Skip to content
Call Us Today! 212-533-4646 | MON-FRI 12PM - 4PM (EST)
DONATE
SUBSCRIBE
Search for:
About Us
UNWLA 100
Publications
FAQ
Annual Report 2023
Annual Report 2022
Annual Report 2021
Initiatives
Advocate
Educate
Cultivate
Care
News
Newsletters
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
Join UNWLA
Become a Member
Volunteer With Us
Donate to UNWLA
Members Portal
Calendar
Shop to Support Ukraine
Search for:
Print
Print Page
Download
Download Page
Download Right Page
Open
1
2-3
4-5
6-7
8-9
10-11
12-13
14-15
16-17
18-19
20-21
22-23
24-25
26-27
28-29
30-31
32-33
34-35
36-37
38-39
40
HONORARY UNWLA MEMBERS ELECTED AT 24TH UNWLA CONVENTION MARY DUSHNYCK From 1953-55 my husband Walter’s work took us and our son Mark to Rio de Janeiro where we had an entre into the diplomatic and cultural life in Brazil. This was an impetus for my subsequent activities. Realizing this was a fertile field for disseminating information on Ukraine, my initial effort was an article on Ukraine with photos of pysanky which appeared as a full page in one of Rio’s leading papers. Another event was a Ukrainian program and reception for diplomat’s wives, including the U. S. Ambassador’s wife, and oth ers, with a talk on Ukraine by yours truly. Later there were other such occasions. Upon joining the Rio de Janeiro Women’s Club for English-speaking women, I was elected program chair. Charitable and cultural events were held regularly. One was an elegant fashion show with Club members as models on the S. S. Moore-McCormick, at which I was the M. C. ***** But to go back. I had been involved in Ukrainian community life earlier and was a first secretary (Eng lish) of the United Ukrainian American Relief Commit tee (ZUDAK) when it was created in 1944. Later, I became co-founder and first president of UNWLA Branch 72 for American-born Ukrainian Women. One of my major projects was an exhibit of Ukrainian artifacts at the Brooklyn (NY) Main Library. Nine win dows of exemplary embroidery, folk art and pysanky arranged so artistically by an expert that the display was proclaimed “one of the prettiest exhibits ever held at the Library.” It received wide coverage in the American press. At this time Branch 72 embarked on a letter-writing campaign. We asked President Kennedy for action on the release of Cuban prisoners; there were also, letters to the White House, Senators and Congressmen to sponsor a Shevchenko library and stamp, to The Washington Post protesting its attacks on the Shev chenko statue project, and others for establishment of a Captive Nations Committee in the House of Representa tives. Several of these letters appeared in the Congres sional Record. Another project I initiated in Branch 72 was a Lead ership Course, including a Shevchenko program with a lecture and a stirring recital ot the bard’s poetry, an address on “The Role of Our Youth in Ukrainian Ameri can Life,” which The Ukrainain Weekly reprinted and on which Our Life had an article; and a lecture on Parlia mentary Procedure and Leadership Development. Guests at these programs and musicales often included UN personnel. Writeups on Branch 72 appeared in many NY papers and on Radio Stations WOR and WPIX. In 1962 I was elected UNWLA Organization Chair for American-born Ukrainian women and later was elected to two terms as Public Relations chair. I also served as UNWLA liaison with the National Council of Women-USA (NCW-USA) and was a delegate to the General Federation of Women’s Clubs conventions. In 1963 I was a delegate to the International Council of Women’s Conference in Washington, DC. Further, I was a member of NCW-USA’s Interna tional Hospitality Committee and sponsored several Ukrainian programs for diplomats’wives, UN personnel, etc. In 1973 I was an NCW-USA alternate delegate to the International Council of Women’s Conference in Vienna. Meanwhile I was active in Women for Freedom, Inc., consisting of women from countries under Communism. I served as secretary and arranged a program with noted speakers, at the Ukrainian Institute of America. I also worked with the Captive Nations Committee in NYC. In 1966 I was elected vice president of the Ukrainian National Assn. (UNA) (“Soyuz”) and served four 4-year terms (16 years). I also chaired its Women’s Committee which was charged with building the Lesia Ukrainka monument, was present at the unveiling in 1976. Since 1982 I have been an Honorary Member of the UNA General Assembly. In 1975 I attended the International Council of Women’s Conference in Mexico City where I was ordered to stop disseminating anti-communist literature! I was also involved with the Ukrainian Museum and
Page load link
Go to Top
1 
2-3 
4-5 
6-7 
8-9 
10-11 
12-13 
14-15 
16-17 
18-19 
20-21 
22-23 
24-25 
26-27 
28-29 
30-31 
32-33 
34-35 
36-37 
38-39 
40 
