Passaic SUM branch celebrates 50th years of youth activity (04/01/01)

Passaic SUM branch celebrates 50th years of youth activity

by Petro Kosciolek

PASSAIC, N.J. - Saturday, January 20, was quite a historic date: the United States of America inaugurated its 46th president at noon in the nation's capital, while North Jersey Ukrainian Americans celebrated the golden jubilee of one of the area's most active organizations: the Passaic branch of the Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM).

Over 425 guests and 100 member-children packed the ballroom of the Sheraton Meadowlands Hotel in East Rutherford, N.J., for a four-hour concert program and a dance that followed.

Singing the Ukrainian march "Vpered" (Forward), SUM youths, age 3-17, marched into the ballroom and began the commemorative program with a prayer and the American and Ukrainian national anthems.

After a presentation honoring deceased members and supporters, Branch President Olia Figol officially opened the jubilee banquet. Mrs. Figol highlighted the proudest moments of the last 50 years, and paid tribute to past leaders and to all those who worked so hard to carry on the ideals of SUM's founders on this continent and in the Passaic branch.

Taking advantage of the standing ovation for this branch's first female president, masters of ceremonies Adriana Ros and Petro Kosciolek thanked Mrs. Figol for her untiring and persistent work in leading the branch as well as heading the anniversary organizing committee.

Reflecting the motto of SUM "God and Ukraine" - the concert program was divided into two segments: the religious and the secular, combining original plays, songs and arrangements written and directed by the head of the evening's Program Committee, Liliana Chudolij.

With their presentation of "Ukrainian and SUM Christianity," an original play written by Mrs. Chudolij, the youngest theatrical troupe of the branch, made up of children age 4-6, took the audience on a tour of the history of Christianity in Ukraine and the Ukrainian Youth Association, from its founding to the present day.

Under the direction of Marianna Znak, the older theater company consisting of over 45 members, staged a traditional Ukrainian Christmas play, the Vertep, combining historical and modern Ukrainian characters paying reverence to the newborn Christ.

Each of the branch's nine active youth groups, as well as five dance troupes and a girls' musical ensemble were all well represented during the concert. The theme of each of the groups' performances was indicative of the name of the group. The "Sumeniata," as the youngest members of SUM age 4-5 are known, sang about their adventures in Passaic. Dressed as Kozaks, a group of children age 5-7 sang a popular Kozak song while moving to battle. A young girls' group acted out Lesia Ukrainka's fairy-tale "Three Butterflies." An original montage about starfish was performed by children age 8-10, pre-teenage boys portrayed UPA soldiers via a skit, while their female peers performed a montage with music by Volodymyr Ivasiuk.

Zluka, a musical ensemble of teenage girls directed by Mrs. Chudolij, entertained with both folk and modern Ukrainian songs. A number of not-so-young members joined the oldest youth dance ensemble for the traditional welcome dance, Pryvit, choreographed by Ivan Lenczuk, the current Passaic SUM dance instructor. Three other children's ensembles performed dances from various regions of Ukraine, while the Sumeniata displayed their first dance steps. The oldest group, in which some mothers performed with their daughters, rounded out the concert with an energetic Hopak.

Throughout the evening, several distinguished guests paid tribute to the Passaic branch of the Ukrainian American Youth Association. Clifton Mayor James Anzaldi, Passaic County Freeholder Director Peter Eagler, and New Jersey State Sen. Norm Robertson reflected on their personal experiences with SUM as well as the involvement and contributions that the branch has made to the community. They presented proclamations, respectively, from the City of Clifton, the Board of Chosen Freeholders of the County of Passaic, and a Joint Resolution from the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey. Stefan Tatarenko, former president of the Passaic-Bergen Branch of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America and now Clifton city councilman, congratulated and applauded the members and leaders of the branch. He also expressed words of praise from U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., (who was in Washington at the presidential Inauguration) and presented a copy of the Congressional Record in which the Passaic SUM branch is congratulated on the occasion of its 50th anniversary.

The national president of the Ukrainian American Youth Association, Yury Nakonechny, in his address highlighted the successes of the organization, both locally and worldwide. Together with Stefan Zurawski, immediate past branch president and currently honorary president, Mr. Nakonechny presented plaques to each of the past presidents and to Mrs. Figol, as well as to the presidents of the Parents Association, in gratitude for their dedication and success. Various members were also recognized and presented with certificates for their contributions in the educational, cultural, athletic and economic aspects of the branch's activity during the last 50 years.

A slide show of the branch's history elicited a variety of emotions from the attendees, both younger and older. Congratulatory greetings and blessings from newly appointed Archbishop-Metropolitan Stefan Soroka were met with an enthusiastic round of applause. Eight neighboring branches of SUM, as well as the SUM resort in Ellenville, N.Y., were represented at the banquet, along with 15 community organizations and almost 20 business leaders - continual supporters of the Passaic branch.

The golden jubilee banquet and ball, with its serious and lighter moments, gave many people an opportunity to see old friends and acquaintances and illustrated the vibrant history of the Passaic SUM branch within the Ukrainian American community, as well as the American community.

The "bonfire" at the end of the concert, around which over 100 SUM members clasped hands and sang "Sumivski Vohni" (SUM Flames) symbolized the beginning of a new era and the eternal flame of the Ukrainian American Youth Association.

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