www.americanhungarianfederation.org / amsz.org / hungary1956.com
Top AHF National Headlines, February
2007
Happy Valentine’s Day!
2007 Membership is due!
AHF is an ALL-volunteer, non-partisan, 501(c)(3) organization focused on common ground issues. Serving the community since 1906, we need your support! [join now]
- “Romania respects the rights of its Hungarian minority” says European Union – AHF reacts
- The Novel “Daughter of the Revolution” now also available in Hungarian!
- The American Hungarian Federation Condemns Latest Minority Rights Violations By Romania
- AHF Elects new President, officers, and thanks outgoing President Stefan Fedor and Co-President Imre L. Toth for their leadership.
- 1956 National Memorial Statue in the Nation’s Capital – AHF needs your support
- AHF Website scores over 100,000 hits in October alone. AHF eNews readers top 7250! AHF can help all member organizations get the word out through its outreach efforts.
- Buy your books and other goods on Amazon and help AHF! It costs nothing extra, but Amazon makes a small contribution to AHF.
- AHF Turns 100! A Centennial Call for Membership! 2007 Membership is DUE!
AHF Member News
- FL: 2/24/2007 – Annual Leadership Conference in Venice, Florida
- CA: AHF’s Les Besser receives IEEE award
- CA: Klaudia Kovacs sends a “Torn from the Flag” update
- OH: Bela Bognar’s Scholarship Fund supporting ethnic Hungarians. Support them!
- OH: 2/24/2007 Cleveland Paprika! Ball. This year’s theme, “Romancing the Music”
- MA: 2/17/2007, Farsangi disznótoros vacsora! Carnival Sausage Dinner! in Boston
- PA: Remembering the 1907 Darr Mine Disaster, one of the worst in US history, claiming 239 lives, most of whom were Hungarian American
Additional Features
- Featured Member
AHF / Amazon Store: New Books Posted!
- >> AHF eNews Archive
AHF NATIONAL NEWS
1/25/2007 – “Romania respects the rights of its Hungarian minority and fulfills the political criterion for membership of the EU.” The American Hungarian Federation disagrees with the Directorate General of the European Commission and continues efforts to educate the pubilc, including the European Union, on Romanian minority rights record. In a follow up to an earlier communication, AHF issues second letter to Commissioner of Enlargement Ollie Rehn and refers to the recent ouster of two Hungarian professors at the Babes-Bolyai University. “Mr. de Lobkowicz referred to the “tri-lingual (Romanian/German/Hungarian) Babes-Bolyai state university in Cluj” as an example of the so-called respect for the rights of the Hungarian minority. [read more]
1/22/2006 – Professor Peter Hargitai and the American Hungarian Federation publish novel about child freedom-fighter, “Daughter of the Revolution” or “A forradalom lánya.”For 12 days, countless Hungarian teenagers fought in the bloody Hungarian Revolution against Communist tyranny and overwhelming Soviet armor. They set up tank barricades, tossed Molotov cocktails, and with their confiscated Russian submachine guns made a stand on the streets of Budapest, hoping to hold out until help arrived from the West. But there was no help. Nobody came to their aid. This is the story of one such brave freedom fighter-a 14 year-old girl.
NOW AVAILABLE in HUNGARIAN!
Professor Hargitai is a 2006 recipient of the Col. Commandant Michael Kovats Medal of Freedom.
[Read More] or Buy it and all your online products now on AHF’s Amazon store! Purchasing from AHF’s Amazon store adds nothing to your cost, but provides a small commission to support our work.
1/20/2007 – Attila Micheller elected as new AHF President. Attila Micheller, a successful entrepreneur and industrialist, brings many years of executive management experience to AHF. AHF Executive Chairman Bryan Dawson-Szilagyi thanked outgoing President Stefan Fedor and congratulated new Co-Presidents Zoltan Bagdy and Gyula Balogh as wells as new officers in an open letter. “First, I want to express my personal appreciation and best wishes to our outgoing President Stefan Fedor who was instrumental in our rebuilding. He goes back to Hungary as a leader in one the world’s greatest companies, CISCO, overseeing a huge geographic area from Eastern Europe to Russia.” [download the full letter] or read more [about us]
12/18/2006 – The American Hungarian Federation Condemns Latest Minority Rights Violations By Romania: Sanctions Against Hungarian Professors At Babes-Bolyai University For Promoting Bilingualism. “Although Romania joined NATO and will be accepted into the EU, the irrefutable record demonstrates that its laws and practices fail to conform to European and Western standards relating to human and minority rights. A few examples of Romania’s less than exemplary record will suffice…” [read more][tovább magyarul]
Continuing News: AHF continues call for support of a 1956 Statue for the Nation’s Capital…AHF’s 1956 Commemoration Committee is seeking your help to erect a statue in Washington, D.C. devoted to the heroes of the Hungarian Revolution. The AHF plan calls for an actual-size statue to be placed prominently in Washington while we raise funds for its bronze replacement. Seen here with his prototype design is renowned sculptor Gyuri Hollosy, who was responsible for the Boston Liberty Square memorial. At the recent Capitol Reception honoring 1848, Congressman Tom Lantos mentioned his intent to place a 1956 memorial in Washington. We must ensure this remarkable design is selected! Contact bryandawson@americanhungarianfederation.org and join the 1956 Commemoration Committee!
