2000: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

The UNA: gearing up for the new millennium

Our publisher, the Ukrainian National Association, set the tone for the year, and the new millennium, with "Greetings to UNA members and readers of its publications," published in the January 9 issue of this newspaper. UNA President Ulana Diachuk looked to the years ahead in the 21st century and noted: "...we firmly believe that the places of our longtime activists will be assumed by the younger generations born on this continent, and that activists of the new immigration from Ukraine also will become engaged and will serve our organization and the entire Ukrainian community as faithfully as their predecessors did - although, of course, their modes of operation will be new and more modern. ...We firmly believe that the UNA, resolutely entering the new century will faithfully abide by the ideals established by its founders and continued by countless activists of succeeding generations."

Ms. Diachuk reaffirmed those ideals by citing the UNA's Mission Statement: "to promote the principles of fraternalism, to preserve the Ukrainian, Ukrainian American and Ukrainian Canadian heritage and culture; to provide quality financial services and products to its members; and to reinvest its earnings for the benefit of its members and the Ukrainian community."

The Weekly's editorial on the occasion of the UNA's 106th anniversary, observed on February 22, noted the UNA's many roles during over a century of activity. It also pointed out that during the period of 1902-1999, UNA donations and sponsorship amounted to more than $7 million and the beneficiaries of that support ranged from Ukrainian schools in the United States, teachers in Canada, churches, museums, publications, community organizations, youth groups, scholarly societies, veterans, performing ensembles, not to mention such great national causes as the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee, the Shevchenko monument in Washington, the Ukrainian Studies Fund, the World Congress of Free Ukrainians and the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine.

The editorial also noted the UNA's role as a leader of community life and publisher of its two foremost newspapers, Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly, and owner of the beloved Soyuzivka resort. "The UNA is an organization with a proud history and a promising future that is worth supporting with your membership," we urged our readers.

At the beginning of the year 2000, UNA National Secretary Martha Lysko announced new lower premiums on most insurance plans - a savings of between 20 and 40 percent - and noted that preferred rates were now available for non-smokers. As well, the UNA extended most insurance plans to persons up to age 90, and announced new annuity plans for members contemplating how to provide for their own retirement.

Later in the year, in June, the UNA unveiled its Additional Insurance Program, which enabled members to add on between $1,000 and $5,000 to their current life insurance coverage, thus providing an easy way for members whose needs have changed to upgrade their coverage.

In April UNA Treasurer Stefan Kaczaraj penned an article about the UNA's 1999 actuarial report, which is a review of the entire operation of the company and an assessment of its profitability, strengths and weaknesses. The results for the UNA as reported by Bruce & Bruce Co., Consulting Actuaries, were good: "As an overview, 1999 was a year of major restructuring: fraternal benefits drastically changed (necessarily); the new computer system was implemented: the products to members were made more competitive with the introduction of a new ratebook; the complete portfolio was refilled in New Jersey in satisfaction of their new law; new reserve factors were installed; and the triennial examination by New Jersey was completed. Any one of these projects represents a major undertaking. The fact that all were absorbed in one year is a great tribute to the industry and abilities of the officers."

Furthermore, the UNA's solvency ratio was reported to be $113.95 - a very high solvency ratio compared to the $105 held by most commercial companies. The actuary concluded that the UNA's insurance business is healthy and doing well, although the volume of insurance and annuity sales should be increased. In addition the consultants noted: the UNA's investment portfolio continues to be of the highest quality; expenses were reduced significantly, but further reductions must be taken in 2000; and fraternal benefits were cut and must be maintained at manageable levels.

Another major topic on the UNA agenda for Y2K was the UNA By-Laws. The Ukrainian Weekly issue of October 8 carried a special supplement with proposed changes to the By-Laws, prepared by the UNA By-Laws Committee headed by UNA Advisor Taras Szmagala Jr., in accordance with a resolution of the 1998 UNA Convention.

