William Penn Life, 1988 (23. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1988-08-01 / 8. szám
Bon voyage! There were many smiles and a few tears at the Greater Pittsburgh International Airport July 3 as 20 young members (above) departed for a special three-week trip to Hungary. At left, National President Stephen G. Danko greets Nancy Bakos of North Olmstead, Ohio, and her daughter Nicole. Below, chaperon Darlene Szatmári helps one of the children attach her name tag. Trip for teens set for 1989 PITTSBURGH — As 20 William Penn members return from their recent trip to Hungary, the Association is already planning a trip to Hungary in 1989 for teenage members. The tour for members age 15 to 18 was approved by the Board of Directors at its June meeting. The trip has been tentatively scheduled for next July and will include a stay at a Hungarian cultural camp and a tour of Hungary’s most famous and historic sites. As with this summer’s trip, the Association will pay for at least half of each child’s air fare, accommodations, tour expenses, and camp fees. "The cost to each teenager will be no more than $500,” said National President Stephen G. Danko. Details on this special trip will appear in future issues of the William Penn Life. August 1988, William Penn Life, Page 5 WPA establishes fund for Hungarian refugees from Erdély PITTSBURGH — The Association recently established a special fund to aid the thousands of Hungarians fleeing Romania and the repressive rural reorganization policy of the Romanian government. "Our Association has always come to the aid of our fellow Hungarians in need,” said National Secretary E. E. Vargo. "This most recent group of Hungarian refugees desperately needs help, and we hope the money we raise can help ease their burdens.” To date, more than 50,000 Hungarians living in the Erdély region of Romania have fled across the border into Hungary. Thousands more arrive in Hungary each month. The refugees are escaping the devastating effects of Romania’s reorganization policy which has already led to the destruction of whole villages. Thousands of Hungarians have been forced out of their homes and bused to Romanian-speaking communities, leaving behind most, if not all, of their worldly possessions. "It is beyond belief and imagination the variety of cruel harassment and atrocities to which Hungarians (in Romania) are exposed each and every day,” said tbe Rt. Rev. Zoltán Király, Bishop of the Calvin Synod. "The persecution of the Hungarian minority is so severe that a constant fear and mistrust are noticed in the refugees long after their escape into Hungary,” Bishop Király said. The Hungarian government, wrestling with its own economic problems, can not provide sufficient emergency relief for the burgeoning number of refugees. Bishop Király and others who are monitoring the situation say support from outside of Hungary is needed to meet the basic needs of the refugees. "It is honorable that (the refugees) are received in Hungary and that limited help is offered. But how long can they stay? What will the future hold for them?” Bishop Király said. The William Penn Association Erdley Fund has been established as a response to that appeal. The Association will match dollar-for-dollar the total amount contributed by its members, Secretary Vargo said. "We are asking our members to remember when they — or their parents or grandparents — came to this country, and remember the help and support they received from the Hungarian community,” Secretary Vargo said. "All we ask is that our members exhibit their great fraternal spirit and support their Hungarian brothers and sisters in need,” he said. Anyone wishing to contribute to this worthy cause can send their donations to: William Penn Association Erdély Fund, 709 Brighton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15233. We appeal to all our members and fellow Hungarian Americans to help the Hungarian refugees from Erdély. Please send your contributions to: William Penn Association Erdély Fund 709 Brighton Road Pittsburgh, PA 15233 International visitors discuss politics with Pres, Danko PITTSBURGH — A group of international dignitaries recently visited the Association’s Home Office for a discussion with National President Stephen G. Danko on the voting strengths of the William Penn’s membership. The visit to the Home Office was part of the group’s factfinding mission to see how the vote of large ethnic groups affects local, state and national elections. The tour was to conclude with a visit to the Democratic National Convention held last month in Atlanta, Ga. During the discussion, President Danko was asked if the William Penn endorses specific candidates or favors one political party. "The William Penn Association has always allowed its members to decide for themselves which political party and candidates they wish to support,” he said. "We continually encourage our members to vote, but we do not encourage on how to vote.” The groups of eight dignitaries included: Bonaya Adhi Godana, Kenya, member of Parliament, assistant minister of Health, and senior lecturer and chairman of the Department of Public Law at the University of Nairobi; Geert Versnick, Belgium, secretary to former Vice Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, lawyer, and chairman of the Youth Section of the Flemish Liberal Party; Mohamed Lutfi Tamim, Egypt, reporter, anchorman, and producer of News and Views, one of only two political programs on Egyptian television; Miguel Angel Rossell Vale, Venezuela, director of Critica, the second largest newspaper in the state of Zulia; Franco Mattéi, Italy, instructor of Political Science at Florence University and former Fullbright scholar; Andrew William Harvey, New Zealand, chairman of the New Zealand Young Nationals and executive member of the New Zealand National Party; Martin Granovsky, Argentina, assistant editor for domestic policy and foreign policy columnist for Pagina 12; and Ahmed Mastour Alfáig, Sudan, member of Parliament from the Alnhoud District. Following the discussion with President Danko, the group was given a tour of the Home Office. The visit was arranged by the Pittsburgh Council for International Visitors.
