members across the country: Los Angeles, Texas, Connecticut, Massachusetts and others proves that they want and need the new services we are providing. More than 200 of our Christian religious tapes have been sold. Our Christmas songbooks will soon require a third printing. Other fraternal societies are requesting our Egg Decorating instruction book. American-Hungarians are seeking information about language books, assistance in locating relatives and cultural subjects. They are searching for their "roots”. Plans are being finalized for the first Pontozo International Dance Festival supported by a $5,000 grant from the William Penn at Pittsburgh June 5, 6 and 7. The Festival is sponsored by the Magyar Dancers of McKeesport, William Penn Branch 226, under the direction of Betty Király and Judith Torma. Dan Wahl, our National Sales Director, is preparing a new series of sales brochures for our certificates as well as booklets for our agents. Elizabeth Szabó, Fraternal Director, is writing a script assisted by John Lovász, Publications Editor, for a color slide presentation describing William Penn activities to aid in organizing new branches. Your support will sustain this new life These are some of the things we at the Home Office are doing and directing. We need your support and confidence in this administration so that the "seeds” of the new programs we are planting for a "new life” at the William Penn will continue to be nurtured with love, caring and enthusiasm, to grow and blossom that our Society may again be recognized as the leader. Interest in heritage increasing Judging from what we have heard and read, it is becoming overwhelmingly apparent that many of you are keenly interested in preserving your Hungarian heritage. If you need more evidence of this trend, read this issue’s article on the Christian tapes in the Hungarian language and the following letters. Dear Mrs. Szabó: Just a note to let you know how delighted I was to read your article and map on historic Hungary (WPL, March 1987), and its importance to Americans of Hungarian heritage. I was glad that you pointed out at the very beginning of the article that a visiting professor from Hungary was taken by surprise to see such a map on the wall of President Banes’ office. As you explained our ancestors come from all parts of historic Hungary! It is not only necessary but proper that we in the United States take note of historic Hungary, since much of our heritage originates outside the borders of present-day Hungary. My Dad has a map of historic Hungary on the kitchen wall. In the early Forties when nationality was a hot item, I was asked in school by my homeroom teacher where my Dad came from. I answered Romania. And where did my Mom come from: Czecho-Letters to the editor__ If you would like to comment on our publicotion. the Associotion. your heritage or any other topic that would be of interest to William Penn members, please write us. We osk only that you limit yourself to 250 words. Unsigned letters will not be published. Address your letters to: Managing Editor. William Penn Life. 709 Brighton Road, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15233 Slovakia. And what do you consider yourself as far as nationality goes? I answered Chinese. It was obvious that my teacher was not aware of the territorial changes in Europe after World War II, because she asked further questions, and I had to explain that both my parents were Hungarian. But due to border changes, they emigrated from different countries, even though their villages were only 26 miles apart. Congratulations on your keen observance and your writing on it. Keep up the good work! Dr. Victor W. Molnár McKeesport, Pa. This is just one of many such stories we have heard. Thank you, Dr. Molnár, for sharing yours with us. Dear Editor: I sincerely hope I can still receive the Hungarian Christmas carol book. I am also enclosing the coupon for the Easter Egg Coloring Book. These will certainly help me to retain a bit of my heritage. I’m looking forward to seeing the map of Hungary in the coloring book. The article on Kossuth was most interesting. I sincerely hope you will have other such articles on other historical figures. When reading the William Penn Life I frequently wish I lived in the Pittsburgh area to be able to become involved in some of the very interesting programs being offered. I’m wondering if there are any other members here in Los Angeles who are involved with the Egg Decorating workshops. If there are any activities going on here in California, please write about it in the William Penn Life. The article on the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble says "Tours U.S.”, but it doesn’t mention anything further west than Ohio. Hopefully you will have information for California in future issues. Helen Bell Rowland Heights, Calif. Historically Speaking By Elizabeth Szabó Fraternal Director Potpourri This month’s column will cover a number of subjects that readers have been writing letters about. Unfortunately, I am not able to answer all of your letters, but I will continue to try to do my very best. Map of historic Hungary We’ve received numerous letters inquiring about counties, villages and about the map of historical Hungary. I will answer some of your questions in a general way. First, copies of this map — 32' x 22' in full color bordered by the original county crests of pre-war Hungary — are available through our Home Office for $6.50 each. Checks should be made payable to William Penn Association. Please be patient after making your order; it is almost impossible to keep the maps in stock. Secondly, I would like to offer some of the counterpart names of places most frequently mentioned in your letters. Many of your letters were so touching as you told about the past and your experiences when visiting relatives in Hungary, your great love for the Hungarian heritage and culture, but especially your great love for the Hungarian language. Here are some of the names you asked about: Kolozsvár — Cluj-Napoca (Romania) Kassa — Kosice (Czechoslovakia) Des or Dézs — Dej (Romania) Originally Borsod Abauj Torna Zemplén Megye near the city of Miskolc is now Borsod Abauj Zemplen. Another reader needs help in locating the village of József Haz. It is located somewhere near Szatmar. ->j aj. The Verhovay Induló song We are grateful to those who responded to our inquiries about the song which appeared in the February issue of the William Penn Life. One response was printed in our April issue. I also received a phone call from John Bunchy of Branch 28, Youngstown, Ohio. He said a musical called "Fekete Gyémántok” was written in connection with the 50th anniversary of the Verhovay. It was a history of the organization and of the branch life. According to Mr. Bunchy, Arpad Tarnoczy, then editor of the Hírlap in Akron, wrote the play and a company called Szintarsulat, operated by Zilahy and Heltay, was going to produce it and perform it at various Verhovay branches. The musicians chosen to accompany the road tour were none other than our Youngstown group with John Bunchy (violin), brother Joe Bunchy Bums (cimbalom), Pista Horvath (viola/contra) and a few other gypsy contras. John has a great deal of information about branch life and musicians of the day. We hope to do an oral history tape with him in the near future to record all his valuable information. Hungarian-English dictionary Many of you have inquired about small Hungarian-English dictionaries. We have a limited supply on hand. There are two books to a set. One is Hungarian to English, the other is English to Hungarian. Sets are $14.00 each. Checks should be made payable to William Penn Association and sent to our Home Office in care of Elizabeth Szabo/Dictionaries. I hope that I have been able to answer some of your questions. Keep your letters coming. We want to hear from you!.
