THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM (09/03/00)

THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM

UNA Seniors gather at 26th Conference at Soyuzivka

by Anna Chopek

KERHONKSON, N.Y. - The Ukrainian National Association Seniors celebrated their 26th anniversary at Soyuzivka on June 11-16. They again showed their generosity as they made the final payment of $1,500 on the gazebo that has been erected in the open area opposite the resort's Main House. The total cost was $3,500, and the money was raised over a three-year period.

As the public enjoys the gazebo, let's hope that they follow the example of the UNA Seniors by donating money for some much needed capital improvements at Soyuzivka. I am sure that Soyuzivka will be most grateful.

These generous seniors come to the conference bringing Ukrainian-style artifacts for the annual auction, and then they enjoy bidding on them. The auction, so ably conducted by Eugene Woloshyn with the assistance of Eugene Moroz, together with donations, brought in $1,000.

The UNA Seniors also conduct a raffle during the banquet. The prizes this year were donated by Alice Orlan (a full-sized wool coverlet from Ukraine and a child's wool embroidered vest), Natalie Lapic (a decorated wooden box from Ukraine), Olga Paproski (a poppy floral centerpiece), and John A. Flis, manager of Soyuzivka (a magnum of champagne). Marie Prucknicki and Nellie Yavarow, the chairpersons of the raffle committee, and their helpers, Eva Uzych, Leo Uzych, Ms. Paproski, Larissa Dijak, Olga Moroz and Mary Bobeczko, sold the raffle tickets, bringing in $516.

In addition to the gazebo contribution, the UNA Seniors donated $100 to the Ukrainian National Women's League of America project called The Babusia Fund, which aids needy grandmothers in Ukraine; $100 to The Ukrainian Weekly Press Fund; $100 to the Svoboda Press Fund; and $100 to the Jubilee Committee of the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Parish of Kerhonkson, N.Y., for an ad in its 35th anniversary jubilee book.

On Monday morning, members participated in a divine liturgy and panakhyda at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in memory of deceased UNA Seniors.

The conference was opened by President Anna Chopek. The American and Ukrainian national anthems, led by Mr. Moroz, were sung, the "Pledge of Allegiance" was recited, and the business session began. Mrs. Chopek was chosen as conference chairman, Olga Liteplo as English secretary, and Ms. Dijak as Ukrainian secretary. Appointments to committees were made: nominating committee - Mrs. Uzych and Mrs. Sarachman; donations committee - Estelle Woloshyn, Ms. Bobeczko and Irene Russnak; auditing committee - Tatiana Rishko and Olga Shatynsky.

A moment of silence was held in remembrance of deceased UNA Seniors. Mr. Moroz led members in the singing of Mnohaya Lita for Dr. Roman Baranowskyj on the occasion of his 95th birthday. Dr. Baranowskyj is a longtime active member of the UNA Seniors and is well known in the Ukrainian community for his work on Ukrainian causes.

Minutes of the 1999 conference were read in English and Ukrainian, respectively, by Ms. Liteplo and Ms. Dijak. Reports were given by the officers, and controllers reported that the treasurer's books were in order. A vote of confidence was passed.

The nominating committee presented the following slate for the years 2000-2001: Mrs. Chopek, president; Alice Orlan, executive vice-president; Sam Liteplo, vice-president; Ms. Paproski, treasurer; Ms. Liteplo, English secretary; and Ms. Dijak, Ukrainian secretary. Nominated as area representatives were: Jaroslawa Kovach, Connecticut; Mr. Moroz, Massachusetts; Maria Mandzij, New Jersey; Dr. Stefania Baranowski, Kerhonkson and Catskill area; Chrystyna Dziuba, Rochester, N.Y., and vicinity; Helen Trenkler, Rhode Island; Ms. Bobeczko, Ohio; Mrs. Uzych and John R. Lapic, Pennsylvania. The vote for the slate was unanimous.

The donations committee recommended the distribution of $1,900 to the aforementioned charities, and the recommendation was unanimously accepted.

Registration - handled by Ms. Paproski, Dr. Baranowski and Ms. Bobeczko - brought in 80 conference participants coming from many areas of the United States.

