The Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business Federation

• Canada and USA cross border relations. This was accepted as being important.
• The need for more "physical" meetings with other UCPBA cities. I.e UCPBA members should visit and take part in UCPBA meetings in other cities.
• A few people stated that there may be a need for " neutral" meeting space for Communication and conference space in some centres. I.e. some people may not feel comfortable to attend an event or meeting in a different church hall or an other organization's meeting hall. Other people said that this is not a real issue.
• For Community communications and to attract new members, suggestion was made regarding a local telephone bulletin board system

• There was a discussion on Inclusive v s Exclusive organizations. What role should the UCPBF play? By our nature, the UCPBF is Exclusive in the sense that it is made up of Business and Professional People only. To contrast this, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress being an umbrella organization is an organization that should be Inclusive. However, some people considered the Ukrainian Congress to be less than Inclusive.
• All purpose community Centres:

  Some people in The Ukrainian Canadian Community in Ottawa are trying to create a "multi-purpose" community centre. I.e. to combine many activities into one location. For example: Credit Union, Coffee shop, class rooms and meeting rooms for community organizations.

  The main problem with this "idea" is a lack of consensus at the organization level in Ottawa.

• It was mentioned that the UCPBF as well as the whole community should have closer cooperation with Ukrainian Canadian Credit Unions.
• Survey of Ethnicity: Each local UCPBA should find out how many people there are of Ukrainian Heritage in your area. Good source is Statistics Canada survey on Ethnicity. This survey breaks down ethnicity on single and multiple responses. I.e. both parent Ukrainian or one parent Ukrainian. A large number of responses are now possible. The Statistics Canada "Survey on Ethnicity" is available from Statistics Canada and it is also available in Public libraries.
• Another good source for Ethnicity(and other values) is a mapping version of the Statistics Canada Survey called E-Stat. This CD-ROM version gives information on a national basis right down to the county level.
• We also need an up-to-date listing of Ukrainian Newspapers and other sources such as TV and Radio programs(including shortwave) and the Internet.
• There was a fairly broad consensus that we should be promoting the use of the Internet.

Another big question was: Where should the UCPBF be directing its resources?

• Canada?
• Ukraine?
• both?

• CUC ===> As an umbrella organization, CUC does not appear to be addressing the needs of its member organizations. Some people said that CUC is seen as being old, out-of-date, exclusive instead of inclusive and being too narrow focused. Several people mentioned that CUC is alienating itself from the younger generation. For example one person said that some people in CUC have been known to give a very "Rough" time to "young" people who attempt to express themselves in English.
• There was a comment that while CUC may represent only about a small percentage of the Ukrainian Canadian Community , it does claim to speak for 100% of people of Ukrainian heritage.
• In fairness to CUC, it was mentioned that no other organization can claim to represent all Ukrainian Canadians either.

• Decisions that affect our life in Canada and Ukraine rest with government process.
• Need relationship with all 3 levels of government
• Need to strengthen our position within CUC
• Need for consistency in our message to government
• CUC does serve the entire nation, they do not go in Atlantic province. The UCPBF on the other hand does have representation in Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario, the Prairies and BC.
• UCPBF membership is more diverse than CUC.
• UCPBF has various position in CUC. I.e. Local, provincial, National

• We do not follow after letter writing or petition campaign.
• WE DO NOT HAVE A QUICK REACTIVE NETWORK FOR IMPORTANT ISSUES. For example, the CBS 60 Minutes Program or the Forbes Article.
• Perhaps we need a 1-800
• But we do have an Internet List server in operation.

• Reaffirm our position with CUC
• Perhaps a fund to send students to Electoral college in the US to train them in political/organization process.

• A conduit of info and skills from Canada to Ukraine
• A database of skilled people across Canada.

• Established Association with executive.
• Partnering with other organizations
• Not draining resources

• New members join in that are not members in other organizations
• Therefore UCPBA Victoria is meeting the community's organizational needs.
• Monthly speakers ==> variety of topics/speakers that are community focused.

1. Western Canada Conference 1996 host
2. Managed to pull out of debt. We now have resources.

• Have donated a large amount of money back to the community.

1. Membership growing. Was social, now more on community activism. Trying to bring all groups together.
2. Reestablished local SUSK Association. Establishing student scholarship. Donations are also made to charitable functions.

UCPBA Calgary is becoming more visible/active in the community:

==> TV program

• Small number of people run the various resources. Always the same volunteers. Can't get beyond same. Not everyone participates.

SOLUTION:

• Use of the Internet to find and communicate with Deep cover Ukrainians(DCU).

• Delegate responsibility
• Leverage political candidates through networking
• Discounts for students + jobless for events.
• Members need to feel that they are part of a National organization.
• Need to make the association more relevant to younger members. They are starting their careers.
• SOLUTIONS: Take advantage of mainstream. Be "smarter" partner. + promote Ukrainian as Canadian language.
• Ukrainian organizations are not perceived as being "Fun" to participate.
• Despite overall growing population of people of Ukrainian heritage, numbers are shrinking in Ukrainian organizations.
• There is a lack of historical knowledge of Ukrainian Community Organizations.
• Personal agendas should not be promoted as opposed to group agendas.
• We are not attracting leaders as members.
• Communication needs to be improved. More support of community is needed.

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