Fraternity-Testvériség, 2004 (82. évfolyam, 2-4. szám)

2004-04-01 / 2. szám

Fraternity- Testvériség

Page 7

age bracket, but HRFA needs to control expenses. At one time, membership numbered 35-40 thousand and now, 13,017 members

Rev. Imre Bertalan, Sr. praised the harmony of the current leadership, and Board Member László Hamos emphasized the business manager concept and the necessity for a full-time sales and marketing person. He suggested we take the most productive individuals and compensate them more on a commission basis. A discussion then followed on the Pre-Need product currently offered in states other than New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. Although funeral homes are the actual agents of the Pre-Need product, HRFA hopes to increase its invested capital through such an offering.

Erika Mason from HRFA’s home office delivered an informative presentation on annuities, a retirement account that is tax deferred until the amount is drawn out, although the interest is taxable. Interest is pulled out first and is reported on an IRS form 1099. If a person is under 59 1/2, there is a penalty of 10% levied on the amount if withdrawn within the first year, and the amount must be drawn out by 70 % years of age. The attendees were given a copy of an annuity contract. The person who chooses an annuity selects how he wants the money taken out and when. In a flexible annuity, one can deposit money at any time. A single premium annuity has a minimum of $3,000, but one can put in any amount up to $200,000, but he cannot add money to such an account once it is set up. In the first year, one earns a high interest rate of 5.5%, but one must be a member of HRFA for at least a year before he can purchase an annuity. Currently, there are $ 2 million worth of annuities being held by members. The annuitant receives the benefit from the annuity, but the owner is the only one who can change the beneficiary, decides when it matures, how payments are to be made, and the date that the policy should expire. Interest is guaranteed not to go below 3 1/2%. The co-annuitant takes over upon the death of the annuitant and cannot be the beneficiary. There are no surrender fees, and CFO László Megyeri pointed out that one of the largest benefits of annuities is that one can avoid probate upon death. Branch Manager Ted Harsaghy complimented Ms. Mason on her informative presentation and said that he had attended others, but that this was the most succinct and most useful.

Fraternal Coordinator Teri Pflum encouraged branches to contact their local newspapers for coverage of Join Hands Day on May 1. Branch Manager Deneice

Oroszvary stated that it would be most helpful if all Branch Managers had e-mail to share ideas throughout the country, but that teleconferences would also help communication. She then reported on her numerous and successful projects underway in the Trenton area: the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, Quilts for Kids where saddlebags are made for children on

chemotherapy, Walker Bags for those who wish to carry objects while on a walker (Deneice works closely with Peggy Fabri, Branch Manager in Beaver Falls, PA on this

project), and the sewing clubs in New York City where grandmothers sew side by side with young people. However, she said this project needs donated material and hopes members will respond to such a request. Branch Manager Ted Harsaghy also reported on his March 15th Hungarian flag raising ceremony and the children he takes to the nursing homes for musical programs. The audience profusely thanked cook Janos Samok for his lavish lunch and the ladies who served. Following the luncheon, members adjourned to Ambassador Salgo’s Collection featuring paintings at the Museum of the American Hungarian Foundation in New Brunswick, N. J. The showing of 19th century Hungarian art, entitled “Everywhere A Foreigner and Yet Nowhere A Stranger,” celebrates Hungary’s accession to the European Union.

OHIO DISTRICT MEETING

The Ohio District Meeting was held in the lovely First Hungarian Reformed Church in Walton Hills, built in 1990 and located on twenty acres where fox and deer freely roam. Attendees were Chairman of the Board George Dózsa, President Rev. Stefan Torok and his wife Cindy, CFO László Megyeri and his wife Kathy, the Rev. Imre A. Bertalan, Executive Director of the Bethlen Home, moderator of the meeting and Board Member William Nicholas, Board Member and Vice-Chair John K. Morey, Board Member Joseph Fabri, Branch Managers Patricia M. Morey, Ed Szabó, Irma Carnevale, László Kernes, Margaret Nicholas, Jolán Abel, and area Fraternal Coordinator Peggy Fabri. Chairman Dózsa opened the meeting by speaking of the church’s relocation from inner city Cleveland, stressed the importance of the 2004 convention year, and thanked Mr. László Kernes for his long association with the Federation since 1953. President Torok spoke of the importance of district meetings since they comprise the “front lines,” emphasized the continued contact with the home office, and stressed the need for active branches. Two current projects foster the goals of the HRFA which was established 102 years ago: the celebration of World War II veterans in connection with the opening of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D. C. and Join Hands Day on May 1. CFO László Megyeri gave the financial report, and Rev. Imre Bertalan thanked the Ohio members who have historically been the strongest supporters of the Bethlen Home. Sadly, he announced that valued member Rev. Stephen Kovács passed away at 87 years of age on March 17 and that memorial