Monday, June 8, 2015

Clubs, organizations take summer break


North Port Branch 56 of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, known as “Soyuz Ukrayinok” (union of Ukrainian Ladies), headed by Ann-Marie Susla of Englewood, had its monthly membership meeting Tuesday at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center (known as the “Oseredok”). This was the last meeting before the summer break.
There will be no meetings in July and August.
Col. Roman Rondiak, USA (Ret.), commander of the Roman G. Lazor Post 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans, reminds all post members that there will be no meeting this Friday at the Oseredok. The joint luncheon meeting with spouses or significant others will take place at noon Friday at Heron Creek Golf & Country Club, off Sumter Boulevard in North Port.
A fixed-price luncheon menu at $15 per person consists of a choice of hamburger platter, Reuben sandwich with fries, Cobb salad with chicken or shrimp salad, with coffee, tea or soda, and tax and gratuity included.
The highlight of the luncheon will be a brief presentation on the erected, awesome UAV National Monument at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Cemetery in South Bound Brook, N.J., which will be formally dedicated Oct. 3 during the UAV 68th National Convention.
                                                                   •••
The Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida, headed by Daria Tomashosky of North Port, held its last membership meeting before the summer break May 27 at the Oseredok. After listening to and approving the reports of officers (secretary Doris Horbachevsky, treasurer Nancy Wosny, corresponding secretary Halya Lisnyczyj, Scholarship Committee chairman professor Victor Lisnyczyj, and president Daria), members were shown a brief video, “We are Ukraine!” that had many young people of different ethnic backgrounds, some speaking in languages other than Ukrainian, declaring that they are true Ukrainians. They also sang the Ukrainian national anthem in English.
The featured speaker was Lieda Boyko of Port Charlotte, who recently visited Ukraine with her sister Olena Boyko of Urbanna, Va.
Leda spoke about her experiences during her several-week visit, which included meetings of faculty and students of the Ukrainian Catholic University in L’viv, visiting the 100th anniversary observance of the Ukrainian Riflemen’s victory over the invading Russian Imperial Army at Mount Makivka in the Carpathian Mountains, and visiting many other interesting sites. She was very much impressed with the celebration of Easter in L’viv and in the villages of the L’viv region, and cannot forget the young wounded Ukrainian soldiers in Kyiv’s military hospitals, who are anxious to get well and go back to their units to fight the terrorists supported by Putin and Russian military invaders.
While in Ukraine, Lieda’s sister Olena, a retired pharmacist, purchased an ambulance for one of the volunteer units shuttling wounded soldiers from the front lines to the hospitals.
                                                                      •••
My wife Katrusia and I wish to congratulate and wish happy birthday to our two oldest children, Alexander Zenon and Maria Luba, who will observe their 62nd and 59th birthdays on June 4.
Atanas Kobryn covers the Ukrainian community for the North Port Sun. He can be emailed at atanask@aol.com.

Our Neighbors — The Ukrainians
By Atanas Kobryn

No comments: