www.americanhungarianfederation.org / amsz.org / hungary1956.com
AHF eNews, April 2008
2008 Membership Drive!
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! Only in unity can we find strength! [join now] or [donate!]
- A special message from the AHF Executive Chairman
- AHF joins international petition effort to call attention to the Benes Decrees
- American Hungarian Federation Raises Issue of Vojvodina Hungarians With Senator Senator Clinton’s Foreign Policy Advisor, Ron Asmus
- American Hungarian Federation Participates in Meetings With Senator Obama’s and Senator Clinton’s Foreign Policy Advisors
- Zoltan Bagdy writes in support of national self-determination in reaction to February 19 Anne Applebaum article on Kosovo
- As Kosovo gains independence, AHF calls attention to the largest minority in the region: The Hungarians in the former Yugoslavia and within the Carpathian Basin
- AHF monitoring developments in Kosovo and calls for autonomy for historic Hungarian minorities in Vojvodina and elsewhere in the Carpathian Basin
- Congressional Reception for AHF Centennial… AHF celebrated it’s 100th Anniversary, honored the heroes of 1956 on the 51st anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution, and unveiled its plans for a 1956 National Memorial in the Nation’s Capital
- Hungarians are the cancer of the Slovak nation, without delay we need to remove them from the body of the nation”
- Jan Slota. AHF releases statement on the Benes Decrees
- Hungarian-American Organizations join local community to Commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Darr Mine Disaster
- Senator Larry Craig and the Hungarian (Dis)Connection: The Hungarians of Voivodina
- US Congress – Help build the Congressional Friends of Hungary (CFH)… ACTION ALERT!
- 1956 National Memorial – A call for support and donations to finally have a fitting national memorial in the nation’s capital!
Announcements / AHF Member News
- DC: INVITATION / MEGHIVÓ: TAVASZI MAGYAR BÁL April 12th, 2008!
- NY: TILTAKOZÁS / DEMONSTRATION Benes Dekrétum – 2008. ÁPRILIS 19-én Du. 3 ÓRAKOR
- NJ: INVITATION / MEGHIVÓ: A 41. sz. Lorántffy Zsuzsanna cserkészcsapat
szeretettel meghív igazolásának 50-ik évfordulója ünneplésére. - Join or RENEW! 2008 Renewal Time! Renew or join online!
Additional Features
- Featured Member
- Corporate Sponsor
AHF / Amazon Store – Buy Books Online!
- This Month’s Famous Hungarian
- >> AHF eNews Archive
A special message from Bryan Dawson, AHF Executive Chairman: “100 years ago, Hungarian American leaders recognized that unity brought strength and founded our organization to represent the millions of Hungarians in the United States. AHF’s first President, Tivadar Kohányi appealed to our community issuing his Szózat (appeal) in 1907 writing, “Amerika egy millió magyarja, nemcsak hogy követeljük, de keresztül is visszük azt, hogy Magyarország népének ugyanabban a szabadságban, ugyanabban az igazságban, ugyanabban a jólétben legyen resze, mint a mely szabadság, igazság, es jólét abban az Amerikában van amelynek lakósai, polgárai vagyunk.” Roughly translated, this means, “We, America’s 1 million Hungarians, do not just demand, but will work to ensure that the people of Hungary may partake in the same freedom, the same justice, the same prosperity as we, citizens of America, partake.” It is 2008 and many of our Hungarian brothers and sisters in the Carpathian Basin still wait to partake. We Hungarian Americans represent a unique perspective and culture – one that has flourished in freedom and one that must be preserved. We also have an obligation to work to ensure the spirit of democracy continues to be, as Louis Kossuth said, “the spirit of our age” both here and abroad.
As my first term as Chairman of the Executive Committee draws to a close, I also appeal to you. Our work is not done. Only in unity can we find strength. We need your help… Join us!
