Detroit-area organizations host author Myron Kuropas (01/25/98)

Detroit-area organizations host author Myron Kuropas

by Stephen M. Wichar

WARREN, Mich. - At an author's night held here on December 6, 1997, at the Ukrainian Cultural Center, Dr. Myron Kuropas gave an engrossing and informative presentation on the topic of his most recent publication "Ukrainian-American Citadel," a 658-page documentary about the Ukrainian National Association.

Although he focused on the first 100 years of accomplishments of this fraternal organization, Dr. Kuropas also voiced crucial and startling concerns about the future of the "Ukrainian identity" in the coming century without supportive organizations like the UNA. Despite this outlook, the talk engaged the audience, and the expert style of delivery was entertaining.

Under the leadership of Dr. Alexander Serafyn, chairman of the UNA's Detroit District Committee, the Shevchenko Scientific Society, the Association for the Advancement of Ukrainian Culture, the Ukrainian Graduates of Detroit and Windsor, and the Ukrainian Cultural Club were enlisted to promote the book in the Greater Detroit area.

Dr. Serafyn was master of ceremonies for the evening and Stephen Wichar, vice-chairman of the UNA District Committee, introduced the featured speaker.

Mr. Wichar noted Dr. Kuropas career as an educator, researcher, lecturer, author and newspaper columnist (for The Ukrainian Weekly). "Three generations of the Kuropas family served and became national officers with the UNA," Mr. Wichar added and then introduced Stefko Kuropas, a UNA advisor.

Dr. Kuropas had just returned from Ostroh, Ukraine, where he had participated in a two-day workshop with teachers and professors from many different regions. He marveled at the intensity of Ukrainian language usage among these educators, among the people on the streets, in retail shops, among children on playgrounds.

In his lecture, Dr. Kuropas pointed to the fact that the UNA "created the Ukrainian identity in North America." He began to name basic and successful key activities that gave the impetus to other organizations, and he referred to the 104-year consecutive publication of the daily Svoboda and 64 years of The Ukrainian Weekly.

The author highlighted the crucial years of the 1920s and 1930s, the trials and tribulations, the failures and successes. These were difficult years.

After the influx of a new immigration in the 1950s and 1960s, the UNA rose again to meet emerging challenges. Under the concept of "Batko Soyuz," fraternalism took on another meaning for many new Ukrainians, leaning on the UNA for leadership and financial assistance. Dr. Kuropas reminded the audience that these years were also a productive period. "Soyuzivka was installed, the UNA building was erected, the Shevchenko Monument was dedicated in Washington, many churches were dependent on the UNA for building loans, along with many other projects," Dr. Kuropas added.

"Publications like Ukraine: A Concise Encyclopedia, 'The Harvest of Sorrow' and others would not have been possible without UNA involvement," he said. "It is inconceivable," Dr. Kuropas underlined, "that any major event in the Ukrainian community across America and Canada did not have the blessing and intimate involvement of the UNA."

On a more somber note, Dr. Kuropas was noticeably concerned about the future of Ukrainian identity without the leadership of an organization such as the UNA. "At this juncture," he added, "debilitating evidence, especially in membership loss, is only too obvious. Like other fraternals, the UNA is beset with this problem, which is correspondingly reflected in financial growth. Along with this, the newest Ukrainian immigration is not very supportive."

The general discussion that followed the lecture was lively and in many instances thought-provoking. However, inconsistent with the theme of the evening, more respondents were interested in the immediate conditions in Ukraine than they were in embracing processes which could ultimately bring about a UNA resurgence.

Before adjourning the lecture meeting, Dr. Serafyn announced that available copies of "Ukrainian-American Citadel" were sold out, but additional copies could be ordered by writing to: Dr. Myron B. Kuropas, 107 Ilehamwood Drive, De Kalb, IL 60115.

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