36th General Convention - William Penn Life

The Banquet
Celebration
and Remembrance
The Convention banquet was a time to honor the past
WHILE THE MAJORITY of the Convention was
focused on the future, the Association took time to
focus on the past--it’s own and that of Hungary--
during the Convention banquet held Sept. 4 in the
grand ballroom of the Hilton Pittsburgh Hotel.
The evening began with a reception in the ballroom
foyer where members and guests enjoyed a
wide selection of delicious hors d’oeuvres and
refreshing cocktails while listening to the Hungarian
music of the George Batyi Continental Ensemble.
Guests learned their table assignments by picking up
small picture frames personalized with each guest’s
name and table number.
Each of the tables inside the ballroom were
adorned with a set of miniature Hungarian and
American flags, reminding guests of the WPA’s
commitment to preserving our heritage and serving
our nation. Each guest also received a drinking glass
etched with the Association’s logo as a token of
appreciation for attending that evening.
The evening was one of celebration and remembrance.
After dinner, Chairman of the Board Stephen
J. Varga led the assembled guests in both as he
recognized six former members of the Board of
Directors and National Auditing Committee: former
National Directors Anthony C. Beke, Frank J.
Radvany, Michael F. Tomcsak, Elmer W. Toth and
Frank J. Wukovits Jr., and former Auditing Committee
member Joseph Hamari. All were honored for
their long and distinguished service to the WPA, and
each received a plaque and WPA wristwatch as
thanks for their loyalty and dedication.
Mr. Radvany received special recognition for his
many years of service as the Board’s secretary, a
difficult and time-consuming job that he performed
with unsurpassed attention, accuracy and dedication.
National Director and Pa. State Rep. Nickolas M.
Kotik presented Mr. Radvany with a copy of a
resolution passed by the Pennsylvania General
Assembly honoring Mr. Radvany for his service.
All of the retirees received a well-deserved round
of applause from the banquet guests.
The banquet guests would later offer another
well-deserved round of applause to the producer of
a new feature-length documentary about the Hungarian
Revolution of 1956. Entitled “Torn from the
Flag,” the film tells the story of the revolution
through pictures, old film footage and recent interviews
with many of those who fought in and survived
those dark days.
Klaudia Kovacs, the film’s producer and director,
presented a short video preview of the film on large
screens erected on either side of the ballroom’s
center stage. Ms. Kovacs noted the film, now complete,
was looking for a distributor to show the film
worldwide. She thanked the WPA for the financial
assistance it provided during production of the film,
and expressed her hope that all present would do
what they could to bring the film and its message to
a wide audience.
The evening’s festivities concluded with more
Hungarian music, dancing and fraternal fellowship; a
welcome respite from the serious business of the
Convention.
Scenes from the banquet:
(Right) Some of the approximately 250
members and guests--pictured over the next
three pages--who enjoyed the evening..
22 William Penn Life, Special Convention Edition, December 2007