William Penn Life, 1990 (25. évfolyam, 2-10. szám)
1990-09-01 / 9. szám
PENN LIFE WILLIAM PENN ASSOCIATIO Volume 25 September 1990 Number 9 The William Penn Home’s Community Festival on Aug. 12 offered whole families the chance to participate together in many fun activities, such as this hayride around the Home’s grounds. (Photo by Louis A. Fodor) Families share fun-filled day at successful Community Festival WPA Hungarian Language Camp earns high marks WELLSBURG, WV - The success of some events is measured by the number of people in attendance. Other affairs are judged successful based on the amount of money they raise for a certain cause. The William Penn Home Community Festival held here Aug. 12 was successful on both counts. While the threat of rain early in the day accounted for a slow start, by the middle of the afternoon the sun shone brightly and the thoroughfare was filled with people of all ages playing games Inside_____ ■ Country readies to celebrate Constitution ............Page 2. ■ New Jersey to honor Hungarian community.................Page 3. ■ The latest news and notes from our branches .... Pages 5, 8. ■ Magyar Nyelv!, the Hungarian page, returns.............Page 6. ■ In Memóriám and Recent Donations .................Page 7. Next Deadline September 15 and enjoying the festive and fraternal atmosphere. At the end of the day, a total of $9,566.06 had been raised, representing a 16.3% increase over proceeds raised at last year’s festival. The money raised at these two festivals will go toward the purchase of a new van for the Home’s elderly residents. Yet, the festival succeeded in more ways than just drawing a crowd and raising money for a worthy cause. It served as a showcase for the noblest aspects of the fraternal spirit: the eagerness of fraternalists to volunteer tremendous amounts of time and effort for a good cause, the willingness of different people to work together for a common goal, the love of family and respect of heritage. All of these things combined to make this 68th annual festival a memorable event for organizers, workers and guests alike. The festival began as it always has with religious services. During a Roman Catholic mass gifts of bread, flowers and American and Hungarian flags were presented, representing thanks for the food to be shared that day, a respect for life and love for country and heritage. Following mass the festival hosted its first ecumenical service, allowing people of all Christian denominations the chance to give thanks for the fellowship shared that day. Throughout the afternoon children and adults alike could be seen enjoying delicious American and Hungarian food, playing various games of chance, and simply having fun. And everywhere there were families sharing a day together. Even at the face painting stand, See FESTIVAL Page 3 TRENT, PA — The William Penn Life’s Hungarian page has 23 new readers this month: the students of the Association’s first-ever Hungarian Language Camp at Penn’s Scenic View. "This was a pilot program,” said Louis A. Fodor, chairman of the National Auditing Committee and an instructor at the camp, "but everyone—students, teachers, the National Officers who visited the camp—agrees that this was a huge success beyond all expectations.” Students began arriving at the camp in the early afternoon Sunday, Aug. 5 for a week of intensive instruction and study. They were greeted by National Secretary-Treasurer Frances A. Furedy and National Auditor Michael R. Kara, who registered the students and gave them their sleeping room assignments. Students and instructors enjoyed Sunday supper together and took advantage of the opportunity to get acquainted before the learning sessions began. The students were a diverse group, representing all parts of the country and a wide range of vocations. Many of the adult William Penn members taking the classes hailed from Pennsylvania and Ohio, but several traveled here from as far away as Indiana, Illinois, Utah, and even Florida and California. Among the students could be found a minister, a lawyer, a law student, a retired dentist, steelworkers, engineers, college professors and housewives. Most of the students came to the camp with some previous knowledge of the language, but there were five who had no previous knowledge of Hungarian. "We had an interesting mix of people from widely different backgrounds who shared one important thing: a strong desire to learn,” Mr. Fodor said. That desire was put to the test during the week as students faced a total of 10 two-and-a-half-hour instructional sessions. "We met in the mornings from 9:00 to 11:30 and in the afternoons from 1:30 to 4:00. But we ran over several times. No one minded; they all wanted to learn,” Mr. Fodor said. In addition, evening sessions were held from 7:00 to 9:00. These sessions were voluntary, but every student attended each session, which consisted of a onehour video presentation followed by an hour of learning favorite Hungarian folk songs. The daytime sessions focused on the teaching of conversational Hungarian along with a basic understanding of Hungarian life, history and culture. Mr. Fodor, fellow instructor Gabriella Gally and teaching assistants Mr. Kara and National Director Elmer W. Toth guided See CAMP Page 2 Member stars in TV literacy ad From The News Tribune EDISON, NJ — Encouraging her peers to read has paid off for Branch 19 member Suzanne Plantec and three of her classmates at Washington School. Suzanne and classmates Rachita Sharma, Beth Koperwhats and Meriam Sabih, all of whom will enter sixth grade this fall, wrote a television script and a song sung to the tune of "America” as their entry in the "Read to Succeed” contest. The entry beat out 24 other entries from pupils throughout the state in grades K-8. Each girl received a $50 U.S. Savings Bond, season passes to Great Adventure amusement park, shirts, sunglasses and a certificate of recognition. Suzanne and 20 of her classmates star in the production, filmed in June in the WWORTV studies in Secaucus and at Liberty State Park. The 30-second public service spot aired this summer on WWOR. "I enjoyed the assignment, although I didn’t think we’d go as far as we did,” Suzanne said. The winning song is as follows: My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of literacy, Today we read. Land where our fathers read their children into bed, 1 wish you’d use your head and leam to read.
