Fraternity-Testvériség, 2008 (86. évfolyam, 1-3. szám)
2008-04-01 / 2. szám
Profile of an HRFA Policy Holder The Hungarian Reformed Federation has an illustrious membership, but too few realize just how special our many members are. In this magazine series, we will be profiling a few of our members who consent to be featured. If you would like be to featured in an upcoming issue, contact Kathy A. Megyeri at Megyeri@iuno.com. One very successful member that I personally admire for his talent, his jet-setting life-style, and his delightful family is Attila Tozser. He resides in Virginia, but he also owns a home in Hungary just outside Budapest which allows him to do business in both countries. His lovely wife and two children, Anna and Adam, visit the Kossuth House from time to time because they are all members of Branch #300 of HRFA. Attila consented to be interviewed for this article, and each time I meet him, I am drawn to his fluency in both languages, his appreciation for the best in both cultures, his business acumen, and his positive attitude toward life in general. He is able to successfully straddle both cultures, is indeed a “techie,” knows so much about IT because he is a computer programmer and businessman. He is also a very handsome 40-year-old with a most beautiful wife, Szilvia. His father is a renowned orthopedic surgeon in Eger, Hungary, and his mother is married to the well-known Hungarian journalist, George Sterling, who also resides in Eger and who has been a long-time member of HRFA as well. Attila’s brother, Gabor, was educated in the states and is also in the IT field with offices throughout Europe. The following interview will allow you to get to know one HRFA policy holder a little better: Q: Attila, tell our readers a little about yourself and your family and how you came to purchase a policy from HRFA. A: I was bom and grew up in Hungary and knew little more of the United States than what I learned in school. As my career turned towards computers, it was necessary that I learn English, and my interest started to grow beyond strictly professional subjects. English- speaking relatives visited us frequently from California and brought newspapers, books, and movies that captured By Kathy A. Megyeri my imagination. I learned just how big the world really is so I wanted to break out of the traditional “you live where you are bom” mentality. My story took a sharp turn when my mother married George Sterling, a Hungarian- American. They knew each other for decades, but a sudden twist of fate brought them together, so I found myself a permanent resident of the U.S. Szilvia and I had visited America previously as tourists, but establishing a life in the U.S. was an entirely different game. I knew from the beginning that I had to make a financial plan in case of an emergency as neither Szilvia nor my beautiful children could exist long without a financial safety net. I also knew that many financial services and insurance companies were available here, but I chose HRFA. When 1 started my life as a “green card holder,” an enormous amount of paperwork loomed in front of me. Obtaining permanent residency was just the first step: I needed a Social Security number, a driver’s license, a bank account, etc... And I started this process in January of 2002, a few months after 9/11. Administrative obstacles were raised to prevent money-laundering, terrorist funding, fake ID’s, etc. I was turned away everywhere, from banks where I tried to open an account to the Department of Motor Vehicles where I went to get a photo ID. Everyone wanted me to bring them a photo ID, a bank account number, utility bills, etc. At that time, I had no bank account and therefore no credit history. Not even the phone company wanted to deal with me, so I wondered what to do. I had heard of HRFA, so 1 went to their legal adviser, Leslie László Megyeri. Understanding my problems, he helped me to establish credibility and legitimacy through signing me up for a policy. That ensured others that I had a stake in an American institution. That action, along with a friendly letter from the President of HRFA, (at that time Rev. Stefan Torok) helped me to open a bank account, which was enough for me to obtain a photo ID and establish a legitimate existence in the U.S. Since that time, I have upgraded my life insurance policy and purchased two more for my children, who, I know for Fraternity - Testvériség - Summer 2008 9