3/1/2008 – AHF joins international petition effort to call attention to the Benes Decrees. On September 20, 2007, the Slovak Parliament adopted a resolution proposed by extremist Jan Slota ratifying and confirming the Benes decrees. This is unacceptable. Make your feelings known. [Sign the petition] and read more about the cruel [Benes Decrees] which unjustly expelled thousands of Hungarian families from their ancestral homelands. See where the [demonstrations] will be held and get involved! [read more]
3/24/2008 – Hungary and the United States Sign Visa Waiver Agreement… On Monday, March 17, 2008, Hungary, Slovakia and Lithuania signed a Visa Waiver Program memorandum of understanding with the United States. This agreement is intended to pave the way to help the three countries qualify for visa waiver free travel to the United States later this year. The American Hungarian Federation (along with other individuals and organizations) has long supported visa waiver for Hungary, speaking out about the need to provide Hungarians the same right to visa free travel that Americans enjoy when traveling to Hungary. Washington Times publishes AHF Letter to the Editor.
[read more]
3/5/2008 – American Hungarian Federation Raises Issue of Vojvodina Hungarians With Senator Senator Clinton’s Foreign Policy Advisor, Ron Asmus…On March 3 representatives of the 19 member organizations of the Central and East European Coalition (CEEC) spoke via conference call with Dr. Ron Asmus, foreign policy adviser to Senator Hillary Clinton’s campaign. The discussion, which was a follow-up to a meeting with Secretary Madeline Albright and Senator Clinton’s Campaign National Security Director, Lee Feinstein held last week. [read more]
3/5/2008 – American Hungarian Federation Participates in Meetings With Senator Obama’s and Senator Clinton’s Foreign Policy Advisors…The Central and East European Coalition (CEEC) and the American Hungarian Federation (AHF), discussed a number of policy issues with Madeline Albright and Anthony Lake. [read more]
3/1/2008 – Zoltan Bagdy writes in support of national self-determination in reaction to February 19 Anne Applebaum article on Kosovo: “… it is doubly puzzling why she now seems to be ringing the alarm-bell about other ethnic groups seeking their own self-determination. Why not the Basques? Her list doesn’t even mention the Kurds, so I will add it myself: Why not the Kurds? Don’t they deserve self-determination? There are 2 million ethnic Hungarians living outside of Hungary, they are not allowed to use their native language, their cultural and educational opportunities are constrained. Aren’t they entitled to their freedom?” [read more]
2/29/2008 – As Kosovo gains independence, AHF calls attention to the largest minority in the region: The Hungarians in the former Yugoslavia and within the Carpathian Basin. The recent independence of Kosovo and resulting violence deeply concerns the Federation. In a Letter to the Editor, AHF’s Geza Cseri writes: “What is also bothersome and surprising is that there is no overall analysis of minority rights in Central Europe, which is crucial to the peace of the region as well as the whole of Europe. [read more]
2/21/2008 – AHF monitoring developments in Kosovo and calls for autonomy for historic Hungarian minorities in Vojvodina and elsewhere in the Carpathian Basin. With independence of Kosovo and the potential for additional violence, the Federation is concerned over the lack of international attention to the Hungarian minority in the former Yugoslavia. “While Kosovars and other nations of Central and Eastern Europe have realized their aspirations for self-determination, the Hungarian minorities are still denied the right of autonomy within existing borders.” [read more]
11/1/2007 – Congressional Reception for AHF Centennial… AHF celebrated it’s 100th Anniversary, honored the heroes of 1956 on the 51st anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution, and unveiled its plans for a 1956 National Memorial in the Nation’s Capital. AHF thanked Congressmen Dan Lipinski (D – IL), Thaddeus McCotter (R- MI) and Dr. Lee Edwards (Chair of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation) for their support of AHF initiatives, human rights and democratic development in Central Europe. [read more]
10/20/2007 – “Hungarians are the cancer of the Slovak nation, without delay we need to remove them from the body of the nation” – Jan Slota. AHF releases statement on the Benes Decrees and recent extremist developments in Slovakia. “Having taken a step that has fueled ethnic hatred and assaulted good relations with Hungary, the Slovak Parliament on September 20, 2007 adopted a resolution proposed by extremist Jan Slota ratifying and confirming the Benes decrees.” [read more]
