William Penn, 1963 (46. évfolyam, 5-23. szám)
1963-09-18 / 18. szám
PAGE 2 September 18, 1963 William Penn THE XXV CONVENTION OF THE WILLIAM PENN FRATERNAL ASSOCIATION (Continued From Page 1) ever, to meet with their requirements, entirely new certificates would have to be printed. For only one small, Branch, with less than 100 members, we could not justify expending hundreds of dollars for printing of new certificates. In addition to certificate changes ,our One Fund accounting method would have to be changed. Preparatory steps and surveys regarding a Retirement Home were made. However, at the Spring 1962 meeting, we temporarily tabled this matter. Pending approval of the Pennsylvania Insurance Department, proposal was made by the last Convention to exempt, from dues payments, all members 80 years or older who had been members for at least 40 years. The Insurance Department did not approve, and we shall elaborate on this later in our report. The Ladies’ Auxiliary was organized, as provided by the Convention, and once each year, we held joint meetings with the Auxiliary members. Plans for the new William Penn Building, as authorized by the last Convention, could not be carried out for many reasons; primarily, because of a possible tax problem and financing. Other plans were developed for the property, but these did hot materialize either, because an acceptable lease could not be worked out between the interested parties. The Board was authorized by the Convention to increase the basic salary of the Officers during the four year period. However, because of the narrow} margin of profit, the Officers did not feel justified in requesting such increases. The Officers of the Association reported to the Board at each Semi-Annual Meeting. Each individual report was discussed, separately. After deliberation, the reports were then approved and adopted, with modifications where necessary. The Fraternal Affairs Department was the medium through which existing fraternal activities were conducted. Through this department, every effort was made to increase fraternal activities to justify our tax-exempt status; and above all, to rejuvenate the real fraternal spirit among our Branches. Our dedicated Branch Officers have been the driving force in the success of this department’s activities. In the past four years we authorized cash contributions on a pro rate^ basis to all Branches arranging Childrens’ Christmas Parties. In four years, our expenditures totaled $14,451.17 for these parties. According to statistics, the following number of children participated: 4,200 in 1959; 4,600 in 1960; 4,900 in 1961 and 5,300 in 1962. We were also able to determine from the reports that the Branches contributed the following towards this activity: $502.00 in 1959; $914.00 in 1960; $1,134.61 in 1961 and $4,279.02 in 1962. At a number of Branches, fine programs were presented, films were shown and- in three instances, children danced native Hungarian Folk Dances. At tl; se large Branches where District Office expenses are reimbursed by the H< Office, no financial assistance was given for Christmas Parties. The Ladies’ Auxiliary consisted of five dedicated lady members. There were twelve volunteers from among the convention delegates who were willing to start the program from the ground up. The following were elected members: Elvira László, Chairman; Helen Nemeth, Secretary; Julia K. Cher, Mary Révész and Ethel Faczan, members. Once each year during the Autumn Board Meeting, the Ladies’ Auxiliary met at the Home Office and reported personally to us. The Ladies’ Auxiliary deemed their foremost goal to be the forming of Ladies’ Auxiliaries at the Branches from among the second and third generation members. A Handbook was prepared by them for this purpose, and it served as a guide to any Branch which desired to organize Ladies* Auxiliaries. At the present time, we have 14 such auxiliaries functioning. Every effort is expended to have the second and third generation members become interested. The 75th Diamond Jubilee of the founding of our Association was celebrated at the Penn-Sheraton Hotel, Pittsburgh, Pa.' on May 28, 1961. The American-Hungarian Press termed the jubilee as one of the outstanding social and fraternal successes. Over one thousand guests attended, and the program was worthy of the occasion. The Legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania adopted a Resolution to commemorate this great event. The Association was also the recipient of a $400.00 Scholarship Grant through the efforts of State Senator Leonard C. Staisey. Both the English and Hungarian Journals were published in 20 pages to record this great event for posterity. During the Diamond Jubilee Year, we authorized the issuing of lapel pins to those who have been members of the Association for 50 years or more. The pins were presented when the Branches were holding a 75th Anniversary commemorative affair. Without a doubt, the presentation of these pins to the deserving members proved to be the highlight of our Diamond Jubilee events. Many letters from grateful members testify to the value of these awards. In the year 1961, 1,293 pins were presented, and in the year 1962, 557 were presented. The 75th Anniversary celebrations revitalized the social activities at many Branches. The National Bowling Tournament is, without the slightest doubt, the largest single fraternal activity of our Association; and has always provided our members with a fine opportunity to get together and meet each other, at least once a year, during the course of these national meets which are held in different cities each year. During the past four years we expended $14,085.25 for the Tournaments, and we urge that these be continued along the same lines as followed these past four years. In 1961, we introduced Junior Bowling. Branches were furnished the American Junior Bowling Congress Handbook. Financially we supported these teams by reimbursing the Branches for the shirts used by the Junior Bowlers. In 1962 we authorized two Junior Regional Bowling Tournaments for which we furnished the trophies and also served refreshments to the participants. The Eastern Regional Tournament was held in Johnstown, Pa. and teams from Johnstown and Yatesboro, Pa. participated. The Western Regional Tournament was held in Detroit, Mich., and Branches from Detroit, South Bend, Ind. and Toledo, Ohio were