The Ukrainian Weekly 1993

No. 49 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5,1993THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUMMetropolitan area districts liold organizing meeting Ivoung UNR^er?JERSEY CITY, NJ. — The UNA district committees ofNew York, Jersey City, Newark, Passaic and Perth Amboy helda joint organizing meeting here at the Ukrainian NationalAssociation's headquarters building on Saturday, October 23.The focus of the meeting was on the 1993 UNA membershipcampaign, as well as the upcoming centennial of this fraternalorganization. Representatives of the New York City district andfour New Jersey districts also delivered reports on activity iniieir respective areas.Among the more than 50 persons in attendance were severalsupreme officers and members of the UNA Supreme Assembly.Present were: Supreme President Ulana Diachuk, SupremeSecretary Walter Sochan, Supreme Treasurer AlexanderBlahitka, Supreme Advisors Andrew Keybida, Vasyl Luchkiwand Roma Hadzewycz, as well as Mary Dushnyck, honorarymember of the Supreme Assembly.Mrs. Diachuk opened the meeting with a brief report on theorganizing campaign. She noted that to date the districts representedat the meeting had met less than 50 percent of theirrespective quotas, and she encouraged all UNA activists tobecome active in the membership campaign, especially byreaching out to younger potential members. She then reportedon the organizing results as of the end of the third quarter of1993 (see organizing report on this page).District reports were given by their respective district chairmen:Prof. Luchkiw of New York, Walter Bilyk of Jersey City,Roman Pyndus of Newark, John Chomko of Passaic and OsypRinnyk of Perth Amboy (in the absence of District ChairmanMichael Zacharko).It was noted that the following were the results, thus far, of1993 organizing efforts in these districts: New York, 60 members(40 percent of quota); Passaic, 10 members (40 percent);Jersey City, 29 members (39 percent); Newark, 32 members (38percent), and Perth Amboy, 19 members (35 percent). It shouldbe noted that quotas are determined based on the number of agiven district's current members.In turn, Mr. Sochan offered a summary of the various insuranceplans now offered by the UNA and gave some helpfulhints on how to promote UNA products. The supreme secretaryexplained the importance of withdrawal equities, the availabilityof extended term insurance and the savings on single-premiumcertificates, among the various insurance matters he discussed.He emphasized that the 1993 organizing campaign in particularis important because it is the membership count at the endof 1993 that determines the number of convention delegates towhich a branch is entitled. The UNA convention will take placein Pittsburgh in May of 1994.Mrs. Diachuk again took the podium to speak of the UNA'snew insurance sales office in AUentown, Pa., and one soon toopen in Parma, Ohio. In addition, she noted, five professionalsalesmen work out of the Home Office in Jersey City.The supreme president then went on to speak of the UNA'scentennial, which will be marked in 1994 with gala concertsin New York and Philadelphia, and special publications,including a history of the organization by Dr. Myron B.Kuropas and a volume containing histories of UNA branches.A traveling photo exhibit also is being prepared to mark theanniversary.As well, Mrs. Diachuk said the UNA would like to honor itspioneers in 1994 and that is why she had asked all branches tosubmit names of persons who should be cited. Thus far, however,she said only 75 out of 390 branches had responded to thisrequest.In his remarks. Supreme Treasurer Blahitka underscored thatthe UNA is financially strong, with $72 million in assets as ofAugust 31. He pointed to income of $5,426,029 more this yearthan in 1992— much of it due to sales of annuity certificates.He also cited a report by Standard Analytical Service, whichnotes that the UNA's solvency, suфlus funds and surplus to lifeinsurance in force compare extremely favorably with figuresforthe 25 largest commercial life insurance companies in theUnited States.He further noted that income at Soyuzivka also was up,amounting to $26,361 more than in the previous year, and thatthe UNA headquarters building is now 86 percent occupied (ascompared to the 70 percent occupancy rate that is the average inthe area in the current market).Toward the conclusion of the meeting Ms. Hadzewycz, whoin addition to being a supreme advisor is editor-in-chief of TheUkrainian Weekly, was asked to speak about the future of thatnewspaper. She noted that the future depends on UNA members,on