UCCA executive board discusses regional conferences, world forum (07/08/01)

UCCA executive board discusses regional conferences, world forum

by Tamara Gallo
Ukrainian Congress Committee of America

NEW YORK - Members of the executive board of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) met on Saturday, June 9, to confer on several important topics before the start of the summer vacation season.

First on the agenda was a discussion about regional conferences of UCCA branches. Having nearly 75 branches throughout the country, the UCCA executive board found it necessary to implement regional conferences to observe the status and work of various branches. Regional UCCA conferences will be held throughout the autumn months in eight areas: New England, upstate New York, Metropolitan New York/New Jersey, the Mid-Atlantic, West, Southwest, South and Midwest.

Information about the UCCA to be distributed at the regional conferences will include the newest UCCA and UNIS brochures, the UCCA Digest and UNIS News newsletters, as well as a questionnaire about branch activity and membership. It was decided that the UCCA president, executive vice-president, the Ukrainian National Fund (UNF) coordinator and the financial secretary would participate in the conferences.

Following the UCCA regional conferences, the UCCA president will be the featured speaker at a community forum focusing on discuss "The Role of the Ukrainian Community in the 21st Century."

A discussion about the Third World Forum of Ukrainians was the second topic on the agenda. The UCCA president proposed a list of delegates to the world conclave of Ukrainians to be held in Kyiv on August 18-20. Members of the executive board expressed their disdain, however, for the current political situation in Ukraine and recommended that the UCCA, in its official capacity during the world congress, communicate its concerns about the future of Ukraine.

With that in mind, the UCCA executive board also suggested preparation of an appeal to the Ukrainian nation reminding the people that their fate, and the fate of their country and nation, is within their own hands and that only they have the power to effect change (thus encouraging to active participation in the next parliamentary elections in Ukraine in March 2002). The appeal to the Ukrainian nation was to be publicized towards the end of June.

Many issues regarding the 10th anniversary celebrations of Ukraine's renewed independence were also discussed. The UCCA president informed the executive board about various community-wide committees that have been formed with the UCCA's participation and/or initiative. Since the dissemination of information will be crucial throughout the yearlong celebration of the 10th anniversary, the UCCA is creating a packet of information to be distributed to its branches, which will include sample proclamations, a brief history of Ukraine, an overview of Ukraine's 10 years of independence, sample opinion articles, economic indicators for Ukraine, etc.

The UCCA president added that a national commemoration of the independence anniversary is scheduled for mid-September in Washington with a congressional banquet. Details will be announced in Ukrainian American newspapers.

Each year the Ukrainian American community commemorates the anniversary of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide. This year, as has been the tradition since the 65th anniversary (1998), the UCCA will sponsor a Ukrainian Famine Remembrance Day at St. Patrick's Cathedral. The annual commemoration will be coordinated with the Ukrainian Catholic and Orthodox hierarchies and will be held in mid-November. Proposals for main speakers included United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Richard Holbrooke, or the newly elected senator from New York, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

UCCA executive board members also discussed ideas about a demonstration and march from Dag Hammarskjold Plaza near the United Nations to St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Several members of the executive board also raised the issue of various Ukrainian delegations which tour throughout the United States, particularly those comprising students, NGO groups or young professionals. The consensus of the executive board members was that the UCCA and its branches should make an effort to meet with as many delegations as possible since they are interested in finding out about the Ukrainian American community and its many accomplishments. An appeal will be sent to all the UCCA branches asking for their cooperation in this matter.

A discussion was also held regarding the future of the Ukrainian American community and its prospects for unity. On the initiative of the UCCA, Ukrainian organizations were invited to participate in a meeting on May 19, in New Jersey to discuss unification of the community. The UCCA stands behind the idea that a strong centralized umbrella organization is necessary to coordinate the work of the Ukrainian American community in the 21st century.

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