2003: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Ukrainians in the U.S.: promoting many causes

Ukrainians in the United States were active again this past year - organizing conferences, working to save schools, building museums, celebrating centennials and, in general, promoting various Ukrainian causes.

On April 15 St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic School in Newark, N.J., announced it would remain open for the 2003-2004 school year, and beyond.

The decision to keep the school open and continue its 63-year tradition of educating Ukrainian American youth was made at a special session of the Parish Council on the evening of April 14. In January, the Parish Council had challenged the newly created Committee for the Development of St. John's School to raise $250,000 by April 15 or else the school would close at the end of the 2002-2003 academic year. The committee subsequently raised over $180,000 in two and one half months. The donations were broad-based and reflected support both from within the parish and throughout the Ukrainian American community.

News of the requirement to raise $250,000 to ensure the school's future was made public on Sunday, January 26, via the church bulletin distributed during liturgies that day; parents of St. John's schoolchildren were notified three days earlier. The Rev. Lukie and the Parish Council then granted the parents' committee time to come up with the money.

The prospect of closing the school brought together a team of concerned parents, friends and alumni who formed the Committee for the Development of St. John's School. The committee examined both the commitment and desires of the Ukrainian American community in northern New Jersey, and the financial and enrollment needs of the school to determine a viable plan for the school's continued development. That same day, the group elected to its executive committee Myron Martynetz (chairman), Rostyslaw Robak, Bohdan Duchnycz, Volodymyr Stashchyshyn, Volodymyr Kovbasniuk, Lesia Frazier and Kristina Rak-Brown.

The Parish Council was presented with a strategic plan for the continued growth of the school, which was to include active alumni programs, concerts to publicize the school, open houses, recruitment via the Internet and a program for the continued enhancement of St. John's curriculum.

Prior to the Parish Council meeting, the development committee and the Rev. Bohdan Lukie, pastor, met for over two hours with Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka to receive his guidance. Metropolitan Soroka stressed that all concerned should look at the matter realistically and free of emotional attachment. The metropolitan advised that the good of the school and the families enrolling their children must be at the forefront of any decision and that a realistic budget, based on a worst-case scenario must be in place.

It was the Parish Council, as an advisory body, that had voted on January 20 to close the school "unless $250,000 can miraculously be raised before March 1 to cover next year's deficit and to help with future years," as the Rev. Lukie put it. The reason for the deadline, the pastor explained, was to give teachers and parents enough time to make alternate plans. The Parish Council's advice notwithstanding, the Rev. Lukie explained that it is the pastor who has the authority to decide the fate of the school, while the ultimate authority rests with the metropolitan-archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the U.S.

The Committee for the Development of St. John's School agreed to take over the administration and operation of the school on a pro-tem basis, until such time as a fiduciary board could be created. By-laws and a constitution were to be drafted and approved by the parish, the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy and the Newark Diocese of the Catholic Church, which oversees schools in the area. Fund-raising, the search for new sources of funds, and the improvement of the curriculum also were to be pursued by the development committee in its efforts to ensure the school's future.

In an effort to save yet another valuable Ukrainian educational institution, the year 2003 also saw the Ukrainian community centered around St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church in New York City form a charitable foundation to lend support to both St. George School and St. George Academy. On May 15 the New York Secretary of State accepted for filing the certificate of incorporation of a not-for-profit charitable corporation named St. George Ukrainian Catholic Schools Foundation, Ltd.

The list of incorporators included: Bishop Basil Losten of the Stamford Eparchy; the Rev. Philip Sandrick, pastor of St. George Church; Oksana Bodnar, chair of the St. George Parents' Association; as well as the principals of the two schools, Sister Chrysostom Lukiw and Peter P. Shyshka.

In addition to addressing everyday financial needs, renovating school facilities, developing a pre-school program and registering new students, the foundation formed a special Endowment Fund which would ensure not only the scholastic improvement of the two schools but also their long-term survival. The foundation announced that it sought to garner a databank of alumni in order to establish an Alumni Association. The legal work for the foundation was performed pro bono by Askold S. Lozynskyj, who is also in charge of its Endowment Fund.

