Dear Sumivtsi, Debutantes, Escorts, Honored Parents and Guests!
It is my honor and great pleasure to welcome you to our annual New Year's Eve Ball, "Malanka." Thirty three years ago, the "Malanka" also became a Debutante Ball, starting a new tradition. As with all traditions, there are many memorable experiences, and we wish you a great evening and many memories.
What is a Debutante Ball?
A Debutante Ball is an event where a young female, or in some cultures, a young male, is formally introduced into society. In many societies, a Debutante Ball is associated with wealthy and socially influential families. The United States, England, Ireland and Australia all have variations of the Debutante Ball.
In Australia, the ball is part of the high school system, it is usually optional and only for those students, both female and male, who wish to take part. Both females and males are included as the ball symbolizes the debut of the soon to be graduates into the young adult world. Traditionally, the girl asks the boy to the ball - dinner, speeches and dancing are features of the evening.
In Ireland, the Debutante Ball is similar to our high school proms. It is a school function and students attend either with formal dates or as informal groups. Students normally travel by limousine and ballroom dancing is available but not considered mandatory at an Irish ball.
And finally, in England, the history of the Ball, centers around ceremonies involving the debutantes wearing decorative clothing such as a feather head dress. Traditionally, English debutantes were introduced by former debutantes, often their mothers, if they had a coming out, or else a mother-in-law introducing her son's new wife. Queen Elizabeth II sanctioned court ceremonies for debutantes and began the English practice of more social introductions in the form of a Ball.
CYM started the tradition of a Debutante Ball to provide a bridge between the youth of the organization and the young adults. The ball provides these young ladies and escorts with the proper introduction into society — it is the passage from "child to young adult." It is your right and duty to take your place as a true member of GYM. So today, our debutantes are creating a memory of their past and moving ahead into the future of a young adult world.
CYM's Debutante Ball is a lovely tradition, which must be remembered and continue to provide the vehicle to present our young adults into formal society.
The majority of you were born in the United States, nevertheless, you are Ukrainian. Your parents and grandparents taught you the language, customs and traditions. Some of you went to 'Ukie School', joined CYM, went to camps and meetings, took isputy, went to Vyshkil, and made many new friends. You may go away to school, but you must return and take your place in the ranks of CYM and continue the growth and prosperity of the organization. You must become tomorrow's leaders — because you are Ukrainian and Sumivtsi.
Dearest Parents, we thank you for your patience, energy, love and tears and for providing a nurturing environment for these young people. You should be very proud, because in today's world, it is socially, economically and morally difficult to raise these young adults. You are to be commended for providing them the opportunities to grow and develop and today as they stand before you, they look for your approval and their release into society. Be strong and proud for your children and continue to assure them that you will always be there for them.
As we enter into 2010, CYM's motto is: "As long as you live - Dream and Search."
In 2010, we also remember and commemorate the following monumental and historical events:
- 150th Anniversary of the publication of Taras Schevchenko's complete "Kobzar."
- 85th Anniversary of the founding of CYM and the 80th Anniversary of the Kharkiv trials of CBY/CYM.
- 60th Anniversary of CYM in Argentina, Australia and France.
On behalf of the CYM board, we thank each and every one of you for your support; we thank our members for their commitment; we thank the parents for their cooperation; and we thank our benefactors for their enthusiastic support and belief in our organization. We thank our spiritual fathers for their continuous prayers and guidance, as well as our Ukrainian financial institutions and organizations for their moral and financial support in our work and initiatives.
Dear Debutantes and Escorts, never forget who you are and where you came from — Dream — Search - stand tall and be proud — remember you are a Ukrainian first and always.
Finally, I would like to recognize and offer my sincere gratitude to all the members of the "Malanka" Committee. Your dedication, time and effort have made this evening a wonderful and memorable occasion for everyone here. On behalf of the Board of the Mykola Pavlushkov Branch of the American Ukrainian Youth Association in Chicago, I would like to thank everyone for joining us this evening. May God bestow upon you his richest blessings today and forever. As we move into the New Year, we promise to work hard to continuously develop Ukrainian youth by reinforcing and cementing our foundation based on a program of love of God and Ukraine.
Jaroslawa Abramiuk
President
