THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM (08/03/97)

THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM

UNA Seniors Association concludes 23rd annual conference

by Anna Chopek

KERHONKSON - The 23rd Conference of UNA Seniors was held at Soyuzivka on June 8-13. The weather was perfect, accommodations excellent, the program varied - and a very good time was had by all.

The welcoming wine and cheese party, hosted by Alice Orlan, was held in a new setting, the lobby of the Main House, which had been transformed into a lounge. Dancing, music and socializing made for a pleasant evening. The 14 seniors who had come to the conference for the first time were introduced.

Registration was handled by Olga Paproski, Dr. Stefania Baranowsky and Mary Bobeczko. In all, 103 seniors registered, among them, former UNA officers Joseph Lesawyer, John Flis (supreme presidents) and Gloria Paschen (supreme vice-presidentess).

On Monday morning, members participated in a liturgy at the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church offered in memory of deceased UNA seniors.

The conference was opened by UNA Seniors Association President Anna Chopek. The American and Ukrainian anthems were sung, led by Eugene Moroz, "The Pledge of Allegiance" was recited, and the business session of the UNA conference was begun.

The conference presidium was elected as follows: Ms. Chopek, chairperson; Olga Liteplo, English secretary; Dr. Jurij Swyschuk, Ukrainian secretary; Miroslava Karp, Vladimir Tkach and Myron Sidorowitz, nominating committee; John Pawlow, Prof. Irene Tanya Rishko and Olga Shatynski, controllers; Irene Russnak, Estelle Woloshyn and Helen Chornomaz, Committee on Contributions.

Greetings from the first and long-time president of the UNA Seniors Association, Stefan Kuropas, were read, and tribute was paid to the late Walter Kwas for his many accomplishments as manager of Soyuzivka. Deceased members Stella Demey and Rosalie Polche also were remembered.

The minutes of the 1996 conference were read by the secretaries, Ms. Liteplo and Dr. Swyschuk, and reports were given by Ms. Chopek, president; Olga Paproski, treasurer; Sam Liteplo, vice-president; and Ms. Orlan, executive vice-president.

The following regional representatives also reported: Olga Paproski, Connecticut; Maria Mandzij, New Jersey; Ms. Russnak, Rochester, N.Y.; Ms. Liteplo, New York City and vicinity; Mary Bobeczko, Ohio; and Eva Uzych, Pennsylvania. Anne Remick, New England, was absent because of illness in her family, and therefore unable to give her report.

The controllers reported that the treasurer's books were in order, and a vote of confidence was passed.

The nominating committee submitted the following slate for election: all the present officers, the controllers who conducted this year's audit and all the regional representatives, plus, Dr. Stefania Baranowskyj, Kerhonkson, N.Y.; Mary Bednarczyk, Manchester, N.H.; and Helen Trenkler, Rhode Island. All were elected unanimously. Honorary Past Presidents Stepan Kuropas and Eugene Woloshyn continue to be members of the executive board. Dr. Roman Baranowsky and Ms. Chopek were also elected publicity chairpersons, respectively for English- and Ukrainian-language releases.

The highlight of the week was the bus trip to The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, where members viewed "The Glory of Byzantium" exhibit. Of particular interest was the religious and secular art of Kyivan Rus'.

An evening of Bingo, a very popular event, was ably conducted by Nicholas and Mary Bobeczko, John and Helen Laba, and Mr. Liteplo.

Ms. Orlan was in charge of the square dance night. She was able to find a superb caller, and between them they succeeded in getting six squares - 24 dancers - dancing. To get 24 seniors dancing was a remarkable achievement. Everyone including those on the sidelines had a great deal of fun, and expressed a wish that square dancing be on the program for the next year.

The Ukrainian singalong, led by Mrs. Liteplo and Mr. Moroz was an evening to remember. It was held on the Veselka deck. The Ukrainian folk songs we loved to sing over the years, the songs we can never forget, never lose their charm. The singers and the listeners just hated to see the evening come to an end.

The seniors were very grateful to Yuri Trenkler, who entertained them with Ukrainian videos, as he does each year. This year he included a video on "The Glory of Byzantium."

A total of $1,400 was raised during the 1997 conference via an auction and a raffle. The auction was very ably conducted by Messrs. Woloshyn and Moroz, assisted by Stephen Zenczak. The raffle was successful thanks to the hard work of Marie Prucknicki and Cornelia Yavarrow. On the recommendation of the Committee on Contributions and the approval of the membership, $700 will be sent to the Children of Chornobyl Foundation and $700 to the Soyuz Ukrainok project "The Babusia Fund" to aid poor grandmothers in Ukraine.

The annual review of current events in Ukraine, conducted by Dr. Roman Baranowsky was enhanced by a report given by Dr. Roman Procyk, director of the Ukrainian Studies Fund. He told of the many changes that he observed on a recent trip to Ukraine. It was a very interesting program and enjoyed by all.

UNA Secretary Martha Lysko discussed events taking place at the UNA: the sale of the UNA headquarters building, the acquisition of a new facility adequate for UNA needs and other matters. The question and answer period that followed was of great interest to the members. UNA President Ulana Diachuk usually visits the seniors' conference, but was unable to come this year because of a scheduling conflict.

The manager of Soyuzivka, John A. Flis, gave the seniors an overview of Soyuzivka, its problems and its prospects for the future.

Members dressed up for the conference banquet - the women wearing Ukrainian blouses, the men wearing Ukrainian shirts or Ukrainian ties. This presented an opportunity for taking pictures, and the seniors were fortunate to have among them a member whose hobby is photography. Emilian Jurchynsky of Rochester, N.Y., took various pictures, as he has done in the past, and members were very pleased with the results.

Soyuzivka management provided a marvelous cocktail party and an elegant banquet. Danny Slobodian, an active UNA senior who was unable to attend the conference and banquet because of his health, was present at the cocktail party.

The banquet speaker was George Sawicki, an architect of note from New York whose firm is the architect for Ukrainian Museum in New York. He showed slides of the plans for the museum, which whetted the seniors' interest. Members are anxiously looking forward to visiting this institution, which will be a wonderful addition to Ukrainian culture in the United States.

On Friday morning the seniors' busy week came to an end, and it was time to say our good-byes. All agreed the conference was a huge success, that a true fraternal spirit had prevailed all week and that they must come back next year.

Khristina Lew assigned to Kyiv

JERSEY CITY, N.J. - Khristina Lew, assistant editor of The Ukrainian Weekly, has been assigned to the Kyiv Press Bureau through the end of August. Ms. Lew began her tour of duty - her third in the capital of Ukraine - in mid-July.

Meanwhile, Staff Editor Roman Woronowycz, who was based in Kyiv since September 1996, is now at The Weekly's home office in Jersey City, N.J. He will take up duties at the Kyiv Press Bureau once again on September 1.

Assistant Editor Lew has been on the paper's editorial staff since November 1990. She first served in the Kyiv Press Bureau in the fall of 1992, and then again in July through September 1995.

The Ukrainian National Association's Kyiv Press Bureau has been functioning since January of 1990. Its work is made possible in part by the UNA's Fund for the Rebirth of Ukraine.

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