William Penn Life, 2011 (46. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

2011-04-01 / 4. szám

Branching Out with Endre Csornán

Albert V. Kocsis, President of the Rákóczi Aid Association, signs the agreement merging the Verhovay and Rákóczi Associations in Bridgeport, Conn., in June 1955. Looking on are the co-signers: Verhovay National President John Bencze (seated right), Rákóczi Secretary Joseph Vasas (standing left) and Verhovay National Secretary Colomon Revesz (standing right). The momentous event was the culmination of two years of negotiations.

A brief history

of William Penn Association

Part Three: As it grew through mergers, the Association established programs to attract youth and become a leader

I

in the Hungarian community

by Endre Csornán

The first major effort to merge the larger Hungarian fraternal societies was attempted in 1930 when the Verhovay, Rákóczi, Reformed Federation and the Bridgeport Federation called a meeting to discuss the ways and means by which a merger could be accomplished. Like so many future attempts, this first one failed. In the mid-1930's, three of the fraternals established a special joint committee to consider the possibility of a merger, which led to a "Conference on Unification" two years later; but again, there were no tangible results.

However, a number of smaller mergers did take place. The Verhovay benefited by the absorption of the St. Stephen Society of Youngstown (Ohio) and the Pittsburgh and vicinity Reformed Aid Society (1933); The First Workingmen's Sick Benefit Society of McKeesport, PA (1935); the Hungarian Workingmen's Sick Benefit Society of Muskingum Heights, MI (1938); the Workingmen's Sick Benefit Federation (1947); and the New Jersey Hungarian Society (1953). This was followed in 1955 by the merger with the Rákóczi Aid Association, which altered the structure of the Verhovay, in effect producing a new organization under the name of William Penn Fraternal Association.

As it grew during the first half of the 20th century, the Verhovay Association strived to establish closer contacts between the two generations of Hungarian Americans. These efforts paralleled the establishment of programs aimed at enlisting the youth. The leaders of the Verhovay began to support sports, scouting and other activities that were important tools of socialization. Baseball teams had already been active in many branches since the late 1920's. In the mid-1930's, scout troops were established, and, in 1941, the bowling league was founded. Bowling soon became popular with young and old. This led to the establishment of annual bowling tournaments, which, in turn, increased the spirit of fraternalism among members who represented various branches hundreds of miles apart. The

bowling tournaments fostered the feeling of comradeship and the feeling of belonging, and they encouraged loyalty to the Verhovay and all things Hungarian.

Along with the growth of sports activities and the spread of the Verhovay homes, the Association also became involved in other Hungarian social, welfare and cultural activities, such as supporting Hungarian-American homes for the aged, offering scholarship loans, collecting funds for the Hungarian Red Cross, extending financial support to the Hungarian Gardens in Cleveland and the Hungarian Room in the Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburgh, and supporting Hungarian radio programs throughout the country. These activities made the Verhovay the most widely known and most highly regarded Hungarian-American organization in North America.

The question of the desirable merger with the Rákóczi Aid Association was again brought to the forefront in 1953 when the Board of Directors of both associations appointed a special Merger Committee to explore the ways and means of this proposed merger. After more than a year of negotiations, the merger with the Rákóczi Aid Association of Bridgeport, Conn., succeeded in 1955. The Association, thereafter, operated under the name of William Penn Fraternal Association.

A special election for the leadership of the reconstituted William Penn Fraternal Association took place on February 21,1956, and the following national officers were placed in office:

• National President Coloman Revesz (Verhovay)

• National Secretary Albert J. Stelkovics (Rákóczi)

• National Controller Julius K. Somogyi (Rákóczi)

• Vice President I Julius Macker (Verhovay)

• Vice President II Louis R. Varga (Rákóczi)

The 19 members of the Board of Directors of the William Penn Fraternal Association included 11 from Verhovay and eight from the Rákóczi.

Next month: A short history of the Rákóczi Aid Association.

4 0 April 2011 0 William Penn Life