PARSIPPANY, N.J. – As the Ukrainian National Association’s (UNA’s) 40th Regular Convention approaches, the Credentials Committee appointed by the UNA’s Executive Committee has conducted the mandated review of credentials forms submitted by the organization’s branches.
Having held their pre-convention meetings to elect delegates and alternates to represent them at the quadrennial convention, UNA branches submitted the required forms for each representative to the organization’s Home Office.
Meeting there on March 31, the Credentials Committee comprising Dr. Andrew Hrechak (chair), Maria Drich (vice-chair) and Roma Hadzewycz (secretary) conducted its work in accordance with the UNA By-Laws.
The Credentials Committee approved the credentials of 50 delegates and 23 alternates representing 30 UNA branches from across the United States and Canada.
The By-Laws stipulate that at least 30 days prior to the opening of the Convention, the names of all approved delegates and alternate delegates are to be published in the official publications of the association, Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly.
As announced in mid-January, the UNA Convention is scheduled for May 13-15 at Soyuzivka Heritage Center in Kerhonkson, N.Y. Branches are eligible for one delegate for each 50 members, but no more than four delegates. In addition, it is advised that alternates be elected for each delegate.
For the 2022 convention, 11 branches have one delegate each, five branches have two delegates each, two branches have three delegates each and five branches have four delegates each.
For the purpose of representation at the convention, a UNA branch having fewer than 50 members may unite with another branch or branches also having fewer than 50 members if, when combined, the aggregate of the branches shall be no less than 50 members. They shall have the right to elect one delegate and an alternate. To assist in this process, the list of branches with fewer than 50 members was published in the UNA’s official publications in early February.
For this year’s convention, seven smaller branches took advantage of this opportunity for representation.