New Jersey State Council of UCCA holds its biennial general meeting (05/23/04)

New Jersey State Council of UCCA holds its biennial general meeting

by Michael Koziupa and Antin Bilanych

EAST HANOVER, N.J. - The biennial general meeting of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America Inc., New Jersey State Coordinating Council, took place on March 7 at the Ramada Hotel on Route 10 in East Hanover. The meeting was opened by the president, Ivan Burtyk. He underscored that this year's elections are taking place in an important historical time, notably before the election of the president of Ukraine and of the United States of America, as we all await better times for Ukraine, as well as America.

The meeting opened with the reading of the agenda and the designation of a presidium to run the meeting. Wolodymyr Janiw was picked as chairman, Zenon Halkowycz as vice-chairman and Iwan Kushnir as secretary. Maria Duplak, representing the national board of the UCCA was asked to join the presidium.

The first to give his report was Mr. Burtyk, who noted that immediately after his election two years ago the State Council was involved in organizing relief efforts to help those flood-ravaged areas in western Ukraine.

Later the Rev. Vasyl Hoverla visited from Kazakhstan, from the city of Karaganda and more than $50,000 was collected to help Ukrainians in that country. With the assistance of these funds a second church was being built in the city of Pavlodar. The council also paid for 120 subscriptions to the Nyva newspaper published in the Ukrainian language. These subscriptions helped the newspaper as well as the many citizens who do not have the opportunity or funds to purchase the paper. Another $30,000 was collected to support over 650 families in need.

The council was also involved in organizing celebrations of the 11th anniversary of Ukraine's independence held at New Jersey Gov. James E. McGreevy's residence.

In coordination with veterans of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) a concert was held celebrating the 60th anniversary of its founding. Medals from Ukraine were handed out to the veterans during the event.

In January the council helped organize the presentation of the exhibit "Not To Be Forgotten: Chronicle of the Communist Inquisition in Ukraine, 1917-1991" in a number of cities. This allowed the organizer of the display, Roman Krutsyk, president of the Kyiv City Organization of the All- Ukrainian Memorial Society named in memory of Vasyl Stus, to speak to and answer the questions of Ukrainian Americans about this period in Ukraine's history.

This tour in New Jersey and across the United States resulted in $60,000 worth of donations. This allowed over 700 copies of the exhibit to be displayed in all of the raions in Ukraine, as well as for copies of the exhibit to be sent to Australia, Canada and Europe, as well as to the United Nations and many American universities. A color album of the exhibit was also created for presentation to all Ukrainian embassies.

Three exhibits were also sent to Kazakhstan. In Pavlodar, where the exhibit was displayed for three weeks, there were many complaints and demonstrations by the Russian population. At the end of the three weeks, the building where the exposition was being displayed was burned down by arsonists. The exposition and other important Ukrainian items were destroyed.

On February 10, 2003, the Ukrainian American community had the opportunity to meet Ukrainian National Deputy Oksana Bilozir. The meeting was extremely interesting and informative, but it also was a bit of a financial burden for the State Council, Mr. Burtyk said.

The secretary and treasurer also gave their reports. The supervisory board delivered a positive report on its review of all relevant materials.

After an open discussion, elections were held. The following executive was voted in: President Burtyk; First Vice-President Michael Koziupa; Second Vice-President Halkowycz; Secretary Joseph Jacus, Treasurer Wolodymyr Waskiw with Stefan Kmet; Press Chairs Antin Bilanych and Zenia Brozyna; Public Relations Chairs Jerry Kuzemczak, Kvitka Semanyshyn and Peter Paluch; and general members Iwan Kushnir and Vasyl Matlaga.

Special guests the Very Rev. Mitred Protopresbyter Roman Mirchuk, pastor, and Orest Kucyna, trustee, of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Whippany, N.J., were presented with $1,000 checks from the UCCA N.J. State Council and the UCCA Morris County Branch, which made these two organizations founding members of the soon-to-be constructed Ukrainian Cultural Center of New Jersey that is being built along with a new church in Whippany.

Messrs. Koziupa and Kuzemczak were selected as delegates to the national congress of the UCCA slated for September. Messrs. Janiw and Kmet were chosen as delegates to the national executive.

Ms. Duplak, secretary of the national UCCA, delivered a greeting, and closing remarks were made by Mr. Burtyk, who thanked outgoing officers and asked UCCA members to stay active and support him in his next two years of service.

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