Dear Brama Readership:

I am writing in response to an article that was recently posted on your website titled, "We don't vote for UCCA leadership, yet it impacts us." This article, which attacks the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) for failing to fulfill its duties to the community, is littered with inaccuracies. Having been involved with the organization for over ten years, first as Director of UNIS and now as Director of its National Office, I would like to provide your readership with factual information about the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America and its work in fulfilling its stated mission.

With regard to the UCCA's work in assisting the new immigration and trying to incorporate them into our community, the UCCA has taken several decisive steps on a national and local level and has instituted several programs. In early 1999, two representatives from the new immigration were elected to the ranks of the UCCA's National Executive Board and a special committee was formed within the UCCA to develop programs of assistance. Furthermore, the UCCA Executive Board approved a project to renovate the first floor of its national headquarters and accommodate a center for the new immigrants to which $20,000 was allocated. The center, which is in the final stages of renovation, will house a conference room and office that will be used to teach English language and computer courses as well as provide general information and support for the newly arrived immigrants from Ukraine. On a local level, UCCA branches have not only incorporated new immigrants into their ranks, but recent immigrants now serve as branch presidents in several localities. Furthermore, many of our branches conduct social support programs for the newly arrived immigrants such as language classes and immigration consultation and even in some cases, the local UCCA branches and members have begun Ukrainian language radio programs, as in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Buffalo, New York.

In response to the accusation that the UCCA did not launch a campaign to make sure the U.S. Census properly counted Ukrainian Americans, I would like to correct this mistake by stating that the UCCA did conduct an extensive public relations campaign within our community. Not only did a representative from the U.S. Census bureau attend our Executive Board meeting and distribute posters to our branch presidents, but the National Office issued a press release urging every Ukrainian to fill our their respective census forms. This information was posted on the pages of our Ukrainian American press, including a front-page ad in the March 19, 2000 issue of "National Tribune." Moreover, to state just one example of our work on a local level in this regard, our Branch in Newark, New Jersey even held courses for Census takers in the Ukrainian language so that our community would actively participate in the U.S. Census.

With regard to building political clout in this country, the UCCA was at the forefront of this endeavor, by being the first Ukrainian American organization to open a public relations office in our nation's capital. Since 1977, the Ukrainian National Information Service (UNIS) has been representing the Ukrainian American community and its interests before the U.S. government while at the same time urging our U.S. legislators to support Ukraine in its reform efforts. Moreover, at the initiation of UNIS, a Congressional Ukrainian Caucus was formed in the summer of 1997. This Caucus, which represents a bi-partisan group of members of the U.S. House of Representatives, emphasizes the importance of continued bilateral relations between Ukraine and the United States and supports various efforts of our community. The majority of the 34-member Congressional Ukrainian Caucus have very close contacts with their respective Ukrainian constituents and rely on them and UNIS for timely information about issues of concern to the community and Ukraine.

As the Washington Bureau of the UCCA, UNIS has worked diligently on various issues - from human rights abuses in the 1970s to recognition of Ukraine's independence in 1991. Following independence UNIS began the earnest effort of helping to expand bilateral relations between our two countries. This is evident in the annual battle for U.S. foreign assistance to Ukraine when UNIS activates the community and even testifies before Members of Congress.

Having just concluded our XVIII Congress of Ukrainians in America, the report of the UNIS director published in the Convention book outlines the activities of the last four years which illustrates an enormous amount of work and effort on behalf of our community. This includes working with the Ukrainian American Veterans (UAV) to grant them a federal charter; working with the Embassy of Ukraine to understand the necessary laws needed for the U.S. and Ukraine to sign prior to administering Social Security checks to U.S. retirees in Ukraine; solemnly commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Ukrainian Famine with a congressional resolution co-sponsored by 72 members of the U.S. House of Representatives; tackling the reductions of staff at the Voice of America (VOA) - Ukrainian Service; and interacting with both the democratic and republican presidential campaigns.

With respect to speaking out against political corruption in Ukraine, the UCCA has issued public appeals to the highest Ukrainian government officials including President Leonid Kuchma. Furthermore, all of the UCCA's greetings and appeals touch upon this pervasive problem in Ukraine and urge that this issue be resolved. Most recently, the UCCA sent an open letter to President Kuchma on September 28, 2000, which states in part:

"Since independence, when it seemed that Ukraine had become a law-abiding nation, disturbing events have placed Ukraine's democracy and legal system in question. One can point to a number of real examples where people have disappeared, for instance Rukh member Mychailo Boychyshyn. Others have died under questionable circumstances, such as Father Yaroslav Lesiw, a well-known defender of religious and national rights, and more recently the leader of Rukh, MP Vyacheslav Chornovil. Still others have been openly murdered such as the former head of the Ukrainian National Bank, Vadym Hetman and journalist Borys Derevyanko, to name a few. In every instance, the legal authorities, along with the procurator, have been unable to locate the criminals responsible. This continuous failure to serve justice is becoming suspicious. Specifically, when you take into account the recent murder of composer Ihor Bilozir, whose chauvinistic murderers were released prior to criminal proceedings, and subsequently escaped from Ukraine. Instead of properly dealing with such matters, authorities continue to conduct intensive legal proceedings against patriotic individuals, such as Oleksandr Bashuka, member and chair of "Samostinya Ukraina". In this instance, legal organs overstepped the authority of the Constitution by decreeing the 11th penal code. Arrested in March, Bashuka was held without reason until July.... Need we quote the 29th Amendment of the Constitution, which clearly states that the accused must be charged with a crime within 72 hours of arrest or else be released. In the meantime, to this day Oleksandr Bashuka remains in prison without knowing the reason for his arrest... Mr. President! Your personal attention to this matter is imperative not only in resolving today's cases of Oleksandr Bashuk and Heorhiy Gongadze, but in protecting the lawful and democratic principles of the nation of which You are leader. In fact, you now have the attention not only the Ukrainian diaspora, but of members of the civilized democratic

With regard to the UCCA's work against trafficking of women, the National Office submitted a 50-page proposal to the United States Agency for International Development in response to their request for proposal. Although we received support from Ukraine's government, the mass media and various nongovernmental women's organizations in Ukraine our proposal was not chosen. Since we are a community-based organization, unfortunately, we are unable to tackle this immense problem without the financial assistance of USAID.

In closing, I would encourage everyone to visit our website at www.ucca.org and or call the National Office for a copy of our publications to better understand the work of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. It is through the volunteerism of our dedicated members and the community at large that we, as Ukrainian Americans, can make a difference - instead of complaining I urge you to get involved!

Sincerely,
Tamara Gallo, Director
UCCA National Office