NOVEMBER 2006 William Penn Life DollarDollarDollarsss forforfor ScholarScholarScholarsss Our scholars tell us ‘What Fraternalism Means to Me’ - Page 10 Our annual pictorial salute to our scholarship recipients - Page 12 StepStep upup toto ourour highesthighest interestinterest raterate == 5.255.25%% Compare your earnings on a single deposit of $10,000: CurrentCurrent ProjectedProjected ProjectedProjected InterestInterest AccountAccount AccountAccount AnnuityAnnuity PlanPlan RatesRates afterafter 55 yrs.yrs. afterafter 99 yrs.yrs. NoNo SurrenderSurrender ChargeCharge 4.00%4.00% $12,16712,167 $14,23314,233 55 YYearear SurrenderSurrender ChargeCharge 4.75%4.75% $12,61212,612 $15,18415,184 $ $ 99 YYearear SurrenderSurrender ChargeCharge 5.25%5.25% 12,91512,915 15,84915,849 Call our Home Office TODAY toll-free at 1-800-848-7366, or your locallocal WPWPA sales representative, to discuss the advantages of moving * Early surrender charges may apply to the 5 and 9 Year Surrender Charge Plans. your money into a WPA 5 or 9 Year Annuity rates may change without notice. All annuities may be subject to IRS penalties for early Surrender Charge Annuity Plan. withdrawals. Early withdrawals of 10% of accumulated account values are not subject to early surrender charges. William Penn Life,,, November 2006 George S. Charles, Jr. Editor-in-Chief Richard W. Toth William Penn Diane M. Torma Associate Editors John E. Lovasz Managing Editor NATIONAL OFFICERS George S. Charles, Jr. National President Richard W. Toth Volume 41, Number 11 NOVEMBER 2006 National V.P.-Secretary Life Diane M. Torma INSIDE National V.P.-Treasurer BOARD OF DIRECTORS Stephen J. Varga Chairman 2 American Experience One young Hungarian’s impressions of America and the WPA. E. E. (Al) Vargo Vice Chairman Elmer W. Toth Vice Chairman 4 WPA Annuities You work hard for your money. Shouldn’t your money work hard for you? Ronald S. Balla Anthony C. Beke William J. Bero Barbara A. House 10 What Fraternalism Means to Me Charles S. Johns The best essays penned by this year’s scholarship recipients. Nickolas M. Kotik Andrew W. McNelis Frank J. Radvany DEPARTMENTS Michael F. Tomcsak AUDITING COMMITTEE 12 For Starters 18 The Hungarian Kitchen Branches to hold elections; Schedule Chef Béla offers some of his favorite Robert A. Ivancso of branch Christmas parties. November recipes. Chairman 1 Dennis A. Chobody 16 Puzzle Contest #17 15 Branch News Vice Chairman FInd words associated with ‘Turkey The latest news and notes from our Margaret H. Boso Day’ and you could win $50. branches. Secretary Joseph Hamari 17 Branching Out 20 In Memoriam Anne Marie Schmidt Another profile of a Hungarian Remembering our recently deceased William S. Vasvary Heritage Experience participant. members. Your comments are always 1 November cover photo (c) Corbis welcome. Contact us at: William Penn Life William Penn Association 709 Brighton Road Official publication of the William Penn Association. Published monthly. Pittsburgh, PA 15233 Office of publication: 709 Brighton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15233 Phone: (412) 231-2979. Phone: 1-800-848-7366 Third Class U.S. Postage Paid. Indiana, PA Permit No. 12 E-mail: jlovasz Unsolicited articles, letters, pictures and other material submitted to the William Penn Life are forwarded at the @williampennassociation.org owner’s risk, and the William Penn Life expressly denies any responsibility for their safekeeping or return. The William Penn Life reserves the right to edit, revise or reject any article submitted for publication. POSTMASTER: If undelivered, please send form 3579 to: William Penn Association, 709 Brighton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15233 William Penn Life,,, November 2006 1 For Starters WPA kicks off Elections offer members chance annual Holiday Basket program to have say in branch’s future PITTSBURGH -- In the coming weeks, shall be installed immediately. PITTSBURGH - For many WPA our members will have the chance to According to the Association’s By- members and branches, our exercise one of the most important Laws, an “adult life-benefit member” Holiday Basket program is as privileges of membership in the WPA: is a person who has attained the age much of a tradition as roasted the right to vote for branch officers. of 16 and has a life insurance certifi- turkey or carol singing. We again The procedure for conducting cate with the WPA. All such adult life invite all branches to join us in branch elections is spelled out in the benefit members are eligible to vote. spreading the fraternal spirit this WPA’s By-Laws (Article VI, Sections To run for office, the By-Laws state holiday season. 