{"id":34968,"date":"2017-12-10T00:08:32","date_gmt":"2017-12-10T05:08:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bocskairadio.org\/?p=34968"},"modified":"2017-12-23T23:35:36","modified_gmt":"2017-12-24T04:35:36","slug":"hungarian-american-coalition-holds-2017-annual-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bocskairadio.org\/en\/hungarian-american-coalition-holds-2017-annual-meeting\/","title":{"rendered":"Hungarian American Coalition Holds 2017 Annual Meeting"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bocskairadio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/HAC-Mikulas2017.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-34965\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bocskairadio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/HAC-Mikulas2017-600x338.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bocskairadio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/HAC-Mikulas2017-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.bocskairadio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/HAC-Mikulas2017-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bocskairadio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/HAC-Mikulas2017.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Washington, DC \u2013 On December 2, 2017 the Hungarian American Coalition (Coalition) held its Annual General and Board Meetings at the House of Quakers in Washington DC, after hosting its 26th annual Mikul\u00e1s Dinner the previous evening at the Embassy of Hungary.<\/p>\n<div id=\"fb-root\"><\/div>\n<p><script>(function(d, s, id) {  var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];  if (d.getElementById(id)) return;  js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;  js.src = 'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v3.2';  fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));<\/script><\/p>\n<div class=\"fb-video\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BocskaiRadio\/videos\/10155805392857278\/\" data-width=\"696\">\n<blockquote cite=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BocskaiRadio\/videos\/10155805392857278\/\" class=\"fb-xfbml-parse-ignore\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BocskaiRadio\/videos\/10155805392857278\/\">Hungarian American Coalition\u2019s Mikul\u00e1s Party<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Andrea Lauer Rice, president of the Hungarian American Coalition, summarizes the Coalition\u2019s annual Mikul\u00e1s Party held on December 1, 2017 at the Embassy of Hungary in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n<p>Posted by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BocskaiRadio\/\">Bocskai R\u00e1di\u00f3 the Voice of Hungary at WJCU<\/a> on Wednesday, December 6, 2017<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">On December 1, more than 100 Coalition members and guests attended the traditional Mikul\u00e1s Dinner hosted by Ambassador L\u00e1szl\u00f3 Szab\u00f3 at the Embassy of Hungary.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Master of Ceremonies Endre Szentkir\u00e1lyi greeted the distinguished gathering and special guests, including hosts Ambassador Dr. L\u00e1szl\u00f3 Szab\u00f3 and his wife Dr. Ivonn Szever\u00e9nyi; the evening\u2019s keynote speaker Ambassador Kurt Volker, U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations and Ms. Ia Meurmishvili; Ambassador April H. Foley, former Ambassador of the United States to Hungary and Chairman of the Board of The Hungary Initiatives Foundation; Ambassador Thomas Robertson, former Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Budapest; Ambassador Ferenc Kumin, Consul General in New York and Ms. Zita Bencsik, Consul General in Chicago; Dr. \u00c1gnes Virga, Coalition Chairman of the Board; Mrs. Andrea Lauer Rice, President of the Coalition; Ms. Susan Hutchison, \u00a0Chairman of the Washington State Republican Party.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Other guests included Dr. Matthew Shank, President of Marymount University and his wife Mrs. Lynne Shank; Mr. Joseph Foster, Vice President of Marymount University and his wife Mrs. Stephanie Foster; Ms. Eszter S\u00e1ndorfi, Head of the Department of North America at the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFA); Ms. D\u00f3ra Loydl, US Foreign Policy Coordinator, MFA; Ms. Andrea Guly\u00e1s, State Secretary at the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture; Mr. Zsigmond Per\u00e9nyi, Deputy State Secretary for International Affairs, Prime Minister\u2019s Office; Mr. L\u00e1szl\u00f3 H\u00e1mos, President of the Hungarian Human Rights Foundation; Mr. Imre Lendvai-Lintner, President of the Hungarian Scouts Association in Exteris; Mrs. Enik\u0151 Moln\u00e1r Basa, Executive Director of the Hungarian American Educators Association; Mrs. Anna Smith Lacey, Executive Director of Hungary Initiatives Foundation and Mr. Marion Smith, Executive Director of Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr. Szentkir\u00e1yi also welcomed Honorary Consuls Mr. Phillip Arnoff (TX); Mr. Mikl\u00f3s Bartsch (CA); Coalition Member Mrs. Eva Voisin (CA); Mr. John Parkerson (GA) and Ms. Alicia McCart; Ms. Katalin Pearman (WA); and Coalition Vice President Ms. Csilla Grauzer (MN). He also greeted Mr. Andr\u00e1s Juh\u00e1sz, Trade Commissioner from Chicago and Ms. Judit Czak\u00f3, Economic and Trade Commissioner, New York.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">From the local Washington community, Mr. Szentkir\u00e1lyi welcomed Coalition Vice President Mr. Stefan Fedor and Mrs. Erika Fedor, founders of the American Hungarian Heritage House; Mr. Gabe Rozsa, Chairman and Executive Director of the Kossuth Foundation; Ms. Kinga R\u00e9v\u00e9sz, President of the Hungarian Science Club of Washington; Mrs. Kinga Hydras, Hungarian Academy, Washington, DC and her husband Mr. Labros Hydras; Dr. Istv\u00e1n and Mrs. Krisztina Hargitai, DC Hungarian Scouts. He recognized Coalition Internship Program Alumni present, including Mr. M\u00e1rton Aichelburg, Mr. L\u00e1szl\u00f3 Baksay, Ms. Lilla F\u00f6rd\u0151s, Ms. No\u00e9mi Szakonyi and her husband Mr. M\u00e1t\u00e9 Vincze, as well as current K\u0151r\u00f6si Csoma S\u00e1ndor Internship Program participants Mr. G\u00e1bor Balogh and Ms. Eszter R\u00e1cz.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also gave a special welcome to all the hardworking members of the Embassy of Hungary, including Dr. Zsolt Hetesy, Deputy Chief of Mission; Dr. B\u00e9la Gedeon, Press and Public Affairs Officer; Mr. P\u00e9ter Gyombolai, Hungarian Diaspora Liaison and his wife Mrs. Eszter Gyombolai; Ms. Zs\u00f3fia Koncz, Foreign Policy Officer; Ms. Dorottya M\u00e1rtonffy-Nagy, Trade and Investment Attache; Dr. Krisztina Osv\u00e1t, Counselor, Hungarian Diaspora Affairs; Mr. Zolt\u00e1n Patai, Financial Director in Charge of Managing the Economic Region and his wife Mrs. Ren\u00e1ta Patai-Szab\u00f3, Consul; Mr. L\u0151rinc P\u00e1va, Economic and Trade Attache and his wife Mrs. R\u00e9ka P\u00e1va; Dr. D\u00e1vid Singer, First Secretary, Cultural Affairs and Mrs. Nikolett Singer; Dr. M\u00f3nika Varga, Consul; Mr. Kriszti\u00e1n Janzs\u00f3, Head of the Economic and Trade Section; Ms. D\u00f3ra Zombori, Political, Military and Energy Officer; Ms. Szilvia N\u00e9meth-Dud\u00e1s, Office Administrator and Mr. Benedek Kov\u00e1cs, Assistant.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Finally, Mr. Szentkir\u00e1lyi welcomed all members of the Coalition, especially President Emeritus Maximilian Teleki and Mrs. Wendy Teleki; and Chair Emerita Edith K. Lauer.