Verhovayak Lapja, 1951 (34. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1951 / Verhovay Journal
Verhovay Journal POWER CITY NEWS SPRINGDALE, PA. AND VICINITY by Edward A. MattieBranch 296 REVISE THE BY-LAWS Judging: from all recommendations for By-Law changes originating from the Home Office (and Board of Directors) there has'been an utter disregard for recommendations from the fraternal point of view. Apparently, the Home Office is more concerned with the business end of the Association. This is all well and good; they have done an excellent job towards this end. If this Association is to progress, if it really wants to continue as a fraternal organization, then it should consider the need of a total revision of the By-Laws. Those members who (think that only the insurance business of the Association should receive consideration are very wrong. For, the very purpose and definition of the Association is clearly stated in the Constitution as “a fraternal and benefit society.” Without a sound fraternal policy, one cannot expect the Association to function as a true fraternal organization. The present By- Laws offer no basis, no method, and certainly no clear understanding from which the branches would even attempt to promote fraternalism. Therefore, the By-Laws should be, revised so as to give the branches an opportunity to foster the spirit of true brotherhood and fraternalism. Then, too, the By-Laws should provide for some standardization among »the branches. As it is now, most branches go their own way. The only bond between them and the national organization is the insurance premiums which must be remitted to the Home Office. Probably the only and greatest step that had been taken to promote fraternalism is the National Bowling Tournaments. This is not enough! Even this great event has been operated contrary to the By-Laws. To quote from the By-Laws, Chap. IV., 41, first paragraph: “Any man or woman who . . . desires to take part in the social and cultural activities of the Association may be admitted to social membership in the Association.” The point is that social members have the permission and authority, as stated above, to take part in these tournaments which certainly is a social and cultural activity. It is not! my intention to discuss whether social members should or should not be permitted to take part, but only to .point out that the By-Laws should be changed, one way or the other. Undoubtedly, the part of the By- Laws that need revising most, and which affect the members directly, is that part concerning the branches. The present By-Laws were probably satisfactory many years ago, but •they certainly are not today. In effect, the Association has out-grown the present By-Laws. Of course, if we did have a thorough, clear, and specific By-Laws, it may not necessarily mean that the administration of the branches will operate smoothly »and to perfection. At least, however, the branches will have something to strive for and to have a suitable guide. Furthermore, the present By- Laws should be revised so as to serve as a guide for those branches that have the initiative and are active enough to organize Verhovay Homes. I am sure, that if we at Branch 296 were to depend entirely on the present By-Laws to operate our Verhovay Home, it would be almost an impossibility. The ideal set-up would be to have By-Laws whereby such Homes could operate smoothly and effectively, and, at the same time, the branches without such Homes could adapt whatever part of the By- Laws may be feasible. The recommendations of Branch 296, that appear in the published minutes elsewhere in the Journal, should bear consideration. What better way is there to acquire new members than through these Homes ? What better way is there to raise) money for setting up a Home for the Aged, Boys and Girls Camp, etc. than through funds received from these Homes ? In 21, The Jurisdiction and Duties of Branches, there is a great omission which should not occur in the By-Laws of any fraternal organization. That is, that every branch should take part in the cultural and civic activities of the community in which the branch is situated. Better membership results are bound to beachieved in this way than by depending on “Membership Propaganda....” To illustrate the need for revising the By-Laws, as it pertains to the Branches, let us study 23, The Branch Officers. Obviously, this is one of the most important parts of the By- Laws. For, it is the officers who guide the branch and offer it leadership. A branch is only as good as its officers. The first paragraph under the section named above states that only “a president, manager (hereafter to be appointed), and a comptroller shall be elected. If anyone thinks 'that a branch, especially one with a. Home, can be operated entirely by the above officers is being either naive or doesn’t understand branch administration. Of course, it probably* can be done by each officer donating his full time to branch affairs. But' who will do this without reasonable compensation? Then, too, there is the problem of some officers being elected merely for the honor and prestige and who refuse to bear responsibility in fulfilling the duties and obligations that go with the elected office. This fact alone would make the above mentioned provisions all the more ridiculous. It can easily be seen that there is a maximum, and a minimum for the number of officers to be elected. So, why not1 have the By-Laws provide for them? Then there is the provision that) “Besides these officers each Branch has the right to create other officers according to local need, but only the above named officers are responsible to the Association and their duties and rights cannot be transferred to holders of other officers created by the branch.” This provision is a direct insult to the intelligence and dignity of the membership. Even if a' branch creates other offices, it is unfair for an elected officer, as prescribed by the By-Laws, to assume the