WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Ukrainian Institute of America (UIA), New York, New York, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the art, music and literature of Ukraine and the Ukrainian diaspora has been approved for membership in the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC), the USUBC executive committee announced today on behalf of the entire USUBC membership of over 185 companies and organizations who have business operations, investments or other development programs related to Ukraine.

The fundamental purpose of the Ukrainian Institute of America (UIA) is to develop, sponsor and promote through educational, professional and social activities a greater awareness, understanding, knowledge and appreciation in the United States of the traditional and contemporary art, literature, music, culture, history and traditions of Ukraine, as revealed through its people, both in Ukraine and abroad.

The Ukrainian Institute of America strives to strengthen the identity and community of inpiduals of Ukrainian descent by organizing and sponsoring exhibits, concerts, conferences, symposia and other educational, scholarship and professional activities.

FLETCHER-SINCLAIR MANSION - A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK

The Ukrainian Institute of America (UIA) is located in the Fletcher-Sinclair mansion in New York City.  The mansion is nestled in the midst of "Museum Mile", which includes the Guggenheim, the Frick Collection and diagonally across from the Metropolitan Museum of Art on the southeast corner of 79th Street and Fifth Avenue, stands one of the most magnificent turn-of-the-century mansions in New York City, http://www.ukrainianinstitute.org/virtualtour.php. 

The history of the Fletcher-Sinclair mansion dates back to 1898 when Isaac Fletcher, a banker and railroad investor, commissioned the renowned architect C.P.H. Gilbert to build a house using William K. Vanderbilt's neo-Loire Valley chateau as its model on the property which was originally the Lenox farm.

Mr. Fletcher was so pleased with his new home that he hired Jean Francois Raffaelli to paint a portrait of it. The painting, the mansion and Fletcher's extensive art collection were all eventually bequeathed to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1917.

Harry F. Sinclair, founder of the Sinclair Oil Company, purchased the French Renaissance-style Fletcher Mansion in 1920 and sold it in 1930 to Augustus Van Horne Stuyvesant, Jr., the last direct male descendant of New York governor, Peter Stuyvesant. A bachelor and recluse, Stuyvesant occupied the mansion with his unmarried sister until her death in 1938 then lived out his remaining years until 1953 with just a butler and footman to serve him.

UKRAINIAN INSTITUTE OF AMERICA (UIA) FOUNDED IN 1948
William Dzus, inventor and owner of the Dzus Fastener Company in West Islip, Long Island, New York, founded the Ukrainian Institute of America, Inc. in 1948, for the purpose of promoting Ukrainian art, culture, music, and literature. At that time, the Ukrainian Institute was located in the Parkwood Mansion in West Islip, Long Island.

With increasing membership and growth, Mr. Dzus authorized Francis Clarke, treasurer of the Dzus Fastener Company, to look for new, larger quarters in New York City. The capacious Fletcher-Sinclair Mansion, with its prestigious address and unique architectural style, was purchased in 1955 by the Ukrainian Institute of America corporation with the charitable generosity and support of Mr. Dzus. In June of 1962 the mortgage was paid off and subsequently the Ukrainian Institute of America attained landmark status.

The Ukrainian Institute of America holds events that uphold William Dzus' aspirations and whose dreams are still very much alive and thriving. Past events sponsored by UIA include: the Les Kurbas Theater performance based on the writings of Lesia Ukrainka; a scholarly conference on the 130th anniversary of Ukrainian historian Mykhailo Hrushevsky's birth; the 200th anniversary of Mykola Hohol's (Nikolai Gogol) birth with music, art, film and literary events over a Hohol Arts Fest weekend.

Seminars, symposia and conferences at the Institute have presented Ukrainian organizations interpreting news and political events happening in Ukraine and the diaspora; commemoration of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster and the Holodomor-Genocide with exhibits and film presentations; Music at the Institute classical music concert series under the directorship of Dr. Solomiya Ivakhiv remains a vital component for music lovers.

UKRAINIAN INSTITUTE OF AMERICA (UIA) AND USUBC

The business members and staff of USUBC have attended many business, cultural and other special events at the UIA over the past several years.  The UIA is a real center of activities in NYC related to Ukraine and works closely with a large number of organizations who utilize the outstanding facilities. 

The President of the UIA Board of Directors is Daniel Swistel, M.D.  The First Vice President is Kathy Nalywajko, Bo Bazylevsky is Treasurer and Lydia Zaininger is Secretary.  USUBC member George Chopivsky, President, Ukrainian Development Company, Washington, D.C. serves on the board of directors.  President Swistel represents UIA on the USUBC board of directors.

"USUBC is very pleased to have such an outstanding organization as the Ukrainian Institute of America (UIA) as a member, " said Morgan Williams, President, U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC), "USUBC looks forward to working with the international business community to utilize and support the activities and programs of UIA." 

REFERENCE 
For additional information about the Ukrainian Institute of America (UIA) go to: www.UkrainianInstitute.org.

USUBC MEMBERSHIP REACHES 185  

USUBC membership has grown rapidly during the past six years. Membership now stands at 185. In January 2005 membership was eight; two years later it had grown to 22; in January 2009 it reached 100; and in January of 2011 topped 150. A complete list of USUBC members can be found at: http://www.usubc.org/members.php. For a list of the USUBC board of directors go to:http://www.usubc.org/site/u-s-ukraine-business-council-board-of-directors.