Tom Hawrylko
Ukrainian American community representatives with Sen. Robert Menendez (fifth from right) after a roundtable discussion on current developments in Ukraine at his office in Newark, N.J. The January 2 meeting was organized by the Ukrainian National Association.
For the Ukrainian National Association, 2014 began with the announcement in January of the UNA’s 38th Regular Convention to be held May 15-18 at the Soyuzivka Heritage Center. It was also the year the UNA, the world’s oldest and largest Ukrainian fraternal organization, marked the 120th anniversary of its founding.
Our readers know this organization as the publisher of this newspaper (founded 1933) and our sister publication, Svoboda (founded 1893). Others know the UNA as the owner of the Soyuzivka Heritage Center. Many others know the UNA as the provider of solid life insurance, endowment and annuity products. Through its charitable arm, the Ukrainian National Foundation, the UNA continues to support the work of the National University of Ostroh Academy, student scholarships in North America and Ukraine, the press funds of the UNA’s two weekly newspapers, as well as many more projects.
The Almanac of the Ukrainian National Association for 2014 commemorated the 120th anniversary of the UNA’s founding on February 22, 1894, as well as the 200th anniversary of the birth of Ukraine’s greatest poet and national bard, Taras Shevchenko. Worth noting is the fact that the UNA since its founding has considered Shevchenko its spiritual patron. Thus, the anniversaries marked in the 2014 almanac were fittingly intertwined.
Also to mark the UNA’s major anniversary, The Ukrainian Weekly published a list of all UNA executive officers since the organization’s founding in 1894 through the present day. The list appeared in our May 18 issue, just in time for the UNA Convention.
Another historical note was our May 18 editorial, which informed readers (and reminded those who knew) that 2014 also marked the 120th anniversary of a singular event: the first time that the anthem “Shche Ne Vmerla Ukraina” was sung in America. And it happened at the first Regular Convention of the UNA in Shamokin, Pa., which was held on May 30, 1894, just over three months after the founding meeting of the UNA. Svoboda described the scene: “Since morning, a light and benevolent May rain had been falling, as if Mother Rus’ was crying tears of happiness upon seeing that her children had not been lost, that they were hurrying from all directions, with blue-and-yellow badges on their chests, to a community assembly.” The convention was preceded by liturgy at the local church that was overflowing with people; hundreds stood outside. Afterwards, during the convention luncheon, the Rev. Hryhory Hrushka, founder and editor-in-chief of Svoboda, spoke of the significance of Soyuz. He was followed by a 50-voice choir that sang “Shche Ne Vmerla Ukraina.”
Getting back to our review of events for 2014, on January 2, acting on the request of U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the UNA organized a roundtable discussion with leaders of New Jersey-based Ukrainian American community organizations at the senator’s offices in Newark, N.J. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, New Jersey has the fourth highest population of Ukrainian Americans in the United States, behind New York, Pennsylvania and California. The representative cross-section of community leaders who were able to attend prepared a comprehensive presentation for the senator.
Christine Syzonenko‚ Anna Shpook
The stars of the 2014 Ukrainian Cultural Festival, held July 11-13 at the Soyuzivka Heritage Center: (from left) Vasyl Popadiuk, Ruslana and Oleh Skrypka.
In attendance as representatives of the UNA were Treasurer Roma Lisovich (coordinator of the meeting), President Stefan Kaczaraj and Fraternal Coordinator Yuriy Symczyk. Representing the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) were New Jersey residents Tamara Olexy, president, and Ronya Lozynskyj, external affairs director. Also participating were Dr. Alexander Motyl, professor of political science at Rutgers University-Newark, a well-known author and specialist on Ukraine, Russia, the Soviet Union and the post-Soviet order; representatives of the Ukrainian American Bar Association (UABA), Myroslaw Smorodsky, communications director, and Victor Rud, Foreign Policy Committee chairman; Dr. Christine Rohowsky-Kochan, chair of the U.S. National Board of Directors of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization; and Mark Howansky, president of the Organization for the Defense of Lemkivshchyna.
Sen. Menendez expressed his support of the Ukrainian people and their struggle. “We stand with the citizens of Ukraine who meet in Kyiv’s Maidan Square seeking their human rights and dignity,” he said as he greeted the delegation. He further stated that his purpose in initiating the meeting was to learn what the Ukrainian American community and his constituents in New Jersey felt about the current situation in Ukraine, and he expressed his desire to address the community’s concerns. Sen. Menendez said, “Ukrainians should be allowed to determine their own destiny.” He added, “That’s why I find Russia’s coercive trade, treatment and economic tactics against Ukraine reprehensible. I look forward to pursuing this foreign policy issue before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.”
