Fraternity-Testvériség, 1982 (60. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)

1982-01-01 / 1. szám

WHEREAS, A LARGER SOCIETY WILL NOT ONLY ALLOW US TO FURNISH MORE SERVICES TO OUR MEMBERS BUT WILL GIVE US GREATER FRATERNAL STRENGTH TO PROMOTE OUR AMERICAN— HUNGARIAN HERITAGE IN OUR COUNTRY AND THROUGHOUT THE WORD,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD IN MEETING ASSEMBLED THAT THE FORM OF CONSOLIDATION AGREEMENT AS NEGOTIATED, AMENDED, RE-DRAFTED AND READ AT THIS MEETING IS APPROVED AND INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE: RESOLVED FURTHER THAT THE JOINT COMMITTEE IS AUTHORIZED TO COMPLETE THE PROPOSED BY-LAWS AND CHARTER AND PRESENT THE SAME AT THE SPRING BOARD MEETING FOR APPROVAL: RESOLVED FURTHER THAT AT SUCH MEETING, PROVIDED THE BY-LAWS ARE APPROVED, THE BOARD FIX THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE AND CALL A SPECIAL CONVENTION INTO SESSION TO CONSIDER THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE TWO SOCIETIES.” — Adopted this 16th day of December 1981

Additional information will be given at the various District meetings which will be held during the month of March and April, 1982. Following an affirmative vote by the Board of Directors at the Spring, 1982 meeting, a special convention will be called.

Reverend Imre Bertalan Elmer E. Vargo, F.I.C.

President Vice President-Secretary

Comments:

The idea of uniting our fraternal societies is as old as American-Hungarian fraternal life itself. From the very beginning it was felt that most effective way of uniting the American-Hungarian community is through the consolidation of the fraternals. This combines numerical strength and financial foundation to serve fraternal concerns and goals. The movement reached the convention floor cf our Federation in 1931. The motion lost, but the subject was not discarded. The dialogue has been carried on and our 1980 Convention put it back on the front burner. The opportune time seems to have arrived for a consolidation.

According to the forecast of experts on fraternal societies, many smalt companies will disappear in the 1980’s, hopefully through consolidation. Statistics concerning loss of membership plagues the small society, including ours. It has been shown that low prices are related directly to

low unit cost of administration — the larger the company in terms of business in force, the lower the cost. Also, now we can consolidate with our “own kind” but will this

be possible ten years from now?

CONSOLIDATION — not merge into another, but consolidation — the two societies forming a new organization, with new charter, new by-laws, and new headquarters in the geographical center of Hungarians in America.

NAME — there will be a new name which must still be decided, with emphasis on American Hungarian.

PORTFOLIO — our Federation is in need of such important steps as computerization; new and competative types of policies and professional salesmanship arc long overdue. William Penn has achieved these in a very costly way. Combined with our fraternal oriented field force and branch system, we can compete with any commercial or fraternal society.

DIVIDENDS — Since WPA has been giving dividends, upon consolidation we must too. With the computer doing the calculations involved this will be no problem.

UNITY — it has been an important contribution of our Reformed tradition to work for national unity in critical time throughout our history here and abroad. We are living in such times. The unity of the American-Hungarian people of all faiths with all its dreams and challenges indeed can be achieved through the consolidation of fraternals.

BETHLEN HOME — would remain as a separate corporation under the present system of management with church representation.

RANK — the fraternals in our country are ranked as to the life insurance in force. At the end of 1980, WPA was ranked 30th If the two societies were consolidated, the new society would rank 24th out of the 114 reported.

The way to achieve this great consolidation on national and community level is by: careful study — which has been concluded by your Board,

prudent, long term planning on all levels — which is being done now with our field force and branch life details and by mutual trust, leadership and vision.

The Board of Directors urge you to make known your area of concern either by writing to the Home office, c/o the President, or by contacting your representative Director. There will also be district meetings as listed below — for more information contact your branch manager.

The fact finding and consolidation committees have completed the research mandated by the 1980 Convention

2