THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM (11/04/01)

THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM

Three Pennsylvania districts hold fall meeting in Lehighton

by Stephen Kolodrub
UNA Branch 173 Secretary

LEHIGHTON, Pa. - Three Districts of the Anthracite Region - Shamokin, Wilkes-Barre and Allentown - met at the Ukrainian Homestead in Lehighton for the fall district meeting of the Ukrainian National Association.

Present at the meeting were three district chairpersons: Anna Haras, Allentown; Henry Bolosky, Wilkes-Barre; and Joe Chabon, Shamokin. Martha Lysko, UNA national secretary, represented the Home Office. In attendance were: Branch 7 - Adolph and Helen Slovik, Branch 47 - Oksana Koziak and Jurij Cehelsky, Branch 137 - Stephen and Mary Kolodrub, Branch 147 - John and Anna Segan, Branch 164 - Bonnie Scholtis and Tymko Butrej, Branch 242 - Andrea Chabon, Branch 282 - Mary Bolosky, Branch 409 - Mr. and Mrs. Boland, and Branch 438 - Katherine Sargent.

Mrs. Haras, honorary member of the UNA General Assembly and district chairperson, called the meeting to order. The meeting was opened with a prayer for departed UNA members and a moment of silence for the victims of the September 11 tragedy. Mrs. Haras then read the agenda, which was approved, and asked Ms. Lysko to continue with the meeting.

The first order of business was a review of the six-month figures for organizing in the districts. The three districts had nine new members for the total amount of insurance of $86,000. Ms. Lysko once again stressed the importance of organizing new members before the convention. The fall campaign calls for all UNA secretaries and organizers to enroll two new members by the end of the year. The membership status of all branches will be determined as of December 31, Ms. Lysko explained, and each branch must have at least 75 voting members to be eligible to send one delegate to the convention in May 2002. It is important to elect delegates to the convention who are well informed about the UNA, the national secretary added.

As is customary, at the convention there will be a by-laws committee that will propose for the delegate's review any changes necessary to the current UNA By-Laws. Meeting participants discussed the necessity of decreasing the number of General Assembly members. With declining membership, Ms. Lysko said, it is necessary to make an adjustment in the number of General Assembly members.

After a brief discussion the suggestion was made to reduce the number of General Assembly members from the current 25 to 14, to include four executive committee members, three auditors and seven advisors. Some secretaries also spoke in favor of reinstating the executive position of organizer.

Present at the meeting was Mykola Boychuk, supreme advisor of the Ukrainian Fraternal Association, who greeted all present and expressed the hope that UNA and UFA will resume merger talks and become one Ukrainian fraternal organization in the near future. His comments were met with applause.

Other topics discussed included Soyuzivka and the UNA's future in Canada.

Canada not only has declining membership, but is also becoming very expensive to do business in, noted Ms. Lysko. The Canadian dollar also has a negative affect on the overall bottom line of the UNA. The Home Office is now exploring the possibility of converting Canadian policies to American policies, whereby Canadian members would pay in U.S. money and receive benefits in U.S. funds. This would eliminate the necessity of dealing with Canadian insurance authorities. All branches and Canadian members would continue to exist and carry on fraternal activities and have representation in the UNA, she underlined.

Finally the problems of Soyuzivka were discussed. There were many questions and suggestions, but the outcome was that the General Assembly should propose defnite steps that need to be taken to eliminate the resort's deficits. There was a discussion on some aspects of the report recently presented by the Soyuzivka Committee. Most members agreed that the UNA should look for a partnership with other Ukrainian organizations to support and maintain Soyuzivka.

The meeting adjourned with a pleasant dinner and further discussions.

Young UNA'ers

Claudia Doroshenko, daughter of Peter and Roksolana Doroshenko, is a new member of UNA Branch 82 in Detroit. She was enrolled by her grandparents, Anatole and Raisa Doroshenko. Her grandfather is an honorary member of the UNA General Assembly
Scyler S. Refice, son of Sabrina and Steven Refice, is a new member of UNA Branch 120 in Aliquippa, Pa. He was enrolled by his grandmother Linda Refice.

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