Although it was a cold and windy day in Chicago on February 2, 2003, our oseredok CYM im. M. Pawlushkova held its traditional Yalynka. As yunatstvo, vychovnyky and vporyadnyky, dressed in ther CYM uniforms, gathered together and patiently waited on stage, the hall was filled with guests, family and representatives from our Ukrainian community. Podruha Luba Siryj greeted everyone with “Chrystos Razdayetsya” and went on to lead the program. Yunatstvo sang carols and several roji, including our Sumenyata recited poems.

Podruha Siryj, introduced Rt. Rev. Ivan A. Krotec, pastor of Sts. Volodymyr and Olha Parish, who led the opening prayer. He also congratulated our Oseredok for receiving the “Perechodovyj” flag, and for our continued active participation in the ukrainian community. While everyone started to partake of the delicious food prepared by the parents, grandparents, friends of our oseredok, and members of WADFFU, Podruha Siryj continued with the program. She introduced Mr. Ivan Pawlyk, from the 8th Branch of ODFFU and Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union and Mr. Pawlo Bandriwsky from 1st Security Federal Savings Bank who gave donations to our oseredok.

Podruha Siryj then introduced Podruha Chrystya Wereczszak, holova of our Oseredok, who gave her annual “state-of-CYM” address in which she highlighted many events and activiites of 2002 from the Kryla banquet and games, our Oseredok receiving the “perechodovyj prapor”, our traditional events, the dance school and Ukraina, sports, and yunatstvo. She went on to thank all for their help and support throughout the year. Rt. Rev. Ivan A. Krotec, then led everyone in singing “Boh Sya Razdaye” and so another Yalynka was written in our history books.

(written by pod. Natalka Kowal)