responsibility for the actions of another officer. Why not let each officer be responsible for his own actions and duties? The above quoted By-Laws do not agree with each other and just do not make good sense! There are many, many changes that should be made, but it would be useless to try to list each one here. Here at Branch 296 a. committee has been appointed to work out detailed recommendations which should be ready before convention time. It is doubtful whether our delegate will; have the opportunity to present them to the Convention. If he should have the opportunity, I further doubt whether the Convention will act upon it since it will take much time to discuss them and to take action. We do not expect, or want, the Convention to accept our recommendations as they are, but only to have something from which the convention can work. Allow me to emphasize again that if the convention will take steps to strengthen the fraternal part of our organization, then there are tremendous possibilities for making the Association one of the greatest fraternal organizations in the country. With favorable fraternal activities' (through the Verhovay Homes) coupled with the sound insurance benefits that are now in existence, it1 should make the Association one of the greatest and best. I would like to make it clear that the above comments are strictly my own and do not necessarily represent' the attitude or opinion of Branch 296. I think that it would be worthwhile to hear from other branches as to how they feel about revising the By-Laws. NEW NAME CONTEST Members should be reminded that they have an excellent opportunity to receive $500 cash for submitting a winning name for the Association. Entry blanks will appear in the Journal in the August issue. Stephen Üveges deserves a vote of thanks for submitting a name in behalf of the branch. If it should be the one chosen by the Convention, the $500 will go into the branch treasury. The new name should make it clear that this is a fraternal organization; it should be worded so that an abbreviated name could be made from the first letters of the words or fromi a single word; and, it should be free of the mention of nationality.' MISCELLANEOUS Congratulations to Mr. and Mr^. William Kay upon the arrival of a. daughter born Sunday, June 17th. The baby has been named Christine Ann.... Also, to Mr. and Mrs. Charles- Kusenko upon the birth of a daughter born Thursday, June 28th. This is their third daughter, no boys. • * * On Sunday, July 1st, Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Rapaggna and Mr. and Mrs. Michael Horwath baptized their sons in the Hungarian Evangelical and Reformed Church of Springdale. Mr. and Mrs. Rapaggna, the former Rose Ann Kish, named their son Vincent Phillip and the god parents are Mr. and Mrs. Lester Varadi. Mr. and Mrs. Horwath, the former Bertha Mate, chose Michael Charles as the name for their son. William Mattie and Mary Kuzma are the godparents. Oddly enough, the new mothers were married at a double ceremony in Hazelwood, both went on the same honeymoon, both entered the Allegheny Valley Hospital the same day, and both had sons the same day. * * * Alex Toaso, one of our trustees, “enjoyed a two week camping trip to Camp Pickett, Virginia during the last two weeks of June as a member of the Army Reserves. # # * On Cunday, July" 1st, Field Supervisor • Elmer Charles, President Louis Antal, Secretary Edward Mattie, Mr. and Mrs. August Veres, Joseph Fintor, and daughter, Anna Marie spent an enjoyable afternoon at Branch 88, Yatesboro. They witnessed the dedication of the newly remodeled Verhovay Home. Congratulations to Br. 88 on an excellent and beautiful job. July 18, 1951 Judge Taptich Honored At Testinomial Dinner JUDGE FRANCIS TAPTICH A testimonial dinner honoring County Court Judge Francis Taptich was given recently in the William Penn Hotel ballroom, Pittsburgh, Pa., sponsored by the Fraternal Societies of Greater Pittsburgh and the friends of the outstanding jurist. Speakers at the well attended event included former Judge Elder Marshall, president of the Allegheny County Bar Association, Attorney Charles J. Margitotti, Coloman Revesz, National Secretary, President of the Pennsylvania Fraternal Congress, County Court Judge Benjamin Lencher, Common Pleas Court Judge Clarence B. Nixon and the Right Reverend Msgr. George Mihalyo. , Judge Taptich who has been frequently mentioned in this Journal as one of Verhovay’s great and close friends, has practiced law for 25 years during which he has rendered many notable services to the advancement of the cause of American fraternalism. A veteran of World War L, past President of the Pennsylvania, Fraternal Congress, past Comander of American Legion Post 681, member of the Board of Directors of the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania, he has been appointed Judge of County Court on January 1st, 1951, by the Governor of Pennsylvania. Married, has three children, residing at 4047 Cambronne St., in Pittsburgh, he is now candidate for election to the same post he has been appointed to and judging from his great popularity, the outcome appears certain. Whenever you meet a man differing from you, remember that you differ from him, and that your difference is to him as great and as offensive as his is to you. While we often grumble because we can’t have what we want, we should he thankful that oftentimes we don’t get what we deserve. The most difficult part of getting to the top of the ladder is getting through the crowd at the bottom. —Arch Ward. Woman is the fairest work of the Great Author; and the edition being large, no man should be without a copy. Wise men sometimes build aircastles just for the fun of the thing, but fools build them and actually undertake to live in them. To practice what one preaches is comparatively, easy. Most people would find it more difficult to preach what they practice. Always do right. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest. —Mark Twain.
