THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM (12/23/01)

THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM

Five districts hold joint meeting at Soyuzivka

by Gloria P. Horbaty

KERHONKSON, N.Y. - A joint meeting of the Ukrainian National Association's district committees in Boston, Connecticut, Syracuse and Rochester, N.Y., and Woonsocket, R.I., was held at Soyuzivka on November 3. The meeting was opened by UNA President Ulana Diachuk, who introduced the district chairpersons and UNA officers present.

A moment of silence was held for those who lost their lives on September 11 and for recently deceased UNA members. There were 16 branch representatives, three guests and three national officers in attendance.

National Secretary Martha Lysko spoke about organizing achievements, reminding branch secretaries that delegates to the UNA convention are determined by the number of a branch's dues-paying members as of December 31.

Currently there are 27 districts with 238 branches. This year 326 new members were enrolled in the first three quarters of 2001. The increase in membership is lower than expected, but the face amounts of insurance are larger, Mrs. Lysko commented. Just over 26 percent of the annual quota was attained.

Mrs. Lysko suggested that secretaries review each member's insurance policies and analyze if it is sufficient for their family. Every branch should enroll at least two members before the year's end.

Dr. Ivan Hvozda, chairman of the Syracuse District Committee, commented that some secretaries feel that they are not needed now that direct billing has been instituted. Myron Kuzio of Branch 277 said he believes that since direct billing began in January members are dealing directly with the Home Office, especially in the case of matured endowments.

President Diachuk offered information on the convention, scheduled for May 24-28, 2002 (Memorial Day Weekend), in Chicago. Mrs. Lysko added that if the branch secretary is unable to attend the convention, then the alternate should be someone who is involved in the branch, is interested in the UNA, and is active in his/her community. Delegates are required to remain for the entire convention. Branch meetings at which delegates and alternates are elected must be held by the middle of March.

UNA Treasurer Stefan Kaczaraj presented a financial report, which he explained in detail. The UNA Corporate Headquarters building is almost fully rented; in 2002 the rental is expected to show a profit of $350,000-$400,000. The 2001 profit is anticipated to be $40,000 after payment of commission to the real estate broker. The UNA surplus increased by $1,024,704.

Soyuzivka continues to post large deficits (over $450,000), while the UNA's newspapers have decreased their deficits significantly to a "manageable level."

Mrs. Diachuk also spoke about proposed changes to the UNA By-Laws that would provide for 14 officers instead of 25: four executives - president, vice-president, treasurer and secretary; three auditors; and seven advisors. She pointed out that Canada currently has four representatives on the General Assembly although it accounts for only 6 percent of the UNA membership.

Gloria Horbaty of Branch 414 said she would like to see candidates declare their candidacy early enough so delegates have time to judge the candidates, and that candidates should state their backgrounds, their education and skills, and what they have done or will do for the organization. This information should be announced in the UNA's official publications.

The future of the UNA in Canada also was a topic of discussion. The value of the Canadian dollar is down once again, and the UNA has only 3,200 members - a large percent of them not dues-paying members. Furthermore, only 21 new members were enrolled in 2000. The Canadian Insurance Department wants to know where our society is going, Mrs. Diachuk stated, and the government is hard on us because they do not see how we can grow in Canada and they consider us a foreign company.

She explained that the UNA's options are to get out of the business or join another insurance company in Canada. Many American insurance companies are leaving Canada and selling their companies (for example John Hancock, Sons of Norway, Prudential and others, who are merging or selling). The UNA is looking at the possibility of converting existing Canadian policies to U.S. currency and keeping Canadian branches for fraternal activities only, the UNA president explained.

Turning to Soyuzivka, Mrs. Diachuk noted that the resort continues to operate with a deficit. Room occupancy is low, with primary use for meetings, UNA meetings and weddings. National advertising did not help remedy the situation. In addition, brochures were sent to all members.

The General Assembly's Standing Committee on Soyuzivka has come forward with several plans, one of which is to transfer Soyuzivka from the UNA into a non-profit corporation, which could raise funds for the resort. To be successful, Soyuzivka needs full occupancy of its 83 rooms on five plus days a week.

If an investment of $4.2 million could be made to upgrade the existing 83 units, Soyuzivka would need 60 percent occupancy with $1.8 million in revenue to support itself. That equates to 2,070 couples using the resort for one week per year at a room rate of $100 per day.

During the miscellaneous discussion portion of the meeting Walter Majkut began a discussion on new Ukrainian immigrants in America and how to improve relations with them and promote their membership in the UNA.

After the meeting was adjourned by President Diachuk all were invited to dinner in the Soyuzivka dining room.

Credit unions, individuals support The Weekly's "Copies for Congress"

PARSIPPANY, N.J. - Two credit unions thus far have responded to The Ukrainian Weekly's November 16 letter soliciting donations for its "Copies for Congress" project, which provides free subscriptions to all members of the U.S. Congress and thus tells "the Ukrainian story" - whether that story is about Ukraine or the Ukrainian American community.

The Weekly's editor-in-chief had written to the Ukrainian American community's strongest financial institutions, its credit unions, as well as leading Ukrainian community institutions and organizations to solicit donations for the "Copies for Congress" project, whose annual cost is approximately $30,000.

The first to respond was the board of directors of the Cleveland Selfreliance Federal Credit Union, whose home office is in Parma, with branches located in Lorain and Canton, Ohio. Along with a donation of $1,000, the credit union sent a letter signed by Bohdan Czepak, chairman of the board of directors, and Orest Liscynesky, manager-treasurer, who wrote: "We congratulate you upon the informative and quality contents of your newspaper and your endeavor to keep our legislators informed about history and events in Ukraine."

The SUMA (Yonkers) Federal Credit Union, based in Yonkers, N.Y., with branches in Spring Valley, N.Y., and Stamford, Conn., sent a donation of $500 toward The Weekly project. A letter of best wishes for success in the newspaper's work was signed by Lev Futala, chairman of the board, and Ihor Makarenko, treasurer/manager.

The Ukrainian Weekly hereby expresses sincere thanks for this very significant support of its work in keeping U.S. legislators informed.

Support for The Weekly's endeavors in this regard was expressed at the annual meeting of the Ukrainian National Association's General Assembly by Honorary Member Taras Szmagala Sr., who underlined that it is important to maintain these subscriptions for members of Congress. Mr. Szmagala suggested that individuals could sponsor subscriptions for their senators and representatives, and immediately declared that he will sponsor subscriptions for his senators and representative, in the hope that others would follow suit.

Soon thereafter Neonila Sochan, widow of Walter Sochan, longtime UNA supreme secretary and honorary member of the General Assembly, contributed $100 to the "Copies for Congress" fund.

During the year 2000 the "Copies for Congress" project received $7,250 in donations from Ukrainian American credit unions.

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