represented. In addition, several Branches conducted local or small regional tournaments. Branch 132 in South Bend, Indiana has conducted two annual tournaments among its own members. Branch 226 in McKeesport, Pennsylvania held two Tri-State Tournaments with over 25 teams participating. Branch 296 in Springdale, Pennsylvania conducted one Regional Tournament with 20 teams participating. Branch 8 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania held two annual Tri- State Tournaments. We made it possible for the Branches to conduct Hungarian Folk Dance Classes for their Juvenile members. For this purpose, we granted up to $200. towards the salary of the dance instructor. Three of our Branches took advantage of this opportunity — Branch 8 in Johnstown, Pa., Branch 34 in Pittsburgh, Pa. and Branch 18 in Detroit, Mich. The junior members from these groups are now appearing at various social functions, not only at their own Branches, but are being invited to perform out of town before non-Hungarian groups. During our term in office, we continued granting Scholarship Loans to deserving students. We came to the realization, however, that this program requires a complete overhauling. A survey is now being made to this effect, and the facts will be available to the new Board. / A Home Office Library and Museum has been started at the Home Office. This room also houses old record books which will always have a sentimental value to the Association. In setting up this Library, the Official Journal has been used to appeal to the Branches and old members to turn over to the Museum and Library, old Branch Minutes Books, Pictures, Paraphernalia, Emblems, Flags and any other item which will become of historical value in the years to come. The start has been a modest one, but almost weekly, newer and newer items are being received. We attempted to exhort our Branches to more and bigger fraternal activities. We feel the results were encouraging. A total of 42 Branches conducted Childrens’ Christmas Parties, 6 Branches had a total of 48 Junior Bowling Teams, 32 Branches participated in the National Bowling Tournament, 14 Branches have Ladies’ Auxiliaries, 55 Branches held banquets or teas to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the founding of the Association and 2,349 members were awarded lapel pins for having been members of the Association for 50 or more years. Indications are, that with proper guidance, all activities can be rejuvenated at the Branches. We are a fraternal benefit society and we are, therefore, bound to live by the laws of fraternals. Every effort must be made to find, at each Branch, people who are willing to accept the responsibility of guiding the fraternal and social activities at the Branch, particularly to guide and lead the juvenile members. There is no question in our mind that the Official Organ is the medium which keeps the members in touch with the Association. Branch meetings are no longer as popular as they once were. Therefore, the continuation of the Official Organ is vital to maintain rapport between the members and the Association. The printing and mailing of the “William Penn” is becoming more costly each year. The members do not contribute towards the printing of the paper and it is furnished to them free of charge. For the purpose of reducing expenses of the official publication, we resolved to issue the “William Penn” only twelve times per year — Six times in the Hungarian language and six imes in the English language — in alternate months. We commenced this experiment in July 1960, but by June 30, 1961, we had to eliminate this idea because the objections were too numerous from the Branches despite the fact that we emphasized from the beginning, that this was purely an economy measure. Presently the “William Penn” appears once each month in English and once each month in Hungarian. We have placed only two restrictions, namely that the paper contain material strictly in connection with the Association, and that no issue exceed 8 tabloid pages. Consideration must be given to the fact that the Hungarian reader is becoming fewer and fewer with each passing month; while, on the other hand, the English readers are increasing. All of you are aware of the fact that there are no more migrations from Hungary. We are depending on the second and third generation for membership and this group is English speaking. It is not difficult to ascertain that, at the present rate, there will not be much need for a separate Hungarian issue. Presently we are publishing 28,000 English and 12,000 Hungarian copies. Vacancies on the Board were filled according to the By-Laws provisions. Mr. Frank Magyary replaced the late Mr. Alex Gyulay; Mr. Julius Z. Nadas replaced the late Mr. Fishbein. Also, the vacancy on the Auditing Committee was filled by Mr. László Kereszti upon the death of Mr. Andrew Bandy. THE SECRETARY’S DEPARTMENT DEATHS It is with deep regret that we must report to the Convention that death took a high toll from among those who were elected to Office by the preceding convention. We mourn the loss of President Coloman Revesz, Directors Alexander Gyulay and László Fishbein, Auditing Committee Member Andrew Bandy, also Honorary President Stephen Varga and Retired Treasurer Stephen Kundrath of the former Rákóczi Aid Association; Convention Delegates Stephen Sipos, John Beky, John Mayer, Julius Illés, John A. Toth, Anthony Rocz, Joseph Szalay (one-time President of the former Verhovay), Joseph Szabó and John Denes; also Julia Eszlari, Helen Toth and Elmer Charles, Jr., employees of the Home Office and Peter Walko, District Manager, and several Illustrious Members and Branch Officers. A total of 4,183 Certificates were terminated by death during the fouryear period. It would be most fitting and proper to stand for a moment of silent prayer in memory of our departed members, and at the same time extend our sympathies to the families of the departed. VACANCY IN OFFICE OF PRESIDENT The sudden and unexpected death of Coloman Revesz created a vacancy in the Office of President of the Association. Our By-Laws do not provide for automatic succession of the Vice-President to the Presidency. Should there be a vacancy, the Vice-President may, however, carry on the duties of the President until such time as the vacancy in the Office of the President is filled. (Continued On The Next Page) V*
