Ukrainian National Association convention looks to future
Diachuk begins second term;
new generation of activists elected to advisory board
by Marta Kolomayets
PITTSBURGH - The Ukrainian National Association began its second hundred years of activity pledging at its 33rd Regular Convention to keep the best of its deeply rooted traditions, while looking toward its younger ranks to secure a promising future for this oldest Ukrainian fraternal organization in the world.
Meeting at the Pittsburgh Hilton and Towers, the 242 delegates, representing 247 UNA branches from throughout the United States and Canada, marked this jubilee year for the UNA under the slogan "With reverence for the past, with a vision for the future." They voiced their concerns and expectations for the UNA as it prepares to enter the 21st century, demanding that it provide competitive insurance products for its clients, but continue to provide fraternal benefits for all of its members.
The five-day conclave began on Friday morning, May 6, and concluded on Tuesday, May 10, re-electing Ulana Diachuk as president of the fraternal organization. Nestor Olesnycky began his second term as vice-president, as did Alexander Blahitka in the office of treasurer.
Anya Dydyk-Petrenko, Soyuzivka's mistress of ceremonies for more than a decade, who has also served as a UNA supreme advisor during the last four years, was elected the organization's vice-presidentess, and Peter Savaryn, a veteran Ukrainian Canadian community activist, who has served as the president of the World Congress of Free Ukrainians, was elected the UNA's Director for Canada.
Martha Lysko was elected to succeed Supreme Secretary Walter Sochan, who retired after more than 45 years of service to the UNA, 28 as a member of the Executive Committee. Delegates were saddened to see Mr. Sochan retire, offering him a five-minute standing ovation, but heartened that a candidate he had trained as his successor would be working with UNA branch secretaries, the blood and heart of the fraternal organization. Mr. Sochan promised to work in a consulting capacity for the further good of the UNA.
Elected to the Auditing Committee were Stepan Hawrysz, William Pastuszek, Stefania Hewryk (representing Canada), Anatole Doroshenko and Iwan Wynnyk. Mrs. Hewryk, the widow of former UNA Director for Canada John Hewryk, and Mr. Wynnyk were elected to their first terms in the UNA General Assembly. Mrs. Hewryk was also the first female UNA auditor to be elected in its 100-year history.
But the greatest number of energetic faces were visible among the 14 newly elected advisors, as the UNA got a shot of young blood, electing seven new officers to the board. Delegates also showed their overwhelming support for Roma Hadzewycz, editor-in-chief of The Ukrainian Weekly, who was elected with the highest number of votes to a second term; Tekla Moroz, a 20-year veteran of Canada, was re-elected as an advisor for her sixth consecutive term.
Other advisors who were re-elected to the General Assembly include: Walter Korchynsky, Alex Chudolij, Eugene Iwanciw, Anne Remick and Andrew Keybida. Also on the board is a former supreme advisor, Roman Kuropas.
Following in the footsteps of their families, Stefko Kuropas and Taras Szmagala Jr., third-generation UNA activists who are in their 20s, were elected to the new General Assembly.
Newly elected members of the board of advisors are Stephanie Hawryluk, Alexander Serafyn, Nick Diakiwsky and the Rev. Myron Stasiw.
In her acceptance speech upon being elected to a second term as president, on Tuesday afternoon, May 10, Mrs. Diachuk emphasized the role of youth within the ranks of the UNA.
"My thanks go out to those delegates who correctly understood that the future of this organization lies to a great extent in their hands and cast their vote in favor of candidates from the younger generation, who indicated their willingness to work in the General Assembly for the benefit and the growth of the UNA. We have great hope in their contributions."
The convention, which was held in Pittsburgh as a tribute to the UNA pioneers from this area, who gave birth to the organization in 1894, began in a tense atmosphere, as delegates, having read reports in the UNA's publications, Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly, arrived at the convention uneasy about their organization's future.
