Verhovayak Lapja, 1947 (30. évfolyam, 1-24. szám)
1947 / Verhovay Journal
VOL. XXX. FEBRUARY 12, 1947 5! NO. 3 A Promotional Hangover ■— January’s Classified Contest A Dud But No Surprise. — The first of the twelve monthly classified membership contests scheduled for 1947 ended on January 31st and now it is our embarrassing duty to release the inglorious report on the so-called results of the first movement of this all-year drive. Actually, of course, there is nothing surprising about January ending with what amounts to failure. Even though we haven’t “told you so” beforehand, (for that would have been a defeatist attitude on our part), we did not expect much from the first month, nor, in fact, from the second. The “Classified Contest”, based on something like the handicap principle, confronts our field-workers with a new system and it was to be expected that many of our managers will prefer to stand in the background in sort of a “kibitzing” attitude until they can find out what it is all about. Then, too, last year’s two prolonged and intensive campaigns exhausted the prospect-list of many an ambitious manager and local organizer. A let-down was due to follow the protracted tension caused by last year’s feverish activities. Intoxicated from the victories attained we closed our eyes on the eve’ óf 1947 and upon awakening we found ourselves with a headache. Hence the characterization of January’s drive as a promotional hangover . . . Then, too, nearly all of our drives have a tendency to start with the phenomenal fervor and speed of a turtle. Witness the first two months of both the 60th Anniversary Contest and the Gold Ring Competition. Most of Verhovay’s managers are like bombs with delayed action. But wait for the right moment! Once the spark hits the powder a magnificent explosion occurs, all resistance collapses and another victory won. So, it was in the past, so it shall be this year . . . ! January Production. Sure enough we had a contest, but no one would think so after looking at the record. It is a poor one even for a normal month lacking the incentive of attracting prizes. These are the figures: Senior Order: 112 certificates issued for $101,500 insurance. Juvenile Order: 110 Ordinary issues for $82,250 insurance.- 17 Class “B” Term certificates. 1 Class “A” certificate. “Grand” total: 240 certificates for $183,750 insurance. Of course, as the Prizes' cannot be awarded unless certain minimum requirements are met, the number of winners has hit a new low. But no one could expect more in view of the production figures. This, of course, means that Prizes left over from January, will be added to the Prizes to be awarded after the closing of February. And since, up to this date February does not give a more promising outlook, we may well expect an even greater number of prizes for the month of March. Drew Pearson would predict that March will be the first really successful month of 1947 . . . From what has been acheived in the four classes of competing managers, we find that both the requirements and prizes have been properly and logically calculated. HAD JANUARY’S PRODUCTION BEEN TWICE AS HIGH, NEARLY ALL OF THE 12 PRIZES WOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN! Something like 500 applications per month should be considered normal production for a contest. This figure had been attained and even surpassed previously on innumerable occasions. Naturally, the production of only 210 applications leaves little room for outstanding achievements calling for special awards. — And now let’s see what happened in the various classes. CLASS I. Membership Up To 50.-119 managers comprise this class where hardly a sign of competition was seen, for of the 119 only 11 managers deemed it worthwhile to secure any new members. This class produced 18 approved applications for $10,250,- insurance. Minimum requirement was 3 units in this class. (A $1,000.- certificate in the Senior Order or $500,- in the Juvenile Order, or 2 “B” or 3 “A” Term Certificates are counted as one unit.) The prizes for this class are: $15.-, $10.-, and $5.- each month. Only one manager having met the minimum requirement, the x first prize, $15.-, goes to Moses Domokos, Manager of Branch 509. Prenter, W. Va., who by writing $1,750,- insurance for 4 juvenile members earned credit for 3j units which makes him eligible for this award in Class I. Therefore, 5 Awards will be available in this class for the month of February in the following order: 1.) $15.