Watervliet's Ukrainian American Citizens Club celebrates 75th anniversary (01/09/05)

Watervliet's Ukrainian American Citizens Club celebrates 75th anniversary

by Slavko Tysiak

WATERVLIET, N.Y. - In many ways the Ukrainian American Citizens Club never changes. Instead, it adapts to changing times. On the evening of Saturday, October 23, honorary members of the Ukrainian club sat at the downstairs bar while others arrived by way of the side entrance to attend that evening's banquet and dance to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Ukrainian American Citizens Club, or as it's commonly called - the Ukrainian Club.

The Ukrainian Club is a neighborhood anchor and icon. A number of local non-Ukrainians are honorary members, some for decades, and they come in weekly to catch-up on each others lives, to learn what's happening in the community, shoot darts, play pool and to watch that All-American favorite - the weekly ball game. The Ukrainian Club depends on their loyal patronage, as much as it does on the Ukrainian members who visit and support its many different activities. It's another sign that the Ukrainian Club continues to fill a contemporary role in the lives of its patrons and members by meeting a number of different needs.

On the evening of October 23, in addition to the local patrons, the members of the Ukrainian Club had come together with their family and friends, as well as representatives of other local Ukrainian organizations and groups for a special night. More than 150 people congregated to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Ukrainian Club in Watervliet.

Before the banquet and zabava, the members were treated to a sumptuous reception and cocktail hour hosted by the Ukrainian Federal Credit Union - Capital District Branch.

The evening's program, which was emceed by Slavko Tysiak, included prayers of thanksgiving offered by Father Michael Myshchuk, pastor of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in Watervliet, and a number of selections sung by the Capital District Choir, known as "Ridna Pisnya," under the direction of Mykhaylo Tcapar, including "Bozhe Velykyi Yedynyi" and "God Bless America."

Mr. Tysiak paused to give a special recognition to the "first ladies of the Ukrainian Club," Ms. Urban and Ms. Bruggerman, whose father, John Urban, one of founding fathers of the Ukrainian Club and several times past president, used his personal funds in 1930 to purchase the building that today houses the Ukrainian Club. The emcee noted how Ms. Urban and Ms. Brueggerman, together with her husband, Warren Brueggerman, have always taken a personal interest in the club and have shown their commitment many times over the years with generous gifts to improve and enhance it.

A beautiful commemorative program booklet was assembled by the anniversary committee that included John Suchowacki, Mykola Fil, Peter Urban, Michael Zavisky, Mr. Tysiak, John Karafanda, Zachary Zendran, John Zendran, John Uruskyj, Andrij Demczar and Gregory Ilnycky. Also a special thanks was extended to Christine Kostoroski and Cathy Suchowacki, who assembled the program booklet, sold advertisements for placement in the booklet, and assembled an exhibit of past club presidents.

The master of ceremonies also took the opportunity to remind everyone present how the Ukrainian Federal Credit Union and its local Capital District Branch had once again shown their support of the local community by underwriting the cocktail reception that everyone so thoroughly enjoyed and by buying advertising space as did many other businesses and individuals in the program booklet and reminded all present they should reciprocate and support those businesses and individuals as well.

During the dinner, Mr. Fil introduced his long-time friend and the current president of the Ukrainian Club, Mr. Suchowacki, who provided a humorous round of acknowledgements, ranging from listing the members with more than 50 years of membership, to thanking the officers of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Club, President Anna Gebuza and Treasurer Olga Zendran, for their tireless support of club activities. He also gave special thanks to the club's workhorses - Wasyl Terlecky, Mr. Demczar, Stanley Mochulsky and Mr. Ilnycky, Mr. Fil and Mr. Urban - without whom the club could not function and prosper.

Three speakers then reflected on the role of the Ukrainian Club during three periods of the club's history.

Member Steve Krill provided cherished memories of the early days before World War II. He noted how the club was founded in 1929 by a handful of men who pledged their personal funds to buy the building materials required to renovate the current building. He spoke of a time with no television and no cars, and when everyone lived in the immediate neighborhood. In one vignette, he told about a time when the Ukrainian Club sponsored a competitive youth baseball team that consisted mostly of non-Ukrainians but that established a sense of Ukrainian identity.

Mr. Mochulsky spoke about the Ukrainians that came after World War II. He told what it was like to come to a strange land, without the benefit of an extended family, and without knowing how to speak English. He stressed how the people "na novii immigratsiyi" relied on the good will and assistance of the earlier immigration. He concluded by highlighting how the new immigrants gave new life and purpose to the Ukrainian Club. For many of these immigrants, the friendships made through the Ukrainian Club enabled them to have the extended family that they were forced to leave in Ukraine.

The final speaker, John Uruskyj, spoke from the "baby boomer" perspective, pointing out that, as in the past, the club is still a place where the new wave of immigrants from Ukraine can find friendly faces and their native language as they transition and adapt to life in the United States. He also highlighted the need for his peers - the "molodi" - to become active in the club and the greater Ukrainian American community. By becoming more active, the younger generation woud find new meaning in their lives, build common bonds, and even find a way to make the club grow and prosper.

The evening was highlighted by the unveiling of a 75th anniversary commemorative plaque with a photograph of the current club members and an inscribed listing of the full membership. As the senior member of the club, Nick Zavisky had the honor of unveiling the plaque, which will be permanently mounted in the club as the members await the time when the club will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2029.

As the banquet came to a close with a reading of congratulatory cards and letters from Ukrainian organizations and groups from across the Capital District of New York State, the music started. The zabava kicked off with non-stop dance music by the Lviviany from New Jersey and continued, in typical Ukrainian fashion, long into the night.

All the while the World Series baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals was watched downstairs by people from the neighborhood and members who skipped out between dances to catch the score. All in all, it was a time to reflect and a time to look ahead.

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