Verhovayak Lapja, 1947 (30. évfolyam, 1-24. szám)

1947 / Verhovay Journal

Alliance Verhovay Home a Showcase of Fraternal Values

Well Rounded Fraternal Program Key To Verhovay’s Progress, Unforgettable Events In Alliance Prove

These are the men who contributed the first thousand dollars to the Verhovay Fund For Crippled Children. They also care for ten orphans in Hungary at the cost of $390.- per annum. Sitting in front are: Louis Murányi, librarian; Martins Magyaros, Vice-President; John Korosfoy, President; James Sera, Treasurer and Stephen Kozina recording Secretary. Behind them stand Michael Fulop, Comptroller; Stephen Mathe, comptroller: Michael Buzogány, director; John Lakatos, comptroller; Joseph Baranyai, comptroller; Michael Siiuo, District Manager and George Luka, director.

There are times when the defenses of e,ven the ingrained idealist crumble under the impact of everyday occurrences to which no one but the materialist can reconcile himself. Idealists, therefore, are called dreamers whose optimism is nothing but the imaginary fruit of an existence divorced from the facts of life and the world of reality which they are unable to accept at its face value. Due to the persistently increasing popularity of the materialistic philosphy, the idealist finds little sympathy nowadays and the best he^can expect from his fellow men is ridicule, if not contempt, which he accepts with an apologetic and humble attitude that clearly reveals how thoroughly experience has weakened his convictions.

Ours is the golden (?) age of materialism whose protagonists are proud of having succeeded in reducing spiritual principles and human relations to simple business propositions. Marriage is explained as a “contract”, the relationship of parents to their children sn “obligation”, religion a mental “bargain”, friendship a meeting of “common interests” and the destiny of humanity an economic equation.

Of course, fraternalism could not be expected to escape the effects of materialistic ‘enlightment\ The emancipation of fraternalism from the social, charitable and humanitarian aspects of its program is called ‘progress’ by the modernists who mistake

imitation for advancement. Fraternal benefits not reflected in the Table of Values are shrugged off as non-existent and fraternal aims and principles are ridiculed as anachronisms the weight of which may easily put an end to the development of fraternalism as a potent factor in the world of insurance business. Unconciously paying homage to the multi-millionaire insurance companies, these self-styled ‘progressive fraternalists’ insist on ‘streamlining’ fraternal businessprocedure by discarding everything in which fraternals differ from commercial organizations, naively assuming that similarity of procedure will result in similarity of effect.

Alliance, O., however, is one of those Verhovay strongholds where the materialistic conception of fraternalism could not make much headway. The officers and members of branches 189 and 369 are genuine idealists whose optimism is substantiated by the persistent progress of the Verhovay in this city. And the celebrations held on February 23rd, Sunday afternoon, at the Alliance Verhovay Home, attended by more than five hundred people, gave ample proof of the truth of the convictions inspiring the men and women of Alliance in their fraternal activities.

Our only regret is that the affair was not attended by the skeptics, for there perhaps they would have realized that it is they who keep their eyes closed

to the facts of life that contradict their convictions.

It is to be regretted also, that most of the skeptics will not read this story which proves that a well rounded fraternal program is the key to Verhovay’s progress. It is more convenient Jo deny the facts than to give up our convictions. Yet, if some of our skeptics would not lack the courage to face reality, they would have to admit that Verhovay’s strength lies in its fraternal program and they could not escape the conclusion that if no progress was made where this program had been put into practice, it was due to the lack of follow-up on part of the local officers.

However, let the story speak for itself.

The banquet.

By one o’clock not only the banquet-hall, but the entire building was filled to capacity. Grace was offered and, then, “My Country” was sung by Miss Ilona Majoros and the audience. An excellent dinner was served by the excellent cooks and hostesses of the Alliance Home.

Director John Körösföy, President of the Board of Directors of the Alliance Verhovay Home, addressed the audience and after extending a cordial welcome to the local membership as well as the great host of out-of-town guests introduced District Manager Michael Simo as the Master of Ceremonies.

