NEW YORK – The Plast New York headquarters (“domivka”) was the venue on December 7, 2019, for a special celebration: the 70th anniversary of the New York Branch of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization.
Plast scouts young and old came together in the New York domivka to celebrate the 70th year of activity and mark the origin of Plast in Manhattan. Everyone gathered in the main hall with their scouting uniforms on, eager to begin. The celebration started off with the opening of the gathering, the “vidkryttia” with which Plast members always start their events.
Plast scouts from different generations.
Then, the leader of Plast in New York, Talia Danysh, spoke about the history of the New York branch. She spoke about the many years of dedicated work and how the number of members greatly increased. A slideshow was shown depicting how far the organization has come and how many generations of families enjoyed their time in Plast in the past and still do so today.
Next, memories were shared by three people from different generations.
Senior Plast member Iryna Kurowycky shares her memories.
Iryna Kurowycky spoke about the very beginning of Plast in New York and how she was the first woman to be a “stanychna” – the branch leader. She also spoke about how many things have changed in Plast, and said she is happy to see how much the Plast scouts in New York are thriving today.
Taras Ferencevych spoke about his father, who helped buy the property in East Chatham, N.Y., where the popular Ukrainian scout camp Vovcha Tropa is located, and how excited he was to experience the start of something new. Ukrainian scouts all over the world travel to Vovcha Tropa to meet new friends and make countless memories. Mr. Ferencevych also spoke about Plast in Manhattan being a village that he could depend on.
Finally, Ostap Gladun spoke about the very first time he came to the domivka door and how much joy he had. He continues to be “hnizdovyi,” or cubmaster, for the young scouts of the branch.
Children and adults listened in awe as they learned how many things had changed from three different points of view, and they were eager to hear more. The walls were decorated with handwritten notes of what Plast means to current scouts in the New York City branch.
The celebration ended with the singing of the Plast hymn. To conclude, everyone enjoyed a slice of anniversary cake and sandwiches.
Oriana Makar is a Plast scout in New York, a Grade 10 student at Samopomich School of Ukrainian Studies and a dancer with Roma Pryma Bohachevsky School of Ukrainian Dance.
Plast scouts listen to the history of the New York City branch.