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Next, Ambassador L\u00e1szl\u00f3 Szab\u00f3 welcomed all the guests, and delivered a message from Prime Minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n, who at a meeting with Ambassador Szab\u00f3 described Hungarians living in the US as \u201cHungary\u2019s most important asset\u201d. Ambassador Szab\u00f3 underlined that the Coalition is the largest Hungarian umbrella organization in the US, and the US has the largest diaspora of Hungary. The Ambassador also highlighted the importance of the common ground created in the previous centuries and the welcoming environment that allows Hungarians to preserve their identity while being American citizens. He emphasized the fruitful cooperation between the US and Hungary since the system change, and pointed out the defense and security sectors as the greatest achievements. The Ambassador named areas where Hungarian and US foreign policy is completely aligned: fighting against terrorism; working on energy related projects to decrease the Russian influence in Central and Eastern Europe and assuring Ukraine\u2019s territorial sovereignty. Ambassador Szab\u00f3 concluded by stressing how remarkable work the Hungarian American Coalition is doing to preserve the identity of Hungarians in the US.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">After the dinner, a video was shown on the Coalition Internship Program (available\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/HungarianAmericanCoalition\/videos\/1545567875531139\/\">here<\/a>) followed by Coalition President Andrea Lauer Rice\u2019s welcoming remarks. Mrs. Lauer Rice provided a detailed description of her recent presidential trip to Hungary and Subcarpathia in November 2017, which she said was a perfect example of the kind of the behind-the-scenes work the Coalition does throughout the year and the unique role the Coalition plays in the Hungarian American community. During the trip, the following areas of Coalition work were included: diplomacy and advocacy; promotion of art, culture and history; Hungarian-American community outreach; building bridges between our nations; monitoring Hungarian human rights in the Carpathian basin and developing future leaders. Mrs. Lauer Rice stressed the significance of Hungarian language and education in maintaining Hungarian communities in Ukraine. As part of the cultural outreach, in 2017 the Coalition celebrated the premiere of the documentary \u201cCold Warriors,\u201d which grew out of the Coalition-sponsored Memory Project: Hungarian American Visual History Archive of which Lauer Rice is a co-founder. She described the 7th annual meeting of the Diaspora Council, an event where 25 American representatives joined other global leaders of the Hungarian diaspora communities at a conference hosted by the Hungarian government. Following up on the video, President Lauer Rice highlighted the many achievements of the Coalition Internship Program that has helped train 82 Hungarian interns since 2005, with many participants who now work in leadership positions in Hungary and the Carpathian Basin. The President concluded her speech by thanking Mrs. Susan Hutchison, Ambassador April Foley and all Coalition members for making this program possible. She also gave special thanks to Zsolt Szekeres for his extraordinary effort with CIP and the Presidential trip.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a surprise award ceremony, Edith K. Lauer, Coalition Chair Emerita recognized Ambassador Thomas Robertson, former Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy in Budapest on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Coalition \u201cfor representing the best traditions of American diplomacy during Hungary\u2019s historic transition and beyond\u201d. The laudation also included: \u201cHis years of service on behalf of freedom and democracy and his friendship with the Hungarian people have earned the enduring gratitude of Hungarian-Americans\u201d. Ambassador Robertson thanked the Coalition the help they provided in opening doors to work on issues of mutual interest and he also emphasized the role of the exchange and internship programs in maintaining Hungarian-American cooperation and friendship.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Coalition President Andrea Lauer Rice then introduced the evening\u2019s keynote speaker, Ambassador Kurt Volker, US Special Representative in Ukraine negotiations. Ambassador Volker began his address remembering his times spent in Hungary during the preparation for NATO membership, and the Bosnian war in which Hungary was a reliable partner of the US. Next, he listed some challenges that the entire transatlantic community faces today: on the foreign side, there are China, Russia, ISIS and the deeply felt effects of globalization; on the domestic side, there are the elites, populists, threats to jobs, security, tradition, family and values. The first thing he stressed about the answers to these challenges is that we need to know who we are; and secondly, we need to take a stand. Thirdly, we have to recognize that not all who do not belong to us are our enemies. Fourth, we must hold our leaders to account and finally, we must be patient. Hungary and the US are friends who have some differences but these are not fundamental ones of who we are. Thus, to deal with the challenges, we have to face the real enemies and not those we perceive to be. Finally, Ambassador Volker brought up the new education law and minority rights in Ukraine. He stressed, that the citizens of Ukraine have to speak Ukrainian but at the same time the minorities must have the right to speak their own languages.\u00a0 He added that there is a greater problem that needs to be solved first, which is the changing of borders in Europe by a foreign nation.<\/p>\n<div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\">\n<div  id=\"_ytid_38176\"  width=\"696\" height=\"391\"  data-origwidth=\"696\" data-origheight=\"391\" data-facadesrc=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GTwqgVSE4Xw?enablejsapi=1&#038;autoplay=0&#038;cc_load_policy=0&#038;cc_lang_pref=&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;loop=0&#038;rel=0&#038;fs=1&#038;playsinline=0&#038;autohide=2&#038;theme=dark&#038;color=red&#038;controls=1&#038;disablekb=0&#038;\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__ epyt-facade epyt-is-override  no-lazyload\" data-epautoplay=\"1\" ><img decoding=\"async\" data-spai-excluded=\"true\" class=\"epyt-facade-poster skip-lazy\" loading=\"lazy\"  alt=\"YouTube player\"  src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/GTwqgVSE4Xw\/maxresdefault.jpg\"  \/><button class=\"epyt-facade-play\" aria-label=\"Play\"><svg data-no-lazy=\"1\" height=\"100%\" version=\"1.1\" viewBox=\"0 0 68 48\" width=\"100%\"><path class=\"ytp-large-play-button-bg\" d=\"M66.52,7.74c-0.78-2.93-2.49-5.41-5.42-6.19C55.79,.13,34,0,34,0S12.21,.13,6.9,1.55 C3.97,2.33,2.27,4.81,1.48,7.74C0.06,13.05,0,24,0,24s0.06,10.95,1.48,16.26c0.78,2.93,2.49,5.41,5.42,6.19 C12.21,47.87,34,48,34,48s21.79-0.13,27.1-1.55c2.93-0.78,4.64-3.26,5.42-6.19C67.94,34.95,68,24,68,24S67.94,13.05,66.52,7.74z\" fill=\"#f00\"><\/path><path d=\"M 45,24 27,14 27,34\" fill=\"#fff\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The dinner concluded with Hungarian Christmas caroling led by Ms. No\u00e9mi B\u00e1nhidi, Program Coordinator of the Coalition and a Mikul\u00e1s toast from Coalition Chair Dr. \u00c1gnes Virga.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the Annual Meeting held on Saturday, December 2, Chairman of the Coalition \u00c1gnes Virga greeted all members before presenting her formal report of the Coalition\u2019s remarkable accomplishments in 2017. \u00a0Next, members heard the detailed report given by Coalition President Andrea Lauer Rice about the organization\u2019s 2017 projects and activities. \u00a0The Annual Meeting voted to renew the terms of the following individual board members: Mr. Stefan Fedor and Mr. Peter Wm. Forgach.