Ukrainian American Youth Association holds 44th annual Zlet at Ellenville resort

by Orest Kozicky

ELLENVILLE, N.Y. - The Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM) sponsored its 44th consecutive annual Zlet on May 24-25 at the SUM "oselia" (resort) in Ellenville, N.Y.

Zlet is SUM's annual spring festival for its youth members that presents the opportunity to engage in academic and athletic competitions, as well as poetry recitations that demonstrate their knowledge about various aspects of Ukrainian history and cultural traditions and their use of the Ukrainian language. The event also is an opportunity for members 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 40-, 60-, 100-, 440- and 880-yard sprints and one-mile runs, relay races, broadjump, shot put and obstacle course races, as well as a volleyball tournament.

During this year's Zlet the sports events were threatened by heavy rains that led to cancellation of the volleyball tournament and the 440-, 880-, the mile and relay race events. Thanks to the combined efforts of members of the komanda and all of the participating branches, the track and field were cleared of rain puddles daily and, despite continuing threats of rain, the youths competed under adverse conditions in the spirit of the SUM rallying greeting "Hartuis." Youths also had an opportunity to socialize at a zabava and barbecue on Saturday night.

On Sunday morning the participants took part in a liturgy celebrated by Father Bohdan Danylo. A formal review of the SUM ranks arranged as individual branches from various cities was also conducted, with scoring based on adherence to the uniform dress code.

This year's Zlet included participants from the following 12 branches located on the Eastern Seaboard: Baltimore, Binghamton, N.Y., Boston, Goshen, N.Y., Hartford, Conn., Irvington, N.J., Jersey City, N.J., New York, Passaic, N.J., Philadelphia, Whippany, N.J., and Yonkers, N.Y. There were 400 participants ranging from age 4 through 17. The continued growth of the organization is reflected by the participation of a continually growing number of "sumeniata" age 3-5.

This year the responsibility for coordinating the various Zlet events was undertaken by members of the Passaic branch. The "komandant" was Zenon Betley, who together with "bulavna" Chrystia Janciw and the rest of the Passaic contingent directed the multiple aspects of Zlet.

The New York branch took first place for overall points achieved. Yonkers took second place, and Goshen took third place. Markian Kolinsky of Hartford won the top trophy for most points in the 13-17 age group, while Andrea Zelez of Hartford won the trophy for the 6-12 age group.

Bohdan Harhaj, the president of the National Executive Board of SUM, closed the awards ceremonies by expressing his gratitude to Mr. Betley and his Passaic contingent as well as to all of the "sumivtsi" for their participation in another successful Zlet.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, June 22, 2003, No. 25, Vol. LXXI

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