605 and 606). Put simply: a candidate must be an adult life- Participating in this charitable - Candidates may be nominated benefit member age 18 or older who is program is easy. Branches prepare from a nominating committee ap- not: (1) directly involved in litigation baskets which include non- pointed by the branch president and against the WPA; (2) a full-time or perishable food and other items also from the floor at the election general agent; (3) licensed to sell for donated by members. The Home meeting; another life insurance company; or (4) Office donates $35 for each basket - Each adult life-benefit member a spouse of any of the above. (up to three baskets per branch) may vote once for each office; To find out when your branch will to purchase additional items. - Elections shall be by a majority of conduct its election of officers, check Branch volunteers then deliver the those present at the meeting; and this month’s “Branch News” section, baskets to families in need. - Officers elected at the meeting or contact your branch’s officers. Each year, more than 100 families experience a more joyous Thanksgiving or Christmas, thanks Nationality Rooms schedule open house in large part to the and generosity PITTSBURGH -- The Nationality traditions of the nationality each shown by our branches through Rooms of the University of Pittsburgh room represents. Guides in ethnic the Holiday Basket program. will host a Holiday Open House dress will describe the history and To learn how you can help Sunday, Dec. 3, from noon to 4:00 p.m. meaning of each room’s decor. There spread the fraternal spirit this The 26 rooms, each designed and will also be live performances, ethnic holiday season, call the WPA’s furnished in the styles of various foods, craft demonstrations and an Home Offie toll-free at 1-800-848- European, Asian and African cul- ethnic marketplace. 7366. tures, are located in the university’s The open house is free of charge. Cathedral of Learning. For more information, call (412) 624- The rooms will be decorated in the 6000. 2006 Schedule of WPA Branch Family Christmas Parties Branch City/State Date Time Location 0013.......Trenton, NJ............... Dec. 10.... 2:00.... Hung. Reformed Church Audi., Grand & Beatty Sts., Trenton 0014.......Cleveland, OH............ Dec. 9...... 1:00.... 1st Hung. Reformed Church, 14530 Alexander Rd., Walton Hills 0018.......Lincoln Park, MI.......... Nov. 26... 1:30.... Amer. Hungarian Reformed Church, 9901 Allen Rd., Allen Park 0019.......New Brunswick, NJ.... Dec. 10.... 11:45.. Bayard St. Presbyterian Church, 22A N. Joyce Kilmer Ave. 0026.......Sharon, PA................ Dec. 2...... 5:30.... Neatfeat Roller Skating Rink, 890 N. Broad St., Grove City 0027.......Toledo, OH................ Dec. 9...... 2:00.... TImbers Bowling Lanes, 1246 Conant St., Maumee 0048.......New York, NY............ Dec. 3...... 2:00.... St. Stephen of Hungary Auditorium, 408 E. 82nd St., New York 0088.......Rural Valley, PA......... Dec. 10.... 3:00.... William Penn Social Club, 132-134 Main St., Rural Valley 0089.......Homestead, PA........... Dec. 2...... 1:00.... Homeville Fire Hall, Greensprings Avenue, West Mifflin 0226.......McKeesport, PA.......... Dec. 3...... 2:00.... Free Hung. Reformed Church, 100 University Dr., McKeesport 0296.......Springdale, PA............Dec. 10.... 12:00.. Springdale VFW, Pittsburgh Street, Springdale 0336.......Harrisburg, PA............ Dec. 10.... 1:00.... Verhovay Home Assn. #336, 1012 S. 29th St., Harrisburg 0590.......Cape Coral, FL............ Dec. 15.... 1:00.... Golden Coral, 1451 Tamiami Trail, Rt. 41, Punta Gorda 0800.......Altoona, PA............... Dec. 3...... 6:00.... Holiday Inn Express, 3306 Pleasant Valley Blvd., Altoona 8121.......St. Marys, PA............ Dec. 6...... 7:00.... St. Marys Church Annex, 139 Church St., St. Marys 2 William Penn Life, November 2006 American Experience By Tamás Hovanyecz oing to a different continent the same country. makes someone really excited, Hungary’s length is Gespecially when it’s America. 1,318 miles and is People in Europe have different views surrounded by seven of the United States. I was born in countries. A flight Hungary, raised in Szeged, and from London to New traveled a lot in Europe, which made York is six hours; me as open-minded as I can be at the from New York to age of 20. Studying international San Francisco is five communications, I have to communi- and a half hours. cate between cultures. To be able to I also came to communicate with them, I have to understand how the know their history, their habits, their infrastructure here is backgrounds and their culture. different in compari- Visiting Europe’s different nations son to Hungary. gave me the possibility to acquire this Urban living is more Tamás’ experience included a whirlwind tour of the skill, and now I’m here to understand prevalent back in eastern U.S., including a stop at Niagara Falls. America and its lifestyle and culture. Europe, where we What I’ve got so far is a five-week don’t use our cars as holiday around the east coast and a much as people do here, and public nant in the places I worked, both in seven-week internship--not enough to transportation is more popular. I have Pittsburgh and Washington D.C. say that I know the American tradi- to get used to the fact that if I want to Being an intern here is more challeng- tions, but enough to create a picture in do something around the city, I ing than in Hungary.