Australian Ps and Bs to map out strategy (07/27/97)

Australian Ps and Bs to map out strategy

by Peter Shmigel

ESSENDON, Australia - The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organizations (AFUO) will convene a special meeting of Ukrainian professional and businesspeople's organizations on August 23 in Sydney to map out a strategy for their future role in the Ukrainian Australian community.

The decision to conduct the special meeting comes following significant consultation across the country between AFUO President Stefan Romaniw and leaders of various "professionals' and businesspeople's" groups: the Australian Ukrainian Lawyers Association, the Society of Ukrainian Engineers and the Ukrainian Medical Association in Australia.

The special meeting will coincide with commemorations of the sixth anniversary of Ukraine's independence and feature a social function that evening at a Sydney hotel. Under discussion also will be the creation of Ukrainian Australian Chamber of Commerce branches across the country.

"There are hundreds of highly qualified professionals and businesspeople of Ukrainian Australian descent. However, neither the AFUO constitution or the 'Ps&Bs' current organizational structure is necessarily suited to giving them the opportunity to make a bigger contribution to our community life," Mr. Romaniw said.

"Thus, we are holding the special meeting on August 23 so that Ps&Bs leaders can talk about an improved structure and better strategies for professionals and businesspeople to play a broader role in maintaining community identity, as well as provision of assistance to Ukraine. AFUO values this group of people and wants our structures to be relevant to them - our future depends on it," Mr. Romaniw continued.

Dr. Michael Warczek has agreed to take on responsibility for organizing a Chamber of Commerce branch in New South Wales. "Michael's experience and networks make him perfectly suited to the task," Mr. Romaniw said.

Vlad Derevianka, a Woiongong-based lawyer and community activist has agreed to take on responsibility for organizing the August 23 meeting.

"We call on all interested Ukrainian Australians to attend the get-togethers which promise to be not only informative but entertaining," Mr. Romaniw said.

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