2014 UNCUA Annual Meeting

Presentations on topics of interest to the credit union industry followed. Attorney Mitchell Pollack, Founder & Managing Member of Mitchell Pollack & Associates, spoke on issues in employment law. Joseph Concannon, President of Integris Security LLC, addressed the issues of both physical and data security, and Olya Sheweli presented the current status of credit unions in Ukraine.

A credit union roundtable, facilitated by Tamara Denysenko, Board member and former CEO of Ukrainian FCU in Rochester, discussed the current challenges facing our credit unions: membership, regulatory burdens, succession planning, changing technology and social media.

Friday evening delegates helped celebrate Mr. Walter Kozicky’s 90th birthday with several hearty Mnohaya Litas!

On Saturday, September 27th the Association conducted its annual meeting, which included reports by management and various committees. The election of board members for the 2014-2015 term were also held.

UNCUA Chairman Bohdan Kurczak reported on the activities of the Association for the past year, as well as the current status of Ukrainian American credit unions. As of June 30, 2014, assets of the fourteen UNCUA member credit unions totaled $2.812 billion, $45 million more than at year-end. Member deposits totaled $2.380 billion, $32 million more than December 31, 2013. Credit union membership dropped to 99,195 individuals

The 2014 credit union calendar was dedicated to 200th Anniversary of Taras Shevchenko’s birth. 29,000 calendars were distributed to credit union members, as reported by UNCUA President Orysia Burdiak.

That evening SUMA Yonkers hosted their 50th anniversary banquet with a sold-out crowd. Newly-elected UNCUA Chair Wasyl Kornylo and President Orysia Burdiak presented SUMA’s Chairman Andrew Horbachevsky with a plaque of recognition from the Association commemorating the credit union’s 50 years of service and dedication to the Ukrainian American community. While initially serving the Yonkers area, SUMA eventually opened branches in Spring Valley (NY), Stamford (CT) and New Haven (CT).

Mr. Kornylo and Ms. Burdiak also presented a special plaque to SUMA Yonkers President Walter Kozicky, honoring his 50 years of dedicated service to the Ukrainian American credit union movement. The evening concluded with an outstanding performance by honored artist of Ukraine Taras Chubay.

The following individuals were elected to the 2014-15 UNCUA Board of Directors and committees:

UNCUA Officers: Wasyl Kornylo – Chair (Ukrainian FCU, Rochester); Stephen Kerda – Vice Chair (Selfreliance Baltimore); George Stachiw – Secretary (Selfreliance New England). Executive Committee members: Mary Kolodij (Selfreliance, Philadelphia); Walter Kozicky (SUMA Yonkers, NY); Bohdan Kurczak (Self Reliance New York); and Bohdan Watral (Selfreliance, Chicago).

Members of the Board of Directors: Bohdan Czepak (Cleveland Selfreliance); Roman Jakubowycz (Osnova, Parma OH); Andrew Jakymowych (Future CU, Warren MI); Esteban Kaczurak (Ukrainian National, NY); Michael Lewko (Self Reliance NJ); Natalie Maruszczak (Selfreliance Michigan); and Eugene Szestak (Selfreliance, Pittsburgh).

Supervisory Committee: Andrew Jakymowych (Future CU, Warren MI); Bohdan Lisowsky (Selfreliance Michigan), and Bohdan Wruskyj (Selfreliance, Chicago).

Nominating Committee: Jaroslaw Fedun (Self Reliance NJ); Orest Liscynesky (Cleveland Selfreliance); and George Stachiw (Selfreliance New England)..

By-Laws Committee: Mary Kolodij (Selfreliance, Philadelphia); Orest Liscynesky (Cleveland Selfreliance); and Lubomyr Lypeckyj (Selfreliance Michigan).

Loan Protection and Life Savings Insurance Trustees: Orysia Burdiak, Esteban Kaczurak, Stephen Kerda, Mary Kolodij, Bohdan Kurczak, Ihor Laszok, and John Olijarczyk.

Orysia Burdiak was elected President of the Association and the Ukrainian Cooperative Insurance Agency in Chicago. UNCUA staff members are Christine Pylypowycz and Nina Bebko.

Stephen Kerda, representing Selfreliance Baltimore Federal Credit Union, invited the delegates to schedule their 2015 UNCUA spring conference and annual meeting in Baltimore, MD on the occasion of Selfreliance Baltimore’s 60th anniversary celebration next year.

Respectfully submitted,
Orysia Burdiak, UNCUA President