The process of preparing the changes had started after the convention. The General Assembly at its December 1999 annual meeting discussed the first draft of the proposal. The By-Laws Committee met on May 10 to finalize the draft and the published proposal was the result of that work. Before the final version of the changes was approved, the UNA asked for input from the UNA members, who were asked to carefully read the published proposed changes, familiarize themselves with the issues, discuss them in their branches and at district committee meetings and write their viewpoints, questions and comments for publication in Svoboda and/or The Ukrainian Weekly. Unfortunately, however, those comments were few and far between.

The General Assembly reviewed the proposed By-Laws at its annual meeting on December 1-3 of this year. All delegates to the previous convention - who will be voting on amending the UNA By-Laws via mail ballot - are to receive all the proposals by the end of January. Afterwards, the proposed amendments are to be discussed at the spring meetings of UNA district committees. Voting by mail will take place after the round of spring meetings. In order for the changes to go into effect at the next convention in May 2002, a two-thirds "yes" vote is necessary.

During their three-day meeting at Soyuzivka, members of the General Assembly, the UNA's highest decision-making body between the organization's quadrennial conventions, adopted a budget for 2001 that foresees $6,031,000 in income and disbursements of $5,985,700.

The UNA's executive officers, advisors, auditors and honorary members of the General Assembly also heard and discussed reports on the UNA's business operations and fraternal activities for the past year, taking a particularly close look at the state of Soyuzivka, located in the Catskills of upstate New York.

After holding a special evening meeting on Friday, the Standing Committee on Soyuzivka reported back to the entire assembly. The report acknowledged that Soyuzivka is a necessary and important resource for the Ukrainian community, and that the Ukrainian National Association should continue to maintain an active role in the resort. However, the committee also said it recognizes that Soyuzivka cannot continue to operate with the serious deficits it has been incurring, and, as a result, sees the need to raise capital outside of the significant annual subsidy provided by the UNA.

During their meeting General Assembly members also recalled dedicated UNA'ers who had passed away during the year since the body last met - among them former UNA Treasurer Alexander G. Blahitka, who had died just two days before the annual meeting convened, and longtime UNA Advisor Andrew Jula, who served a record 10 consecutive terms on the General Assembly.

The UNA's three full-time executive officers presented highlights of their reports before the entire assembly. Treasurer Kaczaraj noted that his report for the first nine months of 2000 showed an increase in the UNA surplus for the first time in more than a decade; that increase amounted to $300,000. In comparison, during the past 11 years, the surplus had declined by $20 million. Mr. Kaczaraj also noted that the UNA's two newspapers had demonstrated a major improvement in their financial situation as compared to previous years. He reported a combined deficit for Svoboda and The Weekly of $138,000 for the first nine months of 2000.

National Secretary Lysko focused her remarks on the institution of direct billing for all UNA branches as of January 1, 2001, explaining the reasons for this change. She added that now that branch secretaries will no longer be involved with collecting dues they can concentrate their efforts on enrolling members. Mrs. Lysko also reported that UNA membership stands at 53,243 - more than 49,000 of that number in the United States and the rest in Canada.

President Diachuk underlined that the financial results from the UNA's publications are much better and that the editors and administration of both papers were doing everything possible to raise funds. She noted as an example the release of "The Ukrainian Weekly 2000," which brought in a significant amount from sales and donations to The Ukrainian Weekly Press Fund. She also reported that the UNA is now working on an address list of its members so that both newspapers could solicit subscriptions.

Mrs. Diachuk also introduced the new editor-in-chief of Svoboda, Irene Jarosewich, formerly of The Weekly editorial staff, who had been appointed less than a month before the General Assembly meeting. Ms. Jarosewich is the first American-born editor of Svoboda.

At the conclusion of the meeting Roma Hadzewycz, editor-in-chief of The Ukrainian Weekly, who had served as a UNA advisor in 1990-1998, was elected to fill the remainder of the term of Advisor Walter Korchynsky, who had passed away in July 1999.

