NOTES ON PEOPLE (12/16/01)

NOTES ON PEOPLE

Warren activist honored by Bonior

WARREN, Mich. - U.S. Rep. David Bonior, the House Democratic Whip from Michigan, paid tribute recently to Steve Wichar, the longest serving president of the Ukrainian Village Corp. senior citizen residences, and a veteran leader in Ukrainian community organizations.

The Wingate Management Corp. in Michigan and the Warren City Council honored Mr. Wichar last month during a banquet at which Rep. Bonior honored him. Mr. Wichar has been a long-time Ukrainian community leader, raising tens of thousands of dollars for aid to children suffering in the aftermath of the Chornobyl nuclear diasaster and successfully lobbying the Congress for aid to Ukraine.

Mr. Wichar also has worked to improve safety in the Detroit Public Schools and helped pre-naturalized students overcome the challenges they face in acclimating to the public classrooms.

Mr. Wichar has also worked with Rep. Bonior to give the Ukrainian American Veterans a national charter. The charter would allow the UAV a seat at the table in many communities - like Yonkers, N.Y. - where they are currently shut out of planning for veterans' activities because they lack national recognition.

Mr. Wichar's work on international issues involving Ukraine has been important, Rep. Bonior said. The congressman, backed by Mr. Wichar, co-sponsored a bill last week that calls for the expansion of NATO to Ukraine and other Eastern European countries.

"Steve has kept an unwavering focus on human rights," Rep. Bonior said. "There is a lot of work to do, but step-by-step, with leaders like Steve keeping the pressure on, we are bringing Ukraine into the international community where it belongs."

The UAV serves veterans of Ukrainian heritage by providing assistance in paying medical bills and offering educational scholarships to Ukrainian students.

In March Rep. Bonior again introduced legislation that will grant the UAV a charter. The bill currently has 60 bi-partisan co-sponsors in the House and is being pushed heavily by Rep. Bonior, a Vietnam War-era Air Force veteran of Ukrainian descent. Mr. Wichar served in World War II. Both are UAV members.

"Working together, we'll keep fighting to secure the charter," Rep. Bonior said. "Our veterans should be given the respect and honor they deserve."

Magazine focuses on Ohio educator

BRECKSVILLE, Ohio - Revere Middle School English teacher, Pete Kramarczuk of Brecksville, Ohio, spent his five-week summer vacation teaching Ukrainian students conversational English in Ternopil.

Mr. Kramarczuk was quoted by The Richfield Times Magazine in its October issue as saying: that "Most of them [his Ukrainian students] have already learned English in the classroom. But they seldom have an occasion to use it - so speaking English is quite difficult for them."

Mr. Kramarczuk took part in the Ukrainian National Associations' Teachers of English for Ukraine program which brings educators to Ukraine. Mr. Kramarczuk, of Ukrainian descent, speaks only what he calls "survival Ukrainian," but pointed out that "it made for a very interesting challenge," he said.

Mr. Kramarczuk taught mostly middle school and high school level students, but said that there were also professionals such as doctors and other English teachers involved in the program. He also noted that the students seemed very curious with the native American culture saying that "They seemed to have quite an affinity with them as oppressed people who had lost their land."

Mr. Kramarczuk says he will return to Ukraine next summer, but also says that his return trip will most likely be as a tourist or a visitor rather than a teacher.

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