EDITORIAL: The UNA convention (05/21/06)

EDITORIAL

The UNA convention

In accordance with the report of the Credentials Committee, 107 delegates of UNA branches from throughout North America are expected at the 36th UNA Convention, which opens less than a week from the date of this issue of our newspaper.

During the four days from May 26 through May 29, these delegates, plus members and honorary members of the UNA General Assembly, will discuss the state of the UNA and chart a course for its future. They will hear officers' reports; participate in discussions on UNA activity, both its pluses and its minuses; vote on proposed amendments to the UNA By-Laws; elect new executive officers, auditors and advisors; and vote on resolutions and recommendations for the good of the association.

At least three major topics are to be addressed in plenary sessions: "Development Plans for Soyuzivka," "Status of the UNA in Canada" and "UNA: Shaping the Future."

The first of these topics, Soyuzivka, will get special prominence as this convention will be the first ever held at the UNA estate. Delegates will discuss how to move forward with developing the Soyuzivka Heritage Foundation, an institution that will benefit not only the UNA, but our entire Ukrainian community.

The topic of the UNA's status is Canada is actually the continuation of a discussion begun at the previous convention. The question then posed was: Should the UNA continue to be active in Canada? In 2002 the delegates decided to postpone that decision pending a membership drive in Canada and the findings of a standing committee of advisors. Now the matter is up for discussion and action.

As for "Shaping the Future," that's a broad topic that covers all of the UNA's operations, from its insurance and annuities sales, to its newspapers and other fraternal activities - those things that make the UNA, well, a fraternal organization.

There will be a special session devoted to by-laws changes. One proposal calls for eliminating the position of director for Canada, another for decreasing the number of advisors from 11 to seven. The former, of course, is related to the larger issue of the UNA's presence in Canada. The latter would further downsize the General Assembly. In 2002 delegates voted to decrease the number of auditors from five to three and advisors from 14 to 11. Proponents will argue that since the UNA has shrunk, so, too, should its General Assembly. Opponents will posit that further reducing the UNA's representation among our community is counterproductive to the organization's health.

In addition, there will be separate meetings of committees on petitions, secretaries' matters, resolutions, etc. We encourage delegates to attend these also in order to become better informed about UNA issues and to offer their input. Not to be forgotten are various conventions caucuses that bring together groups such as women, Canadian delegates, youth, etc.

Finally, we must point out that for first-time delegates there will be an orientation session on Thursday evening, May 25, that will help them understand the ins and outs of a UNA convention.

If all the delegates participate - truly participate - in the convention's deliberations and its various sessions, then the convention theme "UNA: Ukrainians United" is sure to be carried forward as the guiding principle for the next four years of this great fraternal organization's activity.

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