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MARY V. BECK — A WOMAN FOR ALL SEASONS Saluting 50 years of her service to both the Ukrainian and American communities, Mary V. Beck was honored at a Testimonial Banquet held on June 17, 1984 in Detroit, Michigan and was presented with the Natalia Kobrynska Plaque. This, most coveted award of the Ukrainian Women’s League of America was tendered to Ms. Beck by Ms. Lida Kolodchin, Chairperson of the Detroit Regional Council Executive Committee of UNWLA on behalf of the National Executive Committee of the organization. The Plaque commemorates the cen tennial of the Ukrainian women’s movement in the Ukraine and honors its founder, Natalia Kobrynska. Ms. Beck also received a gold UNWLA pin which marks the 50th anniversary of the First UNWLA Con gress. In 1932 at the First UNWLA Congress Mary V. Beck delivered the keynote address, both in English and Ukrainian. Her youth, eloquence and vibrant personality made a tremendous impression upon the audience. She was heralded as a phenomenal success and many pre dicted an outstanding career for her. Invited to speak in many Ukrainian communities, Ms. Beck used these opportunities to promote UNWLA. She organized a Chapter in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Chapter 26 in Detroit and Chapter 97 in Buffalo, New York, which bears her name as patroness. She revital ized other dormant Chapters and motivated Ukrainian women to become activists in their communities. With her brother John, she organized and taught in Ukrainian evening schools, set up dancing classes, theater groups and cultural exhibits — all designed to make the Ameri can public aware of Ukrainian Americans and to inform them of the plight of the Ukrainians in their native land. Throughout her life Mary V. Beck was a pathfinder in the Ukrainian community. From 1932-34 she was the publisher and editor of “Zinochyj Svit” published in the United States. She founded the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Literary Contest for Ukrainian wo men writers and funded it for 20 years. She also initiated the “Ukrainica” Contest for Ukrainian youth and among other projects, sponsored the Ukrainian Art Exhibit in 1960 at WAyne State University in Detroit. Mary V. Beck is well known for her superior speak ing ability. During the past five decades she has deli vered about 1000 speeches and is recognized and honored in Ukrainian as well as non-Ukrainian com munities in the United States and abroad. Ms. Beck’s political career is also studded with achievements. She was the first woman elected to the Common Council of Detroit long before the advent of women’s liberation movement. She held the office of Vice-President, President of the Council and Acting Mayor. She served for 20 consecutive years in the county legislative body, earning for herself a prominent place in the history of the city of Detroit. Even in retirement she continued to serve the pub lic. Last year Ms. Beck headed the Ukrainian Commun ity Committee of Metropolitan Detroit to commemorate the Great Famine of 1932. Her ability to obtain the cooperation of all the Ukrainian organizations resulted in a unified effort which produced an impressive memo rial march, ecumenical services and a memorial cultural program which will remain an unforgettable experience for all who witnessed it. The Ukrainian community of Detroit responded most enthusiastically when Ms. Emily Zaporoshets initiated the idea of a Testimonial Jubilee Banquet for this dis tinguished women. The Banquet was a triumph. Dr. Peter Savaryn, President of the World Congress of Free Ukrainians was the principal speaker, who enumerated the many accomplishments of the honoree, lauding her tremendous efforts and indicating that she was a unique phenomenon among the Ukrainians unlikely to be dupli cated in the near future. Mr. Stephen Wichar served as Toastmaster. Many tributes were proferred to Mary Beck on that
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