THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM (03/26/06)

THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM

CONVENTION PRIMER: Conventions, the UNA's highest decision-making body

As the Ukrainian National Association, its officers and members prepare for the organization's 36th Regular Convention, which will convene on Friday, May 26, at the Soyuzivka estate in Kerhonkson, N.Y., The Ukrainian Weekly is publishing a series titled "Convention Primer" that will explain the UNA's goals, structure and operations.

Every four years, the Ukrainian National Association holds its regular convention. The word "regular" is used here to differentiate a regularly scheduled quadrennial convention from a "special" convention that may be called by the fraternal organization when dictated by need (as is explained below).

In accordance with the UNA By-Laws, notice of the convention must be given at least four months before the date it is to convene. (This year, for example, the official announcement of the convention was dated January 20; the convention will convene on May 26.)

The convention is the UNA's highest decision-making body. It has the power to: "enact legislation necessary for the government of the Association, including the enactment, revision, repeal and amendment of the Laws and By-Laws of the Association."

It also has the authority to "act on the reports of the General Assembly and branches," to "determine the amounts of the bond and salaries of the officers," and to "act upon such resolutions and recommendations as may be introduced for the well-being of the Association." There is an important distinction between resolutions, which must be implemented, and recommendations, which merely need to be considered.

Perhaps most importantly, the convention nominates and elects by ballot the General Assembly of the UNA, which comprises the executive officers - president, first vice-president, second vice-president, director for Canada, national secretary and treasurer; three members of the UNA Auditing Committee; and 11 advisors. (It should be noted that the size of the General Assembly was decreased at the 2002 Convention, which adopted amendments to the UNA By-Laws that reduced the number of auditors from five to three and the number of advisors from 14 to 11. A proposal to decrease the Executive Committee from six officers to four did not pass.)

The UNA By-Laws stipulate that regular conventions are held in the month of May at a time and place designated by the General Assembly at an annual meeting.

As noted in the UNA By-Laws, special conventions may be called "upon 60 days' notice to the branches, or such notice as is required by law."

The UNA president shall issue a call for a special convention, "stating therein the time, place and purpose of holding the same," upon the demand of two-thirds of all branches, or upon the call of the Auditing Committee "if in its opinion by unanimous vote the financial well-being or stability of the Association is threatened," or upon three-fourths vote majority of all the members of the General Assembly.

Those empowered to vote at a special convention are the members of the General Assembly and the delegates to the preceding regular convention.

There is yet another vehicle by which the UNA can make major decisions.

A relatively recent revision to the UNA By-Laws provides that "to the extent permitted by the law of the State of New Jersey [the state in which the UNA is chartered], questions and resolutions requiring approval by a Convention between Regular Conventions may be considered and voted upon by mail, with such decision having the same force and effect as if a Special Convention had been convened."

Just as at a special convention, those empowered to vote are the members of the General Assembly and the delegates to the preceding regular convention.

- Roma Hadzewycz

Branch 13 holds annual meeting, elects delegates to convention

WATERVLIET, N.Y. - Ukrainian National Association Branch 13, the St. Nicholas Brotherhood, held its yearly meeting on February 19, at which time new officers were elected and two delegates were selected to the 36th Convention of the Ukrainian National Association to be held in May at the UNA's Soyuzivka estate.

The St. Nicholas Brotherhood was founded on December 12, 1895, and three years later UNA Branch 13 was formed. For more than 100 years, the brotherhood - has continued to carry out its tradition of community activism and charitable assistance to those in need. To this day Branch 13 meets monthly and has a regular attendance of about 20 members.

Mykola Fil, branch president, opened the meeting. Secretary John Zendran read the names of all deceased members of the brotherhood, while Paul Shewchuk, branch secretary, read the names of the deceased members of Branch 13.

After greeting all in attendance, Mr. Fil proceeded by recognizing Axcenty Urban, who at age 91 is the senior, most active member of the brotherhood. The members honored Mr. Urban by joining together in singing "Mnohaya Lita."

The meeting then proceeded with its official business.

Slavko Tysiak was asked to run the interim yearly meeting, and John Uruskyj served as secretary for the meeting. Mr. Fil read his report on the activities of 2005 and concluded by thanking Branch Secretary Shewchuk for his many years of service both to the UNA and to the brotherhood.

Mr. Shewchuk served as UNA Branch 13 secretary for 40 years and devoted his life to the betterment of the local community, and to the UNA as both an insurance provider and a national organization devoted to furthering the goals and aspirations of Ukrainians here and abroad. Mr. Fil stated that Mr. Shewchuk had demonstrated over the years that he was one of the UNA's best branch secretaries by enrolling more than 300 members and insurance policyholders.

Mr. Fil also thanked Secretary Zendran for recording the official minutes of all monthly meetings of the brotherhood for the past 40 years. His meeting minutes provide a rich history of the activities and good works of the many members of this longstanding organization. Mr. Fil reminded everyone that we should all be guided by the great respect for good works that Mr. Zendran always demonstrated in the way he carried out his brotherhood duties, and in the way that he always stepped forward to help in any project or undertaking of the brotherhood.

After presentation of the financial report by the Auditing Committee, Mr. Tysiak called for acceptance of all reports presented by past officers and the Auditing Committee. The membership then relieved the 2005 president and officers of their official duties, and proceeded with the election of a new slate of members into leadership positions for 2006.

The newly elected officers of the UNA Branch 13 for 2006 are: Mr. Tysiak, president; Walter Litynsky, vice-president; Taras Myshchuk, secretary; Mr. Zendran, assistant secretary; John Suchowacki, treasurer; Andrij Wasienko, assistant treasurer; Mr. Fil, UNA secretary, Mr. Shewchuk, assistant UNA secretary, Visitation of the Infirm Committee Chairs Sam Ksenych and Stefan Gebuza and Auditing Committee Members Andrij Demczar, Olexander Serdyuk and John Uruskyj.

Following the election of brotherhood branch officers, the members proceeded with the election of delegates and alternates to the 36th Convention of the Ukrainian National Association. The members elected Mr. Tysiak and Mr. Fil as delegates, with Messrs. Suchowacki and Myshchuk as alternate delegates.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr. Tysiak, the new president, thanked the members for their support and invited everyone to a group picture followed by a light reception.

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