The fund announced a goal of raising $3 million which through investments would provide for the improvement as well as the long-term functioning of both St. George School and St. George Academy. On November 6 the Self Reliance (N.Y.) Federal Credit Union announced a donation of $500,000 to the St. George Ukrainian Catholic Schools Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) entity. Myroslaw Shmigel, chairman of the board of directors at the credit union, characterized the contribution as an investment in the Ukrainian community: "We've grown up here; we spend so much of our time in this neighborhood. This money is an investment in our Ukrainian community."

In addition to the credit union's contribution, Mr. Lozynskyj, a member of the board of directors of the foundation and the president of the Ukrainian World Congress, told The Weekly that he personally made a donation of $100,000 to the foundation.

On December 4, the Newark Branch of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization presented a check of $100,000 toward the Ukrainian Cultural Center that is to be built in northern New Jersey, in affiliation with St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church of Whippany, N.J. Groundbreaking is scheduled for the spring of 2004.

The funds were allocated out of the Plast branch's own building fund to demonstrate local Plast members' commitment to the project, which is being constructed as part of a larger complex that will also include a new church as well as a rectory and belltower. Plast Newark - which encompasses a large membership in Morris County, N.J. - plans to hold the vast majority of its activities in the center's facilities.

The check was presented at a special gathering by members of the Plast Newark executive board ("stanychna starshyna") and council ("stanychna rada") to the pastor of St. John's, the Very Rev. Archpriest Roman Mirchuk, and Orest Kucyna and Ihor Lodziuk, parish trustees and members of the Building Committee.

Also receiving a strong financial contribution in 2003 was the Ukrainian Institute of America. The National Park Service announced on November 10, that the UIA had been awarded a matching grant of $270,000 for preservation work of the institute's landmark Fletcher Sinclair Mansion. The award came as the Ukrainian Institute had been continuing work on the 19th century mansion in the French Gothic style located on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 79th Street on New York's Upper East Side, located on New York's fabled Museum Mile, where hundreds of thousands of people pass by the institute every year.

The matching grant award, the first of its kind according to UIA president Walter Nazarewicz, allowed the Institute to embark on a new phase of restoration, including electrical, plumbing and structural work to the 106-year-old building. Beyer, Blinder, Belle, a leading architectural firm in New York City, had studied and identified the necessary work required to preserve the building's grandeur and functionality. The National Park Service grant was awarded within the framework of the Department of Interior's Federal Save America's Treasure initiative to preserve significant historic American properties and collections.

On October 11-12, more than 1,400 New Yorkers, out-of-towners and tourists from abroad experienced the national historic landmark UIA building as part of a New York City-wide open house tour hailed as the "largest celebration of architecture and design in city history." The French-Gothic-style, turn-of-the-century mansion was one of over 70 sites - from City Hall to a cutting-edge art gallery made out of shipping containers - the public was invited to explore by Open House New York, a private, not-for-profit organization.

The open house event was inspired by the success of similar weekends in London, Toronto and other international cities. The institute was also featured on a guide and map highlighting all participating sites designed by renowned graphic designer and illustrator Seymour Chwast.

Mr. Nazarewicz called the Open House event a great success. "Our mission is to present the rich Ukrainian culture and the great accomplishments of the Ukrainian diaspora to the non-Ukrainian public," Mr. Nazarewicz said. "We drew people of diverse nationalities and we were able to tell them what we do and what we have accomplished with the Institute. They were astonished to hear that only private contributions are being used to support our building."

On August 14 New Jersey Gov. James E. McGreevey's office issued a news release which said that the governor had appointed Ukrainian American Camille Huk of Rutherford to the Ethnic Advisory Council, which was reactivated under his administration.

"As a member of the Ethnic Advisory Council, Ms. Huk will bring the same caliber of leadership that she has shown in her professional life. Her efforts as a representative of the Ukrainian community will be an asset to the council and to all ethnic groups throughout the State of New Jersey," said Gov. McGreevey.