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr. L\u00e1szl\u00f3 H\u00e1mos reported on the ReConnect Hungary Birthright Program by showing two videos and asked participants to spread the word about the program for the 6th round of call for applications. Mr. Gabe Rozsa also gave an update on the current state of Kossuth House, happily reporting that the Kossuth Foundation finally owns the building, but it will take a lot of time and effort until the building can be used again.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the afternoon Board Meeting the three-year term of the following organizational board members were renewed: Hungarian Cultural Society of Connecticut, Hungarian (Magyar) Club of Chicago, Hungarian Society of Massachusetts, Civic Enterprises. The Board also approved Sarolta Borz\u00e1si (Cluj Napoca, Romania) and Ms. Susan Hutchison as new individual members.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the Board meeting, Mr. L\u00e1szl\u00f3 H\u00e1mos and Mrs. Eva Voisin reported on the seventh Diaspora Meeting, and Mr. H\u00e1mos also asked participants to review and sign the Minority Safepack Initiative. Ms. Csilla Grauzer then presented her project \u2018Medical Supplies Donation Program\u2019 to Hungary, which is part of her non-profit Creative Cultural Exchange, Inc.\u2019s Power Of Positive Impact (P.O.P.I.). In the framework of this program, they collect, organize and facilitate the shipment of basic medical supplies donations for mission purposes to hospitals in need throughout Hungary or in regions with Hungarian minorities mainly in Transylvania, Romania and Subcarpathia, Ukraine. Ms. Grauzer reported that they have already shipped more than 160 boxes to Budapest in August, 2017.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The meeting concluded with Andrea Lauer Rice saying a special thank you to all Coalition leaders, members and CIP interns who had worked so hard throughout the year.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"date\">December 4, 2017 | Washington, DC<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Source:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hacusa.org\/en\/news\/hungarian-american-coalition-holds-2017-annual-meeting\">hacusa.org<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>I. Part<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"fb-root\"><\/div>\n<p><script>(function(d, s, id) {  var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];  if (d.getElementById(id)) return;  js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;  js.src = 'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v3.2';  fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));<\/script><\/p>\n<div class=\"fb-video\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BocskaiRadio\/videos\/10155791273332278\/\" data-width=\"696\">\n<blockquote cite=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BocskaiRadio\/videos\/10155791273332278\/\" class=\"fb-xfbml-parse-ignore\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BocskaiRadio\/videos\/10155791273332278\/\">26TH ANNUAL MIKUL\u00c1S DINNER<\/a><\/p>\n<p>HUNGARIAN AMERICAN COALITION\u2019S 26TH ANNUAL MIKUL\u00c1S DINNER &#8211; I. Part.<\/p>\n<p>Posted by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BocskaiRadio\/\">Bocskai R\u00e1di\u00f3 the Voice of Hungary at WJCU<\/a> on Friday, December 1, 2017<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>II. Part<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"fb-root\"><\/div>\n<p><script>(function(d, s, id) {  var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];  if (d.getElementById(id)) return;  js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;  js.src = 'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v3.2';  fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));<\/script><\/p>\n<div class=\"fb-video\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BocskaiRadio\/videos\/10155791433422278\/\" data-width=\"696\">\n<blockquote cite=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BocskaiRadio\/videos\/10155791433422278\/\" class=\"fb-xfbml-parse-ignore\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BocskaiRadio\/videos\/10155791433422278\/\">26TH ANNUAL MIKUL\u00c1S DINNER \u2013 II. Part<\/a><\/p>\n<p>HUNGARIAN AMERICAN COALITION\u2019S 26TH ANNUAL MIKUL\u00c1S DINNER \u2013 II. Part________Please share!<\/p>\n<p>Posted by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BocskaiRadio\/\">Bocskai R\u00e1di\u00f3 the Voice of Hungary at WJCU<\/a> on Friday, December 1, 2017<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>III. Part<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"fb-root\"><\/div>\n<p><script>(function(d, s, id) {  var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];  if (d.getElementById(id)) return;  js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;  js.src = 'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v3.2';  fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));<\/script><\/p>\n<div class=\"fb-video\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BocskaiRadio\/videos\/10155791536487278\/\" data-width=\"696\">\n<blockquote cite=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BocskaiRadio\/videos\/10155791536487278\/\" class=\"fb-xfbml-parse-ignore\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BocskaiRadio\/videos\/10155791536487278\/\">26TH ANNUAL MIKUL\u00c1S DINNER \u2013 III. Part<\/a><\/p>\n<p>HUNGARIAN AMERICAN COALITION\u2019S 26TH ANNUAL MIKUL\u00c1S DINNER \u2013 III. Part________Please share!<\/p>\n<p>Posted by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BocskaiRadio\/\">Bocskai R\u00e1di\u00f3 the Voice of Hungary at WJCU<\/a> on Friday, December 1, 2017<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bocskairadio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/HAC-Mikulas2017.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-34965\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bocskairadio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/HAC-Mikulas2017-600x338.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bocskairadio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/HAC-Mikulas2017-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.bocskairadio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/HAC-Mikulas2017-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bocskairadio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/HAC-Mikulas2017.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Washington, DC \u2013 On December 2, 2017 the Hungarian American Coalition (Coalition) held its Annual General and Board Meetings at the House of Quakers in Washington DC, after hosting its 26th annual Mikul\u00e1s Dinner the previous evening at the Embassy of Hungary.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BocskaiRadio\/videos\/10155805392857278\/<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">On December 1, more than 100 Coalition members and guests attended the traditional Mikul\u00e1s Dinner hosted by Ambassador L\u00e1szl\u00f3 Szab\u00f3 at the Embassy of Hungary.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Master of Ceremonies Endre Szentkir\u00e1lyi greeted the distinguished gathering and special guests, including hosts Ambassador Dr. L\u00e1szl\u00f3 Szab\u00f3 and his wife Dr. Ivonn Szever\u00e9nyi; the evening\u2019s keynote speaker Ambassador Kurt Volker, U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations and Ms. Ia Meurmishvili; Ambassador April H. Foley, former Ambassador of the United States to Hungary and Chairman of the Board of The Hungary Initiatives Foundation; Ambassador Thomas Robertson, former Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Budapest; Ambassador Ferenc Kumin, Consul General in New York and Ms. Zita Bencsik, Consul General in Chicago; Dr. \u00c1gnes Virga, Coalition Chairman of the Board; Mrs. Andrea Lauer Rice, President of the Coalition; Ms. Susan Hutchison, \u00a0Chairman of the Washington State Republican Party.