NEWS AND VIEWS: Ukrainian American credit unions maintain ties with our elected officials (09/10/06)

NEWS AND VIEWS

Ukrainian American credit unions maintain ties with our elected officials

by Walter Tun

CHICAGO - Ukrainian American credit unions play an important part in America's democratic process, and exemplify our community's fiscal strength. Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union works actively to maintain ties with local and national elected officials.

During the last week of June, for example, after attending a credit union conference in Washington, Selfreliance's Michael R. Kos, Bohdan Watral, Oleh Karawan and Roman Yatskovskyy met with Reps. Danny Davis (D-Ill.) and Melissa Bean (D-Ill.).

At the meeting, Rep. Davis expressed his exuberance over the contributions Selfreliance has made to its community and to his legislative district. He then reiterated his support for the legal rights of new immigrants and for the need to integrate them into American society.

Rep. Bean also praised Selfreliance for its accomplishments and restated her support for the tax-exempt status of America's credit unions, as well as her support for democratic initiatives in Ukraine.

The following day, the Selfreliance representatives took part in a "Constituents' Breakfast" with Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). Selfreliance CEO Watral thanked the senators for their support and asked whether the senators would continue to support U.S. credit unions and democratic initiatives in Ukraine. Both senators said they strongly supported credit unions in their mission and were well aware of the work of Selfreliance for its members and community.

In regard to Ukraine, Sen. Obama replied that he and his colleague were in awe of the circumstances leading to the 2004 Ukrainian presidential election re-vote. Sen. Obama recapped some of the events leading to the re-vote including the Yushchenko poisoning attempt, manipulation of the elections by Moscow and the maidan demonstrations. He stated that Ukraine's dependency on Moscow for oil and gas should be a lesson to the U.S.: that a country which does not control its energy resources does not control its future.

In the following weeks, Selfreliance representatives met with President George W. Bush and with Rep. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.). During his visit to Chicago, President Bush noticed the large Ukrainian presence at a fund-raiser for Gubernatorial candidate Judy Baar Topinka, and both the president and the congressman were delighted to hear that the Ukrainian American community takes an active part in America's political process.

Does contact with elected officials matter? You bet! While the great majority of citizens scarcely pay attention to the process of government, the fact is that if constituents don't bring their issues to the attention of their representatives, the representatives may then have no interest in, or may take an unfavorable tack in regard to those issues. The U.S. Congress aims to work in the best interests of the American people, and it is to the public's advantage to communicate issues to Congress.

Individuals may feel that their voice has great meaning. But there is a world of difference between, say, a petition sent by Ukrainian Americans to a government office and a request from a U.S. congressman on behalf of his or her constituents.

The importance of a voting Ukrainian American community whose members are actively engaged with their government representatives cannot be overstated. The existence of a united community with financial resources also adds weight to issues brought forth from that community. Therefore, when visiting their elected representatives, credit union members who mention they are part of a 100,000-member-strong Ukrainian American credit union network that holds over $2 billion in deposits will add weight to their arguments for Ukrainian American issues.

Ukrainian American credit unions are uniquely representative of the Ukrainian American community and are respected in all sectors of American government. Their leaders represent the largest cohesive, financially based Ukrainian American group in matters relating to community issues. And, they represent an important aspect of émigré life that has served and will serve our community for generations.

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