William Penn Life, 2016 (51. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2016-10-01 / 10. szám
Welcome back! Over 700 help WPA celebrate the return of our annual picnic HIRAM, OH — The location may have changed but the fraternal spirit remained the same. More than 700 members and friends of the Association gathered on a warm, sunny day to help us celebrate the return of the WPA Picnic. The grounds and facilities of the Hungarian Cultural Center of Northeastern Ohio (HCCNEO) provided an ideal setting for WPA's largest annual fraternal event. As guests entered the grounds through the beautiful, hand-carved kapu (gate), they were greeted with the unmistakable sounds of Hungarian music and the distinctive aromas of Magyar cuisine. Pavilions, large tents and tall trees provided plenty of shade under which everyone could enjoy the day. Many guests also took advantage of the nearby walking trails to stroll through the woods and take a look at the nearby Cuyahoga River. The day's menu featured an array of traditional Hungarian foods — including Csirke Tarhonyával (chicken with Hungarian noodles), gulyás, cabbage and noodles, kolbász — and summer favorites like com on the cob and hot dogs, all prepared by members of the HCCNEO. Guests could also pay a bit extra to enjoy palacsinta, lángos and szalonna kenyér (bacon bread). Everything was delicious and in sufficient supply to satiate every appetite. The pastry booth was one of the day's most popular destinations, offering a variety of homemade Hungarian specialties. Providing music for everyone's dining and dancing pleasure was violin virtuoso George Bátyi and his ensemble, featuring Alex Udvary on cimbalom. When the band took an occasional break, recorded music was played by Cleveland's Bocskai Rádió. Additional entertainment was provided by the William Penn Association Magyar Folk Dancers whose youth, enthusiasm and colorful costumes delighted the audience. At the end of their performance, they invited picnic guests to join them on the dance floor for a csárdás. The picnic once again featured a special children's area where young guests could have their faces painted, create craft projects, play on a large jungle gym or have a special piece of balloon art made just for them. While the children played, many adults visited the expanded merchants area where guests could purchase Hungarian crafts, clothing and other items or visit the WPA sales booth to get information on the Association's range of insurance and annuity products. And what WPA event would be complete without a Chinese auction? Guests had dozens of wonderful prizes from which to choose, including several money trees. Guests could also purchase tickets for two separate 50/50 raffles and a special raffle for a guitar autographed by Country music superstar Blake Shelton. The success of the picnic would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of many people. Our thanks to WPA Fraternal Director Barbara A. House, HCCNEO President Mary Jane Molnár and more than 150 volunteers from both organizations who contributed to this massive undertaking. We can't thank all of these wonderful people enough, especially those volunteers who travelled from out of state to help. They all embody the true spirit of fraternalism. Most importantly, we thank all our members and friends for joining us for a great day of fun and fellowship and for the generosity they displayed during the picnic. The day's events raised $4,857 for the benefit of the William Penn Fraternal Association Scholarship Foundation. We can't wait to welcome everyone back next year! □ 10 0 October 2016 0 WILLIAM PENN LIFE