Ms. Huk was the national secretary for the National Council of Women of the United States, an organization with over 25,000 members and the past chair of the New Jersey campaign to endow Ukrainian studies chairs at Harvard University. She served as national public relations officer of the Ukrainian National Women's League of America. She has also worked with foreign students from 63 countries.

The 45-member Ethnic Advisory Council was established within the Department of State. The council makes recommendations to the governor regarding issues related to ethnic studies and programs offered in public schools, colleges and the state universities. In addition, the council is responsible for increasing the participation of ethnic organizations in governmental affairs; providing community and social services; promoting ethnic and cultural events; developing policies affecting ethnic neighborhoods; and increasing knowledge and public awareness of ethnic history and culture. Members are appointed for two-year terms.

The year 2003 also marked the 50th anniversary of the Educational Council of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. On October 25, a gala celebration was held at the Ramada Inn in East Hanover, N.J., to honor the teachers who worked for many years in this institution. In addition, a jubilee book was published on the occasion to highlight the histories of the many schools that belong to the Educational Council. The council has coordinated programs, supplied textbooks, set curriculum guidelines and trained teachers for the last 50 years - since 1953. The network of Ukrainian Saturday schools stretches from Boston to Kent, Wash. After attending classes from kindergarten through grade 12 and passing a comprehensive exam, students are honored at a festive banquet. Over 30,000 young Ukrainians have studied at these schools, and over 7,000 have graduated.

On September 8, the Central and East European Coalition (CEEC) met with presidential hopeful Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) to discuss issues related to U.S. foreign policy. CEEC member-organizations discussed U.S.-Russian relations, NATO and the Euro-Atlantic relationship, foreign aid and U.S. public diplomacy, including the status of Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty broadcasting to the region.

The Ukrainian National Association's Second Vice-President Eugene Iwanciw outlined Russia's political and economic pressure on its neighbors, citing Moscow's attempts on the life of Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze and attempts to purchase the key national assets of Ukraine, Georgia and Lithuania as examples. He suggested that Russia's foreign policy flows from its domestic one, which includes denial of political and human rights for minorities, the genocidal war against Chechnya, elimination of freedom of the press, and persecution of religious groups other than the Russian Orthodox Church.

Sen. Lieberman thanked the CEEC for taking the time to brief him on issues of concern and expressed his hope that the meeting would be the beginning of an ongoing foreign policy discussion with the group.

The Weekly also reported on the meetings of the executive board of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America.

The main topic on the agenda of its January 25 was commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide. A broad spectrum of ideas was discussed of how to appropriately observe the upcoming anniversary, including what has become a tradition, the annual commemoration of the Famine-Genocide at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. A critical aspect of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide, UCCA president, Michael Sawkiw Jr., agreed, was education. The UCCA executive board proposed the following: to educate Ukrainian children at an early age by devoting one entire history lesson on the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide within the system of Saturday Ukrainian schools.

Secondly, since U.S. educational issues are decided on the local level, either by the state or city administration/school boards, the UCCA said it would begin examining which high school curriculums teach their students about the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide. Most states require 10th grade students to undergo a week of studies titled "Genocide Around the World."

Finally, the topic that generated the most discussion was the building of a monument in Washington to the victims of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide. The UCCA executive board mandated that a separate building committee, encompassing all Ukrainian American organizations, be organized to coordinate all matters associated with the construction of the Famine memorial. Additionally, it was agreed that the UCCA Presidium should meet with Ukrainian Church leaders in the United States to obtain support for the building of such a monument in Washington.

That the unity of the Ukrainian American community is a grave concern to the UCCA executive board, also was stressed at the meeting. Following the 18th Congress of Ukrainians in America, the UCCA had formed a Commission on Unity to begin talks with the Ukrainian American Coordinating Council. Though unsuccessful in its initial attempts, the commission was to be reactivated for the purpose of speaking directly with various unaffiliated organizations with the goal of unifying the multitude of Ukrainian American organizations under one central umbrella representation.

