Magyar News, 2002. szeptember-2003. augusztus (13. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

2003-07-01 / 11-12. szám

tioning and cultivating aspects of the much-needed Magyar "work", frequently , quite successfully.

According to the results of the 2000 census, approximately 1.5 million persons claiming Hungarian ancestry live in the United States. It has been estimated that 10% of these individuals, approximately 150,000, speak Hungarian with any regularity, at an acceptable level. Approximately 25% of these, cca. 35,000 Hungarian individuals participate in Hungarian-American life, on a regular basis, as members of churches, organizations and clubs.

I have referred to the dichotomy of Hungarian organizational life in the United States already - the lack of umbrella organization or organizations and the colorful palette of smaller, effective affiliations. There are a number of groups that have maintained a "middle-road" functional status , between these two extremes. I think, it is appropriate to describe them in detail.

The Hungarian Scout Association in Exterris (initially H.S.A. in Exile) Külföldi Magyar Cserkészszövetség, was organized in the early 50-s. The major ambition of the Hungarian Scouts was and continues to be the promotion and persistent maintenance of Magyar traditions and the promotion of accepted scout ethic of behavior and life style. With their strict requirement of spoken and written knowledge of the Hungarian language, they have been highly successful and had flourished remarkably well during their existence. The Hungarian Scout Association has been instrumental in resuscitating the scout movement in Hungary and the rest of the Carpathian Basin, also. They deserve our unqualified gratitude and admiration.

The Hungarian Human Rights Foundation (formerly the Committee for Human Rights in Romania, CHHR, was established in 1976 and has been most effective and intelligent in developing a frequently productive relationship with policymakers in Washington, D. C. HHRF was able to develop a mechanism of involving and influencing members of Congress, State Department staff and the White House policymakers, in order to shape or modify policies regarding Hungarians living in minority enclaves of Central Europe. HHRF was influential in

organizing demonstrations in Washington and New York and had initiated a number of highly successful letter-writing campaigns, for instance.

Hungarian Communion of Friends (Magyar Baráti Közösség or MBK) was initially organized in 1968, by three disenchanted Hungarian students who had come to the realization that an alternate form of American-Hungarian life was truly necessary, in contrast to the existing organizations, with frequently virulent political ideologies. MBK had wanted to develop a forum of free exchange of opinions, without any political associations. I am happy to report that MBK has succeeded in this endeavor! Its annual conferences (actually Találkozók) at Lake Hope, Ohio (Reménység Tava) have become a much sought -after forum for the expression of otherwise repressed convictions by dissident artists, poets and philosophers, prior to 1989, and the Közösség has continued to present the best in Hungarian thought artistic and literary creativity, ever since.

The Hungarian-American Coalition (HAC) has been in existence for more than a decade. As a Washingtonbased organization, it has become highly effective and successful in developing connections with official Washington. It has created strong educational support activities for Hungarian minorities; it was involved in a remarkably successful public opinion campaign for gamering support for Hungary's entrance into NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The Coalition's newsletters have been most informative and of high caliber .

At this point, I wish to provide a sampler of the "specialty" groups I have referred to previously. Since the scope of this talk does permit even a semblance of completeness, I shall limit the description of these affiliations to those that I have become most familiar in my state of residence of Connecticut. The Wallingford Hungarian Club has been established in the early 1930's. Its building has been free of mortgage obligations for quite a long time; its large and sunny auditorium, equipped with a stage, has proved to be a good venue for visiting performers, instrumental ensembles and folk dance groups. Its membership, admittedly is aging and is, at times, apathetic. A handful of enthusiastic members continue to work hard and has made survival of the Club possible.

The Magyar Studies of America, Inc., a nonprofit organization recognized by the state of Connecticut and federal authorities has been in operation for about a quarter of century. During this time, it has provided Hungarian language educating of the panels

tion for nearly a thousand students of all , ages. The Magyar Studies of America, Inc., has maintained regular Hungarian radio broadcasts; it has organized literary evenings and other social activities- its teachers and office workers have been working voluntarily and without monetary reenumeration of any nature.

The Pannónia American Hungarian Club recently celebrated its 50th anniversary of its fundraising "Cafe Budapest" Ball a few weeks ago. The Pannónia Club has maintained the traditions of a debutante ball format, and has introduced hundreds of young women to "society", over the years. Proceeds of the ball have been used to maintain a scholarship fund supporting Hungarian students. The Pannónia Club has been also instrumental in organizing the well-attended March 15 celebrations annually.

Magyar News, a monthly newspaper published in Bridgeport CT. has provided news and commentary for Hungarians in Connecticut, and, to an extent, for those outside the state borders. The paper is published in English. Its survival has been made possible by the continuously selfless sacrifice willingly accepted and shouldered by its founder-editor.

I am truly happy to include an organization that happens to be very close to my heart: I am referring to the Hungarian Cultural Society of Connecticut (HCSC). Originally organized as the "Wallingford Reading Circle" in the late 70's, HCSC obtained its tax-exempt status in 1989. In addition of maintaining a schedule of monthly gatherings to deal with aspects of Hungarian history, art and literature, the Hungarian Cultural Society of Connecticut has staged annual Gala-s, usually in Stamford, CT. From the proceeds of last year's Gala, named "The Golden Age of Transylvania" we have been able to provide significant financial support for the Teleki-Bolyai Library of Marosvásárhely, the Sapientia University of Transylvania and a number of Hungarian high schools in Erdély.

While summarizing my observations; permit me to employ some medical nomenclature. The diagnostic impressions offered relate to the absence of comprehensive "umbrella" organization or organizations and the existence of multiple vibrant and viable small "specialty" affiliations. The recommended therapeutic modalities are primarily supportive in nature and relate to the necessary and desirable vitalization, promotion and support of these groups with the desirable introduction of efforts to coordinate their activities.

I find the overall prognosis to be guarded: it is apparent that the final outcome is largely dependent on future historical developments, consistently maintained hard work and perseverance, and .admittedly, on a measure of good luck and fortune.

Dr. Balázs Somogyi Page 5