Fraternity-Testvériség, 1972 (50. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1972-04-01 / 4-6. szám
DR. ZOLTÁN BEKY, President: GREETINGS TO THE CONVENTION In behalf of the National Officers, the members of the Board of Directors and of the entire membership of our Federation I convey my most sincere and heartfelt greetings to the Delegates of the XXIXth Convention, which has been called together in the week of June 26th at Ligonier, Pa., where so many important events have already taken place in the history of our American- Hungarian community. This meeting will also be a convention of historic significance. We hope that the entire American Hungarian Community is with us and will be with us in prayers and in the spirit of brotherly love. The delegates of this Convention were elected by the membership of our branches, but in fact, they represent our entire American-Hungarian community. We believe that our membership has chosen well, that the elected delegates will represent the best interest of our membership and have the true genuine concern for the better future of our Federation. There are among them delegates who have carried the burden of the work and responsibility for our Federation through many decades, not only as leaders, in their individual branches and churches, but also as delegates in many previous conventions. They have indeed contributed their best to the great progress of our Federation. Without their love, dedication and commitment our Federation could not have become such a great fraternal organization as it is today. We greet them with fervent prayers that their presence and participation will be a blessing for our Convention. We also extend our greetings to those who have been elected to be delegates for the first time. They are not new in the life of our fraternal organization. They deserve the confidence of our members, because they have already shown the loyalty of their hearts and the best of their talents to our beloved Federation and they are the good promise for the future of our Federation. The last four years, our Convention has to consider, were probably the most critical years of human history filled with conflicts, trials, riots. The period was definitely one of the most uncertain periods politically, economically. Despite all of these immense difficulties, our Federation showed great progress during the last four years. We should give thanks to Almighty God that He sustained us in His mercy, gave us strength to carry on our tasks for the better future of our Federation and that He gave us a beautiful vision for an even greater tomorrow. Nowadays we hear a lot about the constant changes in our society, we hear about the necessity of progress and updating and reconstructing of existing institutions. It is undeniable that every institution, our Federation included, has to face the needs of changing time. The very best results of modern technology could be utilized for the benefit of the work of our fraternal organization too. One of these is the automation of our billing system. The last Convention has already dealt with it. Now the plans are ready. The Convention has to come to a decision in this important matter. The next is the problem of our Youth. There is an old saying: “IVhoever has the youth, has the future”. In the past four years our Federation tried its best to do as much as possible for our youth. We have awarded scholarships, student aids, study grants, we had study contest, organized several competitions, youth camps, boy scouts, summer school in our Bethlen Home. We support the Hungarian Language teaching at four Universities. We spent more than 15 thousand dollars for these projects. But in my opinion it is not enough. The Convention has to find new ways and means to help our youth, to train them, involve them in the life of our Federation. The time is approaching when we will go away and they will have to take over and preserve this precious heritage of their fathers. Next is the re-vitalization of our branch life, which is a must, required by the Government. These are just a few of the problems and issues the delegates have to face and deal with. Amidst of all the changes confronting us, we have to keep in mind that the principles, the goals and the program of our Federation didn’t change, it is the very same as it was in the time of our founding fathers. We are a fraternal organization. We cannot stray away from our original purpose. It is our firm conviction that our Federation has been called into being by God himself for a special purpose and with a special calling. We have to serve our Hungarian Reformed people in our beloved land, America. We have to keep the faith, once delivered unto our fathers, and possibly change methods as needed by the changing times, we have to continue to serve God in the spirit of His calling, and in the spirit of the founding fathers of seventy-six years ago. In this hope I greet you again wholeheartedly! May the Almighty God bestow His gracious blessings upon this Convention, upon its constituant members and delegates. “If God is with us, who shall be against us”. 3