Continuing news – AHF’s Website had over 100,000 hits in October alone while AHF eNews readers topped 7250! AHF can help all member organizations get the word out through its outreach efforts. In addition to its main site, AHF also established the 1956 Portal (www.hungary1956.com). The 1956 Portal served as a central information resource for 1956 activities as our community prepared for the 50th Anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution. It is now an ongoing informational resource. The 1956 Portal includes Audio and Video files! If you have additional photos, videos, or have plans for 2007 you would like to promote, contact us! Write to bryandawson@americanhungarianfederation.org
Featured Videos
Note: You will need the free RealAudio Player to see these videos. Click [here] to download.
“Five Days of Freedom in Budapest” – “Budapest is in revolt. With uncontrolled fury, crowds set fire to Russian flags… The impossible has happened. A handful of heroes has shaken the communist world to its foundations.” (5.2 Mb)
[See more on www.hungary1956.com]
Continuing news – A Centennial Celebration! The American Hungarian Federation turned 100 – Join and help us represent the interests of our community! The American Hungarian Federation (AHF), was founded in 1906 in Cleveland, Ohio. Among the oldest ethnic organizations in the US, AHF was established as an association of Hungarian societies, institutions and churches to “defend the interest of Americans of Hungarian origin in the United States.” The American Hungarian Federation strives to unite the American Hungarian community through work that supports common goals. AHF is a national, non-partisan, independent umbrella organization representing the interests of the Hungarian American community. Members are reminded to send dues before March 31st. [more about us]
AHF Store on
Buy ALL your books, videos, electronics and other gifts on AHF’s Amazon Store. It costs nothing extra to you, but Amazon contributes a small percentage to AHF. The AHF store features books and articles written by AHF members on both our main site and our 1956 Portal for publications devoted to 1956.
The latest member books added:
Professor
Peter Hargitai’s Daughter
of the Revolution: A Novel (2006 – A story of a brave freedom
fighter – a 14 year-old girl) Buy it now on 
Rebecca
McEldowney’s “Soul of Flesh: A Novel of the 1956 Hungarian
Revolution” [read
more]
Dr.
Katalin Kadar Lynn’s “Tibor Eckhard in His Own Words: An
Autobiography” [read
more]
Buy all your products through our Amazon store and help AHF!
Strength can only be found in unity! Please join AHF and work together on common ground issues!
There are two easy ways to Join and Support us!
1) Online Processing (fastest):
Join online! AHF accepts all major credit cards and checks. AHF is a 501c(3) non-profit organization. Your donations may be tax deductible. Your information is secure not shared with anyone. [Join Online Here]
2) The Old-Fashioned Way:
If you are uncomfortable or unable to process an Internet transaction, download the AHF Membership Registration Form and mail it in with your check payable to “American Hungarian Federation.” NOTE: If you are sending a donation for a specific fund, please be sure to include that on the form. (You do not need to become a member to donate):
American Hungarian Federation
C/O Sandor Murray, Treasurer
2805 56th Place
Woodside NY 11377
For technical assistance, contact bryandawson@americanhungarianfederation.org
AHF Special Announcements
It’s
2007 and time to renew your membership! Only
in unity can we find strength. AHF is an all-volunteer organization
that focuses on common-ground issues. We need your support! JOIN
AHF online!
or download the AHF
Membership Registration Form
AHF needs volunteers and sponsors for its 2007 events:
1) Memorial Day Commemoration at Arlington National Cemetery
2) AHF 100th Anniversary Celebration
3) AHF May 2007 “Magyar Bal”
4) Darr Mine Disaster Commemoration
There’s more too! We need your help – Contact Bryan
Dawson-Szilagyi
Can’t
see this in full color?
Go online to
[AHF
Publications] or
[AHF
News Archive] or
[Download
the PDF]
AHF Members Corner!
