Ukrainian American Youth Association holds its 23rd congress in U.S. (11/24/02)

Ukrainian American Youth Association holds its 23rd congress in U.S.

by Dr. Orest Kozicky

ELLENVILLE, N.Y. - The Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM) held its 23rd triennial congress on November 2-3, at the SUM resort (oselia) in Ellenville, N.Y.

Yurij Nakoneczny, the recently elected president of the international executive board of the Ukrainian Youth Association and outgoing president of the Ukrainian American Youth Association opened the Congress by greeting the 116 delegates representing the following SUM branches: New York, Yonkers, Binghamton, Rochester, Buffalo and Goshen, N.Y.; Newark-Irvington, Passaic, Jersey City and Whippany, N.J.; Hartford, Conn.; Boston; Chicago and Pallatine, Ill.; Baltimore, Philadelphia and Cleveland-Parma, as well as representatives of the U.S. national board of SUM.

The following individuals were elected to the congress presidium: Mykola Hryczkowian, chairman; Jaroslaw Palylyk and Olga Kusen, vice-chairs; and Luba Zalyvaj and Christine Bartosewicz, secretaries.

Members of the executive board, the Auditing Committee and Grievance Committee presented reports of their work over the past three years, after which they fielded questions from the delegates before proceeding to a discussion forum. The congress adopted proposals, generated by individual working groups of delegates, that will guide the future activities of the Ukrainian American Youth Association.

On Saturday evening November 2, a banquet was held for which Genya Kuzmowycz Blahy served as the master of ceremonies. The Rev. Ihor Midzak, representing the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Stamford opened the banquet with a prayer and the Rev. Roman Mirchuk gave the main ceremonial speech which invigorated the delegates and guests. Both clergymen were raised within the ranks of SUM.

Entertainment was provided by the Yunist Ukrainian dance ensemble from Yonkers. On Sunday morning, after attending liturgy delegates held a ceremonial gathering commemorating the independence movement of November 1918.

The congress elected the following slate for the national executive board: Bohdan Harhaj, president; Myroslav Shmigel, executive vice-president; Lydia Mykytyn, coordinator of eastern branches; Christine Wereszczak, coordinator of western branches; Iryna Liber, secretary; Roman Kozicky, financial director; Andrij Bihun, "bulavnyi," Lesia Cebrij-Rago, head of the Educational Committee; Ihor Diaczun, coordinator of "druzhynnyky" (young adult SUM members); Kornel Wasylyk, cultural director; Myron Prymak, sports coordinator; Orest Kozicky, public relations and press secretary; Zoriana Kovbasniuk, coordinator of aid to Ukrainians; Peter Kosciolek, executive director of the SUM resort; and Mr. Nakoneczny, Mr. Blahy, Wolodymyr Wyrsta and Dania Nauholnyk-Lavro, members at large.

The congress elected the foIlowing Auditing Committee: Stefan Zurawsky, chair Yurij Fedorijchuk and Yurij Mykytyn, members; Olga Kusen and Halia Turyk, alternates.

Elected to the Grievance Committee were: Bohdanna Pochoday, chair; Ivan Kobasa and Andrij Kosowsky, members; Maria Piatka and Adrian Blanarowicz, alternates.

The congress honored the Chicago branch (oseredok) for its exemplary work over the past three years with the executive board's Exemplary Oseredok Flag. The congress also presented Dr. Kozicky with the SUM Distinguished Member Award for his years of service on the national and local levels.

Newly elected president Harhaj closed the Congress by extending his gratitude and calling upon all to continue their efforts on behalf of Ukrainian youth and in helping Ukraine.

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