SUM sponsors its 42nd annual 'Zlet' spring festival (06/24/01)

SUM sponsors its 42nd annual 'Zlet' spring festival

by Orest Kozicky

ELLENVILLE, N.Y. - The Ukrainian Youth Association (SUM) of America sponsored its 42nd consecutive annual "Zlet" on May 26-27 at the SUM resort in Ellenville, N.Y.

Zlet is the annual spring festival for SUM youths that comprises academic and athletic competitions and poetry recitations that demonstrate knowledge about various aspects of Ukrainian history, cultural traditions and language. As well, Zlet is an opportunity for participants to perform with their dance, bandura, choral and drama ensembles within a talent contest type forum.

The athletic competitions at Zlet encompass individual and team sporting events that include 40-, 60-, 100-, 440- and 880-yard sprints and mile runs, relay races, broadjump, shot put and obstacle course races, as well as a volleyball tournament.

Heavy rains led to the cancellation of the volleyball tournament and the 440-yard, mile and relay race events. Thanks to the combined efforts of members of the participating branches, the track and field were cleared of rain puddles daily and, despite continuing threats of rain, SUM youths competed in the spirit of the SUM greeting "Hartuys."

The youths also had an opportunity to socialize at a dance on Saturday night.

On Sunday morning the participants took part in a divine liturgy celebrated by the Rev. Bohdan Danylo. 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.

Although the Zlet in Ellenville usually involves only the 12 SUM branches along the Eastern Seaboard, this year a contingent of participants from the Montreal branch also took part.

There were 464 youth participants ranging in age from 4 through 17. The continued growth of the organization is reflected by the participation of a continually growing number of "Sumeniata," or preschoolers age 3-5.

This year the responsibility for coordinating the various Zlet events was undertaken by members of the Hartford branch. The responsibility of conducting the individual events was divided among all of the participating branches.

The Zlet commander was Ivan Kebalo, who together with main coordinator Myron Kolinsky and the rest of the Hartford contingent successfully coordinated the multiple complex aspects of Zlet.

This year the new point system drafted in 2000 by Yurij and Ihor Stecko of the New York branch was again implemented, invoking a corrective factor that allowed smaller branches to compete on par with larger contingents.

In overall points, the SUM branch from Whippany, N.J., took first place. Goshen, N.Y., took second place and Jersey City, N.J., took third.

Mark Kozicky of Yonkers, N.Y., won the individual trophy for most points in the 13-17 age group. Natalie Midzak of Philadelphia won the trophy in the 6-12 age group.

Yurij Nakonechny closed the awards ceremonies by expressing his gratitude to Messrs. Kebalo and Kolinsky and the Hartford contingent, as well as to all of the SUMivtsi for their participation in another successful Zlet.

| Home Page |