Indeed, delegates expressed fear that the oldest consistently published Ukrainian-language daily, Svoboda, would succumb to the high cost of publishing and postage. They also expressed dissatisfaction with the Executive Committee's dipping into the UNA reserves and asked them to institute cost-cutting measures across the board.
Opening of convention
The jubilee convention opened with Melissa Haluszczak and Natalka Kapeluck singing the national anthems of the United States, Canada and Ukraine, and prayers offered by Metropolitan Stephen Sulyk, head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the United States, and the Rev. George Hnatko of the Pittsburgh Deanery of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the U.S.A.
Michael Komichak, chairman of the Pittsburgh Convention Committee, who has been dubbed "the Ukrainian mayor of Pittsburgh," graciously welcomed all the delegates to his city and provided an entertainment schedule for all to enjoy, organizing a jubilee concert, a banquet and an evening boat cruise down Pittsburgh's three rivers: the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio.
He also introduced Tom Murphy, the newly elected (real) mayor of Pittsburgh, and State Sen. Michael Dowida, who is of Ukrainian descent, to the delegates. Mr. Dowida, whose grandfather emigrated from the Ternopil region, welcomed the delegates with the words: "Khrystos Voskres," and was greeted by the thunderous applause of all in attendance.
Mrs. Diachuk then welcomed the delegates, noting that the "jubilee celebrations come at a time of Ukraine's national rebirth" and that "it is a happy coincidence that the UNA's 100th anniversary is also the first convention it is holding since Ukraine gained its independence."
A moment of silence was held for UNA members who passed away in the last four years, before the convention delegates got down to business, listening to a report by Credentials Committee Chairman Roman Lapychak. (Other members of the committee included Taras Slevinsky, Tymko Butrej, Marianna Cizdyn and Anna Burij.)
The roomful of delegates and guests listened to the inspiring call to unity expressed by Metropolitan Sulyk in his opening remarks. He noted that in times when the Ukrainian people stood united in thought, word and deed, their nation was great and strong. He told the delegates that "unity is needed in every aspect of Ukrainian life, be it religious, cultural, military, educational, political or civic, if we are to build our own home, our own nation, and preserve it for future generations."
The convention then elected a presidium, which was chaired by John O. Flis and co-chaired by Mr. Savaryn and Wasyl Kolodchin. Jarema Rakoczy and Stephanie Hawryluk served as Ukrainian- and English-language secretaries, respectively. Stepan Kolodrub, John Chomko and John Pryhoda were designated as sergeants-at-arms.
However, the convention program proved to be too ambitious for the delegates, who had come not only to listen to reports and ask questions of the outgoing members of the Supreme Assembly, but to listen to and pass resolutions recommended by the following convention committees: by-laws, financial, secretaries, petitions and resolutions.
Amendments to UNA By-Laws
Discussion of the proposed amendments to the UNA By-Laws began on Monday, May 9, under the direction of Zenon Holubec, chairman of the convention's By-Laws Committee. Other members of that committee were: Zenobia Zarycky, Michael Karkoc, John Petruncio and Ben Doliszny.
The function of the convention's By-Laws Committee was to review the amendments suggested by the Special UNA By-Laws Committee created in September 1990, as well as suggestions submitted in writing by UNA members to the UNA Home Office. Having done that during deliberations which began even before the convention got under way, the committee presented its proposals to the convention, which had to approve any changes to the existing By-Laws by a vote of at least two-thirds of the registered delegates.
The delegates subsequently approved provisions that:
In addition, some wording in the By-Laws was updated to reflect current usage and proper English grammar; the UNA seal will now bear the date of the association's founding, 1894; and the proceedings of the UNA convention, General Assembly meetings and executive committee meetings will be conducted in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order.
Certain amendments approved by the delegates were meant to bring the UNA into compliance with current requirements by the New Jersey Insurance Department. These included provisions stipulating that there be no proxy voting at the convention; that delegates elected to serve at a regular convention shall also serve at any special convention held following the regular convention until such time as their successors are elected; that any director, trustee, officer, auditor, advisor or employee be indemnified against liability for acts or omissions of performance in conjunction with their duties; and that a member's benefit certificate may be assigned by him/her to another party, while the rights and privileges of membership are retained by the insured.
