THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM (06/06/04)

THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM

UNA earns NFCA designation as "Member in Good Standing"

PARSIPPANY, N.J. - The Ukrainian National Association has earned the coveted "Member in Good Standing" designation from the National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA), the association of America's fraternal benefit societies. This level of achievement for 2004 recognizes the society for the highest standards of performance, both in fraternal programming and financial operation, over a one-year period.

The Chicagoland-based NFCA, which celebrates its 118th anniversary in 2004, successfully links its 76 members - fraternal benefit societies: not-for-profit membership organizations offering life insurance, accident and health insurance and annuities - to encourage education, training and community outreach at the national and grassroots levels. The association represents more than 10 million people in more than 42,000 chapters, making it one of the continent's largest volunteer networks.

"The NFCA's 'Member in Good Standing' designation reflects the Ukrainian National Association's commitment to maintaining a strong, viable fraternal benefit organization for our members," said UNA President Stefan Kaczaraj. "The UNA's good standing within the NFCA demonstrates a standard of industry excellence for 110 years of continuous service to our members, families and their communities.

In communicating the importance of the NFCA Membership Standards, NFCA Chair of the Board Frederick A. Ohlde said, "The leaders of the NFCA's 76 member-societies believe that the association must enforce strict standards to promote exceptional performance. Our standards ensure that each member-society is financially sound and meets or exceeds criteria upon which tax and regulatory privileges are granted under state and federal law."

"The fraternal movement in the United States has a long and proud place in American history stretching back nearly 150 years and it is important steps such as these that protect the members of fraternal benefit societies and their families," he continued. "As the NFCA's Chair of the board, it is my honor to bestow the highest ranking on the Ukrainian National Association."

The NFCA Membership Standards Program was established in 1993 to assess the integrity and uniqueness of both member-societies of the NFCA and prospective members. Fraternal benefit societies are required to provide the NFCA with information regarding financial performance, organizational structure and fraternal outreach activities. This information is evaluated by the NFCA staff, with attention focusing on the common bond of societies, an active chapter/branch system, a representative form of government, sound financial management and substantial, tangible fraternal and charitable activities.

The NFCA staff recommendations are reviewed by the NFCA Membership Committee and sent to the NFCA board of directors, which ultimately determines individual member compliance with Program requirements. Societies achieving "Member in Good Standing" status in 2004 are evaluated on 2002 information.

Fraternal benefit societies provide leadership, social, educational, spiritual, scholarship, financial and volunteer service opportunities to their members united by a common bond such as religion, ethnic heritage, trade, gender or other interests. In providing these services, fraternalism's unique advantage as not-for-profit organizations allow millions of people to protect their families financially while making a difference in their communities.

Combined, the NFCA's member-societies maintain more than $297.5 billion of life insurance in force and, in 2002 alone, contributed more than $376 million to charitable and fraternal programs. Members of the NFCA's 76 societies, including the UNA, volunteered more than 83.6 million hours in 2002. That's equivalent to more than $1.2 billion in hourly wages (Based on Independent Sector's 2002 calculated wage of $16.54 per volunteer hour).

Activists promote UNA at festival

NEW YORK - Activists of the Ukrainian National Association manned the UNA table at the Ukrainian Festival held in New York City by St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church on May 14-16. Seen in the photo above (sitting, from left) are: Barbara Bachynsky, chairperson of the New York District Committee and secretary of Branch 184; Alex Redko, secretary of Branch 130; (standing) Steven Woch, employee of the UNA Home Office; Motria Milanytch, secretary of Branch 450; Nina and Maxim Zwarycz, members of Branch 194; Oksana Lopatynsky, secretary of Branch 194, and Yarema Bachynsky, member of Branch 184.

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