On Sunday, 25th of April, 2010, Ukrainian Federal Credit Union held its 57th Annual Member Meeting at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church Hall, 3176 St. Paul Blvd., Rochester, NY. UFCU Board President Wasyl Kornylo welcomed 148 members and announced a moment of silence in memory of “those members who passed away during 2009 and all those who died as a result of the nuclear disaster at Chornobyl, Ukraine in 1986”.

UFCU Board Vice President, Yaroslav Fatyak followed with the reading of last year's annual member meeting minutes held at St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Church. Kornylo, proceeded in reporting to members on the financial status of the previous year by reading from his report published in Ukrainian FCU quarterly magazine, the Credit Union Opinion. He emphasized that many years of work, created a solid financial base, based on our community and member relationships. He noted that this year’s new quality service strategy was developed to service members by focusing on training staff and investing in new technology to satisfy the financial needs of UFCU members.

UFCU Chief Executive Officer, Tamara Denysenko, reported on the analysis of the current financial situation in the whole country, and its affect on the credit union. Mrs. Denysenko emphasized that due to “sound leadership and strong operational management, UFCU weathered these difficult economic and social events and ended 2009 with assets over $145.4 million”. She stressed that only by working together with dignity can we meet all the economic challenges of the time. She also expressed confidence that the next generation of Ukrainian FCU leaders will continue to fulfill and support the credit union mission of "people helping people”, that was its guiding force for more than 55 years.

UFCU Treasurer, Barbara Gutierrez presented the financial report. She informed members that UFCU is subject to both internal and external audits, and even in the current economic situation UFCU is a stable financial institution with a reserve of $12,410,787 – 8.54% of assets. She concluded by reassuring members that they can “continue to look to us as a secure place to earn good rates on their savings …get low cost loans … and other types of financing”.

UFCU General Manager, Oleg Lebedko, reported to members on the high efficiency and professional service of UFCU staff. Over the past year, members opened 1,204 accounts, with 1,178 members taking out loans. Lebedko gave a detailed analysis of the general financial condition and increase in membership, loans, and high levels of various financial services to UFCU members. Lebedko stressed that UFCU diligently worked to earn the trust of its members and further offers services based on technological breakthroughs - electronic access to accounts, payment accounts, electronic reports, etc. He concluded by stating that “All our employees are dedicated and work hard to make the Ukrainian Federal Credit Union a safe, member-oriented financial institution, where you truly belong as a member-owner.”

Eugene Lylak, chairman of the Supervisory committee presented his Supervisory Committee report. He reported that the committee’s duties include regular meetings with UFCU Board of Directors, management and staff to resolve any concerns as needed. The Supervisory Committee considers and reviews all comments from members in order to improve member’s service. In 2009 members of the committee included: Alexandra Riznik, and Vasiliy Gritsyuta.

Board members Bohdan Zakharchishin and Yaroslav Fatyak reported on the Cultural and Educational Committee. They took into consideration and approved over $10,000 in community financial support and donations. They noted that in 2009, UFCU also allocated over $16,000 in scholarships and grants to 27 students who are credit union members. The purpose is to encourage young people to join the credit union.

In conclusion, CEO Denysenko gave a brief overview of the 2010 budget which reflects positive growth trends both in assets and net income even during the anticipated challenging economic environment in 2010.

Following the official portion of the annual meeting, Scholarship committee members – Ann Kornylo, Christine Hoshowsky and Tamara Denysenko presented the 2010 special student scholarships and certificate awards. The 2010 Scholarship committee also included Nadia Tratch and Bogdan Zakharchishin.

After the meeting, members enjoyed a buffet supper prepared by St. Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church volunteers. Members are invited and encouraged to attend the 2011 annual meeting.

     In 2010, the U.S. census will define who we are as a nation.  Taken every 10 years, the census affects political representation and directs the allocation of billions of dollars in government funding.  Businesses fulfill a valuable civic duty by partnering with the U.S. Census Bureau to ignite participation in this monumental event.

     Ukrainian Federal Credit Union, as a trusted business leader has agreed to work with the U.S Census Bureau to help educate our members in Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Boston, Sacramento and Portland about the importance of completing and returning census questionnaires – to ensure no one is left uncounted.

The Census: A snapshot

     The pysanka is an integral part of the Ukrainian Easter celebration. This ancient tradition had been handed down through generations of Ukrainian people. The pysanka is the folk art, which has been the pulse of the Ukrainian nation. Each section of Ukraine has its own style; for example, the families of the Carpathian Mountains use geometric patterns, the families in the lowland use floral and animal designs.

      Pysanky are not made to be eaten, they are given as gifts, exchanged with friends as token of friendship. They are also used as decoration all year round.

