THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM (09/11/05)

THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM

Delegation from Ukraine visits UNA's Home Office, newspapers

PARSIPPANY, N.J. - Ukrainian civic leaders visited the Home Office of the Ukrainian National Association on August 9 to learn about the fraternal organization, as well as to see how the newspapers Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly operate. The visit was part of a broader weeklong Open World Program, which is managed by the independent Open World Leadership Center at the U.S. Library of Congress. The trip, which lasted from August 6 to 14, was hosted by the Cross Cultural International Institute (CCII) and its founder, Maryanne Oslen. The Open World Program provides youth leaders from the Eurasian region with an opportunity to work with their counterparts in the United States to develop an understanding of the American approach to democracy and a free market economy. The visit was made possible by the National Peace Foundation. Pictured in the photo are (front row, from left): Sergiy Chumak, a member of the Ukrainian delegation and the chairman of the Poltava Regional Organization for Disabled Athletes; Dr. Marta Kokolskyj, an NGO representative of the Ukrainian World Congress at the United Nations; (back row, from left): Roma Lisovich, treasurer of the Ukrainian National Association; Brother Luke Gilchrist, an assistant with CCII; members of the Ukrainian delegation Dmytro Avdyeyev and Vladyslava Pyhova; Stefan Kaczaraj, UNA president; Irene Jarosewich, Svoboda editor-in-chief; members of the Ukrainian delegation Oleksandr Vasylovych and Anastasiya Bezverkha; Oksana Yakuha, an assistant with the Cross Cultural International Institute; and Mrs. Olsen.

- Andrew Nynka

Life Insurance Awareness Month is being observed in September

WASHINGTON - This month the life insurance industry will come together for the second time to observe Life Insurance Awareness Month (LIAM). This is an opportunity for the industry to act collectively to make sure that all Americans are reminded of the importance of including life insurance in their financial plans.

The Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education (LIFE) estimates that more than 60 million Americans lack sufficient coverage. This month insurance professionals are encouraged to do something about the growing "crisis of underinsurance" by talking to people in their communities about their life insurance needs. This industry-wide effort is supported by many of the nation's leading life insurance companies and fraternal benefit societies. Together, life insurance organizations will spend tens of millions of dollars in September in an effort to get people to think about their life insurance needs.

Calling on a personal story to illustrate the importance of life insurance, actress and New York Times best-selling author Marilu Henner, star of the hit television shows "Taxi" and "Evening Shade," will serve as spokesperson for the observance of Life Insurance Awareness Month. Having lost her father to a heart attack when she was only 17 years old, Ms. Henner knows first-hand the financial relief that life insurance provides.

"Marilu's story is a wonderful example of how life insurance protects a family from financial hardship, and we're excited to have her anchoring our efforts to get Americans focused on their need for coverage," said David F. Woods, LIFE's president.

Ms. Henner's participation in Life Insurance Awareness Month was secured by the LIFE Foundation. In addition to coordinating the industry-wide Life Insurance Awareness Month campaign, LIFE plans to spend millions of dollars in September educating consumers about the benefits of life insurance and the importance of seeking advice from qualified insurance professionals. LIFE's publicity plans include print and radio advertising, the annual eight-page realLIFEstories special section that will appear in the September 12 issue of Newsweek, multi-page special sections in Time, Parents, Child and Ser Padres magazines, aggressive outreach to the news media, a series of public service announcements on radio, and the "LIFE Lessons" essay contest, a college scholarship program in which students will describe the emotional and financial impact of losing a parent at a young age.

More than 100 insurance companies and industry trade groups participated in the inaugural Life Insurance Awareness Month campaign in September 2004. Companies supported last year's campaign with a wide range of marketing communications efforts, including consumer advertising, direct marketing campaigns, Internet promotions, producer incentive programs, campaign signage in field offices, and new sales and marketing resources. Many companies also used September as an opportunity to remind their own employees about the importance of having adequate life insurance coverage.

This year, LIFE expects even more life insurance organizations to participate in the campaign. Many companies already have indicated that they will participate in September.

"The number of organizations planning to participate in Life Insurance Awareness Month is very encouraging," said Mr. Woods. "Our ability to motivate people to get the coverage they need... totally depends on how committed the industry is to reaching the public with our messages and our products. I urge anyone still on the sidelines to join this important industry-wide effort."

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Organizations or individuals wishing to learn more about the campaign should contact Jon Dressner, vice-president, LIFE Foundation, at jdressner@lifefdn.org or (202) 464-5000, ext 117.

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