Greetings!  

Left to right: Natalia Buling, AJC Chicago's Jon Schweitzer and Jane Charney, and Meto Koloski

In 2010, I began my commitment to the United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD).  Part of the reason was because my father, Tale, has been active in UMD for several years, and both my parents are proud Macedonians, as were their parents and grandparents.  But the other reason was to give back to my heritage and protect my identity as a Macedonian!

My first project was helping to organize the UMD Chicago premiere of A Name is A Name.  400 people attended, including representatives from the Illinois Governor's Office, the Chicago Mayor's Office, and 13 Consul Generals.  Sincerely, I believe we achieved our mission to educate the audience about why we Macedonians will never give up our name, and will never succumb to pressure. 

In mid-November, during my next project, the Chicago team and I launched and solidified our Chicago efforts with the official opening of UMD Chicago operations.  Some wonder why Chicago?  It is the third largest city in the U.S., a regional economic and political hub, and hosts the offices of 80 diplomatic missions. 

The Macedonian-American community in Chicago is over a century old, first immigrating to Chicago at the turn of the century helping to build the railroads and steel mills.  However, much of the community's sense of unity seems to have dissipated over the years.  It is my personal hope and mission, that with your support of UMD, not only will our local operations grow and strengthen, but all Macedonians within the Diaspora will continue to benefit from the advocacy and tireless efforts of UMD to protect our interests, name, human rights, identity and culture - the Macedonian cause!

A day before the UMD Chicago launch, I accompanied UMD President Meto Koloski and UMD Advisory Council member Jerry Naumoff to a meeting where we shared our vision with Macedonia's Consul General to Chicago, Jakup Redzepi.  We also met with the American Jewish Committee (AJC).  UMD's goal has always been to build relations with other ethnic groups, in order to learn about each other, and work together on issues of mutual interest.

AJC is over a century old and has been the preeminent voice for an independent and secure Israel in the United States, and the world.  French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who as you know has Jewish roots from Solun, recently said that AJC is "the most effective, most influential, and most respected of American Jewish organizations." 

I hope one day UMD will receive similar accolades from world leaders and that our Macedonian Diaspora community will grow in strength and prosperity, as the Jewish community has.  UMD's work has been recognized by some world leaders already, including Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper who received a UMD delegation to Ottawa in November 2010 and welcomed UMD's Goce Delchev Award for his act of statesmanship in fully recognizing Macedonia.  Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov has also recognized UMD's important work in a letter stating "I am personally grateful to the Macedonian Diaspora, and through organizations such as the United Macedonian Diaspora, for being Ambassadors for their homeland, Macedonia."

Where would UMD be, if it were not for people like you and I, who volunteer our time to help build UMD, and who donate in order to support UMD's important work? 

The more important question would be, where would global advocacy for Macedonia be without the important efforts of UMD? 

2012 is an important year for Macedonia and the Macedonian Cause.  On May 20-21, 2012, Chicago will host the NATO Summit (one reason why UMD Chicago is so important).  UMD is needed to organize in support of Macedonia's NATO membership.  In October 2012, we will mark the 100th Anniversary of the start of the First Balkan War (1912), which started the genocide against Macedonian people, and the eventual division of Macedonia.  UMD is needed to educate the public on the struggles our people have faced.

Please remember what our forefathers fought for, never forget it.  Јас сум горда македонка (I am a proud Macedonian!).  Time for us to make a change, and ensure that our children, like my five-year-old son Vangel - named to honor his great-grandfather, Vangel Betinski - will always have the right to say he comes from a homeland called Macedonia, identify proudly as Macedonian, and be allowed to freely speak Macedonian. 

Thank you for reading my e-mail and for helping UMD, but more importantly, Macedonia, and the Macedonian Cause.

Yours truly,

Natalia Buling
Proud Macedonian/Горда Македонка
Proud Supporter of the United Macedonian Diaspora
Committee Member - UMD Chicago Branch

P.S. Please don't forget to take our 5-minute survey about UMD's priorities in 2012.  Your opinion counts!  Click HERE.