Women's association holds convention, elects Ulana Celewych president (12/28/80)

Women's association holds convention, elects Ulana Celewych president

NEW YORK - The Women's Association for the Defense of Four Freedoms for Ukraine held its sixth convention here at the Ukrainian Liberation Front building on November 29-30 with 68 delegates in attendance.

The new executive board elected for a three-year term, is composed of: Ulana Celewych, president; Maria Nesterchuk, Luba Silecky, Dasha Procyk, vice-president; Anna Geletej, Maria Lozynsky, Zenovia Rychtycky, Ms. Procyk, secretaries; Maria Twardowsky, Maria Wasylyk, financial secretaries.

Elected to standing committees: Ala Davydenko, Slava Kulish, Maria Kruk, Stephania Bernadyn, press; Sophia Radio, Anna Haras, Lidia Balaban, Maria Buchynsky, membership; Daria Stepaniak, Laryssa Kyj, Julia Kopchynsky, Ms. Rychtycky, Anna Woch, public relations; Ms. Kyj, Ms. Woch, Marta Svidersky, junior membership; Olena Hentish, Teophila Hanushewsky, Ivanna Kononiv, culture and education; Maria Kulchycky, Dora Kulchycky, Ms. Kopchynsky, social services; Ms. Bernadyn, liaison to the World Federation of Ukrainian Women's Organizations (WFUWO); Oleksandra Hryckowian, archives; Dania Mahal, Maria Pendzola, Maria Koval, hostesses; Maria Stelmach, Stephania Naum, Irene Kowalchyn, Olha Fedak, Luba Gojaniuk, members.

The new auditing committee includes Ludmila Kostyk, Stephania Rudyk, Natalia Chomanczuk, and the arbitration committee consists of Anisia Mirchuk, Donna Svidersky, Kateryna Moroz.

Presiding officers at the convention were Ms. Radio, chairperson; Ms. Davydenko, vice chairperson; Ms. Bernadyn, Ms. Galetej, secretaries.

This second-largest Ukrainian women's organization in the United States, with a membership of 920 in 17 chapters, is dedicated to the cause of Ukraine as reflected in its projects and activities. Under the able leadership of the well-known civic and political activist Mrs. Celewych, the organization conducted a series of actions on behalf of political prisoners and their families on both national and international levels, introduced resolutions and disseminated information and petitions protesting Russification in Ukraine.

Its public relations chairperson, Mrs. Stepaniak, and the members of her committee participated in several non-governmental organization conferences and seminar called by the State Department prior to the United Nations Mid-Decade Women's Conference in Copenhagen. Mesdames Stepaniak and Kyj were active in many ways and in particular initiated the hunger manifestation as one of the actions of the WFUWO delegation to the NGO Forum, which brought wide publicity in the European press and focused world attention on the Ukrainian women political prisoners and their families in the Soviet Union.

An exhibit of photographs and materials illustrated the activities of the organization at the Copenhagen conference.

Substantial funds were designated for the support of national goals and assistance to political prisoners, as well as for social services to members. The increase in membership and establishment of two new chapters in Miami and Los Angeles indicated the steady growth of the association.

Four chapters, New York, Chicago, Syracuse and Philadelphia, were recognized for their activities; they received special awards.

This organization is a member of the WFUWO and cooperates with other Ukrainian organizations and ethnic groups.

The convention adopted a number of formal resolutions and granted honorary membership to Slava Stetzko, Maria Solonynka and OIha Zaverucha.

The keynote speech, titled "Ukrainian Woman in the International Women's Movement and in the Ukrainian Liberation Struggle," was presented by Slava Kulish, a writer and journalist.

Mrs. Stetzko, editor of ABN Correspondence, gave a detailed report on Anti-Bolshevik Bloc of Nations actions in Madrid during the Helsinki review conference.

The women's association and the organization for the Defense of Four Freedoms for Ukraine, which held its convention at the same time at the Ukrainian National Home, met in joint sessions at the opening and closing of the conventions, at a convention banquet and during an address delivered by Jaroslaw Stetzko, head of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the ABN.

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