10/3/2007– Hungarian-American Organizations join Local Community to Commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Darr Mine Disaster. Key AHF member organizations joined forces to remember the worst mining disaster in Pennsylvania history. On December 19, 1907 an explosion in the Darr Mine took the lives of an estimated 239 men and teenage boys. Though most of those killed were Hungarian immigrant laborers, AHF honors all those that sacrificed their lives. Many of the miners were buried in a common grave above which AHF placed a memorial in 1909 seen here. [read more]
10/2/2007 – Senator Larry Craig and the Hungarian (Dis)Connection: The Hungarians of Voivodina. AHF’s chair of the International Affairs Committee recaps the effort to protect the minority rights of the Hungarian community in the Vojvodina region of northern Serbia and the Senator’s role in blocking those efforts. The bi-partisan, bicameral measure had stated that “during the past 10 years…ethnic cleansing has already driven 50,000 ethnic Hungarians out of the province of Voivodina.”
Ongoing – ACTION ALERT: Help build the Congressional Friends of Hungary (CFH)… On February 12, the late Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA), Chairman of the U.S. Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Congressman Christopher Shays (R-CT) circulated a “Dear Colleague” letter inviting Members of Congress to join the Congressional Friends of Hungary (CFH). The purpose of the caucus, as noted by the co-chairs, is “to recognize the contributions of Hungarian-Americans to the United States and to strengthen the ties between the United States and Hungary.”
How can you help?
1) Copy the sample letter below, paste it into a document and fill
in the blanks
2) Save the document to your hard drive, print it and sign it
3) Find your local state representatives by entering your zip code
in the tool on our Website at [ALERTS].
This legislative tool will provide addresses, emails, fax and phone
numbers.
IT IS BEST TO CALL and then FAX the letter.
What to Say?
“Hello, my name is _____. I am a constituent of Representative _____ and also a member of the American Hungarian Federation. On February 12th, the late Congressmen Tom Lantos and Christopher Shays distributed a “Dear Colleague Letter” entitled “Join the Congressional Friends of Hungary.” I am calling to ask the Congressman to join the CFH. I and the other Americans of Hungarian descent in his/her district would be grateful for his/her support. I will fax you a letter that also includes the contact name in Congressman Lantos’ office should you need more information.”
The Letter:
The Honorable [name of your Congressman]
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20210
Dear Congressman ________:
I am one of your constituents who lives in ______. I call your attention to the “Dear Colleague Letter” distributed on February 12, 2007 by Congressmen Tom Lantos and Christopher Shays, titled “Join the Congressional Friends of Hungary.” I urge you to consider joining this Congressional Caucus, whose main purpose is to strengthen the ties between the American and Hungarian people and to recognize the Hungarian-American community. There are a number of Hungarian-Americans in your district and our community would be grateful for your support. Your wise counsel would be an asset in the operation of this caucus, particularly in the areas of human rights and minority rights.
Sincerely yours,
[Your name]
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! [read more]
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. [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:
Lapossy,
Susanna (Zsuzsanna):
Life
Behind the Iron Curtain. [Read
more] about the book or purchase the book on
Simon, Paul M: “The Old lady and the Fawn,” the first bilingual edition of “Öreg néne ozikéje” (Hungarian)
Order now at Simpa Books
Professor Peter Hargitai’s Daughter of the Revolution: A Novel (2006 – A story of a brave freedom fighter – a 14 year-old girl) [read more]
Rebecca McEldowney’s “Soul of Flesh: A Novel of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution” [read more]
Dr. Katalin Kadar Lynn’s “Tibor Eckhardt in His Own Words: An Autobiography” [read more]
Looking Back… AHF History:
AHF, Tibor Eckhardt, and the “Movement for Independent Hungary,” 1941 – 1942: Seeking to extract Hungary from the Axis sphere – by Bryan Dawson and Katalin Kádár Lynn, Ph.D.