The UCCA executive board next met on March 15. Speaking on behalf of the UCCA's Civic Education Commission, Roksolana Lozynskyj emphasized the need to provide the people of Ukraine with as much information as possible regarding the presidential elections, their procedures and the candidates. The UCCA was to research various grant opportunities from public and private foundations, and to appeal to the Ukrainian American community for support.

The UCCA's Council on Aid to Ukrainians (CAU) presented a unique opportunity to produce and distribute "History of Ukraine," in CD format to all of Ukraine's schools, universities and public libraries. The manufacturer of the CD agreed to update the "History of Ukraine" with a section dedicated to the Ukrainian diaspora in the United States.

Preparations were discussed for the 19th Congress of Ukrainians in America, the quadrennial convention of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. The greater Philadelphia area was chosen as the next site of the Congress of Ukrainians in America and will have as its theme "Unite, Brothers of Mine" - a reference to unity within the Ukrainian community and in commemoration of the 190th anniversary of the birth of Taras Shevchenko and the 40th anniversary of the dedication of the Shevchenko monument in Washington. A special committee for the upcoming Congress was formed with Ihor Kusznir, head of the Philadelphia UCCA branch, as coordinator.

On December 8 the UCCA released a statement regarding the fact that the Ukrainian National Association was restoring its relationship with the UCCA.

In its statement the UCCA said it "warmly welcomes the initiative of the Ukrainian National Association to restore its membership in the UCCA, thus strengthening our central umbrella representative organization. Unification of the Ukrainian American community is one of the principal tasks of the UCCA. Only through unity and mutual cooperation will we be able to continue implementing the dreams of our forefathers and maintain a strong vibrant community."

"We warmly welcome the UNA's decision to reunite with the UCCA and hope that other Ukrainian organizations will follow its lead. This uniting step in the Ukrainian community will serve as an example for Ukraine in the crucial presidential pre-election campaign period. Thus, this American step towards unity proves most significant when Ukraine stands at the crossroads: to continue building a true democracy or slip back into an authoritarian system. Having common goals, including the unification of our community organizations, will make our work much more effective and allow us to achieve better results for the greater good of the Ukrainian American community."

On Election Day, Tuesday, November 4, Mr. Sawkiw and UCCA Vice-President Orest Baranyk visited the office of Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich.), the National Security Council and the U.S. Department of State. The meetings reflected the concerns of the community in the wake of the Tuzla incident, but also addressed other matters of importance in U.S.-Ukraine relations.

In a meeting with Rep. Levin, co-chair of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus (CUC), the discussion quickly centered on the status of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide memorial, as well as other aspects in which the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus may be helpful in observing this solemn tragedy in Ukraine's history.

Concerning the situation in Tuzla, Ukraine, the UCCA delegation informed Rep. Levin of House Concurrent Resolution 315 introduced by CUC co-chair Curt Weldon (R-Pa.), which called upon the U.S. government to assure Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Rep. Levin suggested that the CUC write a letter of protest to Yuri Ushakov, Russia's ambassador to the United States.

At the National Security Council, Walter Andrusyszyn, Director of the Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova desk, greeted the UCCA delegation. During the lively exchange of ideas, the two sides discussed the upcoming Ukrainian presidential elections, the Jackson-Vanik amendment, Ukraine's accession to the World Trade Organization, as well as the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide of 1932-1933. A meeting at the U.S. Department of State with Mark Taplin, director of the Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova Desk, continued the themes touched upon in the U.S. Congress and at the NSC. Additionally, the UCCA delegation appealed to the U.S. government for increased funding geared towards "fostering a fairer election process based on the principles of democratic values and openness to the Ukrainian society."

In addition to its other activities, the UCCA also developed a questionnaire in January that they hoped would help identify the needs and desires of new immigrants, the younger generation and non-active Ukrainian Americans. The document would assist the UCCA and other organizations in developing future programs and activities that would serve the interests of the greater Ukrainian American community.

