UMANA board travels to Toronto for directors' meeting (06/05/05)

UMANA board travels to Toronto for directors' meeting

by George Hrycelak

TORONTO - The board of directors of the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America (UMANA) held a regular board meeting on Saturday, May 7, here in Toronto. In keeping with its goal of involving UMANA chapters in administrative deliberations, the board welcomed the UMANA Branch of Toronto to the meeting, and held a reception on Friday night for its Canadian colleagues.

The Toronto Branch responded with a large turnout of members, both stalwart supporters as well as inquiring prospective members. The informal meeting lasted late into the night, with wide-ranging discussions about potential member activities and association projects.

This board meeting was scheduled to coincide with the 70th anniversary celebration of the Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business Association of Toronto (UCPBA). Both business meetings took place at the Ukrainian National Federation (UNF) Trident Hall on Evans Avenue in Toronto all day Saturday. The gracious host, Roman Nazarewycz, president of UCPBA-Toronto, made the UMANA board meeting possible by providing a comfortable venue and allowing networking by both organizations in a memorably congenial atmosphere.

UMANA Toronto Chapter President Wolodymyr Medwidsky, M.D., officially welcomed the board while greeting his branch members at the meeting. UMANA Board members present were: Bohdan Iwanetz, M.D., president; Andrew Iwach, M.D., president-elect; Roxolana Horbowyj, M.D., liaison to the World Federation of Ukrainian Medical Associations; Maria Hrycelak, M.D., archivist; George Hrycelak, M.D., executive director; and Roman Worobec, Ph.D., editor-in-chief of the Journal of UMANA.

Wayne Tymchak, M.D., president of the Edmonton Branch of UMANA, was present representing the western provinces. In addition to Dr. Medwidsky, Toronto Branch members participating were Maria Fischer-Slysh, M.D., vice president; Peter Jacyk, M.D., treasurer; and guests Marika Paquin and Ihor Golubka.

At the morning session, 11 new members were inducted to various chapters throughout the U.S. and Canada. The board voted to eliminate the collection and use of social security numbers in the database.

Dr. Iwach summarized the preparations under way for the 37th Scientific Convention and 31st Assembly of Delegates to be held in Edmonton on June 29-July 3. Drs. Iwach and Tymchak informed the group that the guest of honor, Mykola Polischuk, M.D., minister of health of Ukraine, had confirmed his participation in the conference.

All afternoon was devoted to analyzing the history and impact of the Likarskyi Visnyk (the Journal of the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America). Various proposals were examined that would streamline the production and dissemination of this journal, including publication on the Internet and distribution among Ukrainian medical schools, libraries and institutions. The board resolved to prepare a plan of action to present to the Assembly of Delegates in July.

The UMANA board's visit to Toronto concluded with participation in a gala banquet on Saturday night at the UNF Trident banquet hall. Attendance by over 300 people underscored the significance of this event. Luminaries honored included retired Canadian Member of Parliament John Yaremko, Sen. Raynell Andreychuk and journalist Victor Malarek.

The board and Toronto Chapter members spent a pleasant evening together, establishing contacts for the upcoming conference in Edmonton and strengthening relationships between colleagues in North American.

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