THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM (07/27/03)

THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM

UNA executives meet, review first quarter results

by Christine E. Kozak
UNA National Secretary

PARSIPPANY, N.J. - The Ukrainian National Association's Executive Com-mittee met on Friday, June 27, here at the UNA Home Office. Attending the meeting were Stefan Kaczaraj, president; Martha Lysko, first vice-president; Christine E. Kozak, national secretary; and Roma Lisovich, treasurer. Al Kachkowski, director for Canada, could not attend due to a prior engagement. Eugene Iwanciw, second vice-president, was absent for medical reasons.

The meeting was called to order at 10 a.m. by Mr. Kaczaraj, with the approval of the agenda and the reading of the minutes of the previous Executive Commit-tee meeting; it proceeded with the reports of each Executive Committee member for the first quarter of 2003.

President Kaczaraj reported on the financial strength of UNA, which had an increase in surplus, by $501,000 for the first quarter of 2003. The increase in surplus is due to several positive economic factors: the improved strength of the Canadian dollar, an increase in new premiums collected, mostly from the sale of UNA annuities, a slight upturn in the stock market, and a slight profit shown by the Ukrainian National Urban Renewal Corp. (UNURC) of $31,000.

On the down side, Soyuzivka reported a net loss of $199,000 from operations. Both UNA publications, Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly, lost subscribers and operated at a loss of $30,822.36 for the first quarter. The UNA paid out $258,000 in fraternal benefits.

First Vice-President Lysko organized five new members for UNA. In addition, she has requested that all of her earned per diem for 2003 be donated to the Ukrainian National Foundation to be earmarked for the Soyuzivka Renaissance Fund.

National Secretary Kozak reported that the UNA gained 85 policies in the first quarter. The total includes two policies sold in Canada for a total of $10,000 in insurance, 60 life policies sold in the U.S. for a total of $1,318,999 and 23 annuities sold for a total of $296,615 in premiums.

Once again, Lubov Streletsky, secretary of Branch 10 in Philadelphia, took top honors for the first quarter. Ms. Streletsky sold eight policies for $247,000 in insurance and $8,627.22 in annualized premium. In second place was Myron Pylypiak, secretary of Branch 496, who also sold eight policies for $104,000 in insurance amount, with $3,747.87 in annualized premiums. Gloria Horbaty, secretary of Branch 414, sold four policies totaling $200,000 in face amount, with $1,153.75 in annualized premium.

The top producer for annuities was Steven Woch, a Home Office employee and a licensed agent, who sold 10 annuities totaling $78,660 in the first quarter. Stephan Welhasch, another Home Office employee and a licensed agent sold three annuities for $82,626 in annuity premiums, and Joseph Chabon, secretary of Branch 242, sold three annuities for $35,000 in premiums.

The national secretary also reported that the UNA is well on the road in hiring professional agents to sell UNA insurance products. As of April 1, the UNA has 14 agents that are selling in the state of Pennsylvania.

Twelve out of the UNA's 27 districts held their district meetings in the first quarter of 2003 and assigned themselves quotas as directed by a resolution adopted by the General Assembly. The Albany District, under the leadership of Nicholas Fil, is to be commended once again in surpassing the assigned quota for the district in 2002, noted Ms. Kozak. The district received a reward check for its accomplishment.

The Northern New Jersey District under the leadership of Eugene Oscislawski also received a reward check for achieving 51 percent of its quota; and the Philadelphia District, under the leadership of longtime UNAer Stefan Hawrysz, a member of the General Assembly, branch secretary and district chairman, for achieving 43 percent of its goal.

A new product will be added to the UNA's list of annuity products. The Executive Committee passed a resolution to begin the procedure of applying for the Coverdell Education Savings Account, or the Education IRA. This account allows for an annual deposit up to $2,000 per individual. This IRA also allows tax-free withdrawals made for any educational purpose from elementary school through college.

Treasurer Lisovich reported on the status of Soyuzivka. Much interest and activity has been generated since the announcement of the Soyuzivka Renaissance Project. The front office is reporting an 80 to 85 percent occupancy rate for the summer months; summer camps are booked. The Main House dining room has been gutted for renovation and is being wired for possible business meetings. Trailblazing has begun, painting is being done inside and out, and new carpets are being laid in the Uzhhorod and Chernivtsi villas. For the latest updates readers can visit Soyuzivka's newly redesigned website (www.soyuzivka.com).

In order to garner more interest for the UNA's insurance programs, brochures, flyers and copies of both UNA newspapers, Svoboda and The Ukrainian weekly, will be left in each room at Soyuzivka during the summer months.

Treasurer Lisovich projected that Soyuzivka's deficit should decrease by year's end.

The next UNA Executive Committee meeting was scheduled for September 19.

"Tabir Ptashat" at Soyuzivka offers a hopeful glimpse of community's future

by Oksana Trytjak
UNA Special Projects and Fraternal Activities Coordinator

KERHONKSON, N.Y. - Some say the Ukrainian community is assimilating and, therefore, there is no need for Ukrainian organizations, that ultimately we will lose all our Ukrainian institutions. There could be some truth to that, but I see a glimmer of hope.