The Weekly also reported on a summit of Ukrainian organizations held on March 29. The summit, which focused on demographic data in the Ukrainian American diaspora, warned that many Ukrainian organizations could be ignoring hundreds of thousands of self-declared Ukrainians living in the United States.

According to U.S. Census data collected in the year 2000, 893,000 people self-identified themselves, at least to some degree, as Ukrainians. Of that number, Dr. Oleh Wolowyna, president of Informed Decisions Inc., said that it is estimated that only 116,000 speak Ukrainian at home. Some 777,000 self-declared Ukrainians, or roughly 87 percent of the total, threaten to be pushed away from participating in organizations which could badly use their help.

Speaking after the conference, which was held at the Ukrainian National Association's Soyuzivka resort, many of the participants related a sense of astonishment regarding Dr. Wolowyna's presentation. Several said they were completely unaware of the trend and said that they doubted Ukrainian organizations were addressing the situation.

The U.S. Census is regarded by experts as the most reliable source of data on the Ukrainian community because of its ability to take a large, representative sample of the population in the United States. Dr. Wolowyna said that, although the census has its limitations, ignoring the data collected could mean ignoring important trends that have been developing among Ukrainian Americans. Data from the 1990 Census showed that the population of Ukrainians who do not speak the language tend to be well-educated, young, successful and in powerful and influential positions in their communities. Another significant trend, Dr. Wolowyna said, is that much of the most recent immigration - composed of roughly 150,000 Ukrainians - is settling in non-traditional areas in states like Washington and Oregon, where Ukrainian communities are not as active or organized. "We must be conscious of this fact - the dispersion phenomenon," said Dr. Wolowyna, who himself lives in North Carolina.

Dr. Wolowyna's presentation was followed by an open discussion on the role of the Ukrainian American media. The session was meant to discuss challenges for the media and its future in a "brainstorming" format - a loose discussion organizers said was intended to "challenge assumptions and find new solutions."

In early December The Ukrainian Weekly also published a report written by Dr. Wolowyna in which he examined what the most recent Census data mean for the Ukrainian diaspora. Dr. Wolowyna wrote that 12.7 percent of all persons who declared Ukrainian as their first or second ancestry (one can record one or two ancestries in the census), speak Ukrainian while 13.4 percent speak Russian. In other words, in the year 2000, among all Ukrainians in the United States the percent speaking Russian was higher than the percent speaking Ukrainian.

For the U.S.-born, the percent of Ukrainian speakers decreased from 6.6 percent in 1990 to 4.6 percent in 2000, while the percent of Russian speakers increased from 0.3 percent in 1990 to 0.7 percent in 2000. In 2000, more than half of persons who came to the U.S. before 1950 spoke Ukrainian, while only 4 percent spoke Russian. For the next migration period, 1950-1986, the percentage of Ukrainian speakers dropped to 32 percent, while the percent of Russian speakers jumped to almost 26 percent. Although the number of Ukrainian speakers increased from 88,000 in 1990 to 114,000 in 2000, the number of Russian speakers increased from 15,000 to 120,000, respectively. That is, among all persons of Ukrainian ancestry in the United States in the year 2000, the number of Russian speakers was slightly higher than the number of Ukrainian.

The total number of persons of Ukrainian ancestry was 893,055 in 2000. The number of all immigrants was 253,400, and 56 percent of them arrived between 1991 and 2000. In absolute numbers there were 142,000 immigrants between 1991-2000, and 31,600 arrived between 1987 and 1990.

These numbers are consistent with immigration statistics from Ukraine's Derzhkomstat (State Committee on Statistics) and the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). According to Derzhkomstat, between 1992 and 2000 about 111,000 migrated from Ukraine to the U.S. and, according to INS statistics, during the same period the number of immigrants born in Ukraine and were admitted to the United States was about 146,000.

