FACES AND PLACES: A new beginning for the UNA (06/09/02)

FACES AND PLACES

by Myron B. Kuropas

A new beginning for the UNA

As unlikely as it seemed a few weeks ago, the 35th UNA Convention in Chicago marked the beginning of a new era in the history of the Ukrainian National Association. Gradually, almost imperceptibly, the mood of the convention shifted from survival to revival, from competition to cooperation, from discord to harmony. Much of the credit belongs to the convention chairman, the kinder, gentler Nestor Olesnycky. His lighthearted direction was a mellowing influence.

Also helpful was the fact that most delegates were not interested in addressing problems or shortcomings. People who offered constructive criticism were often booed, while sycophants who voiced unsubstantiated praise were cheered. Past mistakes were simply ignored, swept under the table as it were.

More encouraging was the election of a new executive board headed by Stefan Kaczaraj. His most notable accomplishment as UNA treasurer was to arrest an 11-year, $20 million decline in surplus funds with a variety of cost-cutting measures. A certified public accountant and a member of such Ukrainian organizations as the Dumka Choir, Selfreliance (N.Y.) Federal Credit Union and The Ukrainian Museum, Mr. Kaczaraj's community credentials are solid.

Elected to replace Mr. Kaczaraj as treasurer is Roma Lisovich, a seasoned financial professional with broad experience in accounting and financial controls and operations. She has been active in both Plast and SUM, as well as the Ukrainian National Women's League of America.

Elected national secretary was Christine E. Kozak, a licensed insurance agent with a background in public relations. She has worked closely with Martha Lysko as the director of UNA insurance operations.

The top three UNA officers are all professionals with a proven record of accomplishment and expertise in the financial and insurance management arena.

The new executives have two enormous assignments to fulfill in the next four years: to increase UNA membership among the Fourth Wave of immigrants and to save Soyuzivka for future generations. These are monumental tasks. Success will require assistance from all of us, especially in the marketing arena, a sadly neglected domain within the UNA. They will also need to energize UNA Home Office staff and sales personnel with a management style that rewards excellence and elevates morale.

Our new executives bring no political baggage with them. If they revive the UNA fraternal base, reach out to all segments of our community, heal the divisions of the past and demonstrate a policy of inclusion, they can succeed mightily.

As pleased as I am with our new executive board, I am not as yet convinced that our auditors will be up to the task. Two of them have a record of going along to get along. Being popular with management is not part of an auditor's job description. In addition, there seems to have been a concerted effort to prevent Wasyl Szeremeta, M.D., M.B.A., from being elected as auditor. As an advisor during the previous four years, Dr. Szeremeta raised valid questions which were never answered in any meaningful way. We need controllers who are not rubber stamps, and I am disturbed that he was not included on the in-house slate. What is the message here?

I am also distressed by the decision of Taras Szmagala Jr. and Stefko Kuropas not to run for re-election. Both indicated their disillusionment (albeit for different reasons) with the UNA way, especially the apathy of branch secretaries, certain executives and delegates. The replacement of these two accomplished young men by older in-house types does not bode well for our future. We need to cultivate youth who still care about the UNA and have new ideas. Pushing out young talent sends a poor message.

In the end, the convention mood was upbeat, hopeful, even enthusiastic. Many delegates described the convention as the best they had ever attended. I'm proud to say that the Convention Committee provided a number of convention "firsts."

Chicago's Ukrainian-language newspaper, Chas i Podiia, dedicated its May issue to the UNA convention with articles featuring local UNA leaders, significant moments from UNA history, greetings from Presidents George W. Bush and Leonid Kuchma, as well as commentary on the significance of the UNA in the history of the Ukrainian American community. Edited by Anatoliy Ghorokhovsky, a member of the Fourth Wave of Ukrainian immigrants, the gazette is widely read by Ukraine's newest émigrés who pick it up free of charge at various stores in Chicago's Ukrainian Village. Every delegate received a copy.

The gala concert on Saturday evening, May 25, featured St. Nicholas kindergarten and primary grade Ridna Shkola singers, directed by Oksana Chytra and Oksana Chuyko; the teenage ODUM bandura ensemble directed by Motria Poshyvanyk; an extraordinary Fourth Wave chamber ensemble, directed by Zeonid Modtryzkyj; a folk ensemble featuring sopilka soloist Vasyl Skilskyj; world-class soloists Vasyl Matvyyiv, Myroslava Kuka and Olenka Novyk, accompanied by Oksana Kryshtalska; violin duets by Daria Horodysky and Vera Mucha-Hytra, accompanied by Dr. Kateryna Kishka; the Char-Zillya Bandurist Ensemble, directed by Iryna Turchyn; and the Surma Choir, directed by Serhiy Bondarenko.

The bus trip to the Ukrainian Village on Sunday morning featured a video describing this unique Chicago neighborhood. The divine liturgy at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral celebrated by Bishop Innocent Lotocky and the moleben with Archbishop Vsevolod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church which followed were convention firsts as was a reception for delegates hosted by the Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union. The city tour of beautiful Chicago that followed allowed delegates to relax and revive their spirits after two days of deliberations.

The presence of Rep. Marcy C. Kaptur at the gala banquet on Sunday evening was the first time since 1986 that an important U.S. official attended a UNA convention. Ukrainian World Congress President Askold Lozynskyj delivered a dynamic speech that was informative and inspiring.

Congratulations and best wishes to the new UNA General Assembly, especially Chicagoans Andrij Skyba, who was re-elected, and Michael V. Kuropas, who continues the Kuropas line on the General Assembly inaugurated by Stephen Kuropas in 1937. And very special thanks are due to the people who worked so hard to make Chicago a convention site that will be remembered by all participants.

Myron Kuropas' e-mail address is [email protected].

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