PARSIPPANY, N.J. – For the first time in the 126-year history of this fraternal organization, the Ukrainian National Association’s highest governing body between quadrennial conventions did not meet in person, convening instead by videoconference and teleconference due to continuing restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic.
The UNA General Assembly, which encompasses executive officers, auditors and advisors, met virtually on Monday and Tuesday, October 5-6, with members signing in from their respective locations across the United States as well as Canada.
General Assembly members plus the editor-in-chief of the UNA’s official publications, Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly, submitted written reports in advance of the meeting.
The Ukrainian National Association has a long-standing tradition of assisting students in their pursuit of higher education. Despite the challenges of the coronavirus, the UNA continued that tradition in 2020. The UNA Scholarship Committee met on June 26 to review all applications for scholarships and awards.
There was a total of 54 applicants from 26 different UNA branches. The number and quality of applicants this year was truly exceptional, with a number of students applying for more than one scholarship for which they were eligible.
The coronavirus pandemic has had a profound effect on the global community, including the Ukrainian National Association, a fraternal benefit society that serves the Ukrainian community and its members throughout North America. And yet, we are proud to say, UNA operations have continued throughout the pandemic.
At the UNA’s Home Office, which is based in Parsippany, N.J., we reacted immediately and put into effect a business contingency plan previously developed for such an eventuality. Out of an abundance of caution, our Home Office was closed and, beginning on Monday, March 16, our employees began to work remotely in order to continue serving our members without disruption. Thus, the UNA was focused on both protecting the health of its Home Office staff and meeting the needs of its thousands of members.
During this temporary work arrangement, the UNA continued to accept membership applications, process claims and handle all variety of matters important to our policyholders. All the while, members could reach us during business hours (8 a.m.-4 p.m.) via our customer service number at 800-253-9862. We sincerely thank our members for their patience, cooperation and understanding during this trying time for us all.
At the same time, the UNA closely monitored developments related to the coronavirus pandemic, carefully following all guidelines issued by government officials and health authorities. As a result, the work-from-home plan was extended several times.
On Monday, June 1, the Home Office began transitioning to a multi-phased return to regular operations. We are taking all precautions to make sure our staff stays protected, as we are spending more time in the office and increasing our interactions. The office schedules of our employees have slowly been increased, hand sanitizer and disinfecting agents are available throughout the office, face masks are provided and required to be worn, and social distancing is encouraged. In addition, our offices are being sanitized on a regular schedule.
Just as we care about the safety of our staff, we care about the well-being of our members throughout the United States and Canada. We encourage you to follow the guidance and instructions issued by your local, state and federal authorities so that together we can overcome COVID-19. Please stay safe and stay healthy!
For over 126 years, the Ukrainian National Association has always been there for our members. While we are not yet back to operations as they were before the coronavirus pandemic, we pledge to you that we will continue to serve you as we always have – with the utmost professionalism, respect and care. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions you may have. Our dedicated staff is ready and able to respond.
As we all do our part in the global fight against this novel coronavirus, remember that we truly are all in this together.
Fraternally, Stefan Kaczaraj President/Chief Executive Officer Ukrainian National Association
PARSIPPANY, N.J. – The 2020 Almanac of the Ukrainian National Association, which is published by Svoboda Press, was mailed earlier this year to Svoboda subscribers, but it is available for purchase by others who may be interested in this unique publication, which this year marks its 105th annual release.
The Ukrainian-language publication is devoted to historic anniversaries of the year 2020. The 288-page UNA Almanac opens with an article by the late Ivan Kedryn Rudnytsky, the well-known journalist active in Ukraine and the United States who was a longtime member of the Svoboda editorial staff. This excerpt from his memoirs speaks about the momentous year 1920 and what it meant for Ukraine.
Petro Kraliuk writes about the Treaty of Warsaw of 1920 through the eyes of a Ukrainian, while Lev Konstantynovych describes the dilemma faced by Ukrainian political leader Symon Petliura (1879-1926).
Other sections of the UNA Almanac for 2020 cover historic developments and entities such as the world’s first democratic constitution, that of Ukrainian Hetman Pylyk Orlyk, dating to 1710; the highly respected Ukrainian newspaper Dilo, the first daily newspaper for Ukrainians in Halychyna, which was founded 140 years ago, and its connections with the Ukrainian American newspaper Svoboda; the Ukrainian Military Organization (known by the Ukrainian acronym UVO) that was established in 1920; and the centennial of the Sich Riflemen’s movement as well as that of the Prosvita Society in the Zakarpattia region.
The Almanac also contains articles on political science topics, significant events in the literary and judicial fields, and the 70th anniversary of the death of Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) Commander-in-Chief Roman Shukhevych.
