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Summit 2002 and the UNWLA by Marianna Zajac, President Central New York Regional Council A common question faced by members of the Ukrainian Diaspora is “How are we to engage the youth of our Ukrainian communities into actively participating in our organizations?” On March 15-17, 2002, a forum addressing this question was held at Soyuzivka. It was called "Summit 2002" and it was created in an effort to understand our collective present situation and approach it in a proactive fashion. Summit 2002 was co-sponsored by the Ukrainian Engineers’ Society of America, the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America, and the Ukrainian National Association. More than sixty leading Diaspora representatives and activists partici pated, demonstrating that all of our organizations are facing the same critical issues. As the UNWLA representative at the summit, I was not surprised to discover that we all face issues of growth and self- preservation. Stagnant or decreasing membership, an increase in the average age of existing membership, a widely geographically dispersed Diaspora, intermar riage, assimilation, a lack of relevance in today’s society, and a deficiency in technological resources were the common threads of discussion. But all these are facts of life, and it was agreed that we should not look back and lament. We should, instead, look forward and couple conviction with action to overcome the predicament. Of course, each organization has its own very specific goals and mission statement and these surfaced during the summit. Several of the representatives (e.g., the medical and business groups) stressed that mentoring and networking were of paramount importance to them. Others emphasized a need to increase their membership/sale base (as in the case of Svoboda and the UNA). Student groups, of course, emphasized peer and social interaction as an adjunct to looking ahead towards choosing a profession. Because of the characteristics of the indi vidual organizations participating, no blanket solution or ‘silver bullet’ could be found. But among all the organizations, putting aside the dissimilarities, there was one common theme: we must all recruit the “younger” generation to apply itself to continuing the work of our predecessors and join together for our collective ethnic survival and future. Representing the UNWLA and looking through its eyes, I came to realize how unique and special we are as a community organization. We invite a woman to join us, to pay her dues, and then to roll up her proverbial sleeves and get to work. And we succeed. Most amazingly, the UNWLA has been very successful in continuing the charitable works of our founders. Our work is aptly described in a 1995 editorial in The Ukrainian Weekly, which says that the UNWLA, very quietly and without much fanfare, accomplishes its goals - its members never searching for accolades, never looking for thanks. Our organization has an amazing history, replete with accomplishments. Unfortunately, perhaps, we are not fully aware of the efforts and accomplishments of those who came before us. An interesting point was brought up at the summit by Dr. Bohdan Vitvitsky, current vice- president of the Ukrainian American Professionals and Businesspersons Association of NY and NJ (UAPBA). Dr. Vitvitsky pointed out that while we teach our children about the history and geography of Ukraine, we do not teach them the history of Ukrainian American settlers, beginning with the first immigrant who arrived here 125 years ago. But by sharing with the younger generation the history of the determination, sacrifice and hard work needed by our grandfathers and fathers to build our magnificent churches, communities, and organizations, we might indeed nurture the desire and commitment to continue to build on our forefathers’ accomplishments. Such is the case with the UNWLA. How many of us, for example, are aware that in 1933 the UNWLA purchased an 800-piece collection of Ukrainian folk art and crafts which is waiting to be shown in our new Museum? Or that the UNWLA's first medical fund was established in 1930 and was quickly followed by the Fund to Aid Famine Victims in Ukraine? Or that UNWLA has provided scholar ships to underprivileged students since 1932? Or that the very first Convention Book was published in 1935? Or that the UNWLA has been publishing Our Life (the only bilingual monthly magazine of its kind) since 1944? We do indeed have a legacy that must be preserved, one that should also be assured a vibrant future. One conference participant shared with me that he had the responsibility of reviewing the financial statements of the UNWLA. He commented that we should feel proud that 95 cents of every dollar raised by our organization is actually allocated to the cause at 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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