William Penn Life, 1986 (21. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)
1986 / Különszám
Page 4, Special Centennial Issue, William Penn Life Preparing For The Centennial Year (No successful event ever was executed without careful planning beforehand. Our Association’s celebration of its 100th Anniversary was no exception. What follows is an account of the preparations for the celebration, written by one of the people most involved in those preparations.) By William C. Kohut National Director During the Board Meeting held at the Westin William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pa. on March 28, 1984, Vice President Albert J. Stelkovics read a letter from former President Julius Macker in which he stated that we should begin preparations for celebrating our 100th Anniversary in 1986. At the August 1984 Board meeting, a decision was made to celebrate our 100th Anniversary in the year 1986, with the matter being referred to the Executive Committee for their consideration. Board members were asked to participate in the 100th Anniversary by suggesting worthwhile projects for consideration at its last meeting of 1984 in December. FIRST STEPS I decided at the August ’84 meeting to really tackle this task head on because it was a once-in-alifetime opportunity. An anniversary like this comes on the horizon once in a 100 years and fortunate are those who are around to participate. I further decided that we can learn from the experience of others who have recently celebrated their 100th Anniversary. Therefore, I communicated with our fraternal sister societies. As the information from these societies poured in, I was able to determine what the best of these recommendations would be, and presented a master list of suggestions to our Society for their consideration at the December 1984 Board Meeting. I arranged for each and every Director, Officer and Auditing Committee member to receive a copy for their study. Incidentally, some of the events of this 1986 Centennial Year found their origin in these recommendations, as well as those given by Vice President Stelkovics. Studying the executed plans and programs of others proved helpful to the William Penn in formulating a very successful Centennial Year in 1986. TRIPS TO HUNGARY In July and August, 1984, my wife and I participated in the tour to Hungary. While there, we met with Paul Szuts, Joli Varga and Ferenc Shipka of the World Federation of Hungarians, and also with ex- Ambassador to the U.S. Ferenc Esztergályos, in the Foreign Ministry. This was a joint effort with Stephen Danko, Sr. Steve Ivancso, and Gus G. Nagy. We discussed our Centennial and William C. Kohut National Director they assured us that they were ready and willing to help in any venture as long as we contact them in ample time. In fact, it was suggested that another meeting take place before the end of 1984, inasmuch as some programs entail much time and preparation. The above was echoed by Chairman of the Board Stephen G. Danko, who attended the Budapest Conference in Hungary, August 27 to Sept. 1,1984. He emphasized the importance the Hungarian Associations in Hungary attached to our 100th Anniversary celebration in 1986. He listed some of the matters for consideration during Centennial such as the youth tour of Hungary, Hungarian musicians and dancers touring the United States. During the December 1984 meeting of the Board, the Chairman requested that Attorney Gay Banes and I fly to Budapest the last week of December. Then-President John Sabo heartily approved the idea. Along with Attorney Gay B. Banes, vice president of planning, I flew into Budapest, Dec. 29, 1984, for a week’s visit in behalf of the 100th Anniversary of the William Penn. While Attorney Banes visited the Zsolnay Factory in Pecs, Hungary, I held conversations with noted historian, Dr. Julianna Puskas, who is very familiar with the old Verhovay, William Penn and Rákóczi histories in the U.S. Upon Mr. Banes return from Pecs, we arranged meetings with World Federation officials who offered their cooperation in the preparation of calendars, musicians, 100th Anniversary Postage Stamp, Herend or Zsolnay plate and lead crystal decanters with goblets. The meetings proved fruitful and satisfying. Needless to say, the 33 points enumerated in my recommendations for the Centennial proved extremely helpful in our Budapest meetings. SOUVENIR ITEMS On our return to Pittsburgh, a complete report was prepared detailing our meetings and accomplishments while in Budapest. A copy of the report was received by each Director, Officer and Auditing Committee member. However, one personal disappointment was the loss of the