At the three Executive Committee meetings held during this year, UNA officers paid much attention to the organization's finances and those of its subsidiaries. At the March meeting, reports for the last quarter of 1999 were presented and approved by all present. The treasurer outlined income and expenditures for 1999. Revenue from insurance operations, life, universal life and annuities, was down by $574,000 due to slow sales of insurance during the last two quarters of 1999. Expenditures were decreased for office staff salaries, commissions and scholarships. Expenditures for insurance department fees were considerably higher due to the triennial examination required by the state of New Jersey, Y2K compliance requirements and filings of new products. Actuarial expenses were also increased due to compliance regulations and the updating of insurance products.

The year 1999 ended with a decrease in surplus of $1,099,783. The UNA had made strides in reducing the deficit in 1999, but it must try to cut it even further, Mr. Kaczaraj underscored.

At the second quarterly meeting held on September 9, UNA officers heard better financial news as Treasurer Kaczaraj reported an increase in surplus for the six-month period ending on June 30 was $344,449.

Mrs. Lysko reported that 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. Mrs. Diachuk reported that overall organizing results were dismal since the UNA does not have a professional sales force.

That meeting was devoted also to discussing a proposal to change the site of the 2002 UNA Convention, previously approved by the 1999 meeting of the UNA General Assembly, which had selected Chicago as the host city. There was a heated debate over the issue of the site, as President Diachuk outlined the reasons for the proposal to change the site of the UNA Convention from Chicago to Soyuzivka. Ultimately, in a 3-2 vote, a motion to uphold the previous decision of the UNA General Assembly passed.

The final execs' meeting of 2000 took place December 3 at Soyuzivka, following the annual meeting of the General Assembly. The executives took a look ahead to 2001, establishing an agenda for their own activity and noting the new life insurance application forms are expected to come into use as soon, and that additional space in the UNA's corporate headquarters building will soon be rented, resulting in significant additional income for the building subsidiary, that is, the Ukrainian National Urban Renewal Corp.

A major focus of attention was the Soyuzivka resort, with the General Assembly's Standing Committee on Soyuzivka planning to formulate a business plan for the resort and to explore other means to make Soyuzivka - which the UNA has been subsidizing to the tune of some $400,000 annually - financially independent or self-sufficient in the near future.

The UNA Auditing Committee held two audits during 2000. The auditors - William Pastuszek, chairman; Stefan Hawrysz, vice-chairman; Dr. Alexander Serafyn, secretary; and Myron Groch and Yaroslav Zaviysky, members - completed their annual audit (for 1999) of the fraternal organization's business operations at the UNA's Corporate Headquarters on May 4 and promptly issued its report to the UNA membership.

Among other things, the auditors said: "Through increased sales of life insurance and annuity policies and continued decrease of expenses, especially for fraternal activities, the growth of the UNA will be revived. The UNA has the financial capacity to support all its actions as long as corrective steps continue to be taken and the required time is allotted for them to take effect."

Another audit was conduced later in the year, on November 28-30 on the eve of the annual meeting of the General Assembly. Reviewing UNA operations for the first nine months of 2000, the Auditing Committee stated: "For the first nine months of 2000, the UNA's profit was $306,000, and the surplus grew by $305,000 to a total of $7,284,000. This is the first time in 11 years that the UNA surplus has increased (with the exception of 1997, when the surplus increased as a result of the sale of our headquarters building)."

The auditors also focused on Soyuzivka: "The Executive Committee is constantly searching for new ways to increase Soyuzivka's income because all realistic possibilities to further decrease expenses have been exhausted. With this in mind, the Executive Committee obtained three proposals from consultants concerning the expansion of the season. It hired one of these firms, Dayman, Lune & Goldsbury, P.C. This firm reviewed the business activity of Soyuzivka and presented its proposals on September 18. These proposals will be the subject of discussion during the General Assembly meeting at the beginning of December of this year. It must be concluded that without a drastic increase in income and additional capital improvements Soyuzivka will remain deficit-producing and will have a negative influence on the future of the UNA."

