BRAMA, June 15, 2004, 9:00 am ET
Press Release
UCCA tours Ukrainian communities in southern U.S. states
L-R: Rev. Severyn Kovalyshyn, Holy Protection Ukrainian Catholic Church; Rev. Ivan Fatenko, Ukrainian Orthodox Church; Michael Sawkiw, Jr., UCCA President; Mr. Yaroslav Horbachevsky, UCCA North Port Branch Secretary; Ms. Daria Tomashosky, UCCA North Port, FL Chairperson.
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New York, NY (UCCA) - In response to the growing Ukrainian community in the United States, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) recently visited the Ukrainian communities in Atlanta, GA and North Port, FL. Though a lesser-known community in Atlanta, the community boasts of a Ukrainian Catholic and Orthodox Church, a Ukrainian Saturday school system, as well as a large influx of new immigrants from Ukraine. The Atlanta community invited the UCCA to assist in re-organizing its local branch, while the Ukrainian community in North Port held its yearly annual meeting with elections of its branch officers and a report on its activities in the past year.
In mid-spring, UCCA President Michael Sawkiw, Jr. visited the greater Atlanta metropolitan region and was given a tour of local attractions by the Ukrainian community: the Carter Presidential Library; CNN studios; Centennial Park (site of the 1996 Olympic Games); Centers for Disease Control (CDC); Emory College; and experienced local Atlanta theater. Later that weekend, the UCCA president addressed the Ukrainian community at a meeting to rejuvenate the local UCCA branch. On the initiative of Dr. Ulana Bodnar and other local activists, the UCCA president presided over proceedings to reconstitute the activities of the local Atlanta Ukrainians. Much credit and kudos were acknowledged to Larissa Barabash-Temple for her many years of active participation in organizing the Ukrainian community in the greater Atlanta area for the past several decades.
During the meeting, the UCCA president spoke of the changing dynamics in the Ukrainian community in the United States. "Based on the 2000 U.S. Census figures, Ukrainians in the United States have grown by over a 100,000 within the last decade and have settled in new regions throughout the country," stated Mr. Sawkiw. Such an increase in the number of Ukrainians enhances our community's political influence and enhancement of our cultural heritage. The local Ukrainians in Atlanta related their experiences in organizing events such as Ukrainian festivals or commemorations of Taras Shevchenko.
Unlike other Ukrainian communities in a more condensed environment, Atlanta's Ukrainians are fairly widespread throughout the greater metropolitan area. "We look forward to activities that a rejuvenated UCCA branch will organize within our community to promote our concerns before the greater American society," stated one participant at the meeting. "It is necessary, and we will work together for the benefit of all Ukrainian Americans." Plans for the newly re-organized State of Georgia UCCA branch include: the commemoration of Ukrainian Independence Day with mayoral and gubernatorial proclamations; promoting Ukrainian culture through various international festivals and events; as well as, assessing the needs of the newest Ukrainian immigrants to the state.
L-R: Ms. Larissa Barabash-Temple (former UCCA Atlanta Branch Chairperson); Michael Sawkiw, Jr, UCCA President; Dr. Ulana Bodnar, UCCA Georgia Branch Chairperson. Standing in back - members of the UCCA Georgia Branch officers.
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The election of the State of Georgia UCCA branch officers includes:
Dr. Ulana Bodnar - Chairperson
Halyna Seredyuk - Vice Chairperson
Oksana Foltyn - Secretary
Roksolana Goshko - Treasurer
Roslia Derkach - Cultural Affairs
Laryssa Barabash-Temple - Member-at-Large
Zenon Franko - Auditing Committee
Halyna Nickolyshyn - Auditing Committee
Taras Stadnitski - Auditing Committee
While in the Southern states, the UCCA president also had an opportunity to attend the annual UCCA branch meeting in North Port, FL. Well-known for its active and robust community mostly comprised of retired individuals, their dynamic work was evident in the report of its branch Chairperson - Daria Tomashosky. "The branch was very active in their efforts to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Ukrainian Genocide, whether on a national scale to revoke Walter Duranty's Pulitzer Prize, as well as on a local level," stated Ms. Tomashosky, "Contacts with our local political representatives also were a major facet in our work throughout the 2003-year."
In a brief overview of the UCCA activities, the UCCA president thanked the North Port community for their activism and mentioned the role that individual communities played in the successful commemoration of the Ukrainian Genocide of 1932-1933. "Though not successful in specifically revoking Duranty's Pulitzer Prize," stated Mr. Sawkiw, "we were successful in informing the greater American public - through articles in major newspapers and journals, television, and radio - that the Ukrainian Genocide must be recognized by the world as a true crime against humanity." An overriding theme of the UCCA president's address was to accentuate the need for unity within the Ukrainian American community. After a brief question-and-answer session, the local Ukrainian community elected their branch officers, which comprise of:
Daria Tomashosky - Chairperson
Clara Shpichka - Vice Chairperson
Yaroslav Horbachevsky - Secretary
Halyna Lisychny - Treasurer
Mykola Tsiko - Auditing Committee
Oksana Miz - Auditing Committee
Andrij Koverko - Auditing Committee
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