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Other guests included Dr. Matthew Shank, President of Marymount University and his wife Mrs. Lynne Shank; Mr. Joseph Foster, Vice President of Marymount University and his wife Mrs. Stephanie Foster; Ms. Eszter S\u00e1ndorfi, Head of the Department of North America at the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFA); Ms. D\u00f3ra Loydl, US Foreign Policy Coordinator, MFA; Ms. Andrea Guly\u00e1s, State Secretary at the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture; Mr. Zsigmond Per\u00e9nyi, Deputy State Secretary for International Affairs, Prime Minister\u2019s Office; Mr. L\u00e1szl\u00f3 H\u00e1mos, President of the Hungarian Human Rights Foundation; Mr. Imre Lendvai-Lintner, President of the Hungarian Scouts Association in Exteris; Mrs. Enik\u0151 Moln\u00e1r Basa, Executive Director of the Hungarian American Educators Association; Mrs. Anna Smith Lacey, Executive Director of Hungary Initiatives Foundation and Mr. Marion Smith, Executive Director of Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr. Szentkir\u00e1yi also welcomed Honorary Consuls Mr. Phillip Arnoff (TX); Mr. Mikl\u00f3s Bartsch (CA); Coalition Member Mrs. Eva Voisin (CA); Mr. John Parkerson (GA) and Ms. Alicia McCart; Ms. Katalin Pearman (WA); and Coalition Vice President Ms. Csilla Grauzer (MN). He also greeted Mr. Andr\u00e1s Juh\u00e1sz, Trade Commissioner from Chicago and Ms. Judit Czak\u00f3, Economic and Trade Commissioner, New York.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">From the local Washington community, Mr. Szentkir\u00e1lyi welcomed Coalition Vice President Mr. Stefan Fedor and Mrs. Erika Fedor, founders of the American Hungarian Heritage House; Mr. Gabe Rozsa, Chairman and Executive Director of the Kossuth Foundation; Ms. Kinga R\u00e9v\u00e9sz, President of the Hungarian Science Club of Washington; Mrs. Kinga Hydras, Hungarian Academy, Washington, DC and her husband Mr. Labros Hydras; Dr. Istv\u00e1n and Mrs. Krisztina Hargitai, DC Hungarian Scouts. He recognized Coalition Internship Program Alumni present, including Mr. M\u00e1rton Aichelburg, Mr. L\u00e1szl\u00f3 Baksay, Ms. Lilla F\u00f6rd\u0151s, Ms. No\u00e9mi Szakonyi and her husband Mr. M\u00e1t\u00e9 Vincze, as well as current K\u0151r\u00f6si Csoma S\u00e1ndor Internship Program participants Mr. G\u00e1bor Balogh and Ms. Eszter R\u00e1cz.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also gave a special welcome to all the hardworking members of the Embassy of Hungary, including Dr. Zsolt Hetesy, Deputy Chief of Mission; Dr. B\u00e9la Gedeon, Press and Public Affairs Officer; Mr. P\u00e9ter Gyombolai, Hungarian Diaspora Liaison and his wife Mrs. Eszter Gyombolai; Ms. Zs\u00f3fia Koncz, Foreign Policy Officer; Ms. Dorottya M\u00e1rtonffy-Nagy, Trade and Investment Attache; Dr. Krisztina Osv\u00e1t, Counselor, Hungarian Diaspora Affairs; Mr. Zolt\u00e1n Patai, Financial Director in Charge of Managing the Economic Region and his wife Mrs. Ren\u00e1ta Patai-Szab\u00f3, Consul; Mr. L\u0151rinc P\u00e1va, Economic and Trade Attache and his wife Mrs. R\u00e9ka P\u00e1va; Dr. D\u00e1vid Singer, First Secretary, Cultural Affairs and Mrs. Nikolett Singer; Dr. M\u00f3nika Varga, Consul; Mr. Kriszti\u00e1n Janzs\u00f3, Head of the Economic and Trade Section; Ms. D\u00f3ra Zombori, Political, Military and Energy Officer; Ms. Szilvia N\u00e9meth-Dud\u00e1s, Office Administrator and Mr. Benedek Kov\u00e1cs, Assistant.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Finally, Mr. Szentkir\u00e1lyi welcomed all members of the Coalition, especially President Emeritus Maximilian Teleki and Mrs. Wendy Teleki; and Chair Emerita Edith K. Lauer.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Next, Ambassador L\u00e1szl\u00f3 Szab\u00f3 welcomed all the guests, and delivered a message from Prime Minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n, who at a meeting with Ambassador Szab\u00f3 described Hungarians living in the US as \u201cHungary\u2019s most important asset\u201d. Ambassador Szab\u00f3 underlined that the Coalition is the largest Hungarian umbrella organization in the US, and the US has the largest diaspora of Hungary. The Ambassador also highlighted the importance of the common ground created in the previous centuries and the welcoming environment that allows Hungarians to preserve their identity while being American citizens. He emphasized the fruitful cooperation between the US and Hungary since the system change, and pointed out the defense and security sectors as the greatest achievements. The Ambassador named areas where Hungarian and US foreign policy is completely aligned: fighting against terrorism; working on energy related projects to decrease the Russian influence in Central and Eastern Europe and assuring Ukraine\u2019s territorial sovereignty. Ambassador Szab\u00f3 concluded by stressing how remarkable work the Hungarian American Coalition is doing to preserve the identity of Hungarians in the US.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">After the dinner, a video was shown on the Coalition Internship Program (available\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/HungarianAmericanCoalition\/videos\/1545567875531139\/\">here<\/a>) followed by Coalition President Andrea Lauer Rice\u2019s welcoming remarks. Mrs. Lauer Rice provided a detailed description of her recent presidential trip to Hungary and Subcarpathia in November 2017, which she said was a perfect example of the kind of the behind-the-scenes work the Coalition does throughout the year and the unique role the Coalition plays in the Hungarian American community. During the trip, the following areas of Coalition work were included: diplomacy and advocacy; promotion of art, culture and history; Hungarian-American community outreach; building bridges between our nations; monitoring Hungarian human rights in the Carpathian basin and developing future leaders. Mrs. Lauer Rice stressed the significance of Hungarian language and education in maintaining Hungarian communities in Ukraine. As part of the cultural outreach, in 2017 the Coalition celebrated the premiere of the documentary \u201cCold Warriors,\u201d which grew out of the Coalition-sponsored Memory Project: Hungarian American Visual History Archive of which Lauer Rice is a co-founder. She described the 7th annual meeting of the Diaspora Council, an event where 25 American representatives joined other global leaders of the Hungarian diaspora communities at a conference hosted by the Hungarian government. Following up on the video, President Lauer Rice highlighted the many achievements of the Coalition Internship Program that has helped train 82 Hungarian interns since 2005, with many participants who now work in leadership positions in Hungary and the Carpathian Basin. The President concluded her speech by thanking Mrs. Susan Hutchison, Ambassador April Foley and all Coalition members for making this program possible. She also gave special thanks to Zsolt Szekeres for his extraordinary effort with CIP and the Presidential trip.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a surprise award ceremony, Edith K. Lauer, Coalition Chair Emerita recognized Ambassador Thomas Robertson, former Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy in Budapest on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Coalition \u201cfor representing the best traditions of American diplomacy during Hungary\u2019s historic transition and beyond\u201d. The laudation also included: \u201cHis years of service on behalf of freedom and democracy and his friendship with the Hungarian people have earned the enduring gratitude of Hungarian-Americans\u201d. Ambassador Robertson thanked the Coalition the help they provided in opening doors to work on issues of mutual interest and he also emphasized the role of the exchange and internship programs in maintaining Hungarian-American cooperation and friendship.