Serbian Unity Congress – Illinois Chapter

OFFICERS ELECTION ANNUAL MEETING

September 4 th, 2008, 8:00pm
Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral
5701 North Redwood Drive, IL 60631

AGENDA

• SUC Program and Activities Report
• Future SUC Illinois Activities
• Revised Chapter Standard Operation procedures
• Electing SUC IL Chapter Officers 

Dear SUC Members,
Please attend the most important meeting of the year at which you can your provide comments and suggestions about our work. This is a perfect opportunity to personally become an active member of the SUC IL, Chicago Chapter.

SUC IL – Chicago Chapter

Accomplishments that make us proud …

While our everyday lives are extremely busy, we believe that the accomplishments make our efforts and sacrifice of our spare time worthwhile.  The last year projects conducted by the SUC IL Chapter include:
The Film Festival “Vigil of Soul” – Presented “nicer face of Serbia” movies, depicting the Serbian culture, soul, and its history. We were holding a numerous film projections at our churches in the Chicago land area. This project was sponsored by the Ministry of Diaspora.
The Lifeline Project – In collaboration with the Lifeline humanitarian organization, we have managed to collect locally and then send to Serbia a few tens of hospital beds that were in excellent condition.
US-Serbia IT Summit - Create business relationship between US and Serbian Information Technology companies. Our organization is executing this project in partnership with the Ministry of Telecommunication and Information Society, and with the support from Telecom Serbia, and USAID. This project is sponsored by the Ministry of Diaspora.  The IT Summit Conference will be held in Chicago on November 13 and 14, 2008.
Our Chicago Chapter will be once again host of the SUC Annual Convention, which will be held in Chicago on November 15th, 2008.

At the general organization level, currently the Serbian Unity Congress work includes three main program areas: The Serbian Voice, the Bridge, ad the Cultural Heritage programs.  
The Serbian Voice program provides a major outlet in the United States through which the Serb American Diaspora can formulate positions on issues that affect areas of interest to our community.  No other Serbian organization has accomplished as much as SUC in this area!

• Serb Day in Congress – In 2005 we launched the annual program through which we invite Serb Americans from around US to come to Washington where we organize and orient them in the halls of Congress to meet with their Congressional representatives.
• Serbian Congressional Caucus – Through our Washingtom office, our members and friends, we have been informing and encouraging our representatives to join the Caucus and our Washington Office has actively provided a source of credible information on issues of concern.  

Diaspora-Homeland Bridge programs are designed to contribute to the building of civic society in Serbia by jointly engaging both Diaspora and Homeland Serbs in their implementation.   Our unique role as a Diaspora organization allows us to garner Diaspora talents, networks and financial resources and in this role as catalyst address important social, economic and cultural issues in concrete ways.

Business Linkage – links Homeland with complimentary business options abroad.

• Information Technology – coordinating Diaspora industry experts to match Serb industry needs with US industry opportunities by bringing together academic, government and business experts from Serbia and the US
• Winemaking and Agro-tourism – launched and successfully completed the matching of Serb government, academic and industry representatives with counterparts in the US to identify and procure necessary program and financial support to promote and grow both industries.  Garnered financial support from the US Department of Agriculture.

The Cultural Heritage Program

• St Sava Essay Contest – SUC distributed awards to students at 45 various Serbian high schools for essays written about St. Sava’s teachigs.
• Blago Fund Program – During the last year, additional church archives were completed for St. Nicholas, St. Demetrious, St. Apostles, and St. Mary’ (almost complete). Field trip in June 2008 included 13th and 14th century churches throughout Kosovo and Metohija.

As you can see from this brief, and certainly not all inclusive report, our activities are driven by the specific, and well defined projects.

In conclusion, please notice that while our reputation and credibility within both US and Serbian government officials have never been stronger, the SUC has never faced a bigger financial crises situation.  The future destiny of our organization depends on its members and friends!