THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM (07/18/04)

THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM

Annual dinner of Branch 120 features presentation of awards

ALIQUIPPA, Pa. - The Aliquippa Ukrainian Club, or St. Nicholas Branch 120 of the Ukrainian National Association, held its fourth annual awards dinner on June 27.

Five scholarships totaling $4,000 were awarded to: Kira Palichat, a junior at Penn State University; Michelle Masley, a sophomore at Carnegie Mellon University; Jennifer Refice, a senior at Slippery Rock Universit;, Jennifer Campbell, a freshman at Clarion University; and Melissa Reft, a senior at the University of Pittsburgh.

A special award was presented to the family of the late Walter Reft for his many years of service and dedication to the Ukrainian Club. His son, John, accepted the award on behalf of his family.

John Kowalyk received the Man of the Year Award from the Beaver County Federation of Fraternal and Social Clubs, honoring his dedication to the Ukrainian Club. This award was presented by Denny Davis, newly elected president of the Pennsylvania Federation.

Jean Karmazyn of Aliquippa, presided over the event as master of ceremonies.

Dr. James Showrank, a renowned educator and director of government and community relations for Manchester-Bidwell Corp. of Pittsburgh, gave the keynote address.

Member of UNA Branch 444 in the running for "Canadian Idol"

by Al Kachkowski

SASKATOON - Theresa Sokyrka, 23, of Saskatoon, a member of UNA Branch 444 has been selected to be among the 10 final contestants for the title of CTV's "Canadian Idol" for 2004.

Her rendition of Gershwin's jazz classic "Summertime" on June 30 earned glowing praise from all four adjudicators, who had predicted her advance to the next stage of the competition. It was the viewer vote, though, that decided the final outcome. Viewers voted Ms. Sokyrka first among her group of eight.

Ms. Sokyrka comes from a musically gifted family that is also very active in Ukrainian cultural activities in Saskatoon. She began both her musical and her cultural involvements at a very early age. She attended the Ukrainian Bilingual Program in school, took dancing lessons with the Yevshan and the Pavlychenko Ukrainian dance schools, attended the Mohyla Institute Language and Culture Immersion Summer School, and sang as a soloist with the Lastiwka Youth Choir.

In addition to her musical talents, Ms. Sokyrka is also an upstanding, pleasant and modest young lady. She is an outstanding representative of the Ukrainian Canadian community and deserves the community's backing in her quest to be Canada's best.

Her continued success depends not only on her vocal talent, but also on the number of phone-in votes she receives after each of the remaining segments of the competition.

She returns to the competition with nine other co-finalists on Wednesday, July 21, in the first live Top 10 performance show. (Check local listings for broadcast time in your area.)

Please continue your support for Theresa and vote for her after each of the remaining segments of the "Canadian Idol" competition. Note that the rules permit you to phone in more than once.

Let's help elect Theresa Sokyrka as Canada's Ukrainian Canadian Idol!

(Source: UCC-SPC e-Bulletin, July 9.)

On our 110th anniversary

Spotlight on UNA branches

Branch 102 Brotherhood
of Ss. Peter and Paul, Cleveland

Ukrainians started to immigrate to the Cleveland area in 1894-1895, 20 years after the arrival of Ukrainians to the United States. A few of the pioneers felt it was necessary to bring together the Ukrainian people and to build a foundation for Ukrainian American life. On October 18, 1902, the first Ukrainian organization in the city of Cleveland and the first organization in the state of Ohio was formed. Its original name was the Greek Catholic Rusky Spolok Ss. Peter and Paul. This fraternal association is known today as the Brotherhood of Ss. Peter and Paul, Branch 102 of the Ukrainian National Association.

The branch started with eight members. The first officers elected were: Michael Chegin, president; Semen Brunarsky, secretary; and Iwan Hudak, treasurer. Its purpose was threefold: to help each other; to teach brotherhood and to bring our Ukrainian people closer together, while insuring them and thus maintaining security for their families.

In 1909 members of Ss. Peter and Paul Branch 102 were most instrumental in establishing the first Ukrainian Catholic parish, Ss. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in Cleveland. Today it is considered the Ukrainian Catholic mother church. Of the 30 original founders of the church 26 were members of UNA Branch 102.

Members of this organization never forgot their purpose and kept hard at work, organizing and helping each other. Fraternalism and brotherhood remained the principal objectives of the association. Financial and moral support was never denied. The records show that as early as 1915 the brotherhood supported the cultural (Prosvita), educational (Ridna Shkola) and many other institutions in their native land, Ukraine. Financial assistance was sent regularly to Lviv, to the Association of Veterans of the War for Independence of Ukraine (1918-1920).

Each year donations were given also to numerous local and national organizations. On the national level, the brotherhood and its members contributed to the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America and to the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee. On the local level members supported the two Ukrainian national homes, Ss. Peter and Paul Church and school (now known as St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic School), St. Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church, St. Andrew Ukrainian Catholic Church, Ridna Shkola, the Cleveland Blind Apostolate Sight Center and a number of other institutions.

In 1928 the brotherhood was one of the 40 local organizations that banded together to centralize the community life of Cleveland Ukrainians by forming the United Ukrainian Organizations of Cleveland.

To facilitate the UNA's organizational work, Cleveland area branches united in the early 1930s to create the Cleveland UNA District Committee. The brotherhood can be considered one of the founders of this association. Members of Branch 102 have served and today serve as executive officers.

Members of Branch 102 chaperoned and participated in the Cleveland Avramenko Ukrainian Dance Group at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair.

Under the leadership of many brotherhood members, land on Hoertz Road in Parma, Ohio, was purchased in 1935 on which was established the Ss. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery, the Ukrainian Picnic Grove and St. Andrew Ukrainian Catholic Church (built on the property in 1966).

The UNA sponsored a sports program in 1939, providing an opportunity for the youth of the brotherhood to become involved. Basketball and softball teams were organized. These teams competed with other UNA teams in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan, and in the Cleveland city leagues.

On Sunday, June 2, 1940, members of Branch 102 financially supported and participated in the opening of the Ukrainian Cultural Gardens in Rockefeller Park in Cleveland.

A jubilee concert to mark the branch's 50th anniversary was held on Sunday, October 19, 1952, at the Ukrainian National Home on West 14th Street.

The brotherhood and its members contributed toward the dedication of the Lesia Ukrainka monument in the Ukrainian Cultural Gardens in 1961.

In 1961-1964 brotherhood members were vital participants in the fundraising for the dedication of the Taras Shevchenko monument in Washington.

The UNA became affiliated with the Ohio Fraternal Congress in 1962; members of the brotherhood represent the UNA in this congress. Mary Szmagala Bobeczko became president of the Ohio Fraternal Congress in 1975 and was treasurer for four years, 1983-1987.

Bowling was the primary interest among youth in 1964-1969; the Branch 102 team bowled in the UNA's Pennsylvania-Ohio tournaments held in Berea and Youngstown, Ohio. These teams were winners and have championship trophies to prove their ability.

The brotherhood sent delegates to conventions of the Ukrainian National Association, the Ukrainian Youth League of North America and the World Congress of Free Ukrainians.

Three of the brotherhood's members were elected to serve as supreme advisors of the UNA: Michael Chegin, 1908-1910; Nicholas Busko, 1933-1937; and Dmytro Szmagala, who served for 25 years, from 1941 to 1966. Nicholas Bobeczko has served on the Elections Committee at 12 conventions.

- by Nicholas Bobeczko

Present officers are Secretary Nicholas Bobeczko and President Daniel Bobeczko.

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