Soyuzivka celebrates 50th anniversary as plan for its renaissance is announced (12/01/02)

Soyuzivka celebrates 50th anniversary as plan for its renaissance is announced

by Roma Hadzewycz

KERHONKSON, N.Y. - Hundreds of guests accepted the Ukrainian National Association's invitation to "come home to Soyuzivka" for the UNA estate's 50th anniversary gala on Saturday, November 23.

They came home and they learned that there is a promising plan for Soyuzivka's future as a four-season resort serving the Ukrainian community.

Upon arriving at the resort's Main House, guests were greeted by outdoor lights spelling out "I Q." Inside, the lobby was decorated with hundreds of balloons bearing the same message.

The welcome continued in the guests' rooms, where a schedule of the festivities was attached to Hershey's kisses, in keeping with the "I love Soyuzivka" theme, and more balloons. The resort was booked solid, and many guests stayed at nearby hotels, including the Hudson Valley Resort, which always welcomes Soyuzivka's overflow guests.

Cocktail hour in the Main House lobby and library was jam-packed with guests, as they mingled with old friends and enjoyed the photo display of people and events from years past at Soyuzivka. Many found themselves in the photos on exhibit, and thus recalled old times, good company and cherished moments.

Then it was on to the banquet in the Veselka auditorium. At the entrance, guests were cordially welcomed by three young ladies, Adriana Brodyn, Kira Myskiw and Melasia Rud, dressed in Ukrainian folk costumes. It was a full house as nearly 300 people were in attendance: Soyuzivka regulars, former employees, UNA officials, participants of Soyuzivka's sports competitions, leaders of Soyuzivka camps and many others who have come to know and love this unique resort. (The younger set enjoyed a buffet dinner in the Main House dining room.)

The banquet opened with the singing of the American and Ukrainian national anthems by Sviatoslava Kaczaraj. An invocation was delivered by Bishop Basil Losten of the Stamford Eparchy of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, who led the audience in singing the prayer "Otche Nash."

UNA President Stefan Kaczaraj welcomed all the guests and UNA'ers present, noting that "Soyuzivka holds a very special place in our hearts." He then gave a capsule history of the significance of Soyuzivka for Ukrainian children, youths and parents, for campers, athletes and devotees of Ukrainian culture.

He also vowed: "We must and we will do all in our power, with God's help and the community's support, to rebuild Soyuzivka, to make sure that it is secure for our children and grandchildren."

UNA National Secretary Christine E. Kozak introduced the master of ceremonies for the evening, former UNA Vice-President Nestor Olesnycky, who shared with the audience some of his memories of Soyuzivka, including his stint as a summer worker at the resort. During the course of the banquet Mr. Olesnycky asked his audience to recall their ties to Soyuzivka, asking, in succession, those who met their spouses to stand up, then those who were married at the resort, as well as those who were champions at tennis tournaments.

He also introduced key people in the audience, including members of the UNA General Assembly and Soyuzivka stalwarts. A special introduction was made of "Soyuzivka pioneers" - those in the audience who were present when Soyuzivka was officially opened in 1953 as a Ukrainian resort: Daniel Slobodian, a former manager of the resort, in fact its first manager when Soyuzivka was purchased in 1952; Ulana Diachuk, a UNA Home Office employee who later became UNA president; Luba Lapychak Lesko, a longtime employee and later head of the Svoboda Press administration; and Neonila Sochan, a former employee of the Svoboda administration who was a leader at the first camp held at Soyuzivka in 1952, a camp for Plast children, and later founded the "Tabir Ptashat" camp for preschoolers. Special mention was made of Mr. and Mrs. Roman Rakoczy who have vacationed at Soyuzivka for 47 consecutive years.

The keynote address was delivered by Roman Kyzyk, a Soyuzivka regular who grew up at the resort and today brings his children there. Mr. Kyzyk, principal of the firm Executive Partners, reflected on the meaning of Soyuzivka and the connections it has engendered through the years. "Take a second, " he urged his listeners, "and reflect on the relationships that brought you here tonight."

He concluded his remarks by speaking of necessary transitions, and of how "strategy is the bridge between vision and reality." He added that "the UNA and Soyuzivka need to regain the economic, political and cultural leadership for all Ukrainians."

Mr. Kyzyk's reflections were the lead-in to a presentation by UNA Treasurer Roma Lisovich, whose goal was to get the audience excited about the possibilities for Soyuzivka's future.

She underscored that it is time to "think out of the box" in order to make Soyuzivka "an inclusive place for all who want to learn about their heritage," as well as for non-Ukrainians who would like to learn about the rich Ukrainian culture. She added that the resort would also strive to be more family-oriented by offering more activities to meet their needs.

Among the features envisioned for a new Soyuzivka enumerated by this speaker were: a miniature golf course, new meeting rooms and reception halls, timeshare property, an exercise room, more hiking trails and revamped dining facilities. Details are to be announced in early 2003.

Ms. Lisovich concluded by inviting the community's assistance. "You input of talent can help preserve this treasure of our community," she noted.

A high point of the evening came when it was announced that the Self Reliance (New York) Federal Credit Union was donating $50,000 to Soyuzivka (see story on page 1). The presentation, made by Dr. Bohdan Kekish, president and CEO, was the first donation to what was later dubbed "Soyuzivka Project Renaissance" and set in motion a series of donations from guests at the banquet that added $20,000 more to the fund for Soyuzivka.

A blue-ribbon panel of experts - Orest Fedash, hotel manager; Peter Darmohraj, architect, and Myron Kukuruza, building contractor - who have volunteered their services to help revitalize Soyuzivka was introduced to the audience at the banquet.

Also assisting with Soyuzivka's planned renovations is John Shme-rykowsky, a structural engineer, who answered UNA executives' call for assistance in that field.

Taras Szmagala Jr., Alex Chudolij and Al Kachkowski, three members of the Soyuzivka Redevelopment Committee established by a resolution of the May 2002 UNA Convention, briefly addressed banquet participants about the plan for the resort's rebirth.

The entertainment that evening included musicians and vocalists. Composer/songwriter Oles Kuzyszyn sang several selections, accompanying himself on the piano; he was later joined in a duet by his daughter, Adriana. Also on the bill was jazz/cabaret singer Marianna Vynnytsky.

The band chosen to play for the evening's dance was Tempo, a regular at the resort for many years. That fact was very obviously appreciated by guests who danced up a storm to favorite tunes.

A local winery, Rivendell, had been contracted to prepare special anniversary bottles of wine bearing a 50th anniversary Soyuzivka label.

The program for the evening was printed in a bilingual booklet that also contained a brief history of Soyuzivka compiled by Oksana Trytjak, special projects and fraternal activities coordinator at the UNA.

Also as part of the golden jubilee, the UNA's two official publications, Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly, each released special eight-page pullouts devoted to Soyuzivka.

Self Reliance N.Y. donates $50,000 to Soyuzivka

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