Fifteen years ago, on February 22, 2004, the Ukrainian National Association marked its 110th anniversary. The newspaper published a yearlong feature focusing on the UNA’s history. This year marks the 125th anniversary of the founding of the UNA on February 22, 1894.
Among the highlights from the UNA’s early years were the following.
The first Regular Convention of the UNA was held on May 30, 1894, in Shamokin, Pa., three months after the establishment of the UNA. Total assets at that time totaled $220.35. During the first convention, Svoboda was unanimously resolved to become the official organ of the UNA. The first Supreme Assembly elected included: Theodosius Talpash, president; Michael Yevchak, vice-president; the Rev. Ivan Konstakevych, secretary; Ivan Glova, treasurer; Auditing Committee the Revs. H. Hluhovych, T. Obushkevych, O. Tovt, Hryhory Hrushka, G. Huk; Advisors Andrew Pyvovarnyk, Yuriy Khyliak, Jacob Dankovsky, Theodore Khomiak, Oleksiy Halaburda, V. Simenovich; Alternates O. Kuryla, M. Adzyma, P. Shymansky, S. Dranko and K. Koban.
Revenue during the UNA’s first year of operations totaled $1,142.75 as reported at the Supreme Assembly’s midyear meeting on January 15, 1895. Disbursements totaled $1,077.22 and membership included 505 members, of which 66 had been suspended for non-payment of membership dues. Officers reported that the first year had been extremely difficult since the UNA was short of workers. The only two employees of the UNA at that time were the Rev. Hrushka, editor of Svoboda, and the Rev. Konstankevych, supreme secretary.
On May 30, 1895, the UNA held its second convention in Olyphant, Pa., and its total assets were $605.60. Mr. Glova of Excelsior, Pa., was elected as its supreme president; Mr. Talpash of Shamokin, Pa., the UNA’s first chief supreme president, took over the post of supreme vice-president. Mr. Glova had previously served as the UNA’s first supreme treasurer.
At the UNA’s third convention on January 2, 1896, in Mount Carmel, Pa., it was reported that in the two years since the founding of the UNA, the organization had paid out $2,300 in death benefits for its members. The mortality rate was reported at 12 deaths per 1,000 members. The average age of UNA members was 35. Delegates to the third convention set minimum and maximum age limits for UNA members, respectively, at 16 and 45. The age limits were an attempt to decrease the UNA’s potential mortality rate.
The third UNA convention also decided to establish an Indigent Fund to help needy members, deducting 10 cents from monthly membership dues for that purpose. Mr. Glova was re-elected as supreme president.
At the latest UNA convention held last year UNA President/CEO Stefan Kaczaraj, in his “State of the UNA Address,” noted that as of December 2017 the “UNA’s total net admitted assets stand at $187.8 million,” and its surplus was at $10.6 million, with a net operating income of $1.3 million.
Sources: “Highlights from the UNA’s 110-year history,” “Ukrainian National Association Its Past and Present, (1894-1964)” by Anthony Dragan (Svoboda Press, 1964), The Ukrainian Weekly, February 29, 2004.