Continued on page 2

Reterendum on Merger ot Workingmen's Sick Benetit Federation

It is a great pleasure to report the successful conclusion of negotiations regarding the merger of the Workingmen's Sick Benefit Federation in the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association. The Officers of the Verhovay F. I. Association and the Workingmen’s Sick Benefit Federation having arrived at an agreement on the terms of the merger, the plans were submitted to and tentatively approved by the Insurance Departmnet of the State of Pennsylvania. Thereupon, the Board of Directors of the Workingmen’s Sick Benefit Federation, at their meeting held on February 23. 1947, in East Pittsburgh, unanimously adopted the merger proposal and submitted same to the membership of the Federation for approval by referendum. The referendum will be closed on April 25th, 1917, and the results published shortly afterwards. In the event the proposal is approved by the majority of membership of the Workingmen’s Sick Benefit Federation, the contract will be submitted for final approval to the Insurance Department. As soon as the final approval is granted, the merger will be effected and the members of the Workingmen's Sick Benefit Federation will be absorbed in the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association and, in that event, our membership total will hit the 61,000 mark.

The terms of the merger are based on the status quo principle. Members of the Workingmen’s Sick Benefit Federation are to continue paying the rates now in effect on their life-insurance certificates the face-values of which are to remain unchanged. Of course, as far as applications of new membership certificates are concerned, the same rates will lie applied to the members of the Workingmen's Sick Benefit Federation as the members of the Verhovay.

Members of the Sick Benefit Department of the Workingmen’s Sick Benefit Federation, also, will continue paying the same rates and receive the same benefits as heretofore. In the event, however, the National Convention of the Verhovay F. I. Association, decided to effect changes in the Sick Benefit insurance system, the changes shall affect the members of the Federation in the same manner as those of the Verhovay F. I. Association.

Branches of the Workingmen’s Sick Benefit Federation shall merge in the nearest Verhovay branch, excepting those branches with 15 or more members that desire to maintain separate branchstatus.

The authorities as well as the negotiating officers having found these terms to be in complete agreement with the best interests of both parties involved, the Board of Directors of the Workingmen's Sick Benefit Federation unanimously recommended the approval of the merger to the membership. It is our sincere hope that the membership of the Workingmen’s Sick Benefit Federation will act in favor of the proposed merger. We assure the members of the Workingmen’s Sick Benefit Federation that they will be given a cordial welcome by the rank and file of the Verhovay membership who will be glad to share with them all the advantages as well as responsibilities afforded by the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association.

Hungarian Tag Day In Pittsburgh

On Hungarian Freedom Day, March 15th, Saturday, hundreds of volunteers will appear on the streets of the City of I’ittsburgh soliciting contributions to the American Hungarian Belief movement. Up to this writing nearly 500 ladies have offered their services assuring the success of the first undertaking of Ihis kind in the great city of Pittsburgh whose government has graciously granted permission to chapters 2 and 117 of the American Hungarian Belief, Inc., to publicly solicit donations for the impoverished people of Hungary.

The ladies will stationed in downtown Pittsburgh. North Side, South Side, Oakland, Squirrel Hill, East Liberty', Homewood, Hazelwood, Brookline, Lawrenceville and Carrick. All volunteers are requested to report on March 15th, Saturday, at 8:30 A.M. at Tag Day Headquarters, Verhovay Building, 436 Fourth Avenue, downtown Pittsburgh, where collection boxes and tags will be furnished to all registered workers.

A BAKE SALE will he held in conjunction with Tag Day by Chapter 117 of the American Hungarian Belief, Inc., in the lobby of the Verhovay Building, on Friday, March 14th. from 11 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. and on Saturday, March 15th, from 9 A.M. to 3:30 PAL —• Contributions of baked goods will be sincerely appreciated by the officers and members of this chapter. All indications point to a successful sale as a great many ladies have volunteered to bake and donate their pastries free of charge. The officers and members of Chapter 117 regret that they had to disappoint so many friends at their last sale and urge all to come early though every effort will be made to have ample of high rate Hungarian pastries on hand. Miss Margaret Kerezsi, Miss Betty Andrew and Mrs. William Kohut are in charge of the Bake-Sale. Let us all do our share in helping to free the people of Hungary from Need . . . Hunger . . . Oppression!