We are coming at the end of this millennium. With it, our organization is concluding the year in which we celebrated the 40th Anniversary of the United Macedonians. As this millennium concludes, our Macedonian nation finds itself at the same stage as the last millennium.

Namely, we left the last millennium with a free Macedonian state, King Samuel's Macedonian kingdom (although, a lot bigger state than the present one). At the same time, the Macedonian state under King Samuel found itself under a permanent attack from the Visantians and the internal enemies. The present Republic of Macedonia finds itself under similar constant pressure of the neighbouring countries and the internal enemies of the Macedonian people and state.

It is obvious that we will also enter the new millennium as we did the last one - with a Macedonian state under permanent attack or pressure from outside and inside forces. We have to be very vigilant in order to secure a long lasting existence for the present Macedonian state, as opposed to the state at the beginning of the present millennium, which was crashed in 1014.

We have to be especially vigilant here, in Canada and the United States of America, where we are free of economic pressures the way our people in Macedonia face. Because of this, we have the responsibility to be the conscience and backbone of the Macedonians everywhere, especially the Macedonians in the free Republic of Macedonia and in the occupied territories under Albania (Mala -Little- Prespa and Golo Brdo), Bulgaria (Pirin part of Macedonia), Greece (Aegean part of Macedonia) and Yugoslavia - Serbia (Gora in Kosovo and St. Prohor Pchinski monastery complex with the surrounding forests).

At the same time we are not under a leadership which is ready to make dangerous compromises with the external and internal enemies of the Macedonian people and State, nor under pressure from the international community.

In order to be the conscience and a strong backbone of the Macedonians everywhere, we have to strengthen the United Macedonians Organization (UMO). When we talk about strength, we mean both numerical and financial.

Towards that goal, we set out to make the voice of the UMO, the Macedonian Herald, a monthly newspaper so that the voice and views of the Organization will be heard throughout the North American continent.

To make the views of our Organization and the Macedonian people heard even wider, we are currently constructing our own Web Site, and that will make our purpose and goals known to everyone with a Internet access.

At the beginning of next year, we will publish a small pamphlet which will be a paper version of the main Web Site information.

As many of you probably already know, we plan to publish a book to honour the 40th anniversary of the UMO. Our plan is to finish the book by the end of next year. In order to cover all aspects of our history, we ask all members and friends who have old documents, pictures and other material of historic value for the UMO to give us a call. Let us use the material for the book, as well as enrich our archives for the future generations. All documents will be returned, unless the owner wishes to donate them to the Organization.

Currently we are working on re-establishing the old UMO chapters, and setting up new ones in order to cover all the Macedonian communities in North America.

As you already know, this summer we organized the first Macedonian children's summer camp. During five weeks, the Macedonian youngsters studied Macedonian, took gymnastics classes, went swimming, played together and made new friends. It is our hope to make this camp an annual event.

On the financial front, we are working to solve the "farm" issue, so that we can have our own picnic grounds, hopefuly on time for the 2000 Ilinden picnic.

When we talk about the financial aspect of the Organization, we cannot leave out the problem with a permanent office space. It is high time for the UMO to have its own building, a building that will be the headquarters of our Organization, as well as other Macedonian organizations, and at the same time improve our financial standing.

On the social front, we had another successful Ilinden picnic, with over 5,000 people in attendance.

Since taking office in May of this year, the President has represented the Organization at numerous community functions, banquets and other gatherings.

At the annual Mitrovden banquet of the MOC St. "Dimitrija Solunski", the organization donated $5.000 for their church hall.

We are already starting to organize Gotse Delchev's Night, which will be held February 5, 2000. The tickets for the banquet are already on sale, and as there are only 500 tickets printed, get your ticket soon so that you are not left disappointed.

Lastly we should say a few words about a regular communication with the membership.

One way of keeping in touch is the Macedonian Herald, and it is advisable for all members to subscribe to it. Another, more direct way of communication, is this Newsletter, with which we hope to inform you of the past and forthcoming activities of the UMO.

However, because we feel that communication should be a two way street, we are inclosing a Questionnaire for the general membership. We hope that everyone of you will take the time to put their thoughts on paper. That way we will know what hopes and expectations each one of you has for the future orientation of the Organization and the Macedonian community in Canada, because the success of one is success of all.street, we are inclosing a Questionnaire for the general membership. We hope that everyone of you will take the time to put their thoughts on paper. That way we will know what hopes and expecta- tions each one of you has for the future orientation of the Organization and the Macedonian community in Canada, because the success of one is success of all.

At the same time we ask that you fill in the personal data as requested, and send it back to us.

We promise that every idea will be reviewed, and once approved by the Executive, expect a call from us, asking you for direct involvement so that your idea can be properly implemented.

Dragi Stojkovski