MUNO and Me

By Dr. Myron Kuropas

I received the July 9 issue of Noviy Skhliakh a few weeks ago and was delighted to see a front page group photo with the accompanying headline: Vitaemo Vidrodzhennia MYHO!

Even though I’m a Ukrainian American, I have many pleasant memories of MUNO because at one time in my life the organization offered me a new perspective on Ukrainian nationalism.

 Let me take you back to 1931, the year the Organization for the Rebirth of Ukraine (ODWU) was founded in the United States.  Associated with OUN, ODWU created a coalition of nationalist organizations including Gold Cross for women and the Young Ukrainian Nationalists (MUN) - founded in 1933.  ODWU was initially headed by Gregory Herman, a captain in the U.S. Army reserve, and later by Dr. Alexander Granovsky, a tenured professor of entomology at the University of Minnesota. ODWU and its affiliates claimed a membership of some 10,000 men, women and children in 1938, inclu- ding some 400 MUN members active in 12 branches.  Branch activities varied.  MUN in Hamtramck boasted a volleyball team which starred John Hodiak, future well-known Hollywood movie star. The Chicago branch published Trident, an English language periodical which defended Ukrainian nationalists against attacks from the Left accusing our community of  Nazi sympathies.

Fast forward to 1960. MUN, now Youth of ODWU, is firmly in the hands of third wave nationalists who have retained their European mind-set.  An emergency ODWU-sponsored MUN conclave is held in New York City and, after no one volunteers, ODWU members push moi into being “elected” President of MUN, an essentially moribund organization with a great history. After the usual handshaking, backslapping, “you can do it” and congratulations in NYC, I return to Chicago.  “Now what,” I ask myself.

Enter MUNO.  A Chicago ODWU member tells me to “go north and explore”.  I do.  I meet the dynamic Natalie Bundza, Stan Szach,  Walter Maceluch,  Bohdan  and Walter Klymkiw,  Dennis and Kathy Galay,  Jerry Bilak, Andrew Gregorovich and countless others. I attend MUNO conventions in Sudbury, Saskatoon, Winnipeg where I witness dance competitions.  I subscribe to the organization’s publication - MYN Beams.  A new Ukrainian world opens up. 

MUN changes its name to the Ukrainian National Youth Federation of America, and establishes branches in NYC, Chicago and Minneapolis.  One “qualifies” for MUN membership by completing a six week course in Ukrainian history, as well as a three week course titled “The Menace of Communism.”  We create MUN Enterprises and begin publishing the English language Trident Quarterly (with Andrew Gregorovich as associate editor) and MUN Moods, a monthly. Two volumes of The Saga of Ukraine: An Outline History make their appearance.  The Senior MUN Manual: A Guide to Action is distributed to members. We hold a national convention at the ODWU Homestead in Lehighton, Pennsylvania, during which a dance competition is organized between the MUN Dance Group of Chicago and the Chaika Dancers of Hamilton. It was no contest.

UNYF of America’s subsequent decline was not  pretty.  Nevertheless, I look back with great fondness on those halcyon days when MUNO’s inspiration made us true believers south of the border. 

The New Pathway is pleased to announce the addition of a new columnist to the ranks of our paper, Dr. Myron Kuropas.  He will be sharing his unique perspective on all things Ukrainian in a new column titled Tut I Tam.  Many readers will undoubtedly recognize Dr. Kuropas as one of the diaspora’s best known Ukrainian historians and authors.

Dr. Kuropas was born in Chicago in 1932 to a family that was well known for its involvement and support of the Ukrainian community.  He gained his Bachelor’s degree in Social Psychology from Loyola University in Chicago, his Masters in Clinical Psychology at Roosevelt University, and his PhD in Education at the University of Chicago.

He has had a successful career as an educator, most recently as an Adjunct Professor at Northern Illinois University and Fulbright Senior Scholar at the National University of Ostroh Academy (Ukraine).

Dr. Kuropas has also played an active leadership role not only within the Ukrainian community in the U.S. but also in the broader American political arena.  He was Special Assistant to President Gerald Ford for Ethnic affairs, and Legislative Assistant to Senator Bob Dole. 

Dr. Kuropas has published numerous articles in various respected journals, and is the author of three well known books on the history of Ukrainians in America, the most prominent being The Ukrainian Americans: Roots and Aspirations 1894-1954.  Dr. Kuropas also writes a regular column for The Ukrainian Weekly published by the Ukrainian National Association out of New Jersey.

The New Pathway welcomes Dr. Kuropas to its ranks and looks forward to his interesting insights.