Philadelphia Educational/Cultural Center honors Buteiko at its annual banquet (03/21/99)

Philadelphia Educational/Cultural Center honors Buteiko at its annual banquet

by Petrusia Sawchak

JENKINTOWN, Pa. - Ukraine's Ambassador to the United States, Anton Buteiko, was honored at the annual banquet of the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center in Philadelphia. The gala event, held on Saturday, February 27, also featured art exhibits and musical entertainment.

During the program Sviatoslav Maksymchuk, actor from the Maria Zankovetska Theatre of Lviv, acted as master of ceremonies for the evening. He welcomed the honored guests: Ambassador Buteiko and former U.S. Rep. Jon Fox, a longtime friend of the UECC. After the Rev. Orest Mychalynshyn of St. Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church delivered the invocation, representatives of many of the center's 40 organizations were introduced, as were the UECC's directors and its executive board.

In his keynote address Ambassador Buteiko spoke about the positive achievements of independent Ukraine: a new ratified Constitution, economic reforms, privatization of property, a reformed banking system and foreign investments - all testimony to the progress of Ukraine within a short period of time.

In reply to those who point to the corruption in Ukraine, Ambassador Buteiko made an analogy to the slow reforms made by President George Washington in regard to slavery and other issues during the early years of American independence. He added that "corruption" is not a Ukrainian word, rather brought to Ukraine from abroad.

The envoy said his optimism lies with the youth of Ukraine since it is a momumental task to change the hearts of those who were raised under 50 years of communism. Having served on the Political Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Ambassador Buteiko also said he is confident about Ukraine becoming a member of NATO.

Ambassador Buteiko exchanged mementos of his visit with Mykola Luty, president of the UECC, before an audience of over 300 people. Mr. Luty thanked Ambassador Buteiko on behalf of the Ukrainian community in Philadelphia.

Prior to the banquet, guests viewed woven kylyms, hand-carved inlaid wooden plates and folk costumes from the Hutsul region in Ukraine, part of the private collection of Oksana and Dmytro Tkachuk. Presenting the exhibit was Michael Luciw, president of the Cheremosh Hutsul Society.

During the cocktail reception, guests viewed works by Ukrainian artist Taras Bilchuk. Art critic Mykola Savytcki from the University of Pennsylvania gave a short biographical sketch of the artist and an overview of his works.

Mr. Bilchuk received his education at the Lviv Academy of Art, department of monumental and decorative painting. He has exhibited throughout the former Soviet Union and parts of the United States. His compositions vary both in style and subject matter, ranging from realism to the abstract and borrowing heavily from Ukrainian folklore.

State Rep. Ellen Bard of Abington Township presented a citation recognizing the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center for its outstanding service to the Ukrainian American community.

The musical entertainment during the banquet featured soprano Elena Heimur, a recent winner of the Puccini Foundation International Competition, who has performed internationally. She sang an aria from "La Boheme," "Misiatiu Kniazu" by Barvinsky, "Life" by Hnatyshyn and "Ukraina Liubov Moia" by Shamo.

Ms. Heimur was accompanied by Irena Pelech-Zwarych, who also performed works by Barvinsky and Fomenko. Ms. Pelech-Zwarych, former accompanist for the Prometheus Male Choir, received her music degrees from Temple University.

Mr. Luty thanked all for their participation in the 19th anniversary banquet, and especially Marusia Shwed, banquet chairperson, and Orysia Hewka, executive director of the UECC for their efforts in bringing the event to fruition.

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