William Penn Life, 2008 (43. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2008-06-01 / 6. szám
Branching Out with Endre Csornán A Violet in Full Bloom WPA member leads Cleveland area club through 50 years of charitable works Violet E. Sarosi, fondly known to many as "Vi," joined the Jótékonycélú Noi Nagy Bizottság (as it was known at the time she joined) when she was 32 years old, and she was elected to the office of treasurer soon thereafter. It has been 50 years since that day, and she continues to serve that organization in that capacity. For the past 13 years, she has also held the office of president (after Club President Joanne Long passed away). Due to her many, many years of service to the Club, Violet has seen the decline of membership as well as a recent increase in membership, and a change in the Club's goals. Still, through all the years and changes, the Club remains focused on helping others who are in need. In years past, the Charity Club helped people who had lost their jobs, had problems paying their bills or were new immigrants from Hungary. If there was a need for help, help was given. Unfortunately, as membership declined, so, too, did the ability to continue helping those in need. The club has experienced a resurgence in interest and activity over the past 15 years. Currently, the membership is 130. When Violet first joined the club, membership numbered between 150 and 200 women, which was reflected in the name—Jótékonycélú Noi Nagy Bizottság. When men were accepted as members about 25 years ago, the club changed its name to the Jótékonycélú Nagy Bizottság. Today, the Club is known as the Hungarian Charity Club. The membership enjoys the social interaction and fellowship which allows them to continue their good work and focus their giving to five Hungarian Churches located on the eastside of Cleveland, Ohio. These churches have been their focus and the recipients of their giving each year. A majority of the Club members also belong to these churches. The Club used to meet in social halls in the Buckeye Road neighborhood of Cleveland, where a large concentration of Hungarians once settled (in fact, the largest concentration of Hungarians outside of Budapest). The club now meets monthly at the Hungarian Business and Tradesman Club (HBT Club) and yearly dues are $3 per person. The members meet monthly for a lunch, meeting and raffle. The most popular activity is the monthly bus trips to nearby casinos located around Lake Erie, including casinos in or near Detroit, Niagara Falls, Salamanca (N.Y.), West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Erie (Pa.). The Club has also taken a few overnight trips to the Ohio Riverboard Casinos in Indiana. The proceeds from these trips and monthly raffles, along with donations from the generous members, are given to the five churches: St. Margaret's Church, St. Elizabeth's Church, The First Hungarian Lutheran Church, St. John's Church and The First Hungarian Reformed Church of Cleveland in Walton Hills, Ohio. Each year, all money raised (except for $100) is given to the churches mentioned during the Easter and Christmas holidays. The churches are very appreciative of the donations. The Club's goal is $2,000 per church annually. The donations make it possible for the churches to continue their spiritual mission. Violet is married to Ernest (Ernie) Sarosi, and they will be celebrating their 61st wedding anniversary in June. Vi and Ernie are the parents of three children: Caroline Lanzara (president of WPA Branch 14 Cleveland), the late Kathleen, and Richard (secretary-treasurer of Branch 14). They have three grandchildren-John, Kathleen Violet and Lynn Lanzaraand one great-grandchild, Alexis Leah Dvorak (John's daughter). Violet is a member of The First Hungarian Reformed Church of Cleveland where she serves as president of the Women's Guild and as a presbyter on the church's governing body. Violet is also branch coordinator for Branch 14. She is active with the Ladies Auxiliary of American Legion Post 559, the Eastern Star, the Hungarian Cultural Center of Northeast Ohio and other volunteer activities. |wpl| 6 William Penn Life, June 2008
