EDITORIAL: One hundred seven (02/18/01)

EDITORIAL

One hundred seven

"Just as the fish needs water, as the bird must have wings, as the thirsty need to drink and the hungry need bread, just as every one of us needs air, so do we, all Ukrainians scattered across this land, need a national organization, namely such a brotherhood, such a national union that would embrace each and every Ukrainian no matter where he lives. One man cannot lift a heavy stone, but when three or four men put their strength to it, the stone will soon be lifted. ..."

With those lofty words, Svoboda in its editorial of November 1, 1893, called for the formation of a national organization. That organization was born just over three months later, on February 22, 1894, in Shamokin, Pa., as a fraternal society dedicated to the welfare and progress of all Ukrainians.

Today, 107 years later, the Ukrainian National Association continues its benevolent activity here in North America and throughout the world, wherever Ukrainians have settled. As UNA President Ulana Diachuk notes, although this fraternal organization traces its roots to a time long passed, "We are moving with the spirit of the times and adjusting to the needs of today's Ukrainians and the Ukrainian community."

The association's new insurance programs reflect members' new needs: the policies are now issued for higher sums and at lower prices; in addition, there are new offerings like annuities that provide for members' retirement needs. The UNA is attempting a restructuring of its governing bodies via by-laws changes aimed at taking this organization born in the 19th century and developed in the 20th century into the 21st.

Moving beyond insurance, through its fraternal activity the UNA has served in many roles: enlightener of the people, champion of Ukrainian causes, community leader, patron of the arts, charitable organization, promoter of sports, publisher of newspapers, community leader, ally of youth. Such great national causes as the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee, the Shevchenko monument in Washington, the Ukrainian Studies Fund and the Ukrainian World Congress are among the many achievements in which the UNA was a major player.

Since its founding the UNA had worked toward attaining independence for Ukraine. In 1988, as Ukraine was reawakening, the UNA re-focused its attention there. Our Kyiv Press Bureau - whose reports appear in this paper each and every week - is perhaps the most visible result of that focus. The 1990 Convention of the UNA voted to establish a news bureau in the Ukrainian capital, and in January 1991 the idea became reality. Today the UNA is working toward buttressing the independence achieved in August 1991. There are many programs, ranging from teaching the English language in Ukraine - essential in this era of globalization - to assisting students from rural areas of Ukraine in securing a higher education (see story on this week's front page) that are contributing to the future of our ancestral homeland.

Of course, membership is the key to continuing such good works. Today the UNA is reaching out to potential members among the younger generations and new immigrants. Its goal is unchanged: to help all Ukrainians by reinvesting the earnings from its insurance business into our community.

Why has the UNA existed for 107 years when many other organizations have come and gone during that same period? The answer is simple: because the Ukrainian National Association's mission is noble and its history proud.

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