When a coal mine disaster near Krasnodon, Luhansk Oblast in Ukraine, took the lives of 81 miners on March 11, the UNA extended its fraternal hand to their families. The UNA and its members donated $9,405 through the Ukrainian National Foundation and that aid was delivered on September 29 by representatives of the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee and the UNA (in the person of The Ukrainian Weekly Editor Roman Woronowycz of the Kyiv Press Bureau.)

The Ukrainian National Foundation - which was established to work in educational, cultural and charitable fields of endeavor - this year in October reported on its multi-faceted work, which includes support for the English Teachers for Ukraine Project, the Summer Institute on Current Methods and Practices in TESOL geared toward teaching teachers of English, as well as support for the Ostroh Academy, the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, the Vasyl Stefanyk Library in Lviv, educational activities at Soyuzivka and educational pages in the UNA's two official publications.

With the help of volunteers, Dr. Ivan Pelech, Volodymyr Dzingala and Ihor Zayets, the Ukrainian National Association sorted, packed and shipped English books to various libraries and schools in Ukraine. Some of these books were donated to the UNA and others were in the Svoboda bookstore. A thank-you letter from one of the institutions that benefited from the shipment, the English Teachers' Resource Center in Volyn Oblast, was published in The Weekly on June 25.

Last year, when the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee turned to the Ukrainian National Association for assistance in preparing humanitarian aid shipments for Ukraine, the UNA's Northern New Jersey District, headed by District Chairman Eugene Oscislawski, sprang into action. Beginning in September 1999, the district collected clothing and footwear to help the needy. What is noteworthy is that nearly all of the district's branches contributed to the collection. The UNA added books, both Ukrainian- and English-language publications, from its now-defunct bookstore, to the shipment. On June 30, the UNA sent off a filled container to Ukraine. The shipment was designated for the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Literature, whose director is Dr. Mykola Zhulynskyi. From there the books were be distributed to libraries, while the clothing and footwear were given to parishes.

The UNA this year again remembered to pay tribute to both mothers and fathers. In May the UNA's two newspapers, Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly, published 254 greetings - art work and written messages - from children to their mothers. The project was spearheaded by Oksana Trytjak, the UNA's special projects coordinator. In June, the UNA resort Soyuzivka hosted the 16th annual Fathers' Day celebration, planned by Andre Worobec, fraternal activities coordinator. The day began with a liturgy at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church an continued with a concert in the Veselka auditorium featuring the Iskra Ukrainian Dance Ensemble from Whippany, N.J., the SUM girls' choir Prolisok, and the bandurist-vocalist duo Lisova Pisnia.

The UNA's Scholarship Program was highlighted in a special insert dedicated to the 1999-2000 scholarship recipients published in our June 25 issue. Later, in our September 3 issue we announced the UNA's latest allocation of $25,000 in scholarships to 141 college students throughout the United States and Canada. The 2000-2001 awards were determined by the UNA Scholarship Committee, consisting of Treasurer Stefan Kaczaraj, Auditor Yaroslav Zaviysky and Advisor Vasyl Luchkiv. The committee awarded $100 to each of 51 incoming freshmen, $125 to each of 26 sophomores, $150 to each of 30 juniors and $175 to each of 24 seniors, plus 10 special scholarships awarded in larger amounts to exceptional students.

The 2000-2001 UNA scholarships add to the more than $1.77 million awarded by the UNA since 1946, continuing its tradition of supporting the education and development of today's Ukrainian American and Ukrainian Canadian youth.

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. The organization's president, Anna Chopek, who is also an honorary member of the UNA General Assembly, noted: "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."

The annual conference also made several other donations to worthy causes, heard reports about legal matters affecting seniors and about current events in Ukraine, attended a banquet whose keynote speaker was the Rev. Bohdan Lukie, CSsR, pastor of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Parish in Newark, N.J., and re-elected Ms. Chopek as president of the UNA Seniors.