Social activities included a Ukrainian sing-along led by Ms. Liteplo and Mr. Moroz. An informal wine and hors d'oeuvres party held in the lobby of the Main House and a bingo night conducted by Nicholas and Ms. Bobeczko, John and Helen Laba, and Mr. Liteplo were well attended and enjoyed by all. Some members joined the UNWLA branch in Kerhonkson for some fun at a gambling casino in Connecticut.

A Hutsul dinner was served one evening and, in connection with the Hutsul theme, the video "Carpathian Journey" was played, showing the customs and traditions of this region. Other videos brought by members, including one on the Volyn region, were viewed during the week.

There were also serious moments during the conference as Mrs. Chopek, an attorney talked on legal matters of interest to the seniors, concentrating on the definition of cost basis and its effect on capital gains and income tax liability. Mr. Moroz showed slides and gave an interesting review of his trip to Japan. Soyuzivka's manager, Mr. Flis, gave an overview of the problems facing Soyuzivka and its prospects for the future.

The annual review of current events in Ukraine was given in Ukrainian by Dr. Roman Baranowskyj and in English by Dr. Roman Procyk, executive director of the Harvard Ukrainian Studies Fund. Some of the items covered were: the celebration of the eighth anniversary of Ukraine's independence; the elections and the inauguration of President Leonid Kuchma; the treaty between Moldova and Ukraine as to boundaries; the meeting in Yalta of the heads of 22 countries of the Baltic and Black Sea regions; the mine catastrophe in Krasnodon; and the various decrees issued by President Kuchma.

In addition Dr. Procyk commented on the use of the Russian language in Ukraine and why more publications are printed in Russian than in the Ukrainian language. Dr. Procyk also brought many recent publications of HURI and spoke about them.

The banquet each year is an event to be remembered. The banquet hall was elegantly decorated; seniors dressed in traditional Ukrainian blouses and shirts added to the atmosphere. The dinner featuring prime rib was delicious.

The speaker at the banquet, the Rev. Bohdan Lukie, CSsR, pastor of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Parish in Newark, N.J., electrified the audience with his message and his manner of speaking. He stressed the importance of reaching out to those Ukrainian Americans who do not speak Ukrainian and of encouraging them to become members of our Ukrainian churches and Ukrainian organizations, thus helping them maintain their Ukrainian identity. The Rev. Lukie's credentials are impressive: he has served in many parishes in Canada and the United States, and has conducted parish missions, retreats, religious workshops and marriage encounters. He has taught English literature at St. Vladimir's College, and has been chaplain to many different organizations and institutions.

As a courtesy to the guest speaker, the UNA Seniors asked him to draw the winning tickets of the raffle. Imagine everyone's surprise when he drew his own ticket for the wool coverlet!

John Lapic was the winner of the magnum of champagne, and, to the delight of all, he opened the magnum and shared the champagne. The beautiful taped dance music, played by Yuri Trenkler, and the flowing champagne added to the enjoyment of this memorable banquet.

As seniors said their good-byes on Friday morning, they agreed that the 26th conference had been an enjoyable one and expressed readiness to come back next year.

Club Suzie-Q'ers meet, unofficially

KERHONKSON, N.Y. - Members of Club Suzie-Q from the East Coast, Midwest and Canada vacationed as part of the group's 17th annual summer week at Soyuzivka on August 12-19. Billed this year as an "unofficial" event, the gathering nevertheless drew 20-some club members who have developed close ties of friendship over the years and who just couldn't stay away. Newly chosen Miss Soyuzivka Michelle Polywka (front row, sixth from right) "unofficially" joined in Club Suzie-Q's traditional "official" photo.

Youngstown District to host UNA picnic

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Youngstown District of the Ukrainian National Association will host a picnic at St. Anne's Church on Kirk Road on Sunday, September 17, beginning at 1 p.m.

Admission is $3 for adults; children under age 12, free.

Food and refreshments will be provided. To make a reservation call Estelle Woloshyn, (330) 726-1937; Mary Makar, (330) 782-6395; or Annabelle Borovitsky, (330) 799-8037; by September 9.

| Home Page |