UKRAINIAN NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ASSOCIATION HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING IN WASHINGTON, DC
The Ukrainian National Credit Union Association (UNCUA) held its 36th Annual Meeting and Spring Conference June 8-10, 2017 in Washington, DC. Hosting the conference, and marking their 65th Anniversary of service to the Ukrainian American community was Ukrainian Selfreliance Federal Credit Union headquartered in Philadelphia.
Thirty three participants representing all thirteen Ukrainian American credit unions in the U.S. gathered to visit their legislators on Capitol Hill, to hear presentations on current topics of
interest to credit union leaders, and to elect a new board of directors.
The conference commenced Thursday morning with welcoming remarks by Anatoli Murha, Business Development and Marketing Director of Selfreliance in Philadelphia. The delegates were then briefed on issues concerning Ukraine and credit unions, in order to prepare them for scheduled visits with their legislators on Capitol Hill. Michael Sawkiw, Jr., director of the Ukrainian National Information Service, briefed participants on issues concerning Ukraine.
Credit union issues were presented by Ryan Donovan, Chief Advocacy Officer of the Credit Union National Association. Following the briefings, delegates proceeded to Capitol Hill to meet with their respective elected officials to discuss the important issues discussed during that morning’s briefing session.
Thursday evening Ukrainian Selfreliance Philadelphia sponsored a lovely reception for the delegates.
Friday’s program began with welcoming remarks by Wasyl Kornylo, UNCUA Chair, and Roman Petyk, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ukrainian Selfreliance FCU Philadelphia. Presentations on topics of interest to the credit union industry followed, such as engaging and transforming your credit union, investment practices, and a briefing on the legislative, political and regulatory issues in Washington.
Brian Branch, President & CEO of the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) presented participants with an update on the credit union movement in Ukraine today. He congratulated UNCUA on being granted the 2017 Distinguished Service Award by WOCCU in recognition of the Association’s commitment to the international credit union movement and the reestablishment of credit unions in Ukraine. This award is the highest honor bestowed by the global credit union movement. It will be presented to UNCUA representatives during the 2017 World Credit Union Conference in Vienna, Austria July 23rd.
Presentations concluded with a credit union roundtable facilitated by Tamara Denysenko, board member and former CEO of Ukrainian FCU in Rochester. The roundtable focused on a look to 2020 – best practices, successes, and challenges for UNCUA credit unions, discussing assets, membership and capital growth.
Several dignitaries joined the Ukrainian American credit union leaders Friday afternoon. Delegates were much honored by a visit from U.S. Representative Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and senior member of the House Committee on Financial Services. He is a friend of Ukraine and credit unions. Congressman Royce provided delegates with a Washington update on the committees he serves, concluding with responses to questions from the participants.
Also visiting the conference was Valeriy Chaly, Ambassador of Ukraine to the U.S.A. He provided participants with an update on events in Ukraine. Eugene Czolij, President of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC), presented the delegates with highlights of UWC’s accomplishments over the past 50 years.
President Eugene Czolij, Ukrainian World Congress, presents award to representatives of Ukrainian Selfreliance FCU headquartered in Philadelphia for significant financial support to the UWC. Ukrainian Selfreliance FCU hosted UNCUA’s 2017 Annual Meeting. L to R: Roman Stelmach, Mary Kolodij, Eugene Czolij, Roman Petyk. Photo by M. Sawkiw.
That evening Mr. Czolij recognized Ukrainian credit unions for their long-standing financial support of the UWC, and honored several credit unions with awards: in the category “For very significant financial support”: Self Reliance New York Federal Credit Union; Selfreliance Foundation of Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union, Chicago; and SUMA (Yonkers) Federal Credit Union; in the category “For significant financial support”: Ukrainian Selfreliance Federal Credit Union, Philadelphia; and Nova UA Federal Credit Union, Clifton, NJ; and in the category “For financial support”: Ukrainian Federal Credit Union, Rochester; Ukrainian National Federal Credit Union, New York; Cleveland Selfreliance Federal Credit Union, and UNCUA.
Special recognition was awarded Ukrainian Selfreliance FCU in Philadelphia by UNCUA. The credit union was presented with a special plaque of recognition honoring their 65th anniversary. UNCUA Chair Kornylo congratulated the credit union on reaching this milestone, for 65 years of service and dedication to the Ukrainian American community in the greater Philadelphia area and Trenton, NJ. His congratulatory remarks were concluded by a resounding mnohaya lita.
On Saturday, June 10 th the Association conducted its 36 th annual meeting, which included reports by management and various committees. The election of board members for the 2017-2018 term was also held.
UNCUA Chairman Wasyl Kornylo reported on the activities of the Association for the past year, as well as the current status of Ukrainian American credit unions. As of March 31, 2017, assets of the thirteen UNCUA member credit unions totaled $3.224 billion, $55 million more than at year-end. Member deposits totaled $2.741 billion, $50 million more than on December 31, 2016. Credit union membership increased to 101,992 individuals.
The 2017 credit union calendar was dedicated to the ethnophotography of Anna Senik. Over 26,000 calendars were distributed to credit union members, as reported by UNCUA President Orysia Burdiak.
The following individuals were elected to the 2017-18 UNCUA Board of Directors and committees:
UNCUA Officers: Andrew Horbachevsky – Chair (SUMA Yonkers, NY); Bohdan Watral – Vice Chair (Selfreliance Chicago); Stephen Kerda – Vice Chair (Selfreliance Baltimore); George Stachiw – Secretary (Selfreliance New England). Executive Committee members: Mary Kolodij (Selfreliance Philadelphia); Wasyl Kornylo (Ukrainian FCU, Rochester); Bohdan Kurczak (Self Reliance New York).
Members of the Board of Directors: Bohdan Czepak (Cleveland Selfreliance); Andrew Jakymowych (Future CU, Warren MI); Esteban Kaczurak (Ukrainian National, NY); Michael Lewko (Nova UA FCU, Clifton, NJ); Natalie Maruszczak (Selfreliance Michigan); Eugene Szestak (Selfreliance Pittsburgh).
Supervisory Committee: Andrew Jakymowych (Future CU, Warren MI); Orest Temnycky (Self Reliance New York); Bohdan Wruskyj (Selfreliance Chicago).
Nominating Committee: Tamara Denysenko (Ukrainian FCU, Rochester); Jaroslaw Fedun (Nova UA FCU, Clifton, NJ); Andrew Horbachevsky (SUMA Yonkers, NY); Nusia Woch-Kerda (Selfreliance Baltimore); George Stachiw (Selfreliance New England).
By-Laws Committee: Michael Kos (Selfreliance Chicago); Roman Kozicky (SUMA Yonkers, NY); Natalia Pachashynska (Ukrainian National, NY).
Loan Protection and Life Savings Insurance Trustees: Orysia Burdiak, Esteban Kaczurak, Stephen Kerda, Mary Kolodij, Wasyl Kornylo, Bohdan Kurczak, 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.
The delegates agreed to return to Washington for the 2018 UNCUA spring conference and annual meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Orysia Burdiak, UNCUA President