On the 31st of December 1940, the Amerikai Magyar Népszava, the most influential Hungarian language daily at the time, published a front-page editorial headlined “The Hour has Struck.” The editorial proclaimed that it was the “the historic mission of Americans of Hungarian origin to give voice to the cries of the silenced people of Hungary and to give their whole hearted effort to the liberation of their mother country which is clubbed into submission by the Nazi terror.”
The editorial called upon the American Hungarian Federation to unfurl the banner of a Free Hungary Movement without hesitation or delay. We did! [read more]
Sponsors
The Zala Springs ResortHungary’s Zala Springs Resort is Hungary’s first master planned and biggest golf and thermal spa resort community, which is unique both in Hungary and in Central Europe. [read more]
Author
Susanna (Zsuzsanna) Lápossy is a Freedom Circle Member of the
American Hungarian Federation. Her book, the first part of
a trilogy entitled “Life behind the iron curtain” contains
lesser-known facts about 20th century Hungary as seen through a middle-class
family.
[Read
more]
AHF Members Corner!
Featured Member
Katalin Kádár Lynn, Ph.D.An independent author and historian living in Saint Helena, California, specializing in 20th century history with an emphasis on WWII, the Cold War and East European political relations and Émigré Political Movements. Her dissertation, “Tibor Eckhardt his American Years 1941-1972,” was published in 2007 by L’Harmattan Press, Paris and Budapest in Hungarian and in English by East European Monographs, Boulder and distributed by Columbia University Press. He research into the Eckhardt uncovered previously unknown facts about the Movement for an Independent Hungary and British intelligence spying on Eckhardt and the AHF. Read more on [Featured Members]
Upcoming Events/Cultural NewsTo announce a Hungarian cultural event, please contact the AHF Cultural Affairs Committee, Zoltan Bagdy, Chair and see all [cultural news]
Washington, DC
MAGYAR BÁL INVITATION / MEGHIVÓ: April 12th, 2008!
The Annual Hungarian Spring Ball – A very special evening benefitting AHF’s 2008 programs and the Hungarian Scouts of Washington! The phenomenal New York Continental Band and traditional dance performance by local scouts will make for another very special evening of dancing and debutantes.
$120 Tickets may be ordered ONLINE!
[read more]
New York
TILTAKOZÁS / DEMONSTRATIONTARTSATOK VELÜNK!!!
ÖSSZEFOGÁS A NEMZETÉRT A VILÁG VÁROSAIBAN, április 19-én a szlovák
nagykövetségek, konzulátusok és kirendeltségek elıtt, peticíó átadással.
A NEW YORKI DEMONSTRÁCIÓRA SZINTÉN
2008. ÁPRILIS 19-én Du. 3 ÓRAKOR KERÜL SOR.
CÍM: 801 SECOND AVENUE, A 2. és 3. AVE KÖZÖTT.
Ezt követöen április 22-én 11 órától Strasbourgban az Európa Parlament épülete elıtt tiltakozunk és
delegációnk átnyújtja peticíónkat az Európa Parlament képviselöinek.
Felhívás a tüntetésekre / Call for protests
[A TILTAKOZÁSOKRÓL INFORMÁCIÓ]
[Sign the petition] and read more about the cruel [Benes Decrees] which unjustly expelled thousands of Hungarian families from their ancestral homelands. See where the [demonstrations] will be held and get involved! [read more]
New Jersey
2008. április 19 – Meghivó
A 41. sz. Lorántffy Zsuzsanna cserkészcsapat
szeretettel meghív igazolásának 50-ik évfordulója ünneplésére.
