William Penn Life, 1988 (23. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1988-12-01 / 12. szám

,Ví' - .. , «■'?#> \ r-{j December 1988, William Renn Life, Page 3 Vargo elected president of fraternal congress PHILADELPHIA — E. E. Vargo, national secretary of the William Penn Association, has been elect­ed to a one-year term as president of the Pennsylvania Fraternal Congress (PAFC). Mr. Vargo was installed as PAFC president by William Penn National President Stephen G. Danko in a special ceremony held during the PAFC’s 77th annual meeting held Oct. 23-25 in Philadelphia. The installation marked the second time this year that Mr. Vargo has assumed the presiden­cy of a state fraternal congress. Earlier this year, he was elected to a one-year term as president of the New Jersey Fraternal Con­gress. Both state fraternal congress presidencies are voluntary posi­tions, and Mr. Vargo will con­tinue to serve full-time as the Association’s national secretary. Mr. Vargo was elected PAFC president by representatives from 78 fraternal benefit societies who attended the PAFC annual meet­ing. Those societies insure more than 900,000 members in 7,557 lodges and branches throughout Pennsylvania. Representing the William Penn Association were Mr. Danko, Mr. Vargo, National Vice President Zoltán B. Emri, Chairman of the Board Joseph P. Arvay, National Directors Michael J. Hrabar and Elmer W. Toth, and Branch 76 Philadelphia President Steve Szemes. The three-day meeting consist­ed of seminars and workshops conducted by top volunteers, life insurance experts and motiva­tional speakers. Subjects covered included the Model Fraternal Code, State Examinations, Con­tinuing Education, Sales and Marketing the Fraternal System, New Products of the 90’s, and Financial Planning. Joseph Stefka, president of the National Slovak Society in Pitts­burgh, received the John Jordan Upchurch Award, named after the founder of the fraternal move­ment in this country. During his installation, Mr. Vargo told the delegates to in­crease volunteerism and member­ship within the fraternal system. He also encouraged the introduc­tion of more programs and activi­ties which would benefit local communities where members have their lodges. The delegates also received greetings from Pennsylvania Gov. Robert P. Casey, who noted that Pennsylvania is the largest state organization within the National Fraternal Congress of America. "The fraternal movement is guided by the principle of broth­erhood,” Gov. Casey noted. "Some [fraternal societies] have evolved into multi-million dollar companies and diversified cor­porations. All continue to stress patriotism and civic responsibil­ity to their new country just as they honor the traditions and customs of the heritage of their old countries.” Among the many activities sponsored by member societies of the PAFC are scholarship as­sistance, heritage libraries, year­­round recreational programs, youth forums, family holiday parties, visitation of the sick and disabled, programs for the handi­capped, periodicals for members, and donations to benevolent, civic and charitable organizations. Joining Mr. Vargo as executive officers of the PAFC for the coming year are William E. Swirs­­ding of the Artisans Order of E. E. VARGO, FIC National Secretary Mutual Protection, first vice pres­ident; Hans G. Struff of the Great­er Beneficial Union of Pittsburgh, second vice president; and An­drew Brindzák, FIC, of the Pres­byterian Beneficial Union, secre­tary-treasurer. Continuing on the PAFC Board of Directors for one-year terms are Bernard Golubiewski of the Russian Orthodox Catholic Mu­tual Aid Society; Micheál Roman of the Greek Catholic Union; Bohdan Todoriv of the Provi­dence Association of Ukranian Catholics; and Bruce Mcllrath of the Greater Beneficial Union of Pittsburgh. Elected to serve two-year terms on the PAFC Board were Thomas Guidish, FIC, of the First Catho­lic Slovak Union of the USA and Canada; Richard Kress of the American Fraternal Union; Char­lotte Androckaitis of the Polish Union of US of NA; and John Acchione III of the Order Sons of Italy. Ms. Alfreda Plocha, president of the Union of Polish Women in America and immediate past president of the PAFC, will serve a one-year term on the Board. In addition to his involvement in the Pennsylvania and New Jersey fraternal congresses, Mr. Vargo has also served on various committees of the National Fra­ternal Congress, including the membership committee, state fra­ternal congress section, family life committee, and general ses­sions committee. His involvement is part of the William Penn’s tradition of active participation in the national and state fraternal congresses. Fraternal congress honors Slovak society president PITTSBURGH —Joseph Stefka, president of the National Slovak Society, was recently honored as the recipient of the 1988 John Jordan Upchuch Award. The award is presented annually by the Pennsylvania Fraternal Con­gress (PAFC) to the state’s out­standing fraternalist. Mr. Stefka received the award during the PAFC’s annual meet­ing held Oct. 23 to 25 in Phila­delphia. He is the first Slovak fraternalist to receive this high award from his peers. Mr. Stefka, 69, has been a member of the National Slovak Society since birth and has served as an officer of his lodge since 1937. He served as president of his society’s Pittsburgh District from 1961 to 1975. In 1962 he became office man­ager of the society and went on to serve as a delegate and officer at 13 conventions. He was elected supreme presi­dent in 1974 and was re-elected in 1978. In 1982 he was elected president by acclamation, becom­ing the first president in his soci­ety’s history to be so elected. He was re-elected, again by acclama­tion, in 1986. In addition to his service to his society, Mr. Stefka has also served as president of the Frater­nal Societies of Greater Pitts­burgh, earning the organization’s fraternalist of the year award in 1983. He has served as a director of the National Fraternal Congress of America and as president of the PAFC. Presently, he sits on the NFCA’s Investment Commit­tee and State Fraternal Congress Section. In his community, he has serv­ed on the Avella Area Board of Education, was a scoutmaster in the Boy Scouts of America, and is an honorary member of the Avella Fire Department. He officiated high school and semi-pro football for 41 years, retiring in 1981. He served as rules interpreter and president of the Washington-Greene County Chapter of PIAA football officials for 25 years. He organized the first midget football league in his area in 1938. Mr. Stefka has also served as the Slovak American Commis­sioner on the Governor’s Heri­tage Affairs Advisory Commis­sion. He is a member of the Slovak Leauge of America and has been actively involved in many Slovak heritage affairs. He is married to the former Kathryn Vujanich. They have four children: Joseph Jr., Patricia, Deborah and David. Welcome To Our Fraternal Family We happily present for your enjoyment more of our newest William Penn Association members. If you have a child age 5 or under who recently joined our Association, send us his or her photo so that all our members can welcome him or her to our fraternal family. All photographs will be published on a first-come, first-served basis. MATTHEW J. PUSKAS New Brunswick, NJ JACQUELINE RIETSKI McKeesport, PA BILLY TAPLEY New Kensington, PA

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