I want to tell you what I witnessed at Soyuzivka during "Tabir Ptashat," which is in its 15th season, with two tours of camp held between June 22 and July 6. This camp was initiated by Neonila Sochan, one of the founding members of the Pershi Stezhi Plast sorority. The camp ("tabir") is specifically geared for pre-schoolers with their parents. During the day some parents act as counselors while others assist during the many activities. At mealtimes and in the evenings parents and children spend time together.

As always, the theme for the camps was the bird world, and the tabir was divided into various bird groups, like seagulls, nightingales, flamingos and others. The counselors, usually mothers and fathers, wore the wildest bird hats imaginable and led their flocks. (That certainly was a fashion statement!) What a sight: an adult in the craziest hat imaginable, followed by these little "ducklings" marching off to a specific activity. Pershi Stezhi organized and ran the tabir with the usual efficiency of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization.

UNA National Secretary Christine Kozak and I visited Soyuzivka during the second week of "Tabir Ptashat." Ms. Kozak wanted to greet all the participants on behalf of the UNA's executives and to introduce one of UNA's insurance consultants, Bob Mitchell, to the guests. The weather was perfect and we arrived Tuesday evening just in time for dinner.

Well, as you may know, Soyuzivka is undergoing somewhat of a face lift (after 50 years everyone could do with a little lift). As the dining room was completely gutted, we wondered where and how dinner would be served. To our delight, the Veselka hall was fully prepared for the dinner crowd and there were over 200 guests settling in. The tables were set, salad was served and two long banquet tables filled with various entrees were manned by smiling young waiters and waitresses. Most servers were bilingual, but best of all they were friendly, efficient and eager to help.

As for the dinner, other than complaints that there was too much served (it was self-service, mind you), it was just perfect. As we sat down with our guest, Mr. Mitchell, he noticed the young crowd of parents with their teeny ones. There were also grandparents maneuvering carriages with sleeping babies as they came to join the dinner crowd. Mr. Mitchell commented what a nice family atmosphere Soyuzivka has and that he was impressed that these young parents all spoke Ukrainian to their children. Ms. Kozak felt compelled to assure him that they also speak English.

These tots - some didn't even reach their fathers' knees - were chattering in Ukrainian, perfect Ukrainian: "Tatu dyvys murashka, velyka murashka!" (Daddy, look an ant - a big ant.) This particular father was a young man, tall and thin with a baby knapsack strapped to his body with a tiny little one sleeping peacefully at his breast. His little son was holding on to his finger, noticing the creatures on the ground.

I looked around and thought of how these young parents, professional people, picked up their humongous bags of balls, hoops, floats and other toys - and so much more - and packed for a vacation. They folded their colorful beach towels and decided it was time to head out, not to Florida, not to Cancun or some other exotic beach, but to Soyuzivka. The warm sun and cool breeze of the mountains at Soyuzivka beckoned.

Many parents drove from the New York region and some from hundreds of miles away to bring their families - and most importantly their little ones - to a tabir that is shared with other children in a setting conducive to their family values.

I was told by one of the mothers that you must call in February just to make sure you get on the list of "Tabir Ptashat": participants. It is a plum to get a good room during this camp. She said, "I not only called on time, in February, but sent a fax and backed that up with an e-mail. And, yes, we have a great room with a balcony."

I guess it's been a long time since I've noticed little ones clutching to a parent's leg insisting on going swimming and bringing all 110 toys with them: "Tatu sche i tsei balon!" (Daddy, this ball, too.)

But let me tell you it was wonderful to see so many parents interested in their Ukrainian culture and sharing it with their tots, bringing their little ones to Soyuzivka, where they know the setting is safe, beautiful and steeped in Ukrainian tradition. What Soyuzivka has cannot be purchased in Cancun. These toddlers no doubt will remember their first tabir with "tato," "mama," "babtsia" or "dido" here at Soyuzivka.

Later, when the children get older, they will enjoy the boys' and girls' camps, the tennis and the dance camps; later still they will enjoy all those occasions to meet other young people at Soyuzivka.

UNA representatives meet with parents

The UNA hosted a brief meeting with some of the parents on Wednesday morning during the camp's second week. Ms. Kozak thanked the parents for bringing their children to Soyuzivka to this special camp. We explained briefly what is happening with the Soyuzivka Project Renaissance and elaborated a little on how the UNA has been supporting the Ukrainian community in the United States and in Ukraine throughout the UNA's history. We also detailed some of the current projects sponsored by UNA, like the UNA Gift-Giving Project.

Last, but certainly not least, Ms. Kozak introduced Mr. Mitchell, UNA's consultant, a well-known financial writer and educator and the author of numerous articles on financial matters. He spoke briefly about UNA and its standing in the fraternal insurance industry. He took the time to discuss the UNA's annuity products and compared them favorably with other annuities on the market. His emphasized that the UNA's annuities are among the best to be had, with interest rates of up to 5.5 percent.

As host for the meeting, Ms. Kozak offered a door prize of an extra day at Soyuzivka; very appropriately, Mrs. Sochan won the prize. After the presentation Mr. Mitchell, Ms. Kozak and I answered questions on a one-on-one basis.

Ms. Kozak and I drove back to the Home Office with thoughts of how truly impressed we were by these young families, and encouraged. Our community will not wither away so quickly - from what we saw, there are people who will take over from the older generation.

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