Judge Futey to speak at tonight’s meeting

The Honorable Bohdan A. Futey, a federal judge serving on senior status for the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, will be the guest speaker at tonight’s meeting of Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida headed by Daria Tomashosky of North Port. Judge Futey, who earned his J.D. in 1968 at the Cleveland Marshall Law School, joined the court in 1987 after being nominated by President Ronald Reagan after serving as Chairman of the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States from 1984-1987. He served until his term ended in 2002 when he assumed senior status.

    Dr. Futey’s presentation will be “Why Ukraine’s Constitution is in Danger.” The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center (known as the “Oseredok”), 4100 S. Biscayne Drive, North Port. Everyone is welcome to attend what is sure to be a very informative evening in this critical period of Ukraine’s history.

    Dr. Futey’s presentation will be preceded by a brief business meeting which will include the customary financial and other reports. 

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    The North Port Chapter 56 of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America known as “Soyuz Ukrayinok” held its annual membership meeting and election of officers for 2014-2015 on Tuesday, Jan. 21 at the Oseredok. The meeting opened with a prayer, singing of UNWLA hymn, and a moment of silence for deceased members of Chapter 56. It was chaired by Neonillia Lechman with Lesya Popel serving as secretary.

    Ann-Marie Susla of Englewood was unanimously re-elected president.

    Other officers and committee chairs elected and/ or re-elected are: vice president, Lidia Bilous; recording secretary, Roma Guran; correspondence secretary, Larissa Shpon; treasurer, Orysia Zinycz; financial secretary, Ulana Stadnyk; membership chair, Olya Hron; cultural affairs chair, Ulana Rondiak; public relations co-chairs, Neonillia Lechman and Vira Bodnaruk; press secretary, Lidiya Mychalowych; social welfare chair, Halya Lisnyczyj (committee members, Odarka Horbachevsky, Helen Indianu, and Anna Mariani-Kebus); art/ museum co-chairs, Tanya Silecky and Katya Steciuk; choir director, Lubow Ingram; archives chair, Roxolana Yarymovych; hospitality chair, Katya Posnachivsky and memberat-large, Oksana Lew.

    Branch honorary membership was bestowed on Slawa Maluk for her dedication and years of service to Chapter 56.

    The members voted to donate $1,000 to the Ukrainian Museum in New York City, and $1,000 to the UNWLA monthly journal, Our Life, press fund.

    A guest, Alexander Terlecky of North Port, who recently returned from a visit to Ukraine and who also spent some time at the “EuroMaidan” in Kyiv, spoke of his experience and impressions of the Maidan protest movement in Kyiv, and other cities of Ukraine.

    The next monthly membership meeting will take place at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4 at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Parish Hall, 1078 N. Biscayne Drive, North Port
                                                                                                     

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    The monthly membership meeting of Cpl. Roman G. Lazor Post 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans will take place at 3 p.m., Friday, Feb. 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