THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM

UNA membership growth is our responsibility

Every organization that cares about its future growth and expansion must constantly replenish and increase its membership. For exactly the same reasons, the UNA has for many years been trying to take measures in order to gather together the largest possible number of Ukrainian Americans and Ukrainian Canadians within its ranks.

For many decades as well as today, the brunt of the organizing efforts that are so crucial to the future of our association, have been carried out by our branch secretaries. The UNA Executive Committee is very much aware of this fact and acknowledges the devotion and efforts of the secretaries.

At the same time, the UNA Executive Committee asks all convention delegates and branch officers to actively join in its organizing efforts. This means that each of them should make certain that all members of his/her family, his/her friends and their relatives join the ranks of our organization. Information about the 20 types of UNA insurance policies and the amounts for which one may be insured may be obtained from our branch secretaries or directly from the UNA Home Office.

Following is our list of secretaries and organizers, champions for the first half of 1990. Among those enrolling 10 or more new members we find Michael Kihiczak, Branch 496 of Seattle, Wash., who enlisted 98 new members for $422,000. Second place has been claimed by Supreme Auditor William Pastuszek, Branch 231, by insuring 39 new members for $269,000. Supreme Auditor Wasyl Didiuk signed up 20 new members for Branches 416, 401, 402 for a total of $205,000.

Fourteen members were organized by Margaret Hentosh, Branch 305, for $68,000 and by Joseph Chabon, Branch 242, for the amount of $49,000. Olga Berejan, Branch 114, enrolled 13 new members for $55,000. Eleven new members were insured by each of the following: Stefania Fedyk, Branch 92, for $77,000; Paul Shewchuk, Branch 13, for $58,000;and William Semkiw, Branch 379, for $27,000.

Organizers of 10 new members were: Christine Fuga Gerbehy, Branch 269, for $50,000; Julian Kotlar, Branch 42, for $42,000; Bohdan Odezynsky, Branch 216, for $37,000; Taras Slevinsky, Branch 59, for $35,000 and Walter Warshona, Branch 266, for the sum of $32,000.

The names of UNA branch secretaries and organizers who enrolled five to nine new members in January through June, appear below.

Organizer	Branch No.	New members	Insurance amount
1. A. Slusarchuk	174	9	24,000
2. Maria Harawus	127	8	34,000
3. R. Prypchan	399	8	40,000
4. I. Hewryk	445	8	28,000
5. E. Matiash	120	7	34,000
6. Catherine Nazark	183	7	48,000
7. S. Pryjmak	217	7	29,000
8. A. Maryniuk	368	7	71,000
9. P. Tarnawsky	375	7	35,000
10. Lilian Zanewycz	441	7	35,000
11. Helen Slovik	7	6	22,000
12. M. Turko	63	6	26,000
13. T. Duda	163	6	19,000
14. W. Bilyk	170	6	27,000
15. P. Arkotyn	261	6	30,000
16. S. Ostrowsky	270	6	22,000
17. S. Wichar	292	6	24,000
18. Z. Holubec	358	6	85,000
19. Katherine Panchesine	378	6	18,000
20. Jaroslawa Zorych	432	6	20,000
21. Alexandra Dolynsky	434	6	26,000
22. Tekla Moroz	465	6	51,000
23. Stephania Kochy	472	6	17,000
24. A. Linevych	488	6	28,000
25. I. Kun	15	5	100,000
26. Anna Haras	47	5	17,000
27. Olga Maruszcak	82	5	21,000
28. Stephaanie Hawryluk	88	5	27,000
29. W. Hladio	161	5	37,000
30. P. Serba	173	5	19,000
31. I. Pryhoda	200	5	23,000
32. Anna Remick	238	5	13,000
33. Dana Jasinsky	287	5	36,000
34. T. Finiw	350	5	23,000
35. T. Schumylowych	457	5	15,000

As far as the UNA districts are concerned, out of a total of 31, only one district did not show any organizing activities. The unaffiliated branches, as a separate unit, fulfilled their assigned quota by 256 percent; this is due mostly to the efforts of Michael Kihiczak, Branch 496, who expanded his organizing efforts among new immigrants from Ukraine in the Seattle, Wash., area. The district of Troy/Albany is next in line with fulfillment of its quota by 62 percent. The Philadelphia District with 59 percent and Shamokin-Anthracite Region with 58 percent follow.

