THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM (12/06/98)

THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM

New Jersey districts hold fall organizing meeting

by Andre J. Worobec
UNA Advisor

PARSIPPANY, N.J. - The organizing meeting of UNA districts in northern and central New Jersey was held at the UNA's corporate headquarters on October 16.

The meeting was called to order by Eugene Oscislawski, chairman of the Northern New Jersey District and UNA advisor, who greeted all present and invited members and honorary members of the UNA General Assembly to the head table. These were Ulana Diachuk, president; Martha Lysko, national secretary; Stefan Kaczaraj, treasurer; Andre Worobec, UNA advisor; and Wolodymyr Sochan and Andrew Keybida, honorary members of the General Assembly. They were joined by Michael Zacharko, chairman of the Central New Jersey District.

There were 34 persons in attendance, including secretaries, organizers and officers of 15 branches.

Mrs. Diachuk reviewed the UNA's organizing achievements during the first nine months of the year in both New Jersey districts and cited their top organizers.

The Northern New Jersey District organized 83 new members, topping all districts with most new members and highest amount of insurance sold in the U.S. ($1,252,313), and met 75.45 percent of its assigned 110-member quota. The Central New Jersey District organized 16 new members insured for $193,000, meeting 35.56 percent of its assigned 45-member quota.

The top organizers in Northern New Jersey District were: Eugene Oscislawski, Branch 234, with 23 new members enrolled for $585,876 of insurance coverage; John Danilack, professional salesperson, with 11 members distributed among four branches, $191,000 in insurance; Andre Worobec, Branch 76, 10 new members, $186,437 in insurance; Dana Jasinski, Branch 287, nine members, $39,000 in insurance; and Longin Staruch, Branches 371 and 172, seven members, $36,000 of insurance. Other organizers enrolled between one and four members each.

The top organizer for the Central New Jersey District was Christine Gerbehy, Branch 269, with nine members insured for $66,000. Other organizers in that district enrolled one or two members each.

Mrs. Lysko explained the new UNA discount card, which offers savings on hotel, vision care, auto service, prescriptions, $10,000 in Accidental Death and Dismemberment (ADD) insurance from Conseco Insurance Co. and a choice of a $3,000 (blue) or a $10,000 (gold) UNA 20-payment life insurance certificate. The card benefits cost $88 per year and $10 per year goes for ADD coverage to age 100; life insurance coverage is an additional cost. The entire package must be purchased in one lump sum only; its yearly cost depends on the policyholder's age.

Mrs. Lysko also spoke about the new computerized billing system soon to be implemented by the UNA to administer its insurance policies and annuities.

Mr. Kaczaraj reported on the UNA's financial status for the first six months of 1998. He referred to an accounting spreadsheet, which everyone in attendance received, that provided a partial financial picture of combined UNA operations in 1998 and how they compare with 1995-1997.

The bottom line is that total income for the first six months of 1998 exceeded total disbursements, but these figures did not yet include profits from Soyuzivka, which are highest during July, August and September.

Mrs. Diachuk reported on subscription drives for Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly, noting that there is currently a marketing campaign targeting former subscribers. Mrs. Diachuk also reminded convention delegates that they will be asked to vote on a proposed change in the UNA's structure: instead of 25 members of the General Assembly the convention in 2002 would elect an 11-member board of directors, who would hire the Executive Committee entrusted to plan and run the day-to-day affairs of the UNA. The board of directors would meet four times a year and would review the UNA's operations, making changes as needed.

Mrs. Diachuk also touched upon the subject of UNA scholarships, noting that each year about 240 applications are accepted. Regarding complaints that applicants go through a lot of effort and still receive only a small scholarship, Mrs. Diachuk asked for input on how the UNA could simplify the process and be fair. The funds allocated for scholarships are too small and it is impossible to grant a large amount to each applicant, she added. One suggestion was to award a set amount in the first year and a larger amounts in the second, third and fourth years of a student's studies.

Mrs. Diachuk reported on the UNA's secretarial courses at Soyuzivka, which were a success. The UNA paid for the secretaries' room and board, while family members accompanying them paid out of their own pockets.

On the topic of dividends, members complained that payment of dividends has stopped. Mrs. Diachuk asked secretaries and organizers to explain the fact that the UNA is not like a bank. Dividends on insurance policies are a return on profits, which are declared and distributed every year. Interest on the cash value of insurance policies continues to grow and is guaranteed to grow on each policy; the cash value is not affected by payment or non-payment of dividends.

The meeting was then turned over to Mr. Zacharko, chairman of the Central New Jersey District, who thanked Mr. Oscislawski for cooperating to hold a joint organizing meeting of both New Jersey districts.

Home Office reports on October organizing activity

by Maria Oscislawski
Organizing Department

PARSIPPANY, N.J. - During the month of October, 84 new members were enrolled into the UNA for insurance coverage of $1,405,724 and annual dues of $14,264.33.

These results were the work of 22 secretaries and organizers throughout the United States who enrolled 61 members insured for $565,579, as well as four professional salespersons who signed up 17 new members insured for $629,000.

The top organizers for October are two UNA advisors who also happen to be branch secretaries: Andrij Skyba of UNA Branch 399, who is credited with 17 new members insured for $204,000, and Eugene Oscislawski of Branch 234, who enlisted nine new members insured for $126,579.

Four members each were enrolled by Vira Krywyj, secretary of Branch 174, Marguerite Hentosh, secretary of Branch 305, and Christine Gerbehy, secretary of Branch 269, whose members were insured, respectively, for $40,000, $35,000 and $17,000.

Three members were enrolled during the month of October by Advisor Andre J. Worobec, who also serves as secretary of Branch 76.

Two members each were enrolled by four branch secretaries, and 14 secretaries and organizers enrolled one member each.

In Canada, the top three organizers were two professional salespersons who signed up four new members, respectively, for $125,000 and $73,000 of insurance coverage; and Serguei Djoula, secretary of Branch 473, who enrolled one member insured for $5,000.

In the first 10 months of 1998, the UNA's best organizers were three advisors/branch secretaries: Mr. Oscislawski, with 32 members; Mr. Worobec, with 19 members; and Mr. Skyba, with 18 members. Mr. Oscislawski also is chairman of the Northern New Jersey District Committee of the UNA.

As far as districts are concerned, the figures for the first 10 months of the year show that the Woonsocket and Boston districts fulfilled their quotas by 100 percent; while the Northern New Jersey District is in second place, meeting 92 percent of its quota; and Albany is in third with 83 percent.

UNA branches grouped in districts designated Connecticut, New York, "Various" and Detroit met their quotas, respectively, by 77, 72, 68 and 64 percent; while 19 districts attained 50 percent or less of their assigned membership quotas.

The 1998 organizing plan calls for 1,250 new members; thus far, 53 percent of that target has been met. If every secretary were to organize at least two new members, by the end of the year the annual quota would be surpassed.

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