UCCA board holds year-end meeting (12/30/01)

UCCA board holds year-end meeting

by Tamara Gallo
Ukrainian Congress Committee of America

NEW YORK - The final meeting of the executive board of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) for the year 2001 was held at its headquarters on Saturday, December 15.

Topics of discussion for the meeting, chaired by UCCA President Michael Sawkiw Jr., included the UCCA's Ukrainian election project proposal; the opening of a permanent UCCA office in Kyiv; external affairs of the Ukrainian American community; and anniversary dates to be commemorated in 2002.

A short description regarding the UCCA elections project was given by Mr. Sawkiw, Tamara Gallo, chairperson of the UCCA's Grants Commission, and Orest Baranyk, chairman of the UCCA's External Affairs Commission. The project has already been submitted to U.S. government agencies and private foundations.

Additionally, Mr. Sawkiw presented both the start-up and monthly operating costs associated with opening a permanent UCCA bureau in Kyiv, after which a discussion ensued. Most UCCA executive board members agreed that a Kyiv office would be beneficial, while many were interested in its post-elections function. It was explained that the office's function would be similar to that of the Ukrainian National Information Service (UNIS) in Washington of monitoring and disseminating information. A motion to open on UCCA office in Kyiv was adopted.

The status of the external affairs of the UCCA and the Ukrainian American community was the next topic of discussion. Executive board members expressed their concern regarding the policies of the current Bush administration. It was recommended that the leadership of the UCCA follow-up by arranging meetings with high-level administration personnel to discuss the current rapprochement with Russia, which may possibly jeopoardize U.S.-Ukraine relations.

A similar request was made to arrange a meeting with State Department officials to discuss the seemingly discriminatory policies of the U.S. consular offices in Kyiv regarding tourist visas to the United States, as well as the need for an immigration office in that facility.

The executive board discussed various Ukrainian and community anniversary dates and agreed to mark the following dates in 2002: the 60th anniversary of the formation of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA); the 55th anniversary of the forced deportation of Ukrainians from their native lands in Poland (Akcja Wisla); the 35th anniversary of the founding of the Ukrainian World Congress, then known as the World Congress of Free Ukrainians, and the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Ukrainian National Information Service (UNIS), the UCCA's Washington bureau.

The UCCA president thanked those in attendance for their fruitful discussions and wished everyone a happy holiday season.

After the executive board meeting the UCCA national board held its quarterly meeting, which was followed by a traditional Christmas party for UCCA members, the Ukrainian diplomatic corps and members of Ukrainian American organizations.

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