Awards and honors for Southwest Florida ladies

     The XXX Jubilee Convention of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, commonly referred to as “Soyuz Ukrayinok” (union of Ukrainian Ladies) held on May 23-26 in Tarrytown, N.Y., not far from New York City, saw a very active participation of members of North Port’s UNWLA Branch 56, and also resulted in a large number of awards and recognition for members of the North Port branch. The UNWLA conventions are held every three years; the next one will be held in 2017, most likely in Florida.

    Some erroneous and/ or incomplete information contained in last week’s column call for correction.

    The guests attending the convention, Olena Boyko and Ulana Sos, are members of Branch 56. Orysia Zinycz of Venice, Branch 56 member, who chaired the convention’s Nominating Committee, and Olya Cherkas of St. Petersburg, Fla., UNWLA Branch 124 member, were elected co-liaisons for branches-at-large for the 2014-2017 term. They are the only National Executive Board members from Southwest Florida.

    UNWLA Vice President-Public Relations Lidia Bilious of Osprey, who retired from the National Executive Board, was awarded the UNWLA Honorary Membership Award, the highest award granted by the UNWLA, for her many years of dedicated service. Orysia Swystun of North Port, past president of Branch 56, was also awarded the Honorary Membership Award.

    Members-at-Large Chair Roxolana Yarymovych of Osprey, who retired from the National Executive Board, received a certificate of appreciation for her many years of dedicated service, as did Vice President-Membership Anna Macielinski.

    Iwanna Holowaty, past president of Branch 56, and Maria Wolynec, both of Venice, received 50-year member awards.

    The UNWLA North Port Branch 56, headed by Ann-Marie Susla of Englewood, received three awards for its accomplishments.

                                                        • • •

    Members of Cpl. Roman G. Lazor Post 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans, headed by Post Commander Eugene A. Tomashosky of North Port, met Friday at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center (known as “the Oseredok”).

    The agenda of the meeting included the customary reports of officers, the presentation of UAV National Commander Ihor W. Hron of Osprey, and a “post-mortem” of the post’s participation in last month’s Memorial Day observances. Both the minutes of the previous month’s meeting by Post Adjutant Roman E. Kilar of North Fort Myers, and the financial report by acting finance officer, Post Vice Commander and UAV National Adjutant Col. Roman Rondiak, USA (Ret.) of Osprey, were approved after a brief discussion. A lengthier discussion had ensued following NC Hron’s presentation about the status of the UAV National Veterans’ Monument. The omission of UAV Post 40 from all publicity regarding the city Memorial Day observance was considered insulting by many members.

    The highlight of the meeting was the formal induction by NC Hron of three new members — the Rev. Roman Badiak of St. Petersburg, Victor Radzibaba of Gulfport and Oleh Sawkiw of Venice.

    The next membership meeting will take place at 3 p.m. Sept. 5 at the Oseredok.
 
                                                        • • •

    Being a father, I am looking forward to Father’s Day on Sunday, and wish all fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, godfathers and fathers-to-be a healthy, safe and enjoyable day.

    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