Ukrainian ladies to honor heroines

     The North Port Chapter 56 of the Ukrainian National Women’s League (UNWLA), known as “Soyuz Ukrayinok” (union of Ukrainian ladies) headed by Ann-Marie Susla of Englewood, canceled the dinner/dance known as “Vyshyvani Vechernytsi” (embroidered ball) traditionally held in the middle of February in respect for the dead and injured heroes of Maidan in Kyiv.

    The UNWLA chapter will hold a dinner and program honoring heroines of EuroMaidan in Kyiv, Ukraine, at 6 p.m. Saturday at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center (“Oseredok”) in North Port. This is a fundraiser for humanitarian aid for the demonstrators at Kyiv’s Maidan. A special program will follow the dinner. Tickets are $15 per person and proceeds will go to the UNWLA Humanitarian Aid Fund for Maidan.

    Additional donations are welcome. Please write a check to “UNWLA Br. 56,” with notation “Humanitarian Aid for Maidan.” The funds are needed to aid the wounded and sick demonstrators.

    Monthly membership meetings of UNWLA Br. 56 take place at 10 a.m. every first Tuesday of the month, with the exception of July and August. For information and/or membership application, contact Membership Chair Olya Hron at 941-966-2845.

UAV Post 40 inducts new members

    Three new members were inducted by UAV National Commander Ihor W. Hron of Osprey at the conclusion of last Friday’s monthly membership meeting of Cpl. Roman G. Lazor Post 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans. NC Hron was assisted by Post Commander Eugene

A. Tomashosky and Post Vice-Commander and National Adjutant Col. Roman Rondiak, U.S. (ret.).

    The new members are: Bohdan P. Hirniak, P.E., of Naples; Erik Nakonechnyj, of Hudson, Fla.; and George Steciuk, of Venice. A brief reception followed the induction ceremony.

    The meeting included the customary reports of Post Adjutant Roman Kilar and Finance Officer Col. Roman Rondiak as well as reports of other offi- cers and the financial review committee. NC Hron provided a lot of information about the nationwide organization and plans of activities of the National Executive Board, including the status of fundraising for the national monument honoring all veterans of all branches of service in all wars, UAV website, etc.

    Monthly membership meetings of Post 40 are held at 3 p.m. every first Friday of the month at the “Oseredok.” Veterans of the United States Armed Forces who are of Ukrainian descent or whose spouse is of Ukrainian descent are invited to join our Post, the only UAV post in our Sunshine State.

    English translation of ‘Kobzar’ presented

    Peter Fedynsky, translator of the first-ever complete English translation of Taras Shevchenko’s “Kobzar,” was introduced by Daria Tomashosky, president of the Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida, last Sunday afternoon at the “Oseredok.” In addition to speaking about his “labor of love” and reading excerpts of Taras Shevchenko’s poems, Fedynsky was also busy signing the copies of books, which were sold out with many, including yours truly, having to order and await the future shipments.

    This was indeed a very nice and proper introduction of worldwide (including the United Nations) celebrations of the 200th anniversary of Shevchenko’s birth.

    Atanas Kobryn covers the Ukrainian community for the North Port Sun. He can be emailed at atanask@aol.com. 

Our Neighbors — The Ukrainians

by Atanas Kobryn