Soyuzivka hosts annual Labor Day weekend festivities (09/14/03)

Soyuzivka hosts annual Labor Day weekend festivities

by Andrew Nynka

KERHONKSON, N.Y. - Thousands of Ukrainians came to the Ukrainian National Association's Soyuzivka resort for a traditional end-of-summer rendezvous. The resort, which hosted various daytime activities, as well as dances and performances at night, was a hub of diaspora activity during the Labor Day weekend.

The resort's director of hospitality services, Nestor Paslawsky, said Soyuzivka's rooms were filled for the week leading into the holiday, accounting for some 500 guests. In addition to people who stayed at the resort, several thousand more packed the bars and dance floors on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.

"It was a great week," Mr. Paslawsky said. In order for the resort to be successful "we'll need several more of these events during the year," the resort's manager added.

Traditionally one of the busiest business periods for the resort, this year's Labor Day celebrations also attracted a new clientele interested in seeing what changes have been made there.

Some guests, like Maria Smarsh of Kendall Park, N.J., called the changes "wonderful." Ms. Smarsh's brother, John, who last visited the resort eight years ago, said he planned on coming for next year's Labor Day celebrations. Both Ms. Smarsh and her brother agreed that talk of building townhomes on the resort sounded interesting and said they would consider buying one.

Other guests at the resort sounded less enthusiastic about the changes. "Yes, it looks good, but there's still a lot that needs to be done," said Gerard Kybaluck, a retired lawyer from Des Plaines, Ill.

Mr. Kybaluck, a regular at the resort for the past 48 years, said improving Soyuzivka would require a practical outlook. "This is firstly a business, not a charity, and it must make money to survive."

The resort's ownership, currently under pressure to make Soyuzivka profitable, recently announced a program intended to revitalize the 50-year-old resort. According to the UNA, the changes are the first in a series of steps aimed at attracting new business to Soyuzivka.

Easily the biggest hit among those changes seemed to be the Tiki Bar, a small outdoor bar situated between the Veselka building and volleyball court. "I like the Tiki Bar because of where it is. You can see the volleyball court and the scenery," said 48-year-old Yuriy Kobziar.

Guests also called the new outdoor bar much more convenient than the Veselka Bar and Mr. Paslawsky said it is "a great meeting place; a sure home run."

Among other changes, the resort's dining room received a major facelift. "It's a big positive that changed the atmosphere of the cafeteria," Mr. Paslawsky said. Many guests also said the food, which included salmon, duck and lamb, deserved praise.

While the roller hockey rink, located next to the volleyball court, saw little action during the weekend, Mr. Paslawsky said it would be flooded in the winter and used as an ice skating rink.

Some guests danced as the Luna, Tempo and Fata Morgana bands played Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, while other guests socialized and spent time with friends, keeping the resort's bartenders busy late into the night.

"My favorite part is the dancing, outdoors if the weather is nice - under the stars," 43-year-old Bohdan Komarynskyj said. "We meet with people, talk and relax. The kids get together - that's important too."

"I like seeing all these people I know," said 15-year-old Alexander Mandicz. "My favorite part of the weekend is going to the "zabavy" (dances) and seeing friends; hanging out. I also get to stay up till the wee hours of the morning."

Mr. Mandicz's comments were representative of how many of the resort's guests spent their time at night. Jakym, 79, and Alice Teniuch, 76, said they have been coming to the resort for 28 years. "We stay in the same room every year. We come with our kids and our grandkids to see our friends we rarely get to see from other cities. It's very family-oriented - like a reunion," the two agreed.

While many of the resort's guests spent the weekend nights dancing, socializing or meeting people they had not seen recently, the daytime activities seemed to vary widely. Some guests sat by the pool or swam, while others took part in tennis and swimming competitions.

Other guests joined an informal Saturday afternoon focus group intended for people under the age of 30. According to Yurij Pylyp, who helped organize the discussion along with UNA Treasurer Roma Lisovich, the focus group's primary objective was to hear what people thought would make the resort successful.

According to Mr. Pylyp, the approximately 30 people who participated in the discussions agreed that fixing the guest rooms and creating modern conference facilities should be the resort's priorities.

Guests were also able to view an exhibit of photography by Yurij Trytjak - which will be on display in the Main House lobby through September 30. (Proceeds from the sale of Dr. Trytjak's photos are to go to the Soyuzivka Renaissance Fund.)

Guests hiked the resort's recently cleared wilderness trails, and some played volleyball and kept the Tiki Bar bustling. However, several people said there was little to do at the resort during the day or said they were not interested in the daytime activities that Soyuzivka offered.

"We still have a long way to go," Mr. Paslawsky said. "There are definitely things that could change and will change, but people saw that an effort is being made to change the resort, and this was an objective of ours."

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