We want to tell you some of the things we are working on for you, our wonderful members.

When you read this, our annual bowling tournament will be just a wonderful memory. Now, you have a whole year to plan on being with us in 2017. Every year, something is different. If we missed you this year, we hope to see you at next year’s tournament.

Join Hands Day is May 7. You and your branch can make plans to take part anytime. My branch (Branch 18 Lincoln Park, Mich.) is planning a project for May 28. We have chosen three locations to plant flowers. Remember, your JHD activity is eligible for matching funds up to $500. You can visit a nursing or veterans’ home, volunteer at an animal shelter or help clean up a church, cemetery or a private home. There are a lot of opportunities out there. For more ideas, see the April 2016 issue of William Penn Life. Pick an idea and help.

WPA is hosting members of the Calvin Synod in May. The following day, we will show our support at their banquet at Bethlen Communities in Ligonier, Pa. It’s always great to reach out and see what others are doing in their communities.

At the end of May, the Pennsylvania Fraternal Alliance will host their annual meeting and luncheon at the state Capitol in Harrisburg.

The 41st Hungarian Festival will be held June 4 in New Brunswick, N.J. WPA will again sponsor a booth to display our many insurance and annuity plans.

Three weeks later on June 25, Hungarians in the Cleveland, Ohio, area will gather for Hungarian Heritage Night at Classic Park in Eastlake, Ohio, to watch the Lake County Captains take on the Great Lakes Loons in Class A baseball action. This is always a wonderful evening. Great for kids.

The 33rd Annual WPA Golf Tournament & Scholarship Days will be held July 15 and 16 in Midway, Pa. We have our welcoming reception and scholarship meeting on Friday, followed by golf and barbeque on Saturday.

We also support the Calvin Synod youth camp, which this year will be held July 17 to 23. Without WPA’s assistance, the camp would not be affordable for some of the children. It is an honor to support this program.

The Verhovay Home Association golf outing in Harrisburg, Pa., is set for Saturday, July 30.

If you want to play some golf that day but can’t make it to Harrisburg, Bethlen Communities is hosting its golf outing on July 30 as well. Their picnic is the next day, July 31.

Our Hungarian Heritage Experience is set for July 31 to Aug. 6 at the Sequanota Lutheran Conference Center & Camp in Boswell, Pa. I have been to the camp, and I am sure it meets our needs. They have a swimming pool which will be available for our use. We even met the resident dog, Chloe, who belongs to the pastor. They have a great staff that will handle our every need.

Toledo, Ohio, will host its 42nd Birmingham Ethnic Festival Aug. 20 and 21. This is a wonderful festival that stretches for blocks. Really a fun weekend.

The WPA Picnic returns on Saturday, Aug. 27, but at a new location–the Hungarian Cultural Center of Northeastern Ohio in Hiram, Ohio. This is a perfect opportunity for those looking to volunteer. We will need servers, cleaners, sellers and lots of smiling faces. Yes, it takes a village.

The WPA Tour to Europe is Sept. 6 to 20. We will visit Austria, Croatia and, of course, our Motherland, Hungary. I cannot wait to see everything I have never seen before.

In remembrance of the 60th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, we are helping to bring a large contingent of dancers, musicians and orators to America. The Hungarian National Dance Ensemble will be touring select North American cities this October to raise funds for a planned memorial in New York City honoring the revolution and those who fought in it. The tour is scheduled to appear in the following cities (dates and locations are subject to change):

Washington – Oct. 12
Boston – Oct. 14
Montreal – Oct. 15
Toronto – Oct. 16
Cleveland  Oct. 18
Chicago – Oct. 19
Detroit – Oct. 20
Pittsburgh – Oct. 21
New Brunswick – Oct. 22
New York – Oct. 23

Updated information about this tour will appear in upcoming issues of William Penn Life. Stay tuned.

Many branches are also having remembrance programs. So many of our members came to America after the uprising. Please try to remember this very special time.

On Oct. 24, Bethlen Communities will be celebrating their 95th anniversary with a banquet. They do some awesome work for our seniors and their community.

That takes us to our branch Christmas parties. We had more branch parties last year than in previous years. Thank you so much. Keep up the good work.

I have touched on some of our events for the coming year. If you want something publicized about your branch, please let me know. Remember: we are only as good as our members and their branches. Fraternalism is a must. We must support as much as we can or the events will cease. Look this list over. What appeals to you? ATTEND.

Thanks to the WPA Board of Directors, National Officers and employees for all your help. I will attend as many of these events as possible, and I look forward to seeing you there.