2008. április 19-én, aA Magyar Amerikai Atléta Klub (HAAC) dísztermében
233 Somerset Street,
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Fogadás: 6:00
Vacsora: 7:00
Jegy árak: Felnotteknek: $40.00
Aktiv csapattagoknak és gyerekeknek (10 éven alul): $15.00
(Csekket kérjük Hungarian Scout Association névre kiállítani.)
Minden csapattagot, volt csapattagot, vezetot, cserkészszülot és
barátot szeretettel várunk!
41 sz. Lorántffy Zsuzsanna lcscs.
c/o Ágnes Vigh
109 Wynnwood Avenue
Piscataway, NJ 08854
Asztalfoglalas, informació:
Vigh Ágnes: vighster@optonline.net
732-885-5542
In Memoriam
3/17/2007 – Great Painter, Sculptor and Hungarian, Gabriella Koszorus-Varsa passes away in her home in Washington, DC. Heralded as a master of portraits, figure compositions,
as well as sculptures, Ms. Koszorus-Varsa’s depiction of the charge
of the cavalry during the battle of Charleston in “Fidelissimus ad
Mortem” is a magnificent master work and hung in the US Capitol and was displayed at the AHF Congressional Reception in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution. In 2007, she was honored with AHF’s highest award, the Col. Commandant Michael Kovats
Medal of Freedom for “her
lifetime accomplishments and dedication to the preservation of our Hungarian
heritage.” A supporter of AHF for many decades and responsible for the
design of some AHF stamps during its 1956 relief efforts and beyond.
[read more]
11/6/2007 – AHF mourns the loss of Mózsi
Ferenc, author of thirteen volumes of poetry. He was born in Budapest.
He left Hungary in 1970 and lived for a time in Belgium pursuing literary
studies at the Catholic University of Louvain. In 1974 he moved to the
United States and founded and edited the Hungarian critical and artistic
review Szivárvány. At the 1984 World Congress of Poetry
in Marrakech, Morocco, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Poetry.
Ferenc Mózsi lived in Chicago and owned Sebok Travel Services.
[See all AHF Memorials].
8/31/2007
– We mourn the loss of Imre Gazda, President of the Dallas-Fort
Worth Metroplex Magyar Cultural Circle who passed away on Friday
August 31st, 2007 at the age of 64 after a brief but courageous battle
with laryngeal cancer.
[read
more]
8/6/2007
– Dr. Jean Dobos, Ph.D., passed away on August 6, 2007.
Jean was born on November 21, 1939 and is survived by her loving husband,
AHF Board Member Frank Dobos.She graduated from Holy
Name Elementary and High School and received her B.S. from Notre Dame
College, Master’s Degree from Cleveland State University, and Ph.D.
from Ohio State
[read more]
Featured Link
The Hungary Page’s “Nobel Prize Winners and Famous Hungarians” at www.thehungarypage.com
This Month’s Famous Hungarian
Joseph
Galamb
(1881 – 1955)
Ford Chief Engineer: Designed the
Model T and Model A Ford, the Fordson Tractor, invented
the Ignition Plug and the Planetary Gearbox, and prepared the production
of Liberty aircraft engines.
One of the most talented technical forebears in American automotive industry, József Galamb had a very eventful career. He was born in the small Hungarian town of Makó in 1881. After graduating at the Budapest Technical University, he started to work in a wagon factory and later joined the biggest Hungarian automobile factory in Arad, Transylvania (now Oradea, Rumania after annexation in 1920). At the beginning of the 1900s he studied manufacturing processes in the German Adler car factory, finally in 1903 crossed the Atlantic and tried his luck in the United States. He turned up in several cities including St. Louis, Cleveland, and Detroit. He began to work with Ford in December 1905.
Read more about him and other great Hungarians on The Hungary Page’s “Nobel Prize Winners and Famous Hungarians” at www.thehungarypage.com
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
PRIVACY NOTICE: AHF will not share its mailing list with anyone…Period. AHF also uses this list SPARINGLY.
© 2008 American Hungarian Federation,
All Rights
Reserved