Sen. Menendez promised the group he would set up a full Senate hearing on the situation in Ukraine and indicated he would study and consider proposing Magnitsky-type legislation that would freeze assets and enact sanctions against the appropriate corrupt government officials in Ukraine. Furthermore, the senator said he would organize a fact-finding mission to Ukraine to observe the situation first hand. Sen. Menendez made good on his first promise almost immediately – a hearing was scheduled for January 15.
In March, the UNA announced the results of its 2013 organizing campaign, that is, the campaign to enroll new members, in a report authored by UNA National Secretary Christine E. Kozak that was published in The Weekly (March 9). The top organizers were: Advisor Lubov Streletsky (Branch 10), Pittsburgh District Chairman Nicholas Diakiwsky (Branch 161), George B. Fedorijczuk (Branch 162) and Second Vice-President Eugene Oscislawski (Branch 234), all of whom happened to be secretaries of their branches.
Just over two months later, it was convention time. Scores of delegates gathered for the UNA’s 38th Regular Convention at the Soyuzivka Heritage Center on May 14-18. Re-elected by acclamation, following overwhelming support in the primary round of elections, were the six officers of the Executive Committee: President Kaczaraj, First Vice-President Michael Koziupa, Second Vice-President Eugene Oscislawski, Director of Canada Myron Groch, National Secretary Kozak and Treasurer Lisovich. The three-member Auditing Committee – Slavko Tysiak, Eugene Serba and Dr. Wasyl Szeremeta – was also re-elected by acclamation. The convention also elected 11 advisors to the General Assembly: Nicholas Fil (New York), Ewhen Osidacz (Quebec), Andrij Szul (New York), Andrij Gavdanovich (New York), Gloria Horbaty (Connecticut), Maya Lew (New York), Julian Pishko (Minnesota), Lubov Striletsky (Pennsylvania), Luba Poniatyszyn Keske (California), Bohdanna Puzyk (Connecticut) and Maria Luba Walchuk (Pennsylvania). New to the assembly are: Mr. Gavdanovich, Mr. Pishko, Ms. Puzyk and Ms. Walchuk.
In his opening remarks, President Kaczaraj noted that this was the third consecutive time that the UNA convention was held at Soyuzivka. Mr. Kaczaraj noted: “I see many familiar faces, smiling faces, as the UNA celebrates its longtime service to Ukrainians and Ukraine, especially in these troubling times facing Ukraine. In those 120 years the UNA has worked for the good of its members and the Ukrainian community at large. Our work continues as do opportunities for new perspectives.” He added, “The Maidan revolution in Ukraine and the new elections are such an opportunity where our strength should be used to support the rebirth of Ukraine, not only its political development, but in cultural, religious and social spheres. In the UNA’s next four years, keep this in mind in shaping our work.”
Matthew Dubas
UNA General Assembly members and delegates to the 38th Regular Convention of the Ukrainian National Association, held May 15-18 at Soyuzivka.
During the four days of sessions, besides attending to UNA business and electing a new General Assembly, participants enjoyed a variety of events, including a Ukrainian-themed dinner, an evening sing-along with Stan Kosiw on accordion, a concert featuring members of The Toronto Bandurist Capella under the direction of Dr. Victor Mishalow with a meet-and-greet with the performers after the concert, and the convention banquet. At the banquet, Mr. Kaczaraj delivered the keynote address, after his wife, Swiatoslawa Kaczaraj, with piano accompaniment by Dr. Szul, sang the anthem of the UNA. Members of the new General Assembly were officially sworn in during the banquet.
Convention delegates approved a variety of resolutions and recommendations to guide the UNA during the next four years. Among them was this resolution about Ukraine: “Whereas, there is serious trepidation regarding the current geopolitical crisis in Ukraine, and whereas, the current events in Ukraine represent a serious threat to the recent progress toward democracy in Ukraine, and the continued existence of Ukraine itself, and whereas, Ukraine is a crucial strategic partner of the United States, Canada and Europe, be it resolved the Executive Committee of the UNA speak out on behalf of Ukraine and its democratic aspirations and on an ongoing basis establish contact with the president of the United States and the prime minister of Canada, all members of the U.S. Congress and Canadian Parliament, as well as the Embassies of Ukraine in the U.S.A. and Canada, to resolutely convey opposition to all anti-democratic efforts of the Ukrainian and Russian governments as permitted by current law. Be it further resolved that the UNA’s president, as well as members of the General Assembly, continue to be integral members of ongoing delegations meeting with government officials to voice their concerns regarding the future relationship between the U.S.A., Canada and Ukraine as permitted by current law.”
A major event for the UNA and its Soyuzivka Heritage Center is the annual Ukrainian Cultural Festival held in July. Headlining this year’s event were rock sensation and National Artist of Ukraine Oleh Skrypka and violin virtuoso Vasyl Popadiuk with his world-renowned Papa Duke band. Pop star/activist Ruslana, “The Voice of the Maidan,” was the special guest at the 2014 Ukrainian Cultural Festival, which honored Ukraine’s struggle for democracy and Kyiv’s Euro-Maidan. The eighth annual festival, held July 11-13, was one of the most successful ever. More than 5,000 guests traveled that weekend to Soyuzivka, located in the scenic Shawangunk Mountains, or as Mr. Skrypka put it, in the “stateside Karpaty.”
