NEWS AND VIEWS: Conference on the 21st century woman to spotlight modern-day concerns, issues (02/09/03)

NEWS AND VIEWS

Conference on the 21st century woman to spotlight modern-day concerns, issues

by Marianna Zajac and Vera Staruch

It is not a secret that participation in our Ukrainian community organizations has been steadily declining. Membership in the Ukrainian National Women's League of America also has been diminishing. It is also a known fact that the average woman in Ukraine is lacking in moral support. Can some headway be made in attempting to solve each of these problems? UNWLA Branch 95 of Poughkeepsie/Kerhonkson, N.Y., is throwing itself into a grand effort to address both issues. By bringing together Ukrainian American women, both UNWLA members and non-members, this ambitious group is attempting to take proactive steps to create workable solutions.

One of the reasons that younger, professional women do not join the ranks of UNWLA is that the organization has an image of consisting of "more mature" women. "Mature" is entirely relative and does not necessarily connote age but rather a frame of mind. It is to dispel old misconceptions and provide an important reality check that Branch 95 is planning "The World of the 21st Century Woman" weekend conference to be held on April 4-6 at the UNA estate in Kerhonkson, N.Y. Relevant issues that affect the everyday life of today's woman, whatever her age, will be discussed.

Saturday's agenda will feature sessions on communication skills, financial and legal fitness for women, getting ahead in a man's world, stress management, transitions in life, elder care and other topics of concern to women. The Sunday morning session will focus on issues that directly affect the ethnic Ukrainian woman - from the complexity of functioning as a professional in two worlds to the challenges faced by the "Fourth Wave" woman from the trafficking of women to the problem of women's health in Ukraine.

Each of these sessions will be led by a professional Ukrainian woman from our area. During the conference, there will also be a book signing by a notable Ukrainian American novelist, entertainment by a leading Ukrainian Canadian comedienne and an art exhibit featuring the works of several Ukrainian American female artists.

In designing this conference, the organizers have worked to create an event that serves a special purpose. It is hoped that we can come together as 21st century women to share our ideas and strengths, and extend those to the common thread that brings us together - our common Ukrainian background. This is the first goal of the conference and it is a goal that can be achieved. "The World of the 21st Century Woman" weekend conference will present a wonderful opportunity for all women who share their common background to network. It will also provide a way for them to share their talents and resourcefulness for the common good of their people, to share their respect for each other as accomplished women, and to join hands to make a difference. And together we can make a difference.

The plight of the woman in Ukraine has not improved in the past decade, but has actually deteriorated with the collapsing health care system. The problems created by the Chornobyl disaster will last for generations, continuing to have a deleterious effect on Ukraine. Adding to this suffering has been the scourge of AIDS, which has reached epidemic proportions in Ukraine. Despite the severity of the AIDS crisis and the lingering effects of Chornobyl, women's preventive health care education and health issues in general are not being addressed with priority.

As Ukrainian women we should be committed to sharing what we can and to working together to help our sisters in Ukraine. For, if we better the life of the woman in Ukraine, we will be improving her children's lives, the life of her family and the life of the society in which they live.

"The World of the 21st Century Woman" conference will serve as a kick-off and promotion of a newly proposed pilot project, the Women's Health Fund. The UNWLA's current Environmental/Health Issues Chairperson Martha Jarosewich, will be working with members of Soyuz Ukrainok in Ukraine to form a network of doctors who will make themselves available to address health education of the women of Ukraine. We are very excited by this collaborative effort since this is the first time that the UNWLA will be directly addressing how to support the health needs of Ukrainian women. This giant step is goal No. 2 of the conference - one that will also be achieved as we share our respect for each other as accomplished women and join forces to make a difference.

We are also pleased to report that the conference has already inspired interest and support. When we discussed our goals with various successful women, each and every one of them voiced her enthusiasm that the dual motivation for the conference is inspiring. Melanne Verveer, the chair of Vital Voices Global Partnership, former assistant to First Lady Hillary Clinton and a member of the UNWLA, expressed her support and a sincere regret that she will not be able to attend because of a previous commitment. Irene Zabytko, author of "The Sky Unwashed" and "When Luba Leaves Home" will be present to lend her support for the UNWLA and for our new campaign. Luba Goy, renowned Canadian comedienne and advocate of women's health issues in Ukraine, will also be attending to voice her support for the campaign. UNWLA President Iryna Kurowyckyj will be hosting a session to address the status of our organization and how we can address both goals of the conference in the future.

We have caught the ear of successful, accomplished women of Ukrainian descent - let us move forward in this path. (Please look for advertisements about the conference in The Ukrainian Weekly.)

Marianna Zajac is president of the Central New York Regional Council of the UNWLA and chairperson of the conference "The World of the 21st Century Woman." Vera Staruch is secretary of the regional council and conference co-chairperson.

| Home Page |