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UABA
UKRAINIAN AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION
(U.S. toll-free) 1-888-UABA-LAW
http://www.uaba.net
 

LAWYERS WILL HOLD A SEPARATE PROGRAM
AS PART OF THE JOINT CONFERENCE
OF UKRAINIAN AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS

By: Donna T. Pochoday, Esq.
President, UABA

Background Information

The Ukrainian American Bar Association (UABA) ("Asotsiyatsiya Ukraiins’kych Pravnykiv Ameryky") is a national bar association of U.S. judges and attorneys admitted to the Bar of any State. and U.S. law students, of Ukrainian descent and those with an interest in Ukrainian matters. Local associations, such as the Ukrainian American Bar Association of Michigan (the oldest local association), also co-exist and operate on a state level. The national UABA was formed over 21 years ago in September, 1977, at the first national convention of Ukrainian American attorneys in Cleveland Ohio. The UABA was forged out of a desire to work more closely on a national level with the Ukrainian community and its organizations, and to stand in defense of its Ukrainian brethren. A separate federal tax-exempt IRC 501 (c)(3) corporation, The UABA Scholarship Fund Inc., was formed in the 1980’s for the purpose of providing monetary assistance to needy students enrolled in law programs.

Some of the pro bono initiatives and causes in which the UABA and/or its members were involved with or supported in the last 21 years include: Human Rights-Dissidents Defense; Estate matters involving citizens of the Soviet Union; the protestation of the ABA-Soviet Lawyers Agreement; Myroslav Medvid-INS proceedings; UABA v. Schultz (INS lawsuit), Ivan Demjanjuk proceedings; Walter Polowchak; Stepan Chmara Defense; the formation of the World Congress of Ukrainian Jurists and participation in four World Congresses in Ukraine; development of a working relationship with Ukrainian judges, jurists and government officials; Rule of Law-Legal Reform Projects for Ukraine; the New Constitution of Ukraine; CBS 60 MINUTES "The Ugly Face of Freedom" FCC and legal proceedings; U.S.A.I.D. grants for Commercial Law Projects; UABA Scholarship grants for Ukrainian jurists and law students; commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of "Akcija Wisla"; assistance to Ukrainian Embassy and Consular offices in U.S.; and Congressional Lobbying.

Many UABA members are directors and officers of various Ukrainian American as well as, American organizations and associations, and often provide prominent leadership and active community support on a local level.

June 25, 1999 UABA Program

The Ukrainian American Bar Association (UABA) (Asotsiaytsia Ukraiins’kych Pravnykiv Ameryky) is one of the six main sponsoring organizations of the Joint Conference of Ukrainian American Organizations that will take place at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City Hotel in Arlington, Virginia June 23-27, 1999. The other main sponsors of this Conference 1999 include: The Washington Group (TWG), the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America (UMANA), the Ukrainian National Credit Union Association (UNCUA), the Ukrainian Engineers of America (UEA) and the Ukrainian Librarians of America (ULA). Other organizations are sponsoring various receptions and/or participating in the conference, while marketing support is being provided by the Ukrainian Weekly, Brama and Kontakt. Dr. Roman Goy, who spearheaded the concept behind this conference, has been acting as Conference director.

During the course of the Conference on Friday, June 25, 1999, the UABA association will hold its own meeting and program. The UABA Friday program will attempt to provide a balanced agenda on a variety of current topics affecting both the Ukrainian and American legal communities. Some of the topics on the agenda will be of interest not only to Ukrainian American attorneys and law students, but also, to the general public.

The recent proposed settlement of the proceedings commenced by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Alexander Serafyn, and Oleg Nikolyszyn before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) against CBS arising out of the 60 MINUTES segment "The Ugly Face of Freedom," will be one of the matters on the program. The attorneys involved at various stages of these administrative and legal proceedings, Arthur Belendiuk, Esq. (counsel for Serafyn and UCCA), Donna T. Pochoday, Esq. (counsel for Nikolyszyn & President of the UABA), Askold Lozynskyj, Esq. (UCCA) and William Crispin, Esq. (legal adviser) will present their respective analysis of the case and the settlement discussions. Sharing her views on the matter from a journalistic perspective will be Roma Hadzewycz, editor of The Ukrainian Weekly. During this portion of the UABA meeting, the attendees will be able to view the 20 minute segment as presented by 60 MINUTES on October 23, 1994.

Another topic of interest to the general public, especially the former members of Division Halychyna and Ukrainian American Veterans, will be Andre Michniak, Esq.’s presentation on U.S. Immigration laws, including the laws on inadmissibility and eligibility. In making his presentation, Mr. Michniak will draw on the Pavlo Lazarenko more recent U.S. asylum petition and the harassment of former members of Division Halychyna, as case studies.

In addition, attendees interested in legal and judicial reform in Ukraine will benefit by attending this particular UABA session. Such notable speakers, as Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.S., Anton Buteiko, Judge Bohdan Futey and Stephen Nix, Esq., all of whom have direct experience and knowledge of the legal reform processes in Ukraine, will address the audience.

The UABA is also participating in a joint panel titled "US-Ukraine Business Cooperation" with The Washington Group (TWG) during their Saturday, June 26, 1999 program. Markian Silecky, Esq., along with Ukraine’s Trade representative, Dr. Yaroslav Voitko, Nick Dejchakiwsky (Eurasia Foundation), Danylo Kourdelchouk (head of Inurcolegia-a Ukrainian bar association), and Kempton Jenkins of the Ukraine-US Council will give their unique perspective on U.S. business relations with Ukraine.

