Meetings, plans and other upcoming events

    The first post-vacation membership meeting of Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida, headed by Daria Tomashosky of North Port, was held Sept. 24 at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center (known as “the Oseredok”) in North Port. After calling the meeting to order, President Daria asked members to observe a moment of silence for recently deceased members of the club, and also for the fallen and murdered heroes of anti-terrorist action against terrorists and Russian military invaders in Ukraine.

    After the reading and approval of reports (last meeting’s minutes by Halya Lisnyczyj, treasury by Nancy Wosny, correspondence secretary and pantry/ homeless projects by Halya Lisnyczyj), the club’s Scholarship Committee chairman, professor Victor Lisnyczyj, discussed the last scholarship awards luncheon and plans for next year’s luncheon in March 2015 at Heron Creek Golf & Country Club in North Port, and read some letters from past scholarship recipients.

    President Daria shared information about some changes and updates to the club’s website (ukrainianamericanclub.com) and also explained in great detail the Prime Time Reading Program at the North Port Library. The club will host the program’s dinner Oct. 16. Volunteerservers should report to the library at 4 p.m.

    The “didusi” (grandfathers) report was delivered by Lieda Boyko, who reported that the club is currently assisting three elderly single men and one elderly widow in Ukraine. She also read some messages from the recipients of stipends. Klara Szpiczka and Maria Hirniak discussed the embroidery project, which is in the final stage of completion, but it is the most difficult, labor-intensive and time-consuming phase.

    To be ready for the election of officers in the spring, President Daria nominated three members to the Nominating Committee: Maria Hirniak, Oksana Lev and yours truly, and announced that the annual Christmas dinner committee will be chaired by Anna Mariani of Port Charlotte. The dinner will be held Dec. 6 at the Oseredok.

    The traditional 50/50 raffle winner was Yara Litosh, who generously donated her winnings to the club’s didusi project.

    Before adjourning the meeting, President Daria brought up the matter of fundraising for IFAKs (improved first-aid kits costing $100 each) for the Ukrainian Armed Forces and volunteer battalion personnel engaged in defending Ukraine from Russian military invasion and domestic terrorists. Several individuals made significant pledges.

    After the meeting was adjourned but before the traditional social hour over coffee and pastry, Natalie Sluzar of North Port, who traveled to Ukraine this summer, gave a superb, very interesting presentation about her trip, augmented by interesting photographs.
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    There will be no meeting of Cpl. Roman G. Lazor Post 40 of the Ukrainian Veterans this Friday. The meeting will take place at 3 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Oseredok.

    The monthly membership meeting of Branch 56 of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, known as “Soyuz Ukrayinok” (union of Ukrainian Ladies), headed by Ann-Marie Susla of Englewood, will take place at 10 a.m. Oct. 7 at the Oseredok.

    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