William Penn Life, 1971 (6. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)

1971-11-01 / 4. szám

27th NATIONAL CONVENTION - A HISTORICAL EVENT

National Fraternal Congress Convention

More than 600 delegates and visitors representing 100 fraternal benefit societies in the United States and Canada, attended the 85th Annual Meeting of the National Fraternal Congress of America in Denver, Colorado, September 26-29.

Among those from William Penn Association who participated were: National President Charles, National Secretary Stelkovics and National Treasurer Somogyi.

In keeping with the convention theme “Fraternals Care,” the 3 day program emphasized the concern of all societies for the needs of their members in a changing world, climaxing with a challenging address by Art Linkletter, television and radio personality, on “Changing Patterns in Drug Abuses.”

Presiding over the 85th Annual Meeting as president was Robert R. Bryant, member, Executive Committee, United Transportation Union Insurance Association, Cleveland, Ohio.

At the close of the Annual Meeting, officers for the ensuing year were elected and installed as follows: President, Nick T. Newberry, National President, Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society; Vice President, Kenneth T. Severud, Secretary and Director, Lutheran Brotherhood; and Secretary-Treasurer, Raymond A. Klee.

The National Fraternal Congress of America was organized in 1886 in Washington, D. C„ by representatives of 16 fraternal benefit societies. Today it represents 97 societies having nearly 10 million members in 57,438 local lodges.

Major purposes of the congress include promoting the general welfare of the fraternal benefit system in all matters of mutual concern and public interest, disseminating information to the general public regarding the Fraternal Benefit System, rendering service to member societies in general, and assisting individual fraternal benefit societies when appropriate.

At the annual meetings, problems peculiar to procedures and the system in general are discussed and solutions sought. To this forum, the various officers of the societies bring their ideas for the Continued on Page 3

The Minutes of the 27th National Convention appear in this issue, therefore, in this article we will not deal with the details of the Convention.

We do feel it necessary, however, to inform the membership of several historical and important events which transpired at the Convention.

The Convention consisted of 143 members representing the entire membership of the Association.

Mr. Elmer Charles, National President was elected Chairman of the Convention. The two Vice-Chairmen were Louis A. Fodor, Weirton, W. Va. and Michael Hrabar, Perth Amboy, N. J. The Convention Secretary was Mrs. Emma Beganyi, Springdale, Pa.

The President of the United States of America, Richard M. Nixon, sent a letter

WILLIAM PENN FRATERNAL ASSOCIATION

Officers, Board of Directors, Auditing Committee and Employees.

of greeting to the Convention which was the first such recognition in the history of the Association.

Honorable Milton J. Shapp, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania also sent a personal letter of greeting.

Mr. Peter J. Flaherty, Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh, personally extended a welcome to the delegates.

Also for the first time in the history of the Association a truly inspiring ecumenical Memorial Service was conducted by Rev. Andrew P. Jacobs, Director, Pastor Holy Cross Church, Detroit, Mich, and Rev. Imre Kovács, Pastor United Church of Christ, Springdale, Pa.

The Convention adopted entirely new By-Laws on the basis of which the Association will conduct its business in the ensuing four years. The By-Laws under which we were most recently operating had been amended so many times that it really became ambiguous as far as the operation of the Association was concerned. Certainly the Delegates to the 27th National Convention should be congratulated for their foresight in realizing that in order to successfully operate, the Association must have proper By-Laws. These are now being printed and will be furnished to each Branch. Any member desiring a copy can obtain one at their Branch Meeting.

Another historical first was reached when the Convention ended Thursday, September 16. True, this required an evening session, however, it proved that where the Delegates are concerned, much business can be accomplished in a few days.

The overwhelming majority of the Convention Members wholeheartedly ratified the actions of the Board of Directors with reference to the American Life Merger, the New Building Program, the Computerization of the internal operation of the Association and all other progressive steps which were taken by the Board during the past four years to assure the William Penn Association of future growth. One of the longest debates during the Convention was over the question as to whether or not the word “Frat- Continued on Page 3