Fraternity-Testvériség, 1974 (52. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1974-07-01 / 7-9. szám
2. We held our Youth Scholarship Contests. Four of the contestants received the first prize of $300.00: Margaret Sarah Bertalan, Dawn Deborah Oris, Elizabeth Ann Szabó and Szabolcs Soby Kalman. One first prize value of 300 dollars was paid by Mrs. Zoltán Beky, the wife of our President from the proceeds of the cookbooks published by her. In addition to that, she made 250 copies available to the benefit of our branch treasuries. We would like to express our thanks to her for her generosity. 3. We have instituted our Student Loan Fund and on the basis of the By-Laws approved by this Board we have granted a total grant of student loans of $5,000.00. 4. We have given student aid in value of $100.00 and $50.00 at the request of our field force and branch managers in cases of emergency. (The complete list is to be found in the Student Aid financial report.) We supported with $1,000.00 each the youth camps of the two denominations, $250.00 the Canadian Youth Camp, and we helped the Boy Scouts, the Protestant Ball Scholarship Fund, the summer school of Bethlen Home and the summer school in New Brunswick. 5. Our New Compensation System was completed during the last year and finally, after several modifications the special meeting of our Board in January approved it and the new contracts with our field force have been completed in accordance with it. 6. Our new insurance plans and certificates had been prepared on the basis of the American mortality experience required by the several states. Our rates were revised by our experts. The States have given the necessary approval. The new certificates are in the process of printing. 7. Our Secretary discussed the new grouping of our branches with the directors in each district. They are prepared and it is the task of the present Board meeting to make changesand approve them. 8. The erection of a new wing of Bethlen Home was finally approved by the Board of the Bethlen Home and our Board in September. The Board entrusted Mr. László Bojtos, an architect from Cleveland to prepare the drafts. They are ready. The necessary state permits were granted. On February 7, I summoned the Building Committee. We approved the plans, specifications for bids. Whether the new wing will be ready for September is dependent on the energy crisis, i.e. the availability of the necessary building material. 9. The study of the billing system was ordered by our Board. Our Controller will report on the progress of these studies. 10. The Bethlen Freedom Press Committee will report on the present situation and future of the Bethlen Freedom Press. 11. We published our official paper Fraternity quarterly. In editing our magazine our fellow-officers were great help to me. 12. We held worship services on every great Christian and national holiday. Both the Secretary and I conducted these services and also we served holy communion in accordance with the church year. 13. We maintained good and cordial relationship with the churches and ministers regardless of their denominational affiliations. At the more important celebrations either the Secretary or I have actively participated in the services. Your President was asked to consecrate two newly built churches during the past year. This fact alone demonstrates the good relationship between our Federation and the different Hungarian church bodies. The duties and privileges of the President are described in paragraph 44 of our By-Laws. I have already reported many of my duties during my present report. A special committee will have the opportunity to look into the work of my office in detail and therefore, I wish to mention only a few items: As president, I supervised all offices and departments of the Home Office. I have examined and countersigned all deeds, certificates, checks and drafts. I called and presided over 35 Executive Committee meetings, when such were necessitated by important Federation matters, such as purchase and sale of bonds, mortgage investments, etc. I have exercised my cultural and fraternal responsibilities in accordance with our By-Laws. I held many lectures and wrote many articles for church and secular magazines and papers. I have made the required reports. The fathers of two of our Directors passed away during the past year. Let us remember the father of Joseph Molnár and the father of Elmer Vargo. I have already reported that 384 fellow members died during 1973. Let us pay our respects to the memory of our blessed dead by a minute of silent prayer, while standing. There were not too many changes in the personnel of the head office. Mr. Dezső Garanyi retired 14