marketing and promotion of The Weekly among potentialsubscribers, and on further decisions about the expansion ofthe press bureau in Ukraine as well as the opening of newbureaus in other locations in North America.She added that The Weekly's 60th anniversary, which fallson October 6, 1993, was commemorated with a special issue ofthe newspaper and that it also will be marked in the 1994 UNAAlmanac with a special section.Also at the end of the meeting, Atanas Kobryn spoke brieflyabout his experiences as a participating instructor in the UNA'sTeaching English in Ukraine Program. He noted in particularthat the residents of eastern Ukraine — his assignment was inthe Donbas — must not be forgotten by Ukrainians livingabroad.Alexa Raniuk is a new member of UNABranch 238 in Boston. She was enroUedby her parents, George and Lila Raniuk.Matthew D. Solan is one of the newestmembers of UNA Branch 452 inHammond, Ind. He is the son of Kimand David Solan and was enroUed by hisgrandparents Irene and Joseph Solan.Auditors complete semiannual reviewThe Supreme Auditing Committee of the Ukrainian NationalAssociation completed its semiannual review of UNA operations.The review was conducted by Supreme Auditors (fromleft) Anatole Doroshenko, William Pastuszek (committeechairman), Wasyl Didiuk and Stepan Hawrysz. TarasSzmagala, the fifth member of the Auditing Committee, wasunable to be present during the November 15 weeklong audit.The UNA:a centuryof serviceSeniors have datePOLAND, Ohio — Gene Woloshyn,president of the UNA SeniorsAssociation, has announced that the 20thconference will be held June 12-17,1994, at Soyuzivka.The theme of the coming conferencewill be "Celebrating the Anniversaries."Reservations will be taken by Soyuzivkaafter January 1, 1994.Third quarter organizing reportDuring the hot summer months, UNA activists did not forget about enrolling new members into theUkrainian National Association, especially since the membership count at the end of 1993 will determinethe number of delegates to which a branch is entitled for the 1994 convention.We are pleased to report the organizing achievements for the first nine months of 1993. In all, 996new members were enrolled for $9,620,787 of insurance. There is a marked increase in the amount ofinsurance coverage — $1,697,000 higher than last year.Among individual organizers, the longtime secretary of Branch 63 in Pittsburgh, Michael Turko,enlisted 47 members. By the end of the year, he is sure to have enrolled more than 50 new members.In second place in the 1993 organizing campaign is Miron Pilipiak, assistant secretary of Branch 496in Seattle, who enrolled 50 members. He, too, is sure to surpass the 50-member mark. SupremeAuditor William Pastuszek is now in third place with 33 members, but there is no doubt he will workhard to be No. 1.Next in line are the following organizers: Christine Gerbehy, Branch 269, 26 members; JosephChabon, Branch 242, 25 members; John Chopko, Branch 271, 19 members; Dr. Atanas Slusarczuk,Branch 174, 15 members; Eli Matiash, Branch 120, and Stefan Pryjmak, Branch 217, 14 memberseach; and Nicholas Diakiwsky, Branch 161, 13 members.In Canada, veteran organizer Alexandra Dolnycky of Toronto's Branch 434 is in first place with 12new members. Supreme Advisor Tekla Moroz is not far behind, however, with 10 members.The Supreme Executive Committee extends sincere congratulations and a hearty thank-you to aUthese organizers for their hard work and dedication. As well, thanks are due to all other organizerswho enrolled new members, we encourage them to continue their work to increase the membership intheir branches and the UNA as a whole.As regards organizing results by districts, the Central district is now in first place, having overfulfilledits quota by 120 percent. Pittsburgh is in second place, having completed 96 percent of itsquota, and Youngstown is in third with 80 percent of it allotment. Syracuse/Utica is a close fourthwith 72 percent of its quota filled.All other districts have met their quotas by 67 percent or less.The Supreme Executive Committee especially appeals to those branch secretaries who this yearhave not yet enrolled any new members and ask that they resume their organizing activity. The enrollmentof new members into the UNA should be a goal dear to each and every one of us, but in particularto branch officers, as the ranks of the UNA need to be replenished with active new members toreplace our pioneers and longtime activists who have passed away. Let us remember that there is littletime left to the end of the year and that the convention year will soon be upon us.Supreme Executive Committee