UCCA conclave unanimously elects Michael Sawkiw Jr. as president (10/22/00)

UCCA conclave unanimously elects Michael Sawkiw Jr. as president

Ukrainian National Information Service

WASHINGTON - The XVIII Congress of Ukrainians in America, the quadrennial convention of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) was held on October 13-15 at the Marriott O'Hare Hotel in Chicago.

Outgoing UCCA President Askold Lozynskyj convened the congress by greeting the delegates who represented UCCA branches in the United States.

The congress delegates nominated and unanimously elected Michael Sawkiw Jr. as the UCCA's president for the next four years.

The three-day congress appointed various congressional commitees to examine critical aspects of Ukrainian community life: aid to Ukraine; student and youth groups; veterans' affairs; public relations; educational concerns; financial considerations; and organizational status of the community. Reports by the outgoing members of the Executive Board and National Council were also given.

Saturday was devoted to various panel discussions about relevant aspects of the community's life in America. In the evening, a formal congressional banquet was held at which the Shevchenko Freedom Award was given to Natalka Shukhevych. wife of Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) Gen. Roman Shukhevych; Atena Pashko, wife of former Rukh leader Vyacheslav Chornovil; and nine members of the Ukrainian American community.

Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) delivered brief remarks at the banquet and spoke of the unrelenting dedication of the peoples of the former Soviet Union to regain their independence.

Other guests of honor included Ivan Sakhan, Ukraine's minister of labor. The minister spoke of the need to reform Ukraine's social problems, including the payment of pensions, provision of social security benefits for its citizens, etc.

Kostyantyn Gryshchenko, Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, also addressed the gathering and thanked the UCCA for its dedication and hard work throughout the years.

Viktor Pedenko, general secretary of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC), greeted the delegates and guests at the banquet. Greetings were relayed from nearly 125 other organizations.

On Sunday morning the newly elected UCCA president, Mr. Sawkiw, addressed the conclave. Noting the 60-year history of the UCCA, he called upon all the delegates, as well as the rest of the community, to work together for the betterment of organized Ukrainian American community life. The congress was officially adjourned by the new president and concluded with the singing of the Ukrainian national anthem.

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