2002: THE YEAR IN REVIEW: Soyuzivka celebrates 50th anniversary (01/12/03)

2002: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Soyuzivka celebrates 50th anniversary

Celebrations made the year 2002 special for Soyuzivka as the Ukrainian National Association estate marked its 50th anniversary. It was in 1952 that the Foord estate was purchased by the UNA, and Soyuzivka's dedication in 1953 was seen as a community-wide affair that was greeted with much enthusiasm and witnessed by 2,000 guests who arrived for the occasion in the hamlet of Kerhonkson, N.Y., from all parts of the country.

Fifty years later, Soyuzivka guests, employees, campers and Miss Soyuzivkas - anyone in any way connected to the resort - were asked to share their "remembrances," as the resort planned an exhibit and booklet commemorating its anniversary.

During the 2002 summer season, the period from July 28 through August 11 was designated as special golden anniversary weeks at Soyuzivka, and a special 50th anniversary cabaret was held on August 3. At the evening show in the Veselka auditorium hosted by Roman Wasylyk, the entertainment ranged from a traditional Suzy-Q talent night to the more serious main stage performer, and included performers who blended both formulas.

All along the perimeters of the auditorium photo collages were displayed and viewed by all of the former workers in attendance that night. There was a tribute to the late Manager Walter Kwas, of course, as well as photos of every past and present manager. Fifty years' worth of memories were depicted: people from all over vacationing at Soyuzivka; performers from all around the U.S., Canada, and Ukraine; campers at various "tabory"; artists who came to display or sell their works; and the workers who not only worked at their posts but who also took part in the various talent nights - some of whom would then move onto the main stage at the Saturday night shows.

Also on August 3, the Voice of America program "Kaleidoscope of the Diaspora" aired a special show on Soyuzivka. The broadcast featured interviews with Alex Chudolij, a former employee and band leader at Soyuzivka; former Manager Daniel Slobodian; Office Manager Sonia Semanyshyn, "Tabir Ptashat" founder Neonila Sochan; former Advisor Stephanie Hawryluk, a familiar face at the resort's gift shop, and others.

At the same time, however, questions continued to swirl in the community about Soyuzivka's fate, even though the UNA's 35th Convention (see preceding section) had made clear that the UNA was committed to saving its resort. Soyuzivka is, after all, an institution and a community treasure; it is part and parcel of the UNA's public face.

In mid-August, UNA President Stefan Kaczaraj issued a message titled "On the road to Soyuzivka's renewal" in which he noted that the fate of the resort was the subject of much attention during the recent UNA convention, as well as during the annual conference of UNA Seniors and at a special meeting convened at the resort during "Tabir Ptashat" (Plast's day camp for pre-schoolers, which has been conducted at Soyuzivka since 1989). "The Soyuzivka management, with the assistance of the special committee established at the UNA convention, as well as with the help of other supporters of Soyuzivka, intends to conduct a multi-faceted review of the resort's problems and to reach appropriate conclusions on how to foster Soyuzivka's rebirth so that it may continue to serve us and succeeding generations. A plan for the renewal of Soyuzivka will soon be presented to the Ukrainian community at large," Mr. Kaczaraj assured readers.

In a second message in early September, headlined "The UNA is committed to keeping Soyuzivka," Mr. Kaczaraj stated: "We have been touched by the overwhelming support from our community to help resolve the various problems associated with Soyuzivka. Our blue-ribbon panel of experts, all volunteers, has been working throughout the summer, analyzing the situation and examining ways to redevelop our beloved resort. All of this is happening because the UNA is committed to keeping Soyuzivka. We are perturbed by the number of rumors that say that the sale is eminent, or even concluded. This is simply not true." He went on to reiterate that the UNA would present a redevelopment plan in the fall, and solicited the advice and ideas of all "those to whom Soyuzivka is important."

Then, in the fall, beginning on September 1, in issues published for Labor Day weekend - traditionally the most popular weekend at Soyuzivka - The Ukrainian Weekly and Svoboda carried "Save the date" advertisements promoting Soyuzivka's 50th anniversary jubilee on November 23. Next came a full-page ad, with a red heart (our first use ever of spot color) urging readers to "Come home to Soyuzivka" and celebrate its 50th anniversary. The $100-a-plate banquet was billed as a fund-raiser for Soyuzivka that would kick off its redevelopment plan.

The theme for the event was "I Suzy Q," and hundreds arrived at Soyuzivka for the golden jubilee. 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. A local winery, Rivendell, was contracted to prepare special anniversary bottles of wine bearing a 50th anniversary Soyuzivka label.

The evening began with cocktails in the Main House lobby and library, which were filled to overflowing. Guests mingled 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.

The main event, of course, was the elegant banquet in the Veselka auditorium, during which guests heard messages about Soyuzivka, its past, its significance and its potential, presented by three UNA executives: President Stefan Kaczaraj, National Secretary Christine E. Kozak and Treasurer Roma Lisovich. The evening's master of ceremonies Nestor Olesnycky and keynote speaker Roman Kyzyk shared reminiscences and reflections about Soyuzivka.

The band chosen to play for the evening's dance was Tempo, a regular at the resort for decades. 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. 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 Shmerykowsky, a structural engineer, who answered UNA executives' call for assistance in that field.

The program for the special evening was printed in a bilingual booklet that also contained a brief history of Soyuzivka. 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.

As the year 2002 drew to a close, UNAers and the Ukrainian community at large were anxiously awaiting more details about the plans for Soyuzivka's redevelopment, which are to be released in early 2003.

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