New York Regional Council celebrates UNWLA's 75th anniversary (06/25/00)

New York Regional Council celebrates UNWLA's 75th anniversary

by Helen Smindak

NEW YORK - The women who spearhead much of the Ukrainian community's cultural, educational and charitable work in the New York metropolitan area came together on Sunday, June 4, to mark the 75th anniversary of their national organization, the Ukrainian National Women's League of America (UNWLA).

Members and presidents of 15 local branches were joined by spouses, friends and honored guests at the Ukrainian National Home for jubilant ceremonies celebrating the history and accomplishments of the largest and oldest independent organization of Ukrainian women in the United States.

The occasion was particularly auspicious because of the significance of New York as the "cradle" of the league, which was originally founded by the joint action of five women's societies in the New York area. Their action, prompted by the disbarment of Ukraine's National Council of Women from membership in the International Council of Women (due to Ukraine's loss of independence) was envisioned as a means of providing "new windows" to the international world - a way to further the truth about the captive nation.

Among esteemed guests were three members of Ukraine's official delegation to a special session on gender equality at the 23rd United Nations General Assembly - Ukraine's Minister of Justice Suzanna Stanik; Dr. Laryssa Kobylianska, president of the League of Women Voters in Ukraine, and Ludmilla Vynohradova - as well as Anna Kushniryk, Ukraine's vice-consul in New York, and Dr. Sorosh Roshan, president of the National Council of Women of the U.S.A. Representatives of numerous Ukrainian national and local organizations were in attendance.

Ivanna Rozankowsky, a former UNWLA national president, and Kateryna Papuha, both of whom have served the organization for 50 years and were in the audience, were singled out for special citations. Citations were also presented to three members who served as presidents of Branch 1: Lidia Magun, Olena Goy and Olha Slyvka.

In her address to the assembled guests, UNWLA President Iryna Kurowycky pointed to the dedicated work of these women and to other New York area members who have given exceptional service to the league. Five of the league's 11 national presidents came from the New York region: Julia Shustakewych, Julia Jarema, Mrs. Rozanowsky, Maria Savchak and Mrs. Kurowycky. Among the six editors of the organization's official publication, Nashe Zhyttia, three are from New York: Claudia Olesnytsky, Ulana Liubovych Starosolska and the current editor, Iryna Chaban.

In defense of captive Ukraine

Citing the league's work in defense of captive Ukraine in the world arena, Mrs. Kurowycky pointed to such important events as protests against pacification of Western Ukraine by the Polish government in the 1930s, the appeal to the American government in the matter of the forced evacuation of Ukrainians to Siberia, an appeal to President Harry Truman in defense of displaced persons, a meeting with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to correct her "mistaken understanding" about the status of Ukrainian people under Soviet rule, and actions taken on behalf of prisoners of conscience, especially women.

Mrs. Kurowycky said that action taken by UNWLA delegates at the April 1986 conference of the International Council of Women in London resulted in immediate passage of a resolution against nuclear reactors.

While fostering Ukrainian identity and gathering together women of Ukrainian ancestry without regard to their religious faiths or political beliefs, the league has created a Ukrainian elite in Poland, Brazil and other countries through scholarships, Mrs. Kurowycky said. Since 1976, 87 scholarship recipients have become Ukrainian priests and many scholarship winners have taken vows as nuns.

She added that assistance to Ukraine has included help for institutions like Ridna Shkola and Prosvita, aid for flood victims in 1927-1928 and 1998, as well as the creation of the Mother and Child fund, enabling a number of Ukrainian widows with children to come to the Unites States, and the 500 Fund, assisting the wives of political prisoners. The league's newest action, dedicated to its 75th anniversary, is "Milk and Buns" program for schoolchildren in Ukraine.

Mrs. Kurowycky said the league has proved to be an important factor in the Ukrainian community, becoming a co-initiator of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America and the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee. In 1948 the league took the initiative of calling a world congress of Ukrainian women at which the World Federation of Ukrainian Women's Organizations was born.

The president concluded with the happy announcement that the UNWLA had been accepted as a member-organization of the Ukrainian World Coordinating Council at the council's annual meeting in Kyiv on April 20.

Supporting culture

UNWLA members take great pride in many major accomplishments of their national organization. In cooperation with the Ukrainian community, the league purchased a Ukrainian pavilion at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair, decorating its room with an exhibit of Ukrainian folk costumes, embroideries, kylyms, wood carvings and other crafts.

Purchased in Ukraine for the exhibit, these items became the nucleus of the exhibit for The Ukrainian Museum established by the league in New York in 1976. The museum is temporarily housed in a Manhattan building purchased in conjunction with the UCCA and used by both organizations. Other league properties include two buildings in Philadelphia, the Detroit Regional Council building and the Lesya Ukrainka monument in Cleveland's Garden of Culture.

Members of the New York region have assisted such major Ukrainian American projects as the funding of the Taras Shevchenko statue in Washington, supporting various actions which resulted in non-profit status for the Shevchenko monument committee, and participated en masse in the formal blessing and dedication of the statue. Preserving the UNWLA tradition of conducting kindergarten schools, they sponsor a Saturday pre-school class at St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church in the East Village.

Located in the midst of the world's cultural capital, New York branches have made use of their vantage point to spread knowledge of Ukrainian culture in various ways - taking part in folk art exhibits arranged by Women's Arts and Industries Inc. and the International Women's Exhibit and in rare, long-running events like the New York World's Fair of 1964 and the New York Bicentennial celebration. Branch 64, which created a complete set of Ukrainian period costumes, including the attire of Kniahynia (Princess) Olha, has shown its fascinating costumes at many venues. Branch 83, which presented exhibits, puppet shows and Easter egg-making demonstrations at the Donnell Public Library, approached Rockefeller Center officials in 1973 with the idea of including the New York Bandura School in its Christmas-tree lighting program and was successful; the appearance of a large group of young bandurists in national costume was seen by millions of television viewers across the nation.

In line with the league's attention to Ukrainian culture, a unique program of Kupalo songs and round dances and folk songs, presented during the afternoon by the Promin ensemble under the direction of Bohdanna Wolansky, was complemented by a dramatic presentation by the Lydia Krushelnytsky Drama Studio. As students of St. George's Academy modeled Branch 64 historical costumes, actors Sofia Zielyk, Nadia Tatchyn, Melanie Sonevytsky, Ruslana Rostsishevska, Olena Lysetska and Laryssa Huryn recited an excerpt from Leonid Poltava's poem "Slovo pro Ukrayinu."

The afternoon's program included remarks by Christina Nawrocky, an honorary member of the UNWLA and of the World Federation of Ukrainian Women's Organizations, and Nadia Sawczuk, New York Regional Council President. Prayers were offered by the Very Rev. Patrick Paschak of St. George Church and the Rev. Ivan Lyshyk, pastor of St. Vladimir's Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Mistress of ceremonies duties were shared by Ulana Kekish-Solodenko, Branch 123 president, and Barbara Bachynsky, national recording secretary. Olha Hayetsky was in charge of the cultural program, and Marta Danyluk chaired the anniversary committee.

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