Notable personages and jubilees are the focus of yet another chapter in the book. Literary works, miscellaneous stories about interesting topic, and articles about maintaining good health round out the volume, whose editor is Petro Chasto.
Copies of the 2020 UNA Almanac are available for purchase at $20 per book by mailing a check made out to UNA Publications at 2200 Route 10, Parsippany, NJ 07054.
Вгорі – перша фотографія працівників Українського Народного Союзу та його газет ,,Свобода” і ,,The Ukrainian Weekly” перед новим будинком УНСоюзу в місті Парсипані, Ню-Джерзі. Фото було зняте у жовті 1997 року після того, як УНСоюз і його газети переїхали підчас вікенду 10-13 жовтня з Джерзі Ситі, Ню-Джерзі, 30 миль на захід до Парсипані. Хмаросяг УНСоюзу в Джерзі Ситі (при 30 Montgomery St.) був проданий 14 серпня, а нова двоповерхова будівля у Парсипані (2200 Route 10) була закуплена 28 серпня. Посвячення нової Головної Канцелярії УНСоюзу відбулося в неділю 10 листопада. А вже 9 грудня встановлено новий напис перед будинком на якому було написано „Ukrainian National Association Corporate Headquarters”. (Фото: Рома Гадзевич)
Вгорі – перша фотографія працівників Українського Народного Союзу та його газет ,,Свобода” і ,,The Ukrainian Weekly” перед новим будинком УНСоюзу в місті Парсипані, Ню-Джерзі. Фото було зняте у жовті 1997 року після того, як УНСоюз і його газети переїхали підчас вікенду 10-13 жовтня з Джерзі Ситі, Ню-Джерзі, 30 миль на захід до Парсипані. Хмаросяг УНСоюзу в Джерзі Ситі (при 30 Montgomery St.) був проданий 14 серпня, а нова двоповерхова будівля у Парсипані (2200 Route 10) була закуплена 28 серпня. Посвячення нової Головної Канцелярії УНСоюзу відбулося в неділю 10 листопада. А вже 9 грудня встановлено новий напис перед будинком на якому було написано „Ukrainian National Association Corporate Headquarters”. (Фото: Рома Гадзевич)
PARSIPPANY,
N.J. – The Ukrainian National Association’s Home Office on has mailed a voting package
to all delegates to the last UNA Convention, held in May 2018, and to current
members of the UNA General Assembly.
The
package contains proposed changes to the UNA By-Laws and a ballot that is to be
returned via the mail by January 21. Delegates and General Assembly members are
being asked to vote on proposed changes to the UNA By-Laws, a draft of which
was presented to delegates at the UNA’s 2018 Convention.
The
voting takes place as the UNA celebrates the 125th anniversary of
its founding. As noted in a letter from UNA President/CEO Stefan Kaczaraj that
was sent with the ballots, “The passage of these By-Laws is an important and
crucial step to ensure the UNA’s viability for the next 125 years.”
Also
included in the packet sent by certified mail to convention delegates and
General Assembly members were the Proposed Amended Charter and By-Laws of the
Ukrainian National Association, Inc., as well as a summary of the key
highlights of the proposed amendments.
In
the event that any delegate or General Assembly member did not receive the
packet, they are urged to phone the Home Office at 973-292-9800.
ПАРСИПАНІ,
Ню-Джерзі. – Головна Канцелярія Українського Народного Союзу вислала всім
делеґатам минулої Конвенції УНСоюзу, що відбулася у травні 2018 року, та теперішнім
членам Головного Уряду УНСоюзу матеріяли для голосування над пропонованими
змінами до Статуту організації.
Згадані
матеріяли включають текст змін до Основної Грамоти Конституції та Статуту і
бальот, котрий треба повернути поштою до 21 січня. Пропоновані зміни до статуту
були представлені у скороченій формі делеґатам на Конвенції 2018 року.
Голосування
над новим Статутом відбувається під час ювілейного року УНСоюзу, який був
заснований у 1894 році. Як сказано у листі від Президента/Головного Виконавчого
Директора Стефана Качарая, ,,Прийняття
цього Статуту – це важний і потрібний крок, який забезпечить майбутнє УНСоюзу на наступні 125 років”.
Пакет
інформацій висланий делеґатам та членам Головного Уряду включає повний текст
пропонованих нових Основної Грамоти Конституції та Статуту УНСоюзу, як також
пояснення найважливіших змін до цих основних документів.
У
випадку, якщо хтось із делеґатів чи членів Головного Уряду не отримав цих
матеріялів, просимо негайно зателефонувати до Головної Канцелярії на число 973-292-9800.
Come celebrate 125 years of the UNA Insuring our Community.
Saturday, November 2nd, 2019.