As regards the number of convention delegates to which a branch is entitled, the convention's By-Laws Committee recommended and the delegates agreed that the proportion should be as follows: 75 to 149 members, one delegate; 150-224, two delegates; 225-299, three delegates; 300 or more, four delegates.
The delegates also approved the deletion of the post of supreme vice-presidentess from the Executive Committee, in its place adding a second vice-president. The post of supreme vice-president will become first vice-president. These changes become effective with elections during the 34th convention.
The amendments approved by the convention are effective July 1 of this year, or when approved by the State Insurance Department of New Jersey, the state where the UNA is legally incorporated.
On the recommendation of the By-Laws Committee, the convention delegates rejected several amendments that had been proposed by the Special By-Laws Committee, which functioned from September 1990 to the time of the convention. Thus, the post of fraternal activities director on the Executive Committee was not approved; the age limitation for members of the Executive Committee, which stipulated that any person who reached age 70 by the time of the convention could not run for any office on the Executive Committee, was not passed; and the number of advisors was not decreased from 14 to 11.
Due to time constraints, all the proposals of the By-Laws Committee could not be presented to the delegates; furthermore, it was evident that certain provisions could not be adopted in time for the primary elections. As a result, Mrs. Diachuk made a notion, and the delegates agreed, that the elections of a new UNA Supreme Assembly for the 1994-1998 term would be conducted in accordance with the existing By-Laws and that any changes regarding the composition of the Supreme Assembly, such as the addition of new officers or a change in the number of its members, would take effect for the next UNA convention.
UNA finances
The Financial Committee was composed of the following delegates: John Gawaluch, chairman; Alexander Serafyn, secretary; Mykola Andrukhiw, Nick Diakiwsky and Ivan Sierant, members.
The committee worked throughout the days and in the evenings, and then reported to the convention. Among the recommendations presented and passed by the convention were: a 1994 budget for the UNA, which foresees an income of $16,264,000, expenses of $11,851,103, and a net profit of $4,412,897.
According to the Financial Committee, which worked with the UNA treasurer, Mr. Blahitka, the income is to come from dues ($7 million), investments ($5 million) and publishing ($1.8 million). Projected expenditures for 1994 were listed as follows: $3.28 million in payments to members; $348,000 on investments; $575,000 on the Svoboda Press; $1.6 million on Soyuzivka; $100,000 on the Canadian office; $215,000 on the UNA Washington Office; $837,000 on organizers; and $1.06 million on employees salaries.
The Financial Committee also recommended that the delegates' per diem be raised to $160, an increase of $10 per day from the previous convention; and that the salaries of the full-time UNA executives not be raised this year. However any new executives elected to office at this convention would receive 85 percent of the full salary and then receive a 5 percent increase every year. Thus, by the fourth year, they will have a salary equal to that of veteran executives.
The convention also passed a $50,000 budget designated for donations to educational, church and civic organizations active in the diaspora and voted that each convention delegate will donate $25 to the Fund for the Rebirth of Ukraine from his/her per diem.
The convention had the most trouble with subscription fee increases for UNA publications, but after delegates rejected its first suggestion, the Financial Committee returned with a second proposal that was passed. The subscription rate increases for Svoboda, The Weekly and Veselka, are to be staggered over the next three years. The convention decided that it is imperative that the publications continue to be published in their current form. The delegates were made to realize that a Svoboda subscription costs members only 6 cents per day; the rest is subsidized by the UNA. Subscription fees for Svoboda Press publications have not been raised since 1982.
Thus, the convention voted to increase Svoboda subscriptions from $15 for members to $30 for members, as of July 1, 1994. That is to increase to $45 by July 1, 1995, and to $65 by July 1, 1996. For non-members, who now pay $40 per year, that will go up to $55 by 1994, then to $70 by 1995 and to $85 by 1996.
