EDITORIAL: A different model (12/09/01)

EDITORIAL

A different model

Recently we had an opportunity to attend a different kind of organizational meeting. It was not a convention, not an annual meeting, not even a conference, really. The event was a "strategy caucus" of chapters of the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund. (See story on page 19.) The editors of both UNA publications, Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly, were invited to attend and share some insights. This we willingly did as the event was held right here in our neighborhood (those of you familiar with Northern New Jersey can appreciate what we mean when we describe Route 10 as our neighborhood - of course, it all depends on how far east or west you have to go, and how many u-turns are involved ...) Anyway, this time our travel was eastward to the local Ramada Hotel (yes, the one run by Ukrainian American community activist Orest Fedash that everyone in these parts calls the "Hromada Hotel").

But, back to the caucus ... It was an informal affair, a gathering of a small but highly dedicated group of activists, mostly from the Northeast, although Chicago was represented. Besides reviewing past accomplishments (something that usually gets the most cursory of reviews at various conventions and conferences), the chapter representatives had time to dwell on their activities, to focus on what they did and how they did it and why they did it - and why it was successful or not. The experiences were shared by all - and so, too, the learning that came from them.

These chapter delegates and representatives of the CCRF national office actually learned from each other. There was no preaching from on high about how things should be done; or, conversely, no complaints from the grassroots about what the leadership had not done, or not done right. Wow! It was actually a concrete manifestation of the belief that "we're all in this together," working toward a common goal. The brainstorming that followed the presentations and reports was effective and infectious.

It was also a "feel good" event. And what's wrong with a meeting being a "feel good" event? There simply aren't enough of those in our community! Perhaps the caucus was an uplifting affair because it started with a sort of "look what we've done" theme and the Rev. Bohdan Lukie's inspiring invocation/pep talk that pointed to "moments of unappreciation" which the group experienced but overcame with the knowledge that "the cause is greater, and the cause is right."

Perhaps it was Dr. Zenon Matkiwsky's straightforward thank you: "Thank you for your commitment to the children of Ukraine." Simple, eloquent, effective. Or maybe it was Alexander Kuzma's calculation of "how do we measure success?" The answer: leverage, meaning that CCRF on average gets $12 worth out of every dollar donated (in 2000 the ratio was even higher - 14:1). And then came his challenge to the audience. "Just think: how many more lives could be saved with each $100,000 more."

Sure, the nuts and bolts information provided by the guest speakers (like us editors) was useful, too. But, we gotta be honest: it was the atmosphere that carried the day.

Participants of the strategy caucus, including us observers, left with a feeling that something concrete was being accomplished, that the positive results of these activists' work could be seen and felt. They knew that lives were being changed for the better and that lives were being saved. And, most importantly, there was a strong feeling that much more could still be done - with good will, and hard work, and a team that is results-oriented.

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