UCCA president meets with EPCOT officials (03/29/98)

UCCA president meets with EPCOT officials

by Natalia Warren
Special to The Ukrainian Weekly

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Askold Lozynskyj, president of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, recently met with Robin Chapman, director of creative development at EPCOT, to discuss the possibility of Ukraine's participation in the millennium celebration that will be held at the Walt Disney World theme park from October 1999 through January 2001.

The meeting was arranged by Taras (Jason) Harper, president of the Ukrainian Project Fund and the Walt Disney World employee who was appointed in December by EPCOT Vice-President George Kalogridis to spearhead the EPCOT Millennium Celebration - Ukraine Initiative.

"This is an absolutely tremendous opportunity to showcase Ukraine, its culture and it's people," explained Mr. Lozynskyj after the meeting. "I think the companies that are working in Ukraine, and the community in general, are going to get very excited about this project," he added.

During the meeting Ms. Chapman explained that the Walt Disney Co. is planning what could possibly be the largest event of its kind in the world in celebration of the third millennium. The theme at EPCOT for 15 months will be "Hope for a Better World," and several dozen countries, in addition to the 11 that are currently featured, will be showcased during the event.

Mr. Lozynskyj pointed out that the UCCA is not a financial institution and therefore is not in a position to finance the project, but went on to explain that the UCCA is an umbrella organization for Ukrainian Americans and could help organize the sponsorship. "What we can do is we can bring some of these people together, some of these companies together, which would be in a position to fund the project," he continued.

The pavilions will average 3,000 square feet and cost between $800,000 to $2 million each. Mr. Kalogridis recently granted a two-month extension to find sponsorship for the Ukrainian pavilion after a prominent Ukrainian American businessman delivered a $10,000 refundable security deposit. According to Mr. Harper, all additional sponsors must be lined up by the first week of May.

The UCCA has formed committee to help Mr. Harper find sponsors for the pavilion and committee members include Paul Bandriwsky, vice-president of M & T Bank; Orest Baranyk, an architect; and Michael Sawkiw, director of the Ukrainian National Information Service.

"For Ukrainians and Ukrainian Americans it's a wonderful opportunity to showcase Ukrainian culture, to become a part of the world community, because Ukraine hasn't been a part of that community for so long," added Mr. Lozynskyj.

In addition to the millions of people who will be visiting EPCOT during the 15-month celebrations, approximately 500 million people will be exposed to the events at EPCOT through the various Disney media channels such as ESPN, The Disney Channel and ABC.

"The work that Askold Lozynskyj and the UCCA committee are doing is exactly the kind of thing this project needs if it is going to become a reality," suggested Mr. Harper. "Of course we can't expect every Ukrainian organization to come up with that kind of money, but to be willing to make the contacts with the individuals or businesses who can make this kind of financial commitment is crucial for our success," he added.

In order to facilitate the dissemination of information about the EPCOT Millennium Celebration and the Ukraine Initiative, Mr. Harper worked very closely with The Buffalo Group, the professionals' and businesspersons' association in western New York State, which recently set up a Ukrainian Pavilion website.

"We decided to put together a website because we thought a place where people could find additional information about the EPCOT pavilion would really help get the word out and answer some questions in more detail," noted George Hajduczok, an assistant professor of physiology at the University of Buffalo and The Buffalo Group's president.

Dr. Hajduczok, who has worked with his associates to get the site up and running in the last weeks, explained that all the effort has been worthwhile. "The public relations value of a Ukrainian pavilion at EPCOT, which millions of people will be visiting during those 15 months, is immeasurable," he explained.

The website includes information about the pavilion, its sponsorship and the Ukrainian Project Fund, and includes links to Walt Disney World and The Ukrainian Weekly.

Taras Harper can be reached at (407) 827-4982; or via e-mail at his home, [email protected]; or at the office, [email protected]

The Ukrainian Pavilion website is located at http://www.cerg.com/upf/pavilion/index.htm

Additional information about the Ukrainian Pavilion at EPCOT can be found at http://www.orbiter.com/gam/epcot/index.htm

INTERVIEW: EPCOT vice-president on the proposed Ukrainian Pavilion