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MARIA SAVCHAK PRESIDENT The XXII Convention of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America is being held at a time when unprecedented events are occuring in Ukraine, as in all of Eastern Europe. These events testify to the over whelming victory of national and individual liberty, of political and social democracy over totalitarian dictatorship. The freedom loving Ukrainian ation which has been oppressed for so many years by the communist totalit arian system, stood tall and proud, announc ing to the world that there is no power which can wipe it off the face of the earth, nor will it die. Throughout Ukraine the Ukrainian blue and yellow flag waved proudly, displaying the insignia of the land —the golden trident. In the capital of Ukraine, Kiev, the inital meetings of the Popular Movement of Ukraine for Perebudova, or Rukh were held. As I write this, in Lviv there is a move ment to revive the Ukrainian Women’s Lea gue, whose activities were terminated with the advent of the Second World War. Wo men’s organizations were disbanded in the Eastern part of Ukraine after World War I. Seventy years of terror has left its mark on the country, particluarly on the Ukrainian woman. This year our Convention will mark the 65th anniversary of UNWLA. On this com memorative occasion our organization ap pears as a powerful vital part of the Ukrain ian community in diaspora. Our accomplish ments are not mundane; they are monitored by the Ukrainian community and judged accordingly. I will give an overview of UNWLA’s activ ities for the last three years. The XXI Conven tion confirmed that organized women have the power and the authority to influence events of historical proportions. Considering the fact, it urged Ukrainian women to join the ranks of UNWLA. The decision was made to carry out an intensive membership cam paign. Membership is the foundation of every organization and if an organization wishes to realize its goals and secure its future, it must have a continuous membership growth. The newly elected National Board, particularly the Executive Board aimed their efforts to ward this direction. During this term of office numerous inter-regional conferences were held with the purpose of increasing UNWLA’s membership. These conferences were well prepared and well attended by UNWLA mem bers, as by non members. I took part in two such conferences. I must state that some regions really made the best of these confer ences, going to great lengths to bring youn ger women into the organization. Overall, we will reap results only when the organiza tion’s work continues uninterrupted. Regional and branch membership concerns should be aware of this. At the beginning of this term of office the Executive Board decided to go into the field, to visit distant branches and to take part in all celebrations pertinent to regions and branches. Consequently, members of the Board attended all regional and branch ce lebrations to which they were invited. I per sonally visited two branches, Branch 7 in Akron, Ohio and Branch 27 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. These visits were constructive and pleasant, allowing for a much needed and positive exchange of ideas. These two visits emphasized the neces sity of a direct, personal contact of the lead ership of the organization with the members. Unfortunately, I came to the conclusion that such contact is desired more by the leader ship than by the branches, specifically those branches which complain that the leadership takes little interest in them. The above men tioned braches were the only two which had issued formal invitations to the Board. We spoke with other distant branches with the idea of visiting them, but invitations were never issued. Some branches marked their jubilee without notifying the Executive Board of the fact. I personally visited eight Regions and took part in their regional meetings, jubilees and conferences. These visits gave me the opportunity to become better acquainted with the membership of the region and their work. With pleasure I must state that the regional meetings of most regions are “miniature conventions” were the general business of the organization is discussed openly and with a positive attitude. In 1988 Ukrainians thoughout the world commemorated the anniversary of 1000 years of Christianity in Ukraine. UNWLA branches helped financially with the publication of Dr. Sofia Senyk’s English language book “The History of the Ukrainian Church.” They also 22 www.unwla.org
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