Ukrainian American Youth Association holds 40th annual "Zlet" (07/11/99)

Ukrainian American Youth Association holds 40th annual "Zlet"

by Orest Kozicky

ELLENVILLE, N.Y. - The Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM) sponsored its 40th consecutive annual "Zlet" on May 29-30 here at the SUM resort. SUM is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its activity in America.

Zlet is the annual spring festival for SUM youth members that gives them the opportunity to engage in academic and athletic competitions, poetry recitals that demonstrate their knowledge about various aspects of Ukrainian history and cultural traditions and their use of the Ukrainian language, as well as to perform with their dance, bandura, choral and drama ensembles within a talent-contest-type forum.

The athletic competitions include individual and team sports competitions that include sprints and long-distance track events, relay races, long jump, shot put and obstacle course races, as well as a volleyball tournament.

All of the Zlet participants celebrated the 50th anniversary of SUM in America with a bonfire that included the singing of traditional campfire songs. In addition to the bonfire, there was a barbecue and a dance on Saturday night.

Yurij Nakonechny, head of the national executive board of the Ukrainian American Youth Association, reflected on the organization's accomplishments over the past 50 years, most notably the education of thousands of young Ukrainians in a patriotic and nationalistic spirit. The organization takes pride in the cadre of its members who today hold leadership positions in the community here and in Ukraine. A distinguished member, Roman Zwarycz, is a national deputy in the Verkhovna Rada.

Mr. Nakoneczny paid tribute to the founding fathers and the many who have dedicated themselves to the development of SUM. He called upon all to carry the torch into the next 50 years and the new century in the same spirit.

On Sunday morning the participants took part in liturgy celebrated by a SUM alumnus, the Rev. Ihor Midzak. A formal review of the SUM ranks arranged as individual branches from various cities was conducted, with scoring based on adherence to the uniform dress code. A photograph of all participants was taken on Sunday morning to commemorate the SUM anniversary.

Although the Zlet held at the Ellenville resort involves only the 11 SUM branches from the Eastern Seaboard, there were 407 participants ranging in age from 4 to 17. The continued growth of the organization is reflected by the participation of an evergrowing number of "sumeniata" (preschoolers) age 3-5.

This year the responsibility for coordinating the colossal task of preparing and conducting Zlet was undertaken by members of the SUM branch from New York. Their leader Yurij Mykytyn, together with his New York contingent, successfully coordinated all the complex aspects of Zlet.

The Yonkers, N.Y,. branch took first place for the eighth consecutive year, for overall points (1,495); the Passaic, N.J., branch (1,243) took second place; and the New York branch (453) took third place.

Marta Matsellioukh of Yonkers won the first-place trophy for most points in the 13-17 age group. Larissa Kramarczuk of Yonkers won in the 6-12 age group.

Trophies were awarded to winners of the volleyball tournament as follows: mixed boys' division: first place - Hartford, Conn; second place - Boston; third place - Binghampton, N.Y.; girls' division: first place - Philadelphia; second place - Yonkers; third place, New York-A.

Mr. Nakonechny closed the awards ceremony by expressing his gratitude to Mr. Mykytyn and his New York contingent, as well as to all of the SUM-ivtsi for their participation in another successful Zlet.

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