Ukrainian
Women’s Association of Canada Olga Basarab
Branch – Calgary. The Ukrainian Women’s Association of
Canada – Olga Basarab Branch – Calgary is part of a national organization (www.uwac-national.ca) rooted in the
values called into service for our Ukrainian Canadian Community, the
Ukrainian Self Reliance League of Canada’s women’s arm, calling its members to service for our
Ukrainian Canadian Orthodox Community (locally at St. Vladimir Ukrainian
Orthodox Congregation www.stvlads.com) . |
As the largest national organization of Ukrainian
Orthodox women in Canada, we seek to unite women as a community, striving for
spiritual, cultural and intellectual growth, and the development of social
action. All Ukrainian and Orthodox women, their
family members and adherents are invited to respond to the call –
knowing that their actions contribute to the life and vitality of the Church,
family, and community.
Women from all walks of life are called forth to witness the life of
Christ by constantly being in touch with the movement of the Holy Spirit in
their lives. Involvement in the SOYUZ offers women a deeper appreciation of the
Ukrainian Orthodox life in Canada through faith.
SOYUZ (UWAC) is a true reflection of the options expressed on a variety of issues, studied and research at the grassroots , resulting in formulation of resolutions (since 1926). Uniquely Canadian in democratic structure, and in keeping with our motto, self reliance, self determination, self assurance, resolutions are presented annually by the Ukrainian Woman’s Association of Canada, Calgary Branch to the Provincial Convention, and through the Convention, bi-ennially to the Ukrainian Self Reliance League of Canada’s National Convention.
As participants in the life of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (www.ucc.ca), SOYUZ speaks to Ukrainian Canadian issues, and as members of the National Council of Women of
Canada (a non-governmental organization given historic significance status in 2001 www.ncwc.ca), Soyuz works to improve the lives of women,
children and communities in Canada.
As faithful lay members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (www.uocc.ca) , SOYUZ supports, promotes and
preserves the church, acting with Christian Charity in all its policies and
actions.
SOYUZ is very much a gift to all Ukrainian Orthodox women. As SOYUZ
members we...
• belong and walk in friendship and faith with other members
• are a family and the ‘heart’ of our faith community
• share the same God, the same goals, and the same aspirations
with women of the same values and beliefs
• share the beauty of SOYUZ where there is a place for women of
all ages
• receive the gift of a wholesome, balanced, healthy, productive
and loving
supportive group.
We invite all Ukrainian and
Orthodox women to journey with us in a sisterhood of faith, fun and fulfillment.
Meetings at our parish level are held monthly at St. Vladimir’s
Ukrainian Cultural Centre on 404 Meredith Road NE Calgary, either on a Sunday
after the Liturgy, or on a Monday (joining our local branch of TYC – men’s club
- Ukrainian Self Reliance Association for supper first) evening.
Information on SOYUZ and on our upcoming events is available in the
cultural centre. To contact a member of the UWAC Executive, call St.
Vladimir’s Ukrainian Cultural Centre at 403-264-3437 or email (www.info@stvlads.com) |
As a community
lay group, the public impact of Soyuz is broad-based, affecting both the
participation side in terms of those who are administering, producing,
teaching, museum-touring (www.umc.sk.ca) , serving and other aspects.
The volunteer
nature of our group cannot be under-represented. We maintain constant service in the form of
fellowship coffee service after every Sunday liturgy service. Our heritage kitchen sales, and Feast Day
Dinner service, our cultural/linguistic/educational/programs are delivered by
dedicated leaders, and qualified teachers-mentors or docents who choose to
deliver this valued service to the community.
With supplemental revenue from our Casino Fundraiser, we are able to help
support our cultural center. We engage
in philanthropic activity enriching the lives of women in need, through support
to our shelters etc. We promote our
culture and traditions to the public through participation in the annual
Calgary Ukrainian Festival (www.calgaryukrainianfestival.ca), and provide support
for our quality programs for preschoolers (www.ukrainianpreschool.ca), young children
, teens (CYMK –
Ukrainian Orthodox Youth www.cymk.ca), summer camps and
youth programs (www.stjohnsinstitute.com), adults and the public.
Marketing SOYUZ
in this manner is full of complexity, as our community is constantly
changing. We maintain a constant
presence, however little energy is expended on membership services and
maintaining our volunteer relationships.
Please indulge us in this, and join our efforts.
We always
maintain open calls for members to our group through an ever enlarging email
list of Soyuz and Soyuz-ish ladies. This
practice brings in proposals from new people on a regular basis, which provides
opportunities for them to join the various aspects of leadership activities in
the community. When your ideas, prayers and deeds can directly contribute to
the life and vitality of the Church, family, and community it is very
rewarding!
Our open call
policy also extends to all members of our congregation community. We post our
notices in several weekly bulletins, seasonal newsletters, and all are free to
respond if they like. This has brought a vast array and range of talented
people in to episodic volunteering in our community, who return again and again
and often make the transition into the more traditional, challenging leadership
or administration roles.
We are
enthusiastic about welcoming new people to our participation roster. This is true for roles from small tasks on a
Sunday Coffee Fellowship, through the day-to-day administration of SOYUZ and
its many programs.
Our mandate and
position is always to open the many aspects of Ukrainian Community life at our
Ukrainian Orthodox church (www.uocc.ca) to everyone, while maintaining core values that come
from our Self Reliance background. This makes SOYUZ a lay women’s group with a
healthy dose of public impact.