THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM (04/26/98)

THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM

A fond farewell to the Svoboda Press print shop

PARSIPPANY, N.J. - As reported in last week's issue of The Ukrainian Weekly (April 19), the Svoboda Press print shop in Jersey City, N.J., was permanently closed down on Thursday, April 16. The UNA's two publications will be printed out of house by Redmond Press in Denville, N.J.

The decision was announced on Friday, April 10, just as The Weekly's April 12 issue was going to press. Thus, it was too late to tell our readers that the issue they would be holding in their hands was the last in a long line of Weeklies published at the UNA's Jersey City facility, located in what was once the Ukrainian National Association's headquarters building.

The April 12 issue was our last to be printed on the UNA's own Goss offset press. The first run off that press was The Weekly's November 15, 1975, issue - then still a four-page broadsheet edition - soon after the press had been installed in the UNA's then new headquarters building at 30 Montgomery St. Later, the Ukrainian-language Svoboda began to be printed daily on that press. (The official dedication ceremonies of the Montgomery Street edifice took place on February 22, 1974, but it wasn't until May 26, 1976, that the editorial staffs of Svoboda and The Weekly moved into the new 15-story building from the previous UNA building located a few blocks away at 81-83 Grand St.)

Those same offset presses were the ones that printed The Ukrainian Weekly's first 16-page tabloid issue dated July 4, 1976. Later, with the installation of a third Goss unit on December 17, 1991 (our gift that year from St. Nicholas, we mused in your yearend issue), that press printed our first 20-page issue dated February 2, 1992, and the first 24-pager dated May 17, 1992.

But the shutdown of the Svoboda print shop is also a story of the people who worked there for many years - in particular the four employees of the printing and expedition operations who were laid off as a result of the closing.

Yaroslaw Ihor Nebeluk, 59, of Union, N.J., worked at the Svoboda Press for 17 years on the expedition (addressing/mailing operations) of the Svoboda daily and The Weekly. He is a former member of Plast, a supporter of the Sitch soccer program and a veteran of the U.S. Army, who served as a medical corpsman. Mr. Nebeluk competed two years of engineering studies at the University of Connecticut and worked as a lab technician for several companies before being hired by the Svoboda Press.

Miroslaw Malinovsky, 57, was the pressman. An immigrant from Ukraine who arrived in the U.S. in December 1989, he began working at the Svoboda Press the following March, at first on the newspapers' expedition and later as a pressman. Mr. Malinovsky is a master mechanic who hails from Zolochiv, Lviv Oblast. He resides in Jersey City, N.J.

The assistant pressman was Bazyli Panchak, 60, who holds a master's degree in economics and worked for construction firms in Poland before he immigrated to the U.S. in 1992. He was active in the Ukrainian community in Poland and was a member of the famed Zhuravli Choir. He began working at the Svoboda Press in September of 1993. A resident of New York City, he is an officer of the Organization for the Defense of Lemkivschyna and is an auditor of the New York District Committee of the Ukrainian National Association.

Lev Khmielkovskyj, 60, a journalist from the Cherkasy Oblast of Ukraine who now lives in South Orange, N.J., was the newest addition to the print shop staff. He arrived in the U.S. in September 1996 after his wife won the Green Card lottery that enabled the Khmielkovskyjs to apply for permanent residency in this country. He has been with the Svoboda Press since May 1997.

* * *

The shutdown of the Svoboda Press print shop marks the end of an era. Therefore, it is fitting that we say a quiet thank you to the many hard-working and dedicated employees who saw to it that the UNA's publications were printed and sent to faithful readers around the globe.

- Roma Hadzewycz

UNA Seniors slate 1998 conference

by Dr. Anne Chopek

LOS ALAMOS, N.M. - Ukrainian National Association Seniors: have you made your reservation for the 24th annual UNA Seniors Conference to be held at Soyuzivka, June 14-19?

Being at Soyuzivka is always a treat, but to be there at a UNA Seniors Conference is a very enjoyable experience.

After registration on Sunday afternoon and dinner, there will be a pleasant surprise: a welcoming wine and cheese party will take place in the lounge at the Main House. Conference participants will have an opportunity to socialize, dance and enjoy meeting with Ukrainian seniors from all over the United States.

On Monday morning, the members will attend the annual divine liturgy for deceased UNA seniors. After the religious services, the 24th UNA Seniors Conference will be officially opened by this writer, president of the UNA Seniors Association. The national anthems will be sung, and the "Pledge of Allegiance" will be recited. A conference chairman will be elected, and committees will be appointed.

Business sessions will be held mornings between 10 a.m. and noon, at which time reports will be given, new officers elected and new business discussed.

One session will be devoted to a discussion of problems currently facing Ukraine. It will be conducted by Dr. Roman Baranowsky and Dr. Roman Procyk of the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute.

There will be a meeting with the president of the Ukrainian National Association, who will give a review of the 34th UNA Convention held in May. This will be followed by a question and answer period.

One day, Wednesday, will be set aside as free day. In previous years, seniors took a trip away from Soyuzivka on this free day, but this year many members have expressed a wish to have a day to enjoy with friends. So, seniors are advised: bring your golf clubs, your fishing gear, your bowling ball and your bathing suits so that you can swim in the pool or just get a tan.

On other afternoons and evenings there will be square dancing, a Ukrainian sing-along, a Bingo night and an auction of Ukrainian items. Every year conference participants raise a considerable amount of money for worthy Ukrainian charities at the auction. How much is raised depends on how many items are received from members. So, seniors are asked to check at home, check with friends and collect as many items as possible for the auction. One evening will be devoted to the screening of Ukrainian videos, card playing and racing games.

The conference will end with a cocktail party and banquet at Veselka, featuring a prominent speaker. Dancing will follow the banquet. Women are requested to wear Ukrainian blouses, and men - Ukrainian shirts or ties, if possible. Those wearing Ukrainian garb to the banquet will be eligible for a door prize.

UNA members and UNA social members who have a card from their branch secretary will be entitled to a special reduced rate for their stay at Soyuzivka during the UNA Seniors Conference.