Mr. Popadiuk performed his energetic “Gypsy World Fusion” music along with the Papa Duke band. They were later joined on stage by Mr. Skrypka, who sang and played alternately on guitar, horn and bayan. A founder of the legendary rock band Vopli Vidopliasova, Mr. Skrypka gifted the audience his special brand of Ukrainian ethno-rock music that had fans dancing on the festival grounds. The performance was a unique collaboration prepared especially for the Soyuzivka festival.
In keeping with the 2014 festival theme, “Spirit of the Maidan,” the dynamic Ruslana created a mini-Maidan on the Soyuzivka grounds. She appeared with four of her equally dynamic dancers in a high-energy performance that harkened back to her first performance at Soyuzivka’s festival in 2009.
Also on the bill was a festival favorite, the Roma Pryma Bohachevsky Dance Workshop, which is held at Soyuzivka, as well as the visiting Rusalka Dance Ensemble from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Sofia Fedyna, the voice of Lviv’s Euro-Maidan, internationally renowned master bandurist Victor Mishalow, the young bandurist Bogdan Shutka and the Dumka Chorus of New York rounded out the program, which comprised three concerts.
The cover of the 2014 UNA Almanac, which featured two major anniversaries: the 200th of the birth of Taras Shevchenko and the 120th of the Ukrainian National Association. (Cover design is by Ihor Pylypchuk.)
As the festival was getting under way, on Friday evening, July 11, the Ukrainian National Foundation, the UNA’s charitable arm, and the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee held the “Spirit of Maidan Gala,” a dinner and show benefiting the UUARC’s aid to families of the fallen, injured and missing victims of terrorist aggression against Ukraine. Appearing at that elegant $200-a-plate event held under the stars on the Lviv lawn were the festival’s three top stars.
The UNA presence at the festival included an information booth manned by Home Office employees who shared their knowledge of all the UNA has to offer with countless visitors. This year the staff prepared almost 1,000 signature UNA yellow bags that contained the “UNA and the Community – Partners for Life!” magazine and an array of UNA promotional items. In addition to the information booth, the Ukrainian National Association sponsored a children’s area filled with balloons, coloring books and crayons that also offered free face painting.
The UNA was represented also at many local festivals throughout the country, including those in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.
The UNA highlighted its annual scholarship program with two releases in its newspapers during 2014. Special sections in The Ukrainian Weekly and Svoboda were published in May offering congratulations to the 57 scholarship winners (who received a total of $13,175 in scholarships) for academic year 2013-2014. And, in October, the 51 scholarship winners for 2014-2015 (a total of $12,775 was awarded) were introduced to the newspapers’ readers.
The first page of the four-page color section featuring Christmas card designs by our community’s youngsters that was published in The Ukrainian Weekly on December 14. The 12 designs shown above were selected for the UNA’s 2014 cards.
The focus was on our community’s youngsters in December, when the UNA’s newspapers published special color sections featuring Christmas cards designed by young artists as part of the annual UNA Christmas Card Project. Twelve of the designs were chosen for the UNA’s 2014 Christmas cards. It was the second year that children’s designs graced the cards, sales of which benefit Soyuzivka, where numerous children’s camps and programs are held. The project is headed by UNA Events Coordinator Oksana Trytjak.
As for the older set, UNA Seniors and friends met on June 8-13 at their annual conference at Soyuzivka during what has become known as UNA Seniors’ Week.
Another annual event at Soyuzivka, the Miss Soyuzivka contest, was held on the weekend of August 9-10. The winner of the 58th annual pageant was Solomia Pylypiw of Randolph, N.J., a member of UNA Branch 269 and a graduate of Rutgers University’s Business School. Two candidates received identical scores, resulting in a tie for first runner-up: sisters Nadiya and Nataliya Pavlishyn of Astoria, N.Y. Nadiya attends Stony Brook University, while Nataliya is a student at Hunter College. Both sisters were born in Sambir, Ukraine, and immigrated to the United States at early ages. The evening’s second runner-up was Natalia Kudryk of Livingston, N.J., a student at Penn State University.
We would be remiss if we did not mention the popular camps held at Soyuzivka during the summer. This year’s crop of camps included Tennis Camp, “Tabir Ptashat” (a day camp for preschoolers), Chornomorska Sitch Sports School, the Roma Pryma Bohachevsky Dance Camp and the Dance Workshop for more advanced students, as well as Heritage Camp and Discovery Camp. Session 2 of the Roma Pryma Bohachevsky Ukrainian Dance Camp recorded the largest group of participants in dance camp history: 104 students. Campers and staff together amounted to 140 people.