Jersey City Plast Branch Marks Silver Anniversary (12/26/76)

Jersey City Plast Branch Marks Silver Anniversary

by Roma Sochan

JERSEY CITY, N.J. - "This is a family celebration, a family anniversary", explained Oksana Dragan, principal speaker at the 25th anniversary banquet of the Plast "stanytsia" (branch) in Jersey City. The "stanytsia" celebrated its jubilee with a banquet and ball held at the Ukrainian Community Center here, Saturday, December 4.

"A Family"

"To describe our 'stanytsia,' it seems to me, only one word is necessary. We are a family...Every member takes pleasure in the achievements of every other, and is hurt by his hurt, always ready with advice, help, a warm word."

"Our 'stanytsia' always set one single goal for itself: to give our children and young people, who are brought up in our Plast family, that foundation, that direction, which will help them be strong, good persons of firm character and useful members of society. Only such a person can bring benefits to his nation and his fatherland, and this, in the end, always was, and will be our ultimate goal," said Miss Dragan, who herself grew up in the "stanytsia".

The banquet, attended by over 200 persons, was officially opened with a short address by the head of the "stanytsia", Mrs. Neonila Sochan. Rev. Anthony Borsa, pastor of Ss. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, recited a prayer and honored departed members of the "stanytsia" in a moment of silence.

Lubomyr Bilyk, master of ceremonies, then introduced Dr. Eugene Kotyk, president of the local UCCA branch; Ihor Rakowsky of Plast's national executive; and Stepan Kira, head of the local SUMA branch, who voiced their best wishes on the occasion of the jubilee.

Program

A program prepared by the youths of the "stanytsia" with the help of their counselors followed.

The 51st boys' "kurin", whose patron is Vasyl Symonenko, staged a montage based on Symonenko's poem, "Trial of an Idea", and using quotes from the writings of Ukrainian dissidents.

From then on, the program continued in a lighter vein with the youngest boys and girls presenting a humorous skit entitled "Letters from Camp". Older "plastunky" sang several songs by a "campfire".

Girls of the "Iskra" group acted out a skit about Sherlock Holmes in Jersey City, while "Chayka" members performed two Ukrainian folk dances - "Hutsulka" and "Kozachok".

Publish Book

In commemoration of the 25th anniversary of Jersey City's Plast, a 68-page magazine titled "On the Crossroads of the Years" was published under the editorship of Ivan Nynka, a senior member of the "stanytsia" and one of its founders.

The banquet was followed by a ball, with "Tempo" orchestra providing the music. The celebration ended with the traditional "Nich Vzhe Ide" sung by all present, clasping hands in a circle.

The "stanytsia," founded in fall of 1951, today includes 70 members. Its Plast-Pryiat group, headed by Mrs. Stephania Shtompil, numbers 32.

The banquet and ball, impressive as they were, could not demonstrate the true importance of this 25th anniversary. For, as Miss Dragan stated: "Above all else - our heritage is that Plast ideal, which united us from the very beginning of our existence 25 years ago, which unites us today, and which will never change, as long as our 'stanytsia' and Plast in general, survive. This is what creates of those who were, those who are gathered here today, and those who will someday walk our uncertain paths, one family - the Plast 'stanytsia' of Jersey City."

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