Designated to Preside as Acting State Supreme Court Justice

Judge Michael L. Hanuszczak has been designated to preside over the Onondaga County Integrated Domestic Violence Court. In his capacity as an Acting Justice he will be responsible for family, felony and misdemeanor criminal matters, as well as matrimonial proceedings that involve families who appear in the court. 

Judge Hanuszczak received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Syracuse University and in 1984 graduated from the University of Buffalo School of Law. He and his wife Mona reside in the Fairmount area of Syracuse and are the parents of four children, Peter, Larissa, Bridget and Laura. His parents, the late Dmytro and Ewa Hanuszczak, emigrated to the United States from a Displaced Persons camp in Germany after World War II.

The Rochester UFCU community participated in The Community Food Cupboard’s Christmas food collection that assisted families in need during the holiday season and throughout the year.

Magic of Oleh Krysa’s Violin

The beginning of  2008 at the Eastman School of Music was marked by performance of the entire Beethoven violin sonata cycle by Oleh Krysa – a world renowned violinist from Lviv, Ukraine now living in Rochester. The cycle had been performed in three faculty recitals in the span of two weeks. It was not a usual concert – it was an event in the Rochester musical community. “Everyone has to play sonatas by Beethoven. Without that high standard you cannot be a musician”, - said Oleh Krysa. Hundreds of students, faculty and area fans filled Kilbourn Hall to listen to the magic of Krysa`s violin. The violinist`s Beethoven marathon completed on Tuesday, February 5, 2008  with success, loud applause, flowers and warm words of appreciation  for maestro`s talent.

ChervonaKalyna
in Rochester, NY

On Saturday, February 3, 2008 the 50-th traditional ball of “Chervona Kalyna”, the presentation of young ladies to the Ukrainian Community of Rochester, NY, took place to accompaniment the well-known “Burya” band from Toronto, Canada. Under the arrangement of George Hanushevsky, Vietnam war veteran and Mrs. Halyna Snihur, the young debutantes dressed in white gowns were escorted to the ballroom by their young partners. This year’s three debutantes were Mariana Zakharchishin, 4-th wave representative of the Ukrainian immigration, escorted by Ihor Zubrytsky, Kalyna Kowal escorted by Zenon Hachatyn, and Alyssa Puhach, a member of SUM Ukrainian youth association , escorted by Oleksandr Hajduczok.             

Rev. Kiril Angelov gave the invocation and all joined in singing the “Lord’s Prayer”. Then the 50th anniversary debutante ball began with the traditional song “Hey, u luzi chervona kalyna”. In his opening remarks Mr. George Hanushevsky gave a brief history of the “Chervona Kalyna” debutante tradition started by the veterans of “Sichovi Striltsi” Legion in Lviv, Ukraine. Fifty years ago Lubomyr Bilyk, a 1st Division Ukrainian Army veteran revived the “Chervona Kalyna” tradition in Rochester to encourage the community’s youth to remember their heritage.

After the first traditional presentation dance all enjoyed dancing and listening to the sounds of “Burya”. Almost 80 people from Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, and Utica attended this event. Unfortunately, this year’s event was less numerous both in guests and debutantes. “Not quantity, but quality”, is the old saying. It was unfortunate that so few took advantage of this unique opportunity to participate in such a wonderful evening. A suggestion was made to organize the next ball jointly with Ukrainian-American communities in Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, Utica, Auburn and other neighboring communities. Why not?

Professor Wolodymyr Pylyshenko

UFCU Community support donations in Syracuse, NY Branch

As part of our credit union’s continued commitment to our membership common bond organizations, Board of Directors members Stephen Wowelko and Wolodymyr Butenko present donations to the Slavic Baptist Church, Slavic Full Gospel Church and St. Luke’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church in our Syracuse, NY branch at 211 Tompkins Ave.

Poltava “Vzaemopomich” Credit Union Receives Top Honor

The Poltava “Vzaemopomich” Credit Union received top honors among financial institutions in Ukraine. The award was presented on Ukrainian national television with First Lady Katherine Yushchenko acknowledging Poltava “Vzaemopomich” for their efforts in enabling credit union members with disabilities to gain access to credit union services. In the photo: left, First Lady Katherine Yushchenko with Poltava “Vzaemopomich” CEO Olga Klymko, right of center holding award  (in 2003 and 2007 Olga trained in the Rochester, NY UFCU office).

Father Kiril Angelov and members of the Bishop Kearney color corps Knights of Columbus Patriarch Josyf Cardinal Slipyj council #10949 at St. Josaphat’s celebration mass for his birthday and in memory of the council’s past members in Rochester, NY.

The Rochester UFCU community participated in The Community Food Cupboard’s Christmas food collection that assisted families in need during the holiday season and throughout the year.

UFCU sponsors Ukrainian Community Christmas Festival in Sacramento, CA

From left to right: Valeriy Tutunik, Committee Chair, Lilia Tutunik, friend, Olia Olijnik, Ukrainian
Heritage Committee of Northern CA, Ihor Levkiv,(President of the Ukrainian American Cultural Association of Oregon and SW Washington State), Tamara Denysenko,UFCU CEO, Oleksandr Moskal, Portland, OR Branch Manager, Miroslava Derkach, Sacramento Branch.

Father Kiril Angelov and members of the Bishop Kearney color corps Knights of Columbus Patriarch Josyf Cardinal Slipyj council #10949 at St. Josaphat’s celebration mass for his birthday and in memory of the council’s past members in Rochester, NY.

ASK the Consulate of Ukaine

Ukrainian citizens living abroad can at any time seek help from the Consulate of Ukraine. To reach the offices of the Ukrainian Consulate it is recommended that Ukrainian citizens:
·      Call the Consul personally or any consulate employee or send the information through a third person or humanitarian organization
·      Go to the Consulate in person
·      Mail or fax information requests. In the  request, last and first name of the citizen of Ukraine must be indicated, address, and a detailed description of the problem; the request must be signed and dated
·      You may e-mail your request form
·      Or, forward it through an official organization
If you are detained or arrested, demand a meeting with the Consul. The Consulate is there to help and advise in any way possible.

Reprinted from the “Handbook Informational materials on consulate topics for citizens of Ukraine”, published by the Embassy of Ukraine, 2007; underwritten by the Ukrainian National Credit Union Association.

The Consular Service department consists of these divisions:

·     analysis and planning;
·     visa policy;
·     passport issues;
·     citizenship issues;
·     international adoption and Ukrainian children adopted by the foreigners rights’ protection;
·     consular and legal issues;
·     consular protection of the physical and legal entities;
·     legalization issues;
·     rapid reaction