THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM (04/02/00)

THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM

Only active members can be UNA leaders

by Ulana Diachuk
UNA President

In the UNA a member with an insurance policy for which he/she is paying a premium (dues) is defined as an "active member." All policyholders with paid-up policies are considered to be non-active members.

Only an active member can vote in branch meetings, be elected to a branch office, or be elected a delegate of his branch to a UNA convention and run for a position on the General Assembly, this organization's highest body between conventions.

Years ago the UNA was able to offer insurance coverage to members only up to the age of 60. Later the age limit was increased to 65. Many members with paid-up policies unable to get new insurance policies wanted to remain actively involved in the UNA. For them a new membership category, that of "social member," was created.

Social members must be 65 years old or older, owners of a paid-up policy and must pay fraternal dues which up to July 1998, amounted to $1.80 and presently are at $3 annually.

As we have been advertising on the pages of this newspaper, now the UNA is able to offer insurance coverage to members up to a very high age, namely: single premium policies to age 90, whole life policies to age 85, 20-year paid-up or universal life to age 80. At age 70 the UNA insures members for up to $10,000 of insurance coverage without a medical examination.

The time has now come for all social members, as well as for the thousands of members with paid-up policies, to once again become active members by taking out another insurance policy with the UNA and at the same time benefitting from today's much lower premiums.

It is a well-known fact that many UNA members have minimum life insurance coverage amounting to as little as $500 or $1,000. These members should certainly increase their coverage to much higher amounts in keeping with the needs and demands of current life styles. At the same time they can demonstrate their commitment to the UNA, their appreciation of the UNA's multi-faceted fraternal work for the benefit of its membership, the Ukrainian American community and Ukraine, and their wish to have those activities continue for the good of coming generations.

Speaking of succeeding generations, it should be noted that best way to bind our children and grandchildren to the Ukrainian American or Ukrainian Canadian community is by making them UNA members. This can be done very easily by purchasing an insurance policy for them.

In addition, by entering subscriptions for our younger generations to our publications, The Ukrainian Weekly or Svoboda, you will introduce them to a great variety of Ukrainian organizations and their extensive activities. This information, in turn, will generate interest for them to join in these activities. Participation in the diverse youth camps at our resort, Soyuzivka, will give youths a chance to meet other young Ukrainians and will leave with them pleasant memories and lasting friendships for the rest of their lives.

Let us not forget that the future of all Ukrainian organizations - including the UNA's - is in our own hands. Organizations will exist only if all generations of Ukrainians support them.

In regard to the Ukrainian National Association, supporting it means actively working to increase its membership.

Young UNA member to be honored at congress for prize-winning essay

LUTHERVILLE, Md. - The Chesapeake State Fraternal Congress at its 93rd annual congress in Rehoboth Beach, Del., on March 25 honored Michael Iwashko, a seventh grade student at Ridgely Middle School, in Lutherville, Md., for winning first prize in its 199 essay contest..

Michael, son of George and Marta Iwashko of Timonium, was tops among all essayists writing on the topic, "What Fraternalism Means to Me."

A bilingual student fluent in English and Ukrainian, Michael this year is adding Spanish to his studies. He is a gifted and talented student whose major field of interest is science.

Michael plays the piano and saxophone and is a member of the Ridgely honors band. He also participates in basketball, soccer and lacrosse, and is a member of the Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization.

Michael's parents are members of Ukrainian National Association Branch 337.

The Chesapeake State Fraternal Congress comprises over 20 fraternal benefit societies from Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia. For years it was called the Maryland-D.C. Fraternal Congress but in 1995 Delaware was added and the name was changed. The congress endeavors to help preserve values central to the stability and strength of the American nation.

Young UNA'ers

Sarah Sophia Pishko, daughter of Theodore Pishko, was enrolled into UNA Branch 338 in Monessen, Pa., by his grandmother Olga Pishko.
Maria Solomia, daughter of Olya and Pavlo Bandriwsky, was enrolled by her parents into UNA Branch 360 in Buffalo, N.Y.
Proud parents Todd Andrew Lee and Christiane Wolfe Lee, with their first son, Markian Gregory Lee, are all new members of UNA Branch 13 in Watervliet, N.Y.

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