Organizing gains of the UNA districts January through June 1990
			COMPARISON
			1990	1989
Number of UNA districts			31	31
Number of Branches			399	405
Enrolled new members			939	639
Total insurance amount			$4,545,000	$4,334,000
Average amount of insurance per person			$5,423	$6,868
Assigned quota - all branches			2,000	2,000
Fulfilled quota			0.42%	0.31%

District	New members in 1990	Amount of insurance	Assigned quota	Fulfilled quota (percentage)
1. Philadelphia	129	$877,000	220	59
2. Chicago	68	243,000	155	44
3. Detroit	53	262,000	115	46
4. Toronto	47	273,000	90	52
5. New York	44	177,000	155	28
6. Pittsburgh	41	189,000	100	41
7. Shamokin	41	168,000	70	58
8. Troy/Albany	34	163,000	55	62
9. Jersey City	24	120,000	75	32
10. Montreal	25	120,000	50	50
11. New Haven	23	82,000	60	38
12. Cleveland	20	185,000	90	22
13. Buffalo	17	75,000	45	38
14. Allentown	15	60,000	50	30
15. Newark	15	50,000	90	17
16. Wilkes-Barre	14	77,000	35	40
17. Passaic	13	53,000	40	43
18. Syracuse/Utica	12	104,000	65	18
19. Rochester	11	41,000	70	16
20. Baltimore	10	121,000	45	22
21. Niagara	10	119,000	45	22
22. Winnipeg	10	34,000	40	25
23. Perth Amboy	8	34,000	55	14
24. Boston	8	24,000	30	27
25. Youngstown	6	29,000	30	20
26. Woonsocket	6	40,000	20	30
27. St. Louis	4	118,000	10	40
28. Centralna	1	3,000	20	5
29. Minneapolis	1	3,000	20	5
30. Scranton	-	-	15	-
31. Unaffiliated	128	701,000	50	256
Total	838	4,545,000	2,000	42

UNA Seniors Association holds 16th conference at Soyuzivka

by Gene Woloshyn

KERHONKSON, N.Y. - The 16th annual conference of Ukrainian National Association Seniors was held at Soyuzivka on June 17-22.

Registration was held Sunday afternoon in the Main House lobby with Helen Chornomaz, Mira Powch and Dr. Stephania Baranowsky registering old and new members.

After Sunday dinner Jaroslaw Palylyk, a very successful pharmacist from Somers, N.Y., gave, a very enlightening talk on "Growing Old and Your Medication." His message was well received and numerous questions by the group were answered.

Monday morning, as is customary, the divine liturgy was celebrated at the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church for the health of current members and success of the conference. Promptly at 10:30 a.m. the conference was called to order by the president, Gene Woloshyn of Poland, Ohio.

Helen Chornomaz led the group in singing the anthems. The pledge of allegiance was led by the president, who also asked the assembled to stand for a moment of silence for the departed members.

The assembled got right down to business by electing as chairpersons Irene Russnak of Rochester, N.Y., and Estelle Woloshyn of Poland, Ohio. Also elected were the Ukrainian secretary, Dr. Mykola Cenko of Philadelphia, and the English secretary, Mary Bobeczko of Cleveland.

Committees appointed by the chairperson with nominations from the floor were as follows: Nominating Committee - Anne Remick, Myron Russnak, Dr. Michael Snihurowycz, Olga Shatynski and Volodymyr Senezhak; Verifications Committee - Helen Chornomaz, Mira Powch and Dr. Stephania Baranowsky; Resolutions Committee - Dr. Roman Baranowsky, Olga Liteplo, Daniel Slobodian, Anna Chopek, Dr. Jurij Swyshchuk and Marie Prucknicki.

The next item of business was the reading of the minutes of the 15th conference in Ukrainian by Dr. Baranowsky and English by Mrs. Bobeczko. Both were praised for their complete report of last year's deliberations. Following the minutes the seniors' association officers gave their reports on activities of the past year.

On Monday evening the seniors gathered at the Veselka patio where host Dan Slobodian pinned a half of a heart on each person. Most important that evening was searching for the matching half heart which usually resulted in an embrace. As usual the balance of the night was spent in dancing, singing and enjoying refreshments.

On Tuesday morning the sessions began with the balance of the reports being read and discussed. At this time the proposed by-laws for the organization, both in Ukrainian and English, were distributed to each member for study prior to the voting.

The Nominating Committee chairman, Dr. Snihurowycz, reported that the committee was nominating the entire board for re-election for the coming year with a few changes. The conference accepted the report by acclamation. This is the fourth year in succession that this group has served the UNA Seniors.

The following were re-elected: Mr. Woloshyn, president; Stephen Kuropas, honorary past president; Mrs. Chopek, honorary UNA member; Mr. Slobodian, executive vice-president; John Laba, vice-president; Dr. Cenko, Ukrainian secretary; Mrs. Bobeczko, English secretary; Mrs. Chornomaz, treasurer; Roman Prypchan, publicity chairman; and Mrs. I. Russnak, cultural director.

