UMD
Board Message
Dear Friends!
This
issue of UMD Bulletin
features information about recent UMD activities, including
building further U.S., Canadian, and French support for Macedonia,
and meetings with Canada's Prime Minister and Turkey's Foreign
Minister.
We
hope you will consider becoming a member of UMD, renewing your
membership by December 31, 2010 if already a member, or donating to
one of our projects. As the year nears to an end, please consider
making a tax-deductible contribution to UMD. Help UMD kick off
2011 more financially stronger!
Please
enjoy reading our bulletin!
Sincerely,
UMD
Board of Directors |
UMD
Reiterates Call Upon Macedonian Government to Cease "Negotiations"
with Greece
On November 22, UMD reiterated its
position that Macedonia should immediately cease "negotiations"
with Greece as outlined in the Resolution passed by the UMD Board
of Directors at the 2nd UMD Global Conference.
UMD vowed to continue its
grassroots efforts to educate U.S. and European policymakers on the
importance to all of Europe (including Greece) of Macedonia
becoming a formal member in NATO. "UMD urges NATO leaders to
stress to Greece that enough is enough of their blackmail tactics
and ugly gamesmanship," stated UMD Chairman Stojan
Nikolov.
Read more....
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UMD
Launches Western Australian Operations and Appoints Dame Krcoski as
Regional Representative
 On
November 12, 2010, UMD reached an important milestone in its growth
strategy in Australia by officially launching its operations in
Western Australia with a reception appointing Dame Krcoski as its
inaugural Regional Representative.
Read more....
In Other
News:
Australia's On Line opinion publishes UMD
Director's piece "Improving Australian aid"
UMD Offended by Insulting and Racist Comments by
UWA Professor
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Educate.
Advocate. Donate.
UMD, through the extraordinary work of its founders, members,
donors and volunteers, has been at the forefront of promoting the
interests of Macedonians in Washington, D.C., Ottawa, Canberra, and
Brussels. In order for us to continue our advocacy and outreach,
we are asking for your support in the form of a monthly financial
donation. Your monthly donation will go a long way towards
achieving our goal.
Corporate
Matching
Your donation to UMD could be matched
dollar for dollar! Many companies offer matching gift programs
that will double, even triple a donation's value. Check with your
company to find out if your company will match your charitable
contribution to UMD.
Please Note: Canadian
donors who donate above $100.00 should mail a check to our Canadian
office address instead of an online donation in order for you to
receive a tax-receipt.
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Little Caesars' Tradition Continues in
Westfield, Indiana
 The
tradition of Pizza Pizza continues this time in
Westfield, Indiana. 50 years ago, Macedonian-Americans
Michael and Marian Ilitch founded what would today
become one of the world's largest pizza chains, Little
Caesars.
Little Caesars is a franchise, and the
Westfield store was opened by Macedonian-Americans Lou and
Valentina Nestorovski of Michigan and Dejan and
Olivia Minoski of Indiana. Macedonian-Americans have a
great history of entrepreneurialship. The grand opening
ribbon-cutting ceremony held on December 6, 2010 was attended by
Westfield Town Officials, Chamber of Commerce Officials, and UMD
President Metodija A. Koloski.
More details about this great story will be
featured in UMD Voice magazine.
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Important Survey of the Australian-Macedonian
Community
In
partnership with the Macedonian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and UMD, you are invited to
participate in the following survey about people of Macedonian
background in Australia.
The survey is about the ways
in which connections with Macedonia are maintained by migrants,
children of migrants and those who have a close connection with
Macedonia. It should take from 10 to 20 minutes to complete
depending on how much you want to say.
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Upcoming
UMD Events
December 12, 2010
- Washington, D.C. - Launch of UMD Mid-Atlantic Region.
E-mail events@umdiaspora.org for more information, or
check the UMD Calendar on our website.
December 16,
2010 - Washington, D.C. - 3rd Annual
Joint Macedonian-Turkish Happy Hour. E-mail events@umdiaspora.org for more information,
or check the UMD
Calendar on our website.
January 15, 2010 - Washington,
D.C. - 6th Annual Macedonian Old New Year's/Vasilica Party
at the Macedonian Embassy. E-mail events@umdiaspora.org for more information, or
or check the UMD Calendar on our website
Several UMD events are being
planned for the next few months. If you want to help plan a UMD
event in your town/city, please e-mail us at events@umdiaspora.org.
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3rd
Annual Global Conference - A Celebration of
Macedonia
The
3rd Annual UMD
Global Conference will be held on June 23-25, 2011, at the
J.W. Marriott Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C. next door to the
White House!!
Registration for the conference
will open next week! You will receive an e-mail next week
with the registration and hotel discount information.
The
work of UMD is more crucial than ever. Join
us in Washington, D.C. and connect with Macedonians from throughout
the world and celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Macedonian
Independence!!!
If
you would like to get involved with our conference, please e-mail
us at info@umdglobalconference.org.
