First annual Summit of Ukrainian Organizations opens dialogue on engaging today's youth (03/24/02)

First annual Summit of Ukrainian Organizations opens dialogue on engaging today's youth

by Andrew Nynka

KERHONKSON, N.Y. - The creators of the inaugural Summit of Ukrainian American Organizations readily admit the idea started small - an informal discussion with today's youth, on engaging today's youth, over pizza and soda. The resultant brain trust, held March 15-17, however, attracted over 60 leading diaspora representatives and activists to the Ukrainian National Association's Soyuzivka resort and set the stage for future discussions and cooperation.

Although the summit concluded without a sweeping initiative or distinct solution regarding the topic of engaging today's "youth" - a term conference participants jokingly agreed should be interpreted liberally - Andrij Wowk, national president of the Ukrainian Engineers' Society of America (UESA) and event co-organizer, called it "completely satisfying" and said the event "should be repeated in other major diaspora hotbeds such as Detroit and Cleveland."

"A meaningful dialogue has been started," said Marco Shmerykowsky, national vice-president for UESA and co-organizer of this year's summit held in New York state's Catskill Mountains.

"We're walking away with a better understanding of the successes and failures various organizations have had in engaging the younger generations in our diaspora organizations," said Mr. Shmerykowsky.

The need for such a conference, according to Summit 2002 organizers, developed from examining the demographics of various Ukrainian community groups which revealed an increasing average age of membership and a lack of younger participation. Mr. Wowk also called The Ukrainian Weekly's October 28, 2001, editorial, which posed the question, "Where have all the students gone?" a "catalyst" for the event.

The Summit 2002 Organizing Committee, composed of Oleh Holynskyj of UESA, Ariadna Nychka of the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America (UMANA), Wasyl Kinach of UESA and Messrs. Wowk and Shmerykowsky, described the goal of the summit as "a brainstorming session for raising ideas and challenging current assumptions."

Summit 2002 began unofficially with an evening reception and cocktail party on Friday, March 15, during which participants were able to mingle with old acquaintances or establish new contacts.

Saturday's 9 a.m. breakfast officially opened Summit 2002 with a prayer from the Rev. Iura Godenciuc in the Soyuzivka main dining hall. Mr. Wowk then began the two-part working session of the summit in the Main House library by welcoming guests and outlining the moderated panel format.

Conference organizers sought to address the summit theme of "Engaging the Younger Generation in Ukrainian American Organizations" by presenting a morning panel to highlight "Our Oranizations Today," moderated by Roma Hadzewycz, editor-in-chief of The Ukrainian Weekly, and an afternoon panel, moderated by Irene Jarosewich, editor-in-chief of Svoboda, to begin the dialogue on "Our Organizations Tomorrow."

Saturday morning's two-hour session included panelists Dr. Roman Andrushkiw, first vice-president of the Shevchenko Scientific Society and head of its Math, Physics and Technical Section; Paul Farmiga, president of the Rutgers University Ukrainian Students Club; Marianna Zajac, president of the Central New York Regional Council of the Ukrainian National Women's League of America (UNWLA); Stephen Kaczaraj, treasurer of the Ukrainian National Association (UNA); Mr. Shmerykowsky; Bohdan Vitvitsky, current vice-president, founding father and first president of the Ukrainian American Professionals and Businesspersons Association of New York and New Jersey (UAPBA); and Dr. Ihor Voyevidka, president of UMANA.

Questions posed to the morning panel included: What are the history and goals of your organization? Why are young members important to your organization and how have you attempted to attract them?

After each panelist gave a brief organizational history and description of current objectives, Mr. Farmiga commented that the differing levels of importance placed on youth involvement are relative to each individual organization. Taking the case of his group, for example, Mr. Farmiga went on to say that as a university student club, active youth involvement is vital.

Ms. Zajac and Dr. Andrushkiw then noted that, due to a much higher average age in the UNWLA and the Shevchenko Scientific Society, respectively, their organizations have historically required significantly less youth involvement but stressed the hope that this would change.

"We no longer live in a tight-knit Ukrainian ghetto," said Ms. Zajac. Dr. Andrushkiw echoed that sentiment and stressed that geographically dispersed members are one of the greatest challenges to his organization.

Mr. Kaczaraj added that still another reason for declining youth involvement may stem from the fact that current youth is being raised with very little knowledge of various diaspora organizations or how they benefit the Ukrainian community.