Elected to serve as controllers were Mrs. Powch, Mr. Prypchan and Dr. Snihurowycz.

Regional representatives are Mrs. Remick, New England; Olga Shatynski, New Jersey; Olga Liteplo, New York and vicinity; Mrs. Russnak, Rochester, N.Y., area; Nicholas Bobeczko, Ohio.

The balance of the afternoon was spent playing bingo at the Veselka with the Bobeczkos and Labas running the game. Approximately 70 seniors enjoyed the afternoon. Many seniors were first time players, in fact, newcomer Dr. Cenko won twice.

Since a rain shower on Tuesday evening prevented having the bonfire, all gathered at the Veselka where they viewed "Avramenko and His Dances" produced by The Ukrainian Heritage Foundation and Mr. and Mrs. Remick's video of last year's gathering. The bit screen at the Veselka presented both videos in grand style.

Due to an unforeseen change in the program for Wednesday morning, the seniors had some free time. The business meeting was called to order by chairperson Mrs. Russnak at 2 p.m. On the agenda was the discussion of the proposed by-laws submitted by Mr. Woloshyn, assisted by Mrs. Woloshyn and Mr. and Mrs. Bobeczko.

A by-laws committee was then called to serve: Mrs. Prypchan, Mrs. Liteplo, Dr. Snihurowycz and Mrs. Russnak. The committee was to present a revised version of the by-laws on Thursday.

On Wednesday evening, guests gathered at the Veselka patio for a small reception. The banquet hall and tables were beautifully decorated with fresh flowers by the hostess "Pani Zochia."

Adding color to the nice gathering were the many Ukrainian embroidered dresses, blouses, shirts and neckties. Busily checking the seniors' finery were judges Mrs. Russnak, Mrs. Bobeczko and Dr. Snihurowycz, who were last year's winners.

The winners this year were: Maria Mandzy, dress; Simeon Chornomaz, man's shirt, and Olga Liteplo, woman's blouse.

Mr. Woloshyn, president introduced those sitting at the head table, noting that Dr. Roman Baranowsky had just celebrated his 85th birthday. Dr. Moroz and his wife were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary that very day, and "Mnohaya Lita" were sung for them.

Poems by Mrs. Powch and Dr. Snihurowycz completed the short program. Dancing to the music by the Hirniak orchestra followed.

On Thursday morning Dr. Jaroslaw Padoch spoke to the group on his trip to Lviv. He also had with him photographs and newspaper articles from that city. These were instrumental in promoting the listeners asking many questions.

On Thursday afternoon newly elected UNA Supreme President Ulana Diachuk was introduced by the conference chairperson, Mrs. Russnak. Mrs. Diachuk reported on the 32nd UNA Convention and her aims for the future of the Ukrainian National Association. Joseph Lesawyer, a former UNA president, asked the seniors to go home and sign up new members to give the new executive a good start. Many questions were raised by the group and answered by the president-elect.

Finally the proposed by-laws were presented and approved by the assembled. The seniors also approved annual dues of $3, which must be paid annually whether you attend the conference or not.

Next Dr. Roman Baranowsky and Mrs. Chopek read the resolutions in both language, and these were unanimously accepted by the group.

The executive board of the UNA Seniors thanked Emilian Jurchynsky for his exhibit of beautiful photographs and his donation to the association. Thanks also were given to Mr. and Mrs. Hrynkiw for exhibiting their ceramics and for a donation. On Tuesday morning Dr. Moroz checked 116 people's blood pressure for which he also was thanked.

The seniors donated $1,000 to Rukh, $1,000 to the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund and $1,000 to The Ukrainian Museum in New York. All donations are to be made through the UNA Home Office.

The seniors' president asked the group to support him and the board this coming year, and expressed hope that the 17th UNA Seniors conference would be a success.

Thursday evening was spent enjoying a fabulous concert by Dudaryk, which performed to a standing-room-only audience at the Veselka. The seniors enjoyed meeting the members of Dudaryk prior to and at the end of the concert.

Young UNA'ers

Alexander Daniel and Michael David Mazepa, twin sons of Michael and Michelle Mazepa, are the youngest members of UNA Branch 332 in Raritan, N.J. They were enrolled by their grandparents Kasmer and Catherine Mazepa. Mr. Mazepa is secretary, while Mrs. Mazepa is president, of that branch.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, July 22, 1990, No. 29, Vol. LVIII

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