Dolan Hall Performance Center – College of Saint Elizabeth
Morristown, NJ
Doors Open 5:00 PM ** Show Starts 5:30 PM
*All proceeds to benefit the UNA Publication Endowment Fund
UNA CELEBRATES 125 YEARS: Snapshots from history, 1997
More than 160 persons helped the Ukrainian National Association celebrate the blessing of its new headquarters building in Parsippany, N.J., on Sunday, November 9, 1997. The rite was conducted by clergy of the Ukrainian Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox Churches: the Rev. Marian Struc, pastor of Ss. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in Jersey City, N.J. (home to the UNA’s former headquarters); the Rev. Oleh Hucul, pastor of Holy Ascension Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Maplewood, N.J.; and the Rev. Myron Stasiw, a UNA advisor who is pastor of Holy Protectress Ukrainian Catholic Church in Toronto. The blessing took place in the two-story building’s spacious atrium, with the guests gathered in the atrium and on a balcony overlooking the ground floor. After blessing the atrium, the priests headed upstairs, where they blessed the offices of the Ukrainian National Association, Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly. Among the guests were representatives of many Ukrainian community organizations, as well as district and branch officers from the tri-state New York, New Jersey and Connecticut region. Almost all the members of the UNA General Assembly, which had just completed its annual deliberations at Soyuzivka the previous day attended the ceremonies. Also present were many employees of the UNA and its two official publications. The event began with welcoming remarks by UNA President Ulana Diachuk, who then turned the proceedings over to the masters of ceremonies, Vice-President Nestor Olesnycky and Vice-Presidentess Anya Dydyk-Petrenko. Brief congratulatory messages were delivered by several representatives of Ukrainian organizations and institutions. A musical program featured the Lviviany vocal-instrumental ensemble and bandurist Alla Kutsevych of Lviv. Afterwards guests proceeded to the second floor, where the offices of the UNA and its publications are located, for a reception.
Following is a list of the executive officers of the Ukrainian National Association elected at UNA conventions from 1894 through the convention of 2018. Readers will note changes in terminology in the names of executive offices, e.g. supreme president to president; as well as theelimination of certain executive positions, e.g. supreme vice-presidentess, supreme organizer. The list was compiled based on convention reports, UNA histories and information published through the years in Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly. An asterisk (*) indicates that an officer died before completing his/her term of office.
SUPREME PRESIDENTS
Theodosius Talpash, 1894-1895
John Glowa, 1895-1898
Yuriy Khyliak, 1898-1900
Rev. Anthony Bonchevsky, 1900-1902
Rev. Nicholas Stefanovych, 1902-1904
Konstantine Kirczow, 1904-1908
Dmitro Kapitula, 1908-1917
Konstantine Kirczow, 1917-1920
Simon Yadlowski, 1920-1925
Theodore Hrytsey, 1925-1929
Nicholas Muraszko, 1929-1949*
Gregory Herman 1949-1950 (acting president)
Dmytro Halychyn, 1950-1961*
Joseph Lesawyer, 1961-1978
John O. Flis, 1978-1990
Ulana Diachuk, 1990-1994
PRESIDENTS
Ulana Diachuk, 1994-2002
Stefan Kaczaraj, 2002-2018
SUPREME VICE-PRESIDENTS
Michael Yevchak, 1894-1895
Theodosius Talpash, 1895-1896
Oleksiy Kuryla, 1896-1897
Petro Sekerak, 1897-1898
Ivan Dobosh, 1898-1900
Alexis Sharshon, 1900-1902
Michael Kravchyshyn, 1902-1904
Semen Mytrenko, 1904-1906
Ivan Paryliak, 1906-1908
Theodore Kulychytsky-Gut, 1908-1910
Ivan Marton, 1910-1912
Vasyl Suvak, 1912-1914
Ivan Vaverchak, 1914-1917
Andrew Stefanovych, 1917-1920
Theodore Hrytsey, 1920-1925
Michael Uhorchak, 1925-1929
Vasyl Hryshko, 1929-1933
Volodymyr Malewich, 1933-1937
Gregory Herman, 1937-1950
Joseph Lesawyer, 1950-1954
Michael Piznak, 1954-1958
Joseph Lesawyer, 1958-1961
Stephen Kuropas, 1961-1970
John Teluk, 1970-1974
John Flis, 1974-1978
Myron Kuropas, 1978-1990
Nestor Olesnycky, 1990-1994
Maria Cheremshak, 1908-1912
Mary Bilyk, 1912-1920
Maria Olshanytska, 1920-1929
Julia Bavoliak, 1929-1933
Maria Olshanytska, 1933-1937
Mary Malevich, 1937-1950
Genevieve Zepko-Zerebniak, 1950-1958
Anna Herman, 1958-1966
Mary Dushnyck, 1966-1982
Gloria Paschen, 1982-1994