Also, Andrew Fylypovych, Esq. will provide a presentation on the topic of "Liability of the Design Professional" at the architects program on Saturday morning, while Hilary Kinal, Esq. will give a general legal presentation and will answer general legal questions from the audience at the open program for all conference attendees, spouses and guests.

In addition to these general interest topics, lawyers and law students attending the UABA program will hear from UABA President, Donna T. Pochoday, Esq. on "Building a Successful Law Practice for 2000," while lawyers from Drobenko & Piddoubny will address the legal area of "Civil Forfeitures and Seizures." Also, elections of a new slate of UABA officers and Board of Governors, including Donna T. Pochoday’s presidential successor, will be held during this meeting.

Concurrently with and in addition to the UABA Friday program, UMANA, TWG, UESA UNCUA, and ULA will hold substantive programs during the conference and there will be several joint receptions for all Conference attendees, including the Wednesday Embassy Reception, the Thursday Congressional Reception during which awards will be given to two Congressmen (sponsored by First Security Federal Savings Bank), the Friday U.S. State Department Reception (sponsored by the Ukrainian Broadcasting Network), the Friday Luncheon, the Saturday Luncheon, the Saturday Gala Dinner Dance, the Sunday Brunch/Cultural Program and Community meeting.

Pre-registration for these receptions and luncheons is advised, especially for the U.S. State Department reception, which requires a security pre-clearance (your date of birth and social security number will have to be provided. We are told that some of the evening events have been booked or almost totally booked to capacity. Therefore, please check first with UMANA at 888-798-6262 (who is responsible for general central registration), as to the event availability at this date before registering for any event, if you have not already done so.

Please note that bus/van transportation will be provided without additional cost to the conference attendees to all of the evening receptions from the Hyatt Hotel. Furthermore, events are planned for spouses, guests and children, such as, a soccer clinic, golf tournament, touring, general lectures for guests and spouses, and baby-sitting services for children ages 4-12 on Saturday evening from 6:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m. The baby-sitting services will be held in a large joint room with TV services at the Hyatt Hotel, and parents can make arrangements with the baby-sitter to order dinner service in the room for their children. Please contact UMANA fore additional details.

Saturday Luncheon

Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister for Culture, Valeriy Smolij was invited to speak at the Saturday Luncheon that will take place at the Hyatt Hotel.

Saturday Evening, June 26, 1999: Gala Banquet and Dance

A gala banquet and dance will be held at the Hyatt Hotel on Saturday evening. Vice President Al Gore has been invited to attend the gala banquet and receive a "Friend of Ukraine" Award. Two bands will entertain the guests during the dance: an enhanced "Tempo" and "Fata Morgana". Space for 800 individuals has been reserved, and the dinner dance is anticipated to be one of the largest social Ukrainian American events of the decade {not counting the Ukrainian summer resorts big weekend events and festivals of course!). Close to 500 seats already have been pre-registered for the dinner dance. In addition, watch for Exhibitors who will have exhibits displayed in the ballroom foyer from 6:00 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Prospective exhibitors, vendors and members of the Press need to contact UMANA in advance.

Sunday, June 27, 1999: Program and Lunch/Cultural Program

There are many activities and presentations planned for Sunday. Sunday will commence at 8:30 a.m. with joint Catholic/Orthodox Ecumenical Molebens. The Ukrainian credit unions and other financial institutions will make their presentations to the community at 9:00 a.m., titled "Growing Role of Ukrainian American Financial Institutions" This presentation will be followed at 10:00 a.m. by Michael Sawkiw, Charles Dougherty (former Member of Congress), representatives of the Republican and Democratic national Committees in a panel discussion on "Political Empowerment of the Ukrainian American Community." A luncheon, with a cultural component, will take place on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. After the luncheon there will be a joint discussion among the organizations on how to cooperate and work together in the future to achieve our goals, titled "Finding Direction for our Organizations." So plan on leaving late in the afternoon on Sunday.

Conference organizers have been told that the guaranteed rooms at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia were offered at the rate of $109/night plus tax, single or double occupancy under the "Ukrainian Events Week" name, have already been totally booked. You are encouraged however, to call the Hyatt Hotel to see if there are any cancellations. A designated hospitality room will be available at the Hyatt Hotel for all conference attendees arriving at the Hotel, which may serve as a meeting place for the attendees, and those waiting to check-in or check-out of the hotel (no luggage please). Likewise, a press room will be available on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for those organizations wishing to hold press conferences.

Additional hotel space across the street from the Hyatt Regency is available at the:

Courtyard Crystal City by Marriott
2899 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington , VA 22202
1-800-847-4775

single/double occupancy $89.00 Thursday, Friday and Saturday under "Ukrainian Events Week."

Lawyers, law students and members of the general public are invited to attend this UABA program, as well as, to participate in the other organizations’ substantive programs, and the joint events during this unique event and opportunity of the decade. Additional information about the UABA program may be obtained by calling 888-UABA-LAW, 973-701-0544, or http://www.uaba.net. For general conference information, conference registration, exhibitor, vendor and press information please call UMANA at 888-798-6262 or point your browsers on the Internet to http://www.brama.com/conference99.
 
 

UABA AGENDA
FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 1999
(Subject to Change)

For any questions about this release, please contact: Donna T. Pochoday, Esq., UABA President at 973-701-0544.

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