"Perhaps our community has done a poor job in explaining the history and value of diaspora organizations," said Dr. Vitvitsky.

For that matter, Mr. Kaczaraj explained that much of today's youth "enrolled in the UNA from the first few years of their life are not even told they're members. Once they turn 18 many cash out of their [insurance] policies and leave the UNA."

Out of all those who participated in the first panel, only UMANA's Dr. Voyevidka said its membership has seen steady increases in what seems to be an "apparent rebirth."

In offering some solutions to summit participants, panel members agreed that a dialogue should include topics on why individuals are still members of the Ukrainian diaspora.

"We seem to be on auto pilot," argued Dr. Vitvitsky. "We should think about restructuring many of the organizations created in the early 1900s to make more sense with the way we operate now."

Suggestions were also made to target smaller, more specific audiences in an attempt to engage youth.

Following a brief lunch in the Soyuzivka dining room, summit participants began the two-hour afternoon panel on the topic "Our Organizations Tomorrow."

The afternoon panel included Christina Baranetsky, president of the Columbia University Ukrainian Students Club; Yuri Blanarovich of the Ukrainian American Cultural Foundation (UACF); Jaroslav Kryshtalsky of the Ukrainian Institute of America (UIA); Alex Kuzma, executive director of the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund (CCRF); Dr. Andrew Liteplo, young adults' coordinator for the New York Plast branch; Lida Mykytyn, vice-president of the Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM); the Rev. Ivan Mazuryk of the Stamford Eparchy of the Ukrainian Catholic Church; and Michael Sawkiw, president of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA).

Mr. Sawkiw talked about a synergy among organizations and said a key to recruiting new members is tapping the "professionalism of our organizations."

The afternoon panel discussants also agreed, without dissent, that future growth will depend on how well Ukrainian diaspora organizations communicate to each other.

"In order to survive as a community, our communication must improve and must include the outside world," said Ms. Mykytyn, adding that her own organization's presence on the Internet via its "CYM-net" had been "a tremendous tool in accomplishing this dialogue among members."

"We have to begin to use new technologies," echoed Mr. Kryshtalsky, who pointed to his own organization, the UIA, as an "organization still in the 19th century as regards technology." He emphasized: "If we hope to recruit new members we will have to address issues of technology."

Summit participants agreed that the financial stresses on diaspora organizations are significant, and Mr. Kuzma stressed, "We need to begin to address ourselves seriously to the issue of fund-raising."

Following the afternoon panel a general discussion session provided a spirited and often passionate exchange of ideas between professionals and many of the students present, who seemed eager to have their opinions and voices heard.

Although lacking a highly defined or rigid structure, the general session that followed the two more formal panel presentations provided all participants the ability to weigh in on various important issues. With almost every individual taking part, the brainstorming session allowed participants to present looser, more creative ideas. Many of the professionals later commented on being pleasantly surprised at the energy, enthusiasm and creativity of the student crowd.

Saturday night provided summit participants with a much-needed respite. Following dinner and a cocktail hour, Andrij Stasiw entertained guests with musical accompaniment leading into Sunday's wrap-up session aimed at "drawing conclusions from the earlier discussions."

The Sunday break-out sessions allowed participants to take up where Saturday's general discussion left off - highlighting the different types of communications that have evolved over the past 40 years and the need to break many of the stereotypical molds Ukrainian organizations had developed.

"The emphasis in our organizations should be put on breaking these molds," Mr. Kuzma said, "the same stereotypical molds which often disenfranchise the youth you're trying to attract." He stressed the concept of "thinking out of the box" and the idea of balancing "our modern-day virtual communities with personal contacts."

Following the Sunday wrap-up session, participants agreed that such a gathering must be held again - indeed, that it must be held regularly. And, community leaders and members meeting at an open session at the conclusion of the three-day event, spoke in favor of regular consultation among Ukrainian American organizations with the aim of increasing the community's effectiveness both internally and in terms of its external relations.

Summit 2002 was co-sponsored by the Ukrainian Engineers Society of America, the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America and the Ukrainian National Association. In addition to the panelists representing a variety of organizations, conference participants included representatives from the Ukrainian World Congress's Conference of Ukrainian Youth Organizations, The Washington Group and the Ukrainian Orthodox League, as well as members of Ukraine's most recent wave of immigration to the United States.

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