UKRAINIAN NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ASSOCIATION
HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING IN WARREN, MI
The Ukrainian National Credit Union Association (UNCUA) held its 30th Annual Meeting June 10-11, 2011 at the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Warren, Michigan. Forty participants representing thirteen Ukrainian American credit unions gathered to discuss current issues facing credit unions, to elect a new board of directors, and to celebrate Ukrainian Future Credit Union’s 50th anniversary at a banquet held Saturday, June 11.
Friday afternoon the delegates were welcomed by representatives of Ukrainian Future CU: newly-elected Chair Anatoli Murha and Andrew Jakymowych, CEO/Treasurer. Greetings were then delivered by Bohdan Watral, then UNCUA Chair and CEO of Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union (Chicago), and Ihor Laszok, President of the World Council of Ukrainian Cooperatives and Board Member of Selfreliance Ukrainian American FCU.
Eugene Czolij Presents Ukrainian World Congress Presidents’ Club award to representatives of Self Reliance NY FCU: Bohdan Kurczak, Bohdan Sawycky, Andrew Juzeniw.
Presentations on topics of interest to the credit union leaders followed. Bob Shibla, Strategic Advisor at Raddon Financial Group, spoke on credit union industry issues, John McKechnie, Senior Vice President at Total Spectrum based in Washington, DC, spoke on the relationship between credit unions and Congress and Steve Van Beek, Director of Regulatory Compliance at the National Association of Federal Credit Unions provided the delegates with an update on the latest compliance issues set forth by the National Credit Union Administration.
The Association conducted its annual general meeting on Saturday, June 11th, with reports by management and committees, as well as the election of board members for the 2011-2012 term. UNCUA Chairman Bohdan Watral and President Orysia Burdiak reported on the current status of the Association. As of December 31, 2010, assets of the sixteen UNCUA member credit unions totaled $2.432 billion, with reserves and undivided earnings totaling $368 million. Member deposits totaled $2.052 billion, with $1.439 billion total loans issued in 2010. 104,155 individuals are members of Ukrainian American credit unions in the US (down by 1056 individuals from 2009). Despite the recession in 2010, Ukrainian American credit unions contributed near $4.4 million in support of community organizations, once again emphasizing the tremendous impact credit union membership has on the development of our Ukrainian American communities.
The 2011 credit union calendar illustrating the decorative art of Ukraine known as Petrykivka was well received by the membership. Near 32,000 calendars were distributed to credit union members. Project coordinator was Lew Mykola Hryhorczuk, PhD, Vice-Chair of Ukrainian Selfreliance Michigan FCU, who has authored the calendars since 2008.
Pictured left to right: Ihor Laszok, President, World Council of Ukrainian Cooperatives; Bohdan Kurczak, newly-elected UNCUA Chair; Eugene Czolij, President, Ukrainian World Congress; Bohdan Watral, UNCUA Chair 2005-2011.
The following individuals were elected to the 2011-12 UNCUA Board of Directors and committees:
UNCUA Officers: Bohdan Kurczak – Chair (Self Reliance NY); Stephen Kerda – Vice Chair (Selfreliance Baltimore); George Stachiw – Secretary (Selfreliance, New England). Executive Committee members: L. Mykola Hryhorczuk (Selfreliance Michigan); Mary Kolodij (Selfreliance, Philadelphia); Walter Kozicky (SUMA Yonkers, NY); and Bohdan Watral (Selfreliance, Chicago).
Members of the Board of Directors: Jack Burscu (Osnova, Parma OH), Bohdan Czepak (Cleveland Selfreliance), Tamara Denysenko (Ukrainian, Rochester), Andrew Diakun (UHD, Buffalo NY), Walter Drobenko (Ukrainian National, NY), Jaroslaw Fedun (Self Reliance NJ), Andrew Jakymowych (Future CU, Warren MI), Roman Kyshakevych (Selfreliance, Pittsburgh).
Supervisory Committee: Andrew Jakymowych (Future CU, Warren MI); Oleh Karawan (Selfreliance, Chicago) and Bohdan Sawycky (Self Reliance NY).
Nominating Committee: Jaroslaw Fedun (Self Reliance NJ); Orest Liscynesky (Cleveland Selfreliance); George Stachiw (Selfreliance, New England); and Catherine Popovech (alternate, Self Reliance NY).
By-Laws Committee: Bohdan Kurczak (Self Reliance NY); Orest Liscynesky (Cleveland Selfreliance); and Lubomyr Lypeckyj (Selfreliance, Warren MI).
Loan Protection and Life Savings Insurance Trustees: Orysia Burdiak, Stephen Kerda, Mary Kolodij, Bohdan Kurczak, Ihor Laszok, John Olijarczyk and George Stachiw.
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.
UNCUA representatives present honorary plaque to Ukrainian Future CU on the occasion of their golden jubilee. Pictured from left: Bohdan Kurczak, Andrew Jakymowych, Anatoli Murha, Orysia Burdiak, Bohdan Watral.
Vice Chair Stephen Kerda (Selfreliance Baltimore), invited the delegates to schedule their 2012 UNCUA annual meeting in the Washington, DC area.
On Saturday evening a banquet was held commemorating the 50th anniversary of Ukrainian Future Credit Union, attended by many Ukrainian clergy, and such distinguished guests as Ukrainian American State Representative (MI) Lesia Liss and Mayor of the City of Warren James Fouts. Representatives of UNCUA awarded Ukrainian Future with an honorary plaque commemorating their golden jubilee.
The keynote address at the banquet was delivered by Eugene Czolij, who asserted that “Ukrainian credit unions are the basic financial support structures of our community life; I therefore call upon all Ukrainians to join an Ukrainian credit union, and in so doing contribute to their future stablility and capacity to provide ongoing support to our various Ukrainian organizations.”
Kapelia Bandurystiv
Mr. Czolij’s remarks were followed by entertainment provided by the CYM Ukrainian Dance Ensemble and the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus, which was received with tremendous applause and countless bravos for their outstanding performance.
Conference delegates are deeply obliged to the management and staff of Ukrainian Future Credit Union, especially Andrew Jakymowych, CEO/Treasurer, Irene Maritczak, Assistant Manager, and Anatoli Murha, newly-elected Chair, for their efforts and dedication in organizing this year’s conference.
Respectfully submitted by Orysia Burdiak
Photos courtesy of Selfreliance.com
