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20TH ANNIVERSARY OF BRANCH 72 From left to right, first row: Anna Wasylkow, Anna Bezkorowajny, Rozalie Polche, Mary Lesawyer, Anastasia Brodin, Mary Dushnyk, Olga Liteplo, Sophia Kotyk, Dorothy Chupa. Second row: Irene Czarnecky, Anna Malan, Mary Pilipshyn, Irene Pitula, Tessie Husiak, Dorothy Wylder, Marie Ricket, Betty Wenger, Glorybe Boshamar, Kathryn Kozulak, Lily Bochonko, Marry Atton, Vera Woytowicz, Nettie Jensen, Ann Redosh, Mary Bodnar, Mildred Luciw, Rose Brandes, Nellie Kott. Branch 72 of New York City celebrated its 20th anniversary at its annual dinner-dance on September 25, 1982 at Soyuzivka, Kerhonkson, N.Y. Although one-fifth of century had gone by — no, that sounds ancient, rather, 20 years had passed — the branch members were still involved in charitable and cultural activities, albeit somewhat curtailed. On that lovely September day the festivities started inthe early afternoon and continued until..... Quite a different scene from the first formal meeting of the group on the freezing evening of January 10, 1962 when 14 hardy women gathered at the Ukrainian Institute of America — and with the help of “midwife” Dr. Irene Padoch, then chairman of the N.Y. Regional Council, Branch 72 was born. Elected at the meeting were: Mary Dushnyck, president; Mary Lesawyer, vice president; Lily Bochonko, secretary, and Anne Bezkoro wajny, treasurer. At the anniversary dinner, the guest speaker, Alexandra Riznyk, honorary member and past vice president of the UNWLA, recalled briefly the history of the branch, which was co-founded by M. Lesawyer and M. Dushnyck. Mrs. Riznyk commended the members for their various activities during the past two decades. The first major undertaking was the nine-window exhibit of Ukrainian artifacts at the Brooklyn Main Library, organized by M. Dushnyck in the spring of 1962, which received wide coverage in the American and Ukrainian press and established Branch 72's entity in the community. The second significant event was a musicale, arranged by M. Lesawyer, herself and opera singer, which has since become an annual event and for which the branch was cited for providing a showcase for young aspiring Ukrainian American musicians. During those early years when their hearts were younger and gayer, Branch 72 members were involved in a wide scope of programs, such as a leadership training series: a literary workshop and exhibit, with actor W illiam Shust reciting Shevchenko’s poetry in Ukrainian and his own English trans lations, with comments, before a capacity audience; an address on Ukrainian American youth by writer Walter Odajnyk, now a noted psychoanalyst; a lecture by Rachel Vixman, a known parliamentarian; a talk by Helen Prociuk on human relations; a presentation on narcotics by the late member Mary Koval, an expert in the field, and talks by women writers and others; a film on Ukrainians in Yugoslavia; a Ukrainian cooking class; courses and lectures on pysanka painting, embroidery and ceramics, and even a beginning Ukrainian class for members by H. Prociuk. Also, branch members, a predominantly American-born group, in those early years engaged in letter-w riting campaigns, sending letters to President Kennedy, to U.S. senators and congressmen regarding passage of the Shev chenko statue resolution, stamp and library, and the creation of a captive nations committee in the House of Representa tives, letters to the Washington Post, protesting a column in which the Shevchenko statue project was attacked, etc. Many of these letters appeared in the Congressional Record. The branch also took an active part in the 1964-65 W orld’s Fair in NYC, with members acting as hostesses, appearing on TV, exhibiting Ukrainian folk art and demonstrating pysanka painting and embroidery. L. Bochonko also demonstrated egg painting at colleges, schools and banks. In addition, Branch 72 participated in many outstanding comm unity events, including the Shevchenko statue unveiling in Washington, DC, and the Bicentennial in NYC, during which it had its own float in the parade and its booth at the 7th Street Fair. The branch donated Ukraine: A concise Encyclopedia to Seton Hall University and it has contributed financially to many institutions, including the Ukrainian Museum, St. Basil’s Or phanage, the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute, Ukrainian veterans and others. During International Women’s Year the branch honored two daughters of members for their achievements in the scientific field: Dr. Georgia Fisanick-Englot and Dr. Joan E. Roberts. As A Riznyk pointed out, several Branch 72 members had served on the UNWLA national board — M. Dushnyck was organizing chairman for English-speaking branches and public relations chairman; H. Prociuk was press chairman; Rosalie Polche is now English-language secretary, and O. Liteplo is treasurer. In addition, several members have served and are now on the NY Regional Council board. [Furthermore, H. Prociuk was elected recently a vice president of the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations, of which she had been public relations chairman for many years.] Past presidents of Brach 72 were: M. dushnyck, the late Mae Demey, Anna Kosciw, M. Lesawyer, Dora Pifko, Joanna Boyko, R. Polche, Sophie Kotyk, O. Liteplo and Dorothy Chupa. Present officers are: president, Anastasia Brodin; vice pres., Anne Wasylkow; secretaries: corresponding — Lydia Jacynicz, recording — S. Kotyk, and treasurer, Mary Bodnar. Mnohaya Lita, to Branch 72! 24 ’НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, БЕРЕЗЕНЬ 1983 Видання C оюзу Українок A мерики - перевидано в електронному форматі в 2012 році . A рхів C У A - Ню Йорк , Н . Й . C Ш A.
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