THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM (11/15/98)

THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM

Historian speaks on UNA's past, present and future

by Roma Hadzewycz

PARSIPPANY, N.J. - The Northern New Jersey District Committee of the Ukrainian National Association hosted Dr. Myron B. Kuropas, author of the book "Ukrainian American Citadel: The First Hundred Years of the Ukrainian National Association," on Sunday, October 11, here at the UNA Corporate Headquarters.

After a brief introduction by the chairman of the Northern New Jersey District Committee, Eugene Oscislawski, the UNA historian spoke on the topic "The UNA: Past, Present and Future."

"No other organization in the diaspora is as powerful as the Ukrainian National Association," noted Dr. Kuropas at the outset of his remarks. He then proceeded to review the accomplishments of the UNA decade by decade since the organization's founding in 1894.

Perhaps the UNA's greatest achievement was that it created and reinforced a Ukrainian identity among immigrants to the United States, he stated. Between the years 1904 and 1914, the author noted, the people who called themselves Rusyns became Ukrainians; and by 1914 the fraternal organization, which had been called the Ruskyi Narodnyi Soyuz, became the Ukrainskyi Narodnyi Soyuz, or Ukrainian National Association.

Then, beginning in 1914, the UNA developed a program to help Ukraine and launched a fund drive, first to help Ukrainian war victims, then an independent Ukraine and later Halychyna, which remained outside the orbit of the USSR.

Dr. Kuropas continued his overview of UNA history by pointing out an anomaly: at the time of the Depression in the United States, the UNA and the Ukrainian community prospered. The UNA doubled in size, The Ukrainian Weekly was founded, the Ukrainian Youth League of North America was founded, and the Ukrainian Pavilion - the only pavilion funded by a nation that did not have its own independent state - was unveiled at the Chicago World's Fair.

In the 1940s, the author related, the displaced persons began to arrive and in the 1950s they began to join the UNA, while also creating their own new organizations. At the same time, the UNA sponsored the publication of books by historian Dr. Clarence A. Manning of Columbia University and Soyuzivka was purchased.

The 1960s were highlighted by the unveiling of the Taras Shevchenko monument - a project that became reality thanks to the leading role of the UNA and its publications. As well, the UNA promoted the establishment of the World Congress of Free Ukrainians and published the first volume of "Ukraine: A Concise Encyclopedia."

In the 1970s, Dr. Kuropas said, the UNA built its 15-story headquarters building in Jersey City, N.J., and became actively involved in the defense of Ukrainian human rights activists, and the 1980s saw the formation of the Ukrainian Heritage Defense Committee in response to the defamation of Ukrainians.

During the 1990s, however, the UNA has experienced a difficult period during which Svoboda was transformed into a weekly, the UNA building in Jersey City was sold, dividends were cut, scholarships were scaled back and Veselka ceased publication. Soyuzivka is threatened and there is a possibility that Svoboda and The Weekly may become one publication, he commented.

The reasons for this can be found in declining membership and poor management of investments, he said. "We are an organization that needs vision," he added. "We must stop fooling ourselves that everything is fine," he explained, and "we have to ask the right questions in order to prod our leadership to respond and to make the right decisions."

Dr. Kuropas concluded his presentation by noting the arrival of the "Fourth Wave" of immigrants from Ukraine, which he estimated includes about 35,000 to 40,000 legal immigrants and perhaps another 60,000 whose status is illegal, and emphasizing that the UNA has to find an approach to reach them and enroll them as members. "We have to help the 'Fourth Wave' as we helped previous immigrations; we have to show them that we care about their well-being," he stated.

At the conclusion of the presentation, Dr. Kuropas autographed copies of his history of the UNA, which was available for purchase.

While enjoying refreshments served after the presentation, the audience had an opportunity to view a display of art works by Roman Demko, formerly of Lviv and now a resident of Newark, N.J.

Newly elected auditors conduct first review of UNA operations

The Ukrainian National Association's Auditing Committee conducted its first review of the fraternal organization's operations since the 34th Regular UNA Convention held in May. The review was conducted on November 4-6 at the UNA's Corporate Headquarters in Parsippany, N.J. In the photo above are: William Pastuszek (center), chairman of the Auditing Committee, with fellow auditors (from left) Yaroslav Zaviysky, Myron Groch, Stefan Hawrysz and Alexander Serafyn.

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