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But even before all that we must realize how impor tant the election process is, because we have the power to elect our representatives! We have the power to make sure that those individuals which can further our cause, get elected! The only way to make sure a worthy candidate for office is elected — is to vote for him or her. Next is to make sure members of our family vote, our neighbors vote, people in our community vote. Any UNWLA Branch can accept this responsibility as part of its agenda — to make sure that Ukrainian/A mericans vote! A practical way to begin such a project is to compile a list of Ukrainian/Americans living in the community where the Branch is located. Members can call, visit or contact by mail the individuals on the list and inform them of: a) voting registration, place and date b) roster of candidates c) candidate most receptive and concerned about the Ukrainian cause d) voting date and place Branch members can offer to bring individuals to regis tration or voting places when these people are elderly, infirm, handicapped or need transportation. It is very important to remember that every vote counts! Many people do not acknowledge the power of a vote. Some people dismiss the voting process as unim portant, others say their particular vote will not make a difference in the outcome, so why bother. Wrong on both counts! One should always remember that to a pol itician a vote is a sacred thing that can put him of her in office, or leave that individual by the wayside, a looser. One should also remember that when the person who may do some good for our community and our cause is running for office and looses because of our negligence at the polls, our loss is the one far greater and more serious. Let us go back to the “small consulate” in Kiev mat ter, the funds appropriations for the Famine Commis sion and the religious refugee status. Many U.S. sena tors and members of the House were involved in making sure that these bills and amendments were passed, as were other members of the Administration. It is extremely important that these people have a feedback from the segment of the community which is affected by this leg islation. They should be encouraged through mailing campaigns or direct phone calls to their Washington or home offices. A Branch can undertake a mailing cam paign by getting in touch with individuals on its list of voters by offering a composed letter or suggesting the content, as well as making sure that these letter go out. Getting people to telephone their representatives is a bit more difficult, but is can be carried through and is very effective. A letter campaign need not only ask that things be done a certain way, it can also compliment and tell your representative that he or she is O.K. and doing a good job! Being in touch with one’s elected representative should not be a once-in-a-blue-moon occurance. Politi cians need their public. They need encouragment, they need direction and above all they need the watchful eye of their electorate on them. We, the people, need the politicians to do our work within the government. This symbiotic relationship between the elected representa tives and an active informed and involved contituency usually produces a healthy government that gets things done. It is important for us as Ukrainian Americans to realize that we can further our cause but only if we work within the system and if we become a viable, informing, supporting and strong part of the system. As members of communities where we live, work, play and raise our children, we also have the responsi bility to make sure that these small parts of the world are the best they can be. Again, UNWLA Branches can be active on the community level — initiating petitions, letter writing campaigns, promoting telephone cam paigns and arranging group of individual visits to the offices of elected representatives — to let them know the community stand on issues that affect the everyday life of everyone — employment, schools, the drug situa tion, concerns for the elderly, crime, etc. Whether its on a local or national level, it is only through our participa tion in the workings of our government that changes can be made. There are many Branches in our organization that have an unfulfilled agenda or are looking for projects that will utilize the full potential of their membership. These Branches should consider the rewards and chal lenges of this job — participating in the democratic pro cess — voting and getting others to vote; and working within the system — being in touch with the legislative representatives on issues that are important to us as Ukrainian Americans as citizens of this country. The local public library in any community is the best place to begin looking for information needed to begin this project. Following are two reference books that will provide some basics: “ Politics in America, the 100th Congress” published by C.Q. Press, Washington, D.C. This book gives a list ing, biographical data, job record and Washington office address of every congressman and senator to the Uni ted States Congress. “Taylor’s Encyclopedia of Government Officials, Federal and State” is attributed to Political Research, Inc. It is a listing of names of all officials to federal and state offices of all states. A project or undertaking as discussed here consti tutes very important work. It is time consuming and perhaps the results are not apparent immediately. How ever, the rewards of success are immesurable, for they touch all of us and make life for all a little bit easier. FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK. НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, ВЕРЕСЕНЬ 1989 23
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