Highlights from the UNA's 110-year history (07/18/04)

Highlights from the UNA's 110-year history

A special yearlong feature focusing on the history of the Ukrainian National Association.

The 24th Convention of the Ukrainian National Association was the third to be held in Cleveland. Four hundred nineteen delegates and 20 supreme officers representing 846 votes converged on the city on May 26-31, 1958.

Reports delivered at the convention indicated the organization's continued growth. A total of 14,688 new members joined the UNA and UNA assets increased by more than $5,108,000 to reach $20,366,992.10

The UNA's generosity also continued, with the fraternal organization donating a total of $59,763.47 from its National Fund to various educational, cultural and charitable causes in the United States and Europe.

Among the resolutions and recommendations adopted at the convention were those calling for: the establishment of a center in Canada to promote, expand and coordinate UNA activity there; taking all necessary steps in setting plans in motion for the erection of the Taras Shevchenko monument in Washington on the 100th anniversary of his birth (1961); looking into the possibility of operating a home for the aged at Soyuzivka.

Dmytro Halychyn was elected to his third term as UNA president. However, he did not complete the term as he died in April 1961 as a result of a tragic accident in New York City. In accordance with the UNA By-Laws, Supreme Vice-President Joseph Lesawyer was elevated to the position of president, becoming the first American-born president of the Ukrainian National Association. The UNA Supreme Assembly also promoted Supreme Auditor Stephen Kuropas to the vacated post of supreme vice-president, and assigned Supreme Advisor John Kokolski to the Auditing Committee. The post of one supreme advisor was left vacant in view of the upcoming convention.

Source: "Ukrainian National Association: Its Past and Present, (1894-1964)," by Anthony Dragan (translated from the original Ukrainian by Zenon Snylyk). Jersey City, N.J.: Svoboda Press, 1964. The border featured in this special feature is reproduced from a UNA membership certificate dating to 1919.

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