William Penn Life, 2010 (45. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2010-01-01 / 1. szám
For Starters WPA Chairman of the Board Stephen J. Varga (second from left) greets Hungarian Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai along with Maximilian Teleki, president of the Hungarian American Coaltion (left) and Hungarian Ambassador Béla Szombati. WPA Chairman Varga elected chairman of Hungarian American Coalition V.P.-Secretary Toth named ‘Fraternalist of the Year1 by PITTSBURGH ~ Richard W. Toth, FLMI, FIC, national vice presidentsecretary of the WPA, was recently named Fraternalist of the Year by the Fraternal Societies of Greater Pittsburgh (FSGP). Mr. Toth will be the guest of honor at a special banquet March 30 hosted by the FSGP. He was first employed by the WPA in January 1984 in the Underwriting Department and was appointed Chief Underwriter in October 1993. He was elected Acting Secretary by the WPA Board of Directors in June 1996 and elected National Vice President- Secretary in October that year, an office he has now held for 13 years. He earned his Fraternal Insurance Counsellor's (FIC) designation in August 1985 and his Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI) designation in December 1995. He is an active member of WPA Branch 89 Homestead, Pa., where he served as branch vice president for many years. In addition, Mr. Toth has served the fraternal benefit system with distinction as president of Pennsylvania Fraternal Congress in 2009 and as president of Fraternal Societies of Greater Pittsburgh in 2008. He is a lifelong resident of Munhall, Pa., where he has volunteered for many years with local youth baseball. He and his wife Nancy are the proud parents of four sons, Richard, Christopher, Matthew and Zachary. We congratulate Mr. Toth on receiving this honor. WASHINGTON ~ WPA Chairman of the Board Steven J. Varga took over the rotating chairmanship of the Hungarian American Coalition during the Coalition's 18th Annual General and Board Meetings held Dec. 5, 2009, in Washington, D.C. Other representatives of the WPA attending the meeting were Vice Chairman of the Board Barbara A. House, National Director William J. Bero and National Vice President- Fraternal Endre Csornán. The Coalition also renewed the Board memberships of the WPA as well as those of numerous organizations representing the American Hungarian community. The Hungarian American Coalition is a nationwide non-profit organization that promotes public understanding of issues of Hungarian American interest. About 25 Coalition members attended a White House briefing Dec. 4, hosted by Jeff Hovenier, director for Central and Eastern Europe, National Security Council. Later that evening, the WPA delegation and Coalition members attended the traditional Mikulás Dinner hosted by the Hungarian Embassy. Among the guests were Hungarian Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai and Prof. János Martonyi, former minister of foreign affairs of Hungary. In his remarks, Mr. Bajnai described the importance of U.S.Hungarian relations and reported on Hungary's increased commitment to NATO's multinational forces in Afghanistan. He stressed the need to continue the reforms and austerity measures he introduced last spring after becoming prime minister. Prof. Martonyi, the evening's keynote speaker, spoke about Hungary's role and responsbilities arising from its membership in the EU and NATO and its partnership with the U.S. Noting that Hungary is a small country, he stressed that size does not matter, as "the most important things in life, such as honor, integrity, courage, love or patriotism cannot be quantified." We congratulate Chairman Varga on his election as chairman of the Coalition and wish him and the Coalition well in the coming year.- Barbara A. House 2 William Penn Life, January 2010
