SUM to sponsor conference about the Internet (03/05/00)

SUM to sponsor conference about the Internet

by Michael M. Bycko

NEW YORK - There is a new place where Ukrainians around the world gather - a place where a single word, vision, dream, or idea, spans the entire planet in mere moments. It is a place where Ukrainians can unite to one powerful voice that speaks to the rest of the world. That place is called the Internet - perhaps the most significant technological development that will be seen in our lifetime.

The Ukrainian Youth Association (SUM) also has embraced the Internet and developed an award-winning website for its members. Since its inception in May 1999, "CYMnet," as the project is known, grows with the support of its thousands of members. Now any "sumivets" (SUM member) can, via a computer, read about current events within the organization from all over the world, or chat with a colleague. Through electronic photographs and videos, they can see what other sumivtsi are doing around the world. Counselors can print teaching materials for their youth groups.

The Ukrainian Youth Association is taking the next step by sponsoring the first World CYMnet Conference, on April 1-2, at the SUM resort in Ellenville, N.Y. This Internet conference is open to members of SUM over age 13 with an interest in computers and the Internet, or with a desire to learn more about it.

"This conference represents a first for SUM - members from around the world will meet to learn about and discuss matters related to the Internet and technology. They will take home with them new ideas and possibilities that can change the way they think about and perform their work in SUM," said Andriy Bihun, chairman of CYMnet. "At the same time, the conference serves as a unique forum for the exchange of ideas and knowledge that can serve to strengthen the ability of SUM's leaders to address the needs of our youth," says Bihun.

Attendees will be able to learn how to design a webpage in Ukrainian as well as in English, scan and work with photographs on the computer, create graphics, type e-mail in Ukrainian, and more. There are workshops and activities planned for those who have never touched a computer.

The event has been tailored to meet the needs of everyone from the computer novice, to the technical professional who has a knowledge of the technology and wants to take the understanding to its next level. Different tracks at the conference will be designed to address each of these groups.

This is the first of such proposed conferences. Sumivtsi from as far away as Australia, Ukraine, Germany, and England are planning to attend. SUM members may contact their local branches for information or check the website at www.cym.org.

CYMnet's origin dates back to October 10, 1996, when the SUM World Executive instructed the U.S. national executive board to create a presence for all of SUM on the Internet. In accordance with this mandate, a group of SUM members from around the United States held a meeting on February 27, 1999, in Cleveland, and accepted responsibility to develop both a worldwide SUM site and a site for SUM in the United States. In a matter of weeks, the committee grew to include SUM members from seven countries on four continents. Thus the CYMnet Committee was formed.

Presently, the CYMnet Committee continues to expand as National Executives of SUM in numerous countries name their representatives to the body, and other SUM webmasters join in the effort. The evolving site at www.cym.org is the first product of the efforts of the CYMnet Committee.

Online registration and detailed information about the CYMnet conference may be found at http://www.cym.org/conference/.

Andrij Bebko contributed to this article.

| Home Page |