It is important to note that, according to Derzhkomstat statistics and the Jewish Demographic Yearbooks published in the United States, about 40 percent of all migrants from Ukraine during 1992-2000 were Jewish. Also a very high proportion of migrants from Ukraine during 1987-1991 were Jewish. Thus, it is safe to assume that, of the 173,600 1987-2000 immigrants registered by the census, close to half are Jewish.

The Fourth Wave added to the community 55,000 persons who speak Ukrainian at home. This is thought to be an underestimate of all Ukrainian speakers, as it is believed that many of the persons who speak Russian at home speak perfect Ukrainian.

On January 25, the executive of the Ukrainian American Coordinating Council held an extended meeting in New York City. UACC President Ihor Gawdiak reported on his participation in meetings with U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Carlos Pascual and Undersecretary of State Steven Pifer. These meetings were attended by representatives of Ukrainian civic organizations, and the two officials briefed them on the state of U.S.-Ukraine relations.

The executive also turned its attention to three issues: the work and immediate plans of the Ukrainian World Coordinating Council (UWCC), the eighth conclave of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) and the UACC convention, which was to be held at the Ukrainian National Association estate Soyuzivka on November 15-16, but was later cancelled due to commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the Famine-Genocide. A new date was not announced.

The president of the UACC National Council, Ms. Dyhdalo, presented her proposal for an endeavor that would involve the collaborative efforts of UACC and the Pedagogical Institute of the Munich-based Ukrainian Free University. The institute conducts a yearly program for instructors of Ukrainian subjects, aiming to improve the professional level of such teachers in Ukraine. The project, which was approved by the UACC executive, is to provide a financial aid boost for the program, which would be established and disbursed by the UACC.

Michigan's Ukrainian American community completed a Ukrainian Heritage Room in Manoogian Hall at Wayne State University (WSU). Although it contains artwork celebrating Ukrainian history and culture, the room would serve as a functioning classroom. On May 4, more than 300 people converged on the WSU campus to take part in the dedication and reception ceremonies. An overwhelming number of guests packed Room 297 to capacity.

Along with the other nationality rooms at Wayne State University, the Ukrainian Heritage Room exemplifies the character of Detroit, by melding together culture, beauty and learning, while preserving and honoring the Ukrainian ethnic idenity. The original Ukrainian Room was dedicated in 1976. The distinguished Ukrainian artist Edward Kozak and his sons, George and Jerome, created a beautiful bas-relief map, as well as other ornamental wall decorations. Jerome Kozak restored the map to its original splendor.

Noted Ukrainian artist and iconographer Volodymyr Mayorchak, formerly from Lviv, was commissioned to complete the project. He created a full wall mural depicting the history of Ukraine, Hutsul-style wooden benches and carvings, and a showcase for art objects. A chalkboard was framed in the same style of wood-carving. The entrance door features dramatic wood-carving incorporating a prominent tryzub (trident) and a relief of St. George battling a serpent.

The Ukrainian National Association's Soyuzivka resort hosted the "The World of the 21st Century Woman" conference on April 4-6. Women traveled from Detroit, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to attend the conference. Ukrainian National Women's League of America Branch 95, the conference organizer, set a goal of bringing together women of the Ukrainian community - no matter what their profession, what their first language, what their organizational beliefs - in an informal setting to share their thoughts and ideas, their common daily issues, and, most importantly, to network.

Sunday's sessions opened up a good discussion on the transition of the UNWLA into the 21st century and also on the exciting new health initiative to bring preventive health care information and education to the women of Ukraine. As a result, the conference surpassed even the organizers' hopes in seeding good exchanges and exciting plans for the future and was seen as a resounding success.

The official kickoff of the women's conference was held Saturday morning. Iryna Kurowyckyj, UNWLA president, was invited to the microphone to deliver the introductory remarks in which she spoke of the bigger picture of the women's movement.

