UNA Executive Committee holds quarterly meeting (10/01/00)

UNA Executive Committee holds quarterly meeting

by Martha Lysko
UNA National Secretary

PARSIPPANY, N.J. - The Executive Committee of the Ukrainian National Association met at its regular quarterly meeting on Saturday, September 9, here at the UNA Corporate Headquarters.

The executives read and approved their reports, examined the financial, recording, organizing and publishing departments, revisited the decision on the site for the 2002 UNA Convention and reviewed proposed changes to the UNA by-laws.

In attendance was the entire Executive Committee: Ulana Diachuk, president; Stefko Kuropas, first vice-president; Anya Dydyk-Petrenko, second vice-president; the Rev. Myron Stasiw, director for Canada; Martha Lysko, national secretary; and Stefan Kaczaraj, treasurer. The chairman of the Auditing Committee, Bill Pastuszek, also attended.

Treasurer Kaczaraj reported on the financial status of the UNA, the Ukrainian National Urban Renewal Corp. and the UNA's publications for the period ending June 30. He also reported on the status of investments for the same period.

The treasurer stated that the financial statements that are filed with insurance departments are prepared an accrual basis. He spent considerable time explaining the reasons for the increases and decreases of the UNA's income and expenses. The increase in surplus for the six-month period ending on June 30 was $344,449.

In reference to the UNURC, Mr. Kaczaraj reported that the mortgage to UNA had increased from $2.3 million to $2.8 million due to cancellation of one promissory note. The UNURC is still waiting to receive the $100,000 held in escrow on the 30 Montgomery St. property, the UNA's former headquarters in Jersey City, N.J. The UNURC profit for the first six months of this year was $69,257; and the loss for the same period was $56,041.

In reporting on the UNA's publications, Mr. Kaczaraj stated the net loss for six-month period under review, January through June 2000, was $62,000. Svoboda incurred a loss of $12,000 and was $13,000 under budget. The Ukrainian Weekly had a loss of $50,000 and was $25,000 over budget.

The loss for entire year in 1999 for both publications was $246,000, of which Svoboda incurred $54,000 and $192,000 was incurred by The Ukrainian Weekly. He said the publications must increase advertising revenue in order to eradicate the deficit.

In reference to investments Mr. Kaczaraj reported on income and sales of investments, as well as the status of mortgages held by the UNA.

First Vice-President Kuropas brought up the subject of the UNA's mortgage policy, stating that he is against granting mortgages to members because he does not consider this an investment. He added that he wants to close out the policy of granting mortgages. President Diachuk said the UNA offers this benefit to members who qualify according to the long-established mortgage policy. It was also pointed out that the mortgage policy has been in place at the UNA for many generations and it helped build churches, clubs and national homes.

National Secretary Lysko pointed to the major problem of finding volunteers to serve as secretaries and UNA activists. Each year the UNA loses many secretaries due to retirement, disability etc., yet it is difficult to find replacements, she explained.

The UNA's current membership is 51,772 members; there are also 690 annuity certificates in force, Mrs. Lysko continued. New business for the first six months included 229 new life insurance policies issued for total premiums of $50,510 and total face amounts of $4,363,650. Ten new annuity certificates were issued for consideration of $253,479.

Of the 27 UNA Districts in North America, only 21 took an active part in organizing efforts, the national secretary reported. The three top districts in terms of production are: Woonsocket, 130 percent of the annual quota, followed by the "Various States" District at 98 percent and the Buffalo District at 45 percent. The best organizers in the first six months of 2000 were: Joseph Hawryluk, Branch 360, with the highest premium amount, $6,342; Myron Pylypiak, Branch 496, with the highest number of certificates issued, 25 members; and Leon Hardink, Branch 206, who single-handedly surpassed the district quota.

Mrs. Lysko also stated that new rate books and insurance brochures have been in use by all UNA branches since January. Seminars on the new product line were held in most districts this spring and, as a result, no course for secretaries was scheduled in the summer. In the first six months 86 branches went on direct billing; more and more branches will be added during the next six months. The UNA has applied for new life and annuity applications, and most states have approved these new applications; the UNA is awaiting only the approval of New York and Maryland.

Second Vice-President Dydyk-Petrenko reported on the programs she prepared for the summer entertainment at Soyuzivka and commented on the success of the season. She particularly expressed her satisfaction with this season's mistress of ceremonies, Adriana Rudyk, and the wonderful job she did. In conclusion, Ms. Dydyk-Petrenko said she finds it difficult to continue with her duties from such a distance.

