The UWC Presidium meeting in limited session on Saturday, April 5, 2003, finalized some details of the VIII UWC Congress to be held August 18-21, 2003 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Marika Szkambara, chair of the Congressional Organizational Committee submitted her report for UWC Presidium approval. All sessions of the Congress except the Great Famine requiem, the concert and the gala reception will take place at the Ukrainian House on the European Square. UWC councils and committees will convene at 10 AM on Monday, August 18, 2003. The following councils and committees have scheduled deliberations: the World Social Services Council, the World Coordinating Educational Council, the Human and Civil Rights Commission, the World Cooperative Council, the Council on Cultural Affairs, the World Scholarly Council. Sessions of the Sports Committee and the Conference of Ukrainian Youth Organizations are still in the planning stage. An opening press conference will be held at 5 PM on Monday, August 18, 2003 at the press conference room оf Ukrainian House; the opening ceremony will commence thereafter at 7 PM with a prayer service and presentation of colors of all countries where Ukrainians reside. Several ambassadors have acknowledged their participation. The President of Ukraine along with other dignitaries from Ukrainian Government and Parliament have been invited to attend the opening ceremonies and to bring greetings. The following day, Tuesday, will be devoted to plenary sessions hearing reports and deliberations. At 7 PM the delegates and quests will march in procession along the Khreschatyk through Independence Square to St. Sophia and then to the Great Famine monument at the St. Michael’s Square where a requiem will be celebrated by Orthodox, Catholic and Evangelical clergy. The following day morning and afternoon session will be devoted to four round table discussions and a concert at 7 PM at a nearby hall to be announced. Thursday will conclude deliberations throughout the day with the elections of an Executive Committee, an Executive and a Board of Directors. At 5 PM a concluding press conference will be held followed by a reception at the Kyiv City Hall.

To date some 100 delegates have been registered mostly from the Eastern diaspora. UWC member organization from North and South America, Europe and Australia are urged to register as soon as possible but no later than by May 31, 2003.

UWC PRESIDENT AND SOCIAL SERVICE COUNCIL CHAIR VISIT COMMUNITIES

UWC President Askold S. Lozynskyj and World Social Service Council Chair Olga Danylak recently concluded a visit to Ukrainian communities in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Italy. Reports on these visits will appear in the next issue of the Newsletter.

NEW MEMBER PETITIONS

Recently, particularly, in view of the burgeoning Ukrainian communities particularly in Europe, the UWC has received a number of petitions for new membership. Additionally, many organizations have voiced a desire to join the UWC. We would like to take this opportunity that while the UWC welcomes and encourages such an interest, our By-laws are somewhat restricted. New member may be accepted only by the Secretariat Plenum, which is scheduled to meet for the last time prior to the VIII Congress on Saturday, May 10, 2003. In order to participate in the VIII Congress through its delegates an organization must be accepted on May 10, 2003. Inasmuch as we have been receiving defective petitions from many organizations which do not qualify for UWC membership, we would like to stress that the UWC accepts only three types of organizational members: central national organizations that coordinate the activities of all organizations within a country, world organizations with national branches in at least three countries and national organizations with at least three branches in a given country. A petitioner needs to submit a formal written request, stating the nature of the organization, listing its branches and including its by-laws either in Ukrainian or English. We ask that all applicants follow these guidelines.

UWC JOINS UN AS NGO

Following a rather lengthy application process the UWC has formally become a non governmental organization member of the United Nations’ Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in special consultative status. We have established a separate United Nations’ Committee chaired by Borys Potapenko and have designated representatives to the UN New York office consisting of the UWC President and Secretary General, Marta Kokolskyj as the lead representative and Ihor Dlaboha and Borys Potapenko as additional representatives. The UWC-UN Committee in addition to B. Potapenko, M. Kokolskyj, UWC President and Secretary General includes Andriy J. Semotiuk from Los Angeles and the chairs of the World Social Services Council, World Coordinating Educational Council, and Human and Civil Rights Committee. The UWC-UN Committee held its first meeting on Saturday, April 5, 2003. Specific issues to be addressed at the UN were discussed, i.e. migrant workers. Definitive formulation is being shaped by the UWC-UN Committee Chair. Our membership is being informed that inasmuch as the UWC membership within ECOSOC includes in addition to the New York UN office, representations in Geneva and Vienna, we seek volunteers for these offices as well. Anyone with an educational, social service or political science background interested in working in a volunteer capacity at any of the UN offices is urged to contact Borys Potapenko at e-mail bpotapenko@earthlink.net.

EASTER GREETINGS

Annually we extend greetings on the occasion of the Our Lord, Jesus Christ’s Resurrection. It seems that each year Easter seems more poignant than the year before. This is probably largely due to the problems that mankind has caused. The world is at war. Let us pray that this war does not escalate. On the other hand the times have never been more propitious and dynamic for our Ukrainian people. We are mindful of the Lord’s blessings for our people particularly over the last 15 years. Although, free is not a state of being that we are accustomed to, we are learning. Let us seize the moment and make the most of it. Our nation has been deeply religious even in the most difficult times. Jesus and his mother have been our protectors. As we approach the annual celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord, let us give thanks. Let us glorify this Resurrection for it symbolizes the triumph of good over evil. We, Ukrainians too have been the beneficiaries of this triumph. Christ has risen. Let us glorify Him!

IN MEMORIAM SLAVA STETSKO

Last month we learned of the passing of one of the more prominent and dedicated Ukrainian political activists of the 20^th century, Slava Stetsko. While Ms. Stetsko will be remembered by many as the spouse of Jaroslaw Stetsko, she was a significant individual in her own right. She participated in practically all the UWC congresses, the last time in 1998 in Toronto. In fact she was supportive of the UWC in the early 1960’s when it was merely an idea and she unequivocally, supported the continued and more enhanced existence of the UWC following Ukraine’s independence. Many of her other positions and accomplishments, particularly in the political arena, have been duly noted by others. We merely recognize her contributions to the Ukrainian diaspora and the UWC. May she rest in peace