William Penn Life, 2007 (42. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

2007-03-01 / 3. szám

For Starters

‘Experience’ offers a true taste of Hungary

PITTSBURGH — If you have always wanted to learn Hungarian, or if you wish to brush up on your Hungarian grammar, then you should attend the Hungarian Heritage Experience at Penn Scenic View, Rockwood, Pa.,

Aug. 5 to 11.

Participants will receive a total of 25 hours (or more) of instruction from experienced teachers. The Experience will also take you on a fascinating journey with classmates who have the same desire to explore and share memories and experiences of our common Hungarian heritage.

The program will include Hungarian history, geography, cooking, embroidery, music, dancing, sightseeing and more.

The number of participants will be limited to 25 students. Any adult lifebenefit member of the WPA age 16 or older is eligible to attend.

Hungarian Heritage Experience

Reservation Form

August 5-1 1,2007 • Penn Scenic View, Rockwood, PA

Name:________________________________________________________

Address:______________________________________________________

Phone:________________________________________________________

WPA Certificate Number_________________________________________

Fee = $275 per person (includes lodging, meals and instructional materials) Make check payable to “William Penn Association”

Mail this form and check to:

Hungarian Heritage Experience, William Penn Association 709 Brighton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15233

Spotlight

/Rev. A. Seifal&K

Br. 8 Johnstown, PA

CONGRATULATIONS to the Rev. Imre A. Bertalan, a member of Branch 8 Johnstown, Pa., who was selected by the National Fraternal Congress of America as a Fraternal MVP (Most Valuable Participant) for the week of Jan. 29,2007. Fraternal MVPs are "Fratemalists-in-Action" who volunteer their time and energy to strengthen their communities through participation in local lodge activities and other charitable endeavors.

Rev. Bertalan grew up in the Hungarian American neighborhoods of Passaic and New Brunswick, N.J.

In both of these communities, the William Penn Association (WPA) and the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America (HRFA) have active branches, and Rev. Bertalan, from the time he was in grade school, helped with church clean-up projects, attended picnics and took part in annual observances of important Hungarian and American events, all

of which took place through the involvement of these two fraternal organizations.

After graduating from Princeton Theological Seminary, Rev. Bertalan pastored Hungarian Reformed congregations in Toledo, Ohio, and Allen Park, Mich., where he worked to increase membership and involvement in both fratemals. In Toledo,

Rev. Bertalan co-chaired for many years the Birmingham Ethnic Festival, which brought thousands of visitors to the old Hungarian neighborhood each year, and which also raised thousands of dollars for neighborhood improvements. Rev. Bertalan also encouraged both the WPA and the HRFA to become major sponsors of the Annual Festival.

Since moving to Ligonier, Pa., in 2000, Rev. Bertalan has established the Bethlen Cultural Center under the auspices of Bethlen Communities, a

faith-based retirement community and conference center, of which Rev. Bertalan is executive director. The Cultural Center seeks to promote and share the Hungarian cultural identity. The Cultural Center is supported by both the WPA and the HRFA.

Rev. Bertalan is currently cochairing an effort to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Darr Mine disaster, in which many miners of Hungarian descent were killed. The commemoration will take place in October of this year and will honor the sacrifice of early Hungarian immigrants and miners of other nationalities, and will pay tribute to the fratemals, the William Penn Association and the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America, for the strong support they gave the families of the miners killed and injured on that tragic day.

Rev. Bertalan is married to Magdalene J. Ujvagi, and together, they have five children. The entire Bertalan-Ujvagi family is active in fraternal affairs.

William Penn Life, March 2007

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The fee for the week is $275 per person and includes instruction, lodging, food and instructional texts.

For more information, call Fraternal Director Endre Csornán at 1-800- 848-7366, ext. 136.