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Monday April 3, 2000
Dear Friends,
I hope that by now all of you have seen and distributed our Newsletter. A big thankyou to John Chilibeck, Director of Communications for his efforts. The next Newsletter will be coming out in September. If you have comments, or wish items included please let him know: tel 506 657 2147; email jchilibe@nb.sympatico.ca.
We have had reports from sea-to-sea on activities that are exciting and bringing out new members. However, some locals are looking for new initiatives. Here's a list of ideas for you to work with
- name or re-name a street or place initiative. Is there a great person of Ukrainian heritage or one who has supported our community that deserves recognition? Start a campaign to have a place or street named after him/her. Get other organizations, Ukrainian and non Ukrainian, to back you. Perhaps Oshawa might wish to name a place after Michael Starr? Unions, influential politicians and city fathers might be interested in one of Oshawa's brightest stars.
- invite politicians to one of your events. Make this an annual event; have a public meeting or host a wine and cheese or coffee reception. Donate the collected money to a project- in Canada or Ukraine -that you are supporting. Invite other Ukrainian organizations to meet your local MPs; have them speak about matters that concern you - internment, the health care system, D&D, financial support for higher education. The important thing is for them to get to know you. This is of great interest to them too: Each person at the event will represent a vote; elections will be here soon.
- hava a local and a Ukraine focussed project. Most clubs have a project that they care about passionately. The Victoria Club, for example, funds several students at Canada's prestigious Lester B. Pearson College (by the way, Mr. Pearson's grand-daughter is named Oksana). Toronto has the successful Bloor Village Celebrations around Ukraine's Independence Day, Winnipeg supports the Ukrainian Language Heritage Program. Ottawa is proud of its Trade fair. What will be your signature piece?
- membership. Don't be too unhappy if some of your members are "card-carrying members only". It's important to have them; I hope you'll have more! By joining, they give support to your efforts; increase your membership and community reach; become informed members of our community; and some day may decide to get more actively involved. Go after them and make them feel that their support through the purchase of a membership is good. And, the membership fee is tax deductible!
- piece on Ukrainian Canadian events. Talk to your newspaper editor and propose a piece. The Chornobyl disaster anniversary is coming up, so is Easter with those wonderful traditions; August brings Independence; and November the Famine Genocide. Or have a piece around your favorite project. It may not work for golf-tournaments unless they are a fund-raiser for a project and involve some high-profiled names; hey, but why not? Or have a travel item in the Travel Section on the UCPBF's trip to Ukraine.
- I hope some of these ideas are helpful. If you have others, please share. Send them to the members via the UCPBF email ucpbf@infoukes.com or send to Best Practices website www.infoukes.com/ucpbf.
About the trip: please ensure that all members and the Ukrainian community of your city know about the Trip to Ukraine September 24 - 28. Call Ivanka at 1- 800-661-2743 or Myrna 1-877-430-5454 for details and GREAT LOOKING brochures. This is a wonderful way of introducing Canadians to Ukraine. Tell EVERYONE in the neighbourhood, the churches, your social and sports clubs, your professional groups, about it. And remember: UCPBF members get a $ 50 per member discount; the price of $3,200 goes up after April 30.
I like what Ivan Franko has to say about social responsibility: Pamyatay scho na tobi stan miliyoniv stojit. Remember, that you are the foundation upon which millions stand.
There's much to do. Have fun doing it.
Warm regards, do pobachennya,
Oksana Bashuk Hepburn
President
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