THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM (06/29/97)

THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM

UNA celebrates Fathers' Day at Soyuzivka

by Andre Worobec

KERHONKSON, N. Y. - The UNA successfully celebrated its 13th annual Fathers' Day at Soyuzivka on June 15 as some 500 guests visited the resort during the weekend and about 400 filled the Veselka auditorium for a special program.

After divine liturgy at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church and special prayers with a sermon in English and Ukrainian by pastor, the Rev. Emile Sharanevych, the guests assembled at the Veselka Hall for the afternoon concert. The concert featured the Arkan Dance Company of Toronto and Alexandra Hrabova, coloratura soprano of the Ivan Franko National Theater of Opera and Ballet in Lviv.

Arkan, formed from select students of the Ukrainian Academy of Dance in Toronto under the direction of choreographer Danovia Stechishin Stefura, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Ms. Stechishin, an accomplished performer and teacher of Ukrainian folk dance and music, who holds an M.B.A. in marketing and arts administration, and a B.F.A. in dance, has ideal qualifications for an artistic director. She marries these with enthusiasm and devotion to her work.

She has been a recipient of numerous business government, academic and professional awards and grants, and presently is publishing a dance handbook for the Canada Council and Ontario Arts Council, as well as choreographing rhythmic gymnastics for the National Team of Canada.

The youthful Ms. Hrabova, having won critical acclaim for her leading roles in various operas, has won numerous international songfest competitions in Europe and North America, and has performed at recitals and concerts in Europe, Canada and the U.S, including an appearance last summer at Soyuzivka.

The afternoon concert was opened by Andre J. Worobec, fraternal activities coordinator and program director for Fathers' Day at Soyuzivka, who greeted the audience and introduced Ulana M. Diachuk, president of the Ukrainian National Association. Mrs. Diachuk extended her greetings from the UNA to all guests, focusing on the presence of UNA VIPs, i.e., executives and their spouses, chairpersons of UNA district committees and organizers of trips to the day's event.

Particular thanks were expressed to Nicholas Fil, chairman of UNA Albany District, who organized a 110-person trip. Mrs. Diachuk underlined the importance of a father's role in the family and recounted the 1910 origin of Fathers' Day as a holiday in U.S.

Mistress of ceremonies Halyna Kolessa spoke of the importance of father in the family and related it to the fatherly "Batko Soyuz" (Father UNA), a nickname symbolizing the relationship of the UNA to the Ukrainian community, as father, guardian, benefactor and protector of Ukrainians in the diaspora and in Ukraine.

Ms. Kolessa introduced Arkan, relating its recent backround and history, its 1996 trip to Taiwan and plans for its next trip to Brazil in August. She also introduced Scott Stefura, the group's administrative and financial director, and the instructor in charge of male dancers.

Arkan performed two dances from its Polissian-Volhynian Suite; featuring an unusual but well-executed rhythm, jumps and footwork.

Then Ms. Kolessa introduced Ms. Hrabova, who began with Mozart's Alleluia, followed by operatic arias from Puccini and Gounod. Ms. Hrabova sang to the accompaniment of Oksana Ravliuk Protenic, an accomplished pianist in her own right.

During subsequent interludes, Ms. Kolessa continued, relating the UNA's important contributions to the Ukrainian community and to Ukraine. For example she noted that since 1992 UNA has been organizing volunteer teachers and professional instructors and sending them to Ukraine to teach English and hold workshops for Ukrainian teachers of English in order to familiarize them with the latest methods and techniques of Teaching English as a Second Language.

The dancers then executed their Central Ukrainian Suite: a women's tambourine dance, and a dance illustrating St. Andrew's eve games and rituals. The group later performed a harvest dance and the "Povzunets."

Ms. Hrabova sang arias by Ukrainian composers Sichynsky, Kropyvnytsky, Kytasty and Lysenko, as well as a medley of playful and lighthearted Ukrainian folk melodies.

The dance group treated the guests to its final number, the Hutsul Suite: a scarf dance, a lighthearted shepherd's dance, a fire dance and a rhythmic "resheto" dance.

Present in the audience during the concert were the following UNA dignitaries: UNA President Diachuk, with her husband, Wolodymyr; UNA Secretary, Martha Lysko and her husband, Wolodar; Vice-President Nestor Olesnycky and his wife Ivanna; UNA Advisor Stephanie Hawryluk; former Supreme President John O. Flis; Soyuzivka Manager John A. Flis.

Also acknowledged were: Mr. Fil, chairman of the UNA Albany (N.Y.) District; Tymko Butrej, chairman of Wilkes-Barre (Pa.) District and longtime former secretary of Branch 164; Michael Zacharko, chairman of the Perth Amboy (N.J.) District; Barbara Bachynsky, chairperson of New York District; Eugene Oscislawsky, chairman of the newly created Northern New Jersey District; Paul Shevchuk, former chairman of the Troy-Albany (N.Y.) District and secretary of Branch 13; Wolodymyr Bilyk, former chairman of the Jersey City (N.J.) District and secretary of Branch 170; Ivan Pryhoda, secretary of Branch 200; and many others.

The UNA expressed thanks to guests from the Albany-Watervliet area for coming in massive numbers, as well to Mr. Bilyk and Dana Jasinsky, organizers of the bus trip from New Jersey, and Mrs. Bachynsky, organizer of New York bus trip.

UNA District Committee Meeting

Boston

BOSTON - The annual meeting of the New England District Committee of the UNA was held at St. Andrew Ukrainian Church Hall on Saturday, April 19.

The meeting was called to order by the acting chairman, who was originally the vice-chairman, Larissa Dijak. This was due to the fact that Zena Kandratiuk, had to resign her chairmanship for personal reasons.

The minutes of the last meeting were read by Dmytro Galonska and the treasurer's report was given by Dmytro Melnyk.

The election of officers followed with the following results: Chairman, Mrs. Dijak; vice-chairman, Ms. Kandratiuk, secretaries, Juliana Lozynsky (English), Mrs. Dijak (Ukrainian); treasurer, Mr. Melnyk; auditors, Dr. John Didiuk, Michael Frankiwskyj and Eugene Moroz.

The meeting was then turned over to Advisor Anne Remick, a member of the UNA General Assembly.

The subject, most asked about was the sale of the UNA building and how it was proceeding. Mrs. Remick mentioned that the reason UNA secretary Martha Lysko was not present at the meeting was that she had to attend a very important meeting regarding the sale of the building.

She then stressed to all in attendance how very important it was to get all their children, grandchildren, families and friends to become members of the largest and oldest fraternal organization in the United States.

Mrs. Remick suggested that a date be chosen in the future (preferably in the fall) to have a regional picnic. Mrs. Dijak offered to check dates on the calendar of both St. Andrew Orthodox Church and Christ the King Church.

As Mrs. Remick had resigned as secretary of Branch 238 after many years, all stood up and sang "Mnohaya Lita" in her honor.

Refreshments prepared by members of Branch 238 were then served, and Mrs. Dijak was commended from taking the post of hostess.

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