      The various colors and designs have different symbolic meanings. Children receive light colorful pysanky with floral designs. Teens receive eggs decorated with great deal of white signifying that their future is a blank page which is yet to be written. Married couples receive “40 triangle” eggs which represent power in all facets of their lives (marriage, setting up households, birth of children, travel). The elderly receive black eggs with belts, ladders and gates, which represent heavenly bridges.

     Before the introduction of Christianity to Ukraine the symbolism of the pysanky represented life winning over death, spring over winter. Pysanky brought hope, happiness and protection from evil. With the coming of Christianity to Ukraine new meanings were added to old symbols, but the old symbols survived as well.

      May 8-11, 2008 representatives from the Nanovic Institute for European Studies at the University of Notre Dame attended a symposium of Catholic university leaders from central and Eastern Europe to discuss common challenges and best practices in Catholic higher education. The symposium was held at the Ukrainian Catholic University, Lviv, Ukraine.
      Although small in size, it is on par with many small American universities and awards degrees in Philosophy, Theology, History and a Master’s in ecumenical studies.
      Attendees at the symposium in Lviv included representatives from the University of the USA, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Ukraine. 
      Dominica Myskiw Annese (born in Western Ukraine) serves on the advisory board of the Nanovic Institute for European Studies at the University of Notre Dame.  The Institute is dedicated to enriching the learning experience at Notre Dame by supporting teaching, research and events that inform students about the countries and cultures of contemporary Europe.

      In 2005, Frank and Dominica Annese established a $500,000 graduate student scholarship through the Nanovic Institute which provides financial aid for graduating students from Notre Dame to study abroad, as well as students from abroad to study at the University of Notre Dame.

      St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Church in Rochester, New York is celebrating its 100th Anniversary in 2009. The history of the parish can be traced back to the arrival of the first Ukrainian immigrants to the Rochester area in 1903. As more immigrants arrived, there developed a need to provide for the religious and cultural life of the people. In the early years, priests would travel from Auburn, Buffalo, Elmira Heights and Troy, New York to administer to the spiritual needs of the faithful.

      In 1908, the Benevolent Fraternity of St. Josaphat, a branch of the Ukrainian National Association, was organized. This benevolent society and its membership were the pioneers of organized Ukrainian life in the Rochester area.

      On November 15, 1908 the first official meeting of the Ukrainian Catholic Community took place a t St. Stanislaus Church with the serious intent of organizing a parish. At a meeting held on June 28, 1909, ninety three parishioners agreed to contribute 3 days salary to construct a church. The sum of $417.50 was collected. Land was purchased on Remington Street and the first St. Josaphat Church was complete in 1910.

      The church community soon outgrew the Remington Street location and in 1914 the church moved to Hudson Avenue purchasing a church from the Evangelical society. St. Josaphat Church remained on Hudson Avenue for the next 50 years.

      In 1923, Father Basil Turula was assigned to St. Josaphat Church. Father Turula remained as pastor until his retirement in January of 1949. Under his leadership the parish paid off all debts, a church hall was constructed and an evening school where religion, Ukrainian reading and writing, Ukrainian church and national songs and Ukrainian history were taught was organized.

      In September of 1941, two Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate arrived in Rochester to conduct an evening school. An all-day school was formally opened in September 1944 with an enrollment of thirty-one students. By 1949, the enrollment grew to one hundred ninety students in grades kindergarten to eight. The school remained open until 2001.

      On January 20, 1950, Father Nicholas Wolensky was assigned as pastor of St. Josaphat Church. He served as pastor until his death on November 23, 1962. Under Father Wolensky’s leadership a complete renovation of the church and school took place including the installation of a new Iconostasis. In addition a chapel was erected in the convent for the sisters.

      In 1957, nine acres of land and two homes were purchased on Ridge Road and Stanton Lane along with the founding of St. Nicholas Chapel on the same site. This would be the future home of St. Josaphat parish.

      On December 28, 1962, Father Stephen Chomko was appointed pastor of St. Josaphat. Under his guidance a new school, rectory and convent were built on the Ridge Road property. The church on Hudson Avenue was sold and St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Church moved to Irondequoit. In 1979, a new church was completed at the Ridge Road site.

      St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Church served as a focal point of both religious and cultural life for the Ukrainian community in and around Rochester, New York for the past 100 years. Divine Liturgies are offered in both Ukrainian and English. The school is used by local Ukrainian organizations and groups for a variety of events and meetings. The Heritage Center features various exhibits of art, information on the history of the parish and information about the first Ukrainian pioneers of Rochester. For over 25 years, the four-day St. Josaphat’s Festival provided greater Rochester with traditional Ukrainian foods, Ukrainian arts and crafts, and Ukrainian entertainment.

