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late in NYC, songs performed by Charivnyj Homin of Watervliet, NY, and the introduction of the Worfien’s Health Fund by Martha Jarosewich-Holder. Ms. Jarosewich-Holder is currently a hydrologist for the World Bank and is the newly elected UNWLA Envi ronmental/Health Issues Chairperson. She shared her vision of how, by partnering with available resources here in the U.S. (such as UMANA) and in Ukraine (Soyuz Ukrainok), we can provide information, educa tion, and resources to help Ukrainian women help themselves. She stated that with our broad range of available expertise, know-how in community activi ties, and spirit of volunteering, we can make a signifi cant contribution to these women. Comedienne Luba Goy, who was scheduled to perform at the banquet, had to cancel at the last mo ment as the airport in Toronto, Canada, was closed due to an ice storm. Nevertheless, she offered kind and heartfelt words of support for the goals of the confer ence and for the women’s health initiative. Sunday's sessions began after Mass at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church. “The Ukrainian Woman in Two Worlds” was moderated by Renata Za- jac, who currently works as a financial analyst in the Exchange Traded Derivative at UBS Warburg. There were three panelists: Eva Panchyshyn, a practicing at torney in Newburgh, NY; Anna Khomenko, who holds a Masters in International and Comparative Law and is employed by Human Rights Watch in NYC; and Gina Hancher, who graciously agreed to participate in a sec ond panel after presenting on oral communication skills during Saturday's sessions. The panelists spoke of their most challenging experiences within the Ukrainian community, how they prioritize their lives between the Ukrainian community and their ‘outside’ lives, how to feel comfortable in two very different cultures, and how community involvement has strengthened them each as people and, more specifically, as women. Following this was a presentation on HIV/ AIDS statistics in today’s Ukraine. Presenter Hanya Krill is a certified press representative at the UN and chief editor of Brama’s ‘UkraiNEWStand’, is the Chief Operation Officer and co-owner of the Brama.com web- portal, and has been working on anti-trafficking initia tives and related women’s issues since 1998. Ms. Krill also highlighted the latest status of the immense prob lem of trafficking of women in Eastern Europe. In her seminar, Ms. Krill made it clear that we, as Ukrainian American women, have an obligation to help educate our sisters in Ukraine on these urgent issues. The next seminar was given by Nadia Petryk and Zoryana Mishtal. Under discussion was “Fourth Wave Challenges.” Ms. Petryk, a lawyer by profes sion in Ukraine, arrived in the US in 1992 and is pres ently employed in the Law Library of the University of Pennsylvania. Ms. Mishtal, a chemical engineer by profession in Ukraine, immigrated to the US in 1994 and is now a practicing Licensed Optician with an AS in Ophthalmic Dispensing and Design. Both are active members of the UNWLA. Each described her perspec tive of the various challenges faced when entering the Ukrainian American community, and both shared their views on the wealth of support UNWLA sister- members have freely offered to them. The final session of the conference was held on Sunday afternoon. Marianna Zajac headed a discus sion entitled “Transitioning UNWLA into the 21st Cen tury - can it be done?” After her presentation, the floor was opened to suggestions, constructive criticisms, and general comments. It is interesting to note that the audience for this conference was a mix of younger and older women, some fluent in Ukrainian and some not, some UNWLA members, and some non-members. This conference was the very first all English-language conference sponsored by the UNWLA, designed with the purpose of attracting ALL women of the Ukrainian community. As the honest discussions ensued and the debates surfaced, it was clear that the deep-rooted is sues were not going to be solved at one forum. How ever, the beginning of much-needed dialog and discus sion has sparked much initiative. One wonderful result is the response of young conference participants. An article in the near future will describe this indispensa ble group’s reaction to the conference and to the ques tions posed by this final session. As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. Reluctantly, participants and panelists said their good-byes. It is fair to say that the ambience of the entire weekend was one of friendship and kindred- ship. Inclement weather prohibited a larger number of participants, but this allowed a much more intimate atmosphere. The original goal of the conference be came a reality. When surveyed on the conference evaluation sheets whether this year’s guests would be interested in another such conference, replies ranged from “Yes” to “Yes, Yes” to “Absolutely.” Congratu lations to each member of Branch 95 and especially to conference co-chair Vera Staruch, for their hard work and initiative on planning this exciting, memorable and exceptionally well-received event! Editor's note: This article was prepared by Marianna Zajac, Conference Chair and President of Central NY Regional Council, and Renata Zajac, Member Branch 95 and member of the UNWLA National Auditing Commit tee. We thank both writers for their prompt and conscien tious work in producing an interesting and comprehen sive report on the conference in time to meet our publica tion deadline. “НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, ТРАВЕНЬ 2003 17
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