UCCA executive board meeting focuses on revitalizing community (02/17/02)

UCCA executive board meeting focuses on revitalizing community

by Tamara Gallo
Ukrainian Congress Committee of America

NEW YORK - At its first meeting of 2002, the executive board of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) discussed the revitalization of the Ukrainian American community and the upcoming parliamentary elections in Ukraine.

After the previous meeting's minutes were read by Executive Secretary Marie Duplak, a moment of silence was offered for longtime UCCA and community activists who recently passed away: Laryssa Szonyj, member of the UCCA's Educational Council; Oleksiy Kalynyk, representative of the Ukrainian Liberation Union (SVU); Vasyl Omelchenko, one of the founders of the Ukrainian Youth Association (SUM) in the United States; and Zenon Snylyk, longtime editor of The Ukrainian Weekly and Svoboda.

In addressing the Ukrainian American community's future activities in the 21st century, UCCA President Michael Sawkiw, Jr. stated that the years 2002-2003 mark the 125th anniversary of Ukrainians, first mass emigration to the United States. Following four distinct waves of emigration to the United States, the Ukrainian American community is faced with revitalizing its heritage and continuing its activities in the 21st century.

The executive board was in agreement that both the descendants of the post-World War II generation born in the United States and the newest immigrants are crucial to the future of the Ukrainian American community. Therefore, a motion proposed by Andrij Szul to create a Heritage Subcommittee of the Organizational Committee, was passed by the UCCA Executive Board. The subcommittee's goal is to devise programs aimed at re-invigorating the Ukrainian community in the United States.

Additionally, an action plan was presented by the UCCA's Fourth Wave Committee to create a Community Information Center for new immigrants, which would be located on the first floor of the UCCA's building in Manhattan. The center is designed to provide valuable resources and information for the newest Ukrainian arrivals to the United States, such as computer training, ESL courses, (English as a Second Language), courses for citizenship, and legal and medical advice, as well as a job and apartment databank.

The unique feature of the proposed Community Information Center is that the newest immigrants primarily will staff it on a volunteer basis in the evening hours, as well as during the weekends. The detailed plan for the Community Information Center, which was supported by the executive board, is to be used as an example for all UCCA branches to incorporate in their respective communities.

In final preparations for the March parliamentary elections in Ukraine, a discussion was held regarding the UCCA's role as a non-governmental organization (NGO). The UCCA applied to various foundations and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for funding to support its pre-election civic information campaign aimed at educating Ukraine's electorate and monitoring the election process.

To assist in this endeavor, the UCCA opened a permanent office in Kyiv to coordinate activities of the project. Following the elections, the office will serve as the UCCA's voice in Kyiv. Furthermore, the UCCA has issued two appeals to the Ukrainian American community to serve as international election observers, as well as to contribute to the Elections Fund 2002, proceeds of which will benefit the UCCA's civic education and monitoring projects in Ukraine.

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