PLEASE
TELL ALL YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS!
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UMD
Meets Canadian Prime Minister Stephen
Harper
Presents
Goce Delchev Award
On November 2, 2010, UMD met with
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of
Canada, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The meeting was to
discuss Canada-Macedonia bilateral relations and Macedonia's
aspirations to join NATO. UMD bestowed upon Prime Minister Harper
its highest honour, the Goce Delchev Award, for his bold
and honourable leadership in international affairs, and his
recognition of Macedonia by her constitutional name, solidifying
the excellent relationship between Canada and Macedonia. Prime
Minister Harper is the first recipient of the Goce Delchev
Award.
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Chicago
and Fort Wayne Premieres of A Name is A Name; Perth, Miami, and Los
Angeles to Come
On November 12, 2010, UMD organized
the Chicago Premiere of A Name is A Name
at the prestigious Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies in the heart
of Chicago. 400 people attended the premiere, including the Consul
Generals of 14 different countries.
On December 4, 2010, UMD organized the
Fort Wayne Premiere of A Name is A Name
at the Indiana University/Purdue University campus. Close to 100
people attended the premiere.
Details and pictures will be published
in UMD Voice magazine coming out this month...so stay
tuned!
The Perth
Premiere will be held on December 16, 2010 at the Astor
Theatre. Click HERE for more info.
UMD is in preparations of organizing
the Los Angeles and Miami premieres. Stay tuned!
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Join
UMD Today! or Renew Your Membership!
Become a member
of one of the leading and fastest growing Macedonian organizations
in the world, the United Macedonian Diaspora, Today!
What are the benefits of UMD
Membership? Click HERE.
New
Members: All UMD Memberships are for 1 year. When
you join now, your membership will be valid until December
31, 2011.
Current
Members: You must renew for 2011 by
December 31, 2010 for your membership to remain in
good standing. Once renewed your membership will be valid until
December 31, 2011. Only members who have timely
renewed and are in good standing are eligible to vote in
the UMD 2011 Board Election.
Please Note: Canadian
donors who donate above $100.00 should mail a check to our Canadian
office address instead of an online donation in order for you to
receive a tax-receipt.
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UMD Meets Turkish Foreign
Minister
 On November
28, 2010, UMD Board Member and Treasurer Denis Manevski and UMD
Development Coordinator Diana Booth attended a reception at the
Turkish Embassy in honor of Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu. Minister Davutoglu's family roots are from Ohrid,
Macedonia. Manevski and Booth thanked the Minister for his strong
support of Macedonia and Turkey's friendship to
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UMD
Appoints Argie N. Bellio of Fort Wayne as Indiana Regional
Representative
 On
December 4, 2010, the same night as the Fort Wayne Premiere of
A Name is A Name, UMD appointed Argie N. Bellio as the UMD
Indiana Region Representative. Bellio has been a long-time member
and support of UMD, born and raised in Fort Wayne. His
responsibility will be to increase awareness about UMD's important
work. Fort Wayne is one of the United States' oldest
Macedonian-American communities. UMD President Metodija A. Koloski
presented Bellio with a Certificate of Appointment.
More details to follow in UMD
Voice magazine.
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Calling
all Leaders
We
need your help!
Are you a
leader? Do you want to become more actively involved in
the Macedonian community? This is a great
opportunity!
UMD is looking for volunteers to
get involved in its programs benefiting Macedonia and the global
Macedonian community. Although any involvement in the community is
a good place to start, we do have a critical need in certain
areas.
- Advocacy
- Event Planning
- UMD Voice
- Fundraising
- Writing Press Releases
- Translations in Macedonian
- Charitable Efforts
If you would like to volunteer to
help in any of the above areas, please contact Meto Koloski
at mkoloski@umdiaspora.org.
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Are
you a Student?
UMD offers internships
throughout the year in Washington, D.C. The internship
program is designed for undergraduate and graduate students
interested in Macedonia and Southeast Europe. The internship can
serve as an effective means to introduce and advance a future
career in foreign policy, journalism, public relations, human
rights, advocacy, government, or the nonprofit sector.
Prospective applicants from a
variety of academic majors are welcome, and all majors are
eligible. Candidates for UMD should expect to work a minimum of 15
hours per week during the academic year and 35 hours per week
during the summer. This position is unpaid, but may offer a small
stipend.
To apply for an internship,
please send a copy of your resume, writing sample(s), and a brief
description about your interests in the Southeast European region,
especially Macedonia, to Meto Koloski at mkoloski@umdiaspora.org.
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Since being founded in 2004, UMD has encouraged
NATO to invite Macedonia to join the world's greatest military
alliance. In 2007-2008, UMD held a campaign by publishing
advertisements in newspapers in Washington, D.C. and in Macedonia.
This year, UMD garnered a lot of support for Macedonia's NATO
membership, although again Macedonia was not invited by NATO to
join the alliance. Here is a selection of the work: