UNF Toronto Quarterly Member’s Evening

By Chrystyna Kowal

On Thursday, May 1, 2008, the UNF Toronto Branch launched their first quarterly member’s evening. Quarterly meetings had been held in the past but now, the purpose of these meetings is to present to the membership the current plans and activities of the new executive and to promote a more open dialogue regarding branch goals and objectives and how to achieve them.

After opening the evening, President Slawko Borys introduced Andrew Gregorovich, who after 50 years of research has completed his publication “Cossack Bibliography”. Mr. Gregorovich announced that the book should be ready for release at the end of May. As a child, Mr. Gregorovich spent many days at the feet of his father at the UNF Hall, so it was with great pleasure that he announced that the book’s launch will take place at the UNF Community Centre, 145 Evans Ave, together with a Cossackiana Exhibit. The publication’s release date is to be confirmed.

As the evening’s theme was “Meet Your New Executive”, the meeting continued with the presentation of the new organizational structure, explanation of roles and responsibilities, and the introduction of members of the 2008 Toronto Branch Executive Committee: President – Slawko Borys, V.P. Operations – Greg Adamowich, V.P. Administration & Planning – Eugene Cholkan, Past President – Zenon Chwaluk, Treasurer – Bernice Mokrij, Secretary – Bohdan Medicky, Legal Advisor – Walter Kuplowsky, Culture & Organization – Jaroslaw Kowal.

Slawko Borys stated earlier that “he would like to demonstrate the new executive is intent on rekindling the original purpose of the UNF, to be a focal point for educational, social and cultural activity in the Ukrainian Canadian community.” An important short-term goal of the Executive is to reopen the existing UNF Library located at 145 Evans Ave. as a resource centre for youth and the community. It is planned that the reopening of the Library will coincide with the launch of Gregorovich’s “Cossack Bibliography”.

After the presentation of the Executive’s goals and objectives for this year, the meeting was opened to questions and discussion from the meeting floor by those members present.

One of the comments raised was the lack of Ukrainian spoken at UNF Camp Sokil (within the UNF Children’s Summer Camp), in Hawkestone, Ont. Zenon Chwaluk addressed this point by explaining that many of the campers are from either a mixed marriage where Ukrainian is not the language spoken at home, or in many cases, the children are from Ukraine, but again, their primary language is Russian. Mr. Chwaluk further explained that it is not the mission of the Camp staff to teach the campers Ukrainian within the few weeks that they are there as this is a vidpochynkovyj tabir or “recreational camp”. It was also expressed that there is a need to update the quality of the accommodations for the children at Camp Sokil.

Another comment from the meeting floor was to make more use of the weekly circulation of The New Pathway community newspaper to promote information about the plans and activities of the UNF and Affiliated Organizations.

The formal business program of the evening concluded with Slawko Borys announcing the dates of the upcoming UNF Toronto Quarterly Member’s Evenings along with their theme and topic for discussion:

July 16^th, 2008, at 6:30 pm. –

UNF Camp Sokil Update

October 16^th, 2008, at 6:30 pm.  – Cultural Programs Update

December 11^th, 2008, at  6:30 pm.  –Member’s Christmas Social

The evening’s social aspect continued with a delicious hot dinner followed by lively discussion over coffee/tea and dessert.

The UNF Toronto Branch Executive looks forward to meeting with more current members as well as welcoming anyone interested in becoming a new member at upcoming UNF Toronto Quarterly Member’s Evenings.