Speaking of seniors, the year 2000 was especially significant for Stephen Kuropas, former UNA supreme vice-president and current honorary member of the UNA General Assembly, who this year celebrated his 100th birthday. On the occasion of his centennial he was feted on October 1 at a luncheon at the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Chicago following a liturgy at St. Nicholas Cathedral. Mr. Kuropas is the patriarch of a UNA family that includes two other UNA VPs, Myron B. Kuropas and the current first vice-president, Stefko Kuropas.

Back at Soyuzivka, there was activity all summer long, with the usual complement of camps for kids of all ages, sports activities, entertainment programs, exhibits and plenty of dancing, indoors and out.

On Saturday, August 12, Miss Soyuzivka for 2001 was selected: Michelle Poliwka of Chicago. She attended Catholic University in Washington on a scholarship, but has now opted to continue her studies in economics at McGill University in Montreal. She is an active member of Plast and the Hromovytsia Dance Group and was vacationing at Soyuzivka when prompted by family and friends to run for the Miss Soyuzivka title.

The Soyuzivka season's culmination, as always, was over the Labor Day weekend holiday. Friends and families all flocked to the UNA estate for what is traditionally considered the last weekend of summer and last big party before it's time for students to once again hit the books. Close to 5,000 people came through the gates of Soyuzivka between Friday and Monday of the holiday weekend. The first Labor Day weekend of the new millennium proved, yet again, that Soyuzivka continues to be a treasured asset of the Ukrainian community in North America.

Income from the UNA's annual Christmas card project this year was earmarked for Soyuzivka. The new series of 14 cards include works by Jaroslav Adamovych, Lviv, Ukraine; Bohdan Borzemsky, Teaneck, N.J.; Marta Cisyk, Lviv; Natalia Josypchuk, Kosiv, Ukraine; Andriy Khomyk, Stamford, Conn.; Moki Kokoris, North Salem, N.Y.; George Kozak, Clarkston, Mich.; Luba Maksymchuk, Kyiv; Leo Mol, Winnipeg; Myron Ryzhula, Lviv, Lydia C. Palij, Toronto; Aka Pereyma, Troy, Ohio; Youlia Tkatchouk, Chicago; and Irene Twerdochlib, Rochester, N.Y. - all of whom contributed their work.

The UNA and its publications promoted Soyuzivka via editorials - underlining that truly, "There is no place like Soyuzivka " - special features and coverage of the diverse events that took place at the resort.

Our editorial of June 4 noted:

"Today Soyuzivka is not self-supporting. As a result, the UNA General Assembly decided at its 1999 annual meeting to support and to seek funding for Soyuzivka's continued development. But the real solution is no mystery: Soyuzivka needs more guests. Without guests, there is no need for this unique resort. Do we want to lose this beautiful center of our community life? And with it a huge portion of our community activities for Ukrainians of all ages? What would we do without Soyuzivka?

"Soyuzivka today remains a Ukrainian cultural center, located in close proximity to major Ukrainian communities. It showcases the best performers and spotlights the most interesting artists - both from the Western diaspora and Ukraine. It continues to host myriad camps, from day camps for preschoolers to tennis camps, as well Ukrainian folk dance workshops and seminars for teachers of schools of Ukrainian studies. It still is the venue of choice for weddings - there's just nothing like a Soyuzivka wedding! And, it accommodates conferences and events of all kinds, from intimate family gatherings to Plast's annual "Orlykiada" competition for youths, not to mention corporate functions of all kinds. We concluded by urging readers to "Come home to Soyuzivka."

It seems that the year 2001 may be a make-or-break year for Soyuzivka. Many in our community share the hope that the Standing Committee on Soyuzivka will be able to accomplish what it has set out to do: to set in motion preparations for an extensive renovation and capital campaign that will enable Soyuzivka to serve future generations.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, January 7, 2001, No. 1, Vol. LXIX

| Home Page |