‘Soyuz Ukrayinok’ re-elects president

The North Port Milena Rudnycka Branch 56 of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, known as “Soyuz Ukrayinok” (union of Ukrainian Ladies), one of the largest branches of the national organization, held its annual membership meeting Jan. 26, and again re-elected University of Buffalo alumna Ann-Marie Susla of Englewood as president.
Branch 56 will celebrate its 25th Jubilee at 5 p.m. Feb. 13 at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church Parish Center with a dinner, entertainment and presentation of awards. Tickets, at $40 per person, can be obtained from Branch 56 members.
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The monthly membership meeting of the Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida, headed by Daria Tomashosky of North Port, was held Jan. 28 at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center (known as the “Oseredok”). After opening the meeting, Daria welcomed special guests Vira Andrushkiw, chair of the Detroit Regional Council of UNWLA branches and vice president of U.S.Ukraine Foundation, and the Rev. Vasyl Petriv, pastor of the local Ukrainian Catholic parish.
After the customary reports of officers (secretary Doris Horbachevsky, treasurer Nancy Wosny, correspondence secretary Halya Lisnyczyj, scholarship committee chair Victor Lisnyczyj and special projects coordinator Klara Szpiczka), president Daria made several program announcements, including the membership of the Nominating Committee (Ihor W. Hron, Oksana Lew and Klara Szpiczka), and introduced the guest speaker, the honorable Bohdan A. Futey.
Judge Futey, a familiar face in the Ukrainian American community, is a federal judge now serving on senior status for the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, and spoke about the current situation in Ukraine. His topic was “Two years after the Revolution of Dignity — Strengths and Weaknesses.” After relaying events leading to the “Revolution of Dignity” (the refusal of former president Yanukovych to sign an agreement with the European Union, and the brutal attempt to suppress the peaceful demonstrations, which resulted in his fleeing the country in February 2014), Judge Futey spoke about the democratic elections of pro-western “Verkhovna Rada” (parliament), the election of President Petro Poroshenko, slow but continuous progress in the westernization of the judicial system, the rebirth of the Ukrainian Army that was neglected by Yanukovych, and the new patriotism of Ukrainians as the positive aspects and strengths of Ukraine.
He also went over the weaknesses and negative aspects, such as corruption, the old post-Soviet legal system in need of modernization, and domestic refugees from Crimea and the Donbass region.
Many questions posed by the audience were adequately answered by Judge Futey, who was approached with questions even after the meeting’s adjournment, during the traditional coffee- and-pastry social hour.
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The monthly membership meeting of Cpl. Roman G. Lazor Post 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans, the first in 2016, will be held at 3 p.m. Friday at the Oseredok.
Vice Commander Col. Roman Synychak, USAF (Ret.), will chair the meeting because Post Commander Col. Rondiak will be out of town.
UAV National Commander Ihor W. Hron will be the special guest.
Finance officer Oleh Sawkiw wishes to remind members that he will accept payments for current dues at the meeting.

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

Our Neighbors — The Ukrainians
by Atanas Kobryn