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MARTA BACZYNSKY On the Golden Jubilee of the U. N. W. L. A. I n J une of 1975 Ukrainian Women's League of America will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its founding. Courage, determination, humanitarianism and above all the dedication to the preservation of our national identity, highlight the history of the organization. The successful unification, under one charter, of thousands of Ukrainian women in the free world, provided an uncommon opportunity for the realization of set objectives and goals. Yielding to the need for organized social activity, Ukrainian women in America have begun to form associations as early as 1897. However, the programs of these pioneer organizations were geared to church and local community needs. In the next two decades, attempts at building organizations with a broader range of interest were sporadic and met with little enthusiasm and success. The 1918-1919 spur for independence in the Ukraine and consequently its dispersement brought to light two very significant matters: the plight of Ukrainians under the communist domination and the position of Ukrainians in America. It became a matter of conscience to Ukrainian women in America to establish means of communication with, and provide aid to the Ukrainians in our homeland. It also became very clear to Ukrainian women in Americathattheir recognition as an ethnic group, the acknowledgement of national grievances and obtaining a voice in the American mainstream of life, depended upon the establisment of communication and cooperation with the American community. In the late spring of 1925 Ukrainian National Women's League of America became a central force speaking for Ukrainian women in America; Then began the surmounting job of consolidating under its auspices the many women's organizations rallying to join the ranks, translating their individual needs into one common agenda. This primary work was launched under the leadership of Julia Shustakowych, the first president of the organization The fomative years provided the young organization with many opportunities that accented its direction. Here, in the United States, an invaluable lesson learned early, was the fact that our Ukrainian culture in the form of arts, crafts and national dress, was priceless advertisement befor the American public. The forty years of literary accomlishment of Olha Kobylansky in the Ukraine, was acknowledged here by the organization with celebrations and a gift for the beloved writer. In 1928 devestating floods in Western Ukraine initiated a great relief and aid drive in which UNWLA played a significant role. In 1930 the horrors of pacification of Western Ukraine brought forth action by UNWLA in the form of protests and aid. In 1932 UNWLA organized the first Congress of Ukrainian Women, which was held in New York. Serving as a forum for bringing to light the pertinent problems and situations facing the Ukrainian women, the Congress drew to its sessions not only members of the UNWLA, but representatives of many other women's organizations, non-affiliated individuals, and hosted several prominent American women, among them writer Fanny Hurst. The second decade in the life of UNWLA saw further accomplishments. In 1937 the International Ukrainian Women's League was formed in Lwiw, uniting through its reresenta- tives various women's organizations in the Ukraine with those scattered throughout the world. Just a year later the organization was banned by the Polish government, touching off a wave of protest by the UNWLA in the form of public meetings and telegrams to the League of Nations in Geneva, governments in United States, England and France. The advent of the Second World War brought to light a new political situation for the www.unwla.org
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