Motions from the 95th National FOCA Convention

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Monday, July 18, 2022

 MOTION #1

Michael Bowan, Treasurer, moves to award the 2023 96th Annual Convention to South River at a location/dates to be determined. Stephanie Homyak, Chapter 219 Phoenix, seconded. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION #2

Larry Skvir, Chapter 82 Philadelphia, moves to award the 2024 97th Annual Convention to the Akron O Club at a location/dates to be determined. Michael Steffaro, Past President, seconded. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION #3

John Schultz, Pittsburgh District Governor, moves to increase the prize money for the National Summer Sports Tournament from $500.00 to $1,500.00. Melissa Tesar, Ohio District Governor, seconded. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION #4

Rebecca Kozak, New Jersey District Governor, moves to accept the budget as it appears in the Treasurer’s report. Walter Alesevich, Colonial District Governor, seconded. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION #5

Michael Herzak, Past President, moves that we adopt the proposal set forth. Fr. John Bacon, seconded. Discussion on the motion. MOTION DEFEATED.

Original Proposal can be found in Appendix I.

Note: Motions #6 - 8 were proposed amendments to Motion #5 and were defeated.

MOTION #6

Walter Alesevich, Colonial District Governor, moves to amend the first line of the Proposal portion of the document to “The Synod of Bishops concurs and approves the FOCA to be the youth program of the OCA.” David Homyak, Chapter 219 Phoenix, seconded. Discussion on the motion. AMENDMENT DEFEATED.

MOTION #7

Michael Herzak, Past President, moves to amend the proposal to drop the last four bullet points under number 2, focusing on the first 3 bullet points. Stephanie Homyak seconded. Discussion on the amendment. AMENDMENT DEFEATED.

MOTION #8

Walter Alesevich, Colonial District Governor, moves to amend the proposal to say under paragraph 2 to say “Among the additional and immediate ideas are 1) Age-specific committees and 2) other committees.” David Homyak, Phoenix 219, seconded. Discussion on the amendment. AMENDMENT DEFEATED.

Rebecca Tesar appointed temporary secretary.

MOTION #9

Walter Alesevich, Colonial District Governor, moves to open nominations for the Executive Board. Liz Dutko, Chapter 50, seconded. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION #10

Michael Steffaro, Past President, moves to close nomination and cast a unanimous ballot for Allison Steffaro for the office of President. John Kruchok, Past President, seconded. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION #11

Walter Alesevich, Colonial District Governor, moves to close nomination and cast a unanimous ballot for Basil Kochan for the office of Vice President. Alice Woog, Past President, seconded. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION #12

Dn. Peter Ilchuk, CP&O, moves to close nominations and cast a unanimous ballot for Danielle Ilchuk for the office of Recording Secretary. V. Rev William Evansky, past Spiritual Advisor, seconded. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION #13

Carol Deerson, Past President, moves to close nominations and cast a unanimous ballot for Michael Bowan for the office of Treasurer. Lissa Molchan, Chapter 220, seconded. MOTION CARRIED 

MOTION #14

Michael Herzak, Past President, moves to submit the following written proposal to the Holy Synod of Bishops. Michael Steffaro, Past President, seconded. MOTION CARRIED.

PROPOSAL: The founder of the FROC/FOCA, Fr. Vladimir Prislopsky, had one basic intention, to keep our children in the Church. That mission has not changed.

We heard the cry at the 19th AAC in St. Louis to do more for our youth. The FOCA now offers to coordinate and facilitate activities, programs, and retreats, that would be made available to all youth of the OCA. The FOCA will create individual committees to address the needs of the toddlers through college age.

MOTION #15

Dmitry Ressetar, moves to amend “remove the individual committee” portion of the proposal. Lisa Mikhalevsky, Chapter 79, seconded. MOTION DEFEATED.

This motion was an amendment to previous motion and was defeated.

MOTION #16

Michael Herzak, Past President, moves that $50,000 be removed from the building maintenance fund and put towards youth ministries. Michael Steffaro, Past President, seconded. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION #17

John Schultz, Pittsburgh District Governor, moves that the Executive Board be empowered to choose the Gifts of Love recipient. Michael Steffaro, Past President, seconded. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION #18

Gary Lelo, Central PA District Governor, moves to close the 95th National FOCA convention and to reconvene at the 96th National FOCA convention the dates and location of which will be determined and announced at a later time. Michael Steffaro, Past President, seconded. MOTION CARRIED.

APPENDIX I

FOCA Proposal

We are the Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America, an official organization of the Orthodox Church in America, and our mission is to proclaim, share and reveal our Orthodox Christian Faith through service, fellowship and example. We strive to accomplish this by:

  • studying the tenets of our Faith

  • support and encourage Orthodox Youth ministries

  • support and encourage missionary growth of our church

  • encourage and promote unity among all Orthodox jurisdictions

  • establish practical means for Orthodox Christians to endure lasting friendships on local and national levels through networking

  • provide educational, cultural, social and athletic activities for the people of our Orthodox Faith

The FOCA has, from its founding, served as an arm of the Orthodox Church here in North America. Throughout its history, the former FROC and now FOCA has responded to the most urgent of needs in our church. Looking at the last few years, it has become increasingly apparent that one of the most urgent needs in the OCA is that of serving our youth.

At the most recent FOCA convention, a report was given regarding the status of youth needs in the OCA. It was observed that there was a need to have organization to move forward for the youth in the United States of America. Rev. Fr. Daniel Ressetar, of blessed memory, stood at the microphone and stated, “we already have that. It is the

FOCA.”

Since that statement, under the leadership of our spiritual advisor, Fr. Nicholas Wyslutsky, the FOCA has sponsored virtual tours of numerous places and multiple youth retreats. Most recently, the FOCA has held virtual retreats serving youth from multiple jurisdictions far beyond the members of the organization. This is true to the intent of the FOCA in providing “for the people of our Orthodox Faith.”

Among the immediate ideas that we propose are: Planning committee for youth ages toddler to teen

  • Planning for high school ages

  • Planning for college ages

  • Planning for post-college to 35/40

  • Planning for middle-agers

  • Planning for 50 and above

  • Planning for focus on family

Each diocese provide a clergy and lay person to work with the FOCA in each of these areas. We will find people in the FOCA that have ideas that are relevant for each of these age groups and work with them to move forward.

We are not looking to increase membership in the FOCA. We are looking to be the fine print sponsor at the bottom of the page.