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Coalition President Andrea Lauer Rice then introduced the evening\u2019s keynote speaker, Ambassador Kurt Volker, US Special Representative in Ukraine negotiations. Ambassador Volker began his address remembering his times spent in Hungary during the preparation for NATO membership, and the Bosnian war in which Hungary was a reliable partner of the US. Next, he listed some challenges that the entire transatlantic community faces today: on the foreign side, there are China, Russia, ISIS and the deeply felt effects of globalization; on the domestic side, there are the elites, populists, threats to jobs, security, tradition, family and values. The first thing he stressed about the answers to these challenges is that we need to know who we are; and secondly, we need to take a stand. Thirdly, we have to recognize that not all who do not belong to us are our enemies. Fourth, we must hold our leaders to account and finally, we must be patient. Hungary and the US are friends who have some differences but these are not fundamental ones of who we are. Thus, to deal with the challenges, we have to face the real enemies and not those we perceive to be. Finally, Ambassador Volker brought up the new education law and minority rights in Ukraine. He stressed, that the citizens of Ukraine have to speak Ukrainian but at the same time the minorities must have the right to speak their own languages.\u00a0 He added that there is a greater problem that needs to be solved first, which is the changing of borders in Europe by a foreign nation.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=GTwqgVSE4Xw&amp;feature=youtu.be<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The dinner concluded with Hungarian Christmas caroling led by Ms. No\u00e9mi B\u00e1nhidi, Program Coordinator of the Coalition and a Mikul\u00e1s toast from Coalition Chair Dr. \u00c1gnes Virga.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the Annual Meeting held on Saturday, December 2, Chairman of the Coalition \u00c1gnes Virga greeted all members before presenting her formal report of the Coalition\u2019s remarkable accomplishments in 2017. \u00a0Next, members heard the detailed report given by Coalition President Andrea Lauer Rice about the organization\u2019s 2017 projects and activities. \u00a0The Annual Meeting voted to renew the terms of the following individual board members: Mr. Stefan Fedor and Mr. Peter Wm. Forgach.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr. L\u00e1szl\u00f3 H\u00e1mos reported on the ReConnect Hungary Birthright Program by showing two videos and asked participants to spread the word about the program for the 6th round of call for applications. Mr. Gabe Rozsa also gave an update on the current state of Kossuth House, happily reporting that the Kossuth Foundation finally owns the building, but it will take a lot of time and effort until the building can be used again.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the afternoon Board Meeting the three-year term of the following organizational board members were renewed: Hungarian Cultural Society of Connecticut, Hungarian (Magyar) Club of Chicago, Hungarian Society of Massachusetts, Civic Enterprises. The Board also approved Sarolta Borz\u00e1si (Cluj Napoca, Romania) and Ms. Susan Hutchison as new individual members.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the Board meeting, Mr. L\u00e1szl\u00f3 H\u00e1mos and Mrs. Eva Voisin reported on the seventh Diaspora Meeting, and Mr. H\u00e1mos also asked participants to review and sign the Minority Safepack Initiative. Ms. Csilla Grauzer then presented her project \u2018Medical Supplies Donation Program\u2019 to Hungary, which is part of her non-profit Creative Cultural Exchange, Inc.\u2019s Power Of Positive Impact (P.O.P.I.). In the framework of this program, they collect, organize and facilitate the shipment of basic medical supplies donations for mission purposes to hospitals in need throughout Hungary or in regions with Hungarian minorities mainly in Transylvania, Romania and Subcarpathia, Ukraine. Ms. Grauzer reported that they have already shipped more than 160 boxes to Budapest in August, 2017.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The meeting concluded with Andrea Lauer Rice saying a special thank you to all Coalition leaders, members and CIP interns who had worked so hard throughout the year.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"date\">December 4, 2017 | Washington, DC<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Source:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hacusa.org\/en\/news\/hungarian-american-coalition-holds-2017-annual-meeting\">hacusa.org<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>I. Part<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BocskaiRadio\/videos\/10155791273332278\/<\/p>\n<p><strong>II. Part<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BocskaiRadio\/videos\/10155791433422278\/<\/p>\n<p><strong>III. Part<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BocskaiRadio\/videos\/10155791536487278\/<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":34966,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[166],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34968","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Hungarian American Coalition Holds 2017 Annual Meeting &#8211; Bocskai R\u00e1di\u00f3<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bocskairadio.org\/en\/hungarian-american-coalition-holds-2017-annual-meeting\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Hungarian American Coalition Holds 2017 Annual Meeting &#8211; Bocskai R\u00e1di\u00f3\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Washington, DC \u2013 On December 2, 2017 the Hungarian American Coalition (Coalition) held its Annual General and Board Meetings at the House of Quakers in Washington DC, after hosting its 26th annual Mikul\u00e1s Dinner the previous evening at the Embassy of Hungary. https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BocskaiRadio\/videos\/10155805392857278\/  &nbsp; On December 1, more than 100 Coalition members and guests attended the traditional Mikul\u00e1s Dinner hosted by Ambassador L\u00e1szl\u00f3 Szab\u00f3 at the Embassy of Hungary. Master of Ceremonies Endre Szentkir\u00e1lyi greeted the distinguished gathering and special guests, including hosts Ambassador Dr. L\u00e1szl\u00f3 Szab\u00f3 and his wife Dr. Ivonn Szever\u00e9nyi; the evening\u2019s keynote speaker Ambassador Kurt Volker, U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations and Ms. Ia Meurmishvili; Ambassador April H. Foley, former Ambassador of the United States to Hungary and Chairman of the Board of The Hungary Initiatives Foundation; Ambassador Thomas Robertson, former Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Budapest; Ambassador Ferenc Kumin, Consul General in New York and Ms. Zita Bencsik, Consul General in Chicago; Dr. \u00c1gnes Virga, Coalition Chairman of the Board; Mrs. Andrea Lauer Rice, President of the Coalition; Ms. Susan Hutchison, \u00a0Chairman of the Washington State Republican Party. Other guests included Dr. Matthew Shank, President of Marymount University and his wife Mrs. Lynne Shank; Mr. Joseph Foster, Vice President of Marymount University and his wife Mrs. Stephanie Foster; Ms. Eszter S\u00e1ndorfi, Head of the Department of North America at the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFA); Ms. D\u00f3ra Loydl, US Foreign Policy Coordinator, MFA; Ms. Andrea Guly\u00e1s, State Secretary at the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture; Mr. Zsigmond Per\u00e9nyi, Deputy State Secretary for International Affairs, Prime Minister\u2019s Office; Mr. L\u00e1szl\u00f3 H\u00e1mos, President of the Hungarian Human Rights Foundation; Mr. Imre Lendvai-Lintner, President of the Hungarian Scouts Association in Exteris; Mrs. Enik\u0151 Moln\u00e1r Basa, Executive Director of the Hungarian American Educators Association; Mrs. Anna Smith Lacey, Executive Director of Hungary Initiatives Foundation and Mr. Marion Smith, Executive Director of Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. Mr. Szentkir\u00e1yi also welcomed Honorary Consuls Mr. Phillip Arnoff (TX); Mr. Mikl\u00f3s Bartsch (CA); Coalition Member Mrs. Eva Voisin (CA); Mr. John Parkerson (GA) and Ms. Alicia McCart; Ms. Katalin Pearman (WA); and Coalition Vice President Ms. Csilla Grauzer (MN). He also greeted Mr. Andr\u00e1s Juh\u00e1sz, Trade Commissioner from Chicago and Ms. Judit Czak\u00f3, Economic and Trade Commissioner, New York. From the local Washington community, Mr. Szentkir\u00e1lyi welcomed Coalition Vice President Mr. Stefan Fedor and Mrs. Erika Fedor, founders of the American Hungarian Heritage House; Mr. Gabe Rozsa, Chairman and Executive Director of the Kossuth Foundation; Ms. Kinga R\u00e9v\u00e9sz, President of the Hungarian Science Club of Washington; Mrs. Kinga Hydras, Hungarian Academy, Washington, DC and her husband Mr. Labros Hydras; Dr. Istv\u00e1n and Mrs. Krisztina Hargitai, DC Hungarian Scouts. He recognized Coalition Internship Program Alumni present, including Mr. M\u00e1rton Aichelburg, Mr. L\u00e1szl\u00f3 Baksay, Ms. Lilla F\u00f6rd\u0151s, Ms. No\u00e9mi Szakonyi and her husband Mr. M\u00e1t\u00e9 Vincze, as well as current K\u0151r\u00f6si Csoma S\u00e1ndor Internship Program participants Mr. G\u00e1bor Balogh and Ms. Eszter R\u00e1cz. He also gave a special welcome to all the hardworking members of the Embassy of Hungary, including Dr. Zsolt Hetesy, Deputy Chief of Mission; Dr. B\u00e9la Gedeon, Press and Public Affairs Officer; Mr. P\u00e9ter Gyombolai, Hungarian Diaspora Liaison and his wife Mrs. Eszter Gyombolai; Ms. Zs\u00f3fia Koncz, Foreign Policy Officer; Ms. Dorottya M\u00e1rtonffy-Nagy, Trade and Investment Attache; Dr. Krisztina Osv\u00e1t, Counselor, Hungarian Diaspora Affairs; Mr. Zolt\u00e1n Patai, Financial Director in Charge of Managing the Economic Region and his wife Mrs. Ren\u00e1ta Patai-Szab\u00f3, Consul; Mr. L\u0151rinc P\u00e1va, Economic and Trade Attache and his wife Mrs. R\u00e9ka P\u00e1va; Dr. D\u00e1vid Singer, First Secretary, Cultural Affairs and Mrs. Nikolett Singer; Dr. M\u00f3nika Varga, Consul; Mr. Kriszti\u00e1n Janzs\u00f3, Head of the Economic and Trade Section; Ms. D\u00f3ra Zombori, Political, Military and Energy Officer; Ms. Szilvia N\u00e9meth-Dud\u00e1s, Office Administrator and Mr. Benedek Kov\u00e1cs, Assistant. Finally, Mr. Szentkir\u00e1lyi welcomed all members of the Coalition, especially President Emeritus Maximilian Teleki and Mrs. Wendy Teleki; and Chair Emerita Edith K. Lauer. Next, Ambassador L\u00e1szl\u00f3 Szab\u00f3 welcomed all the guests, and delivered a message from Prime Minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n, who at a meeting with Ambassador Szab\u00f3 described Hungarians living in the US as \u201cHungary\u2019s most important asset\u201d. Ambassador Szab\u00f3 underlined that the Coalition is the largest Hungarian umbrella organization in the US, and the US has the largest diaspora of Hungary. The Ambassador also highlighted the importance of the common ground created in the previous centuries and the welcoming environment that allows Hungarians to preserve their identity while being American citizens. He emphasized the fruitful cooperation between the US and Hungary since the system change, and pointed out the defense and security sectors as the greatest achievements. The Ambassador named areas where Hungarian and US foreign policy is completely aligned: fighting against terrorism; working on energy related projects to decrease the Russian influence in Central and Eastern Europe and assuring Ukraine\u2019s territorial sovereignty. Ambassador Szab\u00f3 concluded by stressing how remarkable work the Hungarian American Coalition is doing to preserve the identity of Hungarians in the US. After the dinner, a video was shown on the Coalition Internship Program (available\u00a0here) followed by Coalition President Andrea Lauer Rice\u2019s welcoming remarks. Mrs. Lauer Rice provided a detailed description of her recent presidential trip to Hungary and Subcarpathia in November 2017, which she said was a perfect example of the kind of the behind-the-scenes work the Coalition does throughout the year and the unique role the Coalition plays in the Hungarian American community. During the trip, the following areas of Coalition work were included: diplomacy and advocacy; promotion of art, culture and history; Hungarian-American community outreach; building bridges between our nations; monitoring Hungarian human rights in the Carpathian basin and developing future leaders. Mrs. Lauer Rice stressed the significance of Hungarian language and education in maintaining Hungarian communities in Ukraine. As part of the cultural outreach, in 2017 the Coalition celebrated the premiere of the documentary \u201cCold Warriors,\u201d which grew out of the Coalition-sponsored Memory Project: Hungarian American Visual History Archive of which Lauer Rice is a co-founder. She described the 7th annual meeting of the Diaspora Council, an event where 25 American representatives joined other global leaders of the Hungarian diaspora communities at a conference hosted by the Hungarian government. Following up on the video, President Lauer Rice highlighted the many achievements of the Coalition Internship Program that has helped train 82 Hungarian interns since 2005, with many participants who now work in leadership positions in Hungary and the Carpathian Basin. The President concluded her speech by thanking Mrs. Susan Hutchison, Ambassador April Foley and all Coalition members for making this program possible. She also gave special thanks to Zsolt Szekeres for his extraordinary effort with CIP and the Presidential trip. In a surprise award ceremony, Edith K. Lauer, Coalition Chair Emerita recognized Ambassador Thomas Robertson, former Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy in Budapest on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Coalition \u201cfor representing the best traditions of American diplomacy during Hungary\u2019s historic transition and beyond\u201d. The laudation also included: \u201cHis years of service on behalf of freedom and democracy and his friendship with the Hungarian people have earned the enduring gratitude of Hungarian-Americans\u201d. Ambassador Robertson thanked the Coalition the help they provided in opening doors to work on issues of mutual interest and he also emphasized the role of the exchange and internship programs in maintaining Hungarian-American cooperation and friendship. Coalition President Andrea Lauer Rice then introduced the evening\u2019s keynote speaker, Ambassador Kurt Volker, US Special Representative in Ukraine negotiations. Ambassador Volker began his address remembering his times spent in Hungary during the preparation for NATO membership, and the Bosnian war in which Hungary was a reliable partner of the US. Next, he listed some challenges that the entire transatlantic community faces today: on the foreign side, there are China, Russia, ISIS and the deeply felt effects of globalization; on the domestic side, there are the elites, populists, threats to jobs, security, tradition, family and values. The first thing he stressed about the answers to these challenges is that we need to know who we are; and secondly, we need to take a stand. Thirdly, we have to recognize that not all who do not belong to us are our enemies. Fourth, we must hold our leaders to account and finally, we must be patient. Hungary and the US are friends who have some differences but these are not fundamental ones of who we are. Thus, to deal with the challenges, we have to face the real enemies and not those we perceive to be. Finally, Ambassador Volker brought up the new education law and minority rights in Ukraine. He stressed, that the citizens of Ukraine have to speak Ukrainian but at the same time the minorities must have the right to speak their own languages.\u00a0 He added that there is a greater problem that needs to be solved first, which is the changing of borders in Europe by a foreign nation. https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=GTwqgVSE4Xw&amp;feature=youtu.be The dinner concluded with Hungarian Christmas caroling led by Ms. No\u00e9mi B\u00e1nhidi, Program Coordinator of the Coalition and a Mikul\u00e1s toast from Coalition Chair Dr. \u00c1gnes Virga. At the Annual Meeting held on Saturday, December 2, Chairman of the Coalition \u00c1gnes Virga greeted all members before presenting her formal report of the Coalition\u2019s remarkable accomplishments in 2017. \u00a0Next, members heard the detailed report given by Coalition President Andrea Lauer Rice about the organization\u2019s 2017 projects and activities. \u00a0The Annual Meeting voted to renew the terms of the following individual board members: Mr. Stefan Fedor and Mr. Peter Wm. Forgach. Mr. L\u00e1szl\u00f3 H\u00e1mos reported on the ReConnect Hungary Birthright Program by showing two videos and asked participants to spread the word about the program for the 6th round of call for applications. Mr. Gabe Rozsa also gave an update on the current state of Kossuth House, happily reporting that the Kossuth Foundation finally owns the building, but it will take a lot of time and effort until the building can be used again. In the afternoon Board Meeting the three-year term of the following organizational board members were renewed: Hungarian Cultural Society of Connecticut, Hungarian (Magyar) Club of Chicago, Hungarian Society of Massachusetts, Civic Enterprises. The Board also approved Sarolta Borz\u00e1si (Cluj Napoca, Romania) and Ms. Susan Hutchison as new individual members. At the Board meeting, Mr. L\u00e1szl\u00f3 H\u00e1mos and Mrs. Eva Voisin reported on the seventh Diaspora Meeting, and Mr. H\u00e1mos also asked participants to review and sign the Minority Safepack Initiative. Ms. Csilla Grauzer then presented her project \u2018Medical Supplies Donation Program\u2019 to Hungary, which is part of her non-profit Creative Cultural Exchange, Inc.\u2019s Power Of Positive Impact (P.O.P.I.). In the framework of this program, they collect, organize and facilitate the shipment of basic medical supplies donations for mission purposes to hospitals in need throughout Hungary or in regions with Hungarian minorities mainly in Transylvania, Romania and Subcarpathia, Ukraine. Ms. Grauzer reported that they have already shipped more than 160 boxes to Budapest in August, 2017. The meeting concluded with Andrea Lauer Rice saying a special thank you to all Coalition leaders, members and CIP interns who had worked so hard throughout the year. December 4, 2017 | Washington, DC Source:\u00a0hacusa.org  I. Part  https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BocskaiRadio\/videos\/10155791273332278\/  II. Part  https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BocskaiRadio\/videos\/10155791433422278\/  III. 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Master of Ceremonies Endre Szentkir\u00e1lyi greeted the distinguished gathering and special guests, including hosts Ambassador Dr. L\u00e1szl\u00f3 Szab\u00f3 and his wife Dr. Ivonn Szever\u00e9nyi; the evening\u2019s keynote speaker Ambassador Kurt Volker, U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations and Ms. Ia Meurmishvili; Ambassador April H. Foley, former Ambassador of the United States to Hungary and Chairman of the Board of The Hungary Initiatives Foundation; Ambassador Thomas Robertson, former Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Budapest; Ambassador Ferenc Kumin, Consul General in New York and Ms. Zita Bencsik, Consul General in Chicago; Dr. \u00c1gnes Virga, Coalition Chairman of the Board; Mrs. Andrea Lauer Rice, President of the Coalition; Ms. Susan Hutchison, \u00a0Chairman of the Washington State Republican Party. Other guests included Dr. Matthew Shank, President of Marymount University and his wife Mrs. Lynne Shank; Mr. Joseph Foster, Vice President of Marymount University and his wife Mrs. Stephanie Foster; Ms. Eszter S\u00e1ndorfi, Head of the Department of North America at the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFA); Ms. D\u00f3ra Loydl, US Foreign Policy Coordinator, MFA; Ms. Andrea Guly\u00e1s, State Secretary at the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture; Mr. Zsigmond Per\u00e9nyi, Deputy State Secretary for International Affairs, Prime Minister\u2019s Office; Mr. L\u00e1szl\u00f3 H\u00e1mos, President of the Hungarian Human Rights Foundation; Mr. Imre Lendvai-Lintner, President of the Hungarian Scouts Association in Exteris; Mrs. Enik\u0151 Moln\u00e1r Basa, Executive Director of the Hungarian American Educators Association; Mrs. Anna Smith Lacey, Executive Director of Hungary Initiatives Foundation and Mr. Marion Smith, Executive Director of Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. Mr. Szentkir\u00e1yi also welcomed Honorary Consuls Mr. Phillip Arnoff (TX); Mr. Mikl\u00f3s Bartsch (CA); Coalition Member Mrs. Eva Voisin (CA); Mr. John Parkerson (GA) and Ms. Alicia McCart; Ms. Katalin Pearman (WA); and Coalition Vice President Ms. Csilla Grauzer (MN). He also greeted Mr. Andr\u00e1s Juh\u00e1sz, Trade Commissioner from Chicago and Ms. Judit Czak\u00f3, Economic and Trade Commissioner, New York. From the local Washington community, Mr. Szentkir\u00e1lyi welcomed Coalition Vice President Mr. Stefan Fedor and Mrs. Erika Fedor, founders of the American Hungarian Heritage House; Mr. Gabe Rozsa, Chairman and Executive Director of the Kossuth Foundation; Ms. Kinga R\u00e9v\u00e9sz, President of the Hungarian Science Club of Washington; Mrs. Kinga Hydras, Hungarian Academy, Washington, DC and her husband Mr. Labros Hydras; Dr. Istv\u00e1n and Mrs. Krisztina Hargitai, DC Hungarian Scouts. He recognized Coalition Internship Program Alumni present, including Mr. M\u00e1rton Aichelburg, Mr. L\u00e1szl\u00f3 Baksay, Ms. Lilla F\u00f6rd\u0151s, Ms. No\u00e9mi Szakonyi and her husband Mr. M\u00e1t\u00e9 Vincze, as well as current K\u0151r\u00f6si Csoma S\u00e1ndor Internship Program participants Mr. G\u00e1bor Balogh and Ms. Eszter R\u00e1cz. He also gave a special welcome to all the hardworking members of the Embassy of Hungary, including Dr. Zsolt Hetesy, Deputy Chief of Mission; Dr. B\u00e9la Gedeon, Press and Public Affairs Officer; Mr. P\u00e9ter Gyombolai, Hungarian Diaspora Liaison and his wife Mrs. Eszter Gyombolai; Ms. Zs\u00f3fia Koncz, Foreign Policy Officer; Ms. Dorottya M\u00e1rtonffy-Nagy, Trade and Investment Attache; Dr. Krisztina Osv\u00e1t, Counselor, Hungarian Diaspora Affairs; Mr. Zolt\u00e1n Patai, Financial Director in Charge of Managing the Economic Region and his wife Mrs. Ren\u00e1ta Patai-Szab\u00f3, Consul; Mr. L\u0151rinc P\u00e1va, Economic and Trade Attache and his wife Mrs. R\u00e9ka P\u00e1va; Dr. D\u00e1vid Singer, First Secretary, Cultural Affairs and Mrs. Nikolett Singer; Dr. M\u00f3nika Varga, Consul; Mr. Kriszti\u00e1n Janzs\u00f3, Head of the Economic and Trade Section; Ms. D\u00f3ra Zombori, Political, Military and Energy Officer; Ms. Szilvia N\u00e9meth-Dud\u00e1s, Office Administrator and Mr. Benedek Kov\u00e1cs, Assistant. Finally, Mr. Szentkir\u00e1lyi welcomed all members of the Coalition, especially President Emeritus Maximilian Teleki and Mrs. Wendy Teleki; and Chair Emerita Edith K. Lauer. Next, Ambassador L\u00e1szl\u00f3 Szab\u00f3 welcomed all the guests, and delivered a message from Prime Minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n, who at a meeting with Ambassador Szab\u00f3 described Hungarians living in the US as \u201cHungary\u2019s most important asset\u201d. Ambassador Szab\u00f3 underlined that the Coalition is the largest Hungarian umbrella organization in the US, and the US has the largest diaspora of Hungary. The