EDITORIAL: The UNA refocuses (12/10/00)

EDITORIAL

The UNA refocuses

The guest editorial below is the text of the opening address delivered by Ukrainian National Association President Ulana Diachuk at the annual meeting of the UNA General Assembly. (The text was translated by The Ukrainian Weekly from the original Ukrainian version.)

This meeting is being held at the beginning of the second half of our term of office. It should review all our work and plans for the previous two years and five months, as well as convention decisions.

Our Ukrainian community, of which the UNA is a part, now finds itself in a transitional phase. Longtime leaders are no longer active, and replacing them is difficult. Succeeding generations born on the American continent often find themselves moving to cities where there is no Ukrainian community and, as a result, they are becoming alienated from our community. Those young professionals who remain nearby a Ukrainian community for the most part do not take an active role in its work, with the exception of Saturday schools of Ukrainian studies if their children attend these schools. They explain that professional and family responsibilities take up all their time and that there is no time left over for community work. To be sure, the demands of work in today's times are much greater than they previously were and the work hours required are longer if one wants to retain a position or secure a promotion.

Independent Ukraine attracted many of the young people of our community - those who are the most idealistic and who were educated in our youth organizations. These are the very persons who could take over the leadership of our community. But their love for Ukraine, inculcated in them by their parents, Ukrainian schools and youth organizations, has led them to work in Ukraine. Their knowledge and experience brings them great satisfaction, and it brings Ukraine much benefit.

In light of the fact that there is only a small number of persons left to work for Ukrainian organizations, how can the UNA attract new generations to work within its branches and district committees? The answer to this important question is: only if UNA activists work within their local communities. If our branches and our districts are visible in the community, the community will respect them.

Contrary to various statistical data for the United States, volunteerism, good will and pro bono work benefiting the community remains popular, and many American organizations build their work on this foundation. Our Ukrainian community also benefits from the diverse work of thousands of volunteers. Proof of this can be seen each week in our two weekly newspapers, which publish reports and news stories about the work of many diverse organizations. Many of them are very successful and have long years of experience. They have the respect and support of our entire community, and without them our community would be much weaker and less active.

At one time our branches were leaders of community activity in their localities. Today they must reassume that position through their work and ingenuity, a new and modern approach, and through cooperation with other organizations. For some reason our key members gladly participate in the work of other Ukrainian charitable organizations, but do not consider that similar opportunities exist through the UNA. It is time to change this state of affairs. When we become visible in our communities our branches will gain new members, and each new successful activity will give birth to new activity.

There is very much work to be done in our community and for our community. The missing ingredient is the manpower to perform that work.

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