AHF eNews, June 2008 |
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Announcements / AHF Member News
Additional Features
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6/12/2008 - Victims of Communism Memorial 1st Anniversary... Tom Lantos honored. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez and U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer topped the list of speakers and guests from Capitol Hill and Washington's diplomatic corps at the wreath laying ceremony at the Victims of Communism Memorial. Former California Congressman Tom Lantos was awarded the Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom (posthumously) during the ceremony. The ceremony marked the first anniversary of the dedication of the memorial. AHF is proud to support the foundation. AHF's October 2007 Congressional Reception in honor of its 100th anniversary began with a wreath laying at the memorial. [read more] 6/11/2008 - Sen. Schumer suggests return of Russia's hegemony in Central and East Europe... AHF (and Central and East European Coalition) sends letter and calls on community to express its concern. On June 3, 2008, Senator Schumer (D-NY) published an article in The Wall Street Journal entitled "Russia Can Be Part of the Answer on Iran." In this article, Sen. Schumer suggests that stronger economic sanctions would help deter Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The effectiveness of the sanctions, according to Sen. Schumer, will require Russia's cooperation. [read more] and get involved! 6/4/2008 - The 88th Anniversary of Trianon. AHF issues Statement entitled, "Overdue Autonomy for Minority Hungarians! Time to Bury Trianon and Resurrect Democracy." The European order imposed after World War I and then re-imposed following the Second World War collapsed almost within months at the end of the Cold War. One ethnic group after another throughout the region seized the opportunity to realize their own objectives to exercise external self-determination, even as some of them denied internal self-determination to their Hungarian co-nationals. For example, after Slovakia broke away from Prague’s perceived dominance in the peaceful divorce of 1992, it wasted little time to gerrymander the country’s historic administrative division in 1996 so as to eliminate most of the districts which had a Hungarian majority population. [read more] 4/7/2008 - American Hungarian Federation Raises Visa Waiver at America Abroad Media Town Hall Meeting: "Foreign Policy and the Presidential Election: America's Image Problem" (Washington, D.C.) The American Hungarian Federation attended a special town hall discussion, presented by WAMU 88.5, America Abroad Media, and The American Interest magazine, and senior foreign policy advisors from the presidential campaigns of Senators Hillary Clinton, John McCain, and Barack Obama. The participants discussed strategies for improving America’s standing abroad. INCLUDES AUDIO [read more] 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 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] 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, 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] 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): 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) 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]
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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] Featured Member AHF's Tako Geza Award-winning Dr. Stephen Szilagyi, founded SARA, "Sharing America's Resources Abroad. SARA is a Christian ministry offering medical assistance to improve lives around the world. From humble beginnings, SARA has distributed millions of dollars in medical supplies, services, and medical care, establishing a network of doctors and suppliers ready to assist the needy. SARA is NOW accepting registrations to accompany their delegation on their Transcarpathia Mission to help the poor. The mission begins Monday, September 5, as it departs Cleveland to Budapest. Contact him to donate your time and talents and accompany the group to this former Hungarian territory. [See More Featured Members] Upcoming Events/Cultural News Washington, DC: July 12, 2008: INVITATION AHF Presents... The American Hungarian Federation is proud to bring Gázsa - one of Hungary's best folk music bands - to Washington, DC for an
extraordinary concert and tanchaz. The Hungary Page's "Nobel Prize Winners and Famous Hungarians" at www.thehungarypage.com Stefan Hatos Stefan Hatos was a first generation American with Hungarian parents. His father was an iron peddler by trade. Stefan was the second of three sons and a daughter. He began playing piano and oboe at age eight. While attending college on a music (and basketball) scholarship, he played Oboe and English Horn with the Detroit Civic Symphony and also played Tenor & Bass Saxophone in dance bands to work his way through school. He got his start in media when he became staff announcer at a Detroit radio station and later on the NBC radio network. He was always more interested in writing and production than in performing. While an announcer, he wrote episodes of The Lone Ranger (1940), The Green Hornet, and a psycho-thriller Hermit’s Cave. After serving 37 months as commanding officer of PT 328 during WWII, and surviving being wounded twice, he returned to CBS Radio as a Staff Director and Writer in New York and Chicago. He next joined ad agency Foote, Cone & Belding as staff Producer-Director for radio shows Readers Digest with big name stars and The Wayne King Show (CBS Radio). He directed Lucky Strike Hit Parade for NBC Radio. He moved into television in 1949, and created and produced one of the first nighttime game shows on the first inter-connected network of seventeen TV stations on ABC-TV. The name of the show was Fun for the Money. He produced numerous radio and television shows and hit it big with "Let's Make a Deal" with Monty Hall which debuted in 1963 and ran for over 4,600 shows and continues today in syndication! Trivia:
Read more on the Official Let's Make a Deal Website or read more about him and other great Hungarians on The Hungary Page's "Nobel Prize Winners and Famous Hungarians" at www.thehungarypage.com Thanks to the following Sponsors: The
Zala Springs Resort 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. 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 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. DISCLAIMER: The American Hungarian Federation does not necessarily endorse the content or opinions found in the external sites found this eNewsletter or those expressed by its individual members and member organizations... © 2008 American Hungarian Federation, |