Centennial Postage Stamp to have been issued by the Hungarian authorities because of the failure to act in time. They would have issued a special stamp commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the William Penn but they had to have approval at least one year in advance and this was not forthcoming. The Board approved an order for 5,000 calendars to be printed in Budapest and to include a Hungarian menu of various representative districts along with interesting photos of certain areas of Hungary. I worked with Joli Varga on these details and toward the end of 1985, we received 2,500 of these lovely, souvenir calendars for distribution to our branches. The balance arrived in January of 1986. An English insert detailing the menu was prepared at the Home Office. One of the recommendations made in Budapest was to sell an excellent Hungarian lead cystal decanter set with six goblets at a price of $88.50, which was extremely reasonable for this set. Inasmuch as the Association didn’t want to involve itself in purchasing 50 of these wine sets, I took it upon myself to guarantee the order. Later, we ordered an additional 30 sets. They were extremely well received. The order of 1,000 Herend Centennial Plates was placed and I was privileged to be involved in the negotiations and discussions with Mrs. Varga relative to the size, artistic design and shipment of these fine, hand made china plates. FOUNDER’S DAY January 1986, proved to be an extremely busy month with the Founder’s Day observance set for Feb. 21, 1986. The first and second floor reception areas of the office needed some furnishing and interior decorating. I called upon my wife, Helene, to assist in this project. She, along with her decorator, Joe Cenci, came up with new ideas for furniture, the hanging of officers’ portraits, and plantings. The entire project was completed several days before the Founder’s Day Celebration. In addition, she arranged to send flowers to all officers at the Home Office. Preparations for Founder’s Day were progressing nicely. Fortunately, I was able to obtain fine strolling musicians, George Bátyi and his band; Conrad Caterers fro Munhall who did an outstanding jc with the selected menu, and I aga presssed Helene into service to he get together an assortment of bake goods from friends, Home Offic employees and associates. Th selection was really delectable an outstanding. The Home Offic employees responded beautifully. In the meantime, I was in con: tant communication with Budapei on matters pertaining to the ac vancement of our 100th Centennic Year. In fact, Mrs. Joli Varga visite us in 1985 to discuss variou aspects of the Centennial. One visi she brought a set of the lead crysta the original of the Herend Plate, am additional information on thi musical menu. CENTENNIAL TOUR The Board authorized a Centen nial Tour to Hungary in 1986 fron June 19th to July 3rd, and in thi; connection it invited four trave agents through whom we wanted tc work to make the tour more sue cessful; Imre Balassa, Cleveland Frank Chrinko, New Brunswick; Bil Vass, Detroit; and Ron Lombardo Pittsburgh, Pa. The meeting was held in Pitt sburgh at the Home Office and I was appointed to work with the agents Joli Varga and Kozari Zoltán in Budapest, on the tour and its par ticipants. The rate of $760 round trip was favorable and assured us a plane load of visitors to Hungary in our Centennial Year. However, we could not forsee the events which were to follow: i.e., terrorist attacks throughout Europe and then the catastrophe of Chernobyl. These two disasters took their toll on our Hungary-bound members and friends. We dropped from over 150 to a group of 35 who finally went to Hungary, and in the end, without the endorsement of the Association. However, the group which went to Hungary, including me and my sister, Edith, had a fantastic time and are looking forward to returning possibly in 1987 or 1988. They were warmly received by the World Federation of Hungarians and taken as guests to live theater performances in Budapest. Officials of the World Federation of Hungarians hosted a farewell dinner at the Flamenco Hotel the evening of July 2, 1986. Barbara Botkin and I worked on the initial draft of the Anniversary Yearbook, and presented it to the President and Mr. Albert Stelkovics. All in all, many meetings were held, many trips were taken and many overtime hours were worked by those planning and organizing the celebration. But, in the end, everyone agreed the effort was worth it. I certainly would envision a more diversified and outstanding William Penn Association at the observance of the 125th Anniversary in 2011. God Speed to All.