For The Weekly, which is now available to members at $10 per year, that will go up to $20 by July 1, 1994, then to $30 in July 1995 and finally to $35 by July 1996. Non-members, who enjoy The Weekly for $20 a year, will have their subscriptions increased to $30, then $40 and finally $50.
Veselka fans, who as members pay only $6 per year, will experience an increase of $2 every year for the next three years. Non-members, who pay $8 a year now, will pay $10, then $12 and $14 over the next three years.
Secretaries' concerns
The Secretaries Committee, chaired by Roman Prypchan, included the following members: Oksana Bereznytska (vice-chair); Roman Kuropas (Ukrainian-language secretary); Joseph Chabon (English-language secretary); Yaroslava Zorych and Leon Harding, members.
The committee reported: "We are saddened by the continual drop in membership. Our professional sales force has not met our expectations. We firmly believe that our secretaries are a strong foundation for the new century of the UNA. We believe that our branch secretaries deserve to be rewarded so that they can improve and help encourage young secretaries to take over in their branches when needed.
They stressed that suggestions made at the 32nd Regular Convention were not implemented and recommended that: organizing awards to secretaries be increased; a quarterly newsletter for secretaries be published; Svoboda and The Weekly be sent to prospective members free of charge for three months; secretaries with over 25 years of service be recognized and rewarded.
The Secretaries Committee also suggested that a part of UNA funds be kept at Ukrainian credit unions, that the UNA advertise on TV and radio programs throughout the U.S. and Canada, and that the application forms and promotional materials used by secretaries be updated to reflect a more professional level.
Convention delegates voted to approve all of the recommendations suggested by this committee.
UNA grants
The Petitions Committee, which every four years reviews projects submitted to the UNA for funding, was generous in the scope of projects it chose to fund. Of the $50,000 allocated for the Petitions Committee, which consisted of Maria Kulczycky, chairperson; Wasyl Yevtushenko, Ukrainian-language secretary; Estelle Woloshyn, English-language secretary; Myron Siryj and Lev Bodnar, members.
The committee allocated $10,000 for a Ukrainian Teachers Seminar to be held at Soyuzivka this summer, and $1,250 each for the Ukrainian Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox seminaries in Stamford, Conn., and South Bound Brook, N.J. The committee also suggested that the convention give the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus in Detroit $1,250.
Over 50 other religious, cultural, educational, youth and civic institutions and organizations in the United States, Canada and Europe received donations ranging from $200 to $1,000.
Organizations in Ukraine did not fall under this $50,000 allotment. Funds for projects in Ukraine are distributed from the UNA Fund for the Rebirth of Ukraine created at the 32nd Regular Convention of the UNA in 1990.
Last to report on its work, prior to elections on Tuesday morning, May 10, was the Resolutions Committee, which was chaired by Dr. Bohdan Tkaczuk. Its Ukrainian-language secretary was Olha Marushchak, while the English-language secretary was Marta Kolomayets. Other members of the committee included Petro Leshchyshyn, Omelan Twardowsky and Yaroslava Bachynsky.
Ideas proposed by the Resolutions Committee and accepted unanimously by the convention delegates include: to hold the 1998 convention of the UNA in Canada, as an effort to promote the fraternal organization in that country and to underscore the importance of that community; to develop a marketing strategy for UNA publications and hire a business manager to increase the circulation of the publications; and to organize a conference, which would examine the Ukrainian American community, including its demographics, socio-economic status, as well as challenges facing the continued well-being of the UNA and the diaspora community.
The Resolutions Committee also focused on youth as the key to the UNA's successful future, and together with members of the Youth Caucus (members under age 50 were classified as youth) recommended that a standing committee on youth affairs be formed to promote the UNA and to develop a comprehensive fraternal program designed to attract new young members.