      The parish will officially celebrate its Centennial November 13, 14 and 15, 2009. A St. Josaphat School Alumni Reunion will be held on November 13, 2009, a Jubilee Banquet on November 14, 2009 and a pontifical Divine Liturgy on Sunday, November 15, 2009.

      During the first week of June, 2008, Olga Klymko, CEO of the Poltava Self-help Credit Union in Ukraine and long-time chair of the Poltava-Irondequoit Sister Cities committee again visited our Ukrainian FCU. Before coming to Rochester, NY, she joined UFCU delegates Tamara Denysenko, Mirko Pylyshenko, Yaroslav Fatyak and Yaroslav Kirik at the annual Ukrainian National Credit Union Association (UNCUA) conference. This year’s conference, held in Atlantic City was hosted by the Ukrainian Selfreliance FCU of Philadelphia. The agenda included strategic discussions on Ukrainian-American credit unions’ ability to jointly grow and serve our communities. Olga addressed the forum and shared information about credit union activities in Ukraine and recognized UFCU and others for their support of the credit union services for the disabled community in Poltava. 

       Following the conference, Olga Klymko came to Rochester, attended services at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church and participated in a town hall meeting organized by the Irondequoit-Poltava Sister Cities Committee. Olga provided details, pictures and a video summary of the major projects the Poltava Ukrainians were involved in. The Children’s Library, the children’s orphanage, the handicapped, and the HOLODOMOR (Great Famine) were the key topics addressed. Her credit union in Poltava, Ukraine was recognized and awarded the national award for helping the disabled and underserved in her area. Anne Kornylo, president of Irondequoit Poltava Sister Cities coordinated the event and facilitated the open discussion session.

On Sunday, August 24, 2008 the Rochester Ukrainian-American community celebrated Ukrainian Independence Day with a solemn service at St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Church followed by a commemorative program at the Ukrainian Centennial Memorial at Irondequoit Town Hall.

      Roman Kucil, Chair of United Ukrainian-American Committee of Rochester opened the afternoon ceremonies. Olena Dilai served as Master of Ceremony.
      Mary Ellen Heyman, Irondequoit Town Supervisor thanked the Ukrainian community for its contribution to the local social, economic and cultural life. Olena Dilai read a statement from Natalia Shulga, who called on all to continue supporting democracy in Ukraine.

      During an evening concert, veterans Ihor Hoshovsky and Semen Kobasovsky presented the colors and Tanya Begini sang the American and Ukrainian anthems. Sisters Lydia and Zinnia Dzus, Julia Pavluk, Olia Savka, Olenka Masna presented a medley of popular Ukrainian songs. Taras Chaparin from Ukraine read a poem written by Hanna Cherin.

     The celebration of Ukrainian Independence Day in Rochester, NY proved that the Ukrainian community continues to remember its roots and maintains an avid interest in its heritage and current events in Ukraine.

      On Sunday, November 23, 2008 at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Hall, the Ukrainian community of Greater Rochester marked the 75th Anniversary Commemoration of Ukraine’s HOLODOMOR/Famine - a genocide   masterminded by Joseph Stalin and his communist government, which caused the intentional mass starvation of up to 10 million Ukrainian people in 1932-33.
The commemoration was organized by the  Committee of Ukrainian Women Organizations of Rochester, NY, which consisted of members from St.Josaphat`s Ukrainian Catholic Church Sisterhood – St. Ann’s Society;  St. Mary the Protectress Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church Sisterhood;  Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Epiphany Sisterhood; and the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America – Branches 47, 46, 120.
At 3:00PM, a Memorial Service (Panachyda) was served to commemorate the ten million murdered by Stalin’s artificial famine, and to honor the survivors.
      The program began with Irene Russnak’s presentation of the Memorial Flame, followed by a Moment of Silence. Mistress of Ceremonies Anna Bucierka conducted the program.  Lidia Zacharkiv’s read the verse “Children of Holodomor”, followed by a brief -preview screening of the movie, “Holodomor-Ukraine’s Genocide 1932-33”.  A “Famine” dinner (small piece of stale bread and a glass of water) was then presented.
A history of the Holodomor was then read by Lidia Zacharkiv.  Two students from the Eastman School of Music, Stephania Romaniuk and Michael Kaufman presented a song “Psalm for Those Who Died in the Holodomor”.