The weekend of May 2-4 in Philadelphia saw the first AIDS in Ukraine Awareness Weekend. The Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center (UECC) hosted the three-day event, which included a gala charity banquet and ball in Philadelphia, featuring the reigning Ukrainian-born Miss Universe as the celebrity guest. Justine Pasek spoke about the threat of an incurable infection threatening Ukraine. Proceeds from the events were to benefit orphans with AIDS in Ukraine and AIDS awareness and educational programs targeted at high-risk groups, youths, orphans and street kids.

The weekend began with a special English-language radio program aired on WNWR 1540 AM at 7:30 p.m. detailing the events for the following two days and discussing the topic of HIV/AIDS and its escalation and impact on Ukraine, as well as the serious consequences of inaction in the fight against the deadly disease.

A national open forum/conference on the topic of the epidemic of HIV/AIDS in Ukraine took place that Saturday morning under the co-sponsorship of the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center and the Ukrainian Medical Association of Pennsylvania. The conference brought together a panel of medical experts from across the country and social service groups involved in humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. A black-tie benefit banquet and ball in honor of Miss Universe were held that evening in the banquet hall of the UECC. Among the honored guests was Metropolitan Stefan Soroka of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, Archbishop Antony of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Panamanian Consul Georgia Athanopulos.

On Sunday, May 4, a press conference and luncheon were held at the new Independence Visitor Center across from the Liberty Bell at Sixth and Market streets, in the historic district of Philadelphia with Miss Universe participating. The press conference was moderated by Dr. Andrij Chuma. A Philadelphia city official, Mjemsi Traylor, presented a replica of the Liberty Bell to Miss Universe. Dr. Serhiy Korsunsky of the Ukrainian Embassy gave an overview of the concern of the Ukrainian government for the welfare of the population and the near-epidemic rate of HIV/AIDS, especially among the youth.

Hundreds of Ukrainian Americans, friends and dignitaries dedicated a park on September 20 as part of their celebration of the centennial of the Ukrainian community in Rochester, N.Y., which today is home to over 20,000 Ukrainian Americans. The monument, designed by Ukrainian sculptor Oleh Lesiuk, is symbolic of Ukrainians in the diaspora in America. The central feature of the monument is a set of three bronze cranes, pointing straight up to the sky, as two polished black granite wings with waves carved upon them cascade toward the cranes. The wings are engraved with symbols of the trident and the American flag, and are accompanied by a text written both in Ukrainian and English.

Upon the initiative of the Centennial Celebration Committee of Rochester, the Irondequoit Town Council, led by Town Supervisor David W. Schantz, had ratified a resolution to acknowledge the creation of a park on the grounds of Irondequoit Town Hall. A section of the park was designated for use by the Centennial Celebration Committee as a Ukrainian Centennial Park where the Ukrainian monument was erected.

Two thousand engraved bricks arrayed around the foundation of the monument were meant to mark the footprints left by Ukrainians of the Rochester community during the past 100 years. Four granite benches will sit along the periphery of the brick promenade. At the base of the monument, the Centennial Celebration Committee buried a time capsule that will be opened 100 years from the date of dedication.

The Chicago-based Heritage Foundation of First Security Federal Savings Bank announced in 2003 several important grants to Ukrainian organizations. The organization made a grant of $10,000 to the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art in Chicago for the construction of a storage facility for its highly regarded permanent collection of modern art. It also gave $10,000 to the Kyiv Mohyla Foundation, which supports, develops and sustains the work of the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy and other Ukrainian institutions of higher learning that promote excellence in education and the establishment of an open society based on democratic principles. Another $10,000 grant went to the Chicago-Kyiv Sister Cities Program for a fund-raiser held in May to increase awareness in Ukraine about breast cancer detection and treatment and provide much-needed mammography equipment.

In 2003 the Heritage Foundation announced its plans to donate $420,000 to organizations that meet its giving criteria. "Our mission is to preserve our Ukrainian ethnic identity, spiritual values and community viability," explained Julian Kulas, president of the bank and of the foundation. "Our donations have focused on religious, educational, youth, cultural and community institutions."

