TWG names two honorary members: Myroslava Gongadze and Bohdan Budzan (10/14/01)

TWG names two honorary members: Myroslava Gongadze and Bohdan Budzan

by Michael Drabyk

WASHINGTON - The Washington Group has named two new honorary members: Myroslava Gongadze, widow of the late journalist Heorhii Gongadze, and Dr. Bohdan Budzan, director of the International Management Institute in Kyiv.

Mr. Gongadze's death is the focus of a controversy involving the Ukrainian government, including President Leonid Kuchma.

Dr. Budzan is director general of IMI-Kyiv, an international business school in Ukraine's capital.

TWG took the action during its annual meeting held June 3 in Washington. Members also elected a slate of candidates, most of whom were current officers seeking re-election, and heard various reports indicating among other things, that The Washington Group's treasury now stands at more than $50,000.

President's report

In the first of officers' reports at the meeting TWG President Ihor Kotlarchuk described activities of The Washington Group since the previous TWG annual meeting in May 2000.

These included the traditional TWG Leadership Conference held on October 6-8, 2000, with the theme "Ukraine: Integrating into the Global Community." President Kotlarchuk called the conference intellectually stimulating, socially enjoyable and a financial success. He also indicated the TWG financial situation is very solid, with assets at a historic high of more than $50,000. He also indicated that the TWG Cultural Fund, TWG Business Forum and TWG Fellowship Fund were all very busy during the year as well.

President Kotlarchuk also went to say the next TWG Leadership Conference would be held October 19-21 at the Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington, Va. A conference planning committee had been formed, he said, and he invited additional assistance from TWG members.

Officers' reports

TWG Treasurer Roman Stelmach reported that assets at the time of the annual meeting were in excess of $50,000. TWG's net income for the year 2000, including interest, was reported at close to $11,000.

Membership Director Juliana Kinal Ballard reported that TWG membership stands at 449, the highest level ever. The membership breakdown is as follows: full memberships, 226; associate, 175; student, 38; and honorary, 10. While membership was up in most categories, Ms. Ballard indicated that membership had fallen in two categories: student (from 58 to 38) and corporate.

The overall growth in membership was attributed in part to two factors: the annual Leadership Conference in October, as well as publication of the next TWG Directory.

The TWG Cultural Fund reported it was involved in sponsoring an unprecedented nine events since the last annual meeting. These included a standing-room-only "Opera Night at the Embassy," as well as a lecture at the U.S. Library of Congress about the long-lost Bach scores found in Kyiv. The TWG Cultural Fund also reported receiving $7,000 in donations during the year 2000.

The TWG Fellowship Fund reported the current fund balance to be $4,233.06. It was also indicated that this year's intern at the Ukrainian Embassy would be Maria Sonevytsky, a Slavic studies and music double major at Barnard College of Columbia University in New York City.

Election of new officers

The following slate of candidates was presented by George Masiuk: Mr. Kotlarchuk, president; Anya Silecky Piazza, vice-president; Volodymyr Yakymets, secretary; Mr. Stelmach, treasurer; Adrian Pidlusky, membership director; Andy C. Szul, public relations; Laryssa Lapychak Courtney, TWG Cultural Fund; Adrian Karmazyn, TWG Fellowship Fund, Andrew Bihun, Business Development Forum; Olena Gaponenko, events; Oles Berezhny, special projects; Mr. Deychakiwsky, immediate past president.

Proposed as members-at-large were: Nick Babiak, Arthur Belendiuk, Yaro Bihun, Steve Boyduy, Michael Drabyk, Oleg Jerschkowsky, Tatyana Kramska, Maria Kulczycky, Mr. Masiuk, Jurij Mojsiak, Natalie Sluzar, Tanya Stasiuk and Marta Zielyk. Andrew Charchalis, Michael Kowalysko, and Ihor Procinsky were nominated for the Auditing Committee.

The vote in favor of the proposed slate was unanimous.

TWG Immediate Past President Orest Deychakiwsky nominated Myroslava Gongadze, widow of the late journalist Heorhii Gongadze, for honorary membership in TWG. Ihor Kotlarchuk then nominated Dr. Bohdan Budzan, director general of the IMI-Kyiv. Both honorary memberships were approved by majority vote.

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