Fraternity-Testvériség, 1993 (71. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)

1993-07-01 / 3. szám

Page 18

TESTVÉRISÉG

With the mortgage paid off, the foundation now will turn its attention to staff and programming, Molnár said. The center, which operates on a $400,000 annual budget, houses a collection of some 40,000 volumes chronicling the history and culture of Hungarians in their homeland as well as their contributions in America dating back to Colonial days.

With the major financial challenge resolved, the foundation also looks to cooperating with church bodies, the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America and other partners in the task of preserving and housing the documentation and archival material that record the history of Hungarians, their communities and institutions in the United States. “One major collection and anticipated partner,” Molnár said, “is the Bethlen Archival Collection housed in Ligonier, PA.”

The foundation’s library is an Affiliate Library of Rutgers University in New Brunswick. Thereby it is integrated into RLIN (Research Library Information Network) throughout the United States. The archival collections of the foundation are being cataloged as part of the national computer data base of RLIN. Thus scholars and students have access to the resources of the Hungarian Heritage Center.

“This institution annually attracts to New Brunswick over 10,000 visitors,” Molnár said. The center holds

frequent seminars, conferences and has hosted the Hungarian ambassador to the United States, Hungary’s foreign minister and other dignitaries and celebrities visiting New Brunswick, which is the sister city of Debrecen, Hungary.

“We have had Fulbright scholars hosted here at the center. They have used our library and archives to do their research. The Center will continue expanding this research role,” Molnár said.

As the amount of donations fell, when the economy started its slide in 1989, the loss included $50,000 from the state Council on the Arts. This forced the foundation to cut five staff positions, including a full-time museum director. Molnár, a former Rutgers University professor, said the focus of the foundation now also will shift not only to strengthening the Center’s archives, but also to expanding its relations with the new Hungarian Institute at Rutgers University. “We are receiving more and more books and periodicals from across the United States and from Hungary. Along with many archival materials received, these gifts cannot be underestimated as a valuable resource for the university also.”

(The above article is based upon the three separate articles that appeared in three daily newspapers: The Star-Ledger. The Home News and The News Tribune on September 16, 1993.)

HRFA MORTGAGE APPLICATION PROCEDURE

In response to questions regarding our mortgage application procedure, we are publishing the guidelines for general information. Mortgages are granted as investment income becomes available.

The applicant must be a member in good standing for a minimum of two years; on a joint application, at least one person must be a member to qualify.

A letter of application should be addressed to the President of the HRFA. The request is transferred to the Treasurer, who sends information and an application form to the member.

Terms:

a. No building loans, commercial or industrial mortgages will be granted.

b. This must be a first mortgage.

c. The maximum loan is 70% of the appraised value of the applicant’s residential property (limited to a one or two family home), and is not to exceed $100,000 principal.

d. The maximum mortgage is a duration of twenty years.

e. The interest rate to be charged on any mortgage loan will be determined by the Executive Committee.

f. There is no pre-payment penalty.

g. A $50.00 non-refundable application fee is required, and is donated to the Student Aid and Loan Fund.

h. Information regarding the documents necessary to close the mortgage are supplied to the applicant by the Treasurer’s Department.

i. All the necessary documents are reviewed and approved by the Legal Counsel.

j. Refinancing of an existing mortgage with the HRFA has a 1% fee on the amount to be financed, with no application fee.

The Federation still holds to its long standing tradition of granting mortgage to churches also. Information regarding application procedures for these mortgages may be obtained from the Treasurer’s Department.

Suzanne S. Virgulák, Treasurer