      Ukrainian World Congress, (UWC) considers the following issues to be of paramount importance for Ukraine and the Ukrainian Diaspora around the world --  Support for Ukrainian national minorities residing in various countries around the world • Protection and development of the Ukrainian language in Ukraine and the Diaspora • Remembrance of the victims of the 1932-33 Holodomor (Man Made Famine in Ukraine), and its recognition by the world as an act of genocide • Ensuring the inviolability of Ukraine’s borders and its accession to the EU and NATO • Maintaining a positive international image for Ukraine.

      In order to support Ukrainian national minorities, the Ukrainian World Congress leadership resolved to:
      Monitor the rights of Ukrainian national minorities on an ongoing basis • Actively support the development of ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious rights of Ukrainians; Monitor the status of the right to worship, to use the Ukrainian language, culture and schooling on an ongoing basis; Hold official meetings with high level Ukrainian and government officials from various countries where Ukrainians reside; Commemorate annually, on December the 10th, International Human Rights Day.

      In order to protect and develop the Ukrainian language in Ukraine and the Diaspora, it was resolved to:
      Reinforce the Ukrainian language as the official state language of Ukraine, as well as protect and develop the Ukrainian language within the context of assimilation • Monitor and ensure that the Ukrainian Constitution is duly respected on the matter of the Ukrainian language being the state language • Reactivate the National Committee on Ukrainian Language Orthography • Strengthen ties between Ukrainian academic institutions • Commemorate annually, on February 21st , International Ukrainian Language Day.

In order to effect the remembrance of the victims of the 1932-33 Holodomor and achieve recognition thereof by the world as an act of genocide, it was resolved to do the following:
      Support the erection of another Holodomor memorial in Kyiv; Conduct academic research on the Holodomor and other crimes against humanity by the Soviet regime, uncover new documents, publicize and publish the research results • Continue work on the National Rememberance Book of the Victims of the Holodomor • Ensure that the Holodomor becomes part of the academic curriculum internationally • Create an electronic database to archive documents related to the Ukrainian freedom movement, the Holodomor and political repression on the territory of Ukraine.

      In order to ensure the inviolability of Ukraine’s borders and its accession to the EU and NATO, it was resolved to:
      Continuously monitor the adherence of international security guarantee memorandums and treaties.

      In order to maintain a positive international image for Ukraine, it was resolved to:
      Propagate within and outside Ukraine, about Ukraine’s rich cultural heritage, the contributions of Ukrainians to the world community and support those institutions that strive to improve the image of Ukraine in the world.

      The Ukrainian Cultural Center in Kyiv, Ukraine was the site of the IX Ukrainian World Congress. 209 UWC delegates from 23 countries from around the world gathered to exchange information, give reports and learn more about their Ukrainian communities in their respective countries.
      Besides the delegates and various country representatives, the featured speakers at the Congress were President of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, the most holy Patriarch Filaret, vice-prime-minister Ivan Vasyunyk, Minister of Foreign Affairs Volodymyr Ohryzko, Minister of Culture and Tourism Vasyl Vovkun, Minister in Family Affairs, Youth and Sport, Yuriy Pavlenko, Vice-minister of Foreign affairs in the questions of Foreign Ukrainians, Vasyl Boyechko, Internal Security Service Chief Valentyn Nalyvaichenko. Joining the delegates were many Ukrainian representatives from various churches, state institutions, and community organizations as well as many guests from all over the world.
      During the three day event, five new organizations from Lithuania, Uzbekistan, Croatia, USA and Canada became official UWC members.
      At the conclusion of the working sessions delegates elected, the following members to the UWC Executive Committee: President – Ewhen Cholij (Canada), First vice President – Yaroslava Khortyani (Hungary), second vice President – Maria Shkambara (Canada), General Secretary – Stephan Romaniv (Australia), Financial Secretary – Tamara Denysenko (USA), Тreasurer – Bohdan Pahuta (Canada). Culminating the event was a solemn procession and ecumenical Panachyda memorial service at the Mychailivsky Cathedral to remember and commemorate the 75th anniversary of the tragic 1932-33 “Holodomor”, the man-made famine in Ukraine during which 7–10 million Ukrainians were starved to death.

     For many years, UFCU Rochester main office annually hosted officials from the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington DC and the Consulate General of Ukraine in New York City who provided valuable consulate services to many hundreds of our members. This year, vice-consuls Natalia Kostenko, and Bogdan Movchan from the Consulate in New York visited Rochester on Saturday, May 31, not only to provide services but also as special guests at the annual concert of the Ukrainian Arts Council. Unfortunately, they were unable to attend the concert because of their dedicated efforts to answer all the questions and provide consulate services to almost 100 members from early morning to late evening. The Rochester visit was the last for Natalia and Bogdan as this summer they leave to Ukraine to continue their work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We thank them for their valuable professional service and wish them continued success in their diplomatic careers.

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.

      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.