We don't vote for UCCA leadership, yet it impacts us

This year as every four years the United States treats itself, and the world, to its Presidential elections. The political party conventions of this year's campaign have been a decided bore. In the Republican one the party's leadership tried to paint a face of multicolored yet saccharin harmony stifling its overwhelmingly white oddballs in the name of Barr, Burton, Armey and others, presenting George W. Bush as unchallenged riding on a coterie of his father's past advisors. The Democratic one was somewhat better recognizing the multifarious fabric of its constituency but stepped cautiously in trying to play to sides trying to alienate the least.

Also this year, as every four years, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) will be holding its convention in the second week of October where it will elect a new president along with members to its national board. Starting Friday the 13th and running through Sunday the 15th this year, the convention is being held in Chicago. By the terms of the organization's charter the current president, Askold Lozynskyj cannot be reelected, having served the maximum of two elected terms (along with completing a previous one when his elected predecessor died in office, making it ten years total). Unlike the U.S. Presidential elections there has been no campaigning, no splash, no fanfare, no "gesticulating before the crowd" in order to get that all-important name recognition. In other words, the potential president of UCCA makes no direct appeal to those whom s/he claims to represent.

Should it matter to any and all of those of a Ukrainian-American interest, that is, Ukrainian-Americans as well as recent arrivals? Does UCCA matter with respect to diasporan politics in the U.S.? Further, are there clear choices and will whoever is elected be independent or be a puppet of the previous administration or some other entity?

BRAMA unequivocally believes that this UCCA election is of critical interest to all those in the United States of Ukrainian ancestry.

Within the parameters of Ukrainian-American life the UCCA may appear to be a sideline organization. Member organizations tend to pursue their own agendas; non-member organizations, some of which are affiliated with the Ukrainian American Coordinating Council (UAKR, a.k.a. "UkRada" - a loose organization set up as an alternative to UCCA in early 1980’s), others stand alone and go about their respective business.

However, these days when U.S. government organizations or diplomatic representatives of Ukraine want to appeal to the leadership of the Ukrainian-American community the UCCA is the first organization which bubbles up on their Rolodex. The reason for this is simple - search costs. Trying to remember whether to call UNWLA (Ukrainian National Women's League of America) or the UNA (Ukrainian National Association) is tough on the memory when the UCCA sits there front and center claiming that it represents the broadest constituency of Ukrainian-Americans.

But has the UCCA represented Ukrainian-American interests, per the first article of its stated mission?

"To coordinate and consolidate development of organized Ukrainian life in the U.S. and strive to increase the importance and role of the Ukrainian American community in the civic and cultural life of the country."

We believe that it has failed, and failed miserably. Some recent examples:

• Has the UCCA ever thought of remedying Social Security benefits so that they could be sent directly to beneficiaries in Ukraine? No. Currently, Ukraine is one of the few countries where benefits cannot be sent directly. Even American retirees living in Russia are able to collect their Social Security Benefits.
• The UCCA keeps making claims that there are so many millions of Ukrainians in the U.S. Has it ever launched a broad campaign to make sure that the U.S. Census properly counted Ukrainian-Americans? Never.
• Has the UCCA done anything to help recent arrivals from Ukraine in the form of
•  job placements?
• apartment and/or temporary worker lodging searches?
• English language skills?
Nothing.
• Has the UCCA done anything about those Ukrainian-Americans who have become disaffected, notably those who have become drug addicts and alcoholics? No.
• Has the UCCA done anything to build Ukrainian-American political clout in this country? To engender pride in being a Ukrainian-American? To build growth and leadership? No.

"To represent the Ukrainian American community and its desire to aid the Ukrainian nation before the governmental structures of the USA."

• Did the UCCA ever think to work on behalf of those Ukrainian-Americans who were slave laborers in WWII? No. (That is, nothing except for making misleading noise that plaintiffs could file with it to settle claims.)
• Has the UCCA done anything to promote and assist individuals from Ukraine applying for any of the various visas available, including the infamous Greencard? No.
• Has the UCCA acted against the political corruption in Ukraine? No. In fact, its leadership has gone so far as to embrace individuals such as Pavlo Lazarenko with words such as "Ukrayina potrebuye bilshe takykh feremeriv.../Ukraine needs more of these sorts of exemplary farmers ..." (Lazarenko had run a kolhosp).
• Has the UCCA lobbied and/or worked against the trafficking of people, notably women from Ukraine into demeaning and deplorable situations? No!

MP/BRAMA - Gateway Ukraine