Fraternity-Testvériség, 2003 (81. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
2003-07-01 / 3. szám
Page 10 TESTVÉRISÉG FRATERNAL ACTIVITIES GALORE As Fraternal Coordinator of the HRFA, it is my privilege to help promote the benevolent side of our fraternal society. I use the word “privilege” because it gives me infinite joy to assist our Branch Managers in coordinating fraternal activities that enable our members, their families, and friends to enjoy fellowship, to participate in projects that serve the community, and to help one another in case of need. Early Sunday morning, July 20, 2003, a Fraternal Coordinators’ Meeting was held in the Conference Room of the Bethlen Home. It was well attended by our Directors, National Officers, Branch Managers, Agents, the newly- appointed Area Coordinators, and myself. I presented the three resolutions that the Board of Directors had passed upon recommendation of the Fraternal Coordinators, namely: 1. That area fraternal coordinators be invited to a one- day meeting following the Summer Board meeting held in Ligonier each year - beginning 2003. 2. That HRFA Directors participate in Join Hands Day in their respective areas. 3. That the coordinators hold a planning session for HRFA mission work at the Bethlen Home following the Summer Board meeting each year. This was a fruitful and pleasant meeting, with many good ideas exchanged. When leafing through the pages of this issue, you will see for yourself the impressive work we do - be it in Iraq, in Ohio, or at home. There are no words to describe the wholeOperation Iraq underway in the Conference Room of Bethlen Home. hearted response we received from our branches and members to Lieutenant Colonel Julius Oroszvary’s letter (see Fraternity 2003, No. 2, page 12) requesting help for needy children in Iraq. Our collective efforts resulted in 12 boxes, weighing 410 lbs., of school items, toys, games, books, stuffed animals, balls of all kinds, and so much more. Mrs. Agnes Haydu, former Branch Manager from Logan, West Virginia, called me after hearing about this project and said that she was coming all the way to Ligonier, Pennsylvania, with her daughter, Mary, for the sole purpose of bringing her and her members’ gifts for the children. The boxes were packed the weekend of the Golf Tournament and the Bethlen Home Fraternal Day, and sent the following day by the staff of the Bethlen Home to Iraq. It is with thankfulness that I experienced the love and compassion shown by our members for the children in need. Also, please see Branch News and read Branch Manager and Area Fraternal Coordinator Deneice Oroszvary’s update on this project. Busy packing the boxes, 1. to r.: Deneice Oroszvary, Peggy Fabri, and Clara Csikesz. Our heartfelt appreciation to the members of the following Branches who responded to our request to help the children in Iraq: From Michigan: Br. 35 and 182; from New Jersey: Br. 20, 80, 313, and 501; from Ohio: Br. 227; from Pennsylvania: Br. 6,15,67,151, and 202; from Washington, D.C.: Br. 300; from West Virginia: Br. 213. Many thanks also to Mrs. Irma Camevale, Branch Manager, Br. 69, Columbus, Ohio, for her personal donation of $200, as well as to Mrs. Anna Lipoczky, Treasurer, Branch 302, New Brunswick, New Jersey, for the donation of $100 towards the shipping costs. Our gratitude to the staff of the Bethlen Home for their donations and for the prompt shipment of the boxes. Another request to help flood victims in Trumbull County, Ohio, came from Marge Nicholas, Branch Manager and Ohio Area Fraternal Coordinator. Andrea Barok- Treff, Irene Vallario, and Teri Pflum, from the Home Office, as well as Mrs. Sándor Bárok, Andrea’s mother, whipped together 7 boxes of clothing in one single day for the disaster-stricken people who lost most, if not all, of their belongings. It was again gratifying to see the extent of spontaneity and readiness with which this request for help was met.