In 2001 the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A., in coordination with the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund (CCRF), had adopted two orphanages in Ukraine. In 2003 a nine-member Orphanage Mission Team traveled from the United States to Ukraine for two weeks in order to work and play with orphans, assist the orphanage staff in their daily responsibilities and observe the state and needs of the homes for handicapped orphaned children.

The two orphanages, one in Znamianka, Kirovohrad Oblast, and another in Zaluchia, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, were selected because the homes were in particularly deplorable condition, housing children with physical and mental birth defects. The mission journey was organized by the Consistory Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, whose director is Natalie Kapeluck, with the assistance of the Office of Missions and Christian Charity, directed by Father Deacon Dr. Ihor Mahlay.

In Znamianka, where 90 children live, the Mission Team provided the children with basic physical therapy, playing with, cuddling and hugging as many of the children as possible. Several members of the team assisted in basic repairs at the facility. Others painted a mural in one of the classrooms. In Zaluchia, the Mission Team did it all again, at the orphanage that is home to 130 children. As in Znamianka, the vast majority of the children were born with physical and mental birth defects, such as Down syndrome or cerebral palsy.

Members and friends of The Ukrainian Museum gathered for the museum's 26th annual meeting where Olha Hnateyko, president of the board of trustees of the museum, announced that "This is the last time we will have an annual meeting in these premises." The meeting was held on June 1, at the museum's current location on Second Avenue in New York City.

Mrs. Hnateyko let those present know that construction of the new museum on East Sixth Street would soon be completed, and that in 2004, the annual meeting would be held in the new museum building, which was expected to be completed by the fall of 2003. Museum members also elected the executive board of the board of trustees, with Mrs. Hnateyko as president.

The year 2003 also saw more activity from the Ukrainian American Veterans organization which, in June 2002, became an official partner of the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress in Washington. The organization's main goal is to collect oral histories from World War II veterans. Official dedication of the World War II monument in Washington is currently scheduled for May 2004. The National World War II Memorial, located on the National Mall, is scheduled to be dedicated on Memorial Day, May 29, 2004, in Washington. It will honor all military veterans of the war and the citizens on the home front as well. It will also include the Registry of Remembrances, an electronic display of names.

The UAV announced that their Registration Project has over 600 registrants, with 401 fully documented (with copies of DD214) registrations. The UAV developed a separate data base where the names of Ukrainian American servicemen and women are taken from published records. Thus far there are over 300 names that appeared in the 1943-1944 Honor Roll journals of Ukrainian Catholic parishes in New York City, Newark, N.J., and Akron, Ohio.

The Veterans Oral History Project at the Library of Congress in Washington was established in order to record oral testimonies and experiences of World War II veterans. The Ukrainian American Veterans organization was accepted in 2002 as one of 700 official partners nationwide and has participated in this national project by collecting oral histories and sending them to the Library of Congress.

In May, a decision was made to include Korean War Veterans in this oral history project. The announcement was made in July 2003 at the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended the Korean War.

The 28th annual Verkhovyna Ukrainian Festival - which bills itself as the largest such event in the United States - took place in Glen Spey, N.Y., at the Verkhovyna Mountain View Resort over the weekend of July 11-13. The festivities featured performances by artists from the United States, Canada and Ukraine on the resort's outdoor stage - ranging from pop singers to opera stars, and Ukrainian folk dance troupes to bandurists; a variety of goods sold by vendors from throughout North America, a carnival for children, dancing to the music of four bands, plus plenty of food to please all palates. Some 5,000 to 6,000 people of all ages attended the 2003 festival, whose proceeds benefitted the Ukrainian American Cultural Foundation that operates the Verkhovyna resort.

In Hollywood, Calif, the Hollywood Trident Foundation announced a scholarship program to the Los Angeles Film School for an eight-week intensive course in film-making. The application process began on October 22 and extended to December 1, with the final decision expected in mid December. Applicants were to have a working knowledge of English, both spoken and written, and were to be ready to devote a full eight weeks to the course. The scholarship was made available by a generous donation by the LA Film School.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, January 11, 2004, No. 2, Vol. LXXII

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