Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund holds second annual strategy caucus (12/09/01)

Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund holds second annual strategy caucus

EAST HANOVER, N.J. - Over the weekend of November 10-11 the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund held its second annual strategy caucus for representatives of its grassroots chapters. Delegates from Boston, Chicago, Hartford, New Haven, New York City and several areas of New Jersey took part in the proceedings, along with guest speakers who addressed various issues affecting the CCRF's long-term mission.

CCRF co-founder Dr. Zenon Matkiwsky opened the proceedings by thanking all representatives for their hard work on behalf of the CCRF. He reviewed some of the specific accomplishments of the past year, and underscored the fund's primary concentration on the field of Neonatal Intensive Care. Dr. Matkiwsky especially cited the success of CCRF's Neonatology Program, which has helped reduce infant mortality in several partner hospitals such as Dnipropetrovsk, Lutsk, Poltava and Lviv.

He also outlined some of the fund's key priorities for fiscal year 2002, including the completion of the Viktor Petrenko Neonatal Unit in Odesa and the delivery of ambulances and other critical supplies to Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv, Kyiv, Poltava and Yavoriv.

Following Dr. Matkiwsky's introductory remarks, the Rev. Bohdan Lukie of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Newark, N.J. opened the proceedings with a prayer and praised the CCRF volunteers and staff for their dedication to the health and well-being of Ukraine's children.

Executive Director Alexander Kuzma expressed his gratitude to the chapter delegates who work "on the front lines" of CCRF's campaigns. Mr. Kuzma had just returned from Ukraine where he toured CCRF partner hospitals and saw first-hand the impact of CCRF programs. "I met with youngsters who have survived leukemia and Hodgkins disease and who are now attending college thanks to medication and technology delivered by the CCRF. These children would not be alive today if it were not for the generosity of your efforts at the grassroots level," he underscored.

The strategy caucus provided chapter representatives with an opportunity to share a variety of local successes. Among the most noteworthy were the "Viktory for Kids" gala fund-raiser in Simsbury, Conn. initiated by Ukraine's Olympic and world champion Viktor Petrenko. The Greater Hartford Chapter, working with CCRF volunteers and corporate sponsors from across Connecticut helped Mr. Petrenko stage two sold-out performances featuring an array of international skating stars, including Brian Boitano, Sasha Cohen, Philippe Candeloro, Oksana Kazakova and Artur Dmitriev.

Several chapters shared their experiences in organizing last summer's Great Lakes Expedition for the Ukrainian tall ship Batkivschyna. The Buffalo Chapter provided a videotape of local television news coverage of the Fourth of July Friendship Festival. Other chapters presented the results of benefit concerts, receptions, dinner-dances and local campaigns that yielded tens of thousands of dollars for the CCRF's overseas medical programs.

The morning panel discussion featured special presentations on corporate and community outreach, press relations and a proposal to upgrade the technical capabilities of CCRF partner hospitals with new computer equipment, medical software and hand-held information systems.

One of the most inspiring presentations was delivered by Paul Speaker, special assistant to actor Robert Redford and former marketing director for the National Football League during the "Feel the Power" campaign. Mr. Speaker encouraged CCRF chapters to look beyond their "area of dominant influence" - the Ukrainian American community - and to recognize the potential for expanding its programs and reaching out not only to the corporate sector but to many more diverse constituencies. "I'm pretty impressed with you guys," said Mr. Speaker. "You're doing an incredible job in Ukraine, and now it's time to tell your story to a much broader audience."

The strategy caucus was also addressed by Irene Jarosewich, editor-in-chief of Svoboda, who spoke about outreach to the changing Ukrainian American community; Roma Hadzewycz, editor-in-chief of The Ukrainian Weekly, whose topic was relations with the news media; and John Durbak, who covered possible solutions to updgrading the information systems of hospitals in Ukraine.

Small group discussions extended well into Saturday evening and continued over breakfast and brunch on Sunday. The CCRF National Office provided each chapter with new posters and informational packets to share with local supporters, corporate sponsors and news reporters. Several chapters are already planning major fund-raisers for next spring to build on this year's successes.

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