Featured Member
Geza Jako, M.D., “Father of Laser Microsurgery,” and pioneer of “Soft Tissue Microsurgery”, Laser & Micro-Dentistry, and “Endoscopic Microsurgery.” A 1956 Freedom Fighter remembered for his role in establishing emergency medical services in Budapest at the start of the ill-fated Hungarian Revolution, he went on to become a Professor of Head and Neck Surgery at Boston Univ and to receive staff appointments from Harvard Medical School, MIT, and North Eastern University for for Biomedical Engineering. In addition, he has had four Presidential White House appointments (among them 8 years with President Reagan) and served at the highest levels of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Read more about him on [Featured Members] and on the amazing [Nobel Prize Winners and Famous Hungarians]
Florida
2/24/2007:
Annual Leadership Conference in Venice, Florida.AHF Members are welcome to join AHF Leadership to discuss implementing
AHF’s 2007 program and strategies aimed at strengthening the Federation
in its 100th anniversary year. [read
more]
Ohio
Cleveland Paprika! Ball, February 24, 2007: The Cleveland Hungarian Development Panel Cordially invites you to the 2007 Paprika Benefit Ball Honoring Jerry Torma. This year’s theme is “Romancing the Music,” featuring Roberto McCausland Dieppa on Piano, Recipient of Pro Hungaria Award. RSVP by 2/16 [read more]
—-
Hungarian Scholarship Fund (HSF)
The American Hungarian Federation added $1000.00 (thanks to AHF member Dr. Katalin Kadar Lynn) to its effort at raising funds to the Hungarian Scholarship Fund that supports ethnic Hungarian students in the successor states in the Carpathian Basin. The Federation gave $5000.00 in 2005, and needs your support to surpass that number. Known as the “Professor Paprika,” Bela Bognar grows and sells paprika to raise money. [read more] about the Hungarian Scholarship Fund and DONATE!
Pennsylvania
The Darr Mine Disaster is known as one of the worst in US history. On December 19, 1907 a gas and dust explosion killed 239 coal miners in the dark tunnels of the Darr Mine. The majority of the dead were Hungarian-American. The American Hungarian Federation (then known as the Hungarian American Federation) placed the memorial seen here in 1909. An inquiry into the disaster afterwards concluded, as was usually the case in that period of Pennsylvania coal mining, that the Pittsburgh Coal Company was not at fault. But within six months the US Geological Survey created the Mine Accidents Division and on July 1, 1910 an Act of Congress established the US Bureau of Mines. AHF is still in planning stages. Please contact Rev. Imre Bertalan, Jr. of the Bethlen Home and get involved! [revimre@bethlen.com] or (724) 238-2235
For more about the disaster, see the US Mine Rescue Association and on Rootsweb with photos and some names of those who died.
Massachusetts
Farsangi disznótoros vacsora! Carnival Sausage Dinner! If you like Hungarian dishes then you will enjoy a traditional Hungarian sausage fest to which you and your family are cordially invited by the Hungarian Society of Massachusetts, Inc. This event is part of the traditional carnival activities in Hungary; it is accompanied by music and will be followed by dance.
Saturday, February 17, 2007, 6 pm
Rod and Gun Club, Inc.
45 Old Mill Road, Maynard, MA 01754
(978) 897 9873 for directions [click
here]
Visit The Hungarian Society of Massachusetts to register and for more information.
California
AHF’s Les Besser recognized by IEEE: The Institute of Electrical
and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) conferred the “Meritorious Achievement
Award in Continuing Education” on Les Besser of Los Altos, CA.
A 1956 refugee, Les is known as the “Father of microwave computer-aided
design” – Microwave Engineering. [read
the full story] on the Los Altos Town Crier or read more about him
on [featured
members]
Torn
from the Flag update:
the full-length documentary film project Torn from the Flag, about the
significant global effects of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and Freedom
Fight of and the fall of communism.
Klaudia Kovacs reports:
Our big news is that, after receiving the final finishing funds at the end of 2006, we were able to book the technical facilities for February to complete Torn from the Flag from a technical point of view, i.e., have an actual 35mm film print. Now that we actually have an approximate date by when we will be done, we can go ahead with full-blown force: we can make a full film festival plan as well as a distribution/release plan so that you, too, can see the film in 2007! [On a related note, Vilmos Zsigmond was nominated for an Academy Award for cinematography this year, for the film The Black Dahlia!] [read the full report] [see a film clip] or [read more on AHF]
Featured Link
The Hungary Page and “Nobel Prize Winners & Famous Hungarians”
Do you think you know something about famous Hungarians? Think again! See “Nobel Prize Winners and Famous Hungarians” on www.thehungarypage.com
Frida
Kahlo (b. 1907, in Coyoacán, Mexico City; died 13th.
July, 1954)
Acclaimed Artist and Mexican Icon: One of the most influential artists
of the middle twentieth century. She was born Magdalena Carmen Frida
Kahlo y Calderón. Her father, Guillermo Kahlo, was a Jewish Hungarian
immigrant photographer who had been born in Germany. Her mother, Matilde
Calderon, was a Catholic Mexican whose origins were Spanish and Native
American.
Read more about her on The Hungary Page’s “Nobel Prize Winners and Famous Hungarians” at www.thehungarypage.com
PRIVACY NOTICE: AHF will not share its mailing list with anyone…Period. AHF also uses this list SPARINGLY.
© 2007 American Hungarian Federation, All Rights Reserved