LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (11/22/98)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Thanks for coverage that is timely, reliable

Dear Editor:

I write to compliment you on the high-quality and timely coverage you provide on U.S.-Ukraine events.

It is very important to me to have a steady flow of reliable and balanced information about developments in Ukraine. The 42 American corporations who are members of the Ukraine-U.S. Business Council depend on us to assist them in evaluating the business, financial and political developments not only in Ukraine, but in the complex U.S.-Ukraine relationship.

Your coverage of Prime Minister Valerii Pustovoitenko's visit was very well done and of great interest to us since we hosted the business dinner for him on October 6. The subsequent interview with Viktor Yuschenko regarding the state of Ukraine's finances was also a useful follow up to our own exchanges with the chairman of the National Bank of Ukraine.

I am proud of the commitment and patience of the council's corporations (we are steadily increasing that number) that have recognized Ukraine as committed to Western markets and prosperity. As one corporate officer explained, "with a population of 52 million, more than 95 percent literate and the richest soil in the world, Ukraine obviously has a great future. We are determined to be part of it!"

Keep up the good work.

Kempton B. Jenkins
Washington

The writer is president of the Ukraine-U.S. Business Council based in Washington.

Ukrainian charities and United Way

Dear Editor:

Each year the fall season brings changes of weather, winds, colds, and cheerful reports of generous contributions by government employees to the United Way federally recognized charities. A few dollars from each employee, every pay period, amunts to thousands of dollars to be spent on a variety of causes.

In the 1998 agency guide for southeastern Michigan there are about 1,500 listings of charitable organizations that are recognized by the Office of Personnel Management in Washington, which manages the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC).

Recognized organizations must receive more than 20 percent of their income from private sources to qualify for government recognition.

The diversity of recognized organizations is overwhelming. They include: zero population growth; African-American police officers against police brutality; the Polish community's Kosciuszko Foundation; 15 Jewish charities; the United Palestinian Appeal, and others.

Until fiscal year 1994, and then again in 1997, there was only one Ukrainian-American charity listed in the government contributor guide. The United Ukrainian American Relief Committee, telephone, (215) 728-1630. This is the organization to which I and many others Ukrainian compatriots, government employees, contributed throughout the years. Ukrainian American charities are missing again from the CFC for 1998.

The office of the UUARC did not have any meaningful explanation as to why the only Ukrainian organization was deleted from the government roster.

This matter should be of concern to the Ukrainian diaspora. Where are other Ukrainian charitable organizations, such as the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund, the Ukrainian Gold Cross, and others?

Bohdan Nehaniv
Troy, Mich.

Another assessment of embroidery book

Dear Editor:

After much deliberation, this letter is being written because it is occupying my thoughts too much. Regarding the two-part review by Orysia Paszczak Tracz (September 27 and October 10) of the embroidery book by Xenia Kolotylo, I have this comment: when I purchased this book two-plus years ago I did not get the impression that Miss Tracz did.

Miss Kolotylo expressed many sentiments and memoirs of her life. The phrase on page 16 says she "created many patterns." I never understood this to mean that she plagiarized - that is, took for her own - the patterns that she embroidered or now presents in this book.

Because of Miss Tracz's personal interpretation, she has published a two-part, very controversial article in The Weekly. Is this self-serving? As far as I am concerned, I am grateful to have such an extensive collection and source of patterns to embroider.

Thank you Miss Kolotylo!

Irene Turchyn Midgley
Carmichael, Calif.

Air Ukraine Cargo can help orphans

Dear Editor:

I have just returned from Kyiv, where I visited one of the children's homes for orphans.

Can you believe that 180 children from age 5 to 14 live in this home named "Maliatko" and are deprived of the simplest things that all other children have in their homes? They need soap, toothpaste, clothes, shoes, school supplies, medicines, vitamins, food, toys.

We can help these children. Our company, Air Ukraine Cargo, can consolidate your donations and arrange a free shipment of these donations to Kyiv.

Air Ukraine Airlines is willing to deliver your donations and Boryspil customs will release them of all custom duties.

The New Year holiday is coming, and we are hoping that readers will not be indifferent to the homeless children. Please let these Ukrainian children know that they are not forgotten.

Gregory Vaksman
Brooklyn, N.Y.

The writer is president of Air Ukraine Cargo.
For further information contact: Air Ukraine Cargo, 2307 Coney Island Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11223; telephone, (718) 376-1023; fax, (718) 376-1073.

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