THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM (09/19/04)

THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM

UNA announces new benefit to members: the Guaranteed Issue Whole Life Plan

by Christine E. Kozak
UNA National Secretary

The Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal organization founded in 1894, is proud to announce a new benefit for its members: the Guaranteed Issue Whole Life Plan.

The Guaranteed Issue Whole Life Plan is a way for the UNA to show appreciation to its members for their continued support during the past 110 years, by offering a no-questions-asked policy.

The Guaranteed Issue Whole Life Plan is available to UNA members for $3,000 or $5,000 of coverage. It's simple, easy and stress-free. Members between the ages of 35 and 90 who already have an active premium-paying policy, a single-premium policy, a paid-up policy or an annuity, are eligible to purchase the Guaranteed Issue Whole Life Plan regardless of their past or current health status. No questions asked.

The Guaranteed Issue Whole Life Plan is a permanent insurance plan. As with all permanent insurance, there is an accumulation of cash value. The premiums on this plan will not increase; the benefits will not decrease as long as premiums are paid; and the benefit cannot be cancelled.

It is important to realize that, although as a UNA member you may already have a policy, a death benefit of $500 or $1,000 has not kept up with inflation, and most certainly will not provide the same economic support and will not have the impact it would have had 20 or 30 years ago. So, you would be well advised to take advantage of this newest offer to members.

For information regarding rates and an application for the Guaranteed Issue Whole Life Plan, members can contact their branch secretaries or call the UNA Home Office at 1-800-253-9862.

OUR BRANCH SECRETARIES: Lubov Streletsky, top organizer

by Lev Khmelkovsky

PARSIPPANY, N.J. - Lubov Streletsky, secretary of Ukrainian National Association Branch 10 in Philadelphia, doesn't have any language problems while communicating with others. She speaks English with Americans, and Ukrainian with Ukrainians; she is also fluent in Russian and Moldovan.

She says that the best teacher for her was life. She was born in Chernivtsi, Ukraine, and spoke Ukrainian at home, but communicated in Polish as well because her father and grandparents were fluent in the language. Her father, together with his family, was sent to Siberia as he was an adherent of the Church. It was in far-off Siberia that he learned Russian. Later the family was allowed to return not to Ukraine, but to Moldova. So, Ms. Streletsky had to study the Moldovan language to get a job.

Then, 14 years ago, the Streletsky family moved to the United States. The family was sponsored by Ukrainian Evangelical Church in Union, N.J., whose pastor at the time was George Dawydiuk. Very soon Mrs. Streletsky understood that she would not get a good job without knowing the English language. So, she started learning English at the age of 35.

The results of her hard work are obvious: she graduated from a medical college, took several professional courses and became a nurse. Today she is the chief manager at a medical practice that has several offices.

Though the beginning of her work in this country was rather ordinary as the experience of most Ukrainian newcomers goes - she made "varenyky", cleaned houses and took care of children - now she has many achievements of which to be proud. Once when she applied for the position of secretary in a medical office, the doctor replied: "There are plenty of secretaries, but where would I find such a good nanny for my children?"

Reflecting on her knowledge of languages, Mrs. Streletsky said: "Before, I was always thinking in Ukrainian, but recently I understood that I think using the language people around me speak."

Her husband, Vasily, also is from Chernivtsi. Immediately after arriving in the U.S. he started working at a company that manufactured hearing aids. At the time he was the only Ukrainian worker there, but he served as a good example. Today more than 50 of his compatriots work there. In fact, the owner of the company now is the only American in the company. And the business owner came to love Ukraine, so much so that he organized several tours for American specialists to visit Ukraine where they made hearing aids for children for free (if the hearing aid prescription was too complex, they took it to the U.S. to fill).

Today the entire Streletsky family lives in Philadelphia. The father, Carol Sedletsky, serves as the pastor at the Lifeway Baptist Church (he, too, was persecuted for his religious beliefs in Soviet Ukraine).

The Streletskys' daughter, Nadia has become a nurse like her mother. Nadia is married to Pastor Benjamin Mishin. The couple has two children.

The Streletskys' son, Alexander, graduated from a college of computer sciences. Now he's continuing his studies on the university level, while working at the same company as his father as a computer specialist.

Mrs. Streletsky is active in her Church as well. She takes care of newcomers ("novoprybuli") and provides them with the information they need to begin new lives in this country. Pastor John Kovalchuk, who is also the secretary of UNA Branch 95, noticed the great deeds accomplished by Mrs. Streletsky and her desire to help people.

At the same time Konstantyn Chilczenkowski, the head of another UNA branch in the area, Branch 10, had developed vision problems that made it difficult for him to handle his work. So, Pastor Kovalchuk visited Mrs. Streletsky and told her about the history and the goals of the UNA. He also suggested that Mrs. Streletsky could head the two UNA branches and have them merged into one. Mrs. Streletsky accepted the proposal and started working for the UNA.

Mrs. Streletsky's friendly nature, along with her respect and love for others has enabled her to become a successful UNA branch secretary. She is good at communicating with people, telling them about the services the UNA offers and encouraging them to buy much-needed life insurance. That's why, after the results of the first quarter of the year 2004 were in, Mrs. Streletsky was the top UNA organizer. She had sold a total of $818,000 in life insurance coverage.

"I can't agree with people who complain about the difficulties of life in America. God helps everybody in the same way, but not everyone tries as hard to overcome the difficulties that life may bring. Those who don't like to work won't achieve success in a new country," commented Mrs. Streletsky.

The Streletsky family has proved they know how to get the best out of life. And, in the process, they have helped the UNA expand its membership.

Translated from Ukrainian, as published in Svoboda, by Lesya Sayik.

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