-, 2.) $10.-, 3.) $10.-, 4.) $5- and 5.) $5.-. How about trying for any of these prizes, 108 managers who, had nothing to contribute during January in this contest which has been planned so as to give a fair chance to the managers of the smallest branches?! Continued on page 2 Here is a scene from the Christmas party of the Bowling League of Branch 525, Los Angeles Cal., described by Albert Steinmetz in his Sunkist Southern California Echoes column of Jan. 29. Sorry we don’t have the names (and family status of all the nice people on the picture, so we could introduce them to our readers. Still, we are satisfied that they all are members of the ever growing family of Verhovayans in California. Of course, the readers will recognize District Manager Alexandar Gyulay standing in the rear with a satisfied smile that proves that the affair was a huge success. And of course, the Master of Ceremonies, Al' Steinmetz, also will be recognized in the middle of the standing line. Judging from the clock above his head, the picture was taken at 10:25 P.M., California time. Christmas Party of Branch 525’s Bowling League in Los Angeles DUQUESNE HONORS VERH0VAY HEROES —• Portraits of John Balogh Jr., and Edwin Thomas presented in Carnegie Library Auditorium, Duquesne, Pa. — Though a heavy downpour immediately preceding the Memorial Ceremonies by Branch 71, Duquesne, Pa., greatly reduced the audience, nevertheless the sisterbranches of the surrounding cities were well represented. The officers of 71 were espcially pleased to welcome a delegation of Branch 39, Beaver Falls, Pa., consisting of President and Mrs. John Nemeth and Manager and Mrs. Andrew Boiler. The program opened with the Prensentation of Colors by the TO THE CONTRIBUTORS The next issue of the Journal will be published on Wednesday, Feb. 26th. Contributions for that issue should be in not later than Feb. 19th, Wednesday. Contributions should be typewritten, on one side of the paper only, double-spaced, and not exceed 1,200 words, or 6.000 letters. Address contributions to VERHOVA Y JOURNAL, ENGLISH SECTION, 436 Fourth Ave„ Pittsburgh 19, Pa. Duquesne American Legion Post 448. Following the INational Anthem John A. Toth, President of Branch 71, delivered the welcoming address and introduced the Rev. Stephen Szőke, Pastor of the Free Hungarian Reformed Church,, as the Master of Ceremonies. Pastor Szőke, in turn, led the assembly in prayer and then called upon the Rev. Father Peter Racz of St. Mary’s Greek Rite Cath. Church to deliver the keynote address. He was followed by Supreme Secretary Coloman Revesz, Supreme Auditor John Sabo, Hon. Mayor Frank Kopriver Jr., Daniel Dougherty, Commander, American Legion Post 448, Superintendent of Schools Fred C. Gillespie, Ignatz Lengyel, President of the United Magyar Civic Association of Western Pennsylvania., Atty., Albert Fiók Jr., and Lawrence Trainor, Vice-Commander .of the American Legion Post 448. Supreme President Jonh Bencze deliveijpd the Presentation Address and, then, four uniformed veterans unveiled the portraits of John Balogh and Edwin Thomas. The former was killed in action in Italy on October 10th, 1944, while the latter died as a result of an accident in the United States, immediately following his discharge. His portrait is of Branch 71 to the bereaved parents. The Rev. pastor Szőke spoke the Benediction, then the audience arose to the ‘melody of “America”. Taps by a member of the American Legion Post 448, — softly reechoed from behind the stage — closed the impressive program. A large group of veterans, alternately mounting guard at the portraits, lent color to the ceremonies and the beautifully decorated stage, with the portraits, flowers and flags posted at both sides, gave emphasis to the significance to the occasion. Mrs. Joseph Mikolics of McKeesport, Pa., gave serveral deeply moving vocal renditions and recited her own poem written for this event. — Mrs. Alexander Nagy Jr., accompained her on the piano. The Memorial Committee of Branch 71, headed by President John A. Toth and Manager John Kucib, deserve full credit for the careful planning of the program and the excellent arrangements made for these ceremonies which made a deep impression on the city officials and the guests who came to honor the hero dead and bereaved of Duquesne’s Branch a gift 71.
