EDITORIAL: Rolling the credits (06/04/06)

EDITORIAL

Rolling the credits

For the first time in the history of the Ukrainian National Association, a UNA convention was held at Soyuzivka, the fraternal organization's upstate New York estate. And Soyuzivka did the UNA proud.

It was largely thanks to Soyuzivka that the convention flowed as smoothly as it did, and that the atmosphere was friendlier, homier, less stressful. That's because Soyuzivka is everyone's home away from home, a place where everyone feels comfortable. And that certainly goes a long way toward ensuring a convention's success.

To be sure, it's not the venue alone that made the 36th UNA Convention what it was. It was also the people, first of all Soyuzivka's people, beginning with General Manager Nestor Paslawsky, continuing with Sonia Semanyshyn, Olesia Guran and Chef Andrij Sonevytsky, and ending with the wait staff, and the bartenders, and the housekeeping staff. Their work was exemplary, as seen every day and during each and every meal - especially during the theme dinners, i.e., Hutsul Night and the "Tastes of the World" dinner. The staff was simply marvelous: helpful, cooperative, aiming to please.

We could sum up the convention by turning a phrase (borrowing a former New Jersey state slogan): Soyuzivka and the UNA: perfect together.

But there were others who also had a role in the 36th UNA Convention who deserve credit and thanks.

First of all, there was the Convention Committee, comprising Nicholas Fil, Stephanie and Roman Hawryluk, Maxine Hayden, Maya Lew, Vasyl Luchkiw, Ms. Semanyshyn, Anna Slobodian, Vera Staruch, Longin Staruch, Slavko Tysiak and Mr. Paslawsky, with Oksana Trytjak as chairperson. It was this committee that saw to every detail in the planning of the convention's special programs and in making the delegates' stay memorable, from the welcome gifts in each room to every aspect of the concert program and banquet. (And that's just a fraction of what this hard-working committee did.)

Then there were the "Soyuzivka ambassadors," a group of employees and volunteers who wore "Ask me" stickers and made themselves quite useful on the eve of the convention as delegates arrived from near and far. They helped carry luggage, they directed people to their rooms, they answered questions. In short: they were there when needed for whatever was needed. Plus, there was Diana Shmerykowsky, who organized an art exhibit in Soyuzivka's Main House. Nor should the chauffeurs be forgotten. How else would delegates be able to get from the airport in Albany to Soyuzivka - an hour's drive?

Crucial to any convention is its presidium, in this case composed of the chairman and two vice-chairmen, respectively, Taras Szmagala Sr., Vasyl Kolodchin and Michael Sawkiw Jr. Despite the stress and that comes with any such large gathering and the occasional minor glitches, these three men, assisted by parliamentarian Andrij V. Szul, handled themselves well - and with good humor. Their respect for the delegates, and for the UNA, was the guiding principle of their actions.

Not to be forgotten are the hard-working recorders of the convention, who took notes and recorded both audio and video. Theirs was an all-important task as their work will result in the minutes of the 36th Convention.

Finally, there were the delegates themselves. They, too, deserve thanks and credit, whether they served on convention committees, as many did, or simply played the role of delegates representing their branches at this quadrennial gathering. They gave of their time and their efforts - and on a holiday weekend no less - in recognition of the significance of the Ukrainian National Association, the oldest and largest Ukrainian fraternal organization.

A hearty thank-you goes out to all those cited above, as well as those unnamed who worked behind the scenes, whose efforts made the 36th UNA Convention possible: Dia-ku-ye-mo!

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