The Youth Committee, which is to be appointed by the Executive Committee no later than August 1, should be composed of nine members; it has asked for $2,500 per year for the next four years as its operating budget and is expected to report to the General Assembly on an annual basis.
Another resolution passed by the convention examined the relationship between branch secretaries and professional salesmen and organizers. Many of the local secretaries expressed their disapproval of the actions of the Home Office, which had opened new sales offices in various regions of the U.S., i.e. Allentown, Pa., and Parma, Ohio, without informing the local branches or district committees.
The Resolutions Committee stated that cooperation between the secretaries and the professionals is the only way to secure a bright future for organizing new members.
The committee also circulated a petition to the U.S. postmaster general, complaining about the abhorrent handling of second-class mail and asking that the office conduct an investigation aimed at improving the delivery of the newspapers to customers.
It expressed the need for an indexing project for The Ukrainian Weekly, beginning with the year 1976, in order to provide more accessible material for historians, journalists and researchers.
Convention delegates also recommended that a bust of the late Patriarch Mstyslav I of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church be erected at the UNA estate, Soyuzivka, within a period of two years.
In matters dealing with Ukraine and the diaspora, the Resolutions Committee recommended that the already chartered Ukrainian National Foundation be activated. The foundation is to serve as an advisory body for the UNA Fund for the Rebirth of Ukraine and to review projects for Ukraine. The foundation is to include members of the UNA General Assembly as well as independent consultants.
The committee also recommended that the Kyyiv Press Bureau be expanded to two full-time correspondents, which would enable one reporter to be stationed in the capital city, while another could travel around Ukraine, the territories of the former Soviet Union, as well as Eastern Europe. The convention recommended that in view of the fact that the UNA is expanding its activities in Canada, it should consider opening a press bureau in Toronto to highlight Canadian news.
Another recommendation accepted by the convention was to distribute both Svoboda and The Weekly in Ukraine. At first, the newspapers would be printed in the U.S. and later a network should be developed to print in Ukraine. The convention also suggested that The Weekly be sold at hotel kiosks for hard currency.
Lastly, the Resolutions Committee recommended that the UNA support the Ukrainian National Olympic Committee, both morally and financially, and that it aid in the publication of a books on the history of Ukrainian sports, which are being developed in Lviv for use in the Ukrainian school system.
Discussion of reports
Convention delegates' time was spent not only in listening to reports by convention committees but also in questioning reports presented by members of the outgoing Supreme Assembly.
Throughout the week they asked questions, but seldom seemed satisfied with the answers. William Pastuszek, chairman of the Auditing Committee, delivered an hourlong addendum to his published report, in which he criticized the actions of the Executive Committee, which, he said, did not respond to his questions and letters of inquiry. In a well-researched report, full of facts and figures, Mr. Pastuszek complained that often the Supreme Assembly had not been informed of the UNA's financial difficulties.
"Ladies and Gentlemen: it is imperative that when you discuss the By-Laws, safeguards be implemented so that the board of advisors and Supreme Assembly be presented an operational budget and proposed capital outlay budget. This is necessary to understand their effect on our reserves. The supreme executives cannot run this organization as a 'private club,'" said Mr. Pastuszek.
"Policy decisions and capital outlays must be determined by the Supreme Assembly. Accountability must exist and must be enforceable. The CEO and/or supreme executives can be guided and be obliged to conform and carry out the Supreme Assembly decisions. We must ... stop the drain on our reserves and the wasting of assets, and avert any further depletion of our reserves. The executives must be obliged to strictly operate within the Supreme Assembly approved budget and at no time deplete reserves without Supreme Assembly approval. There must be a checks and balances system in the UNA," he said.
"We get stonewalled when we ask questions," said Mr. Pastuszek, whose remarks were greeted with thunderous applause from the delegates. Many of them noted that they could not remember the last time they had heard such a controversial report at a UNA convention.
Caucuses
On Friday evening, May 6, the convention delegates, surprised at some of the remarks they had heard during the day and to some degree angry that they had been unaware of some of the UNA's problems, began caucasing in groups. That first evening, the New York state delegates held a meeting, as did the Canadian delegation, the women and the American-born delegates. The caucuses lasted well past midnight, and some delegates continued politicking well into the morning hours.
On Saturday, the convention took on a less strained tone, as delegates got up to pose questions to the officers. Many of the delegates expressed concern about the future of Svoboda, realizing that it is such an integral part of Batko Soyuz that to let it die or to diminish it to a weekly would start the unraveling of the UNA.
Other delegates demanded explanations as to how the UNA plans to increase membership and how the Executive Committee plans to improve communications with the branch secretaries. They questioned the role of Bob Cook, the UNA's national director for insurance sales, as well as the high budget of the UNA Washington Office.
Many were disturbed that the UNA had apparently focused on business and had neglected the fraternal aspect of the organization. Some delegates expressed the view that the UNA may need professional insurance salesmen, but they suggested that the UNA train insurance agents of Ukrainian descent who would care about both the business and fraternal aspects of the UNA.
One delegate, unnerved at the proceedings, said the UNA simply must stop spending more more than it has, and stop dipping into its reserves. "Let's tighten our belts; let's set budgets for all departments," he said.
The questions went on for hours before the second day of the convention ended. Later most delegates made it down to the Bellefield Auditorium on the Pittsburgh University campus, where the UNA centennial and the eve of Mothers' Day were marked with an entertaining "Festival of Ukrainian Songs and Dances," featuring the talents of the Poltava Dance Company of Pittsburgh, Luba Hlutkowsky, director; the Prometheus Chorus of Philadelphia, Adrian Bryttan, director; and the Kashtan Dance Ensemble of Cleveland, James Basso, director. The concert was emceed by Ms. Dydyk-Petrenko and Mr. Komichak.
On Sunday, May 8, the convention did not begin until 2 p.m., as delegates went to local Catholic and Orthodox churches to celebrate Mothers' Day and commemorate St. Thomas Sunday.
With less than three hours of convention work on Sunday, Mrs. Diachuk told the convention delegates that, due to time constraints, it seemed unlikely that amendments to the UNA By-Laws could be passed in time for the primary elections and suggested that the officers for the following four years be elected according to the existing By-Laws. The delegates voted to accept her proposal.
UNA banquet
Over 300 delegates and guests attended the UNA convention banquet at the Pittsburgh Hilton and Towers Ballroom, which featured a keynote address by Honorary Member of the UNA Supreme Assembly Myron Kuropas, author of a soon-to-be published history of the UNA. In his remarks, Dr. Kuropas reflected on the UNA's 100-year history, highlighting its critical moments over the decades (The full text of Dr. Kuropas' remarks will appear in next week's issue.)
"There can be little doubt that the Ukrainian National Association has played a key role in the development and continued growth of the Ukrainian community in North America during the past 100 years. It is no exaggeration to say that if there had been no Ukrainian National Association, our community would be very different from what it is today.
"What about the future? During the past 100 years, we have proven that we have what it takes to not only survive but to grow. We know how to persevere. We have developed certain core beliefs and they have guided us for 10 decades. No one can accuse us of lacking integrity. But what about a vision? Do we still have it? That's an important question because vision is the one attribute that can ensure our future.
"During our deliberations these past few days have we allowed vision, or the verities of the financial ledger, to guide our discussions? Have we looked to the interests of Batko Soyuz, or the interests of other organizations, or even our personal interests? Have we concentrated on the past or focused on the future?
"Will we bring new blood into our organization, or will we rely on war horses older than I to lead us into the next century? Will we turn ourselves around and begin to grow again, or is our decline terminal?
"What is our vision for the future? Where do we see the UNA in the year 2000? Are we doing everything in our power to get where we want to be? It could be very easy for us to dismiss tough questions such as these just as it would have been easy for those who came before us. They didn't back away from the arduous and complex issues of their day. Can we, will we, live up to their exemplary track record? Only we can answer that question, my fellow delegates. Let us not forget that the future of Soyuz is now in our hands," Dr. Kuropas noted in his address.
Greetings from U.S. President Bill Clinton were read to convention delegates by Mr. Olesnycky. "Ukrainian Americans have made significant contributions to the United States, strengthening our towns and cities, and enriching our national life. In virtually every field and occupation, Ukrainian Americans have broadened our cultural and political understanding, and have helped to make our country one of great diversity and infinite promise," read the greeting.
"We face many challenges as a nation, but our belief in the importance of community involvement will provide us with the energy and hope to build a more peaceful, prosperous world. I welcome the UNA's participation in this bold endeavor." Delivering greetings at the convention banquet were Congressmen William Coyne (D-Pa.) and Rick Santorum (R-Pa.). Throughout the five-day convention, numerous organizations sent best wishes to the UNA on its centennial anniversary.
Dr. Volodymyr Zabihaylo, a counselor at the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington, delivered greetings from Ukrainian President Leonid Kravchuk and Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oleh Bilorus.
Guests from Ukraine included Luba Shara, who worked with Youth Alternatives, an organization based in Kyyiv and sponsored by the UNA and Freedom House to help promote participation in elections among Ukraine's youth. Ms. Shara graciously thanked the UNA for its funding and told convention delegates about the youth movement in Ukraine, and its attempts to reform Ukraine's post-communist society. Oles Yanchuk, a filmmaker from Kyyiv who had been introduced to UNA convention delegates during the 1990 conclave in Baltimore, visited delegates of this convention to thank the UNA for helping sponsor his film, "Famine - 33," which won critical acclaim in both Ukraine and the West for its depiction of one of Ukraine's tragic pages of history.
Mr. Yanchuk also thanked the UNA for its faith in him and told delegates of his plans to make a new film based on the Ukrainian political immigration after second world war, and the life of Stepan Bandera.
At the conclusion of the banquet, which lasted over three hours, convention delegates were entertained by Oberehy, a musical ensemble originally from Lviv.
The master of ceremonies for the convention banquet was Mr. Olesnycky; welcoming remarks were delivered by Mr. Komichak. The invocation was delivered by the Rt. Rev. Michael Poloway of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church, and the benediction was delivered by the Very Rev. Hnatko of the Pittsburgh deanery of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. Monday's convention highlights included the primary election, run by the Elections Committee chaired by Nicholas Bobeczko, whose members were: Myron Groch, Stefania Rudyk, Oleksa Pryshlak, Volodymyr Yaniv, Omelan Twardowsky, Stefania Hewryk, Bohdan Odezynsky, Yaroslav Zaviysky, Hryhoriy Korbiak, Michael Karachewsky, Walter Bilyk, the Rev. Myron Stasiw and Mykhailo Nytsch.
(For results on the primary and the final elections, please consult chart on page 5.)
The 33rd Regular Convention of the Ukrainian National Association, the world's oldest Ukrainian fraternal organization, concluded on Tuesday afternoon, May 10, with delegates looking toward the future, but respecting the work of those who had made the UNA what it is today. Members of the UNA Auditing Committee cited four members who contributed years of service to the organization - retiring Supreme Secretary Walter Sochan, former UNA Presidents John O. Flis and Joseph Lesawyer, and outgoing Supreme Auditor Wasyl Didiuk - nominating them to become honorary members of the General Assembly.
Although there were several more members of the outgoing Supreme Assembly deserving of such honors for their years of dedicated service to the UNA, among them Supreme Vice- Presidentess Gloria Paschen, Supreme Auditor Taras Szmagala, and Supreme Advisors Walter Kwas, Andrew Jula and Helen Olek Scott, the existing UNA By-Laws stipulate that the number of honorary members of the UNA Supreme Assembly cannot exceed more than 50 percent of the number of members of the General Assembly.
Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, May 15, 1994, No. 20, Vol. LXII
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