Ambassador also highlighted the importance of the common ground created in the previous centuries and the welcoming environment that allows Hungarians to preserve their identity while being American citizens. He emphasized the fruitful cooperation between the US and Hungary since the system change, and pointed out the defense and security sectors as the greatest achievements. The Ambassador named areas where Hungarian and US foreign policy is completely aligned: fighting against terrorism; working on energy related projects to decrease the Russian influence in Central and Eastern Europe and assuring Ukraine\u2019s territorial sovereignty. Ambassador Szab\u00f3 concluded by stressing how remarkable work the Hungarian American Coalition is doing to preserve the identity of Hungarians in the US. After the dinner, a video was shown on the Coalition Internship Program (available\u00a0here) followed by Coalition President Andrea Lauer Rice\u2019s welcoming remarks. Mrs. Lauer Rice provided a detailed description of her recent presidential trip to Hungary and Subcarpathia in November 2017, which she said was a perfect example of the kind of the behind-the-scenes work the Coalition does throughout the year and the unique role the Coalition plays in the Hungarian American community. During the trip, the following areas of Coalition work were included: diplomacy and advocacy; promotion of art, culture and history; Hungarian-American community outreach; building bridges between our nations; monitoring Hungarian human rights in the Carpathian basin and developing future leaders. Mrs. Lauer Rice stressed the significance of Hungarian language and education in maintaining Hungarian communities in Ukraine. As part of the cultural outreach, in 2017 the Coalition celebrated the premiere of the documentary \u201cCold Warriors,\u201d which grew out of the Coalition-sponsored Memory Project: Hungarian American Visual History Archive of which Lauer Rice is a co-founder. She described the 7th annual meeting of the Diaspora Council, an event where 25 American representatives joined other global leaders of the Hungarian diaspora communities at a conference hosted by the Hungarian government. Following up on the video, President Lauer Rice highlighted the many achievements of the Coalition Internship Program that has helped train 82 Hungarian interns since 2005, with many participants who now work in leadership positions in Hungary and the Carpathian Basin. The President concluded her speech by thanking Mrs. Susan Hutchison, Ambassador April Foley and all Coalition members for making this program possible. She also gave special thanks to Zsolt Szekeres for his extraordinary effort with CIP and the Presidential trip. In a surprise award ceremony, Edith K. Lauer, Coalition Chair Emerita recognized Ambassador Thomas Robertson, former Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy in Budapest on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Coalition \u201cfor representing the best traditions of American diplomacy during Hungary\u2019s historic transition and beyond\u201d. The laudation also included: \u201cHis years of service on behalf of freedom and democracy and his friendship with the Hungarian people have earned the enduring gratitude of Hungarian-Americans\u201d. Ambassador Robertson thanked the Coalition the help they provided in opening doors to work on issues of mutual interest and he also emphasized the role of the exchange and internship programs in maintaining Hungarian-American cooperation and friendship. Coalition President Andrea Lauer Rice then introduced the evening\u2019s keynote speaker, Ambassador Kurt Volker, US Special Representative in Ukraine negotiations. Ambassador Volker began his address remembering his times spent in Hungary during the preparation for NATO membership, and the Bosnian war in which Hungary was a reliable partner of the US. Next, he listed some challenges that the entire transatlantic community faces today: on the foreign side, there are China, Russia, ISIS and the deeply felt effects of globalization; on the domestic side, there are the elites, populists, threats to jobs, security, tradition, family and values. The first thing he stressed about the answers to these challenges is that we need to know who we are; and secondly, we need to take a stand. Thirdly, we have to recognize that not all who do not belong to us are our enemies. Fourth, we must hold our leaders to account and finally, we must be patient. Hungary and the US are friends who have some differences but these are not fundamental ones of who we are. Thus, to deal with the challenges, we have to face the real enemies and not those we perceive to be. Finally, Ambassador Volker brought up the new education law and minority rights in Ukraine. He stressed, that the citizens of Ukraine have to speak Ukrainian but at the same time the minorities must have the right to speak their own languages.\u00a0 He added that there is a greater problem that needs to be solved first, which is the changing of borders in Europe by a foreign nation. https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=GTwqgVSE4Xw&amp;feature=youtu.be The dinner concluded with Hungarian Christmas caroling led by Ms. No\u00e9mi B\u00e1nhidi, Program Coordinator of the Coalition and a Mikul\u00e1s toast from Coalition Chair Dr. \u00c1gnes Virga. At the Annual Meeting held on Saturday, December 2, Chairman of the Coalition \u00c1gnes Virga greeted all members before presenting her formal report of the Coalition\u2019s remarkable accomplishments in 2017. \u00a0Next, members heard the detailed report given by Coalition President Andrea Lauer Rice about the organization\u2019s 2017 projects and activities. \u00a0The Annual Meeting voted to renew the terms of the following individual board members: Mr. Stefan Fedor and Mr. Peter Wm. Forgach. Mr. L\u00e1szl\u00f3 H\u00e1mos reported on the ReConnect Hungary Birthright Program by showing two videos and asked participants to spread the word about the program for the 6th round of call for applications. Mr. Gabe Rozsa also gave an update on the current state of Kossuth House, happily reporting that the Kossuth Foundation finally owns the building, but it will take a lot of time and effort until the building can be used again. In the afternoon Board Meeting the three-year term of the following organizational board members were renewed: Hungarian Cultural Society of Connecticut, Hungarian (Magyar) Club of Chicago, Hungarian Society of Massachusetts, Civic Enterprises. The Board also approved Sarolta Borz\u00e1si (Cluj Napoca, Romania) and Ms. Susan Hutchison as new individual members. At the Board meeting, Mr. L\u00e1szl\u00f3 H\u00e1mos and Mrs. Eva Voisin reported on the seventh Diaspora Meeting, and Mr. H\u00e1mos also asked participants to review and sign the Minority Safepack Initiative. Ms. Csilla Grauzer then presented her project \u2018Medical Supplies Donation Program\u2019 to Hungary, which is part of her non-profit Creative Cultural Exchange, Inc.\u2019s Power Of Positive Impact (P.O.P.I.). In the framework of this program, they collect, organize and facilitate the shipment of basic medical supplies donations for mission purposes to hospitals in need throughout Hungary or in regions with Hungarian minorities mainly in Transylvania, Romania and Subcarpathia, Ukraine. Ms. Grauzer reported that they have already shipped more than 160 boxes to Budapest in August, 2017. The meeting concluded with Andrea Lauer Rice saying a special thank you to all Coalition leaders, members and CIP interns who had worked so hard throughout the year. December 4, 2017 | Washington, DC Source:\u00a0hacusa.org  I. Part  https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BocskaiRadio\/videos\/10155791273332278\/  II. Part  https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BocskaiRadio\/videos\/10155791433422278\/  III. 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