The UNA's director for Canada, the Rev. Stasiw, reported that, outside of performing his duties as branch secretary of Branch 49, he had problems in finding a district chairman. He added that he hopes he can resolve this issue.

First Vice-President Kuropas reported on the meetings he attended and on preparations for the UNA Convention in Chicago. He also discussed the "Dial All Day for the UNA" program that is used as a fund-raiser for The Ukrainian Weekly. UNA members who buy the service help raise money for The Weekly.

In her report President Diachuk summarized all the activities and subsidiaries of the UNA: publishing, organizing, the UNURC and Soyuzivka. She discussed both publications, staffing and the need to increase advertising income and subscriptions. She noted that ahe has been meeting with both editorial staffs once a month, and that a new marketing strategy is in the planning stages. Every subscriber of The Ukrainian Weekly will be contacted to help find a new subscriber. The UNA has asked for mailing lists of other Ukrainian organizations for the purposes of marketing its publications, Mrs. Diachuk continued. Volume I of "The Ukrainian Weekly 2000" was quite successful, as sales netted a profit of $6,500 and donations totaling $19,176 were received in the first six months of this year. Volume II of "The Ukrainian Weekly 2000" will be out at the end of the year. There was a general discussion among Executive Committee members regarding the problems of both publications.

Continuing her report, Mrs. Diachuk reported that overall organizing results are dismal since the UNA does not have a professional sales force. As already stated, all branches will be going on direct billing because it will be mandated by the Insurance Department of New Jersey.

The Home Office gave up some of the space it occupied and the UNA now has a top-rated customer interested in relocating to the premises, the president noted.

The income for summer season at Soyuzivka is on par with that of the same period last year. Due to rainy weather this summer the resort had many people leave during the week. Although the camps were full, they do not make money unless the resort entices the children's parents and grandparents to stay. Mrs. Diachuk also pointed out that insurance costs for Soyuzivka continue to increase.

The president ended her report by announcing that a longtime UNA advisor and former auditor, Anatole Doroshenko, had opted to become an honorary member of the General Assembly.

The By-laws Committee met in June and worked out a proposal to change the structure of the UNA's governing bodies to a corporate structure. This is being done in accordance with the resolution of the 1998 Convention that authorized the General Assembly to hold a referendum regarding this question. The proposed changes will be printed in October in both UNA newspapers for a comment period by UNA members, convention delegates and members of the General Assembly. At its annual session in December the General Assembly will examine the proposed changes and will determine whether to endorse them.

President Diachuk outlined the reasons for the proposal to change the site of the UNA Convention from Chicago to Soyuzivka. Mrs. Diachuk cited financial considerations as a primary reason for the proposal. She said she believes that the General Assembly did not have all necessary data at hand when the decision on a convention site was made in December 1999. The UNA would save money on delegates' travel expenses, and Soyuzivka would have a substantial profit. President Diachuk then presented the results of the recent opinion poll taken among delegates to the last UNA Convention regarding the choice of either Soyuzivka or Chicago as the site for the 2002 conclave.

Among the reasons cited by respondents and the Executive Committee members as mitigating against holding the UNA Convention at Soyuzivka were as follows: the savings on air flights are overstated because there are cheaper rates available; travel to Soyuzivka is difficult and expensive; waiting for meals will be long and inconvenient; collecting delegates from various hotels will be time-consuming; and in the end the UNA may not realize the profit expected. It was also pointed out that the decision on the convention site was already made and the Executive Committee should abide by the decision made by the entire General Assembly.

Proponents of holding the UNA convention at Soyuzivka pointed out during the discussion that Plast holds biennial meetings at Soyuzivka and the management feeds 200 people easily. If the UNA holds its convention at the resort, it is hoped that other organizations also would be inclined to do so. Soyuzivka Manager John A. Flis, in a recent letter to the Executive Committee, assured everyone that Soyuzivka would be able to manage this convention. It was also noted that the majority of delegates polled were in favor of holding the UNA Convention at Soyuzivka.

There was a heated debate over the issue of a convention site and, ultimately, in a 3-2 vote the motion to uphold the previous decision of the UNA General Assembly passed. Thus, the next UNA Convention will be held in Chicago on Memorial Day Weekend in 2002.

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