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U N W L A also offers wom en a sense o f community, belonging, and inclusion. Within the framework o f our Branches and Regional Councils, wom en have the opportunity to form strong bonds with other women, learn from other women, teach other women, and share with other women. This year, let us make these wonderful opportunities available to other wom en by encouraging them to join the IfN W L A . Let us make a commitment to open our arms to them and embrace them and include them in our mids:. For your convenience, we have included in this issue o f Our Life membership applications in Ukrainian and in English. M ake copies. Find prospective new members for your branch. Invite them to join us. In the U N W L A by-law s, article IV M E M B E R SH IP , paragraph 8 states, "Mem bership is open to any woman o f Ukrainian descent or belonging to the Ukrainian community who resides in the United States o f Am er ica." M any, many wom en fit this description. A ll o f us can find at least one wom an among this group who would welcom e the opportunity to join us, work with us, grow with us, and celebrate with us. Finding her is not only an obligation but a privilege, because you will find that she also has much to contribute. W hen you invite a wom an to join the U N W L A , it is important to inform her about our work and the by laws o f our organization. It is also important to let her know that she will be working within the framework o f es tablished criteria and that by signing the membership application form, she agrees to accept the responsibility o f being a productive member o f an organization with lofty purposes. But it is equally important to let her know that ours is an organization that encourages innovation and welcom es new ideas. A n d it is also important to let each prospective member know that the U N W L A provides social interaction, fun, and personal support. I recently received an article published in a newspaper in Rivne, Ukraine. In the article, I read that Soyuz Ukrainok in the area is inviting young girls from special schools, where they get religious upbringing and patriotic education, to join its ranks. W e admire the wisdom o f this initiative because it shows that our sisters in Ukraine are looking beyond tomorrow. The young wom en who join Soyuz Ukrainok at an early age w ill be the leaders o f to morrow and will educate future generations about Ukrainian culture and traditions. Such education is sorely needed in Ukraine. From the stories told by people who visit the country and from articles in newspapers and magazines, we learn that little by little, Ukrainian language and culture are losing ground. It is frequently said that if people depend on the government, they w ill very soon lose what they have ac complished. Such opinions are published in wom en’ s magazines and the publications o f other civil organizations. It is up to the non- governmental organizations to keep them alive and it is wonderful to know that Soyuz Ukrainok in Ulxaine is clearly rising to the challenge. A letter came to us from a children’s.magazine, expressing concern that the magazine m ay soon fold due to a decision made by the government to no longer give money to any Ukrainian publication. Sadly, this same gov ernment helps Russian publications in Ukraine. In this respect, the Ukrainian Constitution supports and protects the privileges o f minorities while failing to support and protect the privileges and rights o f Ukrainian nationals. A s we all know, this is not a new problem. Shortly after Ukraine proclaimed its independence, w e met with Dina Udovenko, the w ife o f the Perma nent Representative to the United Nations at the time. Mrs. Udovenko, who w as a member o f the International Hospitality Committee that works under the auspices o f the National Council o f W om en U S A , was returning to Ukra: ne. In m y farewell speech to her I said that the U N W L A had finished its work for Ukraine and that w e would now focus our concern on our problems in the U S A . I mentioned the hope that w e would be able to send our chil dren and grandchildren to the country o f their ancestors to learn its language, culture and traditions, just as western European nationals have done for many years. Hindsight has taught all o f us that such optimism was mistaken. N ew s from Ukraine underscores just how mistaken w e were. W hen Ukraine's Prime Minister V . Yaku- novych was elected to be Chair o f Ukraine’s Olym pic Committee, his thank you speech was delivered in Russian. He said that he would speak in his native tongue, the Russian tongue, for he has done so for 5 2 years. I f such a comment can be made by the Prime Minister o f Ukraine, is this the future o f Ukraine? Clearly we must continue our efforts if w e are to change such attitudes and right such wrongs. But we must also make a strong effort to inform people about the good things that are happening in Ukraine, for example, the wonderful work being done by members o f Ukraine's Soyuz Ukrainok. W hile the media in the U S A is only intere sted in sensation, w e must spread the word about positive steps Ukraine is making. To do all this we must have new and willing members. It is m y hope for 2003 that we can find these new members and that the U N W L A 's efforts to help make Ukraine a truly Ukrainian nation, with Presidents and Ministers and government officials who honor their native language, will be successful. I wish all o f you a happy and healthy N ew Year. G od Bless you! 14 “НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, СІЧЕНЬ 2003 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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